Another Home Made Gift for Carye

Every year I get to experiment with a Christmas gift for my sister. She and her hubby live in the cutest little country cottage so they like wall hangings and such. Last year I used scrap paper and sewed a small depiction of their land layout and attached it to a canvas. This year I lifted an idea from Scarlet Lime “October Project”. Made from shipping tags, I loved their idea so much I had to try it myself. Hope sissy likes it.

I'm so glad she doesn't read my blog.....I hope she doesn't read my blog.

Finished up a few more.....

Got to scrap with buddies again yesterday.....here are a few I finished up from the past few weekends......my scanner is NOT the best.....

Our Scrap Club

Two years ago, while scrapping with my neighbor Liz, we decided to form a monthly scrap club. We started making a list of everyone we enjoyed scrapping with and our list grew. Now we are a steady group of 10 strong and we feed off each others creativity every month.

I love this craft and the people it has introduced me to.

This is a layout I created at last months club.

Here are 7 of the 10 of us:

Melanie, Me, Brenda, Janet, Pam, Kathy & Liz.

Not shown: Holly, Sherry & Kathy

Wow.....two posts in one day

I just had to give a shout out to Karmen and Scott at Lone Star Retreats in Georgetown. I found myself at a gathering there this weekend and, once again, had a very nice time. I met some very talented cardmakers and saw some of the most beautiful Christmas cards. My friend Kathy was just whippin' them out and they were so unique. All she did was use up her old stock, granted her stock is like Archivers inventory but the cards she created were so different and elegant. I guess I don't have an excuse not to make my cards this year. Better get off my.......and get started.

I love it when

the idea in my minds eye turns out better on paper.
I absolutely love Crate Papers new scalloped die cut papers but refused to buy the circle one. I don't know why....I just thought I could make it somehow. I don't have a scalloped circular punch and didn't really think I'd use one that often so what to do mmm...mmm...mmm....why not use ribbon or lace?
Well, I'm NOT good with a sewing machine though I love the look of the texture so I just used my tape runner on the back of the circular card stock and placed the lace. Happy with the placement I stitched it on. Easy as pie.....I was pleased with the result. I did learn a bit that I will implement on the next layout.

This is such a variety of my favorite manufacturers ........Crate Paper Lemon Grass Papers,
Basic Grey sticker alphabets Ambrosia and Offbeat die cut, Journling stamp is Laundry Line, Chipboard letters are Scenic Route. TFL

I guess I forgot

the rock was this steep. I don't remember the hike being straight up like this. Of course, the last time we went to Enchanted Rock the kids were 5 and 7 and I couldn't let them show me up. I had to at least act like the hike was no big deal. 12 years later.......I must admit.....it was harder than I thought it would be. Thank goodness it was only a 25 minute hike straight up.

We had a great time. There were only 7 other camp sites occupied and the showers were clean and always available. The weather was great, cool and crisp in the morning with warm afternoons. So nice to leave civilization if even for a short time.

Click on the photo for a better scale of this fabulous granite formation.

Goin'Campin'

and I'm so excited. Mark & I are planning a quick trip to Enchanted Rock State Park next week and I can't wait. We have many fond memories of the park from our life before kids. Though not as agile as we were then, we plan on hiking a bit and checking out the sunsets from the top of the rock. A bit smarter now, we'll probably leave the wine back at camp. We've learned that hiking down the rock after haven emptied a bottle is not safe. Especially when the heel falls off your boot.....but that's another story.

We'll be checking out the local wineries and end each day in Fredericksburg for a relaxing dining experience with live music and good food.

Haven't checked the weather forecast yet. Hope mother nature cooperates but we've already decided we'll take what we're given......that's camping right? Reading by flashlight with the rain pouring down on your tent, temperatures so chilly you have to stay bundled up in your bedding and now..... all of a sudden.....you have to pee. Now..... why do I like to camp?????

Lone Star Reteat in Georgetown

My scrappy friends & I spent this past weekend at Lone Star Retreats in Georgetown, TX. We had the best time. Everything about our weekend was perfect. The bunkhouse was comfortable. The facility was well lit and spacious, we were spoiled with space to scrap. The food was fabulous.

Lone Star was open to a scrapbook garage sale while we were there and the deals were abundant. It was nice to see all my scrapbook friends from all around.

Not having a schedule and being pampered was the best.

Thank You Karmen & Scott. We will be back.

off again

We don't see much
of Michelle lately.
She's either off to
school, off to study,
off to work or off to
socialize with her
work or school
friends.

