A quick baby card

This is a super quick baby card made from a scrapbook kit that Stampin' Up sold a few years ago! I think it's cute! I did make this card a long time ago as I still haven't been in my closer to being finished with reno stamp room! I have a list a mile long of cards I need to make so I am hoping to get some stamp time in SOON! have a great day!

A card for my dad

I made this card for my dad for his birthday last year. It's not a newly made card because I haven't been able to use my stamp room for over 2 weeks! It's being renovated and it's taken longer than I wanted. I think I am going to love it when it is done (hopefully this week)! Anyway, I love this card. I don't really know why, I just do! My dad is such an amazing guy. He is the most generous, kind, loving guy I have ever known. The kids love spending time with Grandpa and we are thankful everyday that we are so close to him. My dad and I love having coffee together- it's our "thing". We both have Keurig coffee machines and whenever we are at each others houses we right away make coffee for each other! I love my dad!

Penny

Penny Simkin is a doula. Not just any doula, but an amazing woman who has changed birth in this past generation. You can check her out, one look at her resume and you will see why I love her! I have read all her books and studied her work for years. Last summer I had the pleasure of not only meeting her, but being taught by her! I could bairly focus the first few days because I was in awe to be in the same room as her! LOL! For this course that I took I needed to submit to her a curruculum and she actually called my house! You should have seen me dancing around the house! I made this card for her, if you know your Bella stamps you would know that the Bella body doesn't match the Bella head! I used a head off of one stamp and the body of another to make my Super Penny! Penny Simkin has hair like my Bella that's why she needed the headchange!

Another card

This is a simple card, but I wanted the "Praying for you" to be the focus. I've been even busier than usual lately so I've been falling behind on my posts! My stamp room is under construction and it's been hard to put together a card! I will start painting Friday evening, I can't wait to get it all together and organized!
Have a great day!

A TKD Card

This is a birthday card from my kids to the Master at their Martial Arts club! I coloured the belts the colour that my kids real belts are! I was challenged to make a guy card, but I really like the way it turned out! MOD stands for Masters of discipline. They are not on the team, but would like to be one day. They just started at this new club in March, they LOVE it. It is much more hard core than their old club and they are learning so much. They go at least 4-6 times a week and it is a great workout for all of them. I hope the Master likes his card!

PSF's

Who?? What?? PSF?? PSF=Pretend Stamping Friends. I've been away for a week visiting a PSF and I had the BEST time! A few years ago (around 3) there was a post on splitcoast about a little girl who had cancer. Many of us posted that we were praying for her. We sent cards to her and her family encouraging them and letting them know we were thinking about them. One day the little girl asked her mom if this latest card came from her pretend stamping friend! That's where the name came from. The little girl is doing great now and from that first post about 25 of us became the best of freinds. We chat daily about everything in our lifes, big and small, there is nothing we don't chat about! Last year I was able to meet a couple of them in real life in California and it was so fun! This past week we had a meet up in Ohio at Pam's house! It was so very fun! Pam is such a sweet heart! So kind, giving and just wonderful, she is super funny too! Altogether there were 8 of us! I laughed until I cried, discovered some stuff about myself (thanks Sally!) and had such a great time! Here are a few pictures! Thanks girls for a perfect time! I love you lots!

A colour challenge

Here is my card for KWwerner's colour challenge. http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/ This is a big one! her 50th challenge! I was featured as a favorite in her 49th challenge! What an honor to be picked out of so many wonderful cards! This card is on it's way to a friend who has been sick, I hope the bright cheery colours cheer her up!

Another colour challenge!

This card is for my friend Barb, she is having surgery this week. I guess I should have made it before today!! These colours were really fun to work with! This stamp set is called Floral Frenzy from PTI, the grass is from With Sympathy also from PTI. I hope she likes it!
HAPPY EASTER!!

A layout challenge- baby girl!

I needed to make a card for a baby dedication, I thought this layout would be easy...not so much! I spent I don't know how long on this card! I hope the couple I gave it to this morning like it!! I did notice that all my baby stamps require colouring, I need to work on my colouring or buy new stamps! (I'll probably do both!!)

Dawn's colour challenge three!

For this card, I stepped out of my box! I have seen some cute quilt cards and decided to try one of my own! It was fun- thanks so much Dawn for the challenge! I was really wishing I had some PTI buttons for this card~!

Another Birthday card

Here is another Birthday card I made for my bunch of birthday's coming up! Marc thinks it's too plain, but I really like it. The blue butterfly is made out of felt! The green is kiwi kiss, these colours were fun together! Thanks for visiting!

