Paper Avenue

Birthdays

2012-01-27T09:45:00.004-06:00

Austyn's 15th Birthday cake. He is not a big celebrator. And he was being a smart butt in this photo smiling like that. Love Claire's cake!! The big 11!

Xmas stuff I made

2012-01-20T14:14:00.004-06:00

A few things I've made

2011-12-07T14:38:00.005-06:00

I can't post all the things I've made yet, but it's safe to post some. Here is a canvas that I did for a teenage girl.

Here is a centerpiece I made for our living room. Christmas-y.

My super awesome Christmas Tree.

Random pics of me and kids

2011-12-06T14:44:00.003-06:00

Claire's Halloween Costume

2011-10-24T10:32:00.004-05:00

She wanted to be a NERD!! So that is what she was. LOL
It was hilarious!

Adventurland Pics

2011-09-12T15:54:00.004-05:00

First day of school

2011-08-17T13:39:00.006-05:00

My son is a freshman:( 14 yrs old. Claire is a 5th grader:( 10 yrs old.

Grayson and Claire

2011-08-08T09:22:00.005-05:00

Pictures of Grayson and how Claire spent her entire summer.

Austyn's Graduation

2011-07-07T12:07:00.006-05:00

Austyn graduated 8th grade in June. Here are the pictures of him all dressed up.

Our House

2011-06-23T10:18:00.003-05:00

The house we got...and am gutting...and have to move into by the end of june..which is like 5 days from now.....Help.....

Pedicures

2011-06-16T12:09:00.003-05:00

I've never had a pedicure or a manicure. Ever. So when I got a gift certificate to a nail salon i was kinda thinking "what the heck am I supposed to do with this??" So I took Claire and we got pedicures together. It was fun. Neat, different. Can't say i would pay to have someone do that to my feet again, untill im too chunky to reach my feet, I can do it:)

Chicago Trip with the kids....

2011-06-08T10:07:00.005-05:00

At Navy Pier

Claire and Lego Woody

Claire fighting with Darth Vadar at the Lego store.

Another Canvas

2011-02-04T21:18:00.005-06:00

This one I made for myself using some of those wall clings that are so popular right now.

bathroom paintings

2011-02-03T11:42:00.004-06:00

being snowed in, at least I got something accomplished. I painted the 2 paintings I was wanting to get done for my bathroom.

Needless to say....

2011-02-02T13:55:00.002-06:00

we are snowed in today.

2 cards

2011-02-02T13:52:00.003-06:00

2 cards I made. The one up side down was Claire's bday card. I kept tryng to get it ride side up but it was determined to stay that way. The other were the thank you's I made for her party.

Our 1st 10 years

2011-02-02T13:50:00.002-06:00

The first page of claire's album I am making for her. It is titled, Our 1st 10 years.

Bday card

2011-01-16T15:08:00.002-06:00

A card I made for a bday.

Claire's bday

2011-01-16T15:02:00.005-06:00

Claire's 10th Bday party was at the bowling alie. So I call the cake lady up like 2 days before and said OMG i forgot to order a cake can you do one. Yeah sure no problem what does she want on it.... well she LOVES Jacob from Twilight so let's just go with that can you do something like that? Oh sure no problem!! ok..so i pick the cake up...ummm did I mention it was for a 10yr old??? Yes...and you put a picture of the dude with his shirt off??? ok, whatever, the cake was delicious and she did love it. lol Her scrunchy face was cuz she didnt want us to sing happy birthday and we did anyways!

Claire's Winter Girl Scout Dance

2011-01-09T17:27:00.005-06:00

Claire had her winter dance for girl scout....these are the pictures from it.
I got her in the middle of kicking when they were doing that line dance thing. lol

2011-01-03T18:45:00.008-06:00

Here is a very large canvas I made for my boyfriends mom and significant other. Also a smaller canvas I made for my dad and his wife. And yes mother, I did make you something but I didnt like how it turned out so it is now a bday gift after I fix it!!

My tree

2010-12-02T14:14:00.002-06:00

My tree has no star, the bulbs burned out and I have not had a chance to find a string of just 10 lights....so we have no star on our tree. But at least I got it up this weekend. man it took alot of rearranging the house for the thing too. Never enough room

Halloween 2010

2010-11-01T08:45:00.004-06:00

Ausytn didnt dress up. He's too old:(
It didnt really feel like Halloween. With just Claire and she wasn't really into going trick or treating very much. We went around the neighborhood and she got a little candy. She looked very pretty. She was a bride. We didnt get the flowers. She was crackign up cause every house we went to the people would call her something different. "Oh you're such a pretty angel!" "Oh what a beautiful princess!" She looked EXACTLY like her grandma with all that makeup on. (Her dad's mom)

Xmas cards done!!

2010-10-22T10:12:00.001-05:00

Jealous?? I got them done!!!! HOLLA....now on to the next project..and no im not posting a picture of them just yet....Halloween isn't even over yet!!
Instead here is one of the kids...Sept. 2010

Some stuff

2010-10-19T09:22:00.005-05:00

I got all the paper cut for my xmas cards!! I know im super early but I have about 5 craft projects going on now and the sooner I get done with one the sooner I can move on to another...

I also bought 2 boards really cheap that I am going to paint and make into signs. Not sure yet who they will go to or what they will have on them....any suggestions?

I bought the album at Hobby Lobby half off that I am going to make for Claire hopefully for xmas but if I dont get it done in time, it will be for the Jan. bday. It is going to be an album titled...Us, the first 10 yrs or something like that and be pictures all of just her and I. If anyone has any I dont, please email them to me!

And like I promised...I took Claire to get her hair all chopped off right after her dad's wedding. She was SO happy!! He was not..hahahahha

Sept 2010

2010-09-29T15:43:00.005-05:00

The picture to ur right was taken in Sept 2007. Here we are 3 yrs later. We all look so different,(well older at least..the kids not me ofcourse!!) so much has changed for us. some good...some bad...some just ok. We've muddled through and are still together and that's the best place we can be.

Blue...it's so in!

