I'm a winner!

I was so excited to find out I was selected as a winner on Moxie Fab Blog this week! What an honor! Check it out here at http://www.moxiefabworld.com/ on January 27th!

We had a funny incident this week....Mikayla ran into a 20 foot high cement wall {I guess she didn't see it...HaHa} and her tooth flew out {luckily it was fairly loose}. So we had lots of blood and lots of tears, but she was OK. This all happened while we were at the church, so we grabbed a bag, which was the old style, no ziploc closer on this bag. And before bed she happily put the bag under her pillow for the toothfairy to find.
The toothfairy waited till about 12ish to go collect her treasure and with one smooth swipe she delivered the dollar and collected her bag with the treasure inclosed. However when the toothfairy got back to her bedroom, she was amazed to find an empty bag! The toothfairy quickly went back upstairs with all the lights now on in hopes that not one of the four girls would become awake and searched for the missing tooth. She swipped all over Mikayla's bed, absolutely surprised that she did not wake up Mikayla in the process, luck for the toothfairy Mikayla sleeps like her mother, very soundly, but no luck, could not find the tooth.
So is Mikayla at age 6 testing the validity of the toothfairy? I think not, but we have a story ready just in case the missing tooth turns up and questions start a flowing.

Have a great day!

Journal update and fun...

I completed the next letter in my altered journal. I'm really enjoying this project and I hope to finish it throughout the year...no packing it away to do later. I think the Webster's product worked great on this layout...very girly.


This layout was a class I took at the CKC in Valley Forge last year. I just never got around to adding the photos. I finally added some.

Mikayla had a birthday party invite this month at the local Ozzy's! She had a great time and I was so proud of her when she would include her little sister (maybe the threatening lecture on the way there prompted her too...HaHa). This little cutey is the tiniest little thing...Erica is such a sweet little peanut! Mikayla and Erica are in kindergarten together and they love to write about each other in their kid writing journals.

Now here is some really creative fashion divas....Mikayla was so proud that she put the headband in all by herself! (Yeah, I think you can tell...LOL). It really is a complete coincidence that it matches her shirt.
Then little sis had to have her turn. You go girl! lol

EBTKS challenge

Another blog I have been visiting lately offers challenges inspired by "different" objects. Here is the latest sketch on the site that was inspired by an entertainment stand.

Here is my creation (sorry for the terrible photos). I really think the sentiment "bee" happy is fun. Perfect for a "just because" card.

Another bad photo...

Moxie Fab Challenge 2

I was hooked on this challenge (split the sentiment on a card) so I created another.


This sentiment is also an Inkadinkado stamp, however, the stamp itself was smaller than what I wanted for this card. So, I handwrote the message and split it up. Perfect birthday card!

Moxie Fab Challenge

I'm so happy with how this card turned out! I love how simple and fun it looks!


The stamp I used is from Inkadinkado and comes as one stamp. I used a masking technique to split the sentiment. The rainbow was cut freehand and sewn together.

Favorite "poem"...personal crop event

Ok, so last night I made some awesome progress with the craft area. I cleaned it up enough that I can work again. I haven't cleaned out the filing cabinets and I have two boxes full that need to be gone through yet....but it's good enough for now. I want to get back to crafting!

I'm hoping to have a personal day, all day tomorrow, at home crafting. Hopefully, my loving hubby will keep all (4) girls content so they are not leaning on my arm all day. I would also like to make an assembly line with the three older girls and make their valentine's tom. We'll see how much we can get done.

I'd like to share this "poem"...I found this in a racing magazine many, many years ago and I came across a copy of it while I was cleaning out.

