Meet my new friend, Mou

I had these pictures saved to draft yesterday and was going to post after I got my journaling done for them but was so busy with work, I didn't have a chance to. I work part-time as a Health and Safety Director for a small shoe manufacturer in Sullivan, Missouri. Every year, I'm required by law to deliver OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) mandated training, which means I have to train over 300 people on 3 different shifts. So I had to hit the floor running as soon as I got back from CHA.

As it turns out, my new BFF, Mou Saha visited my blog yesterday even before I had a chance to post pics of us. And yes, you heard right. I didn't get a chance to meet Wilna- this time. I know without a doubt it will happen but this was just not the time, so I'm looking forward to what God has in store for me in the future. She came by the Piggy Tales booth on Sunday but I was already gone. Mou got to talk to her, though.

Now I have to tell you about Mou. Where do I start? The first thing I asked her was how to pronounce her name. It's MOE, yeah like the three stooges Moe. Ha ha. Sorry, Mou. She is the most amazing artist and if that weren't enough, I was more amazed at her humility. I mean, here is a HOF'er, SOY finalist, Making Memories Idol top 3 contestant, Rusty Pickle chef, etc. etc. etc. and she is so humble! I wanted her to be in the spotlight at the Piggy Tales booth, but she wanted to hide behind the counter and put kits together instead!! I couldn't believe it! We had such a fine time pal-ing around the convention center, looking at all the new goodies, doing make-n-takes! I am SO glad I had the opportunity to get to know one of my idols in this industry! I love you, Mou and miss you too! Can't wait to hug you again, hopefully really soon!


We had a fun time flirting with Tim Holtz. He is just amazing! I'm glad I got to keep something he made at his demo.

Meet my new friend, Margie

Here is my new friend, Margie Higuchi and Norma at our hotel room. This is Chicago pizza at its best! Look at all that yummy grease!

My stomach started growling as soon as I saw the picture of this pizza. Isn't that funny? I'm like Pavlov's dogs. Ha ha!

Ok, I have got to tell you about my new friend, Margie. She is one amazing gal. She's fluent in English and Japanese. She is married to a Buddhist monk. Who knew monks could get married?? Anyway, I booked the room with her sight unseen. I didn't know what to expect. When we arrived in Chicago our room wasn't ready yet so we left our bags with the concierge. We left to work the show. We hadn't yet had a chance to meet Margie cuz she was in the convention hall already. I wouldn't have know who she was cuz I had never seen her. When we finally got into our room, Margie had already been there but she was gone. Waiting on the bed for me and Norma was a little goodie package complete with cool Laserline chipboard, Japanese candy (which I scarfed right away), mints, gum (what're you trying to say, Margie? hee hee) and what not. I mean, is this the most thoughtful girl? She also brought us snacks like Snickers, granola bars, Reese's bars, bottled water. I really felt taken care of. I was like, "Is my mother here" while looking under the bed. That night we had pizza. She took care of the ordering and arrangements. There are not alot of places to eat near the convention center. The place was designed so that business travelers could fly in, convene and then fly out again. The airport is like 5 minutes away or something really close. The only places to eat were the hotels- expensive. Downtown was like 20 minutes away. Not an economical taxi ride, besides, there wasn't really any time. Next year I'm flying in on Thursday and staying until Sunday night. On Saturday, we decided to eat at a really nice restaurant called Gibson's (I think). It was really expensive but oh, so good! The highest item on the menu (I always check) was the surf and turf (a HUGE lobster tail and huge steak) was $163!! No, I did not get the surf and turf. I wanted to splurge, but that was more than a splurge. Besides, 4 people could've eaten off that plate, it was so big. The girls at the table next to us ordered dessert. It was a macadamia nut turtle pie. I'm not kidding. It was huge. It was $14! It was at least 6 inches high and about 1/4 of a 10 inch pie. The four of them each had a slice and there was still a ton left, so they gave us the rest. The three of us ate from it and there was still so much left. Can you believe 7 girls could not finish it? We were lucky we didn't have to pay for it. The girls are from San Antonio. One of them was opening a new LSS there.

