Everyone is home for the holidays!  Christmas will be spent with my family and New Year's will be spent with Mike's family coming in town.  We are truely blessed this holiday season.

May all of you have a very Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Today was the last day of preschool until the new year.  As much as I love teaching, I'm looking forward to the break!  Today all the teachers went out to lunch at Franco's.  It's located in Soulard, next to the market in the old Welch's Baby Furniture Factory.  The food was outstanding!  It just so happens that I'm going there Thursday night with friends before the Fox Theatre.  I'm going to see White Christmas.  I'm looking forward to the show because the movie is one of my favorite Christmas movie.  I cry every time the general walks in the room and sees all the guys who came to support him.  Gets me every time!

The November Card Class was my last card class at FKS.  I loved teaching the classes and I loved the ladies who took the classes.  After much thought I came to this decision for several reasons.  My son is finally healthy enough to play baseball and I want to be able to travel and watch him play Wed. games and weekend games. He is in his 4th year of college and the opportunity to watch him is coming to an end soon and I don't want to miss it.  The other reason is my trip to France comes at a time when I should be holding Easter and Mother's Day card classes.  For the next 6-7 months my plate is overflowing.  I have always been a person who, if I can't give a 110% to a project or job, I won't commit to it.  I am aware in these hard economic times, that you spend your hard earned money to take classes at FKS and I feel honored you choose to take mine.  I also want to publicly thank Timi and Nancy N. for giving me the opportunity to teach at FKS.

For right now, I'm enjoying teaching preschool, taking time to decorate my home for Christmas and making my own Christmas Cards.  I am going to keep my blog going and I will display my projects and activites in my life. I would like to teach again but for right now this is the best decision for myself and my family.

I'm So Excited...I Just Can't Hide It...

Does anyone remember that song?  I got an email today that has sent me over the moon!  I placed an order with Coture Cardstock and recieved my order.  The email they sent tells me that I was randomly choosen to get my paper order FREE!  They took the cost off my charge!  I can't believe it.  Does anyone else get excited over free stuff?  Back to decorating...

P.S.  I will take pictures this weekend and post early next week.  I redid the front of our home this year and I must say it looks mar-vel-ous!!

Copic Marker Paper That Doesn't Bleed Thru...

I had a second and thought I'd share a product that Sally Lynn has endorsed.  Check out her blog.  It's called One Sheet Wonder.  The paper has been developed to use with Copic Markers.  It DOESN'T BLEED THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE!  Think of the possibilities!  Since we spend alot of money on our markers why not use great paper!  It's pretty reasonable, too.  The website is http://www.coturecardstock.com/  . They also have a new paper for blending called Detail Blending Paper.  I've ordered mine.  Let me know what you think of it.

We took Greg back to school last night.  No mono...yeah!  He is doing better and he hasn't had a fever for over 24 hours. Yeah, Yeah!!!!  Playing catch-up today.  Got the Christmas decorations out of storage and got all the trees assembled.  Tomorrow is the Thanksgiving feast at school.  The children are so darn cute with their Pilgrim hats!  I might not be blogging the rest of the week so have a safe and very Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I was suppose to go to FKS for a class with Debbie Schuh.  Well, plans changed pretty quickly at my home.  Mke went down Friday night and picked up Greg from SEMO. He's not been feeling good the last couple days but got really bad Friday.  He was too sick to drive home.  Soooo... Saturday he was worse than Friday so, I spent Sat. afternoon at the Urgent Care Center. Greg was tested for flu, negative. Yeah!  Tested for strep, negative but could still be strep because he's been on antibiotics for 24 hours.  And got a blood test for mono.   We should hear the results tomorrow.  All he's been doing is sleeping and studying. I'm giving him some mother's TLC and doing laundry. Mike brought all of his bedding and towels home at my suggestion.  I'm hoping he can go back Monday to finish out his last 2 days before Thanksgiving break.

Tonight I went to a surprise birthday party for my Great Aunt Gladys.  She turned 85 today!  I hope I have a mind like her as I age.  She is an amazing woman and looked like Doris Day with dark hair when she was young.  She has been (my dad's side) the keeper of the family history.  She was overwhelmed by all the people and said how blessed she is for such a wonderful family.  In truth, I'm the one who has been blessed having someone like Aunt Gladys in my life.  She is an amazing person!

