Coming very soon!!

I've got new projects to post....will take photos today and get first project posted tonight!


Edited to add: My darling daughter has been taking photos for me while I'm at work today...I'll be able to post tonight for sure!! :)

Happy New Year!

2011 - a new year full of possiblities. Last year, I chose a theme word for 2010 - that was change. Oh my gosh, was that ever appropriate! So many changes over the year - including switching from part-time to full-time work, a complete change in jobs but not workplace, the opportunity to sponsor a child through Compassion.com....

What a year! But now I am looking forward to the promise of this year. My new theme for this year is "no Procrastinating!" Procrastination is a lifelong habit that I want to get rid of. I am tired of living in last-minute stress and the chaos that comes from leaving things too long. I am also tired of not accomplishing the things that are important to me in a timely manner - or even at all! And I'm sad to see that my children have the same habits - my daughter would argue, because she is really good at working on large projects early....but she puts off things like practicing her saxophone and cleaning her room. So, I want to learn to organize my time better, organize my home better, and set up my stamping room so that there is no reason not to stamp, to take pics of my projects, and post them to my blog. I want to hold stamping classes in a calm and relaxed manner so that I can have fun with my guests instead of feeling exhausted at all the last minute work I had to do to get ready. I want to enjoy time with my family and friends without having to stress over the mess in my home or the lack of preparation for company. Lots to do, and it's time to get started!!

Here's to 2011! May it be a good year for all...with new and healthy habits to come!

What is your favorite style of stamp image?

It's been a while since I've paid any attention to my blog. And I've been thinking lately about how for some of us, our stamping styles may change over time. Think about those very first cards you made....mine look pretty different now. How about yours?

I think part of that involves the changing industry. I know that when I started stamping 20 years ago, there was a lot out there.....but now, I'd have to say there's 10 times as much! It has truly amazed me over the years how people keep coming up with new and innovative techniques, supplies, tools, stamp designs.

When I first started I was all about the cutesy. And I loved images that I had to color in. First with markers, then I liked colored pencils....then chalk, then back to markers.... From there, I fell in love with solid images that required no additional coloring. Then I started adding coloring or details to the solid images. See what I mean?

I remember how I did all one layer cards - or only two layers. Now I like to have lots of papers, layers, embellishments.

And embellishments!! It used to be that eyelets were the thing for me. That was almost all I used...then ribbon, then buttons, then spiral clips.... Now I like brads of all colors, ribbon, fibers, and still sometimes the occassional eyelet. But look at all the new bling out there...sparkles, and pearls, and rub ons and almost anything else you can imagine!

What are your favorite embellisments or papers or stamps? How has that changed over the years?

Happy New Year

It's been a while! Sigh....but I'm feeling energized with the new year and ready to get some stamping done! I took most of December off completely from the stamping world to enjoy Christmas with my family. But, this next week I'll be getting back into gear and working on some new projects for upcoming classes. Hurray!

So, tell me, what are your favorite stamping sites or blogs? I'm always looking for new inspiration whether it be sketches for fun cards, or new 3D type projects.

Happy New Year - hope this year is a great one for you!

Happy World Card Making Day

Sadly, I cannot celebrate today...but I am going to the Cavalcade of Bands to watch my son march with his high school Marching Band. And my older son is home from college for the weekend so that's a bonus, too!

So, if you are having fun making cards today...add a little extra embellishment for me! And happy World Card Making Day!

Quick note

Not a lot to share today...I've been busy working on getting things ready for an online class for next month. It took a LOT longer than I though it would. I'll share those projects later - they are for VC 2009.

I am also going to be gone this next week. I'll be travelling to the Crow Reservation with a group of high school kids from my church to work and play with the kids on the res. It's an amazing time of service - those little kids have so much love to share that I find myself blessed even though we are going there to try to share some blessings with them!

Hope everyone has a great week...I'll start posting again after I get back!
Take care!

On Confirmation, Graduation, and my baby going to middle school

I cannot believe how fast our children grow. My darling daughter, and baby of the family, is finishing her last few days of elementary school. In the fall she will be in middle school - wow! I look at her and I see a beautiful young girl who is growing so quickly into a beautiful young lady.

My middle child who is 14, will be getting confirmed at church this weekend. He's been through four years of studies for this. Our Pastor showed me the powerpoint show he put together for the celebratory dinner on Friday night - all those kids have changed so much in the four years they've been together! Just amazing to see the changes - not only in their faith life, but also in their personal lives and growth.

My oldest, who just turned 18 a couple weeks ago, graduates from high school next weekend. I am completely dumbfounded....how can my sweet baby boy be a grown young man ready to go out on his own?? I am having such a hard time letting go and yet, I can see that he is ready and I have raised him well. He's going to do great!

It's such a bittersweet time right now. I love my kids so much and I want them to grow and flourish - but I wish it wasn't all happening so fast!

Hug your kids today, love them, and make sure they know it!!

Time marches on....

So I had a talk last night with a woman at work. We talked about discipline, working out, losing weight, discipline, wasting time, discipline.....and I've decided that I need to work on my self-discipline. I waste a lot of time doing nothing and talking myself out of doing something....sad.

Today I am going to make it a goal to get a whole bunch of cards photographed and at least one loaded on my blog. I am making it a goal to post at least three projects a week from now on. I am re-confirming my goal to finish the entire year's worth of the "His Holy Name" challenge - which I am woefully behind on at this point.

