inarascraps

I've moved!!!

2010-05-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

This last year has been a whirlwind of changes and I'm hoping it's finally going to settle just a bit. I got divorced last August and I'm currently in Paris, France waiting to marry my sweetheart from when I was 19. I've started a new blog, called, "Inara's Art", focusing on the various art forms that I do, not just scrapbooking. It can be found here:

www.inarasart.blogspot.com

I can't bear to erase this blog though because it really documented some difficult years in my life. But I won't be posting here again.

So farewell.

Pink Paislee Warehouse Sale Ecstasy!!!!

2009-07-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

Ever since I first read about this amazing sale I have been waiting for our budget to oblige me. Finally, it did! Last Thursday at 3am I ordered this with trembling fingers!!!! It arrived today, unbelievably fast! I have been stalking www.scrapbookobsession.wordpress.com since she also ordered a box, but mine has different stuff in it, which I guess I'm pretty happy with. I got some of the new lines of paper, rather than older stuff, which is cool since I didn't really have much of the new stuff. So, here's what I got in my box! I separated it according to line:

Enchanting

Captivating

Fascinating

Fetching

Sweet Cakes

Vintage Moon

Office Lingo

Spring Fling

Tinsel Town

Pop Fashion

Here's my sneak peek, it is from their new line, Amber Road

This stuff isn't specific to any line

Obviously for $55 including shipping that was just one absolutely stunning deal. My husband even said, "Why don't they just give the stuff away for free?"

A Birthday Card

2009-07-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

I made this for my mom.

Ray And Grace

2009-07-06T22:31:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken in a photo booth around Christmas, 1942. My grandparents look so adorably lovesick! I wanted to capture the beauty of that time, and just the hope I see in their faces. They really did have such a long, happy life together. This was done on a 2 foot by 3 foot canvas.

Vintage Project

2009-07-04T14:52:00.001-07:00

In honor of my grandma, whom I miss so painfully right now...this is her and her mother on a horse, circa 1932 or so...I love you grandma! I can't wait to see you again in heaven someday...

fun mail

2009-06-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

This came today! I'm obsessed with ledger papers, so when I saw this, the 8x8 SLICE paper pad by Making Memories, I had to have it.

Oh Beautiful, For Spacious Skies...

2009-06-13T22:23:00.001-07:00

The incomparable view from the trail going up Multnomah Falls, which Jesse and I bravely attempted today. We did not succeed in reaching the top of the falls, but we will someday, together!!! I even got stung by a bee in the car on the way and we still managed to conquer most of the trail. (I have n very severe bee-phobia) I forgot my camera at work this weekend, so these are all from my cellphone, I'm rather pleased with the quality, actually.

Jesse forgets to smile quite a bit, stinker! I got him to give his sweet smile though in at least one photo:

When we got home we had dinner and then rented 2 movies from the redbox. What a fantastic day!!!!!!!!!!! I love my man so much!

Today's Monochromatic Project

2009-06-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

I started with this.

And ended with this!

A close-up, the quote reads, "Rest in Hope" which is basically having the attitude of resting in God's grace, knowing that you can trust Him completely with hopefulness and contentment.
I got the quote from one of Robin Jones Gunn's books, I can't remember which one it was, either a Sisterchicks or a Glenbrooke one.

Ink/Paint stained hands=a happy Christina!

Heritage Layout

2009-06-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

Apologizing ahead of time...

2009-05-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

Just doing this blog hopping thingamajig and had to do a quick layout so I used those darn self-portraits again, please forgive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's based on a sketch from www.pamelasworldofscrap.blogspot.com and I don't know exactly what else I should put, but here's my take on the sketch!

2009-05-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

Wow the 3 year-olds are definitely kicking my butt so far...yet every day is a little more bearable. This is the hardest job I have ever had!!!

Snow Fun Layouts

2009-05-16T22:46:00.000-07:00

I don't really like these layouts per se, but I was trying to finish all these layouts at once so they are cutesy quick and easy style, but not really MY favorite style...I may return to them someday...and make them more to my liking...or not...anyway we had many fun snow adventures and that's really more to the point, isn't it???

life this week...

2009-05-05T07:31:00.000-07:00

I'm noticing no one comments on my blog anymore...hmmmm...I wonder why? If anyone wants to leave a comment telling me why they don't comment, that would be helpful!!! LOL! So we're moving this week to a 2 bedroom apartment in our complex, so we can be foster parents again. Ugh, moving sucks, at least our faithful friend Billy is helping us with the heavy furniture. Thanks Billy!!! I am recovering from a random, virulent attack of strep throat. I am working as a preschool teacher now, and Jesse is working as Direct Care staff at a group home for DD adults. We're doing really awesome, it is totally God taking care of us. I don't even know how we made it through the past 2 months honestly! It is totally Him!!!

Awesome NSD Stamp Sale at Purple Onion Designs

2009-05-02T22:55:00.001-07:00

This company has totally gorgeous stamps! They are having a wonderful sale to celebrate National Scrapbook Day. Here's the link: http://www.purpleoniondesigns.com/NationalScrapDay.html

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn, in Stores May 5, 2009

2009-05-02T13:23:00.001-07:00

"Summer and Noelle, two pen pals since 4th grade, meet for the first time in the land of tulips and windmills. An abnormal mammogram sends Summer on a quest to fulfill her lifelong wish before she begins the same struggle her mother fought against breast cancer. The story of these two Sisterchicks is brimming with hope and cheer and will bring encouragement for any woman who has faced a fearful future."

Christmas in April

2009-04-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

Scrapbooking...

2009-04-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

THE DOLL

2009-04-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

This doll is a Proudfoot (My grandma's maiden name) family heirloom. It was made for and given to my great great grandmother Emily F. Howard Proudfoot by a local band of Sioux Indians near Rochester, Minnesota in about 1854 when she was about 5 years old. Family tradition says the Indians did this because my great great grandma was the first white girl child in this area. I've been obsessed with genealogy for a long time, although I took a few years off. Having this doll come into my possession recently has renewed my obsession, and I found some amazing family history. Apparently my great great grandmother's family were good friends and respected neighbors of this particular band of Sioux Indians, which I think is just really really cool! The head is painted wood, burnished so it shines. The body is stuffed cloth, the hands are some sort of animal hide.

Baby I'm Yours

2009-04-10T21:09:00.001-07:00

I couldn't bring myself to add anything to this because it was too perfect the way it was...

My old roommates and 2 of my best friends, Shell and Tana.

My awesome scrap-gals! I don't know what I would do without them!

I Adore U

2009-04-04T23:40:00.000-07:00

He's the only person I know who can actually beat me at scrabble! (once in awhile anyway)

Sigh...He's such a hunk!

Changes...

2009-03-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

Taking a hot bath has always been the most amazing stress relief therapy for me!

This wonderful man wraps me in his sweet love and protection every day in so many ways.

Christmas with my awesome in-laws!

Grandma's amazing cooking!

One of my oldest, dearest friends, April, whom I hadn't seen for over 2 years.

Snow!!!

More Snow!

More and More Snow!

My sick Bubby and my little man, snoozing peacefully side by side!

Vietnamese for me (my fave) and Pizza for him (his fave)

Jesse's little second cousin.

Jesse and I have both been laid off this week. Wow, it is a lot to process and we have no idea what our next step is...

Bingo, an awesome prize, and some layouts of course!!!!

2009-03-07T11:17:00.001-08:00

We're playing Bingo with Jesse's grandma here, we didn't win but it was fun.

We decided to try this little food court after Bingo, Jesse and I shared some hot Poutain, which is a Canadian favorite, french fries with gravy! It was my first time trying it, and it was definitely a good representation cuz it was pretty gourmet and homemade, which I'm pretty particular about for the food I like to eat. It was delish!!!!!!!!!!! And the outdoor date-night food court was seriously so cool and Portland-y. I loved it!!! The girl making the food was adorable too, Pippi Longstocking braids, a little Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz apron, and lip synching and grooving to some Dolly Parton! Omg it was so cute!!! LOL!

