Sometimes in life a little H20 must fall?

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I like my blog to be light-hearted, a positive creative place where you can go to

get a little creative inspiration and maybe even a little chuckle from time to time.

I like to keep it light.

I try to be a positive person and most of the time I think I am.

But… today since I’m not feeling quite as inspired or as positive I thought I’d share the

reason why.  (I’m still trying to look at all the positives)

Tuesday night after returning from a baseball game.

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I went upstairs to find this.

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Three weeks ago, we broke down and finally decided to replace the 25 plus year old

air conditioner for the upper level of the house.  (not an inexpensive purchase)

Something on the unit malfunctioned causing a leak, the pan underneath the unit which has

the safety that should have shut the machine off didn’t work.  (insert long technical explanation)

Of course, the company is extremely apologetic and are doing everything they can to make it right.

But currently, the unit malfunctioned again last night.  There is more water and they are

cutting more ceiling as I type.  Still I’m trying to remain positive.

Here are the reasons I’m trying to stay positive:

  1. No one was in the room at the time.
  2. No one got hurt.
  3. We weren’t asleep in the bed.  (which would have gave me a heart attack, I’m sure)
  4. We weren’t on a weeks long summer vacation. (can you imagine that scenario?)
  5. They had someone come out right away.
  6. They started the restoration process the same night.
  7. I have a spare bedroom that I can sleep in.
  8. I have a separate air conditioning unit in the lower level.
  9. We still have a home and a roof over our head.  (In my community that’s a big deal!)
  10. Things could always be worse.

Life Happens, Crap Happens!

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(Here is my bedroom as of yesterday)

I’m just trying not to let it get to me.  Even though it’s going to get real hot today and I can’t work in my studio.  Still, I have every confidence that the problem will get fixed and everything will work out fine.  I’m just a little sleep deprived with all those giant fans blowing constantly in the next room.

So stay cool out there today and try to have a great day.  (I may just float in the pool)

Thanks for letting me vent.

Make sure to tell your story.

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As the Mom and a Scrapbooker I’m the one who’s telling my family’s story.

I’m also usually the one taking all the pictures.  Sometimes I’m even in the pictures.

As a scrapbooker, one of the things I’ve never done before was to do a layout on “ME”.

I know it feels a little vain, but, it’s important.  (Don’t you think?)

Hopefully one day, my kids or grandkids might enjoy reading a little bit about me.

Isn’t that why we do it?  To tell our “story”.

My 10 Things Layout

Last month on my blog I did a post on “10 things you may or may not know about me.”

I used that post as the starting point for this layout.

I like to use things in ways other than how their supposed to be used.

For this layout I used one of the scalloped shapes from the Send it Clear card kit from Clear Scraps.

Once I glued the scrapbook paper to the clear scallop, I edged around it with a gold paint pen.

I love how it’s a subtle enhancement for my page.  I glued a small medallion onto the tip of the scallop.

The paper is from the “Americana” collection from Pebbles Inc.

I also used Tim Holtz’ “Chit Chat” stickers to emphasize certain words in my story.

It’s simple and it’s me!

Craft Ideas Magazine

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Craft ideas magazine cover

The other day I received this magazine in the mail.

At first, it stumped me.  Why am I getting this magazine?

When I finally got the chance to sit down and look at it I noticed the name had changed.

Craft Ideas was formerly Crafts n’ Things.

Fall Addition!!!  I immediately knew what I was looking for.

Craft ideas Magazine Everyday Moments

Ta Da!!!  Here I am on pages 56 & 57.

My “Everyday Moments” accordion album with all the instructions so you can make one too.

Another thing that makes me happy:   they used the photographs I took for the article.

Pinterest Inspiration

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One of the places I go when I need a little creative inspiration is Pinterest.

So many wonderful photo’s to look at.  So many wonderful ideas.

I have to make sure I have an hour or so to kill when I do.

I thought I’d share with you one of my FAVORITE layouts I found on Pinterest.

I asked permission from Kay Miller of Kay Millers Designs if I could share.

(It’s always a good idea to ask first.)

Berry Layout

I love everything about this layout. Everything’s so well thought out.

Thanks Kay for letting me share your wonderful layout.

Make sure to check out Kay’s site www.kaymillerdesigns.com for more creative inspiration.

