Happy New Year

I hope you all have a wonderful New Years!!

I don't have a card to share today! I have some older cards (rejects) to share but I will do that some other time!

I had hoped to play along with the latest CARDS challenge for a New Years card but time has not permitted me to do so!

Anyway... I just wanted to say Hello and wish you all a Happy New Year! I will be back tomorrow when I will be sharing an opportunity for all of us to help a worthy cause! So... please check back!

On a different note... I saw on Christina's blog where she shared her word for the year. I am not sure about this word thing... I think it is an Ali Edwards thing but again... I have no real clue so... don't hold me to that! ANYWAY....I like the idea of having a word/theme for the new year!

I was thinking today about what I would like my word to be. I think my word for the year is ... LIVE!

I want to live without fear!
I want to live in the now and enjoy the now!
I want to live my life and stop putting it off until I have more time/money!
I want to live the life that I want to live... I want to make the dreams come true instead of sitting around and waiting for them to come to me!
I just want to live!!... I want my son's memories of his mother to be of a woman who loved him and played with him and enjoyed every moment of her life! Even the trials!!

Hope you all enjoy a safe and happy New Years!! Love you all!

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Challenge #6

Hey guys... it is time for another Everything But the Kitchen Sink household item challenge! This months hostess with the mostest is the awesome Ann Cox!

Ann has chosen wrapping paper as her household item this month!

You have until midnight on Jan. 8th to link your card or scrapbook page on the EBKS blog! The winner will be announced on Jan. 12th. The winner will receive a $25 g. certificate to Verve stamps!!! (I wish I could win... I have wanted some Verve stamps!!)

Anyway.... here is my card! I used my Big Shot and Heart Nesties to cut the big heart out of some $1 bin Target wrapping paper! Wrapping paper works really well on cards! I will have to remember this for future use! Thanks Ann for the inspiration!


I hope you will all find time to play along with our challenge! It is always great to see what everyone comes up with! You gals are some creative women!

Have a great Wednesday! Peace Out!

Supplies:
Stamps - Background Basics Hearts and Tiny Treats Valentines (PTI)
Paper - True Black and Hibiscus Burst (PTI)
Ink - True Black (PTI), VersaMark
Other - White Filigree Emboss Powder, SU Modern Label punch, SU Dimensionals, Wrapping paper (Target), White felt, Pure Poppy button (PTI), Romance Bazzill floss, SU Corner rounder, Sizzix Hearts Tipsy die

Be Mine

Hey guys! Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday!

I meant to post this last night but I fell asleep on the couch before I could make it into the craft room! I had hoped to catch up with everyone last night as well but... I have high hopes for today/tonight! :)

This is a card that I just made the other night. ! I was working on a few other things ... valentine themed... and I had this idea!

I was looking at my stamping grid paper and saw this part of the 2 part snowman stamp from Holiday Tree and thought... hey... I bet I could stamp a heart over that and it would be cute! So... I did and I liked it! :) So... here are my little heart men!!

Can't wait to catch up with you all and see what you are doing!

Tomorrow morning I will be posting for the new Everything But The Kitchen Sink household item challenge. Be sure to check back!!

Peace and Love

Supplies:
Stamps - Heart Prints and Holiday Tree (PTI)
Paper - White (PTI)
Ink - True Black, Hibiscus Burst, Pure Poppy, and Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
Other - Raspberry Fizz ribbon (PTI), Kaiser Red Rhinestone

Whew....

I don't know about you guys... but I am glad that Christmas has come and gone!

I love Christmas but by the time it is over... I am ready for some boring/normal again!

I am ready for some cleaning up and cleaning out too! It is that time of the year... time to redo and organize and clean... fun fun!

I have some big plans for my bonus room... I will try to remember to take pictures so I can share what I am doing. Maybe I will start blogging about something besides cards! :) Maybe!

I have put off doing anything to my bonus room... thinking that I may need to move my craft stuff back up there at some point if we were to have another child. Well... since I know the answer to that now... it is time to do something with that room. I need to make more room for Carver's toys since his collection of stuff is growing and growing! I am excited to get started on it!

Anyway... Christmas was great! I hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas as well!

I thought I would post a few pics real quick. Michael is working on uploading our pictures to flickr and here are a few from our Christmas with my immediate family. This is just a picture of me, Michael and Carver. And then one of me with my mom and one of me with my dad!