2010-09-02T08:59:00.004-05:00

Claire came home BEGGING for blue streaks in her hair..."it's so popular mom! It's the IN thing..."
Ok...im a sucker..and $5 made my girl happy. And the stuff practically wipes right out of her hair....

First day of school

2010-08-26T20:51:00.003-05:00

Pic's of the first day of school. 8th grade and 4th grade

Justin Beiber concert!!

2010-07-21T21:52:00.003-05:00

Took Claire and her friends to see Justin Beiber a few weeks back. Apparently it was the concert of the century!! I will admit was pretty dang cool. Even for a punk kid he did put on a really good show. My favorite part was when he got in the steel heart and "floated" around the entire areana singing a song and playing the guitar.....Poor Claire ended up with a headache half way through!!

Claire's girl scout bridging ceremony

2010-05-27T09:00:00.004-05:00

Claire left Brownies and graduated to a JR. last night! Im not sure what that means but she got a new sash and alot of new badges. I think it happens when they are in brownies for 2 yrs...then they go on to Jr's. She is sticking with it, she really loves it. Met some great people through it too!!

New pictures

2010-05-10T13:53:00.008-05:00

My mother told me to change the pictures....i dont have many new ones. So here is Claire and I when we went to Prom this year. I took her with me when i went to supervise...boy that was fun! She was certain all the kids were drunk (they were acting a little...immature) And apicture of the dog too

Easter pictures

2010-04-13T13:32:00.007-05:00

more of her canvas pics

2010-03-22T13:23:00.004-06:00

Claire's canvas painting

2010-03-22T08:30:00.005-06:00

2010-03-15T13:48:00.003-06:00

This is a stitchery I made for a dear friend. It didnt turn out too bad. It says:
A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.

Another canvas

2010-03-09T11:56:00.003-06:00

Im in the begining stages of making Claire a canvas for her room. Im not finding exactly what I want. So far im already stuck on the first corner of it! I know what i want to do....but can't find the products that match my vision. Hopefully be posting pictures of it soon.

Canvas painting

2010-02-26T14:10:00.003-06:00

Here are two paintings I did. Im not sure if i like how they turned out. I really like the painting process.....I am going to make my daughter one using bright colors. Bright blues, greens and orange and pink. The left one say's Peace and the right one say's Strength. I posted a b4 and after photo

Snowman

2010-02-22T15:03:00.003-06:00

Here is the last card I made for a very good friend. I used flocking on the bottom to look like snow. I wasn't crazy about this card....it was driving me crazy..something was missing, something just didnt look right...but after sitting on it for a few days I gave up and sent it anyway. Sometimes you just gotta let things go and send them on their way.

2010-02-17T19:54:00.002-06:00

Claire asked me what I wanted for Valentine's day. After sitting there for a long time not being able to come up with any other answer, I said "love". She gave me a most disgusted look and said..."LOVE? That doesnt cost anything!That's just hug's and kisses and your gum ending up in someone else's mouth!"

Oh MY GOSH.....heaven help me.

my new

2010-02-12T22:51:00.003-06:00

My new favorite song.....Try sleeping with a broken heart by Alicia Keys. Claire and I got the CD tongiht and have been jamming to it all night.
Here is the video for it.
http://www.vh1.com/video/alicia-keys/457051/try-sleeping-with-a-broken-heart.jhtml
you'll have to copy and paste it.
its pretty

Some funny....

2010-02-11T09:15:00.003-06:00

I found my old glasses from high school last night. OMG!! Claire loved them...thought they were hilarious! Which they are pretty damn early 90's. Here are the pictures she took last night acting like a "nerd". She kept saying...."You've been kicked out of math club!" in a very robotic squeeky nerd voice. She makes me giggle.

2 new cards

2010-02-09T10:53:00.004-06:00

Got in the ol craft space last night...kids were fed....homework done...content to play on their own. I got 2 cards made. All paper was CTMH. Can't remember what all the stamps were. There is white flock on the & so it kinda stands out. I got both ideas from the CTMH winter catalog. Hope you like. I did handstitch on the B card. Around the square and also the buttons. Both were just cards to send out to friends. Hoping to get some space cleared off so I can actually make a real page next.

Hell froze over...didnt u know?

2010-02-04T11:14:00.003-06:00

So I think it is official....Hell froze over. No im not talking about the horrid tempatures we've had in the Midwest for the last 3 months. I'm talking about the fact that I actually made a card. I made a card.
I did. Honestly. I made one. My BFF bday is coming up and so I had a little time between laundry, cooking, dishes, working out, cleaning the house and going insane that I actually sat down in my very cluttered unorganized craft space and I made a card for her last night. It is not the best, biggest, most wonderful thing i've ever created in the world. But I made one. My first real card I've sat down and thought about and put together in a very very long time. Probably over a year.
wow....
Stamps were all Close to my Heart. Paper was also.

Feb 1

2010-02-01T12:51:00.003-06:00

Alas....I didnt get into my craft space this weekend. I did however work my tail off and repainted the bedroom. Hated the stuff we originaly painted...brown and blue..just hated it. So repainted it..a slate gray blue and cream. Love the new color. Love it. Not done with the decorations yet.....still have a long way to go but at least the walls are done. What you think?

Friday, Jan 29

2010-01-29T11:28:00.003-06:00

Claire is going to be gone all weekend at a Girl Scout camp....ALL WEEKEND>....Austyn is staying all night at his friends house Saturday....Could I actually get one whole day to myself?? One whole day to get my stuff done?? it's too good to be true. We'll see if this actually happens. If it does...i plan on getting the bedroom repainted...as we hate the colors we picked and painted it the first time...and also maybe get in the craft space and get something done?? and maybe have a date...havn't had one of those in much too long...we'll see....

2010-01-25T13:16:00.002-06:00

CLAIRE HELPING UP PAINT THE WALLS

THE CAT COULDN'T TAKE IT EITHER

"SANTA" EARNING HIS COOKIES....

