A weekend crop continued... and my layouts that I completed or started while there, 14 pages in all! Utilizing mostly Inspired Inc and 3 Birds Design products.

Our AWESOME hostess, Jan!  Great smiles from a great lady!  The poor girl didn't get to play much, because she was always catering to us all weekend!

Sorry about the exit sign, Norma! lol  Great shot of you.

A highlight of the crop, for me, was when I was told Dakota could come for a quick visit!  I always miss my best cropping buddy when I'm away.  Thank you Michael and Wesley, for bringing her by on your way to the beach.

2nd evening's dinner... yum!  Pizzas and ice cream sundae bar.

The brownies with frosting were also killer!  How many hours do I need to walk,  in order to 'walk' this off???

Mary hand colored some gems to customize them to her project.

     If I haven't said it enough yet, we had a TON OF FUN during Jan's crop.  It was awesome that we had a variety of things to keep us not only crafting and enjoying a lot of great food, but throughout the weekend she held a lot of door prize drawings, plus a GRAND PRIZE drawing, a bag chock full of goodies!  She was also really generous with awarding us 'extra' tickets if we demoed a technique or a product, if we made something for someone (thank you teenagers!), if we brought chairs or snacks, and on and on.

Guess who won the GRAND PRIZE DRAWING... the scrapbooking NEWBIE!  I'm JEALOUS!

      Now for the layouts I completed, and some that I started...14 PAGES total!!!  Can you say "Who completed the most pages?"  HMMM?

Skating at Johnny's with the Cub Scouts.

The kit I used, which won't post in the correct orientation lol

Another Inspired Inc kit, this time for 4th of July, 2014.

Another celebration memorialized with a kit from Inspired Inc.  This time, it's Dad's birthday!

This still needs a little somethin' somethin'.... perhaps a doily, lace, and a few flowers.  It's in my bag for the next crop.

Thanks to Jan, who helped me amend my title.

      I mixed and matched products for the layout above, "Cats watching birds watching birds".  Some Prima flowers and branched embellishment, 3 Birds red tickets and flourish (more classics) on first page, and I believe the papers are from Around The Block.
   Now for some 'classic' (as in more than 5 years old?) 3 BIRDS products used to complete a few pages!  I used a sticker from the BLING EXTREME kit, one of the FIRST 3 Birds kits I ever purchased,  and papers from the SO MUCH SPARKLE kit.  The newest 3 Birds product that I used here was the white lace type border on the first page.  Even that is from a couple (or perhaps a few) years ago lol.  Let's just say I have a hard time parting with my 3 Birds products.  If you still love it, why sell or give it away, right?

      The photo above shows one of the papers I was considering for the layout below.  I wanted to feature Oreo. the tuxedo kitty we chose to adopt out after 13 months of trying to help him get along with our other 2 cats, and vice versa.  It still hurts my heart that we had to do that, in addition to the fact that the new family LOST him after only 2-3 days!  I reposted his adoption flier as well as other photos I had of him, Michael looked for him near their home on his way to and from work, he and Wesley looked on their way to their outings, and Michael and I looked on our way from Christmas dinner with his coworkers.  Finally, HE returned to them, nearly 3 months later! The husband had seen him 2 weeks earlier but thought it was the neighbor's cat.   I pray that if he is not comfortable with that family, that he finds someone who he IS happy with.
     Because I wanted to feature Oreo here, I chose to go with a black and white layout.  I knew I had a fair amount of papers and products from 3 Birds that might work well with the photos and story.

Yes, some CLASSIC 3 BIRD products!

More CLASSIC 3 BIRDS products used.

I decided to add a splash of orange to draw your eye to Squirrel, who Oreo was 'dusting' during his excitement!

I also wanted to work more black and white embellishments and a feather to help tell the avian-loving story.

     The only non-3 Birds products used on this layout were my adhesives (Hermafix repositionable dotto, and Glossy Accents for the heavier items, black pen for journaling, signing and dating my layouts, craft feathers from WalMart, and the perching chickadees which I cut out from a My Mind's Eye paper.   Even the foam adhesive that I used to lift the chickadees came from a 3 Birds kit.

   

   My last 2 page layout goes back a few years, to when Wesley's artwork was chosen to be used in the local library's CALENDAR!  More 'classic' 3 Birds products helped me document this, covering both the celebration theme and the topic of his artwork, our local CAR FERRY, which is the LAST coal powered ship on the GREAT LAKES and our LIGHTHOUSE.   I wanted to use the colors from his clothing as well as his sketch.  The "Celebrate" diecut title called out to me, plus it was RED, which worked perfectly for his shirt and artwork highlight colors.  I also had a BLACK version of the same diecut, so I layered them, again to highlight colors in the photos.  The marine life paper also contained the blue of the water in his sketch, as well as the blacks and reds.  Although it's not an artistic themed paper, I think it works well here, as it relates to the aquatic nature of his artwork.

