Maybe a little too personal, but....

I see these layouts done by other artists...my favorites, something you don't know about me, secrets, so I decided it was about time that I did one as well. Of course, I chose the hardest...secrets...but I had this idea in my mind with an opened package and the secrets spilling out. Very difficult to portray in paper. Anywho, here it is....

Up close details....

I used Daisy D's paper, EK Success tags, stamps by Rubber Stampede, Hero Arts and Stampendous with Tsukinek chalk ink in Hint of Pesto. I handmade the flowers and the rest is from my stash: ribbon, buttons, alpha stickers and brads.

Thanks for looking. Have a great day!

M.

Busy Weekend Survived!

Whew! Between the usual weekend grocery shopping, laundry and cleaning, I was able to help my husband install a new sink in our downstairs bathroom. Well, I did the "holding" while he installed. I did manage to get covered in plumbers gunk, so I looked the part anyway *smile*. The old sink was the pedestal style...beautiful but impractical with small children who like to hang off the front of it. It was barely attached to the wall, so we opted for the more sturdy vanity style. Not as chic as I'd like, but sometimes you have to go with what's best in the long run.

I was able to knock out a couple of layouts as well. No, I didn't get much sleep...lol. This first one was for a challenge that required using primarily reds. All three of my girls wore these rain boots. They were a favorite whether it was raining or not and they went with EVERYTHING! I used Foof-a-la and Autumn Leaves paper, Special Moments alpha stickers, and lots of stash. I was actually amazed at the amount of red I had.

This next layout is of my nephew, Kolby. He and my girls were in soccer camp together last summer. Kolby hated the warm-ups, so he made up his own. He was so cute! I used DCWV cardstock, Stash kraft and Stemma papers, Cloud 9 Designs stickers, Pink Paislee alpha stickers, Scenic Route chipboard letters, and Tsukinek chalk ink in Hint of Pesto. From my stash, I used some raffia, button, twine and of course, staples.

All in all, a very productive weekend though I'm feeling a bit run down today. No rest for the weary though...I have five kids home with me and it's raining AGAIN.

Thanks for stopping in.

M.

TGIF??? It's not MY Friday....

I think I'll have to skip this weekend...I have so much to do still.

I've got some great news to share that just proves "hard work pays off". I'm going to have four layouts published in Scrapbook News & Review Magazine! The issue comes out tomorrow. My daughter, Molly, was kind enough to dance around with me when I got the email. When we stopped, she causually asked, "What are we dancing about?" Such a sweetheart...she'll enjoy the moment with you like a fool and not even realize what the moment is about. You can't get any sweeter than that.

Here's my latest layout. It's a picture of my daughters, Molly and Madison, with 4 of their friends from a few weeks ago out on the front lawn, covered in mud, posing like super models. We had such a fun time that weekend.



Details

I wanted to make the layout look regal and "frilly" as a contrast to the picture showing the girls all muddy. I honestly like the way it turned out.

Well, I'm off to complete another challenge. This layout has to be predominently red. Love the color but can't say I have a lot of red in my stash, so this is going to be a REAL challenge for me.
Then, it's onto making more gift bag sets for the shop. I told you...too busy to take a weekend.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

M.

It's Thursday already??!!??

I've been so busy this week that I don't even remember Wednesday! Where did the time go?

I've finished a few projects and got them listed in my Etsy shop...a feat in itself considering that school is out and I have five kids at home with me all day long. It's been raining, so stuck inside = whining and complaining. Can't say I blame them, but it sure does wear on your patience especially when you have things to get done. Anyway, I hope you stop by the shop and take a peek at the new inventory. I've also got quite a bit of stock on sale...HUGE markdowns in prices and shipping. Who doesn't like a sale???

Here are a couple of the memory albums I've listed:



Travel Mini Album


I also listed a few cards. The first is a set of 3 diva-licious cards called "Be Yourself".



The second card I was able to get finished and posted is a "green" card made of 70% recycled paper. Its not my usual style, but "green" is in...



Believe it or not, I was also able to finish a layout for Scrapbooking News and Review. I'll post that tomorrow.

Have a great day!!
M.

A little something I made my Dad for Father's Day....

All his Grandchildren spelling out their favorite person...

Thanks for looking!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Fathers Day

Father's Day is this Sunday, and I'm just finishing my cards. Nothing like waiting till the last minute. This card is for my husband...he loves lighthouses. The girls and I got him a nice frame with the word "DAD" cut out on the top and put a picture of all of us in it. He'll love it. I also went out and got him a new MP3 player...can't get by without something electronic with buttons. He's such a geek that way. LOL.

I'm now working on finishing a layout of sorts for my Dad of all his grandchildren (five in all). I've fashioned it to look like an old book on the outside, and when he opens it up he'll have individual pics of the kids each holding a letter that spells out G-R-A-M-P-A. He always gets something handmade because he loves it so. His office at work is full of pictures, layouts, cards and calendars all made by yours truly. I'll try and post some pics once I'm finished.

