The Card Castle

It's time...

2011-11-09T23:32:00.003-05:00

It's been many many months since I've made cards on a regular basis. I'm not ready for regular basis just yet, but I'm definitely ready to make some cards. I got my coloring table set up today... I still have a little more to unpack before I'll be totally ready, but I want to start selling cards again. Just saying that aloud makes me happy. I'm still looking for a job, so in the meantime, I'll be resorting to what I'm used to. Not only am I making cards, I'm developing a couple of classes. I may even try Michaels again now that they are back in the business of offering classes. More to come soon...

Pink for October

2011-10-10T09:20:00.000-04:00

I turn this blog pink every year during the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
If you haven't had your check up this year, make your appointment today. Good for you if you have, but take a moment to call a friend or a sister and remind her to do so also.

With my move and all the changes in my life, I'm a little behind schedule this year, but I'm going to make my appointment asap.
And then I'm going to send the cards shown here to two friends who have been impacted by breast cancer.
Have a blessed day and don't forget to take care of yourself.

Fall-ish and Fruity.

2011-10-09T18:45:00.000-04:00

Fall is here! It's my absolute favorite season! And next to flowers, fruit are my next favorite images to color. I'm not sure why fall and fruit go together in my mind, but they do.

This is an image from SU from a few years back. I colored them with Prismacolor pencils.

Happy 49th New Year to Me!

2011-09-14T07:55:00.001-04:00

I put a lot of thought into a post I did 2 years ago for my birthday. I spent a lot of time reflecting on some key life lessons and came up with a list of 47 lessons which I posted on my birthday in 2009

Consider this post an addendum to that post. Life lesson 48 and 49. Number 48 was an eye opener last year. I'm constantly learning... It's a good thing.

I don't have forgiveness issues. I don't have trust issues. If I don't trust someone, it was because I was betrayed. We often mistake forgiveness and trust. I should forgive quickly. It's for my own good. Trust, however takes time to rebuild.
It's not always what you say or do but how you make people feel. How they feel has to do with their perception of what you say or do, based on their experiences. What is the key? Get to know the recipient and tailor the message.

So Happy Birthday to me. :) I'm determined not to spend the whole day on the computer this year.

The reflections of a tropical wedding ...

2011-09-13T20:24:00.000-04:00

Here are photos of my most recent wedding project. The gatefold invitation was secured with a sticky gemstone.

My first card in months...

2011-08-20T23:52:00.003-04:00

and least weeks, right? The ones I posted in Jul, were made at some point in June. I delayed their posting until I could send them to the recipients.

I took this with my phone last night after finishing it. I meant to re-take it today with the real camera and sunlight before I posted it for the Hambo Hoe Down, but I didn't... and now I'm realizing that this doesn't count for the current challenge because I didn't follow directions. :( I have to score it somewhere. OK, go see the other folks' cards, I'm going back to my desk, after I get some sleep...

I love coloring flowers, so thanks Tim. Now go draw some more! I vote for tulips and roses.

Paper (Basic Grey), Image is (Hambo), colored with Copics. I'll still try to take another picture at some point.

I did it...

2011-08-16T17:28:00.001-04:00

A couple of months ago, I purged my stamps...

I got rid of all but what would fit in the chest of drawers. I sent them to Viva Las Vegas stamps and they are being sold on consignment.

going...

gone!

I love these roses...

2011-07-26T07:50:00.000-04:00

This is still one of my favorite stamps (Hero Arts). Although I've colored it many times, I think this is first time I colored it with the Copic markers.
I made this as a birthday card for a friend who likes blues and peach. True to form, I made it a month before her birthday and she will *hopefully* receive it before her birthday month is over. I could always play it off and call this a thinking of you, or a friend card since I conveniently left off a Birthday message on the front, right?? :)
The card is approximately 5 1/2 inch square.

How's this for a summer birthday?

2011-07-19T17:58:00.000-04:00

I really enjoyed making this card. Although, right now, it makes me want to jump in the car and head to the beach.

This was made to fit in a business size envelope.

Baby, Take a Bow...

2011-06-05T06:33:00.000-04:00

Hello? Testing, testing? Is this thing on?

I haven't blogged in so long, I just thought I'd check too see if anyone was still here. I haven't blogged and I haven't been making many cards. Yes, my life is crazy right now. I'll tell you a little about it in another post. First let me tell you about this card. This image was purchased from Digital Pencil Too -

artwork by Maurie J. Manning and colored with Copic markers and Prismacolor Pencils (the crown).

I made this card in celebration of a major accomplishment made by my daughter. She graduated from GA State in May.

They were HOT and too serious. "Somebody" had to lighten the mood. (mission accomplished)

My three daughters (in age order). The graduate is standing on a curb-- she's not that tall.

The Grad and the Parents.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

2011-06-05T06:09:00.001-04:00

For the story behind this card, go to this post about Father's day from a few years ago.

I'm posting this today, because it's what would have been my dad's 81st birthday.

I was doing some serious cleaning and purging this week and found the notes to what I said at my dad's funeral about him.

Today We Celebrate a Life Well Lived: Jacki Allen Jones (written and spoken in tribute at the homegoing service for Eugene Allen)

Dad was a funny guy and often used humor to lighten a dark moment. I remember the first time I saw him break his “Allens don’t cry” rule at his grandfather’s funeral.

When I questioned him about it later that day, he explained that it was warm in the church and he was sweating from the eyeballs.

Whenever he’d say, “I remember the time...” we’d shake our heads and respond “oh no! Not again!” because we new there was an outlandish tale to follow. To hear him tell it, he had walked on the moon and had taught Hank Aaron how to swing a bat.

The daw we moved Dad to Texas in August of 2003 could have been a very somber day, but he chose to make if fun. We laughed and joked all day long. He had a hard time accepting help from others so I advised him to just smile and say “Thank You”. All day, he would over emphasize that smile with a thank you and look over at me as he did it to make sure I was paying attention.

My Dad taught me some things that I couldn’t really appreciate until I became an adult.

I learned to persevere. One of my earliest memories was of a sunny afternoon when I was about 3. My dad was determined to teach me to tie my shoes. I remember sitting there for what seemed like forever when all I really wanted was to do was join the other kids playing outside. Most of all I remember the victorious feeling I had when I did indeed master that skill that afternoon.

I learned to be concerned about the world around me. While other children played outside, he made us watch the entire funeral for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr on TV. Although we were very young (I was only 5), At the time we didn’t like it, but

he emphasized the historical importance of that event. I appreciate that now.

I learned to be faithful and keep your promises. He did what he said he was going to do and was always on time. In fact, he was always 10 minutes early.

I learned to treat others the way I wanted to be treated. The Golden Rule was ingrained in my brain by him and he lived it and set an example for us.

I learned diligence. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Here at Janes, he was our Junior Choir and Chancel choir director. I sang with him from age 8 until I graduated high school. We practiced to perfection and performed our songs from memory. I still remember a lot of the songs to this day. I’ve been a part of many choral programs since then and I quickly realized that not every choir director is as diligent. He set a very high standard.

Eugene Alonzo Allen left a mark on this world that won’t soon be forgotten. With 5 daughters, 15 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren, his legacy will live on.

For Sale: All My Memories Vituri Urban Shoulder Bag

2011-03-19T17:59:00.000-04:00

All My Memories Vituri Urban Shoulder Bag

Click on the title above and it will take you to the post on this blog where I reviewed this fabulous scrapbooking bag. I even used a couple of times to carry my laptop. I love it so much that I bought another one in brown. Now in the spirit of purging, I've decided to only keep one(the brown one) so the black one pictured in this post is for sale. Originally sold for $100-- I paid $50. I'm selling it for $25+shipping. Very lightly used... maybe 3 or 4 times and it still looks new.
Leave a comment with your email address if you are interested.

Magazines for Sale ( you pay only shipping)

2011-03-19T17:53:00.000-04:00

I will send them to you in a flat rate box and you pay shipping only.
I have Paper Crafts, Stamp it, The Rubber Stamper, CardMaker, Gift Maker, Bead and Button, Bead Style, Simply Beads, The Artists Magazine, Bead Work, Digital Scrapbooking,
I also have purple magazine holders. I can fill a box of one kind or make a variety. Leave a comment with your email address if you're interested.

You're my 'mane' man...

2011-03-08T21:56:00.002-05:00

Talk about down to the wire! I posted this just before the weekly 10:00 pm deadline on Hambo's Challenge Blog. I didn't participate last week because I wasn't home with all my card making stuff. I went to GA to take my daughter to visit her friends while she was on Spring Break.

This week's challenge is to make a masculine card (check) using LION (check) and one of the coordinating sentiments(check), AND also have stripes somewhere in your design (check).

My class is over (yay!) and I made an A in the class (yay!).... I'm taking a little break because we have a lot of things happening this spring. My niece is having a big anniversary party/wedding reception that I have to travel for. My daughter is graduating from college in GA in May. Big big deals... Not that I look old enough for either of these milestones to be happening in my life! (shhh let me have my delusions, it's all I have left. )

I'm still purging and unpacking. Now that school is over, I can concentrate on that. I've made some big decisions concerning my my card making/ scrapbooking and general craft stuff and purging... Get ready for an even bigger sale than I had last summer. I have less space this time and I realized that I had a lot of stuff crammed in that room that I never use because it's inaccessible. Sooooo ... I'm getting rid of most of the wood mounted stamps and a bunch of the unmounted stamps. Yup. I just said that aloud, so it just be true. I'm going to post this stuff here first, then a big yard sale. Whew. Who needs 38 paper trays anyway?

