Tyggereye Art Love

What CHA new stuff do you love? leave me a linkie!

2012-01-29T18:51:00.000-05:00

Jinglebelles current challenge is to make a card from inspiration from their JB banner. Well heck ya! I can't pass up a JB challenge. I just rub my hands together in anticipation of December when all my Christmas cards will be made and ready to be sent out. I can't wait!

Here's the card I made:

Peppermint pp-cosmo cricket, red ribbon-Michael's, candy cane stickers-K&Company, blue and white pp-My Minds Eye, JOY - thickers brown (covered in red stickles and then dried), red bell unknown, white snowflake stickers-unknown (from Target clearance).

I love how this card turned out. Its one of my fav's this year so far.

This weekend was nice. We didn't do much. Hubby has a project he's working on that takes up alot of time on the weekends. Hopefully next weekend will be the last he has to work on it. I'm wanting to take the boys to Gatorland sometime soon. Today I hit up Target and got groceries and things. I bought some cute cupcake 1 dollar wrapping paper I might do something with. Tonight I plan on watching some stuff online and going to bed early. I also want to go check out some of the new CHA stuff if possible online. Not that I NEED anything. hehe

I've seen Tim Holtz's and Ranger's. I like their stuff, but most of it I like the last release more and I still need to get some of it.

Have you all seen that pencillines is also going belly up? :( Not that I participated every week, but dang. So many this year are not going to do it anymore. Bums me out.

Week 4 Project life book

2012-01-28T16:46:00.000-05:00

I'm loving this project still. Here's pictures from this week:

I've been busy this week with random things and only seemed to get this done after Tuesday. I think the Walgreen's photo department must hate me by now. I every week since I started Project life have put in a 3 to 5 picture order of current photos for this project. Big order eh? lol. It usually costs less than 2 dollars.

I hope to get a couple cards done tonight. We'll see. I have one more Dexter episode to watch on this dvd of season four. God I love that show. Tonight I made Logan chocolate chip pancakes. He's eating them now. Leo won't eat them. Figures.

Butter chicken, too many lentils, and naan. yeah..

2012-01-24T17:25:00.002-05:00

I have really been working hard this year so far to keep up my healthy lifestyle. I ate Indian food today. It was so good. I have no idea how to count points for Indian food. It is so hard. I tried to load up my plate with veggies mainly, but I did partake in some butter chicken. How can you not??

I have cut down my diet coke intake to only one a day if that. I hardly eat anything processed. The only things I eat processed anymore is Kashi cookies (3 pts each) and the wraps I eat are processed. They are whole wheat wraps with lots of fiber and goodness. They are so good. You should try these if you are going to make wraps. I use them for healthy burriots, turkey wraps, and breakfast wraps. Good stuff. Ole Extreme wraps, I get them from Publix here.

I made another card the other day with the newest sketch from deconstructed sketch. I am always in need of unisex kid's birthday cards. Logan is always invited to friends birthday parties (usually boys) that I need a card for last minute. I'm going to try to make my next few birthday cards I make other than Christmas cards.

Here's the sketch:

Here's the card I made:

The background pp circles and pencil pp is BG, the blue ribbon is from Michael's, green dotted cardstock is Bazzill, The stamp is Studio 112 from Joann's that was 1 dollar, and I used prismacolor watercolor pencils to color in the stamp and Blue Palette ink from TAC to stamp it. The balloon paper embellishment is from K & Company.

Tomorrow is Grandparent luncheon day with your kid at Logan's school. I'm excited for my parents to be able to go do that with Logan. There are times when I get kinda sad about not being able to move, but then I realize I really don't want to. I love living close enough to my parents that they can make the drive over and do things like this with my kids. Growing up my 3 grandparents lived way too far away to do anything like this with me. Also who are we kidding? I'm a Florida girl. I'd be miserable anywhere else. I'm already ready for beach season to be upon us in a few months. :) There's no real spring here. Well this year I guess what it is now could count. Its been 80 most days lately. lol I'm ready put all the "winter" clothes away already and its not even February.

Thanks for stopping by!

2nd cup of coffee here I come!

2012-01-22T10:52:00.002-05:00

Alright yesterday I did not make the brownies I planned on making. Not because I wasn't motivated. No, that's not why. Its because I was annoyed. Purely annoyed. You know when you see a recipe you look at the picture of the food and say... "hmm that looks good". Then you look at the ingredients and think "Oh! I have all but two of those ingredients, yeah!". Well this is what I did. I stopped there. I did not read what to do with said ingredients for the caramel spicy brownies. Why did I not? I don't know, because most of the time people do not make recipes that are ridiculous. First off who owns a double boiler??? Really?? The first directions were to take the condensed milk and boil it in a double boiler. ????!!!!### THEN it says.... FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF. Ack!! I don't mess that long with any recipe. Are you kidding? Sitting there and having to check on and stir for an hour and a half??? I should have known better. It was a Cooking Light magazine recipe. They always pull that junk. Martha Stewart recipes do the same thing. Maybe I'm just a lazy cooker, but I don't have time for all that mess even if they are delectable sounding brownies.

So on... instead of brownies. I made a card.

I made another card with the current Jinglebelles sketch. Here's the sketch.

I decided I wanted a Christmas card that had a slot to put a gift card. There's always a few people every year, that I know thats what they are getting. Period. There's not going to be any kind of debate over something different, its going to be a gift card. I wanted a card for those people. This sketch worked great for that! Here's my card.

Green cardstock- Bazzill, stripped pp-My minds eye, snowflake punch- Martha stewart, house sticker- K& company, reindeer button- paperchase, Joy stickers-Reminese, white circle sticker-Heidi swapp.

I didn't have a gift card to slip into the front pocket part, but I will this holiday season! I can't wait. I'm going to have even more cards done this year when December comes around.

Thanks for stopping by!

I am going to make stuff today. I am! Even if its only brownies. BAH!

2012-01-21T07:21:00.003-05:00

I've been slacking on the blog a little again. I've been busy obsessing on polyvore.com. Have you all seen this? You can put together outfits and style them. Its like a little community on there too. I like it. I post most of the things I put together on pinterest. Quite fun. Its almost like real shopping, but not having to spend the money. A clothes wishlist with all the clothes available in the world. Love that. Here's one of the outfits I put together.

If you click on it you can go to my polyvore page and see the other things I've put together. Just fun stuff I would actually wear. My style stuff. Some people put up outfits with outlandish things that I seriously have to consider "Where in the heck would any woman wear that? Well any regular woman.". Then I considered maybe other woman have fancier places to go than me. lol. That is very possible.

I did get finished with my project life this week. It turned out very cute. Here are some pictures I took of this week.

I added the 8x10 photo to the back of my list of extra monthly chores I put in the book. Its coming out really good. I'm happy with the progress, though it still seems almost too easy. I still have this need to make it into more than it is, but like I said before that kinda takes away from the fluid easiness of it to make sure you document things.
Lastly I wanted to add a funny photos I found on pinterest. This totally cracked me up. I love watching the show Hoarders, but I always seem to mass clean things after watching it. Also the pug pic just cracked me up. Thanks for stopping by!

I've been eating alot of turkey wraps lately for lunch. Yum..

2012-01-17T18:01:00.002-05:00

You know when a card just pops up in your mind and comes together? Well thats what happened with this one. I knew I wanted to do this sketch 148 by Card Patterns blog.

Then I saw this new SOS challenge to use a border punch. Heck ya baby! I can do both in one and it'll be absolutely awesome. Not only that, this card is made with old paper. Like ancient scraps from the bottom of my paper scraps box.

Here is the sketch:

Here's my card I made:

pink pp and cupcake-BG, lovepp and polk dotpp-My Minds Eye, paper border punch-Fiskars, ribbon and heart-unknown.

I don't know if I've ever really talked about how every year we do a Mardi Gras party. My hubby is from New Orleans so we get up all in on it. You know what I mean? We'll we're starting to plan our yearly party. Its going to be the Sunday before Mardi Gras. (Feb 19th). I'm so excited. I think I'm going to make a Mardi Gras table cloth and I might also make some sort of wreath/doorhanging thing for the door. I feel a trip to Joann's in my future! I made a small order on Oriental trading company for some stuff. I'm going to hit up the dollar store and see if I can get some cheap purple/gold/green plates somewhere. I'll be posting projects soon! Thanks for stopping by.

It was like a staycation today at my house. Wonderful.

2012-01-16T07:25:00.001-05:00

I have been loving watching Julie Balzer's organization week on her blog. I went through my stuff last weekend and cleaned it up a bit. Mostly I reorganized my scraps to work for me better. I was doing them by size. I realized I really needed them by type.

Here is the video I made of my craft/art area. This is my main area. I have a sewing "nook" also in a different part of the house and a painting station/storage area in a different area too.

I got a recipe for a light hot carmel brownie recipe. I'm totally going to make it this week. I'll keep you informed if its good or not.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wonder if anyone will brave this cold and be at the gym today. Doubtful.

2012-01-15T10:13:00.000-05:00

Gosh I love Jinglebelles blog. This week's challenge is a sketch and ooh.. I love myself some sketches. I don't know what it is about sketches that will totally either really get me thinking or will totally block my brain. Its usually the first part. :)

Here's the sketch from JB.

Here's what I came up with.

Snowman is from a Cosmo Cricket digital kit, snowflake-martha stewart, tag-Recollections (thank you Lauren!), circle punch-marvy, circle pp paper-scrapworks, peppermint candy pp-crate paper , merry christmas sticker-K&company.

Today is the coldest day here in Florida, we've had yet. I'm trying to drag myself to the gym, but I'm on here posting this. I stayed up way too late watching Storage Wars. My Dad was here yesterday and he loves the show too. He and I were talking about how we'd love to go to a storage auction and bid on a locker. lol. We are so alike. I told Lewis I wanted to do this and he thought I was crazy. Seriously though after the fun of going through it, the work to get rid of all the stuff would be tremendous.

I better get a moving! I hope it stays cold for at least 2 days. We've gotten so little cold weather this year, I'm kinda wanting some.

Have a great long weekend!

Project life week 2

2012-01-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited I decided to do this project life this year. Most people I've seen have choose to use double layouts for each week. I'm using one sheet each week. This seems to work for me. I'm kinda getting used to it. I'd like to amp it up a bit, but then I don't want it to become a "big"project either. I like doing it because it is an easy way to keep up with the week/life/time. I could do the digital a little easier, but this is fun. Different. The biggest thing is it kinda makes me remember to take more pictures. I was getting a little lazy with my digital and could grab different images off the web instead of taking my own.

Here's what I did this week.

I added an 8x10 of the digital printed out copy of my monthly "big" chores to do to the house. I finished January's which was to pull out the frig and clean under/behind/on top/ all around. Glad that's done. I'm going to print an 8x10 of the boys to put on the other side of the sheet.

This weekend the boys are going to my parents house since they have Monday off. Yeah! We went to go eat Vietnamese tonight and tomorrow we're going to go do something. Its nice to have an adult time break. I plan on watching my Dexter dvd tonight till the wee hours of the night and then sleeping in. Past 7 am. Yeah that's right. I'm a rebel. Once I get up in the morning the gym is my first order of business.

Hope everyone's projects are going well for them and you get MLKjr day off. :) Thanks for stopping by!

I am currently obsessed with plum colored nail polish.

2012-01-13T04:46:00.000-05:00

I ended up finally making a Valentine's card for hubby! I saw the challenge going on at EAD color challenge which I found from Amy's blog.

I saw these colors and immediately knew I was going to use my new peanut butter and jelly lovey stickers I got from EAD. They are so cute. They are called "stuck on you".

I went through my stash and gathered all my coordinating colors and came up with this. I love it.

Brown pp-BG, pink pp-BG, tan and pink cardstock-DSCW, tan pp-SEI, heart punch-marvy, buttons-BG, Stickers (hearts, title, peanut and toasted jelly)-EAD designs,

I've been really sticking with the gym. Its so nice that I took this semester off. I feel like I have more determination and attention to give to the other important things in my life.

Hoping to finish a video of my creative area so you can see where I work and organize my stuff.

Thanks for stopping by!

Most used

2012-01-12T04:01:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be fun to make a post about my most used arty items. I mean we all use different things out there and what we first reach for is probably completely different from person to person.

Just for fun you can see what I've typically got in my hand.

First off...

My glue/adhesive:

I used to always use a glue stick or a xyron glue machine. I've now graduated to an ATG gun by Scotch. I'm glad I did! I've had it for about 3 mths now and I love it. Its a little awkward in its lacing of the glue adhesive. I'm keeping those instructions on how to do it forever, because its a little weird. It works though. It works well. The stick is strong and cost wise its the most cost effective adhesive option I've used next to glue sticks. Seriously. You can get two of the refills for around 5 to 10 dollars with a coupon at J's or Michael's. They have 36 yards on them each in the box that comes with 2. THAT IS HUGE! I just went through my first roll and had to put on a new one. The gun comes with a roll and it costs around 25 to 30 dollars . I got mine at Joann's for 24 dollars with a coupon.

Most used Inks:

By far these are my most used inks. I use the small Memento tear drops for things I'm going to use copics on. I just like the shade of brown stayzon and of course the blue and green distress ink is just my fav shades.

Most used color pencils:

These pencils are gorgeous. They are so pigmented and rich in color. If I had to throw all my other pencils away I would for these. They are really really bright watercolor pencils. I got mine on www.aswexpress.com/
I only got the 12 pack which is like 20 bucks. Now I see they have a 72 set. *drool*

Most used spray inks:

I use mainly Tattered Angel's glitter mist. I have many of them. I do love them. Only thing I don't like about them is the squirters on them break easily. Out of the 6 I own, 4 of them are broke. I have transfered them into mini misters. Mini misters are the bomb. The colors are in order: Candy apple, jazz blue, and meadow green.

Most used cutter/paper trimmer:

I've had this Fiskars orange thing for years and years. I love it. I went through about 2 before it that just wouldn't cut straight. I like this one alot. I've thought about upgrading, but really this one does the job I want and I don't NEED to buy an upgrade yet. The refill cutters are reasonably priced at Joann's too.

Most used Watercolor paint and brushes:

What can I say but Koi paints are amazing and these brushes are great for travel and quick use. I love them. I have had both for years now. The brushes come in three different sizes and hold water in them so you don't need to have a water cup. Genius!

Most used Stickles:

I have had to buy multiples of these colors and you can see they are well used. Rock Candy, Xmas Red, and Baby Blue.

Most used Copic colors:

These are the 4 most used couldn't live with out Copic colors I own. I love them.

Most used cardstock:

I love these small paper packs of adhesive cardstock from Joann's. Having a really sturdy heavy duty already sticker backed cardstock is awesome. I love using them as mats or with punches and not having to get my own adhesive out for them. Love these.

Most used items for carving stamps:

Though I haven't carved in quite awhile. I still do have my stuff. These were and always will be my first to grab for carving. Mastercarve blocks and Steadler's carving tools.

Most used paper punches:

These are the 3 I use alot. I just found my corner rounder. Woot! I was just about to buy another. That would of stunk. Martha Stewart snowflake, Marvy circle, and unknown corner rounder.

