So far this week has turned out to be pretty good for all of us in the Dera household.  I got some excellent news that is really going to make my life a lot easier and get rid of a decent amount of my daily stress.  So things are looking up!!

I’ve been doing some scrapbooking lately and was able to work with some of the new Kaiser Craft products.  I’m loving some of the new papers and embellishments.  Actually after looking at the catalog I’ve found that the selection of product is a lot more than I had thought.  Here is a little something I created the other day… again loving these papers!  This scan really doesn’t show off all the sparkle.

Just a reminder that card kit sign ups are still open.  I sent out an email last night, so if you didn’t get it and want to be on the mailing list please let me know.  As an alternative, you can add yourself via the blue mailing list button on the right.

I hope you all have a great Wednesday!

~j

Well Denny has been off work all week so we’ve been keeping busy trying to suck every last drop out of summer. Actually, if you go by the weather, summer just got here last week!

Anyway, I’m blogging from the car today. We are on our way to Port Hope for the day. It’s a family tradition and today looks like the perfect beach day. . I’m sure Denny is really looking forward to the ice cream lunch. I said it was a tradition, I didn’t say it was good for you too. Lol.

Yesterday we spent the day on Woodward enjoying the dream cruise. Lots on funny things to see to say the very least. Some people really go all out!!! The first part of the day was a little hot, but by the early evening when we brought the kids out it was perfect.

I’ve been playing with rubber stamps a lot lately. Picked up some Hero Arts clings a week or so ago. So far so good. They are going to work out great for some of the upcoming card kits. Sign ups are closed for Christmas card kits, but all occassion kit sign ups will start soon.

Enjoy your Sunday!
~j

So I’m sitting here at the vets office with Rocky. Ugh. Seems the dog can’t stop peeing. Waiting here I’m doing the math in my head: urine sample test, xray, blood work. Double ugh.

I left the sprinkler guys working away at home. With the way my days have been going I’m expecting to come home to some form of disaster. Can you say oops, I hit a gas line.

I’m plugging away on card designs this week and next. Going for a little something different that I’m sure everyone will enjoy. Clue: CIRCLES! Cute circles and gate folds. I might have to make it my misson to one up Andrea. A little healthy competition. Lol. Knowing Andrea, I’m sure she’s up to it.

Happy Thursday. . The week is almost over. Thank goodness!!!!

~j

Well today is day one of our sprinkler system install. It’s not going well. It’s 12:20 and the guy is just getting started. He got here about 9:15 and has been trying to determine the best way to get the water line out. Ahhh it’s gonna be a good day. Not. Furthermore, from this point forward the water is going to have to be shut off. The upside… I won’t be doing any laundry today. Lol.

I am currently taking sign ups for Christmas card kits. 12 cards with envelopes and color photos shipped to you for $25.00. Please contact me if you need international shipping. Registration goes until August 15. This time around Andrea and I are making this a joint effort, so 6 cards will be her design and the other 6 mine. Should be fun!!!

If I can get access to my office today I’ll be making some cards and maybe scrapbooking a bit. Got my new Scor-it yesterday and I need to try it out. Not sure how well I like it after my first glance last night. I’m running low on birthday cards anyway.

I don’t think I posted this yet, but here is the birthday card I made Michelle. It’s all American Crafts product with the exception of the flower which is Bazzill.

~j

Well we are home from a week long vacation and I’m exhausted. Here are a few photos from the trip courtesy of the good old iPhone.

-j

edfaMichelle and I went to Memories Manor last week for a weekend of scrapbooking.  I got a lot done, (8 layouts and some cards), and I think Michelle did pretty good too.  Outside of all the coughing she did all weekend from being sick, we had a good time. 

As always the trip sneaks up on me, and of course Thursday we had a big storm come through that took out power.  Usually it wouldn’t have been an issue, but I was out and about when the storm hit and my computer at home was uploading pics for me to pic up.  I was on my cell with Michelle and said, “You know what’s gonna happen don’t you?  Power is gonna go out at home while my pics are uploading, then I’m gonna be screwed.”  Apparently knocking on wood was in order, because sure enough… power outage.  Thankfully it was only out long enough to mess up all my plans.  Some poor people were out for over 3 days.  Yuck.  So, I spent Friday playing catchup on the way to Memories Manor.  I usually plan pictures with printed paper and cardstock, and well, that was all messed up as my pictures couldn’t be picked up until Friday morning.  The only reasonable solution was making a stop at Archivers to match paper and cardstock there.    We all know I have way too much cardstock, so it killed me to buy more, but I’m not missing out on valuable retreat time either.  A girl does have her priorities.

At any rate, there were some computer/internet issues at Memories Manor so I didn’t end up doing any computer journaling AT ALL.  That’s hard for me, but I dealt with it.  I do have two layouts that still need some journaling that wasn’t something I was willing to hand write, but all the others I managed to write on.  That’s a big step for me.  I dread my handwriting, and the thought of makign a mistake usually stops me from writing anything beyond a date and name.  At the same time I wasn’t willing to walk away from the weekend with a stack of half done layouts either.  That would stink big time, so I made it work.

This slip n slide layout is one of my favorite layouts I did all weekend and it’s also the last one I did.  I’ve been trying to make it a point to use upembellishments I’ve had sitting around forever.  I put a lot of my stash to use on this one.  Those sequin flowers are some seriously old Queen and Company product.  I’ve probably only got three or four more packs left, lol.  My problem is that I have said product in several different color assortments, lol.  Sad, I know.

We did our annual 4th of July celebrations here yesterday.  Michelle and her kids were over to enjoy the fun and we made a day of it.  Great times and good friends.  She was manning the camera while I took some video.  When I get pictures from her I’ll share them.  Hopefully she got a good shot of Denny on the tricycle.  Seriously, it looked like he stepped right out of a circus.  Never a dull moment over here.

