I'm Back

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted. But, I do have an excuse. In April our school was such a frustrating place because no one knew if they were coming back next year and the waiting game was very stressful. Unfortunately, I was one of those whose jobs got cut. However, I am still hoping that I will get called back the end of this month.

Then on May 26, I went in the hospital for a total knee replacement. Now, I know in 6 months I am going to say it was the best thing I've ever done, but at the moment "DON'T ASK"!!

It is just the most painful thing in the world going through recovery. Physical Therapy is just brutal, however, on a positive note I am getting better everyday - today is 5 weeks. I am no longer using a walker or cane and can pretty much do most things again. Except sit or stand for too long. I am constantly in motion - getting up; getting down; walking. At least I am getting my exercise.

Here are some of the "homemade" cards I have received.

The cards in order are from Sam, Jenne, Lois, Carolyn and Vicki. I just love their talent and believe me they brought a much needed smile to my face.

Happy Birthday Blakey

My dear friend, and former team teacher, Blakey, is celebrating her birthday. She lives in Ireland now and I surely do miss seeing her. I am sending her this card and nugget tin for her birthday at the end of April. I absoutely love this paper from SU. It is Parisian Breeze Specialty using Baja Breeze, Buckaroo Blue, and chocolate chip. It is just so soothing and calm. The flowers are from SU Pocket Silhouettes.

Newly made cards

Here are some new cards, some courtesy of Splitcoast members. I'm sorry I have been on that site so much and loved so many ideas, that I can't remember who inspired me. If it was you, please let me know so that I can check out your blog and see what other wonderful things you are doing.

This is one that my daughter, Jenne, did.

Leigh, You make my heart Smile

Leigh commented on my blog after viewing the Disney album I created (shown below). She bestowed this award on me and I feel so blessed. Thank you Leigh and thank you too for letting me discover your awesome blog. I am now a follower.

Disneyland Adventure

My good friend and co-worker, Leslie asked me to make her a scrapbook of her family's trip to Disneyland last summer. Well, I have been trying forever to get this on a slideshow but Myslide was not co-operating so I went to Imageloop and it came out perfect. This scrapbook was so much fun to do, and Austin is just so darn cute and the anticipation and excitement in his face is priceless. I think I had just as much fun creating this book as they did experiencing it! Enjoy your visit below!

Disneyland Adventure

Recent birthdays

For Jen at work. Inside says a Very Happy Birthday

For my friend Vicki

For Christine at work.

For my friend Alyce - Oopsie Daisy is because it was just a "tad" late!!!

For my friend Diane

Valentines for a co-worker

These are cards that I made
for a co-worker to give to
residents in a nursing home.
Most of the paper is from last
year's collection.

Valentines already?

Well now that Christmas 08 has come and gone can Valentine's Day be far behind! My only resolution this year is to try and get all my cards done on time and added to my blog. Today I said well let's just play and see what I come up. This is it - my first valentine for 08. Since I don't have to make many to send out maybe I'll be ahead of the game!!!

Recipe:

cardstock: whisper white; real red; certainly celery

ink: black; certainly celery; real red;

stamp: $1 Michaels bin for flowers; SU love

Misc: Nestabilities; SU make a brad; crystal effects; cuttlebug for background; small heart hand punch; cricut for "u"

It's hard to tell but this is a 5 x 5 card with white as the background.

Sympathy

Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip - you can't go wrong!!!

Christmas 08 cards

These are some of the cards I made for Christmas. I chose the joy card on the bottom left to send to 60 recipients. I do so love soft sky and wish SU would bring it back!!

Card Update

Just thought I would show you some of the cards I have forgotten to add to my blog over the last few months. I am going to try harder in 2009 to keep this up!!

Christmas

Reindeer card - made but never sent.

My daughter Jenne's Christmas card this year that she sent out.

A very close to Christmas birthday card for my co-worker Jen. This was sent along with a matching post-it note holder.

Happy New Year

For my friend Roberta.

Get Well

Two cards for fellow employees.

Birthday

Wow, this card looks so much better in person. Stickles just don't come off well on a scanner.

Recipe:

cardstock: certainly celery; DCWV Sweet Shoppe

ink: Certainly celery; black staz on

stamps: MFT Hey cupcake

SU large oval punch

Stickles: Tutti frutti; lime green; red

Cuttlebug HB embossing folder

$1 bin Michael's ribbon

Sympathy

This is a card that is actually 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 that I made for a teacher that John works with. I made it large so that all of the kids in the class could sign it. Same problem here as with the card below - I do not remember the name of the paper. It was in a very dark olive and I used SU vanilla. The stamp is from stampendous.

