Keeping busy

Here are some images of the panels that I completed for Karla & Beth's "birds & bonnets" swap. It was fun using the images that we received from them & Vintage Workshop for use in the project. We needed to make 4 panels 5" high & decorate front and back using at least one image from their collection (Vintage Workshop) and send them off to be hole-punched and then off to the many swappers.

It is great to have themes for the swaps as so many times I have no idea where to start crafting and a theme gives me a starting point.

I am trying to post quickly as a storm is coming upon us and I don't want to lose all of this. I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend. We had nice family time, however there was an incident w/a close member of the family and I hope that clears up soon. There is no sense is families holding grudges or being unforgiving. There are many out there who have not even talked to each other for years. What is the point of that? You have the family God gave you and families are blessings. They teach us how to love and yes even FORGIVE and be FORGIVEN. How short life is. And how I know that in a blink of an eye any one of us can wake up tomorrow and things could be totally changed. So, remember to love each other. Speaking of loving, I am loving meeting all of my friends out here in this new world (well to me anyways) and meeting new friendly gals in another swap. You can tell when you have met another friend by their kind words and emails.
Have a great night. Hugs, Carol

Mermaid Swap

So where was I? Wow, I think this is the longest I have been away from my post, but it seems the best time to upload pics and write is when kiddos are in bed at night and by then, unless my mind is super motivated which lately it has not been, I am too tired. I just have to realize that there are times when I cannot be here as often as I like. The photo above is of some beautiful flowers from my friend at our women's CBS class. She gave these lovely gifts to a handful of us. She had also sent me a card w/lots of thoughts typed in. Receiving letters and cards in the mail can really lift your spirits and make you feel like a kid again, awaiting that special surprise in the mail. That is the fun of Swaps too. Not enough letter writing any more..mostly emails!
Speaking of swaps....Ahhhh, the feeling of completion. I finished my project for the "mermaid swap" and not only that, but a week ahead!! We were to make something "mermaid" and I made this wall hanging. Above was my first sketch.

This was fun as I added some different techniques that I never tried before. I wanted some shine and sparkle for my mermaid girl. I painted her tail then used a sparkly paint, then cut is apart w/scalloped scissors & glued all the pieces down one at a time. When dry, I coated it w/ "paper glaze".

I also used some beads, shimmer paints, a few rhinestones, crepe paper, and ribbon too. It is good to challenge myself and even better to finish a project!

Little Mermaid baby tag came along too. Remember, it is so fun to do tags as you can only add so much stuff to them because of your space limitations! I finished up the Birds & Bonnets swap, will post another day. Hope you all were able to feel the joy of completion.
Hugs/Blessings....Carol

Speed Bumps

Sometimes we are moving right along and focusing (well, o.k., kind of focusing, how people like me try to do) on what our goals are. Full of energy and determination. Then those little speed bumps come along and knock us off track a bit. That is how this week was, appointments to dentists (kids, & on the way home dd12 is still not feeling well from the fluride stuff and begins to get sick during mom's coffee run...it was my lucky day..she packed her lunch in a plastic bag and you have never seen lunch go flyin out of a bag and onto the mouth of a child so fast, and actually that was my lucky day as I have never had that kind of luck before, normally it would be all over the car..ugh. So while dd still feels unwell, I am goin on and on about how wonderful to save the day w/one of those plastic bags & she wonders if that is all I care about since she has just gotten sick! LOL...oh, is this a run-on sentence?)

Now where was I? This week I just was not accomplishing much in the way of the organization plan or anything else. My days went astray w/all kinds of unplanned things...bumps. Add PMS and that spells trouble. The "I am never gonna win this battle who am I kidding" kinda blues...can you hear that song. So I am just going to crawl out of it. Still exercised/walked. Added some "peanut chews" & "swedish fish" to the mix (chips & dip may be coming up yet, I cannot tell yet). But hey, I finished my project for the "Mermaid Swap" from Bella-Enchanted Just have to add finishing touches and mail out Monday..another one due out end of week. Will take photos this weekend.

I remember when all I could post was these lovely vintage pictures and could only hope to post my own stuff, crafts, family, fun finds. I have more to upload this weekend maybe adding yard sale finds once again if it does not rain in the morning. Last weekend I found some really great things again, including a tripod for my camera that I have to try out. I like posting my treasures but had no time lately. Hope you all enjoy your weekend. I hope to get back into my forward motion of getting my home in order and posting regularly. There is always another day isn't there? Some nights I can feel like I am so defeated and then comes the morning full of hope.

Goodnight & God Bless
Carol