PL - Santa Claus is Coming to Town ....

Project Life Freebie - 3x4, Gray & Red

I have decided to try and create a Project Life Scrapbook this coming year. That means I will need some pieces for my own use. I thought I would share those here. They are in a printable pdf file. The file is for personal use only. The link can be found here. and the password is "iagreetou" . This means you agree to the personal use of the pdf file. When you type that password in, it is your digital agreement. If you have anyone who would be interested in this item, please send them over to my website and not share it directly. If download numbers continue, I will keep creating.

If you would like this freebie in a different size, please let me know and as I have time I will try to accommodate these requests.

Enjoy!
Chris

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Warriors T-Shirt

My son has been begging me for  a "Warriors" t-shirt". For my son, A good book is like a good rock band. You read it, you heard it. Where is the t-shirt?

He loves the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. And my son cannot get enough of it. He reads them and loves the characters. This is why one of our kittens is called GrayStripe.

So this was the final product after a merge of many online images and book covers. I made sure to have GrayStripe one of the main characters on the cover. The colors are pretty crisp and the transfer I used worked awesome.

I had some Dark Fabric Transfer by Avery in my stash. I must say it was pretty cool to use. Easy to print on and you don't have to reverse it. Then you peel the back off the material and it is like a thin plastic. After it is peeled you place it on the shirt and then put the tissue paper over the top provided and iron it. It isn't really tissue paper, but seems like it and doesn't stick to the printed material. I created the edging to look worn.

Overall, I can recommend the book series. The Avery Dark Fabric Transfer material and the shirt is from Michael's on sale.

So my Rock Star son can have his Rock Star Book T-shirt. We could be book nerds in this family. Actually we are. I'll admit it. Love my Life.

Enjoy!
Chris


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So Proud - Webelos Mom

Had to share. My son earned his Webelos patch this last week. Just awesome. He is working really hard on badges and wants to earn as many as possible before arrow of light. He saw a chart of who had earned what displayed at a pack meeting. He stood there and counted what he needed to earn next. Wears me out, but I will do whatever I can to give him the supplies and support to complete his goals.

In order to earn his Webelos Badge, he did a project for the community.
his choice was to collect shoes for a local organization that hands them out during Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless and low income. His goal was 20 shoes and with the help of friends, family and his Cub Scout Pack he collected 170 to give.  Just proud.

Below is a picture of him with all his shoes.

They had an arrow of light crossover ceremony also at our meeting. He watched the presentation with enthrallment. He has seen before and it always grabs his attention. I really believe he will ask to be a part of the presenters when he moves onto Boy Scouts if there is an opening.

Love my Life. Here are some additional photos below.
Enjoy!
Chris

D on the left. and Arrow of Light ceremony. 

All the shoes below. 

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You're the Best Card

Putting together some cards. I had some random printed but mostly blank cardstock and decided to add some embellishments to it. So I added some balloons  and a saying. A little stickles. And my son... well my son's input was the pink flower with the pom pom from the embellishment drawer. Love his help. Make the studio more fun to share in the creative. I lay out the card on the counter and invariably I find something altered or added to my idea. I find it cute and endearing.

Love my Life.

Enjoy!
Chris


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Also, we have started a VDBC Crafting Fun Facebook group in lieu of another forum to manage. Join us!

A wreath to bring in some holiday cheer.

I created this for my Nan today with supplies in my craft room. Wow. I need to clean out some supplies. I just kept looking and finding things. I did some close up shots to play with my cameras settings. So you will see little glue wispys. Those wispys will be pulled off by my kiddo on the way to Nan's house.

She is in some need Holiday Cheer in her new place. So we are going to head out and decorate for her. My Sister and her children, My Mom and her children, and I and D. Hoping it will be alot of fun and puts a smile on her face.

If not, we shall chat about how it is just as easy to smile as it is to frown. We had this discussion a few times before, my Nan and I. She gave me the chat when I was little and visiting and now I return the favor.

