I Love my Kids!

Remember my Kiddie Kandids vs. Picture People post on the 17th where I showed you my son's 1 year old photos? Well here is my baby girl when she turned one back in 2005 *sniffle sniffle*

I was just telling my hubby tonight that we have such good kids, and that we are so blessed. They really are a gift from the Lord...

Psalm 127 : 3-5 "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them."

I've also been telling our friends that it's gonna take us five years to pay off our hospital bills from loosing our baby back in December... fun thing to owe money on huh?! Our plan was to pay this bill off till we plan more babies, well now our plan is to just continue to trust in the Lord, and if we have to be in debt for many years just to have the four children we want then so be it... God has always been so good to us, I don't know why He wouldn't be now.

Altered Lunch/Recipe Box Instructions

*These instructions are made using the Basic Grey LunchPail album kit, so if you are using any other type of lunchpail you will have to alter the plans accordingly... enjoy!

1. Pick your paper...

* If you are struggling with this task, I find that a lighter color on the top with a darker stripe on the bottom never fails. Also be sure you pick coordinating paper for the inner dividers mentioned in step 15.

2. Pick all paint and or brads and eyelets, because these have to put them on before the paper gets adhered to the box (not required).

3. Cut 2 -1/2"x12" strips for the bottom, and another 2 strips at your desired height.

4. Line your top paper up under the back of the open box top and make a mark of how tall you want your paper.

*It's alright if you make the second or bottom strip too tall, the top paper will overlap it.

5. Sketch a mark in the center of your top strip mimicking the shape of the latch.

6. Cut the notch out of your paper and test it... notice the paper starts right under the groove, that is just where you want it be.

*This does NOT need to be perfect (coming from a perfectionist), really no one else will notice it is crocked when the entire project is complete.

7. Cut another 2 - 1/2"x12" strips for the lid and repeat steps 5 and 6.

8. On the inside of your lid, using a butter knife bend the metal prongs up.

*Don't worry about scratches they will be covered in step 16.

9. Remove your handle and set it aside.

10. Cut 2 - 3 1/4"x7 3/4" pieces and round the corners with a corner rounder.

*One piece for the outside, one for the inside :o)

11. This is the step that you prepare everything before the gluing stage... in my case I painted all the metal that would show through, but if you have brads or eyelets to put on your paper, do it now.

*If you are using acrylic paint like me, be sure to put a top coat of glue on before you adhere all the paper down, to keep the paint from chipping off too much.

12. Ink all the edges of your paper to give it a more detailed and finished look.

*Be sure NOT to ink the side edges were your paper will meet up. I did the inking while my paint and glue were drying.

13. Are you ready? Here comes the fun part! Gluing all your pieces down.

*Glue your back pieces down first, then your front, because the sides will overlap.

14. Put a protective top coat of glue over everything.

15. While you are waiting for your protective coat to dry, design your inner dividers.

16. Now that the outside is dry put your handle back on, bend the prongs back down and adhere your paper to the inside of your lid.

17. Decorate the front accordingly.

*Be sure to put a protective coat of glue over any lettering you might have.

18. Tie pretty ribbon to the top handle, and Wha-La! Fenito!

Let me know what you think of my instructions, share them with others, and if you make something come back and share it with me :o)

Wordless Wednesday

We call him "uncle"... but he's not... he's just one of those really close friends. So close I have an embarrassing story to share that is also wordless...

On Saturday at my son's birthday party I was sitting next to my hubby and "uncle" was sitting next to him, well I decided to lay down next to my husband and put my legs up on his lap since I was tired and not feeling well... just to let you know when I am tired or falling asleep I usually wiggle my feet (I know weird)... well I was "wiggling" my foot up against our friend's leg!!! When we all realized what I was doing my husband got up, I fell on the floor hiding my face laughing and EVERYONE else was busting up too. It was so embarrassing!

Tackled the Bookcase

Here is the very scary and mostly chaotic before picture... yes those are Star Wars legos in that cabinet :o) My husband collects them.