Anyway, if you want to see my (former) room click here for part one and here for part two, or to see pictures of my various rooms over the years as we've moved around go to this album on my Flickr account. If you see something you've been looking for and can't find it anywhere, give me a shout. I just might make you a deal.

Well... I'm going to shut up now. I didn't sleep too well last night and my bed is calling me... I'm hoping to post more frequently now that taking a break from school. So as always, choosing joy! Jacki Marie.

Sorry, I'm late...

2011-02-22T18:15:00.004-05:00

My entry in Hambo Hoedown for this week... I used Pelican Digi colored with Copics. The two part message is from the Fractured Funnies line also of Hambo and Basic Grey papers.

School is over! I'll be back later, eventually... with something, but for now, I'm just trying to get this in by the deadline.

Top Secret Admirer

2011-02-15T13:59:00.001-05:00

Another entry in Hambo's weekly challenge on the Hambo Hoedown...

I found a few minutes to color late last week and this is the result here in the frame. Then in true spy fashion, he went missing. My room is still is a state of chaos because I'm only able to do a little at a time. Anyway, at some point I must have moved him from this picture frame.

So on today, the last day of the challenge, I had to start over.
I colored him again and this time before he could get away, I made a card from him. :) The challenge also requires that you include an additional heart so I put it inside with the sentiment. :)

This is Spy- digi from Hambo Stamps colored with Copics.

Game On

2011-02-07T22:55:00.003-05:00

This is the first card I've made in a long time. :) I'm afraid it took all the creative energy I had. I tried to make two, and it just didn't work. :( This is my entry for the Hambo Hoedown. Especially with all that I have going on, I'm looking forward to at least making one card a week... but hopefully more.

Football Girl- Hambo Stamps, Football- Hero Arts, Message-computer generated, paper-Basic Grey, colored with Copic markers and Prismacolor pencils.

BUT, I am doing great in my class despite the move and and the unpacking etc... I'm already in week 6 of 8. I'm still waiting on my grade for week 5, but my cumulative grade after week 4 was 98.5... just sayin'. I hope to finish just as strong. I'm working on "the Big Excel Project" this week. We don't get step by step instructions, but we have to put together all that we've learned so far.
The unpacking is going a lot slower than in previous moves because this is the first house we've moved into over the last 20 years that was actually smaller than the last. I'm also in a major purging mode. I've finally decided to get rid of stuff we don't use. I am going to have a massive garage sale as soon as spring arrives and whatever doesn't sell is going to leave via donations or dumpster. I'm even getting rid of most of my stamping/scrapping stuff and selling it. I want my room to be as uncluttered as Colleen Schaan's. She definitely inspired me. I don't know if I mentioned it before but she moved two doors down from me last year and I was sooo sad to leave her behind in GA.

Anyway, I must return to my school project. I hope you go to the Hambo Challenge blog and participare in the challenges. The first image is free to start and then you get a new free image just for participating each week.

Choosing Joy... Jacki Marie

New Year, New House...

2011-01-10T13:22:00.001-05:00

Dec. 30th

Wow! It's already January 10th! Where did the year go??!! Oh, I know... we've been "moving" for the last ten days. We actually closed on our new house on December 30, moved in a few key items and spent some time with my daughter who was leaving to go back to school the next day.

The kids and I in size order... I'm only taller than the 12yr old.

Pencils, welcome to your new home!

They are happy...

Dr. Pepper is in the house!

We got up the next morning and moved out of the the townhouse apartment on the 31st (where we'd lived since September). That day was rainy, but it was 50+ degrees all day and night. And believe it or not, in Michigan, it was still in the 50s at 11:56 when we brought the last item into the house. Happy New Year! At least we were in by the time the ball dropped.

Over the weekend, I organized the kitchen...

... and we bought a new rug for the family room.

We settled in as much as possible and then my class started up on Monday.

And then moving day came. A big snow storm was expected. The Dad had it all cleaned off before they got here, but it kept coming down! So apparently movers also shovel driveways...

So with the heat off, I sat at the kitchen counter as they brought in box after box after box.

I'm going to do some reading for my class and save the rest of the pictures for tomorrow. I have the bonus room for my office/study area and The Card Castle. Getting all this set up should be interesting... at least to me. :)

And here is where I sat...

Happy New Year! Choosing JOY, Jacki!!

I'm looking forward to the Hydrangeas!

Christmas Card Favorites....

2010-12-13T19:31:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas...

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 20 ~ Rest

2010-11-19T21:36:00.005-05:00

Rest... my goal for right now. Maybe not so much physical as emotional and spiritual.
One of the ways I'm going to achieve that is to step away from this blog for awhile.

I find it amazing that at the point I'm making this decision I am at R in my thankfulness alphabet, but things happen for a reason... don't you believe that?

So. I'm going to take a rest from doing so much online and focus on some things in my life that need my undivided attention.
I didn't want to leave you hanging and wondering... I'll see you back in January 2011.

wish I was here... LOL!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 19 ~ Quiche

2010-11-18T22:14:00.000-05:00

If you had asked me for the first 40 years of my life or so I would have told you my favorite food was Macaroni and Cheese. Somehow in the last few years, right under my nose, I think Quiche has edged ahead of the Mac and Cheese.

Crustless Spinach Quiche.

I love creating new Quiches. As a matter of fact, I'm baking one right now in preparation for my I'm thankful for Quiche day. :) I can't wait until I get in my new kitchen where I'll have a little more space make a yummy crust too...

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 18~ Purple

2010-11-18T00:30:00.000-05:00

No explanation needed, right?

This is just one of my favorite purple cards.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 17 ~ O is for Offer!

2010-11-17T18:22:00.000-05:00

I'll be honest. I couldn't come up with a legitimate 'O' to be thankful for for today. But I decided to wait and see how the day progressed and hoped that something would come to me or be obvious to me.
Just like God provided the ram for Abraham, He provided an O for me to be thankful for today. We have a OFFER on our house in GA. Yippee!!! Now we can just pray that all will go well with this sales agreement and contract and that the new owner will be as blessed to cook in the best kitchen in the whole wide world as I was.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 16 ~ Naps!

2010-11-16T19:38:00.003-05:00

I hated naps growing up. As a teenager, I didn't need naps because I was the rare kid and teenager that enjoyed going to bed early... that is until my senior year in high school and they put a 13 inch black and white television in my room. :)
I was never much of a napper until the kids came, I started taking naps right along with them because... they wore me out!
These days, I'm the queen of the power nap. I can lay down for 20 minutes and feel a whole lot better!
So I had a nap today, and I'm thankful for it.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 15 ~ Music

2010-11-15T08:49:00.001-05:00

I wanted to say so much more about LOVE in yesterday's post, just like today. There is so much to say about music and I'm afraid to minimize it by not saying enough or bore you to tears by saying too much...

Flower and message (Hero Arts) Background(computer generated)

I LOVE all kinds of music. I can listen to almost every genre. I do have my favorites. So I've decided to just talk about one aspect of music. Music as a message carrier... You've heard that music can sooth a savage beast... I'm not only talking about the music itself, but the message that it carries. I can't explain to you how many days my spirits have been lifted just by playing music with the right message and the right beat. Reason to Dance from BeBe and CeCe's Still CD.
I've been conscientiously using music in this way for most of my life and I was tickled to know that someone took the time to do a study on this subject. Several years ago I read an article about a study had been done on how to utilize music/songs to alter your mood. You start by playing music that corresponds with your mood and gradually change it to more uplifting and upbeat songs. For instance, if your boyfriend breaks up with you, play that sad "I'll never fall in love again" song and wallow for the 5 minutes while it plays. Then play something hopeful or at least empowering like this one. Carrie Underwood's The More Boys I Meet. Seriously, that song cracks me up. Especially the chorus. Eventually you'll be skipping out the door with a renewed hope in love and life.

I didn't mean to talk so long today. This is mid-terms week and I have twice as much school work to do...

Music player(Art Impressions)message (Hero Arts) Background(computer generated)

Still choosing joy! Be blessed today! Jacki

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 14 ~ LOVE

2010-11-14T13:08:00.000-05:00

What's a good Thankfulness Alphabet without LOVE for L?

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." <-- I'm thankful for the LOVE that God gives.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 13 ~ Knowledge

2010-11-13T05:44:00.006-05:00

Knowledge, learning, education...

Y'all seriously, I'm thankful that my brain still works. I'm taking 3rd year level college courses after being out of school for 23 years--- and my brain STILL works! And here I was afraid that all those years of Elmo and Junie B Jones and Captain Underpants had irreparably damaged something up there.

2012, baby!!

P.S. To answer the question, what am I studying or what do I want to be when I grow up?

