Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Trying to get back in the groove....

Hi all:
Just a quick post today.  Co-workers and friends have been trying to get together for nice long lunches at least once a month.  I love these ladies! We always have a great time; eating, laughing, and just being together. Besides that, it gives us a chance to rant and rave about the job without fear of who will hear! LOL.

I'd like to try to give them each a small token of my love several times throughout the year.  Nothing big, just something to remember our good times together.  I'm thinking that I might do etched wine glasses at the end of the month.....we'll see....we all know that I have CADD...that's short for Crafting Attention Deficit Disorder!

I decided at the last minute to make them all little (simple to do) gifts and opted to make jewelry.  This is one of the pieces that I created for Toni, my BFF: 




It's been a rough couple of weeks here at my house.  And I haven't really been able to sit still long enough to do as much as I'd like to do.  I have a gazillion projects that I want to get started on or completed, so I'm starting off small and slow until "mojo" decides to go into over-drive.  If you happen to see my mojo, please tell 'em it's time to come home....

So, please say a quick prayer for me tonight when you're talking to the Lord.  I'd appreciate it!


Thanks for dropping by....please come again!
Hugs+Kisses
Renee

Monday, June 17, 2013

They're all here!

Hi lovely people.
Just a quick post.

I've fallen in love with the new Julie Nutting Mixed Media Doll Stamps from Prima!  I ordered all of the ones that I could find.  And at $6.99 each how could I not?!   They are such a hit with the ladies in the craft world I have a feeling that the price will surely go up soon....and I'm trying to be ahead of the game! LOL


They are quite big too; which I really like. And I've got to remember to purchase a larger stamping block though as the largest that I have is only 7" in length.  I intend to have some more fun with these just like I did when I created the name plaques for a friend's daughters.



 Now....if I could just find the others that I've seen, I would be a happy crafter.

Bye for now!
And thanks for stopping by....
Hugs+Kisses
Renee

The Legacy Lives On

Hi Everyone:

I just wanted to share a post about what family means to me.

Sadly, I lost my own mother back in 1997.  It was a sad time for me, as well as my six brothers and sisters.  Even more sad because we had just lost my sister, father, and sister-in-law.  It was hard for me to cope without my mother.  She wasn't just my mother.  She was my friend. She was my counselor.  She was my very own cheering squad.  And she was a force to be reckoned with.  Everyone loved my mother.  She was sweet, kind, caring, loving, and would help you in any way that she could.  She was a whiz in the kitchen.  And could make a meal out of almost anything.  She was famous for her potato salad!  And even though I was (and still am) a potato eating fiend, and want them any way that I can get them: fried, baked, mashed, smashed, whipped, smothered, boiled, broiled, or grilled; but please, please, please, don't put mayonnaise in them! LOL.  She taught us to love the Lord. We were sent to Sunday school (which by the way I enjoyed).  She would say "Pray on it, and I'll pray for you too" whenever there was a problem that you couldn't seem to solve yourself.  She taught her daughters how to cook, clean, crochet, knit (even though she preferred crocheting), and how to use a needle and thread. She loved dressing up, and loved to see her children dressed up too.



my mother and grandmother


We children didn't really realize how hard it was for my mother until we had gotten older; I'd say in our very early teen years.  But when we did realize how hard things were, I like to think that we helped make her life more easier.  I know that she loved us all with every ounce of her being.  And did as much as possible so that we would be and feel as normal as any other child.  When she passed, I think that we all felt a little lost.  At least I did.  And since I was the youngest, I think that my older brothers and sisters felt that they had to keep an eye on me.  They seemed to "hover" over me quite a bit.  Even though I was an adult with a husband and children of my own.  It was a little smothering for awhile, because at that time I just wanted to be left alone.  That's me, leave me alone until I can cope.  Eventually I'll bounce back and be "fine."

 A few months after she passed away, we all came to the same conclusion: that we still had each other.  That she would want us to become even closer.  That we would learn to help each other.  And rely on each other.  And just be there for each other no matter what.

I still miss her every day.  Yes, that's what I said every day.  Not a day goes by without thoughts of my mother popping into my head.  It could be something as simple as a smell that would evoke memories of my mother.

A friend once told me, after I'd mentioned that I was sick of people asking me "how are you doing?" to tell them "my mother died, I'll never be fine." That one single piece of advice eased my burden. And  I remember my mother with nothing but good memories.  Ok, sometimes a bad one creeps in, but then I remember that it taught me something.  It was an experience. And I still know that whatever that lesson was, it was just that; a lesson.  I tell people all the time; "My momma taught me well." And I like to say that I am what I am because of my mother.

Anyway, I love being around my family. My brothers and sisters and their families.  Especially the times that we all just happen to end up somewhere together.  Most times, it's at my oldest sister's house.  We all would just drop by.  And of course someone would say that they were hungry and that would end up being the start of a small family reunion.  Always fun.  We could reminisce about the same stuff over and over again, no matter how many times we are together; and it still is funny each and every time.

I'd like to think that we'll have very long lives together.  Continuing my mother's and father's legacy.  Being a family that truly loves one another.  And hoping and praying that we're all making them proud.


   my mother-in-law

Now, again sadly, I've lost my "second"mother.  My mother-in-law.  She was also a kind, caring, sweet, gentle, soft-spoken woman.  One that you could count on. And again, she was a woman that believed in teaching her children to love the Lord.  Her children, my in-laws are God fearing people. And like my family, there are many pastors, deacons, and evangelists.  Prayer warriors.

Her Homegoing was this weekend.  It was truly a celebration of her life.  It was such a beautiful, joyful service.  With memories shared. Laughter. Singing.

