Happy Spring!

Wow, I can't believe it's been six months since I've written a blog post. I've just been busy and haven't had a whole lot to say. I haven't scrapbooked since December. My room is a mess and that's killing my desire to create. I finally quit my crappy retail job a week ago and so now I'll actually have the energy and time to do some long overdue things around here including getting my craft/scrapbook room back in order. My wonderful husband got me the big Kallax (formerly known as the Expedit) from Ikea that I've been lemming after for years as an early birthday gift. It's still in the boxes in the garage waiting to be put together. We need to tear down a big computer desk first. With his schedule, it probably won't get put together for at least another few weeks or so. But that's okay. I've waited this long. Once I get my room put back together, I will be sure to post some pictures.

I've picked back up my cross stitching after a long five year hiatus and have been mostly concentrating on that since the beginning of the year. I've even started stitching on linen this time around. So glad I didn't get rid of all my stitching stuff. I stitched this during all those snow days we had this past winter....

This is North Pole Express by Little House Needleworks stitched with the Classic Colorworks hand-dyed floss that it came with on 32 ct. opalescent Belfast linen. I absolutely love this fabric. It's so pretty.

I'm working on another LHN project called Little House Neighborhood. I started it a few years ago actually but only had the tree itself stitched. This one is being stitched on 28 ct. tea-dyed Monaco...

I have since stitched the crows, sheep, grass and started on the red house to the right of the tree and sheep....

This project has been temporarily put aside to work on a baby sampler for my soon-to-be-born nephew! I am so excited that I am going to be an aunt again this coming June! Woohoo! My brother Bruce and his wife, Kerri, are expecting their first child. B. and I went to the baby shower a little over a month ago on Saturday, March 21st, at their church....

Aren't these cupcakes the cutest?? They had a honey-bee theme at the shower since the baby's nursery will be decorated in a Vintage Pooh theme....

 So I am trying to get this baby sampler stitched up within the next month so all I'll have to do is add all the birth stats when he's born. At least that's the plan. This pattern is from a Stoney Creek book called "Snug As a Bug" that I've had in my stash for years.....

My progress so far...

I have several or more projects kitted up ready to go that I'm also looking forward to stitching. They are all either Little House Needleworks or Lizzie*Kate charts. And one Plum Street Sampler limited edition one. (a new favorite).  I'm so happy to finally have my stitching mojo back again after all this time.

I've also discovered needleminders as you can see in the photo above. Needleminders are all the rage it seems in the stitching world. How did I stitch for 20 years without one?? So of course, I placed my very first order ever on Etsy for a couple that I liked. I love my new needleminders  and they are very nice to have while stitching. I'm using the other one to hold my scissors. Works for me......

Like I said, this was my first time ordering anything from Etsy and I got it rather quickly. 

National Scrapbook Day will be this Saturday. I'll be able to participate maybe during the morning, but have plans for the rest of the day. We are going to a scholarship benefit where there will be lots of local bands playing. Really looking forward to it. NSD has become one of my favorite "holidays". I just love all the excitement, sales, online crops, etc. and seeing everyone's projects.

Here are some of the scrapbook pages I made this past fall since the last time I posted...

I did a 30 Days of Thankfulness layout back in November (well the actual scrapbooking wasn't until the beginning of December). I really enjoyed doing this and plan to do it again this year....

I also made this really cool jingle bells shadow box. The inspiration came from the Kerri Bradford website and the cut file for the vinyl wording is from her site as well....

This was actually easier to do than I expected. I don't have a Silhouette, but a very nice lady online cut the Jingle phrase out on some vinyl with her Silhouette and sent it to me along with some transfer paper. It is adhered to the inside of the glass since she made it so the sticky side was towards the front. I got the 8x8 shadow box from JoAnn's (50% off) and the jingle bells were 60% off. The background paper is DCWV scrapbook paper from my stash. It's actually quite glittery. This was a fun, quick Christmas decor project to make. 

And some other pages I made...

