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Once a month should not be average : )

I really need to post more than just once a month... It has been crazy! Just working, working, working...but I have been looking for a place to hold a class on the tags that were posted earlier! So hopefully by June we should be learning! Haven't been taking too many pics or much of anything else... I have created a few cards that I really love... and will post pics soon! Hope everyone has a great day/evening : )

Time Flies!

Where does time go????? Wow...I have been busy...working and trying to fit in a little crafting here and there...so far what I have managed to do is some invitations for the twins...it is there 2nd birthday coming up next week...Wow...they are getting so big! I have really been enjoying getting to see them during the week! I didn't take this picture (Mendy gets credit for that) but I did clean it up a little...Photoshop is an amazing thing : )... Mendy said they were singing at the top of their lungs... too precious... I asked M the other day...Are you precious? and he said "Yea, I'm precious." So matter of fact...listen to me...you would think they were mine...sorry : )

Also...some other good news...I finally opened an ETSY store...If you have never been to ETSY...it has got to be one of the coolest things... Everything on ETSY is handmade, vintage or a supply... so if you are ever looking for something and cannot find it...go to ETSY.com ... my store address is http://www.jbyrdiedesigns.etsy.com/ I will be selling finished projects, custom orders, greeting cards and other stuff... I listed a project I completed that I have not posted to the blog... it is a custom recipe book... Enjoy : )

Snow Day....Lazy Day

This is usually a very rare occurrence in West Texas...but...this is the fourth snow this year... I am ready for some sunshine! Jordan and I have been couped up in the house all day...school cancelled...I didn't go to work...It is beautiful (from inside the house)...I only went out long enough to take a couple of pics : ) Tomorrow is supposed to be somewhat warmer...I am so glad I am a southern girl...I would not last up north!

Just before Christmas, I started working on some wood cigar boxes using alcohol inks and a few Tim Holtz products and techniques....I must say Tim Holtz is my hero!! I love his work!! I try and visit his blog on a regular (I have it in my favs to the right..if you want to go there) and am so ready for all the new colors and products to be released for sale here in the US...Since I was home today I even watched Tim on QVC UK...he works so fast!

Anyway...I will be teaching a class on these very soon...still looking for a location! Enjoy!

Hhhhheeeeelllllllooooooooooo!

Is anyone still out there...I know it has been a considerable amount of time... I am not going to bore anyone with all the details over the past three months...let's just say...IT HAS BEEN CRAZY! I am now working for Mendy at the daycare, cooking and loving it... haven't had much time to scrapbook but have been working on Tim Holtz's "12 Tags of Christmas"...and all I can say is OH My!! They are absolutely beautiful and I love them all...but they do take a considerable amount of supplies (which I am working on collecting)... We need to keep that on the down low! I started on my own tags which I will be teaching a class on. We are going to have 2 or 3 small classes...so...I will continue to create...here are three of the tags I have completed...each tag is 6 1/4" x 3 1/8"...which is the same size Tim uses... I have learned so much from his techniques and cannot wait to share! Enjoy!

Catching Up to Keep Up!!!

So much has happened in the last 3 months! Where to start....

I have been working on quite a few different paper craft projects...and will be posting pics soon! Our local scrapbook store just closed last week...I am so sad because I really enjoyed teaching classes! So, I am tinkering around the idea of teaching/selling classes and kits from this blog. I have a little research to do and will be posting more soon!!! I would love to get some feedback on this...so if you have an idea or some input...please share!!!

I entered the West Texas Fair & Rodeo in September and did really well!! I entered canning, perishable foods, and photography...I don't know how many ribbon total that I won...but it was alot...I will get some pics together and share on another post! BUT the coolest thing that happened was that I was asked to be the chairwoman for the scrapbooking section of the WTFR for 2010....I am so excited...I am going to have to get busy on that real soon!!

