Post it and toast it

Today I have decided to accept the fact that I may not be crafting or do much of anything fun and leisurely for the next two years. But I wouldn’t trade the opportunity that’s in front of me, I am so blessed to be where I am at. I see this as a small price to pay, in order to achieve my goals; what’s even more is that my kids get to watch this process unfold. They will know that anything they want to achieve is within reach, if mom did it they can too!
10 years ago I don’t think I Possessed the confidence, not so much in my educational ability but also in life. Being a full time student has taken some time to grow into. Shedding all the excess stuff in life has been a process for me. Sadly things had to happen like losing good friends along the way because I had no time for outings and because it’s hard to be a mom, wife, and student. My time has been on a major budget these past couple of years. But I am fortunate that I am old enough to realize this transition has taken place already. Once I start nursing school I won’t be going through those types of blues as much. ( I am sure there will be others) It’s the things I did make time for, like movies, and dinner or shopping with my family that I will miss the most. We are all going to sacrifice together. We all understand and we are all preparing for what is to come. To be honest I’m kind of shaking in my boots. I’d be lying if I said there was no fear, at the same time I can’t wait to do my rotation in the OR, and Labor and delivery is going to be so freaking awesome! I’m psyched I can’t wait… and I am so excited to start this new chapter in my life!
So this post is dedicated to stuff I made and never shared.. you will have to excuse the quality of photos some are old..
This is one of the very first cards I made, I used stampin up color pencils and DSP
Another first, I used MFT stamp set and SU papers
You could tell I really loved the browns (I still do!)
I made this for my Hubby’s grandma
I used a free digital computer print out for this
I made these for my son’s birthday party. I drew it but was inspired from something I saw on pinterest.


A Card I made for my daughters friend with my lovelies from saturated canary.

and the last for a toast.. My daughter and I made and sold these so we could raise money for her Girl Scout trip to Georgia, It was very inexpensive and we still  have our set. I enjoy mine with an occasional glass of wine. They are the perfect size for 1 glass ( one big glass, hee hee)
Cheers ~ And thanks for all you special comments throughout the years!

End of the year stuff..

My titles are beginning to sound the same, and at the same time vague. It’s suppose to be easier for me to post, since I am taking a light load this semester, but there is always something that needs my attention. As saddened as I am I just can’t devote my time to my online sharing like I used to. I have some really big things coming my way; I just got accepted into Nursing school. My dream of becoming an RN is in front of me. I know the next 2 years are going to be a challenge, but I have the support of my wonderful husband and kids. My daughter is in HS water polo and my lil man keeps busy with his activities too, so that is plenty to keep me near losing my mind. my plan is not to be a 5150 case before this all ends, so blogging will have to take a back seat for some time. I love crafting but I know what I need to do and so cutting down on crafting is a no brainer.

On another note I wanted to share that I am now selling Stampin up! Products. I don’t know how long this will last but I am enjoying it while I can. Tom’s aunt is my Up line; just think she is the sweetest lady ever, so I want to really try my best to stay active for as long as I can. Plus crafting on holidays is permitted (I think)  I just love how everything is less complicated when it comes to crafting with their tools. First off everything coordinates beautifully and I tend to now be so overwhelmed with all the business and frills of my usual cards. coloring is an option but not a necessity; anyone who colors knows that can be very time consuming.  Plus, I am able to make grown up things like these cards I was hired to make for my brother’s business clients. 40 in all, yea it was quite a project but I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.

I used The Gently Falling Stamp set and embossed the leaves in gold, real simple, and in my opinion real classy. It was rewarding to hear my brother and my husband talk about all the delicate details of this card, and how his clients should feel very appreciated upon receiving this card. Yea that was kind of the icing on the cake for me ( I mean men, carrying on about pearls and gold accents) lol it was a great moment.

I was then hired to make a round of Christmas cards that will include a handmade ornament.The really nice thing is the cash is coming in at a great time, the cost of nursing is not cheap. So I may consider this as a side job option and extend my services to other local business and people.. Just a thought, well see how that plays out.

