Quick update...

Has it really been two weeks since I checked in with you all? Wow...time flies. I was gently reminded by my lovely friend Shirley (Hi there Shirley!) that I was lagging. So I will do a quick check in and bring you all up to date. Sadly there has not been a lot of scrappy time around here, but I do have a few projects to share. Mostly I have been spending my time running crazy with these kidlets! We have been working hard at getting my oldest son back on his game with school - we had a rough few weeks but I am so happy to say that finals are over and he lived through his first quarter of 8th grade and actually pulled up his grades to A's and B's!!! Way to go Christian!...and he reported this morning that he plans to keep it on track and shoot for all A's next quarter - I am so glad to have my son back!!
My nine year old has his 4th grade Mission project due this week and we have been working on that - I love doing crafty projects with the kids, and we were encouraged to work on it together, so we are having a great time! But wow is it a time consuming project!
Lauren is getting so excited for Halloween! I can't wait to take pictures of her adorable costume! Grandma made it, and she is going to be a butterfly - it is simply stunning! She is so anxious to be able to wear it! And I am really looking forward to being able to scrap it!

Now on to the scrappy stuff... I did complete some items for the Tour De France Contest over at MonAme Memories. Last week's challenge was to complete a project for Breast Cancer awareness. We were asked to alter a Bra in any way that we chose -- and then of course in order to be coordinated and have a little fun, we were to make matching panties. Of course, like many of you my life has been touched by Breast Cancer, and I wanted to make something really special for this contest. And since we are talking about Breast Cancer awareness before I share my project I want to remind you to get your yearly mammogram - don't wait! I would also like to encourage you to click HERE to go to the Breast Cancer site, and please click to donate a FREE mammogram! It only takes a moment, it is free, and it may save someone's life!

Here is my project:


I decorated the bra and boy shorts in fall colors with silk flowers, rhinestones and ribbon. I added an adorable little owl pin and the tag reads: I'm here to support you. I have no idea what to do with this little ensemble now that it is done! But may someone living with Breast Cancer or a Breast Cancer survivor will see my project and know that I made it to support them...and maybe they will smile.

For this week's project, we were asked to create a mini album using the theme "Thankfulness" as our inspiration. Now I have to tell you, as busy as this week has been, trying to get a mini album done was REALLY a challenge for me. But I was determined to do this! And I am so glad that I did. We have faced some difficult times recently, and it has been really hard for me not to be focused on the negative. Really hard. So taking the time this week to focus on the things that I am thankful for was really a blessing for me. I do have so much to be thankful for, and no matter what challenges life throws at me, I KNOW that I am truly blessed. I do plan to add a few more pages to this mini - since I have much more that I am thankful for, but here is what I got done for the contest:



I used primarily Making Memories papers, chipboard, journaling notebook and stickers for this album along with some miscellaneous ribbon, buttons and lace, felt alphabet by American Crafts and some prima flowers. I wish the photos were a little better - but I always do! I am so pleased with how this album turned out - it makes me smile!

Well, that's it for now - I gotta go get back to work on my (I mean Ethan's) Mission project. Have a WONDERFUL week, and I hope to have something fun to share soon!

Good Morning!!

I hope that today brings you lot's of smiles!!

Life has been going full speed this week, so I have had very little time for scrappy endeavors. I am still playing in the contest at Moname Memories, and am pleased to say that I am holding tight to third place for two weeks in a row - woohoo! What has been fun about this challenge for me is that there is a "speed" component to the race in addition to the scrapbooking, and working quickly in the race earns more points, at least for some of the challenges. So if you know me, you know that I am anything but fast - so I have really had to push myself - the layout that I completed for last week's challenge I got done in just a couple hours - no pondering, no setting it aside and coming back to is later...just get it done! AND I even overcame my fear of writing on the page and wrote (with permanent marker even lol) all over my layout, the flowers, the edges, the journaling... So although it is not the most fabulous thing I ever created, I jumped over some hurdles and enjoyed doing it!


We used a sketch for this one, and that of course made it go much faster. This is my daughter at her 3rd birthday party trying out the beautiful purple makeup she was given for her birthday! Journaling reads: Someone thought it would be a good idea to buy you makeup for your 3rd birthday. You sure had a good time, and Purple is definitely your color!
I used My Mind's Eye patterned papers, Bazzill cardstock, Pink Paislee diecut paper, Making Memories glimmer brad, Sharpie marker, AC thickers, misc. lace trim, AC alpha stickers and a cute little butterfly that I have no idea where came from.

