Friday, January 31, 2014

DREAM a little bigger

I think we should ALL do that!

This is for Unity's Friends with Flair (as I'm running out the door to spend the night with one of my besties, Wendy!)

Inks - CloseToMyHeart Hydrangea, Pacifica, Lagoon & Tim Holta Peeled Paint

Sprayed with ShimmerzPaints 4 Leaf Clover

Stamps - Unity Stamp Co. Layers of Life Dream a little bigger

Embossed using Winter White from Stampin' Up with Top Boss

a little Gesso on the background stamp (also from this set)

Sentiment stamped using StazOn Black

Key from MyMind'sEye Bits & Pieces Stella & Rose

Seam Binding

Friday, January 24, 2014

true beauty comes from within




Just Add Ink #99 is a great sketch utilizing circles which I'm also using for Unity Stamp Co.'s Friends with Flair

I received my awesomely amazing Unity Layers of Life kit on Monday & hadn't even opened the poor thing.  Its just been sitting here on my desk, making me drool every time I looked at it

Today was my day!





this is the before of the "blank" card base






Printed Cardbase - My Mind's Eye Meadow Lark

Colored with Tim Holtz Distress Stain

Birds - Unity Stamp Co. Layers of Life Dream a Little Bigger (two smaller birds) & Unity Stamp Co. KOM 11-13 Strength & Dignity

Ink - Memento Black plus First Card - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen (background) & Second Card - Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans & Chipped Sapphire (background); Both Cards - Stormy Sky (edging); First Card - CloseToMyHeart Pacifica & Brown Bag on birds; Second Card - CloseToMyHeart Barn Red and Brown Bag on birds

Misc twine (gift from friend)

Chippies - UmWowStudio Hexagon Confetti

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

ramblings of a TaeKwonDo mom

this boy I have... he's always been our smiley likable bubbly child whose older brother has always wondered what the return policy is for younger siblings, sorry kiddo, you're "stuck" with him.  this boy came into this world the normal way... round pink bald, very typical but for us he was different since he is our second child... born a full inch shorter yet 6 oz more than he was our little butterball. I've always said he was a day late as my birthday is the 23rd of my month, older son is the 23rd of his month, this boy was due on the 23rd of his month but he had to do it his way coming out a few hours late just to have his own special day number. As a baby he really did nothing spectacular except to just be a part of us, we went from 3 to 4 and time-wise that made all the difference in the world... less hours in our day for sure.  As he grew, he just smiled and smiled... the happiest little man you'd ever seen, but strangers were not allow to come near him.  He started walking & talking later than our oldest which we were actually relieved at as the oldest always did everything early and in a rush, this boy had his own time table but happy all the way.  Temper tantrums were just not his style, he left those to older brother, the most talented temper tantrum thrower ever.

when he was 10.5 months old, we moved out of our little starter home and into a travel trailer while we built our house. we celebrated his first birthday, played in the mud while the foundation was being dug, and discovered a love of bold sharpies on furniture.

he raced BMX (bicycle motocross) when he was 5 which lasted about a year. Of course we got all excited & bought him (and his older brother) an expensive race bike.  Joke on us and we learned a lesson.

in October 2009, when this boy was 8, our family attended this great Athletics day put on at the University just down the road from us.  both boys got to do many fun things; ride giant bicycle, "surf" on a mechanical surfboard atop a blow mat, play gladiator atop puffy pedestals while wielding padded sticks at one another, watch a BMX show, met Master Edwards and got to break a board!  That was THE best thing of the entire day. he begged and begged and begged for TaeKwonDo lessons but we were still coming off the BMX bike burn.  Just not gonna happen until we knew he'd stick to it.  For Chirstmas, he begged. For Birthday, he begged.  repeat for almost 2 full years.... constant begging for TaeKwonDo lessons and they HAD to be with Master Edwards. yes we did finally break.  end of August 2011, when this boy was ten years old just before school started we decided to let him give it a try. and boy did he ever!  he showed us what dedication meant.

