Shes Scrappy

I have a NEW BLOG!!

2009-04-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been really unhappy with how un-cute (is that a word?) my blog has looked for the past couple of years...so I decided to upgrade...to a new blog, new title and a fresh look!
I hired Holly McCaig to give my blog a make-over...and she did a fab job...now I'm just trying to learn how to do all the fancy stuff!
All my posts from "She's Scrappy" are on the blog...and now for the new blog...Here is the story...

When I was a little girl, my Aunt Karen used to call me "Katie B" (my middle initial is B ) and I always thought that I would have some kind of crafting/art business and that I would name it "Katie Bee".....so Holly looked for me and that domain name was taken...so we came up with "KatieBeeCreative" and so therefore my new blog is named that!!

Notice the 3 little birds?
So, I hope you will come and visit me at KatieBeeCreative and Remember to update your links and feeds!!

Catching my breath.............

2009-04-05T22:38:00.000-07:00

OK, I need to take a breath and catch up here....

First of all....my class..enough sneak peeks, the details are ready.

The Queen of Today
@ Cool Scrapbook Stuff
Sunday, April 26th
1pm-4pm
$43

another peek....(yes, I KNOW that I use these photos a lot...but I can't help it..they are just some of my favorite photos..that's the nice thing about mini's...you can use odds and ends or use your favorite photos in different books!)

There are kits available, they come with a CD with all the instructions and "how to" photos. I do not sell the kits personally, you need to contact Cool Scrapbook Stuff for them. She will ship them also.

NEXT-

I had the BEST time at Christine's retreat house....seriously, I laughed so hard I thought I might make a puddle on the beautiful wood floors....
I went with Gabrielle (who is a hoot and a pretty darn good mini album maker), Stacy (as sweet as can be and shares my love of old buttons and lace...and a darn beautiful scrapper, she's on the DT for Graphic 45 and now A Million Memories) and Michelle Quinn (gave me my first DT position!), the owner of AMM.

Christine's retreat house is just gorgeous.......every little detail was perfect!! The beds were even SUPER comfy...not that I got much sleep! I would go back every weekend if I could! She was a gracious host and a wonderful friend! She's also super talented...you can check out her blog HERE !

I got a long overdue project done for Chloe's (Michelle's daughter) room...a banner that I had saved the paper to make it with for about 3 years....it's a lavender and I used the Making Memories crackle/cabbage rose paper from forever ago (it's not even on their site anymore)...but it's a timeless paper so totally not out of style! I also finished a layout, a PP Blog Hop project, a MR blog project and another Pink Paislee altered project...I'll share all of them later, don't worry!

Ok, off to work on my Pink Paislee post for the morning!

Pink Paislee Spring Blog Hop and Giveaway!! Starts Friday Morning at 9am !

2009-04-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

It's time for the Pink Paislee Spring Blog Hop! Here are the details....Go to pinkpaislee.com to find links to all the design teams blogs and then leave a comment on each persons blog to have a chance to win the prize pack below!

The drawing for the winners will be on Sunday so you MUST comment on my blog post (and all the other DT members blogs if you want!)to be entered into the giveaway!

So that you can get to know us all a little better, Rebecca wrote up a little questionnaire for us to all answer...so go to our blogs (by going HERE)and learn a bit about us and be inspired by our Pink Paislee Spring Projects!

My 11 Questions!!

1.) Where did you grow up? Do you still live there?
Are you ready for the list? Oh My....these are in chronological order....
Salt Lake City
Pensacola,Florida
Rhode Island
Jacksonville,Florida
Moscow,Idaho
San Diego,California
Springfield, Va
San Diego, Ca
Corpus Christi, TX
Jacksonville, Fla
Oak Harbor, WA
Corpus Christi, TX
San Diego, Ca
Crazy, huh? I was a Navy brat and now a Navy wife!

2.) What is a typical day like for you?
Up at 7am, coffee, kids to school, coffee, computer, scrapbooking, house cleaning, crafting or scrapbooking, pick up kids, homework, dinner, TV or activity with kids, bedtime for kids, read or computer, bed at 11pm. Wake up at 3am, can't sleep...blog surf :)!!

3.) What is your favorite fashion accessory? Why?
My bird charm bracelet by bebeandyaya

4.) What is playing on your ipod right now?
Sadly, I don't have an ipod....:(

5.) Name one television show that you MUST TIVO each week?
The Biggest Loser

6.) What is your favorite movie of all time?
Knocked Up (I know, I know.........inappropiate..but it makes me laugh until I cry)

7.) What is your favorite Pink Paislee product?
The Pixee Stix for sure!! But a CLOSE second is the Vintage Moon Accents Pressons .

8.) If you could only keep 1 scrapbooking tool what would it be?
Fabri-Tac, my miracle glue!

9.) If you didn't scrapbook what other activity would you spend time on?
Crafting or painting.

10.) What advice would you give to someone who wants to start scrapbooking?
Do what works for YOU.

11.) What would you say your scrapbook style is today?
I would say kind of a "Shabby, Vintage Flea Market Look"...and oh yeah, busy, busy, busy!

OK, now for my Spring Project........I altered a left over glass jar from Prima flowers...I KNOW that you all have some of these! I just used Fabric-Tac to adhere it to the glass...and then adhered the cute little chicks and some Easter grass to the top. Curled and tied a bow around the lid and filled it with Spring M&M's! So easy!!

Have a Happy Spring and GOOD LUCK!!

I have had some emails about the "SPRING" stamp on the front of the bottle. I found some for sale HERE !!

A Couple more Peeks and I'm outta here to a Scrap Retreat!

2009-03-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

Ohhhh, my Maddy is a cutie pie...can you tell she is full of personality? These are a couple of pages from the book that I am doing for my next class. Sorry, that I don't have the info yet...have a few odds and ends to work out! The stuff is ordered and on it's way though so I can start packing kits. Yes, kits will be available but not through me, but through the store that I am teaching at. She will ship them also. I'll give you all the contact info soon! Promise!

This book is all about my youngest daughter being the queen of each and every one of her days. It's full of the fun things that she does day to day!

I am almost packed and ready to leave on a scrap retreat. I am SO ready. Derek just got back yesterday from a almost 3 week work up and I am D O N E !!
I am going to the beautiful retreat house that I told you about in an earlier post....it's called Scrap Retreat House at French Valley. It's just above San Diego...so I'll have the drive to chill and listen to my fave, Norah Jones...and then I'll get there and unload and start working on my next couple of classes or just scrap for the heck of it!!
It is a gorgeous house that is completely set up for scrappers or crafters...so elegant and awesome!

I'll leave you with a layout (all Pink Paislee) that I did of my girls and my nieces....they are the cutest bunch together!

Hopefully I'll have lots to share with you after my retreat weekend!
~Katie

Sneak Peek of My Next Class!

2009-03-24T15:05:00.000-07:00

That's it.....lots more to say but no time to say it. Once I have all the details worked out I will post them but for now I'll just leave you with this sneak.

~Katie

~Being her....~ Maya Road Girl Album

2009-03-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

This is an older project of mine...but still one of my favorites. I have to admit that I was not into the girl album at all.... They just didn't fit with my shabby chic look.... but then I got it assigned by Maya Road...and I was stumped. I thought about it for a while and figured that I would just make the album fit "me" instead of making my work fit the album. So that's what I did and this is what I came up with!

I hope you have a great day!!
~Katie

Happy Monday...and a Goodwill/ Creative Therapy Project!

2009-03-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't know if I'm having a very happy Monday...Hannah wore herself out yesterday trying to keep up with the cousins and is really sore and just a little bit of an estrogen wreck today. She cried the whole way home from my sisters, she cried in bed until she fell asleep. She cried when she woke up this morning and cried straight until it was time to leave for school. I was mad,annoyed and worried all at the same time. Nothing like going to sleep to crying and waking up to it.

I think that she overworked her legs and it has made not only her legs sore but also her back. I also think that she is just not in a good place right now. She is just getting over a UTI and so I know that she is still feeling the effects of that...but the rest is straight and pure anxiety. Today would have been her first day having to walk to the lunch area and not taking the wheel chair and I think that she is really worried about that. Her teacher wouldn't push her to the point of pain, but she can't stay in the wheelchair forever. Ya know?

So, she is home from school...again...they will probably send the school police after me. She missed so much because of her legs and then the Flu and then the UTI. Man......oh well....at least Maddy had a great morning!

So, Happy Monday!! I hope that yours started out more cheerful then mine. Oh yeah, she's not crying now but sleeping like a baby.

OK, so last weeks Creative Therapy Project was to create something around a memory with no photos. Many possibilities there...but as usual, I just let it take me where it would and this is what I ended up with.

If you want read the story behind why I created what I did the go to the Creative Therapy Site and see my story and a handful of other artists creations and stories (Including Jennifer McGuire)!

As usual, this was a find at the Goodwill that I knew could be transformed. Here is what it looked like when I got it.

Now so cute......It will be the perfect way to package a gift for someone in the Fall. Maybe put flowers in it, or a book...or some treats....or whatever fits.

I used the Pink Paislee Captivating line on this along with the Maya Road Metric Ruler Singleton Stamp (love that stamp, I use it a lot!).

Anyway, I hope you have a great Monday!
~Katie

Class Supply list for "Butterfly Kisses" class

2009-03-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

I dropped off supply lists for my class when I dropped off the project but I know some of you have called and registered so you weren't able to get the supply list. So, just in case you are a blog reader here is the supply list.

Butterfly Kisses
Katie Watson
March 15th
1-4ish

A piece of sandpaper or sanding tool
Brown distress ink (I use Ranger Distress Ink-Walnut Stain)
Ink Blending Tool (I use the Ranger Inkessentials Blending tool and foam pad, it is the best) or ink dauber. We will need a good blended inked edge.
Paper Trimmer
Paper Piercer
Cropadile
Black Fine Tip Permanent Pen (I use Sharpie)
White Pen (I use the Signo-Uniball white Pen or the Ranger Inkessentials white pen)
Fine tip brown pen
Fabri-Tac by Beacon Adhesives (this is hands down the best paper crafting glue)
Scissors
Cutting Mat
Finger Tip Exacto knife
Scrapbooking Tweezers (I use the Tweezer Bees...they help so much with the placement of small letter stickers!)

If you have it-
Martha Stewart Butterfly punch
Your favorite rub on tool (the rubons come with a Popsicle stick to use)

I used these size pictures on my pages- use this as a guide when printing out your pictures. I also just used various pictures that I love, images that I felt represented the “little girls” that I have. So lots of “Little Girl” moments!

Pg 1- 1 vertical wallet
Pg 2- 2 vertical wallets
Pg 3- 1 vertical wallet
Pg 4- 2 vertical wallets
Pg 5- 2 vertical wallets
Pg 6- 2 vertical wallets
Pg 7- 3 2x2 sized pictures
Pg 8- 2 vertical wallets

Your album depending on your pictures and titles may be a little different then mine but you will have all the same supplies that I had to make your album.
If you need any help feel free to contact me at KatieBWatson@aol.com .

Looking forward to our class. ~Katie

~Need A Sweet Gift for Someone?~

2009-03-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

My sisters birthday was last week and I got her a charm bracelet from Amy Hanson but I also got her a Starbucks Card.....but I wanted to make it feel more special then just a generic gift card.
I got these tins(For some reason it won't link directly to the tins, but follow the link and they are on page 4 of Metals)a while back from Paper Valise. I only bought 2, which now I am kicking myself for....cause I LOVE them.

ETA- I found it HERE also.

Anyway, so I used Pink Paislee products to fancy it up a bit. I used the 5th Avenue paper(still one of my favorite papers from Pink Paislee) from the Tinsel Town collection. I used the gingham Bewitching paper from the Fascinating Line,the Lunch Hour paper from the Office Lingo line, the Sweet Cakes Stamp set and the Sugar Plum Pixee Stix glitter.

I just traced the original Starbucks card holder to create my holder pattern and scored the fold lines and put it together with the products. It was pretty easy.

I used the heat gun to curl the ribbon that I tied on the tin and that's it. It was super fun to make and turned out really cute.

She loved it! So next time you need to give a gift card and need to spice it up a bit use a tin to make a homemade holder for it.!!

The Cutest Little Birdie......and Butterfly Class update!

2009-03-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

My friend Wendy Vecchi is the most brilliant stamp artist...she made some birds that are so cute....I just had to share!! Go to her blog Studio 490 to see more! She used her new polka dot background stamp on them...and I am in love with her gingham one...oh dear..!

Go check out Wendy's Blog...you can learn a million things there!

I have a class on Sunday of this week at Paper Tales.

I think I have a couple more spots left if you are interested in it. Michelle will also ship kits (Let her know if there is anything you want to add to your box as she has a wonderful selection of product and a TON of Maya Road). This is a product packed class and a really hard one to price because it is so full of stuff....anyway, the class is $40 and includes....

Maya Road Butterfly album- $5.20
Enchanting Chipboard Elements- full pack $5.50
Enchanting Sticker Book- $4.50
Enchanting Windsome alphabet stickers- $1.99
Enchanting Chipboard Letters- $4.50
Enchanting Brads- $3.99
Enchanting Press ons- $3.99
Enchanting patterned papers (6)- .69cents each
Enchanting Delicious die cut paper (2)- .99cents a sheet

OK, we are at $36 worth of product right now! But I'm not done...

Vintage Rose
Vintage Millinery flowers
1 yard crochet trim
1 yard brown gingham 7/8" ribbon
1/2 yard sage 7/8" ribbon
crystal Maya Road pin
Pearl Maya Road pin
4 Maya Road Vintage Flowers
Instructions and Photos of project -priceless

Do you see what I mean about product.....so I think there are 4 kits left....You can reach Michelle by going to the Paper Tales Blog.

That's it....for now..of course!!

Wow and more kits available!

2009-03-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

What a great class I had on Saturday. I love getting together with the women that take my classes. They are kind and fun and just wonderful. Sometimes I know them and most times I don't :) ! When you teach, there are definitely different kinds of groups. They are all great but there is that "feeling" with some groups. This was one of those groups that just had that great feeling. They were quiet (which sometimes scares me...like I told them...at home when the girls are quiet..that usually means "bad news"..they are up to something) and focused....and very sweet. They all did a great job and I even had some beginners in my class...who if they hadn't told me they were beginners, I would have never guessed. They were wonderful, really. I left my class very happy.

All went well, I only had 1 wrong measurement, but not so bad for writing instructions without the book (I left it at the store)..don't worry, those that ordered kits, Randy(i?) fixed the handouts for me.
So, like I said before, I get so worried before a class. Nervous that something will go really wrong. All went well for this class. Gena was more then helpful..man, that woman has it together...she is one organized girl. She knows her business and is such a supportive and encouraging person.

I left my class and went straight to a work party for Derek. We met there after my class. He took the girls...and not that I'm controlling about what my girls wear...but there is a line that I just don't cross...and he does. They were semi-matching (ignoring the fact that Maddy had sweat pants on that said "hoops" right across her butt....a bunch of Commanders...no biggie ;) and comfy....but the hair was a little...um...wild...or let's just call it full-bodied. Which is actually OK....nobody in my family has to be perfect, they just have to be nice. That's my only requirement...well, I guess that's not entirely true..my 17 year old son just has to get through the day without punching someone out..and we'll call it a good day.

OK, so ANYWAY....(I'm a rambler...really...I would be a good hotline operator).... My class SOLD OUT......and all the kits too....and Gena has convinced me to do some more kits. So, I am going to offer a few more (I just put in my order to PP and MR). So, if you want a kit of my class (worth the money in product, trust me) and full set of instructions and pictures then just call Cool Scrapbook Stuff and you can put in an order. They take Paypal and will ship it to you. I do have a few things on my supply list that you may need for the class, Gena will be happy to add what you need to your shipment. She also has EVERYTHING under the sun...so if there is a certain line that you are looking for (HERE is a list of some stuff she has)...just ask...because chances are, she has it and she would be happy to stick it in your box.