Happy Graduation

My Goddaughter graduated from High School last weekend. It's hard to believe that she's already 18 years old. I can remember the day she was born and it only seems like yesterday. She lives in Wisconsin, so I don't get to see her (or her Mom) as often as I would like, but she's always in my thoughts. I wish her nothing but success and happiness in her future endeavors. She deserves only the best out of life.

This is the card I sent her. I used all Making Memories with the exception of the ribbon, brads, and stick pins - they are from my stash.

TFL!!

Last day of the school year...

Today is the last day for the school year. Starting tomorrow I will have five kids home with me from 6:00am to 6:00pm. It's going to be a little crazy around here, so I'm not sure how much crafting or blogging I'll be able to do. I'm hoping to stay with it as much as possible.

Here is the last of the Teacher gifts I made:

This plaque was made for my daughter's third grade teacher, Ms. Hardison. She's actually going to be Molly's teacher again next year. She's moving up to fourth grade with her class. I'm not sure how that works, but I'm grateful because she's a wonderful person and an amazing teacher. Molly loves her to bits.

Details

Thanks for looking and have a wonderful day!!

Fun in the sun?

My two oldest daughters (Madison in the green on the end and Molly in the blue-center) with four of their friends having some fun? Friday afternoon after school. It rained for four days straight, so it was rather humid and a bit muddy on the front lawn...the rest is history!

They spent the night, ate everything in sight, stayed up till 2:00 in the morning, and then I took them all to the beach Saturday. Great fun!!!

Brownies No More

My daughter, Molly, officially became a Junior Girl Scout the other night...no more brownies! I can't tell you how proud I am and how much she's grown this past year. She's become a more responsible, empathetic, loving individual with a fantastic sense of humor (as evident by her silly tongue). Her leaders, Miss Stephanie and Miss Elizabeth, are amazing women and stand-up role models.



Molly being pinned with her wings and her Junior insignia tab. I'm not too impressed with what she chose to wear, but I'm one
of those Mom's that doesn't argue over the little things.

Her troop (#307) after the ceremony.

They presented each of their leaders with a rose and a small trinket as a thank you.

I hope everyone has a nice day. TFL!!!

Yard + Art = YART

*****SALE!! SALE!! SALE!!*****

Reverie Creations, my online shop at Etsy, is having a YART sale this weekend. I've discounted prices - over 50% - on a selection of handcrafted items (including shipping costs)!! This is so exciting...my first online sale!!! Etsy does this every year, and I thought I'd participate with some of my own creations. You can find some amazing items at very reasonble prices. Stop on by and browse around. Maybe even make a purchase???

Soft Touch

My youngest daughter has already mastered a few important traits in her young three years. Humor: As I've mentioned before, she can tell a knock-knock joke like nobody I know. If you don't laugh right away because maybe you're not sure if she's finished or you just missed the punchline, she will start dancing around as if she has to pee. This will inevitably make you laugh, and it doesn't matter if you're laughing at her or at her joke - her mission is accomplished. Stealthiness: I can't understand it. Here is a kid that can't seem to walk anywhere without sounding like a herd of elephants (even when she's tiptoeing), but in a flash and without so much as a peep, she can scale up onto the counter to the "snack" cupboard, and by the time you realize something happened, the evidence is gone. The only clues to your lack of parental supervision are usually found all over her face and all over the tv screen.

But what my darling Kenzie has mastered the best - Manipulation: She can get her father to do just about anything. I know, my husband is no worse off than any other father out there when it comes to their daughters, but you have to understand my husband. He's retired military, so he's not exactly the push-over, peachy-keen, go-with-the-flow kind of guy. This man is p-u-t-t-y in her hands. I have to say that I'm a bit envious of her talents.

I did this layout for a contest going on over at Treasured Scrapbooking. They were looking for a layout based on specific instructions (no sketch or other visual). You had to interpret the instructions and create. This is what I came up with as a tribute to my daugher's talents.

I used Sassafras, Pink Paislee and Cosmo Cricket papers, Kaiser Fozz felt, Oriental Trading Company flowers, and from my stash: chipboard letters, ribbon and buttons.

Hope you like it. TFL!!!!

Teacher Gift

Yesterday I mentioned how important our teachers are to the lives of our children. My daughter's teacher, Mrs. Hopping, is an inspiration, and I wanted to let her know how much of an impact she's had on Madison's life, so I made this little plaque for her classroom.

I used Cosmo Cricket paper and chipboard, Sassafras paper, Flower Patch floral scallop ribbon, Prima green lace, Special Memories alpha stickers and from my stash: buttons, brads, and twine.

TFL!!

Teachers

Teachers are the most important people in our children's lives
(next to family).



I wanted to show my appreciation, so I made this card for my oldest daughter's teacher, Mrs. Hardison. I attached a Borders gift card to the inside as a little something extra.



This card was made for my middle daughter's kindergarden teacher, Mrs. Hopping . She's such a peach and certainly loves her students. She'll be getting a Dunkin'Donuts gift card inside.

TFL!!

