Thank you tag

I wanted to create something fun for my thank you.  So to tie in with my name I created this bookmark thank you tag.  Hope I get to use it some day! haha..

Cassie's book

I have been wanting to get back to finish her book.  I had it done but for the last year.. and maybe a page of her and me.  Still deciding if I should add that in as a surprise.  But I think the high school pages came out nice.  And when i look through it I get very sentimental!!

Another Step

Another jump in..  My hubby created this banner as part of my new Etsy site.  He took a panda I made out of paper and then pieces of some of my cards and thing for the background.  I really think he did a great job. I am still developing the site and have not put up any cards yet but it will be fun..  I guess no guts no glory.. right!!   We will see how it all goes.  I just know that today we went to a "college day" at my daughter's school and she fell in love with this private college that offers a great culinary and business degree program.  It is going to be about $30,000 a year so I better get to selling those cards!!  haha.. 

Decide-inspiration-avenue

I remember when I was young and made decisions. I decided to get my chores done quickly so I could go to my friends' house. Then I got older and I decided I would finish college later and go to work full time. Later I married a man I loved and we decided to start a family, two beautiful girls later I feel very blessed. In the middle of all that, I decided to go back to school to get my degree while working full time plus still be a good wife and mom. Now 25 years later, I love all the things I have done and am very thankful for a wonderful journey. However, I have made a new decision. I decide that I will take care of myself a little bit more and all the rest will take better care of it's self! So everyday I decide to be me.

Buttons

I meant to post last night and I just spent my time cruising the Internet.. I love looking at all the cool blogs.. BUT I do want to get better at taking pictures. Last night, I wanted to practice focusing and taking pictures at night. I usually only get to do art work when it is dark. However, I ran out of energy. So this morning I experimented with taking a picture at different angles. I will keep trying the focus is not quite right but fun anyway!!

New Find

I keep seeing all these great cigar box projects and have wanted to try to create one myself. So this last Friday I went into a smoke shop.. (I thought I was going to gag..) Note to self.. buy on line next time!! But here is my first box.. now just need to get enough nerve to create something with it!! FUN..

Rapping Hamster's, Kia Car Commercial

This is way out of sorts for my blog.. but I just have to say that I think this commerical is so funny. I do not like rap and my kids think I have lost my mind. But when the hamster's are in the cardboard car and then they trip over each other and crash, I just can't stop laughing.. My older daughter had the little piggy auto insurance comerical on her phone so then my younger daughter said that I could add a youtube to my blog.. I just had too.. Sorry if it is not the right place but I just can't help myself!!

Monday quote... when all else fails.. hug your PANDA

When all else fails.. hug your PANDA.. What a day.. work drains me and I feel like I am just going to go home and fall into bed.. But then I log on, start visiting people's blogs and I feel so good again! There are some great blogs out there and I truly enjoy looking through them and seeing what wonderful art people are creating.. Still being new at this is so much fun. I am so excited that I finally listened to my sister and jumped in!! Love you sis! And I really love all the blog friends I am getting to know. As for my art work.. I seem to create backgrounds with the same paint and color technique.. I will learn about resisting and apply that to my colors?? Ah but must be another day.. I am having fun but just not enough brain left to handle it.. tomorrow.

16 today!

My baby is 16 today! I can not believe it. She is a young women now that is beautiful, smart, talented with a perfect mix of humor that I love dearly.. My life is truly blessed.

Furlough Friday

Well another Furlough Friday and I spent it with my good friend, Lady B. We are movie buddies and I love our time together. We watched the new movie "Easy A." The film was very funny and had something for everyone. A simple concept and a hilarious look at growing up and the wonderful years of high school. High school days include learning about friendship, relationships, and most importantly self image. I think back on my school days and feel that I have some lessons still to learned. A main moral of the story from the movie was to be true to yourself and you will figure the rest out later.. That is something that I really understand now and am working to be better at. This blog is a step in that direction. I will be more creative and in that I find much needed peace in my life. I am thankful for Furlough Fridays, my good friend Lady B, and my creative soul growing more and more!

