October

Happy Fall. My favorite season. I love the crisp air and the changes here in Pennsylvania. Hoping to post some fall colors and some crafting.
I have been enjoying some card making from past "Stampin' Up" parties w/our fun host Kelli, you can find her blog here. I will try to post the awesome cards we made there. And for now Monday's have been scrapbooking days w/my mom and sister. My lovely sister who just got hooked this past spring at her first scrapbook retreat. My sister who wondered to herself and her family.."what will do there all that time?" She was pleasantly surprised. We crafted out pages and laughed at ourselves and our dear mother, had lots of snacks, and added to our paper supplies! In fact, once my sister discovered "stickles"...nothing was safe from her glittery hand. To this day you can probably find something sparkling on every page!

The card above was a teacher "thank-you" at the end of last school year. I probably craft better w/less time and in a hurry since I tend to over think every project like it is a paper painting. Will update this week w/photos of more crafting.
No if I can just figure out how to sign my name fancy....and maybe even catch a "swap" soon, I will be just fine.
Carol

Hello

Hello all. Did you wonder where I was?

I sometimes wonder where I am. Where are you in life? In the midst of chaos or blessings? I experience both. I am back again for now. Cannot seem to be consistent but cannot seem to leave. Don't want to. Had to do a bit of clean sweeping. Christmas is long past and more holidays have come and gone. A lot can happen in that time. I am no longer at my part time job. Wish I was, but things have changed as for most folks in different ways. Trying to hold onto hope can be hard. But then again that is what faith is. Hope and believing in that which is unseen. Happiness can be fleeting, but "joy" is a state of mind.

The Land of Nod....that's where I was.

But I am back now I will try to catch up and share some past adventures and crafty moments with you. And, stay up late once in a while to visit and say hello and see how your year has been.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. Hope you had a few moments of peace and joy. A time when all was quite and you could reflect on the beauty of the Christmas holiday. Because I am organizationally challenged and distractions over-take me (the fun of A.D.D.) I usually have to wait until I am so out of time and the event is actually here....when I can no longer clean a little more, or bake a little more, or shop a little more, then I have to stop. I have no choice but to stop and enjoy the Holiday. So I finally Stopped and rested and enjoyed the music and what is left of Christmas.


Here you will find some Christmas crafts...I re-used a piece of cardboard from a package and covered it in some nice Christmas scrapbook paper. Then experimented w/my own lettering in pencil and went over it w/"Stickles". I also tried pleating the crepe paper (you know I just forgot what it was called and had to go & find the package, I hate when that happens) glued it then applying w/some glitter to the edges. I had been wanting to try pleating the crepe paper--one of those things you see and wish you had more time to try it. But just what is the secret to it, as I am not a pro and it is hard to get evenly pleated...let me know if you have done this w/success.

I made these skates out of fabric for Grace for the Heidi's swap that I posted in last. I am hoping to find a few moments to craft before the weekend is over.

How has your week been mine has been extra challenging for so many reasons. One big one being that my one daughter has been sick since last weekend and another complains once in a while of a belly ache too. There was re-arranging of schedules w/work, school, w/illness and snow that we received last Saturday night. Shopping and cooking and all the last minute things. But we made it to church Christmas eve as planned and then off to family party. Christmas morning was unwrapping most of the gifts with a break for overnight baked french toast and then bible reading of the Christmas story. Finishing of gifts, arrival of oldest daughter & her family...then a quiet evening of our own Turkey dinner & a kids movie. We are still so very blessed by God and thank Him for the hope that the Birth of Jesus brought so very long ago.
Blessings & Hugs, Carol

Christmas Swap 2009

Wow, where did time go? I just had to post before Christmas gets here. This is awful how behind I am. I completed another of Heidi's swaps. She is so sweet and I love to visit her beautiful blog. It puts you in the holiday spirit no matter when you go there! Hugs to Heidi!!! And to my lovely new friend and partner for the swap, Grace. You can find her here at Pink in the City.
The picture above is the cutest vintage window box that Grace made. I will treasure it each year it is very special. She did a wonderful job!
Thanks again Grace for the "Merry Christmas" letters to hang and candy and "snow" to craft with. For the great candle and ornaments and all you sent. And especially thanks for being such a nice new friend!

