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Friday, July 30, 2010

Thank you all for your supportive comments and emails! I have been having MASSIVE computer issues today...

Thank you all for all of your emails and comments about my Kristin.  It's so nice to hear from you all with your advice and prayers. 

I am getting my kids this weekend, and Kristin and I will surely try to spend some quality time together as I know she needs that.

My email and computer have been acting up allllll day and I am sorry that I have not been able to get back with some of you, I will be continuing to work on this throughout the weekend periodically to get it back on track.

God Bless you all and I am taking ALL of your advice and comments to heart!  I will let you know how the weekend went on Sunday.

Take Care!





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Thursday, July 29, 2010

My daughter is hurting and I don't know what to do










This is my daughter Kristin, she is 16 years old and part of my world, my life, my everything.  She contacted me at 2 AM this morning and was/is very upset.  I know that teenagers go through rough spots, as I did and I'm sure we all did growing up.  I mean let's face it, being a teenager at any time period or generation is not always a picnic. 

Kristin has been going through her rough time now for months and I am beyond worried for her.  I just ache when I hear her cry or sad.  My heart just breaks for her and her pain that she's going through.  As a mom I want to protect my kids from anything that can go wrong in their lives, but it just seems that its one thing after another with her that she goes through.  I know she is suffering from depression and I know from personal experience that its so hard to get out of the pit once you're deep into it.  I have given Kristin all my advice on what I have done and lived through as to try and help her and talked to her hours on end and it seems that she's just not the same happy, strong-willed, silly, and determined girl I knew a year ago. 

I have talked to her dad who has custody of her and my son Kevin about this and he almost refuses to see that she needs some type of professional help at this point.  I do not want to go into some of the ugly details that surround my worry with her, as I do not want to embarrass her.  I just know that something has to be done here and my hands are tied.  Being the non-custodial parent leaves me with nothing but advice to my ex-husband which 99% of the time goes unheard.  He merely thinks that Kristin is lazy and doesn't care about anything.  He is so hard-headed and it makes me so angry that I cannot get through to him the seriousness of the current situation with our girl.

Kristin and I are very close, closer than anyone and I love that she can talk to me about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that goes on in her life.  We have such an open door relationship and she knows that I'm always here for her.  But one day I am afraid that just won't be enough.  I'm afraid that day is quickly coming, and I am scared to death for her and what could be.

I just wanted to write alittle about this in the hopes that someone out there would have some new advice for me or that you can say a prayer for my baby girl who is so lost now in life.

Thanks and take care!


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New camera, new shoes, and new book!

Well I don't know if you all know this about me but I am diabetic and as for most diabetics care of the feet is very important.  I have been having problems with my feet now for a couple years.  I had plantar faciitis in both feet which resulted in 3 new types of surgeries and then finally an old fashioned "go in and cut" surgery last year on my left foot.  Well the pain in my feet was temporarily absent for all of about 2 months.  Then I had a new type of pain...arthitis in both feet...ouch!  So my Dr. suggested that I get these snazzy new shoes.  I have been waiting for 2 months now to get them.  I was fitted over a month ago, but had to wait nearly a month to even do that!
The man I met with over a month ago sized my feet and made an impression of both feet for the inserts as well as the shoes.  I get there today to get them and they had me a pair of size 8 shoes!  I haven't worn a size 8 since my son was born and he's 18 now!  So thankfully they had a pair in my size after trying on 8 1/2, then 9 and finally a size 10, which embarrasingly I normally wear. 
So here is my new orthopedic shoes with the inserts that will HOPEFULLY make it easier for me to walk in and not be in massive pain when I do.

They don't look that bad, I mean they are a little bit bigger than the average gym shoe, but I will do whatever I need to do in order to not be in pain. 

I also belong to a group called Paperbackswap.com and it is a place where you swap books to one another.  I received a book from a friend of mine, Sherry, and I started reading it last night.  I love this book so far!  It is called "Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self"  I went out on my balcony tonight as it wasn't to hot or muggy, and read over 50 pages!  That's a lot for me in one sitting considering that I think of myself as the worlds slowest reader, lol.

