February 23, 2008

Today has been a relatively quiet day - other than the arguement with Rob over the driver education process for Cait....LOL. I'm still upset over some things that have gone on recently in my life but trying to "get over it" as some would say. It's just hard on some things for me to "get over" - I deal with alot of stuff on a day to day basis in business and real life and I let TONS just go by without saying things but once in a while the wrong thing happens and everything I've held back unleashes and I just need to take some time to myself and "chill" as some would say. I had intended to do so today BBBBUUUUUUUTTTT my assistant proceeded to call in sick - more like hungover since his buddies came into town yesterday - and I ended up working on my day off.........some fun huh!!!

I sold my Sizzix and Sizzix Sidekick this morning off Craig's List to a lovely lady named Melody. While chatting she told me about a group she started here in Austin back in September of 2007 and invited me to join the group. It is not a forum, a design team, nothing dedicated to a particular craft. What they do once a month is meet up somewhere in Austin and from what I understand fellow members will host the craft/art of their choice during the particular month they choose - I'll find out more later I am sure. She mentioned this next month (March) will be cake decorating if I remember right - I have all the tools to cake decorate (like just about every other craft...LOL) but I've never done a whole lot with them. I might have to check them out to get out of the house - March 12th if I remember the date right. So check out the new banner/blinky on the sidebar.

While I had some downtime in the office today I thought about things that have transpired in the last month or so and decided how to move on with my life. I have decided that I do not wish to do competitive scrapbooking any longer. I only want to scrap for myself and for hire - entering contests where people get so mean and ugly because they believe their work is better than others and so on just really surprised me. Would you believe the people out there who get down right indignet because they don't win stuff??? LOL I never would have imagined scrapping women wanting to "scrap" (get the pun, scrap as in fight...LOL).

Anywho, I am better today than I was yesterday. I was upset over stuff in life yesterday and I really didn't want to deal with it - I knew it wouldn't make it go away but I just needed time to be selfish.

Over and out ya'll!!!

February 22, 2008

Well, another 2 poster day!!! This is a rare occasion but I couldn't wait!!!

I got an email tonite from Kelly with Keep In Touch. She sent over a link to where she posted some of my work from one of her kits!!! I just wanted to share it!!! Go here and check it out!!! While you are at it stop by her shop and pick a little something up for yourself!!!

Over and out for tonite - heading to snuggle up on my bed and watch a little TV and then drift off to snoozerville!!!!

February 22, 2008

Well, I'm done with the Survivor Contest!!!! I withdrew my name as of this morning due to personal reasons where I can not be confident I can upload in time. I've also decided that the competitive scrapbooking really brings out the mean and ugly in women and I just don't like it. So, with that said, you can now see all my work with no repercussions to me!!!


All items below were created in the MMFY Survivor contest:

Round 4's challenge - A LO any style using at least one picture of you with NO other living thing(s) in the picture. My LO is titled : To Thine Own Self Be True - and guess what, what better way to leave the contest than on a statement like that right???




Round 3's challenge - An altered item using transparency that was clearly visible. We were requested to show the item before altering and after:

This is the before and after, I have to tell you I totally love the after. I loved it so much that I put it on my nightstand beside my new bed....LOL.



Round 2's challenge - A LO using NO pictures of any kind. Really came at a fitting time as our daughter's 16th birthday was the weekend before and I had these awesome papers sitting waiting for me to do something with. I love, love, love how this came out!!!



Here is a pic of inside the journaling folder. The journaling says:

2/9/08

Happy Sweet Sixteen my baby girl!!!

How time flies when you are having fun!!! It seems like only yesterday that you came into my life and really shook things up!!! I was so happy you were here, you were beautiful and just perfect but I was so scared to be a Mom – I just didn’t think I was good enough!!!

I look back over the last 16 years to realize that I’ve not been the perfect Mom. Mistakes have been made. But the one thing that I never slacked on has been my undying love for you!!!

I am so proud of the young woman you have become. You are beautiful, intelligent, quirky, fun and most important of all.............YOU!!!

Please don't change a thing about yourself for anyone!!! Be who you are. Be confident and strong. You can do and be anything you want in life!!!

I love you. I am proud of you. I may not say it enough but don't ever forget it!!! You are my life, my pride and joy and nothing will ever change that!!!