Most every item I own can either be bought at Joanns, Michael's, or on aswexpress.com. I also like getting my mists/inks/refillers from http://www.blockheadstamps.com.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my favorite things. I'd love to see some of your favorite items/colors use most.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember when Emily Falconbridge

2012-01-10T05:41:00.000-05:00

Emily Falconbridge who I have loved her blog for years and years now is doing a new year art journaling project. Its called "Remember when". Its journaling stories that you remember about those important in your life. I love this. I've done my first page which also has spray mist used on it which is one of the challenge for Scrapbookers Annoymous.

Emily Falconbridge prompt this week is grandmothers/Grandma.

Here's the page I made in my new art journal. Its nothing way out there. I like it though. It got down the story I wanted and it includes a newish picture I got this last Thanksgiving from my aunt. I had never seen this picture of my grandmother before. She's the baby in the photo. She had 3 older sisters. This was taken probably around 1907 or 1908. Its just a scanned copy. Not the original.

The owl was on this page in the smash book.
Blue feathers-from Lauren for Christmas. Thanks girlie!, Blue tattered angel's mist, ki polka dot ribbon, journey ribbon from Joanns, EK border punch. Inktense colored pencils to color owl. bubble wrap and green Tim holtz ink to make polka dot background. button-unknown.

I'm feeling the rainbows lately

2012-01-10T03:00:00.000-05:00

I got my books back from Inkubook! I'm so excited. This is what I toiled for all those months making sure I completed every month. It looks so good and is so small but has everything in it. I might have to go back to digital next year. I just love these books!

Here's the photos of it. You've seen all the digital calendars I've done through last year. If you want to see them all in one place I have them here on my flickr set. These are what are all through the book in order. I also added mosaics of pictures of my favs through the year and a mosaic of all the things I made throughout the year. I also made a heritage album that I will be posting soon too. Thanks for stopping by!

I have lost my corner rounder punch. WTH? Bah..

2012-01-09T06:57:00.000-05:00

I ended up working on so many things this weekend. I think I have posts done for every day this week already. I'm booming baby! I am sitting here getting ready to leave for the gym in an hour. I've been religiously going again.

I've been feeling really good again. I've been cooking all fresh stuff. I've been working out. I feel stronger already and its only been a week. What the hell happened to make me downward spiral for all those months (almost a year)? I can't tell you.

I am also going to print out some printable labels from Pinterest soon for my project life book. Gosh I love that thing. Just go to Pinterest and type in printable tags or just printable. Oh my goodness! Lovely.

Here's the card I made from the sketch from Sketchy Thursday's this week.

Sketch:

Card:

Basic Grey-rocketship pp and cut out rocket/stars, BG- big You letter stickers, blue pp-cosmo cricket, Bg-white rubon, orange solid paper-SEI, brown thank you stickers-cosmo cricket, tan cardstock-Bazzill., Green chervon pp-cosmo cricket

I decided two days ago to upgrade from Photoshop elements 6 to Photoshop elements 10. I haven't found many differences in it so far. I'm kinda bummed. I thought it would be either a quicker interface or have more options. So far.. eh. I just can't afford the real Photoshop anytime soon. I'll have to do a review of it once I've used it for a little bit longer. I also want to do a review of my new glue gun thingie I'm using for adhesive. I've had it for a couple months now.

I feel like I'm starting to want to carve some stamps. What an odd feeling!

2012-01-08T08:32:00.000-05:00

Jinglebelles. Yep. Gotta love a card blog I'm addicted to and helps me once December comes. I can't tell you how nice it was to have many cards already done. With them only posting every other week, I kinda gotta do at least two cards per challenge. At least on the challenges I really like.

So I made this card to go along with the presents challenge theme. Fun stuff!

Project life week 1

2012-01-07T10:09:00.000-05:00

I have been picking and piecing together my project weekly album all week. I really wanted the first page for this week to look like me. I wanted it to have all the important elements to this week in it. The one thing I struggled with was the fact that I had a few poo moments this week of things I really don't want to remember, but were pretty much what I fully focused on during the week. (long personal story) Anyways. It was something that I might have put a little something in my digital calendar that would have only made sense to me, but in this I didn't feel I could/wanted to. Odd.

I've always put it out there that I'm not always cheery. Things aren't always roses and peaches up in here. I think from now on I'll just put what I wanna put in my project life even if it isn't rosey. I just didn't want to start off the first page with anything that would bum me out seeing in the future.
I think that makes sense. Even to me. ha!

So here it is. I love this system. I've really been digging through my stash. The gingerbread skeleton cookies are from a magazine I was reading. I love them. I want to make them as soon as I can. Too cute. I also used my polariod to go photo printer to make the pictures of my food I've been eating this week and the one of Logan and Leo.

The journal stickers with colors around them are from Martha Stewart.

I really liked how it turned out. Next week I'm going to make sure I print out some 4x6 photos and I'd also like to use my label maker next week I think. Possibly if there's time maybe make a few stamps to use with it.

I meant to get this post up on Saturday, but because I decided to back up my back up, I couldn't. I have a backup external hard drive. I use it to keep all my digital stuff on and my years worth of photos and scanned stuff etc.. Well I realized that if it died, I delete the years off my computer once the year is done. I just don't have the room with all the stuff I keep on my computer. I needed a back up of my hard drive so that I'd have it in case it ever broke. Its not just your computer that can poop out on ya. Well stupid me did it all in one command. I had 68,000 items copying from one hard drive to the other and it was using all my usb ports. I couldn't print. I couldn't upload photos from my camera. I couldn't use my mouse. Now this took about 29 hours to do. It was driving me crazy! So glad its done now though.

Just so you know computer if for some reason you croak I'm good; hey you.. pink back up that goes for you too!

I accidently sent Logan to school not in his uniform today. I thought he had dress free pass. Oops!

2012-01-05T18:13:00.000-05:00

I do love when my blogs have new challenges. I decided to bust out my new EAD design stickers I got the other day to use on the newest SOS challenge.

The SOS challenge is to do any of the last year 2011 challenges. Well there was one I never got to do that I wanted to.

Challenge- 16 birds, bugs or beasts using all scrap stockpilee #16 - b

irds

all all it

ems from

the scrap pile!

EAD designs- sticker bird/ballons, SRM-Thank you sticker, Tim holtz stamps on white paper, unknown ribbon, reg. hole punch, Reminesce- bling, acrylic paint.

I'm still working very well on my project weekly. I'll be putting that up on Saturday to show you guys. Tomorrow I have lots of shopping to do and such. I've decided about another thing I'm going to do for the new year. I've decided each month I'm going to have a "different" cleaning thing I need to do to the house. You know those spring cleaning type things that you never seem to have time for? Yeah. Those. Well at least I never seem to get to them till they are in my face gross.

I printed this out and put it in my project weekly book. So this month I have to pull out the frig clean the top back, underneath and the floor behind and under it. I do the inside of the frig quite often, but the top and underneath......uh... not really. Its been awhile. I hope this helps with this sort of thing. I wish I had a maid who would come in once a month and do all these things.
Well I have to go bathe Leo. Have a great night!

I actually made eggs for breakfast. I never do that.

2012-01-04T07:38:00.000-05:00

I have not stopped on here, nor forgotten about all my blog buddy lovelies. I have been busy with a friend that came over 2 days ago and is here for another day. No crafting time, got a little gym time in, and other than that mostly movie watching/hanging out.

I've been sort of keeping up with my project weekly. I always want to write "project runway" not "project weekly" haha. God I love that show.

Today I think I'm going to try to take my friend thrifting and to lunch. I have to now rush around and get the boys ready to get out the door by 8 for school. I'll leave you with a flickr fav mosaic of pics that I love on flickr.

Oh! and I got my EAD stickers yesterday in the mail. Get ready for some EAD goodness!!

Least me forget:::: Emily Falconbridge is doing an art journal "loose" remember when weekly challenge this year. I'm totally in. Here's the link to see what she wrote.

Have a great humpday everyone!

1. Response Card, 2. DAMAGED DOLL "Lise" 042 ©, 3. Amelie in the magic forest, 4. the flirtation001, 5. kurewna ścieżka { on explore }, 6. Ralph on the Rocks, 7. Bird and Owl, 8. Untitled, 9. navigate 2

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

I know you are jealous I get to deal with plummer crack. I know you are.

2012-01-02T05:19:00.000-05:00

Jinglebelles has come out and busted out a new challenge a little early. Works for me! I immediately knew what I was going to use for this use "wrapping paper" or a present on your card challenge. I have this Christmas wrapping paper this year that I love. I think it is so cute.

Here's the card I made. I just used one of these cute snowmans.

Bazzill cardstocks-green backgrounds, Joy letters-Tim Holtz die cut alpha, yellow snowflake rubon-Memory Makers, Blue stickles on top of SRM celebrate the season sticker, Bling-Recollections, polka dot pp- My Minds eye 6x6 paper pack, scalloped red sticker-Cosmo Cricket, snowman-wrapping paper I got from Walmart.

I also wanted to send out a big thank you to Lauren. We have exchanged small little Christmas presents for years now. This year was as fun as ever. I have a picture of her exquisite wrappings on the present, but its on my cellphone and I'm a lazy mo-fo today. You'll just get to see the wonderous stash she sent instead. As usual she was more than generous and picked out things that I LOVE. If you notice they are all Christmas themed. I think that was a hint hint to make sure I do all the jinglebelles challenges which hello! of course I will be. So this stuff will get its use for sure. One of these little pads is where I got the polka dot pp for the card above.

Thank you again Lauren. I love all my stuff. You'll be seeing it used all year long! I really don't have nearly enough of a Christmas stash.

Today I get to call our Roto-Rooter and see what kind of havoc I'm going to have to endure with our pipes under out back porch that I am pretty sure is leaking sewer under the lanai. *sigh* I'm not going to let this get me stressed. I'm not. I've told myself this like a thousand times. Its just going to be what it is. I can not control it, I can just fix it. See more Zen like. I might need a yoga class on Tuesday to help with this. Wish me luck.

Thanks for stopping by!

I made breakfast foods for dinner tonight. It was great.

2012-01-01T06:36:00.000-05:00

Its New Years Eve night and I just got Leo to bed. Yeah! Hopefully the fireworks will not wake him. We have every joe smoe in the area lighting them off every year. I got some crafty stuff done today. I thought I'd show you some pictures from my new smash book of art journaling and other stuff I'm going to stick in it. Most things will be cards and such I want to keep and stuff like that too. Like I said before I'm hoping that Emily Falconbridge will do her yearly art journal challenges like she did many years ago. That would be cool. Otherwise this will be my catch all for things that don't make it in my project life 2012 book.

The Frida Card above was given to me by Lauren. I printed out my 2012 resolutions and added them to my book and the deer card on the left side is another card from Lauren.

I have my Project life weekly album all ready to go and I worked a few little things in it. I'm trying to decide when I'll complete each week and share the page. I guess every Saturday? That sounds like a good plan to me. That way I'll have that to share with you instead of my digital calendar. Here's the album.

And here's the start to the page I'll be doing for this week.

Tonight I think I'm going to watch my Marie Antoinette dvd and paint my nails. I've been meaning to watch the movie for some time. I hunted it down at a Big Lots for all of 3 bucks. Yeah thats right. Score! I live an exciting life over here. Don't be too jealous.

I love you all and hope you have a great New Years! Thanks for stopping by!

Here comes 2012

2011-12-31T08:15:00.000-05:00

Its New Years Eve and the last day of December. I finished my digital calendar for the year and have already made it into an inkubook and its being printed and shipped to me as we "speak".

Here's December:

I enjoyed doing Christmas things this month, but short of that December has been a blistery, craptastic month. Glad for this to be the final day of 2011. No big plans for tonight. We have two small ones, and that's fine. I have went and rejoined WW again yesterday. They have the no enrollment fee going again. I'll take it. I have to get back to fighting weight and do the races I want to this year. I'd also really like to be in good shape come October for my ever allusive (I make too many excuses) Triathlon that I've wanted to do for 2 years now. I've also been eyeballing the Princess Marathon at Disney World that is every February. This year I don't have the time or fitness going to train for that, but I think I will start now.

Some people do these different races to just "finish". I compete with myself. I don't want to be dying finishing. I want to know I finished strong and be proud of the amount of training I put in it. This is my Type A personality of all or nothing. Lately it's been alot of nothing. :/

I made a semi-quick digi page of my resolutions this year. I didn't put too many specifics because I actually want to say I did all these next year, not like last years bomb.

I'm ready to get moving and go. I'm starting a day early sure, but heck why not. I also got my new project life book stuff yesterday and started preparing it. Yeah! Have a great day. I'm off to the gym soon. *waves* Bye!

See ya 2011

2011-12-28T15:19:00.000-05:00

I think I've decided what I'm going to do for the new year arty/crafty wise. I've decided I'm not going to do my digital calendars for 2012. I am honestly just kinda sick of doing them. lol. No other excuse. I am finishing up December and will get the book printed out soon. I just feel like doing something different next year.

I've been looking at Ali Edwards Project life or whatever she's done this year in the Becky Higgins binder/binder protectors. She's been doing things weekly. I kinda like the idea of that. I want to go with something I can just slip things in and have out. I want to be able to write more stories down of what the boys say or do and actually print out more pictures.

This is what I ordered with my remainder money left over from turning in my text books. I got it on Amazon with a few different sets of Becky Higgins photo protector inserts.

This seems more like where I want to go than with full on scrapbooking page by page or just doing digital. Though I have a feeling I want to make alot of digital elements to go in this book. Something different this coming up year.

Thats the biggest thing I want for 2012, something different than 2011.

2011 has been hard one.

Physically: I've just failed in alot of ways. I don't want to go into specifics, but just I'm ending a year long of me not doing what I wanted to do and feeling just crappy all year long.

Mentally: has been right behind physically. I just feel like 2011 was spent with me being tired and watching alot of freaking tv and not getting a whole lot done.

Financially: ugh.. I have had to spend alot more than I would have liked this year on things I really didn't want to spend money on. I'm hoping 2012 is spending less on craptastic things like dog teeth, car repairs, electrical repairs, vet bills, and human teeth. Lets bring on more fun stuff like a vacation or two, a pretty set of curtains and saving money. Lots of money.

Don't get me wrong. I am still very blessed. I have miniscule problems compared to what a lot of people have to deal with. I'm just saying I hope we all have good 2012 and that in my little world I'd like it to improve. New years have a way of hoping for that. That you can close the door to a bad year and look forward to changes, hopefully good ones.

2012

Looking like projects:

weekly book of photos, words, and inserts
jinglebelles challenges every 2 weeks
Sketchy Thursdays fun
art journal fest fun with Emily Falconbridge (I hope she does this!)
work on a new digi kit
revamp Etsy and sell stuff again
couple new stamp designs in Etsy

I thought about doing my own art journal page thing, but I really don't think I want to. I don't want to start something like that. I'd rather follow along with others this year and maybe get on a designer team possibly this year. If I can start producing more and keep up the blogging again like I have. I am enjoying getting back into all this again.

