August 23, 2010

Good Colorado Morning!
I have fantastic news!! I just found out that I won the Tool Challenge at Throgh the Craftroom Door Magazine blog and my Wild About You book will be featured in the new issue! Wooo Hooo! I am so surprised and so honored. Thank you Monique Griffin for the fantastic instructions and how to create this darling book. Yes, I did change a few things but the inspiration goes to Monique! If you have never viewed her fabulous creations you can go to her blog MonkeyDoodle and see all of her fantastic designs.

Well, I am back after I have been MIA for weeks! I finally made it to the cabin and it is wonderful. So nice and cool, what a relief! My son, his wife, and my darling granddaughter met my youngest son and I here the first week of August. We had a blast sight seeing and fishing in the local area. We also enjoyed a football game (preseason of course) at the Old Miner's Inn in Creede. If you are ever in Creede you MUST stop in and try their Momma Mia Pizza! OMGosh, that is the BEST pizza on the planet! The atmosphere and the locals are an added plus! My favorite places by far! We then headed off to my favorite city Denver for some shopping! We stayed in Castle Rock and shopped the outlets (spent way toooo much money, shhhhh don't tell hubby!) and then a night out at Casa Bonita (their food is not the best with the exception of sopapillas) and great entertainment! My son and his family returned to Amarillo and Treyce and I headed west for some great scenery on our way back to the cabin. We stopped in SiverThorne for some great food at Chipolte, if you have never tried Chipolte it is wonderful!! Arriving back at the cabin Saturday night we headed to Monte Vista to the Drive-In Theater and watched Despicable Me which was very cute and a beautiful night out. We returned to the cabin with no cell phone and no internet service, it seems someone had cut a fiber optic cable and the southern Colorado area was without service. I did get my cell phone back after some extended time but no internet. Finally, with the help of my generous neighbors Ron and Sherry, I am back in business.

I received an email from my FANTASTIC friend Lisa (The Purple Place) and she told me about a fantastic Challenge going on at iCopic Lover blog for which I made this darling card.
The winner of the challenge receives 7 Ciao Markers! Wowzer! Isn't that fabulous!! I have a new sewing machine and no I have never sewed before and the instructions for setting it up were all in Spanish! Can you believe there was not an English translation in the box. LOL! You should have seen me trying to figure out how to load a bobbin and threading the machine. After much frustration I finally accomplished my task. I added sewing to this card and I don't think it was too bad considering it was my first attempt at sewing. What do you think?

This darling picture of the Thank You Card I made is for Ron and Sherry and all that they have done for me besides being some of the best neighbors ever! Yep, I sewed on this one also. Again, not too bad for the second attempt. I am going to try this on more cards and see if my technique improves. I wish I had brought more thread with me as I have almost every color available at home. (I had great ambitions of becoming a seamstress and even purchased a Disney Embroidery Machine). Oh well, I can always bring more up later. It has been weeks since I have colored any images so this was great fun and I can't wait to get back to more creating.!

Have a fabulous day! Praying for your family and mine!

Big Hugs!

August 12, 2010

Happy Thursday!
I have finally arrived at our cabin in Colorado! My youngest son and I drove up Sunday night and got in about 3:00 a.m. mountain time. Wooo Hooo ! It is about time! My middle son, his wife and my granddaughter came in that night also! We have been out fishin' every single night and I must say it is wonderful! I am running around in my jeans and sweatshirts (I love sweatshirts, they are my favorite piece of clothing)! My two shelties seem to be loving it as well as they are running around snooping and love the lakes and the streams. The day I left Texas it was 101 degrees when I left at 8:00 that evening. It has been hanging around 75 degrees here during the day and flat cold at night sometimes getting down in the 40s! I am loving it!! My poor hubby said today it was 104 degrees with 80% humidity! We never have humidity so I know it is miserable. I really miss him and wish he could be here with us.
Prior to my leaving I spent several hours in my craftroom and made a few cards that I am posting for some challenges at Simply Scrapping Crafts! I made one for the Copics challenge in which we were to color white, one for the Stamp and Scrap Challenge in which you have 5 of something, 3 of something, and 1 of something. For the Card Challenge we were to put a frame around your image. I also got a little rearranging done! Whew!
Card Challenge ~ Tilda with Candy Cane
I cut the frame that doubles for a window with my Nestabilites, Tilda is colored with Copics and stickles added to the candy cane. The Magnolia Trees on the inside are heat embossed with a winter wonderland embossing powder.

