My New Keep Calm Line

Whether on Atlas, Dictionary or regular old(vintage) book pages I am Keeping Calm and carrying on! I have a list a mile long and counting. If you have requests that you don't see on my site please let me know. Sometimes I have them but just have not listed them yet.

I love this sewing one. I know how many crafty gals are out there so I also have a scrapbooking one and a couple others that will be wonderful to decorate your creative space with.
Then the tea one. I know that you all know my GIANT love of coffee and I have one for that. But it is green tea that I drink twice a day that has totally saved me from the roller coaster ride of sinus infections that I lived with for years. Yes I know it is hard to believe, but I drink two cup of decaf green tea(hot) per day and I do not take any meds that I had been taking daily for many years. It is one of the best things I have done for myself. No more steroids being sprayed in my nose each day, no more Advil to reduce the swelling in my sinus(which gave me a ulcer by the way) just the sheer will to drink two cups of green tea a day and I feel fabulous!

And this last pic is of my Mothers Day Gift(the best one ever). This is my puppy Bella. She is now 6 1/2 months old. She is so loving. If you have ever had your own Boxer you know how loving, loyal and down right beautiful. She chews things a little more then she should but I hope that changes soon. But never the less, she is the best little girl and I love her to death. I thought you would all like to meet her!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!

Party On A Thursday Night!

Last night was my dad's 29th Birthday. Well, he is not really 29 but I will not out his age to the world! Any who, we had a wonderful time and celebrated my moms at the same time. Hers was just a couple of weeks ago. So last night was the perfect time to get the 13 of us together to eat laugh and celebrate!

There where contests to see who could keep a spoon on their nose the longest.

There was a height contest that Joshua won every time except for against my dad.

We had the evening catered by this wonderful Italian restaurant so there was no cooking on our part.

And then time to blow out the candles.

And as always, when this group of 13 family members get together there is no lack of laughter, loud stories and the knowledge that none of us walk alone. When ever we are out there in the world no matter were we travel we are part of something larger and more then just ourselves. We are part of this incredible, wonderful and loving family!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!

Mrs. Petersons Special Valentine

Mrs. Peterson is Logan's K-Teacher. She is wonderful. Everything you would want in a 5 year old's teacher from being nice to teaching the kids how to get along. So Logan looks at me with those big eyes and says..."can you make Mrs. Peterson one of your cards?" How could I say no?

So I have been having a ball with the streamers but didn't have the right color. Now if my Glimmer Mist had arrived by now I would have just sprayed white to the color I needed. But it is not here yet. So I folded pink inside of white and it gave me a soft color once I folded it. I punched a butterfly out of these wonderful K & Co. papers and turned it over. I bent the wings and glued down only the body so it looked like it was coming right off the page. There where some little left overs from me trimming the streamers so I tucked those under the heart. Added a little gold metallic ink around the edges and there you are the cute little Valentine that I know he can hand her with pride. I love creating things!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!

More Love is in The Air, Or @ Least in The Air Mail!

I know, I know, I can't help myself. I love making Valentine's. Maybe it comes from the excitement of that white paper bag that would hang on the front of your desk as a child on Valentine's Day. You would get to decorate it in art class and then hang it there for the big day. For that very moment to see when and if that special someone is going to drop a card in your bag. I remember buying my box of cards as a kid and going over them and deciding who was going to get which one. What would this card say or mean to the love of your life. Now for me, that was my husband(he just didn't know it at the time.)

For this one I wanted it to be romantic. I think the papers lend to that feeling very well. The card measures 6 x 4. I went around the edges of everything with Color Box dark brown Chalk Inkpad. The brads and the frame add dimension to the card. And I layered the blue layer up and over the back to give it a really finished look. You can see this in the picture below. I hope you all enjoy this and it gives you all some inspiration!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!

A CARD IN SECONDS!

Alright everyone, this one is quick and simple and not a lot of items are involved to create it. Not only as a Valentine, but think of the color changes you can make and embellishments and it turn into a quick birthday card. With some left over textured card stock this card was completed in minutes. It measures 4 1/2" 's square.