On Friday night, 2peas sponsored a reception complete with sweet treats and drinks. My name was drawn to win a package of Chipboard cookies from Sonborn (I think they're new) and a pkg of large green sticker letters. I gave them to Margie for being so sweet to us. There were a bunch of garden girls there. Joann Bolick took our picture. She's bubbly and sweet. Very friendly. I was surprised to see how young Tia Bennet is. Kelly Crowe is so cute. She looks like she's in junior high. She's tiny.

We had a wonderful time thanks to Margie who took care of us. Being a resident Chicagoan, she knew her way around.

Thanks, Margie!

Elsie, Elsie, Elsie!

Here are some shots of Elsie's booth. You can see the KI Memories booth in the background. KI is the company who sponsors Elsie.

Isn't this a cute tree filled with handmade ornaments? She took a McCall's pattern and cut out ornaments from it. She's so creative. I can see why she chose a white tree. The ornaments really pop against the white background. Now I want to go out and get a white tree too! LOL!

She has several new lines for the holidays: Jack and Abby is in fall colors, Noel and Zoe. Zoe is a fun colorful line designed just for the scrapbooker. It features patterned paper with little cameras and such.

This display here previews the new idea box she's coming out with. It's a must have for me.


I think you can click on each image to make them bigger.

Ok, I couldn't stand it!

Here's a photo of me and C.D.! Like how I added a filter to it to smoooootthhh out my wrinkles! I also cropped out my big fat arm. C.D. is such a tiny little thing, I look like a gargantuan up next to her! Hee hee! There's only one word to describe her- SWEET! She's a doll. Her talent amazes me.

I'll post more later, after I photo shopped myself to death! Hee hee!

Back from CHA

So very tired. Coming down from the high. Time to crash and burn. My mind is a blur. I'm worthless and spent. Will try to gather my thoughts and post something coherent soon!

One note- Tim Holtz is a sweetie. More photos to come.

What a Blast!

Hello, from me at CHA!! Here I am with Erin Lincoln and C.D. Muckosky. Today I got to spend some time with Tim Holtz. Be sure to check out Erin's blog from CHA with her and me. I will catch you all up on all the good times had here when I get back home.

Challenge #3

CHALLENGE #3 Details: In honor of July 7, 07, you will create a layout entitled, "Seven Things I Am Lucky to Have". You can add to the Title, but that must be the basic title for your layout. Your layout can be one or 2 pages, but it must be 8 1/2 x 11 or 12x12.Your layout must also include the following:7 photos7 buttons7 journaling stripsYou may use any other embellies, papers, etc...

Putting this seven photo layout together was like working a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle! Ha ha!

I used the Everyday Tango by My Mind's Eye patterned paper. I like to use the word "blessed" instead of "lucky" so I titled my layout "My 7 Blessings". I used my Cricut to cut out my title and the scallop on my paper.

These are seven things I could not live without:

1. My hopes and dreams- this is a picture of the land where we will soon build our dream home.

2. A Christian husband

3. Three healthy sons

4. Devoted parents- They adopted me. I thank God for them for giving me a loving home and a happy childhood.

5. My health- How do you take a picture of your health? The best I could do was make a heart shape with my hands and lay it over my heart to symbolize my health.

6. My citizenship- I was born in a foreign country. I do not take for granted one single day of living on American soil.

7. My Faith- I took a picture of the church steeple to represent my relationship with Jesus. He is my world, my everything. Without Him, I would cease to exist.
Thanks for looking. I'm relieved to have this completed!

I'm leaving for CHA in the morning!!

Woohooo!!!! I can't wait!! I'll take lots of pics to sneak peeks for everyone.

I'm also relieved to have completed challenge #3 of the little contest we're participating in. I'm at work right now but when I get home, I'll post the layouts and details. I'll have to say, it's the hardest one yet. I stayed up until 4:00 a.m. to finish it and the bonus challenge bookmark b/c I had to get it in before leaving to CHA. The challenge is due midnite on Saturday and I'd be in Chicago then, so I had to get it done now. I'll try to chat once more before leaving to CHA. If I can get my hands on a computer before then, I'll try to update everyone while I'm gone!

New Miracle! We sold our house!!

Yup, you heard right! We SOLD OUR HOUSE!! The market is stagnant right now, yet we managed to sell our house! This means a big upheaval in our lives. It's a bittersweet change. This is the only home Connor has ever known so I think he will have a hard time adjusting to it. We brought him home here after he was born. We are, however, bribing him with getting a new puppy when we finish building our home. I'll be happy though, having my own scraproom where I can close the door to my pig sty and nobody (Eric) has to look at it! Hee hee!!