Here is the supply list-

“Lucky Me”
Katie Watson
Supply List
(Most supplies should be in stock at the store, ask for help locating them)

Please bring with you-A piece of sandpaper or sanding tool
Brown distress ink(I use Ranger Distress Ink-Walnut Stain)
Ink Blending Tool (I use the Ranger Inkessentials Blending tool and foam pad, it is the best) or ink dauber. We need a good blended inked edge.
Corner Rounder
Paper Trimmer
Paper Piercer
Cropadile
Black Fine Tip Permanent Pen (I use Sharpie)
White Pen (I use the Signo-Uniball white Pen or the Ranger Inkessentials white pen)
Fabri-Tac by Beacon Adhesives (this is hands down the best paper crafting glue)
White acrylic paint
Paint brush or foam brush
Ranger Crackle Paint (Blue Jeans)
Rubon tool
Fiskars Threading Water Punch
Martha Stewart Rose Leaf punch
Scrapbooking Tweezers (I use the ones made by Fiskars called Tweezer Bees, I have found that it is so much easier to glue and adhere elements using these, they are not essential but a definite luxury)

This class will be a little bit different then my usual class. Normally, you would just make the exact same book or project. This time it will be a bit more of a creative journey for you. You will have ALL the same supplies that I used to make this book. Your cover will be the same and the basic ingredients of each page will be the same as the sample but your details will be different. You will have different pictures so your titles will be different. Your titles will match your pictures so depending on the size of your title, it may change your pages a bit. I will have pictures and sketches of each page for you so it will make it easy to customize your pages. I used special pictures, all things that make me feel “Lucky”, big things and little random things. I converted them all to black and white so that I had a flowing scheme but also so that they matched each other. Below is a list of all the sizes and orientation of each picture. Please remember that you will have 3 different alphabets and lots of different embellishments so that you can work it around whatever size photos that you want. The paper on each page is 5 ¾ x 5 ¾ so I mostly used cropped 4x6 photos.
If you have any questions prior to class please email me at KatieBWatson@aol.com.
This is a list of the size photos that I used. Some of them have been cropped prior to being adhered. Use it as a guide.
4x6 vertical orientation photos-6
4x6 horizontal orientation photos-3
3 ½ x 5 horizontal photo -1
3x4 vertical photo-1
3x4 horizontal photo-1

If you have any questions, just let me know. I'll be happy to answer them.

Have a great Day!
~Katie

"Lucky Me" class tomorrow

2009-03-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the day....the day that I teach the "Lucky Me" class. I get so nervous the night before making sure that I have everything, preparing for any things that might come up...making sure that the kits are packed properly and worrying that I Will make a fool of myself teaching...or have bad breath or a bra strap showing... but I love it...and once I start teaching, I'm fine...I'm in my element...my little world. I love getting to know the ladies and I love to see them learn something and especially love to see their finished projects.

I believe that the class is full but I do have some extra kits available. So you can contact the store ( Cool Scrapbook Stuff ) and she will ship them to you if you want. The kits will come with complete instructions and pictures of the project. The kit is packed full of every thing you need for the project besides basic supplies. You will have leftovers also.

This album is getting published so after my class the pictures will be unavailable but if you order a kit the pictures will come with the instructions.

So wish me luck on my class tomorrow!

Oh yeah, check out my post on the Pink Paislee blog.... HERE to see pictures of my layout that I did using the new lines.

~Katie

Limbo..............and not loving it.....

2009-03-03T15:52:00.000-08:00

I would say that there is no way I could sum up what it feels like to be in limbo when you are a military wife. It is a part of your life, a part of who you are...we live in the constant waiting mode.....waiting on orders, waiting on sea schedules, waiting on houses, waiting, waiting, waiting......never knowing what you are doing next and not being able to count on anything. The military owns you and they dictate so much.
I think that nobody sums it up like Leah Killian.....her post on "Limbo" is just right on target. I have it bookmarked and go and read it sometimes (I know very weird....but It makes me feel better to hear someone else feel the same way I do)....by the way you should check out her blog Life As Lou, it's really real, interesting and super fun. Not to mention that she is a rocking scrapbooker!

Anyway....I have no curtains up, hardly anything on my walls....stuff is not arranged the way I want it..I need a new TV stand...all these things....but I cannot spend the money or the time because at the drop of a hat we will be moving.
We are up for orders..we leave beginning of June...it's MARCH and we have heard nothing......my husband is starting work ups again...and if I knew that we were for sure going to shore duty next and for sure staying here in San Diego, I would make my house work and it would be easier to deal with the coming and going of Derek if I knew that it was temporary...

We will probably buy a house (as I cannot stand the rental brown carpet anymore and the lady that screams 24/7 in Arabic at her kids that lives behind me...well, she just might make it until next week as I cannot stand her ruining a perfect Spring afternoon with her constant screaming anymore)and I will have curtains on EVERY window...and the right shaped rugs..and make my bedroom pretty...and get the odds and ends of the crap in the boxes in the garage organized...if I just knew that it wasn't a waste of time.

I need to figure out what I am doing with the rest of my life. Like, maybe a career....something that brings in a steady paycheck. So, do I go back to school, do I take some kind of job training, do I get a job...what to do...but I can't start anything until we know for sure where we will be.

I need some grounding in my life. I have been a gypsy for too long. I'm ready for a forever house. A house that is mine, a neighborhood that I invest myself into, friends that I can meet for coffee....a husband that comes home every night....seems so far away sometimes. Derek retires in 4 years. What he does next, we don't know...but for now, I'll just keep waiting...

Oh hey, a little sunshine for me...this is what I bought for my birthday...all for me...you know my thing about birds and how happy they make me. I bought it from Amy's Etsy shop called Bebe and Yaya. Her work is incredible..and I love her blog also!

~Spring is in the Air~

2009-02-27T23:09:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to share a little project that I did yesterday with the February Kenner Road Kit.

Featherweight.

I think I amazed myself that I got the box in the mail at noon, opened it and within an hour figured out a cute use for the old spool and finished the project. It was pretty fast. It is much cuter in real life then in the pictures..you don't get a proper sense of scale from pictures.
I used a Maya Road butterfly page from the Chipboard Butterfly album and traced it onto this cute Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday paper...It almost killed me to cut into this paper but I had to do it at some point.....used another piece of the Girl Friday paper on the bottom and a title from the Girl Friday Elements quote paper.
The bottom of the project is made using an empty ribbon spool (Told you Michelle, I would do something cute with it) that Michelle gave me at Paper Tales....I bought the rest of the bakers twine that was on it..and she gave me the spool. After seeing Danielle Flanders cute CHA project using ribbon spools...I was hooked!

Anyway, I used Fabri-Tac of course....sticks stuff like crazy. Love, love, love that stuff (and when I write 3 loves, it means I seriously love it). It's liquid gold in a bottle! And NO, I don't work for them or even know them...just love that dang glue!

I am also addicted to curling ribbons now that I know how....thanks to fellow Maya Road DT member, Andrea Wiebe.....look HERE to learn how.

Anyway, enjoy....although I'm still enjoying our mild winter here in San Diego, I know that some of you are counting the days until Spring. So, here's a glimpse of it!

Have a Great Weekend!
~Katie

~PS-I Love You~ Maya Road Blog

2009-02-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

I had the blog today for Maya Road and after a few times of my computer shutting down (it's my computers new favorite hobby) I finally got it finished. This is a peek at my project using the Airmail MailBox (comes with a stamp edge mini album too)...

Before-

After-

You can see more pictures of the Airmail Mail Box plus the supply list and directions if you go to the Maya Road Design Team Blog.

Have a great Day!
~Katie

~This is where I need to go....~

2009-02-24T10:23:00.000-08:00

I have a friend named Christine Penaflor, I met her while we served together on the DT at A Million Memories. She is a super talented scrapper and paper crafter (elegant, beautiful, dreamy, shabby chic)but aside from her talent..she is one of the nicest people that you will ever meet.

There are few people like her, really there aren't. Just out of the blue she'll send you a present in the mail to tell you she's thinking of you, or knows someone is sick and will send a handmade card. Her gifts are always well thought out...and she always includes some little handmade embellies or a handmade card..always something sweet that she made for you.

About a month ago, she told me about something that she was working on....hmmm..what could it be..well, she has a beautiful house up in the wine country (just north of San Diego)...that she was turning into a scrap retreat. Well, if you know her work then you know she doesn't do anything half way...so I KNEW that it would be gorgeous.

It's called the Scrap Retreat House at French Valley California.

Well, it is gorgeous but I was shocked at how much thought she put into it.....read here..........

The largest room in the retreat home is the crop area which is over 500 square feet and dedicated for the use of weekend retreat guests. This elegantly appointed room boasts custom built coffered ceilings and a mirrored wall surrounded by beautiful moulding. Nine recessed lights provide daylight lighting ideal for scrapbooking. The overhead surround sound speaker system is connected to the digital stereo receiver equipped with an iPod docking station where guests are welcome to listen to their favorite music playlists.
Each guest is treated to their own six-foot long table which provides a spacious area to freely create their projects. Guests are provided with comfortable leather task chairs which easily move on casters as they work at the tables. Each table is also equipped with a daylight lamp for detail work and a power strip to conveniently connect laptops or other electronic devices.

Separate tool areas and a computer station is available within the crop room.

A computer workstation is equipped with a desktop computer with WiFi internet access. The computer is installed with the Cricut Design Studio software and is connected to a Cricut. A library of 14 Cricut cartridges is available for use.

Plus there are a ton of other tools and die cut systems available. Does this look nice or what?

It is lovely....and would be perfect for an event or just hanging with friends....my thinking cap is on for this....I would love to plan something...just gotta work out the details.
Anyway, The Scrap Retreat at French Valley is a dream come true for my friend Christine and I am so happy for her!!

Oh yeah, and it looks like I'm going March 27-29...Derek will have just gotten back from being gone for 3 weeks...so it will be a much looked forward to break!

~My Favorites~ My most favorite album that I have ever made....and I need to see it today...

2009-02-23T14:39:00.000-08:00

Just needing to see some of my favorite things today.......need some bright aquas, turquoise and Pinks.......... Color therapy I think......right?

I'm a bit overwhelmed today and burned out..........Finally got Hannah in school for the first full day since her casts came off.....but have Maddy home with 102.5 degree temperature.

Derek gets home on Wednesday and I so need a break.......from this house and my kids...and my back needs a break from carrying Hannah everywhere..the walking is coming very slowly.....she hurts and her ankles are stiff.

And the RAK winner is............#15!!

2009-02-20T12:15:00.000-08:00

I had 22 total comments and MADD clickers....so I told Hannah, pick a number between 1-22 and she said 15!!

So, #15....
samanthasib said...
Thanks for the link to MADD. Hope this will get passed. Your apple book....amazing...how do you think like that?
I will hopefully be in your upcoming class, got my babysitter, just need to pay now!
xo-Samantha

February 14, 2009 11:07 PM

Miss Samantha, please email me at KatieBWatson@aol.com so I can get your shipping info!!

Thanks to all who participated, my husband got tears in his eyes when he saw all your comments....thank you, thank you, thank you!!

~Katie

~Gotta Love a Washington Spring..~ Pink Paislee Fascinating Line- Photo HEAVY

2009-02-17T08:52:00.000-08:00

I'm serious....there is nothing like Spring in Washington state....the tulips, the trees filling in, the birds chirping....it's gorgeous. I miss living there...Whidbey Island was my favorite place that I've lived in my whole life.
And these pictures have been waiting for a special project to come up. I used a 7Gypsies ATC carousal and a whole lot of Pink Paislee's Fascinating line and created this little end table project.
I used the papers, the alphabet stickers, the chipboard letters, the chipboard elements ,the brads, the sticker packs and the pressons all from the Fascinating line.

You may see some cards twice...I took pictures and then did more cards and had to rearrange a bit...so accidentally have doubles of certain pages...I can't rephoto it right now because it's being displayed at Paper Tales here in San Diego.

I hope you found this Fascinating!!!!

Creative Therapy-Catalyst # 49- A photo that brings up emotion....

2009-02-15T09:28:00.000-08:00

This weeks assignment was to use a photo that brings up emotion.... you can see the other artists versions by going HERE.

Sunshine in the Rain

These photos totally bring up emotion when I look at them. I can remember that exact moment......I remember how happy she was and I remember it feeling like that little break in the clouds where the sunshine shines through....even if just for a moment.

I also used January's Kenner Road kit for this page.....the rainbow's were beyond perfect for the pictures!

~Happy Valentine's Day~ Our treat bags this year....so sweet!

2009-02-14T19:07:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun (notice I say I on this.....the girls lost interest quickly) making these treat bags. I used the stamps from Pink Paislee's Sweet Cakes line, so darn cute. I love them, they make me happy!

I hope that you had a great Valentine's Day and were able to share it with someone sweet.

These big bags were the girl's valentine's bags...full of fun stuff from the dollar section of Michael's. They were super excited to get them!!

The bags by the way are from Paper Mart. I use them to package up my kit pieces for classes but they come in SUPER duper handy for other things too!

On this 3 day weekend.........plus an RAK!

2009-02-13T15:47:00.000-08:00

Please drive safe and please take a minute to listen to this.....

As many of you know, this summer my 19 year old brother-in-law was killed by a drunk driver. (Link to the first post after he was killed , just click on "newer" posts at the bottom and it will chronologically take you through my blog as I have a ton more posts on him and the situation.) The loss has just been beyond difficult for our family and friends to deal with. My in-laws are still devastated and it has changed their lives forever. There is so much sadness for them everyday. The impact has been deep for everyone involved but please let it make a difference. Please let this inspire us to make changes and change the laws to protect others.

There is a legislative proposal that would make the Ignition Interlock mandatory in the last 42 states that haven't already made it mandatory.

This is SO easy to sign and send...all you do is click on this link Ignition Interlocks for convicted DUI drivers and fill out name, address etc on the left side and send, it's already written for you. You may add to it if you want or just keep it in the form letter. Takes 2 minutes.

from the MADD site----
"In 2007, almost 13,000 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. Fortunately, there is a technology that has the potential to eliminate these preventable deaths -- the ignition interlock. These sophisticated devices can prevent a vehicle from being driven by a drunk driver. If they are used correctly -- in concert with treatment, in addition to hard license suspensions and in the vehicles until they are no longer needed -- they can stop repeat offenses.

People who have previous drunk driving convictions make up approximately one-third of the drunk driving problem in America. These are people who have been failed by a system that has in turn failed to keep the rest of us safe. Even first-time offenses are serious indicators that a person is likely to become a repeat offender. First-time offenders have driven drunk an average of 87 times before they are convicted and most likely have a serious problem with alcohol.

Studies have shown that ignition interlocks can decrease repeat offenses by 64%. We have the technology and we know how to reverse the trend, but the laws haven't been passed yet making this technology mandatory for ALL convicted DUI offenders.

Currently eight states mandate or provide strong incentives for ignition interlocks for all persons convicted of DUI -- Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico and Washington. If you are a resident of one of the other 42 states contact your legislators and tell them you support saving lives and eliminating repeat drunk driving offenses by mandating ignition interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders. "

In case you missed the link it's here ----> Ignition Interlocks for convicted DUI drivers

and I'm going to be doing my first RAK.............here's the skinny on it.....

You MUST click on the above link (honesty policy here) AND post a message on my blog. I will randomly draw a name ONE week from today. Next Friday morning (Feb. 20), I will draw a name and send you out a GOOD RAK.

So remember, 2 things.....click on the link (and if you agree with the legislation and live in one of the 42 states left, then please fill it out and send) and leave me a message on my blog!

I of course would love it if you sent out a link (for the Ignition Interlock Campaign) to all your friends and family but I know that's a lot to ask.

So, have a great 3 Day weekend and please be safe!!

