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!

New Stamps, wahoo!

Well, today was a rough day because Nate didn't fall asleep until 5 am last night. We were ALMOST on a schedule and then he ate too many strawberries Friday and it messed his tummy up. We're working to get him back on schedule.

BUT, there was some sunshine because A) when Nate woke up he was in a good mood and B) I got my new stamps from My Favorite Things and PaperTrey Ink! I didn't get much creative time this weekend because I was finishing school projects but I got an hr today while Nate was napping.

The first is the April mini from My Favorite Things.

Stamps- MFT; Ink- Palette Noir; Prisma Markers, SU Caramel Marker, American Crafts Ribbon, and retired SU Sarah DP.

This little beauty, the greatest gift, is Father Knows Best from PaperTrey Ink. My background was made using my cuttlebug and inking over it.

Ink- Palette Noir and Burnt Umber; Paper- SU Apple Cider DP, SU Very Vanilla, Bazzill Rust, SU Earth Elements Markers

Well enjoy the cards, I hope you get some inspiration!

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger

Well, it's been a long week and it's only Tuesday! Nate still is having sleeping difficulties. Because of his language delay, history of stomach problems and sleep difficulty, his doctor recommended that try a gluten free casein free diet similar to those used to treat Autism. At this point, Nate has no diagnosis- it would be too early to say and even if he did, it would be mild. However, it has been shown the gfcf diet helps significantly for children with language delays. We're also starting mB12 shots- we saw a change in 1 day after the first shot.



The funny thing is that in many kids diagnosed with Autism, it's not a clear cut deal. In fact, many of them have some Autistic like behavior (don't we all?) that are cleared up by diet changes. The Gluten and Casein intolerance (think wheat and dairy) causes a chemical imbalance that creates these behaviors. We'll give it a try for at least 3 mos and see if it helps his speech, tummy and sleep. We REALLY want it to help the sleep as there hasn't been much here lately!





As much as I'd like to come to terms with the fact that we may have a son with learning difficulties, I am having a hard time. I am so thankful for him, as always, and I know it could be a lot worse but man, it's really hard. This is especially true when you have such little sleep..



I did go to Shannon's crop- I didn't get to stay long because of Nate not sleeping. Hopefully Nate will get sleep soon and May even will be more productive for me! I got to create a couple of cards last night and a scrapbook page today. Here goes..




Both cards use the Inkadinkado set "Bird Galore". I used my Martha border punch on the first card and a fiskars punch on the second. I finally used by CTMH distressing tool- LOVE it. Both cards use paper from the American Crafts Play collection- on sale now at the bungalow! Gorgeous paper and with the birds, has a real retro feel! I also used my boho flower punch from SU on the first card- the first card is definitely one of my favorites I've made ever.


I've been reading Ali Edwards' book Life Artist (you can order it from Shannon!) and she stresses simplicity. I tried to simplfy my layout today:

I am finally scrappin Thanksgiving pictures, lol. I used SU Apple Cider paper, and River Rock paper. I think it's a cute layout and goes against "traditional" Thanksgiving. Ali stresses to do what you want to do when you're scrapping!

Finally is a card inspired by a few Shannon had made on Saturday. It was to use black and white with a little color. I used CTMH silohuette creative basics paper and the birds galore set. I think it turned out cute :)

Well, until next week. Hopefully things will get better soon!

Creative Weekend

I actually had a productive weekend despite being pretty depressed and bummed out from the lack of sunshine and the rainy weather! I did go buy a bike so I can start riding when the weather is better. It's funny- you never forget how to ride one but you can still look like an idiot when you start again because it's been awhile, lol. Let's just say Nate will probably be riding with daddy rather than me for awhile!

On to the creations: First are the two cards using Miss Moxie SWIC paper and colors we are making at the Scrapbook Bungalow crop this coming Saturday! It took me awhile but I got em done and am pretty pleased!

Brighten my Day- uses Miss Moxie Coordinating CS and SWIC Paper, Sunburst Florals Stamp Set, and Whale of a Punch- Butterfly by EK Success (you can order it from Shannon at the bungalow!), Palette Inks in L'Amore Red, Chartreuse, Lavendar Sachet and Noir

Lovely Ladybug card (be on red CS, not blue- I just used blue for my prototype!) Uses Miss Moxie SWIC Paper, stamps from Oh How and Seeds of Friendship, Heidi Swapp Ribbon (got a lot of it from Big Lots!) and L'Amore Red, Chartreuse, and Lavendar Sachet Ink. This card will highlight the awesome scor-pal. I love it! I am not good at changing my cutter blade to a scoring blade so it makes life SO MUCH easier!

