April 30, 2010

FRIDAY FAVES - Piradee Talvanna

This layout by Piradee Talvanna featuring Lily Bee's Vintage Poppy Collection totally rocks my socks off! I adore the cut outs...just amazing!!

You can check out the full Vintage Poppy Collection here.

You can see more of Piradee's work on her blog.

April 29, 2010

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - We're all just people

HAPPINESS:  It has turned into a gorgeous spring in Wisconsin.  I am loving every moment of sunshine!  A couple of weeks ago Hubby, my son and I went for a walk to a nearby nature conservancy.  As you can see, things are still budding around here. 

We heard lots of tree frogs (couldn't see them) and saw a turtle swimming in the pond.  We couldn't stay long.  Found out a few days later that my son had a tick on his head.  We were able to remove it and so far he does not show any signs of Lyme's disease.

We also went to see the Glen Gerard Magic Show.  This is our second year going to see him perform on behalf of our local Crime Stoppers.  He is amazing.  My son is really getting into magic lately and Glen was nice enough to show him how to do the card appearing in your hand trick and how to make a ball disappear from your hand.  I thought it was so cool for him to share his knowledge with my little guy!
I volunteered my Hubby for one of the tricks:

SADNESS:  Bret Michaels from the 80's band Poison suffered a hemorrhage in his brain stem last week.  I haven't followed his career since high school but he certainly touched my life in the teenage years.  Things are still touch and go but it looks like he'll pull through.  Thank God.  Is it only me who cries over these things?

Also, Wednesday as I was on my way into work my niece Kayla's song "Raw and Real" came on my MP3 player.  I had to take several deep breaths to literally keep myself from bawling.  I love this girl.  I admire her strength and honesty.  I just wish her mom were here to share it with us.  Then again, Kayla probably wouldn't be singing now if it hadn't been for losing her mom.  I believe everything happens for a reason.

THOUGHTS:  I came across this article "Justin Bieber Mania Continues as His Mom is Knocked Down" and just couldn't believe the hysteria surrounding a "star."  I have never gotten that level of excitement over another human being, not even my husband.  Of course I have a list of celebrities I'd love to meet and I'd be excited but to swarm another human being, or take away their privacy with the way they are relentlessly touched, stalked and photographed just because they are "famous."  I don't get it.

There is little that separates "them" from "us."  We all start out the same.  It is what we do with our lives that determines our potential outcome.  In the celebrity world it is also important how much money you have, who you know and what you look like.  Do those factors really measure one's value to society?  I don't think so.

One thing I do know is that who you surround yourself with is of your own choosing.  Whether you are "famous" or not you will struggle with the same internal demons or perhaps even to a greater extent when those extra pressures of living up to another's standards are placed upon you.  Life is a journey--be happy with who you are. 

CONFESSION:   Since my last update I have been guilty of not only watching but enjoying "Tori & Dean: Inn Love."  Ack, I said it.

April 27, 2010

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

This first card I made for my husband and liked it so much I recreated it to sell in my shop.  It's so hard to find good masculine birthday cards!   Click here for more pictures or to purchase.
And a new Thinking of You card.  Isn't the crocheted flower gorgeous??  Click here for more pictures or to purchase.


April 23, 2010

FRIDAY FAVES - Smashbox Cosmetics

Several weeks ago I mentioned splurging on some Smashbox cosmetics.  Well, I've been so pleased that I needed to add a few of these to my Friday Faves.  Interestingly enough two of my new FAVES were samples that I chose and now MUST HAVE THEM.


First sample was of the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36).  I chose this as my last sample just because it was the only one I hadn't selected yet.  This is a product I would never think necessary for me.  I am very natural with my makeup and less is more.  But this primer made my skin feel so smooth, even smoother than a baby's skin, and it allowed my makeup to just glide on.  It felt like I didn't need to use as much makeup because of this flawless primer.  It also makes my skin smell wonderful.  It's pricey, but I highly recommend it!


Next was another sample I chose - the Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer ($30).  My sample came in Luminous.  I apply a pea sized amount to my face and it looks like I spent the afternoon in the sun.  A lovely luminous glow brightens my whole face.  If I was in a hurry I could just apply this and feel gorgeous.  This is my favorite product so far!