Weekend bliss...

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. It was so nice here that I spent most of it outdoors with my children. I was able to finish the third book in the Twilight series while lounging on the back deck, and even splurged on an ice cream. Love these kinds of weekends.

I have a few layouts to share.

This one of my youngest was done for two challenges. A sketch challenge and a challenge where you must use predominantly yellow. I used K&Company paper, Making Memories journaling tags, die-cuts, stickers, buttons, and funky fibers, October Afternoon alpha stickers, Oriental Trading Company flower, Tsukinek pigment ink and a few items from my stash: metal tag, buttons, ribbons and brads.

This next one is of my two youngest and my nephew having an impromptu picnic in the front yard last summer. The challenge was to scrap a summer picnic.

I used Bazzill card stock, Making Memories paper, large die-cut tags, alpha stickers, dimensional stickers and chipboard stickers, K&Company paper, Tim Holtz distressing ink, EK Success tiny alpha stickers and a few thing from my stash: stick pins, ribbons, and buttons.

This last layout was a challenge to scrap your pride in being a military wife. My husband's retirement ceremony.

I used DCWV paper, Foof-a-la paper and die-cut stickers, a vintage Nautical Almanac page, Making Memories pebble clip, Scenic Route chipboard letters, Tsukinek pigment inks, and stash: manila file folder, felt applique, chipboard, silver decorative brads, tags, and buttons.

TFL!!!!

Out of the mouths of babes...again

We've all heard them...the infamous knock-knock jokes. My three year old has mastered f-u-n-n-y!

Kenzie: "Knock-knock, Mama"
Me: "Who's there"
Kenzie: "Ketchup"
Me: "Ketchup who"
Kenzie: "Ketchup you're fallin' ass"
Me: "hahahahahahahahaha*snort*hahahahahahaha"

Now, we can all follow along with this simple joke..."ass" should really have been "behind" - "Ketchup you're fallin' behind". My sweet three year old has, by no fault of her own, turned this cute little joke around by making a short leap.

I blame my husband. He is constantly telling her to sit on her "behind"...at least 4-5 times a day. He's one of those Dads that would put his daughter in a plexiglass bubble till she turned 50ish just to save her from getting hurt. Well, when the calm parental coaxing doesn't work, he turns up the volume and changes the wording around to "I told you to sit on your ass!"

I so love my family!

New Project

I was asked by a client to make a picture "holder" that could be hung from the rear view mirror of a car. Of course, both sides had to be finished so it could swing freely in any direction. Here is what I came up with.

This is the front side:This is the back side:

I used Making Memories paper, stickers and ribbon. Pink Paislee paper, Oriental Trading Company flowers, Tsukinek pigment ink in moonlight white and eggplant, and quite a bit of my stash - ribbon, twine, string, wire, buttons, brads, tags, chipboard frame and ribbon slide, stick pins, doily and epoxy sticker.

Thanks for looking!

The Ugly Truth

Well, old faithful has lost it's elasticity and now rides up in places that aren't comfortable and, more importantly, unattractive. I'm talking my 2007 swimsuit here, ladies. The suit I looked the best in (keyword: best) and provided me with (unwarranted) confidence over the last two years has finally given in to the strain. Now, I can handle uncomfortable in the name of beauty and style. We all do it when we stick our size 9s into the 8 1/2 stilettos we HAVE to have or throw ourselves down onto the bed just to zip up the latest style of jeans...you know the ones...they have the huge pockets on the rear that only compliment a size 0 ass. But old faithful has turned ugly on me, and there's no getting it back - even with safety pins (yes, I went there!).

I KNOW I'm not the only one out there who completely dreads looking for a new bathing suit.

The panic, the marked decrease in confidence and the palpable irritation that goes along with it isn't exactly a day at the spa. For two years I avoided swimsuit hell, but this was the year that I had no other choice but to get drunk and go.

We'll start with the selection. Racks and racks of teeny tiny bikinis laden with the funkiest prints I've ever seen and with string ties in places that honestly destroy all remnants of modesty. I just knew I was going to hyperventilate. Flashes of me in an old t-shirt and a pair of my husbands boxers at the ocean racing through my head! I was scared out of my wits here. If "they" think there is any possible way to fit this 40 year old-three babies later-50 pounds heavier body into one of those, then "they" all need to ante up for therapy. This was going to be U-G-L-Y!!

I searched and searched just hoping for a bathing suit miracle. There MUST be (HAS to be) a suit here somewhere that sucks in all the extra flab and loose skin and makes you look 80 pounds thinner. It will also somehow erase all the wrinkles too! That's right, I'm looking for a miracle!!! Hours and hours and at least seven stores later, I finally find a tankini that might fit the bill. It's black with a bit of design around the bust area and it's not old-ladyish. Phew! I'm not the kind of gal to try on a swimsuit in the dressing room. I know my limitations. I've been known to draw an entire audience to the dressing room with my moans of disgust and colorful language. So, I purchase said miracle suit and take it home. Hey, at least I don't look like the Michelin man!