Close To My Heart

So I've been thinking for awhile now about becoming a Close to My Heart consultant.  I've never really been a consultant before for anything ,other than a short stint with Avon and I mostly bought for myself.  I'm finally taking the plunge!  A lot of things are changing at CTMH, so now's the best time to sign up.  They have a lot of classes to take on-line that shows how to work the business and how to make different items with the many stamps, inks and papers that they have available.  I can't wait to start learning all about them, although I know quite a lot already having learned about them well over a year ago.   Keep watch, I'll post about them soon.  I just signed up tonight!

I made this tile last year as a good bye (moved away) gift to a friend.  It is a ceramic tile stamped with a CTMH stamp of the month set, using staz-on ink to make it permanent.  I also warmed this tile in the oven to try to insure that it stayed permanent.  Because the tile was ceramic, the stamps smeared easily while stamping.  Since staz-on takes a little bit to dry on this surface, I was able to wipe off the goofs (about 3-4 times).  I also recommend having staz-on remover close at hand also.  To finish it off, I glued ribbon around the edge.  I included an easel to display it, but this would also make a nice coffee mug coaster.  Enjoy!

Summer Time Vacation

So after attending Grandpa's funeral on Friday and spending the day with family, we headed up to Grandpa's cabin in Minnesota on Saturday.  We thought of canceling our plans, but Grandpa would not have wanted that.  So we started our vacation a couple of days later than planned and are now enjoying this peaceful place up on the lake listening to the loons and trying to catch some fish.  (Some days are better than others.)   Grandpa and Grandma have taken really good care of this place.  It is nicer now than when I was a child.  One of the best parts is that it is just five feet off the water!  My husband's folks joined us up here as well.  They are impressed by everything and are enjoying watching all of the different types of birds that are here.  Especially the loons and the orioles.  They even bought a bird feeder (a knitted bag style) to hopefully attract some goldfinches too.  (and they have!)  So anyway, this is where I am, so I'm not doing any crafting (although I do have some beads if I really get bored!).  I hope you all are enjoying your summer and are being creative, (even if it's only choosing something new to make for dinner).  Bye for now!

Grandpa-You will Be Missed

On Sunday morning at 3:40a.m. surrounded by his wife and kids, my grandpa went to be with Jesus in heaven.  I last saw him on Friday and was able to be at peace with his soon to be, passing.  It was so hard to see him sick like he was, cause this is a man who never got sick.  He just went down hill so fast.  I arrived in town late Monday (Memorial Day), saw him Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and by early Sunday morning he was gone.  It's kind of hard to believe he is gone.  It's so easy to take for granted that loved ones will always be there with us and then in a flash, they are no longer with us.  This is my first such experience.  Tonight we went out to dinner with my Mom, Dad, Grandma, Sister, Niece,  Nephew, Hubby and me, and I honestly thought for a split second that grandpa would be there too.  He was such a great grandpa.  A wise man and helpful to everyone,  always giving out advice.  He liked to start out by saying things like, "Let me give you a little pep talk", and "I'm going to pick on you a little bit", "You know I'm teasing now, don't you?"(wink, wink).

He is survived by 4 kids and their spouses, 11 grand kids, 11 great grand kids, plus one on the way. 

So thank you Grandpa for being just the right grandpa I needed growing up, you'll be greatly missed and I can't wait to see you again. 

With Love,

From your first Grand Daughter,

Amanda.

Here is  card I made for my grandpa on June 2nd and gave to him on June 4th.  He passed on June 6th.

