Well I did get around to actually creating yesterday. I made a friend a birthday card, which I’ll send out tomorrow or Saturday. I like to time it so the card comes on or as close as possible to their birthday. I had intended to take a photo of it, but, Denny took my camera to work again today. Argh. It’s pretty cute and I did a masking technique with Glimmer Mist on it that I’m happy with.

I also finally used my Bind It All to bind up this family mini album I did. I need to get out the photos I want to pop in it and then I think I’m going to leave it at that. It’s all done with Sweetwater product and including the cover, is 7 pages in total. It’s cute and the kids love to look at mini albums. I’ll take actual photos of each page after I get all the photos in… which, well, let’s be honest, could be a very long time from now, lol.

In my continued effort to clean out, I’m getting rid of my Cricut. I NEVER use the thing, and I think Michelle can attest to that. Actually I think Michelle has used it more than I have. Pathetic I know. At any rate, I’m selling my nearly new Cricut with the following cartridges… George, Fabulous Finds and Opposites Attract. All of it can be yours for $200.00. I’ll ship it at the actual shipping costs if needed. Drop me a line if you are interested.

That’s all for today. Happy Thursday!

~j

For the last two days I keep coming into my scrap room/office and standing here. I feel compelled to do something, but apparently not compelled enough cuz here I sit. I sit here and look at the empty counter and think to myself, I think I want to scrap. How dumb is that? I leave the room and then I’m drawn back and yet I’ve still done NOTHING. It’s not for lack of things I could do. Afterall, I have two projects sitting here that are either half done or just waiting for photos. I could easily finish up that, yet I haven’t. I need a kick in the pants or something!

Yesterday was packet pickup day at school. The kids found out what teacher each of them got and got to meet them. Packet pickup day is also the day they take school photos, so each of them did that also. This is Dilly’s first year at the “big kid school” and while he seems a little excited he is equally, (if not more), freaked out by the entire event. We put him in the full day kindergarten program after much debate and I’m hoping it works out for him ok! Cross your fingers that I don’t get a phone call shortly after I leave telling me he is having some sort of melt down, lol. I can already hear the conversation, “Mrs. Dera, we seem to be having a problem with Dylan. Could you come up to the school?” Yikes.

Ethan is pretty cheesed off as he doesn’t have any of his close friends in his class this year. While I think its sad to split kids up after they have established close friendships, I can see how it would give him a bigger circle of friends so that can be good. We’ll see the first week how it works out. Ethan is usually pretty good at adapting, so I’m not super worried about it.

Tonight is “cirriculium night” at the school so I would imagine Denny and I will get a list of more school supplies to add to the ones I picked up before my surgery. On top of finding out about all the other plans for the year. I’m not sure how it is going to work out with two kids thus two different classes. The time slot is 6-7pm period and I don’t know how they expect us to be at the same place at the same time. I know I could send Denny to one and do the other class myself, but I don’t have a real good feeling about that. I know if he goes I’m going to miss out on at least half of the important information that I need for the year. Not that he isn’t able to pay attention, he just isn’t real good at retaining information. Let’s put it that way. All you moms know what I’m talking about. I’m the one doing the “school work” all year long so I’d like to be informed directly. KWIM? No idea how this is going to work when he have all three in the school at the same time. Eventually I’m going to have to give up some control. I’m not real good at that.

I’m on day two of my Slim Fast routine. After paying a vist to the scale during my first post op check up I decided I had to loose some weight. Considering I had lost some organs you’d think I would have been significantly lighter, lol. And well, lets just say I wasn’t. Even taking swelling into account I weighted a lot more than I want to, or than I should for that matter. Once upon a time I was a twig, and frankly, I enjoyed it. I’m not happy with the weight I’m at now, and haven’t been for a long time, so I need to do something about it. The whole Slim Fast thing is how I lost it after I had Dilly, so hopefully it will work again. I just need to stick to it and not let Denny distract me with his ice cream additction!

~j

I finally got a chance to sit down today and “work” with the Becky Fleck Page Maps book. I gave it a good read really last week, but this is the first time I’ve really selected a sketch I plan to work with. I’m trying to plan out something for a project and just ordered the photos to go with it so it will be awhile before I really dig in… but so far so good.

I have to say that I really like the book. There are little tips and tricks scattered through that give good detail and instructions that help you along the way. On top of which all the sketches are pretty versatile and easily adapted to fit your needs. The sketches would also lend themselves to cards nicely for those of you that are cardmakers.