I used actual heart paper doilies that I sponged pink Momento ink over to get the cool background effect. This layout was made for a recipe challenge that I participated in online. My recipe was: pink - love - stencils and arrows. It was my first "recipe" challenge and I really had fun with it. 

I added a 6" x 12" page protector in between with all the selfies that B. took on Halloween. I love doing this when I have a bunch of photos and don't want to leave anything out...

We have been getting back out on the local trails biking and walking. I haven't ridden a bike in years and still feel a bit awkward, but with new bike shorts and gloves, it makes it a little easier. 

My husband and B. have been riding their bikes more than several times this spring so far. I've only ridden once or walked a few times while they went riding. Anything to get a little much-needed exercise. And now that I'm no longer working that dreadful retail job, I'll be able to go with them whereas before I was rarely home in the evenings or during the weekends. 

This Friday, we will be making pepperoni rolls all day long for the school band in the cafeteria from 12:30-8:00. My husband and I signed up to help for the entire day. We are the only ones who signed up for an entire day and not just a couple hours (mind you, they will be making them all day Saturday too), but we are huge supporters of the band and love helping them as much as we can. I worked the concession stand during a few of the home games this past fall and really enjoyed that as well. They have a hard time getting the parents to help. So we try to do what we can and really enjoy being involved with the band boosters. They have 6,100 pepperoni rolls to make, so they need all the help they can get this year. 

Well that's it I think. I'm looking forward to warmer days ahead, the new baby, time spent with family and just enjoying my blessings which I am very thankful for. 

'til next time...

Happy October

I know it's been almost three months since I last posted but I've been super busy since then. I finally got a job the end of July. I work all kinds of weird hours and the job I have is a physically exhausting one because there are never enough people working. I work with the public and that has it's ups and downs. It can be degrading at times. I hate having people talk down to me or treat me like I'm not working hard enough. I work with mostly a bunch of high school kids and young adults in their 20's and find it quite degrading that I get grouped in with them when they are talking loudly or goofing off and the manager gets upset with them.  I'm too old for this sh*t. I did make it to Top 25 cashiers for ring tender score in our whole DISTRICT within my first 60 days on the job, and I was pretty proud of myself for that. Figures that I would be good at a job I hate. lol! So when I come home, I'm quite tired at times. I come home with my back, shoulders and feet hurting. We only get two 15 minute breaks during an 8 hour shift.  I think I need to slow down a little. They pay us the bare minimum that they can get away with and work us to the bone. I do have my resume in to various places hoping for a better job and I have had a couple of job interviews since the last time I posted. But until something better comes along, I am stuck with this "part-time" minimum wage job. It sucks, but at least it's something. The good thing is that they have been pretty flexible with my schedule when I need certain times of the day or certain entire days off and although my paychecks really aren't much, it is nice having "some" money that we didn't have before coming into the household.  In the meantime, the job that I got on the sub list for way back in January finally called me earlier this week. They want to train me for three days next week. It is also a minimum wage job and I will only work it when someone calls off work and they need someone to fill in. Again, but at least it's something, right? The "good" jobs just aren't here. Plus the fact that I'm middle-aged and have been a SAHM for the past 12-1/2 years probably has something to do with it.

Anyway....I've done some scrapbooking these past few months as well. Here are some of the layouts that I've done. I can't remember all the ones I've done, but I'll post a few starting with my most recent ones....

I did these first three layouts using sketches from the Scrapbook Generation 6x6 paper pad downloadable class....

I used my 6x12 Cuttlebug dots embossing folder that I posted about a long time ago for the layout above plus papers from Echo Park, MME, and KI Memories 6x6 paper pads (all cut down to 4x4). The flourishes were made with a Sizzix die that I tend to use quite often. The dimensional flowers are "American Girl" and I bought a bunch of packs of them at Gabes for $1 earlier this year. The doily was made with one of the Cheery Lynn doily dies I got back in May for my birthday. And I added Glam Pink Stickles to the flourishes and "13" flat pink stickers in the title.

