So Much to Post On, So Little Time!

Been busy as a busy bee! Mary Jane was here and unfortunately left yesterday to head back North. Today is her birthday, so everyone wish MJ a very happy 60th! Oh, did we celebrate while she was here though--don't ya know! I made this card for her. (Had a heck of a time trying to get it printed at Costco.) I finally printed an 8x10 on my printer and will try again at Costco later. You know how it is when you want to get everything ready for a special occasion--nothing goes as planned!! This is her caramel cake from Puffy Muffin (her fav); and she got a little choked up by the kid's card. He absolutely adores her (as we all do, of course!). I wanted to get her a special cake because I will never forget the time she bought one for me when my parents didn't. I guess all families have times when they forget about such things. I guess I was about 11 or 12 and no one bought me a cake. I was terribly upset and was crying and ran into the basement (girls!). MJ went down to Giant and picked out the prettiest cake they had and had them decorate it for me. I was so happy (and quite embarrassed at how I had acted). Isn't that just the sweetest!

We had the best time, basically eating, shopping and gabbing. I told her she was going to have to go home because if she didn't we both would just get fatter and fatter and be completely broke! ha. It sure was fun though. We even made a cigar box together!

After dropping MJ off at the airport, I rushed home to drop mom off and then I was on to a collaging class over at a hotel right down the street from me. I had signed up for several classes when I heard about the Southern Scrapbooking Convention there. I didn't really know what to expect since I was really only interested in collaging and not scrapping. I have several books to do for the boys, but I find it tedious and a tad monotonous, to say the least. But, I will do it for them, the good mother that I am . . . hehe.

My first class was an intro to ATC cards. I hadn't even heard of them before a couple of months ago. I saw one on Ebay and ordered it (which I am told is total taboo--it's not an Art TRADING card if you sell it!). The class was fantastic! I learned a lot about ATCs and also collaging. The lady, who owns European Papers, was a fantastic teacher. Her supplies are gorgeous. You have to go take a look. This is my first go at ATCs. It has a French motif.

After that, I had another class on distressing. Little did I know, it was basically a scrapbooking page layout class. Grrrrrr. I found out very quickly how much I hate doing layouts. (I really hadn't realized how much scrapbooking got on my nerves.) A bit too neat for me. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Knew I was in trouble when the teach told everyone to cut their sheets into 6X12, 3X12, 1/2 X4 etc, and everyone whipped out their cutting tools and zip zip zip, done. I was still measuring my first piece! hehe. (She'd look at me and ask "Am I going too fast???) I finished my "pages," which I will never use, I'm sure. I did learn a couple of distressing paper techniques. Quite an expensive way to get a couple of techniques! Oh well, live and learn. I won't even show you a pic, it's that bad!
Today, I took a "Postcard Under Glass" class. Same teacher from European Papers, so I knew it would be good. And it was. I am sooo excited to learn more about collaging and turning them into different things. This piece is so much fun to make. Again, French motif. Guess she just had a lot of French papers and stuff, so I went with the flow. Fun fun fun!

Here is my table full of goodies and some of my favs.

Look at these little portable watercolors!! How fun are these?? A couple of kits I will now need to do, beautiful botanicals and glue that won't fade them!

While I was at the convention, I took the boys' scrapbook covers over to have them embossed and also my father's book. They all turned out very nicely. It really makes them look "official" once their names are on them.


If I'm gone for more than a couple of hours, I always find it quite "interesting" to see what I come home to--having boys and all. These are two peculiar items I found as soon as I walked through the door. The first is on the side door. I wonder why that pencil is there? Who knows--boys. Then I go to the kitchen sink to wash my hands and this is what I find there. Rocks, obviously cleaned from today's excavation. And who had heartburn??? Don't you love boys? I sure do!!! You just never know what you might find and where.

Today, I checked in on my blog only to find it had a little breakdown, poor thing. Missing me, no doubt. All you could see was the picture of the cookies the hub brought home. I checked in blogger help and was told it was just a glitch and to choose another template and basically start over. Oy! I saved the old template first and did the best I could in placing everything like I had it before. Apologies if someone was left off! I'll work on it again tomorrow.

It feels good to be back in blogland; and I have a lot of catching up to do!!! I miss MJ terribly already, so I'm sure I will be busy on here!! Can't wait to see what you all have been up to. Hope everyone is well.