Art & Soul by Cindy

To all things there is a season

2009-08-02T14:16:00.003-06:00

I made this home decor yesterday. For something that I thought would only take a couple of hours, it took MUCH longer than that! About eight :( Crazy, I know, but I must say I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out!

My Silhouette was not cooperating with cursive writing. I ended up doing the "To everything there is a" by making a homemade rubon! It worked perfectly.

Preggo card

2009-07-19T15:56:00.003-06:00

Since I had paper all over my table from the layouts below and an adorable PG stamp, I thought I'd throw together a card to send to my niece with the layouts. Simple but I still like it.

Baby Layouts

2009-07-19T13:59:00.004-06:00

It's been quite a few months since I've scrapbooked so it felt great to be creative even if there are no pictures on these pages.

My niece has a 2 year old. She's now pregnant again. I've promised her layouts for her first but she never gave me any photos. Since I don't like not following through with my promises, I've decided to get a couple of two-page layouts done for her first before she has her second! I hope she likes them.

Some Creations

2009-03-15T12:22:00.003-06:00

I've been creating just a bit lately. Not much, just a little :) The cupcake cards are for a challenge by my friend Michele over at Facebook. The OWLIE card was sent to my friend Mary who slipped, fell on ice and broke her ankle. All images are from StampingBella.

I'll be creating more the next few weeks. I bit the bullet and signed up for a class at Big Picture Scrapbooking: Scrapping on a Shoestring and Telling Stories Deeply. I've wanted to take an online class from them for quite awhile but the timing has never been real good. I have so many supplies to use and want to enhance my journaling, these classes should be good for me to open up my little brain and get some creativity flowing. So I'm excited.

BELLA Blog Candy

2009-03-07T15:46:00.002-07:00

Great blog candy being offered by Lori! Check it out.

My baby Sprouse

2009-01-31T11:49:00.004-07:00

I had to make the difficult decision this morning to lay my 16 year old kitty Sprouse down to rest in peace. She has had kidney stones for the last three years and it finally got the best of her. She was diagnosed with kidney failure this morning. Too old for surgery so I had to make the decision to let her go while she still had some dignity left.

We're all taking it pretty hard. This is the last pet we have that the girls grew up with. I saved Sprouse when Savannah was still in my tummy... I was eight months pregnant when I found her in 101 degree heat in a parking lot.

She has shared so much with all of us and we love her dearly. We will miss her so.

Just for fun!

2009-01-25T10:48:00.003-07:00

I've seen this floating around the 'net and thought it looked like fun to participate. I'm not going to tag anyone.... if you choose to participate leave me a comment so I can go look at yours!

Here's the deal, it's a list of 100 things and everything that I have done is in bold:

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Held a praying mantis
9. Climbed a mountain
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (ask me Spring 2010!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (ask me Spring 2010!)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Have your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (ask me Spring 2010!)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Walked in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published in a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Bellaholics Home Page Contest

2009-01-24T21:52:00.004-07:00

I don't think I've ever entered a paper crafting contest and I'm also fairly anti-Valentine's day, most likely due to being single for so long and not having a significant other to celebrate the "day of love" with. Yeah I know, I have two girls who love to receive Valentine's gifts from me but it's just not the same.

Anyways, to get me out of my anti-Valentine's funk the Bellaholics YahooGroup has a monthly home page card contest. This month is a Valentine's day theme. Since I have this darling KissieFace Tidly Inks, a line from StampingBella that I love, love, love I thought I'd give it a shot. Not only did it force me to make a Valentine's card but it also enabled me use my circle nestibilities, shimmerz and baubles. Gotta love using what you already have!

I'm an ass

2009-01-24T19:20:00.003-07:00

Sometimes I say things that don't come out right or that come across just plain incorrectly. I'm currently feeling one of those times. While the recipient of this card has not said a peep to me about offending her, I feel that I owe her an apology. So, I'm sending her this card.

The stamp set is A 'Lil Behind from HandMStamps. When I saw this set I really fell for it and I scored during a huge sale they had the beginning of this month. I thought the images, along with the sentiments, were so stinkin' cute! Unfortunately the set didn't include the sentiment that I wanted to use with this card so I generated it on the computer. I'm not sold on the layout design and I don't think I should have used my scallop circle punch but I'm going to call it good. The recipient is not a papercrafter so I think she'll love it and it'll give her a chuckle.

I did use a couple of things that I've been wanting to do/use for a few months. I did use my rectangle nestibilities for the mat of the image (altho I can't seem to capture it on the shot) and I also used the "No copics? No problem!" technique shared by Julie Buhler. Oh, and I finally used my marker spritzer, too! So even tho the layout design has a bit to be desired, I did get to use some fun things I've not used for quite some time, if ever :)

Just a good thing to do

2009-01-19T15:42:00.003-07:00

And it doesn't take much effort. Consider participating in this card drive that Jen DelMuro has on her blog. Lots of us have spare cards laying around. Let's consider making someone else's life a little brighter. These are the cards I'll be sending when postal service resumes tomorrow. One (the owl) I received from Mary in a swap and one I created long ago. I thought they were both appropriate for the cause.

