Help [ME] Ronda

Blue

BLUE ...that's the color going in the basement. Paint we bought before the job situation otherwise the room would stay cream.  The color is called Silver Fox and is a like a steel blue.  It is a Valspar paint from Lowes and I love how it looks.  It actually lighten up the basement and looks great next to the chocolate recliners.  Finally the wall of swatches has disappeared and Andy is almost done painting the entire space.

  

BLUE are her eyes that light up my world.  Did this layout for Lotus Paperie.  I had this picture of Lexi for a while, sitting around waiting for me to do something with it.  This challenge presented itself and was a perfect fit for this picture.  Lexi has decided to move to the basement bedroom so Papa & Andy moved her last weekend.  She likes the change and is happy with the move. 

BLUE is the ocean and where we are heading on Thursday.  Phil & Maggie are "sponsoring" us on a Cruise Vacation to Alaska.  I know, I know....."Can they adopt me?"  I have to tell you the list is very long and currently they aren't taking any more applications.  We are blessed that they provide us with such opportunities and this vacation is most needed.  We will also be touring around the Olympic Peninsula and Seattle.  Martha is coming along with us and then returning to Denver.  3 weeks with her.....so incredible, so much fun.....and I am sure very little sleep.  I am so looking forward to it!

BLUE is my mood today.  I know I have lots of positive things in my life, lots of blessings.  But today I feel blue.  There are some stresses and worries for my friends, some major cut backs, and some other things that are effecting my mood.  Andy has been blue off and on too... He isn't quite sure what to do with so much time on his hands.  He wants to be working and if things work out he could be at a job potentially in July.  A very good thing but the waiting is so hard on him.  We know we will get through this but still today....

BLUE

capturing Time, Week 14

Time for MUSIC

 

Music expresses feeling and thought, without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words.  ~Robert G. Ingersoll

Music is a huge part of this household.  All of us have had some piano lessons at one point or another.  Anthony has now picked up the guitar and we are searching for a teacher.  Lexi has a beautiful voice is a part of the choir at school.  We all have ipods and usually have dueling itunes (hence the doors on my craft room).  We take the kids to the theater to see Musicals like Cats, Phantom.  We also have a collection of musicals on DVD.  Music is very important to our lives so I thought it would be a great theme for this week.  I am always looking for new songs so I would love to hear your favorite ones too.

For this page, I wanted it colorful, like the music of our lives.  So I dug into my scraps stash (OH I have lots) and pulled out my rainbow.  I trimmed down the pieces and put them in ROY-G-BIV order....go figure.  I loved Karla's tip a few weeks back so I used my versamark and clear embossing powder (UTEE...it's the best!).  I love the "rain" effect on the page, not wanting it to be totally smooth.  I thought you might like a peek into how I store those scraps.  I use a clear 12" paper holder (the expanding sides one) and put them in order.  If they have multiple colors on them, I usually go with the prodominate color.  If it is really lots of color, I have a spot called multi.  It is a simple way for me to keep them all organized.

Much Love to you!  Don't forget to SPY.

Right now

on my desk is another scrap mess....I did manage to get most of the room cleaned this weekend, and then...

I am listening to The Monkee's Pleasant Valley Sunday and the rest of the CD

Anthony is playing with some friends

I am IMing jessi...go figure

I am thinking of my KY Scrap friends and missing them dearly

so wishing I could see this little guy in person

I have some of these scrapbook kits that need some love

Lexi's summer is almost all planned out....the girl likes to stay busy

OLW has something special planned but you will have to wait to see

I am downloading pics from this weekend ( a couple shared at the bottom)

this one and that one are my favs capture of Anthony that Andrew took

there is a funny story behind the second pic...but not right now

I am enjoying my quiet clean house (we spent this weekend Spring/Summer cleaning...thank you Phil & Maggie for your help)

I am digging into this blog

I need to answer emails & blog hop to spread some LOVE..maybe tonight

I just got off the phone with my friend Martha....always giggling

We love the new Wii Fitness (a gift to Anthony from Papa & Nana)

I am so proud of HER and her journaling of things that aren't so easy to deal with

Lexi is doing her homework & getting ready to go to a sports banquet

This photographer has me in AWE, especially the portraits

I am thinking of the yummy homemade ravioli & sauce that Andy & I made for Papa Phil's 61st birthday (Sun)

I need to make a list of all the things I need to accomplish before Next WEEK....details on that later

Andy is napping in the recliners with the pups

I need to go spend some time with the family

Some Cleaning & Creations

trying to clean up my "Crap Room" as Andy likes to call it.  It is very messy.  I finally emptied out the final boxes and now I am trying to organize the whole room.  I am a person who has to see it so I use it.  I have some drawers but those mostly contain tools and not supplies.  If they do have supplies, I want them extremely organized so I don't forget.  As I emptied the boxes, they contents went on any open surface.  So it basically looks like a craft explosion in my room right now.  Pathetic. But don't take my word for it....here are some pics.

