because sometimes you just need to spell things out...

Ok, so most of you know that I have two beautiful children (not being biased or anything) that I love dearly. That being said, as a parent, it is sometimes necessary to SPELL THINGS OUT for them over and over and over and... well, you get what I mean.

I got so tired of repeating my self that I decided to make a sign to hang on the bathroom door or somewhere that it would be seen daily. Then I decided that, being the queen of the scrapbook room, I did not want to make a plain old sign. Instead, I wanted to make a layout!

I wrote BOTH of their names on the top so there would be no confusion as to who the list was directed to.

In the interest of using my manners, I also added a little 'please and thank you' on the bottom.

Will it work? The jury is still out on that one folks. But I am hopeful!!

Remembering 9-11-01

Do you remember that terrible day? I remember like it was yesterday, and it still makes me cry.

We will never forget.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY

My next door neighbor was admitted to the hospital yesterday with premature labor. Yesterday, she hit the 22 week mark. As of last night, the contractions have lessened and their intensity has lessened also, but she was leaking amniotic fluid last night also. I have not heard anything this morning, as of yet.

Katy and her husband Aaron have only been our neighbors for about 3 years, and they are approx. 10 years younger then my husband and I. Stepping back and seeing what is happening has been a horrifying slap in the face for both my husband and I. It was very shortly after we moved into this house that we got pregnant, and I lost my son, Waylon. I was right about the age that Katy is now. I'd had a RIDICULOUS time getting pregnant to begin with, and so had Katy.

In my heart of hearts, I DO NOT want this sweet girl to go through the heartache of losing their first child, Simon. So if you could spare a second or two in your day, would you please say a prayer for Katy, her husband Aaron and their son, Simon. I would greatly appreciate it.

Finding friends in funny places

Back in April I was fortunate enough to attend 'Round Up' with several of my Close to My Heart team members and their customers. I got to get re-aquainted with some old friends and met a lot of new ladies.

What I remember most about one woman I met was her "catch phrase" for lack of a better term. When she saw you, she would say..."What's kickin' chicken?" It really was so funny, that I thought to myself, "Ok, I have got to get to know her better!"

It has been so nice to be able to connect with my new friend outside of the 'Round Up' environment! She is a new CTMH consultant, I am wishing and hoping nothing but the best for her, because I know she'll be 'kickin' some 'chicken' butt!

So, I really want to encourage you to take the time, and meet some new people. Say hello to someone you might not normally. Step outside of your comfort zone. What you find on the outside just might blossom into a great friendship!

Let me first say that we were in our pj's as this was a weekend crop and second... "Hey Kim, what's shakin' bacon?" :)

The Glass Menagerie

Ok, ok, I know... they aren't glass. But "The Paper Menagerie" just doesn't strike the same tone, does it?

I had the opportunity to make some paper pieced animals this weekend utilizing the Sure Cuts A Lot program for the Cricut, along with a few downloaded patterns. I cannot wait to get this program. I think that these bunnies and bears are the first patterns I am going to pay for and download!

This is Ted. Ted was cut from Vanilla Cream CS, and sponged with Brown Bag, Autumn Terracotta and Smoothie inks. He is so cute, my mom tried to steal him.

This is Cottontail. She was cut from textured white cs, and sponged with Gray Flannel and Baby Pink inks.

This is Chicky Baby. Now, I didn't think I was going to like him near as much as I liked the rabbits or bears, but he grew on me. And the more I inked and stamped on him, the more I liked him. Of course, he is HUGE... I will have to try one that is more "chick" sized... Chicky was cut from Colonial White CS, and sponged and stamped tone on tone with Sunflower ink. His beak and feet were sponged from Sunset ink.

And finally, I would like to introduce Brown Betty. She was actually my first paper pieced animal creation, and I just fell in love! She is so stinking cute! Betty was cut from Vanilla Cream CS and sponged with Chocolate and Blush inks.

All of my pictures are a little on the blurry side. I have been having a few technical difficulties with my camera, but I'm working on it!

So there you have it. Once I purchase my program and downloads, these little guys will be the subject of a class on sponging techniques.

Have a scrappin' great day!!

Bye-Bye Walmart

Ok, so those of you who know me, know that I am pretty strict with my kids. Not in a mean way, but there are rules, and we follow them. PERIOD.

When mom or dad says no, they mean no. You say Yes Ma'am and No Ma'am, Yes Sir and No Sir when you are addressing an adult. You say please, thank you and excuse me. You know, common courtesy and all the basic stuff that seems to have skipped a generation.

Byron has been increasingly difficult to deal with on an everyday basis, not listening, ignoring everybody. You have to make sure he is looking in your eyes and then have him repeat everything back to you to make sure he even heard you. This breaks my heart because I feel like I am always yelling at this child, and I know I look like a total bitch when we are out.

So we go into Walmart this morning to buy our copy of Tangled. We have been waiting with baited breath for this movie to come out, and were so excited that today was finally here!