Oh yes and jinglebelles has changed their banners. Very cute! Hope you all will join in this year with Lauren and Steph. Its so nice to have your Christmas cards done pretty much by mid Nov and no mass producing or worrying over it. :)

Hope you all are having a great Wednesday!

Oh and if you haven't seen this yet you need to go check out My Owl Barn: Owl lover calendar.

Its FREE!!! Yes! a printable cool calendar with owls!! Click on the owlie pic link.

2011 creations review

2011-12-27T09:05:00.000-05:00

We're packing up and getting ready to go home. I will happy to have internet that is faster than this. I'm working with slightly over dial up speed here. Good gracious. I'm the most impatient person. lol. Also youtube does not work for crap on slow internet. Really stinky.

I just made two mosaics of projects I did make this year. I didn't have nearly as much as 2010. I will need to work on this for the coming up new year. As you can see most were Christmas cards. haha

Julie Balzer did her fav 2011 scrapbook recap over on her blog. They are amazing if you haven't seen them. Click here.

I thought I'd share. Hope everyone is still off work and enjoying it or at least will be off again soon.

I get to put away vacation stuff when I get home and plan on putting away the Christmas decor. I broke my fake Christmas tree this year. I'm really bummed about this. I guess we're getting real next year? lol We'll see. I had a white tree growing up and I kinda want one. (sick I know) What do you do/have?

Resolutions of the prior year

2011-12-26T18:55:00.000-05:00

See that Christmas King cake? Yep.. thats right. There has been way too much of this being eaten here. God I love king cake.

Today I figured it'd be a good day to go over last year's resolutions. I was just thinking about what I wanted this 2012 year's to be.

I'm going to make an art journal page like usual. I can't do that till I go home. I didn't bring any art supplies with me on this trip. Not really surprising because I had to pack up a BAJILLION things to go on this trip.

So here they are last years resolutions:

1. Lose 20lbs (haha no comment)
2. Triathlon in October!! (haha again still haven't bought a bike and now huskies can't run because they are officially too old)
3. 29 days of giving (I did this for like a week, then I sent my book to someone else as one of the days)
4. Make cakes in jars (Damn I'm a dork. Why can't I just do this one already!!)
5. Read at least 15 books this year (I did this, but last year I did 20. This year only 15)
6. UPC continue through the whole year. (my Use Practice Create challenge) hahahaha no....
7. Lower amount of online time (I have watched more tv does this count? lol)
8. More Patience (ummm....sure.)
9.Go to 2 art museums (Went to Ringling!!! did not go anywhere else )
10. Organize boys room (YES! I did, though Leo's still needs a few little things done)

I've been eyeballing lots of digital Christmas kits. I totally will be buying a few of these when I get home. I can't wait. Any new digi kits you guys are liking? Holiday or not. I know you ask why am I still buying Christmas things? Well for the jinglebelles challenges of course! I really loved having all my cards done this year when I went to send them all out. You should join in this year.
The place you can buy each kit is labeled on the preview. Enjoy! Hope you all got lots of goodies you love this holiday season.

Homemade funny

2011-12-24T09:14:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to you all! I took this picture the other day of June helping me with laundry. The photo quality is a little poor because it was w/ my itouch. Still, I of course decided to make my own lolcat type pic. We're having a blast with family. I am eating like a pig. So far I have indulged in lots of Christmas king cake, shrimp po boy, muffaletta, shrimp ettoufee, and zapps potato chips crawdad flavor. Oh yes.. The New Year will require some serious gym time. I'm okay with that.

I loves you all!! Have a great holiday! I'll be back soon!

When in doubt flock it.

2011-12-19T20:11:00.000-05:00

Cardabilities is doing their current sketch I had time to make a quick card. Its NOT a Christmas card! Finally I feel like I'm almost rusty at making any other type of card.

Here's the card I made.

Green pp-Cosmo Cricket, BG-flower pp, green solid pp-BG, Cupcake stamp-Joann's, green skull ribbon-Michael's, leafy overlay-We R Memory makers, ivory border strip-Cosmo cricket, white flock, copics, jewels-unknown.

Today my crazy butt went to the mall. I went early. I got there at like 9:30 am. I figured that most people were at work or hadn't thought of "holiday hours". It wasn't bad at all. I got a little bit of a haul I wanted to show you guys. Thought you might just want to see what I got. Its not alot, but fun stuff.

At LUSH I got 3 soaps. They are sitting in front of the bag. Thats Ice Blue Soap, peppermint soap, and Porridge soap. I got the peppermint and blue soap for Leo. He's obessed with soaps. He wraps them up in a wash rag and gives me them as "birthday presents" when he bathes. Cracks me up.

The porridge soap I bought for myself. I really liked its smell.

The other item I got at Sephora. The Philosophy gift set was on sale for 15 bucks. Its a small bottle of toasted marshmellow bodysoap, lotion and lip gloss. So cute right? It smells divine.

Tomorrow is park day with my friend and I hope to work some more on my art journal and maybe this week's Sketchy Thursday sketch. Its so cute!

Oh yes! Last not least I thought I'd share a picture of one of the iguana's I'm sitting/checking on this week. Isn't he cute/fierce looking? heh. Thanks for stopping by!

December Daze...art journaling mania coming 2012

2011-12-18T22:26:00.000-05:00

I did it. I made a decision as soon as I saw this smack book at Michael's the other day. Yep. I bought this K & Company smash book originally 12 dollars. (I got it 50% off w/ coupon) I will be doing a new year of 2012 art journal prompts. I'm still working out the kinks of how I want to do it. If I want to do a word based one again like heart the arts 2 or something a little bit different.

Here's what it looked like when I bought it.

It came with a pen that has a black tipped pen on one side and on the other end is a glue stick. Cool right?

It comes filled with random papers and a few little drawings on the papers inside it. I just plan on using them as base papers and working up in layers from them. They are pretty thick nice papers.

Here's what I decorated it like. Its all ready for me to start art journaling in it!

Memory makers- white flower, collage scalloped border papers, clear flower frame, and white label base; BG- Scallop chipboard base, small chipboard pink flower above the H in SMASH; Thickers-2012 numbers; unknown-stamped embossed shell stamp;

Nail polish- My new current holiday fav- Butter London- color "The Full Monty".

A couple bullets about my current goings on:

* I'm totally slacking on Dec digi calendar need to get going
* I got A's in both my classes. Suck it Elder Law. So glad thats over with.
*Only taking a painting class next semester. More paintings! Yeah!
*I NEED a cosmetic bag for my trip I'm taking soon. What should I get???

Thanks for stopping by ya'll!
*

Holy crud we're officially on holiday break! Need Gingerbread houses asap!

2011-12-17T08:57:00.000-05:00

Been busy around these parts. Leo go to go see Santa at a breakfast w/ Santa at his school. I am currently iguana sitting for my friend for a few days. This just entails me going and checking on them once a day. They are huge. They are both about 5 ft in length. Luckily I worked in the pet industry for many years and I don't mind reptiles even huge ones at all. I even like snakes.

After checking on the iggies, I plan on braving Target today. I'm a nut. I've lost my mind. Leo wants some candy canes and peppermint smelling soap. haha Thats what we're also on the hunt for today. After that I'm going to take him to the park.

I have been wanting to find a new organizational tool app. I found one I love called Cozi, but I only have a itouch not an iphone. It has to connect online to work. Bah! My phone only has Evernote. Evernote blows. Just sayin'.

What do you all use? Are you just good ole' paper and pen list makers/planners or do you use a program?

Got my Christmas cards out yesterday. Received my Big Shot the other day in the mail. I have no big dies for it yet. Might swing by Joann's today too? I'm so nuts.

I have also been working feverishly on making a heritage book on inkubook.com for both sides of the family. I want to be able to print out the books and have all the info in them. Then if a family member wants the info they can just print out the book I made. Yeah.. cool..

I hope to share that a little too once they are done. Love you all. Soon more crafty goodness. Hopefully tomorrow!

My Elder law teacher has still not posted grades. I'm stalking my school website as you read this. Driving me nuts!

2011-12-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

I saw that Shopping our stash site had a new challenge up that is to use krafty paper or make a tag or whatnot. Lately I've been kinda feeling the whole tag thing. I made a tag and then made it into another Christmas card. I really don't want to make anymore Christmas cards. I can't seem to stop myself. WTH? I still am procrastinating actually writing out my Christmas cards and sending them even though they are sitting there ready. I even purchased matching Christmas stamps to put on the envelopes weeks ago... so sad.

Here's the card I made for the newest Shopping our stash challenge!

The house sticker and snowflake sticker-cosmo cricket, punch snowflakes- Martha stewart, pp-BG, red sparkly tinsel-have no idea, brads-joanns, kraft paper-Tim Holtz (base house is on), blue and wht ribbon- Michaels, metal chain- Tim Holtz, Let it snow sticker-SRM sticker, and card base-bazzill.

Today I had an electrician come out and fix a handful of things I needed done in my house. The big thing I got was a light in my pantry. You do not know how happy this makes me. I'm like a nut about my pantry. I have very little kitchen space. I just bought 4 spice racks to smoosh all our spices in our pantry now too. Its so awesome. Does it look all fancy smancy pretty like stuff on Pinterest. Nah.. not really, but it is organized and is packed full. I use the space I have dang it! I think thats the biggest solution to having a small space or a place you are stuck in and have kinda outgrown. Thats our problem. This house was fine with only one child. We had more than enough room. We've just outgrown in with having another child and just accumulating stuff over the years.

Well I am off to watch a CSI episode online. Today I have to give out teacher gifts to some of Leo's teachers. I had so many this year. I got his 3 speech teachers and one of the office ladies each one of these Godiva peppermint crunch bars and a 5 dollar Starbucks gift card each in an envelope with a pretty Christmas card made by me. Chocolate and Coffee gift cards.

I don't think any teacher would begrudge that gift. Am I right?
Hope you all are having a great holiday season.

Oh! I wanted to know. Where do you all get your gingerbread houses to make from? I'd really like one that has premade frosting in it. I hate having to mix the frosting myself. Any good kits out there?

I still haven't done my Christmas cards, blogging instead

2011-12-12T21:50:00.000-05:00

I actually did it. Yep thats right. I redid my blog look. It isn't drastic or anything, but still. New banner, fixed it up here and there. I like it. I'm glad I did it. It makes it feel revamped in a way. I also got some more digital magic worked on around here. I wanted to do the sketch this week over at Sketchy Thursdays. I'm horribly behind in my scrapbooking. I think my kids are going to be like where is 2011, Mom? What happened? haha No they won't really. But I might.

Here's this week's sketch:

Here is the layout I made. I really wanted to use these pictures. I love them so.

I have to tell you about my newest purchase. I finally broke down. I resold my school books back to Amazon and had a credit. So I finally got a Big Shot Sizzix and its on its way. Can you believe I don't have any type of paper cutter die cut thing. I have a little mini Sizzix, but thats it. None of the other circuits or whatnot. Nothing.

I have been in love with Tim Holtz's dies for the big shot for awhile now. I want one dang it. Thats it. Its on its way. I found it for 60 bucks, free shipping on Amazon brand new. Not too shabby.
Hope you are all doing well! Thanks for looking.

Happy Bday to me belated December pressies

2011-12-12T19:31:00.000-05:00

Online we all know that sometimes you make friends on here that you are in some ways closer to than some of the people in real life. The internet allows you the chance to find people that you have lots in common with. I've made so many friends on this blog that I don't think I'd ever be able to completely quit blogging. I feel bad that lately I haven't kept in touch as well as I used to, but I do love you all dearly.

Lauren is one who we are constantly chit chatting. She missed my bday in October, but still decided to send me out some goodies this last week. How sweet right?

She sent me some wonderful vintage readers and a cute as heck pug book with little pug pictures and their comicial sayings. Too adorable!! She sent this awesome Frida card along with it. I love it. Can you believe the very cool beadwork she did on that card!! Its amazing. I love it. Her blog has much cooler pics of it than I took. I need to take better photos. Sorry for the lameness. Thank you Lauren!!

Leo's 4th birthday party was this past weekend. It was a blast. We had it at Chuck E Cheese. It was a mad house. His birthday is actually at the end of November, but it always lands on Thanksgiving weekend. Most people are doing family stuff then so we put off his party by a few weeks. I made this party favor box with some craft sets for kids in them from Target's dollar area and a lolly pop taped on them. Cute, fun cheap party favors. I had them set up on the table at Chuck E Cheese so the kids could take one before they left.

Tomorrow is Breakfast w/ Santa at Leo's school and then later this week, Logan will be singing Christmas songs with a choir. Busy week. I'll be back though soon. I think I found the book I'm going to use for my art journal this coming up new year!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tim Holtz Day 1 and 2

2011-12-05T18:14:00.000-05:00

I love when December starts. For the last two years I've tried to play along with Tim Holtz's Christmas tags.

Here's where I am so far. Day one and Day two of Tim Holtz's tags that I redid in my own way. I still don't have nearly enough Tim Holtz products it seems. I love his stuff. Click on links above to see his Day one and Day two if you haven't yet. They are bolded links.

I am done with classes finally this year. They still have not posted grades which is annoying. I am pretty sure I got A's in both classes. I better have! *shakes fist* I think I am taking off next semester. I am probably just going to take my Saturday morning painting class. I really want to paint again. I need to take finished pictures of my octopus painting. Its lovely. Other than that I haven't gotten a clear idea of what I want my next piece to me. I kind of want something a bit more meaningful for the next piece. Something that speaks to me.

I've also been kicking around the idea of doing another year long project like Heart the arts. I just don't know. What I'd really like to do is start a card blog with either my own sketches or something different about it. I do plan also on redoing my blog as soon as possible. The new year will start with a new look.

My Etsy shop is temporarily closed. I am not carving anymore at the moment and the carving blocks have seemed to be discontinued. Well the size I prefer is. All my designs are made really for the 2 1/2 x 5 inch block size. I like them at that size. I might go a new way with my Etsy store. I might start making Youtube tutorials on stuff to make. I really would like to get back into what I love to do. I've missed it terribly. I've just felt so uninspired. What a really need is a good card blog other than jinglebelles. I love myself jinglebelles, but I feel like getting away from Christmas cards. What site do you all like? Give me some new ideas since I haven't been really looking.

Lastly everyone that is on Pinterest come find me. I love that site and would love to find more of you on there.

Thanks for looking!

November Digi Calendar

2011-12-01T18:34:00.000-05:00

Can you believe November is already over? What the heck? That was fast. I loved this month. Even though it included me having a mini car accident that cost alot of money, it was a good month. My car is fixed and its seriously like having a brand new car. I love it still. My car is so pretty. :) Ps. I hadn't had a fender bender since I was like 20 years old so it was really shocking for me to deal with all that after all this time.

Today is the first day of December. Now I know most of you are like "Yeah!!" for different reasons. Part of my reason is Tim Holtz starts his yearly Xmas tag days!! I love those. Today was beautiful. Unfortunately I do not have 89% of what is needed on this one to even try to recreate, but I might try to wing something tomorrow. hehe

Also now that is officially December its time to start thinking about sending out my Christmas cards, filling them out and addressing them. I've already bought two books of Christmas ornament stamps from the post office. Yes I'm like that. I want my stamps to match. ha!