It was great to be back online and I’ll be back to share my christmas cards with you all, I’m not in school till january, So I am going to try hard and squeeze in as much fun as I can now. Take and see you soon .

                                             Hugs  Angela

Busy Stuff

Yup been busy with lots of stuff, including aging! Incase you didn’t know, that’s me minus the birthday cap (the old chick) ready to attack that sweet Chantilly Cake my hubby bought from Whole Foods. He totally scored brownie points, and I was so impressed he picked it out on his own. He got to go surfing afterwards while I volunteered to wash the car with the kids. Needed to work off those calories, know what I mean?
I could talk about getting older and all the lessons I’ve learned blah, blah, blah.. But to be really honest I am still learning and growing as a person, mom, wife & friend. 
I also have been crafting a little bit. Mostly stuff that makes me happy like this sea shell shadow box. But the most precious thing is the picture of my kids 8 years ago. I’ve been trying to incorporate a beach cottage theme in my house for some time. If time permits, I want to make beach ornaments and have our Christmas tree doused with them.
I’ve also been wearing a new hat since the kids are back in school. I am tutoring the kids.. Joshua in reading comprehension and Tyla in Math. The hardest part of tutoring your kids is it is very easy to get frustrated when they don’t comprehend what you are trying to teach. It’s easy for mom to yell (heh hmm) and kids to get upset. Any clues to the fact that we’ve been there done that? well not anymore.. (ok well I am really trying to give it my all and make this a success for everyone).
I opened “Not your Momma’s Tutoring” with a special theme in mind. During these hours I am not your momma! I treat my kids like they are not mine and they treat me like I’m not their mother. Just like a tutor who is not their mom, if they miss a session it’s on them. I won’t force them to come, but if they should they will be quite surprised at what knowledge they walk away with. I won’t yell at them and I will reward them when they do well. So far it’s been a success. It’s been about a week (fingers crossed this will work) I don’t have Tyla coming to me at the last minute telling me she doesn’t understand her assignment 1 hour before bed. I really have to thank my friend Lupe for giving me great tips in order to reclaim my sanity. So, thanks Lupe I owe you lunch.
So as you can see things are busy in the hustle and bustle of the week. I wish I had more time for other stuff but I know in time that will come. Take care and I really hope to be back on my blog again soon. Take care ~ Angie

One for the Boys

 

I was challenged to make a funny card for my husbands friends birthday. I thought the funniest thing is the saying. I am totally into printing random images and making them look distressed! I used a wood stamp and embossed the paper to make the background. I also used sealing wax and heated it once it melted I used a Stampin up Brad to create the design. Hope you like my card. By the way, we had to miss the party because of time constraints so if you like my card you can bid on it on e-bay.. If you tell me you came from my blog I’ll give you free shipping. http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-Handmade-Card-for-the-Boys-/251316795351?pt=Greeting_Cards&hash=item3a83a5f7d7

I’d like to enter my card in these challenge:

Top Tip Tuesday – 107 embossing

The Male Room Challenge Blog – Anything Goes

Ruby's rainbow – Vintage

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Simply perfect

 

I would love to get really good at making simpler & elegant cards. I decided to give it a go using this bells and whistles stamp I adore. I’ve used it on boy and girl cards as well as non gender specific.  I stamped it in momento ink potters clay and colored it with copics. I wanted simple I really tried to not overdue it, especially since it’s a boy card. I didn’t even pull out any DSP. I am finding I love embossing folders; Nellie Snellen and Darice brands make beautiful ones. The ribbon is from my stash, and I liquid pearl in blue around the border. the leaves are from a MS punch called fronds. Here is a closer look at the image

and the inside is stamped with a Stampin UP set, sorry for the dark background.

I would like to enter my card in these challenges:

The Shabby Tea Room: Oh Baby!

The Pink Elephant: Masculine

Top Tip Tues: Spooled Items

7 kids: Anything goes with a vintage twist

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate all your lovely comments. Have a wonderful day.

