Bathrooms, Printers and Ripping Rulers

I've been very disappointed with the quality of my printed photographs but since we are in the middle of remodeling our master bathroom.... I didn't want to spend too much money on a new photo printer.  I spent a day researching for a good printer that was also capable of printing 12 x 12 scrapbook pages (in case I ever decide to go digital!)... after finding one I wanted to purchase, I spent some more time finding the best price I got it right here.  For the record I'm also disappointed that my bathroom looks like that above, but it has to look bad first to look good in the end... right??!!  I hope anyhow as right now, we are not only short a bathroom but we are also short a closet in our room as well! 

Anyhow minus one bathroom and one closet I decided to cheer myself up and so I bought this Ripping Ruler.  I have always liked the look of torn paper on projects, but never ever liked how it looked after I ripped the paper myself.  I have to admit, I doubted this ruler would really help but I was willing to pay a little over 6 bucks to find out... and I have to tell you the ruler DOES THE TRICK.  As soon as I opened the package I tried it out on some scrap paper and I love the look of the torn paper... I can't wait to use it on a project, alas it will have to wait as today I am involved in a Match Game Bowling Tournament and will be there most of the day... if all goes well and I don't lose a game too quickly! 

Enjoy your Saturday!

Ms. Bright Side

Updated Blog Post (3-29-10) Blog pals Cheryl Boglioli and Giselle both recently shared the Ms. Bright Side Award with me and I've recovered enough from my cold now to finally thank them both, Thank you Cheryl and Giselle!!!!, and have a little fun doing what I am suppose to do upon being honored with this award.  Please take a few moments (or more) of your time and visit their delightful blogs!!!  Okay now, I'm suppose to list 10 things that make me happy, provide 5 pieces of trivia about myself and then pass this award on to 5 fellow bloggers.  So...

Ten things that make me happy.

1. My two grandsons Jack and Seth
2. My three daughters, Erin, Caitlin and Cydney
3. My partner... John
4. My family and friends
5. My beloved pets (when they are not being naughty :-))
6. Crab Legs dipped in butter (yum)
7. Freshly mowed grass - especially my own - and even more if I didn't have to do it! :-)
8. The flowers in my yard
9. Babies (especially if they are not crying!! :-))
10. Crafting!!

5 pieces of trivia about me:

1. I have a scar on the inside of my left ankle from a bike accident and a birth mark on the inside crease (at the elbow) of my right arm.

2. My partner John is 14 years my JUNIOR and I get teased about that ENDLESSLY :-)

3. John and I take ballroom dancing lessons with a large group of our friends.

4. I love to bowl and in my next life I plan to be a pro bowler (not really)

5. I love to golf and I'm not very good but I have a lot of fun anyhow.

and finally 5 friends I want to pass this award on to....

Kristina at Kristina's World
Joanna at Scrap-making
Sandy at Sandy from Ukiah
Cheri at Graphicat Creations
Kim at Olive Juice Studio

Several "Firsts" and a Couple of Layouts

I finally had a chance to spend some time working on my daughter's senior high scrapbook and completed two layouts using prompts from Shimelle's scrapbooking class (Something from Almost Nothing).  One prompt included using a page protector as part of the layout itself.  I opted to use one I cut up as a see-through pocket to hold my journaling tag and some shiny beads.  It is the first time I've ever tried a technique like that, it's the first time I used my new Martha Stewart butterfly punch and it is also the first time I have ever used a "rub-on"...can you believe it??  I am perhaps the LAST person in the scrapping world to ever try one of those babies!  I also used my new "Green" Basic Gray paper for the first time.... ah, so many firsts indeed!  I knocked out the title using Gypsy Font so I can also check off another cartridge from my "No Cricut Cart Left Behind" challenge.... 

This next layout is also from a class prompt that required us to use stickers in our layout... I haven't used stickers since I first scrapped via Creative Memories... I have literally hundreds of stickers all neatly organized in a Creative Memories notebook...and I haven't used a single one in perhaps a decade! yikes... anyhow, I used a whole page up and while it doesn't even begin to make a dent in my sticker pile... it's a start I suppose!  Sorry about the poor lighting on this layout once again... I never seem to get my photos taken during the daylight hours and so those sweet little vintage print flowers look kinda dark...maybe even a little scary!  LOL :-)

Clean and Simple Stamping

I used the Clean and Simple Stamping sketch challenge right here as inspiration for this card this birthday card I made for middle daughter to give to my youngest daughter (yep, it's like that around here... ha). At some point during the creative process I decided to turn the sketch sideways as you will see below.