THE TREE EXPLODED

more pictures of stuff

2010-01-25T12:53:00.003-06:00

THE FAT CAT

ME AND HIM ON MY BDAY

MY BFF"S

Hello Stranger

2010-01-25T12:25:00.004-06:00

Well well, it's been awhile. I think it's about time I start this thing back up. I see that my photobucket account has also expired. Needless to say, I've fallen off the crafting bandwagon. I am ready to jump back on...well I wouldnt say that. I am ready to follow behind at a slow trott before jumping back on.:)
Life has been very interesting for us the last few months. Big changes. The b/f and I decided to move in together after alot of very long discussions. ALOT!! Being stable and on my own was a very hard thing to give up.
Plus, his house needed ALOT of work....O M G!! You know I had to swoop in there and throw my touch all over the place. We redid every single room in that house....EVERY SINGLE ROOm. Im tired. lol
And its not even finished yet. Just livable. There is still so much to do. One day at a time now.
The kids love their rooms, and we are all starting to settle in nicely. We had plans for a walk in closet, however, things change. I now have a craft nook!! It's not the biggest or best space in the world but at least I am able to get to my craft supplies now.
So.....hoping to get some crafting done soon. I think he is more anxious for me to use it then I am. He keeps asking me..."did you craft today?" LOL
So...as soon as I repaint our bedroom (we built a bedroom, picked out colors, painted it, and niether of us like it much) I'll get back to crafting!! Hoping to start off just putting some pictures in layouts that I have already done. Then hoping to finish some layouts i've already started.
Well, here are some pic's of the kiddo's and stuff. Happy January everyone!!

Updating.....Jan 4th

2009-01-04T20:44:00.006-06:00

There have been alot going on around here lately, nothing exciting...except that we got a little gray kitten. finally@!!! I have been on the search for this little guy for months. All gray is the only color of cat it seems I have not had, and I wanted one really bad. It took me about 3 mo. to even find an all gray one. They seem to be the unicorn of kittens right now. We found him 2.5 hours from home in a shelter with 2other brothers. We love him so much, we named him Grayson.

The kids got the Wii they wanted for xmas and we have all had a blast with it. We owned no gaming systems before this and I am so glad "Santa" decided on this one and not any others.
Ive been busy hanging with friends and kids and working.

Still have not been bit by the crafting bug again. I know what hinders me most is not having a place to have it all out so Im able to see what I have. Plus if i start something, it's out till i finish it, all up on my dining room table, i hate that. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Taking a break....

2008-09-13T10:40:00.003-05:00

Due to me not crafting and having new things to show, I am going to not post on my blog for a while. I will have new stuff closer to Christmas, as Christmas presents will have to be made.But right now, I am not even making cards to show. So there is no point in continuing with the blog updates right now. Thank you all who did view my blog, hope to see you all back soon.
Christina

Nothing new but....

2008-08-23T12:54:00.002-05:00

I have a few projects i would like to work on. As soon as I figure out what I want to do with them. I always wanted one of those Bare Elements Clocks. They were always like $20 and I being ever so cheap would never spend the $$ on it. Well, I found one at Hobby Lobby one day marked down to $7! So I snatched it up. I had no idea what was inside the box as it had no "windows" but this is what I found.....

Pretty much your basic wooden square and clock guts. So that is one thing I need to work on and get something on it. Im so glad I didnt pay $20 for it! lol But $7 for a clock isn't too bad. I also have an awsome paned window that my friends gave me that I would like to do up. That will be waiting for awhile though until I know the perfect stuff to put on it. I dont want to just throw it together.

Its done!!

2008-08-04T14:08:00.003-05:00

It's finally done. I've been working on a BoBunny LOVE album for the last two weeks for a friend of ours who's wedding we are going to this month. It has been sitting on my dining room table with all of my stuff out trying to get it finished. It is amazing how even a little project like this can be a pain in the butt when you dont have a craft room anymore. Oh well.....it still got done and I still enjoyed doing it for them.
Used BoBunny LOve album, CTMH More to Adore paper and Bazzil glitter paper. Mostly CTMH stamps, swirls were Rhonna Farrer stamps.

Racing book

2008-07-30T21:47:00.002-05:00

Not sure if I posted this or not. Made a little racing book for my boyfriend and his son a while back. I can't even remember where I got the book, I think it was from some convention I went to last year.I thought it was kinda dorky, but he actually really loved it. Not that fake "oh nice, thanks" like he really loved it. LOL

It's begining....

2008-07-27T22:44:00.003-05:00

I have the ModPodge out...I have a new LOVE chipboard album by BoBunny. I have the CTMH paper sitting out. It is the pink and brown paisley paper that I can't think of the name of right now. I am going to start this album! I will get it done this week. Well, I will at least get the paper on the album this week and most of the picture squares in the album. I may not get all the embellies on it this week. But you never know......You can view the LOVE and other great Bo Bunny word albums here...(just copy and paste)
http://www.bobunny.com/consumer08/myword.pdf

Itching....

2008-07-14T12:31:00.000-05:00

I am itching...getting the itch I think. I went to Big Lots today and they had some K&C. albums. I liked them. It made me want to start working on the vacation photos. My mom comes into town this weekend, we might just have to make a run to Hobby Lobby........

Florida

2008-07-11T12:46:00.002-05:00

Never been anywhere in my life. Never got on a plane. If it were not 4 hours from home, i've never seen it. So I took a wild wild adventure, conqured one of my biggest fears, and flew with my b/f to Florida for a vacation.
It was alot of fun. The water was insane! The airplane ride was not as bad as I thought it would be. It was pretty cool, though my tummy did flip a few times.

New Car!!

2008-06-16T21:09:00.003-05:00

I got a new car. Mine...all mine. My name only on the loan. The only man who can take it from me is the repo man....ahhahahahaha!!!

Chicago Baby!

