Sometimes you just need to laugh....

Rusty Pickle Design Team Contest Update...

I thought I would post a reminder about the "Rusty Pickle Amazing Race"

From the RPDT Blog...

We have made just one change in the way we would like you to submit your entries. We have had a lot of questions regarding combining 6 images into one for the mini-album, so we decided to make things easier on everyone! The following should be submitted:

1 image of your 2-page layout

1 image of your altered project

6 different images of your mini album

Each image should not exceed 500K. All 8 images should all be included in ONE email with your name in the subject line.

Submit your entries to amazingrace@rustypickle.com.

The deadline for entry remains the same - Sunday May 31st at 12 noon Mountain Standard time.

Just a reminder - the mini album must be 8x8 or smaller and contain at least 6 finished pages. Projects must contain 100% Rusty Pickle product to qualify. (You may use paint, ink, thread, pens, cardstock, etc. Just make sure if RP makes a version of something, you use that. For example, Rusty Pickle makes bling, so use that instead of another manufacturer's. Rusty Pickle does not manufacture paint, glimmer mist, ink, thread, pens, etc. so you are okay to use those items on your projects.)

Hope that clears up some confusion! Please let us know if you have any further questions. We can't wait to see your entries!

First things First.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

It's my dad's Birthday...well it was yesterday! (May 18th). And yes, I sent him a card, not handmade though!

Hope you had a great day Georgie!!!

{Jill}

Three New Projects....

Yes, it's been awhile! Lots of stuff going on... (some scrapbook related and lots that's not scrapbooking related) Here are a few projects that I have completed in the past month.

The first photo is of a card that I made. This was fun! Everything is ink and pop-dotted. The Inside of the card reads "We're so Happy to Have to You Home! To be honest, the card looks a LOT better in person! I don't have anyone to send the card to, so I think I'm just going to put it on display in my room. Sometimes it's just fun to make things!

This is a wall hanging that I made. The paper inside of the box has little houses that are pop-dotted. I decided at the last minute to pop dot the ones on the outside. There is a sheet of acrylic that is in between the base and right behind the frame that is holding the "Home Sweet Home". The mini-clothespins were sprayed with glimmer mist and then had Stickles put on them.

This is a layout that I created especially for CKC Houston. I decided to enter a few contest while I was attending and this layout was for the "Inspiration" Layout Contest. Guess what...it won first place! I also made a card for the Papercrafts Birthday Card Contest but I didn't take a photo of it...too bad...they have it. And well...it won Second Place in the contest. I really wish I had taken a photo of that card....and to make matters worse I don't have any of the paper that I used to make another one...gotta find that paper!

Have a great weekend!

{Jill}

Rusty Pickle Design Team Call!!!

Good news!

Rusty Pickle is looking to expand our elite design team!

Ten finalists will be chosen to run an "amazing race" where their talent (and ability to function on minimal sleep ;)) will be put to the test. Of these ten finalists, five will be chosen to join the Rusty Pickle team.

The deadline for entry is Sunday May 31st at 12 noon Mountain Standard time. Please submit the following 3 projects for consideration: (1) 2-page 12x12 layout, an altered project and a mini album 8x8 or smaller with at least 6 pages. Projects must contain 100% Rusty Pickle product to qualify. Email all entries to: amazingrace@rustypickle.com.

Please limit one email per contestant with 1 project image of the layout, 1 project image of the altered project and one compilation image (six images) of the album (this compilation can be done using photo-editing software). The images are to be no more than 700 x 700 pixels. In the subject line put only your name. The ten finalists will be announced Friday, June 5th at 12 noon.
Thank you and good luck!

*Clarification on the 100% Rusty Pickle Product requirement* You can use paint, ink, thread, pens, cardstock, etc. Just make sure if RP makes a version of something, you use that. For example, Rusty Pickle makes bling, so use that instead of another manufacturer's. Rusty Pickle does not manufacture paint, glimmer mist, ink, thread, pens, etc. so you are okay to use those items on your projects.

Welcome to April!

Yeah...I thought I missed March! lol

Winter I think is finally leaving Texas! Well at least for today. It looks like it's pretty nice outside. But, I'm inside trying to get over this bug that i have! I just really want to go sit in front of my TV with my blankie and watch a good chick flick! Come to think of it! I think I'll do that after I go get Sarah from School.

Whenever I come to my blog I always go and look to see where people visit me are from. I think it's sort of cool to see that I have people come here from a BUNCH of different places! One of those places is Tallahassee, Florida. That's where my parents live and I know my mom (and dad) come here to see if I post anything interesting. Hi mom (dad)! I see you visited me a few days ago! lol!

So for the sake of my parents I'm going to answer a few questions:
1. I'm fine. .
2. Sarah is fine.
3. Simon is fine.
4. Both cats and the hamster are fine. (noone is sleeping)
5. Everything is fine.

Now my mom can say she's heard from me!

It's sort of funny when I talk to my mom. We can go a LONG time without talking to each other, yet when we do talk we can continue a converation that took place months ago! This is something that my dear husband can't understand! I mean, when I talk to my husband about something a month ago, he should be able to remember that conversation next month right? lol
Well truth be told he doesn't. Take for example this morning, he wanted to have a "talk" about something that is going to be happening in June...and he asked me to "refresh" his memory because he knew that he wouldn't get it right. At least he realizes these things.

