On my Mind...

Every little thing I do, you're on my mind, on my mind...

*image from Saturated Canary

I can't stop thinking about (and missing) my husband.  So I made this little SMASH page with a hidden journal spot.

You know how they say absence makes the heart grow fonder?  Well I'm pretty sure my heart has grown at least 3 sizes bigger in fondness this year for all the absence I've had to endure this past year.  I praise you single mothers, bless your hearts, this mommy is beat.

Also entering this page in the Challenge #14 for Saturated Canary.

Shabby Chic Lingerie Hanger (Kit Swap)

I'm so excited to share a wonderful kit swap I participated in with my MAMA group.  We each gathered, prepared and mailed supplies to one gal and received a kit of goodies of our own with the intent to make a Shabby Chic Lingerie Hanger.

Here is the hanger I made with all the wonderful supplies from Denise.  Boy did she ever spoil me!

It was such a great pleasure using lots and lots of the items she sent to make this hanger.  And, there are still some pieces left to play with later.  What fun!

Since I had some on hand, I decided to use an old pants hanger on the outside of the doily instead of a regular hanger underneath.  I couldn't bear to take the buttons off the old card, so I just tied it on with some seam binding.

I can't believe Denise even sent me a frozen Charlotte.  I *LOVE* these to pieces, and I have to admit, this is the first time I have used one in a project.  My three others (two heads, one tiny full size) I just look at, afraid to actually put them on something.  For this petite lil' thing I made a seam binding skirt and a duel-floral headpiece.  I started the headpiece with only the white rose, but it looked too much like a towel turban, so I added the pink to set it off.

  I really went to town embellishing with all the bits and bobs and trims.  What a joy it was to PLAY!

I laced the sides with ribbon and hand gathered the bottom to pucker the pocket a bit.

I made this big ol' flower with strips of script fabric and two kinds of lace, then added more baubles.  Told you she spoiled me silly!

I just love this pink-edged piece that I put at the bottom of my hanger.  Pretty sure I squealed when I saw it.

Here is the inside of the pocket, which I lined with the ultra shabby-chic pink plaid.  See why this was such fun.  It turned out to be one of my favorite projects (as MAMA kit swaps often are).  Thank you so much again Denise for your thoughtful and beyond amazing kit.  I was, and am, and will be, tickled PINK every time I look at it!

I *Smash

After weeks (or months really) of obsessing, I finally got a Smash book today.  The pink one.  This little beauty was on my Christmas wish list oh so long ago.  I could have hardly expected my hubby to pick just the right one.  Oh who am I kidding, I love them all and any of the books or accessories would have worked.  And because it was the last one there, I got the stamp today also. *smashed MAR 09 2012

So here is my first Smash page.  I colored the "Circus Trixie" image from Saturated Canary this week and ended up loving her so much I wanted to keep her.  Naptime = Smash time.  That song, "I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee," comes to mind... "I'm smashing up my copic colored Trixie!" 

This image shows the sparkle better.

Oh I had so much fun with this page.  I can tell I am going to love me some Smashing!

My plan on the other side of this spread is to journal about the circus-ness of life and taking pleasure in it all.  Juggling, walking the tight rope, swinging through the air hoping you hit your mark, etc.

 I am entering this in Saturated Canary's

Challenge #12 ~ *Doilies*!

and also linking up to the Smash Hop.

blue, MISS you

So much to share in this post.  :)  First, my lovely and talented friend Mary gave away a $25 gift certificate to Saturated Canary Digis on her birthday.  Isn't she the sweetest?  Well guess what, I won.  Boy was I tickled too, as I had been coveting admiring them as I watched her color some of these beautiful, fun images.

So here is my first creation with one of the digis I got called Honey.  I made it for the Saturated Canary Challenge #11 to make a card that is neither square nor rectangle.

I love this digi SO much because of these pictures I have of my older daughter Tessa (now 5!) in my brother's combat boots.  These were taken a couple years ago when he lived with us.

She stole them as he was getting ready to leave for work.