Thank you to everyone who came to card class yesterday.  I hope you had as much fun as I did.  You guys are the best!!!  The adorable Michelle came in and drew a name and the winner of the drawing for the sign was Jo Witney. Congrats! 

Christmas Card Class Tomorrow

Time:  10:00 am and 6:30 pm.  I'll be there at 6:00 pm, if you want to come early and start stamping.

Supplies needed for card class.

• Basic Supplies
• Foam mounting tape (Sold at FKS)
• Pop dots
• Color pencils, glitter pens or markers
• Red line tape (Sold at FKS)
• We will be using Rock Candy Distress Stickles, if you have your own, you might want to bring it.
• Black and red ink.  (I will have ink at class.)

Looking forward to seeing you there.  You're going to love making these cards!

Weekend didn't go as planned.  I was winterizing the fountain, which is heavy, and the large iron dodad (Don't know what to call it!)  came crashing down, with me as the target.  I twisted around to catch it, which I did, but messed up my back .  Sunday I sat and laid around in a fog from the muscle relaxers!  Doing better today.

Yesterday...  I worked on preparing cards for the card class on Wednesday. 

Today...  I'm working outside.  I need to take apart the outside fountain before it gets too cold!  I'm also going to dig out and prepare the vegetable garden for next year. 

Tomorrow... I have earmarked as a creative day.  I'm going to the studio and try to be creative.  My creative juices have been low lately.  I need a day to get them flowing. 

Cards for the November 18th class.

Learn to make 2 Waterfall Cards and using the same stamp but make 2 entirely different cards.

You will need to bring the basics supplies plus pop-up dots and double-sided foam strips, sold at FKS.

You may also bring your own color pencils or markers.

You will make a bonus Bag and Tag.

And as always, a little surprise!

Cards were displayed at the store Friday.  I forgot to take a picture, but I will remedy that tomorrow afternoon.

Halloween get together at our home was a blast!  It was laid back and relaxing.  The cutest trick or treaters!  Good food and good friends, what more do ya need!

Happy Hallloween!!!

Getting ready for our get together and all the trick or treaters!

This is on of my favorite days!

Turned in the cards for November card class.  I'm hoping to have them on display tomorrow.  We will be learning to make waterfall cards.  These are so much fun to make!
The next couple days are some of my favorites.  Tomorrow is the Halloween Party at school.  I love seeing the children in their costumes.  They are so excited to have you guess who they are behind the mask!  I haven't decided what costume I'm wearing.  It's too hot to wear my Tigger costume, so I will either be Raggedy Ann or a doctor.  So I must go and make treat bags for my students and prepare my costume, whatever it will be!  Maybe I'll be the character that requires no ironing!!!

I'm happy to be back home after a wonderful weekend in Princeton, IN.  I have learned soooo much!  My head is still spinning.  I went down by myself but met alot of really nice women. This is the first time I've been in a class with just store owners, designers, and instructors.  I was like a sponge, just listening to all the ideas and about the other scrapbook and rubber stamps stores in the midwest and yes, Ontario, Canada!  The classes on Saturday were open to everyone.  I met alot of great ladies from the Princeton area.  I learned alot about Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists.  Did you know you're not suppose to shake them to get the glimmer off the bottom?  I'll tell you another time what to do instead! I learned some basic techniques using the Copic Markers on Saturday and then Sunday I spent a whole day learning about Copic Markers.  WOW!  Sally Lynn McDonald was awesome (our instructor for 2 days).  I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn from such a talented lady.  I ended my experience this weekend with, TADA, Copic Marker Certification!  My name should appear on the website in about 3 weeks! 

Back to reality, I need to unpack my stuff and start a load of wash!  I can't wait to be artsy 2morrow!

A big thank you goes out to everyone who came to card class today.  I hope you had a great time.  I'm sorry if I seemed a little scattered brained today.  I seem to be having this problem all week!  It must be the Too Much To Do And Too Little Time Syndrome!  Does anyone else suffer from this syndrome?  Maybe we could form a support group, but that would just add one more thing to our lists!!!