Supplies for the completed project included the new and yummy Dear Lizzie glitter brads, Hero Arts Flowing Flowers and Leaves background stamp, Cardstock, stamps and ink from Papertrey Ink and Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen, Fiskars Crest Punch.  Also Prima flowers and some Hero Arts pearls were added for to enhance the girlie-ness of the card.

Mojo Monday with Paper Cutz & Poppy Seeds

After a couple of days of feeling under the weather I was finally back in my craft room this evening and had the opportunity to make a couple of cards.  There is still time for you to get in on the current Mojo Monday challenge right here. I used the Mojo Monday sketch as the inspiration for the birthday card for my "baby" who turns 18 years old tomorrow!

For fun I decided to also combine the Mojo Monday sketch with the current Paper Cutz Challenge right here to use one ribbon and three buttons.  And while I was at it, I also decided to follow the second ever Poppy Seed Challenge to use Light Moss, Polka Dots and buttons. 

For this project, I matched up some new American Crafts Dear Lizzy striped paper with Papertrey Ink's cardstock in Spring Moss, Pure Poppy and Berry Sorbet with Vintage Cream as the base of the card.  Other supplies included Dear Lizzy glitter buttons, Papertrey Ink die cut, stamps button twine and ribbon.  I stamped the polka dots using Versamark Dazzle in Champagne and the flowers and sentiment using Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black. I was happy with everything about this project...except the lighting when I took the photograph... argh! :-)

Barn Owl Web Cam is So Sweet!

This link on Sportsman Paradise Online features a live streaming video of the sweetest sort.  A barn owl named Molly and her first owlet that hatched recently are awaiting the arrival of yet more little ones... I think I could become obsessed about watching this!

Olive Blog Contests...Don't You?

Actually I do like blog contests (even though I have never won one yet! LOL)... and I am writing about this particular blog contest not only because I would like to win the great prizes... but because I also want you to know about the Olive Juice Studio blog itself.  If you haven't visited Olive Juice Studio yet... it's time you did...so go here, enter the contest.  It's easy, just leave a couple of comments, become a follower and make your guess as to the number of eggs in the basket.  That's all there is to it!  But... before you leave the blog make sure you take a few moments (or more) and enjoy all that Olive Juice Studio blog has to offer including yummy weekly tips, juicy tutorials and lots of other treats as well!

Here is a favorite direct from the Olive Juice Studio blog that shows the wonderful prizes you can win!!  Enjoy!

Favorite Cards using Cricut Cuts and a Design Team Call

Bitten by the Bug2 blog is promoting a Design Team call from now until April 3.  They asked,  "Are you totally obsessed with your Cricut?" Check. "Do you like a good challenge?" Check. "Do you have a blog and like lots of visitors?" Check check! "Do you want to be part of one of the original Cricut Challenge sites?"  Check!

After answering in the affirmative to all these questions, I sorted through my Cricut projects that I have actually posted on my blog (in the short time I have had a blog) and came up with these two cards that I used Cricut cuts to complete.  Mind you... these are just two of my favorites... and your favorite Cricut project is exactly what they want to see in order to choose new members for their Design Team.

First is a "Just Saying Hello" card I created using both the Fabulous Finds cart (for the hinges) and the From My Kitchen cart for the apron.   The second card below is a "Welcome Spring" card that I used two carts on as well.  The cute little tag is from the Sweet Treats cart and the scalloped edge is from Plantin Schoolbook.

Because the inside of the card was bright orange, I finished it off like this...

I would be so honored to be selected as a new Design Team member for Bitten By the Bug2... what a fun blog!  With all the gorgeous projects linked up on the Design Call post I am sure selection will not be an easy task - so much talent out there to choose from!  I do wish everyone luck who is interested in becoming a part of Bitten by the Bug2 and if you want a chance to be considered and haven't entered your favorite projects yet, go here and make sure to enter before the deadline!

Speak Up Layout and No Cricut Cart Left Behind!