I won this fantastic prize from Terri Hayes' blog, http://girlonthewing.typepad.com/
who works at Webster's Pages. These papers are the newest lines from Webster's Pages, "A Sweet Life" and "Magical Wishes". Webster's Pages is definitely my very favorite brand of paper. I even got these amazing bonus ribbons!!! I was drooling in bliss as I opened the package, let me tell ya!!! I am hoarding Webster's Pages right now because I have a plan in mind for a mini-album of my husband and I while we were courting...I am slowly collecting all the necessary photos, album components, etc...it will be a long term project, but these papers are definitely reserved for it!!!

A Sweet Life:

Magical Wishes:

And some layouts:

untitled (aka life)

2009-02-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

First of all a cute pic of my darling bubby, he is helping me to sort and put away the buttons that my grandma left to me...he is so precious...

Here's his valentine's day card this year:

And here are 20 more layouts...

More to come...

death

2009-02-15T15:59:00.000-08:00

Today was my grandma's funeral. My grandmother was like my mother. That's all I'm going to say on the very public world of the internet. It feels like the world has ended.

10 Layouts, some great, some not so great!

2009-02-08T01:09:00.001-08:00

3 layouts

2009-01-26T16:30:00.000-08:00

I scrapped one layout that I can't post online. It was very cathartic but it had to do with child abuse so it's too personal and too possibly inflammatory family-wise so that one will just stay in my scrapbook...I call that particular style of layout "Scrap-journaling". But these babies are perfectly blog-appropriate!!! The journaling reads as follows,

"September 2007-these pictures are of a very joyful, momentous occasion in my life-my first time cropping! I registered and Jesse allotted me $100 for my 30th birthday present. I was so nervous and had no idea what to expect. I learned so much that night and it opened up a whole new world of design ideas. That was the true start of my passionate addiction to this wonderful hobby. I love it so much and it truly brings me the most pure, unadulaterated JOY of anything I've ever done in my entire life. My enthusiasm hasn't waned at all, which is so surprising. Usually it's hard to stay excited about anything in life. With scrapbooking, it's easy! (JAN 2009)"

I'm off to crop with the scrap gals, I'm picking up some new pics at Costco on my way. They are Christmas pics, so I'll be starting even more layouts. I still have like 30 of these old ones to finish, but it is so fun. I'll finish someday...

Finally...I finished a layout!!!

2009-01-21T00:44:00.000-08:00

Awwww...the first finished one of the fabled 35+ in process!!! Now is really my favorite part though, embellishing and journaling, so hopefully I can whip those babies out in no time! I also added extension posts to my scrapbooks, for the first time since I started scrapbooking. All those intricate little parts of our delightful hobby!!!

Life Update

2009-01-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

Just finished this book last night. It was awesome! Totally addictive. It's been a really long time since I've been sucked into a book so completely, and it was very enjoyable to forget about reality for 2 whole days!!! It's by the author of the twilight series, which I am of course a fan of, like almost every other woman in america right now!

Stopped into Michael's this morning, they have a lot of really cute stuff and some good sales...may be indulging in some scrap therapy soon. I love the new K & Company line, "Que Sera Sera", and the Making Memories "Chloe's Closet". I might also buy a silhouette, found a great deal online for one of those on the cut at home website.

I've started scrapbooking with Marilyn (Melonscraps) and Laura (Tigardlilly) on Monday nights, it is very therapeutic. I just love those girls! I'm currently working on 35+ layouts. I find that production line style works really well for me. I'm getting my own system now-

1. Photos (matted or not) adhered on 12X12 paper-this is all that I can really do when I crop in a group, the rest of the stuff I need to do at home by myself. (takes too much concentration for me-can't chitchat and make those hard decisions at the same time!!!)

2. Choose and adhere title and journaling space

3. Embellish

4. Write journaling

Jesse and I are still working together and carpooling. My nanny job is now just an occasional day of work, which is fine. 6 months of working 7 days a week was really hard on me. So our life is very simple and calm. (knock on wood) We like it that way!

I can't believe I went so long without blogging and then missed celebrating my blogaversary (however the heck you spell it-it's not even a real word, is it?)

I have been struggling really hard with something for a really long time now, hopefully I will overcome it completely very soon. Thank God for my super amazing husband. He is like Jesus to me right now. Just trying to make it through the long, cold winter...

And another layout (not about me!!!)

2008-12-09T23:26:00.001-08:00

5 posts in one day, lol! I'm just a spaz today I guess!

Silver Falls Outing with My Little Man and My Big Man

2008-12-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

Jesse took me and the little boy I nanny for on a field trip today. It was so fun, and beautiful, and we had a great time!!! It's actually really fun when Jesse comes with me when I take care of my little man. He's really good with him, and my little man just adores Jesse.

This picture is of the South Silver Falls, Oregon. It was so beautiful. I was singing the theme song to "Last of the Mohicans" when we walked behind the waterfall because it totally reminds me of that movie, when they are behind the waterfall...soooooooooo romantic!!! (and of course I stole a kiss from my big studly man!!!)

Here's Bubby and Bubette!!!

Here's me and my little man, he's holding my pinky, which is so cute!!!

My Little Man took this picture of me!!! Pretty good for a nearly-three-year-old!

My Little Man and My Big Man!

Projects...

2008-12-09T21:30:00.000-08:00

A birthday layout with my admittedly overused self-portrait, with ADORABLE Jenni Bowlin paper.

A Fleuriste Collage Card, with one of my hand made flowers.

Christmas Cards

2008-12-09T21:20:00.001-08:00

These 4 cards are for my scrap "gals", Marilyn, Laura, Kay, and Erica...they are my crazy, colorful, collage style. the paper is Fancy Pants Designs.

These cards are more traditional. They are the ones Jesse helped me with. The paper is the Pear and Mistletoe Basic Grey Line from Michaels. The word stamps are Studio G from last Christmas, the old fashioned image is Stampendous, (I think) also from Christmas last year.

This is what is on the inside of all my cards this year, it is a Studio G stamp from last Christmas.

Witkowski Christmas Traditions

2008-12-09T21:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas Music!!! We have a few good CD's-Jewel, Christina Aguilera, City on a Hill, Manheim Steamroller, and Winter Memories (Old Christmas Songs). I love Christmas Music!

This Tree is very sentimental to me, it is an antique! It is artificial, and it was my grandparents and then it was my mom's so it was my Christmas Tree every year when I was little. My mom gave it to me about 5 years ago so now I get to use it every year and I LOVE IT!!! I am very sentimental...

This lovely nativity set was a gift a few years ago from my mother-in-law. I think it is really beautiful and I love it!

Our Christmas stockings. My sister-in-law sewed me the one on the left when I was about 15, I love it and I will keep it forever. Like I said I am very sentimental. The stocking on the right is Jesse's, and it is half of a pair my aunt sent us the first year of our marriage. I will also keep those stockings forever! Jesse and I like to do stocking stuffers for each other for Christmas morning.

I made this sign to hang on the outside of the door of our apartment.

Life Recently

2008-12-05T14:05:00.000-08:00

We went to the beach on Nov. 25. We love to go to the beach in winter...there is something cozy about it. Aren't we adorable together???

Some beautiful pictures...

What are you dreaming of, my Jesse???

Thanksgiving dinner, which Jesse singlehandedly prepared while I got to sleep in! He is such a sweetheart, I swear!

Tuesday, a lunch with 2 of my best girlfriends, Tana and Michelle, their children, and the little boy that I am a nanny for at a mom's cafe called "Me too" in Beaverton. It was fun, a little hectic. I think Burger King's playland is a little more suited to the energy level of "our" kids!

