Shopping!

It seems to me that all I've done lately is shop. And I'm guessing it's because I feel so sad about my work life.  Nothing else has really changed except that.  I'm missing my friends that I used to work with and I love it when they call to ask me questions that only I can answer. 

Now, last time I posted I was talking about the stuff I ordered from piggytales.com and Joanns.com.  Well, Sunday I hit the mall because I needed clothes.  I have no new work clothes.  Now I took my boyfriend, he actually took me because he drove, and we set off from store to store.  Do you know what I discovered?  I'm three different sizes and I run the gamut from a 3 to a 7.  One of the sales ladies tried to tell me she was a 0.  I don't think so sister.  I was a 0 six years ago and you ain't it.  Not that I want to be a 0 again, but don't lie about it.  I'm not sure how I feel about three sizes.  What's real?  And skinny jeans?!? Really????  We are back in the 80's girls!  Totally!  I wasn't sure how I'd feel about them but I have been assured by the salesgirl and my boyfriend that they look great.  I just want to turn on some Madonna and get in the groove!

For three different sizes there doesn't seem to be much difference does there?

I had an alterior motive as well to this shopping trip.  I was going to swing over to Michael's and get some more scrapbooking stuff.  Apparently I don't have enough.  I was also going to return a Martha Stewart punch that didn't work properly.  Guess what- I forgot it at home.  Convenient?  Not really, now I'm going to sweat about it for the next two months and then forget it when I go Christmas shopping!  Anyway, the Fiskars punches were 50% off and I couldn't resist the paw punch!  Plus, I'm tired of rounding photo corners freehand so the corner punch was a freat find!  Loving the orange!!!

Buy Fiskars! I try to be a good Fiskateer!

So, that's it for tonight.  I've got to go look at the employment ads and then off to bed for this girl.  Enjoy the pics!

Retail Therapy Score!

Today my mystery purchase from Piggy Tales came in the mail!  I opened it up - no paper! - eeek!  I wasn't so sure I was happy about that!  But anyway, I looked and saw there were chipboard letters and decorations, some of it Halloween (which will go great with my Joann Fabric therapy), and a brown box, somewhat heavy.  Inside of this box was quite the surprise - a Hide and Seek Flap Book and a Slide Book!  I've never made one or the other and now I'm all excited and trying to figure out what I'm going to do with this treasure.   Hmmmmm...

Well, here it is-

What do you think?  Good haul?  We'll see!

Week Wrap-up

So, today I'm going to go into the studio and clean it up and then start creating again.  AND I'm going to the movies to see "The Help".  I read the book several months ago, by Kathryn Stockett, and it was a beautifully written, insightful novel that I could picture in my head.  After I finished reading it I found out it was coming to theaters in the fall and told my wonderful boyfriend that we were going.  Today is the day.  As the east coast floods and thoughts of my precious island falling apart stay fresh in my mind, I'm going to escape for awhile.

This week I spent money.  Not money that we've got to burn, but I needed some retail therapy so I spent.   I needed new anti-virus software, mine ran out on the 23rd, so I hit up Norton mid-week. 

I also ordered my glucosamine-chondroitan pills from a mail order vitamin company.  I used to get them from a health food store that I worked down the street from, but then I got a new job and wasn't near there.  I then purchased them from Walmart because that's the only place to shop around here.  Needless to say, the ones I got from Walmart were NOT any good.   My fingers ached and I thought I was going to have to stop scrapbooking.  Then one day after I picked the mail up at the post office I realized we got someone else's catalog.  It was a mail order vitamin company.  I went on-line and checked it out and I ordered on Tuesday or Wednesday and I got my vits on Friday!  I took my first pill on Friday night and what a difference on Saturday morning!  I haven't been this happy in a long time!  Now I'm also taking calcium in the form of a Walmart pill and am thinking I better switch it out and order some from this place.  Beginning to think Wally World's vits are made from chalk...

Last but not least, in the form of selfishness, piggytales.com was having an end of summer warehouse sale and I had to get into it.  I do like their paper and you just don't see it for sale anywhere near here.  Waiting for that to come in probably next week sometime...

So for any of you who still might be trying to follow this blog, I apologize for not being around.  A lot has happened in the last several months and to be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to continue this old blog.  However, I am going to give it a second chance and hopefully will get it kickstarted into a higher gear. 

In July I quit my job, went on vacation, and started a new job.  All huge endeavors, two of which I felt great about, one that I regret. 

In the coming months I plan to re-organize my studio, join in a couple blog hops if I can find some fun ones, and give away some cool items that I just won't use.  I want this blog to be mostly crafty, but I'd like to sprinkle some of my regular life in, here and there. 