I took a lot of pictures... well... we took a lot of pictures but (for me anyway) it is hard to get great shots with all of the commotion. I take a million and just pray to get one or two good ones!

I will probably post more later as Michael gets more uploaded to flickr!

I have missed blogging and commenting! I am glad for the holiday season to be behind us (almost) so I can get back in my routine! However.... I need to redefine my routine as I don't want to get back into old non-sleeping habits! :) So... I am excited to see what this new year is going to look like! I hope to find a better balance with spending time with my husband at night some too instead of in my craft room. Having cancer kind of put things in perspective for me and I pray that I don't lose that and get back into old/bad habits! Anyway....

I will shut up now! It has just been a while and I wanted to get on and say "Hello... I have missed you!!"!

Peace and Love! :)

More of the Same

Here are a couple more cards that I have not posted yet. I think they are two more rejects! :)

I haven't made anything in a few days! I have worked on stamping my images in my stamp binder. The past two nights... I worked on wrapping presents, etc! I am done with that as of today... woo hoo!

I always have the best intentions of wrapping everything so neatly and by the time I wrap 4 or 5... I am just slapping that paper on or trying to find a gift bag in my stash big enough to fit whatever the present is! :)

One of these days I am going to have it all together and do it all 'right'! :) Ha...

This month has just flown by... I can not believe that Christmas is just a couple of days away! It just doesn't feel right! I am almost sad because with my health events... I feel like I have just let everything get by me and haven't done much to make it feel like Christmas around here! Plus... my husband has been working at the office everyday and almost every night lately so it really doesn't make it feel Christmasy when he is working so much!

Anyway... enough of the pity party! :)

On another note... I am so blessed! :) I truly have the best blog friends and IRL friends and family! I have received several gifts and cards in the mail from you guys. I won't go into who and what but... you know who you are! Thank you Thank you Thank you!

I am still trying to make sense of everything that has happened this last month! At times I find myself asking... did I make a big deal out of nothing? I mean... in like 3 weeks after finding out I had cancer... I had surgery and was out and about again!

I know I didn't make a big deal out of nothing! I know that I just serve an AWESOME God!!

I have had two people... one friend and one family member... tell me that God specifically spoke to them and told them to do something for me! One was at an inconvenient time to be doing what God told them to do. The other is a HUGE thing that I won't discuss! Both of these things were just wonderful!

I tell you that because I don't remember anyone ever telling me... hey... God basically made me do this for you. I didn't want to... I didn't have time, etc... but God specifically and audibly told me to do this for you! Wow... I cannot tell you how loved I feel! I feel so unworthy and yet so thankful for grace and mercy and that God loves me! I just can't describe how hearing that God spoke to people on my behalf... has made me feel! Just Wow!!

I am doing really well physically and mentally and emotionally! Michael and I have even talked about how even though we wanted another child... the fact that we know now that this unit of 3 is our family... is exciting! It is exciting to know for sure. No more well... we might not want to do that because we may have another child. I feel like we can move forward with whatever... simply because... we know! I don't know if that makes sense but... it does in my head! :)

Well... sorry for the rambling! I haven't rambled in a while. Mainly because I haven't been blogging much! I think the holidays just have everyone busy!

If you are still with me... there are still a couple of days to play along with the Everything But The Kitchen Sink challenge!! Don't want to miss out on a chance to win an awesome prize!

Hope you all enjoy your Christmas festivities over the next few days! I intend to do another post before Christmas but just in case... Merry Christmas! I love you all!!

Supplies: Sunshine
Stamps - Head in the Clouds (Sassafras), Everyday Words by Ali Edwards (Technique Tuesday)
Paper - White (PTI)
Ink - Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue, YoYo Yellow (SU)
Other - Kaiser Red Rhinestones, MM Black Tiny Alpha

Supplies: Hi
Paper - White (PTI)
Other - Toothpicks, copics, Thickers, Felt, Kaiser Rhinestones, True Black Ribbon, Big Shot, Sizzix Flower Layers Die

Rejection Time

Well... it is that time... time for me to post some of my rejects! :) I have a bunch so... here is two of them. I have like 3 or 4 calls worth of rejects that I need to post and since I haven't made anything new to share... seems like the perfect time to get started!

I have been working on stamping all of my stamps in my index binder. I have put it off because it is just so overwhelming but I am making progress so I want to continue. I feel like it will help with my creativity process when I am done. I won't forget what stamps I have because I can just look through my binder and see!! Now.. if I could only do something similar with all the embellishments, etc that I have! :) I think I just have too much stuff!