So now that my Mom and Dad know that everything here is "fine" I'll entertain them with some of my scrapbooking!

Have a Great Day Everyoon!

Jill

Some layouts to share....

I was uploading some layouts to my gallery at 2 Peas in a Bucket (twopeasinabucket.com) and I thought that I would post them on my blog too! So, here they are!

Not much going on around here...just trying to keep busy! I've been working on some projects to put over into my Etsy store so that I can earn some extra money...it's either Etsy or Ebay...I'm leaning towards Etsy right now though.

So far I've made two little album and three layouts. For some reason I keep telling myself that I should put them into my Etsy store until I have at least ten projects done...Ten for some reason just seemed to be a nice round number...could be 15...but it's ten.

I bought myself a new scrapbook table from Ikea and I have to say I LOVE IT!!! I should have bought it much sooner...I have like twice the amount of space on the desktop so that I can fit a my Cricut, My MM Mat, and a whole bunch of other things that I think are necessary to have around me when I scrapbook. Snoopy the cat for some reason thinks that I bought the table for him. Every once and awhile he makes his way onto the table and says "here I am".

Speaking of cats, Joey Cat is meowing and wants some food so I better go take care of him and I think I'm just going to call it an early night!

Have a great one! (Oh, and Hi Mom!)

Jill

Okay, I thought it was funny...

So yesterday I was scrapbooking with a friend of mine and I came across this photo of a Bull that I drove by on my way up the Grand Canyon (or was is the way down?) Anyway, I thought it would be cute if I scrapbooked it so I was just playing around with paper and stuff and I just started to giggle to myself . This is what I came up with!

Guess I better explain the photo.

When I went to the Grand Canyon in September I saw all of these animals just roaming around. And well, this one looked at me (was I going to be dinner???) I know it's hard to see in the photo but right next to the O in the NO is a bull. He was just chillin' out, eating stuff and I drove by. What he didn't know was that just around the next bend was a tour van that had a flat tire. All of the tourists were outside taking pictures of the plants and stuff. Wonder what they would have done if Mr. Bull was up visiting them.

Have a great night!

Jill

New Rusty Pickle! CHA Winter 2009 Releases!!!

New Rusty Pickle Coming Soon!

Rusty Pickle has just introduced some new additions to it's product line! My Favorites are the Panama Jack Line and new additions to the Lucky Line (Well, okay...I actualy LOVE them all!

Funny Bunny



New Additions to the Lucky Line

Panama Jack

Rockin' America

Time Captured

Mood Swings Cardstock

Rockin' Angel

{JILL}

Where have I been?

Just a breakdown of where I've been lately...
July: Visiting Disney World and visiting my Parents in North Florida.
August: Spending lazy days at Hawaiian Falls with my Daughter.
September: Exploring the Grand Canyon and Attending Creative Escape in Phoenix.
October: Halloween of Course!
November: Rusty Pickle Chef Retreat in Utah!
December: Entertaining my Brother in Law who was visiting us from Hungary. He was here visitng us for three weeks.
January: on the Floor of the Garage.
Today: Getting ready to update my "Real Life" Resume'.

Guess I better explain what I mean by on the floor of the Garage huh. So it was a beautiful sunny Tuesday afternoon, (January 6th). And well, I got this wild hair to clean up the Christmas Decorations that were in the garage. Simon had arranged the boxes so that it was sort of hard to get around my car and get in the house. So, i said to myself "self, lets tidy this place up a bit". And I started. I was moving boxes from to there and from there to here and it was looking better. Then i picked up this one box, i began to lose my grip on the box and then my body twisted, the box fell I tried to catch it, i twisted some more and then i landed BOOM on the right side of my body and my head hit the garage floor.

Luckily I had my cell phone in my pocket and the garage door was open. So I laid there for a bit and said to my self that maybe I should call someone. I was also hoping that someone might drive by and see me laying there. Noone drove by. So i thought maybe I should call someone...but i decided that I would just lay there for a bit and I did. After a little while I decided that he garage floor was cold and I carefully got myself up and into the house. I had about an hour before I had to pick up my daughter from school so I sat on the couch and watched tv quietly.

I did try to call my husband, but he wasn't answering his phone. So I just sat. At 3:00 i left the house and got my daughter from school. And then Simon called asking what I wanted. I told him what happened and asked him where he was and why he didn't answer his phone. I forgot, he had a dentist appointment.

I was dizzy for about a week....but I was fine.

Oh and that last thing on my list...yep you read that right. I have to go back out into the real world. Should be fun!

{Jill }

This is where I was last night....

So yesterday was my 15th wedding anniversary and yeah you would think that I would have stayed home with my husband. But did I? Nope. Well, actually during the day we were both home, then we went out to dinner to Brio, this new italian restaurant here in Allen. After dinner we went home and I checked my messages on line and then said goodbye to my husband and daughter....I had plans!

Very sad.

I'm sad. You would be too.
I could write today about the wonderful time I had in Phoenix at Creative Escape. I could write about the adventure I had driving up to see the Grand Canyon. I could write about lots of things. But today, today it's all about Charlie.

Charlie is my little girl kittycat. She's sixteen years old. And tomorrow I have to do the most awful thing to her that I could every think of doing. Charlie's "batteries are running low". That's how Simon puts it. But the truth is, is that Charlie is dying.

A few months ago the veterinarian found a mass in her stomach. They didn't know what it was, so they took x-rays and did some tests. They decided that it was a mass that couldn't be treated, it was terminal. We knew this, but thought we had more time.