And then she began to pose.

 

Vogue.

So anyhow, I'm going to send this card to my brother who is still in the Air Force, but is currently stationed in Korea.

You know what they say about clouds right?  This photo shows off the sparkle a little better.

She sure was fun to color.

Especially these boots!

  

Happy

Happy.  Yes.

Happy I get the chance to create.

 

Happy I get to give.  It has always blessed my heart to put together presents and surprises for others.  This heart I made went to Kris for a MAMA swap.

Happy I found a bunch of Vintage Valentine Postcards at an antique store last year.  I have been having all kinds of fun with them.  Here I shrunk one to add to the heart's pocket.  I so need to share them, I completely forgot this year.  Maybe I will do a belated Love Post.

So happy my daughter (honest to goodness) read her first word this morning.  It was LOVE, read off a conversation heart.  She must have remembered it from last week when we were writing Valentine cards to her preschool friends.  I wrote it out for her to look at and copy.  And today she held out her candy and said, "Does this say 'LOVE?'"

Happy Valentine's Day

**Happy 100th Birthday Arizona!**  Oh Arizona, yes, the Grand Canyon State.  We all adore you and think you are great.  Your sunsets have a magic gleam, Arizona bring us a dreeeeaaamm!  Sorry, I break into song every so often... I'm lying it happens all the time.  That one is from 5th grade choir.  Heehee!

Happy, delighted, giddy, overwhelmed with joy that I get to stay home with my little girls.  Tessa starts kindergarten this year, yikes.  I am so taking advantage of this special time with my itty bitties.  I made them heart shaped cinnamon rolls this morning.  Pinterest idea.

Sharing this with you makes me happy. Thank you for letting me, and a happy day to you!

Tea Stained Cone

I am acquiring a strong affection for creamy neutrals.  It was such a delight to feed my desires when I made this cone for Rhonda for a Valentine swap with my Marie Antoinette Mail Art group.  Imagine my glee when she requested a tea-stained color theme.

This cone is so fun in person because when you twist it, it sways almost flapper-like.

I made these flowers out of strips of tea-stained fabrics.

The inside is covered with vintage sheet music.

This back view shows the base, damask looking fabric I upcycled from a dress I bought at Goodwill.  I was so please with how nicely the different patterns turned out in the tea bath.  Also, it was a bit stretchy which made it much easier when I covered the cone.

A crystal attached to the bottom of the cone.  Sweet Rhonda said she hung it in her window to catch the light, clever gal! 

And here are the goodies I stuffed inside.

A  heart tin/jello mold filled with trim, buttons and a "7" for Rhonda's lucky number.

This little bag was filled with several different laces and trims.  This taupey, iridescent sequin trim is one of my favorites.

 Hand wrapped Dove chocolates, lace and extra tea-stained fabrics.

And last but not least, itty bitty Valentines that I copied from all my vintage postcards.  Such fun to create!

You know you're a mother when... (Roses and Thorns)

You know you're a mother when...

• You (indulgently) spoon feed a sick princess chicken soup, so she can give Mickey Mouse her undivided attention.

• You pour your luke-warm, okay face it... cold, chicken soup into a tall, clear drinking glass to gulp down on your drive to the dentist.  (Hey, at least you brushed and flossed this morning, right? Yes, pretty sure, you think, running your tongue over your teeth between chugs of noodles.)

• The second your head touches your pillow, the princess' creeps off hers and you realize its tomorrow already.

• You sit in a steaming bathroom peering by nightlight into the face of an angel who keeps catching you looking and through her weariness smiles at you every time which makes your heart flutter.

• In between feeling sorry for your boo, and blissfully enjoying the cuddling, you wonder... does this sauna-like room count as exercise?  Did I remember deodorant this morning?

• You let said sick princess crawl into your bed and listen to her breathe for a few hours.

• You give up your pillow-top mattress for the carpet next to princess' bed and you're sure she is breathing better in her humidified, cherry menthol smelling room.

Some times there are thorns...

But oh the Roses.