I had posted that I was going back to work...and I did...I started at Catherine's August 1 worked there until I was offered a job with N******, which was better hours, more money and I was going to be able to work from home... Perfect right!!!! Nope!!!! I started training October 26th and was at home working 3 weeks later. The amount and quality of training was substandard and I wasn't the only one having difficulties...so...I quit!! Life is too short to be that stressed!!!

Jon has changed jobs...He was offered a job with a former employer making more money and he is able to work more hours... His previous employer had cut way back on hours and he was lucky to get 40 hours a week.

Jordan is doing good : ) We had a little bit of a hiccup on grades the second six weeks, which was a huge surprise since she is such a good student! She usually has A's with maybe one B... but I guess she had to learn that grades will not always come easy and sometimes you have to study.

My father-in-law, Roger, is currently in the hospital, he had triple bypass and has been in and out of surgery and ICU. Prayers are definately appreciated. We had Thanksgiving up at the hospital with Mary (MIL) on Thursday and I am going up there today, Roger is scheduled for surgery at 9am. It appears he has MRSA which is a drug resistant staph infection. Please pray that the doctors get all of the infection out!! I really must run...have to get ready...

Update!!

I've been working...it is part-time but still feels like alot and when it is a 10 1/2 hour day it is hard on me... I have enjoyed parts of it... I am working in retail clothing...and have never had this type of job...so it has been a fun learning experience...It is just the standing for an entire shift that is difficult... Anyway...enough Gritching! : )

Not too much going on... I did teach a class last week... It was a 2 page layout with two cards from the Glitz Sparrow line of paper with Prism cardstock, Smooch Paint, Glitter...and of course...ink...I used Distressing Ink Aged Mahogany and Pine Needles! This layout is a bit out of my comfort zone with the really bright colors...but I just love it : ) Enjoy!

The BIG 13!!!

Jordan is finally 13 and is so excited...today is her birthday and since she has gotten up this morning she has been "prancing" around and singing "Today's my birthday"...
I remember that excitement even though it's been a day or two...and the feeling of a writ of passage! I think the countdown to 16 has begun...Help!
No...she is such a good kid...most of the time...you know they all have their moments... and she is completely different from me in so many ways...I am in there a little bit...but for the most part she is more like my mother-in-law... I say all the time...it is strange...raising and living with your mother-in-law...no...every one knows I love my MIL...
Jon's birthday is tomorrow...the BIG 38... finally we are not the same age... he is 352 days older than me and he just loves the 13 days in between that we are the same age... During that time I remind him though...he is still closer to 40 than me... : )
Enjoy your weekend...I will be scrapbooking all weekend and will post the results next week!

Just a Tuesday

Good Morning : )
I woke up bright and early this morning and thought...wow...I have some catching up to do!
I decided to pass on the job with Teleperformance and am continuing my search...I am so fortunate to have a great husband who supports me! I just did not feel right about working there and did not get a good "vibe" (if you will) about it!! But I have lots of other prospects and lots of apps out there...so I feel it won't be long...everyone just please pray! Please!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is Jordan's 13th birthday...and Thursday is Jon's 38th birthday... We are planning on a Six Flags trip with a friend of Jordans'...but it will have to wait until August... so I am planning on a girls day for Wednesday!

There is a crop/retreat this weekend...so planning on spending a little time there...still wanting to do some preplanning some time before the end of the week...and going to order tons of pictures...Walgreens is having a special...10 cent prints for 50 or more... so you get 50 pics for $5...not a bad deal...

I scheduled a class for Thursday, August 6th at Scrapbooker's Dream...It is a two page layout and two cards...The paper is from Glitz Sparrow line of paper...Love it!!!. http://glitzitnow.blogspot.com/ with some bright orange cardstock, Smooch pearl paint and glitter!! I don't think a price has been set yet...but will keep ya'll posted!!!

Well...I think that is about it... I will show and tell after the retreat! : ) Enjoy your day!