Celebrate Life

 

 

Hello, It’s such a wonderful day here in California. The beaches are glistening and I wish I was there. Instead I am bogged down with busy work. I still managed to make this cheerful little card. I wasn’t sure what type of saying to put on it.. Maybe Celebrate Life will be in order. Either way I just wanted to make something because I really want to get back into crafting more than I have been. We shall see if time permits. Either way, I’d like to enter this card in these wonderful challenges:

Southern Girls – # 73 No Spooling around (got it right this time)

Saturated canary – Any kind of celebration

Fussy and Fancy – Lemon and lavender

Crafting for all seasons – Bingo #56 Middle down Flowers, digi image, pearls

Top Tip Tues- Hexagon and circles (my card is circle shaped)

Thank for looking and hope to see you soon. ~Angela

Happy and Blessed

Hi Crafty Friends, Today I am sharing a card I made in which the colors are totally different than what I normally go for, but I like the way they meshed together. I tried no lines technique and used copic markers. Here’s a close up (the streakiness is clearsnap smooch I used on her hair)

I used some old DSP that I bought second hand when I first started crafting, and flowers I bought long ago, but today I found a good use for all of them. The stamps I used are Tilda Forget me not, and 7 gypsies. woodchip letters were found at Marshall’s; Just love that they carry crafting items now. The dies are spellbinders, and doohickey’s. Ribbon is stampin up and the layered Butterfly is a MS punch. I would like to enter in these challenges:

Marvelous Magnolia _ #35 Anything goes

ABC Challenge – is for quite a few layers

Southern girls – #73 No Spooling around

7 kids – anything goes with Alcohol markers

Loves rubber stamps- use a hoarded item, (I hoard lots n lots o paper)

Thanks for stopping by, have a fabulous weekend. ~ Angela

Turning the wheels of steel

Hey there, I was not planning on making this card because I am terrible at making male cards but… I went to the card store and could not find anything suitable for my lil man child. He is not your average boy, He has a liking for retro things. Which is a little different because he schools us on things from 40+ years ago. He loves thrift shopping and looking for rare antique items, specifically  toys and records.. But pretty much anything vintage catches his eye.

I found the stock photo on the internet, and the paper is Basic Grey. I have had this paper for 5 + years and today I decided to do some crate digging of my own

I would like to enter in the Inky Chicks Challenge – Anything goes

All I can say is this barely mine sketch totally saved me, it helped me create something I know my son will appreciate. So of course I will be entering in their challenge #92.

Thanks and have a sweet day. Hugs ~ Angela

School Girl

 

Hello crafting people. Just taking a minute to share a card that I made for a friend of mine who has decided to return to school. I am so excited for her, she is studying to become a sonographer. The nice thing is she will be done in 18 months, that is a sweet deal for her since she is a mommy of young children. I decided to send her some encouragement by making her a card with sweet Tilda carrying pencils. I used copic inks as usual to color her. MS branch punch and colorful cheerful flowers to brighten up things. Ruffled ribbon and paper is SU and the crochet lace & doily are all from my stash. The paper is so old but it’s one of my favorites. I would like to enter in these challenges:

Bearly Mine – Flowers Galore

Magnolia-licious – Luscious Lace

Southern Girls – Give it and Upper cut and Punch it Out

Marvelous Magnolia – Bright Colors

ABC Challenge – P is for pretty in pink (bottom picture reveals pink background paper)

Tilda’s Town – Use stash

Here is another angle of the card, thanks for looking I appreciate all your comments ~ Angela

Chocolate Love

Hello to you! I have been posting so much this last month, I kind of think I like it. I can pay attention to my blog because I have had some downtime, it feels so nice to exhale and breathe. Sleep in and spend lots of time in my kitchen. Oh how I LOVE when summer comes. It usually means Vegas for the hubby and I. Check out this picture I took in Vegas last week. Keep in mind this “chocolate” woman was life size.

