Hooray!!

Ok, so I've messed up on this post about twenty-seven times, but who's counting, right?  I have big news, and I can officially share it now--even though I already accidentally shared it a long time ago.  LOL. I am now a member of the Whimsical Designs team.  Stephanie and I originally "met" when we were both part of Flaunt It Fridays.  After that blog ended, Stephanie started her own stamp line (yay!) and I ordered some of them...Loved them a lot and told her so, and the rest, as they say, is history...we have become friends, I'm proud to say.  She is awesome!!!  So, visit the Whimsical Designs blog to see who else is on this fun team, and visit the store to purchase Stephanie's stamps. She is sponsoring an awesome giveaway with this announcement, so make sure you head over there!  Lots of good stuff! Challenges start up again on January 16, so join the fun.  We will be having a Whimsical Bloghop on February 1.

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge--Get Organized!

So, the challenge over at FCCB  this week for Challenge Me Monday is a 2013 Get Organized Cricut Crawl.  Since I have made a commitment to get back into my craft room and get back into blogging for 2013, I decided I needed to make a light box to photograph my creations.  The challenge includes a project to help you get organized anywhere in the house, and it must include at least one Cricut cut.

To start, I used a Priority Mail cardboard box that had arrived with some goodies inside a few weeks ago.  I covered the inside with white paper.  Then, I used my trusty ATG to cover the outside with some cute (and cheap) scrapbook paper from Target.  My signature color is pink, so it was quite the departure for me to go with this Circus-y lookin' stuff, but I do like how it turned out.  Then I cut the camera layers from the Create a Critter cartridge.  I used my Gypsy to line them up (each piece fit on a 4x4 piece of cardstock).  Then I used my Gypsy to weld letters from the Lyrical Letters cartridge for the sentiment.  I layered everything up, cut out the turquoise paper around the lettering, and added some accents with the gelly roll pen.  I really, really like it, and it will make my photography simpler...yay, me!

My Advent Calendar

I have wanted to make an Advent Calendar for many years...and I finally did.  Finished it yesterday.  Don't Judge...I will be ready for next year....lol.  anyway, I made it by sealing 24 standard sized envelopes, then cutting one of the ends off to make a pocket that is about 4 1/2" long.  I would like to say I measured every one and used my trimmer, but that's a lie...I eyeballed it, so they are not EXACTLY 4 1/2", but they are all pretty close.  What the hey!  After that, I covered each one with patterned Christmas paper that I got from a Christmas Stack.  I think it was DCWV, but I'm not certain.  Once I had that done, I trimmed the cut edge of each one with some fancy scissors that my DD has in her stash.  Then I used my Lyrical Letters Cricut Cartridge to cut out the numbers on Expressions Vinyl.  Forest Green for the odds, Black for the evens.  Then stuck them on the pockets.  Each pocket contains a Bible verse that tells part of the Christmas Story, plus a daily activity to do with the kids. Once the pockets were finished, I spray painted some clothespins with metallic paint--it's not exactly gold, not exactly silver--Krylon brand, but I threw the can away when I was done, so I couldn't tell you the name of the color.  Helpful, aren't I?  Once these dried, I was ready to hang up the calendar from a garland over my fireplace insert. Which I did.  For five minutes.  Long enough to take this picture.  And I couldn't find my *real* camera, so I had to use my Blackberry camera...and...well...this is the best I can do.  Sad, I know...but hopefully I will find my real camera soon....or get a new one....or something.  Don't forget the Whimsical Designs blog hop on January 15.  I will be getting more info out there at some point, and I promise to have better pictures than this one.

I'm a bit overwhelmed...

Let me just say that I am stunned to still have 139 followers.  I haven't posted on this blog in so long that I almost forgot it was here.  That being said, I'm going to try to be more regular about it.  I won't promise I will publish a bunch of pictures, though.  It simply takes so long, with the technology I have, to upload everything and get it all on the web.  I will try to post a photo here and there, but I make no crazy promises.  :)

My life has been exciting since January.  I continue "principaling" at the tiny Hoehne School in Hoehne, CO.  And I continue my journey with Jesus.  He sustains me through so much.  I don't have a lot more to add, so I'm signing off.