Crop results

Well...the little visitor is gone!!! Yea!!! I took off my map (which I had gotten from an outside source) and then changed my password...it is way hard now... Any way...we are back in business... and I am so glad. I went to the crop retreat this past weekend and had a really great time... I got a couple of things done and here is one of my layouts...

These pics are from July 4th, 2008...and you will notice the pic in the bottom right corner...well, that is my mother...she absolutely refused to let me take her pic...so I told her I would just have to scrap that pic...and I did...love you, mom!! It looks like there is an alien attached to her face... Of course...that is Jon and I on the left...top right...Uncle Mark (mom's brother), then Jordan and her Nana, Mary, my MIL...Middle left is the destruction of fireworks...middle right...my sweet grandma...bottom left is Jordan and my dad, Richard...We always have such a great time for the 4th and I look forward to it every year...

The other project I created are for a class...the layout is so cute...with bright orange and purple and turquoise and brown...too cute...you can go to Scrapbookers Dream blog for info on the class...the link is in my blog list to the right... Hope everyone has a great day...Enjoy : )

***NOTICE***

There is a problem with my blog...
Something or Someone has invaded it
and left this ugly black box with incoherant
rambling text. Please be advised "I" did
not put this up!!!!! I do not agree or even
understand what they are saying!!!!

As soon as this is repaired...I will be back!!

The Latest

Well...it has been an active 24 hours...I had bunko last night...which I love and got the best scrapbook prize (I took my own prize home)...not that there weren't other great prizes...it is just that I had picked it out and REALLY wanted it...It was Prima paper, flowers and bling in these bright almost flourscent colors with black and white...too cute...
Then today...I went to Teleperformance for a typing test...and scored 51 wpm...which is good and then made a perfect score on the Customer Service exam...cool...and they offered me a job... The hours may be problematic but we will see... staying positive : ) I started training on 07/20... I still have several resumes out there and one at the hospital...so I could still here from them... be praying...
My 3?th birthday is tomorrow...Jon has taken the day off...so we will be together all day...cool...then I will be scrapbooking all weekend...cannot wait...hopefully I will have lots of projects to share by Monday... Hope everyone has a great weekend : )

Recouped and Ready ; )

Well...the 4th toke a toll on me...it was alot of fun though...but wow...we didn't get home until 1:30am and to bed until after 2am... I am too old for all that... I used to be able to stay up all night...but not any more... It is funny; even if Jon and I go out for dinner and a movie I am ready to be home by 10:30pm... You know I never thought that would happen and I never thought the music would be too loud... : )

Jordan had such a good time...and these three pics were my favs...We had hot dogs and deviled eggs and chips and dessert...yum,yum... and we did not have any injuries this year... last year I was hit with a firework...the tube fell over just as it went off... So all was good...

The guys had tons of fun...blowing stuff up...This was some of the destruction they caused... urg,urg,urg...This is Jon and Jon...Jon my husband and Jon my cousin...

Another cool thing...is that my parents live on a hill out on the lake and you could see fireworks going off all around us...So I think we all got our firework fix and we are good for another year! Hope everyone has a great day! Enjoy!

*(* HaPpY 4th oF JuLy *)*

I have always loved the 4th of July...for the last 15 years or so we have had a big celebration at my parents house for the 4th...lots of food...lots of people...and lots of fireworks... My parents take a trip to Minnesota every spring and they always stop in Missouri on their way back...You can buy fireworks in Missouri all year long at wholesale prices...so...they load up!! We are expecting 25 or so people this year...I love to take the pics... I will share tomorrow!!!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th...and let's remember our soldiers who are overseas fighting for our freedom today...and all the men and women who have lost their lives for our country!

BIG Kitties Play Hard TOO

Yes...this is a normal size laundry basket : )

Hoss has to get into any empty basket..box..anything..At this point he had already played very hard...and is taking a break...I can't believe I actually got a picture...he can be camera shy or he will get upset and put his ears back when I get the camera out...