Anyway.... hope you are all enjoying your Sunday! Ours has been great so far. Carver is napping and I think I am fixing to. Just wanted to pop on and post for a second!

Peace and Love

Supplies: Thanks
Stamps - Worn Grid (Unity)
Paper - Kraft (PTI)
Ink - True Black
Other - Top Note Die (SU), Big Shot, Bazzill template, floss, and tools, Black Kaiser Rhinestones

Supplies: Love Grows
Stamps - Love Grows and Fresh Beginnings (Unity)
Paper - White (PTI)
Ink - Black StazOn
Other - Copics, Kaiser Red Rhinestone, Nesties Labels One, Big Shot

My Baby

is not such a baby anymore!! :(

This is the picture that we sent out on our Christmas card this year!

I made several... several... Christmas cards this year thinking that I would send everyone a handmade card and then I remembered that we usually send out a picture card with Carver on it!

Anyway.... Michael took Carver to an already scheduled photo shoot while I was in the hospital and got our Christmas pictures/cards done. I think Michael did a great job of picking one for the card!

It captures who Carver is right now... you can just see the mischief in those eyes and smile!

I love him!! He cracks us up on a daily basis!! He is so smart!

Hope you guys had a great day and are going to have a great weekend! Our Christmas family festivities start tomorrow so I am excited!!

Love you guys!

Embellish Snowflakes Challenge

This is my card for the latest Embellish challenge!!

I didn't really 'need' to make another holiday card but the color choices were so intriguing that I had to give it a shot!

I don't know about you but... I am tired of making Christmas cards now. I started way back in July (I think). I am ready to move on to some Valentines cards or something! :)

I have tons of Thank you cards to make so I really need to be getting busy on those!

I hope you all are doing well!

I went shopping today with my dad while Carver was at school! That was a first I think! I really enjoyed it! I have spent a lot of time with my mom and my dad these last few weeks and I have really enjoyed it all! Don't get me wrong... so glad to be doing well and not 'needing' any help but... it has been great to spend so much time with my parents... in my world... if you know what I mean! They have gotten to see a little more of what our daily life is like first hand!

Well... enough rambling for tonight! I just finished cleaning out my hotmail inbox. I am finishing this post and then I hope to make a few cards. Maybe tomorrow night I will work on cleaning out my gmail inbox! I like for my email inbox to be cleaned out. I think I have close to 200 emails/comments in my gmail box! Whew....

Peace and Love!!

Supplies:
Stamps - Signature Christmas (PTI)
Paper - Lemon Tart, Dark Chocolate, Aqua Mist, Kraft (PTI)
Ink - Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Other - Pearls (Prima), MS Snowflake punch, SU Dimensionals, SU Curvy Label Punch

Raspberry Suite #20

I loved these colors so much that I made two cards! I was in need of a couple of birthday cards so I am glad to get those done!

I actually made three cards last night... feels good! I can't do that every night though... I found myself staying up too late and I don't want to get back in that bad habit!

Anyway.... hope you are all doing well! I am going to keep it short and sweet. I am trying to get Carver to take a quick nap. We ended up going and doing a little shopping with my parents today. I thought I would stay home since it is so cold here but... now that I can get out and about... that is what I want to do! I got several gifts crossed off my list so... that makes me feel good.

I am going to try and do a little gift wrapping and blog hopping while he is asleep!

Don't forget about the Everything But the Kitchen Sink sketch challenge that is going on!! :)

Peace and Love!

Edit... the heart card was chosen by Dawn as an In the Spotlight top 10!!

Supplies: flower
Stamps - Handwritten Notes and In Bloom (PTI)
Paper - Vintage Cream, Terracotta Tile, Kraft, Dark Chocolate, and Aqua Mist (PTI)
Ink - Dark Chocolate, Terracotta Tile (PTI)
Other - SU Dimensionals and Kaiser Rhinestone

Supplies: hearts
Stamps - Handwritten Notes and Background Basics Retro (PTI)
Paper - Aqua Mist, Terracotta Tile, Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink - Dark Chocolate (PTI), VersaMark
Other - EK Success heart punch, Filigree Clear Emboss Powder, Jute Twine (PTI)

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Challenge #5 - Sketch Challenge

Hey guys.... it is sketch time again!!