~Katie

~October at the Farm~ Maya Road's new Apple coaster Album

2009-02-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

This sure was a fun little album to make. I had these farm pictures from when we lived on Whidbey Island...that were perfect for it. As soon as we get around Julian and get some "local" pictures then I'll do another one of these as a Julian album. For those of you that are "not from around" these parts...Julian is our local mountains, it's where my husband grew up. They are famous for their apple pies. My in-laws still live there and we go up there all the time but we stay away from town. We just hole up with the family and breathe in the mountain air and stay as far away from people as possible....but for the apple album I need some "julian" pics...the mine, the candy shop, town, the pie places etc....

Anyway, enough rambling.......here is the rest. I think my favorite part of this was making the little trees.....I painted them green, sanded the edges, used Glossy Accents and flock to make the little apples. Then I inked the trunk brown and used a brown pen to make the trunk texture. I then used Glossy Accents over the whole thing to make it shiny! They were so fun!

Here are links to a few products that I used...Maya Road doesn't have the brand new product on their site yet so I can't link to that yet. I'll edit my post when I can link.
I used the Calendar Sheer Set, Metric Ruler Stamp (I love using scallop scissor with this stamp to make little borders), Red Trinket Buttons(love that you can sand the edges of these to make them white and distressed), Oval Calendar Stamp, Scallop Chipboard Frames, Red Scallop Ric Rac (This stuff makes me weak in the knees)and here is Ranger Glossy Accents (a favorite product among the Maya Road DT members)...as soon as the new MR products are up, I'll update these links.
Hope you enjoyed my little apple album as much as I enjoyed making it!!
~Katie

ETA- The red gingham paper is made by Daisy D's, which sadly is gone....loved that company!

btw- Hannah is walking on her own, even with the big bulky casts and started school yesterday!! So proud of her!!

Kenner Road Kit Layouts and some Sorry Sneakers....

2009-02-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

I just did 3 layouts with the Jan Kenner Road kit..........2 I can share, one I can't share yet....I did a layout for next weeks Creative Therapy assignment...
This months kit was full of fun stuff...some cutie pie vintage milk caps, rainbows and popsicles, bright blue tissue garland and lots of reds, limes, oranges, hot pinks and other fun colors.
This layout is called "I {heart} OverAll Season".

This layout is called "Happy Feet".

These are Hannah's sneakers....that were a couple of months old...and I just wanted to show you the tread wear from her feet.....

Now these were some "unhappy feet"......oh man, I see a layout coming for those!!

I also ran across some free Valentines Images, you have to post a link in order to be able to download them, they look super cute and I need something cute for our Valentines Bags this year.... so go HERE to look at them!

Pink Paislee Blog Post and Class coming up!

2009-02-06T11:43:00.000-08:00

Today was my blog post day on the Pink Paislee Blog, you can see it here....Lucky Me Mini Album

I will also be teaching this book on March 7th from 2-5ish... (may last longer) at Cool Scrapbook Stuff here in Poway, Ca. For info go HERE.

We will be using the new "Fetching" line by Pink Paislee and it is rich and beautiful, you will love it!!The album is a 6x6 binder album by Maya Road. You will also receive 3 sets of alphabet letters plus the "ME" big Maya Road letters on the front! So, this class will be full of product!! You'll take home leftovers!

The cost is $35 and includes all the product so you will get LOTS of Pink Paislee and Maya Road.....this will be a little bit of a different class as your pages might not look the same as mine...and that's because you don't have my pictures so your titles and placement may be different. You will have all the same supplies to work with and you will receive a list of what photos I used (like pg 1- 1 vertical 4x6 picture that was cropped, pg 2- 1 horizontal 4x6 picture) so then you can follow the same pattern that I did for each page. Make sense?

So, if you are interested and live (or will be) in the area then contact Cool Scrapbook Stuff for details.

Here are a couple more pictures....more can be seen at the Pink Paislee Blog.

Another CHA project from the Maya Road booth.....

2009-02-02T15:22:00.001-08:00

This is another project that I did for the Maya Road booth. I was assigned the new Layered Mini Album. I was hoarding this Heather Bailey Paper and waiting to find the perfect project...this one was it!

I used the new "mini" Noah alphabet and the Valentines "Love" release chipboard keychain set for this cover.

I also used the new little blossom on this page, they are kind of like leather...they are fun to use.

This is one of the new owl sheer pieces....couldn't be more perfect for the glasses that my girls have on......Man, I miss the Gymboree days....I also used one of the Maya Road borders on this.

Did you notice the little white butterfly rubons that I used inside her bug catching jar? She was really catching mostly little rolly polly's but I added a few butterflies for her!

On a more personal note...Hannah is walking!! Very unsteady but she is up and around...she just follows stuff that she can hold on to...like a baby..when they cruise the edge of the couch. She hasn't walked without something to steady herself on yet...but she's getting there! So NICE to not carry her to the bathroom anymore...!!

We went to Julian this weekend....to see my in-laws...we also looked at a bunch of houses in Ramona....they are totally affordable...and maybe, just maybe we can buy a house....the money we pay for rent is such a waste....would love to own a home and paint the walls ANY color I want!

I had a moment....in Ian's room...actually quite a few moments...his room is untouched...it's been 6 months and it's pretty much like he left it...dirty clothes in the closet etc...and I walked in there and on his nightstand was his hat...like it was just waiting for him...it made me cry. I went through his closet and just touched some of his stuff....found a rock in one of his shoes...took it out but put it back where it was. It's still so unreal....just so strange...and sad, deeply gut wrenching. Makes me sick to my stomach that he's never gonna put that hat on again. I still can't believe it. My in-laws look tired....and older...and they have lost their spark..and if you know them then you know the spark that I'm talking about....it's amazing...and it's lost. I love them dearly and wish there was something that I could do...but there's not. We are going to try and get them going to a support group called Compassionate Friends...we went to that after my brother died. It helped us all a lot. I think they need to be around people that have walked in their footsteps...to see that life is still important and it does go on. It's a hard grief to share and I think being around people that completely understand will help.

We drove past the accident site and as usual I had that feeling in my stomach like you do at the top of a roller coaster right before you go down...not that excited feeling but that feeling like your gut is in your chest and you can't catch your breath...the glass is still all on the side of the road and the sun was shining on it so it was sparkling...to go and remove the glass would be very unsafe...as that road is bad and there is constant traffic coming around the corner.

Driving the route that he last drove was also strange....I just kept putting myself in his car...and thinking that he was just driving with Tessa, music on, windows down...and just driving without a care in the world...not knowing that this would be his last action, his last moments, his last laughs etc....it was horrible...but I couldn't escape it...I just couldn't. He was happy and in love and spent the last few minutes with his girlfriend... gosh, how much one minute can make..just one stinking minute...that's all he needed. The drunk driver might have missed him....just one minute... Miss you Ian.

This is a picture of him holding Hannah....he was about 12 or so in this picture and she was a chubby little bundle.

My Maya Road Butterfly Album using the NEW Pink Paislee Enchanting Line!

2009-01-28T14:04:00.001-08:00

I am back from CHA, trying to get caught up on sleep and relaxation time..it was busy, crazy on your feet for 10 hours a day kind of fun!

This is the Butterfly album that I did for the Pink Paislee booth using their new Enchanting Line. Very pretty sages and soft pinks...love the wood grain paper!

This is actually one of those Goodwill Roses...it wasn't the right shade of Pink so I used the Pink Maya Mist and like magic, it's the shade of pink that I needed. I glittered the edges of the petals with Coconut Pixee Stix glitter by Pink Paislee. It added just a little sparkle to it.

Every time I hear that song "Butterfly Kisses" it makes me think of my girls...so I used pictures that were just classic little girl throughout this album..it is fun to just use random pictures in a mini album, instead of having a series of photos from one event. I just make them black and white and they all match and flow.

Thanks for looking and I hope that you have an "enchanted" day!

ETA- I will be teaching this as a class March 15th at Paper Tales. I'll update when I have the exact date, time and price.

Finally....I can start sharing some CHA work....

2009-01-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite projects that I made for CHA...I used the new Maya Road landscape binder envelope book. It comes with 4 envelopes inside for filling with notes, letters, ticket stubs....or whatever your little heart desires!

I used October Afternoon paper and tags from their Hometown line. I love that line...aqua and black are so stunning together.... I used the famous treading water punch by fiskars and made scallop layers (just like I did on the houses from Christmas)....then I knew that I HAD to use this little ballerina cupcake topper...it's vintage and from Paper Tales, of course...I used my Tonic scissors by Tim Holtz (they cut through anything) and cut off the back of her tutu that was sticking out....just made it a little flatter. Then I used the black scallop ric rac by Maya Road and made little cabbage roses...topped with aqua pearls, also from Paper Tales. I coiled up little scraps of the aqua paper and made little quilled roses. I also used the NEW Maya Road leaf and pearl pins...oh man, they are so pretty.

The scroll frame is also a NEW product by Maya Road, I used Maya Mist and sprayed it black...also sprayed the Maya Road brackets black and then topped with silver mist for a shimmer. Black Maya Road felt flower,Maya Road black sequin trim, new Maya Road vintage trim and a 7Gypsies handle (I can't get enough of those!).... Bound the edge with 7Gypsies gaffer tape and then made a black tulle bow (also from Paper Tales, tulle in every color!)....

I stamped the word "together" with the background stamp that comes on the "art rules" stamp set by Studio 490...and I'm addicted..such a cute and easy way to add pattern to chipboard.

I used a ton of Maya Road goodies on this...stamps, rubons, chipboard, flowers, sheers, pins, Maya Mists etc..... and blogger isn't letting me link anything right now...I'm so frustrated! I'll try to add the links later.

I leave for CHA tomorrow. I'll be working at the Maya Road booth. Stop in and say hi, if you get a chance and are going there...

You can get this album right HERE!

Hannah is doing much better. She is over the trauma from last week....although I'm not. We talked to the hospital today and they said it's routine to not use pain meds....and that she had a lot of pins and some were probably a little stuck. They said that they are just too busy to have private rooms even for pin removal patients. They also wanted the name of the lady that was rude to me and they said that "I can talk to anybody I want to about our case" same thing...my kid, my choice. I don't know here name and don't really care....I'll just chalk it up to her having a bad day.

No standing on her feet yet...she has little boots for her casts but we did get her an exercise ball and that is helping...although tonight she is covered in a rash on her belly, arms and back..we think maybe from the ball...allergic maybe? I don't know...I GIVE up this week. We have had some extra challenges and it has been a long week. Stay strong...right?

Talk soon!

~Katie

My Poor Sweet Hannah....wheel chair accident yesterday...

2009-01-16T17:11:00.000-08:00

Oh Man.....a really bad couple of days for Hannah.....I feel so bad.... I'm totally one for setting up the story before telling it..so bear with me.
OK, I have been housebound forever it feels like....It's been a month since Hannah's surgery...and so yesterday, I dragged myself away from my CHA mess...and got ready, even did makeup and hair (amazed?) and made plans to pick up my friend Kathy..we were going to Paper Tales and out to lunch at Soup Plantation...but before that, I was taking Hannah to her school to see her class.
So, we got there and saw her classmates and even went to Maddy's class too...it was all fun until....as we were walking in front of the office, on the ground I spied a little wad of rolled dollar bills on the grass, just about a foot off the sidewalk on the grass... I instantly thought of the poor panicked kid who lost his little wadded up dollar bills that were his lunch money..so..
I bent down and tried to reach them but they were just out of reach on the grass so I let go of Hannah's wheel chair for just a second, just a darn second...and said, "Hannah, set your brake"...and reached for that money..and heard "MOMMY" and turned around and saw Hannah rolling off the curb...the wheelchair pitched her forward and she flew through the air, landing straight on her heels...full force..then toppled over on her knees and then the wheel chair came tumbling down on her............she just started shreiking...the most painful earpiercing screams...
I ran and grabbed her and ran to the bench...holding her and she was in the most incredible pain....I was crying..the office staff and librarian all ran out because they heard her screaming...
I felt so bad, it was awful. We called Derek who had just gotten home as we were leaving (he had duty the night before and was gone for about 30 hours so he got to come home a little early that day, thank God)...he came and picked us up and we took her straight to Children's hospital ER. She screamed the whole way there...and was dizzy and sick from the pain...
They gave her tylenol/codeine and that helped. They took X-rays and she was fine..her pins were still in place...she had scrapes on her elbows, wrists and knees and some scrapes on her casts...but OK.
I cried the whole day...I swear, I just kept picturing her flying out of her chair straight towards the pavement..totally helpless and injured..that scene replayed over and over in my head. I cried myself right into a migrane.
Oddly enough..her belt doesn't work on her wheelchair. It was broken when they delivered it. We didn't call for a new one as we weren't really going anywhere with her. So that's why she flew out..but the thing is..if she was belted in, she would have landed right on her head and had no way to escape it.
I felt so darn bad. It didn't feel like an incline on the sidewalk, I've walked it so many times that I guess it just didn't stand out to me, but it was an incline, enough for her to roll before she could put on her brake. The thing was that it was my fault, I should have made sure her brakes were on...I thought I could grab it and be fine.
So, I hope that money didn't go unclaimed, I hope that kid liked his corndogs yesterday...darn lunch money.

Then today was her big day to get her pins pulled out and new casts...well, she had 4 big (they looked like Allen wrenches) in each leg and ankle...and they pulled them with NO painkiller or anything...she screamed like there was no tomorrow...I can't believe that she didn't burst a blood vessel in her face that's how loud she screamed. It was crazy. He just grabbed a wrench plier looking thing and pulled them...a few were stuck (you form tissue around them) and pulled. I felt so bad for her.
We were in the regular casting room so there were other little kids getting casts and having them taken off...they were quite alarmed. I looked at the door and there was this little girl about 4 standing there with her Mom. She was getting a cast, looked like a recast and her little eyes were huge. I heard her say to her Mom, "Mommy, they're not doing that to me are they?". So, I walked over there and said, "No honey, they're not doing that to you...she has pins that they are pulling out, don't worry" So her mom asked me what was happening and I told her. I walked back to Hannah (this was in between legs and Derek was with her) and the lady working in the room said to me in front of everybody, "Maam, please don't discuss your case with anybody else. We don't like you discussing details with other patients" I was so irritated and a tad embarrassed. So I said, "well that little girl was terrified" and she said, "well, that is our responsiblity to tell her that"....So I said, "well, maybe when you're pulling pins you should put that patient in another room...." and that was it. I was mad and already upset as it was. Just rude...and I'm sorry, but if you are going to put 3 beds in a room with 3 kids and a line at the door and not pull the curtains or anything....then don't tell me who I am allowed to talk to. Freedom of speech, my daughter..my business.
Sorry for the rant..but it's been a long 2 days...

So, Hannah is fine now...sore but now that those darn pins are out and she has colored casts...she is doing well.

Wow, my 100th post....how is that possible? Creative Therapy project also!

2009-01-13T19:54:00.001-08:00

I would say...."dude, she's got way too much time on her hands"....but I don't...so I can't really say that...little baby steps....adds up to 100 now.
Well....so...I am taking a break from CHA work...we are going to watch "The Biggest Loser" in a few minutes...the girls and I LOVE that show..I secretly want to go on it but my family keeps telling me that I'm not big enough...but I think they just can't do without me for the 6 weeks....!! I hate to exercise, mostly due to a bunch of nasty scar tissue on my abdomen from about 4 different surgeries...long story...I'll save it for later...but my abdomen is pulled really tight and I have scar tissue that has all knotted together...the nerves go crazy on some days and my side aches a lot. I also have a slipped disc in my back that causes me chronic pain...I will be addressing this after CHA and in between my husband's sea schedule (yes, it is already starting all over again...)....
So, this all leads to my dread of housework...It just plain hurts...I do little bits at a time...and can't ever have a good ole day of deep cleaning...I wouldn't be able to function the next day..so I do bits at a time...but it never seems to get done...so with the housework subject...(yes, this is going somewhere)...I did my "Creative Therapy" post this week on housework. Yep, I did...

Here is my write up.