My husband's family is HUGE.  His mother and father had 12 daughters and four sons! So, can you imagine how many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren there are?  Well, let me tell you...there are 37 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren!  

And although we don't see other as often as we should; we've spent a lot of time together this weekend.  It was so nice to catch up on each other's lives and be together.  She would have loved to have been there, with all of us together just enjoying each other's company.

We're hoping that we can get both of our families together this summer.  Take over some place where we can have fun.

Being with family is the sweetest thing.

Our moms would have loved that.

Monday, June 10, 2013

All Occasion Cards

Hi everyone:
Just wanted to share a quick post of a project.

My niece asked me to create a boxed set of ten cards.  She wanted a sort of "all occasion" set that she could use when needed.  I was glad to hear her say that the design and everything would be left up to me.  Which of course made things so much easier. (And cheaper for her!)

 I watched a video/blog from http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/girlgeek/blog.  Audrie is a Stampin' Up demonstrator, blogster, crafter, Youtuber, and for me - part-time instructor. I tune in to her channel whenever I get a chance to see what she's been up to.  Sometimes it's a new technique for me, other times it's just to see what she's working with.  Plus, I like the sound of her voice.  You can hear the joy and passion when she's creating!

I've learned some things from her (which we crafters are always doing ... learning and ever evolving!) and has been reminded, in this case, that flat cards can still be wonderful. I hadn't made any flat cards in awhile.  (There are so many great embellishments out there!)

And so I decided to create window cards stamped in different color inks, but with the same image randomly repeated.  Easy Peasy!


Products used to create these cards:  Stampin' Up! Blushing Bride, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral and Bermuda Bay water-based dye inks; Colorbox Archival Dye in Wicked Black, Verve Stamps (VS-10-PJ038, VS-09-PJ011*not shown) Studio G stamp "Cheer Up", 
Inkadinkadoo large Mosaics and Happy Birthday. 

I had some scraps of cardstock left over and decided to make matching bookmarks.

Bookmarks: creme cardstock, ribbon from stash, 
Stampin' Up! Blushing Bride, Bermuda Bay, 
Pear Pizzazz, 0.5cm eyelets

I think that I should do more flat cards more often.  They can be done quickly and done in an assembly line.  Just have the ink pads ready, one large stamp to repeat, (some wet wipes to clean the stamp) and your sentiment(s).  

Again I say, EASY PEASY!

   

Well, that's all for now....thanks again for stopping by!
Hugs+Kisses
Renee


Thursday, June 6, 2013

That's Alterable!

Hi crafty people (and those that don't know the crafty life!):

Just wanted to share a quick post on the latest project challenge going on at SOC.  This month we were to alter a pair of flip flops.  Now, when we were younger, we added things to our flip flops all the time, so it was fun to relive the past. 

Just so happens that when the summer rolls around I usually have already stocked up on dollar store flip flips; because you already know that you'll need every color that you can imagine for your summer wardrobe! Plus, I refuse to pay more than a dollar for a pair of flip flops - so when they start appearing in the stores right before it gets warm I start snapping them up...and always in sizes 8 and 10...that way there are plenty for me and my two girls.  I especially feel lucky when I can find the kind that don't have the little rubber "knobs" under the bottom of them.  They tend to wear down and pop at the most inopportune times! 

See the difference? 

But lucky me, I found a few (brown, black and white) last summer in my local Dollar Tree that didn't have those little rubber knobs under them! I'm hoping that I can find several more pair in different colors.


I decided to do a few pair...here they are:
 PomPom Flip Flops

 Lace and Flowers Flip Flops

Paper flowers, ribbon, flat back pearls and Butterfly Flip Flops



Like I said, this took me back to my younger days.  Those days when we wrote and drew pictures on our sneakers, cut our tee-shirts up so that they had fringes and decorated our flip flops with hair ribbon, flowers on bobby pins and such. Fun.  None of them took very long to do either.  It's amazing what you can make with E6000 glue, paper, ribbons, elastic, pompoms and other little things. 

Several of my nieces have seen them.  And you know what that means right? I'll have to get more done by the weekend.  And lucky me...they wear the same sizes that me and my own daughters wear! 


Thanks for stopping by!
Muwaaaah!

Hugs+Kisses
Renee


Saturday, June 1, 2013

What's the question?

Hi everyone.  Thanks for stopping by!

Today's topic is  "To Follow or Not to Follow?"

That is the question.

I'm sure that people have their reasons.  Could it be that the blog content doesn't appeal to you? Could it be the design of the blog? Could it be the colors chosen in the set up of the blog? Could it be because there is only a small following of that particular blog? Could it be because you feel that you're more advanced in a particular genre or subject matter than the author of a  blog? Could it be that you're friends with the author? Tell me.  I really wanna know.

The reason that I ask is because I see comments from people on my personal blog, but then notice that they don't become a follower of the web log.  I thought that the main points for blogging is to virtually visit, inspire, connect, educate, interact, comment, document and support people.

Don't get me wrong. I visit blogs a lot of times based on someone else's suggestion.  And a lot of times, I find myself jumping around from one blog to the next, because the information is interesting or appeals to me. And 'no' I don't end up following every single one.  And believe it or not, not all of my 'read' list is about paper crafting!  I'm sure that like me, you have other interests right?  Just to name a few, I have interests in architecture, books, music, movies, food, photography, interior design, even fishing.   I couldn't even begin to list all of the blogs about crafting or otherwise that I'm a follower of! I just keep that list written down in my art journal where I can refer to it whenever I need to.

So, again, I'm truly interested in finding out what makes you decide to become a follower of a particular blog?  Help me understand....

Hugs+Kisses
Renee