I already have an Associates Degree in Finance and Accounting. Now I want to do something with Graphic Design or Web Design which is also an Associates program. The solution was to put me a program called Technical Management which is a lot of business and management classes along with the technology based design classes. It is the program that most of my credits transferred into so that I'm starting as a junior.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 12 ~ J is for... !

2010-11-12T07:11:00.002-05:00

couldn't decide on ONE so, here is my list...

Jesus
Jacqueline (my name),
Jannelle, Jillana, and Julianne (my daughters)
job (the awesome one I'm going to get SOON)
joyfulheartart.com ( I registered my domain name.. website to come soon)
Joyful Heart Art (the business itself and my ability to be able to see what I create)
JOY (this world didn't give it to me and NO ONE can take it away)
jewelry (I just like it)

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. choose Joy today. Remember it's not what happens to you, but how you deal with what happens to you.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 11 ~ Happy Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T00:41:00.000-05:00

Taking a break from the alphabet today to say Thank You and Happy Veteran's Day to ALL who have ever served our country (and their families), especially those I call family and friend. Thank you for your service!!!

Brave Girls Club...

2010-11-10T10:49:00.000-05:00

To all my girls...
If you haven't heard of the Brave Girls Club, you should go here to the Brave Girls website and read about it and sign up to receive the inspiring emails.

Even if you don't have time to do that, make time to read this blog post. Seeing Past What It Seems
I strongly, strongly recommend it. It takes a strong brave girl (or boy) to adjust your behavior and become compassionate to others despite of what it seems on the exterior.

That's my PSA for today. We need each other... family, friends, neighbors... we need to be more compassionate to each other.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 10 ~ Internet

2010-11-10T09:32:00.002-05:00

Today, I'm thankful for the Internet, my iPhone and all the technology that brings me closer to my friends and family. I'm thankful for the new friends and friends brought back into my life after many years. I'm thankful for the ability to do research, and read books without leaving the house. I'm thankful for being able to read the Bible, receive verses of the day, and inspirational emails.

I'm thankful for the instant ability to communicate.

Be blessed today!

P.S. And part b: the weather here is amazing... 65+ degrees in Michigan mid-November?? Thank YOU! (especially since almost all of my winter clothes are in storage.)

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 9 ~ Heritage and Hope!

2010-11-09T22:42:00.000-05:00

I mentioned that my brain likes to alphabetize and organize things. This is why I had this crazy notion to alphabetize my thankfulness statements. Because there are more days in November than there are letters in the alphabet, some of the letters will be used twice. I thought H was one of those letters. This morning I couldn't decide which to do first.... hope or heritage. I had a strong sense of urgency about both. I think it's because of my heritage -- my earthly heritage AND my godly heritage that I have HOPE. The gave me a great loving and Christian foundation. Parents remember... your kids will learn from you or learn because of you.

Although none of them were/are perfect, they taught me and nurtured me and helped me to become who I am. I was fortunate enough to have a relationship with both my grandmothers growing up. One grandmother lived til 96 and the other is currently 99. We are planning a big "to do" for her 100th next year! My mom's dad was a part of my life until I was in my late 20s I still miss him, but will never forget all that he taught me. My dad's dad passed away before my first birthday, but a lot of him lived on in my dad and my dad was a big influence on my life. My mom was and is still a big influence on my life. She went back to college when I was in HS. I'm a little older than she was when she went back, but her example is a big part of why I'm in college now. I don't have very many pictures on my computer apparently and not a lot of time to dig them up, but you get the idea. I love these people... I'm so thankful!!!

My Godmother

granddad

Grandma about 10 years ago

Grandma getting clean bill of health last spring

mom and stepfather

Granddad and sister probably 70s

Dad in the 80's

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 8 ~ Grace!

2010-11-08T16:54:00.002-05:00

"Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too... " ~unknown

Here's what I think about GRACE and why I'm thankful for it...

Grace is often defined as unmerited favor.
Grace is getting something good, when you really deserve something bad.
The ability to give grace is supernatural.

Remember when you were a kid and you stomped up the stairs screaming, "that's not fair!" ( oh wait, that was me. LOL) and your mom uttered some very wise words that went something like... "We don't always get what's fair in life." I'm sure I received a spanking from my mom along with this tidbit of wisdom. LOL But that was a different time... way back in the olden days. :)

Well, life still isn't fair...still. Some days I wake up thinking, "Why ME??? and then other days I wake up crying "WHY me?" I'm so glad it isn't fair. I'm thankful that they Lord blesses me in spite of me. Every time I look into the eyes of one of my offspring I realize how unfair life is. I'm so blessed!

Ephesians 5:8 ~ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Yes, I'm thankful for Grace today, --which by the way is what I named my cell phone, my constant companion therefore requiring a name-- there's a long story to that which I'll save for another day...

Be blessed and I'm still choosing JOY!!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 7 ~ Friends!

2010-11-07T21:11:00.003-05:00

A little late today, but for F, I'm thankful for friendship. I've been incredibly blessed with friends who are there for me when I need them, friends who let me come to their rescue when I can, friends who will always answer a distress call no matter how much time it's been since the last time we spoke. I have friends who I've never met in person but who always seem to know when I need a little encouragement... yes. I am blessed in the friendship department. Here are some of my favorite friend cards along with some of my favorite friend quotes.

A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

If you only have one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Maya Angelou

"If friends are Flowers, that makes us Best Buds" Hambo Stamps

True friendship isn't about being there when it's convenient it's about being there when it's not.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you do, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

It is not so much our friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us. Epicurus

Friendship is a comforting smile, a familiar voice that warms the heart, and the freedom to be the person God intended.

A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.

It is not so much our friend's help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us. Epicurus

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they grow separately without growing apart. Elisabeth Foley

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possible not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. Anais Nin

In prosperity, our friends know us, in adversity, we know our friends. John Churton Collins

Friendship is a treasured gift, and every time I talk with you I feel as if I'm getting richer and richer.

True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable" ~ David Tyson

A friend is a hand that is always holding yours, no matter how close or far apart you may be. A friend is someone who is always there and will always, always care. A friend is a feeling of forever in the heart.

Nintendo DS Card

2010-11-06T20:41:00.001-04:00

Making this card really made me miss my stuff. I didn't realize how easy basic tools like corner rounders and circle punches make my crafting time. Maybe not as much easier as it provides a cleaner more professional look. Oh and paper. I don't have much paper here so when I thought I might re-do this card, I couldn't! (sigh) It really will be like Christmas, because it will be Christmas (We are moving the week before) when I get my room unpacked and I CAN'T WAIT!
I didn't think I would say this, but I didn't realize when I left my stuff to be packed up for storage that it would be this long until I saw it again. I MISS MY STUFF! I keep getting ideas that I can't do anything about. My idea sketch book will be full, believe me!

I noticed that I forgot to round the edges on the bottom flap before this picture was taken, but I fixed it before I mailed the card.

The black paper inside is black board contact paper. You can actually write on it with chalk! For the birthday message, I'd use something more permanent like a metallic marker on one surface and allow the child to use chalk to change the "screen" on the other half.
So cardstock, black contact paper, and a white gel pen (thanks Velda)... and that was it. Fun Fun...
Be blessed... I have to finish a little homework and come up with my Thankful post for F for tomorrow...

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 6 ~ Everlasting Life

2010-11-06T10:15:00.000-04:00

God is amazing and generous with His love and grace. I'm so glad He provides for me when I don't deserve it. As I state on the side of my blog, I'm a princess because I'm a child of the King of Kings. I'm a child of the King of Kings because I accepted His gift of salvation. Once we accept His gift of salvation He adopts us into his family (John 3:16 and Romans 8:16).

Since I can't take a picture of "Everlasting Life", I thought I would show you the picture representing the princess. Tim and Monica Hunter of Hambo Stamps made and sent me this card for my birthday. Time colored Wee Henrietta the Princess version to look like me.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 5 ~ D is for Sisters!

2010-11-05T07:25:00.006-04:00

"Family... a group experience of love and support.” Marianne Williamson

Ok, before you decide that I need a remedial course in the alphabet, let me explain. All their names start with "D" (My mom's name starts with a D also but she gets her own post later in the alphabet). There are 5 of us. I have 4 sisters no brothers. And then there was me, right smack in the middle-- two older sisters and two younger sisters. For a long time I considered being the only J a curse... I could have come to that conclusion when they frequently called me odd-ball and other names like that. ;) I felt alone in the world (tear). But at some point in my senior year in High School, I decided that it meant *I* was the SPECIAL one. LOL! That made a big difference for me. See it's all about perspective.
Seriously, I love all my sisters and I'm proud to be a part of this special sorority. Thanks to my mom's direction, we are 5 proud and beautiful people, mothers (a couple grandmothers), daughters, granddaughters, cousins, and friends.

me, Darlene, Neicy(Denise)

Dannette, Tracy and Gary(neighbors), Diane, me, Neicy(Denise),Darlene

Diane with nieces, nephews, and grandson

me and Neicy(Denise)

Neicy(Denise) and Dannette

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 4 ~ Creativity

2010-11-04T01:06:00.003-04:00

The Stamping Station

God blessed me with an artistic ability. He also blessed with me the inclination and the space in which to be creative. It's a dream come true for me. As a matter of fact, I debated whether or not to make this my C for Card Castle or D for Dream Room on my alphabetical 30 days of thanks... As you can see, C won. I have something else for D. But I digress. You probably don't need to know too much about how my mind works. Back to C is for Creativity...