About three weeks ago Charlie began to go down hill. She wouldn't eat her dried cat food so I had to feed her wet cat food by spoon. I mixed it with water and fed her bit by bit until she stopped wanting some. When I went to Creative Escape I told my husband that he needed to do this while I was gone.

When I came home from Creative Escape Charlie looked as if she took a turn for the worse. This past Thursday we called the Doctor and told them was had been going on. On Friday afternoon I brough Charlie to the veterinarian. I wrapped her in a towel and held her with one arm while I drove out the driveway. As we were pulling out she was so sweet, she looked up to me as if she was saying "I Love You", and I in return gave her a little kiss on the top of her head.

I brought her to the vet and waited for our appointment. They had to "fit" us in. Charlie and I finally saw the Doctor and he only had to take one look at Charlie and feel her stomach and he knew what was happening. She was dying. He gave me two options. One was sort of a Hospice care of cats where I would give her pain medication and steroids. The other, well we all know what that one is....

Charlie is home with me right now. We have pain medication that we have to give to her every twelve hours. We wanted to bring her home so that everyone would have one last weekend to spend with her, to love her and to let her know how much we love her.

And then on monday, I am on the one who has to say goodbye. I will be the one who will be with her when she is with the doctors. I will be the one familiar face that will be with her when she says goodbye. I'm the one who has decided that I don't want my kitty to be with strangers when she passes. And yes, I know it's my choice, but she shouldn't have to be all alone. I want her to know that I really did love her. After all the years of companionship that she has given to me, this is the one thing that I can do for her.

She will be missed.

Jill

A Promise Kept....

I promised to take my daughter to feed the giraffe's. But I didn't know where. I though that there were only two zoos in the DFW Area, but I was wrong! There are more, they just aren't as big. (which could be a good thing!)

When I went scrapbooking a few weeks ago I was told of this smallish type of zoo in Gainesville, Texas that has Giraffe Feedings. So I told Sarah and she asked when we were going to go. So I promised her that before she went back to school I would take her to feed the giraffes. Here's proof that I kept my promise!

Have a GREAT day!

{Jill}

Rusty Pickle Project

I thought I would share a Rusty Pickle Project that I made for CHA. As soon as I saw this paper I knew what kind of photographs I wanted to use with it, Waterpark Photos! Yes, I had it ALL planned out! Good thing dh went to the waterpark with us...usually he's at work but I convinced him to take a day off to go and have some fun!

Some Projects that I've been working on...

These are just a few of the projects that I worked on in the last month...yes, there are more, but I can't share those with you now because I entered them in a contest and well you know how that goes... What contest? Well Memory Makers Master's of course! Yes, I entered again and I'm keeping my finger and toes crossed!

Have a great day!

{Jill}

Where have the days gone?

Yeah...I know....long time no post? So where have my days gone?

I never know what summer is going to bring around, so I try and just go with the flow! But seriously...where have I been? Not under a rock I can say that much.

This is exactly where I have been...

The first week of June I alway hit The Great American Scrapbook Convention in Arlington, Texas. I leave my house early on Wednesday Morning and I don't come home until it's over. Only this year I had to come home early so I could make it to my daughter's dance recital. She told me I didn't have to come to it! Can you believe that! Not come to her dance recital? I haven't missed one for the last ten years, and I wasn't going to miss this one either!

Three days after I returned from GASC my dh left town for a week and a half so Sarah and I decided to spend the days away from the house. We tend to go to the movies a LOT during the summer. The movies and the Water Park. That's usually where you can find us!

Three days after DH returned home from his event Sarah and I packed our bags and headed to Florida for TWO WEEKS! Yes, TWO WEEKS! Sarah and I visited her grandparents (my mom and dad, otherwise known as Georgie and Rita). And we also went to Disney World for a few days. Sarah had a BLAST playing with my mom and dad's new dog...his name is Teddy and he is SUPER CUTE! I took some really, really good pictures of him and I can't wait to scrapbook and share them!

Sarah and I returned home to Texas on July 9, and continued on our summer trek. We went to WaterParks and Movies, and she went to friends houses, went to sleepovers and stuff like that.

The past week though has been a blur....one long, hot, hot, blur. Our air conditioner broke. Yep....over a hundred degrees outside and NO air conditioner. I was driving sarah home from dance class last monday and dh called me on my cell and said that I couldn't complain about what he was going to tell me because he was calling me before I got home. (like this means I can't complain??? well, shock of all shocks...I didn't). So I got home and found out that the house was already 90 degrees....ummmm...and that was at 8:00 p.m. at night. What could we do? Sarah and I decided to sleep in the tv room with the cats. We thought it would be cooler under the fan in the tv room (yeah...right).

On Tuesday Morning Simon (dh) started to call around to get quotes and have people come and look at our system. (Yeah...it's broken, what else do they need to know?) To make a LONG story short...(or shorter) the air conditioner unit outside had broken and it needed to be replaced, and the earliest it could be replaced was on Thursday.

Fine, I can deal with it...so Sarah and I decided that we were getting out of the house and going to Barnes and Nobles, the Library, the Mall...anywhere to get out of the house.

