Sunday, May 5, 2013

Day 5 and Simon Says Stamp: Happy Mail!

Day 5:  Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? 

This was a hard one for me, because I have a lot of crafty blogger friends (card-makers, scrapbookers, etc.) and there are a few who are very special to me.  Today, though, I'm going to tell you about one of them who is not involved with my crafting community.  This particular girl is someone I became friends with in high school. She blogs because she likes to write, like me.  She writes from her heart, she writes about what's important to her or what is on her mind at any given moment.  She doesn't write every day, but when she does she pours her heart out.  That is my favorite kind of writing - from the heart, honest and open, this-is-me type writing.

Her name is Beth, and her blog is actually called This is Me.  Beth and I have been real-life friends for over 25 years now, as incredible as that sounds (to me, anyway!).  She's not my best friend, but she is one of those people I  just know would be there if I needed her.  She is blonde and beautiful, funny and clever, talented and amazing.  She can also be sassy and fresh, which I might love the best about her.  hee hee  She is one of the best moms I know.  She has a positive and uplifting personality and a smile that lights up the room.  Infectious, that's how I think of her smile.  And I love her voice, the way she talks.  It's... soothing.  She has a heart of gold and feels badly if she thinks she hurt someone, intentionally or not, whether they deserve it or not.

She was also very close to my friend Melanie, who I wrote about yesterday.  Her and Mel shared a bond that was obvious to anyone who knew them, two special girls who were more like sisters than friends.  We grew up together, a tight-knit group of friends, and we share bonds that can never be broken.  We've shared a lot of experiences and emotions, both positive and negative, and it doesn't matter if we don't see each other for a day, a month, a year, or ten years - that bond will always be there.  I moved 3000 miles away from these friends a year ago, but I never feel like I'm that far away.  Thanks to the Internet, social media sites and e-mail and blogging, I get to stay in touch daily with the people I love.  But it's still the people who make the effort to keep that connection, you know?  I'm really thankful for friends like Beth and I was grateful to have the opportunity to let her know in this way.  Thanks for being you, my friend.  Don't ever change.  I love you!  
*******************************
Today I have a card for the:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Happy Mail


I used a cute image from By Lori Designs, colored with Prismacolor markers, pencils & mineral spirits.  Stickers are from SRM Stickers, cardstock is from Stampin' Up!  I love the simple and sweet look of the framed image with the sentiment stickers all around it.  Peace.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Blog Every Day: Day 4, WW Reminder: Sun & Surf, JSL: Mother's Day

The Day 4 prompt for the Blog Every Day in May challenge is:  Favorite quote and why you love it.

Please click here to read my Day 4 Blog Every Day in May post on my writing blog.  Thanks!
***********************
We have a reminder post for you today at:


I am also entering this into the:

and

I used Sail Away Lion from our sponsor, 2CuteInk.  DP is from Stampin' Up! Sentiment is from TLC Creations.
 *********************************************
We also have a new challenge for you at:



I am also entering my Mother's Day card into the following challenges:
 
 I used Flower Angel, colored with Prismacolor pencils & mineral spirits, markers, and paper-pieced.  DP is from Authentique.  Peace.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Day 3, Dilly Beans, and Jellypark

Happy Friday!  So the Day 3 prompt for the Blog Every Day in May challenge is:  Things that make you uncomfortable.  This is an easy one for me - not many people know this, but I have a Social Anxiety Disorder.  I'm the most friendly, outgoing, happy girl there is with my friends and family, but tell me I have to go walk through a crowd of strangers and I start to sweat and get heart palpitations.  When I was a little girl and would go to crowded stores with my mom, I'd hook my finger through her belt buckle and would not let go.  And maybe even when I was not-so-little... my favorite section of the stores was always the aisle where they had books, coloring books, and stickers.  If my mom left me there to browse, you could bet your sweet life that I'd still be exactly where she left me, no matter how much later she came looking for me.  No way was this girl gonna go walk around a crowded store alone... and do you notice how I keep saying "crowded"?  That is the key word here - it's crowds, specifically crowds of strangers, that make me uncomfortable.