The Stamping Station

Just before we moved this summer, I (and Gina and Dawn) spent quite a bit of time purging and reorganizing my creative space that is fondly referred to as The Card Castle. I didn't take a picture of the full sized table that used to hold all the paper, but with the paper moved, I definitely had more space to work and color. BUT I'm going to have to start all over again next month when I set up my new room in our new house.

The Bridge above The Stamping Station

Yes, we found a house. We are still hoping and praying the house in GA sells sooner than later. Add that to your prayer list, ok? Anyway, I can't wait to tell you about the new room. It's a bonus room and fairly large. I'm actually going to be able to combine my computer/office/study area with The Card Castle and I'm going to do more purging. My life is changing with me being a college student, and hopefully soon gainfully employed I won't have as much time to create. It will truly be my downtime when I get to make cards. Look out for another sale after Christmas. I want to show you the pictures, but I'll wait until I get my stuff in instead of showing you the current owners stuff.

The iHome for my music and die cutters and other tools.

Speaking of creating... My resume is done, and I'm hoping it will help me find a job where I can creatively earn some money. :) Wouldn't it be awesome to find a job making cards, or updating a blog or Facebook? LOL! Be blessed!

Stamps and Paper

P.S. Here is a link to the before pictures of my ever evolving room. You can see how I got rid of a lot of junk if you compare photos.

Oh, and I forgot to make a point... you can be creative anywhere, but I found having a space designated as my craft space (even when it was just a small desk) was the key to actually making time to craft, especially when my kids were younger and I was busy.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 3 ~ My Babies!

2010-11-03T00:14:00.002-04:00

1999

I'm pretty sure I don't have to explain this post too much. God blessed me over and over with the best kids in the world.

1998

1988

1989

1992

1995

1998

Anybody Wanna Pray With Me?

2010-11-02T10:24:00.001-04:00

It's time to update the prayer list.

If you submitted a prayer request last time, please leave a comment here to update us.
Please add your new requests in the comment section on this post. If you are a prayer warrior, please leave a comment of encouragement.
If you are not reading this post directly on the blog, please come to the blog itself to leave your comments so that we can keep everything in one place.

Be Blessed! Watch CeCe sing "Anybody Wanna Pray With Me" on YouTube.
This card was made with stamps by smARTworks.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 2 ~ Attitude

2010-11-02T00:32:00.004-04:00

This print will be hanging in my new studio in December!*

Today's post is going to be short and sweet. I'm thankful today that God taught me this lesson a long time ago. It's all about the attitude...

"Joy is not in things, it's in us" Richard Wagner

Choosing joy is my motto. When I realized that although I can't always change my circumstances but that I had a choice in how I chose to handle those situations, my life was totally changed. That's all I have to say today. I need to keep this short if I'm going to commit to doing a blog post each day. I'm going to leave you with some words that have inspired me...

Marianne Williamson is quoted as saying, "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are". and " We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what is wrong in your life, or you can focus on what is right".

And to sum it all up, Charles Swindoll said this." The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more than the past, the educations, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90%how I react to it".

*Jaishi's work always makes me smile. If you want to see more click here to go to her website. There is a link there for her Etsy shop. She's also on Facebook.

"Joy is not in things, it's in us" Richard Wagner
Orchid (GinaK), message (Stampin Up) Background (The Angel Company)

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 1~ Adversity

2010-11-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

Yes, you read that right. On the first day of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness, I'm thankful for adversity. I don't particularly care for adversity, but when it's over, I'm always better for it. So I have to count it among the things I'm thankful for. Sometimes it's not a situation but a person who create the conflict. Even those people who rub me the wrong way have a place in my growth process.
At least this is what I tell myself to keep from hitting them. LOL... I'm just kidding... ok not really. :)
Have you ever heard the saying that mean people are like sandpaper? In the movie The Fighting Temptations, the character played by Beyonce says this in response to comments made by such a person. "You know what Sally told me once? She said, "When life makes you have to put up with mean and hateful people, just think of them as sandpaper. They may scratch you, rub you the wrong way, but eventually you end up smooth and polished and the sandpaper... it's just going to be worn out and ugly."
So, yes... today, I'm thankful for adversity... especially when it's over! And no, I'm not going to post a picture of my "sandpaper" LOL.
By the way, if you didn't already, click on the title of the movie above when you have a few minutes to listen to some of the songs from the soundtrack and maybe even read about the movie and watch the trailer if you haven't seen it before.
Join with me in posting something you're thankful for each day this month? I'm attempting to post my list in alphabetical order, because my brain likes to organize. You don't have to do it that way. Feel free to be completely random. The purpose is for us to focus on what we have and how much we are blessed instead of what we don't have or what is wrong in our lives. I'd like to know what you come up with too so if you post on your blog, please send me a link. If you don't have a blog, post it on Facebook. If that isn't an option for you either, write the list somewhere like a journal, or your white board on your fridge. And then to share with the rest of us, just leave a comment on this blog.

God is good isn't He? This song says, "'though I ain't good enough, but He still loves me."
His love, now that is something to be thankful for, for sure!
(If you're reading this anywhere other then the blog itself, the video doesn't show up. You can click here to go to YouTube to watch scenes from the movie and hear this really great song. He still loves me.)

And NOW are YOU aware?

2010-10-30T15:01:00.000-04:00

Each year we are drenched in pink merchandise sold during October. Even if we are color blind, there's no way we've missed that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Did you know that last year marked the 25th year of the observance? I didn't even realize there was an actual organization(ncbam.org), although, I was aware of the mission-- which is to empower women to practice self-breast exams, be examined by your physician and have a mammogram at least once a year.
At the end of a month of awareness, are you more aware than when it began? What message did you get this year. What have you learned, and what if any changes are you going to make because of the information you've received?

We all have been touched by this disease in one way or another. We owe it to ourselves and our children to take care of ourselves and follow the guidelines. I remember a few years ago they advocated a buddy system. Who have you prompted this year? Who has prompted you?

Consider yourself prompted...

If she doesn't inspire you, nothing will. Take a minute to watch this video about a woman I'm proud to call my cousin, Andrea Ivory on CNN. She was nominated as a CNN Hero in 2009. She started an organization to provide free mammograms to women in south Florida by way of a mobile mammography van. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she realized how fortunate she was that she had insurance and support and wanted to offer those same opportunities to every woman. She says, "When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I never asked why me, instead I asked what for?" She is definitely an inspiration to me. I hope you are inspired at the very least to take care of your heath if you've been taking it for granted... Better still grab a woman you care about and inspire her too! Be blessed!

My cards are made with ribbon bear and ribbon bunny -- digital images from Bugaboo Stamps. The paper is Basic Grey and the messages are from a Hero Arts set called Essential Messages CL371. I'm still making cards with a very limited amount of supplies and NO embellishments.

Somebody needs to update this blog.

2010-10-24T21:41:00.001-04:00

We haven't talked since World Card Making Day... and wow, so much has happened.

Let's get started with the important news that I know you are dying to hear...

We are still in a townhouse, still looking for a job, still in school or back in school. I haven't taken too much card making time, but I have done a little coloring. Amazingly enough, I've been sending cards. As a matter of fact, there are several cards sitting right here waiting for the mailman to come in and get them. He didn't get the memo last week... LOL
We found a house! We found a house that we all could agree upon, most importantly. We are still in the same school district but not the same neighborhood. I'll show you a picture or two of the space that is going to be The Card Castle later this week
Our house has not sold in GA, so be prayin' that the perfect family is coming soon to see it and purchase it SOON! :) Did I say soon, already?

In the way of updates, I don't have much else. The job search and now the classes are keeping me busy.

I did realize that I haven't shown you this card. I made this for my son who turned 15 in September. I made it but he sketched the design for me. He thought the ones I was working on were inappropriate for his manliness. :) Hey, he's an artist so he should have some say, don't you think?

Unfortunately that's all the time I have to chat today. I still have some reading to do for my classes. By the way, because I know someone is going to ask...

I'm taking Intro to Business and Technology. Very basic, but updated version of the Intro to Business I took a "couple" of years ago. And I'm also taking Computer Applications for Business. This was a prerequisite for the other computer classes I want to take. Again basic stuff. I'm hoping the classes this session aren't too difficult, and I don't think they are. They will keep me busy nevertheless.

So that's all for now. Leave me a comment and let me know you're still out there. Thanks for your patience.

World Card Making Day Results...

2010-10-17T14:36:00.001-04:00

Image unknown, colored w/Prismacolors, paper/Basic Grey, words/Hero Arts

I finally uploaded and edited the cards I made on World Card Making Day a couple of weeks ago.
Here is just a sampling. The rest are in my gallery in this album: World Card Making Day 2010
I'm trying to add the card details there, but if you have any questions, just ask.

image unknown, colored with Copics,
words/Hero Arts, paper/ Basic Grey

flower/GinaK Designs colored w/Prismacolors,
paper Basic Grey, messages Hero Arts

I didn't do any coloring that day. I used images I had previously colored and so I managed to assemble 24 cards.

flower/GinaK Designs, colored w/Prismacolors,
paper/Basic Grey, words/Hero Arts

Main image/Stampin Up, background/Hero Arts,
colored with Copics

Back in Business...