It is also this girl's birthday. I don't have to say how hard it is to have and to celebrate a birthday so close to Christmas and the activities that it contains! The important thing I think of most about Olivia is that she was given the gift of Mercy and giving. Never had I seen a child like her who would give you her last bite of any treat she had since a small toddler. She is so giving in all ways but it also makes for a sensitive spirit that can be so easily hurt. I know it is her gift because we all try to teach children but some just do it on their own...Happy 8th Birthday Olivia. She is my "baby" but has caught up to her one sis completely (which makes her a bit sad since they are 21 mo. apart!) I think she grew to complete the scene in which she becomes truly a twin to her other sis. They have been so close like I can only imagine twins to be and even their appearance is such that everyone has always asked or thought them to be twins! (although to a momma they are different) She is my shy girl yet has sang little solo parts for the school Christmas show and will do it again tonight with her sis also. Their relationship I think makes their one sister wish she could be a part (a teen tho she is)..me too! In fact, Cassidy wore a shirt for Olivia to school today that says "Happy Birthday". They are only a grad apart and one was home longer for a year.
I would not quit today, even with its hectic pace, before posting and saying hello. Above is a photo of some stars for the swap I am completing today. Blessings for the Season,
Carol

Fall Decor

It is still "fall" mode around here. But I can feel winter coming.

Time to put away all the Halloween decor, but I do love the pumpkins colors of "fall" for Thanksgiving, so I am in that in-between state of feeling like Christmas but mixed w/what is left: bits and pieces of leaves and orange and smells of orange/spice.

And here below is part of what I made for Amy for "Heidi's" last swap. It was a banner for Halloween.

I found myself wanting to be creative in a winter-kinda way but no time on my hands to spare. So, I did what I normally do: I found another swap to join. What better way than to "have" to create by a certain deadline?! I joined another of sweet Heidi's swaps. Have a great night!
Hugs and blessings, Carol

October goodies

Here are a few of the items that I received from the swap that was completed as mentioned below. I say a "few" because I did not get enough photos of all that was sent from dear Amy. She did a beautiful job w/presenting all she made and sent. This acorn box is one of my favorites, I wish you could see it in person. So full of Fall, and glittery.
And, this beautiful Halloween box, all orange and black and full of glitter!! Did I mention full of surprises inside, like notions and thread and little leaves and more.

oOh, and here is what my box looked like inside. Festive for sure. And why are these images out f order? Shouldn't the opened box be first? Of course it should. In a perfect world it would be. You know where this is heading? Since we are not on "Planet Perfect" "our" precious computer is misbehaving and playing tricks. It was all I could do to get these images even uploaded today. I blogging. We have our photos and all we need. We are good to go." SURPRISE...my most tried on day before. I said to myself: "self, let's just quickly post and do our best to keep up with important button on my blog post editing "Add Image" refuses to work correctly and then when it does..I either lose a connection and an image and have to start over or get some different message. It all happened within the last 2 months I suppose. Still waiting for Mr. Genius, my "I can do just about anything I set my mind to" husband to figure this terrible problem out. For now, here you go. To top it all off, I figured out long ago how to cut and paste and manipulate my post photos around my text...and naturally those buttons suddenly do nothing and I deleted a photo and had to start over. All those who have a love/hate relationship w/their computer say: I...IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

A big Thank-You to Amy for all of her hard work and Heidi for hosting (see previous post for her blog info!)

I know I should be doing something else, but....how many times have I said that before? Really needed to blog and post pics of some of what was sent and received in the "Halloween Swap" that Heidi hosted. I am behind, I am not getting stuff done. No, I sometimes get stuff done, but never what I make up in my mind to do. I believe that's another post. For now, a view of a few lovely Halloween gifts that were sent by my partner Amy Bauer. Yep, you already viewed that and as mentioned, I cannot maneuver this thing today. I won't give up. Posting more when I can achieve back my sanity from this dang computer.. off to feed my brood :}

hugs, Carol