Another card copy and some Hawaii pics!

Instead of putting ALL of our Hawaii photos in one post, I'm going to spread out our photos in the hopes it will make it seem like I'm back in Hawaii...  Just kidding, but I am going to do a few photos at a time so I can update more!

Our two weeks in Oahu were the best vacation we have ever taken.  The weather was perfect, compared to the 115 temps that were happening in Havasu.  There was no pressure to do anything, be anywhere, get anything done.  It was great. 

On one of the days we had a rental car, we took a trip to see the Valley of the Temples.  In order to reach the temple, we had to drive through a cemetery that was immaculate.  I have never seen a more beautiful cemetery.  Unfortunately I did not take pics there.  But I did grab some of the temple!  Enjoy!

Cass and D.

The Autograph Tree

 And here is another card I lifted off of Pinterest.  During my down time of medical testing and waiting, I couldn't find my own mojo so I borrowed some off of Pinterest.  Thanks for looking!!

Wow. So much time has passed!

It has been such a long time since I've even considered updating my blog, so today is the day!

So much has happened with me since my last post.  I'll do a small recap here, just to catch you up.

One day in April as I was laying in bed, I started feeling around my hip bones (don't ask lol).  I had lost about 35 pounds and for some reason, that day I was feeling the bones of my hips like it was the first time.  I noticed I had "something" on the left side of my abdomen, between my  hip bone and my belly button.

Now, I will admit that I have been a bad woman and have not had an exam in about *coughcoughelevencoughcough* years.  So, I made an appointment right away.

During my full exam, my doctor found several things:  A nodule on my thyroid, something solid in my breast...and something about the size of a softball in my abdomen.  Right away I went for ultrasounds on everything and they discovered that I had FIVE masses in my belly, around/near my left ovary.  The largest measured 11cms, which is huge. 

Fast forward a week or so and I've met with an oncologist in Vegas who determines that these need to be removed, and that I will also have my left ovary and uterus removed.  I would have to actually be cut open, vertical, so that the masses could be removed as a whole, and I would be tested for cancer while I was on the table.  The surgeon was going on vacation the week I met with her, and then I was scheduled to go to Hawaii for two weeks on July 7th, so surgery was scheduled for July 25th.

I had surgery, and thank God everything came out clear.  I'm in my second week of recovery right now and doing well.  :)

So, that is where I've been.

And yes, you heard me.  I went to Hawaii for two weeks!!  I will update more on that in the coming days!!  Until then, here is a card I lifted off of Pinterest, during my hiatus.  It's a straight up copy, and I love it.

Thanks for sticking with me. :)

Wine Tour layout

Today's layout was done using a sketch by Ashley Rock at RockPaperScrapbook! It's her first sketch contest, and I really like how it inspired me!

I'm finally attempting to scrapbook the tons of photos I took when we went on our cruise in 2010. It was a first cruise for the kiddos and we went to Catalina and Ensenada. Great family adventure!

So, here is her sketch:



And this is what I did with it! I turned it sideways because my photos happened to be lengthwise, but I love how it turned out!!



I'm entering this layout in her contest. Check it out at RockPaperScrapbook!!

True friends card

I'll be honest with you. I like to buy things. I like to buy scrappy/stampy things. I like to buy them...and never use them.

Like digi-images.

And Copics.

Which brings me to today's card.

I am not an expert at either of the above-mentioned products, but I decided to try them both for this challenge! I do like the way the finished card turned out, although my Copics technique leaves MUCH to be desired.

Here is my card! In this photo, you cannot tell that I have outlined her wings and the stars with a glitter pen. I really need to work on my photo-taking skills. Another thing to add to my ever-growing checklist...



I'm entering this card in the Tiddly Inks challenge. You should do the same! :)

Also, don't forget about my giveaway! I'm still trying!!

...(Sisters)

I'm running out of witty things to title my posts here on my blog. I seem to go back to the same few words. "Happy Tuesday," "Welcome to Tuesday," or something along those lines. How exactly does one decide what to say in their title for a post? I guess I could use the title of whatever layout or card I'm posting says? Okay, I think I'll do that.

This blog entry is entitled: "Sisters."

I did this layout based on the sketch at the Artful Delight blog. I just discovered this site by doing a little blog hopping, and I highly recommend them! They also have kits, which is a bonus!