Tired weekday

Wanted to do more tonight but just too much work the last few days.. I am just drained. I really love looking around at the wonderful art on the blogs I am seeing. THIS IS SO COOL!! I am learning how to add things, how to follow things and I am very thankful for all the support and info sharing I get on the comments! Thanks so much.. and now I better just say good night..

Metamorphosis-inspiration-avenue

Here is my challenge piece for this week. Working and walking downtown, I feel metamorphosis all around me. This photo is taken a block from where I work. The street is filled with old homes from the early 1900s, huge trees, and little front yard gardens.. but as you look up this huge skyscraper morphs right out into the sky. So then one block over, it's big cement sidewalks, bricks, and lots of glass. It is all beautiful. I am an unfinished architect (remember my parking ticket.. haha) so to be honest the building in this picture is awesome. It is a 100% Federally Certified Green building. It's a state building with a beautiful tree garden and children center in front. But when looking at it from this angle, it looks like it is just growing right out of the old houses and trees..

PDCC 46

Here is my entry for the Color Splash at Play Date Cafe.

Party time!

Well this weekend was the big party. The cabin was great and Cassie and her friends seemed to have a great time. Love how it all turned out but I am exhausted.. And I can not say how fabulous my sister is.. I could not imagine my life without her.. LOVE YOU PAULA! OH and BTW.. I did get the mini book done. I will be adding a few items and sharing the pages later!



My sister made this fabulous cake and the table decorations!



I created the banner to match her invitations.

Getting there

Well it is Wednesday and I am still working on the mini book!!! Trying to do so many at one time is hard but I really want to finish! So must keep working.. I will get there. Here is a cute one.. I love her smile!!

Simplicity-inspiration-avenue

Here is my piece for the weekly challenge. Simplicity to me is slowing down and being true to myself. And my favorite place to do that is at the mission in Carmel, California. When I set outside in the garden or in the quiet of the church, I find simplicity in my life. The peacefulness of prayer. So this collage will be my visualization piece for when I can not be there. Thank you for a wonderful challenge. I enjoy this very much.

Self-imposed STRESS

The best laid plans... I wanted to finish the mini book by the time we leave on Friday and there lies the stress. I really love doing these pages. The best part of all this is the memories that each page brings with it. I smile as I put it together and realize how fast those years have gone! I am so thankful for my family and the journey we have taken so far. I look forward to the on-going journey and many more scrapbook pages! But for this book of journeys, I am halfway done!

Scrap Panda Journal Cover

Well had so much fun being outside my comfort zone that I decided to create a cover to make a book of my new creations. Try to do a transfer with the transfer paper and the decoupage. Not quite right but fun anyway.. Keep learning!!!

Challenge Finders Keepers

Here is my first challenge entry on inspiration-avenue weekly, Finders Keepers . I am stepping out of my comfort zone! The challenge was to find something and then incorporate it into your art. Well, I work downtown and have to use metered parking if I drive in. To say the least it is expensive and hard to find some days. This week walking into the office, I found a parking ticket on the ground.. NOT MINE.. :) And I thought it is hard to find a spot (usually only good for a few hours) and so you have to keep moving or you WILL get a ticket. It can be quite the adventure sometimes.. Then it clicked to me, that is what life is all about!! The experience is the value and you live life to the fullest by moving on and not staying still.. I am guilty of staying still in parts of my life.. would have gotten a parking ticket!! Hahaha.. but learning that I can move now and enjoying life to it's fullest! I am very thankful for my family and their loving support of my new parking spots!! http://inspiration-avenue-team.blogspot.com/2010/08/weekly-challenge-30th-august-to-5th.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2Finspiration-avenue+%28Inspiration+Avenue+-+blog%29

TGIF

Been a long week. Lots going on and want to get so much done. Able to finish a page or two on the mini book. Want to get it done but want it to be good too. Try to find balance between both demands! Also trying to get enough nerve to do more challenges. I have done some on the Spotted Canary Web site and so trying to branch out and do more. It is fun to see what I can come up with but just wish had more time!!