New Challenge Time!

This time is was Toni's turn to challenge the DT Gals at Queen Kat Designs!

For Challenge #6 it was to do anything EXCEPT a card!

So....how about an ATC! I used the Lucky You Set....I think this is one of my favorite sets...I love the UPC bar code stamp that goes with it! I don't do ATC's that often, but I should, every time I do one I enjoy it so much. I just pick up random stuff I have on my desk and start playing! Make sure you check out the other gals on the DT to see what THEY are up to with this challenge!

Tanis
Lindsay
Heidi
Nancy
Penny
Toni

Here is what we did

Here is where I went today....
Awwwhhh....it is hard to watch your 'little' girl try on dresses that you know will be the start of so much change for her....









It is all a good thing, but yet when you first see her walk out of that dressing room, it will put a lump in your throat, and your heart does a big heart sigh....it is amazing all the things you think about when she is trying them on....you think about the time she was a little child and just beginning to walk, to the time you wanted to ring her neck because of the 'boy' she thought was the 'end all' 'be all'.....when you catch her on the house phone at 11:30 to sneak to talk to him....then you begin to think beyond the day....beyond the dress....what kind of a wife will she be....how many children will she have....will she think of me as a 'good mom' as she ventures down that road with children of her own....yes....it is amazing all the thoughts....then you come back to...oh my goodness...that dress is HOW MUCH! HA!

Just a few....

Just a few new things I've done.....ASF
is down again...sigh...server issues again.....hopefully this time it will be SHORT! Been in a 'boy' scrapping mode....for some reason the colors are 'hitting' me right now. I'd like to get in a 'girl' mode because I have several new papers that are girly...but need to find some pics...guess I could go do that with ASF down huh? Would give me something fun to do...upload pics and order them...hmmm....

So now that I shared the layouts, how about some cards....these 4 all use Queen Kat Designs NEW Grunge 1 stamp! It ROCKS....I'm not normally a big 'background stamp' type person, but I LOVE this one! She is releasing this one and several other background stamps that would be JUST as fun on June 1! Make sure you add at LEAST one to your collection!











That is it for today....I do have the next challenge for QK DT ready to post....need to get it up! I did an ATC!!! Woohooo!

Monday Monday.....

They are not my favorite days of the week.....no real reason but seem kind of down today.....

We did get a LOT of stuff done around here this weekend. Where a lazy weekend was planned that was NOT what was done! Ended up painting the outside of the house! Well...almost all of it....had to get one more gallon of paint that hubby brought home this am, and still paint the garage doors...which Reva is working on now (I think).

I will share a layout I did for a challenge at Tally....it is to scraplift yourself! UGH....not an easy thing to do if I do say so myself! AND I went all out and did a CHRISTMAS layout! You know how much I enjoy doing those! NOT! BUT I love how this one turned out! Was Martina and Reva when we were tree hunting this last year....always love the pictures of them looking through the trees!



THEN I did another layout (actually I did it FIRST) that I'll share with ya....the challenge for this one was a random song lyric....so I just went here to my blog! And the first song that played for me was Big And Rich's song, Lost in this Moment....and I absolutely LOVE how this one turned out! It is a lift from a layout I saw while looking through galleries! Hope you enjoy it!


THEN I have one more BIG announcement to share with you all...BUT it will have to wait until I get a picture....you'll know why when I post it!!! Woohooo!

Husband tag....hmmmm

Well...thanks Sharon....I'll take any chance I can to brag on my guy!

What is his name? Vincent (but you can call him Vince or Vinny...)
How long have you been married? 20 years (he was a blind date)
How long did you date? about 2 years
How old is he? 57
Who eats more? depends upon the day!
Who said I love you first? Ummm...have no idea...think it was a mutual thing...
Who is taller? He is! And ohh yea...that makes me feel so secure in his arms
Who sings better? DEFINITELY HIM! Wish he would use his voice!
Who's temper is worse? Again, depends upon the day and the situation! We both have a 'strong' temper....
Who does the laundry? Me....or we would have pink underwear all the time!
Who does the dishes? Neither! The kids are here to do that!
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed (when you are facing it)? He does...nearest the door...to 'protect us'
Who pays the bills? Me...the bank doesn't know his signature...
Who cooks dinner? Again, isn't that why we have kids????
Who mows the lawn? Tee hee hee...we are going to be lost when all the kids move out aren't we??
Who drives when you are together? He does most of the time...sometimes he wants a rest
Who has more friends? Me...I guess...he knows lots of folks, but none are real close...
Who has more siblings? Me! I have 4 sisters, he has 1 brother
Who wears the pants in the family? HE DOES! And I LIKE it that way! He will listen to my opinions but all the final decisions come from him (if it is a big thing....)