Copic Challenge ~ Coloring White
This image is "Tantrum" by Mo Manning colored with Copics. The sidewalk I drew in and colored white with shadows. I used Microsolft Word for the Sentiment and cut it with my circle scallop Nestabilies.
Stamp and Scrap Challenge includes: 5 ~ Shapes
(hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades, and circles for the chips)
3 ~ Layers of paper , 1 ~ Ribbon
I titled this one "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner"
Since I am an avid poker player I truly love this image by Mo Manning and thought it probably looks like me in a few years playing Hold 'Em! LOL!

I tried to bring as much of my craftroom with me as I could as it has been weeks since I have even colored with my Copics! I usually color five or six images a day so I can't wait to get started back on my coloring. While the boys are here though I am busy running around the mountain side fishing, shopping, and sight seeing. We are really having a good time and I feel it is much deserved after this summer from he..!
I am off to update my Gypsy and load of couple of new cartridges and then off to bed for a few winds before we head out again today.
I hope everyone has a fabulous Thursday and as usual I am sending out prayers for my family and yours.
Big Hugs!

August 2, 2010

Hi Friends!
We just returned from the Dallas and Oklahoma City area from being at my dear cousin Sharon's funeral! OMGosh, my heart hurts! It was so painful to lose my dear Uncle but now my cousin. The immediate family seems to be coping but Sharon loved the holidays as much as I do and this will be such a sorrowful time for them! Sharon was like I am and would much rather watch someone else receive a gift than get one herself, that she again like me went overboard on Christmas gifts! She had nine grandchildren all born in four years!! Sharon loved to buy them gifts and could not wait to see their faces as they opened their packages! Do you think the kids enjoyed this? I know I go way overboard and it takes us the rest of the year to recover from all the gifts I purchase at Christmas! I have always had a love of giving, much more than receiving! I think that is the people pleaser in me, I can't stand it if someone is not happy, I consider it my mission to make the whole world smile! Something I really need to work on.

After my Uncle passed away in June, I did ask my cousins if they were going to sell his SUV to the general public, I would love a shot at having first bids on it. Well, after Sharon passed away my cousin Bob called and asked if I would like to purchase it. We had just made it to Oklahoma City from the Dallas area not quite to my daughter's apartment when he called. To make a long story short, we talked about it and the next day drove back to the Dallas area and purchased the SUV. I am so glad to have it and can't wait to head for Colorado and the cabin! It means so much to me that it was my dear Uncle's SUV! We spent the evening with my cousin Bob and his beautiful wife Pam looking at old pictures (they gave me pics that dated back to 1921~) and going over old memories. We all went out to dinner and had a wonderful evening for such a sorrowful time! Once we returned to Bob and Pam's home, Bob discovered that the front and back tags do not match! LOL! Evidently when my darling Uncle put the tags on the SUV and his other car he put one tag from each on each one of them! In Texas you MUST have front and back. Bob could not find the title either so I am in a pickle until I can get it changed. It was funny though and gave us all a good and much needed laugh!

Dang It! The disasters keep on rolling this summer! Before we left for my cousin's funeral we had received a call from my in-laws neighbors and there was an emergency at their house which we still need to go through and sell. Dealing with this new disaster had set me back in going to Colorado and I still have not made it to the cabin in Colorado and it looks like it will be later this week before I can even think about going. I know that is only a couple of days away but Geeeez! This is freaking ridiculous! I had planned to be there by the 2nd as I had Alyssia enrolled in a theater class in Creede! However due to all the mishaps I am not going to make it since that is afterall TODAY!
I had to resign from the Design Team at Colorful Creations due to this mishap and it taking all my time. So boo hoo no time for crafting right now. At least not what I need to dedicate to being on a Design Team. I have been able to color a few images late at night with my Copics so all is not lost! I also ordered the last of my Copics except for the florescent which I hope to add to my collection some day.