Hope everyone is starting out December greatly. :)

Sweet cards

2011-11-25T20:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving one day late ya'll! Its been go time around here with me getting my car fixed and the holidays, then you add in my final projects due for my classes. I have to tell you I am SO over Elder Law. I really can't stand that class. Its official. Its worse than Bankruptcy Law. Yep.. thats right. WORSE. I'm just ready to be out. I don't even care what grade I get at this point.

I've signed up for Criminal Litigation next semester and Writing and Research. I do want to take the Criminal Lit class, but I'm kinda not really thrilled about the Writing and Research. Oh well.

I made two cards this week for Jingle Belle's sweet challenge. I'm so bummed this is the last challenge. I really didn't get as many of them done as I would have liked this year. Next year I will aim to play along more!

BG pp flowery background, Cosmo Cricket digital Xmas kit printed out candy canes, Holiday sticker unknown. Stripped pp unknown, Bazzill cardstock, MM red circle sticker, white bracket thickers, red distress inks, Season sticker-SRM sticker.

I made two. I'm up to 23 cards made for this season. Not too shabby. I think that will be enough for the cards I send out this year.

The letter stickers are old MM stickers, and Heidi Swapp stickers, White thicker number stickers, BG stripped paper, Michael's red ribbon and the gingerbread pp is Cosmo Cricket. The paper punch I used on the bottom paper is Martha Stewart snowflake.

I've been considering what I want for Christmas this year. I really would like a Keurig coffee maker. Do any of you have one of these? I'm leaning toward that. I'm also leaning toward possibly some jewelry or more make up items. I just don't know. I'm so undecided this year. What are all of you asking for??

Organization wiz

2011-11-10T09:17:00.000-05:00

I've been obsessing lately. Not about art supplies or makeup at the moment, but organizational items. I've really been wanting to get things together in my home so that I can use the small space we have to its ultimate potential. I mean whats the point in feeling cluttered and not being able to find anything? I'm a bit type A on most days, but this blows me into a Type A personality superhero with a cape. Just to clarify, no the majority of my closets still are "befores".

First I worked on my linen closet. I forgot to take a before picture. This is good and bad. Bad because you don't get to see the before nastiness, but good because I would totally be mortified to show you how sad and messy it looked before. Really..it was horrifically bad.

I bought all the green and white fabric containers at Target. The top shelf with all my medicine supplies have to be kept up there because of Leo. I can't keep them in my guest bathroom because he can access all the areas there and I don't want to still have child locks on the front of the cabinets. It all fits up there pretty good. I made the tags with white scrapbooking tags and inked them with distress blue ink. Then I sprayed them with green mist spray. I stamped the labels on them with a CTMH stamp alpha set.

I now can fit my vacuum in this hall closet which makes me very happy. Before it wouldn't fit and I'd have to shove it out into the garage. I really need one more closet in this house like a coat closet, but unfortunately living in FL they don't typically put these in.

I also wanted to share the lovely cool postcard from Lauren. She sent it to me from Hawaii. How cool right? It totally made my day. Thanks Lauren!! I love it. Today I had to turn in my car to get fixed. I hope it comes out looking good. I'm so nervous about it. I had to cancel my surgery because of insurance reasons, so I will be around in blogland. Love you all! Thanks for stopping by!

October Favs

2011-11-07T18:11:00.000-05:00

I've been having a great October. I had a fun time on Halloween with the boys and I dressed up myself as a day of the dead skull woman.

I used white eyeshadow on top of a very white light shade foundation concealer I had. Then I used baby powder to set it. I had the blue eyeshadow and eyeliner to do my eyes. I used a liquid black eyeliner for the black areas. The pink is a glittery pink liquid eyeshadow by NYC. I then bought fake eyelashes, and eyelash glue. I used the glue to glue scrapbooking bling/jewels onto my face. haha. Worked great! I made the headband out of a black strechy headband from the dollar store and I also bought a thing of fake dollar red flowers from there to sew onto the black headband. 2 bucks! Can't beat that. Other than that, I only had to buy the white eyeshadow and pink glitter eyeshadow. Everything else I had.

The boys were a ninja and iron man. Nothing too exciting, but they liked the costumes. Leo no longer lets me make him be cute.

I have still not done anything arty/crafty wise other than my digital stuff. Speaking of digital stuff I wanted to share a new thing I would like to do monthly. My digital calendars don't really give alot of room for sharing details about things, so I think I'm going to do this for products monthly I like.

I'll probably be offline for a little bit because I'm having a medical thing later this week, and I have to get my car fixed. Not cool stuff at all. Hope everyone is doing well.

Oh yes! Before I forget tomorrow the Breaking Dawn soundtrack will be out. I'll be downloading that bad boy tomorrow morning when I wake up. You can believe that. :) I can't wait.

Skelly love

2011-11-02T15:56:00.003-04:00

I did actually finish this month's digital calendar. I'm just trying to keep up with things. The next two months are going to be busy! Here's what I made.

I read three books this month. I've really been in a reading mood lately. I had to sign up for classes for next semester today. We had a great Halloween. I miss you all. I'll post more soon when I get a chance. I have a book review to post and some product reviews. :)

I'm ready to start buying Christmas presents!!

2011-10-25T06:27:00.000-04:00

Since I'm am a creative dunce lately and have not done much more than start organizing my stash I decided to tell you about the other stuff I've been doing.

I just finished this book.

Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain. It is a great mystery/crime/character rich book. Its the third in a series of Gretchen the serial killer books. I've read the first two, Heartsick and Sweetheart. Its so good. Mainly its about a female serial killer and a detective that has looked for her for almost a decade then she captures him and tortures him. I love them. Easy fun, good reads.

Logan is currently into the Lemony Snicket Unfortunate Events series books. I just found him books 4 thru 10 on Ebay for 9.00 including tax!! Score! I'm so excited. Those books are like 12 bucks each new. Now I just have to find him the last 3 books (11 to 13). Logan is almost 9 and loves them and also he really likes the Humphrey Hamster books if you are looking for some book suggestions for gifts for around 8 to 9 year old boys.

We went and got pumpkins this weekend and I carved it. Nothing fancy carving, just a normal face. It turned out so cute.

One of these days I will get back into being arty productive, but as of now I'm kinda sucking wind. I know my blog is mainly an art blog so that kinda stinks. I figure I'll just branch out a bit.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank you Lee!!

2011-10-19T12:54:00.000-04:00

I'm such a slacker. I'm really mentally beating myself for not keeping up with things I want to keep up with. Really though there isn't much I can do about it. You know when you say "I'm doing my best"? Well I'm am doing my best. It isn't the best I'd like it to be, but it is what it is. You gotta sometimes just realize that your max ability isn't always the same as everyone else's. Everyone is different. Sometimes things have to give.

Recently what has been giving in my life?

gym :( NOT cool. Do need to do something about this
crafting/art in general
the organization of my closets
the weekly vaccuuming and washing of my car. haha this hasn't happened in a long time.

School is going good. I have to decide what I'm going to take next semester. I had my birthday this last Tuesday and I bought myself this lovely new purse. I fell in love with the color. I got it from Macy's.

I also received my won blog prize from Lee. Its a beautiful art journal book she made. I love it. Thank you Lee!!

I'm excited its starting to get cool out again. Yesterday was our first day of chilly. I plan on reorganizing my craft/art stuff soon and possibly posting a video of my storage and stuff. I think that would be fun.

I'm also working on some organizational ideas for my closets and such since they are in total disarray and have been ignored for some time. I hope to post some before and afters. :)

This weekend is going to be picking out pumpkins and decorating the front yard/house for Halloween. Exciting!

I will try to catch up on some blog reading and posting today too. Its a teacher work day so Logan is home, but Leo since he is only in 3k did have to go today. Its nice. I hardly ever get time with just Logan.

Thanks for stopping by!

I had a dream I had a yellow purse. I really want one. Thats right. Yellow.

2011-10-15T09:28:00.001-04:00

Wow I haven't updated since the 3rd? I've just been so spastic with school, the boys, and just being freaking tired. My biggest thing I'm struggling with right now is my indecision with school. I gbt accepted to USF for art. I am not going to be able to go there till at least a year from now, if not longer. It'd be the facts. I can't. Am I still wanting to just finish my paralegal degree and then try to find a job? Should I wait and get my art degree? Should I go into a kind of side field of graphic design? I just don't know!

Yesterday was my 11 year anniversary with my hubby. He got me some beautiful roses and we got a babysitter and went out. That was nice.

Lately I've also been obsessed with watching make up tutorials on youtube. WTH is my problem? I don't know. I just love them. Most of them are girls who are close to half my age that have more make up product than I do and use it a hellva lot better than I do. I like:

http://www.youtube.com/user/icallitambrosia

http://www.youtube.com/user/MichellePhan

http://www.youtube.com/user/MissChievous

I've realized I buy craft/art/paper supplies, they buy beauty products. I don't think thats good or bad. I just realize maybe I'd like to back off buying as much crafty/art stuff cause I have so much and buy more makeup/hair products. Just saying.

I am turning 34 this week and typically I wear very little makeup. I don't look that different with a face on than I do off. Mainly I think because I never cared to learn how to really do different looks with make up. So I plan on getting a little arty with my face. ha!

Today my parents are coming over and we're just hanging out. I eventually want to go through all my art stuff and reorganize it to see if that will help me get motivated. I have been asked to carve a special stamp for someone and I have yet to feel like doing that. I am a suckin. Anyone has any extra energy send it my way.

Love ya all.

The weather is officially perfect now. I hope it stays this way for at least a month.

2011-10-03T07:34:00.000-04:00

This weekend I took Logan to a birthday party and had to wrap the boy present for the birthday boy. I found this cute 1 dollar reusable bag in the Target dollar area. I just thought it was so bright and fun. I got it and already had tissue paper for inside. Then I just made a fun tag instead of a card and tied the bag shut with a blue ribbon on the tag.

I made the tag with distress inks and a black skull stamp I got from the dollar section at Michael's forever ago. The letter stickers I had left over and worked out as just some of the letters I hadn't used. I really want to work more on presentation factor in my gifts. I have been awed by how Lauren and some of my other friends do such a beautiful job at making each piece of the gift fun and cute. I would like to try to do this more.

Last night I was watching a show on my laptop and looked over on the loveseat I was sitting on and saw everyone had joined me and fell asleep. So cute. Leo luckily was already in bed, because there was no room left!

I've been working on October's digital page and still hope to fit some painting in this week. We'll see. I'm still going strong with Atkins. I am actually kinda liking being on it. No counting. Strict rules. My type A personality is kinda digging that at the moment. Well off to fight the horrible morning car line. *sigh* Hopefully its better this week.

Lion and the lamb

2011-10-01T08:50:00.000-04:00

I saw the new challenge over at jinglebelles and knew instantly I wanted to do the whole lion laying down with the lamb iconic image on my card. I found some vintage images of the lion and lamb in one of my books.

The base is dotted Bazzill cardstock, sticker berries and music border is cosmo cricket, blue ribbon from Michaels, snowflakes unknown, Dark blue pp is Reminiscence and so are the light blue letter stickers. I hand stitched across the bottom. Green is also Bazzill.

Today I'm trying to convince myself that I need to drag my butt to the gym. I absolutely have to get a gift for Logan's friend for his birthday. My parents are coming tomorrow so I need to straighten up things too. I'd like to do some more crafty stuff while I'm at it, but we'll see. October is my favorite month. Yeah for October finally being here!! :)

Gotta go!

2011-09-30T07:52:00.000-04:00

I finished this month's digital calendar and have more progress on my painting. This month I cheated a little because well I forgot to work on it for a whole week straight.

Here's where I'm at with my painting. Its getting a little muddy in colors so I have to work on that. Only bad thing about oils is you can blend them too much. I hope to touch up some areas this week and it'll be done soon! I might do more to it. Who knows. This is where it is right now.
I have to run take the boys to class then come home and walk the dogs. I'll be back on later to leave comments and read blogs. Gotta catch up!

Cold front headed towards FL yeah! :)

2011-09-28T07:49:00.000-04:00

Back to once a week posting. Kinda sad. Its been a bit hard to keep up with things. I did almost finish my painting. I hope to finish it up on Thursday and take pics. I also did this digital altered page that I plan on printing out and putting in my journal.

When the friend said this to me, I took it as a compliment. Then I thought about it more later and thought it was more supposed to be insulting. Really though I will continue to take it as a compliment. Mainly because why not? I mean I like songs because of their content. Its not all about the beat, or all about just that singer can do no wrong. Its about substance. To me lyrics in songs are like poetry and if I like listening to them and thinking of my own life, whats wrong with that? Of course this does not mean I don't have some Black Eyed Peas on my ipod just for gym music. I do like my heavy beat dance music for the gym.

Today I have to go meet mom friends for coffee, run Leo around all over town, and then go to class tonight. Too much! Tomorrow will be much calmer. My first calm day of the week. I love Thursdays.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope your Wednesday is more calm than mine and doesn't involve Elder Law like I have to deal with. ugh.. :)

My pinterest linkie is at the bottom, Find me!

2011-09-21T07:28:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I spent a good 3 hours outside on my back screened porch in the hot weather painting. Its really the only place I can paint at my house that is well lighted enough. Otherwise I can't see what the heck I'm doing with color. I really enjoyed it. I haven't painted in months. Above is a progress shot. I am hoping to work on it more tomorrow. I also have an old painting that I need to work on and fix where Leo took a marker to it and drew on it.

Here's a picture of all my paints I use. I have just some basic colors that I mix to get the colors I want. I need more white dang it! Have I mentioned I love oil paint? Today is the gym and later tonight is Elder Law. I really, really don't like my Elder Law class. I don't know which is worse at this point, Elder Law vs. Bankruptcy Law. :(

Well I'm off to take the boys to school. My new pug, Mikey loves to go with me to take the boys to school. Isn't he adorable? Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by! Here's my pinterest link.

I lose scissors around here like crazy. Where are they???

2011-09-18T07:44:00.001-04:00

This morning I made cinnamon rolls. Nothing fancy, just the kind you do out of a can. Logan loves them. Leo of course won't eat them. I don't know if I ever mentioned that the boys pretty much are complete opposites even down to what each will or won't eat.

Whenever I make cinnamon rolls it always makes me think of when I used live with my old college roommate. She would make them every Saturday or Sunday. I never cared for them much. I especially didn't like the icing then and would maybe eat one if it didn't have that on it. Now I make them for my own kid who loves them. I probably make them close to once a week. Probably more like every other week, but still. I have to admit they do smell good.

Do you have any food that always makes you think of someone or something? I have a few food items that always spark memories.

I did get a chance to make a new card for the Cardabilities challenge. This was the sketch.

Here's the card I made.

BG: flower small pp, bird pp, red wood pp, big flower chipboard, Lace: hand dyed with alchol inks, Unknown: Green/wht pp, and orange transperancy piece, Thickers: white letters

Today my plan is to walk the dogs, finish laundry, go grocery shopping, and get ready for the coming week. Hope everyone is having a good Sunday!

