When Good Pumpkins Go Bad
I couldn't resist. The kids carved pumpkins with their aunt much earlier this month, and this is what happens (obviously) after sitting out in the heat of our lovely fall weather.
What our your plans for Halloween? Mine? I've got 2 kids parties at the school to help host, a trunk-or-treat at the church, a little trick-or-treating, and pizza and a movie with my dad and brother. Wishing you a wonderful and safe day!
Happy Halloween!!

I Planted My Very First Seed!!


In the 2Peas Garden that is. :) To see more of the little house album, you can check it out here at 2Peas.

I am so honored to be a part of this amazing group. I feel challenged and creative all at once. What a blessing!!
Loooong Day!

I don't know what my problem is, but I'm waking up at 4 a.m. (or even sometimes 3:30 a.m.) every stinkin' morning. Finally today, I actually got up and got some work done, but SHEESH!! I think it might be all the chocolate I've been consuming lately in an effort to celebrate Halloween--I mean a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do--right?!! So the past 2 days I've eaten VERY healthy and absolutely NO chocolate. No headaches--that's a good sign. But still waking up bright and early. Ah well. Guess I should count my blessings and get things done. I just wish I were both awake and alert. LOL!

Today was the "finally get all those things on my to-do list accomplished or else" day. So I . . .

* did a few loads of laundry
* completed a few Karen Foster projects
* uploaded a layout at 2Peas for the weekly challenge (see below)
* took kids to school
* taught Katelyn her piano lesson
* hung out with my brother who is staying with us this week
* delivered a few cards to some very special people
* made phone calls like mad
* printed out my agenda for my church meeting tonight
* and put my SUPER ornery boy to bed for a nap that will totally mess up his sleep schedule

I'm exhausted--caught a few zzzzzz's while the kids were at school. Hate that I have to nap, but I guess by 1 p.m. I've been up for nine hours. No wonder I'm tired.

What did you accomplish today? (I love to see what other people's lives are like--we can commiserate--right?!!)

Happy Saturday!

Sittin' in my office working away while the hubby puts shelving in my office to hold all the junk that's been on the floor for who knows how long. Makes me happy to think I might see carpet again soon. (He wants to know if I can keep it that way--no promises, babe!)

Hoping to get some photos of the kids with these gorgeous fall leaves in our neighborhood. It's almost 70 degrees today, and I'm not sure how long that will last. Is it cold yet where you are? I am ready to by-pass Halloween and head straight for Christmas. Yep. I'm feelin' the Christmas spirit already. Bought Katelyn a Christmas piano book. She loves it!! I love hearing how talented she is.
Today I finished up a few Little Yellow Bicycle projects. This one is a layoug using the "Delightful" line. They are right in tune with the natural elements we're seeing everywhere: butterflies, birds, twigs, and flowers. I love this stamp set so much. :)


And because it Halloween is first and NOT Christmas, I made a Halloween card and 2 shaker boxes filled with candy corn. The boxes were cut with the "Bags, Tags, and Boxes" Cricut Cartridge. I'm trying to break those out more often to justify the purchase of it. LOL!



And here is a close-up shot:


Well, I'd better head out and take those photos or at least gather items for them: matching clothing, tripod--you know the drill. ;) Have a great weekend!

Whoooo Scored on Some Good Deals Today?

I did! Robert's Crafts was having a 75% off all Halloween and Fall items. This little guy came home for $2. I got some fabric crows for $1.50. I also grabbed some fake pumpkins, fake green pears, a cornucopia, and a Haunted House tealight holder. Love little things that make photo shoots more fun. :) I didn't grab anything big. I just don't enjoy putting up huge displays for holidays any more. Fun to put up, fun to enjoy, a pain to take down. :(

Are you ready for Halloween? Yes and no for me. (If I would stop eating all the candy, that might help. LOL!)

Here's a St. Patrick's Day card that didn't get picked up. I think the little leprechaun is rather cute, don't ya think?


Well, better get back to work. A couple of looming deadlines, and I'm trying hard to stay ahead of the game.




