How am I doing???

I thought at the end of each month I would go over my resolutions and see how I am doing. This is more for me than you, but someone out there might want to know.


So here we go...

1. Don't over do it. (This relates to my back) I've been doing pretty good so far.

2. Learn to ask for AND accept help. (this is the hardest for me) This is very hard for me, but I have had to ask.

3. Do my exercises at least 6 times a week. There are days I can't do ALL of them, but I have done some if not all every day.

4. Send a birthday card to everyone in my family ON TIME. Ü There was only one birthday in January (my 2 yr old nephew and I didn't make him a card as I figured it would only get thrown away)

5. Organize my stamp room (this is on going) I did a little and made an "Inspiration Station" that is so fun to see every time I walk in.

6. NO MORE HOARDING!! Use what I have AND what I buy! I did really good this month! I used up lots of ribbon on projects and paper too. It helped alot doing a Valentine "Inspiration Station" as I found things I forgot I had even had and made lots of goodies with those items.

7. Alter at least two items (out of my HUGE box of things to alter) every month. That would be a minimum of 24 items by December. (yes, I have that many things that need altered!!) So far, I altered a Tootsie Roll container, candle jar, several mini mailboxes from Target and a notebook. WOOHOO! Very excited to get these done.

8. Submit something for publication once a month (doesn't mean it will be published, but "you can't win if you don't enter") Bummer, submitted, but wasn't chosen. I do understand that this is very hard to do. BUT even though I wasn't chosen for something I entered I DO have some exciting news to share soon that happened this month!!!!!

9. RAK (random acts of kindness) someone at least once a month. Did this Ü

10. Eat chocolate Ü (have to have at least one thing that you KNOW you will do LOL!! Okay, like this one was taken care of the first day (as well as other days)

11. Make items for sale for at least 3 shows. I haven't done a show yet, but I have made a few items for a show in March.

12. Teach at least 12 classes at LSS if possible. I'm off to a good start as I have taught 2 classes already and have another scheduled for next weekend if I can get to feeling better (sinus/bronchial crud going on)

13. Do more SCS challenges. The only one I can think of is the Dirty Dozen monthly one. I have done a Beate challenge and two Mary Jo ones.

14. Attend at least ONE of my friend Barb's workshops. Ü Not yet, but still want to!

15. Whittle down my scrap box-challenge myself to make cards only using my scraps. Did this a little bit with my altering projects.

16. Make 10 Christmas cards a month. This way I will have some ready for sale and ready to send out after Thanksgiving. 10 down and 100 to go Ü

17. Make items for sale for LSS every month. Yes, part of my altered stuff and items made from my Inspiration Station.

18. Get caught up on Benjamin's scrapbook. Sadly, I wasn't able to even work in it this month. I was invited two different times to scrap and the first I wasn't feeling so great and the second DH & DS2 were very sick.

19. Post more often on blog. I haven't posted every day, but have done a much better job of posting for the month of January.

20. Make Christmas list in January and make/buy gifts throughout the year and be done by November. Still working on this, but have an idea of what I am going to do for the boys.

21. Finish up things that I started and then didn't finish for whatever reason. Finished some cards I had started.

22. Bless someone with items I just don't use any more and don't think I will ever use. I RAK'd someone with some goodies from my scrap room as I cleaned.

23. Stamp with my "neglected" stamps (you know those that you just "had" to have and then don't use much Ü). I started a card with Roses in Winter. This is one of my favorite sets, but didn't get it finished. Need to soon as someone is waiting to see what I do with it. ;)

24. Bless someone at least 6 times this year with cinnamon rolls (if I am able to). Not yet, but still have 11 months to go.

25. "PIF (pay it forward) 2008"-I have been blessed to win some blog candy, so I decided for this year, if I win blog candy, I am going to PIF and offer blog candy to you. Ü YAY!!! I did win some blog candy in January and I did send out a package.

What a change...

in the weather!! For the past few days we have been having beautiful weather. Yesterday was a high of the past few days with it reaching over 50 degrees! There was "talk" of a snow front coming in...yeah right. Well, I guess "they" knew what they were talking about! Temps dropped fast, wind came up, then snow and we have a late start for school!!! When I got up (notice I didn't say "woke" up) a little before six and looked outside you couldn't see anything it was snowing and blowing so hard.

Family news:

I am beat!! I got very little sleep two nites ago and pretty much none last nite. Aaron is a very sick boy! Sinus infection hits him so hard and he has always had breathing problems and this is one of the worst ones he's had in a long time. He hurts so much and it's hard being the mom when you can't do anything about it and you are so tired yourself. I will probably do what I did when the boys were little and sleep today when he sleeps. It doesn't help when Bruce is sick too, so I need to take care of all of them. Benjamin is doing better and is back in school.