For this layout (above), I used 6x6 papers cut down to 2x2 squares that came from a DCWV value pack called "Girl Frille" that I got at JoAnn's.

For the above layout, I used full 6x6 sheets of paper from the KI Memories "Argyle" paper pad, an EK Success punch for the flower border going across the page (that I got on clearance awhile ago), and some buttons which I sewed on with baker's twine.

I used WRMK patterned papers for the above layout. The snowflakes and chipboard letters are flocked. I used a variety of snowflake punches.

For this one, I used patterned papers from DCWV, rub-ons, satin ribbon (skulls), bling, a Sizzix die for the two bigger ghosts, and the smaller ghost and bat were made with a Marvy punch. I found the Thicker letters at Big Lots a long time ago. They were perfect for this layout.

I also used WRMK papers for this layout as well. The heart paper and the Thicker letters are both flocked. The hearts were made with the Tim Holtz movers 'n shapers dies. I included some ephemera on the layout as well (movie tickets).

Other than being busy working (and obviously scrapbooking, ha!), we've been busy with the school band lately. My husband and I are officially "band boosters" and I've been trying to work the home games when I can to earn money for B.'s band account (which is only $10 per football game worked). Last Friday was "All Band Night" and B. got to play her drums for the very first time at a football game along with the high school band. It was pretty exciting and they did a fabulous job. I love the band. The next day, Saturday, we tagged by the main entrance to the mall for four hours (we did a double shift). They put all the money together from all the students who tagged last Saturday at various places and divided it up. So we earned $24 for each shift we did ($48 total). Every little bit will help. Band camp is expensive.

Well it is late and I am tired. So that is all for now....

Favorites @ Twelve Scrapbook Layout & Summer Card

This is just a quick post to show you a layout and card I made during the past week....

First up is the card I made to send to whoever won the scrapbooking prize package I was giving away on the forum where I'm participating in the layout-a-week challenge this year. Most of us volunteered to do a giveaway at least once during this 50 week challenge and this was my week. I tried doing a summer-related one for the most part and a lady in Michigan won. I made this summery card for her....

I used the clouds embossing folder from Darice, Fiskars boundary waters border punch, 3" circle punch, tiny alpha stamps from Studio G, and Tim Holtz Sizzix die for the word "summer". I think it turned out pretty cute. I'm not a big cardmaker, but it is fun to make a card every now and then.

And here is the layout I made on Saturday after a graduation party for the neighbor....

I used the Colorbok Confetti paper pad that I recently got on clearance at WalMart. I found the @ sign on the Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge. I used a PL card from the Honey kit. Tiny alpha stamps by Studio G, the same butterfly/flower stickers that I have in this week's giveaway, my Bo Bunny curvy ruler, and I did some stitching. Various little stamps are from a couple different Heidi Swapp/Pink Paislee sets. I had B. write her favorites on the card after I did the stamping. And I used an old PageMaps sketch from July 2009 but changed a few things on it.

'til next time....

Happy Father's Day!

Tony's funeral was this past Tuesday. There was a very nice service and his nephew, Donny, who he was close to, did the eugoly which was absolutely beautiful. My brother, BJ, who's a musician, and his wife, Kerri, and their friend, Erik, who's some type of minister did the music. Tony was honored by the military at the cemetery. It was all very nicely done. We all miss him so much. :(

Tony's sister, Pat, also made a memory board including older, vintage photos, and newspaper articles that Tony was featured in back when he was in the Air Force. He was a recruiter for the Air Force for a number of years and he was featured in Airmen magazine one time for being a "tell it like it really is" recruiter. He was always honest and never lied to the young men that he recruited. He had gotten quite a few thank you letters from lots of those young men for being honest and upfront with them. He was so proud to have been featured in that magazine. It meant a lot to him. And it was one of the things he was buried with. 