That is all for now...just had to share... : ) Enjoy your day

Hhhheeeyyyy!!!

Well...my latest project is my banner...I finally got some digital scrapbooking software...and for a steal I might add....it is sooooo much fun... I have always loved the actual paper and INK and all the little do dads...but...I can really see where digital scrapbooking can be useful... After I finished my banner I did 3 layouts in like 20 minutes...so cool...and there are so many different things for free online for digital scraping... anyway...I will share one of the layouts...but please remember this was the first one... Hope everyone has a great weekend and stays cool : )

SHOCKING : 0

I knew Farrah Fawcett had been sick for quite some time and then on Wednesday a priest had gone to see her...it is just so sad...and then when the news broke yesterday afternoon I was absolutely shocked about Michael Jackson's death...He was such an amazing entertainer...I was a teen in the 80's when the Thriller ablum came out...and the video...and I remember dancing in my room by the hour listening to his music with my friends...You can watch the video on YouTube here is the link...they cannot be embedded right now...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyJbIOZjS8...Enjoy the video!!

I have been working on the garage...we are getting a new garage door installed on Monday and then I will be back to paper crafting...so stay tuned...have a great Friday : )

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I have truly been blessed...I have so many great men in my life (that doesn't sound very good)...let me explain... My mother married my dad (step-dad) when I was 10 and before then my grandfather had been the male role-model in my life...I think it is vital for every girl to have a paternal figure PRESENT in her life...and I am truly grateful for mine!!Thank you !! My grandfather (PaPa) passed away a few years back...I miss him so much and think of him today!

Then there is my husband...although a little rough around the edges at times...I love him and could not have picked someone better to be the father of our daughter...and my father-in-law is so great with Jordan it is amazing to see him with her...so much patience!! Jordan is a very blessed child to have all of these men PRESENT in her life also...Thank ya'll!!

I did make a couple of Father's Day cards and thought I would share:
This one is for my Dad...I used Basic Grey Periphery...






And I made this one for my Father-In-Law...he loves Japanesse gardening and artwork... Enjoy!!

Graduation announcement

Well...hello : )

Things are starting to calm down...and I know Hoss is glad that I am home...he keeps jumping in my lap...he just needs some lovin...so sweet ; )

While I was away I also made some graduation announcements for Dawson...the young man who rides bulls and his photo is on an earlier post...anyway...just thought I would show and tell... I ended up making 80 total announcements and his picture was in the announcement with a vellum overlay... I used Stampin Up cardstock...it made such a huge difference...the black was a true black instead of blue/black...

Be sure to be watching for kits...I have several I am working on...Really fun and interesting!!!

A couple will be from past classes I have taught!!!

I'mmmmm bbbaaaacccckkkkkkkk!!!!

I am sure some people have thought I dropped off the face of the earth!! I finished the month (or so) working at the daycare and now it is time to get life back to normal...or in my case semi-normal : )
I have officially started looking for a job...I will keep ya'll posted...I have loved my time at home but needing a new to me car and with the economy the way it is Jon's hours have been cut...so...I may even look for something part-time...ya just never know...
I was able to go to a scrapbooking crop this last weekend and worked on an acrylic album...they are so much fun...I will post some pics when it is done : )... I just love my crop group!! They are some of the greatest people I know...and I am not just saying that because some of ya'll read my blog...I really mean it!!! (You can check out their blogs with the blog tags on the side)
Jordan came home last night from her grandma's and I am so glad she is back...I miss her when she is gone!! Although she is probably not glad to be home...we are currently working on cleaning house!!YEA!!! Over the last month or so things have been neglected...seeing how when I would get home collapse from exhaustion, eat and go to bed!!! It is amazing how much energy babies and toddlers burn...I mean seriously!! They are all precious though and I wouldn't admit this to just anyone...but...I am already missing'em...especially the twins ; )