December Stuff

This was my creation for today. Journaling reads After getting the extras wrapped, I fell into bed at 12:45 am. I slept harder than I usually do but I clearly heard the footsteps above me. I listened for the voices of discovery. Bella found her dollhouse. Sawyer saw his bike. Santa had come. You came in to tell me the cookies were eaten and the milk was gone. Then I looked at the clock...it was 5:15 am. Credits in my DST or Scrapbook.com galleries.
My guys stargazing for shooting stars.

Happy New Year to all!

Christmas and a half!

One of my favorite sayings is Christmas and a half. And with the 25 days of Christmas photo challenge, I've got quite a bit to do. Admittedly, I'm combining a few of the days and getting creative with others. But, I'm also doing a lot. AND I got a book deal (not for scrapbooking, sadly) so I'm perusing that and wrapping up loose ends so I can punch it out before my self imposed March deadline. (the contract said my publication date is May '08.) So, I haven't been as good about getting layouts up here, but I have gotten them in my Scrapbook.com gallery and my DST one as well.

Here's the first of 3 that I've knocked out this week. My mother-in-law began teaching me about what it means to be family in a way that I wasn't used to, a way that made me feel totally welcome and loved. I cherish my family's stockings and tree skirt and had to share the story.

Next we went to see Santa. I found this kit FREE (ohmygosh!) and love it. I thought it was great for Christmas because it has the red for Santa but isn't glaring Christmas. That's just me, subtle.

And, last but not least, Bella and I made dough for the 13 clients we are taking cookies to as our thank you. She was sooo cute and so grown up. And, she did most of it herself!

Credits can be found in either of my galleries.

My New Year's resolution is to learn more about photography. People comment that I take great pictures. I think that's because I'm thinking about how they will look in a layout. But, there are people with more experience than me who can teach me to take better pictures, even if it's just for photo's sake. Sawyer has started taking my camera when he wants to shoot stuff which is fine but I'm so afraid he'll break it. He took it to his room the other night and when I couldn't find it in either of the normal places or any of the various secondary places, I was literally having a panic attack. Sad, huh? Ryan tried to tell me that my camera is just a posession and I shouldn't be so tied to it. In this season, especially, you're more aware of the fact that a camera is more than a possession, it's a legacy keeping tool.

If I don't get back to post again, happy holidays to each of you and I'll see you next year!

Figgy Pudding?

DST's December newsletter has an article about taking 25 days worth of holiday pictures. For fun, I'm trying to do as many as possible and now have many pages to do! I thought somewhere I saw something about the lyrics to your favorite Christmas carol but now I can not find that. I hate when my mind wanders. Despite having a favorite Christmas carol (Little Drummer Boy) I wanted to do something about my LEAST favorite carol. So I did. :)

All this was (if you can believe it) freebie from Blue Sandstone Designs' Blue Storm kit. LOVE IT!

My Honey

Lately I've been doing a lot of thinking about how when you've been with someone for a long time, you don't do big things to say I love you, you do a million little things. And, without that person there, those things don't get done or don't get done like you are used to, and nothing is the same.

This morning while we were sitting reading the paper and reading, I looked over at him in his white tee shirt, unshaven, and his hair all a mess. He's been reading mens magazines lately and taken notice of his dress and personal care so he's been a lot more polished lately. And there, all unkempt, he just looked so sexy and happy. I couldn't resist.

Credits here.

Thankfully Busy

The sermon in church yesterday was about being thankful. Someone I met back in my paper scrap days was sitting in front of me and I commented to her that I think being a scrapbooker, you're always thankful. It's inherant. We take pictures of life, of things we're thankful for, and we commemorate them with glitter and paper and ribbons and grommets and....and I'm thankful for it. I'm thankful that I found my way back to digi scrapping this year and really got into it. I'm thankful that I got to work with Ronee Parsons before she retired from digi.

I've had a helluva past 3 months. You really appreciate everything you have when it's all on the line. Now that the spotlight is (more or less) off of me/us, I can solidly say that I know what I have, why it is sooo good, and that I am truly thankful for it. Days filled with little ways of showing love pass and we forget to take note. Eventually we become complacent. Thanksgiving is the time to come out of the complacency and take note of those ways that we show love. I have been cooking my heart out which is why I've not had time to do a Thanksgiving lo (but will) all for my family, not just my kids and hubby, but also my sister, her hubby, her kiddoes, and my mom. My sister admitted that if she was having the meal, it'd be everything from cans and boxes done on Thanksgiving day. Not me. I've been shopping for ingredients, baking pumpkins, practicing pies, and freezing the good stuff in preparation for the feast. And, as great as the food will be, the company will be the best part. I always feel like this time of year is a big comfy blanket wrapped around me and my family, bringing us together, keeping us warm, and surrounding us with the love that is always there.

I am truly thankful. I'm a scrapbooker. How can I not be?

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with the ones you love and remember those who are with us in spirit. Share the stories of the loved ones who have crossed over with the ones sitting around your table. Share the love.

Yeah, She's SO Outta Digi!

My wonderful mentor, Ronee, claims to have sold her soul to the physical scrapping world...but I knew her digi heart still beats within. Check out her blog.

Bobbing For Apples

Okay, I admit it, this was a quick, fun, relatively easy one. It's a template by a new potential favorite, Yin. Paired with paper from the DST Birthday Glitz kit (D. Wilson), a seal from Jen Van Cauter, and a Boho Swirl from Michelle Coleman, it made a pretty good story!

Altered State

My friend, Kate Dana, introduced me to the Craft Mafia. She's part of the San Fran Famligia. I looked through the famligia and ended up at Etsy, a store for home crafters. I love the acrylic pendants that people are making with 50's motifs. I am amused by the ads that make being home to cook and clean for a hard working husband while watching the children seem so fufulling. We've certainly evolved from that. Don't get me wrong, I love being home with my kiddoes, but honestly, hubby drops trou in the bathroom and he can take them to the laundry hamper if not do a load of laundry that includes clothes from the children that WE have together. I got to thining about what I could to to mimick the idea and it came to me, altered counter chips. You know, the tile things you get at home improvement stores. It was a half day for the kids so we took a tour around Home Depot (I live in Atlanta, of course it was Home Depot!) and picked up some tiles while picking up paint chips for my son's room.

Tonight I did a batch of them trying to keep a common theme for each chip. I think I'm going to wear them two at a time, one hanging from a loop off the other. And, as I evolve and get better, I'll start drilling holes in the bottom to add beads and such. Still, between the mod podge, both glitter and gloss, some rockettes, and ribbon later, I'm learning.
Here are 3 that I'm working on...ignore the white, especially around the rockettes, they're still drying. They are the same chips in both pictures, just reverse sides. I am giggling at the last one with the cute lovers on the front and an ad about how many a marriage was broken and marriage vow forgotten because of eye strain so be sure to get your eyes checked. HA! Really?! I have another (that didn't photograph so well) that has a couple embracing and she's holding a box of bran cereal. The hubby is looking at the cereal. On the back I'm going to put "he's in love with another bran".