I have been helping my mom as much as I can. She's a little out of touch with reality when it comes to certain things. And she's been very irritable. She's snapped at me a couple times this past week. It's so unlike her. It's like once Tony passed away, a switch went off.  Once she gets her mind set on something, that's it. She's probably one of the most stubborn, bull-headed people I know. She's always been hard to talk to and without saying too much here, I just don't understand her way of thinking sometimes. I never have. *sigh*  Hopefully, as time goes on, things will get better. We shall see....

I have also been seeking employment. It is depressing that there is nothing around here. I had one interview two weeks ago tomorrow and never heard back from them. :(   I had another job I spent the better part of the morning filling out an application for online, printing it out, getting my resume together, and getting my hopes up. I walked in and the first thing I was told was "oh that position has already been filled."  all the while the job opening was still being advertised on their big flashing billboard outside of the store (furniture store). I was quite upset that day to say the least.  It is all so discouraging. Then there was the job that I had to have the application notarized for. Never heard back from that one either. I need a job. I want to work. But there is nothing here. Seventy (70) other people applied for the same job that I had the interview for. It's crazy. And whoever it was that said that job hunting can wreck havoc on your self-esteem was right. I am really trying to not let it depress me, but it's hard.

Anyway.... on to happier things.....

Today has been a gorgeous, beautiful, sunny day. It's 80 degrees out now. B. went swimming for about an hour earlier this afternoon and I have a roast in the oven for dinner. We've been doing a lot of grilling lately, so today we're having something different. I haven't made a roast in a while and my husband took it out of the freezer the other day to thaw.  Our tomatoes that we planted back on June 1st have grown taller and the Mr. Stripey one has even started growing some buds this past week. Mr. Stripey tomatoes are supposed to be large yellow and red striped tomatoes. I wanted to try growing something different this year and so that was one of the varieties that I got. The Stella Dora daylilies are blooming, and I noticed yesterday that the delphiniums that I planted a couple of summers ago are starting to bloom....

and these yellow daisy-like ones too....

I think those are some type of mini sunflower. I can't remember. You can see how big the hydrangea is getting back there in the corner of the photo. We cut it back every fall. 

Cute little squirrel in our backyard yesterday that my husband took a picture of...

With everything else that's been going on lately, I never posted a couple of the scrapbook layouts that I made last month and so I figure now is a good a time as any....

I did end up using at least one of the sketches from the Big Picture Classes sketch class by Donna Jannuzzi I've been taking for this layout I did on May 27th.....

I glimmer-misted this layout with Tattered Angels sugar plum fairy (purple). I also used a wee bit of garden fairy (green) but it's not as noticeable. I usually only use my glimmer mists for coloring flowers and lace. So this was a little out of my comfort zone.

Patterned paper in the background and the purple paper lace strip down the middle is from a MAMBI paper pad, Fiskars and Martha Stewart punches, Avery Elle chevron bits die, brushed corduroy distress ink, blue and yellow butterflies were punched out with DCWV pp.

And a couple close-ups:

I also made this one....

The journaling talks about how Hoover became a part of our family...

"Hoover used to be one of Matt's friends' dog. Aunt MiMi and Uncle R. agreed to take Hoover in "temporarily". After a while, the friend stopped showing any kind of interest in Hoover at all which upset Aunt MiMi a lot. And after quite some time she finally decided that Hoover was their dog now and he's been a part of the family ever since. He truly is a wonderful dog and you love going up to Aunt MiMi's to play with Hoover and say that he's your favorite dog in the whole family (besides our dogs of course) "because he actually plays with me and doesn't just lay there on the floor." lol!"

I used an old Stemma collection pack of papers I got from Office Max awhile ago. I think the brads were Stemma too. The photo mat paper comes from a MAMBI paper pad. The big heart was done with a Sizzix die, pawprints are a punch and then punched again with a circle punch. Heart garland was done with a MS heart punch and the hearts were punched out of a MME 6x6 paper pad.  This was my first dog layout ever. I need to do more of these and get our family pets in the scrapbooks.....

Well I hope you all have a pleasant week ahead....