A Christmas Wish

How about a little wish for some Christmas snow..
Now wouldn't that be nice? I don't remember the last time it was at least 50 degrees at Christmas.

I made these cards I think a little before Halloween. For the falling snow I used stickles instead of glitter, I think the color is called Stardust. I absolutely love stickles, almost as much as I love Martha Stewart's fine glitter. She has THE BEST glitter!! Oh, I did use Martha Stewart glitter for the snow on the ground. The snowman figures were purchased last year from Walmart during their 75% off holiday merchandise. The snowmen above are actually dimensional..I really should have taken a side picture of that detail.

These were very simple cards that I think turned out really cute. I think I may make more of these in a variety of colors and just maybe they will be the cards I send out this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Being or feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life should not only come to you once a year, as does Thanksgiving day. Feeling, showing, having gratitude should be a part of your every day. As each day come and go, there should be something new that you are thankful for. Everyday that you awake is another day of Thanks and Giving. We ought not only think of the hungry and the homeless during the holidays, for they are hungry everyday. I have never understood why most of us only think of the needy during the holidays and not everyday. We usually only give during this time and this makes us feel so good inside..at THIS time. But what about the rest of the year. Dont you think the same people would to be thought of through out the rest of the year?

We should show our appreciation to others as often as we can, not just during the holidays. Everyone likes to be appreciated. On your job, you are doing the best job you can. Now how would it feel to have the CEO of your company to just say "Thank You for all you do". Just a little gratitude goes a long way. That same gratitude is what we should have and share with others everyday. Being thankful for ALL you have been blessed with..that's a everyday task, not a holiday task. Also, being blessed goes further than wearing the most expensive attire, owning a fancy dancy car or the largest home on the block. Not saying it's not a blessing to be financially comfortable. But, being truly blessed goes a lot deeper than the material things of this world. There is so much more to our lives that we should be thankful for. If I had a sheet of paper to write down all that I'm thankful for, it wouldn't be enough..paper or ink:)

So, in the mist of our "Thanksgiving" Celebration, let's all remember to continue to be Thankful and Giving year round.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup." Sam Lefkowitz

EBTKC-Card Challenge

I was SUPPOSE to be submitting my card creation to EBTKS.

The sketch: My take on this sketch:

This sketch is so fun right?! And above all else, it would rock to win a $25.00 gift card for Two Peas in a Bucket. But I won't be in the running being that I got the days mixed up and missed the deadline.

I am so envisioning Valentine's Day cards with this sketch.
My mind is already on spring cards, like Valentines day and Easter. I realize we have not celebrated Thanksgiving yet, but it's always good to be a few steps ahead.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, have you gotten all of your menu shopping done? As for me, I have not. Due to the type of food we are having, some items on my list is best purchased today for freshness. Our Thanksgiving this year will be TOTALLY un-traditional. Usually we host Thanksgiving each year at our home. This year my cousin wanted to have everyone over for Thanksgiving at his home in Georgia. I thought this would be a nice change, I wouldn't have to do dishes *wink wink* lol. Well, Karohn had to work so we decided we should stay home with him instead of everyone being in Georgia having fun and leaving him here to eat turkey sandwiches. So the hubster and the kids devised a meal I couldn't refuse.

The Menu: Grilled Talapia w/corn and blk bean salsa with a cilantro chipotle sauce, cajun steamed crab legs, lobster tail, sauteed shrimp, california blend vegetables, rice pilaf, mini sweet potato pies and pecan tassies. We were going to have a spice cake and the sweet potato pies but the cake got the boot.

So, what's on your menu?

The Odd Crafter

One evening about a month ago while washing dishes, I noticed my dishwashing liquid bottle was almost empty. I usually keep a larger bottle under the sink and just refill a small or medium bottle a couple times. Well, this time I just kept looking at the bottle thinking that looks like something, just can't figure out what. Then it hit me..the bottle sorta looks like a dress form. I couldn't wait to finish using the liquid in the bottle. lol

Once it was gone, I rinsed it out really good and started really thinking on how I was going to transform the bottle. After a trip to the grocery store and my local craft store to pick up the items I figured I needed. A decorative dress form was made.

Tell me, what do you think?

For this I used a wooden dowel, a wooden craft knob with a hollow center and flat bottom as the stand, rice (that inadvertently got left out), acrylic paint, craft paper, ribbons and hot glue.

Now realize there are plenty of flaws, but this was my first trial at this wacky thought. I had intentions of covering the cap portion of the bottle with a round wooden knob. Well, I could not find one with a hole large enough to cover that entire portion. So on my next one (yes, there will be more:) I will not use the bottle top at all. I will only use the knob and the dowel.

Actually the next dress form I make of the bottle will be a pin cushion. I have already drawn up a pattern shape, I just need to make a trip to the fabric store for more fat quarters being that my stash is low.

I plan on making a couple more of these. I think it makes for inexpensive decor for my studio, as you know a basic metal decorative dress form cost about $20.00. This, I think, is cute and serves the same purpose for less money:)

Well that's it for me..until next time.

Happy Crafting

My First Challenge..WOOHOO!!