My "broken child" layout :)

2009-01-19T14:23:00.005-07:00

This layout is from 2001 when Paxton broke her arm falling off the uneven bars early on in her gymnastics career. When I scrapped April's photos for the Trading Faces swap on IdahoScrappers last year, I loved hers so much I was determined to do one for me. So this is my take on it. I wish I could have found a photo of her around that time by herself but I couldn't... that amazed me! So I had to dig one up of just her from the summer before the accident. It worked but it's not exactly what I wanted.

Scrappin' Cheer Photos

2009-01-18T14:32:00.008-07:00

Between two cheerleaders in the house I have SO MANY cheer photos to scrap. These I ordered from a professional photograper that was offering photos at Savannah's cheer competition last year. I just ordered them in December so I decided since they weren't yet put away, I'd just get 'em scrapped!

The ribbon on the page is the ribbon that was part of the girls' cheer competition outfits. They were so big I teased them about them looking like Minnie Mouse bows :)

Who doesn't love a little bling!?

2009-01-16T14:28:00.004-07:00

Ok, I'm not much of a blog candy follower but I do love the Shimmerz and their Blingz is even better so go check out their new colors and enter for some candy. Who doesn't love a chance to win some candy?

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

2009-01-10T21:44:00.004-07:00

Wow. Twenty-five years I have vested with the Federal Government (actually, twenty six... they're just a year late, lol). That is amazing. It makes me feel old, lol.

I was presented this certificate this week. When I take the time to remember where I've been, what I've experienced and what I've learned over this timeframe, it's been a pretty amazing time. Many different positions held and several agencies. I started at the very bottom and while I haven't worked myself up the very top of the ladder, I certainly have reached above the middle. I'm very fortunate. While I may dislike going to work every day I thank my lucky stars that I'm employed and have job security. The Government has provided a good life for me and it was total luck of the draw. For having limited education post-high school, it's not been a bad road at all.

My Quote for Today

2009-01-04T12:05:00.003-07:00

Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along.
This applies to play as well as work.
A day merely survived is no cause for celebration.
You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busy work.
No more hiding from success.
Leave time, leave space, to grow.
Now. Now! Not tomorrow!

Og Mandino

Shelby's Bookmark

2009-01-03T00:23:00.008-07:00

This is a tiny project I've been meaning to do for MONTHS. There's this darling little girl who is the granddaughter of a coworker that comes to visit at our office on occassion. She's probably in the second grade. For some reason this child LOVES me. I just simply chat with her, let her draw on my white board (but so does Grandma), and she writes me little notes with post-its. She was telling me how she loves to read and talks about what she's reading at the time. I told her I probably had a couple of book at home that my girls had grown out of and I'd pass on to her. Well, I've had a book set out for MONTHS but I wanted to make her a cute bookmark to go with it. And she has not forgotten, lol (about the book, not the bookmark - she has no clue about that). So, here it is... finally! Why did it take me so long to make this I have no clue. I spent more time online trying to find one to CASE than I did actually making the danged thing (and I didn't CASE at all, lol). I'll be happy to send this home with her grandma on Monday.

Paxton's Planner

2009-01-02T16:06:00.003-07:00

Read the post below first and you'll get the jist of what this is :) For some reason blogger changed the order of these posts and I can't fix it!

Paxton wanted to make one, too, for her cheer coach. She did it by herself and I think she did a pretty danged good job!

Christmas Gifts

2009-01-02T15:56:00.005-07:00

This year I needed to make a few gifts for family members and a couple of friends. I wanted something I could easily mail (that wouldn't cost me a fortune), that wouldn't take a ton of effort and time. My friend Tara showed me planners that she got at the dollar store and told me how she planned to alter them. BANG! That was it. They were perfect for what requirements I had. Thank you, Tara! You're awesome :) I actually made four of them but forgot to take a photo of one.

I'm not so good at blogging and "Cards For the Troops Effort" update

2009-01-02T14:51:00.013-07:00

Yeah, that's a no-brainer. It's been MONTHS since I've used this blog. See that banner over to the side that mentions blogging without obligation? That'd be me :) But now I'm feeling a bit differently about it. I am thinking more along the lines of journaling our history. So yeah, I'm gonna try to do better.

I belong to a scrapbooking yahoo group, IdahoScrappers. For the last several years we have combined efforts for charity and put on a "Charity Crop" for our members. One-hundred percent of the proceeds go to a voted-upon charity. We have pulled in some big numbers for our little group - usually about 35 people participate. This year we didn't do the "big" event. Instead we made holiday cards to send to troops overseas so they could send them home. Our goal was 500 to send to three different military services (Army, Navy and Marines). Much to our glee we ended up with just over NINE HUNDRED cards to send out. Just about 30 people participated.

