Monday, December 22, 2008
Hope you all have a very merry Christmas!
Posts
12 years ago
A Season of Hope - Our Jackson turns 4
Thursday, December 18, 2008
I have had many ask me why I was playing Christmas music on my blog right after Halloween. Why? That music has so many messages of hope and gratitude and I would play it all year if I could get away with it. And Christmas 2004 was my husband and I's Christmas of hope. We had been married nearly 10 years and all attempts to grow our family were unsuccessful. Around Labor Day that year, we were called into our social workers office to find out our greatest dream was to be fulfilled. A birthmom had chosen us for her baby boy due on December 29th!!! 
Now I totally understand that 9 months of carrying a child is long and uncomfortable but those were the longest 4 months of our lives!! (And with a chance she could change her mind in that time, every day slowly ticked by). Halloween came and went I could hardly wait to start playing Christmas music when in the years past, Christmas was very meloncholy. It is very much a holiday for children and we sat by year after year with no children to share it with. I didn't care that he was due after Christmas, it was truly a Christmas to look forward to. As Christmas was a week away, we got even a better surprise. Our beautiful, sweet birthmom wanted us to have our baby by Christmas so with all things developing great, she was going to be induced on the 20th! 
Well, Jackson was as excited for Christmas that year as much as we were! We woke up on the 19th of December - 4 years ago tomorrow - to another phone call to find our birthmom had gone into labor. And a long labor... he was born around 5 PM! Because it was a closed adoption, she had the 2 days in the hospital with him all to herself and we went and got him on the 21st. That was a spectacular day and I will write more about that on the 21st. I really wish I could post a picture of our birthmom with Jackson. She was so sweet and they both looked like angels! (it was a private adoption and confidentiality is so important.) She never waivered in her decision to place him in our family.
So now I see very common ordinary placed things and think how lucky we are. We were at a movie the other day (sans Jackson) and I was noticing the booster chairs in a corner for children. Something so simple brought a smile to my face - we actually have use for those! And at one time, the high chairs at a restaurant. And I can venture into the baby department of any store and smile instead of wanting to cry! 
So Happy 4th Birthday Jackson! You have blessed our lives and family in so many ways. You are such a thoughtful and happy boy. Please don't ever stop the random nearly hourly "I love you Mom" 's. I AM your mom and you ARE my son and I love you! Truly a witness to all those who hope.
Happiness is...
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
...knowing that people actually view my blog and leaving sweet comments! Thanks to Twila for this nomination! Her blog is also worthy of such an award!
The rules:
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link the person you received the award from.
3. Nominate 5 other blog.
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you've nominated
I have some great blogger friends who are so faithful to always check up on me the most often and also have super creative ideas on their blogs. So I'm awarding this to: Melissa Sauls, Jackie, Karen from PA, Jennifer Scull and ScrabbySue.
Thanks to all for visiting my blog! Your comments really make my day!
Awesome Christmas Display a few miles from my house
Monday, December 1, 2008
Pause my tunes on the right side to enjoy!
So December is my month off. Off from all classes, workshops and clubs. I get burnout about this time of year and need a little break. I won't have a lot to post as far as stamping goes but I will post any handmade Christmas cards I receive throughout the month.
This video is from the Holdman family who puts on a super cool animated Christmas display every year. We are so fortunate to live close by to enjoy it. This year, the display will be put on in a different location as they live in a gated community and the neighbors asked to have their privacy this year. Can't blame them - the line of cars to view the display is sometimes so long! We're hoping that display will be up so we can go view it for family night tonight. A link to the Holdman Christmas Display website is here. All donations he receives he donates to the Make-A-Wish foundation. Enjoy!
SA Christmas Card Swap
Friday, November 28, 2008
This one was made by Sharon Bridwell. Gotta love the felt snowflakes!
SA Christmas Card Swap
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
This one was made by Stacy McCain. I borrowed her idea for the striped ribbon on one of my club projets. Cute card!
Another SA Christmas swap
Saturday, November 22, 2008
This swap was done by Lisa Dallas from the SA group. I didn't realize it was a gift card holder until I took it out of the plastic envelope and it popped open. How cool is that?
