Christmas cards almost completed

Here it is Saturday night and I have all but two of my Christmas cards completed!! It took most of the afternoon to do, but I did the inside verses on all 34 cards. I still have two to make though--one for my MIL and one for my mother...not bad for someone who a week ago, was wondering if they were going to get done or not. Thank God for the left over card fronts from last Christmas that didn't get used..I would never have gotten this far without them. Now I need to get another book of stamps and they will be ready to mail.
We just got home from having a great meal with my MIL, my husbands aunt, two SILs and their spouses, and a niece and her spouse---our November birthdays---we went to Grindstone Charlies and the food was excellent, as was our server. My MIL treats all the adults when it's someones birthday and this month we actually had 4 to do--both SILs, one BIL, and our niece, so we had a party of 10!! We don't go out often or get together, so this is my MIL's way of making us all get together--it's only 4 times a year, so that's not too bad (besides Christmas). And we always go somewhere good and my MIL pays the bill---couldn't ask for more, right?!!
I did nothing around the house today since I worked on cards so tomorrow it's cleaning and laundry day! Playtime is over.
Guess, I'll go see what my hubby is doing and I'll post more later.

Just got Home!!!

Even though I was stuffed with turkey and pumpkin pie from our family dinner at my little brother's house, I went to Michael's at 6p.m. for their Cricut sale. OMG, the line waiting for the store to open was really long and when the doors opened 3/4 of them went straight to the Cricut cartridge display. I managed to grab the one I wanted (actually wanted 4, but our store didn't carry the other 3) and quickly got out of the way before I got trampled. I also managed to get a really neat My Minds Eye Christmas paper pack, a couple Softly Speaking stickers, and a 12x12 scrap frame...all were 40% off (except the cartridge) and then I had another 20% off coupon, so I didn't do too bad. Of course, the only thing I actually went for was the cartridge--the rest was just an on the whim purchase---guess that's what I get for staying in the store instead of getting the cart, checking out and heading home!! And since I work tomorrow, I won't be going to any of the Black Friday sales and having crowds to fight--yeah! Thankfully, I don't have any shopping left to do, so I won't miss out!! Everyone is taken care of except my DIL and I already know what and where to get her gifts...helps that she gives me websites and her choices.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and spent time with their families and friends. Now enjoy the rest of this holiday weekend and stay warm.

Christmas cards finally started..

I finally had a day to do nothing around the house, so I started making my Christmas cards. I also found some extras left over from last year that I can use this year--Yeah!! I have all the card fronts done, so all I have to do is the inside messages, which I'll work on this coming weekend. I will do the messages depending on who the cards go to...I make special ones for our four grandchildren and our mothers. I am just so relieved that I finally have them started because I was almost to the point of buying cards this year due to time constraints, looks like I'm on track now though.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is only a month away and I still have alot of shopping left to do. I have my DH and my best friend done, but that is it. I just can't get in the Christmas mode this year for some odd reason. I don't know if it's the weather that we were having up to two weeks ago or what but it just doesn't seem like it should be Christmas time yet. This year has gone by way too fast...or so it feels that way. I guess getting the cards going is a start , so maybe now I can get in the mood and do what needs to be done----SHOP!! I'll be working on Black Friday, so no shopping for me this weekend...oh well, I don't like the crowds anyway and I can do some on my day off next week when I go to my Mom's in Illinois for our bi-weekly outings (I take her grocery shopping and run errands every two weeks and have been doing this since my Dad passed away 5 years ago). I enjoy spending the time with her and even though I have siblings that live near her, I felt like as the oldest it was my duty to make sure she got around to do things (she doesn't drive, never did)...and like I said, I really do enjoy our shopping dates, so to speak...and my retired, DH sometimes goes with us too. Anyway, things will get done in due time...and all is well, that ends well, right??!!

Pictures of my updated scrappin space

Here are pictures of my updated scrap room...finally finished---well, paper isn't color sorted yet, what the hey!! It's all put away and that's all that matters at the moment. Hope you like it..like I said, it's a really small space but it's mine!!

Yeah, my room is almost done!!!

Here it is Friday and the room is almost done...it's painted, the shelves are in, and almost all my stuff is back in place..I still have a few things to sort through and I will need to eventually sort my papers and cardstock by colors, themes, etc., but right now just having things back in the room and the ability to work again feels pretty good. As I posted before, the space is small and I have no idea how I managed to get so much stuff in here..it's amazing!! I also didn't realize how much I actually have...OMG!!! Anyway, at least, I can start working on things again, like my Christmas cards and catching up on my scrapbooking layouts. I'll be posting pictures after I get it cleaned up...needs vacuumed and I need to get the ladders out of here.

Still Working on my room...

Yes, here it is one week later and my scrap room is still not put back together, it's not even close to being complete. I'm working a few hours everyday on it and still have a ton of stuff to move back in, sure hope noone wants to come to visit us because we have no guest room right now due to all my stuff being piled in there. I decided on Sunday, I was just going to put the paper back in the way it was for now because it's too much to try to sort it all (I honestly am amazed at the amount of paper I have--I had no idea there was so much cardstock, not to mention patterns)..I'll do it after the holidays are over--who needs to know what patterns there are right?? Just kidding, I will go through it in the future, because I need to know what I have to use...then actually use it. If I can be strong, I'm going on a no paper buying binge until I can see it reduced...LOL!!! I'm working today at the LSS, so tonight I probably won't get alot done, but I'm going to do what I can after supper for about an hour and again tomorrow after work, but my intention is that it will be back together by this coming Sunday night. I need to make Christmas cards and it won't get done until my room is together and I have a place to do it. I also have alot of pictures to scrap and they unfortunately will be waiting also. Oh well, I'll have all winter to do them, so I'll just do what I can when I can. Better get back to working, don't want the boss to catch me snoozing.

