Making Lemonade Out Of Lemons

Happy Saturday everyone!  I do have a few cards today, but I've got to say that my creativity is struggling this last week.  I literally sat at my craft table for 2 hours yesterday and didn't produce a darn thing.  I have so much on my mind that creativity has been pushed aside I guess.  We are prepping to leave for vacation on Monday and I'm trying to squeeze in a bunch of stuff before go.  I think my card making mind has already left for Gettysburg:)

I did manage a few cards this morning though. (Scroll down to bypass the chit chat:)

First, can I just tell you about my week?  I can laugh about it now, but man has it been rough.

1.Last Sat. we had an impromptu cookout with our friends.  As we were sitting around the outdoor table and chairs chatting, my chair literally fell apart with me IN it?  Me talking away and then WHAM...on the ground.

2.Next day at the 4H meeting the kids planted flowers at the church and I stood around innocently watching and....got stung by a bee.

3.  My very old dog has peed on the carpet FOUR times this week.  She does not tickle.  She pees a LAKE.
Which is the reason I still have orange carpet from the 70's.  She is about 14 now so I try not to get too angry....TRY is the key word.

4. Made Strawberry Jam yesterday while watching 3 boys play in the backyard and 3 kids play in the front yard after spending the morning shopping with kids in tow.  Accidentally read the directions wrong and put the berries and sugar together first.  Do you know what this makes?????  Strawberry syrup  not jam.  I did have one batch turn out.  What do you do with Strawberry Syrup???  Serve it with Ice Cream, Pound Cake, Bananas and Whip Cream for a Strawberry Split Parfait.  Totally made that up:D  I think it sounds good though.

5. Spent Sunday night up with my son.  He had a bellyache.  He ate too much junk food at the 4H meeting.  This is the THIRD time this has happened.  I no longer have sympathy:( grrrrr.  Ended up oversleeping and missed my son's tutoring.  I NEVER oversleep.

6.  Son woke me up in the middle of the night Wednesday to say that he was sleepwalking and opened the front door.  Whether or not this is actually true, I'm not sure.  He does sleep walk so I am a bit nervous now about him actually walking out the door while we sleep.  I think we may need to install a chain....on the front door of course!  Not on him...lol.  Well, not yet at least.

7.Watched the movie Gettysburg with the family (ok, I fell asleep, but the rest of the family watched it)  My hubby wanted the kids to know a little bit about Gettysburg before we go.  My son went up to bed and proceeded to CRY because he was so upset.  Failed parenting????  I ended up sleeping in his twin size bed with him to calm him down.  We're not getting a lot of sleep around here.


8. Dyed my eyebrows and now I look like Groucho Marx.  It's ok...a few days of hibernation is good:)

I know what you are thinking..."Why does she keep dyeing things?" ( See Hair Story Here and Here) I'm a slow learner.  What can I say.  I don't like having ghost brows.  I was really picked on as a child for my hair color.  That kind of trauma stays with you forever.  Which leads me to my last story of the long post.


 My son played his last week of baseball.  On Tuesday,  he asked me why one of the boys gets teary eyed when he strikes out.  I explained that some people are just really sensitive.  I cry at everything anymore so who am I to say.  D then talked to me about himself and his batting and how he has been using 2 other boys' bats.  He said, "Yeah, sometimes I use "so and so's "bat and sometimes I use BLANK'S bat (the boy who tears up)....The FREAK."  I was so appalled that he would call that boy a "freak."  I tore right into him and told him that was awful and mean and he better never say that again.  He was like, "What!  That's what it's called Mom.  His bat is called, "The FREAK."  It says so right on it. Don't you ever look??"

Ummmm....Oh!
Failed parenting again.  This is one of those moments where you realize that you just stink.  Yet, you are so happy to think that your child is not as awful as you just thought he was.  Happy that he is a good kid and disgusted that you thought we was THAT rotten.   ( Heavy sigh)

And so.... that has been my week.  I can not WAIT for vacation.  I'm so looking forward to spending time with my family alone.   I may have changed my mind by next week.  However, I'm choosing to look on the bright side of life.  Do you know that song?  It's a bit "catchy."  If you hear it you will sing it all day.  It's a great way to be.  As my kids' principle always says, "Make it a great day, or not, the choice is yours."  So I'm going to focus on making lemonade out of lemons or Strawberry Split Parfait out of failed strawberry jam, as the case may be.  Regardless, I won't be around next week on the old blog.  Hopefully, when I return my Mojo will be here waiting:)

