I will miss you my friend.

Karen was one of the best people who have ever come into my life. Her smile lit up a room like no other. I so enjoyed her perspective on many of life's challenges. She had suffered things I couldn't imagine, yet she was still happy and willing to serve the Lord.
She retired last year and was enjoying some well deserved relaxation time with her husband. We joked about all the projects she had to do that kept her from actually relaxing :).
Soon after though, they found a tumor in her brain and it was massive. It had to be operated on immediately. When I heard that news my heart just hurt in a way that it hasn't in a long time. The operation was performed and things seemed okay. Afterward, she was still her cheery self but her speech was sometimes incoherent. When we would visit it wasn't uncommon for her to repeat herself many times but she had an indomitable spirit and never stopped enjoying life.
Unfortunately, the tumor regrew and spread deeply into her brain. Recently Karen fell into a coma and this morning she left us to return home.
Working alongside Ms. Karen was something I will never forget. She made me want to be a better version of myself. I know she'll do that for those on the other side as well.
LOVE YOU! MISS YOU!
(I'm so grateful to have scrapbooked this picture of the two of us).

Chicken Wire Stencil and CHALLENGES!

I've been feeling a little out of it lately. Lazy days with the kiddos and my desk just kept getting piled higher and higher with the detritus of crafting. I stayed up until 2am this morning cleaning and purging. Everybody needs a good purge, right? Then this morning I went in search of some challenges I could get to work on.
I picked three

CAS(E) the Sketch! #42

Pinspired Challenges #15

Sweet Stamp Shop's Use What You Have Challenge #13

                    

And using these goodies, some Tim Holtz Distress Inks and a chicken wire mask...

I came up with this!!!

I've had these plastic letters for at least 7 years. Good to be using them again :). I love the colors in the Pinspired Challenge photo and used the chicken wire in reference to the birds, and that CASE sketch is perfect for this set up. The graphic triangles from Sweet Stamp Shop's new Triangle Style are SO AMAZING! and affordable.

Hope you're having a creative day too. I'm headed out with the kiddos to do some more fun things before they head back to school.

80's Charm Necklace

I'm so glad that I still have this little gem from when I was Tess's age. She loves looking at all of the charms and wearing it around for fun.

I've lost many charms over the years but the ones that are here still crack me up. A pink toilet, a pipe, a cigarette lighter, and a handgun. Now those are all things a little girl loves to wear around her neck. :)
Hope you're having a great week and find some sweet gems of your own.

WHOA mama!

YOU'RE AWESOME!

I love this new set, Spin Me, from Sweet Stamp Shop. It's so versatile!

Havin' a bit of a girly time out this weekend and I wanted to let my grilz know how awesome they are. We're 80's chicks so why not have some neon love. I used Tim Holtz distress inks in bright colors to get the NEON look.
Thanks for stopping by.
Have a great weekend.

Happy Birthday Hottie

Love the fun sentiments in Sweet Stamp Shops "Spin Me" set.

A little MME and some Sweet make for a beautiful pair.

Have a wonderful day and keep creating

New Sweet Project Life Style in the house!!!

Hello there everyone. Have you seen the new release from the Sweet Stamp Shop? It's so great. I especially love these Project Life style stamps that you can add to just about any scrapbook or card project you make. This particular set is called Starts Here!

The little hexie stamp is also included in the set with the "my story" and "starts here" and the arrows. I embossed the "my story" sentiment on a Studio Calico veneer word bubble in gold. I used the new Stampin' Up Basic Black pad to get a crisp image for the "starts here".

 I got this art journal with my winnings from the card contest I participated in a few months back. I love the kraft pages. I want to do a bit of hand lettering in the upper left but not sure exactly what I want it to say yet but for now I'm happy.
I hope your summer has been wonderful. Are you all winding down. We still have almost a month :).
Have a super day.

Water Color Challenge Over at Paper Girls!

