After a long "nap"

I have been gone for a bit. Not from everything, but from a few things as I'm trying to get done what needs to be done, and still fit a few "wanting to do" things as well.

This post isn't as much about what I'm "crafting" right now as what's in my heart. The Christmas season will do that to you :) My heart is so full that I just wanted to share.

Every year (usually about this time of year) I start to think about what's really important to me and what I want share with people about what's important to me. Everyone knows I'm a mad crafter and making things with my hands to share and give to others is important to me. I have always felt that it's giving more than a gift, it's giving a little bit of me.

This Christmas I'm buying very little. (In this economy, aren't we all trimming down our spending?!) I'm really trying to make as much as possible and even the small things are filled with lots of love and meaning.

As I get older, my "grateful" list is changing. Yes, I'm grateful for the "creature comforts" we all are, but I'm finding I'm even more grateful for the non-tangible things in my life. A perfect example is that I've recently "friended" a lot of creative people on my FaceBook account. Why? Because I'm so grateful for the inspiration they give me. Reading their FB posts puts me back in touch with my creative spirit when I've wondered away from it and I need that "snap" somedays to get me back to where I'm happiest.

Things are changing in our household. Jamie is getting more into his creative side. He's back to playing the guitar, to reading, to working on his pinstriping. That encourages me as well and I hope I encourage him :) I'm enjoying the silence more...which is tough with a houseful sometimes, so I find myself waking up in the middle of the night to create. That's not a bad thing, just something that brings me happiness in the very hectic season!! And we're starting to get ready for Bodhi's move to the west coast....so many mixed emotions with that!!

I'm slowly but surely getting more organized (though you can't tell that from this post LOL as it's ALL over the place!) and that feels good. I'm getting better at dedicating time to things and sticking to that. I'm learning that turning the TV off (though I've preached it for years) really does make you more productive. I'm learning that sometimes silence is my muse.

Now I must get back to some productive stuff....like finishing card orders and getting some Christmas presents finished!!

Okay, new addiction...well not really new, but just bigger. I'm totally addicted to all the incredibly creative things my Cricut Expression can do. (And NO I don't get paid by Provo Craft!!)

Here is a birthday cake my daughter Hailey and I are working on for her brother Ashton. He'll turn 18 on the 29th of this month and we've been cutting and gluing and assembling for a while now. It takes a while for a 12 yr old to cut all 20 cake pieces, score them, fold them, and then glue them...especially when her favorite TV shows are on LOL :)

Anyway, Hailey used my Cricut (Tags Bags Boxes and More cartridge) to cut 20 cake pieces and she put each one together. Then I glued the "bottom layer" to the cake board (I bought that at Walmart in a multipack...not very expensive.)

Then I cut the "frosting" layer for the middle (which I don't think you can even see) and then the frosting from the top. I then decorated it with his name and all that "jazz." I also cut scallops to use as icing around the outside of the cake on both layers, kind of like the icing is dripping out and over. I can't put those on until after we put the goodies in each cake slice or we won't be able to open them. We're putting things in the slices like candy, happy birthday wishes, and gift cards.

We will give it to him in an actual cake box, also purchased as Walmart for only $2. I think it's a fun way to give something different birthday gift. Especially right now when none of us have a lot of money, but as a crafter, I have TONS of paper (LOL!!) I know it may not be Ashton's favorite gift for his 18th birthday, but he will know that we love him and were thinking about him. He is also a very talented artist so he'll appreciate the time and effort that went into make it.

Some projects I've done

Here are two cards I made using my Cricut Expression and the Wild Card cartridge. I still like making cards my "old" way, but this is fun too. It gives me more options and I like that.

The clipboard is for a friend of mine and I used vinyl to decorate it (after I painted it pink of course.) I'm going to do a mini scrapbook page about the kitties for her.

My next project is a birthday cake made out of paper for Ashton...pictures to follow. It's a two layer cake (lots of cuts with the Cricut) and hopefully it will turn out really cool. The neat thing is that each "slice of cake" can hold a small gift, so we'll be filling it up with candy and little goodies and some gift cards....it's his 18th birthday. All the cake slices are cut and assembled, now I just need to put them on the cake board and put on all the icing and decorations.