I never was good at  a bow. I really envisioned a big gold bow. Wonder if my Mom could put one together. I need some kinda bow maker doohickey. And I am definitely not a wreath artist like my friend Sarina. She will knock some wreaths out. In fact she has some of my wreaths from my craft room because I needed space. They sat for years and she gave them some life. Love it!!!

Here's to happy smiles and some closeup pics. You can see me in some of the reflections. ha!

Enjoy!
Chris

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JOY Holiday Card

I am working on a few cards to send. This one is for a friend who will love the red, black and gold.

I used a red paper that has gold flecks in it. I am not sure you can see them in the pictures, but it's there. I also added a gold glittered sheet behind the square letters which I used pop dots to lift them. A cuddlebug die for the embossed corners and a round cornerer.  Also a black ribbon. I messed up the score on the top so will be trimming the card and attaching it to a 5x7 card.

Wanted to post a craft and was so happy to get one done.

I took multiple photo angles to see if I could catch the glitter of the gold, but flash washed it in some area.s. I hope you like.

Enjoy!
Chris

Dr. Who

This little sign sums up my understanding of Dr. Who. I love that my son and hubby enjoy not only the show, but their time together chatting about it.  With the anniversary coming up, I am looking forward to a Dr. Who marathon when I will be sewing and crafting holiday gifts and listening to their chitter chatter. And deep down it just makes my heart smile. Love my Life.

What's on you weekend or holiday to make list?

Don't forget we opened a VDBC CRAFTING FUN facebook group. Join us. It's nice to have a place to chat again.

Enjoy your weekend!
Chris

Subway Art - November

I posted some November Subway Art in the facebook group. Join us so you don't miss any in the future.
 Perfect for Vinyl, but I cut transparency. Totally fun!

Trying 4shared for the first time in a long time for downloads. I can't help but give away some files. :-) We'll see how it goes.

Here is the group link below.
Enjoy!
Chris  https://www.facebook.com/groups/319182541555348/

#2 - Smile

This post could be miles long. Here are just some from my phones memory card.

SMILE

We love to smile around here and I am surrounded by the smilers and am one too!

Love my Life
Enjoy!
Chris

#1 - Faith

I am catching up on the photo challenge. Here is number 1.

Faith

This is my bible. I earned it at religious education classes when I was in 5th grade I believe. The leader said he would purchase anyone who memorized the books of the bible their very own bible. And they had to be in order. He brought it to me the next week and it also had my name on it. I was very proud and pleased to have my own.

The green tags and the white slips of paper marking verses are in my now husbands hand. At the time written, we were searching for wording for our wedding. I just can't take them out. I leave them in to mark our love from the beginning.

There a few prayer cards tucked inside for loved ones that have passed.

This bible was read to me by my son last week as he is working on his religious emblem for Scouts. We did alot of reading and talking. Since that chat I have seen him pick it up all week and flip through it.

So Faith. This is a typical symbol of Faith. I do believe in a greater Faith outside of the printed word.  Faith in others. Faith in tomorrow by planning on tomorrow. Faith in loved ones that you give them your heart to care for. Faith in life that you will travel your course and make the best choices. Faith. It guides me in a relgious manner, but more so in the every day of life and faith and belief in the good of others.

I am interested to see others Faith photos.
If you have them and want to share, please post in the comments here or on facebook.

Enjoy!
Chris

November Photo Challenge.

Yep I think I am going to try this challenge this November. And post on my blog. That means I will be needing to have my fav food tonight. So Mexican food it is. Woohoo!

If you are going to to, please post the link in the comments on my blog. Or post on my fbook page. I'd love to see.

I need to do some catching up. So off to see what I can come up with.

Enjoy!
Chris

Creating.... Friday File

I created a file for the upcoming KNK USA e-letter.
Here is a preview of it. Felt good to be creative again.

