Changes

Well, It's been about two months since I blogged! It's funny since last time I blogged I mentioned how bad I am about blogging. Some things don't change!!

I am not one who does well with change. I like things to stay just as they are. Sometimes, I just don't get to have what I want. That is not always a bad thing, but it can be hard to adjust. Since I last blogged, I have become an empty nester. What a huge change for me.

I've been a stay at home mom for over 20 years and this has probably been the biggest change for me to date! Our kids are now both off to college. They are doing so well. They were ready, but I'm not sure that I was. I've been spending a lot of time reminding myself that the fact that they were ready means that I did my job and it's time to let go. I'll keep telling myself that when I want to wish for just a little more time with them at home. I'll keep telling myself that change is good, reminding myself that they are going to shine, praying that their lives turn out just the way they envision. I'll remember to enjoy my time, instead of wondering what now? I'll embrace the new opportunities. I'll get to spend more time with my husband. There is good here. I'll eat what I want for dinner tonight! Oh wow,I can watch what I want on TV! Maybe it's not all bad!

So, when I'm getting sad or having this empty feeling, I'll remember... I'll document... I'll be thankful for every moment!

September Kits are UP!

You MUST take a peek at these! Of course, once you do you are sure to want them!! Fabulous papers, flowers and embellishments!

Before that, I just have to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JADE!!!" I just can't believe that it's been 20 years! We are so proud of you!!!

The Main Kit this month features Pink Paislee. Fabulous fall colors!

This one is Jade and her friend Lani. They met in Mommy's Day Out when they were 4. This was taken their senior year. Ironic, but after they met we found out that they lived behind us. We had just moved and hadn't met anyone in our area yet. The whole family became our friends.

I don't often do cards, but for this kit I made one. The flower is just hand-cut and layered. The fancy edge is on the die-cut paper. Love the fabulous Pink Paislee die-cuts!

The Creative Kit is featuring October Afternoon this month. I just love the fun feel of October Afternoon papers. Cute and FUN!

I love this picture of Jade. I had taken the kids out for a photoshoot and they ended up playing on the swings. I love this because she's laughing. This is her 'real' smile with her dimples flashing! Perfect!

This is my sweet great-niece Maddi. She's just so cute you want to gobble her up!!

Thanks for dropping by! Be sure to take a moment to check out the kits!

Bad bad blogger and a fab new kit!!

Well, it's official... I'm the worst blogger ever!! It has been a while since I have posted anything here, despite my best intentions! I have been getting the kids ready to leave for college. Who knew that becoming an empty nester could take so much time!! Jade is about ready to move into her new apartment. We have had to furnish it from the ground up. Some of it was lots of fun... like bedding and furniture. Some of it was simply a pain... like kitchen utensils and potholders!! LOL Now, I need to take Alex shopping. He should be a cake walk after finishing Jade's shopping! Boys require so little!! Me to Alex, "So do you know what you want for your dorm?" Alex, "Maybe some sheets??" Me, "Well, have you talked to your new roomate to see what he is bringing?" Alex, "Mom, guys don't care." Me, "Do you want a rug at least?" Alex, "If you think I need one." In other words, he could CARE LESS!! LOL So, I guess I'm making the decisions here. I do know that he knows exactly which of his electronic things he's taking with him!! Me, "I could care less!"

So all that aside, I have managed to get some scrapping done. My Creative Scrapbook had their reveal today. You really should check out these kits. Amazing amounts of product are included!! Every month I just can't believe how much Pam packs into a kit! While you are there, be sure to check out the DT gallery. I think this is the best gallery so far. You will see designers that you know and love. They are all so amazing!! Here is my work this month. October Afternoon is the featured line. These papers are so FUN!!!



This is Jade on her 1st birthday.



And Jade on her 3rd birthday.



Just a little altered teacher gift. Know anyone named Mrs. Smith? I don't!! LOL Just thought this would make a fun teacher gift!

Thanks for dropping by!

Bring on the Sun with New Kits!

The reveal is up at My Creative Scrapbook! Bring on the sun! These kits just scream SUMMER!! Such fun and so pretty, too! I love how well the Main Kit worked for my boy picture. The featured line in the Main Kit this month is from We R Memory Keepers.

This is Alex at his summer job. He's a lifeguard and loving it! I'm so glad that he has found something he loves that keeps him busy in the summer.

This one is my great niece Ella. She's such a cutie! I took this one at the pool specifically for this kit! lol Of course, I didn't really need an excuse to go hang out at the pool. She gets such a kick hanging out at the pool with her friends and telling them that Alex is her cousin! So cute!

I love fun packaging for gifts. I thought that this would be a really fun way to give a summer birthday gift. Just grab a sand bucket at the $1 store and have fun adding elements from your stash to it! Next up this month is the Creative Kit. This one features Cosmo Cricket. It has fabulous embellishments, too! I had a lot of fun with it, too!