And here is the photo I am so proud of because I like looking into that corner now...I also made a new place for someone to sit :o)

Just Sharing

Yesterday we had my son's first birthday party and I cannot believe it was only one year ago that he was born! Time goes by so fast! I am so blessed with the children God has given me it brings tears to my eyes.

This layout I am sharing is one of the layouts I made when I was scrapbooking my second baby to scrap my way through the sorrow of loosing another... so it is more special to me than what you see on the surface.

I used my Cherish book to get the idea for this layout, and my friend's ink and waterbrush to paint the color onto the storks, it took a while but it was so therapeutic to put my heart into something so special for my son.

More Things...

MMMM ribbon and organization too :o)

I love all different kinds of ribbon, and thus far have ended up with so much of it that I had to buy these (lovely) glass jars to keep it all in. I got them from an online Restaurant Supply store, because that is where I found the perfect size to maximize my amount of space used. I measured my shelf Length to see how many would fit across, the Depth, and the Height so I could get them as close to my ceiling as possible... then I purchased accordingly.

I also found a new place to purchase my ribbon! Thank you Jenn! It's a great online store called Ribbon & Bows Oh My! They have a very good selection at very nice prices, and even though I have only had contact with them twice, I noticed they are very sweet.

Beyond Words

This is my twin sister Cindy who is now it heaven. It is one of my favorite photos, not only because it is her first photo, but because somehow I just have this feeling deep down inside that I know I went through all of this with her. I miss her, and I always have. I love you Cindy!

Lots to do... so Little time

I am very busy lately either planning or actually making...

• Altered Starbucks Frappuccino bottles
• Altered Basic Grey Lunch Pails
• A client's album due at the end of April
• A bunch of inventory price tagging
• Going out today to get my son's pictures taken
• Visiting a friend today to plan more of the crop in May
• Making sure my home is presentable for my son's party on Saturday
• Laundry
• Dishes
• Blogging :o)

Pictures Taken

Frustration received!

My day so far made me need to come home and rest, so I am now venting to you. I am never going back to Picture People, they do NOT have good customer service!

I went both there and to Kiddie Kandids today... it wasn't that I was unhappy with the photography, or even the photographer at Picture People, I am just upset with their policies and lack of communication.

They were going to delete my son's 10 month photos without even warning me! So I had to spend $100 to get the ones I wanted today, because they failed to tell me two months ago that if I don't purchase at least one sheet the day of the sitting I cannot view them online, and they will not keep them any longer than a couple months... even though they told me they would email them to me two months ago! And even though I purchased some today they are still not going to keep them in their computer, so what I get it is what I get and that's it. I am sorry, but going though this is not worth $18 - $25 per sheet.

I am stickin' with Kiddie Kandids! They were so nice to me today, I went to sign-up for I time slot before my scheduled appointment with Picture People and since Picture People was so annoying I ended up late for my turn, but they took me anyway, they were polite about it, and they had no problem with emailing me my photos even though I wasn't purchasing on the spot, no questions asked, no dirty looks given.
*sigh*

Jeans that Fit?

Look what I found! I don't know how I stumbled upon it, but I'm glad I did.

It's a website where you answer questions on how your jeans typically fit, what your body shape looks like, and what styles you prefer... then they give you a list of jeans back... you can even narrow the list down by length, price, brand, fabric and more!

Try it and let me know what you think.

I like these Things

Today I would like to share both a scrapbooking thing and a personal thing. 

My MMMM for scrapbooking happens to be fun titles. I love stitching my titles, and I love chipboard.

To stitch these titles I wrote the word on my page with a pencil, and with embroidery thread I did a simple backstitch going over the penciled in word.

For the shinny black look on my chipboard monograms I first painted them with black acrylic paint, then I embossed them with ultra-thick clear embossing enamel.