Of course the problems started in the parking lot. He wouldn't hold my hand. NO WAY. He had to hold Edith's hand. In theory, this is fine. But he is then 1 child removed from my arms length, and pulling at Edith's arm so he is lunging into the driving area of the parking lot. When we got up to the store, I grabbed his hand and gave him no choice, which sent him into a tailspin, screaming and fake crying all the way back to electronics to get the movie.

Now I don't particularly care if the kids have a tantrum in the store. It doesn't faze me a bit. So what. They scream, they cry, whatever. I tell him aisle 3 didn't hear him, or he's doing it wrong. Let the other parents stare at me. I think Edith had 1 tantrum in a store. That was enough. The funny thing is that Byron doesn't have a tantrum because he can't have something. That has never been an issue. But he is in this fake crying and whining phase that we can't seem to shake him out of. So he's having this screaming and crying tantrum for no reason but that I won't let him hold sisters hand. Oh well.

We get to the register, check out when he says, "I have to go pee." "Wait until we get home." "I can't. There's water coming out!" So to the bathroom we go. He pees all of two drops. (This is another new thing. He has to pee EVERY PLACE we go.) Get him to the sink, and there is no soap. Then this employee Crystal comes out of her stall and as I am telling him that his hands are fine being rinsed (since he didn't actually even go pee), she steps in and tells him to come use her soap dispenser, squirts soap all over me, and then tells me that I need to be more patient with my children. Then I get to hear how she has two boys, and they are rambunctious, and I don't need to treat him like I am, and I don't need to push him, etc... after I asked her who the hell she was to tell me how to raise my kids, I went to the service desk and told them that they have an employee who feels free to tell parents how to discipline their children.

I have lived here now for almost 11 years. I have been shopping at this Walmart all this time. I am in this store AT LEAST once a week, and usually spend about $80 - $100 with each visit. I have seen parents leave their newborn infants unattended. I have seen children (and teens) running wild in the store like it is a playground. I have seen parents who OBVIOUSLY don't care about themselves, let alone what their offspring is doing. I have seen kids open up product, eat their fill and then leave the scraps on the floor, and the accompanying parent turn a blind eye. I have seen store employees who would rather file their nails than say hello to you. And yet, when I am stern with my very difficult child, (mind you, I said stern. Not screaming, not hitting), I get yelled at by a woman who has NO IDEA what is going on in our lives or family.

This is not the first time we have had a run in with an employee at this store. Several months ago, there were two female employees calling eachother slut, and other degrading things. And they were in the toy department yelling them to eachother. Can you all see the look on my face when my daughter wanted to know what a slut was? Today was my final straw.

The saddest thing of all about this, is that I was right. No matter what I do with my kids, good or bad, I look like a bitch in public, and that's how my kids see me too.

Cards and Layouts from the past weekend

So, as all of you have read, I had an incredible opportunity to go to the Salvation Army Camp in Midlothian. In addition to setting up a table and being a vendor, I got to teach 2 classes, both a 2 page layout class, and class with 4 cards!

These two layouts were made using the Miracle paperpack from Close To My Heart. I just love the sweet girl from the Just Because stamp set!

These 4 cards were for the class on day 2, and I just LOVE the cake card!! They don't know it yet, but my card class at the end of this month will be making 4 cards, all cakes! :)
Happy Scrappin'!

and he left the room upset...

Maybe it's guy thing like the Three Stooges, or maybe it's an Adams Family vs. Munsters thing. I'm not sure. But when I asked my husband which he liked better, Star Wars or Star Trek, I was actually taken aback, not only at his answer, but at the speed and velocity in which it was given. STAR WARS!! I think I actually said, "REALLY?"

All I remember of Star Wars was an annoying gold robot, a green troll, and some funny looking guys in white armor.

Now Star Trek... that brings to mind ensigns in red shirts, Spock in all of his green blooded loveliness, Scotty's ability to multiply the time he needs by 4 just to get it done in 1/4 time and look like a genious, living long and prosper... I could go on, really and truly I could.

So today, I made the mistake in asking him, "WHY? Why on earth do you like Star Wars better?"
His answer was short, sweet and full of utter sincerity. "Because Star Trek has no basis in reality."
When the laughing susbided and I was finally able to breathe again, I looked up to see him shaking his head and walking out of the room. I think I might have hurt his feelings.

FAlling in LOVE with Studio J

Wow, so who would have ever thought that I would get into digital scrapbooking? I mean, I love, love, LOVE the feeling of getting my hands into some paper, and actually creating, but this was just fabulous.

As many of you know, I am a consultant for Close To My Heart, and one of the newest innovations is the digital program called Studio J. Unlike other scrapbook companies (that I won't mention), You don't have to buy or install anything on your computer. Just go to your consultants website and play for free! How much better can it get??

Here is what I created and finished today!