First I want to start by apologizing for the poor lighting used to take the photograph of this layout... it's late at night and I was forced to use my flash... yuck.  Never the less, this weekend our scrapbooking class was challenged to create a number of projects... this particular one required us to use, cardstock, patterned paper, ribbon and metal all on one layout.  I very often do use this combination of products to complete a project so I felt comfortable incorporating all of those elements in one layout. I also completed another layout that was less girly-girl mainly due to the fact that it is a photograph of two of my daughters and their father with a doe my daughter shot during gun season here in Michigan.  Due to the fact that this layout may be offense to some, I won't post it... but I mention it because I used a number of Cricut carts to complete that layout and in doing both these projects now have only THREE carts left to complete my April 15th deadline in the No Cricut Cart Left Behind!
Okay...enough with the chit-chat... here is the layout minus the journaling that I still have left to do on it, perhaps once I complete that I will update the picture with one under better lighting conditions.

Spring is in the Air - Card Challenge

I'm sad that I didn't get this card done in time to post it at the Card Positioning System challenge since I used this week's sketch for inspiration to create a card for my Aunt, however I am posting it at JUGS (Just us Girls) for the color challenge to use light brown, light blue, light green and yellow.  I just loved the patterned paper from SEI's "Jocelyn" paper pack and it fit very nicely with the color challenge.  I also designed this card to fit in with this week's Bitten By the Bug 2 Challenge to create a spring card using stamps and at least one Cricut cut. 

The CPS card sketch was very simple, so I wanted to add a little something to it and the Prima flower was just the ticket.  I used my Accent Esstentials cart to cut the two layered flowers I adhered to the Prima flower to minic those on the patterned paper.  I distressed the edges of the flower with Tim Holtz's Tea Dye Distress Ink to make them stand out against the patterned paper.  I cut the sentiment label from the Fabulous Finds cart.  I then used a Hero Arts stamp to stamp two leaves onto yellow cardstock and cut them out.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink, as well as the cardstock and ribbon. The two pearls are from Hero Arts. Ink for the leaves and sentiment are also from PTI.

Mojo Monday Birthday Card

I just loved the sketch challenge 130 over at Mojo Monday and used it as the inspiration for the birthday card I made for my man.  He'll be 35 tomorrow... still 14 years behind ME... but I'm hoping that at some point he'll get old enough that our age difference won't sound QUITE so BIG!  (Bah haha)...

Okay on to the card I created... I had fun putting this card together because I used a lot of new stuff that I hadn't broken into for any projects yet, like the Cosmo Cricket patterned paper and ribbon from "The Boyfriend", an October Afternoon "Wild Card", my new Fiskars crest punch and a metal sign from Daily Dose.  Other supplies included card stock, stamps and ink from Papertrey Ink, Basic Grey brads, a Tim Holtz Idea-ology Journaling Ticket and grommets from my stash... I had a heck of time using my Crop-o-Dile to put the grommets on the patterned paper. I have a feeling I am doing something wrong, but can't figure out exactly what it is that I am doing that is preventing me from attaching those little suckers with ease and precision.  Arghhhh.

Pink Elephant Challenge Winner

It certainly feels great when a project is complimented with an award on a challenge blog!  I just learned that this card was selected as a "Top Card" over at the Pink Elephant Challenge blog! I have to admit that this is one of my favorite cards that I created recently.  It was my first attempt at using a mask and I was delighted with the outcome of that Tim Holtz product... I just love that guy's stuff for creating cards and scrapbook layouts too!  

 

Scrapbook Layouts for Something from Almost Nothing

Okay so, although I have had time to work on a couple of layouts in the last several days... I haven't had internet service.... argh!  Some young man decided to drive into a nearby electrical pole on Wednesday (which also happened to be my 49th birthday)...and took out the power and phone to several houses (including mine) on our street... power was back on in a couple of hours, but the phone took until late yesterday.

Prompts for the scrapbooking class I am taking included using ribbon and patterned paper scraps... so here are two layouts using those items!  Whoot Whoot... this class really has helped me use up items in my stash and get some layouts accomplished as well.... so exciting!

For the layout below I had a number of small packages of free ribbon that I received for ordering products from Ellen Hutson and I was never really sure what I was going to do with the growing pile of that ribbon...  until now. I love it when a plan comes together! 

Puppy Love and Fat Goats

Here it is... the famous photograph of my middle daughter, her cubby dog and one of her FINE FAT GOATS. Okay, so the photo isn't really all that famous... but you gotta love it anywho... don't cha?