I didn't really know what was wrong with me until years later, when I majored in Psychology in college.  As I learned about anxiety disorders, I was shocked myself to realize that I had one!  I love to be the life of the party, I love to make people smile and laugh and I love to talk.  But crowds  - crowds of strangers - make me shrivel up inside.  I can feel my body trying to close in on itself, make itself smaller so it can't be seen.  I find myself holding my breath, and feeling a tightness in my chest.  Although I forced myself to do it, and to try to enjoy it, trips to places like Disney World or Six Flags just aren't fun for me.  Too many people pushing and shoving and... too close to me.  But at least they are outside - inside things are even worse.  My kids are older now and last Summer was our first Summer in California, so we took a ride a few hours south to visit Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Santa Cruz was actually a lot of fun and I had a good time, managed to keep my anxieties at bay and was really proud of myself.  But the aquarium was awful.  AWFUL.  We paid hundreds of dollars for admission for 5 of us, and I don't think I lasted more than an hour.  I felt so bad, but I couldn't do it.  It was just so crowded, and people were so pushy and... it was just too much for me.  So we left and went to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Factory for lunch.  It was a fun trip and I learned a lesson - it's OK to avoid situations that make me uncomfortable, period.  I'm thankful that I have a family that understands and accepts me. 

So that's what makes me uncomfortable.  And even though I know it's irrational and silly, I just can't help it.  I have finally accepted that this is who I am, and I'm OK with that.  I'd much prefer to avoid those situations than have to medicate myself to get through them, you know?  How do crowds of strangers make you feel?  Does anyone else reading this feel the same way?  I'd love to hear from you!
***************************************************
We have a new challenge for you at:



I am also entering my card into:

and
and
 and
Perfect excuse to create a Mother's Day card for your mom, mother-in-law, gram, whoever!  I used Paige, colored with Prismacolor pencils & mineral spirits and paper-pieced.  My papers are from Authentique.  I added freckles to her face (to look like me - LOL) and glitter to the flower in her hair.  Sentiment is from AI Factory.  I added a ribbon and a few little gemstone stickers to finish it off.

We also have a new challenge and a new release for you today at:




I am also entering this into the:

and
and

I used one of the new Jellypark images, Friends are Flowers in Life's Garden, colored with Prismacolor pencils & mineral spirits and a bit of marker.  DP is from MME, I added a paper flower and a little bee charm.  Come on over and see the rest of the DT's creations with this sweet image and one more new release!  Have a great weekend, everyone!  Peace.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Blog Every Day in May & Whimsie Doodles: Something Wet

Hello!  So I'm starting a day late because I just became aware of it through my friend Regan's blog, but I thought it sounded like fun and I wanted to participate.  It's called "Blog Every Day in May" and you can read about it here.  The idea is just to get you writing for fun - which I adore.  So I'm going to do Day 1 and Day 2 prompts today, since I missed yesterday.  Day 1 is to write your life story in 250 words (basically, one paragraph).  So here goes:

My name is Jenn and I'm 41 years old.  I was born and raised in central Massachusetts, the oldest of 3 children.  My sister, one year younger than me, is my best friend.  My dad left when I was a teenager due to a drug addiction, and my mom got re-married to Paul, the best step-dad and the only Papa my kids have ever known.  I moved out of my mom's house at 20 and met my husband that year.  We were pregnant and living together a year later.  This August we'll celebrate our 20th anniversary.  Our son Trevor will be 20 in July and our daughter Cass just turned 18.  I went back to college after my kids were born and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Psychology, something I'm very proud of.  I've been involved with cancer support groups and sending "happy mail" to sick people for many years - it makes me feel good.  I love doing RAK's (Random Acts of Kindness).  I have loved writing and art (coloring, especially) since I was a little girl, and I've had several things published.  I just got my fifth tattoo yesterday and my daughter and I are going to get our zodiac signs tattooed on our feet next month - her very first.  A year ago, I moved to northern California with my husband and children.  I love it, but I miss my friends and my family back East. We have 2 cats, Cubby and Oliver - but Oliver is the "baby" and everyone's favorite.  Don't tell Cub.  And I'm out of words.  ;)  Peace.