This is Jade and her friend, Kara, in Cozumel kissing the frog at a restaraunt. They had so much fun on their trip! I once saw a little pillow that asked 'Just how many frogs do I have to kiss?'. It cracked me up and I couldn't help but think how true it can be. Most girls have to go on a lot of dates to find the 'right' one! LOL! When I saw this picture, I just knew that I had to do a layout with that quote.

This one is Jade on the trampoline. It's not my usual style, but wanted to have a bit of fun with it. This is her element. I love watching her. All those years of gymnastics make for some great tricks. Of course, my heart is always in my throat!! There is a reason that gym tramps are floor level!

Finally... a little altered plate. This is a plate that I got from Southern Living at Home, but you could have fun with any plate. Just be sure to write on it with a dry erase marker so that you can change it out when you want to. I have two of these and am always changing them out for holidays and parties. I had frogs on the brain this month evidently! lol The frog and the bee are made with pieces of the patterned paper from the kit. They are basically a lot of circles.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cosmo Cricket

As so many of you know, Cosmo Cricket is accepting applications for their Design Team. Being a Cosmo Cricket lover, I HAD TO TRY OUT! I made this layout using the Wanted collection. Let me tell you, I have loads of this paper!! This paper is what I have done most of my dad's heritage book with. It is just so easy to use and so beautiful! It really works well with both girls and boy's layouts. This layout is designed around a picture of my kids that I took at Christmas time out in the goat pens. My son, the youngest, will be going off to college soon and our nest will be empty! I'm not ready, but I know that he is. The journaling on this layout reads... Making the decision to move to the country, watching you learn responsibility and compassion, spending time with the animals even now, depending on each other daily and being so close, knowing that you still enjoy time together, seeing the young adults you have become, I wouldn't change a thing. I wish they had stayed small longer, but as this layout says, I wouldn't change a thing about them!

This is a card that I made for my dad for Father's Day. I know I used it in my blog on Father's Day, but I wanted to include it here because I also used the Wanted Line for it. I told you I love this paper! I made this before I even knew of the design team call! I printed the words on a transparency and used alcohol ink that I made myself on the edges. The flourish in the upper right hand corner and the larger square are inside the card.




Finally, I made this fun layout of my daughter on her 5th birthday. I love how this paper is so fun and young. The die-cuts buttons just make the layout almost do itself! They are just so cute! I purchased this paper specifically for this picture. Ironically, it is not only perfect, but our daughter's nickname is Sunshine! I had to smile at that. I also used some of the blackboard chipboard here. How terrific that I didn't have to do any inking!! It is perfect just as it is. Just popped a brad in the middle and it was ready to go! I can't wait to try some watercolor pencils and paint on this chipboard.

So everyone at Cosmo Cricket... I would be completely thrilled to be on your design team!! Thanks for your consideration and for stopping by my blog!

Happy Father's Day!

It's Father's Day! It has been a long one, too! Our Father's Day started this morning at 7:00. As most of you know, our son graduated last weekend. Well, as if that wasn't hectic enough, he had his Eagle Scout Project this weekend. It has really been a crazy time around here. We were at the project site from 7:30 in the morning until 9:00 last night. I might add that it was 102 degrees outside and we were working in a horse arena and in an unairconditioned store room! Miserable! Naturally, as all projects go, we completely underestimated the time it would take to complete. So at 7:00 this morning we were back at it trying to beat the heat! The project was completed at 3:00 this afternoon.

Father's day for the dads in our life was made up of working most of the day. My dh was the first one there and the one to turn out the lights when it was over. This has been a goal of our son's to complete his Eagle Project and it was so wonderful to see him achieve the goal. Except for the formalities... Our son's an Eagle Scout!!! We all felt bad that the dads were working on Father's Day, but they wanted to help. My dad even showed up again today. He so wanted to be a part of the whole project. Although we told him that we had it covered, he still drove over to help. We also have some very close friends who have been instrumental to our son's scouting success. Was the dad home being pampered today? No, he was at the arena at 7:00 this morning too.

So today, I was reminded what wonderful men I am surrounded by. These men are what Father's Day celebrates. They are roll models for what I hope my son becomes. They are people who put their own needs and wants to the side to help a young man achieve his goals. We are all so blessed to have these men in our lives! So here's to Fathers and Grandfathers!! What would we do without you?

New Kits for June!

The new kits are available at My Creative Scrapbook! The Main Kit features My Little Yellow Bicycle this month. This is so bright and summery. Just PERFECT for you pool pictures!

This is my daughter (second from the right) and her college roommates in the pool this summer. I love the way this kit has so many colors and really compliments the pool picture!

The Creative Kit features Making Memories this month. What a super SWEET kit! This one made me have babies on the mind! I just love this soft color pallet for these pictures of my daughter when she was a baby!

I also made a little altered sign with this kit. It is just a cheapy sign that I picked up in the $1 section at Michaels. One of the DT members is expecting and like I said, I have babies on the mind with this kit. Thought that this little sign would make a sweet shower gift.
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out the kits this month!