My how time flies!

I was shocked when I opened my blog to see it had been November when I last posted. How was that possible??? I knew I had been working on things, I have several pages at home that need photographed and posted.

I recently discovered paper flower making! I spend hours creating all these pretty little flowers. I'm not sure what I am going to do with them all but I love the different varieties you can make. I've included some below.  I made sweet williams, pansies, roses, lilies and even a hydrangea bloom.

I have also made several new cards, a thinking of you, a birthday and a thank you card. The thank you card is already in the mail to a sweet man (#3's Godfather) who saw us out to lunch and paid for our meal when he left the restaurant.

One of the pages that I recently completed was for a ball player at the university I work for.  Jim had an amazing feat in one of the last games of the season.  He scored 7 points in 7 seconds! I was really happy for him so I created a page and framed it for him.

#1 daughter and I attended a scrapbook convention in Columbus last weekend and I got to try several make and takes.  Funny enough, I have been searching for instructions on how to make this one particular paper basket and low and behold it was one of the make and takes so we both made one. I think I am going to make a downsized one for Easter. We usually have several colleges students over for dinner and I like to send them home with something. One of the make and takes was for a fabric flower. I really thought it was cute but the stress on my wrists and fingers may prevent me from making any more. It required a needle and thread and by the time I made just one flower, my hands were numb.

As May quickly approaches, I know I am going to be swamped with projects. #4 will be graduating high school this year (the last one!) and I am finishing up her book. She and I recently took a trip to San Francisco for spring break and I am going to do a shutterfly book for her of that trip. I will also be making her graduation announcements very soon and getting them out in the mail. I also am really going to try and get my Christmas cards made this summer and possibly a Thanksgiving card to send out to close family and friends.  I bought all the supplies last fall for Christmas cards and ran out of time trying to get them done. Since I don't work during the summer I am hoping to get them done early. I have also been wanting to make a cookbook for my children and niece as a Christmas present and still haven't gotten that done. Which reminded me that I did an artists paint tray project for my two sisters for Christmas and I forgot to post it. I will get a picture of one of them and post it soon.

I realize as I write this blog I do so as if I am speaking to someone out there in cyber space. But in all actuality, I am probably the only one who reads this as I do not publicize the blog and I really do this so I have a record of everything I make because many of the items that I create, I give away. Until next time....

Jessica Sprague

I just signed up for Jessica Sprague's Inspiration Everywhere class. I also ordered her book Stories in Hand to use along with her class. I'm looking forward to this class as it has you look around you and find where you get your inspiration from. And, it's not just paper, you will be using music, art, etc. in finding your inspiration.

Sitting here on break at work, and feel so inspired to create but know that this feeling will pass by the time I get home knowing that the grocery store, cooking dinner and laundry is between me and the time I can create. Also, daylight savings time is over so it will be dark by the time I get to my scrapbook room. I am never very motivated when it is dark outside. I did find however, that making a list of what I want to create helps me accomplish more. I need to take a few minutes brainstorm what I want on that list.

Christmas is fast approaching and because of the current economic climate I am looking more towards "homemade" rather than store bought. I've had the idea in my head to make cookbooks for all my girls with our "family" recipes in them. I might expand that idea and create one for my son (the cook in the house) and my niece. I need to think about what I want the final look to be (something durable, but expandable).

I am also working on that library envelope book that I plan on giving my middle daughter for her birthday. Her birthday is 2 weeks before Christmas so I better get serious about it as well.

I also love the new 7gypsies photo trays. Thinking about doing something with those for my sisters.

Geez - I better stock up on Red Bull and get busy.

I've been creating...really I have

I started this blog so I would have a place to archive my projects. Many of the things I create, I give away and I wanted a way to remember them. I have so many projects going on right now that it is hard to keep track and actually, hard to finish... I've been in a card making frenzy lately. Made several different ones for different occasions. Really getting back into embossing too. My oldest daughter recently took a job at Archiever's so I see different thinks coming down the pike.

Below are several of the cards I recently completed and mailed out.

I am also working on a new mini-scrapbook made from library envelopes. I am having trouble finding the elastic I need to bind the book but still have Joanne's to check out.

Also, my son and girlfriend became engaged and we (myself and daughters) are helping with decorating ideas, save the date cards and invitations. Thank goodness we have a year to do all of this. And, buying a lot of fall decorations now on clearance for the wedding next year.

Where do I start?

This is Sarah's memo board.

I can't believe the summer has come and gone. I am back in school and it seems busier than ever. I haven't been able to create the way I want. I have a list of projects and can't seem to get to them. I did take apart Cait's She Is board and place it into a scrapbook for her. And I was able to get a couple of french memo boards done for her and her new college roommate. I just want things to settle down and have a chance to relax but so stressed out not sure that is going to happen. I am actually writing this post so that I can clean off my desk top at work. I have had the pictures of the memo boards on it and I want them gone so...I post.

This is Cait's memo board.

Sooo busy

I have been so busy - not just work, and kids, and bingo and stuff but creatively. I am posting several things that I recently completed. I did table decorations for Cait's graduation party, I did thank you notes for Cait (sorry didn't get a pic), graduation cards for several grads we were invited to, and for Cait's party (the theme was Life is a Box of Chocolates - it fits Cait to a t) I made a "box" of wishes for people to write for Cait.

Mark one more item off my list

The graduations announcements are done! They are all assembled and in envelopes and ready to go to the post office tomorrow. One more thing down, too many more to think about.

I made a post card with a few of her senior pictures on it and listed the information about the open house. Then on the second "back" card, I printed the graduation announcement. I hole punched them and ran a 2010 embossed ribbon through the hole and tied it. I then made vellum envelopes for them to go inside and then put the whole thing in a regular envelope to mail. Cait was pleased with them, as was I and that's all that matters. I even found a few other cute ideas for Gabriela's announcements next year. It never ends!

I'm still kicking

Yes - believe it or not, I am still alive. Had mucho medical things, and life in general getting in the way but--I have still been creating. As a matter of fact, in the last 4 weeks, I have created a couple of get well cards and started and completed my daughters dance scrapbook. I am now working on finishing up her cheerleading book - banquet is this Sunday as the team played into late March because of state play-offs. So within next 2 weeks, hope to have her cheer book and her general scrapbook completed and ready for her party. We'll see. Still have a house and yard to get ready for two graduation open houses. Busy, busy spring.