Just Like That

4 years ago my husband brought home a dog, he was big, very hairy, and a boy which are the 3 things I avoid most in dogs.  I swore I would have nothing to do with him and for a few months I didn't.  Then my husband had to be out of town for a few months and after I would put the kids to bed it would just be me and fat Charlie (Im not calling him fat btw its his name) and he would look at me with those big, brown eyes.  He melted my icy heart and was soon sleeping in my bed.  When my husband got back all he could say was "you stole my dog", and he was right because he was MY dog and I was his person.  Over the years he became more than my dog, he was my best friend and I loved him.  Then just like that he's gone, and there is one less beautiful amazingly created creature in this world.  In my head I know there are bigger problems in the world, but my heart is like a honey badger right now because it doesnt give a shit.  He never made me feel bad and almost always made me feel better and there are not alot of things in this world I can say that about. 
Fat Charlie had a great life.
Fat Charlie loved and was loved in return.
Fat Charlie was a good boy.

Christmas recap

Well all I really wanted for Christmas was for none of us to have the stomach flu and this year I got what I wanted.  Last Christmas was in the middle of a three week blur of my kids and husband passing it back and forth to each other and I all I remember doing is mopping and laundry.  The big hit was the Ipad2 which my mom got for my oldest, but we all know what is going down when he's in bead at night ;).  My kids were probably the best behaved they have ever been at Christmas so I was able to really enjoy it and actually have a few meaningful, uninterrupted conversations.  I also got a 50mm lens from my parents, its a prime but I love it! Such an improvement from my old kit lens.  Here are some of my fave pics

Also for the first time in 2 weeks I made something! I hadnt had any pictures printed in forever and I finally ran out.  I dont have anything nice enough to print at home and it took forever for me to get a chance to get out and print some off.  Here is what I made

Those little chevron bags are from cutetape.com, so is the message washi which I am sticking on everything!
I made some card sets for Christmas presents and I was really nervous people wouldnt like them, but everyone seemed to appreciate it or at least they were very good at acting like it.  I have one more week of vacation for homeschooling so hopefully I can get a few more projects in.  Thanks for looking and have a great day.

SKETCHES!

So today I am going to share my sketches I made from my December gallery at Scrapbooking From the Inside Out. 

The butterfly one is my fave sketch, which is weird because it was my least favorite project. 
Also I have my take on the Iron Scrapper challenge at Scrapbooking From the Inside Out this month.  For the Iron Scrapper someone selects a photo and you have to use that photo and build a page around it.  It's super fun and sometimes there are prizes.  This was photo of the "my cup runneth over challenge"

and here is my page

Also come on over to Twistedsketches.org and welcome the new and returning card team! Here is my card I made with the twist number

Thank you for looking and Happy Holidays to you all!

?s

When I heard the theme for Scrapbooking From the Inside Out's December kit was Uncertainty all I could think of questions.  I decided to turn that into a page

I cut out my question mark background using the Cricut and Street Signs cartridge.  I pieced together strips of different patterned paper using my sewing machine for the background.  Nothing has ever made me question myself more than being a mother.  Even though I have doubts I know the worst thing is when I don't follow my gut.  I also have a giveaway winner to announce
                                                              Tammy Gayheart
here is my email to send me your information joshnwillsma@gmail.com
Thank you for looking and have a great day!

Like sands through the hourglass

so are the days of our lives, lol.  That is what I think when I look at this page I made with the December "Uncertainty" kit from Scrapbooking From the Inside Out. 

I have a thing where I use entire packs of things on one page, I can't help myself.  I normally disassemble all my pretty flowers straight away and use them to make something else, but there was just something about this one I really liked so I decided to leave it alone.  My journaling is exactly what I think about everytime I look at this picture, and that is how I get most of my titles and journaling.  Thanks for looking and have a great day!

The End

Well today is the beginning of the end lol. This is my last DT kit from Scrapbooking From the Inside Out.  I thought I would be super sad, but it was such a fun uplifting experience I'm just so thankful that it happened.  The theme for the December kit is "Uncertainty" and all I could think was questions.  Here is my favorite layout I made from this kit

I cut a page of different sized hearts out on the cricut then used them as a mask.  My favorite thing about the December kit is that it comes with 2 bottles of coordinating mist!
Also here are the sketches I created from my November layouts for the exclusive content at SFTIO

Also today I have my card for the Twisted Sketches card sketch #88, and the twist was Joy.

Thanks so much for looking and have a great day!

Naked!

That's how this next layout makes me feel.  Making it really took a weight off my shoulders though.

This is my last layout for November, I miss this kit already.  Now for a sneak peek of the December "uncertainty" kit from Scrapbooking From the Inside Out

This kit was a challenge for me with the blacks and creames and lace, but hopefully I was up to it! You will have to let me next week when I will share my favorite. Thanks for looking and have a great day!

"Wired"

Hello! Today I have another layout to share from the November "Connection" kit from Scrapbooking From the Inside Out.  This was the first layout I made from this kit, as soon as I heard connection I thought of the internet.  It is a fine line between enjoying all the internet can add to your life and getting lost in the internet and forgetting about everything else.  I think I walk the line pretty well, for now anyway lol. 