We had a great time yesterday watching Greg play baseball and then the family picnic.  He did a great job in the baseball game.
Steph went skydiving today!  I couldn't believe she was going to do it, but she did!  We have the pictures and DVD to prove it.  I was kind of worried but after seeing the DVD of her jumping, I think I want to go!  It was pretty cool.
Getting things ready for my week at school. Tomorrow I'm going to prepare the card class and clean up the art studio.  Yikes, it looks like a tornado went through it!  I am starting to get excited about my trip to Princeton, IN.  I'm going to take classes on Saturday and then the Copic Marker Certification Class on Sunday.  I talked to the owner of the LSS and was told there were people coming from Ontario to take the class.  There will be quite a few people from out of town.  It's always good to meet new friends.The teacher doing the Copic Marker class is also a designer for Tattered Angels (I think that's the name).  I'm going to learn how to use those misty colors sprays we all bought and don't know how to use!  Hopefully I'll come back with some new ideas!  I also found out there are antique shops in the town.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to do some shopping!

Can't wait for tomorrow!!!  We're going down to Cape to see Greg.  The baseball team is having a family day.  The boys are playing an inter-sqad game and then a bar-b-que (inside) afterwards.  I made cupcakes at Greg's request and mandrine orange salad.

Here's a look at my hearthroom mantel. Those are hand painted gourds. The two larger ones in the middle light up! I found the gourds at Cobblestone Cottage in St. Charles on Main Street.

Have an artsy kind of day!

Okay you've asked where are the pictures. I finally took them today for your viewing pleasure. All the pieces light up, the carnival rides all move, and several of the pieces make music and sound haunted!!! I love it!

Happy Birthday Pop! You're the greatest dad a girl could have!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!! We love you Bunches and Bunches, a Buschel and a Peck, and a Hug around the Neck!

I've been working on the Halloween Village tonight, finally! I promise pictures soon. It really is pretty cool! Also I keep forgetting to post pictures of the October Cards. Here they are, I hope you like them!

I haven't blogged (Is that a word?) for quite a while. I finally have the house put together just in time to put up all the Fall and Halloween decorations in our home. Mike just LOVES hauling all the containers out for me!!! He says that this is the start of 4 months of hauling decorations! What can I say, I love to decorate for different holidays! My mom always decorated our home as I grew up and it has been a tradition that I will continue. I'll try to take pictures for you to see the Halloween village. It is so cool!!!

Where did the weekend go? We've been busy putting together the first floor and preparing the second floor for the carpet restretching process! I guess I haven't gone through drawers and all our "stuff" for 4 years and boy am I sorry. I've been going through files and drawers and pitching and giving away. It's a pain in the bum to do, but I feel pretty good when I'm finished. My new goal, when I finish upstairs, is to clean out the kitchen cabinets and drawers. I'm sure there's junk in them I have never used! I know there's a few drawers I call the "catch all" drawers that are going to get cleaned out. I guess that why people do big Fall and Spring cleanings!!!

Thanks to everyone who came to card class yesterday. You guys are the best and you all seem to get more confident each month!!! I just have so much fun at class and one of my goals is that you are having a good time. Your cards looked great!!!

Update: My floors are totally done and I'm putting stuff away. I'm sooooo glad that the first floor is finished! Monday and Tuesday the 2nd floor carpet gets stretched and then I'm ready to decorate for Fall!! I love my Fall/Halloween/ Thanksgiving decorations. The warm colors of Fall makes me feel all warm and cozy.

Pictures of October card class will be posted this weekend. The cards are on displayed at the store.

I was blog surfing and was on Tim's blog. Look at how he set up the ink blenders. I have the spinners and blenders. I even labeled each blender with the color ink, but you have to see what he did!!! He must of inked paper and punched circles. Then adhered them on top of the blender!! Love the idea. I've done something similar to my alcohol inks but never thought of the blenders!!!! I've had an epiphany! It doesn't take much to make me happy or it could be the fumes from the finish they put on my floors today!

I'm finishing up projects I've had sitting around my studio for awhile. I've had 2 Basic Grey Card Making Packages sitting on my work table since April. I finally got them both done last night while watching Drop Dead Diva and Army Wives. They really are a quick way to make cute cards, especially if your not into stamping. When I made mine, I inked edges and put some of the pieces on chipboard and used pop dots. I know FKS does carry Basic Grey Card Kits from time to time. They are worth getting.

Not sure how the first picture one got turned sideways! When I downloaded the picture it was facing the correct way!!! I'm not quite sure how that happened! Oh well, you get the idea!

