Howdy.

Remember me? It's been a while, but I'm just a workaholic these days - and I'm finding that exhaustion is a killer of creativity. I did fly away last week for a little break - went to visit my sis. I spent lots of time in the air, and kept getting myself window seats - but I didn't plan things very well - 2 of the 3 flights, I found myself looking at the wing...

I still have that nasty kink in my neck from looking backwards, but I do so love to watch the world go by from the air... Trying to celebrate my favorite season the best I can, but you'd be surprised how hard it is to find the few little items I need to embellish. I'm giving up on the one, but here's a little something that I did last month...

October is flying by and the leaves are already turning in the valley - which means they have already peaked on the mountain, and it's too late to go for that ride... Hubby's been away for 3 full weeks working, but he's home now. Hopefully for good. Already told him that's not going to happen again. I'm going with next time! Sorely in need of some fun! Happy Fall! ,

Would it be

...Too shocking if I posted something here? It's been an awfully long time. It's really hard to find the time to be crafty any more - when I have a day off, my "to do" list is a mile long... But I let the dishes sit one day, and worked up a couple of things. This first card is one that I started for Father's day - got interrupted, and didn't get finished in time. For once, I'll be early for next year. =)

I bought this 6x6 paper pad ages ago, (Teresa Collins) thinking I could do some pretty French looking designs, but I soon realized that I have no idea what French style is... It didn't turn out like I wanted to - I had something entirely different in mind, but it didn't want to be that. It fought me until I let it have it's way and express it's own style. Hey - maybe there's a little French in it after all! (Just kidding :-D )

Dedicating this post to Rachel, who, I think, is the only person who hasn't completely given up on me. :-) .

Bliss

Miraculously, I had a weekend off, and found a few minutes to play.
Just a couple of cards in springy colors to remind me that nature won't stay dead looking forever.

It's been a strange winter here, hardly any winter at all, but if I've learned one thing from living in this area all my life, it's that you don't try to outsmart Mother Nature.
No planting flowers until May!





I've become a Pintrest junkie this past month. It's been an interesting experience - I'm finding that there are so many beautiful places in this big wide world - and I want to see them ALL while I still have eyes to see!

I didn't marry a traveler though, he's perfectly content to sit on the couch in front of his big screen TV. I'll have to find a travel buddy in my old age! (Someone with a HUGE bank roll, preferably.) :-)

Anyway, if you want a sensory overload, go to Pintrest and type "color" in the search engine. Wow - beautiful and fun stuff!
One of my favorite things is these color schemes from photos. There are hundreds of them there! I can't wait to start playing with these...

Source: photocardboutique.com via Pat on Pinterest

Source: amillionmemoriesblog.blogspot.com via Pat on Pinterest

Spread the Love

I've been thinking of the month of January as a very unproductive month, but I started tallying up the things I got done, and I guess it wasn't too shabby after all.

I did 26 scrapbook pages, 10 cards, a mini album, plus I read 5 novels.

I know, I'm a little amazed myself! LOL!

What's more, all those pages ran me up a total cost of about $8.00.
I had to buy adhesive and a few sheets of card stock, but all other supplies came out of my stash.

Feeling rather good about that...

Here are a few more Valentines I put together - I totally fell in love with these papers! I'll have to stock up on them when the paychecks start coming again. :-)
(I got called back to work last week.)

I'll probably add some little rub-on sentiments before I give them away...







Someone introduced me to Pintrest this week, so if I seem to drop off the face of the earth, look for me there - that's probably where I am!
(It's so addicting!)
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Be Fruitful...

Once in a while, I try.

Spent some time crafting this week - and a good thing too!
I'll be going back to work soon, (good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise,) and days spent playing with paper will run short again.

My daughter in law made me this cute album for Christmas,
and I finally got some photos to put in it.
It sure was fun scrapping this way - all the creative stuff was done already, I just had to add pictures! I loved it!
(I'll add journaling soon.)

Today's fruits;

All I added to the cover were the number stickers...


I hired a crew to decorate the tree this year - they worked for hugs & cookies.


I had told the girls I would make them Christmas dresses, but when I started working, I didn't have the time.
So instead, I took them each on a "grandma date" (separately,) and let them try on as many as they wanted. Then I took them out to eat.
It was lots of fun!
These are the dresses they chose:


Santa shots from grandma's annual party. She had a really hard time this year without grandpa, but she carried on the tradition.





Christmas Eve was our little gathering for the immediate family, and what a memorable night it was! The girlies all had stomach flu, and took turns running to the bathroom to throw up.


Last year, our town started the tradition of letting people set up lights and candles at the cemetery on Christmas Eve. It was freezing cold, but we did our part.

A couple of shots of Christmas morning, and that about wraps it up... (ha ha)


This is what the book looks like from the top when it's fully open;


I also did some little Valentine cards for the grans - I'll put them in glassine bags with a few sweet treats...





That's it for now - got to finish up those Disneyland pictures before life gets crazy busy again.

Later.
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Chasin' the Blues Away

When I'm down in the dumps, the best thing I can do to improve my mood is to craft something.

I've been this way forever.

Years ago, I used to be a tole painter - I would head for the basement any time I was angry, upset, or just feeling blue, and paint the night away.

I used to romanticize this by comparing myself to an oyster - taking all the little irritants in life, and creating something beautiful out of them.
(Pollyanna syndrome.)

Anyway, it's been a cold gloomy week, and all kinds of things have gone wrong, so yesterday I put up the craft table, popped the Gilmore Girls in the DVD player, and indulged myself in some crafty therapy.

Good for what ails you.

Before I knew it, the whole family was right there with me.



Here's the result...

This card has been lurking in the back of my mind for a week or more.
Geraniums always make me think of my mom.
She often had them growing in the window sills at home. They are such bright cheery colors - I can still smell them...


This one gave me a really hard time.
I had something completely different in mind when I started it, but it had a ideas of it's own.
We battled it out for a while, but it won...


Lastly, this little puppy came together almost all by itself.
Effortless.



I've been busy scrapbooking lately too - documenting that Disney trip.
I'll post pictures of that project when I finish, (and when I get a better grip on using my new camera indoors.) :-)

Thanks for the visit!
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