as a White belt, so shiny and new, not knowing a thing. at his first classes he looked so awkward and uncoordinated. but he learn and he practiced, daily he practiced. He became a Yellow belt. not as awkward and not as uncoordinated but still wet behind the ears. and he practiced, daily.  He practiced so much that he was able to skip his senior yellow belt and go straight to Junior Green.  now he was something and nothing was going to stop this boy. he had the TaeKwonDo bug and mom racked up the miles on her Jeep (here's a little breakdown of my day: get up at 5:30, go to work by 7:00, get off work at 4:00, dash home to our little town, the boy jumps into the Jeep and zoom back to town for class... usually four days a week, then there were Saturdays too...I get tired just remembering it).  back to the Junior Green belt, he's actually looking pretty good at this point.  now came a tournament... a nervous mom & dad, excited grandparents, along with bored brother all the in the stands cheering him on and he cleaned house!  he took first place in patterns (aka forms) and second place in sparing... did I mention that there is no stopping this boy?  it's true. and zipped right up to Green belt at the very next testing  his next feat was to skip the Senior Green belt and go right to the  Junior Blue, the Blue, then again skipping the Senior belt and going to the next. hanging on his bedroom wall, the row of belts... there isn't a single Senior Belt in the collection. I know that most people will not know what this means in the years to come, having less colored belts than others, but to me and to him it will always show this boys spirit for the sport of TaeKwonDo

this boy got his first degree black belt months ahead of schedule!

a few months after receiving his Black Belt, he received a very high honor at TKD school... he received a plaque for his determination and persistence, his refusal to give up or to let obstacles get in his way.  Master Edwards held him up for others to see just how he with his constant class attendance and willingness to practice at home has paid off for him.  he was on cloud 9!

First degree Black belts must wait one year to test for Second but in the mean time, they must do what is called "confirmation" testing where there is no pass/fail but they do get a report on how well they performed their patterns and how well they are sparring. and they break boards. his latest confirmation test was in December 2013. he ran thru his patterns with an audiences attention plus he had a 7th Degree judging him. next he went thru sparring while his fellow junior students, same judge still has eyes glued to this boy. last was board breaking, he has to do four different set-ups. bow to judge panel: hand technique single board, boom - break; running foot technique single board, boom - break;  harder hand technique double board, no break; simple foot technique triple boards, no break. Reset, bow to judge panel: hand technique double board, boom - break. simple foot technique triple boards, no break. Reset and drop a board, bow to judge panel: simple foot technique double boards, no break. bow to judges and he's done.  If this had been a belt test, he would not have passed. now it is time to wait and watch the adults finish up, when I see him out of the corner of my eye with one of our instructors, and then she asks me if I have a band-aid. hummmm, so I go look. this boy had tears streaming down his very red face, I learn just how determined this boy is... the first time he attempted the triple board break, he had skinned the entire arch of his foot, no gushing blood but no skin left either... it was all rolled up to one side. I made a mad dash out to the car for our emergency kit and taped his foot up using four band-aids. he finished out the testing, suffered thru a picture taken by me :-)  later when we got home, I had to cut the skin off before bandaging him up for the night.

this boy is now working on transitioning into the adult TKD classes. as I type this post I am watching him spar not only other kids just a couple of years his senior, but full grown adult men as well.  some are fellow black belts, others are lowly yellow belts.  he is amazing to watch.  bring him a tougher opponent and he steps up to that plate. and they know he's young yet they know he's tough.

in April, just one month after his 13th birthday, he will be testing for his second degree black belt and I have no doubt in my mind that he WILL make it just fine. this boy

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

love you

I have seriously been trying to get this card finished for 4 days now.  It's good to have such a full life!  I simply adore this Tuesday Morning Sketch #231, so much in fact that even though I missed the deadline, I went ahead & finished the card... I even threw away my focal point after making it and not liking it

I have always found this paper pack soothing, the colors and the prints, just comforting to me somehow - CloseToMyHeart's limited edition Key To My Heart (it came with a 8.5x11 stamp set, but I didn't use that)

Brads - CTMH Juniper Brads

Sentiment Stamp - Unity Stamp Co. KOM Strength and Dignity

Ink - Tim Holtz Festive Berries

DragonFlies Stamp - Unity Stamp Co. KOM Happinesss Has No Limit

Ink - CTMH Juniper

Saturday, January 11, 2014

sending wishes your way


for this little crazy card, I combined two of my very FAVORITE things ever...UmWowStudio Chippies & Unity Stamp Company Stamps!  oh yea baby