My project this week won't be fast - I am caught in a whirlwind this week and don't know when I may have time to sit down and work, so hopefully I can hold on to my spot!

Aside from this page, my only crafty time this week was getting to go make a tile mosaic with friends from work - My friend Dawn got us together and put together the supplies and somehow convinced her husband Bill to help with framing, grouting etc - it was a VERY fun day with creativity flowing and oozing all over the place - thanks Dawn and Bill!

Well, gotta go wake up the kids to get ready for school, work and another insanely busy day! Hugs to you all

Fall is Here!!

How exciting! Fall weather has finally joined us here in my little corner of the world...cool and cloudy...just enough to make you want to stay snuggled inside with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book... Now don't get me wrong - next week or so I will be whining that I miss my sunshine, but right now I am loving the change!

And it feels like a full season has passed since I last updated my blog...oh well, what else is new? I have finished a few fun things recently, although not nearly as much as I would have liked. Although my mojo has finally returned and I am starting to feel those creative juices flow, my available time has been pretty limited - I take what I can get!

Here is a little fall layout to get you in the mood! This is my daughter last fall decorating pumpkins.

I used Scrapworks and Cosmo Cricket patterned papers, Scenic Route chipboard alpha, Basic Grey alpha stickers and a buncha buttons from my stash.

I am excited to say that I am participating in a fun contest over at Moname Memories. I think a good contest is just what I needed to kick my creativity into gear and get me in the mood to scrap! The contest is called the Tour de France, and we are racing to the finish line - for the next 4 weeks I will be working on challenges for this, and so far I am having a GREAT time! Hope that the old bike is not too rusty to keep up, but either way, it should be a fun ride.

Here is what I created for the first leg of the race. The challenge was to use the theme "greatness" for the layout, and then to create a card using only the items that you used on your layout.

I have to tell you that this challenge was really a blessing for me - As I started thinking about the "greatness" theme, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I have really been struggling with my oldest son, Christian. At 13 he is really starting to test me, and we struggle daily to keep him on the right track, especially with school and homework. Being a mom is SUCH hard work, and I often feel like my role in life is to be a nag, which I just hate. So I created this layout about my struggle with my son, and it helped so much for me to express it and to put it into perspective.

Sorry the photos are not the best - it is dark here, and my efforts to lighten in PS did not do them justice, but that's the best I can do.

The journaling reads:
Christian, I know you think I'm too hard on you...that I am too strict, I push you too hard. You are RIGHT! I do push hard. I have known since you spoke your first words that you were an amazing gift - so incredibly bright! I see a future for you filled with such great potential. I know in my heart that you can do ANYTHING! I want you to learn to always do your best - to reach as far as you can. I want you to see that "good enough" is just NOT good enough for you. I will keep pushing you to live up to your potential, and I pray that one day you will realize that I do this because I LOVE YOU and because I know that you are DESTINED FOR GREATNESS.

Then here is the card I created using the same supplies:
The products that I used are: We R Memory Keepers patterned papers and chipboard shape, Stampin Up cardstock, ink, journaling pen and brads, Heidi Swapp chipboard alpha, Making Memories tiny alpha stickers, and misc. buttons.

Here is another simple card I never shared...

as well as a little journal that I made to keep track of my phone calls at work:

Well, I guess that covers the work I have done for the moment - I am in the middle of several things, so hopefully I will get some time soon and can pop in and share them!

On another note, I did want to mention that I will no longer be participating on the design team at Making Memories for You - I won't go into details except to say that everything happens for a reason, and I have discovered that the reasons this time are so much better for me. I have been reminded that I really do need to listen to my gut - I keep thinking that I know this, but apparently I need periodic reminders. I did learn a lot from this experience - which is why I continue to try new things! I created some things that I LOVE and am very proud of, I made a few new friends which is ALWAYS important to me. I learned that I really enjoy doing sketches, and I think this is something that I will continue - at least once in a while!

And at least for the moment, I will use my time to scrap just for me, and I will continue to challenge myself and enjoy my love for creating because it brings me joy!

I am off now to go dig in to some paper and see what I can get accomplished. Have a scrappy day!!