Funny little-one-ism's

My youngest daughter is a little-me for sure! I have proof. Yesterday we were at the mall together (Christmas shopping!) and we walked past a new Victoria Secret Pink store. I thought to myself "wow, that's a whole lotta pink!" Not a half-second later I hear "Man, that's a lotta pink!" come right out of her mouth. It's a little scary how much she's like me!

Here's another funny thing she said...not that I think you care...but I want to put it in writing before I forget! :) She was writing her age on a drawing she did so I could put it in her "save box." She turned to me and said "I wish I was 7 AND A HALF! Oh wait, I AM 7-1/2!" I had to laugh. :)

Delight in everything

Haven't found any extra time...but do have another card to share.
Butterflies seem to find their way onto my cards. Not sure why...maybe I just like the look of movement.
I started Christmas shopping yesterday! I think this is the first time I've actually DONE it rather than just THINK about doing it so early. My goal is to be done by Thanksgiving so I can just enjoy December.
Have a great weekend!

"Extra Time"

Sorry...it's been awhile. This summer was crazy busy trying to balance kids home from school and a new job. Of course, now that they're back in school life is still crazy busy. I think I just need to resign myself to the fact that "extra time" doesn't exist!

Here's some artwork. I've been busy creating...just need to get busy posting! My in-laws bought a house in WY where they plan to host guests frequently. I made them a guest-book and treasure box...keeping with the cowboy theme of course!

Update on my court date...I SURVIVED! :) And I didn't even cry. The judge was kind and significantly reduced the fine (couldn't chuck the ticket all together). I got a chance to apologize for my behavior (HUMBLING!) and the neighbor and I ended on a good note. I'm just relieved it's over and I can stop thinking about it!

Big lesson of the summer:

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." ~Prov. 15:1

I need to figure out how to move photos around! I'll do that when I have "extra time!"

I serve with joy

It's funny how something comes up in the day and out of the blue someone sends something that is complete answer to prayer and helps you face that something that comes up with the perfect frame of mind. Confused?
Here's my something. I have to go to court and it's because I initiated it. If you know me, you would be shocked. I STRIVE to not rock the boat. I am most content if we're all just getting along. If I disagree with you I have absolutely NO desire to make you see my point. I like peace.
About 6 weeks ago...on the first (and almost ONLY) sunny day in Seattle I had a run-in with a complete stranger. My daughter was playing in the front yard so I had the front door open so I could hear her from inside the house. The dog went outside and laid in the front yard next to my daughter. My bad...no leash...no fence...we live in the city. A man was running on the sidewalk and startled the dog, who reacted by barking. The man yelled at my daughter. I came running outside as soon as I heard the dog bark. I grabbed the dog (who stuck her tail between her legs and laid down next to me). The stranger continued to yell so my momma bear tendencies kicked in and I yelled back. NOT my finest moment. He continued to yell, I yelled, blah, blah, blah.
Then the animal control officer showed up at my house about a week later to give me a ticket. $50 for no leash; $350 for owning a menacing dog. WHAT?! The only menacing thing was the strange man yelling at a child and me yelling back. In fact, I came across a sign a few days back that read "Forget the dog, beware the owner!" and thought about buying it! :)
So I'm fighting the malicious dog ticket. Just saying that makes me get butterflies in my stomach!
Today the court date notification came in the mail...which makes it real and made me get nervous all over again. When I first received the ticket and was considering my options I was completely nervous until a sense of calm just filled my heart. I know it's right to fight the ticket...not because I may "get out of it," but because I'm learning how to be bold and not shrink from the situation (or at least I'll learn SOMETHING from this!).

That's a long way of getting to the point. Out of the blue (I wonder if God laughs at that phrase?) I received an email with a link to a wonderful speech given by a christian woman who has terminal cancer. Her speech was at a women's event (the audience was not all christian) and it was incredible!
If you have 55 minutes and want to be encouraged, stretched, filled, etc...watch this:
http://deathisnotdying.com/eventvideo/

I pray it touches your heart...if nothing else it will explain the title to my post!
--Tammy

Ice skating is heaven

If I wait one more day I will have posted once a month! Not so good.

My youngest turned 7 this month...due to scheduling and events she had 3 birthday parties. Talk about celebrating ALL month long...this is a good thing when you're 7!

Here are the invitations I made for her "school friends party." She had her heart set on ice-skating. Thank God for indoor rinks. The card doesn't open, but has a pocket on the front where we slipped in a card with all of the party information.

Unbalanced

It's been forever since I posted. This was my biggest obstacle in deciding to start a blog...that it would sit unvisited by myself and therefore anyone else. And then THAT would sit over me like a dark raincloud whispering "you're ignoring me again!"
But we keep on right?!
Life is seriously lacking balance right now...but it's been a wild and fun roller coaster ride the last month! I'm SLOWLY getting into a routine with working a part-time job outside of the house as well as balance kids, husband, and life at home. DH has started a new job this week and is loving it. Amazing the doors God can open when we just rest in Him and stop trying so hard on our own accord!

I have actually had a few minutes to be creative! Working on photos so I can post...

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter! He has risen indeed!

It's off to work I go!