Unfortunately, the box that I sent to the Marines came back undeliverable. By then it was mid-November. I was in a pickle: shall I try to find someplace to send them so they would get them in time or should I keep them until next year. Holding them until next year wasn't really an option for me. I really didn't want to do that. So, my friend Alex and I searched the 'net to try and find someplace to send them quickly. I hopped on SplitCoastStampers because I know there are ladies there that send cards overseas regularly. I posted for some information. A charming lady responded, told me that if I sent them in the next couple of days she could get them to men preparing to depart on deployment. So that's what I did. She is in the military herself and she really pulled it off for us. Every single card was taken by folks headed out for deployment. It really worked out and I was thrilled.

We received a nice letter from the Airforce folks and one from the Navy folks. On Christmas Eve I received a package from someone I didn't recognize. When I opened it I found a few things, one of which was a really nice handmade card from the woman I found on SCS thanking IdahoScrappers for making the day a brighter one for the deploying troops. In addition I found other things in the box.

The plaque put me over the edge. I was alone and sat down and cried. And cried some more. I was so touched. I will display the plaque and bear proudly in my room. I gave Alex the T-Shirt (she's much smaller than I and looks much better in red, lol) because she helped me through the little crisis I had when I got the box of cards returned. IdahoScrappers should be so proud of yourselves. And those that aren't IdahoScrappers that still participated in one way or another. I thank you!

She's gone

2008-08-05T19:59:00.005-06:00

After four days of giving my Shadow girl alot of love and attention (which is nothing new) I made the difficult decision today to take her in and have her put to sleep. I was going to just let her pass naturally but after coming home today and seeing her not be able to walk or even get up I could no longer allow her leave this earth without dignity and respect due to her. I will miss my girl but know she will now go and play with Buddy in the wildflowers. Shadow will always remain in my heart. Sixteen years she has blessed me with and my life has been fuller because of her.

My Baby Girl

2008-08-03T19:44:00.007-06:00

This is my baby girl, Shadow. She's 16 years old. And dying. I've been watching her act strangely the last couple of weeks. This girl rarely goes outside. I'm talkin' 2 or 3 times a year. The last two weeks she's gone out every day, multiple times each day. The kids and I thought it strange. But over the last three days I think I know why. It's warm out there. And she's cold. Her little paws are cold and the outdoors warms her up. Today a friend suggested a heating pad. That has worked wonders. She likes it alot.

The last few days I've watched her deteriorate. She hasn't eaten in three days. Not even ice cream or french fries - her two most favorite foods in the whole wide world. She's not in any pain but her eyes are sinking, her body isn't maintaining temperature and today she's not had any water. I'm just trying to keep her comfortable. If she shows any sign of pain I'll do something different but for right now I'll just let nature take it's course. But it's hard to watch her die. I snuggle with her, pet her and hold her close. That's about all I can do.

Scrappin'

2008-07-13T13:55:00.005-06:00

It's been SO LONG since I've shared on the blog and since I've put pictures on a page.

A couple of weeks ago I scrapped with a girlfriend and got TWO of these layouts done. I made one for my friend who these cute little goats belong to. She's a infrequent scrapper so I know she'll love it.

Bellas, bellas, bellas!

2008-06-07T11:53:00.008-06:00

Love these images from Stamping Bella! I have found myself obsessed with them and have collected "oh, I don't want to count"... yeah, that many! Super fun stuff. These are my most recent creations.

Stampin' Up! Open House

2008-02-16T11:46:00.005-07:00

I had an open house last week for my customers to take advantage of Sale-A-Bration. I provided a make & take card for them to go home with. Not only was the open house fairly successful it was alot of fun! I offered a drawing for a free Sale-A-Bration set. Anyone who ordered a minimum of $50 that night went into the drawing and my good friend Alex won! Congrats, Alex!

There was interest expressed in purchasing the SU! patterned paper. It's very impressive with this current catalog. I'm going to be doing a monthly paper club. For $11.60 each month you will choose what designer paper series you want to recieve. It's a great way of getting what paper you want in a moderate time frame.

I should be receiving a swatch of all designer paper available (with the exception of the Prints Designer Series) next week so we can see it in real life, touch and fondle it and drool!

If you want to be a part of this club, let me know! I'll be placing the first club order March 10, 2008.

Valentine's Day

2008-02-16T11:33:00.005-07:00

Or shall I say single awareness day? :)

Valentine's day hasn't really been my favorite day. It reminds me of what I don't have. This year I took a different approach. I decided to make it good. I used some of my time to make it special for my daughters.