This month's sketch challenge is hosted by the wonderful Winter Sims!!

Here is this month's sketch ....


and here is the sketch inspiration... Winter's stove!! Cool, huh?



Here is my interpretation of the sketch!



Go visit the EBKS blog to see all of the other ladies cards and to get all of the challenge details!

Winter is giving away this book to the winner of the challenge!! So... go get your craft on and enter to win this awesome prize!! :) We can't wait to see what you guys/gals come up with!!

Supplies: Stamps - Big and Bold Wishes (PTI), Polka Dot Basics II (PTI) Paper - Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (PTI) Ink - Ripe Avocado, Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate (PTI) Other - Terracotta Tile buttons (PTI), Kaiser Rhinestones, EK Success Embossed Curve Punch, SU Dimensionals

Tuesday Trigger

Wow... this is only the second card that I have made in a month!! It is hard to get the mojo back in gear!

This is my card for the latest Tuesday Trigger over at Cath's Moxie Fab blog.

When I saw this trigger, I thought of my Kim Hughes set of trees stamp!

Have I said that I have had a hard time getting the mojo in gear? :)

The first card that I made... I will be posting first thing in the morning for the latest EBKS sketch challenge!!

This has been my first day, since surgery, by myself with Carver! We have had a good day and I was able to make this card during nap time! I think nap time is going to have to be my new crafting time! I have been going to bed right after Carver does since my surgery! Since I am not staying up until 2am... I haven't gotten my craft on in a while! I am still behind on catching up with everyone as well! I hope to do that soon too!

Well... my phone won't quit ringing and now Carver is waking up so I guess I need to go! I will be back in the morning with hopefully a better post! I can't concentrate! :)

Supplies:
Stamps - Heart Warmers (CHF)
Paper - Pure Poppy (PTI), Life At the Pole (Sassafras)
Ink - True Black (PTI)
Other - White button (PTI)

Hello

This is a card that I made a while ago and haven't posted yet! I think I made it for a PC call. It has been so long that I can't remember!

Anyway.... nothing new has been made lately and I wanted to 'talk' so I thought I would post this!

Hope you are all doing well! I am doing really good!

I went to church tonight for the first time since my surgery! It was great to be back home!! I look forward to going on Sunday! I hope by then I can manage to wear some blue jeans. No one would care if I came in sweat/stretchy pants but.... I would! :) I guess I could wear a dress... if I owned one! Ha! Oh wait... I do have one... I can wear that! Sweet!!

My parents came over to spend the day today! My dad was going to keep Carver busy playing and my mom wanted to clean my house! Instead.... we took Carver to Pump It Up and then met Michael for lunch at Chick-fil-A! I, of course, didn't get to jump at Pump It Up but it was fun to watch Carver play with his grandparents for a while! I have decided that I am not going to sit at home everyday. I feel good and am ready to get out and do things as I can. My post op instructions say that I can get back to normal activities (well... most of them) as tolerated and.... that is what I am doing!

I still hear of people who are praying for me on a daily basis... I am just overwhelmed! I know those prayers are being answered and my body is healing so quickly! It seems as though a lot of people are surprised at how well I am doing! I find myself surprised as well!
Isn't that silly? I mean... I can clearly see how God moved to get this cancer out of my body so fast and then I find myself surprised at how well I am doing!

Anyway....

One of these days, hopefully soon, I will quit posting updates about my health! You all know that I am doing well now so I will try not to talk about it all of the time from here on out.

I seriously hope to make some cards tomorrow! We have a new EBKS sketch challenge coming up soon, my Grandmother's birthday is in a few days, my sweet MIL's bday has already passed, and of course... I have a ton of Thank you cards to make. I really need to get busy! I have been busy just getting my life back in order as I have had the energy! Oh sweet card making supplies... how I have missed you!!

Well... enough rambling I guess! I hope to start catching up with you all soon! I feel so out of the loop... I don't know what anyone has been up to lately!

Thanks again for all of the prayers and well wishes! I am doing well but still ask for your prayers anytime that you think about me! I am hard headed and mean so.... I will never tell you not to pray for me! I need all of it I can get! :)

Peace and Love!!