2010-10-02T11:37:00.002-04:00

This is a picture of what I'm calling The Card Castle North. I really can't call it a Castle anymore can I? Can you believe it? After being accustomed to having a whole room in which to create, this is all I brought with me!!?? This is where the true test of creativity begins. LOL! :)

So far, I have made a few cards but I've mostly done a lot of coloring. This has been an amazingly crazy and busy month. I have to be honest and say that the Copics are really growing on me as I get better with manipulating and shading the colors. I'll tell you a secret if you promise not to tell Color Pencils (what I call my collection of colored pencils). Sometimes I prefer the look I can get with the markers. shhhh!!!! Color Pencils and I go way back so I have to be careful not to offend. :)

I think I'm ready to start developing coloring classes with the markers and color pencils, but, I wonder if there is any interest here in MI... We will soon see. ;)

That's all I'm going to share for today because I have BIG PLANS! Seriously? It's World Card Making Day and I've announced to my family that I'm going to be making cards today. Truth be told, it would be much better for me if WCMD was on a work/school day when everyone is gone! I don't have a room with a door that I can close and cut myself off from real life. So today, if I get anything accomplished, it will be a miracle! I'm just realizing that the best part about having a room is the door... just kidding... not!

I will be back with a post showing you my successful card-filled day. Be blessed!

Casting Crowns - Who Am I

2010-09-22T08:13:00.000-04:00

I Wish...

2010-09-21T22:28:00.001-04:00

"I wish those days could come back once more

Why did those days ever have to go..." from Stevie Wonder's I Wish.

Rest in Peace, Pete...

My brother-in-law lost his battle with cancer last week, only to be rewarded with healing in Heaven. He was only 56 years old. Pray for my sister, niece and nephew, and his entire family as they grieve his loss.

There is something about funerals that really brings you to a place of reflection and introspection. They also provide a time of fellowship and reconnecting. I saw some people that I have not seen in 30 years. It was a really good feeling being in a place and with people that I spent a good part of my young life, although the reason for the gathering was very sad.

Pete was dear and will be missed by a lot of people -- family and friends.

I spent the last few days on the road. I drove all the way to NC from MI to attend my brother-in-law's funeral. We are in the process of moving so I had to go alone. The Dad was actually still in GA right up to the day I needed to leave to get to NC. But I was on a mission to get there and drove all night long. I now realize that driving all night wasn't a good idea. I am still exhausted from that. I decided to make the return trip in two days instead of driving straight through. I stopped in Washington DC area at my sister's house for a couple of days. But I'm heading back "home" to our new (temporary) townhouse. The Dad moved from the hotel to a townhouse with the kids while I was gone. The house hunting will resume once I get back. I/we could use your prayers too...

You know me, I color to relax so I did some coloring today. It's not a card yet but one of these days it ~~will~~ might be. :) This image and the song lyrics above remind me of my carefree days as a child...

Be blessed, my dear friends. Another of my sisters told me today that she strives to live like she's dying. In recent years, my motto has been to "live without regret." We truly don't know what our future. The most important thing you can do is to be sure Who holds your future. Who am I by Casting Crowns

Happy Birthday, Daughter!

2010-09-15T13:46:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday to me... 888/48

2010-09-14T10:32:00.000-04:00

This is my 888 post on this blog. Today, I'm 48 years old. 8 (eight) is my favorite number. I had so much to say about 8 and I haven't had time to say it... I will however show you the card I made for myself.
I'm practicing the coloring with the Copics. I love this color combination. :)

More later...

It is what it is...

2010-09-12T01:51:00.000-04:00

day1of 30 of my photo a day project

It's been raining today, all day. It's been cloudy more than not since I've been here. I used to say that something is always falling out of the sky here and honestly in the three years that we lived here before, that was a true statement. And even when nothing was falling from the sky, it was cloudy a lot. On the other hand, when the sun comes out, it's gorgeous! Especially in the summer time. Sunny and breezy without the humidity that we enjoy down in GA. I laugh inside when my Michigan friends complain about the humidity here as much as a laugh inside when my Georgia friends complain about 40 degrees being cold.
That's one of those good/bad things. Altough the sometimes lack of sun seems like it's a bad thing it's really a good thing. It's a good thing because I'm supposed to avoid sun exposure because of my skin condition. It's pretty hard to do in GA, but not so bad in MI. Can you tell I'm trying to hard to have a good attitude and not complain?

So as you can tell, we are in MI --some of us anyway.
The boys needed to start school on Tuesday, so I drove them here over the weekend. One bright spot in all that driving by myself is that I got to see my sister in Ohio. Actually I don't mind driving at all. I could probably be a long distance truck driver. What I do mind is the yip/yapping and complaining that can come from the back seat. I did what any self respecting mom would do... I invested in new ear bud/headphones. Not for me, because that would be dangerous, silly. I bought each of them a new set. Letting them stay up as long as they wanted the night before we set out was also helpful, because they slept most of the way.

After getting them to school on Tuesday, I had a very productive day. I went and made appointments at the Dr's office, the Dentist's office, transfered a prescription at the drug store, opened a PO Box, went to the mall and had a ring sized at my old jeweler, checked in with my hair stylist, visited my favorite coffee shop, and drove to a friend's house. I did all this before I had lunch!
The boys had a great first day at school. Going back to somewhere you've already lived has its benefits. The boys reconnected with people they knew from before. It was a good day.

The rest of the week was less productive but restful. There's not much to do when you're stuck in a hotel. One day was spent with Laundry, my ever present and faithful companion. I spent another day napping, and I even colored one day. Tomorrow, I'm going to the work out room. I promise. There I've said it on my blog so I have to do it. :)

I took pictures so that my daughter could see where I am. We've got a nice little set up. The kitchen area is perfect for coloring. These people can eat somewhere else, don't you think?
In these pictures you can see my two new empty tool caddies that I purchased for my rather large color pencil collection. One of the first rules of organization is grouping like items together. I couldn't do that with my former system because I had some tall pencils and some short. With these caddies, I can store them all in the same place. I can't wait to set up my new coloring area in my new room-- whenever that will be.

We also had a birthday celebration this week. He's already asked for a do-over when we can get the rest of the family together and we have the tools to make his favorite cookie cake. This is the first cookie recipe that I've used that also makes an awesome cookie cake. It's a yearly tradition for us. We have three birthdays in 6 days and no matter how much you enjoy cake, it's just hard to have three of them in that short a time span. After my daughter was born 21 years ago, my birthday cake of choice is of the cheese cake variety. He always chooses the cookie cake and she changes it up for variety.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I think I'm finally going to bed. I'm going to put the finishing touches on my birthday post for The Card Castle so I'll see you over there in the next day or so.

Choose joy, or go and find it if you don't see it as an option. :) Jacki Marie.

They are packing The Card Castle...

2010-09-10T10:28:00.000-04:00

and I'm not there! I'm experiencing a little anxiety. Not just about them packing my stuff with me not there, but because it's all going into storage and I won't be able to use it for a while. :(
This is really going to be a test of my creativity...

Happy Birthday, Son!

2010-09-09T13:51:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to my first baby boy... The son of mine formerly known as "The Boy" officially needs a new name. He sounds like man when he talks to me as he looks down at me... Did I mention that he is even taller than me?... a lot taller? I'm sure I have and yes I know that I'm the one who needs to get over that now. Here he is with The Dad who is 6'3".

We'll celebrate tonight and then again when the rest of the family joins me and the boys in MI. Come to think of it, this won't be the first birthday we've celebrated in a hotel over the years... and it won't be the only one we celebrate this week. ;)

We are surviving temporarily in a hotel for a week or so, and then we will be in a townhouse for a month or so-- that is if we can find a house in the next couple of weeks and start the process to buy it.

School started on Tuesday and both boys reconnected with friends from when we lived here before. It was a good day. I'm looking forward to this school year.
Now I just have to find a job for me...
In the meantime, this week, I'm still coloring to relax when I need to. ... My daughter wanted to see where we are so I took a few pictures and I actually have some pictures that I can show you...

It's Moving Time Again

As you can see in the pictures, I brought my coloring supplies. I did some coloring today, but I haven't finished his card.

the grown up boy...

but this is how his mom will always see him...

Coloring for Sanity...

2010-09-02T23:21:00.001-04:00

I had to take a break and do some coloring yesterday. I didn't have time. I had plenty of things I should be doing. BUT sometimes we have to take a well deserved mental break.
It definitely felt like the perfect time to pull out the Copics and thought I might get some practicing in.
So introducing Rainbow Clown. This is a stamp given to me by my friend Karen last year when she sent me all her stamping stuff. I gave the stamp away because it's not something I would use, but not before I stamped off a couple of images.

It looks like it needs a little more blending on the photo, but in person it doesn't look that bad. I'm still learning and practicing.. :)

Here is another image that I colored a couple of weeks ago. I colored the same image with markers and colored pencils in two different color schemes just to see how it would look. Can you tell which is which?

