Blessed!!!

Right now, I feel like I am copying Teresa Collin's Blog from a couple of weeks or so back. She was feeling "blessed" and she even had the lyrics to Martina McBride's song, "Blessed" on her blog. I can't help it though....I feel very BLESSED today! :)

I was able to sleep in...I always am when I don't have anywhere to be, because my hubby will get up with the kids. Sometimes it is later in the morning, but sometimes it is early and he NEVER complains about it! :) I just love being able to trust that he will be in a good mood with the kids, even if he doesn't have enough rest and also that he is watching them and not sleeping. If any of you know Miss Sasha then you know there is no "not watching her" going on when she is up. LOL!

Also, I had been "baby proofing" our home with those cabinet locks that make the cupboads and drawers safer for tots. I was doing good and Garth was watching the kids, but Jon went downstairs and Sash was still in her chair and Garth went downstairs and got his power drill (I think that is what it is called.) and came up and helped me and then said that he wanted to not see me fighting with the screws and the screwdriver and that he could handle it. I was so relieved when he said that. :) LOL!

He gave Sasha a bath and then saw me scrubbing our kitchen floor on my hands and knees (yes, I am THAT anal!!!) and said he would take over....I argued on this one, but we settled on me sweeping and him scrubbing. :) My kitchen is beautiful! :) AND.....I will not be as sore as I would have been if he didn't help! :)

All this and he works and never complains (too much anyways) about anything! :)

Don't worry...I have not forgotten all my other BLESSINGS....but I really felt I should focus on my blessing that is my hubby, my best friend (that's a guy), Garth! :)

Thanks for reading!

Projects and Layouts posted again! Hope you like them!

Hey everyone! I posted some more of the FUN I have been having this past week. I didn't get as much done as I would have liked, but I did have a wonderful time teaching at MOMS' Chocolate Crop and I got some great feedback, so I doubt I will be having the jitters again. :) There were even a few strangers I had to teach, but it was all good in the end! :)

I hope you like everything you see! :) I loved creating it! :)

Spring Butterfly Card for Swap (March '09)

This is a 6x6 card that I did for a Spring Swap at my lss.
What I used: Bazzill (apple green), DCWV-Butterflies and Blossoms, Stampin'Up (mat for stamped image), studio g, memento dew drop inks (rosebud and new sprout), white and black cardstock was from scrap, fiskars border punch, circles were cut using the Creative Memories Circle Cutting System, Butterfly was cut with the Cricut and Indie Art Cartridge on Glossy White Paper using the Alcohol Ink Splatter Technique from Tim Holtz's Demo at: http://www.timholtz.com/demos.html, black cardstock was used for the butterfly's shadow, bling was from Bead Party

Nona and Sasha (June 2007)

See how behind I am?! LOL! Miss Sasha will be in 3 months and she is almost as tall as my mom!! LOL! Sorry MOM! ;) If any of you know my mom..you know that she is a very short lady! :)
What I used: DCWV- Garden Party, Tattered Angels' Glimmer Chips (butterfly, Nature Rouge), Perfect Pearls Mist- this was homemade using Ranger Distress re-inker and Pearl Ex Powders (check out Tim Holtz Demo on Perfect Pearls Mist at: http://www.timholtz.com/demos.html), Tag is from Avery inked with blending foam (Ranger) with CTMH inks (taffy, pink carnation, and cocoa)..the technique I used for this tag is demoed by Tim Holtz in the Distress Ink Stamp Pads part of his demo videos at: http://www.timholtz.com/demos.html, American Crafts- brown cardstock for matting, Tim Holtz (idea-o-logy)-Keyhole and brads, Studio G Stamp- Flourish

Jon's Last Day of School '06

These pics were taken during Jon's Last Day of First Grade! :) See how long it took to get them scrapped? I just keep telling myself I was waiting for ideas on how to scrap them!! LOL!
What I used: 12x12 DCWV-Stack 6, Circles were cut from scrap paper using the Creative Memories Circle cutting system, Dice was cut with the Cricut using the Indie Art Cartridge and scrap paper, Delight Horizontal Journaling Tag-Ali Edwards for Designer Digitals also PhotoShop Elements 7 to edit the tag for use, Ranger Alcohol Inks in Lettuce, Cranberry, and Denim, Ranger Paint Dabber in Lettuce, Doodlebug Designs-brown brads, and CTMH- red, yellow, green, and blue brads.

