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.

Lacey is officially a teenager!

 Who wouldn't jump at the chance to do a Hello Kitty party!  Lacey, my niece, wanted a blue teal and red (which look great together) party.  I think I pulled this one off for about $100.  You probably have noticed that I use some of the same pieces in most of my parties.  This 3 tier stand and the cupcake stand get a lot of use at my house.  I think they were about $30 total from the Christmas Tree Shops.  I think if you stay with a white or beige you can use them more often than if they were a color.  I add the color with ribbon, food or cupcake liners.

 I got the cookie cutters from Michael's.  I had to make one with a "stache" for Lacey.

 The cake pop idea came from http://www.bakerella.com/here-kitty-kitty/

I think she used  the markers on the face, which is much better than the gel.  The gel drove me crazy because I had to transport them to her house and they were rolling all over!! Uggh.  

 Jenni Bowlin punch used for the cake banner.  I had leftover straws from Quin's party.  This was my first attempt at a ribbon cake.  I had to scrape the icing off only one time.  But once I figured it out it wasn't so bad.  

 Spellbinder's and Martha Stewart's Scoring board were used for the banner.  I used Spellbinder's to make the labels for the goodies.

 I made cake batter muddy buddies aka: "kitten chow"  with the recipe from 

http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2012/02/cake-batter-muddy-buddies.html

 I filled the urn with plain granulated sugar and added this edible Easter grass that was leftover from Easter.

 Lacey got the flower balloon idea from Pinterest too.

 We made some coffee filter flowers.  I added some Glimmer Mists to punch up the colors.

 We printed some images to fill the photo spots on this piece.  The large clothespins came from Michael's. I used the Cricut machine to cut out the numbers and added glitter.

 Stache Kitty!

Lacey's party actually was one of the easiest to set up.  Their dining room made the set up fast.