Like today, I'm going to be praying for my niece and her family in VA and my sister and her family in NC, to keep them safe in the storm.  I know my brother is ok, but that's all I know right now.

So if anyone reads this, thanks for stopping by!

Smash book - I Want One of My Own!

OMG!  Yes, very cute, very versatile, very compact and very portable!  No machines or cartridges, just a book with a pen/gluestick to carry with you as you journey through life.  I have seen the videos on youtube and I like it!  I want one!  And I want those little note pads too.  They look so fun.  I was thinking about picking one up for Hannah too, as a newley turned eight year old could write down or glue in tons of awesome stuff.   She sees things so differently than adults do - I love her perspective! 

Oh well, I had to say it.  The Smash books remind me of the scrapbooks I used to make when I was a kid.  Simple, to the point.  Thank you K&Company and EK Success!  You're definately bringing back an almost lost art- the simplified scrap! 

Nothing Crafty, Just a Good Day

Actually, a good past week.  It's been extraordinary and I had to share because I've never had a streak this good which is making me start to look around every corner.  Big trip coming up and I don't want to jinx it.

First I was one of the lucky people that was picked for the Unibind challenge.  I can't wait to see what it is and I am starting to follow fed-ex trucks to see if they are going to my house!  It's so exciting AND mysterious!

Then my boyfriend and I did the Relay for Life walk on Friday night.  We put in our names for a couple of raffles and on Saturday we received a call to let us know that we won a beautiful handmade quilt and rack!  We tried to win one the year before and it was the first thing we put our name in for this year, so that was really awesome!

I was offered a new job yesterday and I took it.  I interviewed last Thursday afternoon and when I left there were two others that were sitting for the job, so it was anyone's guess.  It's lower pay than what I'm getting right now, and it looks like it's going to be a lot of paperwork too, but I'll be working in the legal system and that is so exciting to me!  I'm going to miss my co-workers so much, they are more than that to me- they have been my friends and family and I must dedicate myself to staying in touch with them.  I'm just so tired of what I'm doing and there was no way they were going to let me move on to anything else because I'm so good at what I do!

 After I handed in my letter of resignation to my job of 12 years I ended up going to lunch with one of my friends and bought two lottery tickets.  One is a Mega Million and one is a Win for Life.  I forgot about it when I got back to the office but today I had another job interview and while I was waiting to go in (I showed up too early), I found the scratch-off in my purse and played.  I won $40!!! I've never won $40 on these tickets before.  The funny thing is I usually buy them in threes and don't win anything, but this time I only bought the one.  I know that $40 is for something.  God's earmarked it somehow.

Plus, today was my anniversary.  Twenty four years ago tonight I almost died.  I was a stupid kid hanging around with a bunch of people that were drinking and I got on the back of a motorcycle after a party.  We were on an old dirt road and apparently hit a rock and I sailed 60 feet through the air into a boulder.  Luckily I was wearing a full face helmet, I believe it saved my life.  I ended up popping my lung with a rib, fractured my pelvis, cracked some ribs, and I think I fractured my arm or clavicle.  Not sure, but I was one hurting unit.  If it hadn't been for a couple who decided to leave their camp and go home that night I would have died on the side of the road.  I have no idea who they were, but their decision saved my life.  There's a reason I'm here, although it eludes me.  But I'm glad I am. 

So that's my big news that I had to share.  I'm sure things'll get back to their normal every day way again.  Until then, it's a wonderful life! 

New Matchbook Album

Two weeks ago, as I was drifting off to sleep, I suddenly thought of a great project for my grandaughter-by-proxy, Hannah.  No, not for her to do, although it would be easy enough for a seven year old to put together.

No, this was for me to do for her.  You see, her birthday is in July.  The poor kid has never been in one place long enough to make friends, much less have a party with all of them.  She is, however unlike me, a social butterfly and is dying to have a birthday party.  I told her she needed to get all her friends addresses and phone numbers so when summer came we could get those invites out.  Well, that's easy to say to a seven year old, but without the tools - where does one start?

So, as I was drifting off to la-la land and not really getting there, I began wishing for a cigarette - totally smoke free for over two years now, but still crave, especially on sleepless nights - when I thought of matches, which made me think of matchbook, which made me think of my Cricut, which made me think that I could super-size the matchbook option and make an autograph album!

The mind DOES work in mysterious ways!

