Did I Say Wednesday??

LOL. Here is what has been going on this week

*Started training for my new job

*Took my Geography Exam, YAY!!

*Sat at the Social Security Office for 2 hours to get a new card

*Enjoying the cool Fall weather around here

*Impatiently waiting to hear word on the grant I applied for. Found out today that we didn't get it. :(

*I just downloaded the new David Cook single

*Got new clothes for my new job

And I got these funny pumpkin photos in my email box, that I thought I would share. Getting ready for our first family vacation EVER! We are heading the Tennessee in a couple weeks and I CAN'T WAIT!!!

YAY!! I Got It!!

So I am now a part-time instructor at Archivers in Fairview Heights. I got the word yesterday and I am super excited to get back into the teaching saddle. It was a busy week this week, we had TLC's 20th Birthday Bash with a big Science Night. Needless to say it was a great success. We had a lot of people come through and get involved in the activities. Lots of fun. Then yesterday we went apple picking at Eckert's in Millstadt. We had the best parent turn out ever!!
I don't have any new pictures to post, I know I promised to post some new stuff. I will try to get that done by Wednesday. Which is going to try to be my new posting day.
Now I got to get studying, I have a big Geography Exam on Monday,
Have a great weekend.

Balloon Glow

What a night at the Balloon Glow in Forest Park. Here is a picture of one of the ladies from KMOV Channel 4 interviewing Reed and another little boy he was playing with. It is up on their website. www.kmov.com

This one is ALWAYS my favorite. I think it is just how the colors light up.
The Energizer Bunny coming to life.
So those are all the decent digital pictures that I have. There is a whole roll of 35mm (yes I still LOVE my 35mm) that needs to be developed. Had a blast! I have decided that I need to pick one day of the week to update this blog and maybe I can stay with that.
To give you an update of all that is going on around here. Reed started Pre-K at "the big school" Illini Elementary. He has finally adjusted to the drop off and the new people. Now to get him to be a better listener, LOL. The story of my life.
So with Reed going to half day Pre-K, I am now working the morning shift at the preschool. We are celebrating 20 years of being in the business this month. LOTS of things going on, I sometimes wonder what Tara and I have gotten ourselves into, lol.
Art starts a new job next Monday, he is going to Bommarito VW in St. Peters. I hope he is happier there. Things have been a bit tense where he is now.
I have a second interview for a part time job teaching scrapbooking, I am pretty excited about getting back into that. I miss it a lot.
So that is about it from here.

Checkin In

I know there are a few of you popping in once and a while to see if I am still kickin. I am. Trying to finish up Summer Classes and put together a yard sale and getting ready to go to the "big school" and getting Reed ready to go to "big boy school" I have lots of pictures that I can't wait to share.
I took a weeks vacation the week of CHA, so I did get some creating done. There is even a half done project that is impatiently waiting for some Pink Paislee Vintage Moon. I think it is going to ROCK.
I'll try to make it back later to upload my pics to the blog, I need to go get them off the camera.
Be back soon

I did IT!!!

So I am sure there are a few of you out there that have been wondering where I have dropped off the face of the Earth to.

*Well, here is one of them. I graduated May 15th with honors. Eventhough it took forever, I am continuing forward for my Bachelors. So classes for that start Monday.

*I also have to take my Basic Skills Test on Saturday, which will decide where I will rank to get into the program.

*The Race for the Cure is coming up soon, the 21st

*I'm sad to say that the design team at FKS is no more. So now I don't have anything making me scrap and man am I missing it!!

*Reed just got excepted into the preschool program at Illini.

*I'm still working crazy hours at the center, can't wait until Tara comes back from maternity leave.

*I was surfing the net and I stumbled across this really cool site that shows you how to adapt 35mm film to a Holga camera (120mm) so I am anxious to play with that this weekend when we are down on the riverfront doing family pictures.

I think that is enough, I gotta get studying if I am gonna pass this exam.

Hello Again

I know it has been forever since I last posted, but I am still around. I have a lot of things going on. Like Finals are today and tomorrow. Then graduation is on Thursday. I have to take my Basic Skills Test from the IL Board of Education on the 7th.
Tara had her cute little girl on May 5th. Guenevere is so stinkin cute it isn't even funny. Reed and Art went fishing with Uncle Bob and caught probably close to 40-50 fish. Thank goodness they didn't come home with them.
The baby chicks in my classroom are due to start hatching tomorrow. That has been the talk at work for some time now, I'm kind of glad that we are close to the end.
I joined Sue's team for the Race for the Cure again. I have a pledge page if you are unable to attend, please email me ( RaceGoddss@aol.com ) and I will send you the link. I don't have it right now. The race/walk is on June 21st.
Ummm, I know I am missing something. Besides pictures. I don't have them loaded to the laptop. Sorry.
Wanted those few that still read this blog to know that I was alive, just so busy I can't see straight sometimes. LOL
As Kathy would say, I love my life!!

