January 30, 2012

LAYOUT SHARE: Claire in the Box

I created this layout just for fun.  I used a few elements from Studio Calico kits, the striped paper, the chipboard ribbon and the chipboard alphas, and the little strips of hexagon patterned paper was cut from a card included in the kit box.  
Title:  Claire in the Box


January 27, 2012

FABULOUS FINDS - Feeling Sunny

After two weeks of winter-themed finds, I am ready to sink my toes into the sand and soak in the sunshine.  I am not sure I could pull off this look but I sure do love the bright, whimsical pattern.
From Anthropologie for $48.00.

January 23, 2012

LAYOUT SHARE: "Houdini Shirt Removal"

Title:  Houdini Shirt Removal
I am trying to use up some of my old stash.  This layout includes several BasicGrey stickers, Stampin Up buttons and very old photos of my daughter (circa Aug. 1999).

Journaling says:  Faster than the blink of an eye

January 20, 2012

FABULOUS FINDS: Winter Jack Apple Punch

Just came across this on the Design*Sponge blog. 

Haven't been a Jack Daniels drinker for years but this sounds yummy!  Toasty toes and rosy cheeks here I come!  Ha ha!


January 19, 2012

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Chugging Along

Well, the past two weeks have not been as fulfilling as they could have been and that's why I skipped posting last week.  I feel like my life has been very routine and boring.  Nothing wrong with that, just not interesting to read about on a blog.

Along with that, do you ever have days (weeks?) that you and your significant other just do not "click."  That has been me the past two weeks.  Not that we were fighting, but we didn't exactly get along either.  

On Sunday I felt like my Hubby was really working against me.  A new Bible study had just started on the book of Revelations.  The Bible study would have been a new and interesting experience for us.  We needed to leave the house a little over an hour earlier than we would normally for our church service and I knew this would be a challenge for the four of us.  

But that morning we were doing fine getting ready, though the kids were grumbling, when Hubby vocalized his opinion that "I (he) have better things to do" and "you can study the Bible at home" and things similar to that.  I told him politely that if he didn't want to go that would be fine, just drop me off and go do something else for an hour.  Of course that obvious answer didn't solve the problem because he kept picking at my desire to go and did attend with me.  Afterward his comments were "We don't have the materials" and "we didn't sign up ahead of time"  I offered to talk to Pastor Mike (the study leader) about it but I was sure that it wasn't too late to join in.  But, no, once we found a seat for church Hubby still kept on his grumpy face and I didn't want to put up with it anymore so I said that I was going to go back downstairs where the Bible study had taken place and see if I can find someone to give me a ride in the future so he didn't have to waste his time with the Bible study.  Of course he wasn't pleased with this solution at all and continued to make comments.  When I returned he immediately said "you're going to look really stupid when you have to call them and let them know you don't need a ride."  I ignored him.  I hadn't found a ride, but I did get several people to get in touch with so I was confident a ride could be found.  

Later that afternoon one of the church members called me and said she'd spoken to someone who was willing to give me a ride and gave me their phone #.  I haven't called them yet, and I haven't told Hubby that I have someone who can give me a ride.  

I am positive that he will not want me to get a ride and will go along with me instead but, really, what fun will it be to go through 10 more weeks of this when he obviously isn't supportive of it?  

You know what the kicker is?  The church sermon dealt with the importance of reading and knowing the Bible and bringing faith into our home.   Couldn't have been more appropriate.  

It is also the current lesson in my daughter's catechism class.  The pastor discussed God as our father and how he cares for us.  Then he asked my daughter, what does your Dad do that your Mom doesn't do and do you know what she said??  She said "watch TV!"  Can you believe that?  Really, I do watch TV.  I just do not watch any series, and could go days without turning it on, if it were just me in the house.  

So that's my current life in a nutshell.  Uncertainty, poor communication, irritation, and monotony.  I am positive next week will be better.  :o)

PS - One other thing that is super exciting, TWO of our baby chicks laid their first eggs yesterday!!  They are a really pretty peach color.  I will have to take a picture.  How coincidental is it that they both started on the same day?  And our one older chick who lays nearly every day did not lay one yesterday!  I think she was probably totally confused as to why the nesting boxes were no longer all hers.  This morning she laid a huge one. 


January 16, 2012

LAYOUT SHARE: Beautiful Girl

Title:  Beautiful Girl
This is my niece who I think the world of.  Isn't she beautiful?  A few custom elements in this page.  I printed that hummingbird from clip art and watercolored it.  I also stamped the library card tucked behind my title.  I also used one of my signature butterflies in the bottom left-hand corner.