Well, I cut one out but it was way too small, so I just crafted one out of a strip of 6" x 12" peice of cardstock.  I used Blossoms & Butterfies by DCWV.  I ended up cutting the pages for it out of textured cardstock and then punching them with an office page puncher.  I used a hand punch to put holes in the album cardstock because the other puncher wouldn't put them where I wanted them. 

I then used some pink and green ribbon from Oriental Trading Co. to hold the autograph paper in the album.  After some refolding, I ended up with a pretty cool little album. 

I thought of adding some embellishments and some glitter glue, but I think she'll want to make it her own.  I was also wondering how I'm going to get complete addresses from seven year olds, but I'm hoping the teacher will help her with that.  Oh well, mema can't think of everything!

I hope you like my project. I'm going to do a few more for her and her brother for the sports they're playing this summer.  They'll have something to show their friends in the fall - kind of like a brag book!  I'll post those as I get them done.

Thanks for stopping by and keep on crafting!  As always, comments are most welcome!

Blog Candy Alert!

Hey my crafty friends - you need to check out this cool blog candy!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Tim Holtz and this girl has some candy that's so tasty you're going to be spinning if you win!  Check it out right here and tell her that CraftyDivaLounge sent you over!

http://scrap-it-girl.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-candy-tim-cosmo-maya.html

Senior Pranks

In the last two days our local on-line newspaper has had articles about school pranks that the seniors have played for the end of the year.  Here's one:

http://www.mpcourier.com/article/20110603/DCO01/306039905

And here's the other one:

http://northcountrynow.com/news/ten-clifton-fine-students-charged-padlocking-school-doors-shut-placing-key-around-neck-rooster-

As it goes for pranks, they're pretty harmless.  I'm sure the rooster didn't like being in the school, but it is the time of the year when bugs start infiltrating homes and other buildings and chickens are great for taking care of those things.

A day or two of detention would have been the ideal punishment for these kids, but the officials are letting their fear make more of it than it is.  The parents of these children, the people of these communities, should stand up and tell the school that it is their school, they support it, they pay the bills with their taxes, and tell them to chill.  No one brought in a gun.  No one held a teacher hostage.  No one was threatened.

THESE ARE KIDS.  THEY WERE HAVING FUN IN A LAST HURRAH.  BE THANKFUL THAT THESE KIDS ARE HAPPY.

I know that adults are fearful.  It's a scary world.  But when something scary doesn't happen, should we punish people because it could have been scary?

That's all I've got to say about it.  Let kids be kids, and enjoy the articles - they're pretty funny!

Garden Art

I don't know what the weather's been like where you are, but this has been the strangest spring I have ever seen.  The folks that debunk global warming are, in my opinion, without a clue.  That said, between raindrops I've been trying to get some gardening done. 

Because we've gotten so much rain we haven't planted the backyard garden yet.  The last few days have been extremely sunny and HOT, so maybe we will get it in this year after all.  I wanted to show you my latest project.  My boyfriend found some sinks at his friends house and brought them home.  He's good at that.  As soon as I saw one of the sinks I knew what I wanted to do with it.  I told him to build a stand that it could sit in, about counter top height. 

After he was done with that we took a trip to the local greenhouse.  I was looking for flowers that would cascade over the sides in colors that I love.  I put a coffee filter over the sink drain so water could drain out, but so that we wouldn't lose potting soil. 

Then I planted our flowers.  I also threw in some vinca vine too, just because it looks cool.  I threw some chives in the back of it too.  I like the way chives flower and it will add some height to the composition.  There's spearmint and ferns growing underneath, so once they reach mature height and the flowers cascade down it is going to look AWESOME!

As a side note, I'm always looking for interesting, sturdy peices of trees to put in my yard.  I call it yard art.  My boyfriend always laughs at me when I find one that I want to bring home.  We went down to the river one day after the rain to see how high the water was.  While we were there I saw a peice of wood in the water that wasn't too far off shore, so I stepped in and pulled it in.  He looked at me and groaned.  It was so soaked it took the both of us to carry it home - thank God we're only two blocks away!  I haven't decided where to put it yet but I thought I'd show you the piece.  I think it's beautiful.

Notice the twig lodged in the tree? It's still there. I'm pretty sure the force of the water placed it there.  Cool huh? Nature is amazing!

My Heart Is Breaking

I have to share this because if I don't I think I'll die.  Tonight my daughter calls me and when I tell her that I'll pick up the kids sometime Saturday morning to go yard sale-ing she tells me that I'm going to be mad at her.  I ask her why and she says that her boyfriend (who is almost my age) won't let me take the kids because I won't pay his rent.  He gets social security and welfare pays almost all his rent except for $43.  He won't pay it and they are two months behind already. 