Stamping: Here is a card I made for a swap. It's been a LONG time since I've done a multiple card swap.

Recipe: all SU!

stamps: Time Well Spent & Boho Backgrounds

ink: basic brown & white

paper: Berry Bliss (wish we could just order a certain pattern), chocolate chip, pink & white, sponge

accessories: ribbon, colored pencil,

Technostamper Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #2

It's Monday and time for another challenge by Mary Jo. At noon EST, Mary Jo will post a list of all the players. Be sure to check out her blog and then those who played. It is fun to see everyone's take on the same sketch.

I had a terrible time getting a good picture. IRL the button matches the cs perfectly.

Here is the recipe for mine:

stamps: Time Well Spent

paper: SU!'s Pomengranate and patterned papers from Berry Bliss

ink: basic brown

accessories: sewing machine, Making Memories brads, Basic Grey button, SU! chocolate ribbon, CTMH pink ribbon, sanding block

Beate sketch challenge

Here is a card I made with last week's challenge that Beate posted on her blog.
Recipe:
Stamps: Stem Sayings, Wanted
Paper: Rusty Pickle's Chocolate Kisses, Basic Grey's Infuse
Misc: brads, stickles, sewing machine, SU's photo corner & scallop circle punches, vintage rick rack

Altered Mail Box

They have these really fun little mailboxes in the $1 spot at Target. I picked up several pink ones and a couple of white ones (now wish I would have gotten a couple of red ones!!), to alter for the boys and my youth group girls as well as a few friends.

Here is one I made for the LSS...

Side View:

Recipe:

Paper: Basic Grey

Embellishments: Prima flower, brad, ribbons & rick rack, heart button and embroidery floss

heart (on side of box) cut from George Cricut cartridge

You can see how to make these here. Emily gave me permission to supply the link to her blog. I make mine the same she does except for the flag (I cut 2 pieces to fit the front & back) and I use mono-adhesive. I think it would be easier to use the line tape like she does, but all that is available here is the Terrific Tacky Tape and it is expensive.

Technostamper Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #1

Say that fast just ONCE! LOL!! I joined a new group that is going to do a sketch challenge and post every Monday. You can see everyone that played by going to Mary Jo's site here.

I am still playing with these papers by CTMH.

Recipe:

Stamp: Happy Harmony & Boho Backgrounds-SU!

Papers: CTMH

Ink: Basic Brown and watercolor crayons-SU!

Ribbon: brown-SU!, rickrack-from antique store

Brads: antique copper-Making Memories

Dirty Dozen Challenge -January

The Dirty Dozen gals (past and present) on SCS has decided to do a challenge each month and post to the gallery on the 20th.


Each month we will have criteria that we are to follow. For January we were to use a "girl" image and something "sweet"-however we wanted to interpret that. Since I have 2 boys, DH, dad, 4 brothers, FIL, gr'pa, lots of uncles, etc., I don't have alot of 'girl' stamps. The ones I did have were all spring related and with it snowing outside and freezing weather, spring wasn't really on my mind.


I hope that this snow-"girl" qualifies. Ü Also, what can be sweeter than candy??!! So I made a one sheet bag to fill with these YUMMY dark chocolate, raspberry filled Ghirardelli candies.

By clicking on the 'one sheet bag' above you can see Beate's tutorial. The only thing I did different was to punch holes thru all the layers and then add 4 eyelets, two to the back and two to the front and thread the ribbon thru the eyelets. (got this idea from my friend Melissa Ü)

Recipe:

Paper: CTMH's Life Delights (love this pink and brown paper!), solid paper is from the same packet as the patterned

Accessories: adhesive: Tombow,ribbon-CTMH, brads-can't remember-they were from a large eyelet buy I was in a LONG time ago (remember one of my resolutions is to stop hoarding), and of course chocolates Ü

Ink: Basic Grey by SU!, colored pencils, Gamsol, blending stumps

Here is my card for Beate's sketch challenge this week. I will come back and add the details after I get home at noon.

Okay, I'm back now for some details.

Paper is Basic Grey's Infuse line and Rusty Pickle's "Chocolate Kisses" line. I love how they go together! Scallop circle is stamped on Pretty in Pink with Basic Brown ink from SU's "Wanted" set and then cut with SU's scallop punch. How fun is that, that they match up like that?! Ü

Vintage rick rack from a fun buy at an antique store, zig zag & straight machine stitching, photo corner punched from SU! punch and brads for embellishments.