I have decided to start taking part of challenges..card challenges that is. My first challenge is with Card Patterns, Sketch 42

This is the sketch:

My take on the sketch:

I am sooo nervous about people seeing my work. It's not so much a matter of winning anything, it's just the notion of taking a live part of the fun...but a prize here or there wouldn't hurt *smile*. I have just been enjoying the challenges silently, making cards and having my husband be the judge, lol. I really love this sketch, I will be making more cards using this sketch soon. And I have got to do better with my picture taking. I don't do well with indoor pictures for some reason.

Next, I went painting with Adrienne last week, had SOOO much fun. You know I love to paint. We talked and laughed so much it's a wonder anyone got something completed. There were so many options to choose from, I know it took us a good 30-45 min to choose an item. I know I will be making many more trips to DIY:)

This is what I painted. I can not wait to pick up my cup/saucer on Friday! I absolutely love it. You know I love love love latte's, teas and coffee, so my cup will be WELL used. Actually, the kids..well Karohn and Aaron (can't call Karohn a kid anymore) will go with me on Friday and they will paint something then if the weather permits, we will go to the Botanical Gardens to take pictures.

And last...these cupcakes right here>>>

SLAP.YO.MOMMA!! These were so so good. I had these Saturday at..yup..Adrienne's house. They were so good I think she got nervous from all the icing. Ahem...shhh..listen: she snuck in the kitchen to ice the cupcakes and ended up eating a lot of the leftover icing..wondering why she had gotten so quiet..LOL. Don't tell her I told you!

I had to have the recipe to make at home. My folk couldn't wait for them to come out of the oven, you would think I had to bake them for 10 hours. After the cupcakes were done, they wouldn't give them a chance to cool, I had to put icing on them so they could taste. And the verdict was...

Two thumbs (in a silly way) and a wavy hand, mmm yeah Aaron didn't like the toffee bits in the cake part. But he loved the icing. So he has asked me to make them again and leave out the toffee for him. Don couldn't stop licking his thumb and I'm sure Karohn ate the rest of them this morning. College age child+Boy=No Food is Safe in Their Presence.

That's it for now. Happy Crafting:)

Christmas

Christmas. As much as I love the Thanksgiving holiday, I have been trying to take out Christmas decor since October. I have no clue why I am so anxious to decorate for Christmas so early. This year will be the first year I have decorated since my brother passed. And surprisnly enough I can't wait. It's not so much that I have forgotten him, I will never forget my baby. I love him so much. There are times that I still just cry at the thought of him, from looking at his pictures. Sometimes I can almost feel his warm hugs, he had the most heartfelt hug and a smile that would make you give him one in return. He was the biggest giver, even when he didn't have it to give he would give it (that was a matter we use to fuss about). But he couldn't help his self, that's how he was. What sometimes hurt the most is when we have our Sunday dinners and he is not there. It's like a void...it hurts to talk about him and say, "Keith USED to, he WAS, or he DID..past tense words hurt bad. But I realize he would not want me to continue being sad, but a part of me always feel like I let him down. See, I had intentions of popping up at his apartment the night that he died. So, somehow in my mind I feel had I followed my first mind and gone, he may still be alive now. But then again, he could have suffered his heart attack after I left. I don't blame myself, I just wish I had gone to see him that night. Wasn't like he was sick, I just wanted to do something different..instead, I stayed home to shampoo my hair and prepare for this day long meeting with our Atlanta office. One thing I can say, I am so proud that my parents raised us with plenty of L.O.V.E. There is no question Keith knew we/I loved him. So that I am firm on..he knew he was well loved and he gave plenty love. Sometimes I cry a selfish cry because I hate he didn't get to see Karohn play his senior year of football then graduate. He didn't get to see him go off to college (he would have been so thrilled). He won't be able to see Aaron (peanut as Keith called him) progress. See I call that selfish because he won't get to see his two kids do these things either..he never got the opportunity to see KJ the son he wanted so badly.

After all that has been said, I know my brother was a good man and I thank God for the time he allowed us to be a part of each others lives on earth.

*Now, I had no intentions of going that route with this post. But it happened. I will post my "intended" blog later.

Something is better than nothing

This soup was soooo good. Thanks to the Hubster (you did great dude). It's called collard green soup. Everyone that really know me know I love a good soup, I eat soup in every season. But when he first told me he wanted to prepare this new recipe he had, I though "NO THANKS MISTER". But who am I to burst his hopes of a new and delish recipe, right. So off the the store we go.

While he was cooking I decided to go to my little studio to make something, kinda trying to be outta sight outta mind. Well, he brought the soup to me when it was done. I was scared at first, but it was so light and very very good. So if you like, I will share the recipe later..lol

Here is a card I made (sorry for the crappy phone pic). Now you would think that I made this simple card during the spring. Ohhh but no, the roses you see along with the card was just cut/made last week. This Alabama weather has my rose bush confused. I sure hope next spring it produce as many roses as it did this year.

The next pic is a sneak peek of something almost complete. It's really funny how I came up with this idea but I do plan on submitting this..a full pic and the story behind this later.

And last but of course NO. 1..my favorite skateboarder and the college kid.. I have really gotta get my baby some more skateboards. This one has almost had it..the other one is just UNskateable. This skateboard goes everywhere we go.

Somebody please tell my why they were playing with this huge snake in class..zero business to do with Sports Medicine Therapy. And realize it took two or more people to hold this thing...

I'm OUT! See something posted was better than nothing...Adrienne:)