Project Life, 2014: Week 22

I am finishing the year of 2014 with a posting of another Project Life Layout.  This is pitiful...here I am posting Week 22 and there are 52 weeks in the year which makes it look like I am less than half the way through! LOL!!!  But actually, I have completed some other layouts in the last half of the year so even though I am still woefully behind...it's not quite as bad as it looks!

But my resolution for 2015 is to start on time and keep up with it. I mean, how hard can it be to complete a 2 page layout weekly?!  (Probably, for me....very difficult!) But, I'm really going to give it my very best shot!!! LOL!

Here is 2 page spread of Week 22 which covers the last week of May (and over Memorial Day).

 I used Just Jaimee's May Storyteller kit with an Ali Edwards brush for the Week Card.

Here is the left side:

Kind of a minimum of journaling this week but I think I included enough information.

Here is the right side:

Whoops...well, lol...I just realized that in the bottom left photo I have journaled that David likes playing with his Tinker Toys...but, of course, these are LINCOLN LOGS!  Well, that's ok...easy to change when it's done digitally!  I will go do it in a moment.

And that's it for me for 2014. Wishing everyone the most fabulous 2015! 

Happy Crafting!!!

As the New Year Approaches...

2015 is literally right around the corner, isn't it? I'm always a little sad as the year ends but am excited about what 2015 may bring.

2014 has been a wonderful year...the high point is always when I am with my children and grandchildren and I had lots of opportunity for that in 2014. The wedding of my son to his bride was certainly at the top of the list, too.

The foot surgery...not so much...but I am looking forward to being pain free and hopefully am saving myself foot problems in the future!  I'm doing well...getting around well...but looking forward to when I can get a little more exercise!

I fell in love with these 3D cards designed by Lori Whitlock.  I am so very much hoping that she designs more for other holidays and events!  Here is the last one I made and decided to use it to wish someone a Happy New Year.  I love the way this one turned out, as well...gives the feel of a snowy, wintry day.

Here you can see the layers a bit more:

I love the contrast of the red bird against the white...so very pretty to me.

I am itching to get into my craft room but probably won't be able to for a few days! I have an out of town guest who is not a crafter and we spend our time together talking, eating, reading and yapping.  What a great friend...sure wish she scrapbooked or paper crafted, though! Anyway, she is a wonderful friend and I am so happy to have her here as we bring in the New Year.

Happy New Year to ya'all!

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Anything Goes HERE.

Happy Crafting!

A Belated Merry Christmas!

Christmas is over...a big sigh of relief is heard around the world...but I know many, like me, always feel a little sad that it is over.

We had a wonderful day filled with family....it was crazy, hectic but so much fun. David and Taylor were so excited about Santa.  I love Christmas through the eyes of the little ones.  So much magic!

I had made this 3D card for the grandkids which I gave them a few days before Christmas with a little treat.  I think the card was played with a bit too much and is now a heap of nothing but it was cute while it lasted.  And since I have the file I can make another one whenever! ;)

It was created from a file designed by Lori Whitlock who makes the most amazing stuff!!!

I just love the detail in it.  It cuts so beautifully on my Silhouette.  I am hoping Lori Whitlock comes out with more designs for other events!  The sentiment was stamped with a Hero Arts stamp and Memento pigment ink...and then embossed with clear embossing powder.

Here is a close up of the layers:

I think Santa would have liked this card! :)

Happy Crafting and for me...a day of resting! LOL!

I entered this in the Anything Goes Challenge at Simon Says Stamp HERE.

Gift Card Boxes

I have further simplified my Christmas giving life by not running around and buying STUFF that people don't want or need and giving Gift Cards to my kids and their spouses.  I do get a few things for them to unwrap but the bulk of their gifts are in the form of Gift Cards.  I love a Gift Card (I don't know why I'm capitalizing them...but oh well!) so we do love giving what we love receiving, right?  Anyway, I wanted to present them in a cute way and have done all sorts of gift card holders in the past but came across some cute little box designs in the Silhouette Online Store designed by Jamie Cripps.  I thought they were so cute and promptly bought several files.  I had fun cutting them out and assembling them...using papers I've had on hand from previous years.  Mambi, Recollections and probably some DCWV in there, too.
The first one is just a cute little snowflake and the box is cut out of printed paper (Christmasy) but I used the white side for the outside of the box.

 The second one is this cute little holly box.

 The 3third on is with a Christmas tree:

...I already tied this one with some baker's twine.

And the last one is of a cute little Santa Claus look:

Here you can see how the boxes open:

There is actually a little box within a box...so cute!  And so easy!

Then I made a few tags which I tied on to each box.  I used an EK success punch and some Hero Arts Stamps for the "To:" and "From" and added some little Jolee's stickers to them.  Done! Easy! Fast! Cute!!

Today I go back for my first post op visit.  I am amazed with how quickly this old gal is recovering...barely a limp!!!  Bandages come off and I get to see that bad girl! :)

Happy Crafting and hopefully some de-stressing!