I did have a brief case of smart phoneitis, you know when you get your first smart phone and that's ALL YOU DO.  Luckily I recovered pretty  quickly, I know some people who never have.
Here are some of my favorite fall photos from this year

OOPS, MOMMY FORGOT TO GET CANDLES, LOL.

Sketch 84

Hi! I have a card up today for Twisted Sketches #84.  The twist for this card was shine and I immediately thought of sunshine, I added a little bling too ;).

I needed this card today, it has been raining here for two days straight and I miss the sun.  Thanks for looking and have a great day!

BFF

Hello! Today I have a layout to share from the November "Connection" kit from Scrapbooking From The Inside Out".  This layout is about me and very best friend, who is also my cousin.  Unfortunately she now lives a few hours away and we dont get to see each other so often, but when we do it's like we have never been apart.  Her husband bought her tickets to  an Adam Lambert concert for Mother's Day, but she couldn't find anyone to go with her.  I told her I would go although I knew nothing about him.  This was only the second concert I have ever been to, and it was way better than the John Micheal Montgomery one I saw in the middle school gym.

I think if I had to pick one line to scrapbook with for the rest of my life it would be this Amy Tangerine line!  I am anxiously awaiting to see what she comes up with the upcoming CHA.  Thanks for looking and have a great day!

channelling Frida

Hello! Im going to share another one of layouts from the November "Connection" kit from Scrapbooking From The Inside Out. For this layout I used one of my favorite quotes from Frida Kahlo and a ton of pics!

If your reading this layout then you can pretty much say you know me.  Some of you may have read my Blog Your Heart post and remember me dancing in my senior prom dress, well that's it in the right middle pic. I just cant say enough about this kit, it is my favorite kit EVA!  Thanks so much for looking and have a nice day.

Sketch #84

This is my new favorite card! I made over a month ago and it's been hard not to share. 

The twist for this sketch was buttons, and I never have trouble with buttons.  Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sharing "Connection", FINALLY!!

So, it's November.  Normally this is not a good thing, lol.  Not only does November signify the end of my favorite month of the year, but the slow decent into winter BOOOOO.  November has a silver lining this year and it's the "Connection" kit from Scrapbooking From The Inside Out. This kit has been my favorite! Not just the physical product but the theme as well.  I have to warn you that my layouts this month are pretty heavy, you may need a symbalta and a nap lol.  I have made some of favorite layouts with this kit and I usually share my favorite first but it was hard to pick one.  I finally decided to go with this one

I pinned this feather tutorial a while back never really knowing what I would use it for, but when I saw the Amy Tangerine feather paper I knew.  The changes I made when making my feathers were to use copy paper as the backing and floral wire for my spines.  I want to make about a million of those feathers and paper my walls with them.  This layout is about how isolating it can be to be a SAHM, and how it has added to the difficulty of finding real and lasting friendships. 
November also means it's December Daily time! This is my first year and Im going to be doing a December daily ish album lol.  I have finished my album and Im starting on making my page protectors.  Here is the album which is a 9x6.5 chipboard album with 3 rings and a 2 inch spine.  I think it was from creative imaginations, but I'm not sure.  I covered the outside with Cosmo Cricket fabric, the inside it craft

Thanks for looking a have a great day!

Sketch #82

Hello all! Today Im sharing for card for the Twisted Sketches sketch #82, and the twist was orange so I of course made a Halloween card.

Halloween is my very favorite holiday, and orange is my least favorite color so if you say orange Im thinking Halloween lol.  The cat is paprika stickles on felt I cut out on the sizzix.  Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Play and win

 Today I have another layout to share from the Scrapbooking From The Inside Out October "Achievement" kit.  I decided to turn my blog your heart post into a layout

I love having his actual handwriting on the page! The big grey frame came with kit and I liked it so much I decided to build off of it.  All the other frames are cut from the "elegant edges" cricut cartridge, it is my all time favorite cricut cartridge.  I also cut one of the extra frames on the diagonal to make my corners. 

I have started making sketches and I really like it! Today I'm going to share one of my sketches, and if you make a layout (or anything else) from the sketch I will send you a little token of appreciation.  Just post a link in the comments and then send me your address to joshnwillsma@gmail.com.  Also if there is a scrapbooking product you just don't care for include that too, I would hate to send you something you didn't even like.  Here is the sketch

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Random things that make me happy!

1. Scrapbooking From The Inside Out has a post up on the Basic Grey blog today!  Head on over and leave a comment for your chance to win a kit!

2. I don't listen to alot of new music, but this band and this song in particular is my new favorite.  Maybe I should listen to new music more often.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDTZ7iX4vTQ

3. and then this
http://pinterest.com/gashlycrumb/my-little-ponies-grown-up/
and here is a taste of what you will get from that link

I was looking for Jack Skellington images on pinterest to use to make my son's birthday cake, and I was like "um is that a my little pony painted to look like Jack Skellington?" Why yes, yes it is! Then I saw that there were others.  I don't know if the pinner is the person who made these or not, but I want to be best friends with who ever did.  It's like a less messy, non murderous form of taxidermy.

and thats it! Thanks for looking and have a great day.