Heart In Hand is Closing

Wanted to get the word out, so if you wanted to pick up a class or two you do it soon. If you haven't been over there yet, RUN and be appart of some fabulous classes.
Here is the official word from Tammy:

After much thought and deep soul searching, I have decided to close Heart In Hand Scraps. There are so many factors that are part of this decision. I truly believe in the product offered. I believe it can be a great thing for many scrappers out there. Unfortunately, we just have not caught the attention of the audience we needed to to stay afloat. While there have been many good periouds of sales with some instructors doing very well, my bottom line in both time and expense has been in the red.

I don't know if there is ever a good time to have to make this decision. I can not apologize enough to all of you. I have so appreciated you willingness to be a part of HHS and for your understanding and patience with me as I tinkered with the formula, trying to find the right combination to hopefully make it all work. I can never thank you all enough for your support.

The plan now is to do the final release of classes April 15th. None will go up today as I did not recieve any before the cut off date. The site will stay open and online through the end of May. The message board will stay live a bit longer than that should any of the last minute customers need assistance.

I wish there was a better way to show the main page of PP! So the top picture is what I already posted Rebecca picked me as the Pretty in Pink Member.

And here is the second one, Holly picked my layout about Kathy for her Pick of the Week.

Thanks ladies!!! You made my week, for sure.

There is more and CKC St Louis

Ok, so after I posted about tomorrow's exciting (well atleast for me) news, I got a message on the Live Pink board congratulating me on being Pretty in Pink for the week. I didn't even know that I was the spotlight designer this week. Wow, 2 cool PP things in a row. That is totally cool.

Also CKCers Speak Up!
Here are my classes so far, I might have to add to them, but doubt it. I'm shopping Friday morning and then unfortunately probably have to go to work. But Saturday!! 8:30 Family Board Book Album 12:30 Stamp Happy and 3:10 Scheming Around.
So if you are heading to CKC even just to shop let me know!!!!

Pink Paislee Surprise!!

I just got the email, keep an eye on Pink Paislee's blog and front page Friday. Exciting news!! Not sure if I can tell yet, so I'll leave it at this.

Pink Paislee EVERYWHERE!!!

And I'm loving EVERY minute of it!!!!!
The first project you are looking at is Roree's Sister Photo Cube. I turned mine into a calendar, so I can take it to work when Tara goes on maternity leave and I have a cute calendar right there on the desk. Of course I used Pink Paislee, Heidi Swapp calendar stamps, Prima flowers and buttons from Autumn Leaves.
This is Linda Albrecht's Christmas Pocket Tag Book. I turned it into a birthday calendar book. The inside isn't much right now, just Heidi Swapp calendar stamps on them. I'll show more as I get it done. Bazzill cardstock.

Here is a quick layout I did today, Papers are Fancy Pants and Pink Paislee. Stamps are from Stampin Up. I got this layout and the 2 projects above done today while the hubby was off playing 4 wheeler. Quite proud of myself.
Our Family Tree. I hope to finish this tomorrow by getting the missing pictures I need at grandma's house for Easter. That is the only thing it is missing. Book is from Maya Road, Papers are Pink Paislee and KI Memories, with a little Making Memories paint. Alphabet stickers are Pink Paislee.
Thanks for stopping by!!
~J~

OH!! If you are going to be at CKC St Louis let me know!!

Scrap St. Louis, Have YOU Heard About It???

Scrap St. Louis

June 5-7, 2008

This event is hosted by For Keeps Sake Scrapbook with
classes by nationally known designers.
Our 2008 event will take place at the Holiday Inn South County Center,
just minutes from our 6500 square foot superstore!
This event will begin with a Welcome to St. Louis kick-off
Thursday evening (June 5)
and continue through Saturday night with our "Farewell Event".
The event fee is $385 per person which includes:
Meals: Thursday evening dinner; Friday & Saturday breakfast buffet; Friday & Saturday lunch; Saturday dinner.

All 6 workshops by well-known designers (one by each artist)

All activities during the event - and we have surprises for you!

Prizes & giveaways!

All classes include materials used in class. Just BYO basic supplies (and we'll give you a list once it gets closer to class date).

Each attendee gets the same fabulous experience!

No homework!

Finish your projects in class!

Stress free and fun, fun, fun!