Tuesday passed, Wednesday passed and Thursday arrived! The air conditioner was fixed on this day! and it was cool and felt wonderful!!! Until Friday night. Friday night the coil up in the attic decided that it didn't want to work either. So what to do? Call the air conditioner guy back up and ask him to come out on Saturday....and he came. And he gave me the news. The "Coil" had to be replaced and this was happening until Monday Afternoon.)

Okay, are you counting the days here? AC Broke on Monday, No air on Tuesday or Wednesday, Fixed on Thursday, Broke on Friday, No air on Saturday or Sunday.

Well I made it through the weekend.

I sent dd over to the neighbors house to sleep in the AC...and I stayed at home with my cats, without the ac all by myself...(I should get major brownie points for this!)

Monday came...the air conditioning people came. The air is fixed. And I'm happy. You know, there is more to the story, but I would just go on and on and on....

But you have to know this! I didn't complain at all! (I know! can you believe this!)

Have a GREAT Day!!!

{Jill}

Finally....

Yes, Finally.

Finally I am in Florida.
Finally I am going to Disney!

Just happy to be where I am!

I'm planning on taking LOTS of pictures this week when I go to Disney! So be on the lookout on Friday as I may post some of them.

Have you been to the Rusty Pickle Blog lately? If not, then you should go! GO NOW! Well, maybe wait just a bit, but then you really need to head over to the blog! (http://www.rustypickle.typepad.com) The Chefs this month created some really WONDERFUL things with the new Bottle Rockets line from Rusty Pickle! Okay, Okay, I guess I better admit that yes, I did make something too! I'm going to post it here on my blog when I get back from Disney. Ooohhh...just remembered! I get to take some Fireworks photos with the new camera that Simon bought me for my birthday! Okay, it might not be terribly exciting for you, but it is for me!

Other good news that has come my way is that I had four new projects picked up by Ready, Set, Create. I sent them in for publication consideration on Monday night and on Tuesday when I arrived at my mom and dad's house there were four different emails sayin yes, yes, yes, and yes. Made my day!

Gotta go and pack now, can't wait to share some photos when I get back!

Have a great, day, night and week!

{Jill}

Just a "little" project...

I saw this little wooden bracelet in Micheals one day and thought that it would be fun to decorate it. A little bit of Paint, some Rusty Pickle Paper, some Copic Markers, Prima Flowers and some gems and this is how it turned out. I think it's really cute!

YEAH!!!!

So you can probably tell why I am SO HAPPY!!!

David Cook won American Idol! Dd and I watched every episode and he was our favorite all along (well, besides Jason Castro, we like him not only for his singing but for his beautiful blue eyes!)

As soon as they announced who the winner was dd and I screamed and clapped and I think we scared the cat a little bit because he jumped and ran off of the couch.

{Jill}

American Idol Voting is Going On...

Right now! Have you voted??? Guess what! I JUST DID! It took me forever to get though even that once, but I finally got through after an hour of dialing. And who do I want to win? David Cook. At first I wanted Jason Castro to win, but when he got voted off I switched to David Cook. But! I have been both a David Cook and Jason Catro Fan from the beginning! And this is the first year ever that I have watched every show!

I can't wait to find out who wins tomorrow night! Keeping my fingers crossed for David Cook! (and keeping my eyes open for a glimpse of Jason! Have you seen his eyes? They are beautiful!)

Till Tomorrow!

{Jill}

Rusty Pickle May Challenge on Two Peas In A Bucket

I thought I would post my May Challenge that I have on 2peas over here!

The Challenge for May is called the "{I Love} Spring Chicken Chipboard Challenge" For this challenge you will have the entire month of May to cook up your most wonderful Spring Chicken Chipboard Recipe! The Spring Chicken Chipboard is one of my most favorite products from Rusty Pickle, and I'd like to see how you use this chipboard on a layout, altered project, home decor project or creation of your choice! .

The rules are simple!

1. You must use the Spring Chicken Chipboard from Rusty Pickle!

2. You must use at least 80% Rusty Pickle Products in your Spring Chicken Chipboard Creation.

3. You must post your Spring Chicken Chipboard Creation in the Gallery at Two Peas in a Bucket and it must have Rusty Pickle Spring Chicken Challenge in the title.

4. You must post a link to your Spring Chicken Chipboard Creation to my original post at Two Peas In A Bucket.

5. The challenge will begin on Thursday, May 1st. The final day to submit your creation to the challenge will be on Saturday, May 31st.

6. After all creations have been submitted the Rusty Pickle Chefs will vote on the winner of the "I LOVE Spring Chicken Chipboard Challenge"

Good Luck!!!

Acrylic Album Numero Uno!

This is the very first Acrylic Album that I have ever done! You notice I said album.... Last year for Memory Makers Masters I made page for the contest. It was the page where you had to send in the original. I could have made another one to keep and told myself that I would, but well...you know how that goes!

So as I said this is my very first Acrylic Album! The album is from Rusty Pickle and all the paper, chipboard and trims are also from Rusty Pickle. I just added some brown ink, Prima flowers, Stickles and some gems!

The great thing about this album is that I can keep adding to it (well, when I get it back from RP that is...). I can just keep making pages showing the different places that I visit and add them in the back of the book.

For more pictures of the book look below....I can only add I think five pictures at a time here so I had to divide the book between two differeent posts.

Have a GREAT day!

{Jill}

And Even More Pictures....

Warning....

It's a seriously LONG post below!

{Jill}

GASP!!!!