I'm getting ready for CHA! I'm really excited about attending for the first time this year. I found out that Mou Saha and Marla Kress will be working the Piggy Tales booth with us, so I'm happy to be surrounded with such talented artists!!

Just a little blurb about the cumulative RAK! It's hard telling what else will go into the box once I start packing up my scraproom! So far everyone is really close! Here's what I have so far:

Noell 2
Kelz 1
Deb 11
Detta 4
Liz 5
Kelly 14
Cheryl Wray 3
Cheryl P 8
Jude 8
Amy 10
Joz 8
Kara 2
Sollie 1

Don't worry, I'll have bonus points periodically to up your scores! I'm really enjoying having you stop by and visit. It's a shame though that I had to dangle a carrot in front of my BFF, Debbie, to get her to post on my blog!! LOLOLOL!!!!
You can always email me at ttyree@fidnet.com if you have any questions or if you think I made a mistake in my tallying, which is entirely possible!!
Kelly, Kara and Amy- I need to get you those card scraps out soon. I haven't forgotten. I'm just slow!

I love this face

I took this photo of Drew the other day while doing Colleen's photo shoot. He definitely has Debbie's big beautiful blue eyes!

Challenge #2

Here are the rules:

Challenge #2 Details: You know I love sketches, I love using more than 1 photo regulary and I am a pattern paper collector – so join me in taking on a fairly open ended challenge with the requirements being:

1. Use an Elsie Flannagan sketch (file attached and there are 28 to choose from! Here’s the link: http://elsieflannigan.blogspot.com/2007/02/just-for-fun.html)
2. Scrap a minimum of 3 pictures
3. Use at least 2 different pattern papers from at least 2 different collections/manufacturers


I chose sketch #4.
I painted a star on chipboard with black acrylic paint and then cut it out. I painted my title with a paintbrush and black and white paint and then I outlined it when after it dried. I also love to add little touches like the stars sewn with embroidery thread.





For our midweek bonus point challenge we had to:

Use the inspiration from one of these current scrapbook magazine covers (photos above) to create a project. Anything goes - a simple card, a 6x6 LO, a 12x12 or any alterable items - whatever you muse.

These covers are: Simple Scrapbooks July/August 2007 issue & Scrapbooks Etc. July 2007 issueBut be speedy! Projects due Thursday July 12th by 5pm EST (just a bit more than 24 hours). Post in the gallery under week 2 for the game and link back to here with cover that you found inspirational. Hope you are having fun and getting lots done!

Here is the Thank You card I came up with:




This was really fun. It made me realize that you can find inspiration even by looking at magazine covers! Thanks for looking!

Challenge #1 Entry

Challenge: OLD SCHOOL!

Challenge Details:

I am challenging you to create a LO using some of your stash! Go through and look for your oldest papers, embellishments, ribbons, alphas and such! Get rid of those old supplies that are just sitting around! Make room for new stuff! (I know some of us purge a lot so dont worry if your oldest stuff is only a few months old, just use it!) In addition to using your stash I would like you to scrap a picture that is from the year you started scrapping! For instance I started in 2004 so my pic would be from that year. If you are unsure the exact year you started, get as close as you can get! The subject of the pic and LO does not matter! Just to challenge you even more (insert evil laugh, hehe) I am also challenging you to try and remember one of the first techniques you used in your earliest LO's and use it on this LO!!! Take a look through your first album if you cant remember!

To recap you are doing 3 things for this challenge:

1. Using old supplies (a mixture of papers, embellishments and alphas. New items can be used but please keep them to a minimum).

My take: I used old paper from Paper Adventures and another that was so old there was no name or barcode strip anywhere. I also used stickers, which I don't use anymore. I didn't start scrapping until 2005 but I made cards and collected all kinds of scrapbook related items (paper, cardstock, stickers, etc.) for about 10 years prior.

2. Scrapping a picture from in or around the year you began scrapping.

My take: A picture of Connor in 2005

3. Using one of the first techniques you tried.

My take: This layout spans techniques from when I was a card maker (scallop shaped scissors) until when I started in 2005 (sewing, inking edges, computer journaling)

Thanks for looking!

