A New Hobby

First - YES. I know. It's been almost a month! But, I have been busy. VERY BUSY. Tied up in knots busy. Almost literally.

See that lovely picture??? It's of the mountains just to the east of my house. Right after it rained for a week. Long enough, and hard enough, that we didn't see the sun for almost that whole time. But, it washed away all the muck, cleansed the air, and left us with a beautiful Saturday morning view that makes you remember to be greatful for Heaven's Grace. Do you see the snow? The fresh green grass growing, the purple and blue of the depths of the mountains...the clouds, just passing through, scrubbing the air as they float on. Beautiful. Breathe deeply...

And, I finally started a new hobby. (Like I don't have enough already, right???) Crocheting is something I probably should not be doing. It hurts! My hands cramp, my arm hurts, but like all of my other projects, I get to see the outcome from all of my labor.


They are called Best Bunnies and the pattern is a free one found on the Lion Brand website. My son wanted an orange and green one, so I made his first. My first attempt at anything crochet! The little bugger took me two whole weeks to make, and on the 2nd week, I realized I was forgetting part of a stitch, so I unraveled it all and started over. And my daughter's quickly followed, I got it all done in a day and then took another day to stitch it together. I can tell the difference and that practice does lead to improvement. I have one more to make and then I'm off to make arm warmers and a scarf for my daughter. I have a list of patterns that I want to complete...should be interesting.

Also, I am half way through Financial Peace! I have paid off two credit cards and have been barreling into my third! I'm hoping that we do get our taxes done soon, and that we get money back. I'm not counting on anything right now, just trying to remain positive. I keep trying to tell myself not to count my chicks before they hatch, but I also remind myself that a person without goals achieves nothing. Good points to remember.

Well, off to make Get Well Soon and Valentine's cards! See you soon!

A New Year - A Fresh Start

Happy New Year!!

Did you enjoy the holidays? Did you enjoy the family and the food? I did!

That's my baby right there...with the scarf, in the green. He's rockin' out at the Christmas Pagaent, so darn cute!! I love how animated he is...he loves to sing and perform!

Here is his Gingerbread House that he made in school, he was so proud of it! He told a story about a little elf that lived in this house...and he refused to let anyone eat off of it. Mysteriously, it started to "disappear", first just doors and windows, and then whole pieces of roof and walls disappeared, until all that was left was the milk carton base.


Okay - now truly...did you make any resolutions this year??

I did!

• Pay off Store Credit Card #1 by January 16th
• Pay off Store Credit Card #2 by April 5th
• Pay off Bank Credit Card #1 by the end of the year
• Turn hobby into business
• Make an extra $20 a month

And I have some great news! I already accomplished the first one!! At the end of the year, my employer cashes out whatever remaining sick leave you have and pays you!! I totally forgot about this policy...I've learned to never count on something until it sits in your hand...so, my sick leave was paid out, I've managed to pay off Store Credit Card #1, and put the remainder towards Store Credit Card #2. Now, I need to re-do my budget before payday!! I am so excited! (Yes, I'm learning to revel in the little things!!)

Oh, did you see the last goal? Make an extra $20 a month? Well, I'm nearly there for January! I sold a stamp set that was gathering dust on my shelves to a girlfriend, and then a co-worker paid me to make three Thank You cards! Now, I just have to get myself out there and really work on my last two goals!!

Here are some pictures of the Thank You cards. I came up with the layouts by going through the Stampin'Up! IB&C and looking at the examples - no wonder why they call it the "idea book"!


Stamps: For All You Do
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White, Cottage Wall DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Dimensionals


Stamps: Very Thankful
Paper: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Crushed Curry DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Dimensionals

Stamps: Define Your Life, Baroque Motifs
Paper: Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Washington Apple DSP
Ink: Versa Mark, Basic Black
Accessories: Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

Stamps: Sweet Stems, Teeny Tiny Wishes Paper: Rose Red, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Raspberry Tart DS Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Cameo Coral Accessories: Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Hodgepodge Hardware

Okay, this next card is a birthday card for one of the guys at work, our PR guy. He does a lot of stuff for all of us in the office, and even though he seems to have a lot of fun doing what he does, his efforts often go unnoticed. So, a birthday card he gets.

This card was a lot of fun to make. I love making shaker cards, and everyone is usually very impressed with them. So, how do you make a shaker card with more than just beads??

SHRINKY DINKS!!

Yes, I said it! SHRINKY DINKS!

Remember those things from back in the day? They came in a little plastic sheet that you colored with markers and then threw them in the oven, with the light on, so you could watch your artwork shrink and harden. I never got to play with them when I was little, but I always wanted them.

I bought some for my daughter a year or two ago, and she was not that impressed. But, it had stuck in my mind, and I had gone to my local craft shop and bought a package of blank sheets...to sit on my craft shelves and collect dust, until this week!



Stamps: The More the Merrier, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Ink: Staz-On Black, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware, Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Ribbon, Micro Beads, Dimensionals, Crystal Glaze, Shrinky Dinks

And of course to ring in the new year, a thought: We cannot progress from today to tomorrow, unless we remember yesterday. So, here's to the new year, positive thoughts on all that I learned last year. May you make progress in your own goals, whatever they may be.

Stamps: Sense of Time

Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Brads, Top Note Die


Do you know what that is?? Can you guess?

It is not just a piece of plywood with nails in it...nope...it's better.

It's a BOWMAKER!!

Yes! So creative! So frugal!!!!!!

I have been asking and asking for the Ultimate Crafter's Companion, you know, the one with the bow pegs, the embossing, the box and envelope maker, that thing???

Well, I can't get it, not just yet.

So while on Splitcoaststampers the other day, while staring at the bowmaking post in the tutorials, I got this crazy idea...hubby can make that for me!!! And so, he did.

He loves me. (Or, he just wanted me to shut up about bows...)

Happy New Year!