I'm reading a motivational book which says we should embrace Monday like we would Friday!

TGIM!!! Have an artsy day! ;)

I'm on a roll. October cards have been submitted and have been approved. Thanksgiving is the theme and I'm using the Core'dinations Papers. You are going to love them. You'll be using the Nestabilities and the Martha Steward punches. I will post the October cards after the Wednesday card class. I've started designing the Christmas Cards and it's putting me in the holiday spirit!

Floor are almost done. Can use the floor this weekend but then Monday, the final coat goes on and I'm back in the basement. Tuesday the trim gets painted and Wednesday the furniture gets moved back into the rooms. Guess what I get to do Thursday and Friday after work? That's right, wash and put everything away. Just in time for the carpet stretching ordeal to begin!

The floors are in and the sanding has begun!!! Oh boy! I had to get out of the house for a few minutes! What is it the Grinch says, "The noise, THE NOISE!..."? I went to the best place in St. Louis, my Disney World of the Midwest, For Keepsakes Scrapbook Store. I don't know why I hadn't seen it before, but Little Yellow Bicycle's Fall stuff is fabulous (Already have the Halloween collection)! I think I bought the whole Fall collection. I did leave some for the rest of you! My fav is the chipboard book and the pre-cut paper that go right into it. All you have to do is make the book your own and junk it up a bit and viola, a hostess gift for Thanksgiving!

Since I'm stuck in the basement, I think I will go and be CREATIVE!!! Have an ARTSY day ;)

I had a wonderful weekend with my family. I hate to have it end, especially knowing what's in store for me these next couple of weeks. Getting ready to have new flooring put in is a pain! Clearing out rooms and relocating stuff. I have to keep thinking of the end result and not that I will have a small, 12 in. path to get to the 2nd floor. That I will have to go out the back door, up the hill and in through the garage to get anything out of the washer and dryer or the refrigerator! I need to think positve!!! I will get beautiful new floors, I will clean out my stuff and get rid of things I don't use, I will have the Fall deep cleaning done as I put the rooms back together! Oh, and yes, I will be able to work on future card classes because I can't do anything else while the crew is here! POSITIVE THINKING!!!!!

September Card Class

September 19th

10:30 am or 6:30 pm

Bring basic supplies plus color pencils or glitter pens,

clear glitter pen, and pop dots.

Just a quick post.... (because I can't sleep!) My September cards will be at FKS Friday. I'm combining Halloween and Fall into one class. There is a surprise gift bag for you to make and a small, cute Fall gift for you because I think y'all are the best!!!!!

Lots going on with the beginning of my school year. Can't wait for a little R&R this weekend. Greg gets home tomorrow afternoon from SEMO and Steph and Mike have Monday off so I'm hoping for some quality family time this weekend. Tuesday starts the process of getting hardwood floors installed in the dining room and study. Also having carpet on the second floor stretched and the master bathroom having some updating done. It's always something with a house. Can't wait until it's done!!!

Greg went back to SEMO Friday morning. We had breakfast at Cracker Barrel on Merramec Bottom Rd. and I-55. Had a great time and then he got on the highway and off to school. It's always hard seeing him go back. I've been doing this college thing now for 6 years and it is easier than the first time we sent them off to college. But..... there is still that moment when you see the car pull away. I cry every year, just not as long. I always remember that he is where he needs to be. I don't want to cripple my children. I want them to be healthy, happy, independent! I say that to myself over and over again, all the way home!

Thanks to everyone who came to the card classes today. I hope you had a good time and learned a little, too. I know I did!



Big news (for me anyway) when I got home tonight. I was accepted into the Copic Marker Certification Class! I'm very excited. So look out ladies, I see Copic Markers in the future of our card classes!

Happy 22nd Birthday G-Man!!!!

Since the day you entered this world you have brought us such joy and laughter!

Enjoy your day!

Went to St. Charles this week and did a little Fall shopping. The stores have all their Fall merchandise out before the Festival of the Hills. I also found a thing or two for Christmas. I've decided which Dept. 56 Halloween stuff I want to get this year. I'm going to add the train and station to my Halloween Village. I finished making thank you notes and will be getting them ready to send out Monday. I'm trying to enjoy these last couple weeks of Summer.

