remember me

where has the time gone??

2010-09-22T06:10:00.002-05:00

it has been almost 4 months since my son got married.... time has flown!!!! since then, my life has changed drastically!!!!

right before his wedding, i was interviewed for a job at barnes & noble and got it!! after a month on the job, i was given a promotion as the children's lead/manager. okay, it is NOT rocket science... but it is challenging and keeps me hopping!!! i LOVE going to work, i LOVE my job and couldn't imagine having a job that you didn't like... but i am dog-tired all the time!! i have been blessed to stay home for over 23 years as a stay-at-home mom, homeschool teacher and daycare provider... so i have been busy!! but i am whooped at the end of the day.... and then i crash, get up the next day, make a jumbo iced coffee for me & frappe for david and "hit the day again"!!

i have not scrapped since josh & leah's wedding album, but hope to do so very soon again!! i am thinking and planning out our Christmas cards as i do not have the time as before to work on them, but DEFINITELY have the desire to share the past year's events in handmade Christmas greetings!

if you are in the Florissant area... would love to see you at my "still favorite" hangout... B & N!!! stop in... i would love to join you for a mocha and show you through the "best children's department" in the world!!!

i'm back.......

2010-06-25T08:53:00.019-05:00

well, it has been nearly a month since i last posted. time has flown.........i am now a mother-in-law and the mother of a 20 year-old son & a 23 year old-son {plus our 21 1/2 year-old daughter}. our daughter-in-law is also OFFICIALLY a registered nurse!! woo hoo leah on acing the test!!!what is not to love about this life?? in less than a month, david's and my life has been changed day by day, and i am sure that there is still more to come....

less than two weeks after josh's wedding, i began working at barnes & noble {david's & my hangout of choice!!} and he was in st. louis for six days doing training while i stayed home and adjusted to working outside the home {it had been EXACTLY 23 years since i had done so!!}. i went and met him on wednesday night for dinner and a "sleepover" at the hotel. okay, when he texted me and asked me to meet him for dinner since we hadn't seen each other for three days i texted, " that is a long drive for dinner, i have to work in the morning. he texted back, "well you could pack a bag and stay." i texted back, "really?" he texted back, "well... we are married." it felt a bit naughty... so glad i didn't have to tell my mom that i was meeting him, at a hotel no less!!! :)

i have many photos of wedding things to post, scrapbook pages, wedding gifts, etc..... i hope that you are not bored or overwhelmed, if so...close the blog now!!!

**DENISE!! THIS IS FOR YOU!!**

may 29, 2010

2010-05-29T00:09:00.002-05:00

well... today is the big day!! the day that we have waited over a year for........our oldest son is getting married. it has been an amazing day today (typing this just after midnight on thursday the 28th), just getting the final things completed, the rehearsal and the most amazing time with family and friends at the rehearsal dinner. today was so perfect, wonder how the wedding day will be......i am so in awe of God's goodness as i see how He puts two people together to make two parts become one whole, how each completes the other. josh & leah are starting out with so much determination, wisdom, togetherness and love. i am so excited for them.

for now....... i am off to bed. tomorrow is a big day!! i hope that yours is a good one!!!

LAST DAY OF APRIL...

2010-04-29T21:43:00.002-05:00

which means that the wedding is in one month!! i can't believe that it is almost here... i have nearly 40 pages of the album completed... so excited with each and every page that i do. i want to do some other things for the kids also... time is NOT on my side at this point, but i am moving along quickly with the album and may even beat my deadline!!! woo hoo!!!

i should have my skirt for the wedding next week and then i will go the the alteration shop to have my jacket TAKEN IN!! i have lost weight since i got it and have it taken in a couple of inches!! that is exciting!! i will be glad to have my entire outfit hanging in the closet, just ready to take to the church!! david and caleb ordered their tuxes last week, caiti's dress is at the alteration shop ready to be picked up... check, check, check!!!!

caiti and caleb have finals next week and then mark off their junior year of college. this fall i will have a married son, a daughter-in-law (that i will call a daughter!) and two college seniors!! un-stinkin-believable!!!! life has gone so fast and it has been quite a ride.... and looking back i will say that i was "lovin' every minute of it", it has been a gift from God. I AM BLESSED!!!

talked to my thirteen year-old niece tonight and she is ready to come up to do some crafting!! i said MAYBE after the wedding, i hope that i have the mojo to create with her!! she is such a joy and loves to create... so i will have to get a project in mind for her and her friend... oh the wheels are turning!!

i PROMISE to post some photos soon. i have not taken any of the album pages yet. i will take a day when it is complete and snap away.......

i wish you a wonderful weekend with family, friends and with yourself. make time to make some memories, laugh and cherish those moments!!! each moment is a gift........

well, it is blog friday...

2010-04-23T15:55:00.004-05:00

okay, there are only 36 more days until the wedding!! and only 20 days until i finish their album and all of the other photo stuff!!!! ugh!!!! i am getting so excited, time is moving quickly but not so quickly for the soon to be mr. & mrs. ...

i have 25 pages completed and more in the works, not moving as quickly as i would like, but i am taking quite some time on each 2-page layout. love the couple and love doing this for them!!

no big plans this weekend besides scrappin and spending some time with my husband. dinner is ready for when he gets home from work and then maybe date night tonight...

at some point i will take photos of the pages that i have done and share........ but until then, you will just have to wait. i hope that you have a great weekend.... have fun!!

only 45 more days until the wedding!!!

2010-04-14T22:16:00.003-05:00

okay, that being said, i have only 28 more days to finish josh & leah's album!! my deadline is may 13... no excuses!!!

it has been crazy around here! we have the house torn up while we got two more floors refinished. we now have hardwood floors in the living room, foyer, dining room and david's office. we were hoping to get someone in here to skim coat the ceilings in the office & dining room and also drywall the office... i just want my house put back in order and cleaned!!! minor details...

so far 1 have 14 pages done on the album. i have got to kick it into high gear... david will be out of town for a couple of business trips coming up, i am going to scrap, scrap, scrap while he is gone. the weather has been so beautiful that we have tried getting out and enjoying it some, so while he is gone, i will knock out some of those pages!!

school is winding down for caiti and caleb... i know that they will be glad to get some time off. caiti is taking a 2-week required class monday-friday. then she will be off for the summer. both plan on working full-time, so life will be busy and chaotic around here.

the wedding will be here before long and then i will be a mother-in-law... we love josh's future wife and couldn't have picked anyone better for him. what a blessing to see your child(ren) follow God's plan for their life. as i am going through photos, it just doesn't seem that it has been nearly 23 years since josh was born... time has flown!!

today was a beautiful day. i spent the morning baking some homemade cookies and then packaged them up and delivered to some special people in my life... i hope that they enjoyed them as much as i did making them for them. i LOVE giving others surprises...

i hope that you are enjoying the springtime and spending time with those that you love... remember to take photos and capture those memories!!! and be grateful for every day, each day gives you the opportunity for renewal....

happy Good Friday...

2010-04-02T17:11:00.002-05:00

well, today is Good Friday. i hope that everyone is remembeing the reason for this season, not just the bunnies and eggs, but Jesus Christ, His death, His burial and His resurrection!! what a blesed gift to us from Him!!

the weather here has been gorgeous, lots of walks and backyard frisbee with buddy... looking forward to lots more of this!!

i have been scrappin this week which feels so good. so far i have 7 PAGES completed for josh & leah's album, i just want to keep up the pace... feels good to scrap again.

have a wonderful weekend with your family and friends. i hope that you make it to church on sunday to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. it just feels different at church on easter morning from all the other sunday mornings. HE IS RISEN INDEED!! and for that, i am grateful!!

well goodbye march......

2010-03-29T11:42:00.003-05:00

in just two short days, march 2010 will be over and my sweet little girl will be 21!! where has all the time gone??? so to caiti, HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY to the best daughter in the world {at least from my biased opinion!!} God was so good to us to bless us with you and He continues to bless us through you and He continues to bless you, what a good God!!!

EXACTLY two months from this date, our oldest son will be married!! very exciting and yet so much to do... i have 2 pages of their life album done and have a gazillion more to do... but what another reminder of how God has blessed us through Josh and now with Leah as the soon-to-be newest member of our family.

we had a busy week two weeks ago while Leah was home on spring break. a bridal shower at the church and then one here at our house hosted by caiti and i. what a wonderful time we had seeing the two of them blessed by so many that care for them. what a special gift to watch as a parent as others shower your children with tangible gifts of love. for that, i am so grateful.

i spent last week recouperating from all the festivities and was the last one in our house to be "blessed" with the flu!! ugh! but i did get through the showers and then got it, so i took that time to get some much needed rest!!

had a wonderful weekend with family and friends! met a childhood friend for a wonderful lunch on saturday, too fun & too fast!!! definitely will have to schedule those more often!! then on sunday my niece was baptized and our family all went for the celebration. afterwards, we had a nice LONG lunch together, just spending time and catching up. on my way home, i stopped by my dear friend julie's house to see her. we had "christmas in march" as we exchanged gifts that we have been holding onto... complete with santa gift bags!!! too fun, but definitely a sign that the two of us need to spend MORE time together MORE often!!!

i hope that your last few days of march is starting out wonderfully... the sun is shining here and begging me to come outside and soak it in. i think that this afternoon a nice long walk is due for me and buddy!!! that will make me feel renewed and refreshed.... enjoy your day!!!

Friday, March 12

2010-03-12T07:21:00.002-06:00

has it really been nearly a month and a half since i last blogged?? doesn't seem possible how fast time is really going...

but today as i type this i am grateful. not everything going on in my world is "perfect" {but what really is perfect anyway??}, but i am grateful that no matter what the circumstances that i am going through, God is with me. Not only is He with me, but when necessary He carries me. For this love from Him, i am awed, undeserving but eternally grateful.

this year has been a full one already, but there is still so much more to come... my word for this year is renew. fortunately I can say that i am seeing renewing in me, in relationships and simply in earth as spring is approaching. renewal is something that happens after every winter in the earth, i feel as though i am awaking after a winter's rest, what a wonderful feeling!!

i know that the renewal process is not over, it never is or growth stops happening. for the growth and renewing that i see today in me and in others, i am thankful. for the growth and renewing that i will see in the future, i am thankful. i am thankful that scripture says, "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." isaiah 40:31. what a wonderful promise from God, today and everyday, i am holding on to this!!

i hope that your friday is going well and that you are looking forward to a wonderful weekend, i know that i am. we are going to the first shower for my son's future bride, how exciting! this is such a happy time for them and for our families. i hope that you have something happy to look forward to today!!

well, i missed blog friday {again!!}

2010-02-01T08:56:00.002-06:00

it is FEBRUARY 1, 2010~how did it get to be the second month of the year already??!! the year is 1/12 over!!! oh well, i am thankful for another day of the year and another month!!

i got home yesterday from our annual girlfriend winter trip to kansas city with my best girls from junior high. as always, it was a blast!!! {that's 80's lingo!!} the drive there flew by as sonja and i gabbed the entire time, we were there before we even knew it!! then denise got there and the full party began!! we talked, we ate, we talked, we shopped, we talked, we ate, we talked, we saw a movie, we ate, we talked, we shopped........ i think that you get the idea.

denise took us to a great shoe stop called bob jones again this trip, i FINALLY got a pair of wellies!! now my feet will be stylish AND dry!! then we went to this wonderful store called Prydes of Westport. what didn't they have?? they had EVERYRHING kitchen, towels, aprons, appliances, tools; they had decorative pieces, pictures, decorations, etc, etc, etc; they had paper goods, holiday items; they had food items, jellies, jams, mixes, etc... BUT in the basement of this WONDERFUL establishment they had a pie shop called the upper crust. we had some yummie quiche, oriental slaw and pie for lunch. then denise bought us all mini pies and cookies galore to take home...Pryde's is on the agenda for every annual kc trip!!!

then we went to the plaza to shop.... tiffany's, williams-sonoma, swarvoski, burberry, better cheddar, hall's.........with a mid-afternoon break for drinks and a margherita pizza at brio's. what a wonderful time on the plaza.... denise of course treated sonja and i to many prizes along the way.

after this, there was more... we went to lydia's, the MOST amazing italian spot with such ambiance!! we had the pasta trio which is the chef's three choices for the day that they just keep coming by and serving to you straight from the hot pan!!!! and the most amazing bread!!! and of course, denise duped us and got the bill even though sonja had given the server HER credit card!!

we went back to the hotel for denise to divy up the goodies from upper crust and for a night cap of cookies!! then denise headed home for a very busy sunday before flying to new york for a business trip. sonja and i headed home after breakfast sunday morning!

what a whirlwind weekend filled with laughter, fun, and prizes everywhere we turned!!! can't wait for the next time!! maybe one day sonja and i will get sly enough to dupe denise...... but i doubt it!!

i hope that you had a wonderful january and a wonderful weekend!! welcome to february 2010, i hope that it is filled with blessings and love for you!! i am looking forward to a month of renewed times.......

first blog of 2010!!