It's a potty training kinda day...

and because of that, I won't have much time to work on papercrafts today... but I do have time to take photographs! In the middle of our Potty Training adventures (we've been dabbling in it for months now, but it is finally time to get SERIOUS) Jack found time to play with Heidi... and for just a few moments they stopped running long enough for me to snap these photos...

Inspiration from the Net

 I sometimes have those days...and maybe you do too, where you really need to put together a card, a present or a quick gift bag and you just can't seem to find a creative bone in your body... for me, yesterday was one of those days!  And the truth is, just because you can't think of an original thing to make... doesn't mean you don't need to still come up with something.  That's why the internet is so great...and so are the designers that post their beautiful ideas and projects for us to see... and CASE.

Right here you can learn from Kerry's blog how to make the Post-It Note Holder from a clear 4 x 6 (or larger if you choose) acrylic frame. And the inspiration for the card I made you can find right here on Melissa Sauls' blog "In Stamping Mode."  I just love her designs and signed up to get her blog updates because I admire her work so much!

As for the gift bag...no inspiration there, just a REAL quick put together, I photographed it only to show that for the tags, the big "S" and the gift tag itself I used two more Cricut carts in my "No Cricut Cart Left Behind" self-challenge.

Today I'm off to work on more layouts for my scrapbooking class, hope you have time to create today as well!

Heavy Metal Layout

As a result of the scrapbooking class, Something from Almost Nothing I'm taking over at Shimelle's I have two layouts to share today.  The prompt for the first class included using metal....and that I did, especially on the first layout.  Ten brads....yep, count 'em TEN were used in this first girly layout I did to start off my youngest daughter's Senior Year of High School album!  I do believe this is the most metal I have ever used in a single layout and that is exciting for me! 

Other supplies I used to complete this layout included: Webster's Pages Deluxe Journaling Card Set (on popped it up on foam tape to add dimension to the page), Prima's Shabby chic Collection "Sweets" patterned paper, Prima flowers, Brads from Basic Grey, pages I tore out of an old book to make the flowers, cardstock and the large scallop die from Papertrey Ink (love that!), glossy accents, ribbon from Ellen Hutson and the Cricut Expression using the Calligraphy cartridge (another cartridge used for the "No Cart Left Behind" challenge!  Life is good.

This second layout was quite simple and I didn't use nearly as much metal in the making - only three pretty sparkly brads.  The patterned paper and brads are from the new American Crafts Dear Lizzy collection. I also used Pure Poppy cardstock and swiss dot ribbon, sentiment stamp and small scallop die all from Papertrey Ink.

Something from Almost Nothing - Class Day One!

It's here!  The start of Shimelle's "Something from Almost Nothing" scrapbooking class has finally arrived. This morning the first lesson and prompt arrived via email. 

When I signed up for the class I had already decided that the scrapbook I want to work on during this class would be centered around my youngest daughter's Senior year in high school. So after reading the first PDF of the class, I got to work organizing, cropping, editing, documenting and printing all 53 photos I plan to include in this scrapbook. 

I wanted to do a mini album and finally use my new Bind it All for the project, but now I am wondering if I should do a larger size album than I first planned for my daughter's album AND do a mini Celebrate Life (the project this class is focusing on) for myself. Guess I'll have to make a decision quick if I want to get started on that album too. 

At any rate here is a photo of all the photos I printed for my daughter's senior year scrapbook!  I numbered each photo and have a cheat sheet that lists the topic of each photo as a journaling prompt. I know this will motivate me (as will the class) to use up some of scrapbooking stash and get this important album done for my daughter's Open House in June!  I might just get it done early to boot and have the extra mini album done as well....that would certainly use up a lot of my stash for sure! Yippee!

Compose a Card with Becky Top Three and Becky's new Stamps too!

Last week I participated in Becky Oehlers' "Compose a Card with Becky" challenge and was so very honored this morning to discover that she chose my card as second in her top three picks for the challenge! The photograph above is from Becky's blog. Also in the top three was Karen who took the first spot with her gorgeous card that you can see right here.  I just loved Karen's card too!  She recreated the ceiling of the inspiration room photo so beautifully! Becky's third spot pick was Suzanne's beautiful card that you can see right here.  I feel so honored to have my card selected by Becky, especially because I am a self-proclaimed Becky inspiration stalker! :-) Becky is one of favorite designers on the Papertrey Ink team and one of the reasons why I have spent so much money buying up PTI cardstock, stamps, ribbons and inks! 

