A New Addiction

I'm sure you all know that I have a small problem with SPIDER SOLITAIRE, and that I spend a LOT of time on the internet and in my scrapbooking room.  Well, add PANDORA radio, and PINTREST to those addictions, and I have a Very Serious Problem!  This is Crazy!

It all started when I sent my alarm clock to Denver with Will.  Well, that was my radio in the scraproom.  A few days ago, I remembered that a friend of Will's had put Pandora on my phone, and I loved it!!  I can tell it what artists I like, and it plays those artists and that style of music.  I can set it to shuffle, or just one artist. It is wonderful for when I am scrapping and I love that I can change it all depending on my mood.    So anyway, I remembered hearing that they had a version for the computer now.  I downloaded it to the computer in my room and it hasn't been turned off since.   I love spending time in my scraproom now as long as I have something to listen too.  Especially when DH is going to bed at 6PM, I need some company.  PANDORA is it!

And then there is PINTEREST.  WOW!  What an amazing product (or time waster!!) I love that I can pin 'stuff' to my 'boards' without it taking up room on my computer and I can refer to to any time I want.  I especially love it for the recipe ideas I have gotten.  Just this week I am planning on trying 2 that I found on pinterest.   So many times in the past I would see something and think I "might" use that someday and either write down a website on a slip of paper (you DO NOT want to know how many of these are all over my house) or I would hope I would remember where I saw it later when I needed it.  With PINTEREST, you have it!  Boom!  Just check your board.  And you can pin anything from any website, blog, or other internet location.  I spent one whole day surfing other pinners sites (I do not recommend this - nothing got done!) It can be a waste of time, but maybe with some self control (OK - stop laughing!!) it will be the best thing since sliced bread.  For me anyway.

Well, I'm off to continue getting ready for the retreat next weekend.  I am going to try not to bring everything I own, so I am starting to pack now.  I will chat with you all again soon!  c

Another week

Do you ever have those weeks where you just can't seem to get ahead?  I think I am having one of those.  I had great visions of pictures on my blog this week, but haven't really taken any pictures.  I need to get my camera out.  I should show you what I know is slowing down all my creativity.  My scrap room!  It is still a total disaster, and I have made some progress since the Christmas clean up.

I'll tell you what, I have a couple extra days off of work this week (sad!  very slow week for me.) So I will clean up one area and post a picture by Friday.  I am going to be accountable, even though I am getting ready for a class and need to get some personal scrapping done (like Christmas! hello!) I will put together a storage box from Micheal's I've had for months, and get that whole wall of my room cleaned up and post pictures. Maybe you can even give me some storage tips. I think I could use them!

So, I have my list of 10 things to get done today.  And then I will get to work on this room.  One of the things on my list is Hobby Lobby, so don't look for me too soon!  :)   c

A new Class for my Friends!

I have been meaning to get a project done so that I could post it here, so that I could teach a class on it.  And then, well, life happened.  I have mentioned that before on this blog I believe. It was in the plans for last week and I was lucky enough to catch the stomach bug that has been going around, so I didn't get it made.  But, that doesn't mean that I don't want to teach the class. So, here are some pictures of the envelope album I am going to be teaching on the 29th.  Only, imagine it is a winter theme, in blues and greys.  With lots of snowflakes and glitter.  You get the idea!  You are all creative talented people, I know you can imagine it.

The front cover

Look at all the room for pictures and journaling!! 

And the TAGS!  my goodness!

This looks so hard, but it really is a fun easy project. 

I would love to teach you how.  

Just contact me and we will get you signed up for the class!

Don't forget though, think SNOW!  Ours will be COOL!

See you in class!  c

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

How is everyone doing out there?  I, wanting to remain consistent and all, am way behind on life right from the bell!  Our Christmas was lovely, but then things kinda fell apart around here, for me at least.  As you all know, I don't deal with change well.  That old German in me digs her feet in and drags along, fussing and moaning for as long as possible.  I feel like our whole last 2 years has been nothing but transition.  The final straw, my oldest son moved back to Denver on Dec 28.

Now, I know this doesn't sound like much, but my house is all tore apart once again.  He leaves, his friend moves in, he comes home, his friend leaves, hubby changes jobs (several times!) and now he leaves again!  Whew!  I am hoping, after this weekend when I take his furniture to him in Denver, my household can settle down into boring, DULL, routine.  That is where I function best and that is what I am praying for in 2011.  BORING AND DULL!

So, on to life.  About the time Will left, my computer started really acting up.  Thank goodness we have been saving to get a new desktop.  Our first weekend of the new year was spent looking for the best deal on a computer.  We ended up getting this wonderful desktop that is all in one.  I have always hated having to deal with the CPU tower, and this computer has the CPU in the screen!  LOVE IT!!