2010-01-08T08:21:00.004-06:00

well, today is the second friday of 2010 and i am officially posting a HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!!! much has been happening at our house, some re-modeling, re-decorating, and my new word for this year...

RENEW 1.return to doing something 2. repeat promise 3. give something new energy 4. make something new again. syn restore, repair, re-establish, mend, make good.

that will be the word that i keep in mind this year as i spend time in relationships, in tasks, in thoughts and deeds. a small word with some BIG expectations...

do you have a word for this year that you want to strive to live by??

it will also be a big year with a major change... our oldest son will become a husband to a beautiful girl that we love. God has been so good to them and i pray that He continues to bless them and keep them. their wedding will be here before i know it!!

wishing you all a very prosperous 2010... looking forward to a year of possibilities and renewing!!!

blog friday again!!

2009-12-11T08:40:00.002-06:00

well, tonight we will help josh move into HIS first place!!!! just got a call that his "big boy" bed is going to get delivered ;) !! then his television !! leah and her mom spent the day cleaning and getting it ready to set up for him and then next may, leah will join him!! we are so blessed to be getting such a wonderful addition to our family and josh is blessed to be spending the rest of his life with this beautiful girl!!!

the floors are finished!!! the hardwood is curing and the last bathroom grout was just sealed. by the end of this weekend, i might get to actually CLEAN MY HOUSE!!!! but david has already asked about the availability to do our dining room floor........arggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!! it will be nice when it is done!!

we might even set up our tree next week!! no ornaments... just lights, a big bow and my nativity scene!! that's what CHRISTMAS is all about anyway... JESUS!!!

i hope that you are enjoying your Christmas season, ours has been different with all of the house commotion but my focus is the same as always, JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON!!

have a great weekend!!

gauche alchemy......

2009-12-06T06:34:00.004-06:00

this month at the mosy scrapper our sponsor was gauche alchemy. we received some baggies FULL of embellishment goodies. i used them to create these canvases for my nephews and niece......

they were baptized and i made each of them a canvas with a scripture that i had selected for them!!

there is so much in the bags that we received from gauche alchemy, you will have to check them out for yourself!!!!

is it REALLY december???

2009-12-04T21:50:00.002-06:00

where are you 2009.... i think you're hiding....
i have been so busy..... i think i missed you....
please come and stay today, tomorrow... and so on.......

i am in shock that 2009 is neary over!! it doesn't seem possible that we are going to be closing the book on this year and enter a new decade!!! time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future......

okay, i will TRY to not make any more references to songs or lyrics...

this past week has been crazy at our house~a new section of decking around the pool, a new fence around the pool, 2 new bathroom floors, a carpet removal and hardwood restoration on the living room floor, new dining room curtains (and one entire wall in my dining room is windows!!), new curtains ordered for the living room and back hallway/butler's pantry... whew!! and i have 20 Christmas cookie exchange bags to sew for my sweet friend djt in kansas city!!

this is going to be a very exciting and busy month for our family... our first born is moving into HIS FIRST place of his very own!!! he and his fiance are going to get his things moved in and settled into their place but she is still away at school until right before their wedding in may!! life is so exciting but moving so fast!! i am thrilled for him and his beautiful fiance`, God has truly blessed the two of them with each other~ we could not have asked for anyone better!
i even went out and bought them hand quilted and embroidered stockings to hang in their new place...... i am excited!!

i also went out and BOUGHT Christmas cards this year!! i know.... gasp, shock, unbelievable!! we just have so much going on and i need to be scanning photos for the kids' big wedding project but instead i am doing household stuff!! so, i purchased cute handmade cards this year. i am going to put personal messages in them and a family photo... but they are not handmade... so sorry to disappoint anyone, but life DOES GO ON!!

well, i hope that all is well with you and yours... i hope that you enjoying this wonderful season that is upon us. i LOVE Christmas and ALL that it means... Jesus coming to earth as a baby to save us from our sins, the reason for this blessed season. I LOVE all of the music, the carols, the bells ringing and even grouchy people, because then i can smile and say, "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to them NOT "happy holidays", i want happy holidays and can have them because of CHRISTMAS!!!

enjoy the moments, the minutes, the hours, the days and the memories......

blog friday again!!

2009-11-20T09:18:00.004-06:00

well... i beat julie to the punch on getting my blog friday entry in here!!!

it has been a crazy, fast month so far!! i have been working on house stuff,
trying to scrap, take care of family, doing my Bible study, etc, etc, etc!!

i feel like i never stop but sometimes it doesn't look like much to show for
what i have been doing. but i know!!

i hope that all is well with you and what you are doing.... are you gearing up
for the holidays?? are you thankful?? what for??

i am thankful for...

*God
*my husband
*our three beautiful children-josh( & leah); caiti (& andrew); caleb
*my mom,& siblings & spouses(which i consider my siblings!!)
*the legacy that my dad left for his family
*my husband's parents & siblings
*all of my nieces & nephews
*buddy!!! (woof!!)
*friends
*our home
*LOVE
*laughter
*ALL of the many things that God has blessed me with!!!

what is your list of gratitudes??? comment and list them to me!!

have a great friday!!!

The 12 Cards of Christmas.......

2009-11-07T21:31:00.000-06:00

THE MOSY SCRAPPER wants to get you ready for Christmas and what better way to do it.Our November Monthly Contest is going to be filled with challenging ideas to get you ready sending out those Christmas cards! And we've got 12 ideas for you too ;) Come to the TMS blog starting November 1st and for the next 12 days stay tuned for a new challenge...EVERY DAY!!!Each entry gets you a point toward the monthly contest prize which is sponsored by SCRAPBOOK STUDIO!!! At the end, if there is a tie, the TMS Designers will cast a vote on who they think will receive the top prize! All entries must be NEW and NEVER BEFORE seen. DT and current GDT TMS members are not eligible. Must be a TMS member and register on the TMS message board to be eligible with at least 10 posts. Come on down...register with us and find TONS of fun! Contest ends NOON November 13th, ET!! Don't forget to check back EVERY day till November 12th for the challenges.

well, i missed blog friday!!

2009-11-07T21:25:00.002-06:00

oops!! my bad............ i did not post anything on my blog yesterday!! but i am fixing that now!

had a great autumn day! spent the day with my dear friend julie scrappin, laughing and just having some good fun!! don't do that enough... but it is on my agenda for us to get together more often and just enjoy good times... i hope that she had as much fun as me!!

and the good news is...... i got her good by leaving her a little surprise in her laptop!! and she found it when she got home and opened it!! :)

i hope that you are enjoying your weekend and take some time to be with those you love...... be deliberate, choose to love and to enjoy spending time togther!!!

hello... it's almost the weekend......

2009-10-29T06:36:00.002-05:00

hello to all!! just stopping in to say hello!! this week has gone by quickly but it has also seemed long also (ever have one like that?) but nonetheless, it has been good... God is always good!!

not much to show as of today.... been working on a thing or two, but can't post it yet!! looking forward to getting the housework out of the way in the next day or two and spending some time scrappin. i have to get my son's photos scanned so that i can print the photos to start working on his wedding album... it will be here before i know it.

this month's card challenge over at the mosy scrapper is to make cards for those that you are thankful or grateful for. you are to make them a handmade card and write inside WHY you are grateful/thankful for them. isn't that something that we would ALL like to receive?? just a nice reminder and what a great expression to share with someone else...

why not play along?? go to the mosy, look around and join in on the fun & creativity. and while you are it, make a card to make someone's day!! mine has already been made thinking about the many wonderful people that i need to make a card for....... have a great day!!

blog friday!!

2009-10-23T09:07:00.003-05:00

julie at the mosy scrapper and from mi vida loca is going to be checking in on me....

i am packing up the last of my things to go spend the weekend with my brother's (and his lovely wife!!) three kiddos!! i really can't wait!! i am bringing cookie dough, wooden halloween masks with paint, halloween books (my favorite, BIG PUMPKIN), oh and of course, MY CAMERA!!!

we are going to have so much fun!! we might even have to do something outdoors if it stops raining!! i love my nieces and nephews and never get to spend enough time with them!!

i am taking a book, some scrap magazines, a small scrap project and my Bible study.... but i am not sure if i will get to do any of that!! no problem, i CAN'T wait to be with them!! i hope that you have some exciting plans for your weekend...

okay, here is my latest challenge at the mosy scrapper titled, PICTURE PERFECT. all the photos were from a sunday trip to the park near our house, it was a perfectly FALL day!!!

enjoy your weekend, i KNOW that i am!!!!

hello all!!

2009-10-16T22:45:00.002-05:00

well, twice in one week i am updating my blog!! who would have thought??

tomorrow, october 17th is 'world toy camera day'... get out and snap some photos in honor of it, i am hoping to. that if is the rain stops and the clouds part...... if not, maybe on sunday!!!

i wish you all a wonderful weekend spent with family & friends, doing what you want to do!!!! enjoy.......

well.. october 13th !!??!!

2009-10-13T09:40:00.002-05:00

well, julie over at mi vida loca is going to be checking my blog regularly to see if i am posting. so... i better get busy and post some things!! here is today's latest creation and then i PROMISE to post more after finishing up some other things!!!!

this is my challenge for today over at the mosy scrapper. it is called TECHNIQUE X 2. you must paint and rubberstamp on your layout. i painted on watercolor paper, then traced a heart shape, filled it in with all different fonts of stamped alphas and stitched to a piece of patterned paper...very easy!!!

be back soon.......

The Mosy Scrapper October Contest...

2009-09-30T07:47:00.001-05:00

THE MOSY SCRAPPER would like to see how you celebrate the fall by altering something for your home.

For the month of October get out your fall decor, halloween decor, OR get ready for Christmas and decorate something you plan on displaying in your home. Get out the papers, the glue gun, the sewing machine, anything worth altering...get messy!

One lucky altered scrapper will win something special from CREATIVELY GREEN (our October sponsor). Just turn in a picture of your entry along with:
*description of altered item and it's contents
*how and where you plan on displaying your altered home decor
*a little about you*your blog link (if you have one)
*AND have at least 10 posts on THE MOSY SCRAPPER message board!

Call ends October 20th by Midnight ET! Send entries to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com (subject line: October Monthly Contest).

Ready to Crop??

2009-09-28T22:50:00.003-05:00

do you have TONS of scrap paper laying around? have the day off? well, you need too!

october 3rd is world card making day and THE MOSY SCRAPPER wants YOU to come join the fun and scrap the day away at our first ever 'card crop'.

the TMS designers (i am one of them!!) have been working behind the scenes to come up with some creative challenges for all to be inspired. all challenges will be given a point value and the scrapper with the most points....WINS!!! A BIG LOOT will be given away to the top cropper. MANY cards will be made that day, so get all your gear ready, register at TMS and have fun!

DATE: october 3rd, 2009
TIME: 8am - midnight ET
WHERE: http://themosyscrapper.com/

see you there!

well... how long has it been since i posted??

2009-09-08T22:04:00.003-05:00

i have been one busy person... but haven't we all?? i have been working on 'de-daycare-cluttering' my house, getting two children settled into college (their junior year!!) and getting one child settled into his new full-time job as a college graduate (with HONORS!!) how exciting is that?? it has been a busy summer, i did some house to-do's, helped with a major project for our church's centennial celebration (and enjoyed a wonderful weekend with all of the festivities!!), did some scrappin', took a girls' week long trip with my mom and sisters, on & on...

i will post some of the projects that i have done over the last several months.......

oh!! and did i mention that i was going to be a mother-in-law?? josh proposed to leah in may!!! next may they will be married!! very exciting things around here......

The Mosy Scrapper's September Contest

2009-09-03T15:40:00.004-05:00

At THE MOSY SCRAPPER we are going "Back to School" in the month of September. We want you to choose pictures that are school related (such as: your kids, family member in school, school related events, animal obedience school, etc), any size/color/amount, 6x6 or larger and scrap something with them. Make sure to include some type of journaling on your creation in the form of a "supply list". All entries are due by September 20th, midnight (est) to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com (subject: Sept Monthly Contest). Must be a TMS member and have at least 10 posts on the message board. ALL scrappers welcomed!

The sponsor for the month's contest is Scrap Attack Scrapbooking!

So what are you waiting for...look for school photos and scrap something! Don't be tardy!!!!

Exciting News!!!

2009-09-01T06:33:00.003-05:00

My friend Christa, who is the owner of The Mosy Scrapper has opened her Etsy store!! How exciting!!! Well, she is having a grand opening sale at Doohickies & Such.

*******GRAND OPENING ---> Sept 4th - 30th!!! All US orders $20+ will receive a FREE set of cupcake buttons (your choice of 2 colors)!!********

This is exciting news!! I wanted you to all know so that you can go take a looksie and see all of her yummy creations!!!