I've got a problem with him anyway because I know he mistreats my daughter and if he isn't physically abusive (although I believe he is) I have heard him be emotionally abusive.  I know he is towards the kids as well but nobody will admit to it.  Social services has gone in to investigate and have decided that a complaint was unfounded so I'm pretty sure they're useless.

My fear is that the kids, who had a small get-a-way with us each week, are not going to get a break and will surely fail to thrive in their environment.  However, if I give in to this piece of crap and his blackmail, I will be in his power and I cannot and will not bow to this, for lack of a better word, jerk.

I think that I'll contact the commissioner of the DOSS in the morning and see what I can do.  My boyfriend told me they could be taken away and put in foster care and that I might never see them again.  That I don't mind if they are in a good, stable environment, but what if they get into a bad foster home?  I could never forgive myself for taking them from a bad place and putting them in a worse place.  I love these kids so much and my heart is breaking into a billion bits.  I know he'll let the kids come back to me as soon as he gets tired of them being around the house, but the boy is acting out in school again and the girl is gone to her friend's house whenever she can leave.  He's six and she's seven and it's not normal.   At least from what I remember of my own childhood.

I'm not related.  My daughter isn't married to this jerk, she's not their mother although they call her mom.  I have no legal recourse, so what do I do?

I know these blogs are supposed to be cheery and fun and crafty but tonight I just need to vent.  Anyone go through this? Any suggestions? How do I save these children from the ignorance of their father? 

We Have A Winner!!!

I'd like to take a moment to thank you all for stopping by this weekend for the We Love Our Hero's Blog Hop!  I love the great comments, and for my new followers - thanks for signing up! You didn't have to so I totally appreciate it.  I will try to keep you updated on my projects and all the other things that I bring to the lounge.

So the moment we've been waiting for - the winner of a small bit o' blog candy is...

In Love with a Bug said...

"I love the distressing with ink on the cards. So happy to be in this hop with you. I am a new follower."
Melanie
http://inlovewithabug.blogspot.com/

I'm sending you an email Melanie!  To everyone else I'd like to say that I'm sure I'll be in another hop soon, so stay tuned!

Thanks for your comments, as always they are greatly appreciated, and stay scrappy!

 

Our Hero's Blog Hop - Day 2

I posted this previously on my fb page but I thought it would be appropriate to repost here as part of this hop.  Jack is one of the heroes in my life that I'm not related to.  Jack's been gone three years now, but I think of him every day.  Please read if you have a minute.   

  Today is the birthday of a very dear friend of mine.  His name is John, but we all called him Jack.  Jack was born in Brooklyn NY in 1919.  He served in the US Army during WW2.  Jack landed on Utah Beach on D-Day and fought in the Battle of Normandy and earned two purple hearts.  Jack got married in 1964 and stayed faithful to the same woman for the rest of his life.  Best of all, Jack was my friend.

   When I met Jack, he took me under his wing.  He kind of adopted me, although I had both my parents at the time.  He was like a surrogate grampa.  I never had a grandfather, that I knew anyway, they had all died by the time I was born.  Jack checked in with me almost every day.  He stopped by to see if I needed anything or if I'd heard some bit of news.  That's how it was in the beginning. 

   When my dad died Jack showed up at the wake in a suit.  Someone told me I was the only person they knew of that he did this for.  Jack usually wore green work pants and a green work shirt and sometimes a red thread-bare vest.  He had plenty of new clothes, most of them still in packages.  These were the ones he loved to wear. 

   Jack walked his dog Freddy, every day.  When Jack had to have a procedure done he asked me if I would come by and walk Freddy for him.  I would.  Freddy was a good dog.  A little King Charles Spaniel. 

   Jack and I used to have long conversations, sometimes discussions, where we would disagree and be a little pissed at each other.  I think he would get frustrated by me because of my youth and the fact that I knew everything.  I know I would get frustrated with him because he knew everything and was so stuck in his ways to not see he was wrong!  I'm laughing as I write this because I know we felt the same exact way about the other, but in the end we were friends and respected each other immensely.

   Jack got sick, and in May of 2008, he passed away.  I still miss him.  There are days I wish he was around for the advice he used to give.  I wonder what he would say about the things that are happening in my life today.  I look at things he told me to do, and I am so glad I listened to him.

   Jack was a rare breed.  Jack was a true friend.  He is missed today, not just by me, but by everyone that knew him.   I would give anything to hear one of those old stories that he used to tell, over and over, because he forgot he told me already.