This is for several challenges:
A Crafty Little Place: One for the boys
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: A tribute to fathers

Crazy 4 Challenges- Paper Flowers
SCSColor Challenge- yellow, red, green
EBTKS- Sketch
Stamp Something Summer

Another Post

I was checking out some challenges this morning and realized that one I REALLY wanted to do ended today. I LOVED the inspiration pillow for the Color Q challenge.  I think I may have to remodel my front room now using that pillow:)

Anyway, I decided to sit right down and create a quick card.  I made this up in about a half an hour.  That's pretty fabulous for me.  I think I needed a more elegant flower, but that would have required time I just don't have.   I was able to grab several strips of scrap paper and use several of my lovely ribbons and trim.  I used the sketch provided my EBTKS challenge.  This is a birthday card so it fits in with Allsort's birthday challenge.    The only stamping I did was the sentiment.  Even the flower is cut out of designer paper.

Stamps: Birthday Balloon Joline MFT
Ink: versafine black
Paper: Spring Moss, Text cream, TPS, digital paper
Other: Trim, CI dotted black ribbon, Webster's Pages Trim, dimensionals, pearls, embossing folder

Fabulous!

So I finally got a little time to play this week.  I love having my kids home, but it really makes it difficult to do any crafting.  Today is my little boy's birthday.  YES, "little" boy.  I refuse to admit just yet that he is getting big.  Today we are hanging out at home because we are getting new windows installed.  We jokingly told him, "Happy Birthday!  You get a new window in your room for your birthday!"  He totally believed us...hee hee.   We aren't celebrating til tomorrow though.  My hubby is gone today.  So D is making a book for his tutor and I am playing with my stamps.  It's all good:)

I got some new paper that I LOVE!!!! MME Mary, Mary Quite Contrary.  Isn't it purdy???? I have to say that over at DCRU they sell a coordinating pack of Prism paper.  Is that not GENIUS!  Love it!

I used the Tuesday Trigger Sketch over at Moxie Fab for my inspiration. Lots of FABULOUS sketches to try out this week over there.  I created my own string flower in the corner.  Wish I had used a different button with a bit more pop.  Subtle can be good though.  I am entering this into several challenges.  EBTKS is about using string.  Ok, mine is twine...they're still the same I think.  In the corner I have also used the twine to add a stitch.  This week's CAS challenge 61  is to just use a sentiment. This also falls into the category of Nature over at The Pink Elephant.

Over at Hope Stamps Eternal Cupcake Inspiration 53 it's all about fun, flowery cupcakes. Check out the photo:

And one of my favorite challenge blogs, Stamptacular Sunday Challenge is all about Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice.  This is my first time participating as a NON DT member.  Bittersweet.  I think this is a great card to give to my beautiful daughter.   She will be going to Middle School next year and I'm already trying to instill that being HER is the best person she can be.  I fully remember Middle School...UGH!  So this is going in my stash to give to her on a "rainy day."

Hope you are all having a great one.  I will have a few pictures up here tomorrow of my "not so clean" craft room.  See you then!




What's In It?
Stamps: Love's Flower VERVE
Ink: Warm Red Colorbox, antique linen
Paper: Quite Contrary, Vanilla Prism
Other: Baja Breeze grograin, corner rounder, twine, PTI button

Weird Card

I have a weird card to post.  It just goes with my weird day... make that weird WEEK.  I think I got a bit too carried away with the crepe paper.  Should have stopped at the flower.  I need to learn a bit of restraint some days.  I think this card looks like a 1980's bridal shower gone bad:)  I can remember as a kid helping family make those GIANT crepe paper flowers for bridal and baby showers.  Now I don't think this card is that bad.  It just amazes me that after I make a card I can look at it and then think....hmmm....not how I pictured it in my head.....  This happens A LOT.

  I got my flower inspiration from this tutorial here.  Admittedly, mine didn't come together as easily as hers. If I had made the tutorial it would have been  censored.  Too much ripping, thread breaking and cursing going on:)  Anyways, using this vintage button as my center made me happy.  I used the sketch from EBTKS and will enter this into the Die Cuts R Us challenge to use NO DP.  They may say NO CP ( crepe paper) after this card too:)

  Well, my post is late today because we have had no power.  We had our electrical box switched out for something MUCH safer.  This after a week of having many different children at my house.   Because of the snow and President's Day my kids have been home A LOT.  We have had MANY friends over.  No electricty equals (Ahhh) the sound of silence.  However, no electricity also means no heat, no music, no computer, no CRAFTING.  What a BORING day.  I have a billion things to do and couldn't do any.  I wouldn't make it as a pioneer woman.  One thing I did have time to do was take pictures of my daughter's room.  It was a bit difficult because I only have one lens for my SLR camera.  I can't pan out.  Now I still have a few things to do in there, but let's imagine it's done shall we?????