I know, I know.  BAD Ronda.  Well I am working on it.....as well as crafting in between.  Here are some of my latest creations:

Lotus Paperie:

 

These two were just playing around creations.  The second one is using my Cocoa Daisy kit (April).  Photo credits go to Big D (Jessi's boy).  He is only 7!  He has some talent!

capturing TIME, week 13

Time for CHANGE

Yes it seems to be all around me.  Not just the changes in Andy's job, but other changes in this household as well.  Chrissi, John, & Kids left this past week after living with us for 7 months.  They are now back in Orlando, Florida.  There are lots of changes going on with them and their family. Maggie & Phil are in the midst of changes, slowly moving from the mountains down to the Loveland area.  They haven't sold the mountain house yet but did close on the new one.  They have been bringing some stuff down to the new house and we have seen them quite a bit over the weekends. The kids have just 2 weeks left in school and there will be small changes there.  As Lexi puts it, she survived her freshman year and will be in 10th grade.  She has done so beautifully this year, being so responsible and on top of things.  I am extremely impressed with her initiative.  Anthony made it through his 6th year and I have to say it wasn't as rough as I thought it could be.  While he does need improvements with organization, socially this year he as soared.  Sounds silly but for ADD kids, this is HUGE.  Sometimes we don't see the good in Changes when they first happen.  I believe there is always something positive that comes from Change.  We just need to look for it.

For this week, I used my Walnut ink.  I have been playing around with it lots and thought I would show you a little trick.  Walnut ink comes in crystals that you can dissolve in your own spray bottle.  I believe now they also sell it premixed.  I like mixing my own so that I can change the strength, plus I can get more bottles out of my crystals. 

So I gathered up my supplies (Not included in the picture is Tim Holtz Alcohol ink Stream).  I have scrap paper because the ink stains and can get messy when spraying it.  I have a template that covers my 6 x 6 page, leaving an opening for the 4 x 4 square.  I used temporary adhesive to keep it in place.

Spray as little or as much as you like.  I love the big puddles of it and will often spray an area twice to get that look.  You can always let it dry and come back and add more layers to your liking.  It is easier to add and impossible to take away.

After spraying my walnut ink, I decided that it needed a bit of color.  I pulled out my Alcohol ink and dropped a few drops around my page.  I didn't wait for the walnut ink to dry before adding my alcohol ink.  I loved that it pooled with the walnut ink.  After all the inks dried, I added a stamp to the right corner.  Because I didn't want it going outside my square, I kept the template there as a mask.

There is so much you can do with walnut ink.  I encourage you to just play with it.  Speaking of playing, you should check out Paula's time album.  She got caught up and shared with me her album.  I love love love the way it is turning out.  She is a wizard with stamps.

don't over think it

I usually tell my self as I am trying to fall asleep at night.  Does it work?  Sometimes. Still I keep a pad & pen by my bed to write down my lists or jot down things I am thinking about just to try and clear my head.  It sometimes feels like it is on constant overload.  I can't get my mind to stop racing.  I over analyze things I said, done, or haven't done.  Once I have cleared one thing, I am on to the next.

Did the same thing for this Word Up over at OLW.  What am I going to do for THINK?  well DUH....finally came to me after much deliberation (...um thinking).  We got to play with this mini kit by Tia Bennett thanks to Two Peas.  The layout came together rather quickly (minus the few family interruptions..both those are always ok).  I have been enjoying working with digital elements lately and feeling more comfortable with my mouse!

I am one of the lucky ones (insert sarcasm here) who has been update by typepad (see article here).  It is nice to have some of those features but unfortunately I am having issues uploading my layout.  if you would like to view it, click here or here.  Hopefully I can get it uploaded soon!

Edit: Finally got the layout posted.  It is apparent that Firefox Browser doesn't like the changes to typepad. 

no ifs, ands, or BUTTS

Andy & I took the kids (& friends) to the Denver zoo a few weekends ago.  It was a perfect spring day to wander around the grounds.  We hadn't been there since Lexi as about 2.5 years old and have been meaning to go back.  I am glad we did get it in before all this other stuff took place.  It was a good relaxing day.

Lexi & girlfriends ditched us right away. She had better things to do than to wait for us or hang with the family.  Apparently some of those things include self portraits and silly faces.  I was cracking up as I downloaded her pics from her camera.