+ one pug

2011-09-17T13:05:00.000-04:00

This week went by too fast. I had so much to get done and ran around like crazy. First off I have to tell you all that I am going to officially adopt my new foster pug, Mikey. He is the sweetest most perfect pug ever. He even walks well with the huskies.

So look forward to pug made clothes and a pug Halloween costume for Mikey! lol.

I made a card this week for the jinglebelles hybrid challenge. Its with digital kit I got from Jessica Sprague's site. T his is the kit here. I used the word saying and holly from the digi kit. I printed them out on thick paper, but them out and added stickles red to the holly piece. The stripped pp is also from a digital kit.

Here is the card I made.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

I wanna sew

2011-09-11T07:53:00.000-04:00

This weekend I have been obsessed with ripping all my cds and putting them on my itouch. I plan on soon having NO cds in my car and having my itouch play through my stereo in my car with one of those adapters. Ya know why? Cause I"M SO SICK OF SCRATCHED CDS! Also the bulk of them in my tiny car is annoying.

I've been checking out craftster.org to see neat new crafting ideas. These are some of my favorites. I've really been kinda thinking about making some clothes either completely from fabric and patterns or doing some altering of existing old clothing I have and doing a "new dress a day" type thing.

Here's what I love: Click on pictures to get links to their projects

I love this dress this girl made. She is amazing. Wow.. I wish I had this exact dress in my size. I WANT IT. Though me doing 3 mths of yarn work on my own..unlikely.

Okay this girl is too cute. I love her dress she made. I mean you gotta really be brave and have a fun heart to make such a quirky dress, but look so good in it too. I love this. But I'm afraid I could not pull it off. I'm a bit on the older side. I'd love to see this in white instead of blk too.

Okay I love these jeans. I will be doing the EXACT same thing or something very similar. I love the idea. Its such a great one. I typically go my own way with a technique or something like this, but I really really love these jeans. This girl is amazingly creative.

This girl has an amazing how to make a scalloped edge dress hem. I want to try this.

Last one, I know you are probably bored at this point. I watch too much Project Runway and love this stuff!!
I love this dress pattern. It looks like something I could maybe do?? I'd have to find a pattern I like.

A deadly sin perhaps?

2011-09-09T07:31:00.000-04:00

What am I? I'm a glutton. Thats right. I can't help myself. I took in another foster pug. His name is Mikey. I had all intentions of waiting awhile before doing any more fosters. Just because this semester is very difficult for me with Leo going to 3 different schools during the week and Logan going to a different one, and then there is my school too. I decided to change my mind. We girl's have that right I guess.. :)

I'm glad I did. He's a doll. The boys really seemed to have missed having a pug around. They have been over the moon since he's been here. He's around 4 years old, house trained, already fixed (this is a plus because otherwise its a whole day procedure), shakes hands and sits, and is just a joy. Only bad thing.. I think they should have named him "Shark". He will snag food right out of the boys hands. He wrangled a few cookies away from Leo already. *eh..* He's ruthless. lol

I just finished this book and it was really good. Great mystery read. I loved it.

Here's the synopsis of the book:
A moody and engrossing mystery, In Search of the Rose Notes follows two best friends from childhood who once unsuccessfully investigated the disappearance of their teenage babysitter, and now, in their twenties, attempt once again to uncover the truth. Readers who love the literary, female focused mysteries of Laura Lippman, Tana French, and Jennifer McMahon will be thrilled to add Emily Arsenault to their must-read lists.

I've been a reading machine lately. I hope to get some crafty stuff done today. We'll see. There's a new Jinglebelles challenge out, new Sketchy Thursday sketch, and a cardabilities sketch.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Oh! and I'll add another one of my flickr fav photos mosaics. All the credits for the photos/links are below.

1. circus - elephant trainer, 2. deerlet and flitter, 3. vintage suitcase, 4. contents of kit #36, 5. Bounty, 6. early summer, 7. Oriental Poppies, 1927, Georgia O'Keeffe, 8. Magnet on Thomas Campbell art, 9. Sunset

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Yawn..

2011-09-05T07:23:00.000-04:00

I woke up at 6:30 this morning because of a set cell phone alarm that shouldn't been set. *sigh* I am so tired. I'm sick of waking up early. I have to go to the gym today and do homework for tomorrow night. ;P

I did work on an art journal page the other day. It turned out pretty cool. Mainly its alot of layering and collaging w/ a bit of journaling.

Here is also another great mosaic of Flickr fav's photos. All the links to where they came from are underneath the mosaic. One question who is your fav artist/band/musician you like to listen to?

1. Moth made from vintage embroidered fabrics., 2. New Stenzo fabric, 3. I love sassafras!, 4. summerhouse, 5. Taste of Summer #4, 6. scan0068, 7. Summer 2010 journal 7, 8. magicicadas, 9. flower for Jo

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Copy cat

2011-09-04T10:57:00.000-04:00

This weekend I got a bit of a break and had a chance to do a card for the Jinglebelles challenge. Its to CASE someone else's card. Here is Lauren's original card that I cased.

And here is my card I made this morning. I really like how its very similar to Lauren's, but not exact. She is much more skilled with cutting and paper punching than I. lol

I am coming up with a new art journal year long project. I've really been missing having prompts every week and having to do something. I think I came up with a pretty good one. I just don't wanna wait till January!

Thanks for stopping by. Off to eat my lunch.

Grape koolaid is what I always want to drink when I wake up in the middle of the night.

2011-09-01T20:22:00.001-04:00

I'm one day late, oh well right. I did finish this month's digital layout. I need to start work on September. I finished 3 books this month! That in itself makes me very happy. I read "Ice Cold" by Tess Gerrison, "The 13th Tale" by Diane Setterfield, and "Incantation" by Alice Hoffman. Other than reading and watching tv shows online, I haven't felt like doing anything else.. Hope that changes soon. Here's the layout.

Midas amplified.

2011-08-28T17:41:00.000-04:00

This has been a really nice weekend. We had a good party yesterday and then today I took the boys to Chuck E. Cheese. It was a real quick trip that was fun, but fast. I got a little bit of crafting done this morning. I made this card for the Jinglebelles challenge. Its to use mostly all silver or gold. Now I have NO gold what so ever. I was very short on the silver even. This is what I came up with. The background silver I had to use white BG patterned paper and glued glitter all over it.

Another Christmas card made. Thats awesome. I will totally be ready this season.

I also went through my flickr favorite pictures from other flickr members and made a mosaic to put in Thurs fav group. The links to all the photos are below the mosaic. I love making these kind of like my own inspiration board.

Hope everyone had a good weekend and wasn't without electricity for too long. (those in hurricane areas)

1. Jeda Villa Painting, 2. cup, 3. Miniature Pharmacy Charles Wysocki Dollhouse Miniature, 4. Please Don't See Me, Please Don't See Me, 5. butterfly bowl, 6. Dollhouse Vicki, 7. Frida Kahlo's Studio., 8. James Gulliver Hancock, 9. pretties

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

48 hrs

2011-08-27T19:01:00.000-04:00

After reading Julie Balzer's recent 48 hrs post of her daily life. I decided to do one of my own. Want to know what a typical 48 hour day is like in my life? I always seem to over extend myself on some days and have absolutely nothing on others. But this is what my days have looked like since school started.

Friday:
6:30 am- Leo wakes me up. No need to set an alarm. I have a 3 year old, thank you very much.

7:00 am- pack lunches, get Logan and Leo breakfast, get them to get dressed. I eat a Special K protein bar for breakfast

7:50 am- leave and take both boys to their separate schools

8:30ish am- gym

9:30ish- wash car at my fav car washing place

10:00- Walmart for food supplies for tomorrow's Shrimp boil/bbq

11:00- Home Depot for Turkey Fryer to do Shrimp boil in.

11:30- car line for Leo to be let out of school, got my book to read for a few minutes. Eating an apple on the way there.

12:30- make lunch for Leo and for me. I eat a Lean Cusine and a salad.

1:30- meet friend at park with her son. Leo plays with his friend and I get to chat with my friend.

3:00-car line for Logan to get out of school. Leo has fallen asleep in the car.

3:30- back home with both boys

4:00- warm up frozen lasagna from freezer for dinner. Hubby gets home soon and I try to relax and mess online for awhile.

7:00-Leo is in bed

7:30- Play around in Photoshop Elements and play with some digital stuff

8:00-I watch a documentary on Aileen Wuornos on Netflix.

9:30-give up and go to bed after cleaning a little around the house for the party tomorrow.

Saturday:
5:30 am- Yep this is messed up. I'm awake via Leo. All you mom's who wish you still had little tiny kids welcome to my world. I'm ready for teenagers who sleep in at this point!

7:00 am- I eat my trusty Kellogg's protein bar

8:00 am- clean everything like a maniac. People are coming to my house!! 12 of them! Why isn't my vacuum working right??

11:30-Run up to Walgreens for ice.

1:30- People start arriving. I am starving. I usually eat around noon. Eat way too much shrimp boil and a hamburger.

3:00- Who brought ice cream? Why? Why? yum.. cookies and cream. Dang I'm going to have to run tomorrow now. Kids play, adults talk. People eat. Fun by all.

5:00-Everyone's gone. House is trashed. I used paper plates though so not too many dishes. Sorry Environment.

7:00-Leo's in bed. He's exhausted.

7:15- I'm on the computer like a mad woman writing this post! Plan on watching Project Runway and maybe a John Doe on Hulu plus then going to bed. Its been a long day.

by 10:00- I'll be in bed. Hope you enjoyed my last two days. Figure its always interesting to have a day in the life of. Even if this someone is mommy bound housewife who has done very little art the last few days. :)

I'd rather be painting today

2011-08-26T07:23:00.000-04:00

It Friday and honestly I'm kinda wishing it wasn't. We have a BBQ we're doing tomorrow and wow.. I really don't want to clean at all. I have to go to the gym today, then to the grocery to get food items for tomorrow. I don't wanna.

Been kinda concerned for those up in the New England area with this hurricane. I mean we're used to them down here. But all my New England buddies..well I don't think you see many up there have you? Stay safe and gather supplies. Most likely the worst will be being with out power for awhile. *fingers crossed*

I made another digital layout last night with the sketch from Sketchy Thursdays.

Here's my layout. I love doing beach layouts. I'm kinda bummed that I probably won't be making it to the beach again before the warm weather is over.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Oh! and I'm newly obsessed with goodreads.com. If you are on there let me know!

My cat will not stop meowing to go outside.

2011-08-22T08:21:00.000-04:00

This weekend we had a lovely time going down to Ft. Myers to see Thomas Edison's winter home down there. It took awhile to drive down there, but it was worth it. Really pretty and for being a late August day, it was not too hot.

I made a digital layout for Sketchy Thursday's sketch this week. I realized I never made a layout for Leo's 3rd birthday. This last week I finally found a scrapbook album from K&Company to hold his birthday layouts. I buy one birthday looking scrapbook album to hold all the birthday 12x12 layouts from each boy. In Logan's I have from his 1st birthday to his 8th. Now I have to get Leo's all together.

Here's the sketch I used. Sketchy Thursdays

Here's my layout.

Today is officially the last day of summer for us. Logan, Leo and I start school tomorrow. I have some gym, grocery, and running around to do. Tomorrow first day of school pics!

Thanks for stopping by.

I wish I had a personal assistant just to cut up onions for me.

2011-08-18T18:34:00.000-04:00

For the last three days I have been consumed into genealogy so deep that I was worried I would never stopping looking through census's. I've got one of those obsessive personalities that once I think I'm going to do something I'll keep at it till I burn myself out. Well after doing my full genealogy on both parents side, then hubby's parent's also... I am done.

I found out I am as German as they possibly can come. My family did not seem to marry or mate with anyone not German. My grandfather side must of sprung up out of the ground in the late 1600's.

I am back on the gym bandwagon. I'm hitting it hard and plan on running another race this November I think. There is a 8 mile through mud that WOULD BE AWESOME! Need to start running outside again this Sunday.

I made a card tonight real quick because when I saw this challenge well.. I could not help myself. What's my weakness? I can not stop buying Halloween themed paper products. If it has a cool skeleton, raven, spider or bat.. ITS MINE!!!! Especially stamps with those things on it, or ribbon, or heck.. whatever. Do I make alot of Halloween'd themed items you ask? Well no...but this does not stop me. So here's my card for Shopping our stash. My weakest link.

Stripped ribbon-Ki Memories, skeleton ribbon-Michaels, black chipboard Boo letters Making memories, black skull rubon- BG, black pp-Remincense,, orange transparency square-pink paislee, white swirl rub on-BG.

Have a great almost weekend!

I truly am a yankee

2011-08-15T15:41:00.000-04:00

Now I almost did not get this posted today. Why you ask? Well I've been sucked in by ancestory.com. I used to do geneology type stuff about 10 years ago. There wasn't as much on the web then and eventually I did all I could do on my own. Well fast forward to now after watching too many shows of "Who do you think you are" and I signed up for a month of ancestory.com.

ITS AWESOME...

For example... Want to check out a picture of my great great great grandfather and grandmother. (supposedly I mean how really can I verify this?) Still very cool. This was probably taken around 1860 something??

Now this picture could or could not be hooey, but I did find out for sure what my great great grandfather's name was and that he fought in the Civil War Ohio Infantry 57th Co. C.

That I CAN verify!! I have the paperwork. All of it. Photocopies. Too cool..

Oh yes and this is my greatgreatgreatgreatgreat grandfather and grandmother's marriage certificate. Yeah thats 5x great. June 26th 1775 in New Jersey. How can you not think that is freaking cool?

Anyways... why I posted..yes...

I made a card for this week's challenge at Jinglebelles card challenge. Glitter glam it up week. Here's mine.

Thanks for coming by and checking it out. I made it to the gym today also. Score! Thats right I'm getting dang good at reading census's and getting toned up. Heck of a Monday to ya!

Its only 9 am and I'm tired. Never a good sign

2011-08-14T08:47:00.000-04:00

Top things I would like to do today:

1. library (didn't go yesterday)
2. flea market
3. find orange folder for Logan for school
4. gym
5. do nothing

Yes.. I'm conflicted. I'm already tired. I need to eat better. I need to exercise much more again. I start school again on the 23rd. I'm excited, but not ready at the same time. I texted my friends from my paralegal classes yesterday. The ones that I had phone numbers for won't be in my classes this semester. Kinda a bummer.

I did do another digital layout last night with the weekly sketch from Sketchy Thursday.

I don't own one pair of red shoes. How is this possible?

2011-08-13T06:25:00.000-04:00

I've realized its been forever since I've changed my blog around. I really should start working on that. Today the plan is to go to the gym and start hitting it up again hard. Then I shall possibly hit the library. I want another book to read. Lately I've been going through about one a week, which is not too shabby. I have felt better.

Last night I started watching John Doe on HuluPlus. Now Huluplus is one of those things I wasn't going to get. Hubby said that it was neat, but I was like.. "oh but I have Netflix". Well let me tell ya Netflix blows in comparison. John Doe is only one season, 21 episodes, but it has my boy in it from Prison Break, Dominic Purcell. Its a good show! I can't believe it didn't make it. I always fall in love with the shows that don't make it. *dang you Three Rivers and Men in Trees shakes fist*

Yesterday I finished an art journal page I've been half doing for months. Here it is.

