Heat Embossed River Rocks

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Laughter feels awesome!

Michael and I decided on December 31st of this past year to go ahead and finally purchase iPhones. If you have read my blog before you may already know that we held out for just about as long as we could! I was very concerned about becoming very dependent on my phone and always having my head buried in my phone. What I hadn't considered was the amount of laughter I would experience as a result of Siri! Michael and I use Siri to send text messages to one another so that we don't have to type everything out with our thumbs :-) Of course this means that sometimes Siri interprets what we say incorrectly! It has led to some incredibly hysterical text messages that we send to each other even when they are incorrect :-) The other day I tried to tell him that I was going to our neighbors house - Greg and Ann's. Somehow Siri heard that as Grecken hands! And somehow that caused me to laugh hysterically :-). What Siri continues to remind me is that laughter is awesome and the more you can laugh on a daily basis the happier you will be! Can't wait to see what she misinterprets next!
I was playing with embossing powder the other day and somehow came up with the idea to emboss on river rocks! I wanted to have little rocks that I could put in my potted plants that would look fun and pretty! So I just used my embossing buddy to wipe off the rocks and then I used my Versa marker to apply the versamark ink and then added white embossing powder and heat embossed. If you try this yourself you should heat your rocks on a heat resistant surface like a tile and be very very careful! While the rocks will take awhile to heat up they also retain the heat quite well! So don't touch the rock right after heat embossing or you might burn yourself! How fun it would be to create a small rock garden with multicolored embossed rocks! Can't wait to hear if you play with this technique and what you create :-)

A Busy Pen!

From simple to intricate.  More of a need for an outpouring today vs. a simple flow.  My father passed away on this day many years ago.  I miss you Dad and I love you very much.

Yet Another Pen Meditation

Simpler this time...some forms still showing themselves again.  Just keep moving the pen on the paper - letting it flow...

Another Pen Meditation

This is my second pen meditation.  Some of the forms are reappearing - like a chant - from my hand.  More tomorrow....

Ramblings With My Pen

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Go On A Pen Meditation
Without providing details, let's just say that this past weekend was an emotional roller coaster!  I was considering just taking a break from the blog this week to try to get myself back on track, but then I thought it might be better to share with you one of the things I do to try to center myself and move forward after I've been on an emotional roller coaster!  Lately I've been enjoying going on pen meditations.  This first meditation happened on the inside back cover of my daily journal - somehow I needed to move to lines and mark-making after writing down my daily "wordy" pages.  This is what came out of me - I think it's magical :)  What was even more magical is what the focus on the drawing did for my mind and my soul.  It was an incredibly peaceful journey...except for the times when my inner critic would say things like, "What are you doodling like that for?  Isn't that a total waste of time?  Don't you have anything better today?"  I put a gag on that darn inner critic and just kept moving my pen across the page.  I highly recommend going on a pen meditation - it might actually clear your mind :)  Over the next few days I'll share a few more of my pen meditations - just taking a break from the traditional posts to give myself a recharge :)

Pleasant Poppies Thank You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Get Up And Walk Away
I was eating lunch the other day and fell into my usual habit of turning on the tv while I was eating.  Of course, even though there are hundreds of channels to watch, there was absolutely nothing worthwhile on!  But, unfortunately, that didn't stop me.  I chose some ridiculous dating show and let it blabber at me while I ate my salad and bowl of corn/beans/salsa.  Once I was done eating it was very tempting to just keep sitting there staring at the tv screen.  I even found myself getting up, grabbing a few squares of chocolate out of the pantry and heading back to the couch.  But once I sat down, reason took over and I turned off that dumb television show and got up and walked away!  I am very proud of myself!  Instead of letting my mind melt I actually started editing photos for my blog :)  Sometimes you need to get up and walk away in order to get yourself going!
Today's card was another scrap card as I begin to unearth the craft table (I know it's under there somewhere!).  I had stamped the Pleasant Poppies stamp onto watercolor paper with Staz-On and watercolored the image ages ago and now it turned into a perfect panel for this card.  I paired it with some designer paper (patterns stack) and a sentiment from Petite Pairs.  I hope you like it and I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with opportunities to get up and walk away and get yourself going!!!!!