Just an October Day

Yep, that's what it looks like today except that the sky is a much darker shade of blue. Gorgeous. I took this one sitting in the car waiting for Jimmy to get out of school. I shot above the cars in the parking lot so it cut off a bit of the trees. This is one thing I LOVE about living in Utah--beautiful leaves. :)

Not much going on here--survived my daughter's 12th birthday slumber party last week--six girls stayed the night. They graciously fell asleep by 12:30 p.m. I am quite happy about that. They were all very nice. We had a Masquerade Party theme and they could wear a costume or a dress. We served a 3 course meal, and Jimmy served as both Butler and Waiter. Too cute I tell you! Then we played lots and lots of games and then watched a movie. I was more exhausted than the girls. Kate proceeded to take a 6 hour nap on her actual birthday--bless her heart! I knew she would.

Working a bit. Finished up my article for the February ST issue. Ran a few errands. Trying to figure out what we're doing for Family Home Evening tonight. Maybe we should go over and visit my Mom. It's her b-day too this month, but she hasn't been feeling too well. :( And my Dad gets home from California in a few hours. I've missed them both a lot!

Nothing creative to show you. Working with a new line from Little Yellow Bicycle--so stinkin' cute!! And I think I'll be seeing some new lines from Karen Foster in the next bit. I love that!!

What are you up to these days?

The Winner of the Christmas Magic Stamp Set!

The winner by random drawing is
ShellyJ
Please e-mail with your address (js_gallacher@hotmail.com) and I'll get it out to you.

What's Your Talent?

I know I posted yesterday, but that was a boring entry. ;)

Came across this layout published in the August Issue of Scrapbook Trends. Kara Henry's theme was talents. My daughter took the above photo of my youngest holding a lego artwork she had created. I loved the photo composition (she thought it was weird that I liked his cut-off head), and I really wanted to document her amazing artistic talent--even with Legos.

So that got me thinking? What is your talent? Tell me a unique thing you can do or an accomplishment you're proud of.

Hmmm. Let me think. Something I'm uniquely good at. I used to be able to sight read nearly any piece of music. I can't memorize to save my life, but if I hear a piece and then see the music I could play it. Now that I don't play as much it's getting harder. The hands don't keep up with the eyes any more. I guess I need to thank my Mom for all those years of piano lessons that I whined and moaned about. (And Katie, see you will thank me one day for making you do the same thing.) ;)

Oh, and I'm a fast reader. Unless I really love a book, I don't read every word. I read down the middle of the page looking for themes and ideas. Weird, but it got me through high school and college and I still retain much of what I've read--unless it's a long-ish battle scene and then it doesn't click--BORING!!

Speaking of reading--have you read "An Ordinary Man"? Life-changing book. A little violent, but necessarily so. His words are so powerful!




K, so I'm waiting to hear your talents?


I think We Need a Giveaway. :)

Yep. It's that time again. Before I get caught up in deadlines and life, I think I need to give some goodies away. Post a message, and I'll send the lucky winner a brand new set of these "Christmas Magic" stamps from Little Yellow Bicycle:



Note: they are clear acrylic so you will need a mounting block for them. :) I'll pick a winner Saturday morning.


The Back Story

What an amazing few days it has been! Seriously. Some very big up's and down's. But I thought you might want to know the back story behind my Garden Girl invitation. I love "True Hollywood" stories. :) So I'll be a total geek and tell mine. LOL!

You know I've been playing around at Stamptoberfest on 2Peas. Ever since Inque Boutique was bought out and we haven't worked as designers for them any more, I've really missed stamping. I've told you before how cathartic I find it. So I was more than happy to have an excuse to be stamping again--and I love the Little Yellow Bicycle stamps so I was playing with both my "Frightful" and "Christmas Magic" stamps. That reminds me--I have an extra "Christmas Magic" stamp set to give away in the next few days. It's DARLING!!