Catalyst 44
What's something about the way you live
your life that doesn't align with who you are (or wish you were)?

Housekeeping

This completely goes with the "wish" I were. I am an artist...and a have a little bit of a "time management" problem. I wander....I rummage...I think, I create...and I work that all around trying to be a mother, a wife, a sister, a school volunteer , a cook, a housekeeper and a designer with deadlines. I have lots of ideas...some that get finished, some that just get started and others that get "thought" about a lot. The one thing that has zero interest for me is housecleaning...don't get me wrong, my house is presentable, well on most days....or at least as long as I have at least a 30 minute notice that you are dropping by.
I don't like that. I really don't . I want to have the perfect house, the perfect decorations, the perfect life...but like I said, I'm an artist...and our vision of a perfect day doesn't always include cleaning.
But.....I sometimes wish that I wasn't creative...it's complicated being creative...it is. Sometimes on days when the house seems to take me over, I wish that I was an organized and dedicated housekeeper. I wish that nothing took my time but taking care of my family. If I hadn't ever been creative, I wouldn't know what I was missing and I might have a clean showcase house. In doing my genealogy research, I found all the census records from 1880's up and all my female relatives stated that they were "housekeepers" except for Mary (gg aunt). She was a "bookbinder", I think I take after her.
One day, I was messing around on the computer (thinking about cleaning, I'm sure) and I came across the coolest site. It's called Feeding America. It's a site that is a digital archive of cookbooks from the late 18th to early 20th century.It contains some of the most important and influential American cookbooks. I love it. I collect old cookbooks and can cook a mean dinner when called upon. I also love history....even though life was hard (can't imagine not having air conditioning) it seemed simple. Roles were defined and everyone had one. There was no floundering with what you wanted to do, you did what needed to be done. Back breaking labor, I'm sure. I may have been miserable locked into that role, but it just seems so predictable and I'm sure that your expectations were much less.
It seems that most cookbooks back then included chapters on housekeeping, child rearing, treating the sick, curing meat, managing servants and a million other topics of interest back then. One particular cookbook stood out to me, maybe it's the author, the famous Harriet Beecher Stowe. It's called "The American Woman's Home" and it was written in 1869. I printed out the picture from the cover for my layout and also printed out a page from the book. I then chalked the picture for a little color and cut up tiny sentence strips from the text. Makes for an interesting read.
Don't get me wrong, I believe in woman's rights, I believe in women in the work force etc...and I do not consider my husband my master...but there are days when I wish that I played a more traditional role...my house would be cleaner and my mind more quiet.

You really should go and check out some of the prompts...they are cool. There are a variety of different artists and superb guest designers every month...lots of different mediums are used. It's a cool group.

The stamps(the face and the iron works things that the frame the photo) I used on the above layout are by Wendy Vecchi, they are part of her CHA-S 2008 debut for Studio 490 Stamps by Stampers Anonymous. Pretty cool stamps....they are cushioned already for you so they stamp like a dream. I couldn't even mess them up and I'm a novice stamper! Very artsy just like Mrs. Vechhi herself!

OK, well...I hear Derek getting Maddy out of the bath...so my time is up!!
Have a great day!!

OOPS, forgot....MAYA ROAD is having sneak peeks this week...each night will be new products and designs...go and check it out..we have a FAB design team and even more fab products!!

~Katie

Found it...Tammy Kay's tutorial on the book page flowers!

2009-01-11T01:32:00.000-08:00

Sorry, the little slip of paper with your email address disappeared on me....so finally, very late, this is for you sweet girl!
Tammy Kay Flower Tutorial
Vicki Chrismans Paper Flowers
Rebecca Sower's paper flowers
Lisa Pace Rosettes
These were all found on Scrapscene!

ETA- I laid in bed last night...remembering that I had seen another cool tutorial for a vintage looking shabby flower...I got up and looked through a bunch of sites that I follow and found it.........
Kenner Road Flower Tutorial

SO now, I am off to bed!! I am far too old to be up this late...but the flower link promised in my class has been on my mind!
Night Night, Katie

Hi! I'm still here!

2009-01-09T17:19:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, is life busy around the holidays and CHA time....I get buried in projects for CHA and cannot seem to justify spending an hour updating my blog after I feel like I have already put my family on the back burner for hours...
That is CHA..It's like cramming for a final...crazy busy! Fun busy, exciting busy and bursting with wanting to share all the new product!! Soon....just a couple of weeks.
I can share with you the Kenner Road layout that I did last week with December's Kenner Road kit (her best yet, it's gorgeous!)...Remember that I won a 6 month subscription to her kits...I have had a blast using them. I have them all stacked on my desk so that I can go back and do more with them....it kills me to not use them all up...very cool stuff!!

Only a cool monogram letter like this would have me out in the garage in the middle of the night getting chicken wire to make a project....chicken wire that I retrieved from someones recycle bin on trash day...I guess it's considered recyclable, right? I sure recycled it!!

This was a little fun thing that I made with November's kit. I just fell in love with the old player piano music paper....so fun. Of course these are the Goodwill roses that I still have a huge stash of....saving for the perfect class....along with a zillion other trinkets!

My friend Lisa Pace is doing another online workshop. This one is called "Cupid's Workshop" and it is cute....cause she's my friend, I got to peek at some of the projects...can you say, Stunning? She never lets down..always that elegant vintage look!

You can go HERE to register for her workshop.....
I get to see this Texas Redhead soon!! I'm excited to hang out at CHA with her...she is my buddy! She is a hoot for sure and we always have a blast!

Hannah is doing much better.....she gets her pins out next week..and then gets new casts....she hurts a lot, mostly at night...she will ask us for Motrin only about once a day...that's it though. No more Lortab...thank god, it hurt her tummy...
I caught her little Ken/Barbie love story unfolding....

Cory is doing OK....we struggle..teens are hard....He did however get his learners permit...and his behind the wheel teacher was a trip...his toupee was kicking though....and the guys car broke down when they got home and Cory had to jump him (that's a for sure A+) right?

Ok, off to make dinner and make up to my family that I spent the day in jammies working on CHA stuff!!

Yayyy!! I Made it!! Everything is coming up PINK (Paislee that is)!!

2009-01-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

Ohhhhhh, I am So happy!! I adore Pink Paislee, I really do!! I love it so much and I am SO excited to make the team again! I have been sweating bullets for a week! I really was so hoping that I would make it...but they had over 400 applicants....and I was worried that I didn't have a chance...but I guess I did!!
They have picked an incredible new team!! Really, really good...and we have a few from our prior team (I adore all their work too and am SO excited to see them on the team again!!)!!
Awesome new faces, some names that I know and love and some that I'm not familiar with...and can't wait to get to know them and their work!! So congrats to the new team and I'm off to finish the left over champagne from last night!!!

The NEW Pink Paislee Design Team-2009!!!

Hostess Gifts and trying to get back to normal....

2008-12-29T09:53:00.000-08:00

I know, always a dual topic post for me...Anyway, a lot to catch up on....busy week.

Last year, I was short a gift for a family member that I don't know all that well. She's very elegant and has oodles of money so she can buy what she wants and I definitely cannot afford to shop at the stores that she shops at....so I was a little stumped...Derek wanted to get her a bottle of Bailey's but that sounded so plain to me...so an idea blossomed. I decided to use one of the cutsie wine bottle holders that we had and make it into an elegant altered wine bottle holder. So this is last years version.

Just start with a wine bottle holder...paint any edges that might be exposed a little....you should also sand the surface a little bit..they are usually a slick shiny paper and it will be easier for you to adhere your paper if it's a little roughed up.

This one I did using Pink Paislee's Tinsel Town, Pixie Stix glitter and a Maya Road Scallop frame. It's also on the Pink Paislee Blog right now.

another one...the pics aren't great on these next two..trying to take pics at night with poor lighting doesn't make for pretty pics!

A square one....it turned out so pretty!

For a small amount of money and a little time, you can create a beautiful Hostess gift....imagine the possibilities...birthday champagne, wine parties, bunco gifts etc...

Next....the evening of the 23rd, while my sister and I were sitting at my table making these wine bottle holders.....the doorbell rang. Odd, not expecting someone...heard the grumble of the motor, just like a UPS truck...hmm...they're working late tonight....opened the door to see Nikki and Keri Long (Hannah's best friend from last year and her Mom, the sweetest of all people)at the door...a surprise visit for Hannah...but they opened the door and behind them was this--->

Danny, Keri's Dad is the Youth Pastor at the Jamul Church and they had driven the bus to our house to sing Hannah some Christmas Carol's...
Derek carried her out there in the cold and they sang to her. She was so surprised, touch and a little tiny bit embarrassed. It was great, totally touched my heart. We don't even go to that church. So sweet of them to think of her, housebound at Christmas....I need to make more of an effort to be friends with them, they are a nice, nice family.

Speaking of Hannah...she's doing much better. She is SO heavy though...oh man, when Derek goes back to work, I am going to have such a hard time....trying to get her to the bathroom is so hard....yikes.
We took her back to Children's Hospital the day after Christmas because she was having incredible pain in her right ankle. They cut the heel out of her cast to look at it..and turns out, she had no padding...it had become saturated with blood and when it dried, was all hard and crispy...and had moved around...so it was rubbing on her wounds...so they repadded it and taped the cast back together...and she is much better now.
So, now what to do with Maddy...she is bored out of her mind...she has lost her #1 playmate...we're trying.

We're headed up to Julian to stay at Derek's parents house for a couple of days...we HAVE got to get out of this house...

A couple more things..............Maya Road is doing an early release give away. They have made some Valentine's Products...to see the giveaway and the products go HERE.

This is my last couple days of being a Pink Paislee DT member....my term is up. They will be picking a new team and announcing it on January 1st....exciting times for some lucky girls...can't wait to see the list!! DT Contest Announcement.
What a great time I have had being on the Pink Paislee DT...the product is just incredible....so darn pretty...and did you hear that they have 4 new releases for CHA-W! Can't wait to see them, sure we'll be amazed! Holly McCaig is just an incredible designer, her product lines rock the world...and Rebecca and Barry are the nicest people..so easy to work for and SO generous!! Thanks for having me be a part of your team!!

Holiday Madness....Every Year, why? And Yes, I know that I use the Treading Water Punch backwards!!

2008-12-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

Oh Man............wow, I am so ready to sit back , listen to Christmas Tunes ( my fave this year is THIS , the first few songs on my playlist are from this CD, just press the play arrow on my playlist at the bottom of the page) and drink Bailey's....but alas.....Santa is broke so his ONE Christmas elf (she's a little tall) is busy making Christmas presents............Story of every Christmas....and I know that they love handmade...but man, when it's the day before Christmas Eve and I'm still busting stuff out...I feel anxious. It always comes together.....I always finish what I need to and SWEAR that next year will be different...but it never is.

I think this is my favorite house of all....mainly because of the wreath on the front...I used the Martha Stewart Rose leaf punch.

and the beautiful October Afternoon red paper.......drool...

OK, so YES, I do use the treading water punch backwards (have had a couple people mention it), upside down or whatever you call it...I use ALL my punches this way...I guess it's because I NEED to see what I am punching...I know that the punch has grids on the top but I seem to always screw it up....so if I turn it over and see it from the actual punch, I can make sure that it's lined up perfect. It's a quirk I guess...but yep, I know I use it wrong...maybe I need a little lesson myself! Whatever works, right?

Little Hannah...she is doing MUCH better! Off the valium and not in tears all the time. She is getting a little bored...thank God for the Wii and our new Animal Crossings game......she loves that.

My sweet friend Lisa Pace sent Hannah a little care package (darn cute stuff)and my daughter, being the non-procrastinator that she is has already made thank you cards for the people that gave her stuff for the hospital. Thanks Lisa, she loves it all...and had so much fun making her cards...yours is on the top there!

Maddy, however has the flu......and threw up all over the place yesterday..today has an upset yucky stomach and a fever but no barfing...thank God!

Just a little album that I am working on for our holiday photos....perhaps a gift for my MIL, we'll see.....I used a Maya Road 4x4 binder album, Pink Paislee and a vintage doily.

These are our big gifts (and they are BIG) this year for all the family in our lives...from the etsy shop called The Back Porch Shoppe.

We ordered a monogram letter for each family....they are so darn cute. I have a big W on my wall that I ordered from them a few months ago. Can't wait to give them out this year!!
Well, that's about it.........
Have a Merry Christmas!!

We're Home

2008-12-20T20:58:00.001-08:00

We got home from the hospital today..thought I would share a few photos with you since I don't have the alert mind to write much...long night...Thanks for all your support!
Hannah is in a lot of pain..and we are trying to help her work through that...I have a feeling we are in for a long few days with no nurses to help. She is twitching now, it's muscle spasms..but they are incredibly painful. They have been giving her Valium to help to relax her muscles and it does help.
Thanks again for all your support. We really appreciate it.

Deep asleep on the first day of the surgery.

Kitty from her Auntie Chandra...so cute and soft.

First smiles with her cousins and sisters last night.

Sissy and Hannah...
Reading her cards from her class...with tears pouring down her face..she said that "she didn't know that she was that important to them"...so sweet.

Maddy and Daddy wheeling her out of the hospital today.

Update on Hannah

2008-12-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

I just have a minute, as I have to run out the door back to the hospital but wanted to update you all a little.
The surgery went well, they didn't run into any unexpected problems....but my poor little Hannah is in a world of pain.
Her legs hurt so bad....and she is swelling, which is normal...she says that her legs are going "Beat, beat, beat..."...so they cranked the casts a little looser (they put little cuts in them with a crank screw thingy to make the looser when swelling occurs)...and she has drains in her cuts to drain out the extra fluid...I just try not to look at them because they are yucky!
The poor girl is still throwing up though....I guess it's her Morphine...but it's made her puke for 24 hours now. She is not feeling well at all. They are going to take her off of it today and put her on Tylenol (we'll see how that goes...with the amount of pain she's in...I can't imagine Tylenol doing the trick).
The other thing is that she has a bad stomach ache. It started actually a couple of days before the surgery, we chalked it up to nerves. But it hurts to even touch her stomach at all...she won't let us feel it or let us put blankets on her even. They had a general surgeon come up to look at her and she said that it seemed OK but ordered some blood work. We'll see.
So, Derek took first shift last night and I came home around 9 to take care of Maddy and get her off to school. He was up all night...poor guy. I'm off to break him so he can get some sleep.
She is supposed to come home tomorrow but it's not set in stone so we'll play it by ear and see. Anyway, gotta run...wish us all luck today!

Well, tomorrow is the day....send good thoughts and prayers for my sweet little Hannah...

2008-12-17T21:03:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow at 6am we have to be at the hospital. Hannah's surgery is at 7:30. I thought the doc said that it would take 2.5 hours but my hubby says he said 3-4. So by lunch Hannah will be done. If you need a background go to Hannah's Surgery.
Last night the wheel chair got delivered...it was a sobering sight. It made it all real...4-5 weeks...could be worse I guess...

We had family over to hang out for a little while. I didn't cry all night until I saw Maddy hugging Hannah before she left to spend the night at her auntie's...and she held her so tight...I think she may have been a little forgotten in this whole process....

I took a picture of Hannah's ankles tonight..just to remember..this is with her standing straight...if she's not paying attention, her feet turn inward alot and collapse even more. When she's walking, those ankle bones almost touch the ground...this will soon be fixed...as will the legs (can't believe that they are breaking my little girl's legs....)and feet.

So, tomorrow...say a prayer for my daughter Hannah...It will be a couple of days until I can post again...we'll see how it goes..wish I had a laptop. I'm sure she will be fine and all will go well..but I'm still scared...I'll keep in touch, soon!

