creative living

Tis' the season

It is almost the end of the year and there is always amillion thoughts going thru my head this time of year.

The office has been open for a year now, and it feels like I am starting all over again. Maybe that is a good thing - time will tell - I am just trying to keep an open mind and an open heart about it all. 

I think I am almost done with Christmas shopping or at least I need to be because everytime I buy something for someone I end up buying something for myself and that has got to stop.

I went by Williams and Sonoma today to pick up my Meruige powder and pearl balls and I even found some rainbow mini candy covered kisses. I'll have to take a picture.....

On the scrapping front - I have been making flowers like a crazy woman

I rediscovered my 3-d flower die and felt

More scrap happy

I love to make mini's and I need to cinch this album then add more embellishments.

They take me forever but I just love to keep making them.....

On the beading front - I have gone cluster crazy - this all started because I wanted to learn how to make those charm baubles I saw on youtube - then as I researched I wanted to learn the techniques

Now I am into bead types and chains and metals and findings and yeah I think I started something but what in heaven's name am I going to do with this

On a non-scrappy note - Oprah....OMG! everyday the topics are too much for me

Marie Osmond, Katherine Jackson, Tyler Perry, The Color Purple reunion!!!!

The last Favorite things is coming up soon - what on Earth are they going to do - I am probably going to fall out!

 

the house is quiet

I have been working on a mini - I don't know why I love trying to create mini's so much they take me way too much time but they are just so fun....

I have been especially moody and then I figured out why.....I don't like when my routine changes

My mom left and went to florida for the week - this happens to be the - so I have had to take "C" with me to work and as much as the ladies love seeing him run  around - I can never get much done.....maybe if the office were bigger and he had his own toddler proof space.....

Soccer season is over for DD#2  - now I am waiting for DD#1 to start basketball. 

Santa has already started gathering gifts and I am convinced that the sales are not going to get any better after BlackFriday. So we have been gathering like little squirels (I don't think that is spelled right)

We are also going to have to be creative with the decorating this year since little "C" is sure to throw and pull down as much decorations as his little hands can  reach and he especially enjoys shiny lights.

  DD#1 is finally into Lego building. My parents never bought Lego much, but I do remember having a set of Lincoln Logs - that was fun.

This paper is so Yummy  - I am not sure what I want to do with it just yet - but I so love the color scheme.....and the embossing on it OH my!!! actually I think that a tag with the script would be aewsome 

 

My new baby.....

We have been enjoying such beautiful weather lately.....but now it is raining and fall is returning...

I have really been adding to my stash lately, and this is my new baby

 I got this with my 50% off coupon... and I have already started playing and I totally am in love.....I still have my BIA, but I have so been wanting the ability to chose where my punches will go...and that is what makes this machine worth it...

I also picked up these Martha Stewart punches

The doily I have been wanting for a while and this swirly lace one I am so lovin'

 I am still working on my babbles..I added larger pearls and found some larger lobster claws - the butterflies I found at Hobby Lobby. 

These are so much fun....

I also found this lace that I so love and can't wait to use....

 

I know, I know it's not another hobby.....

Oh my word, it has been so long since I have blogged that I don't even recognized typepad anymore....

I still struggle trying to find a path for this blog - I do so long to write and wish to continue 

Ohhh, but who would have guessed that a toddler could consume so much of my time....not to mention the fact that the girls are growing and experiencing new things everyday as well....

So what have I been doing with what little spare time I have left.....trying to crochete a blanket using attic 24 granny stripped blanket.... I will have to post a WIP picture next time

So my baby isn't really a baby....

I just wish he would leave the laptop alone....

OK...on to scrapbooking

I am so in love with the BG die cut tags and shapes

And I also picked up the Jenni Bowlin ink - So Love it!!!!!!!!!!

I inked up some Maya Road chipboard letters - just yummy love!!!!

This is my latest thing

 I know what you are thinking....but no, this is not for jewerly, it is for charms...Yes, I am learning how to make those charms and babbles that I see on mini albums.....and it is so fun!!!! I mostly purchased clear beads with the notion of inking them with Alcohol inks!!!! 

OK. I have lots more goodies to share but this post is getting a little long

so here is a LO (yes, I still do those)

I guess I am the last person to discover these templates

And I had to score the super cute Michael's 1$ stamps......