2008-06-07T14:46:00.002-05:00

So first I need to apologize for the long delay in updating my blog. I broke my camera on accident. The end of school came around and the kids and I were both busy with that. I started a new job in the Superindentants office during the summer and my hours at Bath and Body picked up. In addition to all that stuff, my b/f and I got to take a little trip to Chicago last weekend! It was so much fun. Here are a few pictures of us all dressed up and at a club. We went to some club called Excalibur. Which would have been really fun except when we paid the extra $15 it cost to get upstairs, come to find out it was all techno music up there! UGH!! We stayed there for about an hour and then back downstairs we went. To listen to 70's, 80's and 90's. It was ok. Met some intresting ppl. Had a great time shopping. It was funny though. There we are shopping around Michigan Ave. and that was all neat and all but after awhile we were like, Um...ok...where are the "real" people stores? Why walk into Ralph Lauren? It's not like Im gonna spend $100 on a pair of socks! We did find a "real" mall when we went to eat later that day so we made another side trip! lol
I also have another post for you, probably in a week or so, so look for my good news to come.....

New cards

2008-05-09T22:08:00.005-05:00

The first one is

a card I made for a friend at work who's bday was this week. Used TAC stamps for the squiggles, CTMH for the BDAY letters.

The second one is my mama's mothers day card.
Used CTMH paper and stamps on that one. And last but not least, another CTMH Mother's day card for a dear friend of mine who I miss very much. Hope all the mother's out there have a GREAT Sunday!!

Checking in with nothing to show.

2008-04-27T13:52:00.002-05:00

Im getting complaints (thanks mama) that my blog was old! So I am putting a new post up. Unfortunatly I have no new artwork to show. I have been busy trying to relax. That is really hard work for me. As it is right now, I can't wait to get off this computer and go clean up the house. So since I have nothing new to show, here are a few facts that are going on in our life right now.
1. I have found a new attiction to Bugles. Note to self, do not buy Bugles at the store today.
2. My daughters dance recital is coming up next month and she does not feel prepared. More practice needed
3. I am still running. I am happy running. I am happy the weather is allowing me to run as much as I have been able to lately.
4. I need to add weight lifting to my work outs.
5. My friends want to go to Chicago for a night at the end of May, I wish it were the end of May today.
6. Gotta get groceries today, dont forget to buy Bugles. Need to run another mile.

Friday

2008-04-11T08:23:00.002-05:00

It is the end of the week!! I did something on Tuesday that I have never done before, ever. I came home from work, it was a cold, rainy day and I had been tired all day. So I came home, put in a movie, and the DD and I sat down and watched a movie! I sat down and watched a movie! On a Tuesday, in the afternoon! I didnt get up once! Not once to clean something or put something away or run somebody somewhere. It was a weird feeling.
Here are 2 cards I whipped up super fast last night. One for a guy who is leaving our work and another for a gal at work who has helped me out alot. Enjoy the weekend!!

This weekends, weekend project.

2008-03-30T15:10:00.002-06:00

This weekend I finally got my bathroom painted! It was the last room in my house that I had to do. And even though Im broke, there was a coupon in the mail the other day for Lowes (God must have been listening) buy $25 and recieve $10 off. So I ran out there because after buying my gallon of paint, I got the border for free!! I think it turned out cute. I dont think I have any before pics. I was just in a hurry and got started right away. The bathroom was so small, it only took about half a day to paint and put the border up! That's my kind of weekend project, the kind that leaves you the rest of your weekend free! LOL

Dont look Mom!!

2008-03-26T19:37:00.003-06:00

I got my mom's b-day gift done this week. It is AMAZING what you can get done when the kids are gone and you dont have to work for a few day's! LOL
I got this little chipboard book a while ago and wanted to get it made for her. I was freaking because I didnt have any real recent photo's of my nieces to put in the book, but then I just figured she could add her own photo's. lol
The paper is patterend paper from Stampin Up. Most of the cardstock is CTMH.

New Cards.....

2008-03-25T07:39:00.002-06:00

I have a goal this week!! The kido's and I are off for spring break. I spent all of Easter Sunday cleaning. Cleaning that good clean. I even went through the daughters room, her closet, under her bed. I am proud of myself that she is still alive. So with the big clean out of the way, I made a goal for myself that I was going to craft SOMETHING over break. Yesterday after running a million errands (also one more thing I got out of the way so it is not hanging over my head all week) I got down in my basement and started pulling stuff out. I got these 2 cards done yesterday for a couple bday's that are coming up next month. I have one more bday card yet to make. I also got started on my mothers bday gift. PS: Thank you mother for living out of town and therefore giving me an extra month to get this done! HA!!! I will post pictures of it later. I must say, I am actually getting excited to be crafting a little. I also got an email from a lady who I've never met that wants to host a party for CTMH. Wow! Maybe fate is telling me it's time to get back to my craft!! I am liking this feeling.

Birthday cards

2008-03-09T19:56:00.003-06:00

Got a few bday cards done this week. Used CTMH cardstock and white cardstock. Can't remember the name of the co that the flowers came from. CTMH stamps. Thanks for looking!!

Weekend project

2008-02-23T21:07:00.004-06:00

Well, so I had most of the weekend off. I work Sunday night. All of Friday at work I was restless. Knowing I had most of the weekend to do something. Anything. I really didnt have the money to go crazy and take the kids anywhere for the weekend. I really didnt want to go "out" with the girls. And since I am still not in a big "crafting" phase yet, I decided to buy paint! Yep, paint. When I moved into this house back in November, I painted every room in it. Except two. The kitchen and the bathroom. (Ok, and the hallway too, but it is not technically a room)So for $20, I got a gallon of paint and painted my kitchen this weekend. Well, I figure it was cheap entertainment, kept me out of trouble, and kept me busy most of the weekend. Ofcourse here it is Saturday evening, my kitchen has been painted and cleaned for hours and I am still bored! LOL Guess I should have bought 2 gallons, one of the kitchen and one of the bathroom.....maybe next weekend!
One crafty side note, I did paint the Welcome sign above the stove!
Here are some before and after shots.