Here are the few products I used to complete it. If you haven't already purchased a Souffle Pen what are you waiting for? It is yummy and puffs up as it dries and can be used for so many things. I do go over my lines twice when I use it on such dark paper. Some times it comes out a little watered down. I also start it out on a separate paper to make sure it is flowing once I use it. Then there is my FABULOUS CONVERSATION HEARTS! This time of year I am using and selling these little guys like crazy so make sure you pick them up today!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!

THE 09' CHRISTMAS PICTURE HAS SHIPPED!

There they are, my people. Yup, I created every last one of them with a great since of pride. But as I seal the last holiday envelope with their picture enclosed, I realize all that they have taught me. Started at the center is Noah( the little Red Head). I never realized that JOY was so free. Freely given and freely received. His smile is as big as the sun and his humor has no limit. He has a bit of little devil but he is 100% heaven sent boy.

Then there is Logan(the little blond beside my daughter. Well how do you describe HEAVEN ON EARTH? I tell my husband that there is a song that describes the way I feel about Logan coming into my life by Rascal Flats..."God Blessed the Broken Road"...that lead me straight to you. No matter what ever bad things could have ever happened in life, getting to the moment I meet Logan made it all worth it. If you can not see his mouth when he smiles, only his eyes...well, I have truly seen the meaning in real life of Irish Eyes a Smiling.

Next is my Joshua all the way on the left. He is going to be a heart breaker. He warms my heart every time I see him. He has the most beautiful little face and boy can he charm his mother. I know that he is a little troublesome truck some times but does he ever have my heart strings wrapped around his finger.

Then there is my Morgan. My dearest Morgan. She is my only girl. Hope, Faith and Love all wrapped up in a package. My husband may be my partner, but Morgan is my right hand gal. She has always been there to help me out when I need it and support me along our road of life. No one could ask for a better daughter because I have the best.

Now, in between everyone of the pictures taken, the four of them where not thrilled. Noah would not look at the camera. Josh would make a funny face at the wrong time and Morgan kept trying to keep all of her little brothers in line. Believe me when I say that I know how important family is. But I never knew how much a picture would mean to me until I started photographing these four. They are my loves and my life. And when you add Pat in it makes the circle complete. Alone we are just one of six, together we are a VERY BLESSED family!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!

BEGINNING OF SCHOOL MEANS A EMPTY NEST!

For months I thought about how much work I could get done all by myself. I planned out my days and shopping trips that would be peaceful and without fighting or asking me for something. Well, they all started school this week and I have lost my hearing from all the SILENCE. First of all my Lab is not the best company when you hold up your latest paper creation and ask her what she thinks. At least when I asked my youngest the answer would always be..."pretty mommy"! My husband still has time off and he just keeps asking me questions and talking about generators. So what does this all mean? I MISS MY KIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know, I know, it will get better soon. But all of my babies off to school is not as much fun as I thought it would be. So to my beautiful babies, all four of you, you are deeply missed and the best moment of my day now is the minute you walk off that bus. I love you all, and I am so proud of the four of you. You will all do great this year I am sure of it!

Alright, I am off to make a handy dandy little first day of school mini book!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!

Hugs For Caden From Logan

It is hard to see the stamp on Logans 4 year old hand, but it says "HUGS FOR CADEN". Caden is a 4 year old little boy in Logans Pre-K class that has Mitochondrial Disease. He has been in and out of the hospital many times over the last few months. We attended a benefit in his honor last night to raise money to help with the mounting cost of his medical expenses. About 3 weeks ago, Logan and I had stopped to take money out of a ATM and on the board behind it was a flyer and a picture of his friend Caden. Logan had me read the flyer to him. After he wanted me to explain to him what a benefit was. I told him as simply as I could that people would go and eat and bring a couple extra dollars to help out Caden and his family. We went and got back in the car and ran around and went home. That afternoon, while doing laundry, he commented on the jar on the dryer that had change in it that I pulled out of peoples pockets before washing. He looked at me and said, "is there a couple of dollars in there"? I told him sure there must be. He then asked, totally from his GIANT four year old heart, "can we give that to Caden"? I said sure and the rest was history. Every time he saw even a penny on the ground in the parking lot he would pick it up and put it in what had become CADENS JAR. He called people to request..." just a couple of dollars". My mom and dad jumped right in. Pat told people at work about it and his great friends (Wes & Sherry) sent Logan money for the jar as well. It was just WONDERFUL. So proud, he carried that great big jar in last night and gave it to Cadens mom. I had everything to do not to cry from the pride that was inside me that Logan could care so much for someone else at 4. So this Sunday, instead of talking about some great new product or a fun new project I just finished, I HONOR my LOGAN and thank God for this incredible boy he has added to my life. He is a loving and caring soul. I could take credit for it but if you know Logan, you know he was just born that way!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!

