Looking Back…

Ok, thanks May. You’ve got me looking back at the boys’ books, looking for those magical pages. I love doing that, but I honestly should be working on stuff for a crop I am going to tomorrow night. (See you all at Memories and Beyond in Downers Grove…)

Anyway, I found this page. It is one of my favorites. It’s simple, but fun. I used Making Memories foam stamps and paint, DCWV cardstock (my favorite because it has the white core for distressing), and what I think were Paper Bliss stickers. I edited the photo with Photoshop.

So you are probably wondering why there are monkeys on a page with a kid in a Bears outfit. Well, Owen has all giraffe stuff and Jake has all monkey stuff. He is our little monkey and so I used monkeys - simple enough.

jakey monkey.jpg

Scrap your love.

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I love my UPS man.

I love to get things in the mail! I feel like a kid on Christmas. Even when I know what my box contains, there is just something about opening that package. You should have seen me when I had my store, every visit from the UPS man (Oh, I loved him) or the FedEx man had me dancing around my store. There was no waiting in a dignified manner, I had to open it right there, right then; most of the time making a mess. Oh, how I miss it.

Today the UPS man left a small but exciting package for me. I ordered The Art and Flair of Mary Blair. I can’t wait to read it and look at all of the beautiful artwork. I don’t know why but her stuff just makes me feel good. I think it must have something to do with the fact that it’s all her artwork that you see on the It’s a Small World ride at Disneyland…

mary blair 2.jpg mary blair.jpegmary blair 1.jpg

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Breaking out the good stuff

I am guilty. I hold onto my favorite photos, memorabilia, and even craft supplies. But I’m getting better because the thing is then when I flip through my albums I am not seeing those photos, memories, and stories. These are the things I want to see; the things that make me smile. So now I try hard to challenge myself to use the “good” supplies, don’t be afraid of the great photos, and just be free to create whatever I want, as long as it comes from the heart.

 Little one

Here is a page I just made {paper and heart stickers are from Heidi Grace, rub-ons Basic Grey, flower Heidi Swapp} with photos I treasure, and the foot prints of my daughter from the hour she was born. {her info is blurred in this photo because it said too much for my comfort}  It’s hard to believe that over a year has already passed… in some ways I miss those days of the baby who was content to sleep all the time. Now the page didn’t come out quite how I hoped, and yes I probably could have done “better”, but that’s not what matters. I preserved a memory (hidden journaling) that I will treasure always… and that’s all that matters.

Note: Krylon makes a great “make it acid free” spray for those items that aren’t. I used it on the foot-print paper because I don’t know if it is or not.

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ER

It would be so nice if all ER docs looked like George Clooney - it would sure make the wait worth while.  Today I got the boys home, we were in the door less than 30 seconds and Jacob had gotten sick all over the living room floor.  He was running a fever of 103.5 and was lethargic.  He is the most active baby under the sun, so I was concerned.  I did the mom thing and called the doctor.  They sent me to the ER, where we spent 3 hours waiting to find out that he has an ear infection and the croup.  Lots of fun.  I was sitting there, actually standing there because he refused to let me sit down, thinking there is probably nothing wrong with him and that I am making him miserable for nothing.  I feel horrible that he is sick, and yet, after all that waiting and not seeing anyone remotely like George, I felt glad that I took him.  By the time we left, his fever had broken and he was giggling in the car.  I think that he was really just looking for some time alone with mommy without Owen butting in.  Poor kid. 

My family.  My love.

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~ What’s for Dinner? ~

One quick recipe + a little planning = more time for scrapping

Need a little extra time to get a project or layout or two done? Itching for some creative ‘you’ time? Here’s one of my secrets.  About 15 min. prep time.  Enjoy!