I drew the dog in ink then colored it with oil pastels and colored pencils. There's even a bit of white out on this art journal page.

I hope everyone's weekend is starting out good. Any book suggestions would be great as I am on the way to the library. Bye!

I'm addicted to cherry tomatoes!

2011-08-11T18:24:00.000-04:00

Lookie Lookie...looks who's posting two days in a row. Yeah thats right..ME!

I made this card with an old stamp from CTMH that I had. The papers are BG and the cardstock is Bazzill.

I made this for this week's challenge at Shopping our Stash. I bought a new printer today. Nothing fancy, just a new HP. I plan on doing some more digi stuff now that I have the means. My old printer was having its issues. It was over 10 years old so you can't complain too much.

If you read my blog and you are on twitter leave me a comment with your name. I'd love to follow you. I'm on there as tyggereye or Gina Cunningham.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm obsessed with my instagram app anyone else?

2011-08-11T07:42:00.000-04:00

I have been feeling so much better after getting home from my cruise this last weekend. I went on a cruise with my best friend. It was only 2 days and we went to the Bahamas. We had the best time. We went snorkeling in the Bahamas while it dumped water from the sky on us the whole time. Who cares?? We were already wet and there were NO KIDS there. HECK ya! Typically when her and I spend time together there are 6 other loud munchkins running around us. I can not tell you how nice it was to eat slowly and not have to cut up someone else's meat. We played darts while sipping on fruity drinks. I drank way too many fruity drinks ya'll. Usually I'm a Captain and diet coke kinda drinker and this does not get to me. Fruit juice screws ya up! I don't think I will ever drink another again. EVAR.

Yesterday I actually read everyone's blogs and am working on catching up. I commented to everyone. *waves* I am feeling into all of it again. Very nice.

I made this digital layout last night after the sketch from Sketchy Thursdays sketch.

Today I'm taking Leo to daycare and Logan and I are going to lunch with a friend. I might do some art supplies shopping.

I found this site through Lauren's blog yesterday. I'm totally going to do a card for Shopping our Stash. What a great site!!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope everyone's day is less rainy than mine is looking this week. Its crazy raining here.

Once a month posting

2011-07-31T19:08:00.000-04:00

I'm alive. Things have been getting going around here. I've decided to step back on some obligations because it was getting to be too much. I was doing swim with the boys, speech with Leo, the pug fostering and just general life stuff got to be all too much. Maybe it wouldn't be that much to most, but to me it got to be overwhelming. I even stopped going to the gym the last month. I NEVER do that.

I managed to make this months calendar. I am pugless. I do miss the little guys, but school will be starting again and I will have 2 classes again. I made an important decision to go back to my paralegal degree. I only need 9 classes after this semester. I want a real job. A career. Taking two more years to do an art degree that I'm not even sure what I'm going to do with... well.. it was just unrealistic. I still might try eventually to get my degree in art, but I realized at this point in my life I'm way too sensitive and stuck in my ways to go into a classroom setting where everything is subjective. What they like or don't like is up to the teacher. Criticism is a way of life and well my skin isn't thick. I would rather look at art as doing it for me and for fun. Maybe sell some here and there, but get back to the original outlook I had on it.

I have not carved a stamp in months. I have not designed anything for months. I miss this. I am going to try to join in on this challenge this month. I have two days a week now that I am free to paint. I am going to start this week. So I might actually post more than once this month. I'm hoping to getting back into commenting and reading blogs too.

Here's to hoping. Thanks to all still reading. :)

July

2011-07-13T18:54:00.000-04:00

I've been gone from posting on here. Life just sometimes spirals into this thing where washing clean clothes and doing all those things you have to do, gets in the way of all the things you'd like to do. And sometimes just sometimes you just really don't feel like doing anything at all anyways. I did manage to finish my June digital calendar.

I have a strong suspicion that July is not going to go as well in the digital calendar area. I haven't made the base yet. Its like the 11th or something isn't it? :( I don't know the date. Sad eh?

Today I had my dental work done on my two cavities. I was a mess. I took the lots of Valium the dentist gave me and my usual Xanax and it still wasn't enough. The god awful smell when they drilled was horrible. Huge ass shots. ugh.. I did not pass out. I'm pretty sure that is impossible with that much anxiety meds in your system. I am thankful for that. I hate passing out. I get better and better at managing it as I get older.

I pass out regularly. I've been doing it ever since my first shot I can remember when I was 5. I watched them do it and then I was on the floor. I've passed out when my dog got a shot before. Even the smell of rubbing alcohol bothers me.

My mouth hurts. I'm going to take some more medicine and watch something on Hulu and go to bed. Tomorrow is another busy day.

I miss you all my blog buddies. One day soon I'll be back in full force. Someday when I'm in better spirits and have more time. :)

I'm out of coke zero

2011-06-15T19:10:00.000-04:00

I'm coming in right under the wire. I made this card for jinglebelles sketch challenge this morning. I've been so over booked. Here's the card. Most of it is stickers from Cosmo Cricket. I'm up to 15 Christmas cards made for this year! I need to do about 15 or so more before Christmas. Easy Peasy.

I've been busy with pug stuff, but mostly I've been really consumed with my black and white husky, Dakota. He hasn't been doing well and I've been having to go out with him at night every two hours. Its like having a newborn..but NOT. I'm so tired and so worried about him. He's 11 so it could be something bad. We went to the vet yesterday and he got on a new medication that seems to be working a bit.

The boys are in swim every day and Leo's speech starts next week. Its nuts. I have one box of Christmas themed paper supplies and I seem to dig through it once a week, do the challenge for jinglebelles and thats it. It keeps me a little sane. I miss doing arty stuff.

Hope everyone's summer is going good. Thanks for stopping by.

Beach sand should be in my shoes by now

2011-06-07T17:30:00.000-04:00

I can't believe its been a week since I posted last. Things just seem to be moving so fast. I made a card this week for the jinglebelles sew challenge.

The bg pp is BG, the sticker sentiment is Cosmo cricket, ribbon Michaels, and stickles.

Other than this one card, I've been mainly doing pug stuff like crazy. Look at these boys aren't they cute? Well they are a handful too. I forgot the whole puppy stage. At two years old, they are still very much puppies.

I'd like to jump start my creative juices, but honestly I haven't been feeling it. I miss 2S4Y and Caardvarks.

I feel like going to the beach soon. I just don't know what beach. Typically I would say Cocoa Beach, but w/ the jellyfish being there last I heard... I'd rather not. Gulf beaches are not my fav. I'll have to think about it.

What are all of you doing this summer? We have very little plans this year. Its strange to say that. I kinda feel like I should start something, just because I have the time. (well other than the pugs, speech this summer, and swim for the boys)

Well I hope all of your summers are starting out great.

Thanks for stopping by!

The end of the month snuck up on me.

2011-06-01T06:45:00.000-04:00

I can't believe its June already. I'm so not ready for Logan to be done with school. All summer both of them home with me. (fighting mostly cause that's what they do)

I remember when I was pregnant with Leo, I always said they wouldn't fight because they are so far apart. I was so optimistic. Now I'd go back to my pregnant self and slap myself upside the head. I didn't know. I was an only child. Only children do not realize that siblings fight..period. At least in some way shape or form. Oh well. We've signed up for swim and are planning a cruise probably. I was going to do a beach trip, but the beach I like to go to has recently had a jellyfish influx. I had this happen to us 3 years ago when my best friend and I took all our kids to stay at the beach for a few days. It was no fun. Her daughter got stung. Here's the article. Yep its gross when you go and its like this. It happens every few years or so.

Well I finished my digital calendar for the month. I need to start working on the page for June. Here is May.

Gotta a million things to do. Thanks for stopping by!

HOLY BEJESUS crud!

2011-05-31T06:49:00.000-04:00

I have been trying to get into my blog/leave comments for over a week now. ARGH!~! Thank goodness I think I'm in. Yeah! I have so much catching up to do. I don't even really have anything to post in this post.

Here's whats been happening in a quick recap:

Went to my parents house for Memorial day weekend. Had a great time
The pugs are doing well, but if you don't really watch one them he'll totally poop in the house
I spent way too much money on new clothes yesterday and hit all the Memorial day sales because hubby was so sweet to let me have a day to myself.
(as #3 says) went to Michaels and got some new scrapbooks to store my pages in yesterday for cheap!
I have an octopus painting sitting on my easel that has only one coat and its been begging me to finish
I'm going on a cruise in August with my best girl friend for 3 days!!! Woo hoo!
Logan's school is almost done (8 days left) and then I have no idea what I'm going to do w/ the boys all summer long.
I need to go check to see if I can find some of my carving blocks now online.

I love ya all and I will be reading and commenting soon! Back in bloggin'

More pugs are here!

2011-05-23T07:59:00.001-04:00

Meet Biggy and Puggy. They are 2 year old foster pugs that I got the other day on a 911 emergency placement. I got a call at 10 pm and I had them by noon the next day. Crazy! But they are adorable and sweet. Very smart. They need to be fixed and have other medical treatments hopefully this week.

I also got a great surprise from Lauren on Friday. She found me the most amazing vintage book with tigers in it! I love it. Also a gorgeous card to boot. Well I have to run the boy to school and then hit up the gym. I think I'm going to start training my butt for the triathlon in October again AND get a bike and do the thing. Wish me luck to be able to keep it going this summer to train. Its so hard to train over the summer.
Thanks for stopping by!

I'd like to get a really pretty ceramic teapot. Thinking of going to make one.

2011-05-17T07:37:00.000-04:00

Juniper the crafty cat. She's on my art table, sleeping or just sitting there pretty often. Its right next to her cat furniture thing. I don't mind this. As long as she stays off my kitchen counters. That is just way too gross to me. There are certain things that cats do that, well... make me dislike cats. BUT Juniper luckily does not do any of these things, and many cats don't thank goodness.

1. Getting up on kitchen counters with their litter covered feet..eww

2. Scratching up furniture. I like my furniture to stay looking new. This is not easy with 2 boys, then add in a cat and I'm asking for trouble. Luckily my couches are dark chocolate colored.

3. Marking spots. (boy cats usually do this, but sometimes a strange female will too) I think this is mainly because they don't like their litter box for some reason(like its stinky dirty) or they have cat competition. Neither going on here. Thank goodness!

My only wish is that Juniper was up more during the day. She's definitely a night owl.

Yesterday I got free moment to work on a card for the current jin glebelles competition. Its theme was jolly/lucky. Well I just kinda went with what I felt like. I used a cosmo cricket rub on I've had forever that is adorable.

Been on a bit of a reading streak I have. I go through spurts of reading. My ulitmate goal is to read 12 books a year or more. Which roughly is a book a month. Which is fine on the months I'm really into reading and usually go through up to 4 books a month. There are those months where I go many months with out even picking up a book. Its been awhile since I read a book, probably about a month and half. I just finished this book:

Its a Gothic mystery type book where the main character finds her mother upset when she gets a letter that was lost in the mail for over 40 years. She finds out her mother was evacuated to an old English castle during WWII and lived with a family. She won't say more than that and the main character goes on a sort of hunt about the past and its mystery. Its really good. Its all about secrets, literature, castles and war times. I loved it. I got mine off ebay for pretty cheap, its only in hard cover still.

Well I gotta go take the boys to school. Have a great Tuesday!

You can never have too many purses. Seriously!

2011-05-16T07:25:00.000-04:00

The garage sale for the pugs was a rousing success. We made over 600 dollars for the pug rescue. I am thrilled. I made my goal. As you can see by the pics, it was huge! We have two puggies that need wheelchairs. Isn't that sad? :( I'm selling the big furniture that didn't sell in the garage sale on craigslist this week. Hope that I sell it all.

I also have a vintage purse that I'm putting on Etsy that didn't sell. Its so cool. It has 6 covers to the purse that button on and are reversable and changeable. The wood handle has a little bit of wear, but its so neat! The wood handles kind of magnet together. Here's the listing if you are interested.

This weekend I managed to get a couple crafty things done. I made this digital layout for Sketchy Thursdays. I meant to post it sooner, but blogger and its hiccup made me wait.

And here's the sketch I came up with. Scrapbooksplease is having a sale on their premium 12x12 prints so I'm going to be ordering some today!

I didn't get alot of sleep last night again, so I think I'm going to be laying low today. No gym. (though I should totally go) I think I'm just going to hang out at the house till speech class for Leo comes around this afternoon. Maybe I'll wake up enough to get some craftin' done or at least some planning. :) I really think I want to start having more products in my Etsy available. I have some vague ideas, but nothing really planned out yet. Gotta get thinkin!

Thanks for stopping by!

I need someone to make me stop thinking about garage sale details!

2011-05-12T07:12:00.000-04:00

I had the longest most drawn out day the other day, but I got our cat! Juniper is here and is so great. She isn't bothered by the big hairy beast dogs at all and is so sweet with all of us. She hangs out mainly in her big cat furniture thing I got her. I haven't seen her tear at my couches yet which was one of my biggest concerns. I do not want my couches torn up, but I also don't believe in declawing. She needs those claws around here and I just couldn't stand to do it. She meow's some, but only when wanting attention. I've never had a cat as cool as she is. I'm really glad I found her.

I haven't had the chance to do anything arty all week. I've been so busy with swim for Leo starting up, the garage sale madness, Juniper, and all other random things that have seemed to fall on this week.

I did do this flickr favorite photos mosaic that I liked. It has all the credits links below it for the pictures. Gotta go!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/longears/5673062499/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danitaart/5689483686/in/faves-tyggereye/#/photos/danitaart/5689483686/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/squishtaru/5688346588/in/faves-tyggereye/#/photos/squishtaru/5688346588/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bugsandfishes/5534390480/in/faves-tyggereye/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zouzanie/4495174434/in/faves-tyggereye/#/photos/zouzanie/4495174434/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thekathrynwheel/5651064426/in/faves-tyggereye/#/photos/thekathrynwheel/5651064426/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vonvonz/5689979334/in/faves-tyggereye/#/photos/vonvonz/5689979334/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetelsita/5690428929/in/faves-tyggereye/#/photos/planetelsita/5690428929/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/afaw/17731094/in/faves-tyggereye/#/photos/afaw/17731094/

Is it lunch time yet?

2011-05-09T10:16:00.001-04:00

Today is the start of the busy week. I will have to make sure to keep up on posting this week, because I know this week will fly by with out me even thinking twice about posting if I'm not with it.

This weekend mostly consisted of me organizing and pricing garage sale stuff. You would think I would have wanted to go to the zoo and have a nice Mother's day on Sunday, but I was beat. I had no want or need to trek up to the zoo. I wanted a little extra sleep, then I went grocery shopping alone. That was nice. I love shopping by myself. It gives me time to read coupons to see what exactly I need to buy to use them and how many. Isn't that the worst when you walk up to the cashier with one item and you were supposed to buy two of them to use the coupon. Even worse is you have two boxes of cereal, but they aren't the fruity new flavored type that the coupon says you need to get. Lately I've been couponing a bit more. I hate wasting money on food when I'm already wasting a ton on high priced gas!