What I especially like is that card pack that is at the end of the book. There are 60 heavy duty and kinda laminated cards at the pack that you can make into a card pack. The little box for the cards are even provided. Each card has one of the sketches from the book and a finished example. Also printed on the cards are little suggestions for things to try on the layout to make it more of your own. This pack makes it great for those of you that travel to crop and don’t want to drag along the book! The card pack takes up little to no space at all and is color coded for the type of sketch at the top of the card, (12×12 single or double, 8.5×11 vertical, landscape).

I used to be a fan of the Becky Higgins sketch books, but just found that I grew out of them. On top of which after awhile all of them seemed to look the same to me. This one I can really see myself using for awhile. All in all, I highly recommend it!!

On a side note… Thank you Sarah for coming to help me “clean out” some of my stash the other day. I really feel a lot better about the state of my organization so thanks for that. I’m glad you were able to find some stuff you could use!!!

Happy Saturday to you!!

~j

I have several rubber stamp sets here that I want to find new homes for.  Just about all of them are unused and complete.  There are a couple that are missing a piece or two or have one or two stamps used out of the full set.  Each set is already mounted on EZ Mount.  Any takers??  I’ll ship them if need be at an additional cost.

Leave Memories Big Font (Plain) $10.00. New and Complete Set mounted on EZ Mount

Leave Memories I Found Evidence Stamp Set - $10.00 New and Complete

Leave Memories Big Font Pattern Stamp Set - $10.00 New and Complete

Leave Memories Passport To Travel Stamp Set - $10.00 Mostly New and Complete

Leave Memories Our Be'be Firsts Stamp Set - $10.00 New and Complete

Leave Memories Ribbon Stamps Stamp Set - $5.00 New, Missing "thank you" & "Courage"

There are a lot more beyond these.  You can see a full list of the Leave Memories Stamps I’m letting go of here.  I also have a TAC set in need of a good home.

~j

As promised, here is the photo of one of Denny’s tools that I decorated. Such a nice guy for cooperating and helping to keep me occupied. I secured all the rhinestones with Ranger Glossy Accents. There are about 300 or so stuck on there. Pretty, lol.

More cleaning out today. Little by little I should be able to see the counter and the shelves in my scrap room. It may take me awhile though. :p Up next on the chopping block is a Chatterbox Corner Press Kit. The kit comes with the carrying case, corner press tool and a ton of brass metal corners. These corners work great on paper, albums, and more. (See photo) I’m selling the kit for $20.00. I will ship it if need be for actual cost.

I think that is about it for today… More tomorrow and a review of the new Becky Fleck Page Maps book!

~j

ETA:  The CardMate has been sold!!

Over the next few weeks I’m going to be cleaning out all my scrap supplies. Some of the stuff I’ve never even used! Sad, I know. Anyway, my goal is to post a few things on here as I come across them.

First up is a CardMate Card Cutter. I have never used this, lol. I should get kudos for just admitting it publicly. Let’s be honest, you all have some kind of tool you wanted and it’s still sitting in the package unopened. I had intended to use it for business cards and ATC type cards, and obviously I’m never going to get to it so it’s time to pass it on to someone else. I’m selling it for $70.00, although I’m open to all reasonable offers. They are around $90.00 in the store and going on ebay for $85.00 plus shipping.

This baby cuts through business cardstock and does 60 of them in 60 seconds. Requires no power as its just an easy hand crank, so you can use it anywhere. It is also fairly portable.

Drop me a note if you’re interested…

~j

P.S. I’ll post later with my finished tool project, lol. I covered it in bling, as promised.

I’m a firm believer that a little bling never hurt ANYONE. So today Michelle is going to get me some big bags of rhinestones so that I can do a little art project over here while I’m sitting on my butt. Oddly enough, when I asked her for them she didn’t even ask why. (The sign of a good friend… you can call her late at night with loud music in the background and the hum of a tattoo gun, and she still doesn’t ask what I’m doing.) Anyway, last week I taught Denny a thing or two about bargain shopping and picked him up some tool set he needed/wanted. This week, as soon as Michelle brings me the goods, I’ll be decorating Denny’s new tool purchase. HA HA, yes thats right ladies. Not even his tools are safe. Here is the before:

I’m sure I won’t get to all of the pieces, but I intend to cover at least one of them. Sadly, this is the most excited I’ve been in about a week. I’ll take a photo, I promise.

I don’t have anything else planned. Today is my first day all alone with the kids since my surgery. Hopefully that goes ok. I’m halfway through the day already and so far so good. They are all at an age right now that I don’t really have to lift any of them, and for the most part they do all the major work themselves. I’m basically just a referee most of the time. At least it feels that way!

