~Gypsy Rose~ Another Goodwill flower find..

I swear that I need to just move into the local Goodwill. They have tons of couches, I'd be comfy, right? I love that place. They call me the flower lady now....and don't even make me show my military ID for my military discount...they just know. Should I be embarrassed?

Anyway, I went in there the other day and they had these 2 wreaths...with the most beautiful cabbage roses and yellow roses on them. I had to buy them just to take apart...here is the wreath (Please ignore the background clutter, i took this in my scrapbook room, which is NEVER presentable).



Anyway, so last night I was working on a Pink Paislee project and really wanted to do something with one of the cabbage roses. I used a page from the Maya Road Scallop Edge book and made a wall hanging. I was going to use a quote about roses on the Pink Paislee Topsider...but couldn't find on that fit or that I liked...
So next to me in a pile I spied this picture of My Aunt when she was little dressed up like a gypsy for Halloween. Perfect! Even more perfect is that it fit on the topsider perfectly...just a meant to be project.


I used the Vintage Moon Line by Pink Paislee.

I didn't use the label sticker for the topsider, I saved it for a different project and just painted the edges and covered it with paper.




I love the way it turned out and now I am 1 Christmas present down and a zillion to go!

I also did this page with Vintage Moon. Simple and quick, but still fun.




That's it...have a Great Saturday!!

I have Pink Paislee Blog today.....

If you want to see the whole project go to the Pink Paislee Blog for a ton more pictures!!
~Katie

~Pink Paislee's new lines~

Pink Paislee has done two new releases that start shipping in early October. They are beautiful and I can't wait to get my hands on them!
First is TinselTown which is a gorgeous Holiday line. I have so many ideas for this line!





To see the papers in this line go here!

The next line is Sweet Cakes.......and we all know that I am a sucker for cupcakes....Oh My!




To look at the stamps and papers from this line go HERE !

As soon as I get these lines in my hot little hands...I will post my samples!!

~YEE HAW~ an oldie but goodie!

So Maddy's birthday reminded me of an album that I did last year. It was way before Maya Road or Pink Paislee. I was doing work for a company that makes board books called C&T Publishing.
They sent me this cowboy boot book to do....well, lucky for me...Maddy's last birthday in Texas, we had a cowboy/cowgirl party. So I had pictures, thank goodness. So this is what I created. I actually whipped out the Jolee's stash I had. She loved the book...but we don't get it back..but at least I have pictures. I'll recreate it in some form or another......one day (yeah right!).
So low and behold...I go to CHA-W and it's the last day of the show about 30 minutes before the show ended. Wendy and I went to grab a bite to eat...and when I turned around, a familiar image caught my eye....lucky me to get to see my project...in big form and on the packaging.





















Just wanted to share. I had so much fun making this little album. Have a great day!

~3 Little Birds~

There is a story about the 3 Little Birds (I know that this picture is of 4 little birds...but read on)....it's not long, so don't worry. But you have to hear it to understand why I did what I did.
My brother Ben, passed away at age 19. He was totally into Rastafarian music, especially Bob Marley. One of his favorite songs was 3 Little Birds.

When he passed away and we were planning his memorial service, we picked the song "3 Little Birds" to not only play but to sing along to. We had little handouts with the words to it that we gave to all the people that attended the service, and there were a lot of people. So when we all sang it, although broken and weepy, it sounded so cool.
So then for years, every time I saw a bird, I wondered if it was Ben looking down at us. The song would repeat in my head often and it would bring comfort.

Well then, Chandra my sister-in-law who is married to the middle brother Jake...well, her brother got really sick. He also passed away. He was 24. I didn't ever get to meet him, but I knew a lot about him. Chandra and Jake met after the Navy had taken Derek and I away. I didn't get to know her family because we didn't live in the same city or state.

So, this is how the song "3 Little Birds" comes into play...at Chandra and Jake's wedding.

The DJ played a song, that the family had dedicated to Jason, Chandra's brother. It was oddly enough, "3 Little Birds". I was a little thrown off by the coincidence. Chandra told me Jason loved that song. Also that they had played that at his service. Hmm....so....the story goes on.

Now we have lost Ian. While trying to put together a Memorial service, Ian's ex-girlfriend (Bonnie), whom he had spent the last few years with sent us a list of music that was Ian's favorites. Oddly enough, the #1 song on her list was...Yep, you guessed it, "3 Little Birds"...OK, now that is just too much of a coincidence. Really, come on...so.....