Jesse and I making Christmas Cards together yesterday. How cute is that???

He is always making me crack up laughing. I married a hilarious guy!

Jesse concentrating hard.

Tada! A perfectly stamped image, ready to be added to the Witkowski's Christmas cards!!!

A Layout, "In this life, I want to be Passionate about the right things" I've been saving this Basic Grey Scarlet's Letter paper, I looooooooooooooove it. I didn't want to cover up the paper very much, since it is so lovely, so I did some elements with acetate/transparencies or whatever you call that stuff. I actually got the journaling done too!

Self-Portrait Mini Album

2008-11-29T01:28:00.001-08:00

I scrapbooked my soul and this is how it turned out. It really shows my inner person, and some of the things that I believe, that I have learned, and that keep me going on this long, poignant journey through life...

I saw "Twilight" today, it is a wonderful movie. I read all 4 books and so seeing the movie was definitely amazing. I haven't been penetrated by a movie this emotionally for many years, and it was wonderful to be pierced by something so beautiful...It was really lyrical, poetic, artistic, just lovely. My husband came and he was such a good sport and even liked it and was looking up some of the songs from it when we got home.

Some Projects

2008-11-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

Tons O'Stuff

2008-11-10T00:34:00.000-08:00

I had to put the finishing touches on a few things. Journaling seems to be my block in getting layouts completely done. I finished the journaling today at work, and I've been making some cute cards this week at work too. Lots of pics!

My fave style...

This one too...

And this one...

I took these pictures before my grandpa died in early July. I have always looked at my grandparents marriage as this beautiful miracle, and I can only hope that my marriage will become like theirs was.

One of our fun date days! We took the jetboat tour on the Willamette river in Portland. It was a blast, such a fun day and the weather was amazing.

Awwww....we're so cute together!

Jesse literally BROKE THE WINDOW WITH HIS ELBOW!!! My husband is truly like Hercules, he is so darn strong!!!

Portland is known for it's lovely bridges, here are some images of some of them.

My husband being cute, as usual. He is very good at being cute!

The fourth of July.

I loooooooooooooooove how this card turned out, but I have loved Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste ever since I first laid eyes on it...

Pop fashion by Pink Paislee. I like this card but I got sick of the paper after looking at it for too long, very pink.

This is fancy pants designs Happy Holidays line for this year. I think it is really pretty paper.

A Different Style!

2008-10-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

It's kind of simple for me...it was for a challenge at my south african friend's blog:

http://www.kj-starre.blogspot.com/

anyway, I've sort of been too busy for my overdone super-involved layouts so I've been doing these pretty simple ones.

I broke my scrapbook moratorium...2 Peas was having free shipping and I have had a cart full for like a month and a half, anyway, I think they call that an irresistable temptation...so I had a happy mail day.

Awesome Blog Candy giveaway!!!!!

2008-10-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

Go see for yourself!!!

http://scrapping-away.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-candy-will-post-worldwide.html

This and That

2008-10-15T09:58:00.001-07:00

I know this is probably an incredibly narcisstic layout, but I am still in awe that I actually took this picture of myself. It's all about the makeup, and I guess it was a good hair day. I tense up really bad whenever anyone else takes my picture but I relax when I take my own picture. It's very weird. Anyway, I am 31 now, and it's pretty much all downhill towards middle age from here, so I wanted to commemorate the one moment in time when I was pretty and still looked young.

This is a card for my grandma, who is very sick in the hospital right now. She's really been failing since grandpa died in July. My husband was shocked that I could make a "cute", "simple" card and not one of my incredibly jam-packed, overdone projects. I laughed! It's all about the aesthetic, and right now I am going through a jam-packed, overdone phase! But I know my grandma would like this style better, so that's what I did! The paper is Webster's Pages, and I chose it because it is kind of old-fashioned and I thought it would please grandma.

This is a totally awesome RAK that I won from Brook over at: http://brookstewart.blogspot.com/

What an awesome RAK!!! I used the prima flowers on the layout I just did. Thank you Brook!

And finally, I finished the journaling for Jesse's "My Real Man" layout I did a couple weeks ago. This is what it says:

What I love about you

1. You love me more than anyone or anything.
2.You are very handsome, sexy, and irresistably cuddly to me-my big, fuzzy, teddy bear, raar Bubby.
3.You will be a really good daddy someday.
4.You are my perfectly designed opposite.
5.You are hilarious, entertaining, and unexpected.
6.You have a wonderful, caring heart.
7.You care about becoming a better christian, a better man, and a better husband.
8.You are completely loyal, faithful, and devoted to me.
9.You are responsible, steadfast, and dependable.
10.You have a very strong moral character.

There were more things that I thought of, but those were the top 10! Anyway, that's all for now!

Self-Portrait Layout

2008-10-10T23:19:00.000-07:00

This is way artsier than my normal style, (although the shabby chic elements are obviously still present) but it was so fun! I couldn't wait to use the transparency from Pink Paislee, and I integrated some of my art into the background, which I have never done before.

I am attempting a month long moratorium on the purchasing of scrapbook supplies. Jesse and I had a bet, and the winner got $20 at costco to buy a prize. ( I would have bought the Inkadinkado stamps they have right now, thus breaking my moratorium already, oh the shame) We both lost the bet (the current price of a case of chicken broth) so we bought a joint prize instead, this starbucks gift basket, with his and her mugs...I think it shows how we are starting to really come together as a couple, finally!

A week in the life, and a layout of course!

2008-10-05T23:06:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, my dear friend Shelly and I worked on a scrappy project together, a travel journal that she scrapped the front and back cover on!

Today Bubby and I went to Ben and Jerry's, a local landmark here in the hip Hawthorne District.

We visited my grandma in the nursing home today also.

Last night I cropped with my scrappy friends Laura and Marilyn, for Marilyn's birthday. It was 14 hours of sheer joy!

I love the Pink Paislee vintage moon transparency, and I can't wait to make something really amazing with it!!!

And of course a layout, of my dear husband, a real man through and through, who has loved me faithfully and loyally for over 7 years now! I had so much fun distressing and masculinizing this layout. And I used grungeboard for the first time on the title letters.

Scrap Mojo Challenge

2008-09-29T22:41:00.000-07:00

The theme for this challenge was, "Cirque du Soleil & Sequins"!!! Totally fun and right up my alley, as I looooooooooooooooooooove vivid color!!! I took forever on this layout, but something really cool happened while I was working on it-I discovered that I can scrapbook at work! I work at a call center in the evenings and as long as I do all the gathering and prep before I go to work, it is very easy to multi-task talking on the phone while I fiddle with my layout!!! BLISS!!!

Party On Dude!!!!! (4:30 am...)

2008-09-21T13:06:00.001-07:00

What better way to celebrate my 31st birthday then to crop til the break of dawn??? We almost made it...it was mighty cozy in my microscopic apartment, but very fun! Here's Erica, my lovely pregnant friend...

Those deeeeeeeeeeee-lightful cousins, nicknamed, "The Peanut Gallery" for those of you who remember the muppets...

Kay hard at work on an absolute stunner of a layout...

Jesse joining in the estrogen-tastic fun with his favorite trick, playing "The Lone Ranger" on his head...

And of course, a layout...voila!

A good time was had by all...my eyes are killing me today though...I'm getting old!!!!!!! I'm feeling inspired by some blogs that I've read today though, over at Scrap Mojo they have a theme of circus/carnival...I think I was already thinking about those colors and that style with this layout...I think I will try and meditate on that for awhile, and take it even further... get those creative juices flowing again...I really need to!!!

Birthday Post

2008-09-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I turned 31. One of the lovely families I babysit for gave me this lovely bouquet of flowers. and I scrapbooked until 2 am, finishing up a gift layout for a couple at work that just got married. That was my birthday this year. It was very tranquil and sweet.