Who the heck can I tag....hmmm....
I'll try JoJ but she never looks at her blog...HA....oh, I know....Amy, Wanda (she can brag on her mighty hunter!), and Ken...yup....that is who!

DT Challenge #5

The DT Gals at QK are still at it with their challenges! This one was issued by Lindsay!

She challenged us to use an actual photograph on our card.....I actually wanted to do this for some time so now I can say that I did it! Very simple card. AND by the way, it is a GREAT way to use some of those extra 'nature' photos you have around the house...come on....I know you have them!

Make sure you check out the other girls
take on this challenge!

Tanis
Lindsay
Heidi
Nancy
Penny
Toni

Wedding

We are home! YEA! Remember I said I didn't like weddings....well....I still don't but we got through it! It was 'interesting' to say the least.....but look past the 'drama' and it was nice. I appreciated the fact that they didn't over spend! Here is one picture....it was taken by my grand daughter who does NOT know how to take pics! HA! Sometime hopefully in the near future I can share the a few of Reva's! She hasn't even begun to edit and upload.

But anyway.....here ya go....



We were teasing Nikki that Chris was having his hair done just like hers....HA...yup...his is just as long as hers! But hey...that is Christopher!

So it's been a few days.....

Yea, sometimes I get side tracked!

Life continues and seems to be okay. Normal issues with kids....loads of laundry....and constant picking up, but that is LIFE right!?

NSD weekend was nice. Went to ASF to crop from Friday morning through Sat afternoon! I did 8 layouts and 3 cards. Pretty good for me....I'll share a few of the layouts here in a second.

This weekend is the wedding. I just don't like weddings...am I weird? I think it is all the hoopla that goes behind it that I just don't like. I see all that $ going into something that is called a 'drain' to me! HA....just think....if everyone would give the couple the same amount of $ that you spend getting ready for the wedding (new clothes, gifts, travel...etc) they could start their lives off with a nice hefty 'jump' in the budget! HA! BUT I do understand the 'elegance' of the day...it is fun to live like a princess, if just for a few hours! So I will go....I will smile and enjoy the day....I will....and to top it off...I do get to be with my MOMMIE for mother's day! THAT alone can be a good thing!

Are any of you doing anything special for your mom??? Think anyone will do something special for YOU???

Here are a few of my favorite layouts from this weekend...and my favorite card!

I'm so DIZZY.....

Oh this was FUN! The DT team at QKDesigns are challenging each other (AND YOU!) every other week with some fun challenges! This time was Nancy's Turn (Inkcicles) and she challenged us to make SPINNER cards! These are so much fun! Of course I had to look up how to make one, and play around with some scraps to get the feel for them, but once I got it figured out it was so much fun and there are going to more of these in my future! There are a few different types that you will see, that the girls all made! Make sure you check ALL of the girls cards for this awesome challenge, THEN we want to see what you do!



Tanis
Lindsay
Heidi
Nancy
Penny
Toni

Have a great one!

Here are the other ones....

Yea...a little late...but here are the other cards!

This kit is awesome to work with!

Woooohoooo!

I LOVE these cards! Run, DON'T walk to get one of the May QK Card kits!!! The stamp set is adorable and the papers are soooo much fun! I'll post a few of them today...and then a few of them tomorrow! Thanks for looking!

Just what I needed to hear!