Hunky Hunny

It's not often I get a picture of Eric with his eyes open. I caught him by surprise while he was landscaping our front yard a while back. I was going through photos for my next challenge project when I happened upon this one of him. Isn't he H-O-T??? Oh yeah, after FIVE years, he still makes my heart melt.

Love you Hunny Bunny!

Upcoming classes at For Keepsakes Scrapbook Store

Some of you may not know this but I'm a teacher for For Keepsakes which is the largest/best scrapbook store in St. Louis. There is a link on their blog to my blog. They don't have pictures of my upcoming classes on their blog so I think I'll go ahead and post them here just in case someone wanders over here from there. Here are the highlights of this two page layout class:

Have you wished that you could incorporate your own flair and design into your layouts?
In this class I will teach you how to create your own journaling box, as well as hand cut title and embellishment buttons.
I will give you tips on hand journaling as well as using the Crop-a-dile.

What to bring:
Two 4x6 photos
Four 3 ½ by 5 inch photos
Trimmer
Adhesive
Journaling Pen

I'm also teaching a class on how to alter this card box with crackle finish. This was the box I worked on for Rusty Pickle.

Now, if anyone knows how I can post pictures of my classes permanently on my sidebar, would you please tell me! I'd also like to know how to customize my blog banner. I'm 'puter illiterate. Hee hee.

Photo shoot

Colleen is one of the most beautiful pregnant women I've ever seen. It was such a priviledge to shoot her pregnancy photos today.

Don't forget about the ongoing RAK!

Theresa

XOX

How about a new challenge??

I have SO many scraps that my scrapfolio is bursting at the seams!! I thought, "hhhmmm, these scraps would make some really cute cards. So.....

If you would like me to send you a pile of scraps from my stash to create some beautiful cards, drop me a shout out right here in the comments section. When you're done, I'll post your handiwork here and I'll let some non-biased people vote. Do you think this is a fair way to judge? I'll send a prize to the winner. Don't know what the prize is yet. You'd be doing me a favor by taking these delicious tidbits off my hands.

Tell me what color family you'd like and I'll pull something together for you.

Theresa
XOX

Stay- the most wonderful word in a friend's vocabulary

I love having my friends stop and say hi here. So, in honor of our friendships and to celebrate my second anniversary of becoming an obsessed scrapper I am going to start and amazing RAK that will conclude in December- just in time for Christmas!! Each month I will add to this special RAK box. This month I will be adding to the box my most favorite, inspiring magazine. This magazine will definitely get you thinking outside the box! You'll love it!

Next month, I will add an amazing portfolio containing my favorite pencils- Prisma colors. I will post a picture of this prize some time next month. I have ideas of other things I'd like to add to the box and one of the ideas I have has to do with another hobby I love- jewelry making. Some time between now and December, I will make a piece of jewelry to place into the box- either a bracelet or earrings. I will use Swarovski Crystals and other pretties. I'm also thinking of throwing in some hand made cards and a set of Stampin Up! stamps.

Would you like to know how to win this RAK? It's easy. Here are the details...

As I said, I love having friends visit me here. All you have to do to win the prize is be the most frequent poster on my blog. I will tally up your comments at the end of the year and whoever visits the most must obviously mean they love me the most (hee hee) so to show my appreciation, I will send that person a nice Christmas present. If there are ties, I will either place names into a drawing for Connor to pick out or I will send the finalists a questionnaire to fill out and whoever scores the highest points will win.

I made a resolution at the beginning of the year to RAK something each month so this is in keeping with my resolution. Now, if I could just keep my resolution of only spending $20 a week I would make my hubby so happy. Oh well. LOL!

On another note, I can't contain my excitement! I just ordered my plane tickets to CHA- Chicago this morning. I can not tell you how excited I am to attend and hopefully meet Wilna!! It's incredible how God works! I was standing at my kitchen sink a couple months ago and a still soft voice (God's voice) came out of nowhere and told me, "You're going to meet Wilna in real life". I thought, how can this be when Wilna lives all the way in Canada? Don't question God's power. He has given me the incredible opportunity to meet someone whom I love so dearly and inspires me daily. You can find Wilna's blog by clicking on the sidebar on her My He{art} blog. And if that weren't good enough, it gets even better! I'm going with my adopted mom, Connor's Grandma- Norma Jean! I'm so stinkin' excited I can't stand myself!!