It's my version of a  Halloween or Fall Tree. The owl is completely separate.
I am not converting to a ton of types for this one which freed up some creative time to. :)

Hope you like.

Enjoy!
Chris

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Gfree kid?

My son as of late has been avoiding flour. For myself, I regularly avoid. We decided when our son was born we would see if my reactions to gluten would pass on to him. Rather than force him into a gfree lifestyle, let it work itself out. I am not deathly ill from gluten like a celiac, but my stomach cramps so hard it has brought me tears.
- My son's slow quest for gfree has started with a simple request... no sandwiches in his lunch or crackers. When I asked him why. He said it made his tongue taste very weird and his stomach hurt in the afternoon. I began to ponder his lunches. In my world, no problem. The next week we continued on with rice crackers, ham slices, cheese, a little container of ranch, carrots, grapes. He was pleased.
-My son has been saying no thank you a lot recently to cupcakes, granola bars, cookies. Sometimes he says yes and I see him take one bite and throw the rest away.
- a little while later, I sent my husband an email which my son happened to see. It was symptoms of gluten allergies. One of these is little bumps on the back of the arm. To the general person, it might be considered acne of some sort. It could be. To me because I've had them before... nutrition deficiency came to mind and that can be from gluten allergy not allowing certain nutrients to absorb into your system. These bumps bug my son. He finds it annoying no matter how small they are and all the different soaps etc. They won't go away.
- when at the grocery store the other night, he told my husband he was going gfree for a bit to see if the bumps would go away. His choice. So we walked down the aisles and he chose things we already do because alot of our house is gfree.
- I am impressed with my son. Over the week he has chosen some items with gluten in them. Most recently he came home from a family evening where he chose the dish with flour instead of splitting one with me that didn't. The whole way home he wiggled and groaned. His stomach hurt.
-recently he was a guest at another house and chose the gluten item and came home and felt horrible.
- today he chose corn tortillas over flour and had little tacos instead of burritos. He cannot stand corn tortillas normally, but he chose to try them again. We also went to an auction for the day and he asked me about their options for food and chose carefully.
- He has a gfree cake mix on the counter. He wanted to make. We try to avoid the box, but sometimes you just want to indulge.
-I don't know where this will take him. But I am willing to follow his lead. (He is the kid that avoids McDonalds and most fast food because he can't stand the salt flavor) I was about the same age when having issues I believe. I hope those around us understand how hard it is to say no to a cookie and let that choice be his own. Try not to sway him because we feel he is missing out. He is quiet pleased to just eat frosting off the top and throw away the rest. He is making the hardest decision ever for a 9 year old and it based on his own feelings of health.
- so I believe I will start making extra gfree snacks to make them available to him at a time of indecision. It's all I can think to help him along the way. And slowly clear out the cupboards of those difficult things. Maybe email his teacher and explain some of this so she understands when he is in indecision. Wait to see what he thinks. I believe so much sickness and health issues in life are food/chemical related. So I am trying to really just see how this all pans out and be supportive in my son's decisions.

Well this is my musing and rambling about our lives. I would be lost without my hubby as he supports the decisions my kiddo makes.  And never flinches when having to read a label or try something new and weird for most. In fact, tomorrow I was told by the hubby gfree pancakes was on the menu for breakfast and he smiled at me as he said it. I just love them both. And I love my life.

Enjoy!
Chris

Science Aftermath

What happens after Scouts Advancement Day? 

You talk your parents into Dry Ice and overseeing your fun with all you learned. 

And then some. 

woops Mom and Dad had to much fun with the Bubbles on the dry ice stuff 

and it become a throbbing mass of bubbles. :-)

 

And you can float a ping pong ball with a hair dryer!!

Good for all kinds of fun. 

I just love the smiles and the inquisitive mind!

Enjoy!