Yes, that is what just happened. I had this thought and i decided to update my blog! I knew it had been awhile since I had made a visit and well, I thought I better update and get things going again!

What has happened since February? Should I say nothing? Or Something? February seems like it was so long ago. In February I entered Hall of Fame. Yes, I was one of those that completed their ten layouts and sent them in. I was one of those that secretly hoped to receive a phone call for Creating Keepsakes telling me that I was one of the newest members of the elite called a Hall of Famer! Did I get a phone call? Nope. Am I upset? Nope. Am I going to enter again? Maybe! You just never know what they are looking for and that was what I kept telling myself. They just weren't looking for what I had sent them, so I'm over it.

In February we also celebrated my daughter's 13th Birthday! Yes, she is now 13 years old. And well, if tonight is any indication of what it's going to be like around my house then I think I'm going to lock myself in my room every once in awhile! (you hear that mom?) For Sarah's birthday this year she had a very special surprise. Her Uncle Charlie (real name Tim) flew over from Bratislava to visit her for her birthday. She was SO surprised! Before he arrived Sarah and her friends had a fun day at the Mall. They went to Club Libby Lu and made "Potions", then we went to Claires, The Candy Store to buy some BIG lollie pops and then they rode the Carousel. Did I mention all the girl's were 13? They all had a really fun time! After the expedition in the Mall was over we went to Dave & Buster's and had snacks and stuff, this is when Uncle Charlie arrived! After snack we went downstairs and we all played games and stuff for prize tickets. It was a really LONG day. But I think the part that was the most memorable was when Charlie made his special appearance! (We LOVE our Uncle Charlie!)

March was a slow month...Spring Break and not much else. Since Sarah and I are going to Florida this summer we decided to stay home and sleep during Spring Break! Something that she and I can agree on! Sleeping!

April was a busy month! Simon and I took turns going out of town in April. I was gone one week and three days after I came back he left for a week. Simon has his interests (Stocks) and I have mine (Scrapbooking) and well, when we find an event that we want to attend we just make a point to go. I know he wouldn't be interested in going to a Scrapbooking Event, and he knows that I wouldn't be interested in going to a Stock Event, not that he hasn't tried, he has!

Anyway, in April I went to Nashville to attend the Scrap Etc. 2008 Event. It was at the Gaylord Resort in Nashville and I had a wonderful time! I saw some old friends, and made some new! I attended some wonderful classes taught my the Scrap Etc. Teachers and attended more classes taught by Jennin Bowlin, Heidi Swapp, and Wilna Furstenburg. And let me say this, after attending Heidi's class I have come back a changed person. I think it was a combination of her class, the class lecture, and a little chat that I had with her after class that affirmed everything that I had been going through and what I was going through at the time.

Like I said, after I returned home, Simon left to attend one of his events. Sarah and I stayed home. I was going to scrapbook the entire time he was gone and Sarah was going to clean her room, and bead. Guess what we did? NOTHING! Well, she did do some beading and I did do some organizing in my scrapbook room but other than that? NADA, ZIP, ZILCH.

And that brings us up to the present. Have some projects that I have to start, have some projects I have to finish, have some projects that I want to do! So I better say goodbye for now and get busy! But, I think I'll wait until tomorrow cause right now I'm going to bed!

I have to tell you this though...I did make a promise to myself that I would update my blog more often. I mean, if you see someone at a Scrapbooking Event, someone that you don't really know and they ask you why you aren't updating your blog, or when are you going to update you blog...well, when this happens you know it's time to update your blog!

Have a GREAT night!

Until Tomorrow!

{Jill}

Happy February!

Yes, it's February. Almost 3 months since I last posted. We had Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Birthday, etc....but I'm back!

First order of Business!

How would you like to win some Rusty Pickle Goodies from CHA? All you have to do is go to the Rusty Pickle Blog at http://rustypickle.typepad.com and leave a comment in the comment section. Every day this week someone will be winning a prize package from Rusty Pickle! So go enter your name!

Also, over at Lance's Blog, http://lanceanderson.typepad.com he is also have some giveaways! Go leave comments at both sites! You never know you could be a winner!

Okay, so where have I been?

Well, I knew that I would be busy over Christmas. I decided to make a lot of Christmas presents this year and with dh going overseas to visit his mum they had to be done early! So that took me away from the computer. Then, it was Christmas here and dh takes off two weeks at Christmas every year, so well that's where I was too!
Then there's New Years and well I spend that day scrapbooking with my friends. And then I decided to enter HOF. But at the same time I was preparing my entry for HOF I was also creating booth samples for CHA.

That's November, December and January. So now we are in February and that's Sarah's Birthday. She turned 13 this year and we had a party at the mall this year. (I'm going to dedicate a post about this tomorrow!).

But I can say that I have honestly been busy working on "things".

But I am back!

And I wanted to start posting projects on my blog again! Here is a project that I made for Rusty Pickle. I used the School Daze Collection and an Arrow Chipboard Album. I painted the chipboard and then used stickles on the chipboard to make them glittery! I absolutely LOVE to create album covers! I thinks that the covers of albums are the part of an album that I enjoy the most!

Well gotta go for now! My Brother-in-Law is visiting us for the week! He came all the way from Bratislava to surprise Sarah for her birthday!

Until tomorrow!

{Jill}

Seven Random Facts about Me....