So, here is the sketch:



And here is my layout! Now, this happens to be my current favorite photo of my girls. I can't believe what wonderful young women they are turning out to be .



Check out the challenge at Artful Delight and join in the fun!

And...it's Monday.

Is it me, or do the weeks keep getting longer and the weekends keep getting shorter?! Where did this weekend go? Hubby worked overtime on Saturday, so since he was gone that day, I kept thinking it was Sunday. I'm all kinds of messed up!

Monday went smoothly in our house today: One kiddo spent the night at a friend's house (yes, I'm *that* kind of mom!), college girl slept in (in true college form), and I took the boy to school...only to be called at 10:30 to pick him up due to a fever. Poor guy. So, he's snoozing now and I can post my latest card!

I made this card entirely with my scraps, down to the ribbon! I have far too many scraps and have started taking out my scrap boxes before I start any project. This time, the challenge called for using scraps only! Perfect!

Here is my card, and I absolutely love it. It's not fancy schmancy; it's simple...yet adorable!!



And...since I made this with scraps, no second card for the bestie. Sorry Shar! :(

I'm entering this card in the following challenges. Check them out and join in!

Hiding In My Craft Room
Birthday Sundays
Sentimental Sundays
Kaboodle Doodles
Crafting for all Seasons

Once again, don't forget about my giveaway HERE!

Thanks for stopping in!

A new kit release!

I have always like Shanna Vineyard's style of crafting. She always creates the most fabulous items and finds time to craft even though she has such a busy life!

I want to take a moment and congratulate her on her newest creation:



You have to visit her blog to see her amazing examples, and follow the links to see what fellow designers have created using her kit!

There are some fabulous images in this kit, and I can't wait to use them!

Check her out at Art Made with Heart!

Happy Saturday!

I do hope that everyone has had a wonderful Saturday!

I started off sleeping in this morning, which was wonderful, if I do say so myself. Headed into work for a few hours to blow up six balloon bouquets! Came home, relaxed a little, watched Dance Moms on the DVR (<--that's my confession for the day!), and then went in the scraproom for a little crafty therapy!!

There's another layout sketch challenge at Frosted Designs!

Here is the sketch:


And here is my take on it:



I'm quite happy with how it turned out! I've discovered that I really, really like sketches and they help motivate me to scrapbook more. And that's the important thing, right?

While you're here, don't forget to check out my giveaway! Go here for all the details!

Thanks for stopping by!! :)

Beware: Shameless plug for followers coming...

I've really rededicated myself to my blog and my scrapbooking lately, and I've decided to throw my pride to the dogs and have a contest to get followers!

My goal this month (or as fast as possible!) is to get to 50 followers. Before I go into the drawing, I'd like to thank the ten or so followers that have stuck by me and not un-followed me in the past year when I fell off the face of the earth. I appreciate you very much!

Once I hit 50 followers, whenever that happens, I will give away the following:



Four packs of Jenni Bowlin Studio journaling cards and three Tiny Type stickers from Cosmo Cricket! All items are new in the package!

Here's how you can enter:

1.) Earn one entry by being a follower of my blog! Please be sure to leave me a comment on this post and include your email address in your entry!

2.) Earn a second entry by blogging about my contest on your blog! Come back here and leave a second comment on this post with the link to your blog post! (Please link directly to your post regarding my contest.)

That's it! Once I hit 50, I will randomly choose a winner! This contest is open to international bloggers too! :)

As it gets closer, I will mention it in future postings and link back to this entry so that it refreshes our memories.

I'm kind of excited!!

Thanks for stopping by!! :)

Sweet 16

The challenge this week at Frosted Designs is "numbers." Your layout, card, project must have something to do with numbers.

Here is my entry in the Fabulous Friday Challenge:



My daughter is almost 19 now (holy cow!!), but I just love this photo of all of us at her 16th birthday dinner.

Thanks for looking!!

Busted!

My hubby works as a resident officer in Laughlin, so one evening we decided to run down there to have dinner with him while he was working. It's difficult for him to be away from us for four days a week, but the plus is that he only has less than four years until retirement!!

After dinner, they were all feeling a little goofy, so D decided to act like he was "arresting" Cassidy. She played the part, pouty face and all! (he did not actually put her in the nasty back seat, lol)

Here is my layout. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to photograph my layouts. Thanks for bearing with me!