The Mosy Scrapper's Project Design Team

2009-08-28T13:35:00.003-05:00

Monday, August 24, 2009

Project Design Team
Do YOU have what it takes to be THE MOSY SCRAPPER'S next Designer? Try out for PROJECT DESIGN TEAM and see if you've got what it takes....TMS is looking for ONE fun, spunky, chatty & creative scrapper to join it's team! {and there might be GDTs picked too ;) }TMS wants you! Are you crafty, trendy, up-to-date on techniques and/or latest products? We want someone that is ready to challenge and inspire it's members using the kits and items provided by it's sponsors; get us scrapping "outside our boxes", "testing the waters", just being creative!
Here are the details:*Call will last for 3.5 weeks. This will be a 3-round contest with each round ending with runners-up. Runners-up will ONLY be allowed to continue on to the next round of the call.*Participants must register at THE MOSY SCRAPPER message board and have at least 10 posts in order to be accepted into round 1.*ALL scrappers are welcomed!*Past TMS DT can participate as long as last reign was more than 6 months prior to current DT call.

Round 1:
Use the Page Maps sketch provided (seeto right) as inspiration and create a layout (6x6 or larger) using:

1.) at least 3 manufacturers on the page
2.) the theme be about YOU
3.) must have journaling

Turn creation to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com (subject: Round 1 DT) no later than September 6th at midnight ET. Round 1 runners-up will be announced on the TMS Blog, message board and via email on September 7th. Please include item description with your creation you submit.May the best Project Designer win!! Good luck! :)

August Altered Item Contest

2009-08-10T10:02:00.005-05:00

This month's contest is an alterable. Do you like to alter things? Can't get enough? The Mosy Scrapper would like you to create a door knob hanger (can be any size or shape) using:*3D embellishments and*some type of lettering on it, whether it be a word, saying, or an initial(s).This is a also a great challenge because it comes just in time for the beginning of school. It makes a great first day gift for all those kiddos teachers. Or if you have a scrap room that you haven't put a hanger on yet...now is your chance. You may know a new mom or a mom-to-be...why not make her feel special with a door knob hanger for her little angel?There are so many reasons to make a door knob hanger and a GREAT reason to receive some AWESOME goodies from our August Sponsor:

Please have your creation picture in the new TMS gallery (under MONTHLY CONTESTS) and also sent to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com by August 20th by midnight ET. All scrappers must have a minimum of 10 posts to the gallery before entering.Who is gonna win a loot from this adorable Etsy shop?Now...let's get scrappin'!

DESIGN TEAM CALL AT THE MOSY SCRAPPER!!

2009-08-10T10:00:00.001-05:00

SEPTEMBER GDT CALL for The Mosy Scrapper….Let’s see those shaped layouts (6×6 or larger) using only ONE manufacturer for layers of papers (a mixture of manufacturers for embellies is fine), ONE picture (can be any color) and something handcut anywhere on your creation. Get your scissors sharpened and enter this call!Must be a TMS member to enter and have at least 10 posts to the message board. THAT'S SO EASY TO DO! Participation is a must so that we can get to know you. Winner will receive a special donation from our sponsor for the month… Nikki Sivils!!

Please have your entry (new and never before seen) turned in to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com by August 16th, midnight ET to be considered for this call. Also include an item description of what you used in your creation AND what the creation is about. Winner will be notified via email no later than August 19th.Good luck!

BLOG HOP REMINDER!!

2009-07-22T22:50:00.008-05:00

Here are the rules:
1.)Start at the TMS Blog for the first of your assignments for this BLOG HOP.
2.)Be registered at TMS and have at least 10 posts before entering into the hop.
3.)Follow the directions carefully, you will be directed to other blogs (TMS designers) in order to finish up your creation.
4.)Submit your "new", never before seen creation to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com by July 26th at midnight to be considered for judging.
5.)Please participate on the message boards so that we all can get to know our participant's. PROMISE WE DON'T BITE!!Winner will be announced no later than July 28th.Sponsor for this contest: http://nikkisdoghouse.blogspot.com/

You should have already have 3 assignments already by the time you have reached my blog. The first one being http://mosyscrapper.blogspot.com/ the next one http://myunorganizedwonderfullife.blogspot.com/ and the next one http://alteredego-mividaloca.blogspot.com/.
my challenge is to use fabric and some kind of stitching (sewing machine or hand-stitching). next you go to http://melissapriest.typepad.com/
If you find you have any questions during your trip, please don't be afraid to ask. Just direct your questions to "amooretto" on the message board by sending a private message with "question" in the subject line.Have fun and blog safely BUT remember time is up on July 26th at midnight!!!

here's the july contest that i told you about...

2009-07-06T12:52:00.020-05:00

Who's ready for another MONTHLY CONTEST at The Mosy Scrapper?
Well, it's going to be a FUN one, and I do mean a FUN one!
Get your scrap desks ready and get your seatbelts on for a
BLOG HOP!!!
Here are the rules:

1.)Start at the TMS Blog for the first of your assignments for this BLOG HOP.
2.)Be registered at TMS and have at least 10 posts before entering into the hop.
3.)Follow the directions carefully, you will be directed to other blogs (TMS designers) in order to finish up your creation.
4.)Submit your "new", never before seen creation to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com by July 26th at midnight to be considered for judging.
5.)Please participate on the message board
so that we all can get to know our participant's. PROMISE WE DON'T BITE!!

Winner will be announced no later than July 28th.
Sponsor for this contest:

http://nikkisdoghouse.blogspot.com/

You should have already had 3 assignment already by the time you have reached my blog. The first one being : the mosy scrapper blog... http://mosyscrapper.blogspot.com/ and the next one being janet... http://myunorganizedwonderfullife.blogspot.com/ and the next one being julie... http://alteredego-mividaloca.blogspot.com/

FOR MY CHALLENGE I WANT YOU TO USE FABRIC AND STITCHING (hand or machine) ON YOUR LAYOUT.

for your next instructions you must visit melissa... http://melissapriest.typepad.com/

If you find you have any questions during your trip, please don't be afraid to ask. Just direct your questions to "amooretto" on the message board by sending a private message with "question" in the subject line.

Have fun and blog safely!!!!!

More Mosy Scrapper news...

2009-07-06T09:21:00.004-05:00

Be sure to check back on the blog later today for our July Monthly Contest! Our sponsor is no other than an awesome, new designer....Nikki Sivils!!!

STAY TUNED!
So get cracking and tell all your friends of all the opportunities that are waiting!!!! Happy Scrapping!

Want to win a RAK from the Mosy Scrapper??

2009-07-06T09:19:00.002-05:00

Do you like RAKs (random acts of kindness)? Who doesn't?
Well...if you want a chance at winning a RAK...start posting to the TMS gallery!!!
TMS's DT coordinator (Melissa Priest) needs YOU to post as many of your favorite layouts that you have done in the past 3 months into the gallery.
WHY?So that we can get inspiration of course, but ALSO so that YOU could be a RAK winner!
ONE lucky, "NEW" scrapper will be featured as the Inspiration of the Week (IOTW) each Friday in the month of JULY!!! The IOTW of that week will receive a RAK from me!! Let's see here...what do I have to give away??? Hmmm....
stamps
Maya Road items
patterned paper
chipboard
rub-ons
cardstock stickers
ribbons
YOU NAME IT!!! EVERY FRIDAY for the month of JULY!!! That's 5 winners. Are you going to be one of those 5 winners?

Here is how you play:
1.) Must be a "newbie" to The Mosy Scrapper
2.) Have a minimum of 10 posts on the message board
3.) Post your favorite creations in the past 3 months till now into the TMS gallery. Don't forget to see the challenges that are posted in this link too.

The Mosy Scrapper August GDT search....

2009-07-06T09:12:00.004-05:00

The Mosy Scrapper wants to find the NEXT Guest Designer for the month of AUGUST!!
Is it you?Here's what you need to do:

1.) First sign up at THE MOSY SCRAPPER and become a member. Get a acquainted with all the ladies on the board, post some comments (a minimum of 25 posts to enter please), take a look at the SUMMER CHALLENGE and participate!
2.) Enter your take on a sketch for the August GDT call (see Valerie Salmon's sketch below). Turn it into the TMS Gallery (GDT Call entries folder) on the message board along with the items you used in your creation. Please make this a "new" layout and never before seen.

3.) ALSO...enter your most FAVE layout you have made (can be new or old) into the same folder found in the TMS gallery and in the description tell us why it's your favorite.
4.) Have these 2 entries in by July 19th at Midnight ET into the TMS gallery.
5.) Winner will be notified by PM no later than July 21st!
6.) Reign will begin August 1st - August 31st
7.) Duties of the August GDT:
*participate on the message on a regular basis,
*post at least ONE guest designer challenge,
*create at least 4 items using the sponsored kit (donated by
Serendipity Scrapbooks!!)
*do the questions of the day and scrap questions of the day for
the month of August
*and just scrap and chat the time away with the TMS gang!

SO....IS IT YOU??? Get busy and let the Mosy Scrapper see your submissions!!!!

lots going on at the mosy scrapper...

2009-06-02T09:27:00.004-05:00

Lots going on....

1. July GDT call - the mosy scrapper is looking for ONE designer for the month of July. It's fairly simple. Come check out this link to find out how you can enter. It's just a sketch!!! http://mosyscrapper.blogspot.com/2009/05/july-gdt-call.html

2. June Monthly Contest - every month there is a contest at TMS. This month the winner will receive a goodie bag from LemonTreeStudio (an Etsy store). Here are the details, examples and a little about our sponsor. http://mosyscrapper.blogspot.com/2009/05/june-contest.html

3. Starting this month in June we will be having a summer challenge!!! It's run like the AWESOME crops at TMS...point value system. You'll have to check out the message board to see details about this fun challenge that will run thru mid August! The grand prize is still undetermined...but I know that it'll be big b/c Christa is sponsoring it!!!

4.There will be something fun that is going on at the message board. It's not a competition (well, for some it is!!). It's just showing off your "flare". There are ways for each member to obtain flare buttons under their siggy lines on the message board. Come check it out!

And don't forget the lovely challenges that the TMS Designers post each month. There are weekly challenges, a card charity to make for and just ways to inspire and spark that scrapbook bug into scrapping!!

The Mosy Scrapper July Guest Design Team Call-out

2009-05-26T19:22:00.003-05:00

Are you the next Guest Designer for THE MOSY SCRAPPER? Like sketches? Want to receive a free kit that is donated by one of our lovely sponsors? Like inspiring and showcasing your creations? Then TMS is for You!!

The Mosy Scrapper is looking for one Guest Designer for the month of July. All you will have to do is register yourself at TMS, have at least 25 posts to enter, and create a masterpiece using the sketch that you will find below or on the message board. Call is from May 26th - June 15th. Our sponsor for the month is Life Preserver's. Please turn in your entry to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com by midnight June 15th ET. A winner will be announced no later than June 18th.

We look forward in seeing the entries. We love all the participation that comes with calls/contests. Good luck! Here is the sketch to work with that can be found on http://scrappingday.blogspot.com/:

Come on!! Get busy and let's see what you've got...

JUNE GDT CALL AT THE MOSY SCRAPPER

2009-04-22T10:47:00.001-05:00

The Mosy Scrapper is looking for ONE guest designer for the month of June. Do you have what it takes? Here are the details:

*Create a new, never before seen layout showing us your fun side - whether it be a funny face, a fun activity (i.e. at a park, the lake, etc), or YOU just having fun!
*Must have journaling on a layout 6x6 or larger
*Please send in with your creations the following: name, username, other DT/GDT you are on at the time (this does not reflect judging), describe scrappy style, and what you could bring your month of reign to TMS!

ALL SCRAPPERS ACCEPTED! Please email your creations to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com by May 10th at midnight ET (please put in subject line: June GDT). If you have been a Guest Design Team member at The Mosy Scrapper in the last 6 months you cannot try out this time. In order to be considered, your participation on the Mosy Scrapper forum is required. We love getting to know our applicants, especially if you are a newbie, so please be ready to post a minimum of 40 posts by the deadline.

Get those entries in & join in on all the fun and creativity with a great group of women!! you will love the mosy scrapper board!!! get scrappin...

hello!!

2009-04-14T16:23:00.006-05:00

well it is the middle of april and i have been busy... i haven't posted but thought that today would be a good day to get caught up...

i have some news!! i have been chosen as the craft coordinator at the mosy scrapper, yes... i am now on their design team!! quite exciting, they are a great group of ladies that like to scrap, chat and just have fun!!!! i love it there... if you get a chance {or make the time!} to, go check out the mosy scrapper, it is my favorite online board!!!

in may, christa will be having a huge sale... you will definitely want to check this out!!

i will get some of my projects uploaded and put on here... it seems like forever since i have shared any of my creations. just too much to do and not enough time!!!

also a big shout out today to my oldest sister!! it is her birthday!! happy birthday velinda!! i love you so much... i hope that your day is extra-special!!!