My Friend Ann Corbiere-Scott tagged me...and well usually I don't do very well with being tagged. I don't do them...but I figured that if I didn't do Ann's then she would let me know! (in a good way!) Plus, she said that she was going to keep her eyes open to see if I respond. So here are my "Seven Random Facts About Me".

1. I have curly hair. Yep...see the picture to the right...just down a bit...that's me. With Curly Hair. Now mind you on some days it's curls good and some days it's curls bad. So I guess you could say that the day I took this picture it was a semi-good curly day. Actually...it was my birthday and I decided that it was about time that I took a new picture of me! Did you notice the words? Time for me to take a picture of me? It seems that whenever I need a picture of me there is noone around, and when they are around they just don't do what I want them to do...so it's just easier to take a picture of me all by myself! Okay, I'm digressing.

2. I don't leave the house without having makeup on or having my hair done. Just don't do it. I don't even like going to the mail box without having done those two things.

3. I arrangment my jewelry at night on my dresser. I have to lay it out. Yes, I know it's crazy...you might call it O.C.D. but it has to be done. Also I straighten everything out on my bathroom counter too. So it's nice and neat the way I want it.

4. I wear my glasses to bed. Don't you? I mean that way if I have to get up on the middle of the night I'll be able to see! It can be a problem though...especially when I wake up in the morning and find that the frame has been bent every which way....this problem though will be remedied on January 9th. I'm having Lasik. (i think I have 55 days to go!)

5. I don't like my dh to go into my car. It's off limits to him. Also my scrapbook room is off limits. Let's put it this way...anything that is mine is off limits. Yeah...that's the ticket! lol But seriously...he would laugh if he saw some of the stuff in my car. On the door panel I have my scrapbook magazines, I have one glove in the glove box...cause I can't drive with two on...

6. I don't like dishes piled up on the kitchen counter. The sink is fine...but not hte counter. You see, the sink goes down and well, the counter is flat and if they are in the sink then there is a better change that I won't see them!

7. I love cats. If I could have a houseful of cats I would. But Simon said that three is enough. Which is really too bad because down at Petco there is this cat named "Henry" and he is the sweetest kitty cat! And yes, I go and visit him...often. Okay...I go to Petco several times a week to visit the cats. Now that's random isn't it!

Oh, and Ann... if you are reading this...Whenever we hear the name Cornelius we think of the Rooster that is on the box of the Kellogs Corn Flakes. Yep, you guessed it, his name is Cornelius.

Have a great day!

{Jill}

My Christmas "Wish" List

I was visiting one of my favorite Scrapbooking Message Boards today (http://www.scrappertalk.com/) and there was a thread there about Christmas. The thread got me thinking. In it there was one comment that said "I know you don't shop at so and so store, but I do". Well that one sentence got me thinking! There are lots of stores that I don't shop at and there are lots of stores that I DO Shop at. And some of the stores that people do shop at FOR me are are not the same stores that i go to. So, what better place to list the stores that I do shop at!

Since I am a scrapbooker, a gift card to a scrapbook store would be a wonderful idea! However, all the stores in my area are closing...well the scrapbook stores. BUT! we still have Hobby Lobby and Michael's. So if someone wanted to purchase a gift card for me for scrapbooking supplies it would be wonderful to have one to Hobby Lobby or Michael's. Hobby Lobby is less than a mile from my house and I am there a LOT! (okay, maybe i shouldn't say a lot...but at least 3 or more times a week I can be found wondering the aisles). Michaels is about six miles away, but I like to go there to see what they have on sale. They also carry this ribbon that I like to use on just about every project.

Clothing stores. Okay, so since I am a scrapbooker I (personally, just me!) don't like to spend a lot on my clothes. I am perfectly comfortable in sweats, tshirts, jeans, sweaters and stuff like that. I like to look neat, but if I paint or spill mod podge on me I don't want to ruin what I have on. So I shop at Target mostly. Once in awhile I will venture to Dillards or somewhere like that if I have to have something really nice, but most days you will find me in comfy clothes that I can replace easily. I know, if I wore an apron that would protect my clothes wouldn't it!.

What else would I like for Christmas:

Hmmmm....I just got a new camera for my Birthday! It's a NIKON D40X...I'd love a new lense for my camera! So I'm hoping that dh will get that for me!

Ohh..but you know what! I would also love a tv/dvd/combo for my scrapbook room! that way I could watch movies while i worked! So the best place to buy one of those is at Target or Best Buy!

See, there's lots of things that I could put on my list! But mostly gift cards would be great! Especially if they are all to the same place! That way I can combine them and put them towards one big item! Like a tv for my room....or a lense for my camera, or even a cartridge for my Cricut Machine.

Just some shopping advice from someone who is going to have a Wonderful Christmas! (because I usually shop for myself! lol)

Have a great day!

{Jill}

Posting Some Projects!

This month's Rusty Pickle Challenge is up on the RP Blog! Go to http://www.rustypickle.typepad.com/ and take a look! Also all the chefs gave the challenge a try too! Including me! I LOVED how my layout for the challenge turned out!

You know what the nicest thing about having a blog is? It's your own personal gallery! You can post whatever you want in it! So that's what I'm going to do today! Here are a few project that I did lately! I would love to post this one project that I just finished today but I have submittal plans for that one!

This is the second Family Chipboard sign that I made for the Armstrong Family Fundraiser (the first was made with the Cap'n Jack Line. This sign was made using the new French Market line from Rusty Pickle. I LOVE how it turned out! And now I want to make one myself! This sign was made using only FIVE sheets of Rusty Pickle Paper.