Wearable art! Fun!

Love This One

I may go back and do some journaling later, but I had to get this. I heard something that sounded like raking in my back yard but I was sure neither of MY children would be raking. But, full of surprises as always, there was Sawyer making a neat pile. Of course, I grabbed my camera!

I had been purposely laying low on the Christina Renee stuff lately but decided to not lay low, but instead go all out. And, I was looking around Michele Coleman's place at Scrapbook.com and thought about how much my style has changed since she inspired me to re-consider digi creations. (then Ronee just pulled me thorough to the "dark" side!) So, this time around I used a combination of the two talented girls. It's got sweet and spice...I love it. Btw, Christina Renee might be poking her nose around here so look sharp! ;) (as always, I'm up to something!)

And Another

Whew! I'm a busy girl! This one I wanted to do and the title came to me so I did it.

Ashley Oleson gets credit for the Bent Frames and Grungy Label (which isn't really so grungy) and the rest is from *my* wonderful Sarah Grimwood and my favorite Bohemian Butterfly kit! Something about it has always said victorian carnival and this was PERFECT!

It's Been Awhile

We've been kind crazy around here. Soccer, Bella's first sleepover invitation, the fall fair, field trips, and I submitted a book proposal. So, finally I got a page done. I did this with a very heavy heart using Ronee's stuff. There's Peaceful Rebellion in here as well as the Goldfish collab she did with LaWanna. There's also some Christina Renee and a Digishoptalk alpha and glitter.

This was after a party we went to this weekend. I still had my glitter fake lashes on but my lipstick had faded, except for that one spot- ick! (dry lips) Still, my honey wanted his picture taken with me and I was happy to oblige. :) He's a good guy.

Heidi Isn't the ONLY One Who's Up to Something

I admit, I've been out of the loop- a lot. I got an email today from OScraps that said Ronee Parsons is retiring from digi design for awhile. I ran to my most often overlooked CT board and sure enough, there it was in black and white...she's busy (which I knew) and has something planned. I felt kicked in the gut. I've had a few scrap crushes on a few designers but Ronee is more than that. She is not only a talented designer, but a writer and a free spirt as well. She inspires me. I do wish she would have done a collab kit with Christina Renee (Christina Ronee?) before she stepped down but when all your wishes are fufilled, then what do you have?

Alas, Ronee left a cryptic message for us to check her blog. Hmmmm. Seems Heidi Swapp needs to hook up with our mystery scrapdiva who is up to her own something. 11 days. 11 days until an Incredible Mess is made on us all. Maybe I'm a bit swept up or just over emotional but I got chills looking at it. Oh, I'm going to burst with excitement.

October Calendar is Ready

I'm trying to be prepared like the good little Girl Scout that I am. Doing a desktop calendar is great as far as having something personal and useful on my screen, but I'm going to have to start celebrating holidays a month early! Sawyer has his Teenage Mutant Ninja costume since he wore it last year, but Bella's going to be a witch and, of course, I don't have any pictures of her as a witch. (a total brat, yes, but a witch, no!) It's okay though. Ryan and I went to a costume ball last weekend so we got a shot of us in our costumes and for the rest, I went back to Halloween a few years ago when we went to Michigan to carve pumpkins with my sister and her family as well as my mom. Why Bella insisted on biting the top of the pumpkin, I'll never know, but I'll never forget either!

In other scrapbook related news, I'm one of the scrapbook moms for Bella's class. I got the job when the teacher sent home a request for scrapbook paper and stickers. Hurrah! A chance to clean out! I got all the bundled pages that I wouldn't use, but kept my Basic Grey, SEI, and the like for my altered projects or pages that have to be done physically. When they realized I know what I'm doing (*blush*) I was "hired". My first day on duty was Friday and, well, they scrapbooked. The teacher printed out pictures of them and the police officer that came to visit. Each kid had about 6 pictures so we let them make 2 pages. Of course, no one wanted the paper they picked out after they saw someone else's paper. I went in telling myself these will be their creations and my job is to dole out stickers, die cuts, paper, glue, etc. Yeah, well, that was until Bella saw a page with a castle on it and decided she needed a castle on her page. Pink page and she used pink cardstock- same shades. Yeah, I just couldn't let it go. "Here Sissy! Why don't we use this purple ink around the edges to give it some dimensi....make it stand out against the paper." I tried really hard, really I did. The good news is that the other scrapbook mom was proud of what she learned from me (how to layer pictures so you can fit 3 on a page without featuring the police officers crotch for instance) and might be a new convert!

$4 Scrapbook Frames

This week at Michaels they are selling their 12x12 black metal scrapbook frames for $4!!! I got 4 that I hung in a square in my foyer! They look awesome. I am excited to print out my digi designs in the upcoming seasons- they'll lay really nicely in the frames!


Run, don't walk to get yours! Show off your passion!

Today's Layout

This one is truly a today's layout. Bella is at school with this hairstyle right now. But it was so funny and we were so excited about it (even Sawyer was counting down the days 'til Horrible Hair day) that I wanted to get it done NOW!

Sande Kreiger for 2 Peas painted frame and word art, Lemonaid Lucy glitter, (of course!!) Pink Cat staples and diamonds, Bren Boone tiara, (because with hair and a face like that, the only thing missing was the tiara!) Kirstie Wiseman Rosy Apple Ripple paper, and Sara Carling Amelie alpha.

September 07

I love the desktop calendar thing...I forget who got me started on the desktop challenge last month but I love them now!

This month was going to be difficult since my kids went back to school last month so no apples for the teacher and it's not fall yet...then Ronee sent out the collab she did with LaWanna which is FREE (yes free!) through September 15 with a purchase. Get yours here.

I'm off to color my important dates!

Oh Happy Day!

I did this lo and tried to pull it up to reduce the size for the web but it wasn't there. I changed it around a smidge, played with it, tried a different computer, nada. Oh no! Finally tonight I edited the size in photoshop and got it to work! And it's so sweet I can't not put it up!

The whole thing is Ronee Parsons. LOOOOVE her. She's moving so she's uber busy. Go buy some stuff from her or leave her some love on her blog or at OScraps.

Les Fleurs glitter overlay, Calm ribbon, and Starstruck paper.

Total Croplift

I saw a layout in Memory Makers this month that I loved. My butterfly and hummingbird garden are in full glory so I knew what I was going to put in the scraplift.

