life's journey

I needed to make a card for my cousin's stepson's graduation...it was over a month ago and I am finally getting my butt in gear and getting it done. The challenge today at heart 2 heart is scraps. Shane is going to college for mechanical engineering and one of his high school colors was orange, I thought the Lucky paper pack from CTMH seemed like a good fit. The base of the card is 5.5 x 5.5 in sunset. I lightly sanded the edged...love the white core! I used banner1 from the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to cut the papers at 5", 4.5", 4.75". The stickers are also Lucky.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

christmas in july….

I started this project last Christmas, and like a lot of projects, it got set aside, only to be forgotten about until I saw the recent Christmas in July challenge at Bitten by the Bug 2. We have an abundance of boards around our house from TKD testing – we are proud of our board breaks and I am always convinced that I can come up with something cool to do with them – I think that I succeeded this time! I started with a broken board and painted it red with making memories cranberry acrylic paint. I inked around the edges with firehouse brick distress ink. I like the simplicity of silhouettes, so I cut out the Santa from Joys of the Season and left him as is, without adding any layers. I mounted him on patterned paper that I got from a Christmas pack that I picked up at Michael's. I think it was by Recollections but I am sorry I can’t remember and can’t find the cover for the pack. I attached the paper and Santa to the wood with modge podge. Without a doubt the hardest part for me in any project is the embellishments. Heck it’s the hardest part for me anywhere in my life…I always seem to struggle with that extra oomph. I prefer simple, but I am afraid of too simple….you know what I mean, some people do simple sooo well and for others it just looks plain. I am working on doing it well….I used spare parts ribbon from Hobby Lobby and lastly I cut paper roses from BG wassail using  CTMH Art Philosophy. Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Welcome...

I am a little nervous, starting my first blog. I tend to write like I speak, so please try not to judge me too hard for all of my run on sentences and ramblings on and on. It has been a long time since I took my college composition classes or had to write any papers..most of my writing now consists of the quick facebook post or email or text...

A little about me...I started scrapbooking about 12 years ago and my husband bought me the "baby bug" the first year or 2 it was out - it was a total surprise! I hadn't even asked for it! Then he shocked me with the expression the following year. It was truly one of the best gifts that I have ever received, I have used it for so many different things over the years: scrapbooking, cards, kids' school projects, home decorations...I just love it.

About 4 years ago, my family started Tae Kwon Do together and I have worked thru the ranks...not an easy task for anyone, but it was especially challenging for me, I have NEVER been athletic and TKD was so far out of my comfort zone! I eventually earned my first degree black belt, and was getting ready to start the testing process for my second degree when some health issues have come up in my life, sidelining me. I wonder if I will get back into TKD at some point, but truth be told...I was struggling with exertion headaches and neck and shoulder pain and a lot of that has gone away now that I am not doing TKD...So maybe I will never go back....at this point I just don't know...

When I first stopped I felt pretty down, but I decided to put that energy that I had in TKD into my crafting. I have been wanting to participate in challenges and push myself a little harder in my creativity...so here I am. I have been around for a long time, in the background, following along and being inspired by all of your amazing work and finally stepping out on the mats, bowing in, and taking my place in the back row...as a white belt in the crafting/blogging world :)