long time

No real excuses for my disappearance in life and in blog world. Been busy, distracted, frustrated, locked up, wound up, moody, sad, and a gamut of other emotions. Trying to find my way back into the world seems such a simple concept, but oh how that is so different for me.

ANYWAYS....

I did make it in to Scrappers Boutique for a Friday night crop a few weeks back and accomplished several layouts.

Checking In

Here are a couple recent layouts I've been working on. Hopefully this coming week will be more productive. I'm behind on my "A Year in the Life of an Art Journal"...so I'm hoping to spend some quality quiet time this weekend catching up.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend...

Time Flies

I can hardly believe it's been an entire month since I blogged. I have been sick twice and that sucked the wind right out of me for quite sometime. Surviving on Gatorade for 13 days was not the best.

I am finally back crafting again...I will have some things to post of the next couple days.

Yesterday I had a bit of fun, I went and got a new tattoo adding to my sleeve in progress.

This isn't the best of photo's but here she is in all her glory

Few new things

I've been hanging out over a Tally Scrappers, it's under new management, PINKY!!
Anyways, here are a couple things I've made in the past week.

* This last one is a page in an art journal I'm keeping this year.

Welcome BLOG HOPPERS!

Welcome to day #3 for the Lollipop Press Blog Hop!

You should have arrived to my blog from Joanne's if that is not where you arrived from, then please join us at the Lollipop Press Blog to start the hop from the beginning so you don't miss a thing!

During this fun Blog Hop our Designers have a lot to offer along with projects that they have made using the Chic & Shabby and Woodland Winter lines from Lollipop Press.All week long pieces to a digi kit will be offered at our DT blogs, check us out everyday to see who's got the next piece. Today, I've got one for you just download and add to your collection.

To add to the fun, many of our Designer's are offering up some fun RAKS on their blogs. Just follow the hop and you'll find everything you need!At the end Lollipop Press will be giving away a grand prize!To enter you must do the following:Become a follower of Lollipop Pressand comment at least once on each blog.You have until Sat. Jan 22 to leave all your comments to be entered to win the Grand Prize.We'll draw the winners of the prizes and announce them on Monday Jan. 24

Happy New Year to you and yours and thank you again for joining us for the Lollipop Press Blog Hop, your next stop on the hop is Jodi! If you get lost along the way - Go to the LP blog for the master list!

a normal day

I spent Tuesday at the Scrapper's Boutique, just like old times.

Surrounded by good friends, it felt nice to be there again. It's almost like my Cheers for Norm.

"where everybody know your name"

I had a pretty productive day. Finished the cover to an art journal of sorts..lol

*using a 10x10 piece of partially peeled cardboard, painted with silver and embellished with a few stones. I hand drew and hand cut/layered the font.

..and 2 entire layouts

I look forward to my next opportunity to craft some more!

A little something

Well, this is the most creative thing I've done in 2011 so far. I made a new line for my Starbucks mug where you can personalize the inserts. I did it up for Valentines...I feel cheery each time I see it.

Today I'm off to the Scrapper's Boutique to have some fun and get some ideas out of my head and onto some paper! I'm looking forward to posting some new things soon, not that the holiday season has passed.

Have I mentioned my oldest baby daughter will be 17 in just 2weeks...this is sending earthquakes throughout my mind. This school year is 1/2 over and only one more year of her as a high school student, my mind can hardly comprehend it!

it is what it is

Reality bites sometimes, often it isn't pretty

This year I plan to be more honest in my scrapping. I feel led to show the realness of life. It isn't always pretty but it's our life the same. I don't feel like I can scrap pretty pages with only smiles any longer. There is alot of crummy stuff we deal with and I'm led to include some of that in my story/albums. We learn from hard times & mistakes. Sometimes we learn from others. Maybe we can learn something from each other this year.

It's be 15 days since I attempted suicide

for the 2nd time in 6 months

I spent 3days in ICU, 6 days in treatment &

I'm 7days out of the hospitals locked-down unit

that's my reality today.

And if you and I are REAL friends, none of that will matter.

Back to our regularly scheduled something

I'd like to report Ivy is MUCH better. It took 2 trips to 2 different hospitals be we got the meds. she needed, she returned to school Monday and is very happy to be feeling better.

So much has happened in such a small space of time...I taught my 2nd class at Scrappers Boutique. I got a cute new little car. I'm working on some fun things for the new year and coming seasons. I also had a digital layout I made for Lollipop Press picked up by a magazine. (I'll be posting it Jan 15 - so be sure to come back and check it out!)

Cards & a lil prayers please ;)

Just a few more stamping pretties to share with you today...I seem to have found my forgotten love for stamping!!!

