Join us this Saturday for an Unscripted Blog Hop

Come back on Saturday, January 2nd, as the Unscripted Designers ring in the new year with a special blog hop.  There will be several candy opportunities along with lots of fun.  See you then!

What's been happening in my life

I'm sorry that I've been MIA for the past couple of weeks. Life has been crazy. We went out of town for Christmas which was nice but always stressful. The night we were travelling, I found out that my uncle, who has liver cancer, was rushed to the hospital. I was able to see him in the ICU which I'm so grateful for. We stayed with Devin's family but my aunt and uncle only live about 45 minutes away.

That same day, I found out that I did NOT pass my last exam. It looks like more studying is in my very near future. Of course, I am SO not happy about this.  At least my score came in a timely fashion so I have a good chunk of time to study again before the next testing window closes.

Then, on our way back from Utah, about 3 miles from home, our car died. Turns out, the timing belt broke, and we're still waiting to hear if a rod in the engine also broke. I am very grateful that this happened so close to home and not in the middle of Wyoming at night time with snow.

Yesterday, my uncle passed away.  All of his children were there and I know that we will see him again someday. It's still so hard. He wasn't even 60 years old. My heart aches for my aunt and cousins. He was such a good and kind hearted man.

Whew.  Anyway, I've missed blogging terribly. I haven't been in my craft room for almost 2 weeks. I'm going through withdrawals and it looks like my time is going to be limited there coming up. I do have a couple of items to post but I just haven't even felt like it since we've been home.

Life is certainly crazy but I am counting the many blessings I do have in my life. I'm also reflecting on the new year coming up and the changes I want to make.  We'll see how it all unfolds.

I hope that you all had a very merry Christmas. I'm sorry that I haven't been visiting and commenting much of late. Thanks for all your comments and visits and I especially appreciate the cards I received from my blogging friends this Christmas. It was so nice to come home after our trip and have several cards waiting for me. What a nice pick me up after such a crazy week.

Until later, my friends.

Hey There Cupcake

Well, we've made it through another week and it's time for another sketch at Unscripted.  I loved playing with this sketch and hope that you can find time during this busy season to give it a try.  Isn't this paper scrumptious?  I love all the different looking cupcakes.  Definitely makes me crave one (or two or three). 

***Supplies***
Patterned paper:  Basic Grey
Stamps:  PTI Everyday Cupcake
Other:  PTI Buttons, CTMH ribbon, Nesties

Thanks for the visit and I hope you have a great Saturday.  Like probably most of you, mine will be very busy trying to get last minute preparations done. 

Noel

I've got a real simple card with no embellishments whatsoever for you today.  I needed a couple more Christmas cards so I came up with this. It  uses a sketch from Card Patterns a couple of weeks ago.

***Supplies***
Patterned paper: My Minds Eye
Stamps:  CTMH Say it in Style

I hope you all have a fabulous Thursday and thank you for the visit and for all the wonderful comments.

Graduation Day

This past Friday, we watched Devin graduate with a Master's Degree in Education with an emphasis on curriculum.

It was hard to get any decent shots but this is what we have.  Christopher is mad for some reason in the last picture and won't show his face.  It was a good ceremony.  The keynote speaker did a good job  plus he kept it pretty brief. 

I'm so proud of Devin and all the hard work he put into his schooling.  He hasn't gotten his final grade from the last class he took but before that, he managed straight A's.  We're both definitely glad that he's done with school for now. 

A wintery Christmas card

I've finally got something to show you today. I started with this week's sketch from Card Patterns. My card is also for Sparkle's weekly Christmas card challenge, the challenge at Crazy 4 Challenges, which is to use snowflakes and/or snowmen, Stamp Something's winter wonderland challenge, OCC wants a holiday card, If the Shoe Fits challenge is let it snow, and the winter sparkle challenge over at Crafty Calendar.

There's not much to say except that both snowflakes are covered in glitter and that it felt good to get crafty yesterday morning.  I get Devin and the kids out the door at about 7 and then have 45 minutes before I have to leave for work.  Often, I go into work early but some mornings, I try to make it to my basement for some craft therapy.

***Supplies***
Patterned paper:  Basic Grey
Other:  Marvy snowflake punch, glue pad, prisma glitter, PTI button, MS border punch

Thanks for the visit.  I hope you have a great Tuesday.  I'll be going out with a couple of my good friends after work tonight for dinner and italian sodas (our version of going out for drinks).  Can't wait!  Tomorrow, I've got a post celebrating a special event in our family.

Unscripted Sketches week #35

It's time for another sketch at Unscripted Sketches. I loved this week's sketch and I think you will as well. I decided to pair some bold colors with the chocolate cardstock. I love the look of it.