Happy Sweet 16 Cait!!!

Love Mom



Round 1's challenge - 3 greeting cards using plastic that was not a flower and a flower that was not a plastic. In addition the greeting on each had to be different.



In other news the Baby books we've been making are starting to roll out - we've had 3 sell so far and a request for a special order one again as of yesterday!!! Love doing those books!!!

Well, Over and out for now.........I need to veg, maybe have a drink tonite, cry a little more, sleep a little and just hang out with my kids and no expectations from me other than being Mom and wife!!!

February 20, 2008

Well, it's here!!! If you recall my post from Valentine's Day my darling hubby went out and bought me a new bed!!!

Well, my new bed arrived today and was set up by the nice young men from Roomstore!!!! I went out and bought myself some new bed linens - can't get a new bed without new linens right???

Wanna see??? Do ya???

OK, enough teasing!!!!




and one more................



I really love love love it!!! I so bad want to just snuggle up in it and not get out for the rest of the evening!!! Can't do that though - got challenge 4 from the MMFY Survivor contest to get through and I'm still finalizing my sketch for my LO. If it turns out as gorgeous as it is in my head when it gets on paper I will be happy!!!

OK, over and out all!!!

February 19, 2008

Today is a little rough on me. It is my grandfather's birthday. Anyone who knows me knows that I did not deal with the death of my grandfather over 20 years ago then and I still haven't dealt with it today. It gets a little easier each year but I sure do miss him. Here is a layout I did last year as a challenge and as therapy.



I was less than a year old and my grandfather painted the concrete patio blue and would take me "swimming" in it every day. Granted I don't remember this but I do have the pictures and the stories told to me by my parents. Thanks for looking.

On a lighter note, check out what I made thanks to guidance from my friend Frankie at MMFY:


It is an imposter clip it up. This is a picture of it empty right after I made it and below is a pic as I was putting things on it.


You really would not believe the difference this thing has made in my room!!! Not only can I see most of what I have, I freed up over 7 of the plastic shoe boxes of stuff from shelves and put it upright into this one little space. Now the pic is not of the imposter clip it up in my room but on the counter in my office as that was the best lighting at the time. I'll get a pic in my room and post it later to show just how much space it really does save. I honestly don't know how I made it this long without one!!! To be perfectly honest with you - I'm working on making a second one to hold kits and such - haven't decided totally what will go on it but I can definitely use more space!!! Maybe flowers??? That would free up my Prima bottles to be altered........oooohhh, like I need more ideas to alter!!! LOL

On another note I made it!!! What did I make??? Well, I made it to round 4 of the MMFY Survivor Challenge. I tell you what, the competition is strong. The ladies who made it through and even the ones who didn't put out some amazing work and I'm inspired by them all. I've been stalking the boards today waiting for the next challenge to try and figure out what I have to work with.............So exciting!!!

On a sadder note, my dear friend Kelly with Keep In Touch is going through some rough times. Her mother is very ill and the poor thing has so much going on in her life. If you have a spare moment please throw up a few prayers for Kelly and her family.

Also visit her site if you get a chance - she has recently started up a monthly kit club and let me tell you, I purchased the Tinkering Ink Beloved kit from her and was amazed at the value and what all came in the kit. Here are a few things I've made with my TI Beloved kit and I still have lots of stuff to do more!!!




I know a few others who have bought kits from her as well and they have been amazed at what all comes in the kits for the price. Kelly is one of a kind and I'm honored to call her a friend!!!

Make sure you stop by MMFY to check out what we've been up to in the survivor game and cheer us on. So much talent and I'm honored to play alongside these ladies!!!

Over and out for now - have a scrap happy day!!!

February 18, 2008

Well, another day another dollar right??? Today Rob and I took the day off to spend with each other - minus kids since they were in school!!! Was a relaxing day and didn't do much of anything!!!

I finished and up loaded my round 3 creation in the MMFY Survivor Game this weekend. If you haven't done so, you should really come over and check out the site. So much talent going on here that it isn't even funny!!! You can see my creations and all participants creations as well as our member gallery by coming to the site - listed here and on the side of my blog - and signing up and browsing around.

Tomorrow at noon will be the announcement for the members who make it to round 4 and the next challenge. I'm nervous about this round as so many neat things have been uploaded into the gallery.