I love dabbing my distress ink pads, which are water reactive, onto a craft mat, spritzing them with water and then dragging my paper across the pools of color. You can get amazing results with this technique.

So, the newest challenge over at the Paper Girls Challenge Blog is to use watercolor in your project. I'm so glad I get to guest in on this one. I LOVE water coloring-the traditional way and with distress inks like I've done here. Come join in with challenge #36.

 

I drew in some waves and rocks with colored pencils and when I swiped the paper over the distress ink that I had pooled on my craft mat it resisted the ink in those areas.

 

Once your initial swipe is dry you can dab your paper around to pick up droplets of color for another cool effect.

31 Things to Teach Your Daughter

My Sister in Law posted this list and I really like it. For me #1 is very important. I hate going to a new doctor (female) or meeting one of my children's new teachers, shaking their hand, and wondering to myself, "What was that? That wasn't a handshake. That was a limp dishrag in my hand. Weird." I hope I can teach my children to do better than that...not to crush people's hands or anything, but a nice, firm handshake ;)

31 things to teach your daughter (or maybe 32)
1. How to give a firm handshake.
2. To never wear clothes with something written across the butt.

3. A man will never treat a woman better than he treats his mom. Pay attention to how the guys treat their moms, and run from the ones who aren’t respectful.
4. Look people in the eye when you talk to them.
5. People will judge you by what you say. “I was like, um, totally!” does not qualify as a sentence.
6. People will judge you by what you wear. Show respect for yourself (and see #2).
7. How to change a tire.
8. How to throw a football.
9. Don’t be afraid to use your voice – sometimes it’s the most powerful thing you have.
10. Basic self defense – be able to get out of a situation, and run fast. And use that powerful voice.
11. Teach them how to apologize well, ask for help when needed, and that anger is more harmful to the person who harbors it than to who it’s directed at.
12. What’s in the magazine is photoshopped. Confidence is more attractive than size 2 jeans.
13. Laughter can diffuse many a challenging situation. Especially when you can laugh at yourself.
14. Block out the voices. Not every opinion is worth listening to – listen to the ones that matter, and learn whose opinion you’ll allow to shape your thoughts.
15. Advertising is full of hidden agendas. Don’t fall for it. “Maybe she’s born with it… maybe it’s Maybelline” – really? Maybelline didn’t make her anything she wasn’t born with.
16. How to hit a baseball, throw a punch, and use a compass.
17. How to write a proper thank you letter, and how to type.
18. How to manage her money.
19. Appreciate the little things (and little refers to more than diamonds and pearls).
20. Read often and much. Read works of classic and contemporary literature, fiction and nonfiction.
21. Walk in someone else’s shoes.
22. Listen well, both for what’s being said, and for what’s being omitted.
23. Dream big, and set realistic goals. You can accomplish more than you think you can.
24. Girls can do most things as well as boys can, in general. But know your personal limits, what your own strengths and weaknesses are. Once you know them you can use them to your advantage.
25. Most things worth having or worth doing require sacrifice. Know what you’re willing to sacrifice, and for what.
26. No regrets. Learn from the past, but don’t dwell on what could have been.
27. Just because it’s never been done doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Push the limits.
28. Basic sewing skills.
29. How to handle herself online – using good privacy, remembering that anything shared can go viral (including pictures in poor taste), and knowing that people online aren’t always who they say they are.
30. Trust your instincts. If it feels wrong, it probably is. Listen to that voice, and don’t silence it.
31. The world isn’t all there is. Rely on God more than you rely on anything else, including yourself.
I'd like to add a # 32. Teach your daughter that she is a child of God. She is special and worthy and capable and so, so important.
Have a wonderful weekend!

PS Would you add anything to the list???

Triangle Snippets Art Design

So happy to be documenting family memories again. While on vacation my daughter got to have here hair braided by my sister in law almost every day. She was in heaven. Alas,I'm not so good in the hair department...maybe I didn't get enough practice on my dolls :)

I cut all the little triangles and created a fun design. I was wanting to mimic the braid in an abstract way.

