Kind, Sweet, Beautiful,Friend. *Out for Publication* Yea!

Basic Grey has been hitting it out of the park with paper designs lately, I just can't get enough! "Sweet Threads" has to be one of my favorites, right up there with "Lemonaide" and "Green at Heart". Gorgeous  bright pink, orange, & green...perfect for the girly, shabby chic style I've been leaning toward lately.

This is one of my favorite pictures from this year. When I first viewed it on the computer, I was struck by how much Mariel and I look like one another. This wasn't always the case. I've always had difficulty seeing the resemblence, instead seeing her resemblence to her Dad.

Used some vintage lace and punched the butterflies from vintage sheet music.

Used an Anna Griffin lace diecut as a stencil then flipped it and used it on the layout.

Inked the edges of everything to add a slightly grungy, teenagy look, Not sure if teenagy is a word, maybe current is a better term :) I did this layout for a challenge from Scrapbook Trends to scraplift a layout from the September 2011 issue. I chose "Dada's Wishes for You" by Amy Heller on page 53.

On another note...it was another eventful week here. Dad, aka "Grandpa Joe" had to have an unexpected surgery on his fistula on Saturday. Up at 4:30am and at Borgess by 6am. He was in surgery for about 3 1/2 hours and came out with 22 staples in his arm! Spent an hour and a half in recovery then went to dialysis for another 4 hours, not counting set up and take down. We finally made it home at 8pm.

He is having a hard time recovering from the anesthetic this time. Lots of sleeping and forgetfulness. I hope he doesn't have to have surgery again anytime soon. The good thing is that his fistula is working again. I did get to play with his new "smart" phone during all the waiting and discovered I'm jealous. I want one (insert pouty face), although I hate to admit it...I can't see to work it without my granny glasses :}} Unfortunately it isn't in the budget, so I'll have to settle for playing with his phone.

Thanks for stopping by!

Medusa and the Country Gal

Since my daughter developed her own mind and personality, and is no longer led by her Mother's taste in costumy cuteness, she has come up with some great ideas on her own :) Last year she was a "fuzzy dice" (or die).

She conceptualize and I helped make it happen.

This year we got a really late start due to illness (specifically mine) and only had a week to get it together! I had one day to sew and one day to find what we needed and put it all together.

Any guesses?

Does this help?

She is Medusa...so don't look her in the eye!

Such a beautiful Medusa!

She doesn't look quite as evil as we would have liked, maybe some black lipstick would help.

Bigger more flexible snakes would have helped but there were none to be found. These were in the party favor section at the party store. You would think that you could find them anywhere at Halloween. Not!

Here she is with Olivia (the farm girl) before going to a costume party.

I have to work on Halloween, hoping to find someone to do her hair for her before trick or treating.

Hope you have a hauntingly happy, treat filled Halloween!



My Poor Car...

Some may remember last Christmas that I had my  1st run in (pun intended) with a deer. Unfortunately on the interstate while doing 75mph. I was pretty rattled and let's just say the deer didn't make it. This is the resulting damage. Can you believe they didn't total it!? I can't remember the exact amount but it was close to the amount needed to do so :(

Started with a piece of Core'dinations cardstock and sanded it to tone down the yellow, then stamped on pearlescent paint with some bubble wrap to represent snow.

Used the Cricut cartridge " Joys of the Season" for the glitter snowflakes. Crate Paper patterned paper.

I'm not sure I'm in love with the brackets, what do you think? Should they stay or should they go?

Used another lovely http://www.sketchsupport.com/ sketch.

Mimi turned 13 yesterday and I had to work :( Thankfully Daddy picked up the slack, She received her 1st cell phone and an I Tunes card. Mommy picked her up some cute earrings to wear with her Halloween costume. Pics of which will be coming soon!

Thanks for stopping, off to babyland :)

I'm Gonna Tell Daddy!

That is what Matthew said to me when I was punishing him for one of many infractions, I'm sure. Can't remember all the details but when I came across this photo it jogged my pitiful memory. I love how the light is catching him in the face. I was at a crop a couple of Saturdays ago and said I wanted to get more than one layout done in 12 hours (sadly that is all I get done most of the time). So simplicity was a must.

Did you know there is a website that you can look up all the Cricut cartridge images on? Me either. It's called http://www.mycutsearch.com/ . One of the gals at the crop had a gypsy and was able to look up which cartridges had an umbrella on them. Quite a few, surprisingly enough. This one (umbrella) on the Paisley cartridge was perfect!

I modified it just a little by cutting two of the umbrella tops and then cutting one to make it have two patterns. Clear as mud, right. The original just had score lines on it. Traced a light line and then cut out on the lines to recreate the curve. Love that the shadow has a cute scalloped edge.

The raindrops are from the "A Child's Year" cartridge.

I could seriously have this Bazzill Dotted Swiss in every color, I love it so much :)

Nikki Sivils patterned paper and stickers.

Where has the time gone? He is 15 now!

A little update on the chronically sick. Bladder infection and Mono test, that's all I'm gonna say.

I'll try to be a better blogger next month. Plenty of posts to come since I have a backlog of layouts to post :)

Have a great week!

Homecoming and Enough Already!

First a cold, then strep throat, and finally (if that wasn't enough), stomach flu! After a trip to the ER for a couple of liters of fluid and a bunch of anti nausea meds, I finally felt like I was going to live. The last 6 weeks have been tough on me :} My husband and teens have to this point been spared except for Matthew's bout of Tonsillitis. Let's hope it stays that way!

Last Friday, before all the sickness started, was Homecoming. Homecoming (for those not familiar) is a celebration including spirit week, a parade, bratwurst tent, float building, crowning of the new Homecoming Princess, Prince, Queen, and King, and culminating with a dance for the high schoolers. Many Alumni return to socialize with friends and revisit their glory days :)

Unfortunately the weather forecast was grim. It began to sprinkle off & on during the parade.

Mimi was ready in her new Sock Monkey hat :)

The band played a rousing rendition of the fight song!

Beautiful flags...and Madison :)

The JV football team and my son with his goofy grin.

Noah throws candy and cheeses it up!

Mr. & Miss Hartford

The Senior float

Off With Their Heads!

JV Cheerleaders

Not sure about this one :) Can you believe I didn't get a picture of the Freshman float! My own son's class (bad Mom)! He swears it was there but I have my doubts. If anyone has a pic, I'd love to see it :)

Varsity Cheerleaders

Wind, rain, & thunderstorms were all predicted and we had a little of everything including something extra...hail! Here is the beautiful sunset prior to the rain.

The Junior Band holds the flag for the National Anthem

Our last little bit of blue sky before it started raining :(  Rain delay for 1 hour due to lightning = very antsy kids! They finally resumed the game but played the last 3 quarters continuously and did the coronations after the game. This Mom was too tired and had to work the next day so she went home!

My one pitiful football photo. The lighting was terrible and my attention kept wandering...what can I say?! They won 62-0

Superfan Julia :}}

After the storm

Waiting for the next touchdown

We saw lots of fireworks, after every touchdown and a finale at the end! Unfortunately my pics are all blurry.

Time to go home with my favorite flute player :) Matthew was off to the dance. I can safely say a good time was had by all (except for the opposing team, sorry guys)!