Supplies:
Stamps - Distressed Dots (Unity)
Paper - Kraft and Chocolate Remix (PTI)
Ink - Summer Sunrise and Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Other - Rustic Jute Twine (PTI), AC Brown Buttons, Jenni B Alpha Stickers, SU Bigz Butterfly Die, SU Corner Rounder

For Me

Honorable Mention at PTI - Nichole Heady

CARDS blog Button cards mention

SPCC #24 top 5 pick

2 Cards, 2 Challenges and 1 Update

Sorry to throw all of this stuff into one post! To be honest... I have been a little nervous the last couple of days thinking about jumping back into blogworld! :)

These two cards are ones that I made right before I found out my 'news' and I never felt like I could or should share them before now. Luckily, the challenge lasted long enough that I could get this posted.



This first card is my card for Cath's latest Moxie Fab Christmas in the Old Country challenge! I have had these Basic Grey stamps for a while. I was drawn to them as soon as I saw them but had never had an occasion to ink them up! Thanks Cath for the challenge and Thanks for just being great! :)

Speaking of... Thank all of you for just being great! I am tearing up just thinking of how blessed I am to know all of you either in real life or in blogworld! I can't tell you how much love I have felt these past few weeks. I have always known that I was loved but ... Wow!! I have had more people praying for me these past few weeks... it is just overwhelming and all of the prayers have been felt and SEEN!!

I am doing well! I came home Thursday night. Not so good on Friday because I took a pain pill! No more of those... Kelley and pills don't mix well! Sat... better! Sunday and today... lots better! I feel more like myself today (physically and mentally) than I have felt in a while! I am having some emotional ups and downs but mostly ups! I know my God loves me and has taken care of me so I know He will get me through the other trials I will go through as a result of all of this! It is just hard coming to terms with what my body can and cannot do anymore!

Anyway!! :)

My mom is here now watching and playing with Carver! I have been able to get up and wash some clothes and straighten up a little. Of course... just for a few minutes and then I have to sit down and rest. I am not going to over do it ... like my family insists I am trying to do! It just helps me to feel better to just get up and do... my body is healing and getting stronger! My parents... man... I can't even get into that now! I will hurt my stitches from sobbing if I do! Let me just say that I have the best parents in the world! I have the best family and friends in the world! I am just blessed!!!

So.... sorry to get into all of that! I just thought you would like to know where I am physically, etc! I hope to get some time tonight where I will feel like getting back on the computer and getting caught up with you guys! I have missed you all!!



This next card is for the current Everything But The Kitchen Sink Challenge! This was my first time to host the challenge and I hate that I didn't get to follow through on that. Thanks Courtney for taking over for me and hosting this challenge! I had a ton of fun with some toothpicks! I just checked and there are not a lot of participants so far. I think if you guys would grab you some toothpicks and some Copics .... you would find out how much fun it is!! I think if all of this health stuff hadn't come up... I would have found my newest addiction.... using toothpicks! I made two cards... I will share the other one at a later date! You still have until the 9th at Midnight CST to participate!! :)

Well.... that is all for me! I wanted to get this post in and get my feet back in the water! :) I will be back again soon! I hope to actually try to craft tomorrow for a while. Carver will be at school and I am doing so well that I don't need anyone here when Carver is not here so... maybe!?!?! :) I think if I got my craft on again... it would help so much to feel 'normal' again! Whatever normal is! :)

I love you all!!

Peace and Love!!

Supplies: Joy to the World
Stamps - Basic Grey, Signature Christmas (PTI)
Paper - Rustic Cream (PTI)
Ink - Scarlet Jewel, Enchanted Evening, Ripe Avocado and True Black (PTI)
Other - Rustic Jute Twine (PTI)

Supplies: Smooches
Stamps - Handwritten Notes (PTI)
Paper - Kraft (PTI), Nutmeg (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink - True Black and Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Other - Dark Chocolate ribbon and Melon Berry Buttons (PTI), Nutmeg Chipboard (CC), toothpicks, copic markers, Corner Rounder (SU)

Hey guys

Hey... hope you are all doing well! I have felt better this afternoon than I have in a few days. I really don't remember anything about Monday and only remember a little about Tuesday!

I know that the surgery went well. They were able to do the bikini cut so that is great. We got news tonight that the tests show that they were able to get it all so no more treatment is needed at this time.

That was of course the great news we were hoping for! God is Good!! ALL the time!!

I hope to be going home tomorrow afternoon... I can't wait! I will catch up with you guys a little later. Thank you again for all of your prayers! We are so blessed!! Love you all!