A Layout

2008-09-08T00:04:00.001-07:00

This week...Happy Birthday Jesse!!!

2008-08-22T22:52:00.001-07:00

I worked a lot of overtime this week, and I switched to swing shift, which was grueling!!! This is what I wore Monday, complete with mermaid makeup (my fave fave fave fave fave colors!!!) and sassy urban cowboy boots, and I was so uncomfortable!!! I learned my lesson and I wore comfortable clothes the rest of the week. I am not a night person, so I definitely need to be comfortable if I am working at night!!!

This absolutely adorable cuteness would be my darling bubby getting crafty with me last night at 1am! We cut some circles with my cuttlebug, he utilized the craft glue stick, and glue dots to glue on rickrack hair and facial hair!!!! It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CUTE!!!!!!!!

His very first scrappy creation!!!!! He wants to put it on his ID badge at work.

Then he got fascinated with the punches, which was also extremely adorable!!!!!!!

Jesse turned 31 on Tuesday, August 19! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY MY SIDE THROUGH ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS, TWISTS AND TURNS, HIGHS AND LOWS OF OUR CRAZY LIFE!!!!!

Layout

2008-08-17T23:28:00.001-07:00

Jesse is coming to work in my department, and we will both be working a swing shift with mondays off together, so we can synchronize our lives and hopefully work on some things we really need to improve on. It does seem like all things are working together for the good, even the bad things and the mistakes that we've made. Thank God that he sticks with us no matter what we do.

Life and a Layout

2008-08-13T01:25:00.001-07:00

Here we are, still alive after the stress storm, at my grandma's birthday party on sunday.

And a layout, I actually started and finished it in one night!!!

And finally a layout!!!

2008-08-07T05:23:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to focus on some Bible verses lately to get through this stressful time. This passage of scripture is definitely one of my favorites in the whole Bible. Zephaniah 3:14-17.

News

2008-08-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

This is a card I made awhile ago. I've been working on a layout since before we moved but I'm still not done with it, I will post it when we're done. We are all moved, and mostly moved in, I still have to excavate some stuff that is in a storage room at our new apartments, but it's little stuff like my swimsuit, my fall sweaters, etc. Our new place is tiny, but very cute. We got rid of a ton of stuff, but it was truly all junk. The stuff we kept is all our nicest stuff, so I think our new place has class! We also live 1.41 miles (according to mapquest) from our work so we might go down to one car and then we will be saving so much money!!! In gas alone, especially!

This is the main room, it is a dining room/living room/scraproom all in one.

This is my micro-kitchen, but it actually has just about as much cupboard/pantry space as our old place, and storage is definitely our biggest need, since I seem to love to accumulate STUFF!!!

This is our cute lil mini-yard!

I did laundry the other day in the laundry room with quarters and gigantic IKEA bags to carry stuff, it was pretty painless since we live in a really small complex I can just walk over there. And we've dipped in the mini-pool a few times, very nice on a hot summer day. And I've had plenty of relaxing baths since we've been here, which may be my favorite thing of all!

Here's my new scrapspace, directly behind the couch and TV, which was very sweet of Jesse to agree to.

I can sit and watch movies now with Jesse, scrapping at the same time!!!

And something really cool is that I won this free kit from gypsyrosepaperie.com

They are fun and nostalgic, I love the stuff and I can't wait to use it!!!!

I'm still reading everyone's blogs, I will try to comment too. I'm working about 50-60 hours per week so I'm super busy, but I will still try and catch up soon!

Last post for awhile!!!

2008-07-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

Grandpa's grave.

Layout of my dear niece.

Empty Scraproom

Packed scraproom, I can't believe I have this much stuff.

These pics are of my big rack from Wilna!!!

This rak is from Joscie!!!

I've been working seriously hard on packing and moving, and still working and still babysitting. I just can't wait until it's OVER!!! We won't have internet at our new place until the 30th, so I will be offline for a few days starting Friday. Love ya'll...take care.

New Layout and a Blessing!

2008-07-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

I smudged out the journaling on this because it's too personal to share, sorry...I believe in journaling the good with the bad, because really I have a terrible memory, and otherwise I won't accurately be able to remember how life was, and the things that I've gone through, etc.

One thing I thought was fun on this layout is that on the tiny flowers, I didn't want to use mini-brads for the centers, since they were too big, so I glued some seed beads, and I thought they turned out perfect!!!

The good news is that we were approved for the apartment, we will begin moving in this weekend.

A Card in the Life

2008-07-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

We're getting ready to move, we find out tomorrow if we got the apartment we want, hopefully we did. I'll have a bathtub again, at least!!! I'm trying to look on the bright side!

Goodbye Grandpa!

2008-07-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

Raymond Otto Hume
August 27, 1923-July 6, 2008

Sunday at 11:25 am, an absolutely amazing angel of a man died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his surviving children and his three oldest grandchildren and their loving spouses.

Raymond Otto Hume came to Portland, Oregon in 1942, from Oklahoma when he was just 18, and soon after met the love of his life, Grace Annabel Proudfoot. They married 5 months later and remained married until his death. Their romantic love story stirred dreams in the hearts of their children and grandchildren, especially me. My grandpa literally lived and breathed for my grandma, and she for him. I have never witnessed such a beautiful, passionate love in my entire life and probably never will. To keep the flames of passion alive for 66 years is such an amazing accomplishment, it truly overwhelms me.

To the rest of the family, grandpa was just a sweet, gentle giant, loving us in his quiet, faithful, devoted way. He was steady and sure, as dependable as the sun rising in the morning. Only grandma knew his true heart, his gentle sarcasm and humor, his dreams and hopes. She truly held his heart.

I was his first granddaughter and he cherished me so much, taking me on many grandpa/granddaughter dates. He called me little nicknames, like "Pal", and "Half-pint". I knew without a doubt that he loved me completely, and in return I loved him with all my heart. Not only was he my grandpa, he also had to be my daddy, since my daddy had abandoned me as a baby. He was such an amazing presence in my life.

One important contributor to his incredible strength of character and all-encompassing love was his faith in Jesus Christ. He had a quiet faith, but it was so evident how his faith informed his actions, thoughts, and words. Every moment his faith shined through, whether in the kindness he demonstrated to loved ones and strangers alike, or in the volunteer work that he did through the church, such as being part of a group of men that volunteered at Camp Arawanna, a local Baptist camp, where they did any fix-it or handyman work that needed to be done to for the upkeep of the camp. He was also a deacon in his church.

Besides the legacy of love he demonstrated, he also retired from 2 illustrious careers, one as a US Marshall and one as a Security Guard at the Port of Portland. After his first retirement he went on to work for 10 more years until he retired for good from his second career.

We are especially proud of him for one notable historical event which was marked by his presence. Our wonderful grandpa was part of the history of the civil rights movement. He was one of the group of federal marshals who, in 1962, under the orders of President John F. Kennedy, escorted James Meredith, the first African American student to attend the University of Mississippi. Riots ensued, which led to two deaths and dozens of injuries. Live footage from this event even appears in the movie, “Forrest Gump”, although not specifically of my grandpa!

He served in 2 wars, WWII and the Korean War. This photo was taken of him in 1951, during the Korean War when he was stationed in South Korea.

Besides all his other fantastic qualities he was very handsome. Although I’m sure he wasn’t even aware of it, since he was also very humble.

We will all miss him very much, and every day we will be thankful that he helped us become the people we are today. (good qualities only of course!)

Blog Awards!!!

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

Yay! I got an award! I got this award from http://craftpassion.blogspot.com/

Here are the rules:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you've nominated.