Now That's a Friend!

2010-09-01T11:33:00.000-04:00

I finally posted my boxes for sale, and boy did I wait until the last minute... (I still have a few available but they are selling faster than I expected. :)

Remember when I shared this post? It seems like just last week, but it's been well over an month since Gina came and helped me purge my stuff. This summer has been crazy with all the uncertainties of this relocation. ---crazy and frustrating... no FRUSTRATING. I like things to go according to plan. I have to have a plan. The older I get the more I plan and the more I realize that I have to be flexible. Realizing it doesn't make it easier to do. :)

Amidst all the confusion and frustration, God took a moment or two to show me and help me to realize and experience true friendship. This Gina, was amazing. She'd told me for a couple of months that she was coming to help me a project. Neither of us are very capable of sitting still very long so in that respect, we are two peas in a pod. The fact that we each multitask so well... LOL. Ok. I was going to be sarcastic. But I realize that most of you wouldn't get it. Gina and I are so easily distracted that it's not funny. Somehow, we managed to stay on task long enough each day to have accomplished a lot. I was amazed and incredibly overwhelmed with her generosity. We managed to add some fun into all the work too! She is a God-send. It is in the toughest times in life that we find out who our true friends are. Gina is one of them!

This was the first card I created after we found the table top again. :) The stamps are a hostess set from Stampin' Up. I won it when I became the first official follower of her new blog (Jayne Stamps) a couple of months ago.

Thanks again Gina!

The Card Castle Clean-out Sale

2010-08-30T22:23:00.002-04:00

UPDATE: All the boxes are sold and shipped! Thanks so much to all who participated.

I finally took a minute to take pictures and tape up the boxes. Remember when I started this project a couple of weeks ago. My dear friend Gina packed the boxes for me as she pried my wonderful (unused) goodies out of my hands. I really needed to purge because my space was no longer a place I could feel comfortable and create. tooo much clutter. --tooo, tooo much stuff. I got rid of a lot. And it feels like it to me. Some of those who came in the room expecting it to be empty after seeing the piles of boxes outside the door were disappointed. My daughter Julie said, "Mom, when you have a lot lot, and you get rid of a lot, you still have a lot." That seriously cracked me up! :) I had the stuff packed in. Have you ever seen me pack the trunk of the car with all the stuff seven people can and want to carry? or load the dishwasher after a big dinner? It's a gift I have. :) A gift and a curse. If I have space to put it away, whether or not I will ever use it again, I'll just put it away.

Unfortunately, I don't use the stuff I don't see. And then it was organized, except I got to a point where all the stuff that didn't fit in its designated space. That stuff was on the floor or sitting on another surface. That's when I knew it had to be done. As hard as it is to let go of stuff you've spent hard earned money on, it had to be done.

But thanks to Gina (and a little help from Jillana and Emmaleigh on the sorting side, and MJ on the taping and mailing side.) I did it.

It's done. The boxes are being taped as I type.

If you like grab bags, this is for you. You have to be an adventurous bargain hunter. I promise you at this price, there is no way you will be disappointed, but if you are, send me an email. I let Gina pack the boxes and she tried to evenly distribute each box with all styles of stamps. Some of the boxes have complete sets of stamps. I know for sure that two of them have those big 30 piece stamp sets from CTMH/DOTS. Most of the "stamps only" boxes even have an alphabet set.

They are going to sold as is. I know me, I couldn't go back and look through them or I'd start getting ideas and these boxes would not ever be mailed. The "card making misc" boxes have a variety of envelopes, papers, punches, ribbons, embossing powers, paints, chalks, ink, buttons, decorative edge scissors, and most have stamps too--- you name it is in these boxes.

I'm asking $25.00 per box. This includes the

Medium Flat Rate Box U.S. Priority Mail Postage of $10.70... since they are already boxed up, I guess that means I can only ship to U.S. addresses.

I'm sorry, because I waited until the last week I'm here I can only take Paypal payments. If I receive your payment before 3 pm on any day between now and Friday, I will ship out that day. After 3 pm, it goes out the next day. After Friday at 3pm, I won't be selling anymore until after I've moved in to my new house... whenever that will be.

P.S. If you're local and you can pick it up, deduct the shipping charge. :)

I numbered the boxes so if you have a favorite number, you can specify and I will oblige you on a first come first served basis. Specify whether you want STAMPS only (1 to 10) or CardMaking Supplies (1 to 13).

Don't leave your order as a comment here. Email me first at thecardcastle@yahoo.com first before sending payment so that I can confirm availability. If you have any questions be sure to ask. Just don't tell Gina, that I'm selling them so cheap.

I'll post again later with a card and the latest news... TTYL Choosing Joy! Jacki.

New Day, New Attitude...

2010-08-26T10:40:00.000-04:00

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Maya Angelou.

I'm changing my ATTITUDE!

I woke up with a better attitude this morning. I just decided that I'm going to make the best of it. I like plans, but plans change. I joked about being on plan K because this time the plans are constantly changing.

At least we finally have a lease for the townhouse (as of this morning) so I can officially register the kids in school. In case

you don't remember, it was a nightmare trying to register them when we first moved here three years ago. I'm still traumatized by it. It reduced me to tears in the closet... I posted that and some of my friends felt so sorry for me, which made me feel bad because this is my closet...

This closet is actually a sanctuary for me and a good hiding place. Because you have to go through the bedroom and then the bathroom, I have three doors that can be closed and or locked between me and them. Frankly, the kids usually give up before they make it all the way into the closet... Oops, I just gave away my secret. :)

Going back to this school district in MI is one bright spot on the horizon. The Dad stopped by the school on one of his trips up there last month to get the paper work we'd have to fill out. They remembered our kids from before and are excited that we are coming back. I had the counselors number ready to call as soon as we had the lease signed, but before that happened.... she called me! Not only is my high schooler registered for his classes, he already has a schedule in hand for the whole year. AND we did it all over the phone and with scans and emails. Sigh... I just love it when technology makes life easier, but you know it's the people who know how to use this technology that make life easier. If this were going to be a "complaining and grumbling" post, I would tell you about how in another aspect of this move, technology and common sense were not working so closely together. I won't mention that now. :)

One of my favorite Bible characters is Joseph from Genesis. Over and over again as he goes through prison and slavery and tough times, the Bible says God was WITH Him. I definitely feel His presence as I go through my minor difficulties.

We need to go back and get The Dad's car... you can read that story if you haven't already on today's post on The Card Castle.

Have a blessed day... I plan to. Choosing JOY! Jacki.

Another Special Birthday Card...

2010-08-26T08:30:00.003-04:00

Today's card is from the same coloring session and has a similar story. Card made early and still wasn't sent on time. This time I used the Birthday background stamp but it's very subtle... meaning you can hardly see it because the flower covers most of it and the ink I chose was very close to the cantaloupe card stock. Since it's late and the birthday message is subtle, I think I'll play up the friendship and not the birthday so much with this card. Sound like a clever plan? I like using the acetate cards but I don't use them often so this one falls in the special category... not to mention, the recipient is pretty special too... :)

Thanks for all the comments yesterday, it's good to know I'm not talking to myself!! LOL!

This roller coaster ride of a move has spun me for a loop again... Almost everything I said yesterday-- scratch it. The packing, the moving... ain't happening. At least not when I was planned. It will eventually. The townhouse fell through. The people who were moving out had to change their date which means we had to change our dates, right? We will be there in time for school start, I just have a little more time to get there. The first couple of weeks I'll be in a hotel or something still to be determined. (I still have a smile, even if it's a fake one.)

Right after I finished writing my blog post, my plan to pack were circumvented. The Dad told me we needed to drop off his car at the car dealership... in a town that is 35-45 minutes away. I was agitated at first because I had serious plans to pack, remember? Wait, let me show you his car...

Don't you hate it when even the auto repair guys are amazed. This is one of those "that shouldn't have happened" kind of accidents. A rock fell off a truck and struck the sun roof. --Since it shouldn't have happened, I think the manufacturer should replace that thing for free, don't you?-- It wasn't too long after we returned, and I was still trying to get myself back in packing mode, that we found out about the rental. So it was the delay that saved me.

So, as you know, even if it's just through reading this blog, relocating is like riding a roller coaster. There are highs and lows, and sometimes the drop between the two makes your heart race. --- or send you spiraling into a depression... but we aren't going to let that happen, right?

Since I have another week now, I'm headed back to hopefully purge a little more of the junk in the basement so that I don't have to do it on the other end. I think I have some of my people inspired finally.

I hope your day is blessed, because I'm determined to be on the look out for all my blessings... Choosing JOY! Jacki

Read more of my thoughts about this relocation today on from a joyful heart... New Day New Attitude.

Plan K

2010-08-25T18:25:00.000-04:00

If I don't laugh about it, I will cry...

We are not packing and moving tomorrow as planned. The townhouse will not be available as promised. But, I will be in MI by the time school starts. That's all I know right now.
Y'all might want to say a serious prayer for me right now. :)

So Far, Not So Good...

