Help [ME] Ronda

Pride Challenge

    Last note before I leave.  Wanting to be creative but not make a mess before I leave, I did some digital layouts.  I started with the layout of my friends after just purchasing Rhonna Farrer's Vintage label Paper Kit & See Throughs Fall Florals Kit.  Couldn't help myself, they are just too cool.  But after reading Ali's challenge of scrapping someone you are proud of, I came up with another digital layout.  This is of my friend Susan who showed some much strength & courage throughout her mom's battle with Breast Cancer.

Proud Supplies include Autumn Leaves Font Afternoon Delight, 2peas Font Champagne, Tracy Turchin's Cardstock kit, Rhonna Farrer's Vintage label Paper Kit & See Throughs Fall Florals Kit. 4 Fab Friends includes 2peas Ballerina Font, MS Word Arial, Shabby Princess Wave Stitching,  Tracy Turchin's Cardstock kit, Rhonna Farrer's Vintage label Paper Kit, Vintage Alphabet & See Throughs Fall Florals Kit.

Boo to You!

    Surgery is later today so I have some time this morning for some quick posts.  As my father-in-law said last night, "Man you have been blogging a lot lately."  He actually used the word blogging, so proud of him.  I know it will be "silent" for the next couple of days so here are some pictures from last nights pumpkin carving.  The seeds are in the oven roasting as we speak.  I wish you all a safe & happy Halloween!

Winding down

    Thanks for all your prayers & wishes, they are most welcomed.  We went down to Denver today to get the low down on my surgery & for the hospital to draw blood and all that fun stuff.   Andrew who pampers me, knowing how I can't sit still afterwards, took me to the yarn shop called Showers of Flowers to gather some supplies for my recoup time.  This store is such eye candy even if you don't knit or crochet, over 14000 sq ft of cool colors & textures.  So knitting will fill my days until I can make it back into The Studio and create something with paper.
    On a totally different note, I got this email a couple days ago about the Dove Ad from the Self-Esteem Fund: Campaign for Real Beauty (click play film).  I have been wanting to share it with you, very powerful.  I think this ad really hit home with me because of the struggles of teenage life I go through with my daughter.  Self-Esteem plays such a major role in the teenage years.
     Blessings for you & your family!

I'm not afraid to tell you....

    that I am scared of my upcoming surgery.  Tomorrow I go to a pre-op appointment at both the doctor's office & the hospital.  I am nervous about what to expect and about my recovery time.  My surgery is on Tuesday, yes Halloween.  (It is the first year I will have missed out on being with the kids and my heart is breaking.) After a year of going through various tests & procedures, I am going to have surgery to help clear my UPJ Obstruction. 
    My friend Martha & her son Jake are coming in for a week to help me & the kids when Andrew has to go to work.  I am ever so grateful & blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.  The trouble is that Martha & I are so closely linked that I won't be able to get away with anything while she is here.  She will make me sit on the couch & do nothing.  This is something I am not very good at doing, just sitting, do nothing.
    I know this will hopefully solve all issues with my right kidney and seems to be the right course of action.  I am confident in my surgeon and his abilities.  I am surrounded by my loving families, friends, and my church family.  Still, I don't mind telling you that I am Scared.

AEzine Challenge : Creativity

    So Ali's challenge this week was all about Creativity.  She provided some great thoughts about creative confidence and letting go of your Self-Doubt.  It was an important lesson for me because I do the things she talks about, comparing myself to others, wondering why my work isn't chosen, striving for perfection, etc.  So while the layout presents I AM Creative, the journey this week was more important, developing my creative confidence.  I have also included a digi layout I have been playing around with this week. 
    Supplies: Bazzill cardstock & Blossoms, Scenic Route Pattern Paper, Heidi Swapp Journaling Spots, chipboard alphabet & Ghost Letters, 7 Gypsies Rub-on, Pressed Petals Chipboard Letters, MM paint, and May Arts Ribbon.
    Unwritten Supplies include Sande Krieger French Laundry Paper & French Laundry Alpha Kit, & Tia Bennett Stuck on You.