The journaling reads "Being bored and 5 months pregnant I decided to turn the area behind the window into a butterfly and hummingbird garden. Now it is a haven for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. I love to sit on the patio in the morning watching butterflies gracefully falling while listening to the hummingbirds chittering in competition for the birdfeeders. This is my backyard paradise."

Using so many buttons allows me to use a lot of designers so here's a list of who's represented...Sarah Grimwood, (her buttons made all the difference. I was having a hard time getting some contrast. The flowered and butterflied buttons from my all time favorite kit, Bohemian Butterfly, made all the difference.) Pink Cat Studios, Jan Crowley, Digital-Scrapbooking.org, and KJoi. Background paper is from a Digital-Scrapbooking.org welcome kit, polka dot paper is from Ashley Oleson's Summah Breeze kit, and the card and wood turns are from KJoi. (who I found recently and love her stuff)

I have one more in me today. Bella was just too stinkin' cute this weekend and I have to get it down.

My Sister

Just like the journaling says, I was watching Rachel Ray yesterday and there were twins talking about how they aren't friends mostly because one wants her own identity. I have seen a few shows with sisters who aren't close or aren't even civil to each other and I think it's so sad. I can't imagine my life without my sister. Then I found a card she gave me a couple years ago. I love her, pure and simple.

All this is Ronee Parsons Decay with the "S" from the Starstruck Rusty Alpha.

I love you Rhon!

Busy Busy

It's been busy around the homestead. We had a birthdays party for both the kids on the same day (save time and money by doubling up on both!) which my mom came for. She was also here to keep the tradition of being here for the first day of kindergarten, the milestone Bella reached on Monday.

So, I had to get this in a layout. It's completely DST's Birthday glitz and Christina Renee's gift purdy bows, a prezzie recieved just when I needed a pick me up. I wrote and told her so and she was kind enough to write back.

After I get my fridge stocked (and coffee bean container!) I'll work on the birthdays party layouts- I promise!

Fun LO

Every Monday night in the little town where our cottage is, the specialty of the night at one of the restaurants is Hot Beef. Sawyer and I joke...

"Hey Sawyer, what's the beef tonight? Steak?"

"Dunno!" {giggle}

"Well, is it roast?"

"Dunno!" {giggle}

"Is it hot dogs?! Tell me something!"

"It's hot and it's beef!" {uncontrollable laughter}

It sounds crazy, I know, so I took a picture of it and knew I had to do a layout of it.

DST {which you can't get into, I've tried all day so I won't put the link in} has a fun freebie kit for their first anniversary that fit the bill along with a little Christina Renee. (who I've heard is also having site issues so this is a cursed site layout!)

I did it "quickly" tonight while waiting for Ryan to get home as a fun, fast layout. I'm still laughing and can't wait to show it to Sawyer.

Well Lookie Here!

I got my Scrapbook Graphics newsletter with an August Desktop Challenge that I decided to do. Here is what I did for my first desktop calendar of my own! Thank you to Amy Tanebaum for her Homespun kit, Christina Renee for her Lil Fan Fair elements and piled high pictures and, of course, Carla Gibson's stitches from the Cheery O's Sugar and Spice August collab kit.

Calm Down!

Ronee's newsletter {sign up via her blog} was already promising, but now she's added this new kit to go along with it- Calm. It's stunning. I had to use it as soon as I saw it. All the elements, except the alpha come from the kit. (the alpha is Houdini also from Ronee)

Short and sweet. Much to be done in my non digi life.

Sketch Challenge

I saw this layout by Marnell in the DST gallery and loved it. I told her in the comments that I was going to be scraplifting it. She was kind enough to let me know I didn't have to lift it, the sketch came from Digi Scrap Divas and was mine for the taking, using, and getting a cool kit. Hmmm. I got the sketch last night and after a look see through Picasa, I decided to use the cute pics I had from Bella's cheerleading camp to fill the photo spots and voila!

Okay, I noticed that I left one side blank so I went in and tore the edge with Steph's paper tear. (I loathe having PS7 so I use as many shortcuts as possible) Sarah (who put a new commerical use set in the gallery today!) who I just can't get enough of and my favorite Bohemian Butterfly kit, the background paper. The black and white papers are from a Moulin Rouge freebie I found but the preview doesn't have the designer's name. The white and black paper is from Shelle Pukas and the DST Welcome Wagon Kit then what is becoming my trademark, Lemonaid Lucy's glitter swirls. (I loved how they mirrored the circles in the layout)

Cousins

I've been working on the pictures of vacation and the first ones I'm working with are the ones of my niece and nephews.

I wanted to color this picture and use it somehow but wasn't sure how...it took a LOT of playing, I think I had something like 52 layers but in the end simple was best. The background paper is Ronee Parsons Peaceful Rebellion recolored, paper piece, staples, and glitter are Christina Renee Lil Fan Fair, and the stitches are from the Pink Cat Studio. I love the stitches so much, they made all the difference in the lo, that I wrote 'em up on the Pink Cat blog and included a challenge. Go play!

My problem with busy was that I had another picture in my head, one that I knew I wanted to be busy but I wasn't making the disconnect. Finally I did and put my busy where it belonged...in this layout.

There is so much Princess Lala in here, it's not even funny. The trademark swirls, especially the sun from her Funky Skys elements, were just perfect. The paper is Funky Fairy Tales: The Prince and the Princess and the journaling is done with a Kraft Journaling Block. If you can believe it the Prince and Princess kit is $2 right now. RUN, don't walk folks! The additional glitter was provided by another Divine Designer, Lemonaid Lucy. (she's got a great newsprint alpha that I've got my eye on.....)

I think I'm gonna have to take it a bit slow the next couple of weeks- Bella's birthday is tomorrow followed by her daddy's, then Sawyer's on August 3. That means not only celebrations, but doctor's appointments, pictures, and back to school shopping. Ryan wants to throw a camping trip in there as well but I don't know when we'll have the time.

OH! And, I had mentioned Ronee's newsletter...if you want to sign up, email scrappersnews@gmail.com so we can get you on the list!

PICK ME!!

You all know that Sawyer is on the autism spectrum. Please vote to help Autism Speaks recieve more money for research.

For John

In honor of John Mayer being on Good Morning America, and because I'm so busy, I decided to put up a lo of him from my archives. All credit goes to Little Dreamer Designs. Only 2 more weeks until I get to see John again. This time second row instead of 10.

I have a bunch of pictures from vacation that I am dying to put into lo's but there aren't enough hours in the day, not to mention that I'm hard at work on Ronee's premier newsletter. I'll give you the link when you can sign up for it- you'll want to, it's gonna be GREAT. (I'm saying that because I have the draft of it at my disposal, not just because I'm the newsletter coordinator!)