You know....God is good...no, He is GREAT! Sometimes things will just come to you....naw....they are MEANT for you! As in the case of tonight. Today I tried to make things right, make things better, make someone understand where I was coming from...but instead of an 'I'm sorry' I basically was told that I was wrong again....told the issues that I have are my issues....well, maybe they are....but a simple little 'I'm sorry' would have gone a LONG way....ANY way....I took it surprisingly well.....didn't really surprise me this time....Almost like I expected an answer like I got. Then I get this....my wonderful pastor from when I first became a Christian....he is an amazing man....it is almost like he knows what you are going through. He has no idea how much I needed this....I will SING PRAISES!

It is amazing how small things can accomplish so much. I remember working on a farm as a teenager. I had various duties and often assisted the owner in things that needed four hands to accomplish. One of those things was putting a small metal ring in the nose of the pigs. This little ring would keep them from rooting in the ground and getting out under the fences. One day, a 600 pound sow who had piglets, lost her ring. The owner had a loop around her snout and was on her back while I approached with the ring. I squeezed it shut, but I was about a foot from the pigs nose. A second try was successful but frightening to say the least. But the ring, which was probably less than an ounce, would keep that 600 pound pig's nose out of the ground. When you think about it, there are some amazing things done in the world by that which is small. A small rudder can move a large ship. A horses bit can move a large horse. And, yes, a small ring can keep a sow from rooting in the ground. Now, the tongue, which is also a small thing, is able to do both good and bad. James 3:5 says, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth." Here is something else that is small but can cause a lot of commotion. The tongue often gets us into trouble. How often have you said something and wonder why you said that, or you wish you could get those words back. But, once the tongue is in motion, there is little that can stop it or to recall what has already been said. People often joke and say that God gave us one mouth and two ears so we are to spend more time listening than speaking. So, if you have been in a situation where you have said the wrong thing, you know what the Bible means. The tongue can indeed kindle many fires. But, you can also use it a good way, by offering praise to God for what He has done for us. Use you tongue to speak praises to God for the sending of His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Remember, Jesus Lives! Praise God today just for the fact that we have the ability to praise Him.

Why????

Why is it when you think you are trying to help people, be kind and understanding, it turns out that you are looked at as wrong? That you become the 'evil' person? That you become the 'topic' of the day, week, year? That you now are shunned? Oh, not to your face, they smile at you and treat you in front of others that wouldn't know what is going on as if they have nothing against you. But directly at you, you see the contempt pour from their eyes. Other's say that they want to put things behind them but in all actuality they are still sharing their contempt of you with others while you remain silent? But now you look into the faces of those that they have talked to and see the same contempt...they have held a grudge for the other person against you. It could be something that you say, the way you say it, or who it is said to. They say that the subject is over, but you see the glares and stares from people they have talked to? Why is it that people can't be honest and say what they want to say directly to you?

I have faced this problem in my life for years now. This is not new to me....and I don't want to sound like a martyr...because I know this is not a new thing, and something that I'm sure we have all faced in our lives.

But what I do know is that I can face this head on, I can turn the bad into go with the help of Christ and the Heavenly Father. He will make this right, he will make intercession for me...I will take this time to reflect and see where the fault lies within me.

Yes, I can be a judgmental person, yes I have faults, yes I am wrong, yes I make mistakes, yes I am not perfect. But what I can do is hide...not in the sense that you can't see me, but hide behind my Creator, let HIM be seen. If I present HIM in front of ME then maybe others won't see my faults or shun me for them. I will let Him be my Shield, my Strength, my Shelter. For if they want to shun me then or glare at me with contempt they will be doing the same to the Creator, because He stands before me. I just have to keep Him there.....

Dear Heavenly Father, God, Creator of All,

Hear the cry of my heart and help me. I am but a shameful sinner, saved by grace, Your grace. Help me say on the words that YOU would have me say. Help me think only the thoughts YOU would have me think. Help me even with this grey box to show others that You are in front of me, I will follow you.

Your humble servant,
Juliet

Side note...I went to review my lesson for my small group tomorrow am....and guess what the title is....'How to deal with Rejection'....is that not how our God works! He knew that I would need that as much as those girls!!!! Pray I can get through it without tears and once again be HIDDEN!

Think about this....

