rest of September...yup, September

September was a heck of a month, every weekend booked, back to babysitting full time....so crafting and housework fell behind.  

Actually October weekends are looking just about the same,  but I had this morning off.

So what do I spend the first 2 hours doing?  Cat litter, bathrooms, strip bed,  kitchen (cleaning countertops, scrubbing sinks)(good thing about this is you have to put things away as you go...amazing how much stuff gets piled on the kitchen counters), 2 loads laundry...and I wonder, how do the working moms do this?  How did I do this when I was a working mom?   I did not touch the dusting and floors and quite honestly, I AM DONE...so time to go in my craft room for a bit.


So before I post anything Oct purchase related..here are some Sept...

Stamps from the Facebook Swap and Sell group.  I've had the Harriet Hippo in my Etsy cart for a while, so was ecstatic to see these.

 Washi from Etsy...can never have enough washi??? right???

 my Fun Stampers Journey Bloom box for Sept...I'm pretty excited, these are cutie patooties

and Sept's Scrapbook Circle, love all the ombre...unfortunately I opened it in front of dgd so she called the one that looks like jewels.... I think I convinced her to 'share' it.

Okay off to my room. I participated in a swap and need to get that package out....

World Cardmaking Day

Dgd spent the night Friday and we did spend most of Saturday making cards....She completed 3 cards, birthday for her little sister, her little brother and a thinking of you card for her great grandmother.   Her cards are funny...the 2nd pic shows the inside...Happy Birthday, I love you even though you kick me... ha!!!

I concentrated on finishing all the card projects from about 2 years of make and takes from the Expo's Crop...is it called a make and take crop?  You know the one done Thurs night???

Anyways, this is the basket I had been keeping them in...

Then worked on finishing a card I have had sitting around for a while now...I started this base...think I had a stamped image, but pulled it off for another project at one point

 replaced it with this Unity Stamp boot and flowers

this year's Christmas...not real happy, tried the distress ink background...I just don't 'have' it yet.

So by the end of the day, this is what my basket looked like...an assortment of finished cards...

 And spent Sunday afternoon working on my Bloom Box from Fun Stampers Journey, took a couple of hours for 4 cards.  Not too bad.   Figure the cost of each card is $6.25 ... better if I reuse the stamp set, right???  ha!

 So, did have a productive card making weekend.    Someday soon will scrapbook again! ha!

Sept siiiiiighs

Sept has been.....a hectic month, with not much time at home to pursue Scrapbooking.  I did work on this giraffe ...an attempt at distress inking for the background...not much success with the technique.  Sorry pic does not show detail

 Started a new Sub, from Fun Stamper's Journey.  This is actually the August box.  Very masculine, but gotta say looking forward to Sept's box... Just learned that Oct 1 is cardmaking day.  HOPEFULLY ...I will have time that Saturday.  

 Went a little crazy on a facebook thread, and purchased these paper piecings...and 2 more not pictured.   The turkeys are just sooooooooo cute.   I have 5 grandbabies, need 3 more!  ha!

 and this is Gossamer Blue for this month....I do like the colors, though 'mustard' is not a fave.

ooooooh, to spend time in the craft room.   what a dream that would be.   But I knew Sept was going to be booked going in. But October is looking a little more free.  

This weekend is me and Dh's anniversary trip.  Though it went from 2 nights to 1...and that is okay, with the puppies, we do need to spend more time with them and the boys.   Our boys are not ...hmmmm, let's just say, Kema and Rocky are not 'nurturing' to the pups.  They seem completely annoyed by them.

Then next weekend includes the National Cemetary ceremonies for my father in law.  It is actually on Friday, his cremains will be interned with honors.   My brother in law has been in charge of these arrangements, so I don't know what is planned afterwards, if there will be a gathering or anything.

Introducing...pretty and pretty!!!

 Over the weekend, we did get 2 new family members.  This was during a Rescues' big adoption weekend...and we already had an application in, before our losses.  With our 2 'ranch dogs' getting older and the squirrel and rabbit population exploding, we had decided to get a couple of ranch dogs to help out.   I wanted young adults as we do live on 10 acres.  But dh wanted pups, he wants to develop a bond with them like he has with our Kema.   He won.  and here are the 'girls'.

Dh wanted to name them pooper and poopsie...but I won!! so here is Bonny (a nod to dh's Scottish roots)

 And Bella, so pretty and pretty....

And of course Winston is very curious.  Watch out pups, he is not called the "velociraptor' for nothing!  Ha!  No, pups are not allowed inside (though I want them to) they are 'ranch dogs'.  They are sleeping in  a crate and kept in the crate when no one is home during the day(right now)...for their safety.