Lastly I ordered the full sized Blush Rush Blush in Paradise ($24).  Paradise is described as a "warm golden apricot."  It goes on smoothly and complements my skin tone so nicely.  I think the golden shimmer also adds some wonderful radiance to my face. 

As I mentioned when I purchased these products, I do not typically spend this kind of money on my makeup.  I can go without makeup and feel just fine so why spend a fortune on my makeup?  After giving these a try however, I must say that they are all worth the price and make me look forward to applying my makeup every day.  Also, if you register and order online (www.smashbox.com) you can earn Pretty Points to apply toward future purchases and all orders come with free samples.  You end up getting quite a bit more for your money.

April 20, 2010

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

UPDATE: This kit has been sold.


I listed a gorgeous kit called "Simply Sweet."  I love the bright spring colors!!  For more pictures, a listing of the contents or to purchase, please click here.

April 19, 2010

USE YOUR STASH - Stitches, Tags, Scalloped Border, Ribbon

I love the way this layout came together.  Much of this layout contains new product but I mixed in some older stuff too.

The Bazzill scalloped border along the top, the stitches sticker on top of that (Cloud 9 Design), the rub on stick underneath my title (Hambly), the ribbon, and the tag were all in my stash.

New:  Patterned Papers (Studio Calico), Flowers (American Crafts), Die Cuts (October Afternoon)

Title:  Always Bee Happy
The tag color is much more vibrant but the crochet flower was quite lumpy and gave shadows to my scanned image.

April 16, 2010

FRIDAY FAVES - Cute Product Packaging



I love the whimsical designs on these products. I'm not much of a doodler, but these just make me want to draw cute stuff!

Make sure you check out the full blog post at the DieLine for more cute pics!

April 12, 2010

USE YOUR STASH - Patterned Paper, Puffy Thickers, Rub Ons, Circle Tags

This layout has a mixture of old and new.  My challenge here was to use some of the puffy Thickers that I have.  Frankly, I find the color of these quite obnoxious and have been fighting throwing them out altogether.  I found that by adding them on to like-colored patterned paper it really toned down the vibrancy and bold statement that these Thickers make.

Also old, patterned paper scraps, green and brown from my stash, rub ons to create the title and flower accent near title and some circle tags (there's actually three there layered on top of each other).

Title:  He Makes My Heart Sing


April 9, 2010

FRIDAY FAVES - Paper Inspiration

Caught this post on Design*Sponge a few weeks ago and it gave me so many ideas! Wouldn't this be lovely for a girl's birthday party or a baby shower? Pastel butterflies all over the place...sweetness! Check out the post for more pics!

April 8, 2010

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - I don't know whether to laugh or cry

I have to start this off with the big excitement for the week.  A few days ago Hubby decided to give my son a buzz cut since (a) it's getting warmer and (b) he doesn't take care of his hair.  So it went well and he looked great.  The next night while in the shower my son got the bright idea to pick up one of his sister's razors and use it on his head.  He said he didn't think it would cut his hair, but surprise, it did...a lot.  I am thankful he didn't cut himself.

What this picture doesn't show is a patch about an inch behind this strip that is also bald, making a nice stripe over most of the top of his head.

We didn't have time to fix this last night so he went to school looking like this today.  Thankfully his day went well despite the new hairdo.  Our only option would be to shave his head completely, but for now, he wants to keep it like this.  I think he believes his hair will suddenly grow back not realizing how long it will take.  I feel so bad every time I look at him, but I also can't stop laughing about it.  I know that this will be something we'll laugh about for years to come. 

This past weekend we went roller skating.  I have been wanting to skate for a long time and we finally got out to do it.  I hadn't been on skates for, oh, about 20 years I'd guess and it was ROUGH at the beginning.  I mean, like I couldn't even take a step in skates. 

I had my daughter help me get onto the rink and then I skated back and forth up and down the wall until I felt comfortable enough that I wasn't going to fall down.  It wasn't going to well, but I decided to just bite the bullet and skated away from the safety of teh wall.  Once I got going I actually got comfortable on the skates quite quickly and only fell down three times in three hours...not too bad!  My son, however, fell down about 40 times.  Poor guy. 

One of my falls was a nasty one that resulted in me skidding along on my right knee resulting in a large 1" blood blister along with some bruising.  I sat out for about 15 minutes with ice on it, and iced it again when I got home.  It hurt for a few days but it was nothing serious. 