Started a new job this week. Thankfully it's only part-time and won't affect being able to take care of my girls. Although it certainly cuts into any creative time I ever had!
After spending an hour with HR (left my head spinning...who knew I had to make so many decisions and fill out so many forms for a 20-hour job!) and 3 hours with the person I'm replacing I came home, took some headache medicine and laid down! :) I'm starting to think work is for the birds.
This job isn't something I went looking for...kind of just fell into my lap. I've been involved on a volunteer basis with the children's ministries at my church for about 10 years. There are a few management/director/coordinator type positions that are paid, but I was happy to volunteer as a worker bee. The coordinator for the nursery age (0-3) decided to leave and recommended me. They approached...I said "ummmmmmmmmmmm...." and prayed about it for about 3 weeks. Finally decided it was where God wanted me and who am I to say no to that?! So the last 2 weeks have been interesting...the day I said yes my family got sick, including me. I haven't been sick for ages (knock on wood we are one of the healthiest families I know...don't ask me how, just blessed!). It wasn't just a cold with sniffles...full blown fevers and vomiting. In the middle of that I was REALLY asking myself what the heck I was doing committing to a job when I have a full-time job at home being a mom. ANYWAY....long story short....it was a week of wrestling with God. I'm happy to say we all came out better for it and I think this job will be fun...as soon as I figure out what in the world I'm doing!

so WOW!

This is NOT my artwork. But I found it while blog-surfing and am SO WOW! You have got to go to this blog and check out Elaine's "magic boxes." They are beautiful and so cool! I bookmarked it for "some day" when I'll attempt making one of my own. It sure would make for a neat conversation piece sitting on a coffee table...or a very interesting wall hanging...or try hanging it on the ceiling. Oh goodness...fever induced rambling...must go lie down!

I have spent the last few days lying low nursing a fever that I just can't shake. Not bad enough to sleep all day, but not good enough to accomplish much other than blog surfing.

Happy Monday!

Click here to see Elaine's boxes...you'll be amazed and inspired!

Favorite photos

We went snow camping this week. The girls are out of school and we have some adventure-loving friends that invited us. For those that know me I'm sure you fell out of your chair when you read that I went snow camping. Yup, and I even LOVED every minute of it (but don't tell my husband or the friend)! Of course, being in a cabin with a wood stove certainly helped!
It was at a place called Scottish Lakes near Stevens Pass in Washington...highly recommend it!
I was just reading another blog and the author was doing "leading lines" photographs. It totally made me think of a photo I took while we were camping. Wanted to share it with you (the bottom photo...shared the others just because I like them).

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Bad acrylic!

A few people have asked me why their new acrylic stamps don't stamp evenly. Remember that acrylic stamps are coated in the creating process. This coating resists the ink, but it's really easy to "fix" it using nothing more than an eraser.
Simply rub an eraser over your new stamp, pat it into your ink (I find that patting works better than rubbing), and stamp it off a few times. Now your stamp should be good to go!
Another HUGE help is to use the cushion that is included in all CTMH stamp sets. If you don't have a cushion, use a few sheets of cardstock, or a notepad, or a cutting mat, or...

To read a great explanation about "seasoning" your new acrylic stamps, click here. A huge thanks to Heather Nichols...don't know her, but she has an awesome blog that I stalk! :)

Montana...or bust

Quick funny kid conversation...The girls and I were talking about where we would want to go on vacation. I think the grey Seattle winter is getting to us! We were talking about France and Italy and Turkey (oldest refuses to go to Turkey because "it's so dangerous"...she's danger-phobic!). Went from big talk about Europe to "hey! I'd rather go to Montana!" WHAT?!?! How do you get from sitting on the beach in Italy to Montana?! Apparently they're missing their "cousins" who moved there a few years ago. Yes, Grevious...we miss you enough to skip Italy and go to Montana!

Love you more than...

Every night when I tuck my kids into bed, rather than just saying "I love you" we say "I love you more than......" I usually fill in the blank with "dark chocolate" or "sunshine" or "the beach." They usually fill in the blank with "playing video games" or "stuffed animals." The best part is when I say something and their eyes get huge because I found something really good to fill in the blank!

For Valentine's Day I made a little wall-hanging for their rooms. I included a little mirror because what little girl doesn't need a mirror for putting on lipstick (of course our lipstick is really Coca-cola flavored chapstick...you would think they had died and gone to heaven!).

Now if I could figure out how to add more photos and put them where I want them.....

Most materials used are from Close To My Heart...paper is Life Delights and Emporium

ribbons are American Crafts (all purchased at Jo-Anns)

More Sympathy

Like I said yesterday, I serve on the Memorials Committee at our church and one of our "jobs" is to send sympathy cards when the situation warrants. Here's version #2. I think I saw Lauren Meader use the technique that I used for the butterfly...stamp it, then stamp it again and cut one out. Use pop-dots to adhere the cut-out over the original stamp. Especially love it with butterflies!

CS: CTMH Creme Brulee, CTMH Black, CTMH Sorbet, CTMH Colonial White

Paper: CTMH Evensong

Stamps: CTMH Celebrate Life

Ribbon: black sheer (Jo-ann's?)

Praying for love

At our church I serve on the Memorials Committee. One of our "jobs" is to send out sympathy cards. So here's one I made for that purpose. Printed the sentiment on my computer. All materials are Close To My Heart.
Hope you are having a great day! We're experiencing rain/sleet/snow. The dog LOVES it!

Put on the brakes!

Who knew my first post would actually be artwork?!

I originally started this blog so I could update long-distance relatives with family-happenings. But have never stopped long enough to do it.

But when Nichole threw out a contest to win PTI product...put on the brakes! :)

So here's my submission for day #6. Cross your fingers she picks me!