Now I hope that God whispers in my ear that I'll get to meet Liz too and hopefully all my other Heart friends.

Theresa

Please join me in a new fun contest!

Join me in a super cool scrappin contest. If you're like me, you need motivation to get layouts done. To sweeten the deal, there are prizes involved! It's not too late to register and get your 25 points in before the deadline. If you're chatty like me, you can get those 25 posts in one sitting. Go here to find out more:

http://www.thescrapbooksite.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20413


What better way to start out our summer here at The Scrapbook Site than with a BIG SUMMER CONTEST to get those creative juices flowing!

The design Team here at TSS loves Reality TV, and in the spirit of reality TV and the shows we will be seeing, we have created this contest just for TSS, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SCRAP?

How The Game Works
For 8 weeks you will be given a challenge. you will have one week to create your layout and get it posted to the Gallery, linking it back to the challenge thread. Seems simple enough right??here's the catch, there are no ELIMINATIONS! After the game begins those who have signed up will be given access to a special forum created just for this game. You'll have a chance to chat with the other players, earn bonus points and cheer each other on!

The game will begin on July 2nd and end on August 20th with the winner announced on August 27th!
Challenges will be announced on Monday Mornings by 12:00 noon EST. You will have until Saturday at Midnight PST to upload your layout to the gallery. Sunday is voting day.

Once you have signed up, and you have access to the special forum, you'll receive further details about the game, including how the scoring and voting will work. and how we will determine a winner.
We will also make accomodations for those who may be gone a week during the summer, if you miss a week it's okay! (but you can't miss more than one!)

SIGN UPSSign Ups for the game will begin on June 25th and go through July 1st. Once the game begins there will be no late entries allowed.

THE PRIZE
Want to know what you are playing for?? If you win "so you think you can scrap" you will be enjoying 3 FREE Kits from TSS! PLUS a very very cool Karen Foster Calendar Kit HOW GREAT IS THIS! all you have do is create layouts based on the challenges given and go for it!We Hope to see you ALL there!!!!

connors songs june 07

With a little bribery, we got Connor to sing for you. Song #1 is Yellow Submarine (Lello Sumbarine), #2 Pledge of Allegiance, #3 Stripes and Stripes and Little Stars (he hangs his head in embarrasment b/c he realizes he messed up a little then starts smiling really big), #4 Oh Blah Dee. We had to bribe him with fire pops. He cracked us up by kissing the box after we gave it to him. LOL!!

Crackle Tutorial

As promised, here is how you crackle finish. You'll be amazed at how simple it is to do.

First, start with a plain piece of cardboard/chipboard. I used my Sizzix to cut out this star shape.

Next, choose a color of paint for your base coat. I ususally use a dark color underneath and a light color on top. The dark color is what will show through once the paint crackles. Here I used Making Memories copper glaze.

Once the paint dries, apply the Crackle Medium. This is what the bottle of Crackle Medium I use looks like. It's by Folk Art and you can buy it at Wal-Mart. I used a sponge brush and covered my painted star with it. Let it dry before proceeding to the next step.

This next step is where the magic happens. You will now apply your top coat. I used Making Memories acrylic paint in Manila. The trick here is to use alot of paint when you brush it on AND don't go over it again or you'll mess up the crackle layer. Just lay it on thick with one brushstroke on each application. When it starts to dry, the top coat will start to crack and you will end up with something beautiful like this...

Ta Da!! Click on the images to get a better look. Email me if you have any questions. See there, and you thought I was some kind of altering genius! Now you know better! Ha ha!!

Last photos at age 3

Well, I'm going to milk it as long as I can. Connor doesn't officially turn four until 9:11 p.m. today. So he's still three for a few more hours! I tried to do a photo shoot of the little stinker yesterday but he just does not want to cooperate. I guess this is my fault- a result of too much stalking by the mamarazzi!

My baby's last day to be three...waahhh!!!

I know I've been a blogger slackard lately and I truely apologize. But as my son's birthday was approaching, it hit me- my baby is going to be four years old! I thought, "Woah! Time is slipping by so fast!" So I decided to take a break from scrapping and focus on my son in his last days of being a baby. There's something about the age of four. Up until the age of 3, I consider this time as baby time. But now that Connor will be four tomorrow, he graduates from being a baby to being a boy. I know he probably left the baby stage long time ago. But in my mind, the age of four is when is officially happens. I have been crying on and off for two weeks at the realization of this. I realize that I will never hold another of my own babies in my arms ever again. I realize that half of my life is over and I, myself, have graduated into other chapter of my own life. It's just so sad how quickly time passes. So, I've been savoring this sweet little baby of mine as much as I can. Tomorrow, at 9:11 p.m., he will be a boy.