It took us from 10 to 3:30 to drag out, organize and price all the stuff in my garage. This garage sale will be huge. I'm excited and stressed at the same time. Still need to organize the clothes and linens into linens, mans, womens, and children sections.

I made a quick card today for the new jinglebelles challenge of old. Here it is. I used a vintage Christmas illustration, old BG christmas papers, old stickers, rubons, etc.. I had in my stash.

I also bought a couple new digital kits this weekend from NSD sales. God gotta love National Scrapbook day. These all are from catscrap designs.

My flowers from Easter are dying and look sad. I don't want to get rid of them!

2011-05-06T14:18:00.001-04:00

If you have read me for any length of time you know I've been looking at dogs since last September. Not sure what I want, I waffle. I go back and forth because honestly what I want is a chihuahua. That is my type of dog. I can't have a chihuahua though because of Leo. He's just too rough still. That hasn't stopped me from going to the pound often since January and searching online for dogs. I am also a pug foster.

Well yesterday I was at the pound. I was going to look at a white cat, I had seen the week before. It was no longer there. I ended up in a room w/ two female cats with Leo. They were there, Leo wanted to see them..

I fell totally in love with one of them. She's a grey female cat. She is so sweet. I thought about it for 24 hours and went back this morning. I'm getting her! I'm so glad too. She is so sweet, loves Leo and is a purrer. Constantly. Even when Leo has her ears pressed to her head and trying to pick her up she's purring. So sweet.

Here's a video of her. Her name is Juniper. We'll call her June for short. You have to go to my flickr to see it. Click here She purrs constantly even when Leo grabbed her leg.

I also did a new art journal page and busted out my oil pastels. That was fun. I haven't messed with them in quite awhile.

One of my online friends also introduced me to an Iphone app called Brushes. Its so cool. I made this with a photo of Dakota real quick this morning.

Today I will be organizing and pricing for the garage sale all day. Next weekend!! Eek!! So much to do. I should probably get dressed and off the internet. Have a great weekend!

I really have been wanting to get another tattoo recently.

2011-05-05T07:36:00.000-04:00

I drew and watercolor painted this in my moleskine journal yesterday. I've been working a little bit more in my art journal which makes me feel so much better. You wouldn't think making little art pieces in that size in a bound journal would be so enjoyable. I love seeing my books getting filled and bigger. I know as the years go by I'll enjoy look in through them and seeing them stacked in a row on my bookcase.

I drew this picture after seeing this photo on flickr. I was practicing drawing with ink only again.

My throat has a weird icky feeling to it the last 3 days. I'm assuming it is allergies. Usually I only get bad around when the orange blossoms bloom. I wonder what is setting me off now. I think that is the only thing that would be enjoyable about living up north. Having many winter months with no allergies. Sure colds go around more when its cold it seems, but still. I hate feeling icky for no reason and just having it last. I think I might need to drink some hot tea with honey.

Today I'm going to go eat lunch with hubby and pick up more garage sale stuff. *fingers crossed it all fits in the SUV*

Thanks for stopping by!

The dogs are acting old after being boarded. Poor babies. They are getting old.

2011-05-04T11:15:00.000-04:00

Run, Run, Run. That is my day today..I have so much I need to get done and do this week. Garage sale stuff, playdates, lunchdates, and the gym. Lets not talk about me trying to wash my car this morning and get the love bugs off. Ugh. They would NOT come off. I have little bug guts still all over my car. I used a pressure washer for goodness sake! They are horrible!

I did get another digital layout done for Sketchy Thursday's sketch this week. Here's their sketch.

And here's the layout I made. I wanted to write down what Leo and Logan said for posterity.

Well I have to shower and keep going. Thanks for stopping by!

I really need to back up my computer files.

2011-05-03T06:14:00.000-04:00

I did a new card for the current card challenge over at jinglebelles. This week is to do a card with no patterned paper, only cardstock. I love this challenge. Here's what I came up with.

The stamp is Tim Holtz with some shading done on the trees with a moss green copic marker. I spritz'd it with some maya ink spray and added some sewing and ribbon strip. Lovely eh? I'm going to have all my cards ready by November this year to be shipped out. That is nuts! I can't wait.

Last night I took my first melatonin to help me go to sleep. Usually I take a sleeping pill if I'm not tired and honestly I've gotten kinda hooked on them. I take them all the time. I've gotten used to waking up a little groggy, but overall its so nice to sleep through the whole night. If I don't take anything I wake up..alot. I have always slept horribly. I'm a very light sleeper on my own and I have bad dreams/anxiety when I wake up. The melatonin seemed to work pretty well. I'm going to keep up with it. Hopefully I can just switch to it.

I also realized (I don't know why I'm such a moron), but I am going to buy some decaf coffee to drink. HELLO!! They do make that stuff. Why should I give up coffee all together? I love coffee. Even if previously I would have never even considered buying the un-jazzed type. lol. Decaf always just sounded silly to me before. Not now. Crazy how things change.

Well I wanted to share another flickr fav photos of people on flickr mosaic that I made. All the links are below the mosaic. I only need to make 6 more before I can make myself another book.

1. Wolf Face, 2. "elle decor" august '07, 3. Luna Moth, 4. Gir-FO, 5. Iguana Journal - Sketch Book - Handmade - Left and Right Handed Reversible, 100 Percent Post Consumer Recycled Paper, 6. Sportsgirl Window, 7. owl*baby, 8. My Frida Kahlo Dollhouse, 9. Lolo's gator scarf

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm really into Bengal Spice tea right now.

2011-05-02T07:20:00.000-04:00

We had a great weekend in Orlando celebrating Logan's 8th birthday. It was such a relaxing weekend I didn't want to come home. Universal was fun. The boys were being a bit silly and chicken and not wanting to ride all the rides they could, but it was a lovely day and not too crowded. I got to see how they did up Hogwarts and drink some pumpkin juice. It was great!

We stayed in the Disney Port Orleans French Quarter hotel. It was so nice. It really looked alot like New Orleans. It is shown in the bottom two pictures above. The pool was fantastic. Logan even went down the water slide. I was so proud of him. He usually won't do things like that. The hotel was great other than their itty bitty pillows. They were generous with them, but they resembled tater tots. Not cool. I'm a pillow needing snob, 3 to 4 weird shaped pillows kinda made my neck hurt. The beignets for breakfast at the hotel though made this a distant memory. Yum!

I did get one new art journal paged done. The pug on the page is drawn and painted by me. He might be featured in a new pug digital art kit when I finally get it done. Its a work in progress.

Today is back to the busy week of school, speech, running errands and preparing for the garage sale. Hope everyone had a nice a weekend as we did. Thanks for stopping by!

Bye Bye Busy April

2011-04-30T07:19:00.000-04:00

Its the last day of the month. What does that mean for me? Well kinda sad, as I am always fond of April. Its my 1st son's birthday month and that alone makes it one of my fav months. (also Feb and March were kinda depressing this year)

Anyhoo.. You all might want to see this digital calendar beauty I made for this month. It turned out great. I still love doing these. You can see my others from this year here. Or all 12 from last year Here.

We're out in the sun having fun today. Hope you have a beautiful day where you are too.

Maniac because everyone is sold out of my large carving blocks

2011-04-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm still keeping up my art pace. Sure its more of a speed walk than a jog, but still.. It feels good to be posting again. Its coming down to the count down for the garage sale. I should be in total panic mode, but I'm not. My garage looks like a hoarders episode, but thats a good thing. The pug rescue garage sale is goin' to be HUGE! (I will of course share pics if I can stop for two second to take pics)
Only two weeks left! eek!

Onto the crafty stuff. My bloggy bud, Lauren always does sketches from Limelight papercrafts. This is unfortunately their last sketch. I'm late to the party, but at least I showed up. Here's their sketch for this week.

And here is the card I made:

The challenge was to use your fav stamped flower on the card. I used my lotus hand carved stamp I made.

I put in an order today on Amazon and found these cups ON SALE that hold loose tea to make hot tea on the go. I bought two. They are an amazing price. Find them on Amazon here. They are only $2.74!!

Well I'm off to straighten things up. I have a friend coming over for a playdate today. Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Friday everyone.

Lions oh my!

2011-04-28T06:24:00.000-04:00

I've enjoyed painting alot this week. I paid and have been taking this class by Alisa Burk e. I haven't done much with it. I did watch and work on this a bit yesterday in my art journal. I'm not entirely comfortable drawing in pen with out doing it in pencil first. But here was my first try at it.

I really miss doing my weekly art journal pages. This year's challenge has really went into the toliet. Last year was so dedicated. I have to keep telling myself its only April (almost May) time to get to stepping! That is what I plan to do.

Yesterday I went to a thrift store and found a new book for my collection. I don't know if I ever mentioned that I have an effientity for vintage children's books? Well I do. Especially those with illustrations of lions in them. Well this beauty was 25 cents. I love it! I also really like well illustrated children readers.

Well I have to find some lunch to eat and paint a little before I have to go. Thanks for stopping by!

White little cats running through my mind

2011-04-27T10:09:00.000-04:00

I've had a fantastic last few days. I've been keeping busy by doing all the things that are difficult with a 3 yr old. Yesterday I went thrifting, to a pet store, craft store, and a clothing store. I got everything this week I wanted to get except for making it to the tea store. I wanted to go to the tea store in the mall to get a new loose tea holder for my cup and maybe some new tea.

I've given up coffee now. I just can't handle how it makes me feel. I get horribly jumpy and jittery. I get cranky because I can't stop feeling out of control. So no more coffee. :( Its a whole lotta caffeine free hot tea for me now. How weird is that for me to say? WEIRD thats what. I love my coffee. I have a feeling when winter comes back around and I see that peppermint coffee creamer I''ll have to hold myself back.

I did a new layout for Sketchy Thursday's layout this week. I've been fiddling with it all morning.

Here's the sketch.

And here's what I made.

I also wanted to share a new mosaic of my fav flickr favs I made. I do love making these little inspirational mosaics. I want to make another book of my favs again. I like looking through them. It makes me feel inspired. Look at the bottom for links to all where they came from on flickr.

1. dec daily|02 (explored), 2. Untitled, 3. Haunted by the 80's, 4. ya think we like birds?, 5. Art Quilt - Into the Mystic, 6. Betsey Johnson Mini Tea Party Strapless Dress, 7. 3 Cupcake and Cake Bottle Cap Magnets with Decorated Hinged Gift Tin, 8. "Scrodzilla", 9. hooray!... for cake

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Thanks for stopping by!

Tulips should come in turquoise

2011-04-26T04:17:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was wonderful. I got so much done! I put together my easel. I also finished up the dog bed I made for the dogs ages ago. I made this dog bed cover for my dogs out of scraps of fabric I had. It is velcroed over an old blanket folded up inside it. This way I only have to wash the cover I made for it. Thats my biggest beef with dog beds you buy. None of them have easy to wash covers. Hello??@! Dogs are dirty beasts. Well at least mine are.

I also finished a card for the jinglebelles current challenge. Go green and Go Earth Day! This week was to use recyclable, reusable items. I took newspaper and colored it with alcohol inks by Tim Holtz and the snowflake tape is by him also. I sewed on the card and used some chipboard thickers and old BG tag I had laying about. I used a Martha Stewart snowflake punch on the newspaper. It turned out so neat. Finally I feel back into the card zone.

I'm trying to plan out my other totally free day! I'm thinking some more art and thrifting might be in order. Tonight is a night out with hubby. We're going to go to our fav Indian restaurant. Thanks for stopping by!

Carrot cake is not my friend

2011-04-25T12:46:00.000-04:00

I finished all 5 fish painted and done up for my friend, Heather. It wasn't that big of a project. I managed it in a couple hours. They look okay. I like them, I'm worried she won't. The big problem I didn't like with them is that their eyes are drilled out. So I couldn't make eyes for them really. That kinda makes them look "dead" to me. I don't know. I think she'll like them. They were plain metal to start with. I spray painted them aqua blue, then painted them with acrylic paints.

Easter was fantastic yesterday. We had a lovely time. My parents and sister came over for the day. The boys had a great Easter. Today I'm putting together my easel, painting, making cards, and enjoying my 2 kidlet free days I'm having. I slept in till 7, (which is good for me) but really wanted to enjoy my day so I went back to slept till 8:30!! I haven't slept in that long in a very long time. Sad I know. It was wonderful. Have a great Monday everyone!!

Mustard yellow actually looks flattering on me.

2011-04-21T11:53:00.000-04:00

I just looked through my flickr photos looking for a specific pic. I have done hardly anything arty this year. I'm feeling so blocked. I keep hoping to wake up one of these days and feel like I used to, and it hasn't happened yet.

I am working on painting some metal fish for my friend. Her dad makes metal fish or other things to hang outside on walls or fences. She gave them to me. I have 5 I think. They are pretty big. About a 1 1/2 x 1 feet each. I spray painted them all an aqua blue first, now I'm painting them with some acrylic paint. Then when they are done I'll seal them.

I'll post pics when done!

Other than that we colored eggs yesterday. Logan and Leo love that. *note to self make egg salad today*

Here's some pictures.

I've been obessed about looking at dresses online to buy. I really want to get back into shape and do a 5k again soon. I struggled this winter with all the sickness/lack of motivation/school/pugs..you name it. I let everything get ahead of me being in the gym 5x a week. I'm getting back into the groove. I've started using myfitnesspal.com which is awesome.

I think for every goal I hit, I'm going to buy myself a new dress. This one is one of my favs. You can click on the image to see it on Etsy.

I have to go get Logan today from school early. Next week is his spring break and his 8th birthday!! Off I go!

I think creative wise I'm going to have to reorganize all my supplies and get my ideas flowing. Next step in this creative drought.

2011-04-13T06:52:00.001-04:00

I feel like I'm getting back into the bloggin' feeling. Think of it going kind of like the song "I've got that loving feeling", just substitute "loving" with "blogging". I've been buying a few things lately that have gotten me very happy. One is this album by a new band I found via Pandora. They are called the Submarines. Their music is awesome. I love this song.

I love this video for it. They are great. My new thing on repeat in my car.

I also made a new treasury of things I love on Etsy yesterday.

I don't know if you are aware, but every Wednesday, Jessica Sprague has dollar digital Wednesdays. You sign up for the newsletter and boom a whole bunch of $1 items sent to your email box. Here's what's on sale today!! Some neat digi Cosmo Cricket!!

I got:

I'm quite happy with those purchases. I have also been busy making crafty stuff.

Well today is my hour spin class. I hope I don't feel as sore as last week. I'm really slacking athletic wise. I need to get back in the zone.

Thanks for stopping by!

Digi Dare 223

2011-04-10T20:44:00.001-04:00

Has there painting been going on? No.. Have I done anything other than what I'm posting right now? No. But I did move my computer back into the dining room and am no longer watching Weeds on streaming Netflix or Prison Break. So maybe, just maybe I'll get some crafty stuff done!

I did want to do a layout like this for a long time. Logan and Leo have always looked almost identical to each other. Like they were identicals just born 4 1/2 years apart. Only difference is that Logan started having curly hair at one year old and Leo's has always been straight. Logan's is no longer curly. But you have trouble telling their baby pictures apart! Its so neat.