Dawn's second colour challenge!!

Here is my card for Dawn's second colour challenge! She has such a great way of picking really fun colours! Thanks for the inspiration Dawn! I used stitched background stamp on the teal.(it really is teal, even if the picture doesn't look like it!) I haven't used a background stamp in such a long time! It does add a little something! It is a bit "plain" , but I like it!

Colour and layout challenge!

Here is another birthday card I made using 2 challenges! I don't know if you can tell, but I used chunky glitter on the top of the cupcake and fun flock on the "wrapper". It was lots of fun to make! Hope you like it! The stamp set is SU Wagon full of fun, PTI Polka dot basics and PTI handwritten notes.

Birthday cards

I have quite a few birthday cards I need in the next couple months so I am starting early! This was a colour challenge that I did, I can't remember who posted it though! Sorry! I did NOT think these colours would work and had a hard time with it, until it was done- then I really liked it! I am loving working with this stamp set from papertrey ink. (Damask designs)
I love to send cards. You may be thinking, well ya, we see all these cards you are making! I hear so many people talk about how they never send the cards they make, that is so not me! I need to send a card out! I guess it's not so much about the creative process for me and more about wanting to make someone smile. If someone seems to really like getting a card from me, I will try and send them some for no reason at all. I do have friends/family in mind when I make a card, but sometimes I am thinking of a few at once! I used to make lots of one card and now I might make a couple, but not mass produce as much as I did. I hope everyone is having a nice day- it is snowy here, so I plan on staying in and make a few more birthday cards!

A card for Betty

I made this card for my friend Betty, she just became a Grandma this week! She is so uplifting and sweet! She also has a blog that you can check out here
In case you can't tell, this card is black and white, I coloured one of the flowers with a pink copic marker and filled in the center with dazzling diamonds. It was a fun card to make! The stamp set is called Friends 'til The End, from Paper Trey Ink.

Dawn's First Color Challenge!

My friend dawn (the same one I was talking about the other day) posted her first color challenge today! Notice the spelling of the word colour, she is American so I am trying to stop myself from adding the u! You can check out Dawn's fabulous blog here.
I used PTI white cardstock- OMWord, I just started using it and I love it! raspberry fizz, SU chocolate chip,pumpkin pie and Summer Sun. The stamp set is PTI Friends 'Til the End. This is my second card with that set, I will post the first one soon!
This card is going out to a friend of mine, be watching your mailbox!

Dawn

This is a card for my friend Dawn. She designed this amazing stamp set! It was so hard to make a card for her that I thought was good enough! The colours look so different in real life- they are only orange and ruby red. Dawn is so very sweet, she is kind and I just love her!

Corina's birthday

I actually made this same card a long time ago and thought it would be perfect for my cousin who is turning 35 next month. I can't go to her birthday party so I mailed it to her! She is a fun girl so I hope she likes this card!

Eden's Birthday

I made this card for my nieces 2nd birthday! I love making little girly cards! I am finding that lighter coloured cards look so much better in real life, which is good for tomorrow's post! This card actually shimmers a lot! It was my first time using Stampin' Up! texture plates, I liked the look! Hope you enjoy! I do need to say, my friend Laura made me a watermark that I Love, but I haven't been able to figure out how to get it on my cards! She even gave me directions, but I am so computer challenged (to put it nicely) that I still couldn't do it. I will keep working at it! Thanks so much Laura!

Baby Boy card

As a doula and childbirth educator I always need baby cards! I made this card for a client who had her baby this past week. He is such a cutie and I wish I could post details cause he has a cool name! I don't know if I like the bear, I had a hard time colouring it, I ended up using watercolour crayons and a blender pen. I love the layout and colours and may try making another with a different stamp set one day!

Lucy

I Love Lucy!
This "stuff" is a part of my collection. Lucy makes me laugh- anytime. I started watching I Love Lucy when I was off work pregnant with my twins, I watched it everyday! When the boys were little they would come running when they heard the theme song yelling 'Lucy"! I have all the DVD episodes, if ever I am in a bad mood, all I need is a little Lucy!

A sympathy card

I needed to make a couple sympathy cards, not the most fun to make. This card uses a fabulous set from PaperTreyInk. It really made this card come together easier. It is quite simple, but I don't think too simple. They are not "traditional" sympathy colours, I like it! I really do need to work on taking pictures that showcase the true colours better. I hope you still like it! Thanks for visiting!