Kinda Crafty

2008-02-19T20:55:00.002-06:00

Well, I kinda did something crafty this weekend. I have this little pantry right by my back door. There is no door on it, so everyone who comes into the back door can see all our food and business. I had some material that I got for free a few years back and I finally got a little curtain made up for the pantry to cover up all our junk food! But as fate would have it, this would not be an easy tasks for me. I mean, how hard can it be to fold over and inch and sew four sides right??
Well......
first I'm sewing away and my bobbin runs out of thread.
Then I go to put thread on it and break the damn bobbin! Do you think I could find anther one in my mess of boxes and tub's downstairs...oh heavens no. So it was out to JoAnns I run.
Get there and can't remember the model of my sewing machine, so I am totally guessing on what bobbin to pick out. Did get the right one by some sheer miracle.
Then I finally (two day's later) get around to finding time to sew the curtain and I totally sheer off the top of my finger! Dont even ask how! It is still a mystery! Something about my finger too close to the needle as it was flying.
So needless to say, my curtain is done, my kids know a new four letter word, and my finger hurts like hell. Still, 2 day's later.
Before:

After:

The war wound:

Forever and a day....

2008-02-10T21:39:00.000-06:00

That's how long it feels since I have updated this blog! I am sure the 3 of you who are checking it feel that way too! Unfortunalty I have not scrapped or made cards in the last few weeks. Can I still technically call myself a scrapbooker!? I honestly dont remember the last time I scrapped a page. I do not have any plans of selling off my stuff and I view this as a very temporary hiatus! I am hoping this spring to get full swing back into it!! In all honesty, I would like to now, I just dont have the energy in me. After the stressful seperation, holiday's and now pending divorce,working the two jobs (even though one has slowed down) oh yeah, and there are those kids I take care of (LOL) and the bills...blah blah same ol same ol. I did however get one thing kinda crafty done today! I made my Feburary desktop finally! LOL It is only almost the middle of the month! Hey....that still counts. Go ahead and steal it if you want! Just download it to your computer if it will let you and go into display on your computer. That's about it! Happy Feb!!!

Hannah Montana BDAY

2008-01-19T21:30:00.000-06:00

Well, I got through it. The birthday party. What the heck exactly was I thinking letting her invite all the girls from her class??? It went well I supposed. The girls were thrilled to come to Claire's house and see her room and all her stuff and all that. We had 11 total. OY! While I wont post pic's of the girls and her at the party, here is a pic of her cake. It turned out so cute! I had a girl make it here in town, she took a picture of Hannah herself and laminated it, then decorated around it. I thought it turned out adorable. Now off to the slumber party....why is noone slumbering????
Ps: funny thing about that cake. she used stamps on it!! I recognized them right away because I have them!! They are Rhonna Farrer stamps! I didnt know you could stamp on cake!

Birthday Invites

2008-01-09T21:37:00.000-06:00

Claire and I made her birthday invitation's on Saturday. They are pretty generic as I had to resist my urge to completly take over and let her actually do some of the work. I let her stamp the Bella we used and color her in. Damn that was hard!! I have this horrible urgency to take the freaking cards OVER and do them myself. But it was fun and we got them done that night.
We made 5 cards, to have 5 girls stay all night. Then she changed her mind on me and decided to invite all the girls in her class and only have 2 friends stay all night. Yeah for the sleepover part, but then I had to scramble and make up a bunch more cards to send to her class. Here is my little crafter and her birthday invitations.

2Things.

2007-12-25T21:52:00.000-06:00

Im not sure how between working and kids but I did get 2 Xmas gifts made. Well, it helped that I thought I had to work on a Thursday night only to go in there and I was not supposed to work!! HA!! So I came home and got ALOT done that night. The first thing I got done was a board I made for my mom. I found it at a scrapbook shop and I was supposed to get this special glue stuff to make it look like real tile. Only I could not find that special glue stuff. I need to order it off the net I guess and put it on there for her some other time. Anyway, I made it for her of all the grandkids. Used all CTMH paper and Autumn Leaves Alpha.

The next was a canvas that I got done for my dad and his wife. It is a picture of their wedding they had last April in Hawaii. The canvas is painted brown with some background paper on it. Honestly can't remember where I got the paper or what it is! LOL Im alot of help huh????

Well, those are my two things I got done. Hopefully I'll be back before Feb with more new stuff! hahahah...just kidding@!!

Two Snow Days!

2007-12-12T19:47:00.000-06:00

Wow! It is amazing what you can get done in the week when you get two snow day's! What a bouns. Well, it wont be come pay day....
yesterday the kido's stayed all night at their dads house and when I woke up we had a snow day! So i got to stay home all day ysterday and most of today by myself! Wow, did I ever get alot done!! I couldnt sleep so was up and moving by 6am. I got all the bedsheets changed to our flannel ones, I got 4 clipboards made, I got my mom's xmas gift made (which I can't post here just yet! LOL)
I got all the laundry done, the house picked up and cleaned. I got the groceries bought..gee what else did I do..oh yeah, I wrapped every xmas gift I had! Productive productive....well, here are a few of the clipboards I made. I just whipped them up super quick so they were done. Nothing fancy on any of them. They are for teacher gifts.

I FOUND IT!!

2007-12-08T21:48:00.000-06:00

My paper piercer! Yeah Im a dork and yeah it made me super happy! So I had a few thank you notes I needed to make and I had all day to make them. My mom was even in town and wanting to work on cards today but boy I just wasnt into doing anything. I know it was because the kiddo's were home and now I have nowhere "sacred" to craft and I hate dragging it all out on the dining room table.

Are there any other mom's out there that just can't seem to get into crafting with the kids around? It just started when I became a single mom but I just can't get into it when they are home, up, running around, wanting my attention, wanting fed or I'm cleaning up after them.

Anyway.......

I did get my thank you cards done tonight when they went to bed. They were pretty simple (as is everything I do these days).

I used the yellow sheet's from CTMH that my mom gave me today and the pattern paper from Route 66, also the stamp from Library Pockets (CTMH). Got my hands on the new catalog today too. Ofcourse I found some things in there I just gotta have! LOL

Christmas Cards Done!!