***Supplies***
Patterned Paper:  PTI Friends til the End
Stamps:  CTMH It's your Day
Other:  Cuttlebug, PTI buttons, nesties, Fiskars punch

Make sure and go check out the Unscripted blog to see what the other designers have for you.  Well, it's official.  There's less than 2 weeks until Christmas.  Are you ready?  I'm getting there.  Can't wait for the big day.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous Saturday.

A notepad cube

So somehow I scheduled not one but two posts today so be sure and scroll down to see the other one.

I made up a quick notepad cube for a good friend in California for Christmas. The first picture is the top of it.  I love the look of the flower.  The second picture is of one of the sides, which I realize now is a bit lopsided.  The cube does sit straight.  Hopefully my friend will like it.

***Supplies***
Stamps: CTMH Dream Big
Other: CTMH ribbon and notepad, Nesties

Have a great Thursday.

Jump Shot

I was able to create this layout last weekend at our work crop day. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. But most importantly, it is a spread that is done, complete with journaling and all.

I took these pictures of Reynna this past summer of her practicing her jump shot, with some pointers from Daddy.

I'm entering this in this week's Whimsy Stamps challenge, which is to use die cuts. I was able to weld my letters together using my friend's Gypsy at the crop. What a fun tool.

***Supplies***
Patterned Paper:  CTMH Felicity
Other: Cricut, PTI buttons
Thanks for the visit.  I hope you are staying warm.  Although, maybe some of you would like the cold and snow we've got here.  In any case, blessings for a great day.

O Holy Night

I'm sorry I've been so quiet around here lately.  I've had a few things to show but we're in the midst of a crazy snowstorm that has continued since Saturday night.  Needless to say, it's been hard to take pictures of my art outside with blowing snow and the crazy single digit high temperatures that we've been having.  So, I had to take some pictures indoors.

It is Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Penny's challenges.  Challenges over there are now bi-weekly so hopefully that will give you more time to play.  The theme for this week is to make a Christmas project with stars. 

My card is also for this week's challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges which is to make something Christmas related based on a song.  I love the song O Holy Night.  I think it is so gorgeous.  When I was a teenager, many moons ago, I practiced this song and played it on the piano at a church Christmas activity.  I should get the sheet music again and practice up on it.  Thinking about the music just brings a smile to my face.

***Supplies***
Patterned Paper:  My Minds Eye
Stamps:  CTMH Christmas Melodies
Other:  MS border punch

I hope you'll head over to see what the other design team members have for you this week.  And then why don't you join us. 

Unscripted Sketches week #34 with 10 buttons

Well, it's Saturday which means it's time for another fabulous sketch from Unscripted Sketches. I love this color combo and believe I've used it before.  And that yummy swiss dots folder was just begging to be used. 

***Supplies***
Patterned paper:  PTI Friends til the End

Stamps:  CTMH Thank you
Other:  Fiskars border punch, PTI buttons, Cuttlebug
Make sure and stop by Unscripted Sketches to see what the other designers have for you.  And then make sure to have a fabulous weekend. Thanks for the visit.

Another Christmas card

I've got yet another Christmas card for you, this time using this week's sketch from CPS. Nothing too much to say except that I don't usually use 3 different pieces of patterned paper on my cards.  I just love this paper though and how well it all matches.

***Supplies***

Patterned paper: My Minds Eye
Other: PTI buttons

Do you have any big plans tonight?  It's my work Christmas party so we'll be going to that.  And then tomorrow, several of us girls from work are having what has been dubbed "Crop-a-lot".  It should be fun to get together with my co-workers and scrapbook.  I'm definitely looking forward to that.  I hope you have a fabulous Friday.  I'll see you back here tomorrow with my card for Unscripted Sketches. 

A cute little snowman

It's been awhile since I've played in Karen's Sweet Sunday sketch so I thought I'd give it a whirl. My card is a bit smaller, 4x4 and didn't end up the way I had envisioned it in my mind but I still think it's pretty cute. I just love that little snowman.

***Supplies***
Patterned Paper: CTMH Jingle Creative Basics
Stamps: CTMH Oh Christmas Tree
Other: CTMH ribbon, Cuttlebug

I think after this week, I should have enough Christmas cards for everyone on my list.  I'll be addressing them this weekend and polishing our annual Christmas letter.  I wanted to get a family photo taken but I don't know that it's going to work out.  Maybe I can just snap a picture of the kids.  They're the important ones, right? 

Anyway, a big thanks for stopping by.  You know it means the world to me to have such great blogging friends.  Happy Thursday.

Eskimo Kisses

Good morning. I've got another Christmas card for you today using the sketch over at Limelight Papercrafts.  2RedBananas wants to see something Christmas or winter related.

***Supplies***
Patterned paper: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses
Stamps: CTMH Seasonal Thoughts
Other: MS border punch, PTI buttons

Can you believe that it's officially December?  It's officially my favorite month of the year.  I absolutely adore the Christmas season.  I love the food, the baking, the shopping, the giving, the better spirits that people show, and the extra time off from work that lets me hang out at home.