Mosy Scrapper May Guest Design Team

2009-03-30T21:06:00.005-05:00

this is a great oppportunity to get to be a part of an amazing message board and group of creative scrappin ladies... check it out....

It's that time again!!

THE MOSY SCRAPPER is looking for ONE Guest Designer to be on it's team for the month of May. Do you have what we are looking for? Want to get a kit to scrap with for FREE and join in on some fun with the best scrap ladies there are out there?

http://mosyscrapper.blogspot.com/2009/03/may-gdt-call.html

Then this call is for you!

Call is from March 28th - April 11th, midnight ET. ALL entries are welcomed!

RULES:
1.) Must have 25 posts to the TMS message board to enter.
2.) Please use the sketch provided (from PageMaps) to make your entry, rock it out. Show us your stuff!

3.) You MUST have journaling somewhere (even if its just a bit) on it! Any size 6x6 or larger is welcomed!
4.) ALL scrappers welcomed!
5.) Past GDT/DT members cannot apply if past reign has been less than 6 months.

GDT Duties:
1.) Participation on the TMS message board is a must.
2.) Must complete 4 creations from kit given (3 layouts and 1 card/alterable).
3.) Promote TMS whenever and wherever possible (i.e. siggy lines, blogs, other sites).
4.) Post at least ONE challenge on the message board during reign.

Please submit your entries to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com and in the subject line: May GDT!!! Looking forward to seeing your creations and hopefully working with one of you in May

Mosy Scrapper Blog Hop Challenge!!!

2009-03-27T00:28:00.005-05:00

Happy 1st Anniversary Mosy Scrapper!! what a great year it has been!!!! i have loved being a part of the mosy scrapper, with all of its challenges, inspiration, friendships, fun, the mosy store with kits, and being the guest design team member for this month! what a thrill it has been, thanks to christa and all the scrappers at the mosy!!! http://themosyscrapper.forumakers.com/

okay, i am away for the weekend as many of you know, but here is my blog hop challenge to you... it is a scraplift of this wonderful layout. i did not post the talented person who made this as i did not attach their name to the photo and i don't know {sorry!}.

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here are the specifics... read carefully and make sure to post it at the mosy, christa will have a crop list and it will cover where to post these challenges...

my challenge is a scraplift
*must use 2 different fabrics on layout
*must use stitching {either hand stitching or sewing machine}
*must use buttons

point value-see the mosy for point value

RAK: yes, i will select a random winner from all who take this challenge!!

THIS CHALLENGE CAN NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER CHALLENGES ON THE MOSY SCRAPPER
{NO TWO-FERS ACCEPTED FOR THIS!!}

hello!!!

2009-03-20T00:13:00.014-05:00

okay, where has the time gone?? i thought that i just turned the calendar to march and it is nearly 2/3 over!! unbelievable!!

it has been a busy month for me since semi-retiring! i have painted, major cleaning throughout the house, prepped for a yard sale, taken over the housekeeping, attempted to be a guest design team member for the mosy, and started vein procedures on my other leg.

so that's where march has gone, phew!!! i have done several march madness challenges over at the mosy as well as 2 layouts and a card. i still have some more things to do, besides getting my challenges together for the first anniversary crop at the mosy scrapper. if you can {which i CAN'T!! ;( } try to be at the mosy on march 27-29 for some fun, challenges, prizes, inspiration, etc, etc, etc!! i will be out of town, but there will be plenty happening over there to keep you busy.

i will be traveling with a friend from jr. high/high school to go see another friend of ours, we will spend the weekend catching up, doing girly things and completing our first quarter fulfillment of spending time together. i am sure that we will plan next quarter's get together and get it on the calendar!!

here are a couple of things that i have done this month on the mosy...

a layout using the march kit angelina...

a layout & card using the march card kit annabelle...

a card made for the color blind challenge and bust a gut cards with the theme, BUG OFF!!

another bust a gut card

some other fun stuff....i have been taking a photo a day for my project 365 book and writing down something that i am grateful for each day, it has been a deliberate choice each day to do. what a great reminder of all the many wonderful blessings that i have been given in my life!! maybe you should think about doing such a project...

wishing you a wonderful friday and a great weekend!!!!!!!!

The MARCH KITS for the MOSY SCRAPPER revealed...

2009-02-28T22:43:00.008-06:00

as promised, here are the kits that i will be working with over the next month for the mosy scrapper...

this is Annabelle the scrap kit...

this is Angelina, the card kit...

come over to the mosy and see what's going on this month... see you there!!!

february is nearly over!!

2009-02-26T23:09:00.006-06:00

as i write this, it is the evening before my last day of day care as i have known it for the last ten years. i am downsizing at this point and will only care for one child. it was a difficult decision but one that needed to be made.

over the last ten years, i have held many babies, toddlers & children. i have been diagnosed with 2 herniated discs, carpal tunnel & tendonitis. i am about to the end of my pain levels {especially in my back!} i need to still have something for my family at the end of the day.

so after tomorrow, i get the job of going through ten years worth of day care supplies, toys, products, etc, etc, etc!! i will eventually re-gain my dining room {which it has NEVER been!} i will get some new organizational pieces for my scrap room {YEAH!!} and we will eventually get a main level sunroom instead of it being a play room {woo hoo!!}

it has been a wonderful journey, i have met so many wonderful families and been fortunate enough to care for many wonderful children. my first two children are nearly ten years-old. so difficult to believe that time has moved that quickly...

i will miss the children and the daily interactions with their parents. but, the good news is that the majority of them attend the same church with our family, so i will still get to see them. it will be good, just different.

in march, i begin more procedures/surgeries for my other leg {dealing with my varicose veins}. it should be do-able and i now know what to expect. i just hope that i can do the MANY things around the house that i am wanting to get done while recuperating from the 'leg stuff'.

i also am the guest design team member for the mosy scrapper in march. i received my kits and can i just say that they are chock FULL of stuff. i don't know how christa does it, but i have plenty to work with next month. make sure and check out the blog and message board {posted on my favorite blogs...}and if you want, join in. next month is the mosy scrapper's birthday month, there are going to be challenges, contests, rak's, and a weekend crop. don't miss out on the fun!!! when the kits became available online, i will post the contents {if i did it now, i might get my gdt spot taken away!! ;) }

don't forget to be DELIBERATE in what you say, think & do. i have been trying to live by that each day... also be deliberate about being grateful for the things that you have, experience, share, your family, friends, whatever.... have gratitude!!!

well, i can share my news...

2009-02-07T16:31:00.006-06:00

NO!! david and i are NOT expecting a baby!!!! {whew!!}

in my last post, i shared a photo of one of my layouts... well that layout was chosen by the mosy scrapper as the winning layout from.... their next guest design team member!! i am excited and thrilled to be their next mosy scrapper guest designer. which means, i will have to get busy and be creative {what an exciting thing to HAVE to do!! :) }. i will post the photo again, just in case you forgot what it looked like ;).

go to my list of blogs and click on the mosy scrapper to see my designs and to join in on the fun. i will be designing for them in march. hope to see you there...

i would talk more, but i have a list of "to-do's" to get accomplished before i can even begin designing for the mosy. i hope that you have a wonderful weekend!! remember to be deliberate about all that you do.

well, i missed a couple of weeks!! oops!!

2009-02-05T09:14:00.019-06:00

i guess by now you have figured out that i missed my bi-weekly posting!! time just flies so fast, sometimes it is even hard to keep up with life!! last week we had an
8 inch snow storm!! we still have quite a bit of snow on the ground, i am ready for it to melt and go away...

i have been busy doing many things; household stuff, going through and getting rid of things, so many things to do and just not enough hours in the day! at the end of this month i am downsizing/closing my day care. i will still have one that is older and doesn't require so much holding, lifting, etc. ten years of doing this has taken a toll on my back, shoulders and wrists. this being a bittersweet thing, i will so miss the children and their parents, but i will get some time to rest parts of my body that are screaming out, "WE ARE GONNA QUIT!!!" i am hoping to coax those parts back into being part of a healthy, functioning body!! ;)

i have done some scrappin and will get that posted. i pretty much get all of my inspiration and daily 'fix' from the mosy scrapper. i love that blog... you will have to check it out. christa and her design team give more inspiration and challenges than this girl can keep up with!! (i am hoping to get some more scrap time in eventually!! it is on my to-do list!!) stop by and 'mosy' around, you will love the friendly ladies there!!! http://mosyscrapper.blogspot.com/ this is the blog and just click on the sidebar to go to the message board also!! here are this month's kits, i can't wait to get mine and work with them, christa does a fantastic job jam packing them full of goodies!!

this is the candy card kit...

this is the bella page kit...
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this is the edward page kit...

i guarantee that you will not be disappointed in any of these kits!!

okay... i will try and post some of my things...

this is one of tay...

here is one of caiti & tay...

here is one of the little ones that i keep, holding her own bottle at 4 1/2 months!!

here is one of the little boy that i watch {it was his first time painting-HE LOVED IT!!}

here is david & i on new year's eve...

i hope that so far 2009 is proving to be a wonderful year for you. make a DELIBERATE effort to enjoy every day and to find something to be thankful or grateful for. i know that i am...

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-09T13:47:00.011-06:00

Well, it is a new year!! I hope that you are enjoying it so far and have great expectations for it. i have been busy organizing and finishing up end of the year business and working on getting back into my scrappin mode!!

i shared in the last blog that i won the twelve weeks of Christmas contest at the mosy scrapper http://themosyscrapper.forumakers.com. besides receiving a wonderful page kit, i had the card kit named after me. here is a photo of it. you get a ton of supplies, i received mine and i love it!!

LORI card kit

christa over at the mosy also has several wonderful kits as well as on online store. you will have to look into it for yourself... here are the kits for this month, i received the kirby kit as a prize and ordered the wonderful add-on kit with the mini tin lunchbox.

PHOEBE

KIRBY

KIRBY add-on kit

also, this month at the mosy we are making cards for an air force platoon... check out LOVE FOR OUR TROOPS:PENROD'S PLATOON and contact me via email or on the mosy message board. we would love to have you join us!!!

there is also a great board full of women over at the mosy the create some amazing things... stop by and pick yourself up a kit and some mojo!!!!

have a great weekend~i gotta get busy and scrap with my kits!!!!

happy last monday of 2008!!!

2008-12-29T23:43:00.007-06:00

okay, so i totally blew the once a week blog post... well, i will try better next year!! just thought that i would post a bit about my december and remind you to always be grateful.

today i saw the doctor from my surgery/procedure last week on my leg. he said everything looked great and continue to wear the compression hose on it. {i realize that i didn't post that i was having this done, but now it's over so i will post the results...} on the way home i stopped at a south county scrapbook store and got a ton of tim holtz yummies that i didn't have. love that man and all of his creativity, tools, etc...

i have been trying to get some scrappin' done but keep getting sucked into the living room as there is constantly someone playing guitar hero world tour. our oldest, josh, LOVES to do the band segment- 2 guitars, the drum set and a singer!! of course, i usually have to bail out whoever was the singer!! too funny... that was our family gift for Christmas and it was a real hit, or shall i say... I ROCK!! everyone has had a good time with it.

this evening we took down the tree, which is always the final sign that the year is ending and a new one is on its way... kinda makes me melancholy, i love having the tree up, but i also like everything back to 'normal'.

i hope that your Christmas season was a wonderful one, i for sure have enjoyed it to the fullest, even with being on limited use of my leg, it was still a great season. i have so much to be thankful for. in fact, this year my mother opted to not give money, gift cards or even purchased gifts for the adults in the family. she wrote in each person's card about how each of us has been blessed abundantly this year (and we have!!)so she selected items that were hers, my dad's or their's... and gave each adult a piece of sentimentality, i really loved it. i was overwhelmed with my gift, she gave me my dad's second wedding ring (his original he gave to my sister many years ago as it was bent). so my mom purchased him a new one with a small diamond in it. i don't care about the gold, the diamond or anything... i am just thrilled that she gave me a symbol of her love for the only man that she ever loved. i wear it with my wedding band as a symbol of their commitment that was an example to me for my commitment to my husband.

for so many things, i am grateful. i only have a couple of projects to post, it has been a busy month and mainly the things that i finished were for the 12 weeks of Christmas contest on the mosy scrapper. well, at the end of the 12 weeks, i won!! i am thrilled but more so, i am thrilled with all of the wonderful challenges that i finished.

i hope and pray that your 2009 is a year filled with blessings and gratitudes... take a moment each day and jot down a specific thing that you are grateful for. it will be a reminder of how good God is to you...

a couple of my last ones for this year:
*wonderful news about denise~that she made it through surgery.
*a nice quiet dinner at bread company reading a new scrappin book
*a safe surgery & a wonderful caretaker
*pain pills & sleep ;)
*Christmas at home with family-mom, leeanne & gabrielle, lonnie & myra joined us for lunch
*22 years of marriage to my best friend!! happy anniversary!!

see... i/we REALLY DO HAVE A WONDERFUL LIFE!!!!