"Full of Beauty" Sasha and Cassie

My niece had come over when Sasha was about 5 1/2 months old without her two little ones and had some one on one time with her. :) These were pics I took of that time! :)

What I used: 12x12 DCWV-Garden Party, Stampin'Up paper (mats), My Mind's Eye-Diecuts (Full of Beauty and the clock face), American Crafts- Metal Photo Turns (on clock), Stickles, paper flowers (sticker bin), CTMH- ink for distressing- cocoa and dutch blue.

My Project For MOMS' Chocolate Crop! :)

I was so worried that I would not like the outcome and that my project for Friday's Chocolate Crop would suck, but I am so happy with the outcome! :) Can you see me doing the "happy dance"?

What I used: **I am giving measurements this time for my peeps who can't be there! :)**

-2 pieces of Cardboard/chipboard cut 3.5"w x 5.75"h

-2 pieces of American Crafts cardstock cut 3.5"w x 5.75h (I used brown, but you can do whatever you want...make it yours!)

-2 pieces of patterned paper cut 3.5"w x 5.75"h (I used DCWV, but use whatever!)

-BIA (Bind-it-all)

-5/8" BIA coils (6)

-Ribbon (I used 3 different types and I get all of my ribbon from Michael's $$$ bin.

-I used a metal rimmed, vellum tag that I got from QVC, like 5 years ago.

-Stampin' Up Set: For the Love of Chocolate!

-Versamark stamp pad

-Embossing powders: Silver Tinsel (There was this lady that did a stamp store out of her house here in town and I think maybe she got it in bulk) and Teddy Bear (I got this at Stamp Happy in Helena...I think maybe they made it?!)

-CTMH Stamp Pad- Chocolate

-American Crafts- Metallic Paper

-Parchment Paper for your printer

-I made the lines for the notebook by doing CTRL+U (underline) and tabbing to the end of the page. Then I printed it out on regular printer paper 10 times. :) CINCH-O!

This is a totally simple project and I LOVED doing it and I am positive I will do ok teaching it. Some of you that know me, know this is a HUGE fear for me! But...I am prepared and excited for this. Besides those who matter will be cool with it and those who don't.....well, you know what I want to say, but I would like it if I didn't always have to use that type of language! :) LOL!

Projects and Layouts posted!

Hey all- I know this may be a repeat post for some of you who read my blog a decent amount. But the other post ended up all the way at the bottom of my layouts and projects. So, these are the projects that I did last week. They are a day late, I understand, but I was working on a card for a swap last night. I have those done, so now I am gonna start some more projects so I can share next week.
Thanks for looking! :)

Jon and Sasha

This is another Jon and Sasha layout I did. The first one was for Jon's book (thus it was done in blue). This one is for Sasha's book.
What I used: Bazzill Cardstock 12x12- Emma
Stampin' Up- Background and Texture paper (I believe it is called Pool Party?)
Cricut- Storybook Cartridge for the photo corners (used Best Occasions paper to cut the corners out)
Little Yellow Bicycle- Baby Safari Girl cardstock sticker journaling tag and the sparkly flower embellies are from LYB's Clear Cuts.
Heidi Swapp- Bling Brad

Jon and Justin

This is a layout of Jon and Justin (one of Jon's and Sasha's Godfathers).
What I used: We R Memory Keepers- Teen Angst Paper Pack
Cricut- Accent Essentials
MM- Grommets
Tim Holtz- Journaling Tag, Brads that are holding the spiral clips on
Spiral Clips are from Office Max

