Happy Belated Thanksgiving

I must confess....I haven't had my computer on since Tuesday night. Wednesday night I came home and did nothing. Little buddy was spending the night with grandma although he fell asleep in her recliner at 7:00 and slept for a solid 12 hours. I took the opportunity to just lie around and watch movies.

Thursday was Thanksgiving and it was good. Good food and good company. Our post-dinner activities included a wicked game of Wii bowling and Wii tennis. I must say that I was repeatedly beat by my almost-4-year-old son. Two bicycle rides must have wore the little guy out because he was out by 8:30 which is highly, HIGHLY, unusual.

I did not indulge in Black Friday shopping for the first time in 4 years. There just wasn't anything I needed that I could not wait for a few weeks to buy. I spent the day at home cleaning and moving my desk downstairs...by myself. It probably wasn't a wise decision but I didn't want to wait around for my huz to get home.

Today we put up the Christmas tree. LB had a blast putting ornaments on the tree. All of the ornaments seem to be clusters really close together and at the bottom of the tree but he was having fun. Who am I to argue with the placement? I made some cool glitter ball ornaments. I'm really, REALLY happy with the way they turned out. I'll have to get some decent pictures and post them. We also made some of those salt-dough ornaments and LB painted them tonight. As soon as they dry he can hang those on the tree too.

I know everyone is listing what they are thankful for. I don't know why they only choose Thanksgiving to do them. We should be thankful for every day. I am thankful that my family is healthy. I am thankful we have jobs and a roof over our head. I am thankful that I have such great friends. I am thankful for the internet because I don't get to see most of my friends very often but we are always in contact with email. I am thankful for my awesome son who continues to amaze me every day. I have no doubt in my mind that he will do great things one day. I am simply thankful that I am happy. Life may not always go as planned but you just have to take it day-by-day.

And that is the message I leave to my readers on this Thanksgiving weekend. Only one day left of eating turkey and pumpkin pie before going back to the daily grind. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. In just 4 short weeks my vacation starts. I will enjoy each and every one of those 10 days off. :) I haven't had a full week off this entire year. I think I deserve it.

The weekend in review

It was yet another relaxing weekend. The boy took a lllooonnnggg nap on Saturday so I used the time and finished up a paper for school. That left my entire Sunday free to do whatever....and you know what that whatever was!

[craft table in disarray]

Here are some "santa" blocks that were made by special request. I even used some of my new paper :)

Instead of inking the edges I used white acrylic paint to make it look like ice/snow. The letters are covered in star dust stickles but the camera doesn't do the glittery goodness justice. I threw on another layer just for good measure.

Then I finished up a christmas present for my mother in law. I only have pictures of the front of the blocks but the paper covering the other sides is really great.

And do you think I could figure out how to flip the picture around? Oh well. I've been a little "technically challenged" these past few days.



Another inspired card

Once again I tried to use up some scraps from a Christmas paper pack from last year. It seems like all of my cards are a variation of kraft, dark brown, olive green, and maroon! It is hard to capture on camera but the trees are all glittery.

Holiday Card Boot Camp Cards

Here is another card inspired by the Holiday Card Boot Camp. I wish I had more time this week to work on them but this week was so hectic.

But now all is good. My kid took a LONG nap today which allowed me to get both of my papers done for my class...and I even turned them in a day early! That means I have all day tomorrow to craft...and since dinner will be in the crock pot I won't have to worry about stopping to make dinner. :)

I know these aren't traditional holiday colors. I was trying to use up some scraps from a My Mind's Eye Christmas paper pack that I bought last year. I originally bought it to make an advent calendar for my son. I'll have to take pictures of it once I get it out of the closet and ready for another holiday season.

Oh What A Week

This week just plain sucked. Work was horrible. There is no other way to describe it.

Friday was much better and it's all because I received not 1...but 2 packages!!!!!

Postage Stamp Paper Edger, Picket Fence Distress Stain, Rock Candy Stickles

Four pack of My Minds Eye 6x6 paper pads

The paper packs...are...awesome. I can't wait to do something with them.