38 cards that i made and wrote in to each child on the "make a child smile" foundation membership list (a challenge from the mosy scrapper...)

gift bags {12} that denise asked me to make for her cookie exchange... how could i say no?? i had been asking what i could do for her for weeks, this THRILLED me to make for her.

a clock that i did for the last week of the 12 weeks of Christmas contest....

a layout that i did of sonja, denise and i. the background is copies of my & denise's facebook correspondance...

happy friday!!!

2008-12-05T13:28:00.007-06:00

well, it has been a week and i have been busy as i know that you have all been. i am currently working on Christmas, getting the house finished off on decorating, some gifts, scrapping, etc... you all know our routines!!

i have only done a couple of things that i can show as i have been working on cards for a charity that christa at the mosy scrapper selected. the name of the charity is 'make a child smile'. it is an organization for children with all types of illnesses, their stories and bios are available for each one. we were asked to make and write in cards for some of the children. well, it broke my heart...how could i choose 1, 3 or even 10 of the 38?? so i am currently writing in each of the cards as i have them all made. it just saddens me to read their stories (mostly from the mother's perspectives) as we have been blessed with three healthy children.

yes, i have so many things to do this month (as we all do!) but i believe that this is a very worthy cause and chose to do one for each of these precious children. so i will quickly finish this as the kiddos are fast asleep and i would like to knock off 10 or more notes in my cards...

i am continuing to be grateful, are you?? a few of the latest...
* an evening nap~i needed that!!
* the beautiful sunshine-y day!!
* time with caiti & taylor at michael's & starbuck's!!
* brunch date with denise & sonja~priceless!!

don't forget to write them down. if you didn't do this in 2008, why not consider it in 2009??

a couple projects...

an altered album for week #8 at the mosy scrapper. i am going to use it as my to do/to create album...

a thanksgiving challenge at the mosy scrapper, unfortunately i didn't get any photos that day, but i still found plenty to write about and be thankful for...

this week's layout challenge at the mosy scrapper. it is photos of me and my two sisters as little girls...

happy thanksgiving!!!

2008-11-26T08:36:00.007-06:00

well, it has been about a week, so i am keeping up with the once a week post pretty well!!! it is the last working day of the week for me {although i still work at home!!} and i am looking forward to a nice long time off. my husband and i are cooking thanksgiving dinner tomorrow for our family and my mom is joining us. i am wishing for a nice, peaceful, relaxing day {of course with some scrappin time!! some organization time and decorating the house for christmas time!!} doesn't sound to relaxing now, does it??!

i have been quite busy in the week, but feel like i don't have much to show for it... i maded collaged shopping bags for a friend, they were very time consuming, but i loved doing it. i have decided to look for a good quality, inexpensive sewing machine for paper only. i am afraid that i might tear up my good kenmore {that is 20 years old?!!} so i will make it a fabric-only machine again. the machine that i get must be a full-size with plenty of power, no wimpy-kiddie style!!

i hope and pray that as your week unfolds and you spend thanksgiving with others, that you will find things to be thankful for, we have so many blessings living in the United States. why not consider keeping a GRATITUDE journal next year?? i have so loved doing that this year and already have my journal for next year nearly finished!!

a 2 page layout for the mosy scrapper. it shows the progression of our christmas trees through the years... we were to use 4 pieces of felt, thus my felt christmas tree.

this is a 6 X 12 layout of david's family farm. we have been going up to 'the hill' to monitor the progress on his parents' new house that is being built. this is the pond in the back field behind the house.

happy thursday!!

2008-11-13T11:57:00.009-06:00

okay, so maybe i will try to post bi-weekly... you know life just keeps coming at me and i have not enough hours to accomplish everything {whine, whine}. i know... the same is for you, how did we all get so busy??

i now have five children a week that i care for, maybe that adds some more to my list of ways that i lose more time... hmmm. i have been trying to be a mom, wife, early childhood practitioner, friend, scrapper, etc. i definitely need more than 24 hours in a day to do all that!!

the weather here today is beautiful. fall crisp air, but sunshine outta this world. leaves on the ground everywhere...picture perfect fall day!!!

i have done a few projects, i am never sure what i have posted and what i haven't posted when it gets so spread out between postings, i know... that is my fault!! well i will post some of the latest creations. oh... i almost forgot to mention, i am the mosy member of the month for november at the mosy scrapper. check out the message board & blog at http://themosyscrapper.forumakers.com . that is also where i am doing the 12 weeks of Christmas contest and each week create some type of project for there, getting some things for me {and a few gifts!!} taken care of!! :)

okay, well here's the projects and don't forget to keep writing those gratitudes down... here are a few of my latest:*a beatutiful, autumn day~sunny, warm, breezy & leaves falling everywhere! *spending the morning with mom & caiti at a craft show *movie night with david, caiti & andrew {& homemade chocolate chip cookies-made by me!} *my washing machine {fixed!! woo hoo!!} *my GRATITUDE journal.

this is david and i on one of our october weekend day trips...

this is one of the cutie patooties that i care for... wearing her "jack-o-lantern wear" from 'aunt lori' (that's what mommy & daddy call me!)

a quick canvas wall hanging that i created for one of the challenges to make my own paper flowers

a wall hanging of dad dressed as santa (the photo of the child is my oldest, josh)

the current 12 weeks of Christmas challenge-we were to alter a box with several things, i created a shadowbox of our wedding.

a layout of our three at a family friend's wedding. the tassel pulls out a tab with the lyrics to a song titled "How to Say Goodbye" by Michael W. Smith

another mosy scrapper challenge

caleb making his famous brownies....

happy thursday!!

2008-10-30T08:55:00.012-05:00

i am behind in my once-a-week posting!! life is just going so fast and it is so hard to get everything done in a day, besides all the normal life things and running a child care business from home!! oh to have a life of just scrappin... {a girl can dream can't she??!}

the weather in the midwest turned off chilly quickly but is supposed to warm back up over the next couple of days. i like brisk weather, NOT cold weather, that is if i get to custom order what i want!! ;)

i have been busy again doing layouts for our family albums. mostly just scrappin the everyday life that we live, isn't that what it is all about anyway?? this past weekend was a very full one for david and i. on saturday we headed to the apple butter festival in kimmswick, missouri. the weather was perfect. we shopped in all of the vendor tents and in all of the local shops. we ate yummy festival foods {gigantic corn dog, homemade potato chips called ribbon potatoes-long continuous chips!!, and chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick-yummy doesn't adequately describe how good all this food was!!} then on sunday after church we headed up to his family's farm to see the progress on his parents' new house being built. we then went to the cemetary, drove through the county and headed back home. it was another wonderful fall day. we took tons of photos...more scrappin material!!

i hope that you are in the midst of a wonderful week and finding much to be grateful for and that you are writing it down and keeping track of those gratitudes. a couple of my latest entries...
*reading books with taylor
*quiet alone time to think & create
*receiving messages from good friends~denise & sonja
*a beautiful day in calhoun county with david

there are so many and i have so much to be grateful for!! don't forget to write them down so that you can remember to thank God for His blessings!!!

okay, time to share some creations~have a wonderful day!!

3 vintage tags that i created for one of the 12 weeks of Christmas challenge at the Mosy Scrapper. i loved this project!! i used the lyrics to an elton john/bernie taupin song titled "I Need You To Turn To". each verse inspired each of the three tags. i created an altered book to hold the tags. love this!!

the following two layout are a new size for me {6 X 12} this is from a day trip to kimmswick, missouri for the apple butter festival...

this is caleb making his famous brownies...

happy wednesday!!

2008-10-15T09:05:00.006-05:00

hello!! it has been 10 days since i last posted. i am going to have to get better at posting once a week!! i have been busy enjoying the autumm season, family and scrappin!! and since they all go hand in hand, i will have many opportunities for scrapbooking, woo hoo!!

i have been working on my pine cone press projects and incorporating them with the challnges at the mosy scrapper. the best part is...i am getting pages done and in my book!! double woo hoo!!

my oldest sister, velinda, has written a couple of short stories that i have read and they were great. one was amazing, it was about our dad when he was younger. i am going to ask permission to scrap the short story with a photo of my dad from childhood, i think that would make a great page {and the journaling is already done!!}

our oldest son went for his first 'adult job' interview yesterday and it went very well. he was even introduced to the vp of the company and spent some time with him. he should hear in the next couple of weeks. if it is to be, i hope that it works out for him, if not...God has other things planned for him.

i hope that you are having a great week and remembering your gratitudes... i am and am so thankful for all of the things that i have and experience. each new thing helps me as i continue on in my journey through life.

i hope that you enjoy these layouts and the rest of your week!!

one about how an ordinary day turns extra-ordinary.

a mini collage of things about our house and life {my current favorite!}

a 2 page layout about my brothers, sisters and i.

photo from my brother lance's wedding!! great day!

photo from my brother lyle's graduation from techical school. mom calls this her 'charlie's angels' girls!!

taylor after an afternoon snack with a 'milk mustache'!!!

princess taylor {and she did the posing all on her own!!}

hello!

2008-10-05T22:02:00.006-05:00

hello! it has been a couple of weeks. life keeps moving faster and faster and i am just trying to keep up with it. i am ending a wonderful weekend and looking forward to the coming week. i had a lazy weekend, full of fun and good times!!

david and i went to border's and to dinner on friday night, very casual and relaxed.
saturday morning after doing a few things around the house, we headed off to the missouri botanical garden to "the best of st. louis" festival. very nice, very croweded, but we still had a good time. i then accompanied him on a nine-hole golf adventure and then home for a relaxing evening watching a re-run of the VP debate.
today, i went to church with my mom for her church's 40-year anniversary celebration. this is the church that i grew up in. it was very nice, with former pastors and interim pastors speaking throughout the morning. one of the former associate pastors even mentioned dad at the very beginning of his sermon. well...i started crying all over again. i was exhausted when i got home at almost 2 o'clock from crying all morning. i will one day make it through an entire church service there without crying!! after all of the services there was a picnic.

this afternoon and evening i relaxed and did a bit of scrapping. i will post photos.

i hope that your weekend was wonderful and filled with good things. i enjoyed this weekend so much that i want to find another festival to attend and do the same next weekend, and the next and the next... i could get really lazy!!!

i hope that you are continuing to keep track of the many gratitudes that you have. i have so many and am so thankful that God continue to gives me reasons to be grateful. if for no other reason, i am grateful for Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. but i am so blessed that i have daily things that happen that i am so very grateful for, i hope that you do to. have a wonderful week.

a layout of an extra-ordinary day:

the library card journal tag states: "what makes this day extraordinary from the others? is it the mocha? is it the bagel? no! no! no! it's because i showed up and God was there- extra~ordinary!

a wall hanging for a dear friend of mine in kansas city

posting again!!

2008-09-18T13:25:00.015-05:00

hello,

it has been a bit longer than a week since i last posted. i am quite busy during my days, then you add in going to a training here and there, and then doing a weekend online crop, etc, etc, etc. maybe you get the idea.

last weekend, i did an online crop that julie told me about. talk about inpiration...there were TOO many good challenges and ideas!! i completed 19 (yes, 19!!) layouts and a couple of projects. this is quite exciting!! i have never gotten that much completed before in one weekend. woo hoo!! i had to break open the seal on a new scrapbook (that is a good thing!!) it was a fast paced weekend as i had a seven hour workshop on saturday and didn't get to start cropping until saturday evening!! many of the projects will also be for my pine cone press book club this month as they have numerical titles. i will try to post all of the layouts without freaking out my computer, i might have to do it in a couple of posts.

i have spent almost the last three weeks reuniting with a friend from jr. high and high school. she lives in kansas city with her wonderful husband (who i also attended high school with!) and their 14-year old son. big prayer request!! denise has stage 3 breast cancer and is currently undergoing chemo. she has surgery later this year or in january. please pray for her health, her strength as the chemo is now playing hard ball on her body and for her spirit (which right now is amazing, she still has her great positive outlook and her wonderful sense of humor). you could also pray for those around her that are helping her, her dear husband willie and their son jackson, her mother and step-father (who travel every 3 weeks to kansas city) that they will remain healthy and strong.i have been so blessed messaging back and forth usually on a daily basis, what a blessing to rekindle an old friendship and to be there for each other. besides catching up on news, i feel like we have never missed a beat!! that's the sign of good friendship. in her words, "i am so glad that we have reconnected and don't want to lose that reconnection." i plan on being in it for the long haul.

also, on that note i have made a conncetion with another one of my dearest friends growing up. we live in the same town but have basically just kept in contact via Christmas cards. we are going out next week to spend some time together. i am really looking forward to that.

and...i am looking forward to getting to go to the movies with my dear friend julie if she ever gets a free moment. in our jobs (early childhood care in our homes) sometimes time to JUST ourself is a luxury. not that others don't have the same complaint, it just feels like you are always giving out and sometimes not much comes back. hopefully SOON we will get to spend an evening together at the movies. if not, we do have pine cone press book club next week...

now here are some of my latest creations.

our 2 cate's
my daughter holding my brother's daughter
2630
our former house
poolside w/ josh
surprise julie!
julie's surprise birthday crop
altered letter P
hershey's
trip to the hershey's store while in chicago for a conference
me at 42!
that's all i'm gonna say about that!
4ever
my husband
senior year
josh's senior year at college
family traits
my mom & dad, brother & his wife and our three children goofing off
4th of july 2008-the boys shooting off fireworks!!
caleb
the day after having all 4 wisdom teeth removed
an index shot capturing our last mother's day with dad 2000
Christmas memories 2000
my dad playing football on mother's day 2000
mom's birthday 2000
(while dad was in the hospital)
caitlin
senior banquet
caitlin, caleb & kristen

happy sunday!!