5 part Video Series- Holiday House Tutorial

2008-12-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

Yay!! My Dear Sweet Hubby figured out how to post the video of the Holiday House Tutorial that I made. This was a first and it turned out pretty long, so it's in 5 parts...maybe next time I can figure out how to do it a little easier...but this was a chore. Not to mention the few cuts he had to make of me messing around...I did a few screw ups.
So, I am NOT a professional on video and since I was still in my pj's I wouldn't let him film me...and my crap is piled everywhere...I really thought it was a practice run, but it was a ton of work (for us first timers) so I didn't want to take the time to start over. Plus, I have crafter hands..yep, these almost 38 year old hands have seen a lot of stuff...if only hands could talk!
I'm a chatty girl..so I talk you through each step and kind of don't stop talking...Sorry, it's just me.
I know that the quality is hard to see the details..and I am working on pics of the details on the next house that I am working on so then I can post some close up pics of the steps..but for now, this will have to do.
I used Pink Paislee Jack Frost Snowflake paper, it's so pretty in the light because it is actually a metallic silver..so it's glimmery. I accented with Silver Berry Pixie Stix glitter.
The windows are made from the Maya Road Scallop Frames. The scallop border was made from the Maya Road Border Sheet.

The houses are made by Craft Pedlar.

I use Fabri-Tac by the gallon (and is what I used on this project)...it's the best glue I ever met.
I also use Designer Art Glitter Glue for ALL my glittering. It also rocks!

I use the Finger Tip Craft Knife (razor knife with incredible control)by Fiskars throughout the project. I also use the Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors.

Of course the Treading Water Punch by Fiskars is pretty important, yep..couldn't make the roof without it.

Holiday House Video Part 1

Holiday House Video Part 2

Don't get confused, I was working on my 3rd house and thought that I needed to make the window cutting more clear, so I redid that part with a different house...Then it was too hard to cut out...so it stays.

Holiday House Video Part 3

Holiday House Video Part 4

Holiday House Video Part 5

OK, so please...remember that this was a test...and I am not that great on video..plus I was winging it..it was only my 2nd house that I created..so I was a little shaky.
Enjoy!

Tutorial is coming....:) I didn't forget...!!

2008-12-14T20:03:00.000-08:00

It just took a lot longer then I thought....oh yeah, maybe it's because I decided to have Derek put it on our digital camcorder....and it was like a class...and we still have to figure out how to upload it to my blog. This is new ground for us and my poor hubby now knows how to make Holiday Houses...which is a good thing because they are what we are giving out as Christmas presents this year to family (don't worry, they don't read my blog...so I didn't ruin the surprise!)!
Here is a little peek to hold you over, I did 2 new houses...the medium and the little one. Hopefully, we can get the videos posted in the next day or so...

So, ignore the pile of trash on the floor and the crooked wreath...darn kids.

I also wanted to thank the ladies that took my class last Sunday, I had SO much fun. You guys were a great group. I know it was crowded but nobody had a panic attack or got an eye poked out by the wire and you all did a great job...A very pleasant class, really!

We even had a little birthday party!!

~Holiday House~

2008-12-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

OK, this will be a super short post....as I have to be somewhere QUICK. Anyway, I finished one of those super cute Chipboard houses from Paper Tales that I showed you the other day.....Just one so far...but don't worry, the rest will get done..and I'm going to do a free tutorial this weekend on how to do them.
So real fast, here are some pictures of it. I used October Afternoon papers, Maya Road chipboard frames, Diamond Dust and Pink Paislee Glitter.

CLICK on the pictures to make them full size, my blog cuts off the right side....I gotta figure it out soon!

So.......promise some step pictures and a tutorial on this...but we are taking off for a SURPRISE trip to Knott's Berry Farm today...picking up the girls and taking them, they have no idea.....Once Hannah has her surgery she can't do anything fun like that for 4 months...so off to surprise them!! So this weekend promise!!!

~Katie

~Going Banner Crazy!~

2008-12-06T15:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, it's official...I'm in LOVE with banners (do not tell my husband that I might love banners more then him...well not really, but it's close)! They are so festive and can sure soften up harsh lines (as you'll see later in my post)!

So, I have a friend named Lori Gentile who is a quiet little mouse but a super talented one and a very, very kind and sweet person. She has done some videos to go with some kits from A Million Memories. I just wanted to share with you some of her work. She made a video with her banner and some cute very ornaments.
Click on the photos to make them full size...sorry, my blog cuts them off, but if you click on them they come up bigger!

Her video is HERE. The AMM kits are HERE and HERE(this is the kit you can purchase to make the projects that she demonstrates).

So, speaking of banners....I have been busy making them also...and can't get enough. I'm rather fast at them now.
This is one that I made for my husband's aunt. We went to Julian to stay the night before Thanksgiving and I took all my supplies and made a Thankful banner. This is it hanging on my in-laws fireplace, pictures aren't great, sorry.

I had in my stash waiting for the perfect project..the October Afternoon Holiday line (it is so darn cute) and made it into a banner...remember when I mentioned above that a banner softens lines...well, I have this awful arrangement on our living room wall (I got tired of staring a white wall that was waiting for me to figure out what to put up...I'm still looking, but in the meantime put up a bunch of odds and ends from our garage)..it's is too many lines..it needs something but for now the banner is super cute (or was, it's on loan to Paper Tales for a display)...and softens up all those angles.

The pipe cleaner candy canes are from Paper Tales also...they are reproduction and look like the real thing.

Speaking of Paper Tales, I have a class there tomorrow with lots of Maya Road and Pink Paislee Tinsel Town stuff...and I'm ready to go...

IGNORE the Dixie cups....they are just to hold stuff until I get to the store and can put them in these!
(Thank you Kerry Lynn for the vintage paper(I made the cones out of it)in this months kit from Kenner Road, we got a ton of it!!)
One more thing about Paper Tales......when I went in to pick up some class supplies...I saw these houses.......

Oh My Dear...I have been looking for these things forever....and Michelle has them, they just came in..3 different sizes...the big one is about 11 inches tall...so it's roomy...as SOON as I do something with them I will post them on my blog...she only has about 12 sets as of yesterday, so you should get them while you can.

I had Pink Paislee Blog post yesterday...we are doing a cool thing, all the DT members made 2 ornaments to put together for a charity event at an LSS. We have saved the pictures though to do a Dec event..each day we will be posting our ornaments..so I made 3 and they are HERE...but here is one of them. I know, another banner piece, told you...it's pure love.

MAYA ROAD WAREHOUSE SALE !!!
Maya Road is having a warehouse sale again...last time they sold out in 36 hours...$45 for $125 worth of stuff..the details are HERE.

Creative Therapy Projects x 2 !

2008-12-01T21:23:00.000-08:00

On a previous post, I mentioned my friend Karen Grunberg that is the author and creator of Creative Therapy. I can't remember if I mentioned that I was to be a part of this with her and her team. I wanted to join it when she started but was over committed and overwhelmed with work (I was working part time) and Derek's sea schedule. My time cleared up a bit and I was able to accept her invitation. I was excited because I was ready to do some creating that was deeper....and eventually I'd like to open up a bit with my work instead of being so nicey nice..ya know?
Anyway, my second challenge was Catalyst #38. The theme was officially "to tell about something you don’t appreciate enough. (something that you take for granted)" and I played around a bit...and let it just take me...and as usual it took me to a home decor project...but I like those because I can display it in my home and think about the topic every time I see it.
I'll make you follow the link to find out what I had to say and be able to check out some of the other creations that others on the team made....Emily Falconbridge is the guest designer for this catalyst. So, I'm in good company!
I used lots of Maya Road (stars), vintage patriotic crepe paper streamers from Paper Tales (the little vintage goodies they have there are so so so cool!), Glitter from Pink Paislee, trim from a vintage find at an estate sale, flags from the Dollar store (and one from Maddy's welcome home sign for Derek), vase on clearance for less then $2 at Michael's, some WAY old epoxy patriotic stickers from K&Co and vintage music paper from the Goodwill.

And it fits in Ohhhh so perfectly on my red hutch with my other patriotic stuff!!

Here is the one that I did a few weeks ago...this was for Catalyst #35....Ali is the guest artist...hmmm...nuff said!

Lisa Pace showed me how to do the cool masking effect with the Maya Mists and a Maya sheer sheet...it's super artsy and easy!

~Homecoming~

2008-11-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

I flew into Hawaii last week to meet Derek's ship....I was so excited and this was my first time in Hawaii. What a beautiful place! I got there the night before Derek's ship pulled in so I had time to meet up with Molly Peckham and hang out! She took me to a cool little Hibachi Grill and we dined local style. We actually got the table all to ourselves and pretty much talked scrappy stuff throughout the night. She was super nice in person, gave me a great tour of the island and weathered the many phone calls from Maddy...who was desperately missing me and had a pretty bad night...Sorry Molly! It was so neat to meet one of my scrappy friends in person. Thanks Molly!!

Early the next morning, I hitched a ride with one of the other wives and we went to meet the ship at the ungodly hour of 6:30am...but when we got there we were met with this beautiful rainbow....

Pretty soon, the ship rounded the corner of the harbor and it was the most majestic sight.....made my heart swell with pride. The USS Ronald Reagan is a massive ship....pictures don't do it justice. There are about 5,000 men and women on this ship....it is a floating city. The men lined the deck dressed in their dress whites...such a sight to see!

So, when the ship finally docked....right in front of it was a perfect rainbow. A different one then in the picture before. It had it's own rainbow..it was so cool. My picture doesn't do it justice....I took it through the rain and kind of far away.

Derek and I spent about 3 days in Hawaii...and relaxed, caught up on life, I read 3 books (I'm a super fast reader)...and we shopped....got lots of little Hawaiian gifts for the family. It was nice to have some alone time before we jumped right back into family life.
We got back to San Diego Thursday night...and the girls were so excited to see Derek! They had made signs and were jumping up and down waiting for him to get down the escalator. Hannah cried and Maddy was all smiles.

So, now we're home...and life is slowly easing back to normal. I have to say that it's a little bit of a transition....Derek keeps moving stuff around...and I can't find things....he leaves the toilet seat up....and does guy stuff...so he's getting used to my messy ways and I'm getting used to his organized ways...and we are all getting back to being a family with 2 parents.
So, I do have some scrappy things to share...but the family is waiting on me to leave...we're going to Julian to stay at his folks house again (just got back last night from their house, but going again for Thanksgiving)...so I have to go now....but will do a good scrappy post next time!!
Have a great Thanksgiving!

~The Cutest Shabbiest Little LSS...and I'm Teaching There!!

2008-11-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

One night LATE...I was up Blog Hopping...and eventually ended up at this blog for a Scrapbook Store called Paper Tales...I sat and looked at all the pictures, drooled a little on my shirt...and read a bunch of the posts...and then I spied it...that little print somewhere...this store is HERE in San Diego...

Now you see, San Diego is really broken up in sections...there is North County, Downtown, Beaches, etc... and then there is the county WAY East...East County, which is where I hail from..and us East County People...well, we just stay in East County..yep, we don't venture far...

Well, I decided that I HAD to go see this store...so I went and took a peek..and was blown away...I got home and wondered if it was all a dream...so I went back with a friend (Hi Kathy!)to go and browse and then eat lunch at one of my fave places that happens to be next door(Soup Plantation, or if you're from the South..Sweet Tomatoes)..except..we never made it to lunch at SP...before I knew it, the time had flown..kiddos were getting out of school..and it was time to speed off.

So, Michelle the owner, has done it right....I think she snuck inside my head and took all my ideas of what kind of scrapbook store I would have, if I owned one....Here, this will entice you a bit...

Hmmmmm...back for more, huh? Well, OK..just a few more....but not all of them because I want you to keep reading my post.....

Well, back to Michelle...she is very spunky, very down to earth, an A Muse Stamp DT (they have some stamps that are so stinkin cute) member and a fellow Navy wife....yep, with a hubby that retired not too long ago..that was a Helicopter pilot..OK, 2-0... Navy wife, Scrapbooker...ummm...very fun..and we had so much in common...and she "Gets" me...we have that Navy and scrapbooker lingo down...I'm sure that the common (and I don't mean common as in ordinary, but common as in a normal person) would think we were speaking a foreign language... Don't go away yet..here are a couple more pics to keep you hanging on....

Look at all these colored tulle..!!
OK, I saved the best for last...well, almost last...the couch...Oh Dear Shabby Gods....

She has lots of vintage finds...yep, she's got friends that hit the estate sales and package up little goodies....I have a big basket full of them...so cute...and she puts them in little scallop cut clear bags with seam ribbon bows and stamped prices (oh..and they are cheap!)..and when you buy stuff..it gets wrapped in tissue paper and put in white shopping bags with handles...you feel like a million bucks!
And.......they carry Maya Road, Pink Paislee(who btw, has a brand new beautiful website, so if you have their blog linked anywhere, you need to re-link it)and 7Gypsies..all 3 of my favorite brands...and a bunch more...Jenni Bowlin, Melissa Frances, Sassafrass Lass, Making Memories...and on and on and on...plus she has the cutest little gift items..OK, I'll quit and get on with it...Make sure if you stop in there, you tell her I said "hi"! I don't think she will give you the "Saw it on Katie's blog" discount...but I bet she'll wrap up your purchase nice and pretty!

So, I am teaching there on Sunday, Dec. 7th..at 2pm. I am teaching a Holiday/Christmas Banner class...using Pink Paislee's Tinsel Town line...and Maya Road...lots of glitter, vintage music sheet paper, velvet flowers, tulle and silk ribbon. A thank you to Miss (she's actually a Mrs...but Miss sounds so much cuter!) Sarah Moore for allowing me to scraplift her stars behind the letters idea...She's my friend (yep, Sarah, I owe you an email...don't worry, you aren't the only one!)from Down Under and a military wife!

.
Sooooo, that date again? Oh, OK...I thought that's what you said...Sunday, Dec 7th..be there or be square..for sign up info go to the Paper Tales blog and get the contact info (don't know how cool that is to post a phone number)...

I guess that's it...oh yeah, and I think I broke my friggin toe today...I have x-rays in the morning...I think it might have to be popped back into place...Yikes!

Just Random Stuff................and a bit of Rambling...

2008-11-08T16:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, first of all I get to see my Husband in just over a week!! 9 days to be exact! I'm meeting his ship in Hawaii and If I can get my crap together to make arrangements, I might get to meet Miss Molly (love her work), she lives in Hawaii and is a fellow Navy Wife. I get there the night before Derek pulls in..so I'll have some extra time.
I miss Derek very much and cannot wait to be with him again....9 days and counting....(girls are screaming at each other upstairs as I type this...and I'm so burned out, I cannot tell you)! 6 months is a LOOOONG time (the week for Ian's funeral doesn't count...it was a blur) and I am so ready.
Next...Derek contacted me this morning and told me to check my computer...It was early...I was not awake...and annoyed that I had to get out of my warm bed...but curiosity got the best of me and I got up..well, he got tickets for TONIGHT for me and the girls to go see CARRIE UNDERWOOD in concert! Good seats also!
You see.....she is my girls FAVORITE singer ever!! And here is the other reason why I am excited.......cause this girl....

LOVES to sing!! We were at a DIVA party and they did karaoke...and when Hannah got up there...the Mom's in the back row...gasped. Yep, she's that good with NO training...she sings all the time...when she's picking out her clothes, on the potty, playing...she always is full of songs...so I did finally, this week, get my butt in gear to get her in singing lessons.....now this is weird, her teacher's husband is on Derek's ship..the USS Ronald Reagan. Small world...huh. Her teacher started her with "A Spoon Full of Sugar" from Mary Poppins..well, Hannah did not want to do that...she wanted to do Carrie Underwood..so her teacher said next week if she brings the music notes to a song so she that she can accompany her on the piano that she can sing Carrie Underwood.... So, she is beyond thrilled that she gets to see her LIVE tonight!!

OK, next....Kenner Road...I haven't had alot of time to work on this months kit...(I'm planning 2 classes so have been busy) but I did get 2 layouts done the other day...I'm not done with the kit yet, but wanted to share what I did so far...have stuff ready for my next project with this months kit..loved the vintage papers that came this month! For the life of me, I can't figure out how to make a full image of these layouts...if you click on them, they are full sized...oh well, you get the picture!