Thanks for stopping by! :)

A new card...

I decided, at the spur of the moment (with eight hours left to enter!) to join this week's challenge at the Birthday Sundaes blog.


So, in true form, I hurriedly did a birthday card...and am actually pleased with the results!

The challenge was "get messy." I've never done the splattered paint deal, so I was a little nervous to make the entire card, splatter it...and ruin it. But it turned out cuter than I expected! Winning!!

Here is my entry:



And for the bestie...:



Head over to the Birthday Sundaes blog and check out the great DT and fantastic entries!

Scrappiness...who knew?

I'm so excited to be posting scrapiness. It warms me to the core and I feel so good when I scrapbook. It's difficult for "regular" people to understand, but I know that fellow crafters know exactly where I'm coming from.

I've done yet another challenge, but actually I've done *two* challenges, they just happen to be from one blog! I discovered this blog when Sharla did one of the challenges, and for the life of me, I can never remember the name when she and I are chatting about it. "Frosted ponies?" "Painted puppies??" Ugh. But, I keep visiting the site daily, and soon it will roll off my tongue!

Here is the first challenge: The card sketch.

The sketch:



And my take on it:



Now, the second challenge: The layout sketch.

The sketch:



And my layout (I hope the colors are okay. It's evening here):



And, in true BFF fashion once again, cards for the stash:



Here are the links to the challenges:

Card challenge at Frosted Designs
Layout challenge at Frosted Designs

Check them out! Do the challenges! Remember the name! ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

A card and a challenge!

Wow, can you believe it?! Another scrappy post from me!

After I made my soccer layout the other night, I was in search of a challenge to enter. I'm rarely on my desktop computer, but for some reason, that night I was. I found the link to the Card Patterns challenge blog and decided to jump in!!

Here is the card that I made, using items from my stash. Isn't he the cutest?!



And, in true BFF fashion, I made two cards, one for my bestie:



I'm entering this card in the Card Patterns Challenge! Check 'em out!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

I actually scrapbooked!!

At the first of the year, my best friend and I had all of these good intentions regarding scrapbooking. We decided not to make too many demands on ourselves so that we had less chance of failing right away. You know where this is heading, right?

We started posting challenges to each other on our Facebook pages. One a week, from each of us, so two layouts a week. My challenge to myself was to throw in a card here and there to replenish our stashes. When Sharla and I make cards, we make two; one for each of us. It's just something we do. ;)

Well, I started out good...posted a weekly challenge on her FB page, and she posted to mine. Only, SHE did them, and I did not.

So, I decided to scrapbook tonight! And I didn't use a single challenge we posted to each other. What can you do, right?!

These are some pics I've previously posted of my girls when they were on the same high school soccer team for one season. I love them, and I love watching them play. And I kinda like the layout, too!

Thanks for looking!

Getting caught up and returning to...normal...?

I'm finally getting back into a routine after battling Valentine's Day. I get back on my normal work schedule next week.

This week I've been busy getting my laundry caught up, my house clean, and my pantry/fridge restocked!

Today in Havasu, the weather is gorgeous. Hubby and I took a walk around the island. Or, he ran and I walked (3.7 miles). It felt great! Right now the windows are open and a breeze is blowing!

I've been cooking up my meals for my diet so that I have them on hand and I'm happy that I will be prepared for the coming week so that I don't have any excuses to fall off the wagon!!

I'm itching to get into my scraproom tonight, so hopefully I will have some scrappy goodness to show you soon!!

Hope you're having a wonderful Thursday!

Happy belated Valentine's Day!!

Since starting my job at the flower shop, Valentine's Day has become a bit of a blur for me. 13+ hour days, working on the actual "holiday," aggravation at "last minute men" that call at 6:30pm and want flowers delivered to their girlfriend/spouse. I'm sorry, has Valentine's not been on the SAME. DAY. since forEVAH?!?! Grrr...

But! On a crafty note, I did manage to make some adorable and easy crafts for my home! I've been trying to decorate my home with more items that I've made myself, and this is my contribution to Valentine's Day!



I had the frames that I purchased when I found them on sale. I added the patterned papers to them, and the die cuts, did some embellishing on them and added ribbon! I love them!! :)

I'm linking these up to:



Check them out! Thanks for stopping by, and I'm hoping to keep up with my blog this year!!