Chris

Scouts... a new pack

We had a switcheroo this year for Scouts and moved to a new pack. My son really wanted to do more camping. And he is motivated by earning awards. And their program for Webelos is setup for him to earn as many as he'd like. My son has arrows and pins etc all over his uniform.  I cringe at the thought of him needing a new uniform because I will be sewing again. But also pleased with all his accomplishments. He also was oohing and ahhing over all the earnings the new den's kids have all over their uniforms. One of his most pivotal questions to his leader was.... "how do I earn that one?" She looked at me and smiled and then looked at my hubby and said well you get with your Dad and build a serious derby car. Apparently the new pack doesnt do trophies for winners but derby fancy winning pins on the uniform. And they were fancy. D wanted to know if we could somehow get one for his 3rd place in Tigers. He is analyzing. D is super motivated with all the activity around him. He pulled out his scout book after homework yesterday and said.... "what do we need to do?" His uniform craze makes me smile. (Please do not point out to him. We are short a silver arrow on his uniform and also 2 year pin and some other random awards. I hear the reminder every time he puts the uniform on. Woops)

We miss our friends from the previous pack, but really look forward to adventures in the new one. 

Scouts is such a great activity for him because it focuses him after school. We have a "no screen" time policy until 6 pm and  homework and chores are done. This means he has time to work through his Webelos book.  And  rarely have to ask him to do any of it.  Which makes me happy.

As of the first Camp this year, he has already earned 5 of the Webelos activity badges out of the 20. He is loving it. More "grown up" stuff this time around I was told. 

Well a scout ramble.... and that leads up to.... do you wanna buy some popcorn? Haha

Love my Life.

Enjoy!
Chris

Cheddar Biscuits for camp

We had to make some rolls or biscuits for camp. So in discussions my D decided we should really make those Cheddar Biscuits from Red Lobster. so Pinterest to the rescue and we began. 

We chose a recipe with Bisquick in it because the ingredient list was mostly what we already had 

We needed to melt butter and used our Pampered Chef measuring cup. I love this cup for D in the kitchen. The handle doesn't get hot like our glass measuring one does. And it is not wise to put the metal measuring cups in the microwave. 

We went with small biscuits because he needed to bring a bunch. 

And this is what happens to the top of a box when you ask a 9 year old to open it. Yikes. or Demolish it. 

And here were our biscuits. I was told they were delicious!! and when could we make more. they browned quick with the butter brushed on them. 

And I would give you the recipe, but I barely followed it because it just seemed crazy with instruction and we stopped following it after the first batch. 

It is on my Pinterest board if you want to look through them. I can't control the oven temperature well in our oven so the dropping the temp and increasing the temp and dropping was annoying. 

Next time we shall try the Gluten free version. :-) 

Enjoy!

Chris

Annoying mother.. honking horn

Love my Life Rambling...

Came home today with D after grabbing lunch. Was doing some silly chatting and ridiculousness. Let him sit on my lap and drive/steer from the gate to the house. So then proceeded to show him why we have a horn. especially with this slow dog brigade that walks in front of the cars. honking the horn. He holds my hand and says "please, we don't want to annoy the neighbors". What? really? it is only noon and everyone lives 2 to 3 acres away. How annoying am I going to be. Now our cows moooing that might be annoying. But me honking the horn? so he got out of the car and walked towards the house.. I couldn't resist. My hand was resting on the steering wheel. ahhhh.. so I honked at him. He looked over his shoulder, rolled his eyes at me and kept walking while he laughed.

woops. 

Apparently not the response he was looking for and honking horn at someone three feet from the car. just a bit annoying.

Enjoy!
Chris


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Morning with my sister.

Spent some time with my sister a few weekends ago as she prepped for a baby shower at her house.
Took a few pictures. I think she was very pleased I stole all her watermelon rinds for my chickens.

My sister and I might look a little alike. 

Her arms are longer then mine so she can get a better pic. haha. :-)

And here is Ms. Pea my niece. Uber cute in her pretty dress. 

Great morning just chatting. I need to remember to do that more often. 

