Good Grief!

I'm feeling a bit like Charlie Brown lately.  Trying to stay positive, but feeling like the world is against me.  Minor inconveniences is what my husband calls them.  He's probably right, but lately I feel like a dark cloud is following me.  I've had everything from a LARGE clump of ice and snow fall off the roof right onto my head to my computer dying again.  I've only had it back for 3 weeks.  I'd say it's time for a new one.  So, I apologize if my pictures aren't so great.  I'm working off of my little girl's netbook and it's tiny .  Tough to see the details of my pictures.  I'm just so thankful that I didn't download my Creative Suite 4 onto my computer again.  I'm pretty sure you can only download it so many times before it won't let you.  So, thank goodness for that.  It will be awhile before I can get a new computer too.  Just bought a really nice video camera to replace the dinosaur one I've had for 12 years:)

I did get to stamp this week and it felt GOOD.  Yep, I cried, but tears cleanse the soul.  I'm pretty sure my soul should be squeaky clean by now.

Here is a card I made using the VLV sketch.  I love this sketch.  I think this is awesome to use up all those scraps I have.  I may make a whole slew just using this sketch.  Verve has a new release coming up and it's been forever since I've done one of their challenges.  I love VERVE!

I have another really quick card I made too!  I got some really cheap stickers from Joann's the other day and this idea popped into my head.

My brother lives in LA and it had been raining for weeks.  After my mom passed away a double rainbow appeared right over his apartment. My mom hated rain and loved the sun.  He said through the bleak of the rainy day and the way he was feeling the sun peaked through and this beautiful double rainbow appeared.  As he got closer to home he could see that it was over his apartment building.  He knew it was a sign from my mom and it made him smile. 


  My mom also loved flowers.  She would weed and work in any garden and it made her smile.  This card is inspired by my mom.  Pretty simple.  I"ll try and  promise that my blog won't always be about my mom and her death.  I can promise you, though, that most of my cards will be influenced by my mom.  I see her, as I make them, sitting across from me at my craft table.  She's watching me and she's smiling...just like she used to do when she lived with me.  I  have more ideas than I have time for right now.  I feel like she is working through me.
It's true therapy for me.  Creating and writing.  It's part of the grieving.  It's "GOOD grief" and I'm sure one day I will smile more than I cry when I think of her.


For now, I am comforted in knowing that my cards might make someone else smile.

Friend of ABC Toys & Crafts Feature

 Today I am honored to be featured on the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team Blog.  Thanks so much to my blogging friend, Justine, for mentioning me.  Justine has become a special support system to me over the last year in more ways than one.  Isn't blogging an amazing way to meet so many wonderful people that you may never have met before?  Well, they have honored me by featuring a few of my projects using several of the supplies you can find in the ABC Toys & Crafts Store.  Pop on over to check them out.

I used one of the templates from Creations by AR to make one project.  I'll only give a peek here.

Pop on over to see the projects in full.  There's also a little Q&A that I answered.  You may learn something about me that you never wanted or needed to know;) Thanks so much!


Since I will be spending the remaining time with my family, enjoying, laughing and loving every, sweet minute, I won't be posting anything until December.   I hope you all have a very BLESSED Holiday doing whatever it is that makes you happy!

Enjoy!

Two Days Late and Oh So Short...

 Well, I missed out on posting my creation for A Crafty Little Place Challenge.  I was, honestly, so sick that I couldn't even upload pictures and link up items.  No kidding.  I'm on the mend though.  Yeah!  So here is my project and I am very short IRL and with what I did in comparison to everyone else. Wow!  They had some stunning creations this week.  Make sure you go and check them out, ok?  Fabulous stuff!  Also, that little banner at the top?  Well, it's a Thanksgiving Day Sale that lasts ALL WEEK!  Woo Hoo!  You don't have to wait for Black Friday...sounds to scary anyways.  Make sure you pop in next week for tons of sales.  Love DCRU!

 Supplies Used:

Stamps: Just Rite,

Ink: Colorbox Green, TH Antique Linen

Paper: Basic Grey Pyrus, Mustard, Prism Green, Kraft

Other: Baker's Twine

 Thanks for popping in!  Stop back on Saturday for a Special post.  I'll be on a bit of vacation after that until December.  I'm having a giveaway when I return so watch for that too!

Very Late Winner's Post!

 I'm so sorry that the results are late.  I was struck with influenza on Friday and have been down since then.  The last time I felt so sick (except pregnancy) was when I got mono 15 years ago.  I have had no energy to even try and post. I have been in a coma like state I think.

This means I am also 5 days behind on everything.  Moms should not get sick.  It should be a rule.  I leave tomorrow for Michigan and won't be back until the end of the month.  I will share my "Fireplace Card made into a box directions" when I return.  I have a few pre scheduled posts, but not many;(


Ok, enough moaning....the winner of the Free Template is......

Stacie (craft-princess) said...

Gorgeous projects!

 I told my son to pick a number and he chose 41.  Stacie was number 41.  Congrats Stacie!!!!  Contact me and I'll send your info on to Adela.

Have a great evening

Creations By AR Release Day!

 Today I'm so excited to be part of my first ever Creations by AR  release!  Adela has some amazing things in her shop.  I LOVE to create 3D projects and her templates make that so easy. 