A baby girl card

Ok, I really don't brag really often- but I LOVE this card!! I needed a couple baby girl cards and this sorta just happened! It looks so much better in real life!! I hope you like it!
It is a mix of Stampin Up! and PaperTreyInk products.

My Mac

My little Indiana Jones!
This is when he was on a panel of kids who wear insulin pumps! He loves his suit and would wear it every day if he could!

Oh, my Mac! He is 6 and was my biggest baby- 9 pounds 14 oz. He always is up for a hug and a snuggle! He loves my dad so much. Oh my, as soon as you say "Grandpa" his face lights up! He runs up to him and bear hugs him! I need to remind Mac it is ok to not give everything he has to others- he loves to give. He is going to do big things this kid! He is kind and compassionate, even more so since he became diabetic. He seeks out the kids who are alone so he can make them feel special. I could see him as a Pastor, he has that heart. It can be hard being the middle kid sometimes, I keep reminding him of how that makes him special. He gets to be a big brother AND a little brother! Some times Marc and I look at him and can't believe we almost lost him. I will never forget the doctor saying "he is hours if not minutes from death". What a moment. My boy is strong and brave. Mac means "son of" some places say "son of Kenneth", "son of ..." I say "son of God".

My twins

Jordan

Bailey

My oldest kids are twin boys! I love having twins, they have always been so much fun! Never a dull moment with these two!
They are very different...Bailey was born first (he is on the left) he has always been a unique kid, he is so kind and thinks first about how others would feel. Never is someone left out when Bailey is around. He is gifted at playing the piano, I love to listen to him play. He can be hard on himself sometimes, he thinks he should be great at everything he does (I have no idea where he gets that from...!!) He doesn't care what the other kids are wearing- he likes what he likes! I love that my Bailey is a different kind of guy, even though he is almost 11 he still lets me hug him and lights up when I tell him how great he is.
Jordan... he is "cool", he always has his studded belt on with his huge Superman buckle! People know it's Jordan by his Superman hats/clothes! He plays the electric guitar and practices hard for "his band"! I love his outgoing personality, he can make friends with anyone in a minutes time! He resists the hug a bit, but loves when I shoulder check him! It's a much cooler way to let him know I love him!!
I am so blessed, really. I love how different they are yet can finish each others sentences. They are best friends. I have a hard time even thinking of times when they have fought. They spend almost every waking minute together these two and have big plans for their future jobs together! (Jordan is going to design buildings and Bailey is going to build them!)

My girl

I love this picture! It is of my daughter when she was younger. She is 4 now, I am guessing (without checking) that she is 2 in this picture. I have 3 boys and then Kennedy. In some ways she is a Tomboy and in many ways she is a Princess girly girl! One year for her birthday she wanted a "strawberry shortcake ninja party!" She loves her dance class and equally loves her Tae Kwon Do classes. She squeals over shoes and loves pink/purple sparkly things! I have no idea where she gets that from. I have never been a girly girl. I don't own a purse and I rarly wear makeup! I so wanted a little girl so Marc could have a daddy's girl. There is something about a dad and their daughter, I love watching them together!

A thank you!

I have a busy end of week coming up with a couple clients due anytime now! I love being a doula, I don't like the on call stuff! If you don't have a clue what a doula is, check out my site at www.theblissfulway.com

I made this card for my parents, they rock! For our anniversary they bought us a 50inch plasma tv! We LOVE it! I didn't know how much I was missing out on vivid colours! Anyway, I made this card for them. The problem is I don't know if I like it! It has a lot of stuff- maybe too much stuff?? I might make a new card if I decide I don't like this one...

Everything is Stampin' Up!

12 Years!

Our 12th Anniversary was this month! This is a card I made for Marc. As soon as I saw this set I knew I had to have it! So fun!
It's pretty straight forward...
Stamp set: Maid for you by My Favorite Things
Cardstock: Basic black, real red and whisper white all Stampin' Up!
Other:Black ribbon from Papertrey Ink, scalloped heart nesties, coloured with copics, brads

The sound of velcro

The sound of velcro can wake me from a deep sleep. Mac's pump pack stays closed with velcro (he keeps his insulin pump in a little pack, I'll see if I can post a picture later!)
See, I check his blood before I go to bed and Marc checks it when he gets up for work, that 5 hours is the longest we ever go without checking his blood. If his blood sugar is high we need to give him insulin. If Marc opens his pump pack, I wake up. It doesn't matter how deep my sleep is. That happened at 5:30 this morning.
A couple other things that wake me up... when Mac gets up to go to the bathroom and when he gets up for water. One sign of high blood sugar is thirst and frequent urination. If he gets up in the night I go and check his blood. That happened at 3:00 this morning.
I think it's funny that I keep track of how much he drinks and pees! You should see how much I check his blood on a hot day! Is he drinking because he is hot and running around? Is his blood sugar high? Those questions pop into my head countless times a day (and night). A good chunk of my other thoughts are wondering if his blood sugar is low! LOL! It always amazes me how his blood sugar can change so fast.
You may be thinking I am the worlds lightest sleeper yet somehow my four year old will crawl into our bed- right between me husband and I have no idea she is there!