Anyone who knows me personally, knows this girl loves chocolate. Umm I have been spoiled with the best too. I was introduced to the really good stuff when a friend in high dated a foreign exchange student from Germany named Mandy. She and I became friends, and when she’d come back to school from vacation, she’d bring me a brick of chocolate. This was seriously a 5Lb. brick she’d bring me, and I could count on getting one at least twice a year! And till this day I have tasted nothing that comes close to those bricks of buttery, smooth goodness.

My chocolate affair has only grown since then, on the hunt for the best chocolates I can find. It is my one affordable pleasure, where I really indulge myself with the best. The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztec language, and it means bitter water. Something I learned along the way is you should never refrigerate or freeze chocolate, (although you can keep it for an eternity that way) it takes away the distinct qualities of taste. Back in the day, they used chocolate for perfume. Can you imagine that? I’d be licking everyone that passed me by! hee hee. Another interesting tid-bit is that chocolate can help you loose weight! it’s true if you eat a little bit of chocolate before a meal it will suppress your appetite. That came straight from the mouths of research peps at San Diego State University. Don’t eat too much though, besides it counter-acting your master plan, It is known to be lethal in large amounts. I think you’d have to eat like 30lbs. If I had to pick my own death, that would probably be the best way to go. Ok so now that I’ve convinced you that I am a chocolate nerd, take a look at the cute card I made. It has Chocolate and Tilda, the best of both worlds.

A closer look, there’s glitter on the hearts, the jar is covered with liquid glass

I would like to enter my card in these challenges:

Bearly Mine – #90 Anything Goes

Shabby Tea Room – Blue, Pink, White & Flowers

Magnolia-licious – Lace (it looks like crochet style and it is my favorite)

Bunny Zoe – Wings (on the butterfly on the fence)

Inky Chicks – Love ( my love for chocolate)

Southern Girls – Gems, distress ink (in Moss), Spots (pink and blue ones all over)

Well, that’s all for today but I’m looking forward to creating some more, and sharing it with you in the very near future. Take care, Angela

Mermaid beauty

Hi just a quick post to enter this card I made in some challenges. This is one of my simpler cards. It’s really hard for me to be simple but I am trying because simplicity has it’s perks. It’s quicker and mail-able, ( w/o extra postage fees for added dimension)

I would like to enter in these challenges

Pink elephant:  Summer

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/Bearly Mine: Dies or punches

Midweek Magnolia: #64 Anything goes

Marvelous magnolia: Anthing Goes

ABC challenge: O is for Open

Tilda’s Town: Anything goes

Papertake Weekly : Anything goes

Fussy and fancy: bling it on

And here is my card, I used mermaid Tilda, one of my absolute favorite!!

 

and a side view, so you can see the bling

Hope you liked my card, and I appreciate you checking out my work   ~ Angela

“Viva Las VegaStamps! DT Tryout”.

Hello there, I am back from my vacation. Can I just say it was so needed, and so fun! I look forward to the beginning of summer because that is when the hubby and I take 5, and go to Vegas together, without the kidlets. One thing I finally had the chance to do, was visit this fine “little” establishment called Viva Las Vegas Stamps. Here I am in front of the store

It was a little tricky to find, and my GPS kept sending me to another building close by. We almost gave up. But I finally found it, and It was so worth the visit. See me shopping?

I’ve been in some serious need for change, I love my card making style but I felt something was lacking. So I thought I might find the mojo I needed to try some altered arts again. What better place to look than Viva? Can I just tell you it was just what I needed. I was imagining things before I got to inking anything up. On the way home I started thinking, I should have asked the guy at the register if he has a Design Team, and what I could do to be apart of it? I decided to look on their blog for some inspiration and low and behold they were having a DT call! How perfect and coincidental was that? So here I am trying out for a Design Team. I never once tried out for any DT, because I just never felt it in my heart or felt excited or passionate enough to do so. I always thought I would be on a DT sometime, but it would have to be the right time and for the right reason. I feel like these stamps will give me my own identity in the craft world and I can’t wait to order more! The variety is endless and I like that it’s not just one type or style.

This is what I made tonight, It’s a magnet from a Viva las vegastamp image. It’s hilarious!