   So Jack, wherever you are tonight, and I'm sure you are with Stacy, happy birthday old friend.  I miss you very much.  

   I'm getting on, and I'm trying to keep the faith. 

We Love Our Hero's Blog Hop is Finally Here!!!!!!!

Today is Armed Forces Day, so again, this is a hop to support and bring awareness to the works of Operation Write Home . You should have arrived from Darlene at www.talesoftayandbay.blogspot.com, if not please start at Misty’s, so You don’t miss anything this wonderful group has to offer. In addition to card makers making cards for service persons to send home to their families, OWH has what they call ‘Hero Mail’. These cards can be any size; not just the usual required A2. They also include a personal note to ‘Any Hero’. We call them Hero’s, because OWH covers all branches of service. These are passed out to  deployed hero’s, who might not get much mail, or just passed around to enjoy news from home.  Here is more info.

http://operationwritehome.org/anyhero.html

Thank you to All of our Heros, past , present and those who serve on the Homefront as well!

My Project:  I used regular cardstock and Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Pad to give it that weathered look.  I cut the stars, hearts and tags with my George cartridge on my Cricut. A brad holds the tag on, and the tag is inked with a gold inkpad for definition.

The back of each card has a heart, sending love

Your next stop is with Linda..http://www.lindascreativity.blogspot.com/



  In case you get lost along the way, the complete hop list is below.

*1. Misty...http://deliteful-gifts.blogspot.com/

*2.Tanya...http://scrappinkymomma.blogspot.com/

3. Kristal..http://www.gettingcricky.com/

*4.sally...http://sallysbitz.blogspot.com/

**5. Amy...http://www.lovetocrop.com/

*6.Anita...http://www.anitaandbugs.blogspot.com/

*7. Kathie..http://kathleessnippitsncricuts.blogspot.com/

*8. Rexann..http://ibecircled.blogspot.com/

*9. Vicki http://melovebonoandscrapbooking.blogspot.com/

*10. Jenny http://www.papercutcreations.blogspot.com/

*11.  Darlene  www.talesoftayandbay.blogspot.com

*12.  JennyB  http://craftydivalounge.blogspot.com/  YOU ARE HERE

*13.   Linda..http://www.lindascreativity.blogspot.com/  GO HERE!!!

*14.   Patti http://www.pattilynncreations.blogspot.com/

*15. Jazzy http://www.JazzysCards.Blogspot.com/

16. Momo...http://madebymomo.blogspot.com/

17. Paula...http://morethanfavors.blogspot.com/

*18. Melanie http://inlovewithabug.blogspot.com/

*19. Jan http://jans-gonestampin.blogspot.com/

20. Gina http://californiascrappin-gcinderella21.blogspot.com/

I'm offering a small gift to one person.  I will draw a name at the end of the Hop of anyone who leaves me a comment.  You DO NOT have to become a follower.  However, if you look at my posts and like what you see I would be delighted if you would follow me!

Sorry So Long!

Good morning cyber friends!

It's been awhile since I posted and I have to say that it's not because I didn't want to, it's because I've been so busy!  It seems lately that everyone wants/needs some part of my free time and I've been overwhelmed.  I'm also planning to take a moment this weekend to just scrap!  Last night I put together some photos that I'm sending off to the printer to get me motivated to start a new album and to work on some that are in-progress.

That said, I have a couple projects to show you.  One is a thank you card that I made for a friend of my boyfriend's who sent me all her scrapbooking supplies.  It was a hobby she thought she'd like to get into and then decided it wasn't for her.  She ended up sending me a load of paper, stickers, and some markers.  I think the kids will have a ball with it and there's some that I've kept for myself, but I neglected to send her a thank you and I've been kicking myself for a month now to get one out to her.  Sooooo, the other night I made myself make one.  I cut out and put together a flower pot of cardstock and then used Tim Holtz distress ink to make it look textured.  The stems are cut from textured paper and I used a Fiskars flower punch and layered the flowers and used a coordinating brad for the center.  I also used a gold stamp pad to ink the edge of the card.  Here's how it came out.  The thank you is actually written on the inside because I couldn't figure out where to put it on the front.

My next project is a two page LO for the kid's album.  I'm doing Christmas right now.  I had to skip Halloween because I don't have the right paper and it's driving me crazy!  I'm still looking and will hopefully have some soon!  I have no idea who the paper is by but it's from a StoryTeller's Club kit (http://www.storytellersclub.com/).  If you're looking for a kit club I loved that one!  I joined it the year I quit smoking.  The way it worked (in my head) was that I would spend my smoke money on scrapbooking.  I used the Winter Woodlands Cricut cartridge for the lettering.  Now, I just found out that it had a font option.  I've had that cartridge for a year now!  It really helps if you read the booklet that comes with it! The pictures are matted on coordinating cardstock, and I used some of the embellishments that came with the kit.



