Birthday's Galore!

Happy Birthday Joyce!

Here's a pic of my mother in law and myself. She is happily holding a canvas that I made for her.

I've teased her since June about having her Birthday present made and final gave it to her on Saturday.

She handed me a set of photos of my brother in law's family that lives in Louisiana and asked me "Can you make me something with these?". I thought can I do something with these, please...haha! Well I knew I wanted to do something other than a scrapbook, like I think she thought I was going to do. But after asking her if she had room on a wall for something that was 12" x 24" and rearrange the photos about a million times and wracking my brain for a day I finally had this.

Whewwww parties over....

Well all of the planning and work was worth it. The party went great and my Grandma was really surprised. I was also surprised to find out that this was the first planned out Birthday Party she's ever had, I guess all of the others were spur of the moment.

Three of her girlfriends from high school were able to make it. They carried on, laughed and had a great time. It was fun listening to them talk about drag racing up and down Main Street and about boys they use to date. Funny to think about my Grandma being a passenger in a car drag racing, wearing her saddle shoes and poodle skirt. There's a picture I wish I had.

But here is one I do have - here's my Gram and her girlfriends. She the one on the far left with the red shirt on. These gals hadn't seen or spoken to each over in over 30 years until one Summer one of them tracked the others down and final had a gathering. They said they tried to figure who each of them was as they walked in the door. They all agreed that my Grandma hadn't really changed much and was the only one they all guessed correctly.

Here is a birthday gift that I created for her. The photo is of her at about age 7. I love the "I'm so not havin' this" look on her face. I really like how it turned out. I didn't know if she would realize it was her right away, but she laughed as soon as she opened it and said, "Where did you get that photo?". HAHA guess she didn't realize how many photos I copied while doing family tree research.

Here's a pic of some of the goodie bags I made. I decorated mini composition books with paper, ink, stamps and some die cuts and even found some mini mechanical pencils in the back to school section that worked perfectly for them. I found the cello bags at the local cake and candy decorating shop and made the bag toppers from card stock and scrap paper.

This a little Target spot mailbox that I've had for a while now. I decorated with some scraps and placed pens and index cards with it for party goers to write Birthday wishes and messages for my Grandma. Once I get the photos developed I'm going to add the cards and make a mini book to fit inside of this Birthday cake I made for a center piece. The best part is that I stole the cards away and no one has had a chance to read them - not even me! So I'll be surprised when I start to creating.

More creatings photos soon to come!

Music makes me smile...

Last night we went to see some local Butler bands play. They were all really good and I enjoyed going to a local show again. It brought back memories of my teens when that was all we did was go to shows and Eat n' Park.

So one of the bands that played was Hand Drawn Mountains, my friend Marcia plays guitar for them. Marcia and I have been friends since high school and we don't get together that much, so I was really glad to finally make a show.

Here's a pic of her rockin' out. They just got done recording and will have an EP coming out soon. I will shamelessly plug their band. Hehe!

Check out the art work that Marcia has for sale on Etsy here. She really makes me wish I could paint! Enjoy!

Where to begin...

Have you ever had one of those moments in your life when you wanted to go all Susan Powter and scream stop the insantity? (Remember those commercials?) Yeah I'm about right there lately. Things have been nonstop at work and at home.

That's why my dining room looks like this: Brace yourself and I'll be ready for the shame to begin.

This is part I'm cleaning out stuff to go to goodwill, part I just got a new car so all of the crap from my old car is now there, part went camping and this is where this tote will sit and part I haven't had anytime to put anything where it truly belongs. Thankfully only the dining room and my craft room look like tornado ran through them.

But I've been busy trying to get projects finished for a party. I'm throwing a 70th Birthday Luncheon for my Grandma. She still gets together with girls she went to highschool with - isn't that awesome!?! So I've been planning and creating things for the party. Here's a peak at what I've got so far: The invitation, a Celebrate banner

and a Birthday Cake centerpiece, which I will be making a 6x6 book to match of the party. I still need to create favors and wish cards that will be incorporated in to the mini book.

I've managed to make this banner for her as a gift also. Darrell is her last name. I come from a craft family so she appreciates homespun gifts as much as I love making and giving them. Here's a couple close up shots of some of the pennants.

Well, that's all for me for now! I much more to post - coming soon a post on some of the great finds I've managed to get lately.

O my goodness I cannot believe I've slacked off and not posted for 2 months. So many things have happened, that there will be follow up posts to this one I'm sure.

But for the latest news....I finally got a new car! Isn't she cute!?! I just love her - of course it is a her. It is a 2008 Suzuki SX4.




My poor old car has been slowly dying over the last 2 years and most recently (Friday) I developed a gas leak....SO SCARY! I drove her home one final time from work yesterday and kept thinking - O please God don't let me blow up...





We stopped by the dealership last night at 8:30pm just to look - it's always just to look. Well we left the lot at 10:40pm - yeah they closed at 9:00pm. They knew they had us - they weren't taking the hook out until I signed the last dotted line.





I have a back seat now! I haven't had a back seat in 8 years, nor have I been able to transport more than 2 people at a time. O the possibilities.

So here's my challenge to you - help me name her! My other Suzuki was named Emma aka ant and roller skate. Post me some suggestions!