Cherish the Day Artwork: Nov SOTM



These beautiful cards were made by my amazing upline Karen Pedersen

Team retreat has been over for one week and I am still unpacking boxes.  Good news is that I really am almost done unpacking all those boxes.  I am so slow these days at getting things done.  I am finding I just can't focus on one things these days.  



As I mentioned before I will be adding retreat artwork as we go along.  Some of the artwork uses different "Stamp of the Month's" and paper packs so I will add those to this blog at at the appropriate months.  



My wonderful downline Kris Keys made this beautiful card. 
I love this card for weddings and special occasions. 



Today I wanted to start with the November Stamp of the Month.  We did a little swap at the retreat that was so fun.  Such a talented bunch of ladies I am proud to associate with.

When I first got this stamp set I was actually scratching my head wondering what in the world I was ever going to do with this set.  WOW just look at the beautiful artwork these ladies came up with and I am so very excited about this set.




This card is super fun for the autumn holidays.  It was created by my sideline Kimberly Deines 

 




This amazing home decor piece was made by my amazing downline Susann Eaton.   This creation is so amazing.  It was stamped with white daisy ink onto black cardstock.  Once dry she put it in these black frames and then added the sparkles onto of the glass.

 



November Stamp of the Month can be ordered on my WEBSITE through the end of November.
Any questions I can answer for you just drop me a note at myhandsyourheart@aol.com

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Halloween Craft: Candy Corn treat

Happy Halloween everyone. I can't believe it's already Halloween. I wanted to share a fun treat with you. No this is not a trick just a pure fun Halloween treat.

Last Thursday night was my monthly quilt club meeting. However, I was not able to attend this month because I was involved in my three day team retreat which was so much fun and I will be adding lots of artwork that we created at the treat in the next few weeks. Anyway, one of the quilt club ladies made these super cute Halloween treats for everyone.

Now how cute is this.  I guess next year I will have to make some of these, but for this year I am loving this one my friend made.  Hope you all have a wonderful Halloween and don't try too many tricks this year.  Check back soon for retreat artwork.  I am still unpacking my boxes.
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Mischief Workshop: Halloween and Fall layouts

The projects for this months workshops tend to take a little time to put together.  Some of you did not finish the layouts so I wanted to get our workshop projects posted so you can finish them ASAP.  The layouts are so fun to put together.  Maybe it's because I LOVE Halloween. 



Layout One:  Fun use of colonial white ink.  It can smear so remember to let it dry because it is a pigment ink.



The projects are made with the Mischief paper pack.  OHHH my gosh you will just love this paper pack.  We used the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, along with lots of rub-ones.  I have to admit I have not used rub-ones in a really long time so it was fun to use those.  CTMH has some really fun compliments that are rub ons as well as the newsprint rub-on letters that you can use for just about any project.





Layout 2:  It's fun using the rub-on's on the metal tag from the Sunset Mini-Medley collection



I apologize that I don't have photos on the layouts.  Check back after Halloween to see the layouts with photos on them but for the most part I am pretty sure you can figure out photo placement and sizes.

 






 Have fun finishing up your layouts.  If you need help with anything let me know.  Those of you that don't come to workshops and want to complete the above layouts you can order all the supplies on my website at http://www.stampinscrapexpress.myctmh.com/

 

Thanks for stopping by.

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Embellish your Creations.

Ohh how I do love embellishments.  Here is a fun tutorial from CTMH showing you a fun way to embellish your creations.  (Remember to pause playlist at bottom of blog so you can hear tutorial)

Enjoy and have a great day.

Technology Overload

I truly am feeling like I am having a major technology overload this week.  It's all good and I love technology.  I actually love to learn about all these techy things.

I have been working on getting better at editing my photos.  So this week my new photo editing software came and I have been playing around with it.  I think I made it through just the basics.  I am so excited to discover all it does.  For starters I wanted to share what I did with these photos, because  I am so excited.  Have I mentioned I am so excited.  HAHAHA.



BEFORE EDIT

I took several shots of my daughter at a nearby lake.  It was almost dark when I took these.  I am looking forward to editing more photos that I took at this photo shoot.  I just need to find more time. 