2008-09-07T11:05:00.005-05:00

i am not sure that i am going to get this whole blogging thing!! i know for sure that i will not win a prize for having the best blog, the most updated, etc, etc, etc. that is fine with me.

hope that your sunday is going well. i have had a wonderful weekend and too soon it will come to an end!! friday evening i went to a crop with julie, i went early to set up a mini-surprise birthday party {as her birthday was the day before}. she was surprised and i think that she enjoyed all of her surprises. i will just be glad when her real charms are sent to me and she can then scrap her paper ones!! i had been feverishly working and creating some unique presents for her; i made her 2 cards, an altered salt shaker complete with a fairy, mini beads and a button bouquet (pictured in the last post). i also made her a mini collage with all kinds of ephemera. she was presented 2 paper charms (to soon be replaced with sally jean charms) in a handmade box titled party girl that i made for a 3-D challenge (pictured in the last post). i also baked her a homemade pineapple upside down cake (for the first time!) and she assured me that it was yummy! what a fun night we had, we were both exhausted on saturday. you can view her gifts on her blog mi vida loca (just click on the first of my favorites, it will take you to it!)

on saturday i had an appointment to get some compression hose for my upcoming leg procedures. i asked my mom to go along and then we were to meet up with my brother and his family. i showed up for my 9 am fitting appointment to find the store unoccupied or at least it appeared to be that way. thinking that the workers probably parked around back we went in. i heard the familiar hum of the alarm system and thought it will stop. after 45 seconds, the REAL alarm started blasting!! i said to mom that we should wait outside. after a couple of minutes when no one showed up, i realized that the door had been left unlocked and in fact according to their sign, that they did not open until 10. mom said, well let's go and i said, "no, we have already been on a security camera, we will wait for the police." sure enough, 2 squad cars pulled up. after them investigating, making a couple of jokes, we left to come back at ten. what a freaky thing!!

after my appointment we met up with my brother's family. we got to see his office at his new law firm, his three children were so excited about their daddy's office. then the seven of us walked a few blocks to the clayton art fair. we spent most of our time in the children's area which was fine with me as i don't get to see them enough. i found two wonderful vendors. one which created altered canvases with paints and vintage ephemera. my mother complimented (at least that is how i took it) me and said "well you could do these." and then i said "yeah, but i don't think anyone will pay me these prices for them!!" they were wonderful and i would have loved to have purchased several. the other vendor that rocked created jewelry, altered shadow boxes and 3-d scultptures (mostly birds) out of all kinds of metal. they were amazing to say the least and as much as i wanted to bring one home, i could not justify the prices (okay, DAVID would not have been able to justify the prices!!). it just reaffirms my belief that art is a subjective thing, you have to find the right crowd to please and both of these artists did just that. the rest of what i saw was just run of the mill to me. while looking at all of the art, mom found the nicest gelatto shop. she and i split a cappuccino/espresso gelatto and my niece gobbled a strawberry cheesecake gelatto with a couple of bites of ours!! what fun she was to be with, and so stinkin cute!! after saying our goodbyes, my mom and i headed home after stopping for salads. it was a nice day despite our early morning event!!

i spent a little time scrapping in the evening and finished up the evenign with david watching an elton john concert dvd, always a good thing!!

today we attended early service at church as always, ran to the grocery store and david cooked breakfast for all. looking forward to a quiet day. that is always a good thing!

hope that whatever your weekend was, it was a good one and that you found many things to be grateful for. i know that i did!!

happy tuesday!!

2008-08-19T09:15:00.009-05:00

i am thinking about posting once a week to maybe have something fun to share, i don't know... but today i do have something fun. my dear friend julie always inspires, challenges, tricks, tempts, {i think you get the point!} to do a challenge. well today is one of those days. there is a great new blog called '3D Challenge' and they provide templates. well, these are my two entries into this, just something fun to do and a great new blog to visit and support. here is their link http://3d-designchallenge.blogspot.com/ (just click on today's title and it will take you to 3D Challenge)

this one is titled party girl.

this one is titled 29 again!!

these were fun projects {even though i should have been scrapbooking!!}. and yes... i am grateful for a good friend that pushes me outside my box to do other creative things also. so today's gratitude journal entry will be, "i am grateful for my dear friend julie and her confidence and encouragement to me".
{love ya girlfriend!! ;) }

wishing you all a wonderful tuesday, wherever you are. and to my sister and my other sister and her family in naples, florida...i am praying for your safety and protection from this hurricane that is coming. i love you both also.

happy tuesday!!

2008-08-12T14:58:00.001-05:00

As a 1930s wife, I am
Very Superior

Take the test!

very funny test that i got from tammy tutterow's blog {http://tammytutterow.com/}. i hope that you enjoy it. i am interested in seeing how my husband scores on the male part of the test...hmmm.
i hope that you have a great tuesday. don't forget to be grateful!!

well, it's august!!

2008-08-11T18:18:00.003-05:00

it is nearly halfway through the month of august!! unbelievable how time is flying by!! i hope that you are all well. we are all fine. caleb {our youngest} had all 4 wisdom teeth removed today!! he seems to be doing alright, sleeping quite a bit which is a good thing!!

the weather has been in the mid 80's for several days, unseasonably nice to say the least. i am trying to get back to cropping and scrapping some of my photos. it seems like everything else comes first and by the time i have some time to crop, i don't want to.

i am working on a birthday tag swap for a vintage blog that is celebrating it's 4th year. it's always nice to be in a swap and get to receive other's creative works!! i will have to post the entire tag book next month after i receive it. when my tags are finished, i will post...

hope that all is well where you are and that you continue to be grateful each and everyday. some of last week's entries were:
*snuggling with taylor
*a relaxed and quiet day
*time to crop with friends
*my God who is in control, even when i can't see it (His plan)

write those gratitude's down so that you can remember how good God is to you!!!

well, almost a month has passed...

2008-07-28T21:55:00.003-05:00

well, it has been almost a month since i posted last. life just continues to move forward. i have not been scrapping but i have been very busy around my house. i spent some time getting things in order for my national re-accreditation for my daycare. i attended a national family child care convention. i continue daily to care for children and my family. sometimes other things take precedence over the things that we want to do and that is okay.

i think that often times we can learn such important life lessons along the way, from living and from watching others live. this past winter, i discovered a wonderful lecture on the internet like millions of others. the lecturer was dr. randy pausch, a carnegie mellon professor that was asked to give a lecture as part of the colleges' 'last lecture' series by their professors. the difference for the this speech given by randy pausch was that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier and was now given three to six months of 'good health'. his lecture is amazing and if you get a chance to watch it, you should. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
i also purchased his book titled the last lecture, a must read for everyone, indeed!

last friday on july 25, randy pausch's fight with cancer ended. he left his wife jai, his three beautiful children; dylan, logan and chloe as well as his mother, sister and her family. dr. randy pausch was an amazing person that exemplifies this quote by cicero, " the life given us by nature is short. but the memory of a life well-spent is eternal". i hope to someday meet randy pausch in heaven and thank him for his strength and courage that he shared with millions, those who knew him and those who wished that they had known him. thank you randy.

yes...i am STILL here!!

2008-07-03T14:49:00.004-05:00

I was asked by my dear friend julie to at least let people know that i was alive and well, and i am!! i have obviously forsaken my blog, not that it was really all that exciting. i will try and cover the highlights...

all three of the kids {now 18, 19 & 21!!} are working and taking summer school.

josh turned 21 in june and will complete 21 credit hours this summer at siue. he is also working full-time for park & rec, playing tennis, bowling, now golf!!

caitlin is working at raging rivers {which will re-open} on the 4th of july and is taking an english class. she keeps busy cleaning houses occasionally also, and shopping, bowling, etc...

caleb turned 18 in june and is taking now only a calculus class as he dropped the art appreciation class. he is too busy working full-time for park & rec and golfing {which is a DAILY activity!!} he has become quite the golfer and even bought his own driver!! he spent money...

david is also golfing {if he can get away with it he too would golf daily!!} two weeks ago he and caleb went out. well... caleb beat him by 4 strokes. talk about a real ego crusher!! ;)

david and i went to las vegas the third week of june. he had a hewlett-packard conference and i went to enjoy our fancy, up-scale hotel. we stayed at the palazzo which is connected to the venetian. talk about extravagant!! it was very nice. while we were there we went to see elton john. totally amazing evening. elton and i shared a moment and at the end of the concert we hand slapped (sideways high-five!!) david also hand slapped with elton {now it doesn't sound so great!!}

the singing, music and conversation that night were great. so glad that we got to see him there, much smaller group of people than when we saw him in st. louis, and right at the stage seating!!!! great night we both enjoyed it!! david and i that is, however, i am sure that elton is still thinking of his #1 fan on the 4th row at the end!! lots of fun!

hope all is well where you are and that you too are still here!! i have so many things in my gratitude journal, have not stopped daily entering my many blessings!! take care and say hello, so that i know you are still here!! have a wonderful 4th!!!

i am still here...

2008-05-27T16:31:00.002-05:00

shortly after i posted my last blog message, my laptop died, DOA. we are still trying to get files off of it, but for all other purposes, it is done, finished, ka-put!!

after fumbling around without my favorites list, all my other things that were not on my husbands PC, i got a new laptop. it is brand new with a different operating system, so it is going to take me a loooonnnggg time to figure it out.

my photos are on the other computer so i will get them moved to a shared file and show them soon... oh what a pain!!

hope that you are all well and dry. it has rained here in the midwest i think for 40 days and 40 nights, oh wait...that's ANOTHER story.

i hope this finds you all well and grateful for so many things. talk soon...

tuesday hello!!

2008-05-13T13:30:00.002-05:00

i hope that you are all well on this very dreary and rainy tuesday...maybe where you are it is sunshine-y and beautiful??!

today is my birthday, and i have had MANY well wishers via phone, internet and cards. it has been a splendid day. my children are sending me for a coiff this afternoon. my daughter has already talked with the stylist and told her how she would like my hair to be. AND i am getting low lights and a color...

tonight we are all going out for my birthday {yes, that includes taylor!!} she can't wait!! date night with the WHOLE GANG!!!

i am working on projects that i hope to have finished and photographed by tonight. i will also include a photo of my LOVELY 'mocha mug' that my brother gave me for my birthday on mother's day {what a treat for you!!}

hope that your day is going well... my last two gratitudes entered in my journal:
*getting to spend mother's day with both of our mothers!
*angelfood cake and fresh berries!!

oh well, from important to maybe not as important!!

have a great day and be grateful!!

happy mother's day!!

2008-05-11T23:57:00.004-05:00

i wish you all a happy mother's day and hope that your day was wonderful.

even though it was rainy, cold and very windy here...we still had a good day. we had my mom, my brother, his wife and three children over for lunch. we had a good time playing with their three children-almost 2, 4 & 6.

after celebrating mother's day and an early birthday for me, we headed over to my husband's mom & dad's to celebrate mother's day with them. his brother and sister with their families were there. despite the wind and rain, some of the guys even took in a game of touch football in the front yard.

all in all a good day. hope that your day was good, surrounded by those you love and one that gave you many things to be grateful for. don't forget to write those gratitude's down...

i am still here...

2008-05-05T14:40:00.002-05:00

just letting you know that i have NOT fallen off the face of the earth. it seems my laptop has had better days, i think we may need to play taps for it... it is not responding to anything. as much as i would LOVE to have a new laptop, it is NOT on the agenda of expenditures anytime soon...and for sure i am NOT wanting it as a birthday present. oh well...

i hope that your monday is going well. i spent a delightful day last friday going to archiver's, red lead & for keeps sake. i was looking for graphic 45 paper and found it at the last place that i went {for keeps sake}.

i am working on a design team entry {i think...}. of all times to have my laptop on the fritz... all of my photos are on it!! i am keeping my fingers crossed and praying for my external hard drive, i hope that it performs it job well {and i can recover all of my info from it!!}

i hope that your monday is going well and that today's sunshine sticks around the rest of the week!!

happy thursday!!