 My dear friend Sarah asked me to talk about what IS the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes....

Type 1: (Insulin dependent)

A person's pancreas produces little or no insulin. Although the causes ate not entirely known, scientists believe the body's own defense system (the immune system) attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with type 1 must inject insulin several times every day.

Type 2:

Typically develops after the age of 40, but can appear earlier, and has more recently begun to appear in children. In this form of diabetes the pancreas still produces insulin, but the body does not produce enough or is not able to use it effectively. Treatment includes diet control, exercise, and in some cases, oral drugs or insulin.

I think it just gets me when people ask me if he is diabetic because he is "not active enough" or eats badly. There was nothing he could have done to prevent his diabetes. He was an active, healthy eating little 4 year old!

Here is a couple myths:

Myth #1. Insulin cures diabetes.

Fact: Insulin keeps him alive, it does not cure the disease.

Myth #2. His diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar or by being fat.

Fact: Obesity has been identified as one of the "triggers" for type 2 diabetes but has NO relation to the cause of type 1. While scientists do not yet know the exact cause or causes of type 1 they believe that both genetic and environmental factors are involved. Eating too much sugar is not, and has never been, a factor.

Myth #3. People with diabetes should never eat sweets.

Fact: Sometimes sweets are a must for Type 1 diabetes especially if their blood sugar levels drop too low!

Myth #4. You can "outgrow" Type 1 diabetes

Fact: Type 1 diabetes is a life long disease.

Myth #5. If you do everything "right" you will have tight control over your blood sugar levels.

Fact: Even monitoring his blood sugar levels, eating correctly, counting every carb that he eats, maintaining correct insulin dosages, he still has highs and lows. Stress, hormone changes, growth, illness can all cause blood sugars to swing out of control.

I hope this better explains!

 

Clinic day

Today was diabetic clinic day. We go every four months now and I am a wreck every time! I wonder am I checking his blood enough, am I doing all I can be doing?? Being a type 1 diabetic is not what people think it is. It drives me nuts when people say "oh my Uncle Joe has diabetes", they usually mean type 2. There is a big difference! I'll never forgot the ambulance ride to the hospital 2 years ago. That day changed our life. Mac was 4 years old, he had never had a needle in his life.. he went to over 1500 his first year! Now he is on the insulin pump. It means that he doesn't have as many needles which is good. It also means that we have to be checking his blood sugar at least 6 times a day. It's a lot for a 6 year old. Mac doesn't complain, he is such an amazing kid. Anyway, back to clinic... It was great today. His blood sugar average over the past 4 months has been 6.6- that is great! Today I feel good about it, I feel like I protected him from the awful effects diabetes can have. I LOVE when his blood sugar is in target! Here is one of my favorite poems, I don't know who wrote it

A Mother's Wish....

It's time to go to sleep.

I tuck him into bed,

I pull up his fuzzy blanket. 

And kiss my baby's head.

All night long I wonder,

Is he high or is he low?

The needle pokes his finger,

What will the reading show?

It never stays the same,

Was it something that he ate?

I hug him and I feed him,

All we can do it wait.

I think about his future,

Will he be all right?

Without his mommy by his side,

To get him through the night?

For all the little children,

So innocent and pure,

My one and only mother's wish.

Is that we'll find the CURE.

Here is our story

I am not sure where to begin! I don't think I could sum up who we are in one paragraph, but I do like to talk so we'll see where it goes! My husband and I have been married for 12 years, I am a stay at home mom of four amazing kids. Twin boys who will be 11 next month, a six year old boy and a four year old girl. 

I homeschool my kids. I don't have any big reason why, I just wanted to! We have been homeschooling for 2 1/2 years now and so far enjoying it a lot!  

Another big part of my life is having a child who is diabetic. Mac, my 6 year old is type 1 diabetic. I think a lot of this blog will be his story...

I am a childbirth educator and doula, I am in awe of the birth process and own my own childbirth business.

In my spare time, I make cards and sometimes scrapbook!