Beau chateau scrapping

Had some ladies over tonight working on their explosion box. They were working so independently and happily. Watching them craft made me so itchy to do something myself so I started working on a little scrapbook album. I had everything in the beau chateau line so I just started making little 6x6 scrap pages. The beau chateau paper with the co-ordinating side notes made me so happy. Here is a couple of the pages.

I'm hoping to use this little album to put pictures of Kevin and I when we go on the Stampin' Up! Disney trip together.  We'll see if I get it done in time!

Lifting my spirits with some calypso delight

I've been doing fine with Kevin out of town. The kids are happy and fed and clothed and we've been having some fun adventures and playdates so I think I'm doing my job.  I even managed to put out the recycling last night all by myself (typically that's Kevin's job) Just three more days and he'll be home...only to jump back into the crazy work/school routine. 

Despite everything going so well for some reason yesterday night and today I feel completely bummed.  Having had some bad depression episodes post partum and as a side effect of some medical issues, I recognized that I had to be careful with my thoughts today.  Usually when I start spiralling downwards, my thought life does not help...I tend to focus on my weaknesses, my failures, my disappointments.  Ugh.  NOT the cheery thoughts that I should be having and projecting to my kids. 

Fortunately I had some time to myself this morning since Michelle was at a friends house and my mom suddenly called and said that she was in the area and wanted to take the other kids out.

The time to myself was wonderful.  I was able to recharge a bit by listening to music, journalling and reading.  Then I went down to my stamp area and was working on finishing some cards I had started a few days ago.  (I really thought I would be getting so much stamping done over the March break but that hasn't been the case at all!)  Here's my favourite one I did today.  I wanted bright colours to help me have a more positive attitude and lift my spirits.  The colour coach gave me the idea to put calypso coral and daffodil delight together.

The stamp set is printed petals, and tiny tags.  The flowers are punched out with the boho blossoms punch and there is one of the new jumbo pearls from the occasions mini to top it off.

Here's another card I made with calypso coral cardstock.  I just threw it together really quickly but I'm still happy with how it turned out.  As you can tell, I was having fun with my framed tulips embossing folder...

This card uses the apothecary stamp set and Loving Thoughts stamp set.  I didn't think I would like the Loving thoughts set as much as I do.  I only got it since it was given to us at Leadership but now I find I use it fairly frequently because the sentiments can be used for cards and as journalling prompts for scrapbooking.

What a Week!

All I can say is What a week!  It all started on Friday morning last week when I was gearing up for a weekend of workshops.  (I have made a commitment to now only do workshops one weekend a month so that I can ensure I have the majority of weekends available for my family.  This means sometimes I will do multiple events in one weekend rather than spreading it out over several weekends.) I don't think I was particularly stressed about it or anything but Friday my mouth started breaking out in lots of canker sores.  It was ugly.  I've had one, two maybe three at a time before but never like this.  I must've had 50 in my mouth at once.  It was unbelieveable.  I could barely talk and I was in PAIN.  I couldn't eat since the pain was so bad.  All I could do was take motrin, rinse with salt water every now and then and pray.  Because I love doing workshops and I love the energy at workshops and I had some Team Stic help, I managed to make it through but my family saw my pain.  I couldn't do much around the house or with the kids.  It's amazing how pain in one seemingly small part of your body can suck the energy out of your whole being.
By Monday I decided to go to the doctor who suspected it was either something I ate or some kind of virus.  I really have to find a new family doctor.  I was there about 4 hours so I managed to get home just in time to get the kids from school, cook dinner and then run to the basement to cut the paper for technique class.  That's why I was late setting up girls and probably sounded like I had cotton in my mouth!  So sorry! (on another note, I was SOOO happy with the reinker techniques I played with!)
After my string of stamping events finished, I started to let the reality of Kevin going away sink in.  Obviously I had known for months that Kevin was heading off to Nicaragua again for missions work but I didn't want to think about it.  I didn't want to fret and worry about it.  I am a suck.  I am so dependent on my husband and I miss him when he goes to work. (I am not an independent woman of the new millenium...I know)   I was not looking forward to being without him for over a week but I know that he's doing what he needs to do and I really do support him in this adventure.  I also intellectually know that he is just as much in God's care there as he is here but emotionally I know I will miss him. 
So, here he is all packed and ready to go:

Thankfully I am now doing much better.  My mouth is pretty much all healed.  I didn't know but Kevin had asked people to pray for me last week.  I saw my friend Paul at church today and the first thing he said is that he's been praying for my mouth.  Giggle.  Not your usual Sunday morning greeting!  I had no idea he even knew but I appreciated the thoughts.
So far the first few days without Kevin have been uneventful.  The kids and I have loved reading his blog (www.ccccnic.blogspot.com) and talking to him via Skype.  It's not so bad when we can hear his voice and see his smile. We also got invited to dinner by some friends.  A group of them often get together for potluck and perhaps out of pity for me, they decided to invite me to join them this week.  Of course I jumped at the chance to socialize with friends while Kevin was away and I thought it would be fun for the kids to play with other kids.  Keeping busy helps the time to go faster.
I was so thankful to be included in the social gathering, I thought I must make something for each of the families.  Just a small token of appreciation...
Here's what I made.  It's just a simple treat cover.  Inside is a cellophane bag with chocolate covered blueberries.

Well, so now starts a new week.  I'm thankful for friends, I'm thankful for the time I get to spend with my kids and I'm thankful for good health.

Shimmery fifth avenue

I had great fun at technique class/club on Monday night. The technique focus was on reinkers. Not only do reinkers juice up your ink pad, they do lots of other great tricks as well. This is one of the cards the girls did using a reinker drop technique. To get the best effect on this technique you need the shimmery white paper. You heat emboss a line image stamp then spritz it with lots of water. Then using an aqua painter drop reinker onto the embossed image and watch the ink spread in the pooled water . So fun! The result is a watercoloured look with underlying shimmer. If you want to see this technique in action, contact me to book your own private class or workshop. I would be happy to wow your friends. Don't forget, you want to book your party soon do you can get in for my hostess appreciation night on June first! Another way to get in for my hostess appreciation night is to become a Stampin4fun Member.  Then you receive all my monthly technique classes, a free catalogue, hostess benefits and more!  Talk to me for all the details.

Come on spring!

I am ready for warmer weather and more sunshine. Making an Easter card makes me feel like that spring sunshine will be here sooner than later.

Free 30 day trial of My Digital Studio Express

There is now a free 30 day trial of my digital studio express available.  Just go to my website then to my online store to download it.
Here is a quick video that explains the differences between the full version of my digital studio and the express version.

I can't stop stamping!

I can't stop myself...I keep looking at so many beautiful samples on the Internet and then wanting to make them right away. I haven't even been following my own make two rule for fear it will slow me down from creating something else.
Here's one I case'd tonight from the demo website. It uses the best of everything stamp set. The colors are early espresso, calypso coral, lucky limeade on the leaves. LOVE my itty bitty punch!

Oh, I am so happy.  I love this card.