Snow Day!

Summit County is not known for having any snow days even though we get lots of snow during the year.  Even last year when we had a greatly above average season, not one snow day.  So I was quite surprised this morning when I called the hot-line at 6:15 am to find the schools were closed today.  Looking out the window, I understood why.  It took forever and the help of Phil to clear the driveway.  I shoveled the walkway twice.  I-70 was closed down from here to Denver and vise versa.  It seems a boulder fell on a snow plow which caused a closer West bound.  Crazy huh?  The kids had fun sledding and building forts for a snowball fight.  We are still getting snow off & on tonight but hopefully nothing like last night.  Check out the snow my outside lights on the bottom picture!

Blizzard?

    Yep life in Summit County sure is exciting.  We are predicted to get 6 to 10 inches tonight with 2 - 4 more inches tomorrow.  The winds are supposed to be up to 30 mph.  You can check out the weather forecast here or here.  The temperature is dropping, a chilly 26 degrees right now.  You can see the snow coming over the mountains.  Pretty awesome sight.  The Denver Airport is already cancelling flights for tomorrow morning, so Andrew had to leave for work tonight!  Major Bummer!  It seems like we get so little time with him now that every hour, no  every minute counts.  So the kids & I will cuddle up in front of the fireplace wishing he was here.  Hopefully I can use the snow blower tomorrow and not have to shovel.  It is supposed to be a heavy snow so we will see what I have to do at 6 am.  Yikes!  So here's to you wishing you warm happy thoughts!
Ciao!

Mission: Organization

A dear friend of mine was asking how my Studio was organized so I thought I would share some of my favorite ways to organize.  So as not to overwhelm you all, I thought I would do this periodically.  Anyone who has some tips, they are welcome to comment!  So today I thought I would post about my papers.  I have been using Cropper Hopper Paper holders.  I like to see my papers.  I have the card stock arranged in Rainbow order (Mostly).  Some of my pattern paper is arranged by Manufacture (KI Memories, Chatterbox, 7 Gypsies) and others by color.  My scraps are arranged in clear divided Paper Organizers again by Rainbow Order.  I have two of these folders, one for card stock & one for pattern paper.  I love being able to pull out scraps for my pages or cards.
Here are some great sites to help you organize your paper:
Cropper Hopper; Crop-in-Style;

Notable Quotables

    Feeling so creative today!  Really inspired to just play.  I started this little album a month or two ago and only managed to get the front & back covers done.  It then sat on my desk, staring at me, waiting for me to complete it.  I have been collecting my favorite quotes and storing them in word (my high school English teacher would be so upset with me using "quote."  I can hear her saying quote is the verb, quotation is the noun).  So I finally felt the juices flowing and picked up the album to complete it.  My hands are covered with paint & ink and I LOVE it!  Hope you enjoy it as well! (Suz the Pop can in the background is just for you!)
Supplies include a lot of scraps I had lying around.  Rusty Pickle Mini Album, Pattern Papers include Basic Grey, Chatterbox, K & Company, Around the Block, KI Memories, & 7 Gypsies.  Ribbons: Strano, Stampin' Up, We are Memories, May Arts, Lil Davis Designs, & Creative Impressions.  Other Supplies include 7 Gypsies note card, MM Brads, Paint & Gem Stickers, Basic Grey Rub-ons, Hero Arts Stamps, Doodlebug Rub-on Stitches, SEI Button, & Prima Flowers.   

         

Mr. Sunshine

    Yes he has finally made an appearance here in Silverthorne after much snow. It feels so good to see him again.  So nice of him to clear off my driveway as well.  He brightens my day and makes me want to play. 
     After much cleaning yesterday, I feel like today can just be about playing & creating.  The juices are flowing so hopefully I will post a little something tonight or tomorrow.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this photo of my little town & Buffalo Mountain.  It is a gorgeous day here & I hope yours is too, where ever you may be!