 

This is my daughter's bed.  It is sideways against her wall to resemble a couch.  Believe it or not I need to make 2 more pillows.  Have you ever seen Along Came Polly?  Polly ( Jennifer Aniston) points out how much time people waste taking off and putting pillows back on their beds each day.  I think of this whenever I see my daughter's bed now.  But she does it and loves it....I think.

Here bed is flanked on each side by one of  these cubed bookeshelves.  Everything is from Ikea.  We completely stole the idea from a room they had on display.  Just changed out a few things.  Also, her bed sits on the floor...no frame.  Isn't that super cool...or super cheap depending on your point of view.  Hey, $50 bucks is $50 bucks:)

This is her new dresser and super ROCKIN' mirror.  I love that mirror.  It's from Target and hangs by a rod and two wires.   That's me in there:)

This is my daughter's giant window.  We took a third shelving unit and turned it on it's side to create a window seat for her.  She has plenty of room to add more books underneath.  I am in the process of making a cushion to go on top of it.  Sorry the picture is so bad.  Difficult to take a picture of a window.

This is where her desk is now.  It's inside the closet.  She is very blessed to have TWO full size closets in her room.  In fact, I think she has the biggest bedroom in the house.  This works really well.  She has a task lamp that she can pull over her work.  Shelves on the left side.  A cork board on the back wall.  Books up above.  We can close the doors and never see the mess:)  This was my mom's desk from her old room.  Thanks Mom!  If you look closely you will see several of the paper projects I have made for her along with cards from me, my mom and other friends.  I love that!

There it is... a room fit for a teenager.  Nope!  She isn't one yet, but she's getting there REALLY fast:(  I am so jealous of this room.  Her bed is SUPER comfortable and that comforter is so cozy.  I often times fall asleep when I lay there at night with her talking.  She is really lucky and thanks us often for this room she loves. 

I'll try to get pictures of my son's room soon.  Still have various pictures and a vinyl phrase to put up.

Hope you have a great evening!

I keep deleting my signature:(

Sending My Love

Happy Thursday Peeps!  I know it's been pretty quiet here on the blog.   It took me a few days to recuperate from that nasty flu bug.  Now I am SUPER behind in so many things.  I have been busy creating, but it's for things that I can't show til this weekend.  Which actually begins TOMORROW.  Wow!  The week has flown by!  Speaking of tomorrow, it's the Release Party for PaperWorks Co.  They are introducing two new characters.  You can join us for some fun on the blog starting at 8pm my time:)  That's when all the new stamps will be revealed along with some samples to get your creative juices flowing.  Peggy also has some giveaways planned.  Hope to see you then!

  Now onto the card for today.  I whipped this up quickly this morning before everyone got up.  I am so excited because it covers quite a few challenges:  Yippee!

I used that Bo Bunny Love Bandit paper again.  I am sooo behind on Valentines right now that this sheet is going to make whipping up some cute, quick cards very easy for me.  Phew!  I made this card for The Color Throwdown  to use soft sky, pink, and kraft, The CCEE challenge to use hearts and a charm, The EBTKS challenge to use box tops, and the ABC blog SWEETHEART challenge.  I'm also going to add this to Paper Crafts February Gallery Challenge.

Are you wondering about the box tops?  Well, I just got rid of all my recycling last night so do you think I had an empty cereal box anywhere?  Nope!  I decided to take the remaining cereal out of th Fruity Pebbles box and will make my son finish it this morning..lol.  I used my Spellbinder's Heart Nesties to cut out two hearts and painted them with some acrylic paint.  Once dried, I stamped them with Antique Linene Distress ink and my Weathered back ground stamp.  I sponged the edges and added some pretty Melissa Frances pearls.  You would never know that Fred Flintstone's face is on the other side of those hearts.   

That's all for me today.  I'll see you back here tomorrow for another challenge creation!






What's In It?
Stamps: Weathered BG, Hearts Afire (verve)
Ink: pink colorbox, antique linen TH distress
Paper: Kraft, off white text DCWV, 
Other: Bo Bunny  Love Bandit cut out sheet, box, ribbon, charm, mounting tape, flourish EF, EK success border punch, scalloped edge punch, paint, MF pearls, paper piercer, heart nesties