This book talks about finding out who you really are and findind your "authentic self".  In it is has exercises that will help one to do this.  I am very excited about reading this.







I also wanted to share with you my latest new "toy" that I received last week in the mail.  It's a new camera that I have been wanting for a while and it finally came!  It's the Kodak Easy Share Z981 Digital Camera.











This camera is so easy that is has an idiot button on it for all the different programs it offers for easy reference.  I just love it and cannot wait to really get out there and take some dazzeling pictures of everything and everyone!  I just need to get a nice case now for it.  But I love it so far and its not a disappointment at all! 
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Christmas Cards!!!

The other night I started to work on some Christmas cards and I just LOVE making Christmas cards!  These are a few of the ones that I have completed.


This card is called Christmas House and I just love how it turned out.  I don't know if you can see the stickles surrounding the house or not.  It was used to give it a snowy effect.



This card is entitled Season's Greetings and I decided to use non-traditional colors of pink and green together.  I think it turned out quite nicely.  The "Season's Greetings" is a rub on on the pink ribbon.


And last but not least, my Wonderful Time card. This card is pretty simple, but I thought on this card that less is more.

Christmas for me has such sentimental value.  It to me is a time for family to get closer even if only for a few days during the holiday season, it just gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling all over.  I have a new boyfriend who I look forward to spending these times with for years to come and creating new traditions with.  Christmas has always been a time of giving for me, I would rather than give than receive.  Perhaps that's selfish of me but I love to see the look on someones face when they open their gift/card and know they are thought of in a special way.
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Sunday, July 25, 2010

Baby Shower Invitations Completed and Were a Hit!

Well I have finished the baby shower invitations, delivered them and they were a hit!  Angela and her mom loved them to death!  I am so pleased with that!  They even said they liked them better than the professional invites that they had. When it came time to pay me they asked how much, I told them and they insisted on giving me more than I asked for...!

Here are the pictures of them...the front of the invite has vellum over it and this may be why it's hard to see on here.



The green and pink butterflies are heat embossed and the flower to the bottom left; all of that is dry embossed and painted in.


This has a butterfly that I created on my Sizzix Big Shot



I hope you like these as well, I just know that I am very pleased that she likes them so much.
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Saturday, July 24, 2010

CKC Scrapbook Convention - Cincinnati

I have signed up for a couple of classes this year for the CKC Scrapbook Convention here in Cincinnati, Ohio.  This will be my first convention that I will be attending, and I am really excited about it.  I have signed up for Boxer Palooza 2010 and this is a lecture style class where over 40 new techniques will be discussed, as well as a chance to receive some new product!  I have also opted to take a class on cards.  I want to see what new techniques are out there that I have yet to try/learn so that I can create some more beautiful cards.

I will also try to contain myself for when it comes time to shop around at the convention ~help!~ LoL!  I will have to save up some money for this event I can tell you that now.

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Friday, July 23, 2010

I went to the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival!!!

Wednesday July 21st we went to the Mayhem Festival. Here are some pictures that I took. 
Rob Zombie walked RIGHT in front of me and it was great!  He looked good! :)  Tami got his autograph as well.

Rain pelted us all day though but it didnt matter to us, we still had a great time even though we were soaked literally head to toe.



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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Today I attended Lake Waynoka Day in Sardinia, Ohio.  I had a table there displaying my cards & scrapbook.  While I was there to sell cards, my main intention was to get the word out about who I am and what it is that I love to do.  I met some very nice people who one of them is on the Lake Waynoka committee (I believe this is what she said), and she took my business card and invited me to their big craft show in Oct.  Very excited about this because she said Lake Waynoka advertises a lot for this event.  Over 400 people usually come to the craft show I was also told by her!!! Wow!  So I will be keeping you up to date on this newly added event!

Cards on coming to me for the two charities from the wonderful ladies of the PBS_Swappers.  I will be shipping out the cards to Operation Write Home and Amy's Angels in about 3 weeks.  I'm so happy to be a part of this!  This is all working out perfect.

I just wanted to write a little bit and let you know how today went at the craft show.  More later!