I guess she is just
preparing us for
next year when
we'll be lucky to
see her on
holidays and breaks.

what a difference a year makes

Sas, Terry, Mohr, Wedell {Fall 07}















Wedell, Sas, Cody & Mohr {Fall 08}

His idea of "Going to College"

Where's the College? Where are the books? Where are the GRADES?????

He says, "This is the College Experience".

Fortunately grades have been good in the past. I've got to have faith.

college students do strange things

he used to be so individualistic.....he used to do whatever he could to be different. So what do I wake up to today....an email with pictures of my boy, who once had beautiful locks of wavy hair, as a skin head. Well, not exactly a skin head but a shaved head.
Oh well, I'm not supposed to sweat the small stuff right???

she's 17....our baby is 17 today

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"
Michelle Renee

Day trip to Gruene

**edited**..........just got a call from Ryan.....on his way back to Corpus last night at 1:30am.....he hit a dog. He was pretty torn up about it but on the brighter side he & Natalie are okay.....the truck in okay.....and after that he was WIDE awake the rest of his trip home.
Poor kid.....another life lesson.

Yesterday was a nice example of what, I hope, retirement will be like.
Mark took off work so we could spend the day together before we attended the Tom Petty concert at the Verizon Wireless Center in San Antonio.
We hadn't been to the small German tourist community of Gruene in two years and "Oh My" how it has grown. It's such a quaint & beautiful community located beside the Guadalupe River and even on a Tuesday was crawling with tourists.
As always we enjoyed a slow paced dining experience of fine food & drink at the Gristmill. Out door dining over the river with a cool breeze & margaritas is my idea of retirement.
Ryan & Natalie joined us for dinner before we made our way to the concert.
The show, though a bit disappointing, was very nostalgic. It has to be hard to top prior performances when I've seen Mr. Petty at least eight times.
Like all of us, Tom's getting older. His set was slower than I'm used to. The song choice was fabulous but he was a bit less engaging.
Overall it was a good show and a nice memorable day.

she makes me smile.....

It's so rewarding when we come back from a hard workout and she's just as tired as I am.

oh btw.........

that snake 2 posts back......it is a cottonmouth and it still lives in a hole under that big rock. ryan is going to remove it for me this weekend.....

When It Rains It Pours.....

Yesterday I woke up to........ the dog with an abscess that swelled up to the size of a golf ball on her leg. Not a big deal just watch her and let nature take it's course. WRONG. She kept licking it until it opened up and bled all over my office floor. Fortunately it was laminate and cleaned right up but a vet visit with antibiotics & anti-inflammatory and $146.95 later.

Today I woke up to.......our main refrigerator had gone out. Frantically removing all of the salvageable food into our other fridges in the garage; I think I saved most. Who knows how much that will cost?????Repairman scheduled for Friday 8-12. I called Mark just to inform him of the cost. He was cool but informed me that that's no major big deal and to prepare myself for the garage door to fall in when I open it. WHAT.

Apparently when I backed into it years ago, stress has caused 3 of the 4 panels to bow and warp. SO..... now Friday between 2-4 and $595.00 later I should have a functioning garage door again.

But that's not even the worst of it.....my hair appointment is tomorrow at 1:30 and we have a family reunion Saturday morning.
Freaked out I called Mark again.....what a sweetie. He's coming home early so I can keep my appointment.

It's true what they say about bad luck running in 3's.
On the bright side.....my fridge is now clean:)

HELLO!!!

This is what greeted me this morning. Yikes:- Looks as if she's been here for awhile.

Blogging for my friends!!!!!!!!

This blog entry is entirely for Holly, Sherry & Melanie!!!!!

This is the layout I started at Archivers the other night. While I worked on it I kept thinking how y'all thought the colors were so bright and unlike my normal style.

So I went out on a limb just for y'all. This layout became very girlie with all the BLING, FLOWERS & CURLY CHIPBOARD.

I still managed to keep all the photos and was able to keep the journaling so I'm happy
See, I can BLING if I have to:)

Love this mess.....

I have yet to figure out why it is..... that once I have created in my special space, the mess left behind makes me feel good.

For some reason I just like all the supplies scattered about. This concept is so against my nature. Usually I am the neat freak. I do like order when I get started. I like having everything in it's place.

But for some reason during the process the mess is cool. Who knows... this might be my subconscious telling me not to sweat the small stuff. Make a mess it's OK!
Somehow this mess becomes invigorating.

TGIF

Art Journal entry.....


and now for something completely different

24 Days and Counting

and not a minute to soon! Even with all the rain we've had lately the cedar pollen is still kickin my butt.