Right now it is in my scrap booking room, but next week, we will have OUR OWN OFFICE!! Jamie is moving into Will's old room (of course) and we are taking over his bedroom.  I am so excited to be acquiring more space.  I may even have some place to keep my scrapbooks while I am not working on them.  Ultimately, I hope to actually finish some!  OMG  Can you imagine??  hee hee

Christmas was so wonderful.  I celebrated many times with friends and family.  I just want to share a few of the fun pictures from our parties.

In Sturgis, we did a Yankee Gift Exchange where you can 'steal' the gifts.  It was so nice and polite in the beginning, but got ruthless at the end!  :)  I don't think I have laughed that hard in ages!

We exchanged home made gifts in my Rapid City groups. Love these matching gift bags and cards made by Rachel.

 Look what Deb got!

A beautiful Holiday wreath made from our AP philosophy cartridge and CTMH papers. 

Ginny doesn't look too sure about this. 

And this is me, with my friend Sally who drew my name.  She made me this adoreable bank from a glass block. The words are "my fund" and it has a button to hang what ever tag I want.  The one shown says "motorcycle" but I also have tags for shoes, chocolate and party.  What a great idea. 

Because some of our supplies were back ordered, we did a whole different project that all my other groups. We did candy cane toppers.  They turned out so Cute!!  Thanks to my up-line for the great instructions and idea. 

So, back to this new year thing .... I have some goals, all lofty and probably beyond what I'm really able to accomplish, but worth a good effort any way.  Maybe you would like to play along with me?
1. Scrap 3 pages a week (I was going to say day, but we all know that won't happen!  ha ha )
             one current,one from an unfinished project and one from my BOOK OF ME
2. plan and execute one additional workshop per month for all of 2012
3. Continue to make and send cards overseas for the soldiers allowing us to live as wonderfully as we do.
4. USE UP SUPPLIES!~!
5. HAVE FUN and play with my friends more.

See, that's not too bad.  Now, what are your resolutions?

I think this post must be long enough to make up for how long it has been since I have been here. So, I am off to do some more scrap booking.  See you all soon!  c

Christmas is Coming

It has been forever since I've posted!  I am so sorry.  I am finding the longer I don't post - the easier it is not to post.  KWIM? 

In my defense, my scrapbook table has been a mess all month.

Can you even guess what these are going to be??  Cute little Santa toppers for candy canes.  I made 24 of these. 

And I made a bunch of these fun snowmen too.  And, one of my scrapbooking groups got to make these for our Party project.  They were so fun!  Theirs had a bit more detail to them than mine did. 

I have been busily cutting and pasting and ordering and planning.  Christmas is just my favorite time of year, even though I get so busy.  I love making things for people and planning the 'perfect' gift for them. 

I hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas, and you get to share it with people you love doing things you enjoy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!   c

Getting Ready!!

What a great weekend.  I have gotten so much done.  I have one Christmas gift finished and another one,  well, don't know if it's a gift or a first draft.  I am going to look at it again tomorrow and decide.  I would post pictures, but they are Christmas gifts silly!! 

We went to Pizza Ranch and celebrated the 5 November birthday's in our family.  Wow!  No wonder I get a bit wired this month.  For my mom's birthday, we go to the craft bazaars the first weekend of the month.  We have been doing that for years.  I love it, but I do find myself spending less and less every year.  I don't know if it's because I am doing so much of my own crafting, or because I want to get stuff out of my house, not in to it!! ha ha

I did become aware of the fact that I haven't posted any pictures of the clear Christmas cards we made for National Card Making day on October 1st.  So, without further adue .... our cards:

It was interesting to work with the added dimension of layering inside and outside the cards.  I think the one with the deer is my favorite. 

Sorry about the glare. 

We made 4 circle cards and 4 rectangular cards.  This was a great class. 

And now, I am off to finish up the Wonderland cards we will be making in club this month.  The page is adorable - I am sure I am going to LOVE the cards.

See you soon. c

November Already!!

I can't believe that we are starting November already!  I haven't finished the things I wanted to finish in June!  I am sitting down and working on my holiday time lines and trying to make sure that my time and commitments don't overwhelm me and ruin the holiday spirit for me.  The way I function best is to know what is coming and plan for it, so I begin now.  I already realized that I need to get my holiday baking done early, and I need to get the deep house cleaning done over the next few weeks or my crabby alternate personality is going to come creeping out.  Not good. 

I am excited to share with you the November Stamp of the Month from Close to My Heart.  This is an awesome set and works right in with all the grunge and vintage things that are going on in the industry right now.  And even one step better, our Cricut Cartridge ART PHILOSOPHY will cut out the little tags.  Check it out : Cherish the Day

Isn't it AWESOME?  I love this set and can't wait to add it to my projects.

The other November surprise, An early gift from Close to my Heart.  If you purchase $25 in Stamp sets in the month of November, you will receive a D sized holiday stamp set for only $5.00!  That is a huge savings!  And this set will make beautiful Holiday cards.  It also works with the ART PHILOSOPHY cartridge.  How cool is that?! 

If you would like to get this set for only $5.00, just contact me and we can make it happen!  In the mean time, have a super week!  c