Sasha Eating Cake at Papa's B-day

This is another layout from my dad's birthday party in 2007.
What I used: DCWV- Once Upon a Time 12x12 paper
MM- Chipboard Shapes (hearts and frames)
Cricut- Celebrations Cartridge (cake tag)
Fiskars- Party Embossing Template (cuttlebug to emboss)
Homeade Perfect Pearls Mist: Made with Vintage Photo Distress Reinker and Gold Pearl Ex.
Tulle- Model Crafts (red)

Jon and Sasha

These pics were taken the day after our little girl, Sasha Wren, came into our lives.
What I used: Best Occasions Textured Paper Pack- Blue 12x12
Blue circles were cut from scraps using Creative Memories circle Custom Cutting System
Little Yellow Bicycle Baby Safari- circle on bottom left on the bigger darker circle and the 2 blue birds are from LYB's Safari Baby Boy Clear Cuts
Ali Edwards for Designer Digitals- Moments journaling box

4x6 in a 12x12 Layout

These pics were taken at my dad's birthday party in 2007.
What I used: 12x12 We R Memory Keepers Page Protector with 4x6 pockets
CTMH- Adore Paper packet, journaling cards, stickease
Bazzill BLING Brads
Quickutz 4x4 die-photo corners
CTMH-Rub-ons
BoBunny- Pink Brads
Avery Shipping Tags

I did use a mini mister with a special concoction(SP?) using a technique from Tim Holtz Demos: http://www.timholtz.com/demos.html (perfect pearls mist demo). I used Aged Mahogany Distress reinker with Gold Pearl EX.

Wally and Jon

This layout has been on hold for 4 years. Those of you that know us, know that my father-in-law, Wally, passed in October 2004. It has been hard to even look at pictures of him and Jon, let alone scrap them. I want to first tell you about the beautiful relationship Jon and Wally shared. I remember being pregnant with Jon and finding out we were having a boy. We (Garth and I) immediately went to his mom and dad's house to tell them the news and show the pictures of our new baby boy. Wally was so happy for us and I am sure happy that he was going to have another Grandson. The other grandson was not the Sporty kind of kid so he was hoping this new one would be a little easier to hang around with, I am sure. He even asked if the baby was wearing hockey skates. I joked and told him that would only be if he was delivering the baby. ;)

I still have video from the day Jonathan Thomas Floen was born on June 10th, 1999. Everyone was happy, especially Wally! That twinkle in his eyes (we call it the Floen Twinkle, since my Hubby and Jon both have it) was just beautiful that day as he gazed at my son. To me, he look proud of this "new little friend".

When Jon was finally ready to be able to go out and hang around with Wally without feedings or diaper changes....the fun started. Wally would take Jon downtown to visit friends and to go to look at his stocks (I think). He also took him swimming (he had Jon swimming by age 3) and to the park and also for ice cream. :) They were so close.

In October 2004, Jon was signed up for his first year of hockey. It would be easy for him, since Grandpa already taught him how to skate. That first practice was a bummer for me since Wally was on an opposite end from Garth and Jon. But, Jon was just happy knowing that Grandpa and Daddy were there.

Sadly enough, 2 days later Wally was no longer with our family. It hit everyone very hard, as he was always there for ALL of us. Most of all, it hit my hubby who said his father was his best friend and the only one he could talk to and Jon. Jon still wears Wally's denim NY Yankees baseball cap and still has a framed picture of him, Wally and Garth that we took while visiting family in Calgary.