Yesterday was unespectedly busy, if you a praying kind of person, say a little one for my youngest Ivy. She's had migraines for years, but recently had one for over 5days and it's not in the typical region migraines take place. I took her for a head catscan yesterday and we are awaiting results.

I wish you all well, much love....Angie P.

Stamping fun

Finally had a little crafting time this weekend. These 2 cards were alot of fun to make.

The first is from My Favorite Things. This cute little princess would be great for cards, invitations or even gift wrap and tags.

This cute little lamb was alot of fun to make also. This stamp was from the Cat's Pajamas. It's another versatile stamp, fun for winter or several other occasions with it's several sentiments to select from in the set.

I used BoBunny paper on both cards from the line of A gift of love. Copics for coloring, Maya Road embellishments.

Back on track

Yesterday was more in line for a "traditional" December Daily. My youngest sweet daughter made a batch of chocolate chip cookies for my husband and I, when we returned for some Christmas shopping! (I won't go into details on what they tasted like as you will tell from the photos it was the THOUGHT that counted.)

That same child has anxiously been waiting to put up the tree, she put it all together by herself (with a short delay of "find the burnt out bulb). She did a fabulous job and it was such a nice help for her to do it all for me! I typically do it all by myself...and well as usual my husband does this...

Told ya this was a reality

Ok yesterdays December Daily was quite unorthodoxed...lol! We spent 6hours at our favorite tattoo shop getting some work done on my hubby. I had planned to get something also, but it took so long I was already an hour late for a crop..lol

Before

After

He already had the shark, but it need much love after 8-9years. The finished product looks awesome.

December Daily - #2

Well, today went much better. I decided to take my girls to the local Parade of lights. They were excited to go and I let them each bring a friend.

We arrived about 30minutes early. Got great seats, brought some snacks, lots of coats for bundling and it was a much better scene for my Dec. Daily day 2!!!!

Afterwards we stopped for drinks. Most of us got hot coffee or chocolate...but of course the younger girls got slurpees...cr@zy kids!

Your gonna love this...

So it's time for the "big reveal" of what I've been working on for my new design team position for Lollipop Press! The December line is fabulous and versatile enough to be used for many holiday layouts.

The line is appropriately named "Santa Baby". I love the vibrant colors and cute plethora of elements in this kit. Here is my first (of many) layout using these darling images.

December Daily - reality style

Well, my album was all made in advance (I will take pics and post tomorrow). I was so excited yesterday to do our 1st "Event" for it....then all hell broke loose.

I found my Alice in Wonderland album (the one that cost me $65 to make) with a ranch dip lid on top of it...ruining an entire page. The child responsible went into a tirade first crying and by the time it was over telling me she hated me...lol!

There was no soda for my sweet husbands to pack in his lunch - heck, there was no meal either. I'll be honest...I got busy playing with friends and totally forgot to cook him something.

Child #2 had to work...so I felt bad to leave her out of the nights event, but in hindsight, she was probably the lucky one - haha!

We did eventually all calm down and around 9pm got the Advent stockings stuffed (by me) and all hung. This year Ivy will be odd numbers and Katie will be even.

Mid-week update

It's been a struggle to blog lately. I am neck deep in projects, but most I can't post because

1) they are Christmas presents (and those people read my blog)

OR

2) they are for a design team and I can't release them yet.

I look at my blog each day wanting to post my pretties and end up in frustration...lol.

Here are a couple digital layouts I can post, from the Lollipop Press.

I'm proud to announce I was selected to be part of their design team!

Teacher - Student - Cropper

This morning I am teaching a class for Scrapper's Boutique. It is called Page Candy...Flowers.

It is all about learning different techniques, making 5 flowers & students will leave with handouts that include both written and photo instructions to recreate these projects for their layouts, presents, cards and more!

Then I will become the student taking Copic 2 class from our own Jen Del Muro. This class focuses more on 3-4 color blending ...I'm super excited! I just love my Copics.

Then saving the best for last...I'm cropping tonight from 5-12am. Working on getting lots of Christmas presents done!

Friends

You KNOW we are friends when I spend my evening making you polymer clay mice for a Christmas project your making...LOL!

Dear Sweet Lynn - these are for you.

...on to my next project ;)

Productive weekend

I've attended 2 crops in 48hours this weekend. Both were productive and fun.

The 1st crop was a 24 hr crop at a local church that I attend about 3-4 times annually. I worked on a 3rd tree to my Christmas set, I'll post photos when it is complete.

The 2nd crop was at the store I am an instructor at "Scrapper's Boutique". It is seldom that multiple workers get to attend AND work on their own personal projects. Seems as if we are always creating or prepping to the next class...lol...but that's fun too! The Cherie and myself worked on our December Daily albums. Adair was hard at work creating her next mini album, Lynn was finishing up some Christmas gifts, and Susan was making some fabulously cute card samples!