I also did another layout of Nate's Halloween pictures. This was for a challenge at cutthecrop.com hosted by Shannon. It was use to minimize and use 3 patterned papers in a layout, following Ali Edwards style. I think I did an OK job.. it was actually hard to minimize!!

The doodly designs, circle, and scalloped borders were created by using Crafter's Workshop Templates. Shannon also has these at her shop- they are amazing! To make my layout less cluttered, I did my journaling around the circle and the bottom flowered paper and button. I need to get better at taking pictures. Something to add to my lil lista for this summer!

I am also going to plan out different projects to do each week. I have all these alterables or techniques or layouts to try. I need to do them. Once school is out I will have glorious free time to create! I can't wait!

Hope everyone has a great week. I know of at least 2 meetings this week...make that three.. so I will be an especially unpleasant and unhappy person to deal with! No lie! :) Happy stamping all!

Happy Spring!

Hi all!

I have been super busy since Spring Break. Bad news- not a lot of creating and what I did were for swaps and I forgot to take pics of them! Good news- Nate got his tubes yesterday and seems to be doing better. I hope that he continues to feel better!

Here are a couple cards I sent was RAKS using this month's Stamp of the Month- I love this set!

This card uses pattern paper from Gentle Beginnings Designer Series Paper. I actually mounted my stamps and cut the images apart from the words that go with it so I could use them separately.

I love this little piggy! This card features paper from the Sands of Time collection...

I was also surpised with being nominated for a blog award by Leeann at http://www.talkscrapbooking.com/!

This arte y pico award is fabulous!

Here are the rules:
1) You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.http://arteypico.blogspot.com/5) To show these rules.The 5 blogs that I choose are:

1- Shannon from Scrapbook Bungalow

2- Stampin with Markie's Mom- Faith

3- Laurie Unger

4- Lauren Meader

5- Rita Holmes

I check these blogs daily and am always inspired! Thanks ladies!

TAC has more great things coming up- I will post them soon!

Hugs!

8 days..

It's been 8 days but with Nate feeling the way he has.. ugh! He is on an antibiotic and feeling somewhat better. I just hope that he can get worked in for the tubes this week or next!! I just want my happy, healthy little boy instead of my grouchy in pain one :) Seriously, I am thankful it is nothing major.

I did get 4 cards made this weekend- 3 with next month's Stamp of the Month. I will post those later! I did a scrapbook page for Nate from Halloween:

This paper is retired from TAC- Simply Spooky. I used my Spooky Swirls Web stamp and embossed it on the side. Letters were cut out using Makin the Grade on my cricut. Used Journaling Lines from the punctuation set by TAC. Took me awhile to lay it out but I love how it turned out! Maybe I'll get his 2nd yr book done by his birthday.. hmm.. not by the rate I am going :)

I am expecting my TAC order tomorrow so I will contact those of you that ordered when it arrives and I separate it! I'm excited to get my scorpal.. YIPPEE! Now I can easily do some of those more difficult folds, etc.

Also, please say a prayer for a fellow Angel, Rita Holmes, who is going in for surgery for a cancerous lump in her breast. She is a wonderful, talented woman whom I know will do great! Please also put a prayer in for Nate to get his tubes a little quicker than planned so he may feel and sleep better and hear the world around him like he has not in a long time!

I'll at least post by next weekend, hopefully earlier. Next week is spring break and I am READY!

A card and a layout..

Finally getting my act together and posting! Nate had a better day, but didn't get much sleep. He napped from about 2-5, and then was up until 8 and is in bed now. I hope he can stay asleep. He's just so miserable. I want him to feel well and be able to hear.. I REALLY hope there is a cancellation to get him in sooner!!

Well, on to the creative stuff. Between 2-5 pm today we should've been at my friend Sarah's house for her son Garrett's 4th birthday! But with Nate sick and then finally sleeping, it wasn't possible. Anyway, here is the card I whipped up for him using CTMH's cutey patootie Nursery Bash set. I colored with my prisma markers/pencils and gamsol. Paper is SU DSD- Outlaw.

I dedicated most of Nate's nap time to organizing my stamp stuff. I went to big lots and scored these cool fabric drawers by EK Success- 2 for $5! Plus, I got a creating keepsakes scrapbooking layout book. When Nate fell asleep tonight and my in laws left, I got to work on a layout. I am still WAY behind, but at least I'm working on it, right?

These are silly pictures of me and Nate from Halloween. I challenged myself to use my new CTMH Endless Love set and my Let's Get Together Paper.. I'm glad I did because I love the turnout AND I feel like I did something good!

Well, I am going to try and get at least one more layout done this weekend. Before I know it, boy, Nate will be 3!

Hope everyone continues to have a safe and creative weekend!