Quick BBQ Fajitas

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips

1 med. each green and red peppers cut into strips

1 medium onion, cut into thin wedges

1/2 cup barbeque sauce

8 Flour tortillas warmed

1 cup shredded cheese (any kind - you choose)

1/2 cup salsa

1/4 cup sour cream

Preheat grill to medium.  Mix chicken and vegies with bbq sauce.  Let stand/marinate for 5 minutes.  Poke holes in bottom of 13×9 inch disposable foil roasting pan with a fork.  Place chicken and vegies in pan.  Place pan on grill and cover grill with a lid or foil.  Cook/grill chicken and vegies in pan for about 15-20 min or until chicken is done and vegies are crisp.  Stir occassionally.  Spoon mix into tortillas, add cheese, sour cream and salsa.  Roll up.  Makes a serving for four.  Adios to dinner and Hola to scrap time!

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Making my plans!

I love planning things. Always have, probably always will! Because I am such a nerd I created (Excel) and printed myself out this calendar for the rest of ’06. It’s exciting to see everything all laid out on my kitchen counter like this. (where it is sitting, and I adjust/add just about every time I walk by!) In case you are wondering WHY I printed it out (even though we have a HUGE family calendar and I have a weekly planner) it’s so I can figure out my plan of action and change it 100 times without 4 bottles of white-out! {Ok, and I LOVE playing with fonts and word art…}

WHEN can I visit scrapbook stores, attend crops, and teach classes?

WHERE will I be going?

HOW am I going to fit it all in and still keep a balanced family life?

No worries- I’ll get there. For now I’m brainstorming some SWEET class, make ‘n take, and crop ideas and getting ready for the launch of the Fiskateers. It’s exciting stuff, and I am really enjoying the ride!

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~ Among the Living ~

Greetings world.  Yes, I’m among the living.  I had some down time and may be a little slow for the upcoming couple/few weeks but I’m so thankful and excited to be here.  I had some surgery and anticipate a bit of time to recover but the down time always helps me reflect and count my blessings.  I’m so thankful for such wonderful support from my family, friends, church family, and Brains on Fire and Fiskars family through this all.  It’s been a bit hard physically with some setbacks and sometimes emotionally tough . . . just being real here but I am so thankful.  So thankful.  Did I tell you I’m thankful?  Thankful for so many things.   Thank you too for the flowers, phone calls, visits, cards, thoughts, prayers . . . Thank you for your love and support!

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Procrastination

Nothing like waiting ’till the last minute! This morning I got a call from a friend- could I help her make a scrapbook for her son? Of course!

It’s going to be a graduation present. When is graduation, you ask. In two days! Needless to say, there isn’t much I have done today except make hasty, yet still attractive scrapbook pages.

I think I may have set a personal record, I made 17 12×12 layouts in about 7 hours. I would love to include pictures of these fabulous quick pages, but my camera was stolen this weekend. Next order of business; figure out a way to get another digital camera. Hmmm, do you think the camera fairy exists?

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Dreaming of Heidi Grace…

My friend Angela Daniels (Reno, NV- soon to be a Fiskateer I’m sure!) sent me this e-mail:

May,

I am clearly obsessed with all the new Heidi Grace products.  I keep telling everyone how I DREAMED about a layout after seeing the paper at CHA.  Well I FINALLY got the paper and made this layout.  I just think it’s so cute, I have to share with someone!

Angela's mermaid page

So how cute is this??? She cut up the paper with her circle punch to make this AMAZING mermaid-esque page. I am totally in love with it, and I can’t wait to scrap-lift her. I love that there is someone else out there who is totally ga-ga over Heidi’s stuff. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. Thanks for sharing the love Angela!!! =)

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Thank you

Owen is moving on up to the two year old room at Kindercare!  Aaarrgghhhh….  My baby is growing up way too fast.  This move, however, did give me the opportunity to create a little Thank You gift for the teachers he is leaving behind.  We have been very blessed with the teachers that our boys have had.  They are only there two days a week, but they are always cared for in a way that makes me feel okay about leaving them behind while I venture into the work force.  On the days I struggle with this more, they are always understanding and comforting.  Here is my thank you to them…

thank you box.jpg

Because of your love, I scrap.

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