 

Over the rainbow....

So it is hot today and will be all week - you can not tell me global warming does not exist!!!!

I thought that I was going to get all of this great scrapbooking done yesterday but after I put the girls to bed and little C I was way too sleepy - guess that is just the life of a mom....

I did do quite a bit of shopping over the last few days including the create a critter cartridge - that I have at least opened and it is so cute and I found the I-rock....I so love bling....I am not sure this product is made well and will withstand the test of time but after you get the hang of it - it really is fun

this PP is BG ambrosia (I went way back) forgot how pretty it is.....

I am still working on our trip album - I think it will take me a little while because I love to make mini albums as chunky as possible.

Yesterday we spotted this

I love rainbows 

  

So happy Thursday is the new Friday....

So business wise this week really sucked!!!!! But I am trying to attact goodness and happiness (Not like the crazy Danielle from NJ housewives goodness and light ) but the real deal. On a side note I refuss to watch anymore of the Bravo Real Housewives series.....in fact I want my wasted time back!!!!

OK...so I was on the fence about the I-rock....I need to go to the grocery store and well, M's is right there so yup you know the rest

 It was the last one so that has to mean that it was waiting for me, right!!!! Oh and the jumbo EK sucess punch - LUV, LUV, LUV.......

I can't wait to get to making something.....and I am determined to make this a cricut weekend because I bought another cartridge and if I don't make something with it then that would support the notion that I am a cricut hoarder....

I am in love with   Paper clipping Roundtable  

Quiet time over....I should probably pick up my kids.....Crafting lifts my spirits......

What a weekend

It is late and I should be in the bed but I am just obsessed with trying to get pages and projects scrapped. I think it is because I feel this desparate need to feel like I have accomplished something at the end of the day - that has nothing to do with my career, domestic duties or child-rearing.....My creative self that is just screaming for it's place in all of this everyday chaos....

So I completed this:

The background paper is K&co. it is called confetti - it is a paper pack of birthday paper....it is probably not new but I am so loving this paper stack....I find myself picking up paper stacks again because they make the best backgrounds for mini's and die-cuts with the cricut....plus K&co and DCWV have really stepped up their designs.....

Look at this yummy chipboard embellishment

 

I am so in love and they were 40% off at Joann's

 

Speaking of Joann's I completely lost it - but it made me happy

Everything was 40% off including these

I am so excited about those circles.....

I am still working on the travel mini - but again, can I say how much I am in love with Kaiser craft wood albums - they are truly my latest obsession....and when you paint them OMG.....the color and texture is so smooth....OK enough

  
 
  

wow! what haven't I been up to....

I just can not believe how this summer is just flying by....It is really interesting the limitations I feel or should I say that I place on myself with having a toddler in the house. I have felt a little guilty about all of the things that I have chosen not to do with the kids because of the logistics of including a toddler......

But then I have decided that I need to be less hard on myself because as a family, I think that we have done a lot.....for example I survived a road trip with my entire family 

We started in Ohio and went to King's Island (won't be doing that again), then on the Tennessee and finally to Atlanta to the Georgia Aquarium (which was really nice, although they won't have the dolphins until the fall so now we will have to go back - then we packed up again and drove back to Ohio and went to the Cinncinati zoo (which again although it was a crazy hot day - it was a really nice zoo)

This was a really enjoyable trip and I was pleasantly surprise by how well I did and how well the kids did....I am really not one for road trips but it gave me hope that maybe in the far future we can plan another one.

this summer I have also realized that I have gone completely crazy with scrapbook projects that I have yet to complete....and my husband made a comment about me having a lot of stuff (never a good comment) so I think that is time to start cranking out the LO's .....yep....sounds like a good idea.....ok....will have to put that on the list.....

oh and I finally got a cuttlebug....I know I have to be the last scrapper on earth right....Not....just feels like it....

     

My house is loud

I haven't scrapped or created lately because all of my stuff is in the basement now and that is where the children play and they are loud and I can't think.....oh well.....

For some reason the girls think that it is funny that they have help teach little c how to say No...well until he shouts it back at them.

My garden is really growing and I finally got a chance to make some yummy Zuchini bread.

Yes, I really have lost my mind....this loot came from my LSS at the 40% off 1 hour sale.