Hey You!

I have a lot of gratitude today for the amazing people I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with because of my love for crafting and memory keeping. The constant support, generousity and inspiration keeps this hobby so fresh for me, and keeps me playing and having fun, so lucky!!
Celeste is one of those people who is a wonderful friend, but also one of the most talented artists in the crafting community, her designs for Basic Grey are legendary, and her contributions to Paper Crafts magazine are gorgeous! Her latest release is Porcelain, and I can't wait to dig into it!
This little card was made with the Urban Prairie line, I LOVE that little bird, makes me so happy!!!
I had some more happy email from the absolutely darling Brandy! She is so CUTE, and her hubby is adorable too, Their children are going to be gorgeous for sure!
A note from Megan just to say hi, makes my heart melt, she doesn't know that I have a cold, her thoughtfulness is such a gift! My nose may be running and my trash can full of tissues, but my heart truly overflows from friendship and kindness!
A little back and forth with Cath to discuss a couple of details for some projects is such a treat, she knows how to say so much in the most succint of sentences, a gift.
Sweet Claudine is going through a rough time, her sweet Toby got some bad news today. It is so hard to know exactly what it is she is going through and to still not be able to do anything for her. Breaks my heart for them. She is such a wonderful friend, she does so much for so many, I wish I could do something more tangible to give her support.
The ever thoughtful and oh so considerate Julia. She is so talented, and brings so much inspiration to others lives, yet has time to share thoughts and ideas with me as a co-worker and as a friend, so lucky that we can comfortably blur those lines!
Lisa will call and listen to my goofy dog stories, and I hers, and along with that we get to look at beautiful art. Planning the future, adjusting to the current and re-hashing the past is always a challenge that I relish!
My adorable Kim she is that must have everyday phone call.
Then a note from Tim Holtz was the icing on my cake. Tim and I aren't technically friends (yet) but I got the thumbs up to go to Ranger U. There I hope to make many more friends and get to know happy crafters from all over!
Those were just a few of the AMAZING people that I had the opportunity to interact with today, I wish I had more time to write more about everyone that I feel immense gratitude for, but know that I think about and appreciate so much all that you do!

So when I say "Hey You", I mean YOU!!!

You all rock!!!
B-

A mini album for Monday!

I got a lot of projects done in the last few days, that is why there has been no time for blogging. I was also over at the CHF site for the big Thomas Kinkade blitz we had all weekend, that was fun and there are tons of gorgeous projects from the participants in the gallery!

One of the projects that I was most excited to get done was a mini-album from my trip to Colorado for the Crop for a Cure last fall. Used my February Studio Calico kit, and some very yummy American Craft papers and embellishments.

Here are a few pages from it:

There are quite a few more, but I don't want to bore you! Suffice it to say that making the mini was almost as much fun as the trip because I got to relive the moments, good times!!!

Hope you all had a very productive and pleasant Monday! Can't wait for Tuesday, Tyler and I are going skiing!

B-

Happy (e) Mail Day!!!

I am a lucky girl, evidence has been posted often enough that there is no arguing that point.

But today was one that really helped lighten my load and lift my spirits! This wonderful envelope arrived in my mailbox today, and I thought it would be fun to share how FAB a package from Cornish Heritage Farms is.

So the first thing to notice is that this is shipped priority, no waiting anxiously for days on end for your beloved treats, they are sent out and arrive in a few short days. Also, if your order is over $35.00, it is shipped for free!! Yes, free!!! And trust me getting to that point with all of the SUPER FUN art that is released each month, it is SUPER EASY!!! (okay, that is a little enabling, but saving money on shipping is a BIG DEAL!!!)

The next thing to notice is how beautifully packaged these stamps are! Liz and Tricia pack these babies with loads of love! They are neatly stacked, organized and then placed in a SUPER SOFT little bed of FUN bubble wrap! (man I still love playing with that stuff!!!)

The next thing to notice is how many FAB stamps can fit in that tiny envelope, impressive eh?

See, such a lucky girl! I am so proud to work with this company, everything CHF does is with

quality, workmanship and integrity.

And it is SUPER Fun to boot!

I got a few emails for projects today too, and even a phone call asking for a layout that had found its way to a publication a few weeks ago. That is such a wonderful boost to my energy level right now, gives me the mojo to go back to my craft room and make some more fun stuff!

A little more good news is that my dad is scheduled to go home Thursday! YAY!

It has been a very Happy (e) Mail Day!!

;o)

B-

Out with the old, In with the new...

Okay, I will admit, my tennis shoes were getting ready to go on my "B" list. They were getting close to having the sole worn through on the toe and of course they didn't smell so great. But it wasn't time for them to hit the bin. They had a little help getting to that place. And I am sure you can all guess who the helpers were...

Of course after the laces were chewed through, the sole destroyed (can you believe how powerful their jaws must be to do that? Remind me not to stick my head in the lion's mouth...) and the lace up support separated from the sole and laces. Retirement far too soon.

So they had to be replaced, I love this brand of shoes because a percentage of the purchase price is donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation. The perfect fitting shoe and a cause that is near and dear to me, good stuff. Unfortunately they are expensive, so hurts when this kind of thing happens, but what else to do, give up tennis? NEVER!!!!

hehehe!

Have I mentioned that I have an addiction to the CHF "Houndstooth" backgrounder? I used it on this picture frame that I made for this picture of Tyler. He is leaving in a few short weeks for two years to serve in the Cuiaba, Brazil mission. It is hard preparing his stuff to get him on his way, and I made this to remind me that I just wish the best for him. He can best attain that if I leave him to his own choices. He has changed and matured so much in the last few months, and I am so proud of his growth and decision making ability.