 Kema, has been very patient, but is not that sure about this 'invasion'.  Both dogs no longer sleep on the porch (where the kennel is), dh says it is because of the girls.  siiiiiigh

 And here they are all tuckered out after a visit from dgd.   (pictured above with Bella at the pet store when we picked them out)   Dgd #2, who is 2 years old, was interested but did not 'play' with the girls, in fact, when they tried to climb on her, she announced that 'it is time for puppies to go back'

But as the family left, she also said the puppies 'need to live at her house'.

The Rescue had a good weekend.  Think it was 48 pups, dogs, cats, kittens adopted that first day and an additional 11 the next.   We actually were looking at one of their sisters, a tan pup with black markings on her face and tail...she was a bit fluffier also.  BUT another couple were also interested in her...so though we expressed interest first, we backed off...better for 3 dogs to find homes than just 2.  Plus fluffy fur and ranch...not always a good match.  Just ask Kema.

A Tough night for the family

We lost 2 beloved family members,  Gunny our son's family's dog.  He was a Great Dane, 7 years and 7 months old...he grew up with my dgd#1...He was the best family dog you can imagine.  Soooo Patient with the 3 small kids, always a 'character' ...such a good boy.   With his bark, though the kids lived in a neighborhood in which most of the houses were burglarized, no one came into their home.  I've seen delivery people run from his bark.   He will be missed.

There was an incident in which there was a police chase, the perps ran from the car and one ran into the kid's backyard.   I am convinced Gunny's bark kept him from coming inside, as the sliding glass door was open at the time.  The perp ended up jumping the fence to the neighbor's yard.   I know this because son in law was working from the home at the time and witnessed it from the 2nd Story window.   Though according to sil, Gunny was a big chicken and never left the stair landing...it is okay, his bark was enough.   

When he would come to visit us, he would run the property with his long horse like legs...and stand at the door whining and drooling all over it to be let in.  (sorry no dogs in our house, we are 'run' by cats)

And last night I also lost my Percy.  For 18 years he was my 'baby'.  I had no clue, one moment he is on the bed purring next to me and the next he is struggling, my husband sent me to the garage to get him towels and he was gone (thank you dh for sparing me that)....

Percy was my 'empty nest' therapy cat, as the kids left me, I was able to pour all my nurture needs onto him.  We called him 'Momma's boy".   It took him 7 years to let dh pet him.  We loved him so much.  He slept next to me just about every night, massaging me with his purrs. and making biscuits on the pillow next to me.   When I get to take naps, he was next to me.  

A night of horrible loss.  They certainly leave empty spots in our hearts, don't they?

crafting! but...

I am crafting this weekend, but, it is a project...not scrapbook pages or something.  Y'all know the difference.  Always fun to craft, but sure would like to get to my scrapbooks also.

I am making 18 of these for our church's women's retreat in a couple of weekends.  They are small legal pad holders.  This is the first half.  I am trying to make each one unique.


I volunteered to help out with the planning...and last weekend I was telling my former Marine kid and kid in laws..I am now NAVY...Never Again Volunteer Yourself!  ha!  I'm sure when it is over and done with I will look back and call it a wonderful experience.    The 'kids' in my young adult class helped by coloring the birds.  

 And of course when you are 'project-ing' this is what your room and desk look like...right??

And of course I now cannot find my phone.  siiiiiiigh.  But a holiday spent crafting is better than not, right???  

Expo Update

Oh, my goodness, has it been 3 weeks already?   This month is flying by.  I have been working...first 2 weeks at the 'shop' and the past 2 weeks splitting my days between grandbabies.  Mornings with my son's family (they are moving) and my dd's (she has brand new newborn).  Happy and Exhausted but not much time at home and in my scraproom.    BUT my work schedule will be adjusted, so maybe more mornings can be spent creating.   Since I will probably still be waking up @5:30...ha!

Santa Clara Expo was the bomb!  ha! seriously, the day just went by too fast.  Michele and I were joined by Kathy and Chris...that is the wonderful thing about Expo crops, it really is no problem to share a table with people you do not know...they were very friendly... 

So, shopping....which I did more of than I should have...