Speaking of Becky Oehlers' talents as a designer she has a new stamp set that will be released by Papertrey Ink this month.  I can't wait to get my hands on that set.  You can see the sneak peeks over at her blog right here.

Practical Scrappers use White Gel Pens!

This week over at Practical Scrappers crafters are challenged to use white gel pens and/or white markers for their projects.  So I rooted around in my little tin bucket until I found my white gel pen and whipped up this baby card to present to a fellow bowler who is expecting a baby next month.  I was in such a hurry earlier today that I failed to write now the exact name of the supplies I used... but all the cardstock is from Papertrey Ink (gosh I love that stuff) and the patterned paper was from the paper pack Ducks in a Row.  I used yellow ribbon and yellow pearls from my stash and a Papertrey Ink Button with their rustic cream button twine to attach it to the little bow.  I used my Cricut and A Child's Year to cut "Baby" out of the yellow cardstock and then outlined it all with my white gel pen.  Ta-da! :-)

Mojo Monday Challenge 129

Who doesn't love a bit of Mojo on Mondays!  This week at the Mojo Monday blog they have another great challenge sketch.  A gal on my bowling team just so happens to be celebrating a birthday this week... so I used this sketch to create a birthday card for her. 

Here is the supply list in no particular order:
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye - Totally Girl paper pack
Cardstock, Ink and Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Nestabilities Die Cuts and Cricut Die Cut from Sweet Treats
I also tried the new Adobe Lightroom software (Beta) to correct the lighting on the card.  I still don't have the whole lighting thing down pat for my cards... I am seriously considering buying a light tent... if any of you know where I can purchase one that is reasonably priced I'd love to hear from you!

Scrapbooking Class: Something From Almost Nothing

I'm excited to tell you all about a class I am taking that begins on March 10, 2010.  Shimelle.com is presenting a unique scrapbooking class titled "Something from Almost Nothing".  You can learn more about this class that starts on Wednesday right here. During the class we'll be putting together a "Celebrate Life" album using the stash we already have amassed... and I have lots and lots of it.  The cost of the class is only $15.00 and I am certain that it will be money well spent.  Our preclass challenge is this: 

"Post a picture or two of your stash (bonus points for those who get creative with the posing of their supplies for the camera, of course!) and come clean to your friends and readers. Why do you have so many supplies and what are you waiting for? You can proclaim a goal: how many pages you want to make from existing stash in the next month or how many sheets of paper/sets of stickers/yards of ribbons/etc you want to move from your stash to your albums before the end of March."

Below is a photograph of just a small part of my stash (stuff I got in the last couple of days) but before you look at the photo I do want to say this for the record... I just started scrapbooking again back in late September 2009 when I finally got both a dedicated papercrafting area and a Cricut Expression.  At that time I started work on two scrapbooks, one for my mother with old family photographs (which I presented to her at Christmas - even though I still have more photos to add to the album) and one that I am working on for my youngest daughter's high school graduation open house this June.  However, I must come clean and admit that over the past several months I have been side-tracked because I have been spending so much time, learning new techniques, crafting cards for card challenges and shopping for all the supplies I want and felt I just had to have, that I haven't scrapped a single page since January!  Thus, the reason I am so excited about taking this class and using all the stash I have accumulated over the past six months... I have lots and lots of stash too... and because I was afraid that I might make mistakes with some of the "really good stuff" I bought two and sometimes THREE of all the best stuff (that habit of buying extra has certainly lent itself to creating a big big stash pile)... So, there you have it... why my stash is so HUGE and why I am SO EXCITED to begin this class next week. As for my goal over this class period... I would like to use up at least one of all the things that I consider to be "my good stuff" and create an album of at least twenty pages.  Hope you can join us!

Poppy Seed and Spring is in the Air Challenges

I was excited to get in on the first Poppy Seed Challenge over at Lisa Johnson's blog Poppy Paperie.  For the first Poppy Seed Challenge ever the project required a flower image, crystal and yellow.  I also wanted to play along with Nicole Heady's "Spring is in the Air" challenge which allowed for a choice of seven different Spring color schemes.