We've also been busy getting settled back in and ready for school. Bella had her kindergarten assessment yesterday. She went off with a teacher, came back and told me she did great! I asked her if she did so well they might put her in first grade- her reply? Hand on hip, looking up with her best "well duh" look and said "maybe". Yes, she's a mess. In other news, Sawyer got a turtle yesterday as well. He is fascinated with turtles and has been wanting one. I had considered getting him one when we got home and then one showed up on Freecycle. So we got the turtle, the tank, the pumps, the food, the lamp- the whole set up really, for FREE! He's thrilled. (and I think we're going to spend more money on soap from the kids washing their hands after touching the turtle and/or his things than we will on food for the little guy)

I Don't Get Camping

Last fall I had what could best be described as a horrible camping experience. My sister in law decided she wanted to do some camping while she is in Michigan and since we're here too, we went as a family. The tent campers next to us (we recovered our pop up trailer from our cottage) only had fire as a way to cook so they pretty much had a fire going all day. The smoke from it bothered me and then got worse- it climbed into my sinuses and has me miserable. As I looked through the back window of my in-laws HUGE travel trailer, I was reminded of their winter home in Florida. The view from their patio there is much the same as the picture window on the back of the trailer including twin recliners and decorative lamp in between. (not to sound like Carrie Bradshaw but...) It got me thinking, why do people go camping anyway? In the mid 1900's when people lived on postage stamp sized lots in industrial areas, okay, I can get that. But, let's see, here are the reasons to go camping and why they're negated now days...

To get back to nature. I've got a great back yard full of nature.
To spend time with family. Between soccer and whatever it is Bella is involved in plus any other activities around town, we spend plenty of time as a family.
To be with friends. If I want my friends around, I'll invite them over.

And, at the end of the day, it won't take 2-4 times though the wash to get the smoke and dirt out of your clothes, you won't need 2-4 showers to get the dirt and smoke off you, you don't have to eat food that is 1/2 burned, 1/4 raw, and 1/4 cooked right, you get a decent shower, and a good night's sleep in your own bed without people walking and talking in and around your campsite.

Call me cynical, but I have a beautiful patio that I love to sit on and enjoy my kids playing in the yard, cooking a nice meal on the grill, then having the kids and/or friends join us on. I don't need to pack the essentials into a suitcase to cram into 100 square feet to go do it.

The other thing was that my kids played at the playground or Sawyer rode his bike leaving me with not much to do. I don't know, maybe I just don't know how to slow down and relax. I'm so used to having 100 things to do and 1/2 hour to do them.

On Vacay

This morning we're sitting around having what looks like a pretty typical day at home- only we're not at home, we're 800 miles away at our cottage in Michigan. While I have internet connection, it's slower than my speed at home and I'm "only" on my laptop so creating anything would be done using my mousepad which I don't like. So, instead of creating over coffee and a protein bar, I'm checking the digi shop talk forums, specifically stuff about Traci Reed's Trash the Dress session. (I'm actually thinking about going to get a dress when I get home and having this done- it would be so much fun!)

I'm doing a lot of reading on vacay. I love reading but with 2 very small children underfoot, I have spent the last 7 years following them, making sure they mind their manners, and pick up after themselves- if they don't, I have to. When the day is done, any attempts to read lead to sleep which is why I have books that I've meant to read for years but haven't. I even joined a book club with aspirations of reading more- I mean, it's one book a month, who can't do that? The mother of 2 very small children, that's who.

I am feeling like I'm neglecting my designers. I let Laura White/Princess Lala know I'm on vacation and she is cool with it. Melanie Chenowyth is a relaxed CT to begin with. And I'm still in contact with Ronee and we're working on stuff. So, really I'm not being irresponsible, but it sure feels like it.

Then again, I realize how fortunate we are to have a cottage to go to (though it is on the market) to be with family and friends in the best part of the Michigan year. We went to the Dairy Bar, the major food place in town last night and hung out around the greenspace where the kids played with other kids. (a major thing for Sawyer...impromptu social situations are not a typical comfort zone for autistic kiddoes) It's good, necessary even, to have a time to slow down and do different things. I could do it on a better bed, that's for sure! (we're sleeping on our air mattress)

Happy 4th. Celebrate and enjoy your independence.

Ghosts of Generations Past

I am in Michigan staying with my mom until my hubby and son arrive to whisk Bella and I up to the cottage. My mom's father passed away last fall so there are boxes of pictures around which, of course, thrill me. It's bittersweet though. I see pictures of my great grandma who was so much a part of my life until she died a month after I got married and I tear up. My mom met my mother in law, one of her best friends, through their dads so there are pictures of my husband's grandfather. My husband never met his grandpa but his family tells him over and over about how much he is like his grandfather which makes him really wish he could have known him. Then there are the pictures of my grandparents in their heyday...mid 1940's. My grandpa was what they would have called a swell or a dandy and my grandma was the picture of the perfect housewife yet an earlier picture I've seen of her has a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a cigarette in the other- I was told that's how she lost a significant amount of weight for her senior year of high school. My niece looks a lot like my mom in the pictures of mom at age 6- the age Olivia will be in August.

I am praying that my husband remembered to bring his portable scanner so I can get these shots into my hard drive. NOW I have a lot of scrapbooking to do! (as if I didn't before!) The sad thing is taking them off the black paper with their beautiful corners. One book had ones I hadn't seen- they're little dots about 3/4 of an inch apart with a small line between them to hold the edges of the photos...they're great. I also found an old picture developing envelope from a set of pictures my grandma had developed before she was married that cost her 3 cents to have developed. I am going to scan that as well.

Also, while sitting waiting for laundry to finish in my mom's basement, I found another box of pictures, this time my own from college. It's strange to look at myself then and remember my resolve towards a future that looks nothing like what I have now.

I think that we have to take trips like this that are full of bittersweet memories. We remember where we've been and it helps us to appreciate what we have now. I wonder if I could do a Back to the Future type travel back in time to talk to my grandparents or even myself 15 years ago, what would I tell them? Would I give pointers about things that might make their lives better? I don't know. Life is different than any of us planned but different doesn't seem to be bad.

Made It!

Happy Monday! Bella and I made it to Michigan safe and sound (though I'm sure the gentleman sitting next to her on the plane was ready to throw her out the window for being such a squirm worm) and are at my sister's where I got the wireless router hooked up! I had to get an fm transmitter for my iPod- I just don't listen to the radio anymore and I certainly don't listen in Michigan so I have no idea what stations to listen to. Thankfully the Apple Store was across the hallway from Build a Bear workshop and I was getting gift cards for my nephews there anyway. I got a great picture of Bella settled in with an iMac that I'll put up when I download my pictures.