THEN, because I can never be without another project to work on LOL, I am going to do a small window (kind of like the window in my previous post, but smaller) for my grandparents. My grandma is in a nursing home and doesn't have a lot of personal things in her room, so hopefully I can get the window painted tomorrow and then work on the pictures and embellishments so that it's all ready for when we leave on Friday to go up North. We'll get to see them on Sunday. I can't wait. I love giving unusual gifts and especially handmade things!!

I'm so excited!!

I've been really tired lately (darn fibromyalgia) so I haven't been doing much except going to work and trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to do things around the house. I've had the creative urge, but by the time I get to my table, there's no energy left. While my card orders are caught up (for the time being) my house is a disaster. BUT I'm not writing this blog to complain. I am excited because change is on the way...

I've been thinking of ways to make my life more productive without give up sleep (LOL.) I've kind of broken down the hours in my day...and I'm looking at what I NEED to do, what I WANT to do and what I can throw out. I am not silly enough to think I can/will/want to give up my computer time (at least not all of it) or even all my TV time...but I have a plan. Okay, it's an outline of a plan, but I'm hoping it works. I need a lot of structure and if the plan works I'll have that and can get more done:)

What I'm REALLY excited about it all the great videos I found on YouTube today about the Cricut Expressions and things beyond the scrapbook page and cards that I can do with it. I already have one project lined up to do wall out for one of my good friend's little girl. (Using vinyl for wall decorations...you know, words and things like that.) I also have the stamp material so that I can cut my own stamps with my Cricut....WOW!! I saw videos today of using the Cricut to cut a stencil to decorate (with fabric paint) a t-shirt....I could go on and on.

I'm feeling really creative and that feels good!! The other excitement is that I'm on vacation next week and not going anywhere!! I can't wait!! I will have quiet days to "get my act together" and get my plan rolling.

I'll be posting some pictures soon...maybe even today, of some cards I've been working on and I'll have lots of other things to show you soon!!

A new project

I'm really excited about this project (for a couple of reasons.) I found this window for sale at a yard sale for $5!! I immediately so the potential for a way to display photos (imagine that!) It needs to be cleaned up and then painted. One of the reasons I'm excited is that Dawn (my husband's ex-wife) is going to help me "antique" it. I know that sounds strange, but I've wanted us to have some sort of friendship all a long. We are very different people and I don't expect her to want to be my best friend, but I do want to have a good relationship with her if for no other reason than for Hailey. In fact, we're going to the fair together tomorrow to take Hailey. I'll keep you posted on how this project goes. I'm hoping to learn a lot about how to refurbish things like this. It should be fun!!

I've been busy

I've been busy lately (big surprise) and have lots to share...thinking I'll break it down in to more than one post so that I don't appear to go on and on!! LOL!! At least then I won't feel like I'm babbling.

Here is a couple of pictures of a birthday card I did for a friend and coworker. The only reason it's "blog worthy" is that it's my very first gate fold card and I think the Michael Strong stamps on it seem to put the finishing touch on it.

This friend has had a very tough year and I thought an extra special card was in order for her. I hope she likes it!!

Busy day

Yesterday was a busy day for me creatively! I finished two 8.5x11 layouts (I do these and put them on a clip board to display them. I print the pictures as wallet size prints and then can fit two or three on a page. They are just quick little pages of pictures that I want to be able to look at for awhile, before they are put away in an album.

The first layout is my husband sporting a famous passenger while he was riding the scooter. A co-worker of his strapped Mr SquarePants to the back of the scooter while they were working and my husband road the silly thing around like that all day!!

The second layout is for my friend Lisa. Her son's first grade put on a circus and he was the "world's strongest clown!" He was adorable!! I took a lot of pictures that day, but these were my favorites. The page is on a clip board ready for her to take home the next time she comes over!