AFTER EDIT



Just when I was feeling a little overwhelmed with this photo editing project my cell phone crashed.  GOOD grief.  So if you have tried to text me in the last day or so and I have not responded it's because I could not access voice or text messages.  So long story short I now have a new phone.  I was a little sad to lay my Blackberry to rest, but this iphone is going to work well for me.  I just need to figure it all out.  You should have seen me trying to turn the alarm off this morning.

So feel free to share your favorite apps with me.  My son was more than happy to set it all up for me.  I think he was taking great pleasure in telling me.  "Mom let me give you a little tutorial"  I knew there was a reason I had children.  They come in so handy at times.  HAHAH jut kidding.

Fun Times-Studio J class

Once again time is flying by.  I am been a busy little bee getting ready for a team retreat.  Our retreat is the end of October.  I will post the projects here after the retreat.  It's been so fun to prepare for so check back often. 

It's time for another Studio J on-line class. It's so simple.  The class is taught via the Internet. This class uses some really fun techniques that will knock your socks off.  To sign up just email Lynette for details at myhandsyourheart@aol.com  there will be just a few homework items you need to do to be ready for the class.

"Keratoconus" and a PET scan

I honestly hate blogging about these kind of things, but I have promised to keep all of you updated about our Journey down cancer row and so many of you ask "how is the hubby"? It's so easy to blog about happy things and things I have created.  I just want to live in a perfect little world, but life is anything but perfect.  I have decided it's about how you handle your imperfect world.  I hope I am handling my imperfect world with class but some days I really wonder.

OK, lets start with me.   I have had some stress added to my world.  Nothing like what my husband is going through, but certainly has added to our imperfect world.  Lately I have felt that wow I just can't see very well.  I felt I really can't see near or far so WOW these soft contacts of mine really need to be looked at. 

So before my birthday in August I made my annual appointment with my Ophthalmologist.  It was time to renew my drivers license and I was sure I could not pass the eye test.  Well there in the Dr office we discovered I have "Keratoconus"  What is "Keratoconus" you might ask.  Well it's an uncommon condition where the cornea which is usually curved becomes thin and protrudes into a cone shaped cornea.  This caused a serious distortion of vision.  So yes I really was not going crazy my vision has really changed.



When I tell people they immediately look at my eyes.
 I promise you my eyes look totally normal.


Keratoconus is an inherited disorder and we have looked back through my family tree and to our knowledge we don't  have any ancestors that have gone blind.  Because it's a degenerative disease the concern is how much worse is this going to get?  That is the question we will never know.  I hope this is as bad as it will get, but there is a potential that I could slowly (hopefully it's very slow) go blind.

Good grief I have way too much scrapbooking, quilting, photography, yardwork and decorating my house to do not to mention all the fun things in life I look forward to and  I need to be able to see such as my kids growing up and starting families of there own.  This just can't be happening.  So that is when I asked the magical question.  "What is the treatment for this"

Well there is no real treatment to stop the disease.  Mild cases can be treated with glasses or hard contact lenses.  As it progresses surgery such as corneal transplant is recommended, but no guarantee it will work.  WELL, I would rather see a little bit than not at all so I told the doc that surgery is not an option and actually he agreed.  So I have been making weekly trips to my Ophthalmologist.  They have fitted me with some hard contact lenses.  Once the hard contact lens is in my eyeball it causes the cornea to form into the correct shape and I can see.  Right not with the hard contact lenses I can see 20/20 once again and it's a great feeling.  These contact lenses are a pain to use and take care of, but if it helps so I can see it's all worth it.  I am crossing my fingers and praying that this will not get any worse. 

Now for Fred.  Well he feels like a million bucks.  Has not felt this good in a really long time.  So we did a PET scan and those dang tumors in the liver and lungs are trying to grow.  So we could wait and just watch, but our Oncologist felt it would be better to hit them when they are as small as possible.

Therefore we will be starting another round of chemotherapy on Friday 9-24-11.  UGGGHHH we have just had it with chemo and didn't want to start up again and rob Fred of how he feels, but at the same time I don't want to get down the road in 3-4 months and wish we had treated.    So here we go again.  This regimen will cause him to lose his hair which he is having a hard time accepting.  I keep telling him bald is sexy.  I am not sure he is believing me.  Anyway, we appreciate the prayers sent our way as always.

