What's in a name?

I don't have any "Creative" stuff to share today. I was rather tired and yesterday was a long day, so I napped when Nate napped and used my other ounce of free time to exercise since I am way slacking.
However, I was thinking of posting and updating on Nate, etc. when this quote popped in my head:
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet- Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

This started when I was thinking about them giving Nate a diagnosis. Well, I'm a SPED teacher- I use a diagnosis as a guidepost, not a label per say. I also am one of those people that feel comforted by having a "name" for something. I don't do well floating in limbo. Nate can still be considered Speech/Language Impaired or developmental delay. However, he also meets the criteria for Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified. PDD-NOS, as it is called, is on the Autism Spectrum. It's basically what a kid is when they have some Autistic tendencies but not enough to be labeled as having Autism.

I have known it for awhile. Especially after the ear tubes and he went "zombie" on us for awhile. He has responded so well to the gluten/casein/soy/corn free diet and low phenols (thing no colored fruits, veggies, etc). He is responding to mb12 shots and all the other supplements. I want to smack any doctor that hasn't recommended kids with similar characteristics try these types of things. If we had stayed at our regular pediatrician, he wouldn't have even gotten him a speech eval until he was 2. That's 1 month from now~ Because I know what I know and have friends that a speech therapists, he began services at 18 months.

Anyway, the point is, that no matter the name, it is what it is and Nate is Nate. He's a happy very intelligent child, that is stubborn and can look "different' at times. In the end though, I know he'll be fine. No matter how much a pain in the butt all this is, the results have already been worth it. Our next endeavor is to rid his body of excess yeast. His yeast indicator should've been lower than 16 mmol but instead is was 398!! That's a HUGE deal!!

I've also had some health setbacks. I'm thinking sheer exhaustion, stress. We thought it was the beginning of a Lupus flare but not so sure. I go to the rheumatologist tomorrow either way. I am also being strict about the diet as it is beneficial for me. I will try some of the other supplements as well. There is so many similarities between autoimmune diseases and the problems that kids with 'Autistic" like behaviors...

Anyway, I hope to be able to share some cards, etc. Tomorrow! Hope everyone is having a fab week!

Busy bee!

Life has been extremely busy. Unfortunately, I've had some health issues and dealing with all of Nate's stuff has been hard. Good thing is school is out for the summer so I have had creative time. Several projects are hush hush for the paper wings online seminar! I am going to share to small things with you though :)

First- For a SCS swap with an ocean theme: I can NOT get it to post the right way, argh! I will work on it. Anyway, used TAC something's fishy and Just Because. Inside says "we're friends!". Fish were stamped on twinkling H20 covered paper and colored with stickles and sparkly gel pens. Paper is from SEI. It's simple but cute!

Next is a quickie card. I used TAC Little Friends and In Bloom (lvl B hostess set). I watercolored both the flowers and the chickie. I stamped sentiment from Little Friends on this great american crafts felt tag I found at big lots for 2 bucks!! I love these tags and they're easy to stamp on! Paper is from DCWV Nana's Kids. Ric Rac is also AC.

I hope to have lots more this week! and I'll try to get that pic fixed! Happy Monday!

Hello, Goodbye

I almost forgot that this week is the last week I will be working with my dear friend, Foxy. Foxy is a phenomonal teacher and has turned around 3 hard groups of kids. She is an amazing reading teacher and has taught ME everything I know. We started our jobs at our elem. school the same year. She was right across the hall from me for the last 3 yrs. We've gone through some tough years and also had fun. She'll be going to a new school as a 3rd grade teacher where I hope she is appreciated as much as I know I appreciate her. Love ya Foxy!





Well, here is a goodbye, hello gift for her: things she can hopefully display in her new classroom and remember her old buddy from across the hall :)

I broke out the ole cuttlebug to emboss the background. I used Wasau CS- new find at Target. Not too bad actually. Patterned paper is from K and Company Wild Saffron. Stamps from the old Gnome set from SU. Drawing a blank on the name.

I used some SU wood blocks I didn't use to mount stamps to make these name blocks for her. Paper is from CTMH Silouhette collection. American Crafts rub ons. The other side has coordinating paper and the edges are lined with rickrack since they're thin blocks.

Finally, is another collage using the silouhette paper and stamps from Happy Harmony (SU, 07 saleabration). I embossed the dandelions in gold on the transparency. I am also entering this in a martha stewart contest since the shadow box is by MSC.

I also made some items for Paper Wings but they're hush hush until the reveal! I know MFT, H and M stamps, Treehouse Stamps and Pink Cat Studio all have reveals soon- can't wait to see what they have in store!

Since this is the last week of school, I probably won't post until next weekend. Until then, hope everyone has a fantabulous week!!

Mother's Day Collages

Well, third post in a row. WOW! I am pushing it! But, I am behind in sharing my creations. I just want to get them out there.




