Happy Birthday Quin!

                       I can't believe you are 4 years old!!!  How did that happen?  Oh Boy. 
                       I haven't posted for some time.  Let me catch you up on a few things. 
The end of May I had my tonsils taken out at the age of 41.  I studied up on tonsillectomies so I would know what I was going to be dealing with.  I braced myself for the worst and prayed for the best.  The first week was really bad.  On days 4-6, I was so miserable.  I upped my medicine to help with the pain and it made me very nauseous.  I was trying so hard to not throw up.  I slept as much as I could and consumed more popsicles than I have had in my entire life.  The following are recommendations for any persons over 25 that have to have their tonsils out.  They are not kidding when they tell you to drink lots of water.  I think this helped me tremendously.  We went through about 6 bags of ice in 2 weeks.  Stock up on mild fruit popsicles.  Banana popsicles and Coke Icee's were my best friend.  I ate tuna fish with a little bit of mayo and bread for 3 weeks .  Potatoes were too starchy and salty even watered down.  Be prepared for days 4 and 5.  My tongue was so swollen and my mouth just felt so sour.  It's been about a month now and my throat still feels a little wierd.  I have to chew gum at work everyday and sometimes feel like my words get stuck in the back of my throat.  I know that sounds really weird, but I'm telling I feel like they can't get all the way out sometimes.  I can't wait for my lymph node to go back down so the side of my neck quits hurting. 

Onto Quin's Birthday.....
I have been collecting and making things for almost a year.  I love throwing Birthday parties for the kiddies. 

The invitations were made using the Sihlouette, Spellbinders, Hobby Lobby brand ticket embossing folder    and Graphic 45 stamp embellished with chalks.

 I found the carousel at a thrift store for $5.  The animal images were cut out with the Cricut.  The frame behind the animals was cut out with Spellbinders, the patterned paper is Graphic 45 and the punch is Fiskars Jenni Bowlin.

 The first batch of cotton candy melted before the party even started.  The humidity here was horrible.

                              Spellbinders, Graphic 45 and Michael's stamps and popcorn boxes.

 To make the word Circus I used my Sihlouette.  They are supposed to be boxes but I wanted them to look a little like old marquee sign letters.  They took a few hours to make.  I finished them with some polka dot washi tape.  And now.................The Ferris Wheel!  My favorite.  I found it on Ebay last year.  I was surprised to get it for only $40.  I saw some painted on Etsy for over $100.  I just couldn't pay that.  I will be able to re-use it in the garden.

 I absolutely love Pinterest.  I get so many creative ideas from that place.  I love the painted animal idea!

 Liam showing off the puppet stand.  Quin helped me spray paint the frame and also helped me with painting the blue.  Such a great helper.

                     Love the smile that you come up with for your Birthday photo!

                                                          And just like that....it was all over. 

So.... I thought it would be a great idea to give back to someone who helps me out with the kiddies so much.  My Dad went away on a little golf trip and I thought I would help clean and organize his house.  I took on a big project in a short amount of time.  But that is what I do and I think it helps me stay focused.  Sometimes if I have too much time I can over think a project.
I was really bummed out that I did not make it through the first round of G45 Design Team audition this year.  I knew it was difficult if not impossible.  There are so many creative and amazing artists that are much better at social media (and other things as well) than I am.  It is very hard for me to  find time to do this because I feel selfish when I am on here and there are so many other things I need to tend to.  But I am trying to find a few minutes here and there, because I would like to get back into the crafting field.  So this long paragraph is why I took on the huge task of cleaning Dad's house.  When I am down I need a project.  Some kind of goal to keep me busy.  Boy did it keep me busy!
Chuck and I were over there at least 40 hours last week.  We installed new plumbing where there had been a bad clog-I think it was the worst thing he and his buddy have ever seen come out of a drain.  It might have been  there for several years, before my Dad had even moved in.  We moved cabinets, furniture, hung artwork drapes and I scrubbed his kitchen floor which took me over an hour to do.  It flared up my carpal tunnel so bad that my hands and veins were throbbing.  I was just so glad that his house was starting to look like a home.  Next winter he will be painting the kitchen.  Chuck and I are going to go over there after the summer and finish adding the molding and pantry doors.  It is so close to looking really good for a bachelor. 
We wanted to do this for him because he does so much for us.  He watches our kids anytime we need a babysitter.  It was our way of giving a little back to him.  We found it was challenging to find someone  to watch our little guy when he was away for us to finish the project.  It never fails, you want to do something nice for the person who helps you so much and you have a hard time because no one else can help.  I will post some photo's later, I just wanted to get this down tonight before I went to sleep.  Thanks Dad

Every photo has a story

This week at the store we got a plastic tub full of family photos.  It makes me so sad every time this happens.  I can't believe that no one wanted them in the family.  Some of the photos go back to 1900.  To me they are more precious than gold.  They are the piece that holds us to our past.  I feel that it is the one thing that proves you were here.  After several generations pass, the stories become more unclear and the memories fade.  But the photo proves you were here. 
I believe that the photos ended up here by accident. They were in a bottom drawer of a dresser.  The lady that they belonged to, took such good care of her past family photos that I have to believe they were an oversight.  Can you imagine?  All of your family photos gone. .
I was going to buy them to try to get a hold of the family.  Luckily there is a ton of information to try to find the descendants.  I brought home some of the photos and wrote down some names and dates that I was able to find.  I wish I was better at doing this kind of research but I think that comes with time.  Anyways, I was able to find a descendant on facebook.  Even better, they are a friend of a friend.  I am just waiting on a confirmation that they are the Grandchild of the owner of the photos.  One thing I have learned, it is better to look for the grandchildren because they are on facebook more than the children.  I will keep you updated on any new information that I have found.   Wish me luck!

After the storm.

What a mess!  I now get to clean my whole house because the last month I have been knee deep in my art room creating projects for Graphic 45 design team audition.  I feel like a kid before Christmas, just waiting and wondering what is in store. 

There is a floor down there somewhere.

I don't think that could be considered a fire hazard.  Then again.......

Not one inch to walk through.

Graphic 45 Design Team 2013 Audition

How amazing this past month has been. I have been racking my brain thinking of creative ideas to wow everyone at Graphic 45. I have laid in bed for hours at night analyzing, imagining and just wondering what I have to give to the team. I hope that I have produced pieces that represent Graphic 45's vision. I remember the first time I saw their paper on a sneak peak for CHA. I was blown away. I was so excited about their paper, that I sent them an email telling them how wonderful their new lines were and where had they been all my life. Yes, I have a tendency to get a little nerdy when it comes to paper. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be able to enter my projects for consideration. So.... here we go!

Garden Fairy Dome

Fiddle fern and fairies.

I painted several parts with glow in the dark paint.

I added some teeny tiny little lights to make it look like a fairy ring.

 

 

Spring Bonnet

 

Welcome Baby Card

Quinten's Layout

I hand chalked this image to have it tie-in with the other bird images.

 

Steampunk Mini Album

Circus Mini Book

This is my favorite page.  I wanted to make her look like she ripped right out of the page to fly through the air.

One Extra! 

Baby Diaper Cake

The base of the cake is made out of diapers.  I love making unique items for parties.