Cathy Zielske is Impossibly Cool

Remember my post on "No Ordinary Stories?" Well, it looks like Cathy Zielske is doing a similar kind of class for Big Picture Scrapbooking. I'm entranced and intrigued. The teaser video promo is super cool! I can't wait for the rest! Go check it out!

Technique Tuesday Start Me Up Quincy

paper: Making Memories, Bazzill

inks: Distress Inks (broken china and orange marmalade)

and Clearsnap Chalk inks (lime pastel)

gems: Kaisercraft

small sentiments in the century gothic font by Hero Arts

These are six of the eight cards we'll be making at my upcoming Stampin'Cat Studio class in June. I'm loving this "Start Me Up" set from Technique Tuesday. I have a couple of TT's Start Me Up sets and they really are terrific. If you want to gift someone some clear stamps to start their addiciton, it's a good way to go! Also, I feel like TT's clear stamps are some of the best quality clear stamps on the market. It was so much fun designing these! I made the word block using all of the individual words on the set. I also combined elements (word, alphbet letters, flourish) to make my own graphic design-like images. I made the circles by turning over the hand-drawn line circles and stamping the BACK of the circle first, then flipping it over (the "right" way) and stamping the lines on top--Voila! Two step stamping with just one stamp! I also experimented with some faux-watercolor using Tim Holtz's Distress Inks. There are some really great products out there for papercrafting--I could almost say there's never been a better time to experiment with the hobby! Find a local store and take a class, or leave me a comment if you want more information about any of the techniques shown here. Enjoy!

She was as surprised as we were...

I was so proud I thought I would cry. Each year, the 8th grade band students vote on who wins the "Outstanding 8th Grade Band Member." Criteria include leadership in the band, helping others, attitude, and so on. The Director gets power of ratification and veto. Only a few students are chosen, and it's a pretty big honor. No one knows who will be picked until it's announced. She was one of the students chosen this year. I should add that I really wasn't surprised, because I know that she is totally deserving of the award. Still, the not knowing ahead of time made it a wonderful surprise for all of us!

I'm in a writing mood

I get these moods sometimes...not bad moods, not necessarily good moods--but more of a happy melancholy, a weird mixup of things that shouldn't work together but they do. I call them "writing moods," and when I was younger (a lot younger) I used them to write poetry. Some of it was actually pretty good. I placed in collegiate contests and was published in collegiate papers, and even sold one to a magazine once. (I actually sold two of my poems...only one was published and that happened about 10 years after I sold it to them--I'd married and changed my name. Still, if you go to http://www.lds.org/, and search for "Dianne K. Reese," you'll get my poem).

Since I'm not feeling the poetry thing, I guess I'll blog.

Things on my mind--I'm ready to make some personal changes--usual things like diet and exercise, but my motivation feels truer, and I feel like I'm going to follow through better. I like myself better when I get some exercise and when I eat better. And, since I'm not getting any younger, and I would really like another 40 years (at least!) of good life, I'm going to make those changes. And the surprising thing is that I want to make them. For the first time in a long time I was able to lead all of the music in church without having my upper arms get achy by the 4th verse of a hymn. I know that sounds pathetic, but it's a pretty big accomplishment. I've also been thinking about my "40 things to do before I'm 40" list. I've just been rattling around some thigns in my head. I'm open to suggestions---anyone? Just leave me a comment. I'm sure I'll be inspired.

Yesterday I was really efficient AND effective (one of my personal goals is to alway be both if I can...). I did the dishes, wiped counters, tried my hand at making yogurt (not successful the first time but still good in smoothies), cleaned the fish tank, fed kids, made samples, did laundry, planted seeds in one of those windowsill greenhouses (the radishes sprouted today!!!), achieved a new medal on facebook Bejeweled Blitz, finished a library book, started another, picked up in the living room, drove to Salem to drop off my samples, and so on....it felt pretty powerful to take care of my family. And when I remembered that, I didn't feel like such a martyr that so much was left for me to take care of. After all, it's my job. I'm the Mom. Mom's take care of things. I love being a Mom. I really do. I remind myself of that when I get grumbly that I seem to be the ONLY person taking care of things. Someday my babies will leave me and then I'll still have to take care of things without the benefit of nighttime snuggles and daytime hugs. Then I'll REALLY be grumbly! (l0l) Better to concentrate on feeling powerful that I can take care of them so well.

Anyway, it's getting time for bed. I'm getting rambly. I just wanted to take advantage of my writing mood and write something. Let me know if you have any suggestions for my 40/40 List. I'd love to read them!

Breathing Room

I've missed posting, I really have. One of the goals I had for myself about a month ago was to find a way to include some good things in my life and limit some other things. That meant computer time was limited. I'm on the computer A LOT for my work...so much so that I wasn't making time for other good things---like laundry (not really a good thing, but BAD if you have no clothes!) or cleaning, or exercise--something I really need.

I find that I just need some breathing room. I'm pretty happy with how exercise is falling into place--and even though this week was haphazard and all over the place, my house was getting cleaner--which makes me happy and less stressed.

My birthday was great! I've done my usual self-portrait--but I'm finding that I need a longer arm! They are starting to look the same to me. I've had some time with the boys, but not yet with J. I'll post soon--plus I'm making a list of 40 things to do before I'm 40! One of the first was to sing karaoke--it's hard to believe that I can sing in 5 languages but I've NEVER sang karaoke! We went to a family pizza place for my birthday with that as my goal--and I sang not once, but twice! I predict at least one more stop there this year. Anyway, I have some goals and plans and want to make my little corner of the 'net a great place for you to visit this next year (from birthday to birthday that is...) Stick around! It'll get better.

In the meantime, What do you do for breathing room? I'd love to read your comments!~