4 DAYS AND COUNTING!

The next few days will be busy for most of you, I'm sure!  Since I was having that horrid foot surgery last week I got most everything done before I knew I'd be laid up a bit.
Well, imagine my surprise...only 5 days post surgery and I am hoofing it!  Ok, well, maybe that's a slight exaggeration but I am moving around quite well and actually was able to get to my craft room yesterday for day of fun! :)

I had seen these 3 dimensional shadow box cards on the Lori Whitlock blog and decided to buy a file to try out.  Oh my goodness...it cut so well and was so much fun to put together.  They fold flat for mailing and then you just sort of "square" it back out to the frame shape.  I made this one for my son and daughter in law as they are celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple and I thought the 2 little red birds were just perfect.

It is constructed of 6 layers.  I cut all from 8 1/2 by 11 sheets of heavy cardstock.
Here you can see the layers a bit better...

The little snowflake was done with some Stampin' Up glitter.

And the Peace Love Joy sentiment was stamped with a Hero Arts stamp and with Memento pigment ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.

I love this card...it was such much fun and I'm hoping it goes through the mail well!

Happy Crafting and Happy Holidays!

Wham, Bam...Smack!

....in the middle of the holiday season.  Christmas is just 6 days away!
I've been out of the blogging loop for a while.  Where have I been you ask?  Well, having my foot butchered!

Ok, not really butchered but up until hour 48 following surgery that's exactly what it felt like!  Thankfully I am doing much better now and the throbbing has gone from massive to slightly less than massive!
Knowing I wouldn't be crafting much in the next couple of weeks (since I don't trust myself on stairs just yet and my craft room is downstairs) I tried to get a few things done in the past couple of weeks.  I made these ornaments for my scrapbooking ladies group with some blue vinyl, clear glass bulbs and a design from the Silhouette Store.  The tag is from a Hero Arts stamp and die set and stamped with Hero Arts silver ink.  I put a little "snow" in each ornament...I made 16 of them.  They worked up pretty quickly and I think the ladies who received them like them.
And since Scrapbookers believe in the "art" of preserving memories I thought the design was perfect!

As I'm not really able to be up and around and shopping (some benefit to having surgery this time of the year!) I have just been enjoying my nice quiet house with my pretty tree and lights.  What presents I did buy are wrapped and Hallelujah for gift cards! LOL!

And now a shout out for something totally different!  I love makeup and skin care products.  I am always looking for the next greatest thing...you know?  Things that will make me look 10 years younger (well, ok...2 would even be good!)...

I don't know that these products make me look much younger but they are fantastic!  What am I talking about?  Honeysuckle Soaps is a line of skin care products and soaps that are all natural. You can check the website out HERE.  I picked some up recently at a show and was skeptical but they were packaged in cool little bottles (and I am a sucker for packaging!) and I liked the minimal and not overpowering scents so decided to give the products a whirl.  I purchased "Glow Daytime Serum" which is an oil that I use sparingly on my face. My skin drinks the stuff up...and yep...those tiny fine lines around my eyes fade away!  It's true!

I also bought a bottle of the NightTime Serum which includes various oils (Vitamin E included) and extracts but also includes just a hint of lavender for that night time relaxation!  And it's all natural, too...and makes my face feel great as I settle down for the night.

I am so in love with this stuff I ordered more as gifts on Sunday and by Tuesday it was here!  I also have the Lavender body lotion that I put on before I go to sleep..nothing better than lavender at night for restful sleeping!

And it's all very, very reasonably priced and shipping is reasonable, too!!!
So if your face tends to need some nourishment and you lean towards natural things and not those icky chemicals that some of the high end cosmetic companies use give Honeysuckle Soap a try!  The company says they provide "food for the skin" and by George...I think they are right!

Give them a try....I think you will like it as much as I do!

Happy Crafting and Happy Facial and Body Products!

It's Beginning to Look...

...a lot like I"m getting more and more behind! LOL!!! I actually do not stress about the holidays any longer. What will be will be. I used to love all the decorating and baking, etc. But now I throw a tree up and barely bake...although my daughter does insist on some fudge each year! My family just tries to stay away from the sweets and since I have the biggest sweet tooth of all I just don't do all the baking any longer because I am the one who least needs to eat it! But I do love it. So I burn a pumpkin spice candle in my kitchen and pretend...while I get out an apple to eat! HA!

Tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day which we have always celebrated.  The children put out their shoes at night and then St. Nick comes and fills them with treats if they've been good...or switches and coal if they've been bad. I think I heard through the grapevine, though, that St. Nick may not come until tomorrow night to my grandkids as St. Nick's helper has not finished getting treats for the kids! LOL!

Well, here is the first Christmas card I have made this year.  At this rate I will have 2 done by December 31! LOL! But life is good, isn't it? No complaints! I've been doing other necessary things...like napping...and drinking coffee...and important stuff like that.

Here is the card I made with the Simon Says Stamp card kit for...what was it? November?

I used printed paper that came with the kit...and just cut a piece down to make a scene.  And NO...this was not my idea.  It was Shari Carroll's of course.  That woman always provides me with some AWESOME inspiration. Yep, she does.
The sentiment is included with the stamp set in the kit and has such a cute and fun look to it.

I added a little clear Wink of Stella shine to the tree:

And that is it for today!

Happy Crafting!