I am also setting goals for exercise and better nutrition for myself. I want to improve my fitness and health and I've been ignoring it for long enough.

So here I go! Off to change into workout clothes, find the camera and get going on these goals.

Hope you have a beautiful and blessed day! Thanks for visiting and reading my venting!!

I'd win a BAD blogger award....

....just can't seem to get everything done that I'd like, ya know? Look how long it's been since I posted last. Crazy. Life is!!

I've still been looking at everyone else's blogs...just ignoring my own. Hoping to change that!

The new CTMH catalog starts in a few days...there are some amazing, fun new products in it! Can't wait to share some with you.

Hope your day is full of sunshine and happy moments....

Whatcha stamping today?? Me, I'm going to be prepping projects for a workshop tomorrow.

Back from Camp

Oh my gosh, it was such a great week last week at Camp Wooten! The 5th graders were fabulous, the teachers were great and the food was wonderful! We had so much going on all week that I came home just exhausted - but happy! If your child's school doesn't have an Outdoor Education Program, they are really missing something! As soon as I upload pictures from my camera, I'll show you some of the things the kids learned and did. My daughter's cabin won an award for best Survival Shelter - too fun!

I also still have some projects to share and hope to get to that tomorrow when I have a day at home babysitting. I'm working long hours this week to try to make up some for a whole week off.

Hope everyone has a great day! Come back soon!

Update note

I just wanted to post a quick update note....I'm leaving tomorrow for a one week camping trip with the 5th graders from my daughter's school. Should be quite an experience - the camp is covered in snow and the forecast doesn't look great! My bag is packed with lots of long underwear and wool socks!

I have some new projects to share but unfortunately that will have to wait until I get home from the camping trip. Just don't have time to get them uploaded before I leave.

Also, I no longer have a myCTMH website, so if you have any CTMH ordering needs please contact me through email and I will help you!

Hope you all have a blessed Sunday and a great week ahead!

Looooong weekend!

So, my daughter and I went to spend the weekend with my mother across the state. We left on Friday afternoon, planning to come back on Sunday. Well, we just got home late this afternoon - Tuesday!!! It snowed like crazy over the weekend at my mother's and on the mountain pass we had to come back over. My car's heater hasn't worked all winter and with snow and freezing temps I can't keep my windshield clear without heat. So we were pretty well stuck at my mom's until today when the pass was clear and travel was easier.

It was nice to have the extra time at mom's - she's getting ready to move and needs LOTS of help packing. But now I'm behind at work and everything else....agh!

So, no art post tonight, but I'll be back in the morning with a new card to share. Hope everyone's weekend was great!

Thanks for visiting!

Photos done!

Yes!! I got some photos taken of recent artwork....so check out my next post, and stop by in the next few days for new posts!

Business as usual....

I seem to stack up a pile of projects....then need the time to take pictures....then post in a clump of days until I run out and need to start over....this seems to be my pattern! So anyway, I am at the point of needing to take some pictures, which will hopefully happen today! So be watching in the next couple of days and I'll have some new artwork to share with you!

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world!

Can I help??

This is my silly kitty, Keiko...she was very interested in all my cards when I was taking photos yesterday. She really thought it would be a better idea if I took pictures of her. I know this because every time I got one set up to photograph I'd have to move her out of the way or set the camera just to the side of her so she wasn't in the picture.

Silly cat!

Today's the day.....

I've been trying to find time to photo all my newer projects and life has been so crazy! But today is the day! I'll be back later with some new cards I've done lately!

Happy New Year!

Hope 2009 has started off well for everyone! I am grateful to look out my window and NOT see snow right now. Don't know if we've seen the last of it or not, but we've definitely had plenty for this area! (LOL Give me a few days and I'll be missing it!)

My kids are back in school - with a full schedule of upcoming awards events, concerts, basketball practice, and playing in the Bomb Squad (their pep band) at games. It's a crazy life, but I'm just glad that this year we are only dealing with the events at two schools instead of three!!!

I am in a bit of a stamping funk...can't seem to get myself moving to the stamp room lately. I spent some time over the holidays cleaning up part of my stamp room. I think it is time to seriously clean it OUT and reorganize. Hopefully I can manage to make myself do that!

I have some classes coming up, though, so hopefully I will have some fun samples to share really soon.

In the mean time, if you have a favorite blog or website you like to go to for some stamping inspiration, will you share it with me? I'm always on the lookout for new ideas....

Happy stamping!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to take some time to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas. The rest of the day for me will involve church services, and gift-exchanging with my in-laws. Tomorrow is going to be filled with family and fun as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

I'll be back after the new year with more stamping projects!

Happy 2009!!

No internet at home....

I have several more holiday cards ready to share with you, but our internet at home has been down now for two days. I was told it was our computer, but I'm hearing from more and more people with the same provider that theirs is out as well.....so I'm thinking it's not my computer!

Anyway, I'm posting from work right now and hopefully we'll be back online at home soon so I can share some more photos!

Have a great Monday everyone!

Yes!

Cards to come soon! I spent quite a bit of time today creating a variety of cards. Had a lot of fun, relaxed, and hopefully will get them photo'd tomorrow to share.

Have a good night, come back tomorrow!