After Ian was killed, we all went to the beach for a couple of days...to get Debbie and Scott out of the house, away from it all and to allow them to relax a little and spend some time together with Derek (whom the Navy flew home for 1 week), the girls and the rest of us. Well, Ian always wanted a tattoo and Deb wouldn't let him...so someone, not me..came up with the idea that we all go and get tattoos in honor of Ian. So, with Pacific Beach (the tattoo capitol of San Diego) being right down the road....we set off to find out about it.
Well, for the few of those that know me, I am NOT a tattoo girl. Not at all. I am not into pain and not into body art...well...I got swayed. It was a group thing. Chandra had come up with a saying that was in Latin, it means "The Gods Favor Those That Die Young"...but she had this pact....if one partner of our 2 couples (only the boys, so Jake and Chandra and Derek and I) didn't want to get the saying, then the other one couldn't. It was an all or nothing type of deal. So, I did it.
We all got the words on different places. Chandra got them on her wrist, Jake on his chest, Derek across his back and me on my shoulder. It was all in honor of these 3 young men and brothers that we had all lost. A common bond, unfortunately.
So, this is where the 3 Little Birds come into play. I knew that I had to have 3 birds....but they didn't have ANY bird examples that I liked..none...I knew the look that I wanted..and I knew EXACTLY where I had seen it before....My Mind's Eye..yep, a Tres Jolie card had 4 Little Birds on it...and that's what I wanted. So I drove ALL the way home and rummaged through my scrap area..and found the little tiny card. Took it to the tattoo artist and said, "Can you take out ONE bird"..and he did...and this is what I have on my shoulder now, with the Latin saying underneath.....


And you know....just maybe....every little thing is gonna be all right..........and maybe Ben, Jason and Ian are up there right now, hanging out with Mr. Marley.

Now go and kiss someone you love!
~Katie

Don't worry about a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',

Smiled with the risin' sun,

Three little birds

by my doorstep

Singin' sweet songs

Of melodies pure and true,

Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:") Singin':

"Don't worry 'bout a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',

Smiled with the risin' sun,

Three little birds

by my doorstep

Singin' sweet songs

Of melodies pure and true,

Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:

" Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing,

oh! Every little thing gonna be all right.

Don't worry!" Singin': "Don't worry about a thing" -

I won't worry!

"'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right" - I won't worry! Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right." Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, oh no!

'Cause every little things gonna be all

ETA- Thanks Carol..Love this version by Elizabeth Mitchell...so much fun to listen too.. I added it to the top of my playlist. Miss you too!!

~2 fun things~

First of all...my baby is 7 today!! 7..wow...It still seems like yesterday that I was madly searching through the house for a lost binky or blankie...still seems like yesterday when the Fisher Price Little People were scattered everywhere...still seems like I am washing sippy cup lids and cutting up grapes...still seems like yesterday..

So today we had a small family present opening event, Uncle Jake came over for Rootbeer Floats and Daddy called and sang Maddy Happy Birthday. I made cupcakes for Maddy's class and we had cake at Grandma Linda's house last night. We're doing cake tomorrow with Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Scott. They can't come until tomorrow, so we're going bowling and doing cake there for the grand finale.

Here is my Birthday Girl. Maddy Ann Watson-age 7, exactly!




The next thing that makes this a lucky day...is that over at Kenner Road I won a 6 month kit subscription. I NEVER win anything...really, I don't...I never win at the slots, I never win at Bingo, I never win any contests...( I do however kick my husbands butt at Gin Rummy)...but for some lucky reason, I won the kit subscription. I am super excited about it because the kits are gorgeous. Kerry Lynn Yeary has such a unique vintage style and I love everything that I see that she has made...so her kits have to be good...cause her style rocks! This months kit is just lovely!! I can't wait to work with it!! So, I guess living in all those houses just may have paid off for me!!

Here is a picture that I lifted off her site of this months kit!!

Go Check it out!!

~Ian has his own blog now~

Deb and Scott have finally gotten Ian's blog up and running...This will be where we will share thoughts, concerns, stories, court dates, information as we get it etc.......We will have some pretty intense court hearings to attend..and I know that not everybody will be able to attend....
So with the blog we can update you. Then you don't have to feel worried about calling Deb and Scott to get info. This will be easier for all involved.
Here is the blog - Ian Kinney So come and visit and let us tell you what Ian was all about and how much he is still in our lives.

Of course, we will add music and fancy it up a bit soon.......but in the meantime, stop by for a visit!