We waited out front for Josh (Anthony's friend) to arrive.  As soon as we entered we decided to hit the bathrooms before getting to far into the park.  So it was me alone going into the bathroom.  Right away I noticed the colorful doors on the stalls, each painted with a different animal.  Very cute.

I was vaguely aware that there was a speaker with "words" (Zoo facts) in the restroom.  I went into my stall (I picked the Zebra) and turned around to lock the door only to notice this.....

A big Zebra BUTT in my face.  I am sure I said something out loud like "Ummmm Okkkkayyyy."  Luckily I was the only one in the bathroom so no one would think I was crazy talking to myself (although now I am telling you).  I wasn't sure what to do with that BUTT staring me in the face.  As I sat down I became aware again of that speaker and the words coming out of it.  I started listening and this is where I busted out laughing.  It wasn't so much Zoo facts as it was Animal Poop Facts.  I learned all about Elk pellets and other animal excrements.  In fact you could say it was more than I wanted to learn....BUT if you are in the bathroom, I guess this would be the most appropriate place for it...Right?.....

After I washed my hands I went back in to take the picture.  How could I not share this story...besides you couldn't believe it without proof.  and it was too funny not to share.  So I had to know...was the zebra the only one.  Nope.  I started opening up all the stall doors just to take pictures.  Thank goodness no one came in to the bathroom to see me taking pictures.  How to explain that one?  I came out of the bathroom laughing and Andy was looking at me like I was mad. I asked if his bathroom had speakers to which he replied, "Yeah they were talking about Animal $#@! on mine too."

One last share...no more bottoms...my Lotus Paperie layout from Friday.  A couple or more months ago I bought these baseball card holders for my sweet friend Jessi's boy. I made him a mini album to hold all his pokemon cards....BUT not before I jacked some of these holders. I know.....BAD Ronda. They have been sitting on my shelf waiting for me to finally do something with them. This Lotus Paperie challenge came up and I thought it was perfect!

capturing Time, Week 12

TIME to REFLECT

It has been a week or so and I am done wallowing....feeling depressed.  When I look back at some of the things we have been through and have accomplished, I know that this is just something we must face and conquer.  Not alone for the Lord always walks with me.  And I know I am STRONG through him.  We are going to get through this.  Funny how a picture can make things clear for you. Yes that is little bald headed Lexi....she didn't have much hair until she was nearly 2....and me.  I am not saying this picture is solely responsible (your prayers have brought lots of peace)...but it did remind me of how far we have come. So now I am ready to deal with every thing.  I am not so silly to realize there will be days when I will feel down again.  But I am READY to deal with it from here.  I can thank the Lord for that, can that you all for all your kind thoughts and prayers.  so THANK YOU....

I think I would be lost without my circle punch lately.  Some of the scraps are pattern paper, some fabric.  Here's my tip for you.  Use a glue stick and some cardstock for the fabric.  I used the glue stick in a little area on some left over cardstock, then pressed the fabric onto it.  Let it dry and then punch my circles.  If it doesn't go through the first time, no worries.... just trim it with your scissors. 

I'm in Love....

with this kit.  Just Cre8's June kit has been revealed.  It is such an awesome kit and I love love love it.  These papers are so bright and so much fun.  Love all the elements Sue put together.  Here are my creations for this month.

So you better get over there.  I have a feeling these kits are going to go very fast!  If you want details on how some of these layouts were put together, you can check out the gallery under the name {Just Ronda}....(as well as the teams other fantastic cre8ions!). Or at my SIS gallery.

Time...will be posted later today!

Music to live by....

seems so important to me right now....

to take my mind of things been reading, knitting, and creating.

music always on in the background...

my playlist right now...

Breathe - Anna Nalick
Pocket Full of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield
Stop & Stare - One Republic
New Soul - Yael Naim
I Feel it All - Fiest (love these too: My moon My man & 1234)
No Air - Jordon Sparks & Chris Brown
Starlight - Muse
Time after Time - Quietdrive
Shout to the Lord - American Idol version
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Linger - The Cranberries
Calling You - Blue October
Think of Me - David Archuleta
Handlebars - Flobots
All Around Me - Flyleaf
I am I said - Brooke White
The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
Forever - Chris Brown
Wake Up - The Arcade Fire
Soul Meets Body - Deathcab for cutie
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
Three Little Birds - Bob Marely

So what is on your playlist?  Got songs you just love to listen too?

EDIT: Must Add Mad World by Michael Andrews & Gary Jules, Dare you to Move by Switchfoot, and Falling away with you by MUSE (really love them and their music).