2010-08-25T09:28:00.000-04:00

I started this week with plans to be organized and efficient. I didn't calculate in all the things that could throw my plans out of whack. We had a house showing that was unexpected and a waste of time probably. Not only did the realtor and buyer miss the first appointment, they showed up early for the second appointment and rushed us out. When the buyer mentioned the great pictures of our home theater that's he's seen, I knew he was not going to want our house. Those pictures were from another neighbor's house that is for sale.

Today, I have to pack. I should be doing that now and not blogging, by the way. I have to pack everything we are going to take with us and live with in the townhouse for the next few weeks. Today, I have to actually try to make it fit in the cars too. Once they pack and load the truck, I won't be able to change my mind because something won't fit in the car. The packers will be here tomorrow to pack everything else in the house. All of that will go into storage. We have not found a house yet, so we are renting. We want the boys to start school on time.

That's really all I have time to say today. I will post some pictures tomorrow...

A Special Birthday

2010-08-25T09:06:00.003-04:00

Every birthday is special if it's yours, right? This card would've been even more special to the recipient if I'd mailed it on time. I did make it and write in it, and then I went on vacation. Actually I ran away from home alone to just chill out. Anyway, I didn't mail it until after the fact.
I call this one special because I don't do folds like this everyday. This is similar to the one one I made back when I was working for Hero Arts (which I'm not anymore by the way) and it was on their blog. I wasn't required to write up directions for the blog and I did write directions when I did a similar one on this blog. This feels like one I should video tape the next time I make one.

There's so much to tell... But basically, I can't today. I have to pack up everything we need for the next month or so and try to pack the van before the movers get here. They will be here starting tomorrow!
After today, I'll have time to tell you about my trip to Chicago, my book, share more cards, show you some of the coloring I've been doing with the Copics. Oh my goodness... there's so much to tell.
Let me know if you're still reading this. I post so infrequently, I don't even know if anyone is reading anymore. I'm on Facebook all the time if you're interested in keeping up with me more often. I do have plans to get going again (more often) with this blog once I get settled.

Pray for me today and over the next couple of days... Be blessed. and Choose JOY... it's definitely the choice to make. I don't want the alternative.

Notes on the subject of moving...

2010-08-22T03:32:00.000-04:00

I really intended this to be a blow by blow diary of what's it's like to relocate. I laugh sometimes when a friend will comment on this process and how I handle it. "Like a pro" one friend says. Others say," I don't know how you do it!" The truth is I don't know how we did it either. When I look back, all I can say is each day each situation was handled with an extreme amount of prayer and strength from God, a lot of organization.
This time, there are a lot of emotions hanging out with me that are very personal. I'm not really interested in sharing them in a public forum like this. Just know that I totally believe that God is with us, and continues to give us his immeasurable strength. He continues to answer prayers when we pray. When we don't trust Him, I believe he allows us to feel the consequences of our actions so that we will trust Him again.
I said all that to say, that this isn't going to be a blow by blow after all, but rather it will hit on some of the highlights. One of these days, we'll talk about the rest, ok?
****************
Today is Sunday, August 22. This is the week we actually move. The packers will be here packing up all our stuff at the end of the week. Before they arrive, I have a lot of organizing to do. They pack everything in the room they find it in so I have to make sure everything is in place before they arrive. We might find something that we know belongs somewhere else and stop wrapping and go and take it there. no... they see it and pack it. For this reason, we need to have everything that is going with us and not into storage totally separate. I think I'm going to designate one of the boys rooms for that purpose. We are moving to a townhouse temporarily because we haven't yet found a house and school starts after Labor Day. If I follow my own advice, I have a lot to do in The Card Castle before they arrive.

I started this blog post in the middle of the night. I don't really know why I couldn't sleep, because I was exhausted earlier, and now somehow blogging has made me sleepy. More when the sun comes up...

Another Simple Birthday Card

2010-08-02T15:25:00.001-04:00

Here is another birthday card, or set of cards, that I made for a custom order. I've still got several more to do.

I love including Kraft paper with any color scheme when possible. I think this is a new trend for me. :) I used to include a little black on most of my cards, now it's Kraft.

I'm working on my post for my sale. So far I have 8 flat rate boxes of stamps only ready to go. I sent my daughter to the post office for more boxes... stay tuned.

Set of 5

Simple Birthday Card

2010-07-24T11:49:00.009-04:00

Happy Birthday image by Stampin Up and textured card stock by Bazzill

This birthday card was part of a set of cards I made for a custom order.

Surprisingly enough I don't have much to say today. I did write a little about my house hunting trip on the other blog. I'm starting to feel schizophrenic again because I'm writing two blogs. I did want to keep that process separate, I just haven't had time to do the writing about moving that I really wanted to. Maybe this week will prove to be a week with more than 24 hours in a day? What do you think? I need more hours in a day. I have to finish with the purge and sale, I have more cards to make, more images to color, birthdays to celebrate... It just doesn't slow down.

Set of 4 Birthday cards.

As I know first hand, it's all about the attitude-- and I have to check myself sometimes. It's during those times of stress, when the tasks outweigh the time, that our true character is shown.

Here is verse filled with hope. ( just in case someone else might need it today)

Psalm 112:4 "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man."

Be blessed and choose joy! Jacki

House Hunting (part one)

2010-07-24T11:24:00.000-04:00

I put my Castle purging on hold for a few days in order to travel to MI and look for a new house. I wish I could report to you that we found the perfect house in two hours like we did on our move to Warner Robins a few years ago, but with a deep sigh I'll tell you, we are still looking. After three days of physically going to houses and then back to some of the same houses again, I felt like Goldilocks before she found the perfect one. But that story gives me hope; it will come with a little more perseverance. It just hasn't happened yet. But I thought I would show you some of the pictures I took along the way.


You would expect something special behind a door like this, right?

All the purple flowers should have been a clue...

Sports Bar in the basement?

Seven stools - proof that the Seven Dwarfs lived there, or perfect for the Jones7?

Lots of nice houses, and interesting houses, but noting perfect for us just yet. I'll be back up there again, soon to do it all again. Two benefits to going back are my favorite restaurant and my daughter, but not necessarily in that order. LOL! Food Dance Cafe in Kalamazoo. They boast authentic eclectic new American Cuisine. They serve very tasty organic foods. I'm not a meat eater, but not totally a vegetarian, and they have plenty of vegetarian choices for me.

My oldest baby... :)

My new favorite pizza--

It's been far too long since I've colored or finished a card. So that is on my agenda for today, at some point. I actually made this trip without my colored pencils... what was I thinking?

God already knows the next house I'm supposed to live in. Knowing that takes away the anxiety for me. I hope your day is blessed. Until next time... Choosing Joy! Jacki

With Sympathy (more)

2010-07-20T00:35:00.001-04:00

While adding more sympathy cards to my stash, I decided to make a Thank You card too, using the same design and image-- but this time it begged to be colored. I haven't been doing much coloring lately as you can imagine with school and moving projects. I think I need to.

Quick question? If my need to color exceeds my time to make cards, what should I do with all the extra images?

Card One: With Sympathy, Trees(Stampin' Up)

Paper(Basic Grey)

Card Two: Thank You
Trees(Stampin' Up), Background lines (TAC), Thank you (Hero Arts)

Sale Postponed...

2010-07-18T00:21:00.000-04:00

for a week... I'm really sorry about the delay, but I'll be back next weekend with pictures and a list of what's for sale.

Belated Birthday

2010-07-16T11:05:00.000-04:00

As I was sorting stamps the other day, I was reminded of the many belated birthday stamps I have. I've talked about how I oftentimes make a card for someone's birthday well before the date, but then never write in it and mail it? I'm not sure what the cause of that is, but I'm hoping with a lot less clutter, and a lot of determination, I'll be able to improve this year. I love sending and receiving cards, always have.
I've decided that I need to make up a few belated cards too-- since I have so many stamps of that nature.

Here is one made with a couple Hambo stamps-- from the last release I think. The message is in two parts and the inside says "I didn't want to talk with my mouth full."

I'm going to post some more pictures of my room later today or maybe tomorrow. So far, and this is without sorting through the paper, I have 14 flat rate boxes full of card making supplies and 16 boxes full of stamps ready to be sold. There are a few other things that I'm going to sell individually like a couple of paper trimmers, embossing powders, travel containers and bags... It was all in there and for the most part, organized-- but overwhelming. Just too much stuff that I will not ever use.
I took a break from cleaning this morning, but now I must get back to work. Either that or I'll take my girls out for a little while. :)

My sister sent me this clip in an email this morning and it is so inspiring that I thought I would share it.
It is the Valedictorian from Booker T. Washington's 2010 graduating class. You will be inspired too.
Be blessed today. For those of you who today means the end of your work week, Happy Friday to you!

The Card Castle Re-Do/ Re-duce/ Rearrange

2010-07-14T10:49:00.000-04:00

I'm cleaning, and purging, and really purging.... Have plenty of before pictures, and I can't wait to take after pictures. The "in-progress" pictures here make the room look messy, but you are really seeing is empty drawers were stuff that I didn't use was kept. I also moved some tools like the Bind-it-All and the Rollabind that I didn't use because they were not very accessible.