Day 6

Today is day 6 of the Holiday Card Boot Camp and I actually came home and made a card inspired by the sketch. Too bad my camera battery is dead and I haven't quite figured out how to use the picture I took on my phone.

Once the holidays are done I need to get current with my scrapbooks. Cards are a nice distraction but nothing is better than a 2 page layout. I guess it's a good thing that I have a week off after Christmas!

I'm on fire!

The kid has been playing all day with his toys and completely content which might be why I've been able to sit almost uninterrupted at my craft table all day.

I learned how to make this cute folded tree. It was featured on day 2 of the Holiday Card Boot Camp. The snowflakes and snow are all glittery but I wasn't able to capture the effect on my camera.

Gift Card Holders

I was inspired by the large cards for newsletters and made smaller ones for gift cards.

Last One, I promise!

This card wasn't in the boot camp but is based off of the design of one of the designers, Kristina Werner.

Card 4

I liked the concept of this card but also had some trouble with it. I ordered 4 6x6 Christmas paper packs by My Minds Eye from peachycheap.com last week. Maybe I can incorporate some of those papers with this concept. Too bad they won't ship until Tuesday!

Card 3

This card did not go as planned so I just had to work with what I had. I do like the pop-up star :)

Card 2

This card is longer than a standard card. The inside has a pocket for a family newsletter or cash. I'm thinking of making shorter ones for gift cards.

Card 1

Holiday Card Boot Camp week 1 is finished and I finally got some time to make some of the cards that were featured. I have learned so much and am really inspired by what I've seen so far. I can't begin to imagine what week 2 will bring!

In order to link my cards to the gallery I have to post each one separately. Sorry!

Goals

Holiday Card Boot Camp started on Monday and I have yet to attempt to make anything they've posted on the site. I promise, PROMISE, to start on my cards this weekend and post pictures. I would have started them on Wednesday but I decided to get a-crackin' on some Christmas gifts...which I should finish up tonight.

I have no place to be this weekend and only have 1 short paper due on Sunday so I have no excuse. It's good to have goals, right?

Not much going on here

It's been a crazy week and it was only an hour or so ago that I realized that it wasn't Thursday. Bummer.

Holiday Card Boot Camp 2011

Ok, so I've been on a card kick lately. Maybe it's because I signed up for a Holiday Card Boot Camp. You can find the link here. Basically it's a 2 week self-paced course with lots and lots of card sketches, videos, and prizes. Now, while I won't have time every day to try my hand at the days lesson I will definitely do my best to get caught up on the weekend and put my creations on the blog...plus I'll link my post to the boot camp gallery for chances to win fabulous prizes!!!

If you can't tell already....I'm a little excited. :)

Let the creativity begin!!!!

Note to self: lay off the Dr. Pepper after 8:00 pm. I'm a little wired right now.

Close-ups

Here are a few close up shots of the cards.

...and the last one

My Bad

Sorry, you'll have to see these again. Apparently I can only link one picture per post. It's a long story and one that will most definitely bore you.

Card Mania!!

Busy Weekend!

I should first clarify and say I was busy making stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. :)

First up...birthday party invitations! I made 2 versions.

I'm not too thrilled with the lion, but oh well.

I'll post the other pictures in another post. I'm starting a 2 week Holiday Card Boot Camp and want to link my pictures to the gallery (and maybe win some prizes) :).

Not going as planned

I started working on making invitations for my son's birthday party which will be held at the zoo. I found the perfect paper. However, when I started assembling them this morning something just didn't feel right. I can't put my finger on it. I don't know why I fuss so much about them. After all, they will most likely get thrown in the trash anyway...and I know that and that part doesn't bother me. I just have a need to make them perfect. For some reason they don't look like what I envisioned in my head...but then again most of my project don't anyway. They seem to take a life of their own and usually don't look anywhere near what I thought they would.

So, I'm going to continue to trudge along and just finish them up so they will be done with. I'll post pics later.