So anyhoo, I'm playing along at 2Peas and loading stuff into the stamping gallery and feeling happy and dealing with some blues when I get a fabulous phone call from one of the companies I've stepped down from asking me to come back. It was an amazing opportunity, but I told them that I needed to think about it.

So I come upstairs and am checking my e-mail when I see a happy faced e-mail from Miss Melanie Bauer. "Would you like to be a gg?" was the gist of it. And that's when I lost all semblance of "cool." I was jumping up and down and screaming like a banshee. You see, ever since I discovered 2Peas I have dreamed of being a Garden Girl. I believe their designers are the among the finest, and I'm always going there for inspiration from the gallery or to read about good people's lives or their publishing successes, or to shop (of course). It's a great site for the complete scrapbooking package.

My e-mail reply was totally dorky: something along the lines of "Heck yeah, baby!" (I do live in Utah after all.) ;)

Unfortunately I had to turn down the offer from my other company, and I am sad to say "good-bye" to good friends at that position. But I am thrilled to be working in a community of such amazing people--I will NEVER forget how they supported and loved me during Joey's illness and passing. I am truly blessed to be involved with such amazing people.

So that's my story. (Told you I was a goober!) But I think it's great to get excited over things--the first time you make a layout that you love, the first time you get the publication request (I still love that), the first time you receive a check for your hard work, the first time you make a DT. And every time after that is just as amazing! Isn't this industry fun??!!

On a lower note, I learned that a very good friend of mine from college passed away earlier this year from cancer and I didn't know and missed his funeral. I am devastated as he left his beautiful wife and five children behind. He was a vibrant, happy person who made my transition from high school to college such a lovely time. I have spent many hours mourning his departure. I just cannot imagine the suffering his family is going through (and yet, on some level--I know). And I think about what all families go through as they lose their loved ones. It is such an unbearably painful time. My heart and prayers go out to those who are in that situation right now. I just wouldn't wish those awful moments on any one. And to my wonderful friend: Love you, Rob!!

(Note: the above card was published in Paper Crafts: Stamp It! issue of this year.)
Guess What? :)

Have you been to 2Peas lately? I'm so excited that I could hardly sleep last night. Yeah, I'm a big dope! LOL!
Doing Better Today

Thank you for all of your supportive comments. Today I'm feeling a little better. Sometimes when I'm nervous or have stress in my life, I get a little down. Plus sometimes I just miss Joey. I think it will always spring up on me like that. I wish it wouldn't, but I also know that when you love someone as much as we loved Joey I am going to mourn even if I have faith that he is in a beautiful place and well again.

I may have jury selection/duty tomorrow. I am SO dreading it. I get VERY nervous about certain social situations--and that would definitely be one. Flying is another. I hate that about myself, and I have worked and worked for years to change it. I just haven't found the best solution yet. So wish me luck--that I won't get called up and that I won't freak out. ;)

I'm still creating. I'm so assignment driven so I've loved the stamping challenges at 2Peas this week. It helps me think outside the box and try new things.

I made this card and used the "argyle" embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I love this new folder. I'm realizing that I love neutral patterns and this really works for me. The products are Little Yellow Bicycle's "Christmas Magic" which must be shipping soon because I just got my product box. YUMMERS!! Seriously gorgeous glittered, and foiled, and flocked goodies. Beautiful!!



I love this card. I think it's the blue, green and red combo. It's a little outside the box for typicaly Christmas colors. Again, using that embossing template, and LYB product. I told you this line was GORGEOUS!! :)

And I had fun trying something new with this project. It's a peanut can, cleaned out, and repurposed with LYB Christmas products. I made a bunch of Christmas tags to go inside the bag. On one side of the tag is an embossed/stamped snowflake and on the other side is the to/from and a Versmark stamped snowflake. Quick and easy project. (Those glittered brads are also LYB). :)



And I got some photos from Jessi Stringham from my SU party. Here's one of Loni, Jessi, Robyn, and I. She has an awesome camera as my living room was not this well lit. :)


And here's one of Robyn and I. She is so uber talented. I'm so grateful that she would come up and share her awesome gift with my friends and I. Thanks to all who came!!