Also, my dad has improved a little each day. He is hoping to get back to his home in a few days, and I am proud of how courageous he has been, and how hard he has tried to stay on track. This is his Valentine that I made for him. He had needed some little things like citrus twist tic-tacs and cholula packets from 7-11 for his breakfast eggs. This was a little way to remind him that he was loved and to hold all of those little things that he had requested.

I am so grateful for everyone sending positive thoughts and for those who have remembered us in their prayers, thank you so much.

Anyway, hope everyone had a very lovely Valentine's Day and a restful and respectful President's Day today.

B-

Creativity Kit goodness!

I have been getting a few hits from Celeste's blog, and went back there to see what it is that might be interesting here...

I think I have it figured out, here is a link back to last year's freebie if you like that kind of thing ;o)

Also wanted to share my project that I had made for the Scrapbooker's Creativity Kit that was written by the super cute and Oh So very talented Claudine Hellmuth. This mini-album was so fun and easy to make! I used my bind-it-all after I had the pages made, and it was done in an evening! I will admit that the heavy lifting had been done before I sat down to create. Because I had my colors selected, and the concept to work around, all I had to do was find the pictures and the products that went along with what I had in mind. That is one of my biggest endorsement points for this kit! I sometimes get so bogged down

in what to make, in what color and what will my title/theme be...

Playing with this kit opens so many doors by cutting down on that wasted time thinking and leaving more time for the fun part, the creating!!!

Now all I need is more time in my day for all of the things I want to play with! Anyone have any suggestions on how to find some of that?

B-

Can you feel the love?

Man, I am so blessed!

Thanks so much to all of you who have left comments, sent positive thoughts and taken time to pray for us! It has been a long weekend and a lot of driving up and back to the hospital. Friday we had a great meeting with all of the staff that is involved with his care, and came up with a longer term plan. We explained it to him, and while he "understands" he isn't thrilled and asks when he will get to come home. I am emotionally exhausted, but relieved that we made it over a pretty rough road this last week. He looks soooooo much better than last week, and may be able to get home as early as Wednesday, so happy! I will be heading up again tonight, and it is my FAV tv night, so you know the dvr will be busy trying to catch it all!

I was out cruising a couple of my favorite blogs, and lucked into Celeste's post sharing a freebie and a great idea for valentine's day! She is such a super clever, and uber crafty girl! I loved how she used her digi papers from PcLayers, but decided to use some of those gorgeous scraps that I just can't bear to throw away! So in honor of Celeste I used my delish Basic Grey scraps for this little project!

I did download Celeste's freebie, and it rocks! When I was done putting those together, I got out my circle cutter and cut a bunch of circles.

To correspond with the pictures:

Step 1: What finished "fortune cookies" look like!

Step 2: Stamp on the backside of the patterned paper, now it can be the frontside if you wish!

Step 3: Stamp a sentiment on the inside if you don't want to print out fortunes.

Step 4: Poke hole for brad or use adhesive to get the opposite sides to stick, but don't crease or fold!

Step 5: Insert fortune

Step 6: Fold toward center, this takes a little practice. The backside folds down while the center meets in the middle, picture how a fortune cookie looks and the thinner the paper, the easier this is to accomplish.

Step 7: Use some adhesive between to get the two sides to stick

Step 8: I used a little bobby pin to just lightly hold so I wouldn't have to ;o)

Step 9: Use a die cut for a take out box, mine is from Accu-cut. Stamp one panel at a time and mask the others so that each one looks nice!

Step 10: Fold and apply adhesive to flaps.

Step 11: Put it all together, then use a fun piece of ribbon for the handle.

Step 12: Put valentines into box and deliver!!!

I edited the pics differently so the post wouldn't be so long. If you have any questions please let me know!!!

Hope you had a wonderful Monday...

and can find time to have a crafty week!

B-

Lots of stuff going on...

It has been an interesting week, some of it is hard to share. I rarely write about the tougher goings on because it is far more interesting to read about inspiring ideas or fun events. But this last week my dad has found himself in a tough depression combined with compulsive anxiety. I have spent time everyday going and visiting with him at the hospital he is in, and while it is tough to do, I feel that it is important to make sure that my dad knows how I feel about him and to keep my priorities in line. I am so grateful for my wonderful kids, my mom, who is really amazing, and the kind friends who have lent me their shoulders for support. Dave has been really strong and I am reminded about how lucky I am in this way with him.

Because of the way my time has been spent this week, I haven't had the opportunity to get into my craft room. So I thought I would share my altered notebook that I use to keep track of my work stuff for CHF. When I was prepping my Ranger house project, I painted a sheet of Claudine's Studio Line Sticky back canvas to create the shutters. I had a fairly large chunk of it left over and didn't want it to go to waste, so re-purposed it to cover a notebook that I had picked up at Target. Some American Craft Thickers, Creative Cafe buttons and a super cute Maya Road flower add those extra details that make me smile every time I pick it up to get some work done.

Taking time to appreciate the small things and letting the things go that I can't control is my plan for the weekend. And the gratitude attitude is my mantra.

B-

Cherish

It is that time of year where we think about how we can give gifts to let our loved ones know that we are thinking of them. The Saturday Evening Post release from January tells such a great story, so I thought it would be a very sweet image to use for a Valentine's card. The "Tulle Damask" Scrapblock was stamped onto black Prism cardstock and then embossed in white for extra texture, and then after stamping the "Casual Conversation" in black onto a smooth white cardstock, I put four layers of UTEE on to create that gorgeous cracked glass look. Easy to do and adds so much dimension. A couple of chipboard details from Making Memories and this card is ready to go.

B-