UmWow Studio not only has amazing chippies but a month sketch to play along with, this is UmWow Studio January Sketch for whatever crafty project it inspires you to do. Once I got over the feeling of having to use squares, I decided on clouds & balloons :-)


Unity Stamp Company not only does monthly card & scrapbook layout sketch but color combos, so I used Unity Stamp Company Be Inspired Challenge Color Combo, which I found to be REALLY challenging for me

for background, I used Tim Holtz Stormy Sky with a foam applicator and lightly swirled until I reached the desired color (a super light blue)

Sentiment, Hot Air Balloons & Cloud Stamp - Unity Stamp Co. Love in an Instant KOM



Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black & London Fog (stamped on baby blue vellum)., Hot Air Balloons colored with various Copic Markers

Cloud Chippies - UmWow Studio which I dipped in Briliance Pearlescent Sky Blue

Twine - The Twinery

Ribbons - CloseToMyHeart Ribbon Rounds Organdy

Stars - UmWow Studio Star Confetti, smaller ones colored with Creative Memories Precious Elements Silver Pen

Tag Corners - Creative Memories Scallop corner punch

Light Blue Eyelet - misc stash

Splatters - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Refill in Stormy Sky & Smooch in Olive Twist (which looks Gun Metal to me)

beautiful day

I haven't been very crafty during the week recently, as I said in a post yesterday, I've been working.  Which is awesome because in 2013 after getting the axe, I started my own drafting business...at this point I have one Civil Engineer, one Land Surveyor, and one Tank (think plants, like sand or gravel plants) company and I've been working on getting another Civil Engineering firm.  It was a slow start at first but now it's going pretty good and work has become fairly steady.  I love it! and I love my fuzzy co-workers... my kitties!


For this card, I used Unscripted Sketches #238, this sketch is way up there on my list of great sketches... something about it just clicks for me

Printed Papers - My Mind's Eye Lush

Kraft Cardstock - Canvas Corp

Stamp Image & Sentiment - Unity Stamp Co. Happiness Has No Limit KOM 9-13

Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa, colored with various Copic Markers

Butterfly Chippie - UmWowStudio Butterfly Confetti

Friday, January 10, 2014

Often

Just a quickie card {and post} for this one little lonely card I made this evening, I have been WAY too busy this week with a little thing called... work *Gasp*

Since it's Friday, this is for Unity Stamp Co.'s Friends with Flair combined with
Crazy for CAS #325 Chevrons also combined with
Freshly Made Sketches #118


Chevron Mask - UmWowStudio

Ink - Tim Holtz Seedless Preserves

Black Pen - Zig Millennium 05

Color Paper - Purple Cardstock Recollections

Sentiment - Unity Stamp Co. Happiness Has No Limit KOM

Ink - CloseToMyHeart Black

Bling - Martha Stewart Lavender Gem Stickers

Bling Frame - CloseToMyHeart

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Filled with Gratitude

well I certainly could have used this sentiment today for sweet Andrea at Unity Stamp Co!  She is so very helpful

Sketch & Color Combo from Fusion Card Challenge #1 (not sure how successful I was at the color combo in the photo but I did try)

Printed Paper - Making Memories Panorama

Blue Cardstock - Recollections

Stamps - Unity Stamp Co. KOM Happiness Has No Limit

Inks - CloseToMyHeart Twilight, Tim Holts Ripe Persimmon & Gathered Twigs

Pearl Stickers - Basic Grey Opaline

Ribbon - The Ribbon Boutique









The Challenge from Fusion Card Challenges

Monday, January 6, 2014

triple Thank You




you know, I zip my way thru the blog posts looking for challenge, any ole challenge will do.  I open them all up, close those I know I can't or won't do, then when with the ones I'm left with I do this mix 'n match thing.  This time my two winners are: The Paper Players #177 for Chalkboard technique & mixed that with The Sweetest Thing, Sweet Sunday's Sketch #201













