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| Lately, I’ve been wanting to make a punch collage.
Ali Edwards’ inspired me by her examples, here and here. I have a friend, who also turns 40 this week, so I thought I would make something special for her 40th. My spin on this project, instead of filling the entire frame with punches, I included a set of her favorite verses from Psalm 139. I also alternated every other bird, using a 3D foam dot, to add some dimension to the page. Basically, other than the new frame, this was created simply using supplies from my scrap stash. VERY EASY and VERY ADDICTIVE! (I have all sorts of color combos and gift recipients in mind.) It’s so versatile too! You could use annnnny of your favorite punches, or even your favorite die cut machine. I haven’t given this to her yet, because we’ve been snowed-in….and I don’t think she visits my blog….so hopefully she will be surprised! Only 5 stinkin days till I turn 40!!!! |
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Category: new camera pix
craftiness all around me (day 6)
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| This little post is dedicated to the craftiness all around me!
By that, I mean, friends & family that have recently given me handmade birthday gifts!! Above is a scrapbook that my mom made for me! She has never scrapbooked, but she put together this album for my 40th, so that I can fill it in with many photos and embellishments from my party. She even admitted that she could see how scrapbooking could be addicting!!!! (yes!) Below, is, of course, homemade chocolate biscotti from my SIL! I have blogged about her biscotti many times. It is FABULOUS! She even altered an oatmeal container to store it in! Way to go, Jan! |
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| A few weeks ago, I tried to learn how to crochet little scrapbooking flowers…and failed miserably.
So, (probably out of pity–just kidding), my MIL and my nephew’s wife, Meagan, made me gobs of those little cuties!!! |
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| Lisa, my amazingly creative scrapper friend, made me a little mini album out of used gift cards!!!!!!!! She included pictures of us, family pics and of course, Starbucks stuff! Look at the cute little coffee cup paperclips that she bought on Etsy! She even gave me a few with my gift!!!! |
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| Amazing craftiness all around me….such an inspiration! Thanks everyone!!!!
6 days till 40! It’s getting closer! |
whatta surprise! (day 9)
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| WOW!
A surprise party…for me!??? Tonight my hubby, along with my son, parents, sister and in-laws, threw me a surprise party! For ME! I couldn’t believe it! I had a wonderful evening. Lots of family, and my best friend & her husband…lots of laughs…I had a great time. Above is a picture of my tiara & wand. Don’t all princesses need one? lol |
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| Above is a picture of my personalized M&M’s. We are an M&M family. There are ALWAYS M&M’s at any and all get-togethers. My parents are big fans of ordering personalized ones. These even had my baby picture on them! Too cute. |
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| My party was done in my favorite color combination…green/brown/pink. (It’s lovely to scrap too!)
All details were thought out. My favorite coffees were brewed. I really appreciate all of the planning and time that went into it. I am thankful for my family/friends that were willing to spend their Saturday evening with an old lady turning 40. I am truly blessed. |
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| I had a great time.
I feel really loved & blessed. I am so thankful for my family and friends… (more pictures to come….) (only 9 more days till I turn 40…maybe it will be ok after-all) |
the view from here (day 11)
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| …this is the view from my comfy chaise chair,
from under my favorite Steeler blanket, with my hot cup of coffee, (this week’s, @ home, brewing choice Seattle’s Best Creme Brulee) within reach, (along with my home phone, cell phone, tv remote and favorite chapstick)…. with my green laptop, camera & accessory bag at the end of my chair, and my fuzzy friend, Chewy, practically attached to me. (The picture below is awful, I know. As soon as Chewy hears the camera, he always moves….guess he’s camera-shy…argh) I think I have a case of the winter-blahs. I haven’t been feeling too inspired… I am hoping to accomplish lots of scrappy projects this weekend, PLUS my Studio Calico kit of the month should be coming tomorrow!!! (yippee!!) Oh, and I am looking forward to a new episode of this show & that show–TONIGHT! …11 days till I turn 40… |
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reverse mask (day 13)
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| I completed 2 double 12 x 12 layouts today.
And I tried 2 new techniques. This one is a reverse mask. Instead of spraying (misting) over the die cut letters, I simply removed the letters and layed the entire page over my layout. I moved the top page down slightly, so that there would be a stripe of mist across the top. As you can see in the picture below, I clipped the two sheets together so that it wouldn’t shift around. Above is the finished picture, once the top sheet was removed. |
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| Well, 13 days until I turn 40.
No inspiring “lesson” to share with you today…lol…what was I thinking when I started at 40?! hahahaha |
18th anniversary mini album (day 14)
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| Instead of a card, I made this mini album for my hubby…today we celebrate our 18th anniversary! |
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| Above left, are our senior pictures…1988/1989.
The right page is a picture of us at my senior banquet. I went to a Christian high school, so we didn’t have prom… Below, right are 2 pictures from when we were dating… |
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| Above is a picture of us on our 1st anniversary, (1993). We went to Red Lobster and then to see the movie “Matinee”…remember that movie??
Below is the actual computer-printed card that I gave to him on our 1st anniversary…I swiped it out of an old album that I had made. Remember those awful albums where you pulled the clear cover up and stuck the picture to the sticky page? I have many of those from the “early years” of my scrapbooking. |
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| Below left is a picture from our 1 month anniversary.