We've been enjoying time with the cousins and playing in the hot tub that is new since we were here last. (and it's very nice- they figured if they were going to do it, they'd get something they'd be happy with long term) The only real problem we have is that my kids go to bed at 8 and 8:30 at the latest and get up between 7 and 7:30 in the summer while my sisters kids (and her neighbor's kids) go to bed around 10 and get up between 8 and 8:30.


The picture I DO have is from Ryan & Sawyer's weekend. They went to a friend the lake house of Ryan's and apparently Sawyer caught so many fish that Ryan lost count. They sent me this picture of a large mouth bass he caught.


He starts Cub Scout camp this morning and he is so excited. This is the camp he's been looking forward to most. He will get to do his shooting and archery to earn those belt loops as well as a bunch of others. I'm excited to see him and hear all about it when they get here Saturday.


Just a quick reminder- I had such a great response to my Sarah Grimwood layouts made from her birthday gifts that I don't want anyone to miss out...the kit is only on sale through tonight at midnight so don't miss your chance to get the $2 kit that made Sawyer's travel journal and the Sweet Princess layout! And, anything else she's made is 30% off! Really, who's getting the birthday spoils now?!

Have a great week!

Happy Birthday Sarah!

This one is for Sarah who is leaving her 20's behind! The papers, picture frame, and buttons are from her birthday present to you!

And with that, I am packing it up...the computer that is. Off to Neverland where I never seem to grow up.

*Extra credit goes to Princess Lala for her Fairy Tale swirls, Lemonaid Lucy for the glitter heart, and Michelle Coleman for her lovely stitches found in her Boho Chic elements

I'm Finished!

Ronee Parsons gave me the link to information about submitting a book proposal to Memory Makers. They ask for 10-15 layouts in addition to information about the book. I am leaving for Michigan tomorrow morning and the kids are in Vacation Bible School this week, so I set my goal for today to have the proposal in. The book idea is Scrapbooking Illnesses and Disabilities. I have seen so many people ask if they should scrap about something that is not as happy as a birth, prom, graduation, etc. I say absolutely you should. Sawyer has high functioning autism and it's a challenge but because I think it runs in our family on my father in law's side, I also feel that I need to tell the story to my future daughter in law for so many reasons. After time, you forget the "little" details that were so important at the time but are part of the story and I believe that people should get those details on paper.

I *only* did 10 layouts mainly because they are all about Sawyer and I figured I'd give them a break- they know everything they need to know! I have friends who have said I could get pictures from them about their kids and I will do that if I get picked up- this was only a proposal. So, finally I can show you what I've been working on. And, instead of filling my page with my layouts, I put them together in a slide. I tried to do some very simple (Welcome to Holland is paper, an edited photo, and journaling) and then some very layered ones, Tiger Cub is very layered and I took my own advice and tried using custom drop shadows. (but, I have PS7 so I am limited- can't tilt corners, can't create a text path...bah!) For some reason, my No Pictures layout won't load into slide so there are *only* 9 layouts here, but to see them all, you can go to my Picasa album.

And, with that, I'm off to see my kids' VBS performance, redo my henna tattoo, and PACK! I'll be uploading pictures, but prolly no layouts...love me anyway!

My 30th Birthday Present!

Oh, to be 30! Okay, so I was 30 not so long ago. 4 years to be exact. But Sarah is turning 30, ironically, the day after my twin nephews...well, Brandan and Cameron will be 4 so Sarah's got some experience on them. And what great things does that experience bring??!!?!?!? MUCHO TALENT! Of course, you know that I'm one of Sarah's biggest fans, so this is reason to celebrate, but she's giving US the gifts. Seriously, as I was unwrapping them, I was anxious! Just like I was opening the best gift of my life! (which would really be my wedding ring after it got upgraded, but man....)

Just as a little sneakie peekie, I'll show you one of the things I did with my gift. I am going to print several of these out for our trip to Michigan for Sawyer so that he can work on his writing skills and then I'll put his journal with pictures in my scrapbook! How perfect is that?!?!?



I'm {pinching fingers together} this close to being done with my book proposal. I am ready to be done. Then I can scrap for pleasure again which is always more fun!

Killing Time

I'm trying to blur the heck out of a picture and it's making my computer think- REAL hard so I've got about a minute between blurs. I'm using it to check the DST forums. {you might have to register to see the forums...do it, it's soooo worth it!} It's also messing with iTunes so for some reason I have NO MUSIC to work to. ARGH!

I've been wondering what all the buzz is about drop shadows. Yeah, PS has 'em, just click blending options, drop shadow- you can even change the color and depth and what not, so what's the buzz when someone does "amazing" drop shadows? Well, now I've got it figured out...Misty Cato, bless her heart, has this amazing tutorial on how to customize drop shadows in PS.

I am having anticipatory depression. I'm going home Saturday and while I can take my laptop, I can't take my external file server since it has hubby's business files on it as well. If I can't take the file server, I can't take my files. {now you see it coming} And if I can't take my files- I CAN'T DIGI SCRAP! Holy scrap crap! What am I going to do with myself? I will be taking lots of pictures. There will be lots to take pictures of. My twin nephews will be 4 on Monday (which seems impossible) so their party is Sunday. There's the cottage which I hate to sell for the photo value alone. (it's a stone cottage on one acre- lovely but not in the budget anymore) If we talk to my in-laws (they don't seem to want to talk to me lately) we'll be out on their lake and pontoon boat. My sister in law will be coming up and we're having a family reunion of my favorite side of the family. My "baby", the nephew I got to help deliver, will be coming with SIL and he's just as cute as he can be. We'll be interring my grandpa's ashes July 16 (say a little prayer- it's final closure) in a miltary ceremony. And, best of all, Cherry Festival! I'll pop pics up so you can see what I'm up to, but, alas, no layouts to be done.

Maybe I'll have to read. Now taking good suggestions! I like Sidney Sheldon, the Bridget Jones Diaries were good, a friend tells me I have to read Sedaris, and I LOVED Kite Runner. Who could believe that is fiction?! The detail. Unreal. I have my July Memory Makers but I'm not allowing myself to crack it open until I get on the plane Saturday morning.

Can You Tell The Difference?

Oh my gosh! As soon as I hit post for my entry below, my email came bearing gifts- my Christina Renee paper chains. But, they were so worth the wait. They look so much better than I even pictured them in my head. Tell me you can see the difference.

Don't get me wrong, I know where my allegiance lies
{I LOVE YOU RONEE}
but this is a true mix of the grunge queens. Give it some love people, give it some love.

Peeking My Head Out

I'm in the thick of doing layouts for my proposal- well, that and killing ants. Really, when there's nothing on the counter, what are they looking for?! They're making me crazy.