Looking at the Big Cats

Today was Hailey's 12th birthday, so we took her to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center
Point IN. It was an amazing experience and sad at the same time. I have a million pictures...okay, almost 100 pictures of all the cats. Some aren't the greatest as all of the photos were taken through chain link fence.

Please check out their website. They need all the help they can get. It costs a lot of money to run the Rescue Center. I mean, can you imagine what it costs to feed a 600 pound tiger?!!

Being creative!!

Last night after I made brats on the grill, I looked at the empty beer cans left over from par-boiling the brats and had an ah-ha moment. I remembered an episode on the Scrapbook Lounge where I watched Michael Strong use an aluminum can as a piece of metal to use as embellishments. So I had my husband cut the top and bottom off the cans and there you have some soft aluminum to emboss.

So I took the "sheets" of metal and ran them through my Cuttlebug. The "LOVE" card was run through in a full sized Cuttlebug embossing folder and then colored with Alcohol inks. I use a Heidi Swapp stamp with chalk in. (I'll be honest...I haven't done the inside of the card yet LOL.) This will end up being my mom and stepdad's wedding anniversary card.

This card I made for my husband's ex-wife's birthday. (Yes I know that sounds odd....it's a long story, we all knew each other years before...) Anyway, I took three pieces of the "metal" and first cut the stamps shape with the Cuttlebug and the stamp die. Then I put each individual piece into a small Cuttlebug embossing folder. I started out to just play with this whole embossing metal thing and really liked how they turned out...and this is how I put it together :)

I work on a card project or a scrapbook project nearly everyday. Some days it's because I have a deadline, and some days it's because I have a creative urge. Last night the mojo (urge) was strong and I came up with both of the cards. I guess sometimes the creative juices just flow more fluidly than others:)

Now back to finishing the anniversary card and then on to making Hailey's scrapbook from her vacation in Vermont. It's my birthday present to her. So off I go!! See you soon!!

Go get inky!!
LeighAnn

a couple of happy purchases

Ahhh, the little things in life!! I finally found my little pump bottles. Just $.97 at WalMart and perfect for mixing tube watercolors to use to spray on paper for a color wash. I can't wait to try it!! Jamie bought me tube watercolors forever ago and I use them, but think I'll use them even more now!

The can of pink spray paint...well, every girl needs lots of pink in her life!! I got the idea from The Pink Stamper www.mypinkstamper.com when she and her best friend spray painted their ATG guns and Robyn did her Cricut spatula. Can't wait to do it myself!!

I will be putting up pictures of my water color creations and my newly painted tools soon!! Too much fun!!

Last Hailey share today!

Here's a card she made for her Aunt Jane. She used the Cricut Paperdoll cartridge to make the person (she's supposed to look like Jane) the Funky Cricut Lite cartridge for the font. She's making a birthday card for her mom right now!!

A must share

Have to share this story. This is a card my daughter Hailey (12) made this card for my son Bodhi. I think I said before that he's in WA visiting his dad. I think it's so sweet that she wants to send him stuff too.

On this card she used the Tracerkin stencils (which I have all of and you can't buy anymore!!) I still use them, though the Cricut paper doll cartridges have kind of taken over LOL!!

I don't help Hailey with color choices or anything...I let her have free run of my scraps and most of my tools and supplies. She comes up with some pretty amazing stuff without any help at all. I'll post more of her stuff as time goes on. Actually she's sitting at the table in my living room right now finding stuff to make her mom's birthday card!!

Here's the front of the card I made for my sister-in-law. I love the stamp set I used, it's LATE4BDAY from the Stamps of Life.

http://www.stephaniebarnardstamps.com/

Check out her site, she has awesome galleries full of examples made with her stamps and her stamps really are fantastic. They are clear stamps that stamp so well!!