~j

It’s just about 6am.  I’ve been up since 2:30.  No clue as to why, but I’d suspect Denny and his snoring may have something to do with it.    Anyway, I did his Father’s Day card from me and finished up a layout that has been sitting here nearly complete for about two months now I’d guess.  Better late than never right??

Did the card with the scraps from two other projects, (the card I posted prior, and a project for Michigan Scrapbooker that will be in the next issue).  At least I’m working through the scraps on my counter.  It’s one way to clean it, just takes me a little longer than it should.    Anyway, I hope he likes it.  He still has a card I made him over a year ago stuck in the sun visor in his truck.  Awww, yes he’s sweet, be jealous ladies.  I often wonder if the guys that get in the truck say anything about the nice Heidi Swapp flowers floating above his head.  LOL.  I’m guessing they know better.  After all, Denny is still using my jewel encrusted flashlight.  He is a man among men. 

The layout is just a quick one I started with Michelle a long time ago.  It’s been sitting here and getting moved from one spot to another.  I did use some of those new Heidi Swapp Invisible Alphabet Stickers.  Sorry Heidi, (and Michelle), I’m not a big fan.  I used the ones with the dot pattern and I think the dots need to be embossed higher if that makes any sense.  I applied ink on my directly from the pad basically because I’m a lazy scrapper.  I’d think it might work a bit better using an applicator tool.  Oh well, such is life.

It’s been pretty busy around here and I’ve made a pact with myself that for at least the next month or two I need to spend more time here and less running around.  Seems like I’m never here, and as much as I love my car, lol, I need to focus more on what goes on here and condense my running around to one or two days out of the work week.  I told Denny at dinner last night that I was not leaving the house at least 3-4 days out of the week.  His response, “Good Luck.”  Oh yee of little faith.  That being said, the man knows me better than anyone else on Earth.  We’ll see.  I’m taking it as a challenge.

~j

It’s been a couple weeks now since my Grandma passed and I’m trying to force myself to get back into the swing of things.  Starting with the blog.  Easier said than done!

Anyway, got a call from my cousin earlier this week asking for a bday card for a dear friend of hers.  Again, a good kick in the pants to do something productive.  This card was done with an older Chatterbox print.  (I do love their papers.)  I stamped the background of the cardstock with some Dazzle VersaMark.  Not sure how thrilled I am with that product.  I’ve tried it on darker paper and it looks great until the next day when it’s totally dry, then it seems to lose shimmer.    Anyone else use it and have success?  If so, I’d be interested to hear about it.

I’ve been working on some custom baby shower invitations for a good friend of mine over the last week too.  I’ll share it tomorrow.  It’s a yucky day here in Michigan and not much natural light, which is how I prefer to photograph cards.

Ok, now I’m one blog post along in my effort to rise from the dark hole I’ve been hiding in.  Wish me luck that the motivation to keep up with it continues!

Happy Thursday (it is Thursday isn’t it??)!  And for good measure… GO WINGS!

~j

I wanted to let everyone know that reads this, (if there is anyone left out there reading at all, lol), that I’m well aware that I’ve been neglecting this blog.  I eluded to why last time I posted I think, but am now in a spot where I can give a bit more information that will explain my vanishing act.

Some time ago, must be about 8 years ago now, my paternal grandmother, whom I’m very close to, was diagnosed with Leukemia.  She has been battling since the day we all found out, even hitting patches of “remission.”  With all that, a few years ago, she was diagnosed with colon cancer.  Thankfully she pulled through that, the surgeon got it all, and it was said and done.

Flash forward to April.  She spent approximately two weeks of April in the hospital, over the course of two separate stays.  She’s been sick more than she has been well, and frankly the treatments just weren’t working any longer.  She decided to stop treatment and entered hospice care.  She is now living with my parents, and we are all spending what time with her we can.  Hospice has been a great support thus far, and helped Denny and I give our kids some idea as to what is going on and how to answer, “Why is GiGi living with MiMi and PaPa?” and “Can we catch it?” types of questions.  Looking back, I now see that all these years instead of saying, “Oh, no you can’t stay with GiGi today because she doesn’t feel good.” wasn’t the best option.  We really should have been more upfront about it from the start.  But it is what it is.

It’s draining to watch someone you love so very much fade away.  On the flip side, it has to be far harder to be my Grandma, who is really just waiting.  I can’t imagine how hard it was to leave the home shes been living in since 1960, and knowing she wasn’t ever going to see it again.  It’s hard all around.

So, there is the cliff note explanation as to where I’ve been in life and really where I’ll continue to be for what I assume to be the next several weeks.  One never knows…

Go tell the ones you love how much they mean to you!!

~j

I know it’s been ages since I’ve blogged.  Sorry about that.  Lots going on!  Seriously.  I can’t elaborate much right now, but down the road I’ll fill you in.

I was suffering from some computer down time.  I’ll spare you the details, but in short, I’m expecting compensation from Best Buy for my troubles.  Ahh, the art of a well written letter. 

Thanks to my good old buddy Michelle I’ve gotten a lot of scrapbooking done lately.  We’ve been getting together the last couple Friday’s and working on things.  Although, I’d like to point out that Michelle has been cheating, lol.

I’ve been trying to use up embellishments from my stash of supplies.  The paper is a new one, but the rest is stuff I’ve had sitting around for awhile.  A lot longer than I care to admit quite frankly. 

It’s the last day of spring break here and the boys will be going back to school tomorrow.  I’m sure Shelby is more than happy about that.  She has gotten used to having free run of the toys around here during the day and didn’t take well to the boys being home.  I’ve been sick since Easter, so I’m looking forward to a little down time myself.  Funny how vacation ends up being so much work, lol.

~j