Fine Feathers Thoughts Of You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Tend To It While It Is In Your Care
On our morning walk Buddy and I pass by a beautiful piece of land.  In the midst of house after house, there is a corner lot that is a beautiful iris garden.  We walk by every day and I always wondered whose garden it was.  This is no small piece of land - it is large and beautiful and visited by birds and rabbits.  Every once in awhile we would see bags stacked along the curb for pick up - bags of trimmings and clippings - evidence of someone tending to this beautiful place.  On Tuesday, Buddy and I were coming upon this wonderful place and there was a woman who looked like she was being eaten up by the ground!  She was on her knees and her whole torso was against the earth and her arm was reaching into the ground!  I wasn't quite sure what I was seeing!  As we came up closer we could see that there was a hole in the ground - the place where the controls for the irrigation system live - and we stopped to chat.  It turns out that the woman was one of the daughters who grew up in the home.  Sadly, her mother passed away in January and the family is not able to continue to support the home.  Someday soon, the property - including the 1940's house - will be put up for sale.  It was sad for her to share - and sad for me to hear.  Thinking about how much love her mother put into that garden.  Thinking about the likelihood that the land will be sold and the garden unearthed and new homes built in its stead.  She mentioned that they had thought about donating the land to the city, but really couldn't afford to do that.  It made me wonder what it would take to raise enough money to buy the land to preserve this piece of heaven in the midst of city sprawl.  And then a part of me wondered how long you can really control what happens to land.  For if I was able to raise the money and purchase it - what would happen to it when I was gone?  Maybe what we need to focus on is how we can tend to nature while nature is in our care.  Focusing on the present moment and our impact on what we appreciate.  We walked by the property again today - this time it was blanketed in fresh snow.  We looked even more carefully this time - realizing that what we love may one day no longer be there.
Today's card focused on colors that are retiring - only here until they are gone.  Bashful Blue and River Rock.  Funny how sometimes we begin to appreciate things only after they are disappearing - I don't think I had ever put these 2 colors together, but I love the way they look!  I stamped the feather from Fine Feathers and then added the sentiment from Loving Thoughts using Early Espresso ink.  So simple.  I hope you like it!

Pennant Parade Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Do
That's my word of the day..."do!"  I have been finding myself back in "if only" space.  Have you been there?  It's when your thoughts begin with the words "if only" and then you fill in the blank.  If only I had a barn as a studio.  If only there wasn't so much clutter around me.  If only I had a few million dollars (okay...maybe even one million)!  I find myself sitting there with my thoughts - pondering "if only" and what I realize is that while I am doing all of that pondering I am not DOING anything to get myself closer to having that million, getting my space uncluttered, or working toward having a barn as an art studio!  So today's word is "do" and I'm hoping tomorrow's word will be "do" too!  I need to start doing, even in the midst of all of my thoughts. There is a great quote by Pablo Picasso that says, "Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working."  So off I go to work - to do those things that I keep thinking about...hopefully inspiration will notice me :)
Today's card began with a few of the designer label punch pieces that were lying on my craft table (or, more aptly stated, "buried" on my craft table!).  I took out a Marina Mist card base and tied a piece of stitched satin ribbon around it.  Next I added the designer label punched pieces using dimensionals and layered a few stamped pennants from Pennant Parade.  The sentiments from Pennant Parade, Fabulous Phrases and Mixed Medley were stamped and then punched with a 3/4" circle punch.  They were also added to the card with dimensionals.  A bright button with some linen thread and a spritz with Marina Mist and Chocolate Chip ink finishes the card.  I hope you like it!

Tyler, Texas

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Some Things Are Better Laughed At Than Eaten!!!!
Really?!  Instead of calling this a Chicken Fried Burger, I think they need to call it Heart Attack On A Plate!  The menu item above it - The Flatliner -is definitely named correctly :)  I do wonder how many of these items they sell...and hope that those who eat them have their legal and medical papers in order! :)
We were in Tyler, Texas over the weekend for a wedding and a quick visit with Michael's parents.  We left bare trees here in Colorado and flew into the warm, humid Spring in Tyler.  it was nice to see all of that green and some beautiful wildflowers along the side of the road.  Over the weekend Michael's dad took us for a little scenic boat ride along the Naches River.  I thought I would share a few of the photos - hopefully you can imagine the sound of the frogs and ducks that are hiding somewhere out of view :)  I hope to be back tomorrow with something crafty :)