What kind of popsicle are you?

You Are a Coconut Flavored Popsicle

You are easygoing. For you, summer is definitely a time to kick back. You are a peaceful soul. You shy away from drama and stress. You are a warm and compassionate. You give everyone a fair chance. Your tastes tend to be simple. You rather have a few high quality items than a bunch of junk.

What Flavor Popsicle Are You?

~A Walk Down Memory Lane ...or Libra Lane~

Crazy moving in my life. Crazy. Not a good thing either....but who knows maybe I would just get restless if I stayed in the same place..although I doubt it....someday maybe.

Anyway, the thing is...that there is this crazy awesome kit club..and I say this not because I have seen their kits yet (only peeks)...but I have seen Kerry Lynn Yeary's work and style...and just KNOW that anything she puts her touch on will be awesome....and I don't get excited like this often (well, OK that's a lie...but it takes alot these days)..and have been planning to share her site on my blog anyway....(swear!!). I love Vintage anything....just something about it makes me feel like I'm going back in time.....I love it all....Kerry's kit club is all about The Vintage, baby!

Well, she has this little RAK thing going on....but it sparked so many memories for me.........the name of her kit club is Kenner Road and so to get entered in the RAK you have to write stories of roads or streets that you have lived on.........well..the dealio is that I am a Navy brat (the brat is optional) and now a Navy wife.....so remembering street names is a problem...well, especially for me these days....with my fleeting memory (it often happens when the guys are away for long periods of time!)...so I contacted my Dad to fill in the blanks...which for the most part he remembered....but at almost 60 he even remembered the house numbers!

So first of all...I have no pictures of childhood homes at the moment..they are currently being stored in Non acid-free boxes in the middle of my Mom's Non Temp controlled garage....with 20 feet of other boxes piled up around...(this is on my perma TO DO list....rescue pictures of precious childhood memories but since baths, homework, litterbox and carpool seem to take most of my limited "list" time up...it is way at the bottom!)...OK, so I used this picture that I took of old country mail boxes in Ramona that I have wanted to take a picture of for 10 years...so finally I finally did last month stop and take the pictures and almost got chased cause some dude thought that I was casing the mailboxes and with my mini-van running and kids in the car...was gonna commit mail theft...which is SO NOT on my list of things to do...
Anway, so Dad and I made a list...and besides not remembering one street...I think we did pretty good!

So in order here they are.......

550 east 2nd south(Salt Lake City)
33rd south (Salt Lake City)
scenic highway (Pensacola, Fla)
Judy dr -(Milton,Fla)
Unknown street- (Rhode Island)
Libra Lane (Orange park, Fla)
oakdale dr north (Orange Park, Fla)
Kenneth St., Moscow, Idaho
Ledgeside Street San Diego, CA
Oakdale Drive North (Springfield, VA)
Knollview Dr (San Diego, CA)

Whew........that was exhausting....so now for my favorite..and a few memories that are significant to me.....
Libra Lane-So many happy memories. I was about 5...and got my first goldfish and cat. Of course the goldfish died and the cat ran away. We buried the goldfish in the yard and made signs for the cat...but you know my Debbie Downer answer for that.....!!

Kool-Aid stands
watermelon seed spitting contests (to this day every time I smell watermelon, I am taken back to that driveway...with watermelon juice dripping down my arms...)
Swamp at the end of the street with LOTS of tadpoles
Batman (I swore I would grow up and be Catwoman)
Little House on the Prairie
Fred (the elderly man that would babysit sometimes, he was a doll)
Using fabric samples that came in the mail to sew a pillow for my kindergarten teachers new baby.
Selling things I made in my wagon door to door
Rain every afternoon
roller skating down the street
spying on people with full on maps drawn of all their "positions"
Frogs, frogs and frogs
Lizards
Lite-Brites
The puppies
The little school house and market that my Dad built me
Feeding my baby brother roast beef (Ok, he didn't actually eat it but I tried)
Creamed Tuna fish on toast (ghetto style but I loved it)
Dancing to Christmas music in the living room all dressed up
Helping Mom do sit-ups
Constant planes flying overhead
Orphan Annie (the cat that replaced the one that ran away)
Big Wheels

I know that some of these sound like things to you but I am remembering actually doing them....I remember all 3 of us (me, brother and sister) sitting on the floor in front of our very small TV waiting for the weekly episode of Little House. So each item is an actual memory.
And Wow, what a flood of memories....Libra Lane was my happiest place ever. I don't remember the heat, or the bugs or that my Dad was gone alot...I just remember happiness...pure and simple.
When Derek and I got married and eventually moved to Jax, we went and visited that house...man did that street and house come alive in my mind. It was a pretty run down neighborhood 23 years later....but still so special to me.
So anyway....go and visit Kenner Road but just DON'T buy out the kits....I want one! Also go and check out Kerry Lynn's blog but make sure that you are prepared to be inspired!
~Katie

Add on- The streets above are Just me up until I was 18.