No art going on over here and it's killin me. The ideas are beginning to mount.....{hence the spelling of the word "mount", Holly}....and I've started jotting them down. Why is it these ideas look so much cooler in my head?

A Cheeseheads take on the Lord's Prayer

Our Favre, Who art in Lambeau,
Hallowed be thine arm.
Thy bowl will come,
It will be won.
In Phoenix as it is in Lambeau.
And give us this Sunday,
Our weekly win.
And give us many touchdown passes.
But do not let others pass against us.
Lead us not into frustration,
But deliver us to the valley of the sun.
For thine is the MVP, the best of the NFC, and the glory of the
Cheeseheads, now and forever.
Go get em.
Amen.

Gods Gifts

Humbled. Sometimes I am so humbled and overwhelmed with emotion as I count the blessings I've been granted.

Yesterday I was granted the gift of being able to spend time with good friends. You know....the kind of real friends you just feel so comfortable being with. We have so much fun together...doesn't really matter what were doing....just being.

When I returned home I find myself surrounded by little blessings. I try very hard not to take these gifts for granted. I literally cherish the time I get to spend with my family. My sweet hubby and our kind daughter, and our special unique college boy.......Gifts from God.

Life is Good

Introducing....."Thelma Lou"

She's back from Mayberry and she's in the secret garden. More to come from Thelma Lou.....
Thanks Teesha Moore for your art journal techniques. Check out "Teesha". Thanks ELiScrAper for introducing me to Teesha's wealth of information.......

27 days and counting

Monday's Art Journal Page

So it's Friday and I finally finished this one.....it's all about art journals that inspire me. There are sooo many talented artists out there and I stay inspired to try new things. I'm constantly saying to myself...."how'd they do that". I need much more training and instruction....but in the meantime I'll keep dabbling in my Nana's sewing book.

This is the Culprit

This is the mischief-maker. This is what is wreaking so much havoc at my house right now. Of course it doesn’t help that I’m, highly allergic to these little pods of powder, standing in the middle of a cedar pollen Mecca.

In case you didn't know, these trees are usually forest green throughout the year. Between Christmas and Valentines these trees dictate my schedule. As they begin to pollinate these trees turn burnt orange and on a windy day visual clouds of pollen appear.

28 days and counting.........

Appreciation....

that's what it is....the recognition of appreciation. That's the best part of creating for others. The look on that persons face when you have spent endless time preparing the perfect piece just for them.

I got to experience that emotion just today. A friend of the family just lost her special friend to a brain aneurysm unexpectedly just after Christmas. She asked me to prepare a memorial and provided me with photos and a poem.

Though it was nothing "Fancy" and made to be presented to a young women, our family friend was so grateful.

What is it about this.....

craft that makes me act like a little school girl? I've been card making/scrapping for over 5 years now and I still get excited over the simplest things. I can't go to sleep at night if I'm on a creative roll. I've been know to get that spark of creativity around midnight and finally turning in by 3am.
I don't know if it's the creative process, the materials I get to use, the vibrant colors I'm surrounded by, the extreme diverse group of women I've met, or the continued education in this craft that keeps me consumed with possibility. Whatever it is I am so grateful to have found it. I can't imagine what I'd be doing if not for this craft.




This is how I leave my workspace now. There are so many things I need at my fingertips I just keep them out. Notice the tissues......the cedar pollen is kickin my butt right now.....pray for rain.




These are my two projects in progress. This is what my table looked like before bed last night. I went out & had cocktails with the gals and stayed up way to late playing in my studio. I swear...if I had a bed, fridge & potty in my studio I'd never leave.

What Is It For You???? What is it about scrapping/card making/mixed media that gets you excited.....

Exploring the Art Journal

Inspired by Donna Downey and Suzi Blu I've started an Art Journal. Oh my, I feel like I've just found a new set of toys needing to be played with. Every time I enter my studio now I have to decide which toy to play with.

I always start with the gesso but do I get out the gel mediums, the oil pastels, the paints, the rub-ons....Yes....I get them all out. I keep them out now. I've only been doing this for about a week and my mind is just spinning with possibilities.

Saturday my buddies & I got to go to the local art supply store. Oh what fun. We were there for an hour and it felt like 30 minutes. We can easily do this at the scrapbook store but now I have a new establishment to deposit any spare dollar I might scrounge up.

Here are a few pages I've completed....

Welcome to my Studio

I've finally established my own home.
Here, I open the doors to my Scraproom-Office-Studio whatever I might be doing in it from one day to the next.

Here is where I prefer to be. This is my "Inspiration Zone".

Here is where I get inspiration to create new things.

Welcome...come inside and lets play.