My Resignation as an Adult...
To whom it may concern:
I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of a 6 year old again.
I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks.
I want to think M&M's are better than money, because you can eat them.
I want to play kickball during recess and paint with watercolors in art.
I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer day.
I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors, addition tables and simple nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you , because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.
When all you knew was to be happy because you didn't know all the things that should make you worried an upset.
I want to think that the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.
I want to believe that anything is possible.
Somehow in my youth...I matured and I learned too much. I learned of nuclear weapons, war, prejudice, starvation, and abused children. I learned of lies, unhappy marriages, suffering, illness, pain, and death.
I learned of a world where men left their families to go and fight for country, and returned only to end up living on the streets....begging for their next meal.
I learned of a world where children knew how to kill....and did.
What happened to the time when we thought that everyone would live forever, because we didn't grasp the concept of death? When we thought the worst thing in the world was if someone took the jump rope from you or picked you last for kickball.
I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by little things once again.
I want to return to the days when reading was fun and music was clean.
When television was used to report the news of for the family entertainment and not to promote sex, violence, and deceit.
I remember being naive and thinking that everyone was happy because I was. I would walk on the beach and only think of the sand between my toes and the prettiest seashell I could find.
I would spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bide. I didn't worry about time, bills, or where I was going to find the money to fix my car.
I used to wonder what I was going to do or be when I grew up, not worrying about what I'll do if this doesn't work out.
I want to live simple again. I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.
I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.
I want to be 6 again.

I know its a little lengthy...but hope you enjoyed it.

I really, really dislike cleaning....

Ok, so I finally took on the challenge of cleaning out my craft area (aka: corner of the basement). I really bit off more than I could chew. I basically took EVERYTHING off the shelves, out of drawers, etc. and piled it all in another corner of the basement...now I'm reorganizing as I move it back to the craft area. SO...my area is a total disaster with piles all over, and I don't have any room to actually craft. My "to do" list is growing and growing and I have tons to do...I have a huge box of "stuff to do first"...I'm going to be holding a crafting marathon this weekend!

I'll be working on it a little more tonight, but I'm sure I will not have it finished.

So here are some older projects that didn't get posted yet.

Our youngest angel, Alexis, and Joe celebrate their birthday on the same day. This challenge was to use one color (with white and black of course). Lots of Inkadinkado stamps on this layout!

I love this photo of Alexis...what a ham!

This was a quick one....the journal was the main part of this layout..it's funny!

In Creating Keepsakes Magazine...

I received the latest edition of Creating Keepsakes Magazine, which happens to be the February 2010 edition. As I was waiting for Mikayla to be dismissed from school on Thursday (confession: I try to leave the shop like 5 or 10 minutes earlier than I really have to, just so I have a few quiet moments to read) I was checking out all the amazing creations and came across a wonderful surprise...I made the magazine! On page 36...in the bottom pink box...Ok, so I didn't get "published" but my name made the magazine! HaHa...I'm being a goon, but I think its a first step and I'm greatful to be listed.

20 Ten {Goals} ~ projects ~ wild child

I know I haven't posted the New Year's Eve trip to Christmas Village yet...but it's coming. However, I wanted to get my goals down in writing. Hopefully this will keep me more accountable.

20 Ten {Goals} - not resolutions
1. complete more craft projects - submit more, sell more
2. learn to utilize camera options - follow through with online photo challenges and lessons (maybe take some photos for some extra mullah)
3. make more time to relax at home with family - say "no" to volunteer requests (sometimes)
4. continue to volunteer at church - add more opportunities to raise funds for church, stay involved
5. get financial budget back on track & put more money away for a rainy day
6.make more opportunities to be out alone with Joe - even just a quite walk together (when its warm outside)
7. attempt a few more (easy) sewing projects - get back to those 4-H roots
8. continue to look for good in all situations (with Gods help) and stop comparing myself to others - we all have hidden secrets - its not always as it appears
9. use talents God gave me - put them to good use - make the time
10. have friends or family over at least once a month to play games or chat ~ mix it up, invite friends we don't normally see often

This is going to be an amazing year ~ I can just feel it!

I've been keeping an eye on the pencillines blog and finally finished a layout to submit. Here is one of the monthly sketches....

And my creation....

I love these pictures of Alexis and I've used some of them before, but it makes me so happy to see her singing about God...LOVE IT!

Recently, I seen a challenge posted on Sarah Lou's blog (http://sweettreatsofsarahlou.blogspot.com/2010/01/to-z.html) to create a journal. I took the challenge and I'm going to try my best to follow through all year long.