Anyway, the card is late (imagine that in my world) so the turtles were the perfect choice. I stamped them with Versamark ink, then embossed with black embossing powder. I colored them in with water color pencils and used a water brush to blend the pencil in. I cut the turtles out and after stamping the grass and flowers (same stamp set) adhered the turtles with foam tape dots and then stamped and colored in the hats with markers and cut them out and adhered them with foam tape dots. I used Stickles on the pom-poms on the hats and in the center of the flowers. The "Happy Birthday" was cut with my Cricut using the Funky cartridge.

Here is the inside of the card. The Happy Belated Birthday is from the LATE4DAY card set and the cupcake stamp is from the regular birthday stamp set HappyBday2U. Really love these stamps.

Now off to bed for me so that I can get up tomorrow and get some more creative work done!!

Mini album for Bodhi

This is an album I made to send to Bodhi while he's at his dad's. I wanted to be able to send him something that he could look at and remember us and how much I miss him:)

I used name badge albums. I got this idea from an episode of the

Scrapbook Lounge that Tricia Morris.

I used mini prints that I printed at CVS (of course LOL.)

I had a blast looking at some of the older pictures and Bodhi will miss the cats, so I had to put them in there. Of course the picture of Jamie is just him being himself LOL!!

A parting note to tell him how much I want him to have fun, and that I'll miss him bunches!!

What makes me happy

I'm learning every day what truly makes me happy. Don't laugh...I'm 40 but to me life is a continuous journey and what makes you happy at 20 doesn't necessarily work at 40 (I'm remembering a life at UGA in my early 20's....while the idea of learning still makes me happy, all the partying just makes me TIRED LOL!!)

Oh don't worry, I'm not going through a mid life crisis or anything as dramatic as that...it's more a walk through the closet of my life and taking an inventory. Once again, this isn't a mid life crisis type of thing where I'm getting rid of my "mom car" and getting a hot rod or wishing that my life was more exciting or that my husband had more hair LOL!! It's going through the closet of my life and seeing what I've got in there, and what I want with the things I've found.

The irony of this is that I find a lot of stuff there that makes me happy and always has...being creative is a big one. If I went through the actual closet that store most of my "stuff" I will find things that show I was always interested in being creative. I have cross-stitch things (books, patterns, floss, and other supplies) in my closet as well as lots of other crafting supplies I've accumulated through the years. CREATING makes me HAPPY. I'm glad that's a part of my life that has never changed. I even cross stitched while I was in college :)

Why am I babbling on about this? Well my son left for his 30 day visitation at his dad's this past Friday...that does NOT make me happy. While I struggle with him, as he's 13 and can be a challenge right now, him being away is not a solution for me. Not to mention his dad lives across the country from me so it's not like I can just jump in my car and go get him. My son is a "mamma's boy" and my only biological child. It's always tough for me to watch him get on that plane!!

As my babbling continues...Lillian (almost one of my kids *big smile*) and Hailey (my other kid) made mini albums to slip into Bodhi's suitcase for him to find when he arrived in Washington state. (I'm now realizing I wasn't smart enough to take pictures of those very sweet creations...Lillian is 7 and Hailey is 12.) Anyway, last night I finished the mini album I was making for Bodhi so I could mail it today. I realized that while my heart is so sad because he's so far away, at the same time I felt good...because I was CREATING.

Wow, that's a lot of babbling just to say that crafting makes me happy LOL!! I guess I wanted to tell you the whole story as I didn't think it would have the same impact if you didn't know I was missing my son. Hey, I'm a scrapbooker, not a writer LOL!!

I will post pictures of my mini book and of the card Hailey made for Bodhi last night soon. My Internet has been giving me fits lately (lots of storms in our area) so uploading photos has been a challenge!!

Have to share the pictures!!

Here is the three dvds that have arrived from NAODS (National Association of Digital Scrapbookers) and they are all about scrapbooking digitally with photoshop. They are amazing!!

Here is Joanna Campbell Slan's newest novel. She generously donated an autographed copy of it. I've read all the books in the sires so far....they are GREAT!! You'll be hooked for sure and there is another surprise from Joanna as well, but you'll have to wait to hear about that!!

