I Always Have Good Intentions!

I always have good intentions but life always seems to get in the way.  A few days after my last post we found out that my husband had colon cancer.  He had surgery within a couple of days and then did 6 months of chemo.  The chemo lasted a few weeks longer due to blood counts or way to sick.  Things are starting to get back to normal now, hubby is getting stronger every day.  We even took a trip to Michigan to visit our grandsons!!

Now that life is starting to get back to normal, I can now get back to crafting!!!  I've tried to do a few things these past months, but it's been pretty much impossible to do anything when hubby depended on me for everything.  I have so many things I want to do, but Christmas cards are going to be first.  I feel like a little kid, excited to get started!  I won't be able to start until Monday, need to clean the house and finish decorating (what little I do decorate).  I did decorate my little wooden tree and put out a few things already, but still need a couple more things.  With dog tails I can't really put too much stuff out unless it's high enough their tails can't knock it off.

This is a picture of my hubby's last chemo and of course the boys (with Santa).

I will be back soon and will have pictures of what I've been doing!!

Happy Friday!

You gotta love Fridays, even when you don't work Fridays are awesome!  Been busy as always and that's always a good thing.  Finally even got rain today and it's supposed to rain until Monday.  Could do without the wind, but I guess you can't have everything.  We really need the rain here in California and we may get up to 6 inches by Sunday, hoping we don't float or blow away (winds up to 65 mile an hour)!!

Been crafting, I actually got the 2 grandsons valentine cards done!!  They're kind of cute and as usual I was in a rush because I need to mail them so they're not late.  Of course while I was looking for valentine stuff (embellishments, paper, stamps, etc.), I was finding all kinds of lost treasures that I forgot I had and now want to play with.  

See, I've been crafting.  You can always tell when I'm creating because I can't create without making a total mess and dragging tons of everything out in case I need it.

Yes, I use jars for everything and 2 of them have candy!!

Here are the valentine cards I made for Liam and Graisen.  I don't think they know my blog address and I don't believe their mother follows it either, so I can post them without spoiling the surprise.

This one is for Liam - Paper, stamps and chipboard frame are Close To My Heart.

This one is for Graisen

Have my tables and desk cleaned up already and am going to create/play all weekend.  It's been a long time since I've been able to spend the whole weekend in my studio and am so looking forward to it.  I'm even thinking about getting into a couple of challenges and I never do them!!

So have a great weekend and hoping to post more finished projects this weekend!!

Gone Too Long!

Time get away from everyone and I'm no exception.  It's been way too long since I've made a post, but things are looking up and I plan on spending more time crafting and less time messing around with everything else in my life.  LOL

My craft studio is better, but still a mess.  I'm Like everyone else and when you start reorganizing things you end up finding forgotten treasures and have to play a little.  I did leave my favorite items that I came across out and plan on getting down to business on Wednesday while hubby is out for the day.

Jake our new puppy has gotten big.  He got fixed last week and weighed 47 pounds!!  He is a pretty good little guy and so loving and cuddly, which is why I picked him.  Don't have a recent photo because he can't sit still long enough to get one without being a blur running by!

Millie and Jake on the new bed my mom gave them because her dogs didn't like it.  They're about the same size now, so Jake may end up being huge!

Graisen turned 1 in January and his 1 year photos turned out so cute and I couldn't pick just one to be my favorite (85 photos and they were all adorable).  So here are a couple of my very favorites.  lol

So I am planning on doing another post on Thursday, but if not that means I didn't get to get all crafty on Wednesday and that would be a horrible thing!  lol

It's Looking Like Christmas!

This time of the year is so busy for everyone between decorating, baking, shopping and for those of us that make gifts and cards.  As usual I'm behind!  I thought I was done making gifts but ran into problems when putting them all together, so it will take me a few more days to get them done.  Haven't started on my cards either and hoping I'll be able to get them done, but if not I have a box of back up cards.  lol

Did get some decorating done and decided on my silly wood tree again.  I thought it was cute last year and with the puppy decided to decorate it again.

Here is our Christmas tree - 

My hubby has been busy too with his Santa's Village and it turned out cute this year.  Here are a couple photos, looks like John Wayne is looking over the village  - 

And here is a little cutie decorating his own tree back in Michigan - 

And not so Christmas related, this is Jake's latest, got himself stuck and needed rescuing.  Guess he climbed up the wood pile and onto the table, but too scared to jump down.  Needless to say I moved the table.