And… if you’re on Pinterest and you’d like to check out my pins you can find me here.

Make Wedding Place Settings with Smoothfoam

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The Bride and Groom Place setting  is a cute way to identify where the bride and groom will sit for dinner!

To make the Bride and Groom Place Settings you’ll need…            (*affiliate link)

4″ Smoothfoam ball
Smoothfoam sheet (any size)
Stick ‘n Carve*
Hot Wire Foam Cutter*
Sandpaper, paint brush
Craft paints – black and white
Mod Podge Gloss Finish*
Stickles Glitter Glue, Diamond*
2 wood dowels
Gold Paint Marker*
“Story of Us” stickers

  1. Draw, trace or print the outlines of a dress and bow tie on to the transfer paper, then stick the paper to a sheet of Smoothfoam.
  2. Cut out the images with the foam cutter, through the transfer paper.
  3. Remove the transfer paper and sand the edges of the foam as needed. Paint the bow tie black and paint the dress white.
  4. Cut the Smoothfoam ball in half then paint one half black and paint the other half white.
  5. After the paint is dry, coat each piece with Mod Podge (gloss finish).
  6. Embellish the surface of the dress and ball with glitter glue for extra sparkle.
  7. Cut each dowel to the appropriate size so the markers are the same height as shown. Paint the dowels with a gold paint pen and insert into the foam, connecting each piece to its base.
  8. Embellish each marker with stickers and bling.

Shop Handmade – The Wedding Store

Disclaimer:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Always Dream Big

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Kaisercraft Dream Big Card

Just a quick share today.  (waiting on paint to dry on another project)

Here are a couple more projects that I made for The Paper Forest Design Team

using Kaisercraft’s Dream Big Collection.  (Inside it says:  anything is possible)

I’m really loving the color softness of this collection.

This card could be using for a Graduation, Retirement, New Job…

Candle Make Over

Why give a boring candle when you can make one over with a few left-over scraps of paper?

Small Candle from Bath & Body Works.

Reconnected…

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The past week was such a mix of emotions.

It started with unexpected news, a trip out-of-state, hugging the necks of family I hadn’t

seen in quite a while and saying good-bye to a very good man.

While it was extremely sad, we also left with a good feeling of being reconnected.

After arriving home late the night before, Saturday morning, I joined a group of my

classmates at my old alma mater and we all took a tour of the high school.

While some things hadn’t changed much at all, there were several new additions and changes.

I had my camera in my pocket the whole time and only managed three pictures. (that’s not like me)

A Building

I’ve always loved “A” building.  (the original high school)

I was talking too much and wandered off with a few other classmates and didn’t get the whole tour

of “A” building.  (kind of like me in high school)

A few years ago, there was talk of tearing it down, I’m so glad they didn’t.  So much history.

This building was special because both of my parents and their siblings walked the halls of this place.

Until recently, my dad’s graduating class of ’49 picture was hanging on the walls.

I had hoped to take a picture of that.

Epchs main hall

Raider Hall of Fame

I hadn’t walked these halls in 35 years.  (it was surreal)

This was the part of the reunion I was looking forward to the most.

Since, I had missed the Friday night mixer, this was the ice breaking point for me.

Saturday nights reunion was filled with blinding rain and close to 100 people stuffed into an old barn.

Even though there was a few leaks, I thought the ambiance was fun.

A party like this 35 years ago, would have been epic.

With all the old pretenses gone, it was great reconnecting with old friends.

Some I hadn’t seen since graduating 35 years ago.

Even though I had serious trepidation about the event, I was so glad I went.

Catching the Sun with Alcohol Inks

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Suncatcher with Alcohol Ink

Now that schools out and everyone’s looking for new things to do.

How about making a Sun Catcher with the kids?

  • I started out with a 4″ clear acrylic circle from Clear Scraps.
  • After removing the thin protective film off both sides of the circle,I drew a simple picture on the circle using a black paint pen.  You could also use a black permanent marker.
  • Next, turn the circle over and on the reverse side of the circle color the image with Alcohol Inks.  You can’t tell by this picture, but for added detail, I edged the circle with a Silver paint pen.

This is something even the younger kids can enjoy.  (I recommend ages 3-100)

This project was created for and sponsored by Clear Scraps.