Our Michael's has Martha Stewart Shadow Boxes on clearance for $3.00. They're heavy duty chipboard that is fabric covered. I loaded up on these babies. Well, I came up with an idea on a whim and am happy with how they turned out.









I made a collage for my mom and my MIL for mother's day. I used an old retired SU set I bought off ebay last year along with a stampabilities french script background my SIL gave me. I masked the image to get the background around it in Palette Noir. I used a heat tool to try it. I cut various sizes of coordinating paper and attached them using 3D glue dots. I adhered the transparency to the paper using crystal glaze- it dries clear! I embellished using primas, paper flowers, and tags.

This is my MIL's using CTMH Silouhette Paper.

This is my Mom's, using TAC Amberley Grace Paper. Sorry for the glare, I am not a professional photographer :)

Here is the matching card for Mom.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

New Rubbah- Treehouse Stamps

Well, here is another installment showing off some new rubbah I've acquired over the last month or so. I found Treehouse Stamps from Markie's Mom's blog. She had done some beautiful things with this tree frog stamp. I had to have it. Plus, my friend Jen's birthday was coming up and she is a FROG-fanatic so it was perfect for her! I purchased 2 sets, plus one for her, 2 singles and got 1 mini set free! Fabulous deal and shipping was quick!

This card features my favorite tree frog from So Hoppy by Treehouse Stamps. He is colored using prisma markers, prisma h20's and gamsol. The Peace and Ying Yang come from the Make a Difference set by Treehouse. Paper is from SEI.

Another take on the same design.

This uses stamps from the Make a Difference set. All paper is from SEI as well.

Finally is a birthday card using Treehouse's cupcake single stamps. This is one of the YUMMIEST cupcake stamps ever! I stamped the cupcake on white, then on an old SU designer paper. I paper pieced the cupcake wrapper. I think filled in the icing with liquid applique. While wet, I put on the "sprinkles" (beads) and then heated it to puff it. Finally, I used a glue pen and my pink fun flock to give some oompf to the cherry on top. Sentiment is from TAC.

I hope you all enjoy these stamps as much as I do! I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Long Needed Update, New Stamps Part I!!

Hi all!

Well, I finished my 6 week class in 3 weeks. WHEW! What a task. But, I officially completed all licensure requirements and am 9 credits away from my Master's in Special Education. WOOHOO! I am super excited.

Nate is doing much better- we have gotten back to some sort of "normalcy". He is waking at night but, for limited times compared to his sleeping only 4 hrs during the day we had pre-May. I thank God everynight- please continue prayers to help Nate continue to progress!!

TAC has some specials I will email out. But, I have been playing with some GORGEOUS new rubbah! The first are from Clear Dollar Stamps:

This card uses the Spread your Wings set from Clear Dollar Stamps. I've ordered several sets from Lori at Clear Dollar Stamps and love the quality and the designs! Paper is TAC Amberley Grace. Ink- Palette Cognac and Burnt Umber

This is another quick card featuring CDStamps Spread your Wings. I watercolored the beautiful birdy and used my new Amy Butler paper. I think it is simple but elegant.

Finally, is card from the Bountiful Blessings Stamp Set. I adore this stamp set. It is very versatile. I used a very vibrant color combo- Palette Orangerie and Versamark Ocean ink. Paper is from SEI.

I made this card also using the bountiful blessings set. It coordinates with the gift I made my MIL for Mother's Day. Paper is from CTMH Silouhette collection. Ink is Palette Noir and Haystack. I used my martha stewart hydrangea punch for the flowers. Sentiment is again from SU's One of a Kind set.

Tomorrow I will update with more cards from another stamp company, Treehouse Stamps.

Happy almost Friday all!

Long Time, No Post!

Hi all!

It's been awhile since I posted but I'm back! Nate has been doing much better and sleeping 9-12 hrs a night! Praise God! We're finally getting some normalcy in my house, which is fabulous.



I have a ton of stuff to share but I haven't had the time to post- I'm putting some of it up today and I'll try and add stuff throughout the week!

This is a card I made for a Swap on SCS hosted by Tracy! The frog swap was a lot of fun! I used my cuttlebug embossing folder to emboss the background. I then used MME's Magnolia paper, distressed, and added the little froggie from the TAC LE bittypond set. Iused bazzill leapfrog ink and edged it with Palette reflection blue. The white square is edged with Palette orangerie and of course, I used Noir. Top it off with a few primas!

My next card was from Tracy's ladybug swap! I used the squiggle ladybug I got from a TAC grabbag. The white flowers on the pink (that perfectly match the paper I must add) are from SU's Always set. I used aloe vera versamagic spot for the butterfly and clear embossed it. I edged the white square with the same ink. Inside the little white flap says "cute as a bug". I also used White Palette Ink, SU ribbon, SU Pretty in Pink paper, and DP from DCWV Nana's Nursery!

I will post some mother's day gifts and some other fun cards I made throughout the week so check back! Hopefully I won't get behind again- as long as Nate continues to do well!

Happy Monday all!