SA Christmas Card Swap
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
I love this card made by Paula Wright. Everything just falls together so well. The photo came out kind of fuzzy, sorry Paula!
While I'm away...Blog Awards!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Wow, I mean, WOW! I've been so busy that I haven't had time to play on my blog. And I come back to my first ever blog award and I get two! So exciting!
This one I was nominated by Kathy , Kelly and Tracy. They all have some awesome blogs and ideas so go check them out!
The rules that go along with this award are:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.
And this one I was awarded by Paula and Gina 
These came from my awesome SCS Blogger friends. They are too good to me. I'm going to send both to the following ladies:
Snow Swirled Vellum - Last Stamp-A-Stack
Friday, November 14, 2008
How I wish SU would add adhesive rhinestones, as I'm in love!
Deer Friends - Another SAS
Thursday, November 13, 2008
He has a little crystal effects on his red nose - he's so sweet!
Another Stamp-A-Stack
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sometimes, you wish things wouldn't retire, like organdy ribbon! Since I'm actually not selling product during the stack - I can use whatever I like!
Holiday Lineup - Christmas Stamp-A-Stack
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
This was is a CASE, although, sadly I don't remember where I saw it! Love it! I hope I made the coloring easy, just markers!
To You and Yours - Another Stamp-A-Stack card
Monday, November 10, 2008
I love this little cottage stamp. Makes me feel all cozy!
Top Note Santa - Christmas Stamp-A-Stack
Sunday, November 9, 2008
For those in my church ward, I will be posting the cards all week that we will be making this Saturday. This first one, I found made as a little gift basket. I thought it would be cute as a card.
This standad 5 1/2" X 4 1/4" card uses a lot of punches: the Big Shot Top Note Die for his face and mustache (cut right in the center of a white piece, then cut the top note piece again a few inches down) mount on a blush card base, the large oval punch for his eyes and eyelids, the 1 3/8" (mouth and eyebrows - can't really see them but they are there), 1" (nose) and 1/2" circle punches (pupils), and the scallop edge punch for the fur on his hat. The paper is whisper white, black, blush (face), pink pirouette (mouth) and riding hood red. Sponge around most of the pieces and assemble.
Rudolph Bling
One of my club girls, Kendee, made this card to swap. I love the rhinestone she used for Rudolph's nose. Fabulous!
Last Club project
Saturday, November 8, 2008
We made these ornaments oblong instead of round. It was a big hit.
These pieces were cut from a Big Shot ornament die. It's so great because it cuts 4 of the circles on one die but it will also cut 4 sheets of paper at a time so you can cut the whole ornament out in one pass!
Another Stamp Club project
Friday, November 7, 2008
So I saw this card off a fellow blogger group buddy's blog - Melissa Sauls and decided to CASE it for my stamp club. Turns out she CASE'd it too so hopefully someone will get credit for this great tone-on-tone beauty.
Big Shot felt snowflake - Stamp Club project
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Would you believe I found felt in Baja Breeze?! And the Big Shot cut through that as slick as snot - Oh my gosh, did I just say that?! (Thanks Mom). Anyway, the swoop card seemed to be such a hit so I decided to use it for one of my stamp club projects.
ETA: I'm spoiled because I live near the ProvoCraft outlet. They were selling sheets of very thick felt and they just happened to match our SU colors!
Scallop punch turkey - Gobble, gobble!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Tonight during stamp club, we were discussing the cute peppermint patty spiders and I was going to make some Santa's off of my fellow SCS blogger friend - Twila's blog. One of my girls, Kendee, said "Wouldn't it be cute to make a turkey?" And I said, Oh my Heck, Yes! and we made one up right there on the spot. Isn't he adorable!!!?
ETA: His beak and wattle are flowers from the old Spring Bouquet Flower punch
Swappers Anonymous Christmas Swap
There is a group of SU Demos on SplitCoast Stampers with a disease. Ok, so it's just that they can't stop swapping and I'm a sad participant. But, Oh, the things they come up with - WOW! I'm going to post several of their swaps in a few days. This is the one I came up with.
Ohh, Halloween
Saturday, November 1, 2008
What a sad day for me. I've been quite sick with the flu and didn't get all our costumes finished. Jackson's was completed about 1/2 hour before his preschool party on Halloween Day. We never knew how much all our friends enjoyed our costumes as we had many say how they look forward to seeing what we come up with. I think I was the most sad of all. But Jackson had a blast!