How to...

Ok. Some of you asked how to do the crackle finish like I did on my box. It is really easy. I'm at work right now, but when I get home, I'll take a picture of the bottle of crackle medium that I use and I'll tell you how you can do it.

My Rusty Pickle Desgin Team Submissions

Well, I have a confession to make. I missed the deadline for the Rusty Pickle design team Amazing Race contest. I know, I know! I'm such a procrastinator. But, in my defense, I checked the website earlier in the week (the due date was Friday) and it said that the submissions were due ON or BEFORE June 1st. To me, this interpreted by 12:00 midnite, June 1st. I was busy on Friday running my mom to the airport in St. Louis to catch her flight out of here. When I went to submit about 7:00 p.m., there was a deadline time of 3:00 p.m. in big red letters that wasn't there before and that applications were no longer being accepted. Sigh. Why didn't they post the time deadline sooner?? I went ahead and emailed them my submissions in hopes they would let me squeak by. I don't know if they even received them or not. I like to think that I didn't get them in on time is why I wasn't picked, but in reality I probably wasn't picked because there were other entries better than mine. Hee hee!! From now on, I vow to have my projects completed BEFORE any deadline in order to not have any problems entering.

Anyway, here are my submissions. We had to do one layout, one altered item and one mini book. Please click on each image for a closer look.
Thanks for looking!



Layout




















Altered Item- Card Box
























Mini Album

You've got to check this out

I am so proud of my girlfriend, Jen, and the launch of her online store. Go here to see Jen's beautiful creations.

I haven't forgotten about the RAK that I promised. I've been busy with mom and getting the Rusty Pickle Design Team submission projects done. Keep me in your prayers that my submission is accepted.

I'll find out if I can post my creations publicly. If I can, I will post them for you to see.

My moms

It's so nice to have my mom down visiting. She's been spoiling me with her cooking dinner every night. She's a great cook!! It's so nice to not have to worry about cooking. Here's a photo of my mom and Eric's mom.

The book is here!

First I want to thank Jamie Tharpe for letting me be a part of this tear jerking book. If you get a copy of this book, be sure to have a box of Kleenex on hand because the book is about memorials, tributes, etc. Jamie was inspired to create this book to honor the lives her two sons, Tyler and Hunter who have passed away. She is a remarkably strong woman to have endured the pain of losing two precious children.

In this book is my first published layout. I just got my comp copy in last week. This is an idea/inspiration book designed around I did a layout on the fourth anniversary of my dad's passing. It's incredible that it was my dad who gave me the gift of my first publication. So even after death, Dad is still giving to me. My layout is at the top titled, "I Miss You". It was such a coincidence that my mom happened to come at the same time as the book came, so I was able to give her the other comp copy of the book to her. My layout is on page 14.



Thanks for letting me share in the excitement!

Connor on Mother's Day

With all the hubub about the RAK I forgot to post a photo of Connor on Mother's Day. This year he actually wrote "MOM" on the card. Every year Eric and Connor pick me out a card and Eric traces Connor's little hand on the card. This year he signed his own name. I can't believe how fast my little man is growing up. This photo is as good as it gets. He's getting to where he acts silly when I try to take his picture. I must've taken around 5-10 shots of him- all with the same face! LOL!

Drum roll please......

Guess what?? You are ALL winners! Everyone who participated in my RAK challenge will receive a little something from me, so congratulations! Actually, those of you who completed a TWO page layout will also get a little something extra from me for doing twice as much!!

But, I have to give away the Heidi Swapp album kit and the card prize contest to the submissions with the most votes. And can you believe that the person with the most votes for the layout ALSO had the most votest for her card! Can you believe that? She won in both categories!! After counting up 30, yes THIRTY, votes, the winner is...

.

Emily Barklage!! She said she's never submitted her work for publication. I guess she's now someone ELSE I am competing against for pub work! Ha ha!

Congrats, Emily!