Happy Monday!

~j

If you are reading this and you are a “regular” than you know that I’ve done some updating! I was getting tired of looking at the old theme and decided to try a little something new. Hopefully everyone likes it. Along with the new theme I also updated my blog software in an effort to prevent any further hacking attempts. Hopefully this latest release has that security flaw all stitched closed!

Along with the new theme, I’ve added some new functionality. Considering I can’t do much but sit here I have all sorts of time to install cool little addons. One I really love is the Gravatar plugin that I put on this afternoon. Now when you comment your Gravatar image will show next to your comment! Now all you need to do is get a Gravatar account. Yes Michelle, I mean you.

My recovery is doing good. I left the house today and went to Lowes with Denny and the kids. LOL, I couldn’t walk the whole store, so Denny got one of the carts with the seats in the back for the kids and I sat in there. We got a lot of funny looks, but it was worth it to get some fresh air and different scenery.

~j

For those of you that read Michigan Scrapbooker Magazine you’ll see in my byline that I post my supply list info here on my website. If that’s why you’re here, you can find that info on the Tips, Tricks & More page. The link to the page is across the top of your screen. I’ve just added the information sheet for both the layout that is on the cover of the latest issue, and the one that I use as an example in my article. For future reference, all the supply lists will be found there.

Now that we’ve taken care of that little piece of housekeeping… I sent Denny up to Paper Tales yesterday to pick up some class kits for me to work on. I needed something to do that was all neatly packed together in one place considering I’m supposed to be “resting.” Laura was nice enough to dig out some of her past class kits and Denny picked out two. Then, and this speaks a lot of my dear husband… Denny shopped for me. I had mentioned before he left to just pick two, and that I wanted to work on some wedding stuff if he saw a kit that would fit that. Well he didn’t find a kit that he thought fit, so he picked out some papers, matching cardstock, and embellishments that he thought I’d like. On top of that, he did it all by himself! And yes, the cardstock DID match the paper! How sweet is he?? I picked a good man I tell ya.

I think I’m on day 4 of going crazy at home, depending on how you count it. Tomorrow I’ll be home alone as Denny is going to an air show with all the kids and his Dad. It’s something they do each year and it was scheduled before my surgery. Not that it matters because I think I’m pretty capable of taking care of myself at this point. The quiet will be welcomed I’m sure. Plus I won’t have to sneak out of my room, or tell the kids, “don’t tell Daddy I was down here.” lol. They leave first thing in the morning and I don’t expect them back till dinner or so. Nice!

The only plus to the resting part today was that I was able to give my undivided attention to the arraignment of Kwame Kilpatrick today. Today added two more felony charges to the already decent size list, making a total of 10 felony charges. I wonder what he was thinking while standing there, being arraigned on two new charges after spending the night in jail and being fitted with a tether. Or better yet, WHO he was thinking about, although I have a pretty good idea that I already know the answer to that question.

Happy Friday everyone. It is Friday isn’t it? LOL

~j

I am now home from the hospital and recovering from surgery. Thanks to everyone for the emails and such. I really appreciate all the well wishes. If I haven’t emailed you back yet, please don’t take offense!! I’m on my laptop now, which is a really stripped down version of my overly techie self, so it may take me longer than usual to get back with you.

Really things after surgery are not as bad as I thought they would be. The worst part at this point is that I am literally bored to tears. I’m not a good sit on my butt and vegetate person so it’s hard for me to just “rest” like everyone keeps insisting I do. I know I need to take it easy, but yeesh, it’s really really really hard. Every time Denny catches me up he walks me back someplace to sit down. It pretty sad that I have now resorted to sneaking to the kitchen to get myself a drink, (imagine that, I am capable of pouring myself a drink without adult supervision), or that I get excited when the dog has to pee and Denny isn’t around to let her out.

In an effot to prevent myself from going insane, I emailed Cass today to see if she had any class kits around that I could send Denny in to pick up. That would give me something to do. Ideally I’d like to sit and scrapbook, and Denny did offer to bring stuff up for me, but I can’t see how that would work out too well. Considering all my “stuff” is all over my office he’d never be able to bring up just what I needed. I’m not a planner when I scrapbook, so I grab something, then something else, and I’m at least 5 different embellishment options in before I pick one. The poor man would be running up and down the stairs all day long. Then neither one of us would get anything done.

If anyone has any great ideas for ways to pass the time, beyond reading, (cuz I’m over books already), then send them my way. Denny is getting tired of wiping away my tears of boredom!

~j