I don't know why it won't insert the correct way! Sorry for having to look sideways!



It's funny, but I am enjoying these children so much.  I know I've said it before, but everything with them is a first.  This was the first time that they met Santa.  If they ever did before they can't remember, and I feel so honored to be a part of their lives.

Saturday night we took Gaige to a dance recital.  He sat through the whole thing, all three hours of it, and he didn't get fidgety until the end.  He asked what the kids names were, what the next song was, was it ok to point at them when asking questions about them.  It was just amazing his interest in them.  I asked him if he'd like to take lessons and he said yes.  I'd like to do this for him, and his sister as well, only I have a feeling his dad won't allow it.  Lessons start up again in August or September and I'm going to look into it.  Maybe if his dad realizes that it's hip-hop and not ballet he'll let him go.  I have to say- he seemed to like it all, including the ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop.

Well, I'm running on and on, so I'll stop here.  I hope you enjoyed the projects.  This weekend is the Hero Blog Hop which I have my project all ready to show.  I hope you'll stop in and check it out.  I may have a small giveaway too, so be sure to hop in!

As always, comments are always welcome!  Happy scrapping!

New Project - Sympathy Card

Ah, so today was the funeral.  I've been wracking my brain as to what I can do for my friend and I ended up making my macaroni & cheese and a gorgeous tossed salad.   I should've kept a photo of that because it was truly beautiful.  I dropped that off to her the other night, along with a note (on the back of a Michael's coupon - it was the only note paper in my purse!) to let her know that if she needed anything that all she had to do was call.  That was bothering me too.  Why didn't I know what she needed?  Why couldn't I just figure it out and do it? 

Last night I made her a sympathy card.  I did some research on line and looked up sympathy sentiments.  Then I headed over to the Fiskateer website gallery and looked for some inspiration, then set down to work.  I started with basic dark brown cardstock cut to 6" x 8" and folded it on the 4" line.  I was looking for muted colors, but pretty, and I ended up using this pad of papers by Colorbok that I picked up last fall.  I loved the colors in it but I haven't used it yet.  The description on the back of the pad says Earth Tone, but it's mainly blues and browns - both colors that are calming and subdued enough for a sympathy card.

I cut a 4" x 6" piece of blue glittered, flower patterned paper for the front and then just blue scroll for the inside.  I used polka dot brown paper to cap the fold and I used a Martha Stewart border punch to give it a little class.  I printed the sentiments I found on a stone look piece of cardstock so that it would pop on the card.  I used the Heritage Cricut cartridge to do the frame on the front of the card and the George cartridge for the inside.  The front frame ends had to be cut off so it would fit on the card but it worked out pretty well.  Last but not least I added Heidi Grace Designs flowers to the front.  They're brads but I ended up gluing them on with Aileene's Tacky Glue because I didn't want to punch them through.

On the back I added some scroll work from the Heritage cartridge with a piece of cardstock stating that it was me that made the card.

That said and done I gave my friend the card today.  I hope she likes it. She couldn't look at it there because she was trying to stay composed.  She's lost her mother.  But I'll be making another card for her soon, as her birthday is Sunday and she'll be celebrating that as well as Mother's Day with her own children.  I'm sure it will be a bittersweet day for her and I hope my card helps her along.

As for not knowing what to do - I spoke with her husband before I left and he told me.  Just be there.  Make the phone call.  Stop by unannounced.  Make plans and then tell her she'll be there.  Make her included now more than ever. 

This I will do.

So cyber friends - as always your comments are greatly appreciated.  I hope you like my card and if you do please let me know!

Be well!

Goodbyes

A lot of talk today is going to be out there about the death of bin Laden.  Last night the world lost, besides a terrorist, a wonderful woman.  The mother of my best friend.  So forgive me if the word of bin Laden's death doesn't excite me.  At this moment I am in mourning for someone far greater.

Leona had a good but tough life.  She had three great kids and two wonderful husbands.  She lost her son when he was nineteen.  She lost her first husband about 10 years ago.  I'm sure she was welcomed by both as she gave her last breath, and I'm sure it was a beautiful reunion.

I also know that the pain left behind will be hard to soothe, except for the fact that she's not fighting for her life and in pain any longer.  She left two daughters, a husband and three grandchildren.  She left them with a legacy of fighting the good fight with grace and dignity and knowing when to let go. 