This Layout was done using a picture that is one of my favorites of Wally and Jon. I have many copies of it as I cherish it because of the love it exudes. :)

Supplies used: CTMH Outdoor Denim Cardstock
Ranger Paint Dabber-Gold
Tim Holtz Idea-o-logy Long Brads
Heidi Swapp- Ghost Clock (timeless)
Ranger/Tim Holtz Alcohol inks- cranberry, denim and silver and gold mixatives
Blending Solution
Tsukineko Fantastix for coloring the clocks dots and specifics
metal embellies were from a pack from a Sam's Club combo

Whimsical Animals Card

This card I am doing for a swap for a scrapping/papercrafting group that I am a part of.
What I used: Bazzill Cardstock- Admiral
DCWV- Stack 6 pack (animals)
12x12 paper from my stash of paper (green and orange)
Flower Punch
Studio G- Hello stamp
Studio G was also used for my flourish on the inside of my card
Buttons
MM Scrapbook Stitches- Red
CTMH Stamp pads- Outdoor Denim, Barn Red, Topiary, and Autumn Terracotta

Fairy Card....scrap project! :)

This is a card I created on a whim after a trip to Michael's. I bought quite a few stamps that day and one of the sets is this Inkadinkado set. I came back home and so badly wanted to play with it and my new Prismacolor colored pencils that I dropped everything and STAMPED! LOL! The neat thing is....Every piece of paper was in my scrap bins! :) What I used: Like I said ALL of the paper was from my scrap bins.
Beautiful Fairies Stamp Set (Inkadinkado)
Prismacolor Colored Pencils (I am not sure on colors, but I will keep better track of that now that I am blogging these.
Stickles- Eucalyptus and Lavender...also Ice Stickles in Gold Ice
CTMH Hydrangea Stamp pad (just for distressing edges)

Projects!!!

Hey everyone! :) I promised that I would start posting my projects on my blog...I also said that it would be on Sundays, but I was creating a card for a swap, so I moved it to today. :) Instead of doing 1 HUGE BLOG for all the projects I am gonna do a different blog for each.......so read on and see what I have been up to! :)

I have only been able to upload a few for now, but will get the rest tonight. :) Thanks for looking! :)

Guilty Pleasures!

Hey everyone! I have to say that Garth and I had a wonderful date night last night! :) Thanks mom! :) We went to dinner at the New Prospector across from the Smelter. It was really good! :) I was able to get some prime rib (with all the fixins') and a dessert (oh and Garth got the same!)for $41.95. YUMMO! :)

The movie: The Last House on the Left was awesome! We were in the theatre with some pretty LOUD people. So, I didn't feel so bad with some of the out cries I had. It was good and all I will say is that justice is served in the end! >:)

Now, for some GUILTY PLEASURES! While Garth and I were waiting to get to the theatre for the movie we had some time to kill, so we went to Walmart! Now, really, how many of you who are now married with children go to Walmart for part or ALL of your date. I know we do and I know of a few others too! :)

Anyways-while we are at Walmart Garth ended up letting me get some of my romances that I have been reading. I will say that after reading the Twilight Saga, that any 25o page or less book is like reading a long little email! LOL! So, I ended up getting two more Harlequinn Super Romances to read after I am done with the one I am reading now. I will say....I have heard that some of the Harlequin Novels can be a little risque, but honestly, there has just been a lot of kissing, so I am totally ok. Edward and Bella's honeymoon was a lot more sexual than these books.

Also, my poor hubby (I am saying this because he ended up having to pay for them because I had to go to the bathroom!) Anyways- I LOVE and am a HUGE sucker for boy bands and teen pop at times. I love Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers! LOL! Yes, I listen to everything, but I love them too! :) Garth ended up letting me get both Jonas cds and the Miley cd. They all are awesome! :)

So, what are some of your guilty pleasures? LOL!

Ok-Well, I will chat soon!

Excited for DATE NIGHT!!!!!! (and more)

Hey again Folks! :) Still no pictures of my creations for this week, but I am gonna try to get them on as soon as I can. :) I am excited for Friday night because Garth and I are having a date night. Those of you that are out there that are parents or even were parents KNOW how valuable these nights can be. :)

We are going to dinner and to a movie. We are thinking of seeing The Last House on the Left. It just looks good. Any of you who know me knows that I would NEVER be ok with someone hurting my kids and who ever were to do so better hide forever because I would catch up sooner or later to them. I know....I know.....it is wrong to have vengence and a lot of you who know me also know that is a thing I am CONSTANTLY working on.