I chose this one by Michelle Wooderson because I loved the color combination and it had the yellow in it required by the Poppy Seed Challenge.  For this card everything I used, with the exception of the music background stamp, the gems (from Hero Arts) and the Nestabilities die cut for the sentiment label and the background label for the flower are Papertrey Ink products (I just love their high quality products).  I stamped the flower image twice and colored both with various Copic markers, I then cut the center of the flower stamp out and popped it up on foam tape to give the flower some dimension. I distressed the edges of the sentiment labels with Spring Moss ink and also used that color ink to stamp the musical notes background.  I seriously cannot wait until Spring... This card also fits for the Pink Elephant Challenge to add green to your color combo... I seriously love combining challenges! 

Let's Raise the Bar and Compose a Card with Becky

Becky's Compose a Card challenge uses Softstone and Enchanted Evening cardstock as well as white embossing powder and satin ribbon. Take a gander at the inspiration room... lovely as always!

While Becky did not use the "chandelier" on her own card, it really spoke to me... but wouldn't you know that despite my large stash of stamps and Cricut carts... I didn't own a single chandelier to use for this challenge... so instead I decided to add a string of beads that were left over from all the bows we made for my daughter's wedding last summer.  I also didn't have any white embossing powder (gasp...sputter...gasp)... so I had to use clear, but the background still managed to show up well on the Softstone cardstock.

Recent trends in cardmaking reveal that we paper crafters are now leaning toward using journaling cards on our ummm... cards.  Yes, it is true and as it turns out, I just got a beautiful "Deluxe Journaling Card Set" by Webster's Pages, so I had to use one on this card.  I inked the edges of the journaling card with Distress Ink in Tea Dye.

Other supplies included PTI and Neenah cardstocks, a background stamp that I purchased on clearance at Meijer, light blue satin ribbon that I colored with my Copic B37 to match the cardstock, Hero Arts Antique Engravings for the stamped butterflies. I used Archival Ink in coffee to stamp them and then distressed the edges with the ink as well, then embossed them to make them shine a bit. I then cut them out and popped them up on foam tape. I used foam tape on the journaling card as well, to make it stand out.  I also had three gems that I had in my stash, the clear button and the white pin were stash items as well. I am not sure how I felt about adding the safety pin as it seemed a bit casual for the card...but I decided to throw caution to the wind and use it anyhow.  Using three of anything (butterflies and gems) made this card perfect for this week's Raising the Bar challenge as well.  I love when I can combine challenges! 

P.S.  At Joni's suggestion I am also entering this for challenges at Flutter by Wednesday and Cute Card Thursday!  Thanks for letting me know about these challenges Joni, I had not heard of them before!

Sweet Goat Kisses...

In my last post I mentioned that our goats were some of the sweetest goats around... this photograph proves my point as Yuri reaches out to give my daughter one of his sweet goat kisses.... awww aren't they darling!!??

A Beautiful Blogger Award for Runs With Scraps!

What a wonderful way to wake up on a Monday morning!  The always charming Kim over at the funky and eclectic Olive Juice Studio awarded this blog with "A Beautiful Blogger" award.  I can't begin to tell you how honored and delighted I am that one of the blogs she chose to honor with this award was Runs With Scraps!  Not only is this the first ever blog award Runs with Scraps has ever received... the fact that it was awarded by a fellow Blogger who provides such inspiration for me personally, makes the award doubly wonderful and delicious! I think of myself as having an eclectic style when it comes to paper crafts (now that I think of it I also have eclectic taste when it comes to music, books and men too... lol)... anyhow, I digress... the point was that I am therefore naturally drawn to blogs like Olive Juice Studio because of it and as an example of the funky and fun inspiration and tutorials you can find at Olive Juice Studio... check out this tutorial here to learn how to create an Easter Basket out of a recycled Butter box... too darling! Again, a very special thank you to Kim for honoring Runs with Scraps this Beautiful Blogger Award!

In receiving this award, I have to share seven things about myself.  But first, I have to go change my grandson's diaper...  okay, about me...

1.  First and foremost to everything else about me, I am a mother to three unique and beautiful young women.  I know that it sounds corny and so many mothers say it... but the fact is true that they are indeed three of the best things I have done in my entire life.  I am also a "Nanie" ... (pronounced Nah-Nee) to two terrific grandsons and I spend my days caring for them while their mothers attend work and college. I feel that I was born to be a grandmother and I am so blessed to be in a situation that I can provide daycare for them.  It has certainly allowed me to develop a close relationship with them that I would not otherwise enjoy if I were busy working outside the home. My newest goal however, is to be on a Design Team.