2007-12-02T18:23:00.000-06:00

I had a few hours to myself today, so instead of cleaning, I got my Christmas cards done!!! It was real fun trying to find everything. They arn't the best in the world, but they work!! I got the inspiration for them from a card I saw on TwoPeas. Then once I got to looking at them, I realized they look alot like the Christmas card I just got in the mail from my friend Marty! LOL

Anyway, I couldnt find any pop dots, so I ran out to Joann's and got some today. Im sure I"ll find my stash now that I bought new. I also could not find my paper peircer, as I wanted to add a brad to them. Oh well.....used all CTMH paper and stamps.

2007-12-01T17:58:00.000-06:00

Got one pathetic little card made yesterday. It was a quick card to put my rent check in for my landlord! lol

It was just stuff that I had at my fingertips, which is not much lately> I didnt get down there today to work on my xmas cards, due to the wonderful ice we had. The kido's and I just bunkered down and watched Christmas movies all night and ate very very bad food. Man it was nice to just relax a bit!

Researching

2007-12-01T08:32:00.000-06:00

No new new's to report yet. I am in the midst of researching my Christmas cards. I just can't sit down and pound out 30 cards. I have to do a week's worth of research first! Looking up cards on line and in magazine's to get a feel for what exactly it is I want to do. I think alot of my creative block is coming from the fact that my craft stuff is spread out in various boxes and totes throughout my basement. It is not readily at my hands anymore. I gotta get organized! I did get a few cards made, but was so disgusted with them I dared not share! lol
I am also needed to start my Christmas gifts I am making. I guess I better get moving huh???
Hopefully I'll have some things to post soon.
And yes, I did get my first Christmas card in the mail already!! (That used to be me! Getting them out the day after Thanksgiving!) And it was a very lovely card Marty!!!

My 30th

2007-11-17T00:06:00.000-06:00

I turn 30 on Monday. I am ok with that. It is just a number..right. lol
Actually, it is just weird that I will be single. I never ever in a million billion years thought that I would be single when I turn 30. Or anytime in the next 50 years actually. But boy, having good friends sure makes life a hell of a lot funner! Some of my best friends (and I am blessed to have a few) threw me a little early birthday party tonight. Just something very small, just girls over, girl talk. Girls hanging out, getting loud, sharing stories. Is there anything better? Not for me right now.
Here are a few pictures of us. I am the one in the black. (no signifigance to turning 30!!LOL)The cake (which i will never get all the way through!) is supposed to be of some famous picture showing a young women on one side and an older lady on the other. I can see the young women, but not the old one in the picture. Guess maybe wishfull thinking??

Is there life out there??

2007-11-14T20:55:00.000-06:00

Wow! It's been a long long time since I blogged! Not sure if anyone is even checking this blog anymore or not. To give you a quick, not too personal update, the kid-o's and I moved out of our house (going through a seperation) and moved into a new place. The kids are doing wonderful (i think) and they really like their new home. Here are a few pic's of house it turned out. I have been working really really hard getting it all pretty and hom-ey feeling for them.

Unfortunatly I dont have a craft room in the new house. That is something I will have to get used to. However, hopefully soon I will get something set up to where I can again work on my crafts. And hopefully soon as I need to be working on Christmas presents!!
So as soon as things settle, you will be seeing more artwork from me.
Thanks to my loyal's who have been checking and checking the blog. Im sorry it took me so long to post!

Hannah Montana/The Jonas Bro.

2007-10-21T19:57:00.001-05:00

Took my daughter and her b/f to the Hannah Montana/The Jonas Bro's concert this weekend. OH MY GOSH>
First of all, where did this girl learn how to move like that?? My daughter I mean! Dang that girl can DANCE!
They had the best time ever and I had a ball just watching them scream, dance and freak out over Joe Jonas! My 6yr'old's new crush! Here are a few pic's from the concert.
PS: This is going to be a crazy week, but I am hoping after this week, things will settle down and I will get back in my craft room (which is collect cobwebs at the moment) and make up something new to show you all! Thanks for sticking with me!
Oh...ok, they are not letting me put pictures up for some reason tonight. I will get them up later tonight or tomorrow.

Post 97!

2007-10-17T21:25:00.001-05:00

No new art work for today. You have to actually get into the craft room to make the art work! LOL
Maybe this weekend. But wanted to direct you gals to a great blog site, she is on the right in my fav's. It is http://justaninkling.blogspot.com/
Just an Inkling. She has great cards and is giving away a great little bundle of blog candy! So head on over there and leave her a comment! You may be the next winner!!

Post 96!!

2007-10-11T20:52:00.000-05:00

Front:

4 more to go before blog candy!!
Tonight I am posting a little Halloween folder album I made. I participated in a Halloween swap on Simone's blog. (Daily Dozz of Spazz on the right).
We had to spend $15 on Halloween stuff, and also send one homemade item. And this is the homemade item I made for my swap partner. (I gotta get this thing in the mail tomorrow!!)
It is made out of a regular manilla folder. I used all Rusty Pickle pattern Paper. CTMH stamps and Autumn Leaves for the dates.
I really wanted to decorate one of those clear paint can's, but was not sure how I would mail it!!
Anyway, I have a little tab for the last few years starting with 2002 and ending with this year. She can put a picture or journaling there if she would like. Then on the other inside flap, there are 3 parts. I have the green piece, she can put a photo on, opens up to the orange piece, (another photo) opens up to a little hidden journaling square.
Hope she likes it! Thanks for looking!

2 cards

2007-10-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

Just two quick cards today. The first one I made for my son's best friend. They take Kuk Sool Won together. I used the same color and stamp as I did for the Make it Monday. I like that stamp. It is the first time I have used it. It is from CTMH. Paper was CTMH also.
And the second card was the one I made for my in-laws 40th anniversary. I used Crate Paper and CTMH stamps for the #40. I used the same paper so that it would match the canvas I made them. Pretty simple, that's about all I've been up to. Thanks for looking.

Make It Monday

2007-10-07T21:07:00.001-05:00

Just an FYI, this is my 94th post! Look for some blog candy when I get to 100!!