Below right is a picture of us from our 1st Easter, as a married couple….matching shirts! yikes! |
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| Above are 2 pictures of me when I was pregnant. (1993/1994) |
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| These few pictures were some of us over the last few years.
I used my vintage typewriter for the journaling. Some of the embellishments were cut on my Cricut Expression, (like this “kiss me”). |
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| (Side note: I tried to learn how to crochet these flowers–seen above–over the weekend, and failed miserably! Guess I will keep buying them at my LSS.) |
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| I love to give mini albums instead of cards.
Although I do enjoy making/giving cards, I really enjoy making mini albums as gifts. Minis are so fun & the options are endless! The “hubs” took the day off to spend alone with me. I love that. I love having him beside me as we carry on the tasks of the day. We ate lunch out, at our favorite Olive Garden….although, it wasn’t our typical good meal. It was ab.so.lute.ly. freeeeezing in there. A blower directly above our table. Ate most of my lunch with my winter coat on. (Bonus, my sister gave us at $25 gift card to O.G. for our anniversary!!!) We were cold, but the food was yummy. We also made a trip to Starbucks…had a GC from there too, leftover from Christmas from my son…so we got to enjoy our favorite drinks…thanks Nick! Other than that, we did a little of this & a little of that. So far it’s been a good day! Together. The 2 of us. This evening we will spend as a family. Maybe do something fun for dinner. Just enjoy being together. Happy Anniversary, honey! I love you! |
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on your heart (day 18)
categories: 40 till 40, new camera pix, severe peanut allergy, simply scrappin, tasty treats, Uncategorized
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| Ever wake up in the middle of the night and instantly someone comes to your mind, but you don’t understand why?
I believe that God has placed that person on your heart. What do I mean? I feel that it is a call to prayer. To action. God has placed that person on your heart, so that you can remember them in prayer. Maybe even send them a card in the mail, (or email or text). Or bake some cookies for them. Just to let them know YOU were thinking about THEM. Maybe they need encouraged. Maybe they are going through something and they feel all alone. They need to know they are loved. They need to feel God’s love…..maybe THROUGH YOU! I encourage you, the next time someone comes to your mind, out-of-the-blue, stop & whisper a prayer for them. You don’t need to know the details. God already knows. |
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| Today I baked some cookies. Snickerdoodles. (My hubby’s favorite.)
Plus God had placed someone on my heart that was having some physical problems, so I thought that maybe some homemade cookies would help sweeten their day. Here’s the yummy recipe for Betty Crocker Snickerdoodles. This is the recipe, plus my timing for using baking stones instead of cookie sheets: Ingredients:
Directions:
Yields: approx. 48 cookies *These cookies are peanut-free. |
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| Above is an altered clipboard that I made. It can be used to display a favorite photo or a t0-do list. |
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| I love wrapping homemade goodies in pretty cellophane. I also made this tag to match the card & clipboard.
Below is the finished “Warm Winter Wishes” set. Only 18 days till 40! |
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patience: not my virtue (day 26 & 25)
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| Well, as you can tell by the title of this post, Patience: not my virtue, I am not a patient person. At least not all of the time. Ok, not most of the time. Today proved that.
My blog was “down” for almost 24 hours and there wasn’t anything I could do, but wait. And wait. And wait. The company that “hosts” my blog had issues, so it was all in their hands. So, obviously, that is something that I need to continue to work on….maybe by my 50th birthday, I will be a patient person. Maybe not. I did find this quote online : “Patience is a virtue, Possess it if you can, Seldom found in woman, Never found in man” While I was forced to not blog, I decided to paper craft instead. |
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I had seen these little paper pads online a year or so ago and finally sat down and made some. Here’s how:
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| The above picture doesn’t really serve it justice. Because the sleeve is curved, when you prop it up, it looks messy…but I wanted to show you the inside. Pictured below is the back of the sleeve where your drink could have been customized & written here.
Mine wasn’t, so this was a great place for me to sign my initials. Easy Peasy. 25 till 40!! |
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He created the seasons (day 29)
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| I love winter!
I love snow and the way that it makes the earth look lovely. I love snuggling up under a warm blanket with a steaming hot cup of coffee. I love taking a drive or running errands while the tiny little flakes fall to the ground. Winter is definitely my favorite season. I love the fact that when God created the earth, He thought of the seasons. He thought of the transformations & changing that the earth could go through as time passes. I love the Creator, and I love His creations. Daniel 2: 21 says “He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…” I made the ATC pictured above for a “Favorite Season ATC” swap over on sistv.com. The little penguin was cut on my Cricut Expression. The stamped sentiment was from papertreyink.com. Only 29 days till I turn 40! |
2010 {stretch} (& day 35)
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| 2010 {stretch}
What will my “word for 2010” be? (one little word–inspired by ali edwards) In 2008, I began my new lifestyle of counting calories, working out, and getting healthy & strong. So, for 2009, I wanted to “refocus & renew”. Not on my physical, but my spiritual. As I began to think about my word for 2010…I finally decided upon “stretch”. I tried to think of a word that sums up how I want to live in 2010. (This goes along with my “40 till 40”, not as lessons learned, but learning.) How does the word stretch apply?
What’s your ‘word’ for 2010? |