OK, so I’m in the wreath making mode right now. I wanted to make a wreath for myself after making one for my SS in the Cricut swap I mentioned in a past post. However, I didn’t want the mess of the red burlap again. So, I thought I would do a coffee filter wreath. I used Glimmer Mist in Tutti Fruitti and Tattered Rose to give it some color. I used some Tim Holtz, Tattered Angels, and Recollectoins to dress it up a little. What do you think?
My submission to Whipperberry’s Linky Party
I just wanted to share some things I have been working on over the holidays. I made this book to give to my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas. I love watching Laura Dennison and when she made this book, I thought I would tackle it. So here goes, let me know what you think:
OK, so I had carpal tunnel surgery and pinched nerve in my elbow surgery yesterday. I am finally back to typing, etc. tonight. I thought I would be able to do everything like normal by now. Well, I couldn’t! I read the most awesome recipe for Chicken and Dumplings tonight over on Confessions of a Cookbook Queen‘s website and decided since I had everything on hand that I would make it for dinner tonight. I thought I could do it all with my hand and arm all bandaged…wrong! It was very easy, but I needed help from my daughter. So, with the help of my 22 year old we accomplished this dish and it was soooooo worth it. You all have to try it.
OK, so I haven’t finished my scraproom yet, however, I have been creating in what has been finished….
I love looking at other blogs and often times find so many ideas from other blogs. So here are the latest in what I have accomplished and where I found the directions:
My absolutely beautiful heart wreath:
The directions for this wreath can be found on this amazing blog: Whipperberry
I submitted it for a Linky Party on Whipperberry!
My first attempt at a side step card:
I loved this dresser design that I found here: Addicted to Stamping
And I found the most amazing tutorial for these beautiful zipper flowers here: Evange
Well, that is just a few of the things I have been up to. But, I can’t show you the rest just yet as it was a surprise for a STSB on one of the Cricut.com boards. I will show you after she has received her box. So, I hope you all enjoy and definitely try those blogs I mentioned above!
Let’s not forget I just moved here and can’t find a place to put everything. I can organize at work but when it comes to my home…..not sure how to or where to put it all. Let me know what you think on where this stuff should go. My Scraproom
OH, you have to check out the Ranger site! They are running a contest to name one of their new color of stickles. If you win, you get free new colors! Click Ranger
This is the color they are trying to name:
Made me think of Dreamsicles, didn’t it you? They want you to help them choose between the following names: Tropical, Coral, or Tangerine. I went with Tangerine, what will you go with?
A lot has happened on this end. With the holidays coming, I have been super busy with trying to make all my presents for family, etc. this year and make Christmas cards too! DON”T ever do this again! I have mentioned her in the past, but I follow Greenbean’s Crafterrole all the time and she is amazing with her crafts. So, I am trying out a lot of her gift ideas this year as well as trying my hand at Manolia’s Tilda on Christmas cards. I will have to post pics when I get them all done. I can’t let the cat out of the bag now….family may read before Christmas!
What I wanted to share with you today is that I am starting a cookie exchange at my office. I have never done one before, so we will see how this goes. So far, I have 3 of us that want to be included. How do you gain excitement? Maybe I should post a sign in the break rooms? We will have to see if that works. I will keep you posted.
Anyway, Melissa had her band/chorus concert last night. It went well, just not many pics from it as I used a different camera and it didn’t like my SD card. However, I met this really wonderful lady there who is into photography and I loved her camera! I want one! Do you think my husband reads my bl0g? Probably not….
I promise to get better at posting on a regular basis..maybe someone will actually be reading it some day! LOL
I have been silently working away at what I hope will be a very productive Business Plan. Today, I finished my class on writing them that the SBA gives free online. Here is my certificate: 
I have been so busy with trying to keep up with the 21 day challenge that Rhonna Ferrer is having. I attended a class for Copic pens! This started an addiction! I am so addicted to these pens now! Starting out, I was so confused by what paper to use, which pens to buy, etc. I decided to share all this with all of you as I’m sure I’m not the only one confused by all the choices out there.
OK, to start out I researched the type of paper that most people who are teaching these classes use. I narrowed it down to three types of paper. The two most common papers are Gina K 120 and X-Press. I haven’t gotten a chance to try X-Press yet, but have compared Gina K 120 to Neenah.
The Greeting Farm” – Laundry
Top Picture: Gina K 120
Bottom Picure: Neenah
Copic Used:
Face: E02, R02, E00, E000, B04, B00, BG01, B02
Hair: YR21, YR23, YR24
Misc Combo’s – R46, R59
OK, so my skills aren’t perfect by any means, however, I am improving. You can tell that the colors appear darker on the Neenah paper but blend nicer on the Gina K paper. So, I think it is really up to the user.
Top Image: Neenah Paper
Bottom Image: Gina K 120
Wow, this one had a lot of mistakes on it!
The Greeting Farm – Friday
Top Image: Gina K 120
OH, on this one I learned to open my pens away from the image I’m coloring. Can you see my extra spot? Thank God for Cropping!
Bottom Image: Neenah
So, what do ya’ll think? Let me hear your ideas on paper?
What pens to buy first? Well, I had to buy some pens for the class I was taking, so I started with those. Then, I knew I wanted to color these images, so I bought what I wanted to use for my flesh and still have a couple to buy as I’m not thrilled with what I’m using. Then I found this amazing tutorial for curly hair. I loved her affect on the hair. Then, I went through all Suzanne J Dean’s tutorial’s for her hair to get color combo’s. Thank goodness there are so many wonderful teachers out there willing to share their tips and techniques.
I’m so excited!!! Rhonna (from Ho3) has started a 21 day challenge to change something in our lives. There was so much I wanted to change it took me a while to decide on what I would attempt to change first. Most, if not all, of my things that I want to change in my life begin in one area so I decided that is where I should focus. I want to go big time with my business. I don’t just want to be an online store, I want to have a full fledged scrapbook store. A little different than most, only carrying really hard to find items that you usually can only find on the internet.
So, step one is to create a business plan. Therefore, my goal for this 21 day challenge is to get my business plan together and ready to submit to the SBA for funding. Rhonna asked to have us be specific and not generic with our goals. Which is really helpful in all that we do with goals and outcomes. I don’t have any pictures for you tonight, but would love for you to join us on this journey. So, please check out Rhonna’s blog and then you can always purchase the kit from Ho3.
I’m sure my idea of a challenge journal is not as creative as most, but I have decided to keep a journal. I will show you my pages, etc. tomorrow. Tonight I just threw something together so I can start journaling tonight since I was supposed to start my challenge today! I decided that day one for me is to believe that I can do this and that I deserve this!
So, pray for me as I go on this journey and please follow along and help keep me focused. I will be checking in every day and letting you know what I accomplished for that day.
Night!