My memories of Leona are selfish.  I remember when my own child was very young and she lived across the driveway.  She would take my daughter and sit outside and watch her play.  We would talk and drink tea or coffee and my daughter called her "Gramma" just as if she were her very own.

I remember when her son died she told me he loved me.  That he had talked about me all the time.  I held on to that for so long.  I still do, and I have no doubt that she is finally able to look upon his face and smile.

I remember her relationship with her daughters and how close she was with them.  I tried to follow her example with mine.  I'm still working on it.

I'm glad she's not in pain any longer.  I'm glad she's able to be with her son again.  But I mourn for the pain that will be in her children's homes for a while.  I mourn that her grand children's memories will fade in time and she'll be a distant memory in the not so distant future.  I mourn that her daughters have become orphans overnight.

And I mourn that I wasn't there for my friend at that moment when she needed someone.  She had friends and family around her, but I wasn't one of them.  A phone call here and there, and I meant to call this past weekend and then life happened and I never got near the phone.  And then death happened.

So my dear cyber friends, I am going to go take a shower and then I'm going to make a phone call.

Rest in peace Leona.  You will be missed and remembered.

April Showers bring...April Flowers!

Welcome!  Thanks for stopping by!  I've been loving spring, even though it's pretty much rained non-stop all month, and watching my plants come back to life!

This week the Daffodils decided to grace us with their cheery beautiful sweet smelling selves!  I never knew they had a scent until last year when I was talking with someone and they told me they loved the smell of them.  I had assumed they were a lot like the hybrid roses - nothing but color.  How wrong was I!  I also learned that Lily of the Valley has a lovely scent!  I haven't seen those this year, not yet, anyway.

My miniature tulips are up as well.  They don't get any taller than six or seven inches and they have pointed petals instead of rounded.  They remind me of fire and they come up year after year but never spread.

The Grape Hyacinths have poked their little purple heads out of the ground too.  I'm not so crazy about these guys because of the foliage but I guess I'm going to keep them.  I separated a lot of them last year and moved them around because they're supposed to spread, but I really haven't seen that happen and I've had them for years.

Last but not least, I have my blue flowers.  I have no idea what they are.  I bought the bulbs two years ago and never wrote the name down anywhere.  I think they are the cutest little flowers, they're no taller than a couple of inches, very low-lying, and when the flower is spent it folds towards the ground and created a new bulb.  If anyone knows what they are please let me know! 

I hope you enjoyed a little part of my gardens.  I'll be posting more and possibly some video as well.  I really do enjoy working in them and seeing new flowers and vegetables make their way into my world.

Thanks for stopping by!  I'd love to hear what you're doing in your garden.  As always, I love each and every one of your comments!

Spring Storms

It's that time of year and it's what is happening tonight.  Lightning and thunder, no rain yet.  I just love these nights, but I'd love them better if Bella wasn't so scared of them.  Right now she's wedged herself under my chair and is panting so loudly it's a little distracting.

The air turned warm today, and I finally admitted to myself, and others, that I killed most of my seedlings by setting them out too early.  After I got home from work I set about making things right by starting the re-plant.  I planted more broccoli, more red cabbage, more eggplant, more flowers, and most important - more tomatoes.  Just the name of them makes me smile.  Costoluto.  Say it - Costoluto.  Don't they sound awesome?  I'm hoping I have time to start them and get them going because I hate buying my starter plants unless they're herbs.  I start most of those myself too, but I have a hard time with starting Rosemary and Sage.

Ah, the rain has started and with a fury.  I just ran upstairs and the rain was coming in.  Luckily the bed's not soaked!  It just means there's no nice breeze in the house now.

Easter was great with the kids.  Hannah helped me make the green bean casserole and Gaige washed the dishes after dinner.  He loves cleaning!  I think this was their first real Easter too.  I hid a couple eggs out back and when they came over we watched them find them.  Next year I'm going to hide a ton of them!

My panic attacks are back and in full swing again, due to problems at work.  Besides medication, that I haven't touched yet, I'm thinking I need to get crafting - a lot more than I am now.  Crafting, mainly scrapbooking, will set me free!

I know I didn't have a project to display, and I'm sorry if you're disappointed, but I didn't have anything like that to share so I decided to share me.  Hopefully another project will appear soon, so stay tuned and thanks for stopping by!  You're always welcome here.

Some Awesome Blog Candy Available!

Hello my bloggy friends! Check out this awesome blog!  All you have to do is follow and leave a comment - and tell them that Jennifer over at Crafty Diva Lounge sent you!