Kiwi Lane templates, concentrated on the card sized borders...but did get a new accessory. Next time I really need to bring a list, I did duplicate!!!  siiiiiiiiiigh

 Lasercut Titles, I stop at this booth every year and use their buy 3 get 1 free coupon.

 irresistable baby stuff...since I was working on baby boy layouts

 Authentique, another must stop....so adorable, love the 'vintage'

 and of course Echo Park...we actually stopped by toward late afternoon... my fave these days

 Actually scrapped with a class kit...at Pleasanton I took the Echo Park class...and used them on a couple of layouts...here are the sample layout pics from the class

 Here are my versions, will need more embellishing....

This Expo, since I only went one day...really packed light....so for the most part only got layouts started but not really embellished...that will come as I unpack them and put them into their books.

Kiwi Lane had a card class...Michele and I took it together...it was 12 x12 papers pre designed, you used the templates to cut them out and glue together...for me, it was meh.   For Michele, it was a bit confusing at first.  I plan to add some embellishing before using.

 This pic shows my card vs the designed card.   I would have preferred a class that shows how to take the templates and design your own card.  Instead of a draw and prizes, the class had a purchase special...which we took advantage of!  

 Oh and the crop freepack...I got Fancy Pants

 But gotta say, I see myself using the 'B' side!!   ha!!!!

Expo! so much fun...I think Michele is addicted and next year would like to do the full 2.5 days...okay by me.  Esp if we can get the discounted hotel room...though her mom's house was less than 30 min away.

First week of Aug...busy but will end with EXPO!

Busy month, am training the gal who will replace me at the business...so have been working a (gasp) full week.   So commute and something going every evening.  I go to the home office each night to collect more files and email her spreadsheets.   Good part about that, is I get to see the babies each evening.  And it is difficult to not spend my day with them.  So I get to huggle them in the evening.

BUT how is that even when you don't have time to scrap, your scrap desk gets messy.  Esp if you are a 'shopper' like me....ha!!!

This is what the desk looked like on Weds, when I finally went into my room...well, to pack for Expo!  

I finally made a Unity Stamp purchase.  They did a great promo on facebook, 'comment and you and a friend can win"...so I followed the link and bought.   Sooo cute!!!

I joined a Facebook Scrapbook sale site, recommended on the Refugees site...and picked up these CTMH stamps.  And the gal is a Posh rep and sent me samples...I really like what I see.

Amazon purchase I had shipped to Texas while I was there last week.  Basics, wanted to start some slider cards...but...my sis's scrapbook stuff is 'unreachable'.  Her kids turned her room into a store room and it is packer.  Sis is not happy, but the good thing about grown kids...is...they eventually move out...riiiiiiiight?

Creative Memories reboot purchase, a friend became a rep...so going to give it a try.  This is actually packed for Expo.   I was never really a fan of CM...their tools are fantastic...but you know the whole almost 12x12 papers and concentration on stickers.   And the reputation some of their reps gave the line about 'acid free'.   So, we will see.

Speaking of CM tools a friend was selling her punches, all for $5...including these CM's.  So got these, the Martha Stewart was 70% off at the Texas Michaels.   Since I have gotten into making pockets with my fuse, I imagine I will also use the shape punches.   Plus, these are great for dgd to start her own collection.

So, off to Expo.  Instead of the usual cropping all 3 days, only doing one with my friend Michele.  I missed the $135 per night hotel block and the hotel rooms were over $300!!   So, we will be spending the night Fri and Sat with her mom who lives in San Jose...and only crop and shop one day.  

Looking forward to it...and I did something impossible...I really tried to pack so that it would be only one car trip...I usually make 2 for crop stuff...and I think I did it!!!   More to come. and hopefully some layouts and projects!   Whoot, whoooot!!!!

Shopping!! one of my fave activities

Shopping, not creating this month.  A bright spot...siiiigh

Freckled Fawn...gave in and purchased a few things, did not get an oopsie bag..is that what they were called...but still soooooo cute!  I had been 'eyeballing' the cards since I first saw them

from Amazon, these stamps and dies...soooooooo cute!!!

Greeting Farm...again been eyeballing the mermaid stamps since I first saw them.

 Etsy purchase of some watercolor, gleamy washi

 Gossamer Blue kit for the month:

 Scrapbook Circle for the month....  I love the kit, and was a little scared to get it late in the month...thinking 'oh no my payment did not go through'...but finally read the newsletter and they were shipping late...

 and the flip side of the paper.  Does the paper seem a little 'B' side this month?  I could not tell which side was supposed to be primary.

Still to come, A Creative Memories (a friend is a new rep) and a Unity Stamp purchase.  Lots of stamps...

The month has been such there has been no time to play...but later this week I will go visit my mom and take some supplies to work on cards...so hopefully will get to play a little soon.