One of the things that has BURNED me most lately is this WHOLE Rhianna and Chris Brown thing! UGH....I was mad when he hit and seriously injured her....but I was just puzzled beyond belief (at first, then mad!!) why she would take him back. WHY!!!??? I guess I am just that type of person that would never be ok with someone laying a hand on me. I do not feel it is right for men to hit women and I NEVER WILL!

It does let me know that I will raise Jon to treat women with kindness and respect and if he feels like he needs to blow up he needs to leave the area and cool off. I also will be raising little Missy (Sasha), to never take that kind of abuse (any for that matter!!!). I am hoping that they will see how great of a man their father is and how he respects me and loves me...even when I am FAR from lovable! I have to thank Peg and Wally (Garth's Parents) for that one. :) They raised a VERY GOOD MAN! :)

Anyways-On to happier things.....I was at MOMS tonight working (if that is what you want to call it!!LOL!) and chatting with Jeanie. I showed her some of my new layouts that I have done and she liked them and was just fun to be around tonight (she always is)...I really needed a break tonight from the children. By Thursday, the life of a stay-at-home mom is pretty crazy with school, homework, kids, etc. I have great kids, but they can both be little tyrants at times. Sasha and Jon had a disagreement today and I just had to laugh. They are both a little too much like each other....a little too much like me (did I just say that??)

Anyways.....I WAS AT MOMS TONIGHT!!!! Helping Jeanie put away NEW product (I love when she gets it in!!) and helping her get her classes ready for the Missouri River Breaks that is this weekend. She got in some Cricut Stuff for me to play with (make your own stamp kits and an A2 embossing folder kit) and some Glimmer Chips! I have to say I am so excited! She also got my Melting Pot in and we are both excited about that! :) YAY!

Well....I have a Doctor's Appt tomorrow, so I better get my buns to bed!
Thanks for reading....will chat soon!

Ok....FINALLY Jon's! LOL!

Ok...even though this will post before the post of Sasha's pics.....it was done afterward. I feel horrible not having Jon in the post before! :)

I did realize that I needed to take more pictures of Jon now. It was so hard finding some of him! :) YIKES!

Pics you have not seen yet! :)

Hi! :) I am gonna get some of my family pics on here first! :) I have not been able to get them on here before now. :) Although this is a lot sooner than I thought it would. :) I hope you can enjoy them! :) I have loved the moments they have captured. :)

I have realized that I have NONE of my heart (Jon) on here....just my soul (Sasha). I will get Jon on here too! :)

Why the NEW LOOK!?

Hey everyone! I made a New Year's Resolution for myself this year and it was to re-do my whole blog! :) I have been asking friends here and there to help, but either they weren't taking me seriously or I didn't come right out and say it. :) So, I decided to do it myself!

My blog now will not only have the same old fun stuff like pics of the kids and what we have been doing, but I am going to put all of my projects that I have done on here also. :) I have a lot of people want to see my stuff and I just can't figure out the time to show everyone, so now you can come here! :)

Also, I wanted a blog that was more "ME". If any of you have seen my Scrap Studio, (a friend, Shayla, uses that word), you will know that this page is SO ME! :) YAY! :) Which is why I chose to re-do it. :)

I will try to put music on here soon enough, but I will be putting pictures and projects on here first! :)

Oh, I have also put on here the blogs that I frequent....They are my faves!

Ok.....chat soon-

NEW BLOG NAME!!!

Hey everyone! Well due to my total lack of knowledge for computers....I have had to redo my BLOG! It's ok....I will put up pictures as soon as I can and post more about what is going on with us and why we are so happy with life! :) The http:// of my new blog is: http://www.kathy-thebeautifullife.blogspot.com.