Easter was fabulous.  I'd bought the kids some small gifts, a Cadbury egg for each of us (LOVE those things!) and flip flops and a toy for each of the kids.  My son got a Matchbox semi truck and my daughter got some cute little socks and a Chinese jump rope.  I bought hubby a Bop It.  We ate at Old Country Buffet for breakfast, mainly because we didn't have a lot of time before church. 

The sermon at church was really meaningful to me, talking about how God not only forgives us our sins, but also "forgets" about them.  As in, he doesn't dwell on them or bring them back up after we've asked for forgiveness.  If I learned to apply that to my own life I'd be so much happier with myself.  I tend to dwell on the negative things and it has never served me well.  If only I could let it go...so yeah, it was meaningful.

After church we had lunch at my brother's house and celebrated my niece's 17th birthday.  We bought her a ducky Pez dispenser and a hula hoop!  I also gave her some money, but that's so lame.  I always like to give presents if I can.  I had some interesting political discussions with my parents and brother (typically I avoid this topic) and honestly, we've never been much in the way of communication so any lengthy conversation is unusual and a pleasant surprise.  So all in all it was quite a nice afternoon.

Hubby's dad and wife came up later that afternoon and we ordered pizza.  FIL, the kids and I played Wii bowling while Hubby gave MIL a massage to help her get over some serious pain and tension.  We ended the evening by watching Evan Almighty on TV.

Till next week...spring showers are bringing flowers!

April 7, 2010

WEDNESDAY WORDS - The bathroom

Here's a snippet of my writing this week:
The vomiting made my throat raw but it did nothing to distract me from the emptiness I felt inside.  I sat with my knees drawn up and my head in my hands.  The emptiness enveloped me and I began to rock back and forth until the soothing rhythm of my own weight shifting forward and back mesmerized my weakened mind.  It was a motion my body knew well and my mind greeted eagerly, knowing that the desire to eat and purge would be temporarily abated with this simple task.  A coping mechanism my therapist had called it.

My thoughts teased and taunted me as I sat.  Why has Richard left me all alone on New Years Eve of all nights?  Am I so terrible?  Is this a sign of the end for us?  The “why” seemed to echo all around me.  I didn’t have the answer and didn’t want to have one.  I pushed the thoughts down again in an effort to maintain a shred of self control.  Coping?  Hardly, I thought, as soft cries began to erupt from the baby’s room.  It was time to be mom again.
Title: Jagged Mirror
Word Count:  7556

April 6, 2010

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

I have a couple new kits listed in my shop.  Please click on the links for more details and photos or to purchase.

Travel With You My Friend Kit (only papers shown here)
Simply Sweet Kit (only papers shown here)


April 5, 2010

USE YOUR STASH - Doodling Templates, Patterned Paper Scraps, Buttons, Thickers

I'm taking a much harder look at my supplies lately and have changed my approach to using my stash.

First of all, I have randomly grabbed things from my bins and determined to use them up completely or throw them away if I can't.

Secondly, I am placing all of my tiny bits that for whatever reason don't get used on one project into a small container on my desk and each time I scrap that is where I look first for embellishments.  Whatever doesn't get used by the end of the month either gets put into a future kit or thrown away.

And thirdly, any products that I do not use from my Studio Calico kits each month get set aside to be put into a kit and sold in my shop.  (That's great news for my kit buyers because you'll be seeing lots more new releases!)

This week's stash challenge is a product of my first two statements.  The buttons were pulled randomly from my stash.  The patterned paper was taken from my scrap bin.  The Hambly overlay, phrase stickers and doodling template were just laying on my desk.  The orange vinyl Thickers I've never cared for but didn't have the heart to throw them away got used here, and then I did throw them out.  The cardstock was a leftover from a card I'd made recently.  The vellum star was in that little container on my desk.  When all was said and done the only things I pulled out specifically for this layout were the cardstock, pink Thickers and the BasicGrey letter stickers.  Pretty awesome I'd say and even better?  I actually like the way this layout turned out!

Title:  Enjoy Each Moment
By the way, this is my niece, Kayla, singing at Smiles this past August.

April 2, 2010

FRIDAY FAVES - Kimmithy Achord

I adore this layout from Kimmithy Achord using the Studio Calico Anthology line. Isn't it just bright and juicy??

You can check out her blog post with a close up here.

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