Art Journal Pages

Mixed Medley and Pennant Parade Scrap Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Allow Serendipity To Intervene And Go With It!
Today's card began with some scraps on my craft table.  The Daffodil Delight card base had already been cut long ago, so I went ahead and scored it to create my card.  However, when I went to fold it, one side was longer than the other!  Apparently, when this card base had originally been cut, it was a leftover from something else and was not a standard size.  At first I was going to start over, but then I decided to go with it and allow one side to be shorter than the other.  When I spotted the punched circles I realized that I could "hang" them off the edge for a really cute card!  Next time serendipity intervenes, go with it!  You never know what will happen next!
It's amazing how colors you would never choose to put together actually look great together when you just go with it!  All of these circles were scraps from other projects at other times!  I stamped the sentiments from Pennant Parade and Mixed Medley and paired them with a rhinestone brad and some ribbon scraps.  I hope you like it!  I also hope you have a wonderful weekend - filled with love, laughter and creativity....and a bit of serendipity too!!!!!

Itty Bitty Banners and Lovely Little Labels Scrap Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  When You Reach Your Limit, You Will Know
I have a confession.  I had to call Apple customer support the other day and I actually broke down crying on the phone!  I felt badly for the woman who had to deal with my call - poor thing never saw it coming!  Why was I crying?  Well, that's a bit of a long story - the short version being a canceled flight home from DC which meant an extra day on the road.  Then, when I landed back in Denver and turned on my 4-month old phone, it just stayed in "search" mode...which meant I had a hard time connecting with the person who was picking me up at the airport and another delay to get home.  And, once home, a 45 min call with Verizon did not resolve the problem so I needed to go to the Verizon store the next morning....and after an hour and a half with them, the problem was still not resolved.  And finally a visit to the Apple store where we determined that it wasn't my sim card, it was the phone itself...so they gave me a replacement.  The next morning I woke up and went to use my phone and I did not see the cute little microphone icon that should have been on the keyboard on the phone when I am in text message mode...where had Siri gone????  Then I began to believe that I had given the Apple store my iphone5 and had been given an iphone4 in return...and thus my limit had been reached!  I credit the wonderful woman from Apple who listened to my crying and my frustration and did an amazing job of calming me down.  We finally figured out what was wrong - I did indeed have the correct phone, Siri just hadn't been turned on!  Problem fixed...at least the one with the phone.  What I realized about myself was that I had reached my limit.  I continue to learn that travel disrupts my rhythm and while often I am able to bounce back, sometimes I get so out of whack that I reach a limit and can't bounce back as quickly.  I am grateful that although it is not done with grace, I am able to recognize when I reach my limit.  My task now is to figure out what triggers that and begin to examine how I might change so that I don't reach that point often.
Today's card is another card I put together from the scraps in my craft space.  I combined some doily, a piece of fabric, a punched and embossed butterfly, a button, and stamped sentiments from Itty Bitty Banners and Lovely Little Labels.  A spritz from the Spritzer Tool of Crumb Cake ink ties it all together.  I hope you like it :)

The Retired List Is HERE!

The Retired List is here!!!!  Click HERE to check out which of your favorites are retiring!!!!!

Petite Pairs and Four Frames Scrap Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Own That I Am Touchy-Feely
As part of my work life, I do training in corporate environments.  Some of what I teach involves negotiation skills and communication skills.  Invariably I will have someone in a workshop say something about "this touchy-feely stuff" and they say it as if it is a dirty word/phrase.  What is it about the need some people have to devalue that which is "touchy-feely?"  And why do I hurt inside when they do it?  The truth is, I am touchy-feely - I own that!  I do care about the soft squishy insides that we all have - no matter how much we try to hide those vulnerable parts of ourselves.  I don't care what environment you are in - corporate, public, government, university, the privacy of your own home - we are human beings and along with that comes emotions - raw, simple emotions.  I am touchy-feely - it is who I am - and I own it! :)
Today's card was made in an attempt to use up some scraps that were cluttering my craft space :)  Gotta love the inspiration clutter can provide (that's one up-side to not having the cleanest craft space right now!).  As a matter of fact, for the rest of the week I will share 2 more cards I made using the scraps I found hanging around.  I did add a bit of stamping - a greeting from Petite Pairs and the birdie frame from Four Frames.  I pulled everything together by using the spritzer tool with s Soft Suede marker.  I hope you like it :)