GLITTER A BIRD!

Oh yeah, I am feeling the love, aren't you? Here is my Valentine Gift Tag that I made to hang on my husbands dark chocolate Valentine Candy. I am a milk chocolate (with caramel inside) kind
of a girl. But the darker the chocolate the better for him. They say the dark is better for you. It may be true, but I will stick with my milk chocolate. So what do you think of my little tag here? I started with the large chipboard tag from my chipboard tag set and went wild from there. I love to ink the edges of projects. If all else fails, and you are really not that happy with what you just created, ink it. I love those little ink pads that you can just go around the edge quick with to give it that great look. On this one I used two different browns, one a light tan and the other a dark chestnut. It gives it more of a gradual staining over time look.
Well, I better get back to the creating thing I oh so love to do. The list seems to get longer by the minute and I am not totally keeping up with the ideas. Hope you enjoy this tag and get some inspiration to make something fun for the day of love yourself!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!

IN MY DAUGHTERS EYES

Today is December 8th. Most people celebrate Birthday's and Anniversaries. I celebrate the day I was RIGHT! As many of you know my oldest has Type 1 Diabetes. For months I took,at the time, a 6 year old little girl back and forth to a doctor that told me she was just fine and nothing was wrong. The entire time looking at me like I was a over worried mother. Not so. I knew that there was something wrong with a child that went from the corner cupboard to the bread drawer, and finished off at the fridge and never gained weight. She complained of her stomach hurting and headaches. I would tell the doctor and he would send me on my way. This began in September of 99' and went on this way until the morning of December 8th when I looked in the bedroom door and I could see all of her bones down her back as she was dressing for school. Not to mention the fact that she could barely stand there and get herself dressed.

Next mama bear kicked in. I grabbed her and baby Josh. Dropped Josh off at my moms and walked into the Peds office one more time. In my arms was a little girl that could hardly function and had no fat on her bones. She was 10 pounds less then just weeks before. I, in a very not nice voice said, somebody better tell me what is wrong with this child and stop blowing me off! They quickly got me out of the waiting room and in the back. Then it happened. With in all of 5 minutes, mine and Morgans life changed forever. The Doc looked at me and said I think you should sit down. I still to this day can't believe they actually say that in real life. Morgan was on the table and I in a chair when he said...Your daughters sugar reading is 576. We believe she has Diabetes and we need to decide if we should get her to Albany Med in a ambulance RIGHT NOW. I am not sure what my face looked like, but what ever it was Morgan could tell something was really wrong because she began to cry. I felt a tear roll down my face and in that moment I became the most strong, driven and in charge person ever. I told him he had done enough screwing up and to call Albany Med and tell them I was coming. I grabbed her up and it seemed like I flew there. In case you didn't know I LOVE to drive. I want to go to one of those race car schools for my 40th birthday. Not because I am into NASCAR or anything. Just because I grew up on motorcycles and speed and I love it. Haven't grown up yet in that department. Any who, we got to Albany Med and I left 7 hours later with all of these needles, insulin and a new life for me and Mo.

Here is the big BUT. But I can take care of my kid. I can test her sugar. Make sure her pump is functioning properly and that she is eating. I AM THE LUCKIEST MOM IN THE WORLD BECAUSE I CAN HELP MY GIRL. So many parents have other health issues with their children that they can't help with or fix. So if something had to be wrong then I am blessed. I will take the DIABETES DRAGON and I will slay it everyday. And as much as Morgan( now almost 15) fights me back, I will be here to kick her into gear and hold her up when it just becomes to hard some days. I can't imagine what it is like to be her but I can only hope that this makes her stronger. And that she realizes how incredible and important that she is to me and our family. She is my only girl and I wouldn't have it any other way. She is so lovely and giving and the best friend that a mom could ever have. So here is to our anniversary Morgan. The day I was right I hope you will always know was the day your mom and you took each others hand and went into the future together as one. You will never stand alone!

Create Something Fabulous Today!