Day 2 - Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at.  OK - I'll give it a try!

Something I've become very passionate about since moving to this area is  quality of food.  We eat almost completely organically now.  You have probably heard a lot about GMO's, or Genetically Modified Organisms, but you may not know what all the fuss is about.  I cannot stress how important it is to educate yourselves.  You really are what you eat - do you want to be a genetically engineered experimental combination of bacteria and viruses from different plants and animals?  I definitely do not.  Please click here to learn more.  In more than 60 (yes, SIXTY) countries around the world, GMO's are restricted or banned.  BANNED.  I could seriously go on and on and on, but you can read the facts at this great site called Occupy Monsanto.  Please spend a few minutes reading the articles, you won't regret it.  On a side note, I've always struggled with my weight - since I cut processed foods out of my diet, I have lost weight and gained an unbelievable amount of energy.  My diet every day pretty much consists of organic granola with an organic banana and Silk Vanilla Almond Milk (non-GMO certified) for breakfast, a salad (with all organic veggies) with olive oil and lemon juice for lunch, and a healthy dinner made with either Harris Ranch beef or free-range chicken and lots of organic veggies.  It only took about 2 weeks before I started to feel the difference in my body and now (about 2 months later), I no longer crave any of the processed foods and fully enjoy my diet.  Thanks for taking the time to read about this, I hope it encourages you to make a positive difference in your life the way it did in mine.
**************************************
Today I have a card for the:

The images I used are Margarita and Margarita Sentiment, and I colored with Prismacolor pencils & mineral spirits.  I added some red pearl stickers and a little ribbon tag.  Peace.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge: Sun & Surf and DICC: Rick St. Dennis

Hello everyone - today we have a new challenge for you at:



I am also entering my ATC's into the:

Anything But a Card Challenge: Create an ATC
and
Allsorts Challenge: Anything But a Card

We're sponsored by 2CuteInk this week, and both of my ATC's were made with fun images from their adorable online store.  Come on over and see what the rest of the DT came up with.  

We also have a new itinerary challenge for you today at:


We're sponsored by Rick St. Dennis this week, and I challenged myself to use all 10 items on the itinerary:
  1. Skulls
  2. Snakes
  3. Roses
  4. Gingham/Plaid
  5. Emboss It
  6. Recycle It
  7. Glitter It
  8. Black & White + one colour
  9. Fibres
  10. Angels
Here's what I came up with:


OK so this fabulous skull and roses image is colored with Prismacolor markers and touches of glitter, and the skull itself is embossed with clear embossing powder.  There's a snake on the background paper, the feather is the fibre, and if you look closely you'll see a tiny angel charm tied to the recycled gingham ribbon!  :)

I also made an ATC, just because I love Rick's images and they are so much fun to play with.  For this one, I used #'s 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9:

I embossed the edges of a recycled playing card, added a little Glow Skull, feather for the fiber, and glitter sprinkled on the feather in her hat and her earrings.  Come on over and play along with us!  Peace.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

All That Scraps and Hanna & Friends

Good morning!  Today's card is for the:

and


I used Birgitta in the Rain from CC Designs, colored with Prismacolor pencils & mineral spirits.  I found this fun digi paper at Scrappiness Designs, and I fussy-cut some of the clouds from the paper to attach with pop dots.  Sentiment was done with my Dymo Caption Maker.  Peace.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Cheerful Stamp Pad: April Showers Bring May Flowers

Hello everyone!  Did you all have a nice weekend?  I did - we had a cookout with some friends and laughed a lot.  It was a lot of fun.  We have a new challenge for you today at:



Our sponsor this time is Floppy Latte Designs, and I used the cute little image called Delayed Delivery.  Head on over to see the rest of the DT's creations and to play along with us!  Peace.