My Scrap Room is almost empty...

Yes, the re-do has begun and the room has been emptied out and partially painted already. I now have to decide what will come back in and what will be tossed....this is the part I'm going to hate to do because I can't stand to part with any of my stuff. I have so much paper and alot of money invested, so I really hate to get rid of any of it, but I know that there is probably some that I will never use even though it was purchased for a reason, but the reasons do escape me now. I guess I'll just do it a little at a time and see what I end up with...definitely will toss the scrap pieces as I find myself not really using them ...that's one big box deleted. What is a girl to do??!!
Of course, first I have to put together all my M's cubes and reinstall my shelves, then I can see how much storage I'm actaully going to end up with...the room looks big emptied out but once I start putting stuff back in, it is really small...I think it measures 10x11 plus a small closet with shelves that need to be purged of things also. I may have taken on a task that will take me to Christmas to complete...ugh!!! Guess, this is what I get for collecting stuff more frequently than I use it.
The other side of this project is that my DH has severe carpel tunnel in his right wrist and he can only paint for so long before his hand gets to hurting so bad that he can't hold the brush (when painting the trim that is). He's going to the doctor today and they will schedule surgery soon...but until then the painting is slow moving. It'll probably be the weekend before the entire room is painted, but like I said previously, I have so much to go through that he can just take his time because it'll be days before I can get stuff organized to move back in.
My laundry is calling right now, so better get moving....housework will be next then the sorting will start...oh the life of a crafter!!

Survived the weekend..

Well, here it is Monday evening and I not only survived the weekend with three grandchildren (ages 7 mos, 8 & 10 yrs), but I also made it through the day at work!! Needless to say, I am bushed. Our 7 mo old granddaughter wears us out completely...she wants everyone's attention all the time and the little turd only takes cat naps---she will not sleep more than 45 minutes tops when we can get her to sleep that is and that is during the daytime. So two days of her really wears us old folks out.

I came home tonight after work and my husband has started painting my scrap room..he has one and a half walls done and the trim on one wall. He said he would have gotten that side of the room done today, but he has severe carpel tunnel in his right hand and just couldn't hold the brush any longer--poor man!! Needless to say, I have most of the stuff I work with now piled in our guest room and the other half is still in my craft room until he's ready to paint the other half of the room. I honestly have no idea how I amassed so much stuff?!! Could be because I work PT for our LSS and I can't pass up a scrapbook store when we're on the road..oh, and when they have coupons for J's, M's, and HL, I just have to use them----gee could that be why I'll never use up this stash I have?!! LOL!

Well, I'll close this for now, I need to go downstairs and spend some time with the man of the house.

Today is my grandson's, Alex, 10th birthday...he lives in Milford, OH so we'll be calling to wish him a happy birthday today after he gets home from school. Grandpa & I will be driving over tomorrow to get him and his younger brother, Zach ( 8 yrs old), for the weekend and we'll have cake with my MIL and her sister on Saturday to celebrate. Alex has Asperger's Syndrome, which they diagnosed about three years ago...he is a sweet little boy and pretty smart too...loves to come to our house and he's quite the grill cook too! We really enjoy having him and Zach here and getting to do stuff with them that they don't get to do at home due to financial restraints. They also have a new 7 mo old little sister, Ashley, who is just adorable...she'll be here Saturday with their mommy (my stepdaughter, Belinda) for the party. She has just started crawling so it'll be an interesting day--partying and chasing her around. Alex just adores her as is evident in the picture.

Well, housework is calling me---unfortunately the cleaning fairy didn't come last night, so I have to do all the work.

I'm a little late posting these pictures, but wanted to add them to the blog anyway. The top picture is my son, Troy and his daughter, Maxie at their church's "Trunk or Treat" this year. Maxie is --you guessed it--Tinkerbell (or as her mommy calls her "Stinkerbell") and Troy is the "Punisher"...yes, he's a fan of wrestling and he's also with the Tucson, Arizona P.D. He's a big guy and I couldn't be any prouder of him for his accomplishments and fulfilling his dreams. Of course, I do wish they lived closer to Indiana so I could see them more...but that isn't going to happen, so I have to settle for going out there once a year and/or when they come back for a visit, which isn't too often with the price of airline tickets now.

Gosh, it's Sunday already!! Can you believe it's already November?? And only 53 days until Christmas!! Guess, I better get busy making my cards and buying gifts for the family--the problem is where to begin and what to buy. I've asked the kids for ideas not only for them but also for the grandchildren---none have been given yet. The little ones though aren't that hard to buy for---toys, toys, and more toys!! It's the adult kids that are the problem, so they may just get gift cards from their favorite stores...sometimes this is just easier to do than try to get them to give me lists. I just remembered I do have two gifts done--my husband's aunt and my best friend, forgot about them. I made the aunt some stationary and note cards (she loves it when she gets handmade cards) while we were on vacation in Minnesota---great thing to do on a rainy day when you can't get out fishing...I just need to find a box to put them in that will fit the stationary--that's the hard part. As for my friend, we just do small inexpensive gifts and I found her a little pillow with a Schnauzer on it (and it looks exactly like her dog) last weekend when we went to Nashville, Indiana. Our moms like to get new clothes, so they will be easy to do also...just leave the kids!!
Guess, I better get moving today and get the house work done, then it's off to Menard's to find paint for my scrap room redo--YEAH!!! Maybe I can talk my hubby into some new flooring too, ha, ha!!
The vacuum is calling so all for now.