Art Journal Pages

Pursuit of Happiness Gratitude Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Hit the Reset Button
I used to have a tradition of writing 3 pages every morning in my journal.  The practice was inspired by reading Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way many years ago.  I found the practice to be very centering - a great way to start the day - a way to remove all of the scattered thoughts from my mind and begin the day with an empty slate.  But somehow, over time, I got out of that habit and replaced that habit with a tour of websites, blogs and email in the morning.  Rather than download my thoughts and begin the day fresh, I was instead filling my head with thoughts - mostly negative thoughts - gathered from news sites.  Not only would I do this checking in the morning, I would find myself double checking, triple checking and sometimes more throughout the day.  It's no wonder I found myself spiraling into a place where I felt out of touch with the whispers of my soul.  So yesterday I decided to hit the reset button.  I took out a blank journal and began my morning with my 3 written pages.  No internet, no news - just me and the page.  I feel better already.  Sometimes you need to hit the reset button.

For today's card I broke out the embossing powder!  I stamped the solid butterfly from Papillon Parade using versamark ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Next I stamped another few butterfly images on Crumb Cake card stock using a mix of versamark and basic black ink.  I clear embossed these two butterflies and cut them out.  The sentiment is from Pursuit of Happiness - stamped with Marina Mist ink and sponged with Crumb Cake.  A bit of layering and ribbon finishes the card.  I hope you like it!

Summer Silhouettes Thank You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Do you remember the U2 song "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For?"  I've been interpreting the refrain a bit differently these days.  I still haven't found what I'm looking for - literally.  Because how can you find something if you don't know what you are looking for?  Or maybe that's just it - maybe you find all that you need without even looking for it.  Do I have to decide where I want to live and what I want to do with my life?  Or do I just keep doing whatever it is that I am doing and somehow I will find what needs to be found?  As we discuss the whole idea of moving to the mountains I keep wondering - do I want to be a mountain woman?  or do I want to be a farmer?  or do I want to be an artist?  or do I want to be an author?  Do I have to decide before I can take action?  Can you tell I'm confused?  What I do know, is that I don't want to remain in a state of confusion and find myself still "spinning" these thoughts a number of years down the road to find that I haven't done anything at all.  Maybe a mountain top is just what I need - a place to go and be still - be with my thoughts and the sounds of my soul.  For now, that's exactly what I'm looking for :)
Today's card is simple and full of space (a theme of mine lately)!  I used Riding Hood Red ink at full and half strength with an image from Summer Silhouettes.  The sentiment is from From My Heart and was stamped with Early Espresso.  A simple neutrals button with hemp twine adds a finishing touch! :)  I hope you have a beautiful, creative and peaceful weekend!

Art Journal Pages

A Drive Into The Moutains

Today I thought I would just share a few photos from our drive up to the mountains this past weekend.

The driving was slow on the side roads when you find bystanders like these! :)  It was amazing to watch as these deer floated over fences as if they weren't even there!  So graceful!

We had never seen a black fox and this guy was gorgeous!  After doing a little researching and noticing the white tip to his tail, it seems that these rare black foxes are actually red fox with a genetic twist!  How cool that we got to see him!!!!!

There is something so beautiful to me about a boy and his dog :)  Michael and Buddy got out of the car for a quick leg stretch and I stayed behind and caught this photo :)  It makes my soul smile :)

Penant Parade Mouse Thumbprint Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Notice What Brings Lightness To Your Soul
I've been on a bit of an archaeological dig these past few weeks and I've gotta say I haven't been very successful.  What I'm looking for are the relics of who I am.  I'm not sure where I buried myself along the way, but for some reason I feel quite out of touch with what I want and who I am.  A lot of this has been brought up as we contemplate the possibility of moving to the Colorado mountains.  I know that when I was up in the mountains over the weekend, looking at the amazing scenery, I felt a lightness in my soul that I hadn't felt in awhile.  Could it be as simple as paying attention to what brings lightness v. heaviness to my soul?  Yes, as I look out the window of my craft room toward the small city oasis we have created in the backyard, I also feel lightness.  It is nature that I am drawn to - no matter where I am living.  I need to keep digging to see if I can figure out what choices to make.  In the meantime, I will notice what brings lightness to my soul because whatever I do, I need to nurture and sustain that :)
Speaking of lightness to my soul, I am having a lot of fun playing with my fingers are cards!  Today I created a small little love note (3x3) using a River Rock thumb print and some added permanent black marker doodles :)  I also used the sentiment stamp from Pennant Parade.  This is a great little love card to leave on a pillow when I head out on my travels :)  If you love River Rock, don't forget that this color is being discontinued as part of the Stampin' Up! color refresh and will only be available while supplies last!  Don't miss your chance to stock up on your favorites before they disappear!!!!  You can shop HERE if you would like :)