Everyone else, be on the lookout in the mail for something from me and thanks for playing!

Please stay tuned to my blog for more RAKs/games in the future!

What color are you?

I took this color quiz and boy was I surprised to find out that I am the color VIOLET!! Any shade of Purple is my most absolute favorite color in the world!! How'd it know that?? And what it said about my personality also rings true for me! I love art and I AM a musician! I must express myself or I get grouchy. Yes, I daydream! This is how I work out all my layouts and cards. I don't have a sketch book. So I'm not really an airhead- I'm a daydreamer! Ha ha! Also, I'm a Christian which the last part refers to!

To take the quiz, click on the link below and post your color on the comments here! I can't wait to see what it says about YOU and if you think it's accurate!


Have fun!

VIOLET

You surround yourself with art and music and are constantly driven to express yourself. You often daydream. You prefer honesty in your relationships and believe strongly in your personal morals.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

Connor can officially write his name!!!!!!!

Connor and Grandmama are really hitting it off!! This is important considering when he wasn't even one year old he was already telling my mom, "go away" and shaking his little finger at her! It was so stinkin' cute, yet mean an honery. Mom would just crack up. He just for some reason did not like my mom. On this visit, the day before I was to pick her up from the airport, he was jumping up and down on the bed with excitement chanting, "I love Grandmama!". So when she got here, he was shy. My mom played it cool and didn't want to force herself on him. Then he started getting closer and closer and inching his way to her. Now, they're the best of buddies!!

As some of you know, last summer while we were in Texas and mom was down for her yearly visit from the Philippines, she had a massive heart attack the day after we arrived. So our visit was spent mainly in the ICU unit of Methodist Hospital in Houston while mom clung precariously to life. It was a harrowing experience. Anyway, less than a year later, her chest scar has healed up nicely, she's lost 30 pounds (she looks totally different!) and moves a little slower, but she's still here! Thanks be to God and prayers!! I started this blog in July a year ago for the purpose of family and friends getting updates on my mom's condition after her heart attack. It transitioned into my daily life blog and also a showcase for my art.


Back to the reason of this post-
We were eating dinner with mom last night. Earlier in the evening, Mom asked him if he knew how to spell his name. I was eavesdropping and was surprised to know that he can spell it perfectly. A couple months ago, Eric taught him both our cell phone number and he knows them by heart, so the little stink pays attention to everything! Anyway, while we were sitting down to supper, Connor asked for a paper and pen. We asked him if he could write his name for Grandmama. He said, "yes, I can". And I'll be darned if he didn't. Not only did he spell and write his name correctly, he even tried to keep each letter in the box of the graph paper he was writing on!! (See below) I'm so proud of my little man!! I asked Mom if I could write my name at age 3, and she said no. I don't think my two older boys could write their names either at 3, so this is quite impressive to me!!

Anyway, thanks for letting me share my joy and pride!

I know some of you are watching the announcement of who wins the contests. I will post the results tomorrow- I promise! So far I've had around 30 people voting, which is incredible! Thanks to all who took the time and trouble to vote!!

Votes!!!

So far I have votes from the following people. If you do not see your name here, it means I didn't get your vote so please email it to me at ttyree@fidnet.com

Detta
Kelly
Wilna
Carla
Laurie
Liz
Kara
Anam
Joz
Desi
Kim
Peggy
Debbie

Airhead moment!!

I knew this would happen. I felt like something was missing, and sure enough, not one but TWO beautiful creations were not posted!! UUUrrrrggggHHH!!!!!

So they get to be spotlighted here all by themselves. Ha ha! Sorry y'all!!


Now, please take a look at them and send your REVOTE to ttyree@fidnet.com!!

Please, please, please click on the layouts to get a better look at them, especially the layouts. If you click on them, you can get a blow up of it and see all the beautiful details!!

Card Entry #7



















Layout Entry #9

Hanging with Hudson





Journaling reads:

It was your Daddy who decided to see what would happen if he put you in the swing with * uncle * Hudson. Who would’ve thought you two would be a perfect fit? We couldn’t stop laughing at how cute you boys looked. Plus, back to back we could really see the size difference 11 months makes. This close in age, Hudson will be more like your brother than Mommy’s. Already it is so much fun to watch you boys grow up. I can’t wait to see you really play together and to see what kind of trouble you are going to get into!