OK, so the above layout brings me to my next thing....I KNOW why God made teenagers....I really think I do...it's to teach us that we DON'T have to be liked by everybody...it desensitises us...it makes us more accepting of people completely disliking us...I think I was way more of a sensitive person before I had a teenager....Really....he's 17 and I'm sure that he's added at least 17 years to my life in the last 6 months....and really right now I know that he hates me....but I've accepted that..and hope by age 20 that he'll like me again...and that one day when he has kids that he'll call me and say, "Mom, now I understand..." I hope....

So, this has been a really, really LONG week...my kids are missing their Daddy so much, my teenager is on the skitz, my house is a mess, the yard guy came for his check (hence, the teenage drama continues..and yard work seemed to be the death of us every Saturday so the yard guy is our new friend...) so I am very low on extra spending money, I need to see the dentist...I leave for Hawaii next week and still have 40 pounds to lose..., I was a day late on my Pink Paislee blog post........Oh dear, that's the next thing....Pink Paislee blog post.....Here is a little peek at it... My Pink Paislee Blog Project is right HERE !

Ok, well...I guess that I have overwhelmed you all enough....I haven't had time to post on my blog in a bit..so you are getting it all at once. I am off to doll up for the concert!!

~I'm the Guest Designer at A Million Memories~ Take a Peek!

2008-11-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

I am the guest designer for A Million Memories this month! The November kit is gorgeous and you can see it HERE! Love the reds and aquas!!

To see the full pictures of my projects go HERE!

Michelle, the owner of A Million Memories, holds a dear place in my heart. When she bought AMM, she contacted me through 2Peas and asked me if I would be on her DT. I was beyond thrilled and learned SO much as a DT member at AMM. There are products that I had never used (seriously, rubons were a major stress to me!) and probably would have never used if I had not been on her DT.
She helped me to stretch my limits and think outside the box. I really credit her with everything I have now (Manu DT's etc) as she gave me my start. I was there for a year...and sometimes around the end of the month...when I think of all the kit teams...up late trying to finish their assignments for the premiere day...I get a little jealous of that excitement of reveal day and seeing what everybody else has done with the exact same kit!!

So with that I end...thanks Michelle!!

~Have you Heard of the QUEEN of Glitter and Vintage?

2008-10-29T09:06:00.001-07:00

Weeelllll, my pretties..... Lisa Pace, who is completely been a mentor to me...and she is the one who has single handedly gotten me addicted to the crafter crack, otherwise known as glitter.

OK, well here's the deal...and I wanted to share it with you cause it's a DEAL (ha, good play on words there, huh?)....Lisa is offering a workshop, not just any workshop...but a month long workshop... of Holiday Creating!

The 12 Days of Christmas is a month long online workshop of holiday creating. Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the month of November, Lisa will post new projects that will include a supply list, tools needed and step by step instructions to complete each project. There will be a total of at least 15 tutorials (this is super exciting to me...cause I look at her stuff in wonder and think, "How did she do that"). Some projects will come with a template to make the creative process a bit easier and each featured project has close up color photos. All the projects are designed so you can use items you already have on hand or create them exactly like the sample.

The cost for this online workshop is $19.95 (15 tutorials, downloadable images and recipes...wow..!!) and will be available from November 1st – December 15th. Once payment is received you will be sent a password to enter this private forum starting at 7:00 a.m. November 1st. Then it’s time to get out the glitter, trims, papers and embellishments for a fun filled month of creating.

Since this will be a place that is all about the holidays Lisa will include downloadable images from her stash (Oh and let me tell you, she has got SOME stash) of favorite vintage holiday sheet music and postcards. She will share some of her favorite family recipes (She is southern, nuff said!), holiday quotes and photos of some of her favorite holiday decorations over the years. We also get to share cookie recipes, holiday traditions and decorations as not only does she love to share...but she loves to see how others celebrate and decorate during the holiday season.

It will be like a little get together....and I'm super excited about it!!

Guess what? She is letting me (well, I begged) post a picture of this cute guy...His name is Monsieur Hiver a.k.a. Mr. Winter and you will learn how to make him in the workshop...is he not the cutest?

So go to Lisa's blog It's In The Details and find out more information and hope to see you there!!

Medium & Clairvoyants, anyone? Do You Believe in them? I'll see tomorrow...what she has to say about Ian.

2008-10-27T21:14:00.000-07:00

Ok,so random I know....but there is a medium named Lisa Williams that does a show on Lifetime.
This is her second season and this week is her debut week....and weird enough...Tessa the girl who was Ian's girlfriend that was in the crash with him...is on it to find out about Ian. She's in an enormous amount of pain...physical but also she had to sit there and see and hear Ian's pain...so she is in trauma 100%, so I hope this helps her heal.

We don't know when hers will be aired and how much of it will be aired...but it looks like tomorrow may be the day. She told us a couple of the things that the psychic said and it was a little shocking...so we are very curious to see what is said.

I don't know how much I believe in all this but I'm open minded...and do believe that people have gifts...such as I have the gift of art, and my husband has the gift of writing...I think maybe some people have this gift...but i think alot of them "think" they have it and really don't.

So, how do you feel about all that "talking to dead people" stuff...??

Well, so tomorrow(Tuesday) we think...but we had also heard Wednesday...but I think tomorrow.

I will be at Debbie's sisters funeral tomorrow. Poor Deb...will be mourning her tomorrow. Too much, just too much for this poor lady. We'll get her through...slowly.

Let me know if you watch the show.

~K

ETA- It looks like it's on Wednesday. The girls name is Tessa and she was my brother-in-laws girlfriend that was in the car with him when he was hit and killed by a drunk driver.

~Pink Paislee Blog~

2008-10-23T09:50:00.001-07:00

I have Pink Paislee Blog assignment...and here is my project sneak....so for more, you gotta go HERE !Plus there is a free template for you there!! Enjoy!!
The link is being wonky...Pink Paislee got a new site and I can't get the link to work...so try this BLOG !

I've had alot of people ask where to get the chipboard...well, OF course I used ALL Maya Road...so here are some links for you...

I know that my order and links are all screwed up...but it's just not working for me today....so sorry for the chaos..!

Foundations Chipboard

Mauve Velvet Pleat Flowers

Green Velvet Pleat Flowers

Cream Velvet Pleat Flowers

Mauve Velvet Double Stitched Trim

Microchip Scallop chipboard

Microchip scallop Buttons

~My Friend Karen~

2008-10-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have friend that I met a little over a year ago...she is one of those people that is VERY down to earth...she is wise and smart...and oh so talented. She is a deep person, a spiritual person and a talented writer and scrapbooker.
You might know her by her screen name Karenika or you might know her by the wonderful site that she started called Creative Therapy (which btw, Melody Ross is her guest artist this week)...but her name is Karen Grunberg and she is teaching a mini book class for NYC Scraps and it is sure to be a great experience.

Karen is doing a class giveaway on her blog and I am passing on the word!

I encourage you to check out her Creative Therapy site, her personal blog and her class called Holiday Mini Book Formulas at NYC Scraps! I think you will be inspired creatively and spiritually by her.
She encourages you to go past just the "pretty pretty" art and get deep inside yourself to create something that comes from your spirit. I like that a lot...in fact so much that I joined her Creative Therapy team....and am working on my first catalyst this week. I'll keep you posted on that later!

~Hannah's Surgery~

2008-10-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

Well, my sweet little Hannah has to have surgery on her legs.... We were referred to see an orthopedist surgeon at Children's Hospital, oddly enough it is the same doctor that treated my brother many years ago.
Hannah was having some in-toeing, not bad...but I had noticed that her ankles leaned inward. She would complain after running sometimes and she seemed to have to work harder to keep up. So, I took her into her regular doctor. He said that she looked fine, so I asked him to take a second to see her walk. He agreed that all didn't look right. So he referred us to Childrens Orthopedics.
We waited about 2 months for an appointment. The drive to the hospital, I was thinking the whole time...."I'm being paranoid, she's fine...she probably just needs good supportive shoes....".
As soon as they saw her and examined her I could tell that wasn't the case...they sent us straight to X-Ray. The X-rays came back and the doctor pointed out the problems.
She has Metatarsus Adductus(twisting of the feet), Internal Tibial Torsion (twist in the calf bone), Femoral Anteversion (twisting of the thigh and hip), sway back (caused from the legs) and flat feet. All these (except the flat feet) are from her position in the womb. Weird, huh? Her ankles have collapsed due to the flat feet. Poor girl. No military for her, huh?

They sent us for a CT scan also and more X-Rays.

So here is what they will be doing. They will be breaking her calf bones on both legs to re-set them. She will have pins in. They will be taking a pie shaped piece of bone out of the outside of both feet and cutting and tightening the tendon on the inside of her feet.

She will be in a wheel chair (and casts) for a month and cannot put ANY pressure on her legs at all...so baths should be fun as should going to the restroom.

Then she will be in walking casts for a month and then 2 months of recovery.

Crazy. I left that appointment in shock. Really, I had NO idea.

So, her surgery is scheduled Dec. 18th. Derek will be home and will start his Christmas leave that day. I cannot do it without him. She will be in the hospital for a couple of days and then home if all goes well.

So strange to think that I'll be taking my daughter in to get both of her legs broken.

I don't know how it will work with school, but part of the wheel chair time, she'll be on break. Not a fun Christmas for her.

She is my calm child, she likes to draw, sing and play her Wii. So at least we have that. I have wanted her to start in singing lessons forever, so maybe we can find someone to come to our house for a while and do lessons during the school day.

I guess just another speedbump on the Watson journey.

~Home for the Holidays~ Maya Road House Contest

2008-10-16T12:32:00.001-07:00

Have you used a Maya Road house yet? They are so stinkin fun to make. I love them. Anyway, Maya Road is having a great contest. Not only do they have great prizes but for EVERY entry, they are donating $5 to Habitat for Humanity. What a great thing. That's more then the wholesale prices, they don't make a dime...but Habitat for Humanity does..which is awesome.
So what do you have to lose? No matter what, you get to keep your cute project and Habitat for Humanity get's $5. Win-Win situation to me. Plus you never know...you might win! So check your LSS or online stores for Maya Road houses and get working!

For More Information go to the Maya Road "Home For the Holidays" entry and read all about it!!

~Ready for a Christmas Project?~

2008-10-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

I did this spinning ATC card Carousal for 7Gypsies...they wanted a Christmas theme..well I can do Christmas, that's for sure! You can see it here on the 7Gypsies site. Or you can just scroll below to see a TON of images of it!
I decided to go for a general Christmas theme...using lots of pictures of my decorations, events, vintage family pictures (including pictures of me when I was little) and a bunch of odds and ends. I had so much fun making this.
So here goes!!

>

Oh My Goodness....this was a chore to do this post....I kept messing up the HTML and adding the same pictures twice................Whew!!

I hope you enjoyed this project...I used all 7Gypsies product and added a bunch of random vintage items and different ribbons. I also used the ATC punch to make my cards.

I used a few flashcards, Self inking stamps, chipboard pieces (I glittered and crackle painted them), more chipboard pieces, metal edges, Christmas Stickers (97% Complete JOY and Christmas ), All kinds of ATC Cards and the new flocked velvet paper (Oh my dear...I thought that someone had sent me vintage wall paper, really I did! It is SO darn pretty and beautiful!) and Gaffer Tape. I used a ton of other stuff too but my head is spinning now from all this linking!

Thank you for looking and I hope that I have inspired you to start creating some Christmas projects!!

~Court Hearing Yesterday~

2008-10-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

Hello...it's Friday night...and I'm sitting here catching up on emails and thought I would do a little update on the court case for the drunk driver that killed Ian this summer.
The District Attorney has decided to file "Second Degree Murder" charges. I updated Ian's blog for the family tonight so you can go there to read more information. This is a BIG deal. A really big deal. It could drastically change the sentence that Shannon Shimp will recieve when convicted.
Please keep our family in your prayers. Also my father-in-law lost his father a few weeks ago and my mother-in-law lost her sister on Saturday. Please say some extra prayers for them. As if losing Ian wasn't hard enough, they now have more loss to deal with.
For more details go to ~In Memory of Ian Kinney~ .

Goodwill Wire Basket meet Kenner Road, Kenner Road meet Goodwill Wire Basket...now be nice to each other!!

2008-10-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

I picked up this wire basket at the Goodwill a couple of weeks ago. I believe it was around $2. Love it. I used pieces of the Kenner Road kit (black seam ribbon, vintage Bingo card, Butterfly and game piece, to be exact) to make a little holder for all my vintage stuff.
I used the Maya Road Jonathon letters and a Maya Road Crown that I covered with Pink Paislee glitter (that stuff is far too fun to be legal)...to add that little extra something! I also used these paper fasteners by 7Gypsies to help hold the card onto the wire. Perfect use for them!
Just wanted to share!

~Vintage Ribbon Treasure~Another Goodwill Find!

2008-10-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, what could this bag possibly hold? It's a pretty big ziplock...hard to tell from a picture as you have no scale... Anyway, stopped at the Goodwill today, I know BIG surprise. Just ran in...on one hand hoping that I would find a treasure andon the other hand hoping that I wouldn't find a thing to save my pocketbook.
I found this bag of ribbon and other sewing odds & ends. I waited until I got home to open it...and WOW...a big ziplock can hold a TON of stuff.

Some days I have good strokes of luck...and today was just one of them! I have been buying the Martha Stewart seam ribbon...for like $4ish (is that a word?) a roll...and look at ALL the seam ribbon that I got today for less then $5 (cause don't forget that I get 10% off for being a military spouse)....a very small benefit to having a husband that is never home....encourages you to go out and spend all your seapay at the Goodwill...works for me..although I'd rather have him home.
There are some great vintage images on some of the snap packaging. Very cool little kids that I fully plan on using!
You know...I should start a Thrift Store Thursday...seriously..cause I really do get good buys and I make cool schtuff with the finds that I bring home...I have one all made up and ready to post that I did with my Kenner Road kit..maybe tomorrow!
Anyway, have a great night!
~K

~Happy World Card Making Day ~

2008-10-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday, besides being my girls Ice Skating Birthday party is also World Card Making Day! Who knew! So in celebration of that Pink Paislee is doing another blog hop. No prizes being sent out this time but lots of pretty cards with instructions!
So...I do a lot of scrapbooking, altering etc...but I am not a very talented card maker. This I know. I even try to psyche myself out and pretend like I'm doing the cover of a mini album. Not working....but today I just used the elements that are my favorites right now (glitter and tulle)....and are my staples(Pink Paislee and Maya Road)....and went for it.. I could think of worse things to do on any given afternoon.
So, come and visit the Pink Paislee Blog for sneaks and links to all our DT members cards and blogs...they all have full instructions on them...just follow the links!
So for the Pink Paislee Card Blog Hop we are supposed to write instructions...so here goes.

Supply List-
Silver Berry Pixee Stix by Pink Paislee
Blueberry Pixee Stix by Pink Paislee
Pink Paislee Pop Fashion Shapes Topsiders
Office Lingo Lunch Hour paper by Pink Paislee
Vintage Moon- Moon Glade paper by Pink Paislee
Fashion Script Alpha-white by Pink Paislee
Pop Fashion Accents-Metallic Silver pressons by Pink Paislee
Vintage Moon Accents-Metallic Silver Pressons by Pink Paislee
white tulle
aqua crepe paper (from party supply)
stapler
Maya Road chipboard numbers
Maya Road crown
Glue made for glitter
Fabri-Tac
Scallop Scissors
black pen

Instructions-
1) Using glitter glue, cover crown and the number 16. Sprinkle glitter on top (Silverberry for 16 and Blueberry for the crown), shake off excess and set aside to dry.
2) Cut a piece of Office Lingo Lunch Hour paper into a 6 x 4.5 inch rectangle. Fold in half.
3) Cut a strip of the aqua crepe paper. Fold it into pleats (for the life of me, I can't think of a better explanation for this) and staple in place. Once you have a line of it, trim to fit card width. Adhere to bottom edge of card with Fabri-Tac (or whatever your favorite adhesive is). Once you have it in place, use scallop scissors and trim bottom.
4)Adhere Topsider border to the line where the paper meets the crepe paper ruffle.
5)Mount Topsider oval scallop shape on top of a piece of Vintage Moon-Moon Glade paper. Adhere lightly, and trim around edge with scallop edge scissors. Once trimmed, glue all the way down to Moon Glade paper shape. Glue whole scallop oval piece to center of card.
6)Outline outside edge of card with black pen.
7) Using silver pressons, embellish topsiders and top border of card.
8) Adhere crown and 16 glittered chipboard pieces to topsider, being sure to leave enough space for "sweet" letters.
9) Apply letters to spell "sweet" in between glittered pieces at a slight curve.
10) Tie tulle bow around bottom of card.
11)Add paper strips on inside of card to cover staples.
Done!