Fabulous Phrases Little Bird Thumbprint Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: It's Time To Regain Focus
I held out for a long time, but on December 31st of this past year, I decided to purchase a smart phone.  I held out for as long as I did because I was afraid that if I purchased one that I would become like all of the people I see around me - especially when I travel.  Head down, fingers moving, never focusing on where they are or what or who is around them.  And I must confess that my fear was properly placed.  Since I have purchased the phone I find myself checking email much more frequently.  I check the internet over and over during the day.  Worse yet, I feel like my ability to just focus on one thing and give that thing my undivided attention, has diminished.  When I read in the news the other day about the helicopter crash that was blamed on the pilot being distracted due to texting, the Universe was definitely trying to reach out to me to remind me that it is time to regain focus - time to work on immersing myself in what I am doing rather than trying to multi-task, simul-task - or whatever the heck you want to call it!  So I'm going to begin today - now - one thing at a time.

 Today's card is a build on the one I shared on Friday.  I had so much fun using my thumb print to create a bird I decided to create 2 :)  I once again used Bashful Blue for the birds and combined the birds with words from Fabulous Phrases.  I added the little heart from Itty Bitty Bits using Pretty In Pink ink.  Just a reminder...Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy and Pretty In Pink are all colors I used for this card and they are all being discontinued as part of Stampin' Up!s color refresh.  Don't miss the chance to purchase your favorite discontinued colors - they are disappearing fast!  Shop HERE now! :)  p.s. Happy Tax Day :)

Petite Pairs Thumbprint Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Use Your Fingers! :)
I had done a few One Stamp Wonder videos in the past - trying to use only one stamp and then other supplies hanging out in the craft room that would serve as stamps.  Today I realized that one of the best supplies that I could use as a stamp was sitting at the end of my hand!  When was the last time you used your fingers directly in your stamping or other art projects?  I remember how much fun finger painting was - why did I ever stop????  Your fingers are there for a reason...use them :)

For today's card I only used one stamp - a greeting from Petite Pairs that I stamped using More Mustard.  I then inked my thumb with Bashful Blue ink and pressed it down onto the Whisper White card base!  I took a marker and drew in the tail feathers, legs, beak and eye.  I colored the tail feathers with a Bashful Blue marker and the beak with More Mustard.  So tweet :)  Both More Mustard and Bashful Blue are colors that are being discontinued as part of Stampin' Up!s color refresh.  Right now, all retiring/discontinued color products (i.e. ink, paper, ribbon, accessories, etc.) are available only while supplies last.  Order your retiring colors NOW!  I hope you have a beautiful and creative weekend - how can you use your fingers to create a card?????

New Wood Mount Cases Coming Soon!!!!

Stampin' Up! is introducing new wood-mount stamp set packaging! These new cases are similar to our clear-mount boxes and fit perfectly on the shelf right next to them. They also have the images and stamp set name on the spine to make your search for the right set even easier.
Starting May 31 all wood-mount sets will come in this new packaging.  Empty cases will be available with the launch of the new catalog.  That means you can transfer all your old sets to these new boxes! There will even be a template for you to create your own label for your old stamp sets (available May 31). A pack of four half-size cases (3-3/4" x 5-1/2") will sell for $4.95 and a pack of four full-size cases (7-1/2" x 5-1/2") will be $6.95.
Get ready for all the exciting new products in the catalog--especially the new wood-mount boxes!