So without further ado, I nominate the following blogs:

www.kj-starre.blogspot.com

www.ericasdoingsomethingelse.blogspot.com

www.tigardlilly.blogspot.com

www.thescrumptiouslife.blogspot.com

www.melonscraps.blogspot.com

www.blogerisms.blogspot.com

www.youer-than-you.blogspot.com

www.samanthawelch.blogspot.com

www.willeasscrap.blogspot.com

www.scrapevangel.blogspot.com

www.pamelasworldofscrap.blogspot.com

www.lizness.typepad.com

I couldn't possibly pick 7, but I think these are my 12 favorite blogs to read. No offense to everyone else, since I love reading your blogs too!!! I just had to pick my very favorite-ests!!!!

A New Layout

2008-07-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

I think I'm really into monochromatic color schemes!!! I have always loved this blue, periwinkle blue is what I call it. I will journal on it later...

Pink Thoughts...

2008-07-01T21:21:00.000-07:00

Finally discovered the macro setting on my camera-wow, it takes much better pictures!!!

I'm really stressed about everything going on right now...I feel like I should be getting rid of things like mad because we're moving from a 3-bedroom duplex to a 1-bedroom apartment. But when I get home from work I really want to create, and unwind. I don't even know if I'll have space to scrap in our new place, which by the way we haven't found yet. I'm sad, I really don't want to move, but we have to...I guess we would appreciate any prayers, yet another sticky spot for the witkowski's.

A Project

2008-06-30T17:51:00.000-07:00

A Birthday gift for my niece, Julia.

Our lives have been crazy busy lately. We have 30 days to move, my grandpa has been quite sick, my favorite aunt is in town for the first time in 2 years, and my husband and I are both starting new jobs, at the same company!!!

I made a card!

2008-06-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

The mini-envelope has a little tiny velcro closure on it and a blue brad for decoration.

I hand stitched the back and distressed the flower!

This is what's inside the envelope. I hand stamped it and distressed it.

This is the back of the note, also hand stamped and distressed.

Free Time!

2008-06-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

My latest layout. It has a mini-photo album on the layout. You may have noticed I am blogging more this week than usual. That is because I am on vacation in between jobs. It is so marvelous and restful. I love it!!!

So Jessica, from http://farmfreshiowa.blogspot.com/ invited me to do this groovy web thing, a sort of peek into Chez Christina. We are supposed to include photos of the following:

Your Fridge
A closet
Kitchen sink
Toilet
Favorite shoes
Favorite room in your house
What your kids are doing right now
Laundry
Self portrait

Without further ado, here's my lovely home:

This would be my lovely scrapbooking studio.

The fridge o'sustenance and snackage.

The reasonably clean sink. (Thanks roommates!!!)

The closet packed full of my shirts. (Yes, just my shirts)

My fave shoes-just call me an urban cowgirl.

The living room, where we watch TV and movies.

Dirty clothes.

The toilet, also quite clean. (Thanks again roommates!!!)

This is what my kid WAS doing. I woke her up.

Aw...she never ceases to amaze me with her sheer cuddliness.

Here's me, squeaky clean and ready for bed!

I have an Etsy Shop!!!

2008-06-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

Come see my necklaces!!!

www.inara77.etsy.com

I'm in a funk...

2008-06-15T11:04:00.001-07:00

I've taken a break from scrapping this week due to trying to make some necklaces to sell for, you guessed it-more scrapbooking cash! I am kind of feeling melancholy though, since I've been looking around at tons and tons of online blogs, galleries etc. There is so much talent out there, sometimes I feel like I should just give up since I feel like I'll never be as good as some people out there. I try to remind myself that I only started scrapping a year and a half ago, so it's ok to still be pretty new and amateur at this. And I know some people will just be baffled since we're supposed to be scrapping our memories and that is all that matters. Well, I have to confess that I am barren, and my life is blissfully boring sans children, so I am really scrapping for art's sake only. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I am an artist in other mediums as well-beading, painting, drawing, pottery, embroidery, knitting...the list goes on. If I didn't have my art I think I might die of sadness because I can't have a baby. So this is my scatterbrained mini-rant and a peek into my true heart. I probably shouldn't post this online for the entire planet to see, but I guess I'm kind of wondering if anyone else feels any of these things???

School's Out For Summer!!!

2008-06-14T16:29:00.000-07:00

The last day of school was Thursday! My position was eliminated so I am not going back next year. I have already gotten another job, in customer service, so we'll see where that goes!!!

This week's layouts:

Life this week:

Dinner with my oldest best friend, Tiff (21 years!!!)

DH and his fantastically hilarious sense of humor:

I think I am starting an Etsy business with my jewelry. Here's the first two pieces I've made that I'm planning to sell:

And finally, the cherry on top, the stash, brought to you by this week's babysitting pay:

New Making Memories stamps and Passport paper and way groovy chipboard letters

So how was your week?

Brooke's Monochromatic Challenge!

2008-06-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

So I am seriously lovin' on this kit club, myscrapbooknook.com and they are having this big scrap off on their message board. Well, one of the challenges was a monochromatic layout, and voila, here's mine! I think I'm starting to develop my own style, after a year and a half of scrapbooking. It's kind of romantic/shabby chic.

also a little bird told me about the Making Memories garden party clearance going on over at Target, and you know I was all over that! So I did a wee bit of mid-week shopping!

Yay! I have my camera!

2008-06-02T17:56:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I left it at work all weekend! Ugh! I definitely missed blogging!

Latest fave layout:

Another new layout, following a sketch for a contest that I ended up not being able to enter since I didn't have my CAMERA to take a picture of it!!!! The contest was over at the blog of: http://www.myscrapbooknook.com/. They have the cutest kits. If I ever can afford to actually save up, plan ahead, and join a kit club, I'm pretty sure that's the one I'll join.

My order came from last weekend:

Garden Party and Basic Grey!

Pink Paislee!

Ok, and then I had finally filled up my punch card at my LSS so I had $15 of free merchandise coming, so that awesome credit combined with babysitting money gave me quite the little spree. Here's what I got:

These scenic route kits are such a great deal. You get all this for $16.99.

Embellies, aren't they lovely??? Especially the old and new noteworthy die cuts!!! And I love the new vintage-looking buttons from KI Memories. (That's an oxymoron, eh???) Still they're gorgeous!

I'm going to use these 7gypsies ATC's for journaling.

This is what $19.80 worth of ribbon looks like!!!

2008-05-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

I rocked the 2 for 1 ribbon sale at Jo's as well as the lovely 10% off ALL items coupon (equaling 4 free spools of ribbon).

I have made layouts and gotten an order in the mail and gone to the LSS, BUT my camera is at work so alas no pics for now. I will try to blog monday night with those lovely pics.

ta ta for now!

This week's projects

2008-05-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

I fussed with this layout off and on all week and then finished it last night while I watched "National Treasure 2" and "P.S. I Love You"-which is very sweet and SAD!!!!! But the good, bittersweet kind of sad, ya know???

This is a gift for my nephew's birthday. It's a sign for his room. I hand painted the paper and the letters, then I mod podged it all onto cardboard that I hand-cut. Think he'll like it???

I've been shopping too, I babysit for my scrapbooking money. That way I am not cutting into the household bill money for my addiction. I had a little extra cash last week too for some other odds and ends that I've done lately, like carpooling and stuff. So I actually bought quite a bit. I totally look for deals, sales, clearance, and I use coupons ALL THE TIME!!!