Thanks so much for being such great friends.  I could have never made it this far without you.  Have a great day and "Count Your Blessing's"  Even the tiny little ones.

Typeset Workshop Layouts

I just don't know where this week went.  Workshops were this week which keeps me on my toes, but I love having you all come and workshops are one of the biggest highlights of my life.  I know I get to visit with those that come to workshops and I LOVE helping you create your layouts, laugh, talk and socialize.

This month we worked with the "Typeset" paper and accessories.  This kit is so fun and I love, love, love this paper.  Below are the layouts minus the journaling.  I better get that done-huh?

Layout One:

This layout is a great layout for any photos you have.  We used the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge to cut many of the pieces for the layout. 

Layout Two:

This layout can easily be a back to school layout.  It also works great for a birthday layout.  Afterall "In A Class Of Your Own" is all about life and our journey through life.

Layout Three:
Great layout to highlight an accomplishment such as I have done here with my daughter Alyssa.  Just an overall fun layout.

Enjoy completing your layouts.  Next months layouts we will be using "Mischief" two of the layouts will be Halloween and one a Fall page.  Mark your calendars so you don't miss the fun.  If you currently are not part of the fun of workshops then email me and lets get your started.  Don't let your memories slip away. 

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.  If you have not taken a minute to "Like" my facebook business page my facebook icon is on my sidebar.  I will be running a fun contest this week.  Watch your facebook wall for details. 

Amazing Cards and Facebook

Well I am a complete slacker.  I must say I have completely neglected my blog this last week.  I have had a few things I have been dealing with that I will tell you about later.  With everyone back to school you would think I would have tons of time, but it has been just the opposite. 

CARDS:
So before the weekend gets completely away from me I wanted to share some happy mail I received a couple weeks ago.  Below are two of the most amazing cards sent to me by my dear friend and upline Karen.  With Karen's permission I am posting them here.  She used SONOMA paper pack, Cricut ART PHILOSOPHY cartridge  and the September STAMP OF THE MONTH. 

Love making these flowers with the Cricut Art Philosopsy cartridge. 

FACEBOOK:

Well I have several projects right now on my drawing board using these type of flowers because I love making them so much and they are so easy with the Art Philosophy cartridge.  I will post them on my facebook business page.  Yes I finally went live with my Facebook business page.  There will be  lots of fun activities, tips, tricks  and more on my facebook page.

So make sure you "LIKE" my page so you will not miss anything.  Also the feed from this blog goes directly onto my facebook page so you will be able to see everything in one place.



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Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend.

The Game of GOLF

As we wind down to the end of summer I am always so sad to see summer come to an end.  However a highlight at the end of the Summer for our family is my husbands summer party hosted by his company "Morinda".  They do an amazing job and one of the biggest parties you have ever seen and the entire family is invited. 

This year my husband decided that we would participate in the golf tournament hosted by his company.  So we formed  our family  foursome (Fred, Me, Brandon and Alyssa).  Fred of course has played lots of golf and I have played a little, but Brandon and Alyssa has never played.

 So the idea was to really just have fun.  For the most part that is what we did but there were times that the competitive side of my family came through.  Alyssa is a "lefty" and so she had her left handed clubs and was being a good sport and decided golf is really not her thing and perhaps needs to just stick to swimming, biking and those kind of things. 

Brandon on the other hand was very good for never playing.  Maybe he has found his new niche. Anyway, we did have lots of fun and we ended up finishing a few over par.  So not that bad for three of us being very inexperienced.  I had tons of fun taking photos.  I took lots of photos and plan to scrapbook them in STUDIO J.  So check back often and see the fun layouts using these photos.

Well the ironic part of all of this is that Alyssa won the straightest drive.  Her ball was just a few inches from the line.  She was given a fun gift that evening at the party.  She was excited that she won, however she was thinking that she was going to win $100 of cold hard cash and was thinking that it would come in so handy to buy text books but what she really won was $100 gift certificate to the Pro Golf shop and 18 holes of gold.  HAHAH.  Well she gave that to her dad so hopefully he will get to reap the rewards of her straightest dive.