2008-04-24T08:17:00.002-05:00

good morning!!

it is overcast here today, but the temperature is forecasted to be almost 80 degrees.

i had a busy day yesterday with alot of people dropping in at my house. it was nice to see a family that moved from the area almost a year ago return back, their two girls are so big, funny how that happens in a year! we went to dinner with them last night to have some 'catch up' time!! wonderful company!! looking forward to many more times together!!!

today is a 'catch up' day for me, lots of little things to do. unfortunately, none of them are scrap related :(!! household and business stuff, ugh!!

i hope that your day is a good one and that you find at least one thing to be grateful for today!! write it down...

back from the pinecone press book club...

2008-04-22T22:36:00.004-05:00

well, i survived another month of the pinecone press book club. i wasn't as productive this month as in prior months, but spring is here, so much to do, warm weather, yada...yada...yada...

i hope that your day was a good one. it poured here in the am and then the sun blazed in the afternoon, crazy weather! we had another aftershock/tremor about 4:30 am yesterday morning. it woke my husband and i both up, but we quickly went back to sleep!

here are my creations, a couple of layouts and a mini book (sorry for the direction of the photo!) that's about it!

weekend hello!!

2008-04-19T21:04:00.002-05:00

i am sure by now that you have all heard that the midwest experienced an earthquake. about 4:38 am on friday morning, most in my house were awakened by a terrible rattling, shaking and just plain an 'ominous sound'. {the quake was a 5.4 on the richter scale}

i had decided after doing some late night scrappin that i would sleep on our new couch rather than wake my husband. so when i heard the commotion, i thought that it was early morning delivery trucks driving by. then i realized that our antique heirloom wardrobe was shaking like someone was banging from the inside to get out. at that point i heard our oldest son yell, "dad, is this an earthquake?!!" {he thought that someone was under his bed shaking it and messing with him and he came up swinging his fist!!:)}

i raced up the stairs to find my husband, son and our daughter in the hallway. the whole episode only lasted about 90 seconds. as we all said goodnigt and climbed back into our beds, my husband said, "guess who didn't wake up??" i said laughingly, "i have always said that a tornado could go right across his {our youngest son} face and he would just roll over and continue sleeping."

about 10:30 am on friday morning there was an aftershock that was a 4.4, it lasted about 15 seconds. kinda crazy...i missed it as my oldest son and i were in the car headed for a lasik surgery consultation. i found out afterwards at the camera store that i stopped at that there was an aftershock. while there i purchased my husband an add on flash for our nikon dsl 40X digital camera.

this morning my husband and i headed to the botanical garden in st. louis for a photograpy field trip. the weather was rainy off & on but we still had a good time and took lots of photos... we toured the henry shaw mansion on the property {we actually wandered off from the groups and had our own field trip}. then we had lunch on the hill {the italian district!!} and made a stop at an italian bakery and took some goodies home...

we had a nice day and even came home and took a nap, however, i am ready to turn in for the night. hope all is well with you and that you can reflect on things that you are grateful for.

my last couple of entries in my gratitude journal are...
*dinner with caiti & taylor. listening to taylor "read" her fortune cookie.
*spending a nice day with joshua-includes dr. visit, lunch & just time together.
*a day with david @ botanical garden & misc. NICE DAY!!

take a moment to reflect on your gratitudes... love to all!

happy tuesday!!

2008-04-15T10:31:00.002-05:00

hello all! i have been busy as usual {do you ever get tired of hearing that, let alone saying it??}

i have done some scrapping. i went out of town and looked forward to an extra night just to myself to scrap, have dinner, relax in the hotel... well, that did not happen. the hotel that i was put up in {by the state} was a dive to say the least!! i did not want to stay there on friday night while they paid for it, let alone pay a night on saturday to stay!! ugh!!!

after my training ended on saturday, i went to a couple of scrapbook stores in bloomington, stopped into barnes & noble for a potty break and a mocha for the road. well, i found the most wonderful collage book also!! bonus!!

i will take some photos soon to show what i have been doing {not too much on the scrappin scene!}. i hope that your day is going well and that whatever you are doing you are enjoying it!!

we have a beautiful sunshine-y day today, i am so grateful for the wonderful sunshine... what are you grateful for??

write it down!!

hello, it's almost thursday...

2008-04-09T22:26:00.002-05:00

i have been very busy {as we ALL have!!} i got some organization taken care of in my scraproom and now am working on some documentation and portfolios for my 'day job'!!

so far i have not had any real creative ideas come to me pertaining to the pinecone press book club... will have to work on that!!

hope that your week is going well and that you have found many things to be grateful for, i know that i have!!

hello all!!

2008-04-03T23:04:00.002-05:00

i may have no new projects to 'show off' but i have a scraproom that is getting more & more organized, each and every day!! that is good news!!

this weekend i am attending CKU and i am excited. i have never taken any of the classes, well... over the next two days i am going to attend 5 classes. hopefully next week i will have some projects to show...

i hope that you are enjoying your springtime {minus all this midwest rain!!ugh...} and that you are finding LOTS to be grateful for. don't forget to write down something each day to be grateful for, you will be surprised how much you have!!

have a wonderful weekend!! show gratitude!!

i am back... and posting some projects!!

2008-03-25T23:45:00.005-05:00

here are some of my latest pine cone press book club layouts... {or projects!}the theme was circles {in case you hadn't figured that one out!} i did layouts of my three children {even though one of the layouts doesn't have a photo yet, still trying to catch him at an opportune photo time!!}

i used lyrics from songs that i liked for each layout & behind each photo is a spot for private journaling!!

and here is some of the altered art that i did for this month also... an altered photo frame, my 2nd atc, and an altered theater lady magnetic board w/ vintage magnetic pieces

hello all!!

2008-03-16T22:14:00.003-05:00

just finished up a busy weekend that did not last as long as i wish that it should have... oh well. tomorrow is monday and back to work.

david and i went to some camera classes on saturday and did some 'window shopping'. we are getting ready to delve into some pretty big house projects, so we are looking at fixtures, lighting, etc.

got to do some cropping over the weekend a bit. did an online crop with heart in hand scraps that was fun. i tweaked some projects and did several new ones, i will have to post. {the card pictured is a happy one year anniversary card to heart in hand scraps!!}

i made my first ever atc {artist trading card} and i have to say that it was fun.

have a great monday {and week!!}

hello again!!

2008-03-10T21:57:00.002-05:00

it's been a little while since i posted. i have a new pinecone press book kit to work on. i have been spending time straightening and organizing my scrap room so i haven't actually been scrapping. but i am looking forward to getting to scrap.

i just got over a 3 day bout with another round of the flu, obviously not the same one that i had a couple of weeks ago. hopefully, i am done for the year. the midwest has 8 known types!! i am hoping that I AM DONE!!!

hopefully you have had a wonderful weekend and are looking forward to a new week of opportunities to be grateful!! i know that i am!! take care and hopefully the next time i will be posting another completed project!!

don't fall over... i am posting some projects!!

2008-02-27T14:42:00.005-06:00

hello to everyone!! it has been awhile since i posted. i have been quite busy; working, scrapbooking & life in general. i thought that i would share with you what i worked on for the pinecone press book club this month. here goes...

this silly layout was using some of the coordinating paper that went with the kit. i can't believe that i actually did a layout containing photos of me {that i took of myself!! eek!!} i do LOVE my mochas, so what better subject to highlight with coffee papers.{yes, that is a starbuck's cup sleeve~inside is my homemade mocha syrup recipe!!}

these are of my daughter and her boyfriend at Christmas time, doing two of caiti's favorite activities {with two of her favorite people!!} sugar cookies and gingerbread houses. of course, both involve sweets!!

this layout is near & dear to my heart {and i am sure it is to my sisters & brothers}. it is honoring our dad's 'infamous' homemade pineapple ice cream. the photo of the hand crank ice cream maker was as close as i could find to the one that we used to have to sit on top of while our dad and uncles turned it. occasionally our mom would ask dad to leave the pineapple out and just make vanilla as someone {whomever was coming over or their children} didn't like pineapple. dad would reply, "good, then so & so doesn't have to eat any and there will be more for me later!" after dad had a heart attack in 1985, we replaced his hand crank maker with an electric. he never liked it as much. after seeing the ingredients and copying his original recipe onto steno paper, i think we changed the wrong thing, maybe we needed a cholesterol-free pineapple ice cream recipe ;) !!

i hope that your day is going well. today it is sunny with blue skies scattered with big fluffy clouds, a bit chilly, but i will take the sun any day!!

i am alive!!

2008-02-19T08:31:00.002-06:00

glad to say that i am back to work and among the living again. the flu is a not-so-distant memory, all that remains is a horrible cough. but i feel good!!

i hope that you and yours are all well as you read this and stay away from the dreaded flu{s}-there are 8 known types in the bi-state area. stay healthy and well.

off to work and hopefully sometime before midnight today, i am hoping to get some scrapping done!!!there is always hope...

have a beautiful day!

hello!

2008-02-15T17:40:00.002-06:00

it's been a week since i last posted. we have had lots going on... we had david's grandmother's funeral, he was not feeling well for two days and now i have the FULL BLOWN version of the upper respiratory flu. i started coughing on wednesday, was burning up with a fever & body aches on thursday and today started the heaving... our doctor called and said that technically the test was negative, but i have every symptom so he was calling in prescriptions for me!! it will only LESSEN the severity NOT take it away!!

needless to say, valentine's day was pretty uneventful. i did finish david's card and mini album. he gave me a card & steven curtis chapman love songs cd and then had roses & chocolates delivered!! can't wait to try the chocolates!!

i hope that you had a good day and that you have a great weekend. i am off on monday, guess how i will be spending it?? oh well...

it's friday...

2008-02-08T18:54:00.001-06:00

yesterday was a rough day for david & the family, mid-morning his grandmother passed away. she no longer is suffering but now the grieving process begins... i feel for his father, i know how difficult it is to lose someone and his dad is really grieving. david's grandmother wanted for him to speak at her funeral so... he will be working on that this weekend. i have been running and trying to get things done and hopefully will get some time to relax and...SCRAP! that would be very refreshing and enjoyable for me {kinda sounds selfish...}. i hope that you all have a wonderful weekend and spend time with those you love.

my gratitude quote for this week..."feeling gratitude and not expressing it, is like wrapping a present and not giving it." i hope that you feel gratitude this week for something & SHARE IT!!!

praises & prayers...

2008-02-06T22:24:00.000-06:00

the last couple of days have been kind of exhausting... my husband's grandmother was put in the hospital on monday with viral pneumonia. this morning at almost 4am his parents called us to the hospital as grandma was put into icu. she has rallied some today but there isn't too much that they can do for her, she is very weak, on oxygen and being given medication to 'make her comfortable'. we will just have to wait and see...

on a more upbeat note, my brother and his 3 year-old son were rough-housing this weekend and subsequently my brother was injured. he went to the doctor today after he thought that he had discovered a lump. the good news is that it is ONLY a hematoma...it should be gone within six weeks without any other complications. my brother will just be uncomfortable for quite some time until his body absorbs this. but that is WONDERFUL news.

i hope that your week is going well. i was looking forward to the weekend, however, at this point it seems that we have a cloud hanging over our head... but i will say as i always say... GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!

may you all be blessed and enjoying your life. be sure to be GRATEFUL for the many things...

my GRATITUDE journal entry for yesterday was I am grateful for baking cookies with taylor and drinking hot "chotolate"!! ~what a sweet little girl that God has brightened our life with!! i am grateful!!

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

2008-02-01T12:18:00.000-06:00

well... that it did!! we have anywhere from 9-12 inches here!! the main roads look clear now, better than they have in the last twenty-four hours. i am going to venture out to pick up a couple of things at the store... but then it is in for the rest of the day to get some scrappin done and get all three cameras' photos uploaded to the computer so that i can ACTUALLY post some photos!! {scarey isn't it??}

i hope that you are all well however much snow you do or don't have!! enjoy this beautiful day that God made for each and every one of us!!

hello all...

2008-01-27T22:34:00.000-06:00

i have been very busy with end of the year business and beginning of the year business with my daycare... however, hello to everyone!! i have been creating some things and will get the photos posted.

here is something exciting from catherine matthews-scanlan {she is one of the design team members on heart in hands scraps!!} she is giving away 2 copies of her new book!! it is already on my book list of must haves!! check out her blog...

http://cmscanlon.blogspot.com/2008/01/giving-away-two-copies.html

happy new year!!

2008-01-04T22:36:00.001-06:00

it has been over a month since i posted at all. Christmas was wonderful and peaceful...that is a good thing. i tried to not get caught up in the commercialism, which isn't too difficult as i hate to shop with crowds of people. i also made a conscious decision to not overextend myself or put too much expectation upon myself. i focused on the reason for the season which is JESUS, if it weren't for His birth, there would NOT be a CHRISTmas!!

i hope that you & your family had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying 2008!! unbelievable that we are into another year, time flies!!

i am doing a GRATITUDE journal this year by posting something that i am thankful for each day. it will be a wonderful testimony as to all of the many blessings that God has given me.

today's entry is, "i am grateful for wonderful gifts from God called 'friends'.
{tonight my husband and i joined julie & gregg for a belated Christmas (and New Year's Dinner), we had a marvelous time, just spending time with friends!!}

i hope that you find time to find something to be grateful for each day!!

new stuff!!