Yes, my cat is a party animal isn't he! This is my sixteen year old cat Joey. Yes, he has a party hat on, and yes we had a party, but it wasn't for him...it was for my other cat Snoopy. The hat belongs to one of my daughter's bears from Build-A-Bear...luckily it fits my kitty cats too! I put this hat on Joey when he was sitting up, but then he just sort of laid down and I snapped this really cute picture of him!

Thanks for looking!

{Jill}

Time to Post a Project!

It's been a while since I've posted anything project related so I thought I would do that today! This is the Chipboard Sign that I made for the Armstrong Family Fundraiser. I LOVE the colors that I used on it...why? Well, because they match my house! I want to make another one of these for me, but first I have to finish the Chipboard Sign that I am making for the second fundraiser. Don't know about the fundraiser? See the post below and just follow the links!

All the paper is from the Rusty Pickle "Cap'n Jack" Line and the Chipboard letters are also from Rusty Pickle! The Rusty Pickle Trims are from the Pashmina Collection and the Pickle Party Collection. I just love this sign and can't wait to make one for me!

Have a great day!

{Jill}

The Armstrong Family Fundraiser

First off I have something to say. Please, please do me one favor. Please go to the Rusty Pickle Blog (http://www.rustypickle.typepad.com) and follow the link to the Armstrong Family Fundraiser Blog (http://www.armstrongfamilyfundraiser.blogspot.com/) . Rusty Pickle is doing a wonderful thing by helping this family out! I so wish that I could attend this event, but I can't since it's being held in Arizona and Utah. I live in Texas, and well it's a little bit too far for me to attend. But those of you that live in Arizona and Utah can attend!

Tracy Armstrong was shot 4 times at point blank range by a guest at his Panquitch Lake Resort. This father of nine is now paralysed from the arms down and is not able to work. Additionally his wife is staying at a hotel in Provo to be near her husband and having to deal with child care and the loss of the family bread winner. In additional to the loss of income they are dealing with insurance deductables, increased living expenses, and upgrading their home and resort for Tracy.

Another way that you can help out the Armstrong Family is by purchasing Raffle Tickets. The prize is $500.00 worth of yummy Rusty Pickle Products! You can enter your name in the drawing 1 time for $5 or 5 times for $20 (or 25 times for $100!). ALL FUNDS WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THE FAMILY! To purchase Raffle Tickets please go to this link: http://legacyscrapbooking.com/catalog.php?category=298

Go Now to the Rusty Pickle Blog!!!!

You have to pop on over to the NEW Rusty Pickle Blog! (http://www.rustypickle.typepad.com) Go over and leave a comment in the comment section and you could be the daily winner of some Rusty Pickle Goodies!

And She's BACK!!!!

Okay, so in the last two weeks I really have gotten a LOT done! I've cleaned and mowed and organized....it's not all done or caught up but I've at least started which makes me feel MUCH BETTER! I hate to be disorganized and have a mess (okay, mom don't laugh at that!)

Now to catch everyone else up on what's been going on during the month of September.

The first weekend of September I attended Creative Escape in Phoenix Arizona. Creative Escape is put on by Heidi Swapp and Bazzill Basics Paper. And let me just say that I loved each and every one of my classes. I loved Heidi's class where we made a canvas (okay, I haven't finished it) I loved Rhonna's class where we created a 21-Challenge Journal (okay, I haven't finished that either). I loved Leslie's Card Class (Yes, I finished those in class) and I liked Heidi Lynn's Calendar Class (I finished those layouts too!). I truly had a wonderful time and I already have my reservation for my room next year! And next year I'm doing it right and treating myself to a much needed personal vacation, including a trip to the spa, and maybe a trip or two to the casino!

I returned home from Creative Escape on the 9th of September and was able to "visit" with Simon and Sarah for a few days. And then I was off again! This time I went to Utah for the Annual Rusty Pickle Chef Retreat!

I flew into Salt Lake City on the 13th and stayed until the 16th. I was SO excited to go! I'd never been to Utah before! The first thing that we were going to do was go to the Rusty PIckel Warehouse so that we could go shopping before we headed to the cabin! And that was TOTALLY fun!!! It was so much fun watching what everyone was buying, and then you would stand there and think for a bit and got and get a little bit more before it was your turned to pay. The Chef retreat was awesome and I had a truly wonderful time! (Thank you Tasha and Lance and Patricia and Emily and everyone!!!). We stayed in a cabin that was on this mountain and the funny thing about it was that there was NO cell phone reception which meant that noone could get in touch with me! So when one of the other chef's decided that she was going to go to town on Friday i jumped at the chance to go just so that I could call Simon and inform him of the bad news....the conversation went something like this...

Me: "Hi Sweetness"
Simon: "Hi Sweets"

Me: "Umm..i have something to tell you"
Simon: "Yes?"

Me: "Umm...you're not going to be able to talk to me until Sunday when I go back to the airport because there isn't any cell phone reception at the cabin".
Simon: "Are you really up in the mountain"

Me: "Yes, and noone can call anyone, so everyone is calling their husband to let them know that they can't call them".
Simon: "Okay, so I guess I'll talk to you when you go to the airport"

That was basically the conversation. Mind you, I didn't included the entire conversation, but that was basically it. And when I hung up the phone, i sort of giggled, because well Simon can usually get in touch with me wherever I go. But, this time he just couldn't do it. Little did we know, but there was a phone in the cabin and well...it worked.

