Still on Track...barely...

Hey All,

So I've got this horrible cough lately.  The kind that strikes at 1am and is relentless in its execution until about 4am.  I feel like I'm about to cough up a lung!  I've resorted to spreading Vick Vapour Rub on the bottoms of my feet and putting thick socks over top (don't laugh...it works).  The Benadryl Cough Syrup provides a little relief...but only a little.  I spent most of the day today drifting in and out of sleep on the couch and listening to a service guy work on our gas fireplace going on about how odd and crazy it's installation was (hubby was working from home...I wasn't alone thank goodness!).  Hubby cast it off as builder's fault.  Nevertheless, the fireplace is fixed and I'm still semi-comatose.  At least I'm conscious enough to post this card I made for this weeks Simon Says Stamp challenge based on a sketch.  Here is the sketch:

And here is my take on said sketch.

I've had this stamp for quite a while.  Dare I say it was probably one of my first rubber stamps ever purchased...that was quite a while ago.  I bought it from the clearance bin at Michaels.  I loved the cherub hiding inside.  But alas it got tucked away in a drawer and forgotten until I stumbled across it and knew I had to let it have it's moment in the spotlight after all these years.  This card will go to my cousin's new baby girl who is getting baptized.  Hopefully it will also bring some good luck and win me some goodies.  Here's hoping!

Off to A Good Start and Being Thankful for it!

Hello All!
What are the chances!?  I'm back here twice in the same day!  I told you I've turned a new leaf!  So I'm back to my antics following the challenges over at Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog and this time it's in line with the American thanksgiving theme.  Here in the great white north, Thanksgiving happens in early October but nevertheless there is never a shortage of things to be thankful for.  Here is a card I made for the occasion.

HOLY COW Has it been that long?!

Hey All,

Yes, It seems the time has gone in a blink of an eye.  My last post was quite a few months ago!  But I've turned a new leaf (a few of them actually) and hopefully time will be found for doing the things I love most!...and sharing them with you!  For starters I've been asked to be a guest designer for a couple of local scrapbook stores. (YAY!).  Please check out my posts over there for some inspiration and maybe a few creative tips! and feel free to drop a line or two!
The Learning Factory

A little sneak peek to the project over at the Learning Factory.

The Scrapping Bug

A little sneak peek at the project over at The Scrapping Bug.

Delinquent Scrapper...Getting Back on Track

I don't quite know what it is.  Maybe it's the time of year.  The winter "blahs" where I just can't seem to get motivated to do ANYTHING!  I'm all go go go at work and during my 90 minute commute home (I know!...it sucks!) my mind is reeling with all the things I want to create in my humble little space (I tend to call it the "computer room" for hubby's sake but really it's screaming "craft room").  Cards, scrapbook layouts, mini-books...I take a bazillion pictures a month and I REALLY intend to immortalize them in some stunning and inspiring creation but alas, my motivational juices tend to drain out long before my creative juices even have a chance to flow.  I've been finding myself deflated of any energy by the time I get home and only manage to stir up enough of it to get dinner on the table, homework completed (which really has the patience juices pouring out at an exponential rate!), kids in bed and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ....sorry...where was I?  I must've dozed off!....ugh...that's been my life the last few weeks!  Fast asleep by 9pm.  Nevermind the piles of laundry to clean and put away, the disaster of a closet that is slowly ooozing into the rest of our bedroom, the dust bunnies, the scattered toys, the Christmas presents (candy baskets still wrapped in cellophane) sitting in the upstairs hallway waiting for a home...but the flurry of creative genius floating around in my head that can't find an escape because I can't find the energy to let it fly.  It's like my morning coffee hits a brick wall at 6pm and I'm surviving on fumes until 9pm when there's just nothing left.  Another java jolt after 2pm tends to keep me up until way after 2am and then I'm virtually useless the next day.  There's gotta be a better way.  Give me strength (as I write this post at 2:30am having sat in bed for the last few hours drifting and then finally deciding to be productive and write in my journal only to be distracted by watching "Big Bang Theory" bloopers on YouTube.  Here is my attempt at making the most of this evening (unlike I have managed to do any a recent evening) and at least contribute to Simon Says Stamp most recent challenge: Tag it!  I hope this can kick start me into a motivation frenzy.  Keeping my fingers crossed (for more than just the prize this time!).  Thanks for letting me vent!

I don't usually create 8.5 x 11 layouts but this one was from a PageMap (by Becky Fleck) that just called to me in my non-motivational state as I was sifting through old pictures.  The tags are from a Sissix die, the embossing is from a Cuttlebug folder, the date stamp is from Hero Arts, die cute letters from Quickutz and flowers from Prima.

Sketch Fun

I'm currently sitting here...in a small town in cottage country...which I'm sure is far more happening in the summer time then in the winter.  It would be quite the winter wonderland here with dog sled rides and hikes in the snow, ice skating on the lake...if it weren't for the unrelenting rain.  Ugh!  It's been raining since we got here (yesterday afternoon) and everywhere is covered in slick ice, gigantic puddles and cold, slippery mud!  Not fun!  Today we've been stuck in the "2 bedroom villa" all day (the resort we are staying in is very nice and the big girls are quite excited to have their own "apartment" to pretend to own).  Here's hoping tomorrow will bring more fun weather!  In the mean time, to combat the cabin fever, I have spent some time doing more crocheting and of course making a creation for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge of following a sketch.

I am missing my home selection of crafting supplies so I am left with what little I managed to bring along (and borrow from my daughter's stash).  Here is my rendition.  I'm hoping for the prize...as always.  Wish for some sunshine and snow!

Rekindled the Hooking Habit...

So I dug up this pattern from the depths of my knitting bags and decided to spend some time on my lunch to be productive and make something cool for my girlies.  I've been meaning to make/get a hat like this for my girls for a while ever since I saw a little girl at church wearing one.  It's adorable!  So I had the girls pick the yarn at Michaels and then I sat down and started.  It took me about 2 hours 2 nights ago to make the purple one for C1 and just 1.5 hours to make the one for C3 (it was smaller).  I couldn't believe how easy it was and how cool it turned out!  I'm darn proud of the finished product if I do say so myself!  It's been a while since I crocheted something.  I made my sister a blanket 3 Christmases ago and I think that was the last thing I completed.  That project took some time.  This one was (relatively speaking) instant gratification!  Great...like I needed another habit.... ;)

A New Year...A New Outlook!

Yup.  I'm one of those people.  Those people who try the whole "be healthier" mantra as a new year begins.  So, it's been 3 weeks and I can proudly say I have stuck with my plan.  No junk food, exercise regularly, scrapbook more, take my vitamins EVERYDAY and (hopefully) lose weight.  Keeping my fingers crossed for continued motivation.  It's been hard...especially with my hubby bringing home Lays Ruffles BBQ chips.  ARRRRGH!  My kryptonite! But I've resisted and I'll work on that.  Yay me!  Yay me for also finding time to get some crafting done.  Yesterday C1 and I spend nearly 2 hours in the afternoon in the craft room making cards and chatting while C2 and C3 took naps.  Good times!  Today C2 is quite under the weather.  Fever, throwing up.  Not pleasant.  She worries me with her little health issues. Be strong my little C2.  I'm here for you!
On a lighter note.  Here's a card I made for this week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Spots and/or Stripes. I think you can figure out which one I chose.  As always...here's hopin'....