Thank You

Recipe:

cardstock: really rust; brocade blue; and not sure of the print. (I always cut off that strip at the bottom and toss it before I remember to write down what the paper was)

Ink: Really rust

Punches: Martha Stewart flower punch; punch a bunch (little flower); Marvy scalloped Mega and Giga punches

Brads: really rust

Stamp: Thank you from Inkadinkadoo

craft fair 2008

Below is a slide of some of the items in the craft fair I was in at my school. It was just too much to post it all so hope you enjoy the slideshow.

It's My Birthday!

Yesterday was my birthday and what a great dayI had! From the moment I got up there were flowers from my husband - thank you John, I love you!, and a Jim Brickman CD titled HOPE from my daughter that I listened to on the way to work. If you love piano music and haven't heard of Jim Brickman you are really missing out. He had a Christmas CD out last year that is just so beautiful. He comes to the Phoenix area every few years which I always look forward to.

Anyway, on with my day. I went to work and they brought in lunch, beautiful roses and wine - however, since it is a school, we couldn't open it!!! The secretary Lynne, made me a homemade apple pie (I don't really do cake) that had little cookie cutter apples made from the piecrust on top. How cute it was! Gave me an idea for a card! So to Leslie, Millie, Robyn, Lynne, Christina for the lovely gift and to everyone who gave me cards, thank you so much. It was a real treat. I love you all and enjoy working with you all so very much. Then last night I had my two daughters with me - the first time in about 8 years that we have been together on my birthday. Jenne used to live in San Diego, and Kerin lived here and we never could manage it to be together on the actual day. So this was so special. Kerin's friend Kerry came over and we all played games; drank wine and or scotch!, played more games; had more wine and or scotch; played pool and then you guessed it! Finally had homemade apple pie - wow that's twice today- what a real treat!! So tonight we are going out to dinner, tomorrow I am going to breakfast with Leslie and Jen from work, Sam, my great Wed. stamping buddy is dinner at her house on Monday night, Wed. happy hour with 2 other co-workers and then my Birthday Week will be over. Whew..............................

I got a lot of cards from many friends and I want to thank you all. These are a few from my Wed

group. The pink flowers are from Carolyn- what a beautiful card - very striking. The pink stripe is from Marie-love these colors and now I think I need that punch!!! and the birds are from Sam - how cute is this!! Thank you all - I miss you.

This one is from my daughter Jenne, who is thrilled to have the use of my craft room now!!

I've been "tagged"

I have been tagged by Sylvia over at My Little Corner of the World.
Here are the rules:
1. Get the book on your nightstand (or whatever book you are currently reading).
2. Open it to page 56 and find the 5th sentence.
3. Post the next couple of sentences on your blog, along with these instructions.
4. Do not go and find your favorite book, it has to be the one you are reading now!
5. Tag 5 other people to do the same.

Well, I have to admit that "romance" novels are not very intelligent reading, however, I work out on the treadmill everyday and read while I am pacing along. They make for easy and quick reading while on the treadmill and I can last much longer!!! Here is my sentences - Haven't looked yet but I hope it's not on the "juicy" part!!
He stopped, dipped his hand into the water, made a fist and opened it. "You can't hold it," he said to me. "No matter how you try or how you love or how you sweat." Then he dug into the sand. It was wet and clung together in his hand. " But this," he said, "a man can hold." We never spoke of it again. "When my time came, I turned my back on the sea and held the land."

Wow, that must be the most profound few sentences in this book!!

October Birthdays

Well, somehow this month has just got away from me!!

I was late with everyone's b'day and if you are one of them reading this, I truly am sorry. I don't care for the saying " Better Late than Never" because that gives you an excuse to forget. But, I am glad that at least these 5 people got their cards. This card for my friend SueAnn uses SU Floral Background; HB from SU; and the flower from Hero Arts. Papers are Basic Black and Bashful Blue.

Happy Birthday everyone!! I will try better next year.

This card is for my daughter's friend Kerry.
I used SU Pumpkin Pie; Eggplant; and last Halloween's DP. The stamp set is from Autumn Leaves and the HB is from Hero Arts. Buttons are just a dark purple from my stash of buttons.

This second card was for my friend Lois. The stamp is from SU and I am sorry to say I cut off the label name from the paper before I remembered where it came from. It is really pretty. It is double-sided. This side had white dots that I colored in pumpkin pie and added crystal effects. ( CE was also added on the flowers). Other papers were SU Certainly Celery and Pumpkin Pie DP