Here's our line-up of instructors:

Lance Anderson (Class sponsored by Rusty Pickle)

Heidi Grace (Class sponsored by Fiskars & Heidi Grace Designs)

Missy Jaycox (Class sponsored by 7 Gypsies & For Keeps Sake Scrapbook)

Danelle Johnson (Class sponsored by Creative Imaginations & will feature Danelle's Creative Cafe designs)

Tracey Niehues (Class sponsored by K&Company)

Joey Otlo from Bazzill (Class sponsored by Bazzill)

** Just added a class sponsored by Clear Scraps**

WOW! What a line-up!

And now there's even more that we've added:

We are very pleased to announce our keynote speaker: Joy Macdonell, Education Director/SDU Founder/National SpokespersonJoy has been taking pictures and crafting with photos since childhood. She has taught scrapbooking since 1996 and is the Education Director and National Spokesperson at EK Success. She hosted "Greetings" from DIY, has crafted on 50+ segments on DIY Scrapbooking, and appeared on Paint, Paper and Craft! and hosts the new EK Success DVD "Scrapbooking with Joy". Joy has had her story featured in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, interviews and writes regularly for trade magazines, industry websites, podcasts and blogs. Joy's love for scrapbooking is inspired by her husband Duncan and children Ginny and Devin, whose faces smile all over the pages of Scrapbook Design & You. SDU started with this one passionate scrapbook retailer who wanted to show her customers how fun and easy scrapbooking could be. Joy Macdonell and her sister opened the first scrapbook store in the Washington D.C. area in 1997. When Joy discovered that traditional scrapbook classes did not teach how to develop a strong scrapbook foundation, she set out to write her own curriculum. Joy's philosophy is "there is no wrong way to scrapbook, but if you know the fundamental theories and techniques, you will be empowered to create any page with your own style."
We are over-the-moon excited that Joy MacDonnell will be our keynote speaker at our Scrap St. Louis event.

one more thing . . .
We're listening to your comments and add to this event whenever we are able. Many of you have said you'd love to crop at night . . . so . . . you may! Thursday evening, Friday evening & Saturday evening (once the events & classes have subsided), the ballrooms & classrooms will be left open for your cropping pleasure.
We're excited to be bringing an event like this to the Midwest.
Hope to see you at Scrap St. Louis - June 5-7, 2008!

Call For Keeps Sake

(314) 487-8131 for more information

For Keeps Sake Design Team

This layout was done with American Crafts products and a few Prima flowers. And some stamps by Technique Tuesday. The picture of the butterfly didn't print as well as I wanted it to, but you get the point.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this layout!! The paper and diecut is Making Memories, ribbon and Thickers are American Crafts. I did the tree with a doodling template by The Crafters Workshop. I stamped the tree with a damask stamp in VersaMark to give it the look of texture.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATHY!!!!

Holly took these great pictures while we were all in Chicago for Summer CHA.
I got to finish it over at the online crop going on at Heart in Hand Scraps!!! Come check it out!! There are 6 new classes up and a SALE!!!

Baby Shower Gift

If you remember that banner that I did in Basic Grey's Two Scoops, this is a matching piece. Guenievere Elizabeth Jackson (I hope I spelled that right, LOL) is due into the world next month, but we had a shower for her last weekend. Hopefully this will go nicely with her Snoopy room, LOL.

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

LOL!! That song popped in my head as I sent the email to two fabulous creators who's product I used to make this fabulous mini album. My friend Holly who created this fab paper for Pink Paislee and my friend Margie who created the fab acrylic book for LaserLine.

Let's CROP!

Details are up at Heart In Hand Scraps. This will be a lot of fun!!! Be sure to mark your calendars!!
Also, don't you LOVE this little journal tag?? If you do then you have to check out Toni Rivera's Etsy Shop. I practically stalk her store and buy lots! LOL

WOW!! 2 Posts

Is it Spring Yet??

Yeah, well, it is snowing here pretty hard. And since I got to beat it home from work and school is closed, I have a few minutes to share with anyone who is still reading along. I'm tired of winter!! We had almost 80 degrees on Saturday and Sunday and then sleet and snow Monday and Tuesday. It is NUTS!

I wanted to add my For Keeps Sake DT work and my Heart in Hand Scraps CT work with you.

For Keeps Sake:

Heart In Hand Scraps:

Promised Layouts!

Here are the layouts I promised to upload forever ago!

Hello Out There!!!

Is anyone still reading this thing, LOL. Atleast you know you will get an update every month when I have to turn in DT and CT stuff, right?
So I am busy putting the finishing touches on a few things and hopefully I will have them posted by the weekend.
If you can't wait I just uploaded some things to my gallery over at Heart in Hands. I can upload directly to Tammy's site.