As for the personal thing that makes me go MMMM... it's DANCE! I danced for 6 years... jazz, tap, modern, ballet... and I miss it a lot!!! I have a favorite movie that I have been watching all the time because I am borrowing it and am getting my fill before I have to give it back, lol. Here is one of my favorite scenes from Step Up.

Tag! I'm it!

My new friend Morgan tagged me to play a game of show your desk. You really wanna see this people!? Fortunately it's a lot more tidy than I have seen it in the past.

Notice my husband's Wow hat, my daughter's Play-Doh, my High School yearbooks, my precious stuft turtle (belonging to my late twin sister), my piggy bank (my beloved Daddy gave me), and the layout from which I just took photos of for the next post :o)

Wordless Wednesday

Too cute... he got stuck in this split position up against the entertainment center and didn't even care... I love my son! Plus I think the one sock thing is cute too!

Tackle it Trouble?

Okay Ladies! I do not know if this happens to anyone else, but it seems I continue tackling the same thing every week... I am always behind, and am tired of it! Will this feeling ever go away? Will I ever be the Suburban Superwoman that my heart longs to be?! You know the one in Titus 2... the sensible, pure, worker at home, who is kind, submissive and honorable.

I did three sink loads of dishes, and folded another couch full of laundry today... then I rammed my toes into the wall while climbing over the safety gate in our kitchen. And was out of commission because my toes were painfully swollen.

Will there ever be hope for me? The answer is YES! My husband is currently having me go through Psalm 121 and I have been very encouraged so far, because God tells me He will be my help, He will not allow my foot to slip, and He will not slumber. But it's a two way street, I have to let him help me... so here I am Lord, willing and ready, send me, even if it is only to do more laundry.

A Blessed Reminder

Back in March I shared some layouts with you from a memorial album I designed for a sweet friend of ours from church. Just a couple of weeks ago he called to say he was going to stop by our house. He came with something stuffed in a pillow case, and a thank you card. Just the thank you in the card would have been enough... but this is what was in the pillow case!!!

It was a wedding gift to him and his late wife. It's an Authentic Thomas Kinkade reproduction titled Home is Where the Heart Is. It's beautiful! This kind gesture brought tears to my eyes. I thought it is so sweet of him to give me something so cherished as a thank you.

But then I realized just how much that album of his wife must have meant to him. And I remembered why I scrapbook for others... to bless them. God has been so good to me to keep me on that track. Now I also have this blessed reminder hanging in my home to keep me from getting discouraged or giving up.

Friday for...

JBrooke7 and her Five Little Monkeys :o) Whom I just stumbled upon yesterday after visiting TopMama.com. First of all, I am proud of you for having five kiddos... kudos to you! And now, what am I going to do for you today?
Well, I loved your post with little Noelle scooting tummy up, and thought I would take a video for you of what my son just started doing today! He only scoots, he doesn't crawl, but he is already pulling himself up to stand against the couch! :o)

Mmmm Another Thing

I love making my Patterned Paper POP!!

This particular pattern I outlined with my chocolate brown marker to make it more bold, then when my layout was complete I took a duplicate sheet, cut out my desired flowers and leaves, matted them on coordinating paper, and used my 3D dots to pop them up! I love this effect!

I actually did an altered paint can with this same POPPED pattern, but I do not have a photo of it :(. It was the only can for a client that I almost couldn't give up.

We have too many clothes!

Does this happen to any of you also?! Do you get the laundry cleaned, but not folded and put away? It happens to me all the time. I noticed I am more prone to putting it away if I leave the clean clothes in a spot that is "wanted", like my couches. Even when people are over I will fold clothes in front of them, because the seat is needed and I refuse to just relocate the clean pile.

I feel much better getting all the clothes picked up and put away, they were really EVERYWHERE! I didn't even mention mention the bags of clothes that were sitting in the kitchen waiting to go to the Goodwill, or the boxes of different sizes to be packed into the garage, or the second and third laundry baskets in my kids rooms! Oye! I had a lot of laundry to do today... but it's been tackled!