I bought the new noteworthy line, plus the one journalling pad that I've wanted and been unable to find, yay! Also I got 2 papers from Animal Crackers. I ordered this from 2 peas with babysitting money from 2 weeks ago:

This was sale/clearance at Craft Warehouse (The Basic Grey wasn't on sale), I only spent $22 total!!! (babysitting money again)

This was from my LSS (carpooling money):

Clearance at Jo's!!! I spent $14, I think. (Babysitting $ again)

Mike's, only $10. (I had 2 coupons, carpooling $)

I ordered some stuff last night from a pretty reasonable website:
https://www.croppinparadise.com/

I ordered 6 (2 each) Making Memories Garden Party shaped papers, 3 Basic Grey 6X6 pads ( Lily Kate, Romani, and Scarlet's Letter), and 5 Pink Paislee Office Lingo papers. I will post a pic when I receive my order. With shipping it was only $28.00. Not bad. They have a lot of Basic Grey Clearance. So that's part of this weekend's babysitting money, already spent. The rest will go to Jo's 2 for 1 ribbon sale this weekend, and maybe those wooden KI Memories buttons, if they are on sale of course! And I have a 10% off coupon!!! Ok, shopping for scrapbooking supplies may be almost as exciting as actually scrapbooking, but I think I've written enough about shopping for now!!!
Some experiments:

Dyeing paper with Tea, makes a nice soft brown parchment color.

My ingenious and simple (don't forget cheap!!!) ribbon solution: shishkabob skewers and tape!!! I should have taken a pic before of the tangled spiderweb mountain of ribbon. Since I'm buying ribbon this weekend I wanted to make a nice home for the new ribbon that is coming!!!

Sisterchicks Go Brit!!!

2008-05-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

I just love the "Sisterchicks" book series by Robin Jones Gunn. And the newest one just came out!!! Check out this fun, heart-warming series. I would describe it as, "Christian Chick Lit"!!!

Been in an old timey mood...

2008-05-14T22:30:00.000-07:00

And I've had lots of ideas percolating inside my imagination for a week or so now, they all just came together on this layout. As always, I will journal later!!!

For a fun website to play with making your photos old timey, visit:

http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds

It's in Japanese, but it's easy to figure out how to do it. And you can right click and then save the edited photos to your computer and then I'm assuming you can print them.

Just feelin' nostalgic...

Look at Ham! And other news...

2008-05-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

This is Ham, our new Hamster. Isn't she too cute??? I am so in love. Her fur is the softest, and I love to snuggle with her in the rare times when she'll actually sit still.

In other news, DH is back and starting a local job on Monday. We are so happy. We hate hate hated having him drive over-the-road. Thank you Jesus!!!

I've been trying to not spend any money on scrapbooking so I've been getting really artsy. I have also been "borrowing" ideas from around the web and blogs, etc. Trying to make my own version of some of the stuff I've seen lately. Like these newspaper flowers...

I may have scraplifted a certain popular brand here for my very own homemade pp and chipboard letters, can anyone guess the brand and the line??? I'm going to make a birthday present for my nephew out of it.

I saw white painted-looking chipboard on someone's blog and decided to paint some ugly old chipboard that I was holding on to white or black and then stamp on it. I love how it turned out.

And last but not least, I stamped on vellum and then cut it out by hand. I thought it turned out nice.

A New Layout

2008-05-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

I had a very tough week at work this week, luckily I have tomorrow off. So tonight I came home from work, had Thai food for dinner, and decided to scrapbook.

scrumptious paper

2008-04-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

I just love webster's pages patterned papers. So I was pretty excited to find a contest giving some away! Visit http://terriconraddesigns.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/04/feather-your-ne.html?cid=112608816#comment-112608816 for your chance to win too!

Life or something like it...

2008-04-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 19, I went to this awesome class taught by Karen Russell. It was all about interactive scrapbooking, and it was really fun and I learned a lot. These are the 2 layouts that I made in the class:

DH has been home since April 16 so that's why I've been MIA. He's leaving again on April 28. We went out on one last date today, to Claim Jumper's, where we had a scrumptious meal. The waitress took our picture for us, it's a wee bit blurry but I really like how it turned out. (DH likes to play with the Sepia setting on my camera)

Finally, here is one layout that I tweaked around with some to make it better.

And here is one new layout that I had embroidered on, hand cut the felt flowers with my cuttlebug, embroidered on the flowers and then layered them and sewed a button on the middle of them. It was kind of fun and whimsical.

I've gotten some new stamps lately, so I'm going to be playing around with them, I think. Also, I need to catch up on the journaling on the past few layouts that I've done. I have to sit down and write it out first, then I have to think about how I want it to be put on the layout. Handwritten? Typed up on my computer and then printed on patterned paper or journaling sheets? Hmmm...

A Scrappy Slumber Party

2008-04-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

Well, we had a super duper fun time! Kaydrenth, Tigardlilly, Melonscraps, and Melegs came over and we scrapped the night away. We munched, scrapped, watched a movie, scrapped, munched, chatted a ton, scrapped, slept, woke up, and scrapped some more!!! I still miss the Bubby like crazy, but at least all the fun times are keeping me busy!

2008-04-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

This morning when I woke up I felt ok for the first time since Jesse left. And I have felt that way all day. I met with my mentor tonight for dinner, she is a wonderful middle-aged woman from church. We are reading "Discipline: The Glad Surrender" by Elisabeth Elliot. The chapter we had studied was on "The Discipline of Time" and I was trying to finish it up today before we met and it really applied to my life right now. (Go figure). It was about how our times are in God's hands. Elisabeth Elliot wrote: "His timing is always perfect, though it seldom seems so to me, for my temperment longs for previews of coming attractions." She then quoted the verse, "Wait for the Lord. Be strong, take courage, and wait for the Lord."

This just really makes me take comfort in the fact that even though this situation seems like it has gone wildly out of control to me, it doesn't seem that way at all to God. He knows exactly what He is doing in our lives, and He meant for it to happen RIGHT at this exact place in time. It is happening for a reason.

This helps me to be calm and peaceful and just turn to the Lord. I've been spending more time in prayer and reading the Word. God is drawing me nearer to Him in my sadness, and lots of wonderful people are really reaching out to me with love. I feel very taken care of, even though Jesse isn't here. Thank you Lord!!!

Weekend Creativity

2008-04-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

A lo of precious memories with my grandparents, who are in their 80's, and not so healthy these days...

A lo just for the sake of playing. Why not???

I still have to do the journalling for these.

Last night was such a blast. I scrapped until 4 am with melonscraps, tigardlilly, and kaydrenth. I could've kept going. I seriously think we should pull a scrapping all-nighter one of these weekends. We can have it at my house while dh is out of town!!!

I'm starting to feel just a bit more chipper. I am staying very busy though which helps a lot!

Beauty for Ashes!

2008-04-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

I feel like somebody cut off a really huge limb of my body. I talked to DH tonight and he said the same thing. Our hearts are broken and we DO NOT like to be separated. I thought maybe I would try and scrap the journalling that I wrote yesterday morning. I think I am going to try and journal every day that he is gone. Well, by the end of this layout I felt much happier, calmer, more balanced. Art is truly fantastic medicine. I still miss DH, that won't lessen, but at least I can bear it a little more now. This lo is mostly Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste, with some random flowers and a lil noteworthy page!!!

Drama!!! (I HATE GOODBYES!!!)

2008-04-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

Goodbye: Self Portrait

So my husband has finally had to submit to the inevitable-he left today for Texas as an Over The Road (OTR) driver. We have tried so hard to avoid this for the past few years, but it finally happened. He will be gone for 21 days, home for 4, and that will be his long-term schedule. I am heartbroken but I know he is trying to be a good provider and I really respect him for it. So I will probably be on the message boards more often now, to fight loneliness, etc!

Always Trying to Make Me Laugh.

Our foster son is also leaving, on thursday, so I will truly be living alone for the first time in 8 years. Wow! I am totally freaked out. I am sure that I will get used to it, but it will take me some time.

If you see a big orange Schneider Truck out there on the Highways of the USA, give a wave because it could very well be my dear darling Bubby.

This is where he will sleep.