    And there you have it... 14 pages! Ten were completed, 4 were started before I left!  WooHOO!

Here are links to some 3 Birds Design and Inspired Inc products, currently available on HSN.COM  .

http://www.hsn.com/products/3-birds-studio-all-seasons-themed-page-mat-kit/1826433 

 I used a 'classic' version of one of these kits just a few weeks ago, on my "MY HERO" Cub Scout layout.

     These can be used in either pocket scrapbooking or standard paper scrapbooking:

    

  http://www.hsn.com/products/3-birds-studio-for-all-seasons-themed-card-kit/7426366?query=7426366&isSuggested=True&

    

     Some of the kits that I've been using during crops to get a lot of pages done without having to search through my stash as much:

http://www.hsn.com/products/inspired-inc-top-page-layouts-kit/7310252

  

     What can I say?  I have a weakness for 3D embellishments, and 3 Birds and Inspired Inc have some great ones!

http://www.hsn.com/products/inspired-inc-3d-sticker-embellishment-kit/7426378

It's a Cub Scout Christmas!

     Wesley became a Cub Scout this year, which meant weekly meetings 3 times per month, including a 'pack' meeting. 

      During the 'Pack' meeting in December, not only did Wesley receive FOUR, yes four, badges but we also took part in several Christmas oriented projects.  They made their own bird feeders, but they also made two ornaments as well as decorated sugar cookies!

     When I had to stop sneaking around with my camera in order to help scouts complete the ornament project I brought, Michael was able to get some great action shots that I would have otherwise missed.
     I can't believe that most of them managed to complete all their projects in the time left following the badge ceremony.

     Using my Cricut and (Christmas) Noel cartridge, I was able to cut out the layers necessary for them to make their own Santa Claus, and I brought pipe cleaners for them to use as hangers.  I also suggested that if they wanted, they could use fishing line as hangers when they got home.  I LOVE using fishing line to hang our snowflakes, angels, etc. from our ceiling as part of our Christmas decorating at home.

     Guess who seems to be in a goofy-face response mode this year???  Unfortunately, he also did this several times on Christmas day.  Oh well, I think they all had fun and I heard the cookies were good too!

A Health Scare, & "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

     Most of you don't know much about my health history, or that of my family members.  When I was 11, my mother passed away of metasticized breast cancer.  I originally thought that her breast cancer had been completely removed during her mastectomy, and that she had passed away from a brain tumor that hadn't been detected until her autopsy.  My father didn't share a lot of information with me, and I was not allowed to visit her in the hospitals due to my age.  This all occured in the mid-70s, with visitation being more limited, technology not as advanced or commonly available, etc.  When I was 35 my sister-in-law told me that mom's breast cancer had returned, spread to the left breast, and during her autopsy, they discovered that it had spread throughout her abdomen and may have also created the brain tumor as well.  There is also cervical & ovarian cancer on my mother's side of the family as well.  Fortunately, both aunts survived, which is an extra special blessing considering that ovarian cancer has a lower survival rate.  I've had several 'bad' pap smears in the past, including a 'pie biopsy' of my cervix back in the 90s, but all have ultimately been normal in the long run.
     So.... on to my physical last Monday.  For some reason, which I suspect to be the fact that I was having multiple ct-scans for my sinus infections and was trying not to accrue more medical payments, I missed a physical during all of 2012.  Due to my mother's health history and the fact that I already had a lumpectomy performed when I was in my 20s (thank the LORD it was benign), my physicians have ordered Mammagrams each year since I was in my 30s, and twice each year since I was 40.
     I will be 50 next month, and my physician found a new lump last week and when she touched it, it was painful.... She is also concerned about what she felt below/around my lumpectomy scar on the other breast.  We are both assuming/hoping that it is only scar tissue that has increased at the sight of the incision.  Off for not only a Mammogram, but also Ultrasounds.....
     Neither the Mammogram nor the Ultrasound technician could find a lump on the right side, and hopefully the left side is only scar tissue.  One of the ladies said that just because my mom had breast cancer, that doesn't mean that I will, and both told me not to worry about it, but it's hard not to when it's yourself or a beloved family member or friend.
     LOTS of extra prayers for health or quick and complete detection, removal and treatment have been made in the past 8 days.  I am trying not to dwell on it, but it keeps popping up in my mind, especially when I feel pain around the recently detected 'cyst'.
     Needless to say, I have been a bit distracted this past week.  Along with preparing to host my family for Christmas this Saturday and having been working on 3 projects to submit for a design team application, I've been a bit flustered.
     I will continue to pray for the health of ALL my family members & friends, as well as a SAFE, fun-filled MERRY CHRISTMAS to all.  Thinking good thoughts...........
     I am ENJOYING the beautiful snow we have been receiving, and looking forward to warmer temperatures (it's averaged 16 degrees here for about a week now) so that my outdoor decorating will be much more confortable and easier this week, but some forecasts are predicting temps in the UPPER 30s or warmer for the rest of the week.  NOOOO I need SNOW for Christmas celebrations this weekend!!!!  "LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET  IT SNOW " and NOT melt!!
    