A ton of projects!

ok, well maybe not a *ton,* but a lot.  Since my last post, we have had more adventures in health care--Nina had strep, so started on penicillin.  She's never been on an antibiotic before, and it turns out she is allergic to penicillin.  Also, it turns out I don't have asthma--just had a bad bronchial infection that has cleared up with antibiotics  Thank Goodness!

Enough about that!  Now on to the fun!  We have two new babies to celebrate.  My friend Loretta had a baby boy, so he needed this:

I used my gypsy to cut out the triangles on DCWV white core.  Ran them through the Textured Impressions with a Cuttlebug Paisley folder, then sanded them.  They look just like bandanas, don't you think?  Then I hole-punched and threaded them with strips of real bandana, which I tied in the middle of each triangle.  I used Plantin Schoolbook for the letters, along with a little white gelly roll faux stitching.  Then I cut the horse, badge, and horseshoe from Create a Critter and embellished them. Finally, I freehand cut the pocket, and to make it an actual pocket, I put it together with brads, then tucked a little square of bandana in there!  <3<3


The banner below was made for my DH's new granddaughter, Kimber Rose, who is actually expected around the first of July.  I cut this banner from some pretty patterned paper that my cousin, Scrappy Java Girl Beth, gave me in a goodie box a few months ago.  I cut the letters with Gypsy Font Monogrammed Tag on the gypsy, then added the embellishments, ribbon roses (from my stash), bows (with ribbon leftover from a friend's wedding invitations), and buttons (from the stash).  I threaded the whole thing with wide white organza ribbon that I had leftover from Loretta's (the aforementioned mama of Max) wedding invitations.

The next project is a congratulatory card for a friend who is getting married tomorrow.  I am not loving it, but I want to show off my not so great work, too...it's all part of the crafting game.  I used the bride and groom cut from the Wild Card cartridge.  I used the hide feature on the gypsy to make the background cut solid, then added the original cut.  I cut the cake and flowers from Paper Doll Dress Up. The stamp is a sentiment I have in the stash, and I am not sure where it is from.  The flower is from the SU pretties kit, and colored with pastels, as are the cake and the flowers.  I also added a little stickles and glass microbeading.  Like I said...I'm not loving it, and I probably won't give it to her, but here it is anyway.  ;0)

Finally, here's one for the foodies...My son and I made cherry filled chocolate cupcakes topped with buttercream and more cherries.  I never really liked making cakes from scratch, because I live at 8,000 feet elevation, and, well--stuff doesn't always turn out too great here.  But, when my mom passed, I inherited her trusty Kitchen Aid mixer...and I have been experimenting.  I am proud to say that I have mastered high altitude baking...really.  The trick is to increase the flour, just a little bit; decrease the sugar and leavenings, just a little bit; and add a little more liquid.  Seriously, that's it.  These are the moistest, most delectable cupcakes I have ever made...truth!

My birthday is coming up June 4...maybe I will be able to come up with a fun and entertaining challenge for y'all in order to celebrate.  Love to all of you!

Jen

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Trying to see if I can blog from my phone  :)

I AM alive!

So, today, I feel like Mark Twain when he said, "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!"  LOL.  It has been a long month for me.  We enjoyed our vacation immensely, but my little man picked up influenza while we were gone (despite having had a flu shot).  He gave it to his sister (also had a flu shot), who gave it to Daddy, who gave it to me (also had a flu shot).  Well, mine decided to linger...and linger...and linger....three trips to the doctor later, we have a tentative diagnosis....asthma.  Caused by the flu.  Now using an albuterol inhaler four times a day...feeling better.  However, sadly, I had to give up all my design team spots because I couldn't make the deadlines for the teams, and I was letting everyone down.  I haven't made anything fun in over a month, since before we went on our vaycay.  I'm feeling the withdrawl.  Furthermore, a crafting day is not looking like a prospect in the near future, as when I was sick, I got very far behind on my grading (ugh!) and the last few weeks of school are a nightmare of busy-ness.  PLUS, I'm looking for a new job, so that is a timeconsuming piece as well.  So, please be patient with me for a few more weeks, while I get myself together....:)

And Happy Mother's Day  to all you mamas out there....you make a difference every day!

Love,

Jen