Colored Cardstock - Stampin' up

Black Cardstock - CloseToMyHeart



Chalkboard Stamp - Chalkboard Birthday

Ink - well I tried every black that I have... from Tim Holtz to CloseToMyHeart to StazOn to Memento and the best one I finally got was Memento










Sentiment Stamp - VivaLasVegas Grab Bag

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black




Embellishments - Freckled Fawn Enamel Dew Drop Stickers in Neon & Black



Ribbon - Offray

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Color Combo Butterfly

Today's creation is brought to you by the weather... called "Ice and Snow".  Here in my little town we are completely sick of the stuff but alas more hit us last night.  Our kiddos have already had 6 days out of school due to slick roads back between Thanksgiving & Christmas, and now it's looking like the first day back to school (scheduled for tomorrow) may not happen afterall. Can you feel my lack of joy at the prospect?

Color Combo from Hiding in My Craft Room #131 "Crushed Gray Bay"

Cardstock - Stampin' Up

Printed Paper - Graphic 45 Bohemian Bazaar

Butterfly Punch - Tim Holtz

Mulberry Paper - Paperabilities

Pearls - misc

Embelly ink - Smooch Ocean Soul

Sentiment Stamp - Unity Stamp Co. Sending My Love

Ink - CloseToMyHeart Lagoon

Candi for Yellow Dot

Saturday, January 4, 2014

best friends EVER!

a few years ago I met this group of ladies on an online scrapbook site called Crop Chocolate.  We arranged
for a meet-up in Colorado, and since I didn't personally know any of them, I dragged along my very good friend Wendy with me.  The following year, we met up in Utah with a couple of the original group not going but we met others who fit right in our little group.  Last year (aka 2013) we met in Kansas, just the 10 of us.





Flash forward to Christmas & we decided to buy each other 10 of our favorite things, mail those items to our group's Mrs. Santa and she sweetly waited until all packages had been received and sent everything our to each person.  What amazing items we got!  Today I received my box o goodies, Wendy & I (via Skype) opened our goodies together!  What an amazing time we had, laughing and goofing around.... I even almost ate some soap that looked like chocolate.  I must learn to READ packages before attempting  to eat it!


Of course, I HAD to break-in the crafty supplies ASAP.... these are what I made with just some of those goodies!

Printed Papers - Primma Engravers 6x6 paper pad (GIFT)

Vellum - misc stash... aka really old

Sentiment Stamp - Unity Stamp Co. Music of My Heart

Floral Stamp - Unity Stamp Co. Feel the Joy

Ink - Tim Holtz Black Soot




Ink - Tim Holtz Black Soot, sprayed with Tim Holtz Adirondack Color Wash in Espresso, splashed with Tim Holtz Reinker in Scattered Straw & edge distressed using Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Pumice Stone

Brads - The Paper Studio

Butterfly Chippies - UmWowStudio Butterfly Confetti (GIFT... ok this one was from me to everyone cuz this IS my very favorite crafty item)



Friday, January 3, 2014

Live Life to the Fullest

I believe in this sentiment... although I'm a pretty lazy person. I really enjoy sitting & crafting... it all just depends on what you enjoy doing, right?  The fullest for one might be different for the fullest for another

I chose to take part in Pals Paper Arts #186 - Color Combo (Island Indigo, Gold & Whisper White)

Printed Paper - Making Memories Panorma

Gold Cardstock - Making Memories Metallic

Stamp Set - Autumn Leaves word flourishes

Ink - StazOn Jet Black

Fiber - Misc blue jar of ribbon ;)

bling - CloseToMyHeart


Metallic papers are so hard to photograph, I actually had to go outside to get this one!  it's a beautiful but very chilly day here in Arkansas.  I made four of these for Operation Write Home!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Triple Hearts

well this one didn't turn out like I had in mind, not that I don't like it but I'm not head-over-heals about it but it would still make a sweet card back home to a loved one from a soldier far, far away



Sketch Frenzy Friday 122713 started me off on these cards

Printed Papers - Crate Paper

Martha Stewart Edge Punch

Twine from The Twinery

Sentiment Stamp - Technique Tuesday

Ink - Tim Holtz Barn Door


I made a dozen of these for Operation Write Home