Today's Make It Monday is called the Reflection Technique. To start with you will need a stamp, some ink, cardstock and a piece of Acetate. Now, I did not have any acetate. So I improvised, as we in the craft world tend to do. I used clear packing tape! Just folded over so there was no sticky side.

First thing you will want to do is stamp your image on the cardstock.

Next you will stamp your image (same image) on the acetate. Or in my case, clear packing tape. It was a bit slippery to stamp on the tape, but would not be on the acetate. Just be careful not to slide your image if you are using tape as I did.

Next, you will take your acetate and flip it over so that the image you stamped is facing down. Lining it up with your stamped image on the cardstock and gently rub. Your image will come off onto the cardstock.

You can now decorate your card as you wish. Beate did a wonderful tutorial on this over on Splitcoast stampers that I would highly suggest checking out.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/reflection.php
And here is my finished card.
Enjoy and thanks for tuning in!

Thursday Oct. 4th

2007-10-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

I actually got a few things done today. In addition to getting all the paper cut for my party this weekend, I got this big wooden paper clip made for a friend.
I also got a sample made of the book mark we are making at my party this weekend. I am not doing a traditional bookmark. I am using big metal paperclips. I thought they turned out cute. They are really easy to throw together. Hope the gals' like them!

And here is the other Christmas card I promised you yesterday. I finally got it to down load right!

Have a great weekend everyone! Thanks for looking.

2 Christmas Cards

2007-10-03T21:37:00.000-05:00

I got two cards done today. I made them because I was hoping to show off the Close To My Heart stamp of the month to the customers that will be at my mom's party this weekend. But alas, I had to give them stamp set back to it's rightful owner! LOL
So I made up two cards quick using the stamp set so people can get a better idea of how big (or small) the set is and what it looks like stamped.
The first card I made regular size. Using Cranberry, black and Ponderosa Pine cardstock. I used colored pensils and gel pens to color in the sliegh.
The second card for some reason did not load into my computer right and is only showing half of itself! I guess it's shy! I'll try to get it up tomorrow. Also hoping to get more done in my craft room tomorrow. Wow, it might just be a red letter week! LOL

Monday Oct. 1st.

2007-10-01T20:37:00.000-05:00

I dont know about you all, but I LOVE October! Even when life around me turns to crap, October makes me feel better. I love nothing more then riding my bike on a path full of falling leaves or walking through the lake trails in the fall. Oh I just want to go right now!
Due to current cirrcumstances,I am quiting my Make it Monday 's for awhile. Sorry to dissapoint the whole 3 people that tuned in for them! LOL
I did get something done over the weekend. In addition to having a great workshop Sunday where I got to chat with my favorite gals, I made my bestest friend and hostess this month this little notebook. I love whipping these things up!
Hopefully I will get in my craft room this week and get something else made to show you all. Thanks for sticking with me!

Halloween bag and card

2007-09-27T15:57:00.000-05:00

This is the Halloween bag we are going to make at my workshop on Sunday. Pretty simple, they'll get to use Vellum and do a little stamp masking. (The ghost on the tumbstone) Stamps and paper from CTMH.
And this little card I made from the new petal set from CTMH. I stamped the petals on pattern paper and cut them out. Enjoy your weekend everyone and thanks for looking.

Trial and Error

2007-09-26T11:50:00.000-05:00

Call someone...I actually got in my craft room today! Well, I was not there long, hoping to go back later today. But I did get SOMETHING done!
I have a workshop coming up this Sunday and a party for my mother coming up Next Sunday. So I had to get my booty in gear.
I finally got the card finished that we are making at both. It is a 4x4 card. It started out as a full sized card and I could not get it to look right. Here is my first attempt at this.

Somthing was just not right about it. I am doing a pastel technique for this card. You swipe your pastels on the black cardstock, then stamp your image in Versamark and it "magically" appears. It is really cool. So here is the final version of the card, cut down to a 4x4. I think it turned out a little cuter.

I will be back later to post the bag we are making to go along with this card at my workshop.

MIA Make it Monday

2007-09-25T09:41:00.000-05:00

OH NO! The make it Monday is Missing In Action!
Sorry gals! It has been a pretty nutty couple of days. I will hopefully be getting in my craft room either today or tomorrow for sure and get something made up!
Thanks for sticking with me and check back later this week!

Birthday card

2007-09-20T20:00:00.000-05:00

This is a card I made for my nephews birthday. This one was tricky for me as I left the chipboard blank! That's like walking out of the house naked for me! I like how it turned out though.
Thanks for looking.

Make it Monday

2007-09-17T20:55:00.000-05:00

Today's Make it Monday we are using the sanding block from the CTMH distressing kit. If you do not have the kit, you can use any sanding block.
For the first card, you'll need your sanding block, a stamp, and a stylus tool. It helps to have cardstock that is white core. Which means when it is sanded or torn you see white instead of cardstock that is solid all the way through. These technique's will not work with solid cardstock.
So the first thing you do is stamp on the cardstock.

I used a SU wheel and wheel's my swirls on the cardstock. Then I took my stylus tool and went over the swirls.

Pressing just hard enough to make a "dent" in the paper. Over all the swirls. Then I flipped my cardstock over to the side that has NOT been stamped on. Take your sanding block and sand that side. (the un-stamped side).

Your swirls will magically appear! My picture would not show my swirls super great but trust me, they are there!!LOL
This is my finished card.

Next thing you can do with your sanding block is a fun little distressing technique. First you take a white core piece of cardstock and sprits it with water.

Then you just crumple it up in a ball and then uncrumple it, smooth it out. Take your sanding block and sand right over the cardstock. You will see all the little lines and cracks come out.

I then used distressing ink on mine. Just ran it over the top of my cardstock. And this is how my card turned out.

So easy!! Have a great week!!!

For Kennedy

2007-09-14T11:21:00.000-05:00

Here is a Making Memories K I made for my friend who just had a little baby girl. They named her Kennedy.
I painted it brown and used CTMH More to Adore paper on it. A few embellishments and some ribbon.
Thanks for looking!!