Mother's day is JUST around the corner! You know what would make an AWESOME gift?? I do...because I get it every month and LOVE them! A QKD Kit! Even if 'mom' (or treat yourself...you know your kids will ask you what you want right???) doesn't 'scrap' or make cards this is the perfect gift to get them started! All you would need to add is a stamp pad! AND since the April kits come with a 'freebie' you could keep the freebie yourself (unless the kit is for you anyway.....which if it were me, it would be!)

Here is April's Kit! Numbers are LIMITED!!!! Come get it NOW!!!

QKD Kits

Sorry for being a commercial :) but there are still kits for April left in the QKD Store. Get them Here

We have 7: 6X6 ($23) kits &
3: 12X12 ($26) kits left.

(That's seriously a lot of stuff for a great price :)

and the stamp set is...

BIRTHDAY MONTH...
Each kit sold in April will receive this FREE stamp set
worth $5.99 with their kit!


Thanks for looking :

C52 Layouts!!

Yea me! HA....considering tomorrow is C52 and they HAD to be done, here are my C52 layouts for April! Fun stuff to work with! Fancy Pants and Dream Street. Also includes the goodies from the single page that I shared a few days ago (Lakeside Ranch).

I found this today as I was surfing....thought it was soooo good and of course I had to share!

......I will

I will do More than belong,
.....I will participate


I will do More than believe,
.....I will practice


I will do More than forgive,
.....I will forget

I will do More than teach,
.....I will inspire

I will do More than care,
.....I will help

I will do More than dream,
.....I will work

I will do More than give,
.....I will serve.

Isn't that strong???

{I}nspired

Okay...putting this in a post of it's own so it can be linked to the challenge! You guys really NEED to check this challenge out and play along! I'm sure you will be glad you did!

Realize that the inspiration for what you do lies within YOU! All the creative juices are there....think about it....find it....and then let the creative juices flow! Sometimes it takes a little jump start from 'seeing' something else...but what comes out is YOU!

When you scrap a page, those photographs are YOURS, they are special to you for whatever reason....anyone else looks at them and there is a whole different meaning....when you create a card you are the one that puts the stamp where you put it, puts the piece of ribbon here or uses that color combo....you are unique...and you will create what inspires YOU! GO FOR IT!

To Do ATC...and a little more..

Today was a busy but fairly good day....those don't happen as often as I'd like....nothing major to make it good, just nothing to make it bad...

I did the 'busy' stuff....school first. We are ALMOST done! YEA! Then clean the house and the usual 4 loads of laundry (4 more to do tomorrow...sigh). And cleaned up a few other little hot spots in the house.

THEN finally I scrapped! Not one of my April 'goal' layouts but it is a C52 layout and I made it work for the survivor challenge for Tally too! YEA! I do love the layout and enjoyed the time reading Marion's journal again. As many times as I've read that I always love reading it over and over again.

Here it is..
And here is a little close up of the journaling.















AND I'm not finished! I made my April ATC! YEA ME! Nothing is completed on it yet...but I had a thought, even if I don't get them done I can go back and complete them....my goal is to have them done in April, but then again they are WANTS to do's....so if I don't get them done in April I will still WANT to do them!

Anyway....I'm watching some crazy movie that Martina and John rented...not to sure if I like it or not....I'll let you know later! HA!

I'm gonna....

Why is it that when I WANT to go scrap I can't...and then when I have the chance to I don't??? Are you like this?? I don't think this is true just for the scrapping world either....you WANT to do things, but you put them off or just don't do them....why do we do that? I wish I had the answers, but for me I need something to push me and make me do something....

But I don't wanna just challenge myself in my scrapping/stamping world...I want to apply this to my LIFE....so here is the deal....this is my 'challenge to me'.....This is the fourth month...so for April I'm giving myself 4 challenges....and if it works like I want it do in May I'll give myself 5!

1. Create 8 layouts that are JUST FOR ME
2. Loose 5 lbs before Chris and Nikki's wedding (May 10)
3. Upload music to my ipod thingy I got for Christmas (not a real one) Yes, I know....it is April!
4. Use FABRIC on a layout...I've NEVER done this and have wanted to for years

I was inspired to do this from going HERE {I} am Inspiration Because I can be my own inspiration!!