Eating leftovers for dinner tonite and doing NOTHING but being lazy!!! Have a great evening!!!

Over and out ya'll!!!

February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Hugs and kisses to you all!!!



So as most everyone knows my baby girl turned 16 this past Saturday. We had a nice party for her with a house full of guests. It was also my nephew's 10th birthday so we celebrated twice as much!!! Here are a few pics:

The birthday cake:



The birthday boy and girl - Cait made him wear the tiara:



When I said Cait MADE him wear it I meant it:




The princesses - L2R My SIL Stacey, my niece Krystal, Cait, Me and My Mom:



Of course Pimp Master Dylan made an appearance:



And my darling husband Rob was putting on his best dress - the boys (nephews & son) found a box of clothes by the trash can and thought they needed to be brought to the back porch so Rob was messing around with them:



Here is a pic of my Mom - she looked so great this trip!!! Muah!!! I love my Mom:



Here's a view of the back porch while cooking on the grill:



The red hat/shirt is Dyl, grey shirt is my BIL Cory, Maroon shirt is my Dad, the girl in the pink shirt is my SIL Stacey, black shirt is my niece Krystal, the guy next to her is her boyfriend Josh, back by the grill is my nephew Bryan and my husband Rob. Next to Josh but not visible here is my other nephew Brandon:



Present time:



My Mom and Dad w/their dog Jiggers trying to hide between them:



And cake time:



As far as Valentine's Day goes around here not much going on. Rob did take me out Sunday night for a romantic dinner at my favorite restaurant - The Melting Pot. It is fondue and I am absolutely nutts about fondue!!! This morning he did bring me a beautiful bouquet of pink/white roses and carnations and a box of yummy Butterfinger heart chocolates. He also took me out to buy a new bed - not a mattress although we need one, but a new bed frame. For those of you who know our house it has terra cotta floors and the plain frames with wheels roll all over the darn place when you sit or move in bed. So we went for a heavy duty wooden one. It won't be delivered until the 20th but that is OK by me - I will post pics as soon as it is here!!!

Over and out!!!

February 8, 2008

Well, one hour and five minutes and then my baby will be sweet 16!!! I just can not believe she is going to be 16!!! I'm lucky - she's a really good girl.

Well it has been a rough week around here in house and with other things in my life and I am just really glad the week is over. I hope that the drama and stupid stuff dies down really quick so I can get back to what I enjoy.

Today Rob and my dad went and picked up our car from down in Corpus - keep your fingers crossed for me that it gets up and running this next week so I can quit running all over heck and back every day!!!! LOL

While helping them unload it off the car dolly I jammed the flat end of a very large screwdriver into the palm of my hand. I have a gash about 3/4 of an inch in length and deep enough to hurt like crazy 8 hours after the fact!!! I've doctored it up with antibacterial cream and got it bandaged - it isn't that bad in my opinion but the location really sucks!!!

I got a new baby today - wanna see??? She is so pretty!!!



Don't you just love her!!! She is going to replace my Sizzix Original which is such a pain in the rear when using the larger dies as you have to carefully lift the pressing pad and move the die/paper/cutting pad and hope you don't jiggle it wrong or your cut is screwed up!!! So, this little girl rolls it through like the sidekick - which is going to be retired too!!!!

Oh, check out her bling:



Yes, she even has some bling on her baby!!!

So how about a sketch??? I made this one a while back and saw it in my photo bucket so thought I'd share it!!!



And here is the LO that I did based on the sketch:



I really loved that picture of my father in law - look at his shirt, twins!!!

Have a scrappy weekend!!!

Over and out!!!

February 7, 2008

You may ask why on earth I am posting at 12:15 a.m. - well, why not? When I didn't think things could go from bad to worse they did. I won't get into details but lets just say I am completely in shock and quite hurt from several events that happened today.

I will strictly be scrapping for my blog and whatever orders I have - making sketches, doing a layout of the sketch and posting them for my enjoyment.

So, I posted earlier (well yesterday technically) that I finished the baby boardbook and took it to our customer. Well, here is the finished version with the journaling added:







Now I am really not sure why on earth that last picture is so huge - I resized 3 different times but it just doesn't want to shrink!!! OH well!!!

And then here is a quick card I made last night:




Over and out for now!!!