I thought that it's not fair for me to stay away just because my nose is to the grindstone. So, as another sneak peek, here is what I worked on today.

Of course this has Ronee Parsons all over it! This is Starstruck. I also used some of Lemonaid Lucy's glitter. I tried to order Christina Renee's Paper Chains but there was a problem with the order {oops, I had to step away from my computer because life happened} so I have to wait. But, I am going to put it where I have the black sequins stretched out. I was hoping to make them cool super sequins, but it didn't happen. So, once I get the CR order figured out, I'll put those in there.

Aggggh, off to kill more ants.

Late Night Entry

I'll spill part of the beans. I'm working on a book proposal for Memory Makers. My self imposed deadline is this Friday. I need to have 10-15 layouts/pictures of art that would be used in the book. So, my lo's as of late have been for that. However, I decided I needed to take a little break and do something for fun. And this is what I came up with.

There is credit due all over the place on this one...Ronee Parsons Estella Kit, (paper, ribbon, pin) Christina Renee Piled high paper and tape, Ashley Oleson Grungy labels, (parts extracted)Kirsty Wiseman Spritz Overlay,Lemonaid Lucy glitter, (I'm loving glitter lately so I was glad to use this!) Michelle Coleman Emma's Sundress stitching, Fernlily heart charm.

Journaling:

Kahlua was supposed to be a lot of things
A chocolate labrador
A goldfish
A couple years more waiting.
BUT! We got a coupon for free goldfish from the fall festival. When we went to the pet store, there he was, this sweet chocolate and tan doxie. He played with me and I loved him from the start. So we went home and laid him on the bed in front of Ryan.
Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission

HURRAH! I can SAY it!

Have you seen Ronee's blog? If not, just go look. Go on, do it now.


Now comment!

I am beyond excited about this. I am so excited about learning from my mentor. Ronee is the person who got me back into scrapbooking and reenergized about digiscrapping. I am thrilled that she's taking me under her wing and I will be able to learn from her. We've been chatting behind the scenes as much as possible with her travel schedule and she's really a great person as well.

Because I just want to sit back and absorb the knowledge, I'm not applying for any more CT's. Not saying I'm going to neglect the ones I'm on, but I am definitely going to apply myself to Ronee's challenges and the other challenge she's given me (which I'll elaborate on at the end of next week- big things in the works) which I know will only make me a better CT member.

This is a good day.

Bella Being Bella

B was putting her shirt on today and making faces at me while the back was stuck to the top of her head. I had my camera with me so I decided to do this lo. It covered a lot of my bases. I have wanted to use Sarah Grimwood's glitter carnations but haven't done anything where they fit the mood. I've wanted to be funky which covered the bases of using both Princess Lala's funky swirls and Lala kit. And, I wanted to try to use my new Melanie Chenowyth Boys Will Be Boys kit in a girl lo. Howz that for funky?!?!?!?

I had to "babysit" while the kids cleaned their rooms. No judgement here but why is it that mom has to supervise a dad job that is soooooo far behind schedule that the chore is reduced to tears? No fun for the mommy.

*Extra credit goes to Michelle Coleman for her Boho Chic stitches, Jen Reed for her Cinnamon kit, and Acorn Designs for the great plaid paper and title plate AND! More Sarah GRIMWOOD! (sorry 'bout that Sarah!)- grab the template and join her Plain Digital Wrapper challenge.

Disappointing

I just got an email that the National Autism Conference is in Atlanta this year. I would be interested but the keynote speakers are a mom of 2 kids with autism who left her job as a crisis intervention counselor to be with her children and Don Imus' wife who founded a pediatric oncology foundation...I don't see much credibility worth paying $300 for the weekend to hear. And the breakout sessions are about things I'm already hearing, therapies, tax breaks, IEPs. Maybe if I was new to the ballgame, I'd be interested, but as of right now, I'm just not. Eh, maybe I'll volunteer. It's always nice to talk to people with kids on the spetrum, though it breaks my heart (and makes me equally thankful) to see kids who are affected so much more than Sawyer.

I almost got to eat fire Friday night! Ryan's friend is a fire breather and had a party where, of course, his fire eating friends were. They got to "playing with fire" (despite the burn ban, they were very careful) and I was supposed to join in but things got crazy and the moment slipped away. The girls who were telling us (my best friend and I) about it told us the technique which didn't seem very hard. The girls said it isn't and usually people are more afraid of the fire itself. (which, by the time it gets in your mouth, it's burned down and is very cool)





I've gone shopping and spent time sorting and organizing my new goodies. I spent about 2 hours on a layout and then decided to scrap the whole thing! In it's wake, I decided to do a simple lo of Bella since I found a picture of her snoofing.

*Extra credit goes to Ronee Parsons In Dreams papers and buttons, Designing with Renee cardboard frame, and a Grungy Label (turned into a design) from Ashley Oleson

Scrappers Muse (and no, not Ronee's blog)

I am at a scrapping nexus. It started yesterday with some news that I can't wait to share, but must bide my time, and then grew with a Digi Shop Talk thread asking to see early digi layouts and then recent ones to see your growth. Wow, my first one looked flat, but it was of my niece and daughter together, so how couldn't I be in love with it? People were talking about finding their style and how it really showed in their current work.

I've been watching my comments to my layouts lately. I noticed that I got a lot from the simple one I did of Bella in a filmstrip with simple journaling and a bold title block. But, I also got a lot from the one that is now my current favorite layout that is busy and has a lot going on. People talked about their preference for one or the other so I suppose what I need to do now is go see if the same people who commented on my simple layouts also commented on my busier layout. And, if I have extra time, (I know, right?!) I should compare galleries of each set of commenters. To me, the photo or photos I want to use set the tone for my layouts. Sometimes the photo dictates serene and other times they are crazy and deserve more "loud" bold design.

Ronee Parsons said when she decided to apply for Memory Makers Masters '07, she asked a few friends to critique her work and they told her they really couldn't. Her stuff is so different leaving them unable to give her any criticism. I love that. I want to be that. I want my stuff to be something unique. Something that no one has seen before. Then how do I begin to ask for critique? And am I able to take it personally when no one comments out of politeness which reminds me of my mom's saying- if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all? Not everything anyone does is stellar. I imagine even Ronee and Rhonna and Michelle (I'd mention Sarah but I don't see many of her lo's! hint, hint!) have layouts that they'd prefer to hide in the digital closet and not copy to disk when the time comes.

But not everything can push the envelope, right? And, sometimes return to the basics makes your out of boundaries work seem even edgier.

I am going to force myself to do more challenges and contests. In doing so, I will be forced to push my own boundaries, think outside my own boxes, and I get the added bonus of learning from those who had the same guidelines and seeing what they did with it.