Some Studio Calico wood alpha and American Crafts DIY Thickers that I watercolored with Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

Hope you're having a fabulous day.

Sunflower Explosion over at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog

I'm over at the Paper Girls Challenge Blog today. The challenge was to use at least four journaling cards on your project. These pictures that I've been wanting to scrap for forever were perfect for that because I had a lot to say about this experienc.

I paired my Project Life journaling cards with some Amy Tangerine stickers a and American Crafts Thickers. I also used a a Paper Smooches stamp in my slide holder to the right.

A little washi tape finishes everything.

Have a wonderful day!

Pinspired #12 UR GR8 Card

Trying my hand at another entry for Pinspired Challenge #12.
I also used the Paper Secrets June 21st Card sketch on this one.

I used a Teresa Collins overlay on top of some red paper, created a ruffle with some crepe paper and finished it off with some Studio Calico wooden letters.
Hope your day is beautiful.

Pinspired Challenge #12

Have you seen the new Pinspried Challenge #12

I love the color combo of red and aqua and I was in need of a thank you card. It must have been kismet.
I used some Stampin' Up stamps and some fun papers and washi to complete this card.

I hope you're Monday is brilliant! Don't forget to make some time to create.

Scrapbook Steals Peridot #9

I actually made some time to scrapbook last night. I need to get the pictures reprinted from somewhere better than my home printer but you get the idea. I love getting together with our family in California and spending time at the beach. All the cousins pair up and play together.
 I used Scrapbook Steals Peridot #9 sketch for this layout.

Just a super simple layout to document this time. 

Hope you all have a great day. I'm at home with one sick little boy, maybe I can fit some more scrapping in :)

OH SNAP

I know it has been FOREVER since I've posted, but let me tell you I have been uber busy and having a blast.
I hope to post some on my adventures later.
 

For now here's some eye candy. I love the Fiskars hexagon punches and paired with some Sweet Stamp Shop stamps they just rock.
Have a super day.

Scrapbook Steals June Blog Hop

WELCOME! WELCOME!

I'm so excited that I get to share this project with you for the Scrapbook Steals June Blog Hop. Today's feature are American Crafts DIY Thickers! They are so perfect to customize for any project.

I first made this shadow box that I made from a Sillhouette cut and filled with various layered and rolled flowers. After filling the box I cut out the pennants and strung them together. I sprayed these Ali canvas Thickers with SC Mr. Huey's Sunset. I love the look.

When it was complete I added it to my photo wall in my living room. So bright and cherry. 

Thanks for stopping by and just for kicks here is just one more project I created with the AC Thickers.

I used the LAX DIY foam Thickers for this card. I added glitter and enamel paint to the "U" for a vibrant look. You can add just about anything to the sticky surface of these Thickers. Super fun to play with.

Thanks for stopping by and now you just need to head on over to
JENNIFER MCDERMOTT's BLOG
and see her
AMAZING CREATIONS!

Candy Enamel Dots

Been having a little fun making some more enameled dots. Tessa helped out this time and it was her idea to do the rainbow of dots. She is so much her mother's daughter, right?!?
These took less than an hour from start to dry. I'd still let them cure a while longer before use but I moved them around and stuck them to the card no problem.
If you'd like to see the video demo on how to make these just visit  youtube
DIY ENAMEL DOTS
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day.

Bare Wood Wall Decorations

I'm so happy with my new wall decorations. I sliced up a stick of wood into pieces. Then I painted the centers with some aqua paint. I gave each of my children a piece of the wood to draw
anything they wanted to. These are the resulting masterpieces ;)

Tessa 10: Love Bird

Aaron 8: Wild Bunny

Jonah 4: Daddy, Mommy and Jonah all tucked into their beds.

Jakob 12: Flower craze (this one suprised me ;))

I drilled a hole in the each of the wood pieces and then strung them all together with a lenth of twine.
A personal snapshot of my kiddos art in a matter of minutes. :)
Have a great week!