Now, I really need to organize the craftroom as I have everything everywhere! LOL! All the disasters have kept me loading and unloading and just stashing stuff wherever I can find to stash it. I also need to load what I am taking to Colorado and figure out what and what not to take.

I have done a few Christmas cards and that is a big woo hoo as I had promised myself at Christmas that I would work on them all year and so far I have four! LOL! Hopefully once I reach the beautiful mountains, things will settle down and I can get back to normal!

Again, sending out prayers for our family and yours!

Big Hugs!

Heavy Heart!

July 26, 2010
Today my heart is so heavy I can hardly stand it! As you know my very dear uncle passed away on June 15th from pancreatic cancer. This morning my dear cousin Bob (we have always been so close and I love him with all my heart) called me to tell me that his precious sister, my darling cousin Sharon (who I also love with all my heart) passed away this morning! Sharon passed away one day short of six weeks of her father! I am so heart broken I truly don't know what to do with myself! We have had plans to spend more time together as she has been caring for her father since the first of the year. Her birthday was five days ago and today she is gone. I know we are not supposed to question God's plan but I can't help myself. There were only six first cousins and now we are down to four. This is unbelievable. I know I should consider myself lucky to have had her in my life for this long but I am selfish, I needed much more time! Maybe it is true that only the good die young! Perhaps it is God's plan to take us at our best when we are truly ready to enter his glorious kingdom. I know Sharon was at her best! She was such a loving caring individual that family meant everything to her! Family has always been so important to me and she shared the same love! If there was a family event Sharon was always there! So was my dear uncle. I can't imagine how we can all get together without them! Perhaps that is our calling to carry on what I know they would want to be continued. They both would want the family to stay close and always stay together as a loving family. Let me tell you people this is one family that knows how to love. This was passed on to us by my very dear Grandparents that no mater what the cost kept us together. Even though some of us are and have been thousands of miles apart we have always remained close if only through the heart. If there is ever a chance for us to be together we are all always there.
Hug your family and keep them close! You never know when the last time to see someone will be! I pray for our family and I pray for yours!
Big Hugs!

June 25, 2010

Oh My Gosh~! I am so ready for winter! Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!! LOL! This summer has been a disaster! It all started when I went to see DD and to attend the Scrapbooking Convention in Arlington, TX in the Dallas area ! I had been looking forward to it for months! I was packing for the trip when our refrigerator started going out and Texas was having the tax free weekend over Memorial Day on "Cash for Clunkers" on appliances. We bought the new refrigerator which I have yet to see! I went to see DD and on the way to Dallas at 4:00 a.m. on June 3rd I decided to wreck my car and total it out! I broke a molar tooth 30 minutes later which is still not fixed! My hubby came up and we went ot my cousin's wedding in Gainesville, TX and was able to tell my Dear Uncle with pancreatic cancer goodbye! Heart wrenching! Three days later we were headed back to Gainesville for his funeral. While in Gainesville my computer crashed and is still not repaired. I came back to DD's apartment and DH called to let me know that our new air conditioning unit purchased 2 years ago to the tune of $8,000 had gone out. Three hundred dollars later for labor and mileage it is repaired with the part costing fivc hundred dollars but covered under warranty. Geez! When it rains it pours!! I keep telling myself, "It is only money!!"
Needless to say without a computer my scrapping and posting have come to a screeching halt! I am currently at DD's apartment with only my Copic markers, some stamps, and a borrowed computer to keep me happy! I am grandpuppy sitting with my grandpuppies while DD goes rafting on the Illinois River! She is having a bachlorlette party this weekend. I will head home on Sunday only to return the following Thursday and help with the wedding on July 3rd. Off to Tulsa to see me Darling Niece, husband and three boys. Then back home on the 5th and head for the cabin in southern Colorado until the end of October maybe early November. I hope to get in some much needed fly fishin' and then back home for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Like I said, "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas! Whew!
I thought things slowed down once your children were grown but Wowzer things speed up even more!
What else can I say other than if money can fix it then it isn't really important! Life is good! We are all safe, happy, and in good health. I wish and pray the same for everyone else out there!~
I hope everyone has a fabulous day!!
Hugs!