New wall color.... & much clearer work spaces!

     I was not happy with the first color of paint, as it did not seem rich enough. The second color which I purchased was darker than the chip/sample, so.....after living with each color for a few days, I made myself two color mixtures to try out on my wall for a bit. The mixture of 2:1 dark to light color won out over the 1:1 mixture, so......here it is. I still have to put up the wainscoting & stenciling, but I'm on my way to a happier wall.

     I have been brutally honest with myself as I sort through my "stash", adding PILES of product to my already over-flowing "scrap sale" items.  It is very freeing to have more space in my studio & clearer countertops!

  Now I have to find a spot to store my "scrap sale" products!  I always give my niece Sarah first choice of my yardsale stash, which helps fuel her scrapbooking while helping to clear out my own space.  She has a lot of shopping to do!

A lot to catch up on!

  Wow!  It's hard to believe that I haven't posted here for so many months!  But...life happened...for a long time apparently!
  I'll have to spend a fair amount of time posting layouts that I have completed since last visiting, as well as photos of life in my little world.
  Let's work our way backward, okay?  While currently working on our taxes, I once again consider whether or not to continue selling products.  Yes, it pays for MOST of my own supplies, but the physical labor, time, & expenses involved with the packing, hauling, unpacking, displaying....packing back up (although this last sale sent MUCH fewer product home with me!), hauling, & unpacking/displaying again........very low income per hour, oftentimes at a loss in fact, but the physical tole & stress have the most impact for me.  We are not getting any younger, but I DEFINATELY must get back into better shape!  Fibromyalgia does not differentiate between 'fun work' & just plain 'work'.
  Okay....back to the basics.  The past 2 weeks found us celebrating Wesley's 8th & my 48th BIRTHDAYS YEY!!!  We had a couple of neighborhood friends over for Wesley's birthday cake & ice cream.   Good times!
  I was lucky enough to (once again) celebrate my birthday with my best bud, my niece Sarah, who comes up for an overnight SCRAPBOOKING PARTE' !!!  A bonus this year was the 1st overnight stay & crafting visit by my sister-in-law, Deb (Kozak) Gleason!  We had sooo much fun that we stayed up until 3:15 Sunday morning, NOT EVEN MAKING IT TO THE CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN THIS YEAR:<   (Pics to follow haha)
  Michael & Wesley made their usual trip to Grandma Stream's for the weekend, so that we girls could have the house to ourselves.  There was one lucky male in the household though, our cat Rusty.  Otherwise it was myself, Sarah, Deb, my devoted Dakota, Smoke & our newest family member, kitten Squirrel. 
  Christmas, as usual, was FABULOUS!  After we opened our gifts we were visited by Uncle Leon (my oldest brother, who as of this week is RETIRED!!!!!!) & his wife Annetta.  They have been stopping by on Christmas Day, on their way to visit her family in Ludington.
  My favorite gift this year was my CRICUT IMAGINE! WOO HOO!  Michael said "don't you think you hinted about it enough??????" hahahahahahaha  Yes, I hinted A LOT after finding out that our local Wal-Mart had it in stock for only $187!  I did some research online for Imagine cartridges &, after receiving it, purchased a few cartridges to play with!  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to use my favorite of the included cartridges, Imagine More, because it was faulty.  I also had to exchange the machine after 2-3 days & printing only a few papers because it stopped feeding in the paper.
  I can say that I have had very few problems with the machine or cartridges since exchanging the machine & receiving the replacement cartridge.  I still get frustrated with the machine shutting down frequently while using the Imagine More cartridge, especially when combined with another cartridge, but I'm trying to work through it and enjoy the capabilities of my new toy.
  Wesley's favorites were, of course, Thomas train items, plus he really likes his Cars 2 movie, Indiana Jones Lego PS2 game from Uncle Leon & Aunt Annetta, etc.
  This fall found us adopting little, FRAIL, Squirrel....a kitten who found her way to our front porch on August 10th, just before Michael's birthday.  She immediately came to me & allowed me to hold her, as if she KNEW we would love & help her.  Michael named her Squirrel after seeing how long & bushy her tail was when compared to her body.  I am afraid to say that she was the most emaciated animal I have ever seen which was still alive.....she required a lot of TLC, & ultimately, prescription food as well as medication that was added to tuna fish for several months.  I recently switched to feeding her adult cat food, which she was constantly sneaking out of the other cats' bowls, when we ran out of prescription food.  I think I might have to return to giving her medication for a while if she continued to have tummy problems.
   I have been hoping to have some of my projects appear as samples on a 3 Birds presentation, or perhaps their blog, etc.  So far, no luck, but perhaps in the future, with the reappearance of their blog or something...perhaps things will happen for me.  Either way, I enjoy the process & chance to share.  3 Birds rocks!!!!! 
   On to crafting & constantly renovating my scrap "studio"!
 