  Today I'm featuring two new releases.  

First up is the Totally Tote-able.

 I can definitely see myself using this one A LOT!  I think all my teacher gifts will go in here this year:)

This was so easy and fun to create!

Next up is the Fireplace Card.

I like to think "outside the box," or in this case I made a box.  Yep!  I had an idea to take the template for the Fireplace card and make a shadow box type of card AND a matching box to go with it.  All using the same template.  Stop back later in the month and I'll show you how I did that;)   I have another variation on how to use this template too.  It's not finished so you'll have to come back for that as well.

I have one more card to share using some great embellishments that Adela has in her shop.

I used 2S4Y Sketch 65 for this card.

Now, for a chance to WIN A FREE TEMPLATE, leave me a comment on my blog and then hop along to all the fabulous Design Team blogs.  Leave a comment along the way.  You're sure to be dazzled!  You have until Sunday.  One winner will be chosen on each blog.  Wow!  

Hop to it and have FUN!

AMY PARK
ANDREA BUDJACK

MAGDALENA CORTEZ

MARIA BELL

ME!
SILVIA MABIE

ADELA ROSSOL

GUEST DESIGNER

SUE KMENT

Jovial

Happy Tuesday!  It's time for another challenge at A Crafty Little Place. 

Today we have a color challenge for you.  Let's get into the holiday spirit at bit because we'd like to see GREEN, RED and WHITE on your projects.

The Design Team used Jovial paper by Basic Gray.  I made a few projects for you.

Try not to be too critical of my horrible stitching on the second card.  I just can't figure out how to sew on a curve very well,

 Supplies Used:

Stamps: Crafty Secrets Vintage Christmas

Ink: Memento Black, Versafine Black, Walnut Stain Distress

Paper: Basic Gray Jovial, Echo Park Wintertime, Neenah White, Textured White

Other: Copics, Sizzix Snowflake Dies, brads, ribbon, Fiskars corner punch

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes

Ink: Memento Black

Paper: Basic Gray Jovial, Buttercream and Green Prism

Other: sewing machine, red ribbon, EK Success punch, corner rounder

Hope you can get join in this week! 

Hugs to You!

   A BIG hug to all of you that are patient with me and my irregular and not so frequent posts.  I feel like I'm drowning in things to do.  I have been crafting up a storm and should have at least 3 days of posts for you.  One of those will include a PRIZE!  That's right!  On Wednesday, Creations by AR is having a release and I will be choosing a random winner from all my comments!  WooHoo!  So, stay tuned for that!

I made a card the other day just because.  I realized that it has been forever since I have created for no particular reason....Just Because!  My paper flowers all got wet and stained somehow.  I truly can't figure out what happened, but they all bled together.  Some are ruined, but I was able to salvage this beauty.  I love the colors and that I could use my orange, Halloween, wrinkled ribbon for a non- Halloween card.  Yeah, me!  Ugh...that sounded like London from the Suite Life.  Too much Disney TV going on here.  Anyways, it's a CAS card that makes me happy because of the colors and because I could take something "wrong" and make it "right":D  If only it were all that easy, huh?

I have been working on cleaning out my craft room and I'm going to have a BIG sale.  I'm getting rid of a ton of SU products...including paper, ink pads and reinkers.  Stay tuned for that.  I need to down size before I have to pack up all my stuff.  I feel the need for a good purging:)  I will also be having my own personal giveaway around Thanksgiving.  I'm grateful for all you fellow bloggers who haven't left me.  Even though I haven't been around much.

  Once last thing....I recently became a Scentsy Consultant.  I went to a party because I really just wanted to get rid of the dog smell in my home.  Well, I feel in love with the product and decided to try to supplement some of the income that we may be losing as we move.  I'm so excited about it.  I have a website that I would love for you to check out.

www.SealedWithAScent.com

Clever, right?  Hee Hee!

Scentsy sells several things that will make your life smell, "Oh so GOOD!" 

Basically, they have Warmers and Plug Ins that melt a wax at a very low temp using a special light bulb.  Because the wax melts as such a low temp, you can touch the wax and not get burned.  There is also no by-product like you get with a burning candle.  Not to mention how much safer these are than a burning candle.  As the wife of a firefighter,  that means A LOT to me.  

They also have Tin, Circles (car freshner), stuffed animals with scent bags, room spray, antibacterial foam, etc.

There are over 80 different scents.  My favorites at the moment are Cranberry Muffin, Home Sweet Home, Honey Pear Cider, Vanilla Walnut and Pumpkin Roll.

If you like a "clean" smell then I recommend Inner Peace, White Sands, Satin Sheets, Radiance and Clean Breeze.

During the months of November and December, I will donate 5% of ALL my sales to THE SALVATION ARMY.  These make perfect gifts!  Help yourself and help someone else!  What a great thing!

I will also be giving away a FREE WARMER to one lucky person who makes a purchase during those months.

I would  love for you to check out my new adventure.   

www.sealedwithascent.com  

It will, by no means, replace my paper crafting.  Hopefully, just help support it;D

I'll see you back here tomorrow with A Crafty Place Challenge!

Have a Blessed Day!