And with that, I'm going to go find a challenge....

Hump Day!

I was going to lay low today because instead of having quiet work time while the kids were at camp this morning, I went to breakfast with the girls. But, I talked to a friend and she told me some exciting news, her wonderfuly enabling hubby set her up with a die cut machine and a web store so I wanted to add that to my site, of course. So, for those who scrap au naturel (i.e. paper scrappers, the precursor to digi) or even those who don't but need a physical page, check out Daisy Scrap Works.

If I'm posting, of course there's a lo. This one is from the hiking trip Ryan and Sawyer took with the youth group from our church. Sawyer LOVES to hike and I loved this picture of him just contemplating. I wanted to keep the mood light and contemplative.

*extra credit: Ronee Parsons Sand in the City paper, Michelle Coleman painted heart, Sarah Grimwood Bohemian Butterfly staples, Saskia Bokkers Wild! ribbon, Traci Turchin Garden evening stamps, Rhonna Farrer fleur de lis charm, Angie Briggs brad, Scrappy Pony index card, Jennifer Reed Cinnamon kit tag

New Washer and Dryer

Our old washer and dryer bit it. It was more than time. We bought them second hand and they lasted us about 10 years. So, we spent part of the weekend shopping around for replacements which came yesterday. I should have known something cute was going on when Ryan came in and asked me "have you seenyour children?" Yeah, they were out front playing in the box. (which is now in Sawyer's room being used as a new "room"...too bad the real estate market won't see that as an upgrade and add value to the house!)

This is my new current favorite layout and will be replacing the one on the side in a couple days.

Extra credit goes to Erica Hernandez for the Vibe paper, Princess Lala for the Funky Swirls and Lala ribbons, Leah Riordan for the Funky Floral brads, Scrappy Pony for the Black Polaroids, and Lindsay Jane for the negatives from her Stars n' Stripes kit

Monday, Monday

It's finally out. My article in Scrapbook.com.

It kind of cracks me up that they said you can find the products listed at your local retailer- um, they're all digital. Don't think the lss is going to have them on the shelves. Sorry!

I'm waiting on the delivery of my new washer and dryer. Kenmore Ht5E's. Is it wrong that I'm excited to do laundry?

Today I am going to let this layout speak for itself. As the email said, the digi community has lost one of its shining stars.

Carla Gibson was a designer at Oscraps. She had an aneurysm Tuesday and was declared brain dead yesterday morning.

This layout, one of two her loving husband made in her honor, is so beautiful and bittersweet.

Today, make sure everyone in your life knows how you feel about them not only through your words, but your actions. No doubt Carla made everyone she touched feel her love.

If you would like to leave a message for George and Taylor, follow me.

Back in the Day

Here's a cute shot of my son so long ago I almost forget he was this little. How can you not scrap it? It's another "help from my friends" piece, a little from my faves. I'm also doing a test. My more simple lo's seem to earn the most number of comments so I'm going to see how this does. I'll let you know.

We had a lovely anniversary. Movie and dinner in that order- saw the matinee, then went to dinner. I'm getting a new washer and dryer too. Wahoo. I mean, if I'm going to drop 2 grand on something, I'd rather it be jewelry but when the kids have to be clean, that takes priority.

Off to comparison shop.

*Extra Credit Sarah Grimwood, of course, Bohemian Butterfly, Jan Crowley Spring Chicken, Rhonna Farrer word art, and Paper Tears by Steph, I think I have the hang of it and will be buying a set of 'em in the near future.

Yes! A Day Off!

I'm laying low today...

I still have the stinkin' blister on my eye. My sister told me hers took 2-3 weeks to heal. Oh no!

12 years ago today my husband and I had slipped away with our best friends, a Methodist minister, and our wedding license at Chapel Falls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We're going to see a movie and to dinner to celebrate.

Have a great weekend.

This is Me Being a Dork

I'm just a dork. Princess Lala had asked what our top choices are for kits and I thought she was going to give each of us a link, first come, first serve, so I requested, and waited. It finally occurred to me to check the forum and there they were, links to 2 kits. Call me master of the obvious. And I love this kit. It's Princess Lala's signature kit named after herself, Lala from Divine Digital. I love the pink and black. It's so Bella and my diva friends. BTW, that foot on the top with the ladybug on it is mine. (and sadly in need of a pedicure both then and now)

I wasn't going to work today but I had started this last night and despite a blister on my eye, I wanted to put the finishing touches on this and get it up. I owe it to Princess Lala.

*Extra credit goes to Steph for the paper tear. I am too lazy to figure it out myself and Ronee had used some in one of her Memory Maker layouts. Thanks for the tip doll!

Wasn't Going to Do It

I wasn't going to scrap today, in fact, I had let Sawyer use my computer and because he was on it, Bella got jealous. I pulled out her long hidden tea set for her to do something of her own. Once she got it set up, she came in and told him "Sawyer, you can be my lawyer". I knew a lo was coming! I grabbed my camera and here's what I did. (while they smashed the styrofoam that the tea set is stored in and sucked the little balls up with our new vaccuum cleaner- oy!)

I was glad to finally use Amy Tanabe's Homespun kit as well as more of Jennifer Reed's Cinnamon kit. (both freebies) Of course, the swirl is Michelle Coleman's Boho Chic, (store open in a couple of days, are you excited yet?!) and the Painted Heart is a freebie from her blog. There's a page from Jan Crowley's Jolly Brolly kit too. (I am going to use more of these for my Spring Break pictures.) I also snagged SAAB's corner curl template which I love.

Our finances are depressing so I am going to go digi shopping- for freebies. There is so much out there, I just haven't taken the time to find what I can. I'll remedy that today which will actually give me more work as I'll have to sort things into folders. Ah well, it's worth it.

First Real Day Out

So, today is our first real day out of school. Daddy's out running errands, personal and business, and with nothing on our calendar, we're kindof recovering from our day of sun and fun.



I needed to do more lo's with Sawyer and wanted to use the basic idea of a blueprint I saw so here's my creation o' the day. I adore Leah Riordan's Funky Flowers Freebie paired with some Clara Wallace ribbons, it turned out great if I do say so myself!


I was tossing around applying for the Memory Makers Masters '08 team. Ronee Parsons {I'm still too starstruck to call her "just" Ronee} has been an incredible inspiration. I applied for a position on her creative team {which is full, by the way so don't bother applying! }* and in the meantime and between time have been looking through anything I can find about her. The fact that she is a relative newbie yet is a Memory Makers Master '07 and is writing a book for them rocks my socks. Her unique creations and use of elements makes you stand up and take notice. {Sound like why I love Sarah so much too? It is.} And then behind the scenes, her communication makes her seem a lot like me and if she can do it, I can do it. I was a bit floaty thinking about just submitting and letting it go. But, reread the info on MMM '08 and thought "not now". I'll give it another year, learn some more, and see how I feel and where I am next year. And, it feels like a load off.