Make A Monster Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Who I Am Is A Question I Am Still Trying To Answer
Do you ever find that the way your are living your life does not seem to match up with the image you have of yourself?  I've been struggling with that very issue lately as Michael and I consider the idea of moving into the mountains.  For some, the decision would be a simple one.  For us (as with most of our decisions) it is not as simple.  We really want to think through it and consider what it would mean for us.  The idea of living in a more rural area definitely appeals to us.  And yes, the prospect also meets my need for space (as I mentioned yesterday).  We are pondering issues such as different weather, altitude, drive times, convenience.  Of course, the decision isn't as complex as it might have been many years back since now there are more supermarkets and necessities that have been brought to the areas we are looking at.  But it's not just the idea of moving that has my thoughts in a whirl.  It is also the question of who I am.  Am I a "mountain girl?"  I don't feel that I am a city girl and yet I live a bit like one...so am I a city girl?  Or, is the woman I feel I am on the inside the one that wants to break through and breathe in the mountains?  Yes, the question of who I am is one that I am still trying to answer!
For today's card I pulled out Certainly Celery, Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze - all colors that are being discontinued with Stampin' Up!s color refresh.  Beginning on April 4, 2013, all retiring/discontinued color products (i.e. ink, paper, ribbon, accessories, etc.) areavailable only while supplies last.  Order your retiring colors NOW!  I stamped the monster from Make A Monster onto Certainly Celery card stock, cut it out and adhered it to the Ivory Neutrals card with dimensionals.  Three circles were punched with the 1" circle punch and adhered to the card.  I then stamped the letters from the Simply Serif mini alphabet and punched them out with the Itty Bitty trio punch pack circle punch.  The word "happy" is from the happy birthday stamp in the From The Heart stamp set.  I hope you like it!

Bombs Away Birthday Photopolymer Stamp Set Is Available!

Just letting you know that Stampin' Up! has come out with another photopolymer stamp set!  Why might you want to give photopolymer stamps a try?

• They're entirely transparent for perfect placement every time! 
• They are durable. The photopolymer material is designed to last. 
• Can you say sticky? (Don't worry; in a good way.) These stamps stick amazingly well to our clear blocks.
• They're age tested. They won't yellow or cloud up over time.  

The Bombs Away Birthday (Item #133411) photopolymer stamp set is available now!  Shop HERE to get yours today!

Papillon Potpourri Thank You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Am Attracted To Space
The dictionary defines space as "a continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or unoccupied."  Lately I've been craving it!  Inside, outside, even in my card design - I am feeling a need for space.  We actually went to look at a house in the mountains the other day and what attracted me most was the view of the wide open expanse - the space - uncluttered, free.  Yes, I am continuing my journey with my cluttered living space and the need for space - not in terms of more room for my stuff - but in terms of that expanse - is what is driving me.  Right now, I am attracted to space!
For today's card I decided to leave lots of white space and play with some of the colors that will be retiring for Stampin' Up!s color refresh.  I began with a Whisper White card base and stamped the butterfly from Papillon Potpourri using River Rock ink.  The greeting from From My Heart was stamped using Bravo Burgundy.  Both River Rock and Bravo Burgundy are colors that are being discontinued with the color refresh.  Beginning on April 4, 2013, all retiring/discontinued color products (i.e. ink, paper, ribbon, accessories, etc.) are available only while supplies last.  Order your retiring colors NOW! 

Happy Birthday Book!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Make Something Special To Commemorate Someone Special!
Yesterday was Michael's 40th birthday and I decided to put together a small book to celebrate the day!  My first thought was to make the book a place where friends and family who were joining us for birthday dinner could share some words of wisdom on turning 40.  Then I decided to cast a wider net and send messages to friends and family who don't live in Denver or weren't going to be able to join us for the celebration.  They emailed me their thoughts and I printed them out and included them in the book.  Michael's mom came up with the idea of adding pictures to the inside of the book and she did a wonderful job of scanning and emailing some great photos (yes, those naked baby pictures too!).  The book was a big hit!  It made me realize how wonderful it can be to make something special to commemorate someone special :)

I'll Be Back Later Today...Or Tomorrow!

Taxes, drywall and car issues are taking up quite a bit of my concentration, time and energy these days!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and I hope to be back later today or tomorrow with a creative project for you!  One of these days I'll be able to share some before and after pics of our bathroom remodel...I am happy to report we have a main floor toilet again ;)