It’s a multi image that you flip to get another picture. (sorry, the depth of the magnet is casting a shadow) Here is a side view

I added some glitter stickles to create an effect of sugar on the rim.

I colored the image and made the background myself with copic markers, and my momento pen in tux black. I just masked the image and got to drawing and coloring up some little rita glasses. The magnet I used is the type to make business cards from, I had a ton left over from my office days. I also used modge podge glossy finish to give it a finished sheen, and also to preserve it.

Some of my favorite pieces of work can be found here:

http://aurora-crafts.blogspot.com/2010/08/this-is-must-make-for-moms.html

 

http://aurora-crafts.blogspot.com/2010/05/beautiful-nightmare.html

 

http://aurora-crafts.blogspot.com/2012/02/all-dogs-go-to-heaven.html

 

I’m so excited to be entering in this DT Call, and it would be awesome to be apart of the Viva Las Vegastamp team! So wish me luck and till next time see ya later!

Going out with a Bang!

Today I decided to do the final day of blog everyday in may. (Over here) Might as well finish something I started right? Today is to write about a vivid memory. I would have to say that memory is of a girl named Sheryl. She lived next to my family, when we lived in LA, I believe I was 4. She was a mentally retarded teen girl, who would always pretend that she was missing fingers and glue them back on in front of my eyes. At four years old, I was amazed. Who was this Houdini? Every time I saw her she did this, sometimes driving away in my family car; she’d show her missing nubs and then somehow make them magically appear before we were our of sight. I also remember she had a crush on my uncle Stephen, who was about 12 back then. I slightly remember teasing him about her. At four, I guess I was quite the character. I sometimes wonder why he tortures my kids now? Hmm not hard to find the answer. It’s funny I can’t remember much other than that. I know it sounds really odd, but then again life in Lawndale, CA was odd. We moved out of the city and into suburbia by the time I was in first grade, a beautiful area near the beach, my dad worked very hard to afford for us. Anyway, that’s all I have. Vivid, odd, and a bit peculiar but all very true. Okay till next time, See ya soon ~ Angela

Missing some place like crazy

I don’t know how to express myself in words about a place we once moved to, that I down right hated, and now can’t seem to get it off my mind.

A place a little boy used to wake up early and try to feed the ducks on our walks.

A place that taught my children even work can be fun. My daughter helped Mrs. Jennifer at Oatman Stables (up the road from our home) in exchange for ridding lessons. She never once complained about picking up horse poo.

And yes, that is an original Route 66 logo you see painted on the road there.

Maybe it was the way the small town talked. There is the fire captain talking to pastor Wentzlaff about ways to solve problems in the town. 

Problem Solved! It was way too hot to have water day for the kids with no major sprinkler system. look at those fireman lovingly spraying our kids.

And my favorite little fireman of them all

I can’t say if it was the pure beauty of the place that this city girl learned to appreciate

or our after dinner bike rides that got us talking….

About things that are hard to take notice when you’re always in a rush. Here things are slow enough to appreciate life's small events, like Joshua’s amazing juice spill that resembled Mickey Mouse an awful lot. Maybe Disneyland was in our future.

Maybe it was because there was never a dull moment in town.

Or the little Roadrunners that used to drop by and say hi

Could have been all the wonderful days we spent out at the pool

Then again I am sure it was the simple things like us being together, with no distractions, In a place I learned to love and call home.

Either way it was the Cats meow, and even Coby the cat would agree with that.

When I think of life lessons this place always comes to mind. Because it taught me how to be at peace with myself. I lost a lot that year we moved to Arizona, people who I thought were good friends, a job that I thought I loved, But what I gained out weighs the loss. I learned how to be my own friend, and to like myself. I learned how my health needs to be a priority because even though some big company can replace me, my husband and kids can not. I learned that the things that mean the most in life are not available for sale. It’s these experiences that I will cherish a life time. Thanks for sticking around to listen to my ramblings, have a beautiful day friends. It’s gorgeous here in California ~ Angela