Cute Cards with Kim

Wednesday, August 19th

Classes at 10:30 am & 6:30 pm

Sign-up at For Keepsakes

Cupcakes will be served

plus a bonus gift bag!

Happy Birthday Steph!!!

Beware of holes in the ground!!!!

This is how our weekend started Friday afternoon. Greg's cutting grass and a swarm of hornets come out of the ground. Thankfully he runs fast and didn't get stung. Called the exterminator, and he took care of the 6 inch hole in the ground. Woke up Saturday morning to a leak under the sink. (Yes, we ran the dishwasher overnight!!) Called the plumber but he couldn't come until Monday! Called our neighbor, who fixes everything, at the insistence of Steph. Mitch came over and fixed the leak. Put the fan in front of the sink to dry it out. Eventually I put back all the cleaning supplies stored underneath. Next, Steph tells me she wants to invite a new guy she's dating over Sat. night and could I please put away all the 4th of July decorations I have sitting in the dining room, waiting for me to pack and take to our storage unit. So I worked all day cleaning up the 4th of July decorations and stuff in the basement (where they were going to watch a movie). Finally at 3:30 I got ready to go out to dinner with a couple of neighbors who were taking us out for our 25th wedding anniversary. We left at 4:30 and ate dinner at Tucker's in Soulard. (Personally, I thought it was kind of early but I know most people eat earlier than Mike and I.) We came home and turned the corner of our street and found this: A SURPRISE PARTY FOR US!!!! Given by Steph and Greg!!! It was overwhelming turning the corner and seeing about 80 people you love!!! Our families and friends all came for us. I cried like a baby and Mike had tears in his eyes. With each person I saw, I said, "OH my God!" then cried and hugged them. It was an unbelievable evening. I feel truly blessed to have so many unbelievable people in our lives. Mike and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with all the people we love. It can't get much better than that! I can't express how proud we are of Steph and Greg to have done this for us!

Well friends, I got up this morning and was inspired to create new cards!!! I hope you like them, 4 cupcake cards and a gift bag with a chipboard cupcake. In the class we will use the Cuttlebug Embossing Folders. I can't wait for you to see what a difference the dimension makes on the cards! I'm hoping to bring the cards in either Tuesday evening or Wednesday. I have to finish all the paper work that is required when you offer a class. I'm taking a break tomorrow and I'm going to the Science Center with Greg. I want to see Sue the T-Rex. Greg said he would go with me if we see the Omni-Max film about the Grand Canyon with music by Dave Matthews. I made the deal quickly before he changed his mind. The Science Center is one of my favorite places to go in St. Louis. As Steph and Greg grew up, I took them to the Science Center at least once a year. I'm looking forward to spending the day with my son.

It's been finalized! In March of 2010, I'm going on a river cruise from Paris to Normandy!!! And I'm spending 3 days in Paris before the beginning of the cruise!!! I've always wanted to see Paris and Giverny, where Monet was inspired! There are so many places we are going to see!!! We will also see Omaha Beach in Normandy and visit the American Cemetery where the brave Americans that took part in D-Day are buried. I love American History so this will be quite an experience for me. Because of these boys and men we are free!

233 years ago...on July 4th, 1776

This great nation, the United States of America,

In a struggle for what was right and free,
Was proudly born...
May we celebrate that precious freedom
For which our forbears fought so bravely...
The freedom that is inherent
In the Stars and Stripes, our revered flag...
Celebrate Freedom
This Fourth of July!

Author Unknown

Happy 4th of July Friends and Family!!!!

Thanks to everyone who came to the card class yesterday! I hope you all had a great time! I just think it's so cool that you all get together every year and do girl stuff! It's always fun for me to introduce cardmaking to new people.

I have decided not to teach the card class in July. Not to bore you with all the details, but I need to turn my attention to my family this month. I'm hoping to come back in August, but we will see how things go at home. For those of you who want to take a card class, Nancy W. is offering 2 great card classes in July.

I can't believe July 4th is next week!!! It's been a crazy couple of weeks. Card classes on the 17th went great. Thanks to everyone who attended!!! We had the whole family over on Father's Day evening. We had dinner and a great time in the pool. Today, Steph and I looked at condos for her to buy. It's hard to believe that she is getting ready to spread her wings and have her own place. It's a very exciting time for her. So much is going on in our lives right now that my time in the craft room has been limited (Boo-Hoo).