Enjoy!

Chris

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My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!

The pursuit of life, liberty and happiness..

Art by Anita Palmer

At a recent rodeo, my husband and I listened to a watching cowboy talk and chat with those around him. We stood there for over an hour as he told some stories that might have had a little whiskey embellishment weaved into them. Showed off a few military type tattoos and yeahawwed with the best of the cowboys at the rodeo. Even cheered on a few bulls, as he stated, "no one ever cheers for the Bull. They got rights." But the tone of his voice changed as he mentioned his time in the military and in the Vietnam War and his return home. He talked to my son about "Doing what's right" "standing up for those around you" "believing in the rights of those back home as you stand in the middle of the sounds of war". My son soaked it all up. The aging Cowboy mentioned that on his return he could feel  the disdain  around him from others who knew he was a war vet. That there was no cheering but more jeering then anything else.  That he still carries with him the loss of so many he knew on a daily basis. But he quietly said, at the end of his stories with a reminiscent tone,... "I would do it all over again." And he stood back and we all breathed in the air around us. Our own moment of silence for those who have come before us.

Live every day with passion and freedom. Remember those who went before you. Work hard to keep your liberties in the pursuit of happiness. Support those who protect your rights. Enjoy every moment, every day, and every smile.

Hang your flag outside your home today and every day you enjoy the right of being an American. It is a symbol, but in my world it is one worth being proud of. My husband and I try to teach that to our son as often as we can in many ways. Love my Life.

Enjoy!
Chris



Disclaimer: I am not related to Anita Palmer or have any interests in her business as an artist. However, I saw this image on a facebook page called the Rancher's Headquarters. And it is beautiful. it has inspired me to check out more of her artwork and see if I can find one to hang on my wall of our home. Just beautiful. I hope it inspires you also to support an American artist. 

To get quick fun updates of things going on, you can join my facebook page.

My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!

QMC Members upload... download

Hello everyone...

QMC Members I have uploaded UVWXYZ to the forum QMC section for the Round/Circle Monogram Set.

I am getting ready to close the forum to. So please scoot over there and download your files for Members.

Enjoy!
Chris

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My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!

The Garden Kitchen of Tucson.

Last month I attended a class at the Garden Kitchen here in Tucson. It was a private class and so much fun! Thank you to Peggy for the invite. I loved every minute of it and the presenters had such energy for healthy food and eating choices. Which is something Greg and I have been re-inventing in our lives. Eating from the earth and not from a box.  Here are some photos from the adventure. If you have a Saturday morning free see what they have available for demonstration and stop by and see what they have to offer.

This is an excerpt from their website about what they are trying to accomplish:

The Garden Kitchen offers seed-to-table, gardening and cooking education. We empower families with the skills and knowledge to make wholesome nutritious meals on any budget. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cook, our goal is to inspire people to make healthy food choices that have a lasting, positive impact.Healthy individuals and families build healthy communities! 

Here are some of my photos. some clearer then others.

Here were some shots of the grounds in the back. A desert garden is no small feat.

as we walked through the mysterious "garden fairy" was mentioned alot. 

Kinda cool!

This was after a cutting class on how to use a knife. Yeah I might have to attempt that technique again. 

here is the cooking demonstration. I got to watch because my food was cooked up by the presenter. They were a little short, but I was uber happy to stand back and watch all the interaction and chat with everyone. 

Peggy my friend who invited me is soaking up the yummy smells. This picture made me smile. 

Our Yummy dinner. 

Here is me at the front. 

And our table setting flowers. 

Mixed with olive oil this vinegar below was yum on the salad. I took a picture so I wouldn't forget. 

And flip the head here and stretch the neck a little while you sit at the computer. 

These two lovely ladies would answer anything you asked and talk about food and more. 

just wonderful. yeah a little blurry. My apologies. 

All in all a wonderful afternoon and I highly recommend attending any function they have. 

Enjoy!

Chris




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My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!