2007-12-02T23:56:00.000-06:00

these are the latest layouts that i did for the pinecone press not your ordinary book club. the first is titled "cate & nate", next is "clown", the next 2 are part of a 2 page layout titled "thanksgiving" and the last is "the wizard of oz". i used daisy d's paper & embellishments for all of these, LOVE THAT PAPER!! i hope that you had a wonderful weekend and are looking forward to a new week....

another layout!!

2007-11-26T01:10:00.000-06:00

forgot to post this one! this is one of the three layouts that i created for the Pine Cone Press book club. i have to take photos of the others, but i will share this one. my children are older and don't trick or treat, so i 'borrowed' my brother's children and even got a photo with his wife in it.

some new projects!!

2007-11-26T00:52:00.000-06:00

well, as i have been recovering from surgery, i have been trying to get some things done. i can't sit still for toooo long!!

i am on a daisy d's kick... not a bad thing!! i'm not complaining, i am sure that they aren't either (especially if they saw ALL of my papers, cardstock die cuts, stickers, buttons, flowers, rub-ons... i think you get the picture).

the first is another advent calendar. this one has an added tin with the magnetic pieces inside. i painted and distressed the tin cookie sheet and mint tin. love the old worn out look.

the second is a wish list complete with a letter to santa and sections for the 'wishes'~ can't do without, have-to-haves, wants & needs (listed last ;)!!).
this is a fun, quick gift that can be changed for whatever occasion, it is a re-mix of one of the techniques classes from Heart in Hands Scraps.

this is another re-mix of one of the Heart in Hand Scraps classes. it is a thanksgiving tag accordion book. it contains photos & tags of what our family is thankful for. each member has a tag inside it... shhh!! don't tell my mom~it's for her!!

i hope that your thanksgiving was a time where you were thankful for those that you were with. our family had a blessed day, it would have been even better if we had all been at mom's for the day, but...that is life.

have a great day today!!

happy thanksgiving!!!

2007-11-21T22:24:00.000-06:00

what a blessed time of year, i hope that you have many things to be thankful for. i know that i do... Jesus Christ, my husband, our three beautiful children, health, our home, our families, friends, a wonderful church family, so many things!! i hope that you take time to sit and recollect about the things that you are thankful for and then thank the One who made everything possible.

God has been so very good to me this year, as i thank Him for His goodness, i will remember you, my family and friends... happy thanksgiving!!!

what's been going on...

2007-11-13T06:58:00.000-06:00

last week i was in chicago from thursday morning until saturday evening. i went for a national child care conference. but now i am home and trying to get busy doing 'things' again. here are a few of the things that i have completed and have not posted...

this is a halloween shadowbox that we made in our pincone press book club class. our instuctor pam enos came up with this idea, how cute. we were given the box, papers, broom, quote and vintage clip art. we worked on the box in class and then were to bring it home and 'tweek' it. i added bling, more ink, the chain hanger, the velvet ribbon & ric rac, the vintage stick pin and the halloween flashcard accordion banner complete with vintage clip art. this was fun, even though i am not a huge halloween fan!! can't wait to see this month's make n take....

back to work so i can post more photos. i hope that you are having a wonderful autumn...

okay... the scoop on the pinecone press book club

2007-10-31T01:01:00.000-05:00

a group of six women & our instructor meet together to do a make & take for the evening. at that time, we receive our kit for the next month complete with an idea book and a class kit (includes patterned paper, cardstocks, some embellishments & some supplies-this month chalk and a sponge brush). we can also choose to purchase the add-on kit (at a ridiculously reasonable price!!)

we are to then take our kits home, look through the book, get inspiration and return the next month with the project that we have made~layouts, mini books, altered art, etc... whatever each individual comes up with.

this month we received a halloween idea book with fall daisy d's papers. in the add on kit, there was a 'coffin box' and mini album pages & pinecone press papers. i can't wait to see what everyone comes up with...

this is such a great class, if you want more info, shoot me an email at llpeuterbaugh@msn.com

that's all for now... take care & enjoy the gorgeous fall season (for me, the most wonderful time of the year!! i love it!!)

been busy...

2007-10-29T22:42:00.000-05:00

i have been busy working on toooo many things. i wish that i had a better handle on staying focused or 'on-track'. i just want to get sooooo many projects done. here are a couple of things that i have done lately. the first is an advent calendar that i am teaching at a LSS this coming weekend (if anyone signs up for it!) the second is a coffin box from the pinecone press book club kit. i will explain this book club kit in another post. ( i just LOVE it and am excited to get to share with other talented and creative people!).

altered envelopes mini album

2007-10-18T18:42:00.000-05:00

this is the entry that i submitted for an altered envelopes contest. it is a mini accordion album titled "life's little necessities...things i won't live without...really!!!"

i used:

* daisy d's spring blossoms patterned paper kit w/ flowers & tags
* westrim crafts mini envelopes
* paperchase business card holder
* provo craft eyelets
* 3M multi-purpose transparencies for journaling
* chipboard,hemp twine

challenge #4 scrappin with grace~finished!!

2007-09-27T13:51:00.000-05:00

our challenge for this week was to use 90% mustard moon products. all the patterned paper and the big honkin stickers are mustard moon~ledger red, floral denim red, newsprint kraft. i added a transparency that i printed creative he{art} on, a piece of corrugated cardboard (so loving this right now), some twill and a button. besides the cardstock base, everything else is mustard moon. i did alot of machine stitching on this also, i love the way it adds dimension to the page.

our extra credit was to use the leftover scraps from the layout to make a card... here is mine. the base of my card is a transparency with the cover papers sewn onto it. the inside has a piece of cardstock for writing a sentiment on as well as a big honkin 'U' to complete the card sentimenet LUV U.

i hope you enjoy...this was fun paper to work with. the subject of my layout was my mini books collection that i have, i have made more but have given them away as gifts... that's what it is ALL about!!

it's almost saturday... challenge # 3 scrappin with grace is posted!!

2007-09-21T23:56:00.000-05:00

here is my layout for the challenge that my buddy and i created... i love it!! i hope that you enjoy it too!!

i used:
daisy d's showoffs patterned paper
making memories paint
made my own transparency letters on journal tags
buttons, game pieces, chipboard circles, chipboard, sewing....

i hope that you enjoy!!

school of scrap challenge #3

2007-09-17T15:32:00.000-05:00

for this week's challenge we had to buddy up with another participant and come up with our own challenge. here it is...

***three for all***

we will use:

filmstrip
3 photos
3 patterned papers
3 circles
3 embellishments
3 transparencies
3 journal lines (or more~that's because this week jen has us being so 'chatty'!!)
3 word title
**all this on a 12X12 layout or an 8.5X11 layout**

i'll post my finished work by saturday...

school of scrap challenge #2

2007-09-15T13:47:00.000-05:00

here is my challenge for week #2.

i did three of the four electives, music, art & computer.

the music elective are lyrics from the song 'every moment' by joy williams:
"...running through yesterday into tomorrow
don't let it drift away
forget about tying the hands of time
give every minute to the one who's given today
so...don't let go
hold onto every moment
always know
hold on to every moment that you can."

the art elective was that i created my own 'doodled' patterned paper through several steps... hand-drawing, copying, coloring in the copy, copying several sheets, accenting with diamond glaze and bling. i used this paper to create the jumbo file folder (and even copied on the inside lightly), photo corners and the jumbo arrow.

the computer elective was the pink journal tag, the journal tag overlay, the dot circle* that i changed- size & color, then added bling & i created the copyright definition overlay.

*the dot circle actually is laid over the circle for the photographer's copyright marking. when my daughter had her senior pictures done, the photographer wanted to do this to make a poster for his studio, he said that my daughter was perfect for it~quite a ham in front of the camera!! my journal tag states "God made you an "original"~one of a kind~don't ever change." the story goes "when you were getting your senior pictures taken the photographer wanted to do this...he said that you were a total NATURAL!! imagine that!!

*bazzil cardstocks
*diamond glaze
*bling (from stash)
*ranger distressing ink (black)
*offray ribbon
*provo craft eyelet
*chipboard
*3M multi-purpose transparencies
*chipboard
*office clip

school of scraps challenge @ scrappin' with grace

2007-09-10T20:55:00.001-05:00

i have joined another challenge and i must admit that i am quite excited about it. near the end of the challenge, all of the participants will be given the opportunity to apply for a design team submission. something to think about...

here is my first challenge for week #1, we were to make a layout and focus on one large letter of the alphabet, as well as a word that we would not normally use. i wanted to do a layout on my husband and children (family). so i selected several words and checked for synonyms. i LOVED the idea of the word prize, an anticipated reward or something of luck but something valued highly. that word totally described how i feel about david, and our children; joshua, caitlin & caleb. (plus the letter P is the first letter of our last name!!)

the layout contains the following:

*bazzil cardstocks
*wild asparagus patterned paper
*making memories paint
*transparency with journaling (printed on computer)
*chipboard
*ribbon
*carnival tickets

i love how it turned out... i am trying new things & i gotta say.... I LOVE IT!!

Scrapbook LifeStyle NORA GRIFFIN challenge

2007-09-08T16:29:00.000-05:00

the following is a layout that i did for the stamping challenge by Nora Griffin. the photos are from several visits with my aunt who is in a convalescent center because she has alzheimer's.the photos are of my aunt (which is my dad's older sister) and my mom (who is her sister-in-law) it was difficult to actually do the layout as it does bring up memories. she has always been and still is so sweet, she just doesn't always know us. the layout uses stamping on the layout and second-chance stamping where i stamped and cut out the images.

the layout consists of:
*bazzil cardstock & bazzil shaped cardstock
*daisy d's patterned paper
*making memories paint
*making memories brads
*random buttons from stash
*stamps are from autumn leaves, technique tuesday,justrite stampers & heidi swapp
i also stitched the pictures to the cardstock & have a secret journaling spot to hold a personal note

thanks nora for pushing me to new levels of scrapbooking & for doing a much needed layout to chronicle a remarkable woman in our family's life.

Scrapbook LifeStyle winner announced...

2007-09-08T02:01:00.000-05:00

just thought that i would share with you some fun news...

http://www.scrapbooklifestyle.com/blog/2007/9/5/winner-scrapping-off-the-page-challenge.html

i was selected as the challenge winner for scrapping off the page. my altered fish bowl and album were chosen as the winner. this was such a fun art project for me and to be chosen as the winner also!! wow...

why not check out their site with all of the weekly videos from great guest designers as well as their design members. also, get in on all of the fun challenges!! hope to see you there.......

badges of honor

2007-09-04T22:48:00.000-05:00

these are photos of my latest layout. i made this layout with pieces of my dad's boy scout shirt. he was a scoutmaster and trainer for many years. i thought this was a great way to honor him. the badges, tabs, pockets and buttons were all from his shirt. i included a few pictures of him in this shirt. the pocket serves as a hiden journaling pocket. the second photo shows what is inside the pocket. the words are the lyrics to a song entitled "dancing with the angels".

i miss him dearly, but he is dancing with the angels in heaven.

subjectivity...

2007-08-28T23:17:00.000-05:00

i have to admit, that sometimes it is difficult to do a project which is so much of yourself & submit it to a contest, challenge or whatever, to find out that a project by someone else is chosen. yours is a piece of you, theirs is a piece of them...why did someone else get chosen but not you??

it comes down to subjectivity! it all depends on what the other person is looking for. it does not mean that yours is not good enough. it just was not what they were looking for. i have said over and over, be true to yourself, do work that reflects who & what you are. at the end of the day, you have another project, either a layout, card, altered item, whatever~that is yours and no one can take it away from you!!

so today, when i am feeling like something that i did was not 'good enough,' i will remember that i was true to my creativity and i love my project even if someone did not choose it!! i know can say that once again, i made myself happy!!

a house for a fish...

2007-08-26T21:53:00.000-05:00

here are some photos of my altered fishy house and also a fishy mini album that i created...

i used daisy d's paper,

bazzil cardstock

chipboard

ink, paint

epoxy stickers

fish bobber

been busy....

2007-08-14T00:33:00.000-05:00

mini book challenge ...

well...can i just say that this is my very, most favorite project that i have ever done. i altered a tabbed children's board book with an assortment of papers, mostly carole's creations. it is chock full of jolee's, assorted charms and tons of Cardinals memorabilia. i used office rings on the binding tying with assorted ribbons, twill tapes and strips of baseball leather. the closure is my son's baseball belt from two years ago.

altered art.....

well here is another quick project that i did today. it is a magnetic board that i covered with patterned paper from stampin up! i also covered the patterned paper with overhead transparencies to make it a wipe off board also. i rubbed it down good with some making memories paint and it was good to go!!

here's another view...