This morning before he left, I wrote the following:

Life can change so fast. Was this course of changes inevitable, or did we cause it to be? A year ago we were so happy, everything was fine. Now we will be separated for so much of the time. How can we possibly stay close and in love? I feel responsible somehow. Was it scrapbooking? Or my failure to get a good job, which may or may not have really been my fault? I don’t think it is Jesse’s fault, his job didn’t give him enough hours and he was really sick of dump trucking anyway, and there haven’t been any other open doors except this one. So does that mean that everything will be ok? I worry the most for Jesse, his health, his happiness, his spirituality. Will he take care of himself without me around? I must commit to pray for him constantly. I really feel how much I love this man now that he is leaving me alone for 3 weeks.

Spring Break fun!!!

2008-03-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

You are looking at my sister-in-law's brand new scraproom!!! After much deliberation, she has decided to be my partner in crime and I am over the moon with happiness! She is one of my best friends, and I am so excited about sharing my love of scrapbooking with her!!! Yeah!!! I am sure we will have many fun adventures together!!!

The Adventures of Flat Christina

2008-03-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

I've had enough sadness for one week. I can't believe how hard it was to go through putting Emit down. I cleaned the house today, getting rid of the last of the dog hair, for the last time. I put away all his toys and accessories. I gave away his milkbones and the rest of his food. Jesse and I don't have children, so Emit was our boy, and we were his "mama" and "dada". We had a ridiculously strong emotional bond with him, and now he's gone.

My house is clean, I'm painting a wall that I've been wanting to paint for 2 years, and I made my flat Christina for this crazy thing that I'm doing where you send a paperdoll of yourself through a sorta chain to others and then everytime you get somebody else's paperdoll you photograph it in different places doing things with you. It's kinda hard to explain...you'll see! Anyway, I needed something happy to do with all the sadness and stress lately.

Goodbye Emit! We will never forget you...

2008-03-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

It has become apparent over the last week that Emit hasn't been responding to the medicines the vet gave him last week. His stomach was so huge today, and his breathing very labored. His gums and tongue were white, his eyes so dull. We knew it was time. So we put our dear sweet boy to sleep tonight. We love him so much and will never ever forget him.

His waggy tail, thumping so vigorously with joy whenever we came home. His maniacal obsession with the ball. His total addiction to any kind of people food. His proprietary attitude towards any comfortable place to rest his head, whether it be the new couch, or a clean pile of laundry. His beautiful ears, whether raised at full attention in the "flying nun" pose or else just as soft strokable stress relievers. His beautiful fur, so thick and luxurious, especially around his neck, I could just dig my fingers in and knead him for hours. His beautiful eyes, so intelligent, so sensitive. These and so many other things...our beautiful boy. Rest in Peace Emit.

6 year Anniversary and some projects

2008-03-22T19:24:00.001-07:00

Jesse cooked a nice dinner, steak and pasta-here's Emit scarfing down some bread. He loves carbs! Not too bad for a doggie basically on his deathbed.

Ah Redbox! One of the greatest inventions of the 21st Century. We watched "Enchanted", "Nancy Drew", "August Rush", and then I watched "Atonement" and "Into the Wild". All really good movies. I balled at the end of "August Rush". That was truly such a great movie! Evan had so much faith, it amazed me.

Oh yeah, here are 2 necklaces I made for 2 of my nieces' birthdays.

A couple of ATC's I made awhile back.

I made 2 more decoupage boxes, one for my foster son and one for a co-worker's birthday. They requested either the color scheme or the specific paper, it's not necessarily my taste, but I love to make things for other people that tickle their fancy.

Did I mention it's spring break! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 projects

2008-03-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

Our 6 year anniversary is friday so I made dh this card. The second pic is a birthday gift for my niece, it's a sign for her bedroom door. I thought it turned out way cute. Our dog is still sick (maybe dying???) this week, and dh is seeking other employment, so prayers would totally be appreciated. Did I mention that I have had the most excruciating backache of my life this week too??? When it rains it pours! My back is actually getting better though, thank God. I was able to sleep through the night last night, finally, what a blessing that was.

I went to church!

2008-03-16T11:33:00.001-07:00

I haven't gone for about a month or longer, and I'm so glad that I did. I needed to be reminded of my faith, and how healthy and life-giving God's word is. I've been choking, caught up in so many things but they were all the wrong things. Now I feel so free! Praise God! The text was Ephesians 4:17-24.

Tagged!!!

2008-03-13T22:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve been tagged by Scrap Evangel! Here’s 7 random facts about me:

1) I was born on a little island in Alaska.
2) I speak Spanish really well, and a little bit o’ French.
3) I have 2 degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching. My next goal is to try and become a Special Ed. Teacher.
4) My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for 4 years with no luck, so now we’re foster parents. Currently we have a 19-year old Native American boy/man-in-training living with us.
5) I love fishing.
6) I am a reading addict.
7) I love chocolate, ice cream, dry top ramen, mashed potatoes, and processed cheese. These are my favorite comfort foods.

More projects!!! And Life and Stuff...AKA a week in my life!!!

2008-03-11T21:26:00.000-07:00

My dear bubby and I at bonneville dam last saturday (our foster son took the pic)

My grandma and I last sunday

New paper bought with babysitting money from friday night

New card that I made for my oldest best friend, Tiffany!

Inside

More tags! They're just too fun and it was my first time using mini-eyelets!!!

A card for my grandma, who's been in and out of the hospital a lot lately!

My first "realistic" drawing. Drawing takes a lot of time! I have to go to art class with this autistic boy at school, so sometimes when I have a chance I do the assignments too. I was kind of proud of this, even though I accidently got creases in the paper.

This week I'm trying to get my foster son all caught up in school so he can graduate on time!!! And the dog has been sick, and we're worried about him too...kind of stressful, but also just a very typical week.

I Made A Card!

2008-03-06T17:20:00.000-08:00

For My Good Friend, April!

I found some of my favorite friendship quotes, as well as some new ones, on the web and printed them in different fonts on the tags which I then inked, and stamped, and then put eyelets on the big ones and then put cool fun fibers on all of them and tucked them all in the pocket!!! Here's to friendship, and here's the quotes that I used, a little gift to you. I'm all about good girl friends!!!

“If friends
were
flowers,
I’d pick
you!”

Who finds
A faithful
Friend, finds
A treasure.
-Jewish
saying

Hold a
True friend
With both
Your hands.
-Nigerian
Proverb

The best
mirror is
an old friend.–George
Herbert

Two are better than one;
because they have a good
reward for their labor.
For if they fall, the
one will lift up his
fellow: but woe unto
him that is alone
when he falleth; for
he hath not another
to help him up.– Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

A friend
may well
be reckoned
the masterpiece
of nature.– Ralph Waldo
Emerson

I shot an arrow into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For so swiftly it flew, the sight

Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For, who has sight so keen and strong

That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak

I found the arrow, still unbroke;

And the song, from beginning to end,

I found again in the heart of a friend.

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"A friend is
one to whom
one may pour
out all the
contents of
one's heart,
chaff and
grain together,
knowing that
the gentlest
of hands will
take and sift
it, keep what
is worth keeping
and with a
breath of kindness
blow the rest away."
-Arabian Proverb

A Card for Lois

2008-02-20T21:14:00.001-08:00

Wilna, over at http://www.wilnaf.blogspot.com/ has the following request:

"I have a friend, Lois. She is 40 years old and has cancer. She is in pain and needs positive, uplifting people to remind her continually to live and that life is worth living. She has an amazing husband and four beautiful kids. The doctors are not giving her long to live, but I believe that God is the author of life. And I know you believe that too...

If you want to be entered into this awesome draw for a RAK(and if anyone want to contribute prizes, big or small, please email me) then this is what you are going to do: take 10 minutes of your time and create a card for Lois. A card that speaks of life and laughter, of fun and flowers. A word of encouragement, maybe your favorite scripture. Take a picture of it and upload it HERE for all to see. Then you post it to her. I visit her every day and I will make a list of all the cards she gets and I will let her draw names out of a hat for winners. The deadline for all the cards to reach her in Canada is March 20th. So, if you want to play (and I hope every single person that reads this will) make her a card, and post it. THAT's how simple it will be.