The only "old" supply on this layout is the little Making Memories label tucked into the border near the photo.  The rest is from recent Studio Calico kits.

January 15, 2012

MOXIE FAB - Use Your Punch in an Interesting Way Challenge

I created two cards for the Moxie Fab card challenge utilizing punches. 

"You're Special" utilized a cupcake punch and a circle punch.  The little cupcake bottoms were run through a paper crimper to mimic a real paper cup liner.


The second card "Birthday Wishes" uses a circle punch through some bold stripe patterned paper that was backed with solid cardstock.




January 13, 2012

FABULOUS FINDS - Virtual Snow

It is an odd winter here in Wisconsin...we have only had one snowfall that accumulated on the ground so far this winter and melted soon after.  We typically have snow on the ground until spring but not this year.  No white Christmas, no snow storm on New Year's.  


I thought this was a very creative way to add some winter to your home.  
which I found on Mary's blog.  Isn't she a wonderful crafter?


The original project instructions can be found on Paper Zone.  Fabulous!

January 8, 2012

LAYOUT SHARE - "Devil's Lake, Wisconsin"

Title: Devil's Lake Wisconsin
I still need to finish the journaling on this one.  Will put a few words in the half circle just beneath the border strip.

I used up an old rub on and label stickers on this one.  Those label stickers were from Making Memories I believe and I LOVE them.  

January 5, 2012

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Welcome 2012!

2012. 

Each day seems to pass by faster than the last and I wish everything would just slow down.  However, each day I grow wiser, calmer and more appreciative of my life, family and inner strength.  I love my life just the way it is.  This moment.  Today.

I am trying to pull those feelings from my heart and appreciate each moment as it comes.  That is my January "experiment" and I am going to share those results here.  I have come to realize that I am really good at letting life happen around me and not so good at making it happen.  Here's some of the highlights from this past week.

New Year's Eve ended up being low key.  Hubby has been working a ton and got two late appointments that afternoon while I went and had my hair colored (yay girl time!).  We ended up going out to eat at the Olive Garden.  It was a long wait to get a table so I enjoyed a lovely glass of Riesling - one of my favorite varieties.  After dinner we went home and watched Pirates of the Caribbean:  On Stranger Tides.  The ball dropped in New York about 20 minutes later and then the kids and Hubby went off to bed.  I stayed up until the music note dropped in Nashville (Wisconsin's actual 2012).  They let off fireworks and my heart rejoiced and I clapped my hands and thought...hello 2012.  I am so ready for you!

Sunday Hubby and I had a grocery date.  I've so enjoyed being able to do the grocery shopping and letting the kids stay at home.  Hubby and I have made it special by stopping for coffee before hand (a treat for both of us) and making it a fun time rather than a chore.  We bought a raspberry pie for dessert that night and I made fresh whipped cream.  Another treat.  (I've also come to realize that a lot of my pleasures in life revolve around food and drinks...).  After the kids went to bed Hubby and I celebrated the new year with a bottle of sparkling Muscato and local gourmet chocolates in front of the fireplace and played Yaht-zee and Bop It until 1 in the morning. 

Monday was a holiday for me.  I slept until 9:00 AM (VERY late for me!) while Hubby made homemade blueberry pancakes.  I did some scrapbooking and cleaning and organizing around the house.  I watched a ton of reality TV--Food Network and TLC.   Enjoyed a nice quiet day.

Tuesday I came home to homemade French onion soup that my Hubby made from scratch (broth and all) following Julia Child's cookbook recipe.  He even stopped to get fresh bread from the bakery (I could have eaten the whole loaf...YUM!)  My daughter had confirmation class that night so we dropper her off and stopped at Panera to grab some coffees and do some reading while we waited for her. 

Wednesday I went out to lunch with a coworker (more girl time...hello!) and had a nice quiet day otherwise.  Spent the evening listing some things in my shop and some computer work.  Right now (as I type) I'm enjoying a yummy Rum-Chata over ice. 

None of these things are wild but they are all special occurrences in my life and to think that almost every day contained some sort of treat makes me a very happy woman. 
I'd say my experiment is going well, but not as good as I'd like it to.  I want to focus more on appreciating my Hubby and getting in touch with those that are near and dear to me that I haven't spoken to in awhile. 

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