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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Decided On Theme For My First ATC's

I was looking all over the Internet at ideas and themes for ATC's, and there ARE MANY!  I thought I would like to do something sort of easy since this is my first attempt at making ATC's.  Colors!  Of course, why hadn't I thought of that a couple weeks ago?! 
So I had color in my head but how was I going to incorporate that it into a real theme. Well, I was looking around for something to store my the blank ATC cards I have and when I came to this little metal box I've had for years, I knew I had found a theme because inside was a color chart for Chakras!
~My Little Stars & Moon Tin~
~The Colour Energy Chart I Found Inside~

Google images was a lifesaver for this project in the works, because I came across the symbols for each color!  How perfect!
~My Work In Progress Red Chakra #1~
~My Work In Progress Red Chakra #2~

What I am doing to create at least the red chakra is taking vellum and my handy light box  to trace the symbol onto the vellum, then I used red Stickles to fill in the areas needed.  The vellum will then be cut out and placed on the card as will the rest of what I decide to do with it, when I have completed it to my liking. 
I am hardly anywhere near finished with this ATC obviously but I will post my progress as I continue with this project.

Thank you for taking a look today, more to follow soon.




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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

A Photo A Day ~This is my own personal Challenge~

One thing that I have been really wanting to do is A Photo A Day Scrapbook.  So here goes nothing, right?  I have everything that I need, including "A Photo A Day" stamp set.  I am going to not just take pics of myself, but of EVERYTHING.  My apartment, my kitties, the scenic view from my balcony of they night/day sky.  I want this to be something that I can look back onto and see how things and I have changed in a year from now.  I will be posting pictures of this as it progresses. Probably once a week, or everyday. I never know from day to day what I will be working on. 
So I want to welcome you into this little venture of mine and let me know what you think.  Have you ever created a photo a day journal?  If so, any tips? 


Monday, July 12, 2010

It's Christmas in July!!!

Today I am going to start working on Christmas cards to get ready to send out to "Operation Write Home".  I will post pics later on to show you what I have created.

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Friday, July 9, 2010

Advice needed on ATC's, plus more information on new charity we are joining forces with, and more cards of course!

I bet you're wondering "what's with all the congratulation cards?", well let me tell you. The yahoo group I belong to is having a card swap and this particular swap calls for a congratulation card. So that is why I have been posting so many new "Congrats" and "Congratulations" cards. I have had a blast making them. I cannot wait to see what the other's in the group send out. I am sure they are gorgeous :)

The other cards are for general and hopefully I will be able to sell some at next weekend's event in Sardinia, Ohio.

I am going to also start working on more Christmas cards for a little bit as well as cards "for him" so that I can get them ready to send out to Dixie who is part of the organization "Operation Write Home".

The PBS_Swappers {the yahoo group I belong to} has also join in helping out one more organization; "Cards by Amy's Angels". There is a link to their website here on my blog. This organization sends out handmade greetings to cancer patients as well as their care-takers all over the world. So you will also be seeing a lot more "thinking of you" and "get well" cards posted here as well as I get them ready to send to my contact there.

I am so happy to now be a part of these two great charities. Doing for others, no matter how small is really a great feeling I'm learning. I am also going to start working on something new myself that I have never tried before. ATC's {Artist Trading Cards}. I have browsed the web and found a lot of good articles out there on the subject, but I will admit, I am nervous about trying them. Oh I'm going to do it, that's not the problem, I just still would like some advice on how to really go about making them. Some advice for beginners from anyone of you would be GREATLY appreciated! :) I've got the supplies, that being the blank cards themselves. Other than that, I'm at a loss. So HELP!

Why am I wanting to do this all of the sudden? Well what honestly prompted me was that the PBS_Swappers are having an ATC swap soon and I really want to take part. The other reason is because I do not want to limit myself to JUST greeting cards & scrapbooking. I want to continually learn and be challenged. I have seen some ATC's and WoW, I certainly have my work cut out for me. What I am really struggling with is the topic to create about. I have so many idea's running through my head and still nothing sticks for very long before I think "Yea I could do that theme instead". So if you have some theme ideas for me that would be excellent!

Smiles!
Christy