Here is what Fiskars sent. Can you say WOW?!! Lisa and I are debating whether to make it into more than one basket or just put it in one huge one!! Ah the decisions we must make!!

There is more stuff on the way and some gift certificates that are going to be in the goodie bags as well. I haven't even begun to list all the stuff from local merchants here in Franklin!!

This will be the third time Lisa and I have done this event and it never ceases to amaze me the support we get from our community and the crafting world. Everyone is so giving!!

Keep checking back, I'll be posting new stuff as it gets here and new news as it comes up!!

Keep being creative!!
LeighAnn

More exciting news!!

Just got an email from Cheryl Waters from Fiskars and guess what...we're getting a tool goody basket for the silent auction. The whole scrapbooking community has been amazing...so giving!!

Always something going on...

There are even MORE fun things going on in the planning stages of Crop Out Autism Franklin event. So far we have two confirmed classes, some GREAT prizes coming in and more fun stuff every day! I'm getting so excited I can't wait!! We have a scrapbooking novel to give away, by Joanna Campbell Slan; a set of DVDs for learning how to digi scrap from NAODS (National Association of Digital Scrapbookers); a 6 month membership to Paperclipping; and the list is still growing!! Check back often to see what else we have up our sleeves and if you have any suggestions, please don't hesitate to let me hear from you. We love to do what we can to make this crop what you want it to be!!

Thanks for reading!!
LeighAnn

Well there it is....our very own LOGO!! I'm so excited. A friend of mine from high school who is a logo specialist made if for us. He's so awesome.

http://www.tntomdesign.com/ Check out his website and see what he can do for you!!

Well, I know it's only June, but it seems like the time is FLYING by and that September is right around the corner. We're organizing classes, getting instructors lined up, and have some special people and prizes on the way!

I wrote an article for http://www.scrapbookingmagazine.com/ and am hoping that 1) it's worth publishing and 2) tons of you read it and maybe some people who didn't know about the crop find out about it and want to come. We've also go some postcards we're going to be posting around town and mailing out for some advertising and publicity.

I honestly believe this will be our best event yet!! As Lisa and I do this, and it IS a learning experience, we're getting better and we're getting a better feel for what people want/need. If you have any suggestions or comments, or questions, please don't hesitate to post here, email me at snipsoftime@yahoo.com or call me at

317-507-1166. We want the event to be the best it can be...

Thanks for reading. Now I'm off to make sure all my stuff is packed. Heading home tonight from a visit at my parents' in Wisconsin. Got a HUGE cleaning project tomorrow (God bless Stephanie for being willing to help me!!) and then hopefully Friday I can spend crafting in my nice clean house. It's back to work Saturday and I'm sure Sunday. I'm hoping Lisa can come over for a bit Friday evening too!! Miss her!!

Happy crafting and go be CREATIVE!!

LeighAnn

for my moms

My mother really liked the book I made her for Mother's day. It was fun and easy and really looked like it was much more difficult to make than it was. And she didn't even notice the part where I put the text on upside down!! Okay, maybe she noticed and just didn't mention it.

This is the card I made for my mother-in-law. I haven't heard if heard whether she liked it or not, but I'm hoping she did.

There is nothig like making something for someone you love!!

I made one for my step mother too, but failed to take a picture of it to share with you.

What I've been making

I only have a few moments to get this blog post started before it's time to leave and go to my church for movie night and watch "Faith Like Potatoes."

This is the front cover to a mother's day book I made for my mother. I haven't gotten her reaction yet, as I mailed it a bit late, but I'm sure hoping she likes it. I'll either edit this post and add more pictures of the book or start a new post.

I've realized that I'm just plain happier when I'm creating. Sure, the laundry doesn't always get put away, or the house may need to be picked up, but I'm just HAPPIER. It seems like putting together a piece of this and a bit of that and having it turn into something worthy of a gift or something that preserves a memory is very fulfilling!!