Random odds and ends of rentals as a young adult all in San Diego...

But once Derek and I got married, here are those streets...
Contut Ct (Spring Valley, Ca)
Cheshire drive(Corpus Christi, TX)
Benjamin Franklin Ct(Jacksonville, Ca)
Cascade Circle(Oak Harbor, Wa)
Fisher Circle(Corpus Christi, TX)
Buck Eye loop(Corpus Christi, TX)
Old California Way(El Cajon, Ca)
Prince Edward Ct(El Cajon, Ca)

so that is our list....and my favorite one of these is.........100% Cascade Circle, Oak Harbor Wa.

You would think with 2 deployments, having a baby by myself, a husband in Iraq for the war and 2 babies and a 10 year old son that I wouldn't have fond memories....but those years were MAGIC for me!
I was the happiest I have ever been in my WHOLE life there. Yep, my whole life! So, as you can see...I've had alot of streets in my life...and I'll have more before my husband retires..and then I hope to find the perfect street and STAY forever.....I'm waiting for my white picket fence!

~Wanna have some SpOoKy FuN?~

I'm teaching again! Yay!! I took a break when Derek deployed...too much work and I had CHA coming up...so I was busting out some major mini albums for that...
But I'm ready again and nervous...I always worry that people won't sign up and that they won't like the class...I'm actually pretty shy, at least I feel really shy.
Anyway, I am teaching this class at Scrapbook Attic in La Mesa, CA on October 5th at 1pm. Lots of Pink Paislee (used the Vintage Moon line, pressons, stamps, letter stickers etc..) and Maya Road goodness in this class.
Scrapbook Attic is where I work on Wednesdays...I help with the crops and merchandise product (which is my favorite thing to do)...and sometimes teach classes. Anyway,if you are interested in taking the class the number there is 1-619-670-4927.
Have a great day!!
~K

~Walk for Ian~ Join us September 20th~ MADD

For those of you who don't know. On July 22nd my 19 year old Brother-in-law was killed by a drunk driver. The passenger of the drunk driver was also killed. The driver was over double the legal limit. He is currently in jail awaiting trial.



We are walking for MADD on September 20th. Feel free to donate money to MADD or walk with us. The contact info in on the flyer. Also here is a link to all that information. MADD walk in honor of Ian Kinney.

It's hard to see but under that big truck (that was the drunk drivers truck) is Ian's car. It's completely smashed. There was no mercy. They are in Ian's lane. Ian saw him coming and pulled over to the side...but as you can see there was NOWHERE that Ian could go. There was nothing that he could do but watch as this drunk hit him. I want you to see the photos (these are pretty mild compared to others) so that you can see what a drunk driver is capable of doing. Think this guy was going fast? Hmmmm....yep...wonder what excuse his lawyer (scumbag, btw) will come up with for that. Anyway....not trying to take the focus off of Ian...but the MADD walk raises money for MADD...in honor of victims. MADD uses the money to help out families of victims of drunk drivers, does programs at schools, provides counselling...all kinds of stuff. They are great. So if you can, please donate...you all have chapters in your cities..as drunk drivers are not discriminatory...as my Father-in-law Scott Kinney says, "They are tragedy looking for opportunity!"
~Katie

~Why it's hard to see Daddy~

A couple of months ago Derek sent a video that they made on the ship for the kids. It was him talking and then reading a couple of books. But the problem....is that it makes my girls SO sad.
Well, they are trying to put together a cruise book (like a yearbook type of thing..just an FYI for you non-military types) and want pictures of kids watching the videos that their parent made.
Derek has been bugging me for weeks...but just like the girls..it's hard to see him and not feel this overwhelming sense of homesickness...(I say this because he IS my home...really...it's strange..but we are so temporary with duty stations so my family has become my home)..anyway, so I tried. I really did try. This is what I got....








So Daddy, we LOVE you....but it's so hard to see you and not feel sad! We will try again tonight for pictures!