I paper craft alot. They don't always reap the benefits of my paper crafting with the exception that they know when I die they will inherit my scrapbooks.

I found these cute mailboxes at Target in January and bought four - two for my girls and two to sell. I made little 3x3 matching cards to go with them. My girls LOVED them and I could tell were really happy they were the recipients of at least two of them. While I was making them they asked what I was going to do with them. I told them I was going to sell them :) It wasn't completely a lie... I did sell TWO of them :) I liked the way they turned out and Valentine's Day wasn't a lousy day for me this year because I chose to look at it differently. I even sent money with one of my employees to buy heart-shaped Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the office on his way to work since it was on his way. Yummy!

I scrapped... again!

2008-02-01T14:31:00.001-07:00

I gotta tell ya I'm loving scrapping at home. I am changing my priorities and doing what I want with feeling less obligation to other *stuff*! It is so cool.

I started to scrap this two page layout over the last weekend and finished it up early in the week. I love all of the various elements I used and I even used everything in my stash! Even bettah!

So very cute! So very sweet!

2008-01-05T16:04:00.001-07:00

Look at this card. Isn't it just the cutest?

I have a dear friend Heather. She is SO CREATIVE and is a great scrapbooker but claims she can't make cards. Does this card look like she doesn't make cards? It's fantastically cute! And I love Bella images!

She wrote me a super sweet letter that she enclosed with it. It was full of kind words. It really lifted my spirits and gave me all kinds of warm fuzzies. She is so great! I just love her.

I scrapped.... for me, even!

2008-01-03T23:40:00.001-07:00

I did! I did! Finally for myself. It feels so good. Between assisting with the IdahoScrappers Charity Crop and making Christmas gifts, I haven't scrapped for myself since, hmmmmm, say maybe September? And that's iffy. And wanna know what else? The crazy thing is that the photos are from THIS Christmas! Now that just doesn't happen at my house. I can't even think of the number of Christmas layouts I still need to do so it rocks that I already have two layouts of this Christmas completed!

This first photo is a trimming the tree layout.

The title reads: Our Unusual Christmas. Why, you ask? The journaling reads:

Ordinary: Tree is up just after Thanksgiving
Unordinary: Tree not up until Dec 21st
Ordinary: No white Christmas
Unordinary: Snow on Christmas (eve)
Ordinary: Fake tree
Unordinary: Real Tree
Ordinary: Large Tree
Unordinary: Small, tabletop tree
Ordinary: Colored lights on the tree
Unordinary: White lights on the tree
Ordinary: Savannah strings the lights
Unordinary: Paxton strung the lights

This next layout I finished this evening. It's been on my kitchen table for at least a week.... but it's a special one to me. And get this.... ALL of the photos are of ME! That's something new. Don't know how much I like it but I gotta tell ya I felt a real burning *want* to do this layout:

The journaling to this layout reads:

Touched by an Angel
Lately I’ve been going through what one might call a wounded spirit. While I have not experienced any trauma lately, I’ve not been feeling valued, loved and appreciated; thus I’m impatient, depressed, exhausted and not really liking that these emotions are so powerful. I’m working through it but it’s tough - not only for me but anyone who lives with me. This Christmas Paxton was my angel. She was so thoughtful and generous. Just a few days before Christmas she had sold a collection of "Littlest Pet Shop" toys to a friend of ours. Apparently she saw that as an opportunity to show me ho loved I really am. It worked. Not only do I adore the Willow Tree Angel collection, but the three she picked out for me could not have been any better: Sign for Love "I love you", Friendship "Friendship is the sweetest gift, and With Love "You are Loved. Paxton ‘s sensitivity and generosity was the sweetest gift. This year, past years and always, Paxton will be my angel.

Handmade Christmas Gifts

2008-01-03T23:29:00.002-07:00

I usually make at least half my Christmas gifts that I give to friends and family. This year wasn't much different. I thought I'd post these photos before I log my next post.

At the IdahoScrappers charity crop that is held every November, one of the classes offered was these cool magnetic boards. Basically decorated 12x12 sheets of metal and decorated magnets. I loved the idea of this project for gifts so I made a few. I made one more than shown but forgot to take a photo of it :(

For my sis Cheryl.

For my nephew Jan (looking at these from this perspective, the magnets look like Easter eggs! eeekk!)

This one is for my good friend Karen.

A frame for my friend Heather and her family.

A frame for my friend Sandi, and her husband.

Bella Invite

2007-12-25T23:38:00.001-07:00

So I'm having a few friends over on Saturday night to scrap, stamp, laugh, eat and drink :)

I verbally invited them a couple of weeks back but I wanted to send them a little reminder. I did three of these cards on the fly. Not thrilled with the way they turned out but it will have to do. I learned:

I need to get my little pots of twinkling H20's out more often
I need better little paint brushes
I need more practice with painting!