Stay Cool!!!!

Took a class from Lance of Rusty Pickle tonight. We had a great time. What a wonderful class. I'm using my book as a Father's Day present for Mike. Shhh, don't spill the pickles (I mean beans) if you see him! Check out Rusty Pickle's website to see the new patriotic papers! They are awesome!

I went to the stamp convention in Collinsville today with Susan, Patti, and Karen. OMG!!!!! It was not crowded on Sunday. I go every year and I think, "Kim you've seen everything there!" Not true. A couple of new vendors worth seeing and I re-learned how to do a few techniques.
It was a fun day.

I'm starting to design cards for the July card class. I'm thinking cupcakes! I've got some really cute cupcake stamps and I'm also thinking we should have cupcakes to eat during class.

Tip for Today:
I've been organizing my scrapbook studio. I'll try to share a few pictures this week of some of the ways I organize my "stuff". I find if I organize my "stuff" after I finish a project, it helps to motivate and inspire me to move on to the next project. Sometime when I clean up my room I'll find "stuff" I forgot I had and I will use it in the next project.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

I was at the store Saturday and I was approached about doing my card class for a customer and her family who's coming in town. How exciting! They can't come when my class is scheduled so I am arranging a separate time for them. So-o-o-o, I was thinking (never a good thing) if anyone would like to have a group come in to make cards, I would be happy to either design cards for your group to make or you can make the cards of the month. You can schedule a group at For Keepsakes and we can work out a day and time (I'm pretty flexible in the summer). That's my sales pitch for the day, I'm off to swim laps and get a little sun before Greg's game tonight.

I've got to tell what I've been doing in my scrapbook studio, but I'll save that for another day.......

We went to Greg's first baseball game this summer and watched him play for the first time in 2 years. He got a solid hit between 2nd and 3rd base his first time up to bat. It brought tears to my eyes seeing him at the plate and running out to play right field. I'm so happy for him. I'm also very proud of the way he has handled himself through adversity. I said a silent prayer and thanked God not only for the hit and healing him but making him the wonderful man he has become.

Okay, I know I'm a little emotional and I don't get like this too often, but do blame me?

I'm a happy girl!!! Greg's home from school. He's so much fun to have around and I get to go to his summer baseball games. He's playing in the Metro College League and it will be the first time he will play in 2 years, since his arm and back injury. I love to watch Steph and him interact. It puts a smile on my face. Steph is gearing down for the end of her school year. She's already thinking about next year, since it will be her 1st full year of teaching and the classroom will be hers to decorate and set up. She's already brought in a loveseat that she is covering and adding fun pillows and bean bag chairs to make a reading area. How cool is that!! What an inviting place for children to read. Both of the kids (or should I say adults!) are taking classes this summer. Greg is taking 2 higher level accounting classes on line. He's been reading alot! Steph is working on her Masters in Counseling. I think this is a good fit for her. I feel so blessed to have such great "adult" children!

Here are pictures of the June class, June 17th, at 10:30 am or 6:30 pm. If you come at 10:00 or 6:00, you can get all of your stamping done before class starts. I will be there!!!! If you can't come early that's okay.

There will be a surprize project! If you don't have time in class to make the July 4th favor (oops I'm giving away the secret!), it is easy enough to make at home!

Hope to see you there!!!

On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation!

-Thomas W. Parsons

Let us all remember those who served and those who died serving our country.

Enjoy your families this weekend!

"School's Out For Summer!" Love that song! I've finished another school year and I'm looking forward to a relaxing summer. I'm hoping for a summer of laying (and swimming laps) in the pool, barbeque, and creating art! After the stressful summer we had last year, I'm thinking maybe I am due for a relaxing one!



I will be posting my next card class this weekend. It has been approved and it will be displayed in the store within the next couple of days.



Tomorrow I am taking the day off and heading to St. Charles with Susan and Suzette. We are having lunch, probably at Magpie's, and going to all of our favorite places. There's nothing better than a day with friends.

Thanks to everyone who came to the Card Class today. I enjoyed seeing the regulars and meeting the new people. Thanks for sharing my love of cardmaking today.