"I am..."

inside cover

first entry...A for Angry

So those of you who know Alexis laugh when we say she is our handful, that she is our wild child...here is proof!

While we were working yesterday, we thought she was watching a movie and coloring in the princess coloring book with CRAYONS...HaHa... no, she was coloring the princess herself with MARKERS (thank goodness they were washable markers)

When she walked out of her room, it really took everything I had to not just crack up laughing. When I went to get daddy I forewarned him not to laugh (which he did!)...gotta love it! And like he said..."At least she didn't cut her hair"..true...marker comes off pretty easy.

Brr...it's cold outside!

I am so ready for Spring, actually I wish we could back up to some more Fall weather. Supposed to get some warmer weather the rest of the week and into the weekend, I hope so.

The girls each received a hat for Christmas and we had some photo ops... Alexis styled the hat herself...Love it, Baby!

Here Mikayla is holding her shirt too. (It wasn't quite finished at the time, but it is now.) And take note to Casey in the background...maybe a little too big? lol

Smiling Sam...

This is what happens when you let the kids get the cookies out on Christmas day to get a snack (yes, yes I know its so sad...no homemade cookies...we didn't get around to it this year, so they had oreos!) and you do not monitor how many the three year old takes. She loves to eat the inside out of everything, cookies, crackers, etc, and save the outsides for last. But, she obviously ate too many "insides" and got full!

Hope to have a night full of crafting tonight! Only two kids at home tonight, baths are done, Joe is going to a meeting....should have lots of me time! Yeah!

Challenges and motivation poster

Studio Calico recently posted a sketch (jan 3) and here is my creation. I'm so amazed with how mature Mikayla looks in this picture...her pose and her face just appears older than her 5 young years in this photo....LOVE IT!

everything but the kitchen sink challenge was to use wrapping paper....here is my creation. I'm really happy with the green and light pink!

So my three year old has been doing amazingly well with potty training, except for through the night. We are still using pull-ups through the night and she is always wet in the morning. Since Alexis is a huge puppy fan, I thought I'd try to bribe her with a puppy project. Here is her "poster"....

And here is the puppies she will earn when she is dry through the night. After she gets 10 puppies on her poster we will be shopping for a new toy (probably another puppy toy).
I hope it works....we are so close to being a home with NO diapers!

Christmas Eve Service...

This Christmas we had children preforming in two different services on Christmas Eve. The three youngest girls sang in the early service. Isn't it great how they all stood beside each other, that made it nice for photos....

And this is the perfect shot to show how Alexis performed...

The longer it went the more antsy she became. She was even lifting her shirt and displaying her beautiful belly...gotto love three year olds who love to preform. I'd rather have that, then her be shy and not go up or cry the whole time.

Then Samantha participated with the Playwrights in the second service. Sam doesn't usually like to be in the spotlight, but she really did enjoy herself. Here we caught a beautiful smile, I wish we'd see more of these.

And the whole group performing.
We are looking forward to next year....maybe I'll take some photography lessons this year and learn how to take a nice photo in the church with low lighting! (Hint Hint Honey!)

Finally posting some gifts...

I was delighted how this pocket calendar turned out! I love the bright colors and the fun design. It is all safely protected under a clear plastic cover which is great for it to last two years! This gift was for an aunt of mine.

What lady couldn't use another journal? I know I'm a journal junkie, I have so many started, but half are not even half full! I got the layered flower idea from Stacy Cohen.
My brother requested a sign designed around one of his favorite sayings..."If you can eat it, it won't eat you"...alittle deep I think, but it has a good message. Overcome challenges and don't let unimportant things worry you. I like how the sign gives off a masculine feel, since he is a bachular, he don't want no girly things to hang around.

When I designed a similar project for Michaels website using Inkadinkado stamps, my mother really liked this one. So, I thought she would like one for Christmas! Her kitchen decor is sunflowers (which she loves) so the bees will blend right in.

And since Mom loves sunflowers, I designed her pocket calendar around this great Inkadinkado sunflower stamp.

Oh, I just wish I had more time to create...I really love it!