At the retreat we had SO much fun! But I think I stayed up a little bit too late one night....I think it was 4:30 a.m. when I went to bed? Yep...it was 4:30. You see I was working on some stuff and well, I just didn't want to stop. If i could have stayed up later I probably would have, but you know I guess I was really tired.

I returned home on the 16th. Totally tired. And what did I do? I went to bed. On Monday I brougth Sarah to school and came back home. And what did I do? I went to bed. I don't think that I felt right again until about Wednesday. But by Friday I was back to my old self! Which I had to do! Why? Well, because Friday, September 21 was my 43rd birthday....eeek.....yes...43.

Usually in my house my birthdays are not the greatest. Usually dh goes out on that day and buys me a card. I know because i find the reciept that shows the exact time that he purchased the card. But this year, I think it was in April. I put on the calendary "Jill's Birthday, You Better Plan Something Good!". And i circled it. Well, guess what! I was in complete shock, because, yes, he planned something good. Well, not exactly he planned, but he bought me a REALLY REALLY NICE present! or should I say presents? Simon and Sarah walked into the bedroom on Friday and they had my presents in their hands. I had the cards to open...one from Sarah, one from the cats, and one from Simon. Then I had two bags. In one bag there was a Dremel! I've been wanting a Dremel for a very long time! BUT, in the other bag there was an envelope. I looked at it....and then opened it. Dh had ordered me my camera that I had been waiting for for a very, very, long time! I am now the proud owner of a D40X!!! Now I just have to figure out how to use it!

I think that the camera was also a part of a Thank You Gift from Simon. He knows that for the past month and a half I have been helping him, and doing everything around the house. Remember, he broke his hip? He's doing better, and he's walking. But he still has a ways to go. But I think the camera was his way of saying, "Thanks Sweets, I love you".

But I never told you what I did on my birthday did I? I went to get a pedicure, had lunch, went to a movie, went shopping, and then had dinner with my husband and daughter at Buca De Beppo. We sat at the "kitchen table" so that we could see everything that goes on in the kitchen. Sarah made the reservation for us, but I secretly think that she wanted to be able to sit in the kitchen, because it's a special table.

But my birthday really wasn't over on Friday! On Saturday I had plans to go and scrapbook with my friend Bernie (http://scrapbdazzled.blogspot.com/). We had made plans to visit a scrapbook store that was about an hour from my house. I had never been to this store, so I was really looking forward to it. I called Bernie to let her know when I was leaving my house and started my trek to the store. I also told Bernie that if I got lost I was going to call her....yes, I got lost...not once...but twice! But I did finally arrive at the store...and I was hungry for lunch! Bernie and I went and had lunch at McAllister's Deli and then went to Recollections to have a look around. I like to go to the different Scrapbook Stores (okay, so Recollections isn't new to me...but it was in a different town) to see what they have that's different than everywhere else. After Recollections we returned to where we were cropping and started to work. I had a lot of stuff to catch up on...and I'm almost done....

Bernie and I had a great night! And she truly is a GREAT friend! You know what she brought me...BIRTHDAY CAKE and ICE CREAM! I hadn't had a birthday cake yet, and this truly touched me! (Thank You Bernie!) She also gave me this goodie back of treats...like Smarties, and Tootsie Rolls and Lollipops (Sarah is enjoying that!)

So all in all my September has been pretty good! MUCH better than it usually is! And i have my husband, and daughter, and Rusty Pickle, all the Rusty Pickle Chefs and Bernie to thank! Thank you all!

And with that I am going to leave, so that i can go and pack my stuff up so that i can meet Bernie again tomorrow!

Have a great night everyone!

{Jill}

Just in case you're wondering what's going on and where I am...

I am going to be out of town. I'm going to be taking a break when I get back. I will be back to blogging later....after I take a much needed nap.

I need to reorganize
I need to clean
I need to mow the lawn
I need to get rid of the weeds that have grown in my flowerbeds
I need to finish my bathroom that I have been working on for two years.
I have a lot of stuff to get done
and I need to get it done because I hate making to do lists and never getting them done.

So I am taking a break.

So, if you don't see me online anywhere I will be outside in the sunshine getting my house back in order. For the past three months I've been at home, not really getting much done. Then Simon broke his hip and things went a little haywire...well that's what happens when you are in charge of everything. So, I'm going away this weekend. I'm going to have a good time (better than last weekend (she says crossing fingers)) and I'm going to laugh and spend time with my friends. Because I deserve it.

Have a great month.

Yes, it's been a month....

and i've been busy. Doing what? Taking care of my husband of course...remember, he broke his hip?

Not much really going on other than that...next week is that thing that comes around every year...yes, it's birthday time again (Sepember 21...). And well, I know how it's going to end up. DH is busy with meetings all day...until about 9:00 p.m. And well, DD she is in a play at school and they have practice until 6:45. So what am I gonna do...not quite sure yet, since I"ll be by myself all day. It's sort of sad, you know? Celebrating by yourself. But that's what happens most of the time. Anyway...not to sound like a "sad person" but I think I"m going to take a bit of a break until it's all over. Then I'll come back....otherwise you will have to sit here and read sad post after sad post...so I'm not going to do it! Nope! I"m going to go and do something to keep busy until it's over....

Be back later....

Jill