Hey gang, click over to Missy's blog and sign up for the Komen Race/Walk for the Cure. You don't have to walk (most of us don't). We have a really good time!!! You can join the team and sleep in, too. Come on ladies, let's fight breast cancer!!!! We all know someone that has been touched by the disease.

May is a crazy month for teachers. So please bear with me the next couple weeks as I finish up another school year. I'm not going to be posting on a regular basis for the next couple of weeks.

With that said, I took off last weekend and went to the Lake of the Ozarks for a girls' weekend. I had a spa day and the rest of the time we shopped! I came home refreshed and ready to face all the work associated with the end of a school year and getting our home ready for summer. I've been planting flowers, opening up the pool and the little fountain on the patio, planting my garden, and cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning outside. The powerwasher has become my best friend!!!

I hope to see you at card class a week from this Wednesday, May 13th. There is plenty of room so I hope to see you there. I do have I surprise project for you this month! I'm not telling but I think you will like it!

I hope everyone has a great time at Scrap St. Louis!

It's official! The cards for the May card class have been approved! The theme of May is "Manly Man" Cards. The class will be Wednesday, May 13th. The class will be offered at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm.

There is still room in the card class on Wednesday, April 15th. You can sign up for the 10:30 am or 6:30 pm class. Hope to see you there!

I love decorating my home for all the holidays!

It's always fun to think of new ways to decorate the table.

Pictures of Easter Sunday at our home. It was great having Greg home for a couple of days. The kids went to the Cardinals' game Saturday and Steph made it on National TV!

Happy Easter!!!

I finished my Easter Cards and I put them in the mail. Yeah! I really had fun making these. I rediscovered Micro Clear Glass Beads. It made the egg look like the old fashion sugar eggs my grandma made me every year. I also used Watercolor Pallette to paint the images. I love the richness of the colors. Simple project but I loved how they came out.

Got a project done yesterday that I have wanted to do since I came back from Peoria. I organized Wendy Vecchi stamps in the acrylic binder. I decorated with Graphic 45, Botanical, and used the flowers I made in class. I used Tim Hotlz corners for the corners of the acrylic binder. Love them! I embellished mine with crystals I had left over from the rhinestones I used to decorate my daughter's dance costumes. It really added a little sparkle to the binder.

I also got my "Manly Man" cards done for May. They are now at the store awaiting approval. I'll post them when I get the go ahead.

I am very tired of cold weather!!!! The positive side to it is that I'm using my Spring Break to finish stuff!

Went to Collinsville today and had a blast! I bought the coolest travel case for my Cricut Expression. I bought some stuff I'd never seen before. I think I'm going to play with my new stuff all weekend in my studio. I'm on Spring Break next week and I thought I was going to plant my flowers, but the weather is not going to cooperate. SOOOOO I think I will play. Maybe do some catch-up. I bought a t-shirt that says "Queen of Unfinished Projects." Maybe I'll be able to finish a few!

Got great news today: Our daughter, Stephanie, finished all of her interviews and was offered teaching positions at two schools. She decided to accept the third grade position at the school she has been subbing at all this year. She is very excited. We are so happy for her and very proud. We all try to raise our children to be independent adults. It is wonderful to see your child doing just that.

Have a great weekend. Happy Creating!

April Card Class

The card class will be on April 15th. I will offer the class at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The theme in April will be "I Am Woman". Feminine cards that can be used for Mother's Day, Birthdays, Thank you, or just Thinking About You. I hope to see you there.


Now on a personal note: Our son, Greg just received the OVC Medal of Honor at Southeast Mo State University. OVC stands for Ohio Valley Conference. It is an award given to student athletes who maintained a 4.0 GPA this past year. We are very proud of his hard work. He also has been given the okay last week to start working out with the baseball team. He has been waiting for this day for 2 years. We hope all of his injuries are in the past and he can enjoy the game he has such a passion for, Baseball!

Steph has been called for 5 interviews to teach in the Francis Howell School District. We are keeping our fingers crossed that she will get the opportunity to teach. She has worked very hard this year for this opportunity.

Thank you to everyone who came to the Easter card class! I really appreciate your support! I promise there will not be as much cutting next month!!!

For class tonight you should bring your basics plus the following:

thin red line tape

sandpaper

glitter pens including a clear glitter pen

paint brush

bone folder

See you all tonight! P.S. The Easter Bunny came by my house and left something for you!