Trying some new tricks / Disaster Area

I need to send out a couple cards this week and ended up trying a few new tricks.  The card below completely created itself...over three days! 

I started with the Melon Berry background.  Got stuck.  Decided to do the sentiment that hangs off the side of the card.  Did the stamping, handwriting and drew the border.  Once I added the ribbon I got stuck.  I tried everything I own on that spot to make it look finished.

The pearl?  Accident.   I went to the craft store on Main Street yesterday to pick up another set of Nesties.  While I was getting rung up I saw these pearls and thought they should find a home in my stash.  So when I got home, there was the unfinished card on my scrap table.  Hmmm....I wonder if one of  those pearls would fit there?  Like I said.  The card made itself. :)

**  Please don't mention the crooked "P"s.  I will just have to be happy with it.  lol!

Embellished envelopes?  Not usually my thing since I mail all of my cards.  But since this and the next card were getting mailed together in another envelope, why not?

This card was an accident.  I really just wanted to play with Tags for Spring (PTI) and ended up making the whole circle embellishment.  It looked just too pretty so I remembered the birthday card I needed to make anyway.

This is one of the few times that I have "fussy cut" with those butterflies.  Won't be trying that again any time soon, unless I get some better scissors.

Envelope for this card?  Yes, it was made.  No, you don't get to see it.  It's okay, but it wasn't worth my time to take a picture, edit and post.

Life Update:  We're heading to Iowa this weekend so see some of Adam's family.   We haven't been there since May 2007, so we've got lots of visiting to do.  It'll be a fun, but jam packed weekend.  Melody is getting left at a boarding kennel for the first time.  I'm going to cry, and I don't care who laughs at me!!  Mel, on the other hand, will love it.  Four 1/2hour walks each day, play time with other dogs.  She'll be exhausted when we pick her up on Sunday!

I made a cake earlier today.  Now I must go clean my kitchen before Adam gets home.  When I bake, it looks like...wait.  I'm going to take a picture.

Now, before I show you these, just know that usually it is worse.  But I show it to you in hopes that anyone else who suffers from being a messy baker will not feel so alone!

We start here.  Why did I not throw the butter wrappers away when I unwrapped the butter?  Why did I not put the vanilla away in the cabinet above, which is open?  Adam doesn't ask these questions anymore.  As long as what I made tastes good, he's happy.

The other side of the stove.  Opened powdered sugar and pecans, dirty dishes from today and last night when we were in a rush to get out the door.

A bowl of soaking dishes (I made an attempt at clean up!), a sink of clean dishes that I washed last night (I do wash dishes), and the finished cake.  Wait!  I see a piece missing.  I didn't know Melody knew how to use a knife.  ;)

The prep space.  Relatively clean for me.

So Mom, now instead of my room, I mess up the kitchen.  Nothing really changes, does it?  Okay, off to clean.  Have a good night!