Good Morning! Wow! Can't believe today is June 11th! My how time flies when you are having fun! I have been at my DD's apartment for a week now. I have enjoyed being with her so much. I also have my darling Granddaughter, Alyssia with me and my youngest son! Life if Good! My DH will be coming in this evening and I am so anxious to see him and my two shelties! Wednesday was DH's birthday and missed being with him so intend to celebrate his birthday with him and family this evening. Tomorrow we are off, back to the Dallas area for my little cousin's wedding. Also, get to see my uncle who is ill with pancreatic cancer and I would love it if everyone remembered him in their prayers.

I haven't been crafting until today, I went and bought some basics at Joann's and Hobby Lobby. They are both having great sales on paper if you are in need of any. I have been coloring with my Copics everyday as I did bring those with me but nothing else. I got some gorgeous DCWV and K&Co paper at Joann's they had 40% off and then went to Hobby Lobby to get some of their Paper Studio Cardstock which was also 40% off. Wowzer, I sure saved a lot but also spent a lot! LOL! Never can have too much paper though! I love the way the Paper Studio cardstock cuts in the Cricut so really stocked up on that.

Still looking for another car but geez they are expensive! We haven't had a car payment in a long time and trying not to create another but once you really start looking, I want this one or that one and of course with every option known to man!! LOL! I have got to find one soon as I would love to head to the cabin as soon I return from Dallas and OKC! It has been so hot and humid here in OKC, I could use some fresh cool mountain breezes! Heck, I can always use some fresh cool mountain breezes! LOL! Anxious to get my fly rod and out and let those flies it the water for some fresh trout as well! Yummy!

Took my youngest son and granddaughter to see the Oklahoma City Memorial! I remember the day we pulled up to the fence a month after the bombing, my son was only 6 at the time so doesn't remember a lot but did remember the fence and the empty space where the building once stood. They have done such a beautiful job on the memorial it is a fantastic tribute to those that were forever changed on that dreadful day. If you haven't been to see it you need to put it on your must do list. As my darling granddaughter said, "No one can leave here untouched!" She is such a smart little girl. I think what truly got to her was when we mentioned how old the children would have been now. It has been fifteen years or was on the 19th of April. Those children will be forever young in our minds but they would be in their late teens or young adults now. Sobering to think how their young lives ended so abruptly. Pray that our nation never has to go through the acts of terrorism that was forced on us that day or on September 11, 2001! May God Watch over and protect us! ~ Amen

Have a great day everyone and I hope to have a few of my simple but new creations ready to post later today!
Hugs!

June 8, 2010

Hi and Happy Day Before Hubby's Birthday!! Sorry I have been MIA!! I had a terrible wreck on my trip to Dallas for the Great American Scrapbooking Convention!! Dang it! Totaled out my car so have been in the process of getting everything taken care of. What a headache!! On top of that I was eating a sunflower seed kernel, not the shell but the kernel and one of my molers broke into! Yep, split right down the center long ways and is exposing the nerve! You guessed it that was my LAST nerve!! OUCH!! I am in Oklahoma City with my DD and went to the dentist here, he put a temporary covering on it and was it ever temporary! Swallowed it at dinner that night! OUCH AGAIN!!! Thank God for Wal-Mart! They have this stuff that is what dentists use to cover the area and you can put it on yourself, I got some of this putty and put it over the area and I am good to go until I get home to go to my wonderful dentist!! I can't wait to see him!! ROFLMBO!! Who gets excited to see their dentist!! ME!!

I have a new challenge up at Colorful Creations here
Please come join us! All you have to do is show some love to that special guy or Dad in your life!!

Have a great evening!
Hugs!