November "Other" Card Class
Monday, October 27, 2008
A preview for my "outside" SU November card class. Better get signed up!
Shelli Demos Place Settings - Pause my tunes!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Short commercial alert! Even more reason to love our Big Shot! You can view the supply list here . Now which idea to do first... Pause my music to get inspired!
I saw this link on my new friend, Kelly Taylor's blog and wanted to get it up here. For hours I couldn't figure how to get it to link and even emailed a few ladies (thanks Diane and Amy!) and realized I was making it harder on myself than it was. Sheesh! Lesson learned...
Our Senses
Friday, October 24, 2008
The other day Jackson and I were talking about his five senses. I would ask him what his nose is for and he would say "smelling!" And so we went through all the rest successfully, but then we got to the "feeling" sense. I asked him what our fingers and hands were for...and he said..."Cutting paper!". Oh dear, what a legacy I'm leaving with him. This photo was taken yesterday. Jackson and my husband like to go ride their bikes on the Provo River trail. Isn't it pretty?!
Stamp-A-Stack
I do a stack for my ward church group every other month and these are the cards they will be be choosing from. I've seen a lot of these tree cards up on everyone's blogs - quite a popular set! And they get to make the owl - a very popular card I'm finding! And because I have a few Spanish speaking ladies, I'm offering two of the cards to be stamped in English or Spanish.
"Other" Card Class
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
These are from the other card class I do outside of Stampin' Up! I promised a few of the ladies I would have the samples up since they weren't able to complete their cards. I have to say this is a super fun group that comes to these classes. I love just chatting with them all!
Past Years Halloween - 2004
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
This was a few months before Jackson was born. Obviously, we were clowns but that kind of scares people without even trying to be scary!
Stampin' Up! Stampers Showcase
Monday, October 20, 2008
This card was displayed on the demostrator website in their Stampers Showcase. Unfortunately they didn't show the coolest part. It's a magic card so when you pull up the tab the little trick-or-treaters are colored. And I had to be tricky to get the parts from "All in the Family" to match up perfectly. It was a lot easier than you would think.
Past Years Halloween - 2007
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Last year's costume's were envisioned so well but then we found they needed much explaining. Hopefully some will get it but we were Alice in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter. I had a hard time finding fabric to make Jackson's cat outfit and ended up just spray painting it! So this year, Scott said no fairy tales. Working on this year's as we speak!AMAZING!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
This is Julie I's creation. It's one of the flip cards where you keep flipping it and it has a new scene with each flip. I know she's going to kill me because this isn't complete. There is a witch that is flying on top of the moon but I didn't get to finish it and then "misplaced" the witch. But seriously, WOW!
Past Years Halloween - 2006
Friday, October 17, 2008
Just missing the lion - he was out trick or treating with Toto! (Yes, I do have a lot of fun making our costumes!)
Another Club Swap
Thursday, October 16, 2008
My club ladies swap cards and this is one that I made to swap. SU's halloween paper is so great!
Past Years Halloween - 2005
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
This year we were dressed up as Betty, Barney and Bamm Bamm. Jackson was by far the cutest!
Club Swap
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I saw this made up as a gift bag header but turned it into a card and added little feet. Again, top note die, you are amazing!
Spooky Spiders
Monday, October 13, 2008
Well, these little guys are crawling all over demo websites everywhere but I just love them!
Princess Party
Sunday, October 12, 2008
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It's official, Jackson has now been to a princess birthday party. As you can see by the photo above, he wasn't much into the princess / prince scene. We made Ally a magic pumpkin coach and put her gift inside. And we are still wearing the glitter... and probably will for days!
Basket die
Saturday, October 11, 2008
These are the little baskets I made for everyone in the shoebox swap as a little thank you.
Shoebox swap great finds
Friday, October 10, 2008
The top picture are some super cute ideas from a super cute girl - Erin! You are the best. And then I won the frankie box from Paula in a doorprize. Aren't the eyeball candy perfect?! (There was candy in the top note package but when you're on a diet, the temptation is too much! Still have the eyeballs though!)