I have been paying attention to the "happiness level" or "satisfaction level" of the people in my life. I can tell you, the people who are creative are living happier lives. I'm seeing people with little or no money, material possessions, and things that most people think "bring happiness" being happy and able to deal with the blows life deals them. I'm also seeing people that should be "over the moon" with all the money they have and/or worldly possessions suffering. I can't swear that it's just creativity, maybe it's the whole hobby thing...having something to do that is all your own; but regardless I'm seeing happiness in people that some would think should be miserable.

Enough of me on my soapbox (though I'm sure I'll hop on it again from time to time.) The point is, enjoy the things in life that bring you lasting happiness.

I think I'll end this post here as Lisa should be here to pick me up for movie night any time now, but know there will be more to follow, maybe even tonight.

Happy creating!!
LeighAnn

Crop Out Autism Frankln SEPTEMBER!!

Passing on the information that we (Lisa Booth and myself) are hosting Crop Out Autism on Saturday, September 25th in Franklin, IN.

This is a charity scrapbooking event that raises money for the Johnson County Autism Support Group.

Date: Saturday, September 25th

Time: 10am-10pm

Place: Franklin IN

Registration is $10 to attend and a minimum $10 donation if you pre-register by August 28th, after August 28th it's $15 to attend and a minimum$10 donation.

There will be a light lunch and an evening meal as well as snacks and some drinks provided for crop attendees. There will be a silent auction, a scrapbook supply rummage sale, and classes. (For the rummage sale, you bring your unloved scrapbooking supplies, packaged for a rummage sale with prices on each item and they will be placed on the rummage sale table. All the proceeds from the rummage sale will go directly to the Johnson County Autism Support Group.)

You aren't a scrapbooker? You can come and learn about scrapbooking, use the supplies provided by the crop, and learn from all the other scrapbookers that are at the crop. (See "Have something else to do that day" for other ideas how to help.)

Have something else to do that day? Consider donating to the cause, donating to the rummage sale, making or donate something for the silent auction, sponsor someone else to come to the event.

How do I register/donate? Reply to this email and I'll send you an invoice that you can pay via paypal or with a credit card through paypal. Send me an email or call me (317-507-1166) and I'll send you registration form and you can mail a money order back for your registration.

Why should I pre-register? By pre-registering, you let us know to save you a spot! We can better plan for attendance and make sure we have enough goodies and prizes!!

Please feel free to forward this post and to pass on my email address and phone number!!

Looking forward to hearing from you!!

Feel free to contact me with any questions

LeighAnn Rebillard

317-507-1166

snipsoftime@yahoo.com

Crop Out Autism Franklin April

Okay, I blew it. I didn't blog AT ALL about the event in April . I should be beaten with a wet blogging noodle or SOMETHING. But the event was a success and we raised OVER $500 for the Johnson County Autism Support Group. I'll add some pictures to this post to show you how much fun we had:)

We also made some decisions about the event. As you know, this was only the second time Lisa and I put this event on. We're new at this and just learning how to plan and organize events. So last year we did it in September and did okay. We wanted to move the event to April this year to go with Autism awareness month. We've now decided that doing it in April makes it more difficult as with the weather finally turning nice and spring like after winter, people don't want to be indoors and have a lot of outdoor commitments to things like baseball, soccer and things like that. So we have decided to go BACK to the September date. So we have decided that the crop will OFFICIALLY be the last Saturday in September from now on.

With that decision came the discussion of "do we do it again this year or do we wait 18 months and do it next year?" With the help of a brilliant friend we decided to do it again this year to that there is no chance of people forgetting about the event and we'll be at it again Saturday, September 25th.

So with all that being said, enjoy the attached pictures from April's crop and start looking for other blog posts telling you ALL ABOUT the upcoming Crop Out Autism Franklin event in September.

This is Julie, she was our "Queen of the Crop" as she was the first to arrive and the last to leave. We'll have a new Queen next event and some other categories and maybe a Princess or two as well.

This is Barbara and the FIRST time she ever scrapbooked!! I think we might have given her the scrapbooking fever so many of us suffer from!!

Please subscribe and check back often!! I promise (as I have so often done) to be better about blogging!!