Wanna join me??? Come on.....let's get out of the rut together! OH...and to make sure I SEE this challenge every day....I'm off to create myself a few ATC type cards that LIST these....hmm....this could be interesting.....hmmm....maybe I'm on to something??? Now...keep bugging me until I show it to ya!

Bi-Weekly QK Challenge!

Today Tanis has a sketch challenge for the Queen Kat Designs DT and now that life has settled down I get to finally play! Here is the sketch and my example using it!

Lindsay

Heidi

Nancy

Penny

Tanis

Toni

Hope you enjoy! Feel free to use the sketch and post a link to show me YOUR creation!

Monday....

Okay...my news....check out Reva's blog!!! She got it done and I'm sooooo proud of her! She is an awesome photographer and I surely see her going PLACES!

Reva Laz Vegaz Photography

We are going to talk about her prices in a few weeks......

Man...that was scary!

Friday was a ROUGH day for our neighborhood! I think this am we counted at least 5 to 6 houses that people cannot live in due to the destruction.

We had a tornado go through about 1:00ish (I think...at this point I don't even remember what time it was...we were huddled in our hallway and then made a mad dash for Martina's bathroom!). It did a lot of damage to our community. A good part of the folks around here do not have electricity.

We were spared and only lost a few shingles on our roof (at least so far that is what we see) and a few trees down in the back yard. We also had 3 pieces of our fence blown down. Two are temporarily put back up so far. The guy on that side is going to call the fence company....we put the fence up about 2 or 3 years ago so he said it is his turn. The one piece that is down on the other side is really a privacy part of a fence so there is a chain link on the other side of it. We have other minor stuff...The two trees we lost are on the creek and one of them was a big part of our shade so now we have more light in our den that I care for but what can we do....we are thankful that they didn't go on or in our house like so many others in our neighborhood! Besides the 5 or 6 that are not livable there are again as many that have trees that fell on their houses...(just not in them). So there are lots of blue tarps up that is for sure. The neighborhood right behind ours (the other side of the creek) still don't have electricity....WalMart and Brookshires are running off of generators....but they are open!

Anyway...it was a day to remember...huddled together, praying for protection.....and a weekend full of thanksgiving! Some how no one got hurt!!!

I've got big news to share about Reva's photograph here in a bit....she is super excited!

If you need your ASF Fix!

If you are an ASF fan and like me going crazy while it is getting fixed we have a temporary solution!

Go HERE And at least you can keep up with us and chatter a little!!! Crazy I tell ya! Crazy!

Purple Snurple

Caardvarks challenge was for PURPLE...well..it is my FAVORITE color so who could resist this challenge...and nothing like coming in under the wire!

And because I could, I did a layout! Not for any challenge, but simply for me...I couldn't get it like I wanted and then I thought about adding the white circles...I think they added just the right touch. Not the most WOW layout, but I like it anyway, it isn't always about WOW now is it?


Hmmm....what will tomorrow bring???

April SHOWERS!

Well...nothing like starting the first day in April off with the appropriate, APRIL SHOWERS...lots of rain, but makes everything look so lush so I won't complain.....but that does mean that yard work will be kicking up big time....and to top it off, the temp Thurs looks to be around 86.....umm....where is spring?

Anyway....thought I would go on and post some cards...they are for this Saturday's Card Club at ASF!
They are featuring one of QK's Lil Monster sets! Sooooooo cute! Designed by Tanis! If you want the kit there might still be a few available and they are only like $14.99 if you do them month to month! A 6 month script is like $13.99 and a 12 month one is $12.99 (I'm almost positive) and in each one you will get a stamp set! You can't beat that!

Of course ASF's web site is still having difficulties...but hopefully that will be fixed this week....sigh....such is life on the internet!

It is SUNDAY!!!

And what a beautiful Sunday it is around here! Went to early service, taught small groups and came home while most of the rest of the family is still at church....so since I've been home I've changed the sheets on the bed, made the bed, switched over the laundry, folded the stuff from the dryer, took digis of the layout I did last night, uploaded it to Tally and have even checked emails!

Woohooo.....so....without further ado....here is the layout I did last night! It was for the survivor challenge at Tally and it was all about texture....I added LOTS to this one...and I haven't done that in a LONG time!