Well, I've got to finish the laundry and get ready for my friend Amber to visit. I haven't seen her since I moved from Georgia. I'm so excited!! :)
Feeling Down Today

I'm not sure what it is, but I'm missing Joey terribly today and feel really blue. I'm trying to fight it by creating a bit. It has helped a little. But I think I'll just curl up with a good book for a while and try to shake it that way. :( Don't know why it hits like that out of the blue, but it bothers me when it's a beautiful day and everyone around me is happy and I'm not. It's kind of an uncomfortable feeling--like I'm lost in a crowd. Hopefully it will pass.

Still playing along with Stamptoberfest at 2Peas. Here's my creations today:

A Halloween card using the Frightful line from Little Yellow Bicycle:


And this "together" card using the Bella Vita stamps and products from Little Yellow Bicycle:


Well, I'm off to go and read. We're reading a new book for book club, and I haven't started it. Not wanting to. Probably part of the way I'm feeling today. Maybe I'll try and read something lighter. Hopefully I'll get to do some more stamping tomorrow. I really love it. Something about inking up an object and making a work of art that makes me feel better. :) See ya around!
Stamptoberfest

Did you see over at 2Peas they are having a stamp celebration? After stamping with Robyn and friends on Saturday, I was so in the stamping mood. So the kids and I spent time together making things. I made a few cards. Then I remembered there are a bunch of challenges over here at 2Peas. There are lots of challenges, and since I'm in the mood I'm doing a few of them.

You should totally join in!!

Remember that Girl Skull stamp from Imaginisce that I got for $.89? This is what I made over the weekend with it:




Then I bought a second Imaginisce stamp to make this. (The pattern paper is Pebbles, Inc. and so very cute!! You should see the back side of it too--darling green circles.)

And then I finally used this awesome circle tag set from Autumn Leaves that Jennifer McGuire sent me a while ago. They are lovely, and after Robyn's amazing classes I knew I wanted to play with them. I made a card and tag in both color sets. I may give these as a gift to my Mom (no looking, Mom!).


In addition to stamping over the weekend, I got to listen to our LDS Conference talks. They are uplifting and always remind me of what's most important. President Monson's talk on remembering how short time is and how quickly we our loved ones return to Heavenly Father was particularly poignant for me. I disappoint myself sometimes in how I forget how precious time is and that I need to relax and enjoy every moment with my kids. You don't think you'll forget that lesson, but in moments of exhaustion or stress I still sometimes lose my patience and forget to treasure even the bad times. I suppose we all do this. But it was good to be reminded.

So an uplifting conference and stamping--it was an awesome weekend!


Halloween Stamp Set Winner!

And the winner by random drawing is . . .

Nikki H

Please e-mail me your address and I'll get that to you.

Thanks everyone for playing along. I need to do this more often. It's a great way to give out extras, and you all say the nicest things. :)

My Stampin' Up Party was last night. Robyn went above and beyond and made the most DARLING projects!! We were creating like crazy. It was so fun to meet her in person. She is just as nice as I thought she'd be.

You know I realized that this little hobby turned job has allowed me to meet the coolest people. Last night there were old friends, new neighbors, people from two different magazines, people I've never met. And we all laughed and worked and had a great time. I feel so rejuvenated after I do that. I really do love what scrapbooking has done for me--creatively and professionally. I feel truly blessed. :)

Jump for Joy the Day's Nearly Over!


It was such a weird day today. I was cleaning out the fridge and dropped my eggs on the floor. GROSS mess to clean up.


I walked up the stairs with something and set it at the top of our very wide railing only to watch it tumble all the way back down the stairs. ARG!!


I went to the bank to cash a check--no available funds.


I tried to call my husband to talk about it--left my phone at home.


I went to a store to purchase a costume for my dd and looked down to see that my debit card expired on October 1st.


I came home to complain to my husband about it only to have him hand me the envelope with my new card inside.


What a weird day!! I'm so glad it's over. :)
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