Random Acts of Kindness

Back in January of this year I responded to a Facebook post where the poster was to send the first 5 people to respond to the post a random act of kindness sometime throughout the year.  The catch was that I had to post the same "challenge" and pay it forward.  I remember getting envelopes ready for the ladies who responded to my post and making them cards, never to send them.  Why not?  I was waiting on the "perfect time," a time where they would have forgotten and would really be suprised when they received my gift!  Well, now I'm racing against the clock...lol!  There is no doubt that those ladies forgot.  I know other people who initiated the challenge probably forgot too...it's easy to forget.

Outside of this Facebook challenge, I can't even tell you how many random acts of kindness I have performed this year.  I've used my giftcards in stores and passed the rest off to the person behind me.  I've bought and mailed items for people that I thought they would like, just because.  Why?  Because it makes me feel good to give or do things for people...something to put a smile on their face, make them feel special or let them know I am thinking about them. 

Seems like my son is catching on as well.  He had been asking me to make clipboard for his teachers for a long time!  I got up this morning and decided to finally make them.  I guess it's his random act of kindness.  I'd be broke if I acted on every demand he has to buy something for his teacher...he absolutely adores them! Here they are:

One teacher LOVES monkeys and the other has her room decked out in a Rock Star theme.  Both were very easy to find paper and embellies for!

Here is close of up of the monkey topper.  Is that not the cutest monkey you have ever seen?  I went into my stask of chipboard and found this in a K & Company pack.  I also added some silver stickles to the zebra ribbons around the Rock Star one...to add a little more pizazz.  I churned these out in about an hour...modge podged them and everything!  It's something I know they will use over and over again.  I can't wait until he gives it to them!

For 2014, my goal is to perform a random act of kindness every month, minimally.  Imagine, if 12 people payed it forward 12 times each...that's 144 other people blessed!  Blessings were never meant to be kept...I'm going to share mine!  I challenge you to share yours as well.

Smooches!

2 Days to go!

It's Christmas time again!  In Texas, that means 60 degree weather and 2 weeks off of work (for me!)  I am so excited about my time off.  It gives me plenty of time to rest, scrap, and do some winter purging.  I started last week cleaning out things that I probably won't ever wear again.  My checklist for what to keep and what to give away goes something like this: Can it fit?  Should someone's mom be wearing that?  Will I ever be that size again?  Should an almost 40 year old be wearing that?  If the answer is no to all 4, it has to go!  I already have a big trash bag full of things to be donated to Goodwill.  It will probably be 2-3 when I am done purging my son's, my stepson's and my stepdaughter's closets as well.  In with the old to make room for the new...I mean, it is Christmas and everyone will be getting new things, right?

Speaking of Christmas, check out the most recent layout I worked on for a challenge over at Scrapbook.com:

This is a layout of my youngest last year for Christmas.  He cracks me up...the things that were on his list this year were crazy!  First of all, I didn't even know what some of that was.  Then he hit me with, "I want a crazy cart."  A crazy cart is a go cart that costs $399.  Needless to say, he won't be getting that!  I was able to talk him out of 2 things that I couldn't even find.  Parents are ON IT this year with these toys.  Somethings were sold out 2-3 weeks ago when I started investigating.  I thought I was getting a headstart, but no.  Good thing I was able to snatch that Skylander Swapforce starter pack during Black Friday!  Hope he is excited about that.  I guess I need to brace myself since he is getting older!  He also lost his 4th tooth last week.  Stay tuned for a layout with that cute pic...all he wants for Christmas are his 2 front tooth (which are both missing, by the way!)

Here is a layout of him that I did for the debut layout on the Stick it Down blog:

 

Here is the sketch I used to create it:



It was a lot of fun to use paints on this one!  The red and aqua "drizzle" makes the colors in the pics POP!  Quiet as kept, I love stepping out of my comfort zone and adding paints and mists to my creations.  However, my papers tend to warp a little if I use too much.  Right now, I have this layout sitting beneath some stacks in hopes that it'll smooth it out a bit.  Be sure to check out the Stick it Down blog and follow!

Smooches!

Too much good news NOT to share!!!

December has completely snuck up on this chic over here!  Not only is Christmas in 2 weeks (and I haven't even put up my tree yet,) but I also need to get myself in gear and get out there and start my Christmas shopping as well!  I know, I know...I'm pretty trifling right about now.

Anywho, I have 3 pieces of wonderful news to share with you!

First off, I received an invitation to join the Stick it Down Design Team!  Yes, I am now a member of the new sketch challenge blog that promises to provide WONDERFUL card sketches as well as one and two page sketches.  Check out the Stick it Down site and be sure to play along with us!  There are some REALLY talented ladies who will be creating over there and I am so very excited about being on the team with my scrappy friend Brenshevia Baker who will be creating the sketches!  She has a few wonderful sites herself.  Check out her personal blog here.

.  I don't know about you, but if it weren't for sketches, I'd probably still be using construction paper to create scrap pages...well, probably not.  HA!  I have come a long way though...there is no disputing that!

Secondly, I've been stalking the DCWV blog all week to see the top 10 scrapaholic picks for the month of November and guess what???  My submission was chosen!!!

Here is the DCWV sketch:

and here is my creation using the DCWV Teenage Dream Stack:

I really enjoyed this sketch!  It allowed me to use so many different papers from the stack which went PERFECTLY with the picture I chose to scrap of my boy!  Isn't that paper with the sneakers all over it the best ever!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE DCWV papers...there are my absolute favorite!  Now that I've made top 10, I'll be playing more often.  I think this is maybe my 2nd submission ever.  They sure do know how to make a girl feel special!

Last, but not least (and I don't know how much of an "announcement" this is, but) I've found a new crafty hobby!  Paper crafting will always be my first love, but I have taken on the task of making my own deco wreath this year for my door!  I know that's not "big news," but it is something I am very excited about!  I've bought many rolls of deco mesh and beautiful ribbons to make a few wreaths this year.  If this goes well, I'll be making wreaths for my school and probably every year for my son's teachers!  They are so beautiful!

Have you been checking out the Unscripted Sketches blog?  I am still so very excited to be a part of this design team!  This week I chose to make a card.  Those of you who know me know I am NOT a card maker.  Sure I buy cards, but I use them to create mini albums! 

Here is the sketch:

 and here is my creation based on the sketch...just in time for the holidays!

I used the MAMBI Holiday paper pad to make this card.  I cut out the mittens using the Simply Charmed cricut cartridge.  One trick I've discovered (which you might have already figured out) is to turn the paper backward (printed side down) to cut the 2nd mitten so that the thumbs are "pointing" different instead of cutting duplicate images.  I hope that makes sense.  I completely messed that up with the backsides of my onsie album so I just wanted to share that tip!

As you can tell, all is well in my scrappy world!  OHHH, I almost forgot...I'm debating on whether I should put the Cameo on my Santa list.  I don't know enough about it to determine.  What are your thoughts?  On another note, I picked up the cricut mini from Michael's for $69.99!  I thought that was a steal!!!

At any rate, be sure to check back for more scrappy projects and dt work!

SMOOCHES!