Something Im really excited about!

2007-09-11T11:42:00.000-05:00

I did it! I got my inlaws 40th Anniversary gift made! I have been thinking of this for months and months and months! Im talked since like spring! I bought the canvas for it back in March I think! So I painted it last week (black) and last trip to Archivers I picked up the paper I wanted to use. I decided to stay with the classic balck and cream. They have all different colors in their home, and not knowing exactly where she would put this, I figured black and cream were a safe bet.
So Saturday I ran up to my LSS (Scrappin Shack!) and got some bling to go on it. Then it just kinda all flew together! I love it when that happens. I probably put this together in about an hour. All the canvas and chipboard was already painted, and the rest just kinda fell into place! Anyway.....let me know what you think! They get it at the begining of October.
And keep your eyes open. I am getting very close to 100 posts, which means BlOG CANDY!!

Make it Monday

2007-09-09T21:21:00.001-05:00

wow!! I'm actually going to make it this month! Hahah!!
This month, in continuing with CTMH celebrating September as National Stampin Month! I am going to be using the new CTMH distressing kit and all the little goodies found inside of it for the next few Make It Monday's! You've seen this technique before if you have looked at the catalog at all. It is on page 37. We are going to use the Black Stubble tool. Now, you can use this with the ink pads. Much cleaner and more variety...but heck..who needs that!
I dipped this baby in paint!! Ha!!

Here is how mine came out.
I dipped, plopped and twisted. It make new swirly circles. I was not thrilled with how the black paint looked, so i added a little glittery iridescent paint in the same manner.

This card is a bit funky, I made it for a very funky gal who lives very far away and who is turning 30 today!!!! What a great year it was! So this is for you Meag!!!
There are so many things you can do with this kit. It is not just for card makers! Check it out soon if you get a chance. I will be back soon with more tips on how to use the kit! Have a great Monday!

National Stampin Month

2007-09-08T20:30:00.001-05:00

CTMH has declared this National Stamping Month!
To celebrate this month, go to http://www.closetomyheart.com/nsm07/calendar.aspx?ru=clhenry99.myctmh.com&ai=&cn=Christina+Henry
for daily tips to commemorate the art of stamping. Check every day! There is a new tip and trick listed every day. All you have to do is click on the day and another screen will pop up with detailed direction's on how to do that technique!! Pretty cool!!

3 new cards

2007-09-07T10:19:00.001-05:00

I got 3 cards done this week.
The first one is for one of my nephews who is having a birthday this month. I used Technique Tuesday's Skin Deep stamp set, The Angle Co. and CTMH stamps on this one.

The next card I did for a friends anniversary at the end of the month. For this one, I used Stampin Up and CTMH stamps, CTMH and SU cardstock and paper, and buttons.

And the last card I made, and my fav out of all of them, if a birthday card. I always seem to use The Angel Co. set Retail Therapy for my friend's bday's. I just love that saying in there " Happy Birthday Princess". I used that stamp set, SU and Rusty Pickle stamps. CTMH and SU cardstock. And some ribbon I found at the dollar spot at Target. Also painted a chipboard piece with Making Memories paint. Love that paint!!

Thanks for looking...have a great weekend.

Tri fold cards

2007-09-05T11:19:00.001-05:00

Actually got in my craft room last night and got 2 cards made. My friend let me borrow a magazine from her and they had these wonderful tri-fold cards in the back. Well, I just had to try to make them. So these are the two I came up with. I like the blue one the best.
For the red, I used CTMH Summer B & T pattern paper. White cardstock and Laid Back stamp set.It is going to a customer who just had surgery.

For the blue one, CTMH Summer B & T pattern paper,Black cardstock, and the Typewriter keys stamp set for Hello. A couple flowers and that's about it! This one is going to a friend but it is a surprise on who it is!!
Thanks for looking!

Make it Monday..ooppss...Tuesday!!

2007-09-04T06:35:00.000-05:00

Wow! Labor day weekend really messed me up! I was a day off all weekend! I missed my daughter's first jazz class on Monday, forgot to go to a birthday party for my friends grandmother and it took me 3 day's to go over to visit my own granny! Not to mention I forgot Make It Monday on my blog. Well, I am here now. Hopefully with my head on straight but making no promises!! LOL
This Make it Monday is kind of an easy one. I found a great sketch blog a while back. I know whenever I have a hard time thinking of a card, casing what someone else has done always get's me out of my slump. Cards are the hardest for me to make, and I always seem to need help with them. So this little site works wonders for me. Check it out, and their sketch for the week of Aug. 28th.
http://janellerichmond.typepad.com/sketchthiscards/
Here are the two cards that I made using the sketch.
The first one I made for my friends mother who is going through some medical stuff right now. I used mostly all Close to my heart on this one.

And this one I made for my friend who helped me out alot this weekend during my stamp club. She just charged in there and became my little "helper" without even being asked. She's a great gal and I wanted to send her a little thank you for doing that. These cards are way off of the sketch I know, but I like how you can take the base of an idea and make it your own. Thanks for looking, have a great weekend.

Thursday thrusday...

2007-08-30T10:16:00.000-05:00

I got a few cards done this week. This one is for my husbands little brother and wife. They just found out they are expecting a baby. I used the Wordsworth stamps and CTMH pattern paper.
And this sympathy card is for a friend of my husbands. His child was hurt in the storm's we had last week. Sympathy cards are one of the hardest for me to make. I used all CTMH on this one. Have a great end of the week!

Happy birthday card

2007-08-28T12:49:00.000-05:00

Here is a card I made for a friend who turned 30 this year. We are all turning 30 this year!!! I have until November, but it is not stressing me out any. Just a number. This card was weird for me as I did not inking on it. Just left the open space on the kraft paper. I had a hard time leaving it alone!
Twopeas blog challenge question for the day is "What would be your dream job?"
Well, right now I am a SAHM and I am getting really bored! Right now my dream job would be to be a teacher's aide in our school district. Keep me busy during the day, have the same day's off as my kids, and not go into work till 9:30. How perfect!!
Have a great day!