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Scrapping Day

I called into work today.  I was up this morning at 3am, wide awake but knowing I should sleep.  I don't know why it's always 3am.  It reminds me of that song by Matchbox 20.  Check it out here: 

 http://youtu.be/C-Naa1HXeDQ

So I thought I'd rest because I didn't get back to sleep until 6:30 and then it was just restless tossing and turning.  After I showered I was drawn to my craft room, the mess that it is, and started to scrap.  I figured that since I was home I might as well create.  I've been trying to finish my 2010 album and I'm soooooo close!  I just need a couple more page holders, which means a trip to Joann Fabrics is on the horizon.

Here's what I got done:

 I love this one because Gaige kept asking to put this car together after Christmas and he was so happy when Derrick worked on it with him!  I decided to make the frames and glue them to the photo, then added the brads that looked like screws.  I mounted all the photos with foam squares to make them stand out.  I used the CJ Journaling font for my own journaling, and I brushed the edges of the journaling circle with a blue pigment stamping pad.

 I added a little bling on this one.

 I love the Christmas cards that come with photos and I always scrap them!

My fave pic is in the middle.  I just love it!

So I was pretty busy.  Now I'm starting to scrap the children's album so they'll have something to show their friends.  Up until now I'm pretty sure they don't even have their own photo albums because they are super excited about getting their own book.

That's it for today!  Thanks for stopping by, and as always, you crafty folks are my best critics so share your ideas and if you like something then please let me know!

Nature

Just thought I'd share this with you.  I stopped on the way home from work the other day to check it out.  The starkness of the trees sticking out of the water caught me off guard and I just had to get a shot.  I hope you enjoy!

Creating an Album with Unibind

Welcome back! I love it that you're here, and that you're checking out my page!

In September of 2010 I won a Unibind Photobook Creator (http://www.facebook.com/#!/PhotobookCreator ) in an on-line contest.  I was so excited! First to win something and then realizing that I won a real quality product!  After I won it I had to finish a challenge, which I did, and post it on-line for the world to vote in, which they did.  I didn't win more but that was ok.  Winning once was too cool anyway!  The thing is, I had the product but it sat.  And sat.  I was worried about what to do with it.  Would I mess it up?  I had received three books to bind with the Creator and I didn't want to mess it up.

And then inspiration hit!  I was in an old office that was being ripped apart.  There was some old, er... vintage, wall paper on the wall, and whala! the light bulb in my head went off.  I ripped off a good sized chunk, rolled it up, and brought it home.  There it sat, for a month at least, until I decided to see what I had.  It wasn't in the greatest shape, but I cleaned it up- both sides and layed it out to dry.

Once it was dry I measured out what I needed and then tried to find the areas that weren't ripped or faded out.  Once that was done I cut what I needed and set the rest of the paper aside.  At this point I have to say that I received some great advice from my friend Ken Oliver at http://kensworldinprogress.blogspot.com/ .  I wasn't sure how to put the paper on and Ken suggested I use a wash made of Aleene's Tacky Glue and water and to use material for the spine.  He suggested using material because eventually the wallpaper would crack and give out.  It was a great idea!

After gluing on the wallpaper it was time for a trip to Joann Fabrics.  I brought my book with me to test out the materials against the colors.  I brought home two cotton quilting squares. 

At this point I want to ask you a question - have you ever been in the material section of a store and just about coughed your lungs out?  I'm not allergic to anything that I know of but I thought I was going to die!  As soon as I got to the scrapping stuff I was fine!

Once I finally made my fabric choice I decided I had better sew the edges so it looked finished.  I did a spine and two squares for the inside of the album.  I used my grandmother's sewing machine.  Isn't it beautiful?  She picked it up at a yard sale and sewed everything with it, including pillow cases, which I still have a few of.  She never taught me to sew and you can definitely see that in these photos!

Once all the material was ready I started gluing it into the album.  I used the Aleene's Tacky Glue full strength and tacked it on.  It worked beautifully! 

Once everything was dry I cut some heritage paper that will hold some great old photos when I'm done.

So what do you think?  Pretty good for a first time, right?  I have to say it came out really good and very much like I had visualized.  As always, your comments are welcome and I love them so comment a lot!  

Oh yeah, what happened to the leftover wallpaper, you might ask.  Well, I kept it all.  Some of the pictures on the wallpaper I cut out and some of the paper I might use to make some vintage flowers and maybe an embellishment for the front of this baby.

Happy Scrapping friends!  Thanks for dropping by!

If you like crafting don't forget to take a visit to see Ken's projects at http://kensworldinprogress.blogspot.com/ !