2.  I'm a retired Training Lieutenant and worked for the Department of Corrections for almost two decades... I loved every single moment of my job as a Training Lieutenant and new recruit Platoon Leader... I loved teaching and having the opportunity to be such a big part of training Corrections Officers and helping them enter into their new careers.  While that phase of my life is over now, I carry many special memories with me each day and I will cherish the friendships I made forever. My newest goal however, is to be on a Design Team.

3.  Some people would call me a "Cougar"... I just call myself a middle-aged woman who just happens to be in a relationship with a man who is ridiculously younger than me (14 years to be exact). John has been my partner for the past three years and he has to be one of the most laid back and flexible men I have ever met in my life... and let me tell you, to live here, among all the animals, teens, and toddlers you just got to be flexible! My newest goal however, is to be on a Design Team.

4.  That said, I naturally must now mention that I share my household with not only John, but my two youngest daughters, one of my grandsons, seven felines, four canines, one fish (who is currently recovering from a feline attack)  and two of the most loving goats anyone would ever want to meet... mind you, the goats don't live inside (well, except that one winter when they were just babies and I kept them in the master bathroom for a few days until I could set up a heated area in my garage.) My newest goal however, is to be on a Design Team.

5.  I enjoy a close relationship with my mother (I am her only child... although I do have two half brothers who I love and adore).  She lives a few miles away from me and we make a point to talk on the phone everyday (sometimes several times a day actually) and/or visit each other.   My newest goal however, is to be on a Design Team.

6.  I am blessed to have a large, close-knit circle of friends (9 other couples to be exact)... we all met when we were much younger and members of the Jaycees... five years ago, my best gal pal and I developed a "Supper Club" with these other couples, you can see our website here. We meet once a month to share dinner, drinks and lots of fun!  It is a wonderful group and I recommend starting your own Supper Club too.. you won't be sorry you did! Seven of our supper club couples are also all taking Ballroom dancing classes together.... what a hoot!  I also bowl with a few of these same women from my group on Monday nights and belong to the local Moose with a number of these same friends. My newest goal however, is to be on a Design Team.

7. Finally, I am a paper lover. Although I began scrapbooking  more than a decade ago... I stopped for a while because I did not have a dedicated scrapping area and it was just a hassle to haul everything out and put everything away again when I wanted to use the dining table for my family to eat on... however, since this past September (2009) I have a dedicated scrapping and paper crafting area and now I am back in full swing...only this time, I have also developed an interest in cardmaking, mini albums and just paper crafts in general... Since fall, I have spent a ridiculous amount of money getting all the supplies I think I need to do just about anything paper crafting you could dream up... in fact, I've bought so much stuff...that I haven't even had time to use it all yet... but I will eventually! My dream is to eventually be so dang crafty that someone decides they just have to have me on their design team... I bet that was hard to guess...eh?

Okay...now for the really fun part, I get to pass this award on to the fifteen other beautiful blogs and wow, there are so many fantastic blogs to choose from... it wasn't as easy a task as one might think it is!

Bridget at http://bridgetsworld2010.blogspot.com/
Mother-Daughter team Heidi and Adriel at http://twohappystampers.blogspot.com/
Bryan at http://scrapguy.blogspot.com/
Cheri at http://graphicatcreations.blogspot.com/
Magoo at http://cricutinspiration.blogspot.com/
Christina at http://www.creationswithchristina.com/
Jamielyn at http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/
Albert at http://agoscraftomonium.blogspot.com/
Brenda at http://brenda-365daysofjoy.blogspot.com/
Summer at http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/
Krysten at http://sugar-buffet.blogspot.com/
Kerry at http://crafts.peteandkerry.com/
Stephanie at http://stephaniehowell.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Cheryl at http://cherylswindow.blogspot.com/
Giselle at http://crossmyheartpapercrafts.blogspot.com/

Congratulations Ladies and Gentlemen! I will be contacting you soon. The rules are that you need to give thanks and link to the person who sent you this award; list seven things about yourself and pass it on to 15 bloggers and/or followers.  Have fun!

Beth