My Grandpa

I just want to let you know why I'm absent right now.  First I'm not at home or have my computer with me.  I am staying with my sister.  I'm not sure how to work her computer very well, so please excuse this short post.  My grandfather has been sick since late December.  In March they discovered he had cancer.  Even though he did try cancer treatments, he has just gotten worse and worse.  Last week we found out it spread to his bones.  He was given 6-8 weeks to live.  I came as soon as I could, about 5 days after hearing the news.  I've been here with my family since Memorial Day.  He is going so quickly, I believe he'll be gone in a few days and probably next week will be his funeral.  I'm so glad to have gotten a chance to say goodbye.  If I had waited even one more week, I would have missed my opportunity.  Also this grandpa is the only grandpa I've ever really known, as my other one made choices that keeps him away from us, and does not know us, and visits us maybe once a year.  Now for some good news.  My grandfather has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and he will see him soon!  So yea, I get to see my grandfather again someday!!!  Also, since I am staying with my sister who's husband is away serving our country and my husband had to stay home to work, we have gotten to bond through this experience and support each other.  Just today we said our goodbyes and feel at peace.  He knows we love him and we will miss him.  Even though he was pretty out of it, he still was able to say  I love you to us over and over and over as we left the room.  We have never been a huggy family, but this week, we have been doing a lot of it.  I also have time to play with my niece and nephew (8 & 12).  My sister lives about 30 minutes away which allows us some escape from the sadness going on,  or "anticipated grief" as the hospice workers told us what this is that we are feeling.  So I'll end this now before I cry all over my sister's pink laptop.  For any of you prayer warrior,s feel free to pray for us.  My grandparents are wonderful people and all 4 of their children,(and spouses), have taken the task to care for them as grandpa moves on, they are wonderfu peoplel!  I hope I can be that good of a care taker to my own parents if need be. They were all raised well! Thank you for "listening" and everything! Bye!

Garage Sales and Decluttering!

I want to let you know why I'm not here very often. 

I have been busy getting rid of clutter in my home, something I've been neglecting for far too long.  I believe I've been going through a bout of depression since 2006, for many reasons, and I also had a bit back in early 2002, that I may have never been completely over.  I've not been diagnosed, this is just my own opinion.  I had days where I would just lay around and do almost nothing.  On other days I would go out and shop for home decor or craft supplies.  I finally had a break through in January of 2009, but I still was not out of my hole yet, because I went back to acquiring items.   My house has gotten completely out of control!  I am slowly finding my way with the support of my husband and the encouragement of our pastor.  So this past Saturday I had my first garage sale in 2 years.  I had a lot of stuff, but mostly knick knacks and home decor and seasonal.  I only made 266.00 and was hoping to at least break 300, but I did better than it felt like I was doing.  It was a slow morning as there were 50+ other sales to compete with.  I had committed to sending what did not sell, to our church's garage sale next week.  Although it was tough, (there was still a lot of good stuff!), I did send it.   (I had already given them all the leftover stuff from my last garage sale and even gave them 90% of my beanie babies I had collected since 1998.)  About 5% of the items left after the garage sale, I kept and took to a consignment shop.  

I'm still going through many things.  Monday I went through some old books and magazines and today I went through my clothes.  I have a huge bag ready to go.  I hope to have one more sale before we go on vacation in June and then maybe another after vacation.  It's amazing how much freer I feel letting things go.  So far it's been pretty easy, but when I get to the good stuff that have no place to go, and I have to let them go, that's when it's going to be tough.  But it's all for a good cause, (my marriage, my sanity, our family and our friends), and by God's holy spirit guiding my way, I'll be able to do it.  So if this blog is lacking, this is why. 

Fishing Vest Card

Here is a fishing vest card I made for my FIL for his birthday.   I found the idea at splitcoast stampers.   It took me about 4 hours to make, but that included figuring out how big it should be, making a rough draft, making the templates for the pockets and then making the final version and adding all of the details.  I'm really happy with the results and hope to make another one.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Here is the finished card.  I chalked around all of the pieces before gluing them on.  The pockets are all a shade lighter of textured paper than the jacket.  Also, all of the pockets have folded tabs under them to make them pop off the jacket more, I could have just used pop dots, but I like to make things as real as possible. 

Click on pictures to enlarge.

 Here is the inside of the card.  I added the pocket after the card was done.  Next time I'll add that to the template and just fold it up for one uniform piece.  I liked how it gave me a place to put a gift card and the fishing license we gave him.   The papers and the stickers were all out of my existing stash of supplies, so this card cost me almost nothing to make.   So, how did I do?  Cute, huh.  Enjoy!