Each of them has a unique story. What a new and great way to scrapbook when my time is limited!
Want to try it yourself? Just go to my website, click on the Studio J tab, and have fun creating! Want to play now and buy later? You betcha!
freedomstan4d.myctmh.com
See you on the site!

So Very Blessed

This weekend I had the most wonderful opportunity. Thanks to a consultant in need and a returned email, I was able to go as Vendor/Instructor to the Salvation Army Camp in Midlothian. What an amazing place!

When I first got there, I thought I was late, I was rushing, I was stressed, sweaty, you name it! And then I saw the Creative Memories set up and thought, why are you even here? After having approximately 1 weeks notice, I had little "product", and I felt woefully unprepared. But I perservered.
And I am glad I did!

I brought a small snipet of memorabilia from my Great-Grandmother and Grandmother's time in the Salvation Army, and though I didn't have a lot of product, these pictures certainly helped me break the ice with a lot of ladies!

The lesson for this whole weekend was about being blessed. I got to go to a scrapbook event. I taught 2 classes. I made some new friends. My husband took over with the kids and the house so I didn't have to worry about a thing while I was gone. I am blessed in more ways than I can count!

On our last day, I brought Edith with me. After the devotional was read and the altar was opened for anyone who wanted to pray. When Edith asked me what those ladies were doing, I told her that they were praying. When I looked up to see where she had gone, I found her praying too. I almost cried!

Thank you Lord for all the blessings that you have bestowed upon me, and thank you for allowing me to pass those blessings to my children!

They're Spring-a-licious

Good morning everyone! I thought that with it being such a cold and blustery day, it might be nice to look ahead and think of the warm days that are coming! There is a little something I look forward to with every season. For me, the word Spring brings images of cool breezes, daffodils and crocus in bloom, and red-breasted robins in search of the elusive worm.

I made these pages with my paper stash from my pre Close To My Heart days for Miss Edith. I had planned to use purples and pinks, but as I was elbow deep in paper, I found these oranges and peaches, and then found my folder of orange scraps... VOILA! I can't wait to get some spring inspired pictures of her on them!

You can see that I made a Heart-Punch Flower and used a pop dot to add it to the center of the paper frame. You can see the Heart-Punch Flower tutorial here on my blog. I will do a paper frame tutorial next week for everyone. The are super quick and easy, and it adds a lot of visual interest.

As always, feel free to "scraplift".. I do!
Happy Scrappin' everyone!

Fantastical Fun Friday Flowers

Well everyone, this is my first tutorial!! Today we will be making 2 kinds of flowers, the Heart-Punch Flower, and the Carnation. I can't tell you where I got the idea for the Heart-Punch Flower, but the Carnation I saw on a blog while I was hopping around online, but I cannot find where it was!

To make the Heart-Punch Flower, you will need a Heart shaped punch (I used one that is 3/4" at the widest point), scrap paper, ink and sponge for distressing the edges and a brad of your choice, preferably one that matches or contrasts nicely with your paper.

Punch out 7 hearts from your scrap paper.

Sponging the edges of your hearts is completely optional, but I think it gives it a better look, a little more depth and dimension.

Put your adhesive on one half only of all 7 of your hearts. It doesn't matter if you put the adhesive on the left half or the right half, but you must chose the same half for all 7 hearts. To begin putting them together, lay one heart on top of the half with adhesive.

Continue to do this until you have only 1 heart left.

To add the last heart, you need to place it in sideways, and then pivot it so that one half of it is on top, and the other half is underneath.

Now add your brad to the center

and pop dots to the back

Voila!
Here are 2 that I have done previously and used on a layout.

The next flower we will be making today is the Carnation.

To make this flower, you will need paper of your choice (I used both the Colonial White Cardstock and Sunshine Yellow Cardstock), a 2" scalloped circle punch, ink and sponge to color your edges, a brad (this brad will not be seen so it doesn't have to match), a spray bottle of water and a paper piercer.
From your cardstock, punch out 8 cirles.

Using your ink of choice, sponge the edges of each circle.

Lay circles out on a dishtowel or papertowels, and spray liberally with water. The circles will curl up a bit. Don't be worried, that is supposed to happen.

Now take each wet circle and crumple it up.

Remembering that these are wet and will rip easily, take care when you open them up, and stack them on top of eachother.

Take your paper piercer and pierce a hole through all of your "Petals",

and insert your brad.

Taking the top petal, pull it up and crumple around your brad, pinching the bottom near the brad. *REMEMBER that this paper is wet, and if you are to forceful, it will rip right off your brad*

Follow this same step with each petal until all petals are scraunched up around the brad.

Then take your fingers and fluff your flower up until you are happy with how it looks.

I have not yet added this flower to a project, but I will do so soon and will post my finished product. To stick this flower down, I would use either a popdot or a really good adhesive like Liquid Glass from Close To My Heart. Add a few leaves, etc., and this could easily be on a card that goes into a shadowbox.
My thanks go out to whoever's blog I visited, but can no longer find, and to my daughter Edith who took pictures for me while my hands were inky in use!