Well wish me luck on getting everything done before Christmas and be back soon!!

Work - Work - Work!

It's that time of the year, always so much to do and so little time.  Trying to finish up Christmas gifts and cards and time just flies by!  It always gets done, but always seems to be that I'm under pressure.  I'm not one of those fast crafters, I'm a slow poke because I'm a perfectionist (I'm my own worst critic).  I'm too old to change so I just give myself extra time to get things done.

There's been a lot going on these last few weeks.  First of all we got a new puppy (told myself I didn't need another dog), his name is Jake.  So far he seems to be a good puppy, only one accident in the house and that's a big plus.  He does keep Millie on her toes and they get along so good and I was afraid she wouldn't like him at all.

This is Jake.  He's a black lab/border collie mix.  My hubby has been splitting wood and he just loves rolling around in the sawdust and it's everywhere!

Onto my craftroom and new cabinet, I just love it!!!  A few of the drawers stick, but I'm sure they'll work themselves out.  I don't have a lot in it yet and not sure it's in the right spot yet, but as always with me, it's a work in progress.  Still going through all my 'stuff' and decided to open a Facebook page to sell things.  Also going to put it on the local garage sale site and see what happens.

The cabinet didn't photograph well, that side of my room is dark and I couldn't seem to take a photo without my shadow in it.  I did do my best, but had to use odd angels!  lol

There are 2 different size drawers, 24 total and the drop down door that I'm using for paper storage right now, but that may change to.

Seems a bit crowed and not sure what to move or actually where to put what I do decide to move.   I'm sure I will work it out and it's always fun moving things around (NOT)!!  The wheels work great and it's a good thing, this sucker weighs a ton empty.

Wonderful drawers and drop down door.

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week and I need to get back to everything I've got going on!!

Dreary Monday!

It's a dreary Monday, but am hoping for rain, the drought is awful!  I am praying that there's more rain coming than they're anticipating today and that there's more down the line.

Hubby and his brother went to a ranch sale on Saturday and bought me a couple surprises.  One is an old chest but I don't have a photo of it yet, not sure where hubby put it.  It needs bit of work, but it's really cool and is going to be beautiful hopefully when we're done with it.

The other item they bought me was an old tool chest that's heavier than a son of a gun.  It also needs some work but mostly cosmetic.  Hubby is cleaning it up and then it will get painted.  I'm probably going to leave it red and black but it looks like it was originally green.  It was probably from one of the Air Force Bases in the area we figure.  I took a couple of pictures this morning but they don't show how cool it is.  I didn't think to take any pictures before we took all the drawers out and put the cabinet on the table to clean it up.  Looks like it was in a barn or shed for years and if full of cobwebs and one hornets nest.  lol

This is the cabinet on top of the workbench.  Went out yesterday and got some wheels for it and I can hear hubby outside working on it!!  lol

Here are some of the drawers ready to be cleaned up and painted.  There are 24 drawers total in 2 different sizes.  Can't wait for it to be done and put it in my scrap room and fill the sucker up!!

Have a great Monday and will continue to take pictures of the progress and keep your fingers crossed for a good rain.  

October Already!!

Where does the time go, I can't believe it's already October.  I have been busy working away trying to finish up projects that I've been working on and time just seems to be going so fast!  It'll be Christmas before I know it and I hope I'm going to be ready for it!!!!!!!

I am trying to get my Close to My Heart business going, but I'm getting a slow start.  So if you're interested in ordering or just want to check out the online catalog it can be found here.  

If you are interested in doing an online party, just shoot me a message and we'll set it up!!

Here is a sample of the October Stamp of the Month - It's a darling stamp set and you can go to my     Close To My Heart website to see the whole stamp set that's only $5.00 when you place a qualifying order of $50.00 or more!!

The month of October you can also get a Surprise Chevron Ribbon with a qualifying purchase of $50.00!!

So be sure to check out my CTMH online catalog, there are so many amazing stamp sets and the paper collections are just gorgeous!

Talk to you soon and I am hoping to have photos ready of what I've been working on!!