~Tips on using background type pressons~

2008-10-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

So, not that you asked...but I did a little tiny tutorial on using the Pink Paislee background pattern type of pressons.
I was working on a layout the other day...with my kit from Kenner Road (Yummy) and got to the end and it just needed a little something sumthin....some little added touch... It needed some script pressons.
So using the Vintage Moon Accents pressons I decided to fill in the left side of my page. The only thing is..that I didn't want to cover my flower and make the pressons look blocky. So using a Sharpie pen, this is what I did.
Laid it over my paper- Traced the outline of the flower pattern with a permanent pen.- Cut out the outlined area And placed the trimmed to my pattern presson right where I needed it to be and rubbed it on...I slipped a little and got a boo boo on one of my leaves.... So, I used this to pick it up! Tape most always works...but sometimes it doesn't...and be careful not to pick up your rubons that you DON'T want picked it. Be careful with it...but it does work really well.

Have a Great Day!!

~Gypsy Rose~ Another Goodwill flower find..

2008-09-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

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.....

2008-09-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

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~

2008-09-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

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~

2008-09-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

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~

2008-09-16T18:13:00.001-07:00

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~

2008-09-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-09-14T09:12:00.001-07:00

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~

2008-09-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

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?~

2008-09-05T14:49:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

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~

2008-09-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

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!

~Missing Ian~

2008-08-31T12:26:00.001-07:00

I still can't believe that Ian is gone. Everytime I think about it...I get that sick feeling deep in my gut. That feeling of when you think of your child being hurt or killed...that feeling that you wake up in the middle of the night after having a nightmare about your child being harmed...that sick feeling that you force to go away.... You know that one that I am talking about...
Well, I get that. Not anywhere near where my in-laws get it....but I have it to. I didn't really feel maternal towards Ian..but I did feel like a big sister. I miss him.
Ian was a gentle soul. Really, he was. Sensitive, loving and kind. If you pulled up in driveway, he was the first one out there helping you unload your stuff...makes me teary just thinking about it.
He loved his nieces and they loved him back.

I just can't believe that he is gone...it's so final. I miss him so much. Deb and Scott are missing him horribly. How do you get through this? Time, I guess.
When we went up there for the Memorial and funeral...I couldn't sleep in his bed. I couldn't...I slept on the couch and an air mattress. Derek couldn't do it either. While we are old and don't do so well not sleeping in a bed anymore...we couldn't bring ourselves to sleep in his room. Then a couple of days before we left...I didn't see Derek anywhere. I went upstairs to check on him..and he was wrapped in a tight ball in Ian's blankets on his bed asleep. I wanted to touch him...or wake him up and snuggle with him...but I felt like he needed this time to be as close to Ian as he could, without me there. So I left him. He slept all night in Ian's bed and then he slept there the next night too.
Last time I went up there (they live just over an hour from us) I did sleep in Ian's bed. It was much more comfy than the couch. It felt weird...his room is SO him....all his stuff, movies, video games, clothes hanging in the closet...little special things from his brothers hanging on the wall...the big Polish flag hanging over his bed....I felt him but not his presence. Does that make sense? I was OK.

My heart is heavy this morning. It really is. I wish I could be right by Debbie and give her a big hug. She's very sad this morning. Love that woman, she's one of my best friends. She's wise and kind. I always know that I can go to her for advice. She thinks about what she says and always gives you such honest good advice. I love my Mother-in-law, alot. I'm a lucky girl.
Hannah was listening to Carrie Underwood the other day (her absolute most favorite singer ever...) and she was singing her favorite song. It's called Jesus take the Wheel (It will play for you-2nd song on my playlist)...any way it's about a girl that is driving and loses control of her car and slides off the road....and my little sweet Hannah just started crying her eyes out. It made her think of Ian and the crash...and losing him. She was so sad. I hugged her for a long time. She loved Ian alot. He has always been there. Always. I hope her little heart heals eventually.
Anyway...just needed to write today. I'm not sure if it made me feel better. Anyway, Ian I miss you. I miss you alot. Our family is crushed but if it makes you feel any better we have pulled together as a strong unified unit. We are dealing with your loss together. I love you. Please tell my brother hi for me!
Love, Katie

~The Perfect One~ New October Afternoon

2008-08-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

I Love, Love, Love October Afternoon. Their booth was right by ours (Maya Road) at CHA summer. It killed me to not go over there every spare second...I think I just wanted to lay flat on their floor and say, "I'm NOT moving until you give me some product!!" Lo and Behold....I DID get my hands on some though....Oh and did I tell you that I LOVE October Afternoon?
So....I worked with the Hometown and WeatherVane lines....I could just eat them...that's how pretty they are!
Here is what I created.

OK, now to talk about the new Maya Mists...by Maya Road. Let me just tell you this...AWESOME!! Seriously, they are awesome. I have some cool things that I have done with them. I'll save that for another post...but on this layout, if you look at the vintage music sheet...you will see the brown mist. It's such a cool look. It dries in seconds. Love it. It kind of adds a vintage artsy look.
I also used some Jenni Bowlin labels (new product), Carolees tiny aqua letters, vintage music sheet, blue roses (remember my big thrift store flower find? These are straight from the Goodwill!), scalloped border by Pink Paislee, brown gingham by SEI (dog paper line), brown scalloped ricrac by Maya Road and some crepe paper. Well, enough blabbing! Thanks for looking and I hope you have a great day!!

Oh yeah...I forgot to tell you all...Maddy gave her own bangs a little trim for this picture....they were AWFUL...the wind is blowing her hair in this picture so they don't look AS bad...but those bangs took like 6 months to grow back in...WHEW, that Maddy!!

~Blog Awards~

2008-08-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

My good friend Wendy Vecchi chose me as one of her 7 blog choices...I don't know if I should thank her or cut her off :) but now what I get to do is post my favorite 7 blogs. Here are the instructions pulled off Mrs. Vecchi's blog

This award is for blogs you really like to visit. As most of the awards go, you are to nominate seven blogs with their blog links, email them, post this award on your blog with the link going back to the person who awards you the award, and then they nominate or award seven blogs.

so here goes......

1) Vintage Girl at Heart - this is my new friend Sharron Sudhoff . I haven't known her very long but she's one of those people that you feel like you've known forever. I love her blog because she is down to earth, real and shows lots of shabby pretty things! Plus if you want to go bloghopping, she has a huge list of great blogs to click on!
2)Create Something Today by a super talented girl named Karla. I don't even know her last name and have never met her but her blog is such a good read. I emailed a link to a friend of her blog and said, " this girl just has something special about her" and she does...She seems like the type of person that I could be good friends with. Oh and not to mention....she is WICKED talented! Really amazing!
3) Just Me and My two little chicks by Stephanie Howell . She has a way with words...short and simple but they pack a punch. She's also an amazing scrapbooker. She loves vintage just like me and her hubby is gone for military duty...just like mine. Gotta love a girl like that!
4)Pamela Garrison Seriously, Need I say more? Really, just check out her super inspiring work. Eye candy.
5)The Pink Paislee Blog OK, OK...so I know that this isn't one person....it's a group of people..owners, designers, product designer etc....but man does Pink Paislee keep up with great posts. The DT takes turns doing the posts...so they are always fresh, inspiring and easy on the eyes!!
6)Anabelle O'Malley - love her work also. She is a talented gal. But she is also super sweet and I like that about her! She is on the Pink Paislee team with me and she is also a new MMM, congrats to her!!
7) Last but not least....All Things Pink by Holly McCaig. Holly is the designer behind Pink Paislee. She has also done work for Bo-Bunny and had her own line of stamps. She is amazingly talented...really a genious when it comes to photography and design. I think she is very "behind the scenes" and doesn't get the recognition that she should....she is very nice and also a person that I feel I could be friends with easily. Wish I lived closer to her! Anyway, she is funny and charming and "real" (which I appreciate so much)and so talented!

Well that's it for my list...now I gotta let them all know that I have nominated them...which then means they have to nominate 7 people..so we can all blog hop for days!

~Hey, remember those Goodwill Roses??~

2008-08-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I did my blog project for Pink Paislee using them (a tiny sneak of the top of my project posted above!).....pretty cool stuff! I started a mini-album for my blog post but didn't get the inside all finished...so that will have to wait! But here is the link to the Pink Paislee blog...and scroll down because there are some pretty projects done by other DT members! Pink Paislee Blog

~My sweet little Cupcake~

2008-08-25T12:40:00.001-07:00

Sorry out for publication.....you can see it in the March issue of Scrapbook Trends!

~Vintage Purse album~ My 7Gypsies CHA booth project...all about my Grandma Montana

2008-08-18T11:39:00.001-07:00

I did this chipboard purse for 7Gypsies. I don't get it back and so I thought I would post it here on my blog so that I can look at it anytime I want to.

My great-grandma was named Montana. I love that name....she was the first child born to my gggrandparents in America. They moved to Montana, which is where she was born. I wish I had known about her when I had my kids....I would SO have a little girl running around named Montana. It would have to have been Hannah...cause she has a sweet and gentle soul like Montana was said to have.....ha funny, Hannah Montana....

Anyway, this is all 7Gypsies product with some vintage pieces thrown in for good measure!! The pictures are NOT in order....my html codes are all in one big chunk...and I'm too lazy to figure out each code...so wrong order, I'm sure you'll survive the chaos!! Thanks for looking!!

~Everything is coming up Roses~

2008-08-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

Wow!! All I can say right now is WOW!! Back to school shopping sucks.......bad...with a testy teen and two impatient girls.....not the best shoppers....but today was worth it all! We walked into my local Goodwill (I find the BEST treasures there) looking for some men's plaid shirts for Cory (he loves vintage plaid) and saw pink roses everywhere......I couldn't get my cart over there fast enough...anyway, each bunch of these pink roses was 99cents....but even better, I get a 10% military discount...so 90cents each....!! 5 stems on each bunch but tons of flowers on each stem!!

I bought a lot...but didn't buy them out....but may go back. When you teach at your LSS....good buys like this MAKE a class!! Don't know what I'll do, if anything...but just in case!!

Anyway....the weird thing is that I have been looking for roses like this. I am always inspired by artists who use the vintage looking flowers...the kind that you would picture on your Grandma's floppy summer hat.

Last night I stayed up late and looked at blog after blog of vintage artists...like Carolyn Peeler

(which by the way inspired me to buy the book listed on the right hand side of her blog...Postmark L.A. , which is a totally fun little book, I got it the other day in the mail), Bibbi , Rebecca Sower, Ranjini and other random blogs....... and I kept thinking about where I could get some roses.... I went to the Prima site and looked on there but no luck....and then today just happened into these roses!!! Hmmm.....makes you think about the path that you take each day and if it's destined or not... which I've been thinking about alot lately....destiny or just random luck or bad luck....but today, I'm happy...cause I finally have ROSES!!

Maddy insisting on being in the picture but blowing a bubble at the same time! Silly girl!!
They also had a ton of these kind of roses.....a TON of them...

Just wanted to share my lucky day with you all!!

~Back from the Beach~

2008-08-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

~ For the 2nd summer in a row, we stayed up at the Marine base in Oceanside on the beach. They rent little cottages for 4 days at a time. My in-laws got a hotel right off base and spent the first few days with us. The kids had a blast. It was good to get Deb and Scott away from the house but I think it was hard....last summer Ian was with us and I think they were reminded of that frequently. Here are a few pictures that I wanted to share.

This is the girls and their second cousin LeAnn. They had so much fun being pals.

Here's Cory....KING of the waves.....scared me a bit....big strong crashing waves...but I guess it's a guy thing!

Deb and Scott....snuck this photo of them...Deb hates having her picture taken...especially right now. She's not much in the mood for posing.... They just looked so "real" looking out at the ocean. Grief is silent.
Have a great day!!

~Guest Designer at Patti's Sketch Site~

2008-08-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

http://phutchsketches.blogspot.com/ ~Just in case you want to check it out! I did feel a little creatively blocked this last week.....but finished these 3 projects based on Patti's lovely sketches.... She's a sweet gal with even sweeter sketches! Take a look!!

~Ode to the Blue Chair~

2008-08-07T22:44:00.000-07:00

You see.....even weird blue Goodwill chairs have major potential. I just couldn't pass up this chair at the Goodwill....$30 minus 10% for my military ID. However I did pass it up.....and then came home and thought about it....dreamed about it....and went back and bought it.
This is my son, Cory...he is a guitar playing 17 year old....I thought it would be cool to get pictures of him in this odd chair in different places....mountains, actually this is on Deb and Scott's property....next week it's the beach...when the first snowfall hits...then the blue chair is making another road trip. It is a cool thing to do...and fun.
I did a bad job editing this photo...I need the help of a person who actually owns photoshop to help...but for now this will do.
TFL!