It's been a while....& the recent loss of a loved one:::

  It's been a month since I sat down to blog... a lot has happened, including but not limited to: a happy surprise purchase for our son, WAY TOO MUCH SNOW AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, and the loss of a loved one.
  In order of occurrence, after us getting the idea to buy a quad or something for our son, my hubby changed it to a dirt bike, and a brand new one...his first NEW RIDE (not a pass-me-up or -down)!
  After having 80 degree weather a couple of weeks ago, we have received SNOW 3 times, some of it a nasty, miserable, and dangerous mix with ice.  This week we are still having temps dipping down to 28, and highs in the 40s....very rough on all of us with Arthritic conditions or Fibromyalgia!
  We found out late Friday night that my Uncle Walt was in the hospital, given 7-10 days life expectancy due to his cancer, which I didn't know about!  We were planning to go down to see him on Sunday if I felt better (being totally miserable on Saturday due to the weather), but Sunday morning we received the disappointing call that he had already passed away late Saturday night, just 24 hours after we found out about his condition:(
  I will be going to the visitation on Wednesday, weather permitting, as I found out this afternoon that we are expected to get an ice storm late Tuesday night and into Wednesday....things just aren't working out for me on that situation.  If I'm able to go, my stepmom will be travelling with me, as we are the only onces from our immediate family to be available to go due to work schedules, etc.
  So far I have been on the phone or email most of the day, re-notifying our family members of the current status of everything for Uncle Walt's funeral: ordering flowers, picking up Ruth, etc.
  Hopefully I will get a chance to post some pics of Wesley's bike and layouts.   
  Gentle (Fibro) hugs to everyone....stay warm & dry!

Digging out AGAIN!

  I tried to upload pics last night but my pc was giving me problems...let's try this again.

 Michael had blown out the snow in front of the garage before leaving for work, but this had blown back in so Wesley & Dakota had LOTS of snow to play in today!  It was above my knee high boots (& Michaels, which Wesley tried wearing outside even though I told him to get totally dressed in his snow pants, etc...).

   Dakota plowed her way from the front porch...she LOVES it!

 This is the "Stream" sign behind our mailbox.....what's still visible that is.

 Michael and a few others plowed through with 4x4s...the county plowed one path at 3:15 pm......surprisingly.

 Dakota's favorite outdoor spot:  Queen of the (snow) mountain.

 I pulled Wesley down this small hill in his one-person sled....he caught air!

School was closed again today, not surprisingly, but I think they might be open tomorrow........we'll see.  Either way, Dakota's still a happy girl.

New Year's Eve & friends...

     I just got hooked up to skype a few days ago & have been able to find a couple of long lost friends whose info was on Facebook.  My niece was just hooked up to high speed via satellite and we were our 'firsts' for skyping.  We look forward to reaching other family members and friends, both locally & from out-of-state.

     We look forward to watching our niece and grand-niece grow up, as we all missed each other in previous years due to living so far apart.

     Thanks to the prompting of my niece, we recently spent part of New Year's Eve together here in Ludington, & we were all impressed with the Ball Drop & following fireworks.

  Included will be a couple of pics, utilizing my less expensive digital camera, as my Digi Rebel is in need of repair.  I hope to have it fixed before my birthday crop on the 29th.   

Whoo-hoo!!!!!!!

Digging out from under the fresh, beautiful snow.....

     We started receiving fresh, fluffy, beautiful snow a few days ago, and may continue to receive it for the next several days!  Finally!  Our son and my 'snow dog' Dakota are enjoying it's fun while I'm enjoying the beauty and potential 'snowdays'.....more opportunites for movie nights after making 'no-bake' cookies.  Fun & chocolate...what more is there?  Of course, scrapbooking!