Here you can judge for yourself. The digi dare was to have:
• A ruler
• A watch/clock/clockface (some element that tells time)
• The date of each photo and the age(s) of the subject(s) in the photo
• Your journaling should include details from both (or more) time periods

Here's what I did.

You can click on the picture to see it bigger. Thanks for looking!

I feel like a paintin'

2011-04-05T12:18:00.000-04:00

I'm getting a bit more done lately. Saturday was a big turning point for me. We went and took the pugs to their new forever home. Yes! They were adopted. I'm very glad, but a bit sad. I do miss them. I realized though now that they aren't here, how much work just two little dogs added to my daily schedule. Still.. I do miss them. We'll be getting more foster pugs.

After we dropped them off, Lewis and I headed to Sarasota. We stayed overnight and went to the Ringling art museum. It was so great! It really got my creative juices flowing.

Mostly I've just been working on pug type products to sell at the pug garage sale I'm having in May. All the proceeds go to the pug rescue of Florida. Its going to be HUGE.

Hoping to get back into my creative groove and start posting more now. *fingers crossed*

Hope you all had a good weekend like I did.

Thanks for stopping by!

March showing

2011-04-01T14:05:00.000-04:00

I'm still on a break, but I had to add my March calendar for you all to see. I am still doing them. I will do these no matter what. Speaking of which I have to work on making a calendar for April.

I also wanted to tell everyone that the pugs found a forever home!! They are going to their new home tomorrow. Very excited. Logan is a little bummed and wants another foster asap! Going to have a nice birthday weekend with my hubby.

Talk to you all soon.

Time out

2011-03-28T19:28:00.000-04:00

I've decided to officially declare a time out on my blog. I need a real break where I don't feel guilty about not posting. I don't know what it is with 2011, but this is the least I've posted in years. I just have no motivation. No drive to create or make anything really. I'm just tired. Busy. Heck I'm not even doing school this semester.

But just so you know. Those who read me reg. I'm taking a break. I've also not really been reading blogs either. I am on twitter my username is tyggereye if you want to see the randomness that I'm up to.

See you soon. :)

Breathing? Yes I am

2011-03-23T07:58:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've been gone so long from here. I've been busy. Then the last few days including today I'm getting over a bout of food poisoning Lewis and I both got. Thats why I've not been making, posting or noting anyone. I am officially scared of all food. In good news 5 lbs lost in 2 days of food poisoning. lol. Gotta get that to stay off if possible.

Going to see a very good friend this Saturday!! I can't wait. Will try to post soon when feeling better. Why do I always feel like I'm posting sick notes?

I am still twittering when I get the chance if anyone else twitters my user name on there is tyggereye.

I feel like I need an orb of confusion

2011-03-14T07:33:00.000-04:00

This weekend was busy with a pug rescue event I did. It was a long drive out there to the other side of town and was there for awhile. Even longer, because I thought I lost my phone. I didn't. I was totally freaked till I found it. In my car. I'm a moron. Here was the babies there.

I've also been working on some new art pages. I like how they turned out. Leo has been in full potty training mode. He's finally getting it I think. *fingers crossed, please don't be jinxing self by saying so*

Going back to the gym today and try to get used to the time change. Daylight lights savings time blows. Thanks for stopping by!

I don't like the way mascara clumps on my eyelashes, it makes me feel dirty

2011-03-06T14:47:00.000-05:00

I finished the card I wanted to for the jinglebelles challenge this week. I'm so glad. This weekend has been so nice with the abundance of free time to do what I want and need to do. I spent the majority of my morning cleaning with out kids around. Do you know how much more enjoyable cleaning is with out kids around? Holy crap. I had forgotten that adds like 4x as much misery to cleaning than cleaning already blows.

I also managed to sell the old rat cage on craigslist. Yeah! Money!

Anyways.. here's my card for the home challenge Christmas card. Its a flamingo. I live in Florida. Get it?

Flamingo stamp (hand carved by me), just chillin rub on cosmo cricket

I have to leave now to go to a pug meeting. I made a hand carved stamps and some simple stamped cards to show them with the silhouette they sent me. Gotta go! Thanks for stopping by!

I'll be buying some new shirts today. Its getting warmer here already. I can't wait for real weather!

2011-03-04T07:52:00.000-05:00

Today I'm having a kid free day! woo hoo!(is it wrong I sound so happy about this? Oh well.. shoot I can't help it) Leo is at grandma's and grandpas and I am free to craft the day away and thrift... well after I drop Logan off at school. I already with my extra free time this morning did a quick digital layout from the Sketchy Thursday's sketch this week. Here's the sketch..

Here is my digital layout from the sketch. There's something I am not thrilled with on it and I can't put my finger on it. Maybe just too busy. Any conductive criticism would not be taken wrong. What do you think?

Ya'll are probably pugged out. hehe Well right now they are the front and center babies in the house. Its like a new newborn I swear. Lily and Daisy are heartworm free and on the pug rescue website now!

Tonight I'm taking Logan up to the mall after school and we're going to go eat some CPK. (California Pizza Kitchen) Logan's fav. Then we're going to go test drive some new cars. We might be getting a new car for Lewis. Saturday is date night for Lewis and I. Can't wait. I see some Lebanese dining and then maybe a movie? We'll see..

Today will be a craft o' thon and thrifting. Same thing for tomorrow!! You'll actually see some new stuff on here.

Going to be working on..

card for jinglebelles challenge (home for the holidays)
new hand carved Christmas themed stamp designs
some items to make with pug silhouettes that the pug rescue wants me to come up w/ some money making ideas.
Mardi gras digital kit? Maybe...
carve some more stamps.. possibility
Do a 3 year old traditional layout for Leo's 3 yr pictures
print out lots of digital elements on papers to use on projects
art journal page
start working on Alisa Burke's sketch class I just signed up for!! I'm late to the party, but the party's still jumpin'

Thanks for stopping by everyone. Hope you all have a great weekend!

I'm freezing from sweating from the gym. I need to go take a shower.

2011-02-28T07:45:00.000-05:00

Been kinda quiet around my blog. Sorry!! I haven't had the time or drive to post much on here. I haven't been making anything really. I did buy some new digital kits from Little dreamer designs the other day. They are going out of business. This totally bums me out. You should go check them out for some deals. They are closing their doors on the 15th of March.

This weekend we went to our first foster pug event. Meet the pugs at the Get Rescued event in Gulfport, Fl. It was a good time. I got to go over to the husky rescue too and buy some magnets and a husky treat cook book.

Its already almost March. I finished my digital page for this month. Again, this is my only absolute thing I will not slack on. Hope to get more creative energy soon! Thanks for stopping by!

I just ate more steamed green beans than I'd care to admit.

2011-02-22T11:44:00.001-05:00

I was excited to see a sketch this week on jinglebelles and that they were joining up with Sketchy Thursdays. They are my two fav challenge blogs. Here was the sketch.

Here's my card I made.

The pp are both BG. The winter wonderland rub on is Cosmo cricket. The snowflake punch is martha stewart. I stamped the tree stamp (tim holtz) on a half a circle of white paper and then colored it with blue and antique dress inks. I painted white acrylic ink on it to make it look snowed on and added a few drops of walnut ink splatters.

I love how this card turned out. Its one of my favs I've made this year so far.

I took the pugs to the vet yesterday. This weekend is our first pug rescue foster event I get to take them to. They are doing wonderfully. The vet check seemed to go good. It was FAR away and poor Daisy is not the best car rider. She makes a loud panting sound the whole way there, while we were there, and all the way home. Poor thing. She's old and very overweight is what the vet said. He said if I get her in shape, she won't do that as much.

Thats what I'm working on now. Walking pugs, feedings being monitored, no Leo food sneaks. (this is the hardest) Leo likes to give them his food.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

I have absolutely no idea what to make for dinner tonight.

2011-02-17T09:42:00.000-05:00

I know I've been a total slacker on my blog. I've been in a creative no-go zone and just caught up with so many other things. I did manage to do this UPC art journal page with this month's medium watercolor paints! It turned out neat..

Yesterday I got my pug fosters! I ended up getting a pair that were surrendered together. Its hard for them to find foster homes that will take 2. This way they get to stay together. Meet Lily and Daisy! Check out your local pug rescue if you want to adopt or foster. There are tons of sweet pugs needing homes at the pug rescue of Florida.

They are fitting in wonderfully. They are housebroken, love the boys, and are sweet as can be. I missed the deadline of doing this week's jinglebelles challenge. I totally am bummed about that. I am having a 3 yr old playdate today at my house with Leo's little buddy. Its just his one little friend. Then later I'm going to take the pugs for a walk with Leo, then later tonight take the huskies for run.

This weekend I have to help Logan do a project on Martin Luther King Jr. I have to put something in a bag that represents him??? Logan also wants to make an Orb of confusion out of paper mache for Lewis to take to work. Don't ask me what that is. lol. Something out of a video game I think.

felty goodness

2011-02-09T08:01:00.000-05:00

Really quick.. Here's my card for the jinglebelles challenge this week to use felt. I had this felt reindeer from a gift bag Lauren sent me two years ago. I cut the reindeer out of the bag to use in the future. The card turned out adorable. I can't wait to send it out this year. Great challenge this week girls. Gotta go get my car 15k check up today and its cold outside. Coffee is needed.

Goals, I need goals..

2011-02-07T07:54:00.001-05:00

1. 12-09 Brown OrgFlwer Cap 1 Full, 2. Katharina Leuzinger, 3. small cat siamese painting, 4. Distant relatives , 5. African Flower blanket, 6. handmade holidays :: playstands, 7. Little Red Riding Hood, 8. Untitled, 9. vintage primitive doll family

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Well I have considerably been slacking on making much of anything to my normal amount of production considering I do not have school right now and at the moment I've been non-sickly for all of 5 days or so?

I have been productive in my personal/non arty life. This weekend I put up stuff on craigslist to sell. I sold Leo's old crib and our pop up camper. Now the crib I had no problem getting rid of. I'm a little bit sad about the pop up camper, because it was a pipe dream of mine that we'd be that family. You know the ones. The ones that go on adventures all over camping and spending family time together as much as possible and those would be my boys memories when they got older. But honestly...thats just not us. We had fun with it while we had it, but we just never used it. When we did use it, it was difficult with the dogs. We also could use the money and garage space.

Lewis is very happy to be using the garage as his new gym area. I'm very happy to know when we do eventually move I will have one less thing to worry about. (selling the pop up or moving the thing) So all and all it was a good weekend. With our crib money, I had a sitter and we went and ate a wonderfully calorific lunch at Red Lobster with out kids and then went thrift store shopping. It was fun.

Goals to get done for the blog this week..

1. Jinglebelles felt card Ah.. yeah... Totally doing this.
2. Sketchy Thursday sketch. Get pubbed? or at least try? Sound good!
3. DRAW NEW STAMP DESIGNS at least one
4. 2 more Tim tags from 2010 to do since we are now in Feb.
5. Watercolors must be brought out for UPC (which I'm totally not sticking to as well as HTA)

Off to the gym I go.

I should watch an old Hitchhock movie. I'm in that kinda mood.

2011-02-02T06:42:00.000-05:00

This week on jinglebelles challenge blog the great Amy Tsuruta made a sketch for everyone to use this week. Here's the sketch.

Here's the card I made for the sketch. I am so excited to be getting all these Christmas cards done. I'll be having these puppies out by Nov 30th to send out this year! Oh yeah!

Pretty tired this morning. Leo decided 5:45 am was a good time to get up this morning. *yawn* Yesterday we took an imprompto trip to the zoo.

My itouch was not fully charged and I didn't have my camera, so I didn't get many pictures. We had a good time though. Leo liked everything than feeding the birds. They have lorikeets you can feed nectar to and they swarm you. I was holding the cup and I had like 5 or 6 of them on me. Leo freaked. He must have thought it was a scene like out of Hitchcock's "The Birds". I think when my zoo pass expires I'm going to get an aquarium pass again instead. Thanks for stopping by!

*Tyggereye Art Love*

What CHA new stuff do you love? leave me a linkie!

Week 4 Project life book

Butter chicken, too many lentils, and naan. yeah..

2nd cup of coffee here I come!

I am going to make stuff today. I am! Even if its only brownies. BAH!

I've been eating alot of turkey wraps lately for lunch. Yum..

It was like a staycation today at my house. Wonderful.

Wonder if anyone will brave this cold and be at the gym today. Doubtful.

Project life week 2

I am currently obsessed with plum colored nail polish.

Most used

Remember when Emily Falconbridge

I'm feeling the rainbows lately

I have lost my corner rounder punch. WTH? Bah..

I feel like I'm starting to want to carve some stamps. What an odd feeling!

Project life week 1

I accidently sent Logan to school not in his uniform today. I thought he had dress free pass. Oops!

I actually made eggs for breakfast. I never do that.

I know you are jealous I get to deal with plummer crack. I know you are.

I made breakfast foods for dinner tonight. It was great.

Here comes 2012

See ya 2011

2011 creations review

Resolutions of the prior year

Homemade funny

When in doubt flock it.

December Daze...art journaling mania coming 2012

Holy crud we're officially on holiday break! Need Gingerbread houses asap!

My Elder law teacher has still not posted grades. I'm stalking my school website as you read this. Driving me nuts!

I still haven't done my Christmas cards, blogging instead

Happy Bday to me belated December pressies

Tim Holtz Day 1 and 2

November Digi Calendar

Sweet cards

Organization wiz

October Favs

Skelly love

I'm ready to start buying Christmas presents!!

Thank you Lee!!

I had a dream I had a yellow purse. I really want one. Thats right. Yellow.

The weather is officially perfect now. I hope it stays this way for at least a month.

Lion and the lamb

Gotta go!

Cold front headed towards FL yeah! :)

My pinterest linkie is at the bottom, Find me!

I lose scissors around here like crazy. Where are they???

+ one pug

I wanna sew

A deadly sin perhaps?

Yawn..

Copy cat

Grape koolaid is what I always want to drink when I wake up in the middle of the night.

Midas amplified.

48 hrs

I'd rather be painting today

My cat will not stop meowing to go outside.

I wish I had a personal assistant just to cut up onions for me.

I truly am a yankee

Its only 9 am and I'm tired. Never a good sign

I don't own one pair of red shoes. How is this possible?

I'm addicted to cherry tomatoes!

I'm obsessed with my instagram app anyone else?

Once a month posting

July

I'm out of coke zero

Beach sand should be in my shoes by now

The end of the month snuck up on me.

HOLY BEJESUS crud!

More pugs are here!

I'd like to get a really pretty ceramic teapot. Thinking of going to make one.

You can never have too many purses. Seriously!

I need someone to make me stop thinking about garage sale details!

Is it lunch time yet?

My flowers from Easter are dying and look sad. I don't want to get rid of them!

I really have been wanting to get another tattoo recently.

The dogs are acting old after being boarded. Poor babies. They are getting old.

I really need to back up my computer files.

I'm really into Bengal Spice tea right now.

Bye Bye Busy April

Tyggereye Art Love