Off to eat, read, and take a nap.


*Ronee Parsons is still accepting applications for her creative team. In a snarky, sarcastic, just like me mood, I was tempted to post follow up post to her call on Digi Shop Talk, but didn't know how it would be taken by the general public or how it would "impress" Ronee. She thought it was funny (maybe I need a postion as an email buddy instead of one on her CT) so I'm sharing the humor.

Quickie for the Holiday

At Sawyer's class awards, one kid got a perfect attendance award. It kinda irked me because while it's all well and good to encourage attendance, I feel like Sawyer and anyone else who got the throw up stomach virus or any other illness get a bit shafted for doing what they should (and are required to do via the school policies) by staying home. It got me thinking about other times when we've had something better to do on a school day and Sawyer's Alaska trip taken with his dad a couple years ago came to mind. So, it was the subject of my quickie lo this morning. Because of all the photos, I didn't want to add any extra embellies to it other than Ronee Parsons' Sand in the City and some paper clips from Clara Wallace Matter of Scrap. {I couldn't tell ya' what kit, I downloaded a mega pack when I started out and have like 15 kits from there all jumbled around}

We're headed to the lake house today. I act like it's mine but it's my best friend Mary's. It's actually going up for sale which makes me sad, but I understand why. {lake houses take a lot of work} Hopefully the smoke from the Okefenokee swamp fires will keep moving out. We were inside all day yesterday because of them. Sawyer's allergies aren't handling it well.

Happy Memorial Day. My grandpa is spending his first Memorial Day in heaven. WWII vet. I miss you grandpa.

Keeping Awake

Really, it's just sad to go to bed at 7:30, but I am sooo tempted. In order to keep awake, I challenged myself to use my favorite designers stuff to do a page.

You'll find in here Ronee Parsons Sand in the City, Michelle Coleman Boho Chic, and, of course, Sarah Grimwood's Bohemian Butterfly which has a special add on that you will get if you order now! (Do I sound like a K Tell ad?) I love this picture- I'm so glad it turned out. My camera is supposed to get good night shots so I was testing it.

Speaking of movies, I took the mini-me's to see Shrek the Third today. Why is movie popcorn so addicting? Then you eat so much of it and are bloated for the rest of the day. (God bless free refills after you spend an unholy amount of money on the producer pack!) I am forcing myself to eat a sweet potato now. Please don't tell me that popcorn is a good source of fiber. All nutritional value is lost when they let you apply your own artery clogging yellow liquid to your popcorn. I actually had it on my thigh and wondered how wrong it is to attempt to lick it off. (I opted for pretty wrong. If the licking didn't do me in, the contortion and subsequent humiliation would have.)

Swimming {in pictures}

Heather said that the paint bucket is a unique and thoughtful gift. Ah! But you didn't see his classroom teacher's gift...

There was a comment made a few times about Sawyer "needing" to get his teacher a new pair of shoes because he was stepping on her feet. I kept it in mind and just had to do this. It's a typical pair of shoes {and I'm sure that given time I could have embellished the heck out of them} that I gave to one of the classmates to take around and have everyone sign. Voila! And, I wrote "roses are red, violets are blue, what am I going to do without you?" on the inner part. Seeing all the classroom stuff like the magnet with Sawyer's name on it that he uses to make his lunch choice (she writes the 3 choices on the board and they put their name magnet under their choice- easy lunch count!) brought home in a Target bag made it real to me that we are losing her as a teacher and I just cried buckets.

This morning I pulled up some stuff in my computer and found oodles and oodles of pictures. They are ones that got lost in the transtion between paper scrapping when I was using what pictures were laying around printed and digital where I typically use something from the recent past. So, I am going to spend some time strolling down memory lane, before my baby was headed to kindergarten!, and note the ones that need to be used. Thank goodness I'm on a few design teams and have been offered a couple of guest spots! Now I'll have subject matter to use with their great products!

Oh, I must mention that we had a cookout at the neighbor's last night where we lost count of the wine bottles, Sawyer got bored, and Bella stayed the night with her best friend. I forsee a whole summer of nights like that. It was great.

What I've Been Doing

Sarah asked to see my cans...uh, wait a minute, my altered paint cans. I hate to admit that I didn't get pictures of the first 2 I did. I made them at 9:30 at night, finished sometime after 11 and just wanted to get to bed to get up to take them to school. They weren't nearly as detailed as this one.

This is SEI's Aunt Gerti's Garden kit. The can is for my son's special ed teacher. I'll tell you a story to demonstrate why she deserves such "riches". They just had the first grade poetry recitation. 4 first grade classes all on risers singing, coming in and out to do different poems. Cute, but very difficult for someone with sensory integration issues. (the heart of autism- kinda like being at a busy intersection where the light is out and no one really knows what to do- yeah, that's how Sawyer's brain processes things) So, in one part of a song, there is a bridge and the kids linked arms and swayed back and forth. No biggie, right? It was for Sawyer. He couldn't process people being in his space and making him go this way and that. When I went for rehearsal a couple weeks ago, they had agreed that he could take a step back and "hula" on his own while the kids linked in front of him. Well, at the poetry recitation, to my shock, he didn't step back! He hooked arms and swayed! THAT took a LOT of work on the part of the special ed teacher and him. I was so happy I cried. {Yeah, I was the only dorky mom sitting there crying because the kids were linked arm in arm!}

SO! Aunt Gerti's Garden with it's "Bloom" theme and lots of I Adore You logos seemed appropriate. Oh, have I mentioned this is the lady who picks Sawyer's teacher next year?! I put a TON of Hershey's kisses inside with a note saying "you're so wonderful, I just want to KISS you".

It's so different using actual paper. I need to cut and it's not just a simple rectangular or circle marquee. Then again, creating texture is just inherent to the form so you don't have to drop a shadow here- it happens naturally. (and I'll admit, I turned this one a few times to watch the shadows play) I only thought about including the paper I used on the lid of the can on the can after I had done the brown flower and polka dot layer. OOPS! By the time I could add another strip, it left some of the polka dot layer showing. SO, a scrap and Prima flowers to the rescue. It was overkill to use them on the other side so I used Craft Bond (the WORST stuff in the world!) and Rockettes from Little Black Dress Designs. I had run into their stuff at the Great Lakes Mega Meet last year, they have the BEST adhesives. They also have funky things that you can really get creative with. Check them out! It came out soooo cool!

Oh yeah, and in Bella's teachers cans I put popcorn with a note "thank you for the kernels of wisdom". They loved them!

Off to graduation.