~Questions????~

2008-08-05T00:43:00.000-07:00

OK, so this is a random thought post.....no pictures...no scrappy stuff...just questions??
Let me give you a little background.....I lost my brother when he was 19. He had Muscular Dystrophy and some other medical issues. He wasn't supposed to die young though....He didn't (questioning this now) have the form of MD that made you die young....so it was a shock. My brother's name was Ben. I was 21 when he died. He died at a friends house...he called my Mom in the middle of the night...and said he couldn't sleep...he just couldn't get comfortable. They told each other "I love you"....then the next morning...he was gone. Trauma...BIG trauma...life flight etc...
So...I marry Derek...at age 27. He has 2 brothers...Jake and Ian. So eventually Jake meets Chandra. She has been in our lives for 8 years (Myself, Derek and the kids)....and then her only brother gets a brain tumor...and dies at age 24. Jake and Chandra get married....
Are you following me here? So now the 2 wives have lost our only brothers....and now Ian...so now BOTH of our husbands have lost a brother at age 19..
Do you think this is weird?? Were we meant to be with these guys to guide them through this process? Now all 4 of us have lost our brothers.
So, then I look at this ...and it's this horrible deja vu...Cause now I question heaven...and how could someone be here and then just NOT here. What happens when people die? How does it work?
I know that nobody can answer these questions...and TRUST me....my kids are asking me...and I don't know what to say.. I'm trying. Really I am. But I just feel my chest crushing...and I give a lame answer...like, OH....Heaven is peaceful and the guys are just hanging out up there listening to Bob Marley...and watching us down here struggling with daily life...
My girls keep writing him notes....they are everywhere in my house. They are stuck to my fridge with magnets....and I wonder, can Ian hear the messages? Or did he just end when he was killed?
And why? WHY this family? You see, Ian's death is different....cause the thing is that I found peace with Ben's death. It was his time (or so I convinced myself)...and he was whole again....and happy. For Chandra, losing her brother is still pretty fresh and I honestly don't know where she is at with it....sad, I know..but we've been away for a long time. Now we live in the same city but don't get to see each other much...but that's a whole different story...
OK, back on track here...so for Ian, it's different...cause he was "killed"...being killed and dying are 2 different things.
Why the "HELL" was this guy on the road? 2 people are dead because of his decision to drive that night. When we saw him in court on Friday...he just stared at us....with this blank weird look. No compassion for this grieving family. Just weird...flat. Why is that? Does he know what he did? I don't get it.
He pleaded "not guilty"...what the heck is that all about? He was almost double the legal limit....and his skid marks start way before Ian even got to that horrible spot on the road. They go into the other lane, back to his lane and then a hard left turn right into Ian's car.
SO now this guy has a lawyer...you know what? Just take responsibility and just say, "I did it..." Why do people NEVER take responsibility for what they do...it's a blame game all the time.
I'm not worried that this guy won't get convicted..His bail is $400K. He has a suspended license and like 14 "failure to appear" and other traffic violations...the judge tacked on $500 for each of them...there were people at the scene that saw him...etc....hard facts...but I just don't want my in-laws and brother-in-law to be dragged through this. Derek is back on his ship..and gets back at the end of November...so his only access to the trial is email with us....but he'll be dragged in also....do NOT want this for my family.
I honestly love my husbands family so deeply. They are the kind of people that DO not judge..they just accept. They are loving to everybody. They really are special people. It's a pure love. Really. So, I ache so much for them. I don't know what to do...I just want to wrap my arms around them and take it all away.
You know...I remember when I was little...we lived in Florida (yep, my Dad was a Navy pilot also)...and I shared a room with my sister. I was a night owl...for real...My bed was right next to the window. I would lay awake for hours...hours and hours. I would look at the stars and wish. I would wish that God would take my brothers illnesses and pass some of them on to me and Jodi (my sister)...that we would all just be a little "sick"...so he wouldn't be the "only one". I also blessed my grandparents...my parents...my siblings...my cat..my dog...the neighbors...I would pray for World peace and for all the starving people in Africa. The normal prayers I guess...except for the ones for Ben.
So, I now feel that same way...like I just want to absorb this pain...but don't know how.
I'm sorry for all this rambling...Something is wrong with me tonight....I just feel ancy and I can't sleep....I miss my husband so much...and I ache for my kids because they miss him so much too...and I'm just not sure what I am supposed to do with all this....I guess just process it...and take it minute by minute.
Any advice would be so great. Please don't think I'm crazy...with all this rambling....Really, I'm just a frumpy stay at home Navy wife..who likes to scrapbook and collect vintage stuff....
~K

~To God....Love, Maddy~

2008-08-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

The girls are dealing with Ian's death pretty well considering that he was their favorite uncle (don't take it personally Jake, Ian is way cooler then you!! :) )....they understand that he is gone. I don't know how much they get of the situation though. Anyway, Maddy (she's 6) brought this note to God down to me the other night.....it made me cry. Remember, she's 6...so I'll translate for you.

God, Please Take Care of my Uncle. He has a great soul. He was 19. He is very handsome. Please, please take good care of him.
~Madison

~Saying Hello and Goodbye~

2008-08-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

Well, what a week. Not only a busy one but a very emotional and sad one too. I have so many updates and so much to say....but time is an issue, as usual. So, I'll just update on the important ones today...

First, Derek got home last Friday (our 10 year wedding anniversary). He traveled halfway across the world to come home. The reunion was bittersweet. We were so excited to see him, as he was 2 1/2 months into his deployment....but his reason for returning was so sad. The girls were beside themselves to see Daddy...he got in about noon, looking tired, heartbroken and sick. He did manage a smile for the girls and put up a brave face.
We came home and let him sleep for a bit. We held off on going to his Mom's house for the night as he needed some time to catch up with everything...time change, details, looking for pictures, packing, spending time with the girls and grieving.

******
We went up to my in-laws house on Saturday. Derek stayed up half the night and went through boxes of pictures trying to find pictures of Ian. He scanned a bunch and uploaded them to Shutterfly. We went and picked them up at Target to take to Debbie and Scott. So hard to look at those pictures with all those memories and think for one second that Ian is gone....it just doesn't seem real or make any sense. How could someone so sweet and so alive, be gone like that?

This photo was taken by my other BIL at Derek's going away party. So it's the last time Derek saw Ian about 2 1/2 months ago. Ian Kinney, age 19. We had the memorial service on Sunday, up in Julian (the mountain town outside of San Diego where my husbands family lives and where he grew up). It was a beautiful service. About 450 people showed up to honor Ian. It was a very emotional time for all of us. Family friends, relatives, theater friends, Ian's friends and schoolmates showed up. The townspeople brought food by the truck load. When the service was over we wrote messages to Ian on notecards tied to white helium balloons. All at once we let them go. The sun was reflecting off the white so it was a heavenly sight. I hope he got all the messages.

The family had a private service on Friday. Just my in-laws, Debbie and Scott, Jake ( middle brother) and his wife Chandra, Derek and I and Cory, my 17 year old son (Derek has been his stepdad since he was 7 and he and Ian were buddies). We buried him in the town cemetary. It's a small town pioneer cemetary that overlooks town. It's really quite beautiful and he's buried in the town he grew up in. The wild turkeys were running through and a blue jay was watching us from a surrounding fence. Peaceful and serene. Exactly as a cememtary should be, I suppose. Derek and Jake shoveled the earth on top of his urn. I guess in small towns, they let you do what you need to do to make yourself feel better. It was good for both of them to be able to do that for Ian.
Debbie and Scott picked out a few things to bury with Ian. He was a blankie boy...oh man, do I have some good blankie stories with him....but once he gave up the blankie, he attached to a pillow...that went everywhere with him....for the last 9 years, that pillow has been all over the country on visits to us, to Mexico, to Ireland and to countless friends and families houses...so it seemed right to place the pillow inside the earth under Ian's urn. He will forever rest on that pillow now. The boys (OK, men) put some special things inside the urn with him. Derek had bought some little things for Ian on his deployment that he would have given to him when he got home...he put those with Ian. His high school graduation tassle, some pictures and a few other odds and ends went with him. The monkey did end up staying out...we ran out of room quickly.

When the headstone comes in, I will take the girls up there to say goodbye again. We didn't take them to the funeral, as they are just little girls. They were at the memorial service though. It was just too much for the adults to handle...add in 2 little silly girls and it would have been way too much. We wanted to be able to mourn without worrying about making the girls upset.
Well, that's it for now.....Oh trust me...I have WAY more to say...but bedtime is approaching and I got up at 3:30am to take Derek to the airport...so I'm wiped and a bit emotional...and need to go to sleep.
We had a court hearing yesterday morning....I'll tell you all about it in the next couple of days.....
Thanks for all your kind comments and supportive messages. There are a few of you out there that sent cards and helped out alot. You know who you are, and know that from the bottom of my heart..that I thank you.

~Day 3 of Missing Ian~

2008-07-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

I feel so completely useless right now. I'm in a stupor and feel like I'm on "hold"...maybe that's because Derek will be here tomorrow and I'm waiting for him...I don't know. I just feel so incredibly sad and so heavy.
You see, the thing is that this family........Derek's family (and now my family) is so wonderful...I mean it. I mean there are a lot of wonderful people in the world...but they are "special". They are the kind of people that just embrace you and all that is about you...the good and the bad. They will never judge nor make you feel judged. You could sleep until noon at their house and they will tell you when you wake up..that they are so glad you got to catch up on sleep.
I walked in their door when I was dating Derek, as a single parent with a rebel 6 year old....I was broke and had not much to offer but myself...they NEVER made me feel less, in fact they just welcomed me with open arms.
They have been through alot in their lives...ALOT. Especially Debbie, my MIL. They have pulled through...sometimes by the seat of their pants but they made it. With a whole LOT of hard work.
Ian is the baby....their child together. Scott (My FIL) came into Derek and Jake's lives when Derek (my hubby and the oldest) was about 8....came in loving with open arms. Scott and Debbie had Ian, so then there were 3 boys.
This will be the HARDEST thing they ever have to go through. Harder then poverty, harder then losing their home and all their possessions to a fire, Harder then losing parents.....this will be a very LONG journey for them. I am SO worried. So worried for them. My heart breaks every time I think of it.
For me,losing Ian...means so many things. I've lost my dear sweet BIL. When I started dating Derek, Ian was 8. I had Cory who was 6. So we hung out alot. I remember Ian told me that when he grew up he wanted to be in "the FBI or a MIB (Men in Black, from the movie)"...so cute and so little boy. My girls lost their uncle (who they just thought was so cool)...my husband has lost his little brother....the parent-in-laws just lost their boy.
But also for me, it brings back so many memories. My brother passed away when he was 19, same age as Ian. A random coincidence? I don't know.....so I have been here before...and I don't like it. All those feelings that I thought I would never feel again are here.....brings back so much raw emotion...for me and my parents.
I'm going to leave you with another link to the story, it's all over the news here. This is the story, but also there is a video link to my FIL. Please listen to it....and hear his message. Drinking and driving happens all too much. I see it all the time....a party of Mom's together, drinking wine....then driving their kids home.....asking over and over, "are you sure you are OK to drive?" and then letting them go....not fighting for the keys. NEVER again, never will I sit and let that happen. Thanks for listening to my rambling this morning...I needed to write, it was good for me... Scott Kinney, My dear FIL

~A very Sad day in our family~ Prayers please.

2008-07-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening Ian (the one on the far left), my 19 year old brother-in-law was killed by a drunk driver. This is my husbands youngest brother. The baby of the family. He was broadsided by a 1 ton flatbed truck. The truck then flipped on top of Ian's car and had to be removed by the Jaws of Life.
Ian's girlfriend, Tessa was also in the car. She was life flighted out but I have no word on her condition yet. The passenger in the truck was also killed. Senseless....just a tragedy.
My husband as many of you know is in the Navy. He is deployed right now, until the end of November. They pulled him in an office and told him the news. He is crushed. Just crushed. His baby brother and he's gone. Derek is on the other side of the world...and not with any family. I feel so bad for him.
My in-laws lost their home in the 2003 fires. They were devastated. They rebuilt. This however can't be rebuilt. The pain they are going through right now is incredible.
The Navy is letting Derek come home. He will be home on Friday. Thank God, while me and the girls need him....his mother needs him even more right now.
Please say prayers for this family, for us and most of all for Ian.
Video Link

~We have a Winner~

2008-07-13T00:26:00.000-07:00

Dorianne Bautista !!! Ding, Ding, Ding!! You are the winner that was randomly picked from my blog. I used a random integer number picker. Yours was the number! Please check your email!!

~Want to Win some Pink Paislee Yumminess??~

2008-07-09T07:02:00.000-07:00

Oh..... the joy of this new line! It is so fresh and so pretty!! I loved working with it...and NOW is your chance to win one of 12 Prize Packs from Pink Paislee. It's EASY as Pie......even a caveman can do it!
All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog under this post from the 9th to the 11th and you have a chance to win!! Of course I'm NOT giving up my stash....this will be from Pink Paislee themselves!!

Winners will be announced on the Pink Paislee blog on July 12th!
This is the Pop fashion line along with new release rub-ons, letter stickers (yes, cursive...love them!), stamps and the new,very cool topsiders!

You know what I love about this line? Well, I love everything about this line...but I love that the purplish color is such a pretty color...it's really more of a periwinkle color....so if you mixed with blue, purple or periwinkle...it would go with all 3!
So post a comment and enter to win some of the new Pink Paislee being released for CHA-S 2008!!

Here are a few more pictures of the album (btw, is a Clear Scraps album) !!

~It's Maya Road Sneak Peek Week~

2008-07-08T23:29:00.001-07:00

Oh man.........you can go to the blog and leave a comment...for a chance to win a selection of Maya Road New Goodies!! Really, it's worth the time!!
OK...so here are a few shots of some of the new items.....you can see samples of these wonderful products on the Maya Road blog linked above!

~Lipstick Disaster~

2008-07-06T09:25:00.001-07:00

Oh My Maddy.......You will be the death of me! I guess when all else fails....just take pictures...then when they are older you can show them...and they will maybe understand...why you went grey at an early age!
Pink Paislee goodness on this layout! Added some turquoise polkadots by Heidi Grace and some border punches by Martha Stewart.......!!

~My Shabby Little Cottage~

2008-07-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

So the Word is that we can start sharing some of our CHA-S projects on our blogs...as long as they DON'T have new release product on them! So with permission given, I thought I would share my little cottage I made!

I used the Villa house...and a bunch of other fun stuff!! For the roof I took the scalloped book (after I painted it and shabbied up the edges!) and cut off strips of scallops and just used Fabri-tac to glue them down. I cut pieces of the vine scrolls from the Vineyard set and made vines up the walls...added the flowers (also from the Vineyard Set) after stamping a pattern on them (Thank you my friend Wendy for knowing exactly what they needed!!), sanded MR buttons, threaded them and I have a country garden!! The fence was something I bought years ago in the wood section at a craft store...painted it also! It needed a little something else...so I added the hat pins and the rub-on butterflies (also MR)! Anyway, enough rambling....!!

~I know it's been forever.....~

2008-06-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm a blogger LOSER!! I am.....I have been SOOOO busy since Derek left that I just had to let a few things go....so besides my figure and the house...it was the blog. But I'm back..and I'll try to be better about keeping it updated. So let's see what's new......Ummm...we moved to a much better neighborhood on a WAY less busy street and are away from our crazy landlord (long story)...but I will say this, if you EVER have a weird feeling about someone....trust it!! Learned that lesson for about the 100th time in my life.
So, I'm coping as well as would be expected....maybe....trying to raise 2 little girls and one very big teenage boy can be very exhausting at times...the difference in interests and ages is hard. I miss my husband very much. I knew that we were partners but it'd been a couple of years since I had last been so harshly reminded of it....I hate sea duty.
So, since I'm not feeling very patriotic...I thought I would post these pictures of my girls and nieces saying goodbye to my husbands ship. Maybe it'll make me feel more like a proud Navy wife, instead of a very overwhelmed, lonely pathetic excuse for one!!

I've been Tagged!! 7 Random Facts about Me!

2008-03-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

I'm so bad about posting on my blog...and got tagged like a month ago...and now I'm finally getting to it. I was tagged by my CHA roomie and fellow Maya Road DT member, Wendy.
7 Random Facts about me~
1) I hate hot coffee...I like it lukewarm and put exactly 3 icecubes in my cup every morning...not 1, not 2 but 3!! And if Derek makes me coffee and puts the wrong amount in, I can tell!! He thinks I'm a freak!

2) I hate gardening...plain and simple, hate it!

3) I am a slob...seriously, I have no tracking system in my brain. At the end of the day when Derek comes home, he can walk around through the house and follow my trail. He always says, "I don't ever have to ask what you did today" He can tell by following my trail.

4) I have serious sleep issues. I take Ambien now, but wish that my parents had just given in when I was a kid and put me on a prescription sleep aid. I suffered throughout my child hood with sleep issues. They took me to a sleep clinic in Jr. High where they used to hypnotise me....all I needed the whole time was a tiny little pill called Ambien!

5) I am not a beach person at all. I hate the sand, the salt and the bathing suits.....I am a total mountain person, give me the fresh crisp mountain air anytime, a pair of jeans, Uggs and a warm sweater and I am one happy Woman!

6)I'm not a very social person. I'm really not. I'm sociable when I have to be, but the rest of the time I am a total homebody. Maybe it's moving to a new state every 2 years...I don't know, but I am happy not going to luncheons, parties etc....

7)I love Mexican food..I really do. Not Tex-Mex or Taco Bell...but good West Coast mexican food...Rolled Tacos, Carnitas, Beef Tacos, Carne Asada....lots of grease and guacamole!! MMMMMMmmmmmm My Fave! So glad to be back in California!!

OK, so now I'm supposed to tag 7 people...I'm not sure if I can do that, I don't know 7 people that haven't already been tagged by the original tagger...so I'll try!

1) Linda Albrecht

2) Lori Gentile

3) Molly Peckham

4) Tammy Tutterow

5) Becky Heisler

Well for now, this is all I have....I keep checking friends blogs and they have all been tagged already!!!!