Tip on the brads...the brad in the center of the scallop design was a glittery brown brad (sorry, don't know who it is by). I used Making Memories copper brads on the photo corner and it needed some "bling", so I put a dot of stickles on each one and it matched perfectly with the big brad.

Alphabet Soup Valentine

Here is a Valentine card I made last year. I stamped and played yesterday, but need to finish everything up before posting. I have several projects in the almost finished stage, but had to wait until things were dry. (hmmmmm...wink)

I am working on a "grouping" of items for the LSS and am hoping I can post them tomorrow. Lighting isn't too good tonite to get a good pic.

I will also post a picture of the blog candy that I will be drawing for tomorrow around noon CST. So if you haven't entered yet, be sure to enter here.

Mint Purse

Here is a fun little gift idea for Valentine's Day. The purse is cut from Tags Bags Boxes & More Cricut cartridge. Two peppermint patties fit inside. I got the idea from Cami to cover them. (click on her name on the side bar under blogs I visit-she has the coolest ideas!!!) Ribbon is from blog candy I won.

Inspiration Station

I first heard of this concept on Michelle Wooderson's blog (you've got to check out her wonderful blog!-you can see it by clicking on her name on the side under blogs I visit).

Anyway, when I first saw her post last year, I knew I wanted to do that, but my room is desperately in need of redoing, so didn't. Then I saw her Valentine Inspiration Station and decided I can still make one myself without having to redo my whole room.

It was so much fun to go "shopping" in my room. I found so many fun things I didn't realize I had. Ü

So here is my inspiration station...(you can click on the picture to see a better view-just don't look to close at the very old wallpaper-bet there's lots of layers there! LOL!!) Here are some individual close-up views of the above picture. This is one of my favorite parts of my inspiration station. These two clay items were made by my 13 yr old son. I love the pig on the heart shaped mud! You can also see some pink mailboxes I want to alter that I purchased in the $1 section at Target. Here is a close up of what is in a wire basket I purchased at an antique store when I visited my brother and SIL last year. It was FULL of zinc lids which I love and use. In here I have my vintage ribbon, stickles, pearls and some chipboard coasters I want to alter as well. More items that inspire me. I love old baskets. This one has a large piece of vintage lace (may have been a table cloth at one time) in the basket and then filled with old rick rack in pinks and browns, and other Valentine colored ribbons. I also have some Primas and silk flowers (just buy them at Hobby Lobby when they are 1/2 off and take them off the stems) and this candle jar that I love with the Basic Grey papers. A closer view of the old rick rack in the grapevine basket...

Secret Sister cards

I have received two beautiful cards from my secret sister on SCS this month already! She does lovely work and I am enjoying getting to know her.

Recycled Cards

Some of my resolutions are to use up what I have, finish stuff I started, etc. Well yesterday I made 15 cards and the rest today!!!

When we went to see DH's g'ma on Christmas Eve day, she wanted me to go thru all her bd cards and take them and reuse them. I told her I didn't need more stuff, but she was persistent. So I went thru them (about a 100 of them) and took ones that I thought I could cut apart and use.
I had no idea WHAT I was going to do with them, but didn't want them lying around, so decided to see what I could come up with. I really like how all of them turned out! Her birthday is the 19th, so while making the cards, I thought, why not give them back to her! LOL!! She is in an assisted living place and has 7 kids, lots of grandkids, friends in the assisted living place, etc. Most of the cards are girly since they were given to her, but will work to send to her daughters, granddaughters, friends, etc. I can't wait to see her face when I give them to her. She will get a kick out of it, I'm sure.

Since I am trying to use things I already have, I went up to my stamp room (freezing up there!) and just picked out a few things to make these cards-embossed card fronts, ink, ribbon SCRAPS, a background stamp (linen) and a birthday verse stamp set, adhesive and glitter. I also brought down (to where the heat is Ü) my box of cardstock SCRAPS. Here is what it looked like sitting on my dining room table: And here are the cards I made...

Snowbuddy notebook

Here is a fun way to use pocket folders. I got these at the beginning of the school year for 9 cents each, so for about 50 cents you have a fun gift. I also made matching pens to go with these.

I cut the pocket folder in half. Then cut from the pocket end at 8.5". Score at 5.25 to 5.5" from each end and you will have aproximately 1/2"- 3/4" depth to accomadate for the thickness of the notepad. (the measurements vary by company as the ones I bought weren't all the same size)

Decorate the front as desired and add ribbon for a closure.

It's hard to tell in the picture, but I used Crystal Effects on the "candy" fringe hat "ruffle" and glitter on the snowbuddy's hat pom pom. I stamped the image in basic grey on shimmmery white cardstock and used colored pencils and gamsol to color.