Please email me: wilna71@gmail.com if you want to participate. I will email you her address. Those who are willing to add this little he{ART} flower to your blog to help me get the word out, will be in my good books for life. You can just right click the image and save it to your computer and add it to a side bar. Please link THIS post to it."

Faith Sisters Challenge-"Lover of My Soul"

2008-02-17T22:06:00.000-08:00

Faith sisters had a challenge for Valentine's Day to recognize someone who has really been a blessing on your life, since on of the ways that God shows His love to us is through blessing us through the people in our lives. Now, I made DH a very nice card and we had a great valentine's day, but I started the challenge today, and so I thought instead of scrapping a page of my close friend, Shell, who I just hung out with all day yesterday.

We met at Freshman Preview weekend at Northwest Christian College in Eugene, OR in the fall of 1994 (I think it was '94 anyway...), I asked her to be my roommate, and she said "Yes!" We have also been roommates one other time, with another close friend, Tana, for about a year. She helped a ton in planning and overseeing my wedding, and I was a bridesmaid in her wedding. I found the awesome duplex I've been living in for the past 2 years through her, and now we live just 15 minutes away from each other. Our friendship has really endured and has been and continues to be such a blessing from God. I love you Shell!!! (Hope this doesn't embarrass you too much, I know you read my blog!!! :)

Here's the official description:

I did this layout for the "Lover of my Soul" challenge. It is about a really close friend of me, who is really more like a sister, and definitely a sister in Christ. I chose Proverbs 17:17 as my inspiration for the layout, "A Friend Loves At All Times..." I wrote some journalling as well:

"From the day we met in 1994 or 1995 (was it at fall preview-then 1994?) our friendship has just grown stronger and stronger all the time. I am so incredibly thankful for all the memories that we have made together, and I am so happy that as we transitioned into new seasons in our lives, (marriage for both of us and then parenthood for you and Jon) we have still been able to stay close. Sometimes we let too much time go by in between visits, but I love how we pick up right where we left off, as if we had just seen each other yesterday or something. You are so much more to me than just a best friend, you are a sister. I know part of the reason we are so close is that our faith is so important to both of us, and God has really knit our hearts together. I thank God for you, Shelly, and I love you so much. Here’s to the next 13 years!!!"

This layout was made with Fancy Pants paper and die-cuts, colorbok chipboard letters, generic felt flowers, a making memories brad, and the "Burst My Bubble" font from Dafont. I cut all the pictures using a sizzix circles die in my cuttlebug.

This weekend's scraptabulousness

2008-02-17T21:57:00.000-08:00

I worked on my mini-album for DH and my 6-year anniversary coming up.

Scrap fabulousness!!! (CKMB crop)

2008-02-10T19:07:00.001-08:00

Erica, aka "Melegs", generously brought a fun RAK for each of us, gotta love the clear stamping goodness!!!

Erica showed me how to make this quick little mini-book, and I had so much fun covering it in the new Karen Russell "Narratives" paper, which is simply gorgeous!!!

My projects of the night, the blue book is stories of my husband and I in our dating days, which will become a part of a page in the larger mini album on the left.

Paper was 20% off, YAY!!! I love patterned paper soooooooooooo much.

Here we all are, on our way out the door!!!

Kelly, aka "KellsBells"

Kay, aka "Kaydrenth"

Erica, aka "Melegs"

The ever delightful cousins, Marilyn, aka "Melonscraps", and Laura, aka "Tigardlilly"

Kim, aka "Kimmo"

I went and cropped with some CKMB buddies last night from 7-midnight. I even went to church this morning, so I have been a very good girl...anyway...I had soooooooooooooooo much fun last night!!! There were 7 of us there, Kay, Kim, Kelly, Erica, Marilyn, Laura, and myself. Those girls are a riot, they are outrageous and funny, and so smart as well as smart-alecky!!! I can't wait to crop with them again!!!

Winter CHA

2008-02-10T12:29:00.000-08:00

I found a website that is keeping up on all the latest and greatest, as well as providing great links to some sneak previews.

Here is the URL: http://www.craftcritique.com

Happy wishing!!!

You know you're an addict when...

2008-02-05T21:52:00.000-08:00

So apparently the mini-scrap treat was just an appetizer to the big kahuna feast...I had yesterday off work, and so decided to sell some books and make some money because I just really wanted to buy me some scrapbooking stuff...what can I say? I called DH and he said I could have half of whatever I made off the books to buy scrapbooking stuff. My half turned out to be $70.00! Plus a couple dollars and some change I had in my purse...you get the picture.

I bought tons of gorgeous paper-the 12x12 collection sets of Basic Grey Periphery and Two Scoops, some random pieces of Phoebe, My Mind's Eye Valentine's day and Bohemia papers, some random pieces of a couple of new brands, and some American Crafts paper, along with some ribbon, and a stamp pad, and some Magnolia die cuts and transparency frames that were on clearance...it was such a splurge...and honestly I don't miss the books at all...I am addicted to scrapbooking supplies!!! They're so pretty, and shiny, and irresistible!!!

A mini scrap treat...

2008-02-03T18:34:00.000-08:00

I had to run some errands today right by a scrapbook store, and I had about $10 to my name, so I bought a few lil treats, namely a Periphery 6x6 tablet (I LOVE BASIC GREY!!!), a white jelly pen (I have like 60 other colors, but no white!!!) and some aqua ribbon (aqua is one of my very fav colors!!!) We are turbo-broke, but at least I could have an itty bitty mini spree! :)

Emotions...

2008-02-02T00:12:00.001-08:00

I just finished the last book in this series, which is the "Redemption" series by Karen Kingsbury. I've been reading it all week, and I was just sobbing my little heart out! Karen Kingsbury is the only author I know that can make me just straight out weep. Her books really are that good. You can read more about her and her absolutely wonderful contemporary Christian fiction novels at www.karenkingsbury.com

I have a 3 day weekend so I will hopefully be doing some scrapping, I'm working on a mini album, "Our Love Story" in honor of valentine's day and our 6 year anniversary, which is also coming up very soon.

"The Lord Bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and give you peace."

I'm also reading through Ephesians right now, what are you reading???

They Closed the Schools For This???

2008-01-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

Both the school district that I work for and the one that my foster son attends school in have cancelled school for the day. Apparently the snow is more severe in higher elevations, but it is pretty pitiful at our house…of course being the slacker that I am, any excused day off from work is totally welcome!!! Of course you people around the world who get "real" snow are probably laughing at us pitiful Oregonians!!!

A Different Hobby this week…

2008-01-27T10:15:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday night I taught a bead class to some young girls at my old boss’s house, including 2 of my students from last year. (My former boss’s daughters) I was really sick but I ended up just doing the hard part of starting and finishing the necklaces while the girls just beaded. It was pretty satisfying, actually.

Then last night I wanted to be crafty but I really didn’t have any pics to scrap, so I made this necklace that I’ve had in my head for a couple years, inspired by this pic I saw in a beading magazine.

I love the way it turned out!!!

It is very funky, and yet still has my lovely ocean colors!!!

Another Tag Game!!!

2008-01-26T12:16:00.001-08:00

I was tagged by Debbie over at Debbie’s Bits and Pieces with the following tag game:

Here are the rules:

1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name).
3. After you are tagged, you need to update your blog with your middle name and your answers.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and that they need to read your blog for details).

R-eading addict
A-rtist
C-heerful
H-elpful
E-nergetic
L-oving
L-oves chocolate and cheese, especially processed cheese
E-ffervescent

Ok I tag KJ, Laura, Marfa, Tana, Samantha, Joscie, Michelle (Scraphappy08), Toni

Another LO

2008-01-21T15:04:00.000-08:00

Here's one of dh with the sprouts!