I finished (for now) the cover of my Dec. Daily album. I used the Prima Canvas album and painted it with the Jenni Bowlin cough syrup paint dauber. I then used a Hedi Swapp mask and added a flourish with silver metallic paint. Fabric thickers painted with Jennie Bowlin malted milk also and then stamped with black ink with flourishes.The flowers were made using this fun die "rolled flower" from My Favorite Things and just backed on black felt to help them stand out.

* ALL of these items can be purchased locally at the Scrapper's Boutique*

I also purchased some digital journal cards by Ali Edwards and photoshop colored them and printed them each on cardstock so they are ready to go. All I have left is designing the pages...nothing like saving the hardest for last (haha!)

Christmas Centerpiece

Seldom am I ahead of the game when it comes to the holidays, but finally this year I seems to have mastered it a bit. After creating the Halloween Center piece "31" I decided to carry the idea over to Christmas.

Using the same craft paper, pre-made numbers, BoBunny paper and some fun miniature decorations this is what I came up with!

I completed mine on Tuesday and have even taken a couple orders to make them for friends.

Well, off to work on some more projects, a crafter's job is never done ;)

More Tree & button fun

I had a blast this past month making fall trees from the laser die cuts and covering pumpkins with buttons. I decide to combine the 2 for even more holiday fun with Christmas decorating only a few weeks away.

These tree were purchased at Michael's, they were just plain cardboard cones waiting for some love! I used Webster Pages, Waiting for Santa on the punch out tree and a Martha Stewart punch. I added stickles to the ends of each circle, a few pearls and a soft blue crepe bow to the top with a pearl in the center to finish it off.

The second tree was painted with a base coat of Jenni Bowlin malted milk paint dauber. I then began from the bottom of the tree covering it with ivory buttons with a few random turquoise ones spread throughout. I dripped a bit of diamond glaze around the buttons and then sprinkled the entire tree with Pink Paislee 'cream soda' pixee stix. I added a creme crepe bow tot he top with long flowing streamers and a few pearls in the center.

Feels like Fall

A couple weeks ago I got the opportunity to attend a scrapbooking retreat & I got to make some fun things for myself. One was this fun banner for my Fall decor. I was excited to hang it up the day after Halloween. Nothing makes me happier than fall colors and lots of glitter!

I made a second one in different colors for my mom. She has more of a shabby sheik decor in her home.

This banner was made using a Maya Road chipboard pennants & the paper is Apple Cider by Imagineisce. The other materials are as follows: Plain white crepe paper (streamers), Cricuted letter from Plantin Schoolbook, and Pink Paisley Brown glitter, 2yrd 3/4in. green crepe ribbon, 2yrds 3/4in brown crepe ribbon, orange & lime green cardstock.

Catching my breathe!

Wow, this has been one busy week for me and all the instructors at Scrapper's Boutique as we prepare for Boutique Day this Saturday Nov. 4th from 10:30am - 2:30pm.

We will be revealing all the classes coming up for November & December. It will be a day full of excitement and fun. The majority of the instructors will be on hand to meet and visit with, we will be taking sign-ups for fall classes and even having a drawing for a fun Red Bo Bunny handbag! The best part is, the first 24 people who sign up for classes receive a FREE Bobunny Mini Album Kit.

Here is just a little peek at one of my upcoming classes:

I'm very excited to have the opportunity to teach this fall among the talented gals at Scrapper's Boutique.

If your a local reader of my blog, I would love for you to come on our Saturday. I'll be there and would appreciate your support!

free blinkie

Feel free to add our New Scrapper's Boutiqe blinkie to your blog!

By smurfett8 at 2010-11-02

Candy Crash

I'm sure teachers everywhere today are feeling the candy crash of students of all ages.



Last night my girls went trick-or-treating too. There are 16 & 12 ...it changes from year to year if they are participating or not.

We spent part of our afternoon carving the annual pumpkins. Katie picked an owl and Ivy picked "Grr" from a cartoon she likes. They decided this year they wanted to attempt the scored pumpkins instead of the traditional carving type. I think they both did quite well.

What was I thinking

I'm still recovering from Friday night after allowing my 12yr old to throw a Halloween party/sleepover. They were funny to watch and listen to for about the 1st hour - lol!

We even had 4-5 party crashers arrive and start yelling my daughter's name from out front...the party moved outside for awhile, but no crashers were allowed inside. We did have 2 boys arrive after this photo was taken, one in a scary mask was so cute! The boys left at 10 and the scary movie marathon began. I slept almost all day Saturday trying to recover from the event. It may be a few years before we try this again (or never) ;)