Here are my helpers... two of them quit after on sorting job. The other one... the one texting while she sorts paper is my rescuer. I was having a hard time making decisions and letting go, but she is more than motivating me. I would say she is actually a little mean, but she's doing what I asked her to do. She is imitating the dude on Clean Sweep (my favorite).
The last picture is the stuff that is leaving here so far. Gina has packed up TEN flat rate boxes of misc. embellishments. We are going through the paper and stamps today after a brief trip out for coffee...
I can't wait to finish my room and get started on my scrapbook about me!! (That sounds a little self centered doesn't it?)
Have a blessed day!

With Sympathy

2010-07-11T11:11:00.001-04:00

I have a hard time making sympathy cards, especially when they are needed. It's always better to have a couple on hand, don't you think? This scenic image is one of my favorites and I've had it for years. I mentioned before that it's not available for sale and the company went out of business -- still it's one of my favorites to color with Prismacolor pencils.
The background stamp is Stampabilities and the message is Hambo.

I'll bet your wondering how the moving is coming along. Yeah me too? Ha! Seriously, we have no definite dates as of yet, but I'll keep you informed.

The deck is coming along nicely

2010-07-06T18:00:00.000-04:00

no thanks to me...

I'm cleaning and making cards. But the dad is working on the deck. With the second coat on the railing, it's looking pretty good.

You can stand under my umbrella...

2010-07-06T16:50:00.002-04:00

The card says:

"friendship is shelter from life's little storms"

I say: It's during the storms and tough times that you discover your true friends.

“May God give you...

For every storm a rainbow,

For every tear a smile

For every care a promise

and a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends a faithful friend to share,

For every sigh a sweet song

and an answer for each prayer."

~ Irish Blessing

To my friends (and you know who you are)--- Thank YOU!

Happy Birthday, America.

2010-07-04T07:57:00.004-04:00

Anybody Wanna Pray With Me?

2010-07-01T23:23:00.002-04:00

It's about time to update our prayer list. If you submitted a prayer request last time, pop in and update us.

Please add your request in the comment section. Please comment to encourage those if you are a prayer warrior.
P.S. If you read this thru a reader or thru a feed or on Facebook, please come to the blog itself to leave comments so that we can keep everything in one place. Click here ---> Anybody Wanna Pray With Me?

Golf Happy Birthday

2010-07-01T17:44:00.004-04:00

It always amazes me how much a small effort can make a big difference in card making. First of all, this card is deliberately simple. Uncomplicated. Non-girly. I wasn't sure if it was done until I took a picture and once it saw it on the computer screen.
Stamps: Message (Hero Arts), Chipper(Stampington)

At first I looked through my gel pens for something green. -- By the way-- Gel pens stop working if you let them sit for years. Did you know that? Yeah, big investment, in the trash.

The white opaque pen was my second choice, and it turned out very good. The gel pen discovery, or lack of working gel pens prompted me to look online for Glaze pens. I found them on Monday, and they arrived today. Now that I've rediscovered the Glaze pen, I'll be using it more often-- so look for more pen stitching. :) I love the raised shiny look they give to my fake stitching. The only problem is, they don't come in brown.

Sakura Glaze Pens, 10/Pkg

What I did end up using was a Signo Uniball White opaque pen (this link is to show you what I have. I didn't buy it from this company).

My saying for today is...
"Sometimes it takes all day, to do nothing." I had such high hopes for today. :) I guess I needed to give my mind a break.

Blog note: I don't know why I started blogging on the other blog again. It always makes me feel schizophrenic. I'm going to try Blogger's new Pages feature. If that works, I can separate my "moving" posts, from my "non-moving" posts and stay on one blog. Maybe. We can only hope. Speaking of hope...

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy. Proverbs 13:12

And one of my favorite Babbie Mason songs-Hope has a name. "When you're too weak to fight, just remember, Hope has a name." It's a really encouraging song.

The Card Castle Re-

2010-07-01T15:40:00.000-04:00

model? Re-duction? Re-fresh? Whatever you want to call it, I'm purging. Big time. I have too much stuff that I don't have time to use. (yes, this is related to moving, thank you!) I have no idea where The Card Castle will be located this time next year, so now I'm motivated to do something about all this stuff. I've been threatening to do something with it for a while now, but time is of the essence. To get some perspective about where I am and what I'm talking about, here are some photos of The Card Castle... Today, I'm going through the paper. I have too much paper. I bought a lot of it in packs or blocks of paper. They are full of variety of styles and colors, usually. Some of the patterns I didn't like then, and I don't like now. It's not my "style"so it's outta here. And then there is all the paper that was my style at the time, but that I've outgrown. My tastes have changed. So with that being said, my oldest son and I are packing up flat rate boxes full of stuff. Today it's the paper, tomorrow(hopefully) we will do the same with the stamps... After we go through the embellishments, I'm going to sell or give away the boxes full of stuff.

Another thing, and not totally unrelated, I would like to work on is my autobiographical scrapbook. I started it years ago and didn't do much beyond gather pictures. I think I need to finish it--especially in light of the persuasive essay for my final grade in my composition class. It was called "Scrapbooking Me." It received an A. :) YEAH! Although, I can create a card in as little as 6 inches of workspace, I need to have a clean table or better yet a clean room in order to scrapbook. This gives me something to look forward to after I finish purging.

Speaking of purging, I almost bought a couple of new stamps the other day when I was at Archivers... but be proud of me, I didn't. I have to get through this mess before I can think about getting anything new. ahem... except for the Glaze gel pens that arrived in the mail today. I NEEDED them. No really??!! This was a need, not a want. :) Did you know that gel pens dry up? Yeah, that was a big investment down the toilet. I wanted to do some pen stitching on one of the cards I was making for this order I have and reached for one of these pens and it didn't work. I've only had them for 5 years. The nerve of them not to work. In case you don't know what I'm talking about Glaze are gel pens that leave a raised glossy line once it's dry. My favorite for pen stitching.

Back to the great basement clean out! Be blessed!

Deck Project (continued)

2010-06-29T20:39:00.000-04:00

True to form, I haven't done much more with the deck project since the last time I posted. Over the last few days, I've been working on a card order and cleaning The Card Castle in addition to the normal house/mom stuff I have to do which includes my taxi service. I wish there was a magic wand that would give me more hours in the day along with more energy during times like these. It'll get done and I'll take pictures. But not today.

The kids and I had a business meeting yesterday. We assigned tasks and made a chart so that theoretically, I can save my voice by not walking around the house telling people what to do. So far, it's helping somewhat-- but it's only the first day. I really wish they would let me video tape times like our meeting yesterday. They are hilarous. We really need to do a reality show. :) Maybe next time, I'll do a hidden camera thing. We'll see.

I signed up for Google Voice. I was really dreading having to change my cell phone number *again*. This way, once I get to MI, I can give the school and anyone else I want to have it, the Google number and they will be able to make a local call-- it'll ring on my cell phone just the same. One less headache I have to have of making sure people get the phone number change. It's all good.

Tomorrow, all projects are on hold long enough for us to go and see Eclipse. Tonight, I sleep.

Inspire

2010-06-29T13:27:00.001-04:00

I colored this a looooong time ago, but today it finally became a card. The dog and the Henrietta are two Hambo digital images that I merged to create one image. *Inspire* is a regular rubberstamp from Hambo Stamps. I don't have much to say today so I won't. :) Just thought I would let you know that I'm cleaning my room. Cleaning means I find stuff on the desk that inspires me and I will be in here for days... Talk to you later!

Choosing joy, Jacki Marie

Deck Project

2010-06-24T11:16:00.000-04:00

Families who frequently relocate know that it's best not to put off home improvement projects. This is one of those projects we talked about three years ago when we first moved in. But, if I remember correctly, we had to wait a certain period of time because the deck was brand new. We've talked about it several times, but life is busy. Now, we are finishing the deck for the next people who live in this house to enjoy.
Michael started the bleaching/cleaning process on Saturday and then we started staining on Monday. I'll add more pictures when it's completely done. It's a hundred degrees out everyday so I'm limited to working in the evenings after the sun is almost gone for the night. The last two pictures are to show the before and after cleaning.

Moving... this is what we do.

Favorite Pizza!

2010-06-23T17:10:00.000-04:00

I just realized that I never updated on the Favorite Pizza winner mentioned here on the post about the CeCe Winans cd.

My favorite pizza is from Pizza Hut. Thin crust, Veggie Lovers, no mushrooms, add pineapples.

I chose MsAJ as the winner because she was the closest but I'm sending something to everyone who guessed.
That's all... I've just been meaning to mention that for a while now.

I've started a blog about moving...

2010-06-23T16:48:00.001-04:00

from a joyful heart is now a blog about moving. If you are interested in following my ups and downs over the next few months as my family goes through another relocation >click here<.

this is now a journal about moving

2010-06-23T15:36:00.000-04:00

“Moving again?”
“I don’t know how you do it?”
“You could write a book.”

Just a few of the comments I've heard over and over again.

So here we are again. My husband’s company decided that Michigan is where he need to be instead of Georgia. So once again we pack up the kids and the dog in the old jalopy and head out. Before all that can happen, there are a lot of things that need to get done. Yes, I could write a book, but we all know I won’t. Instead, I’m going to journal about it as a way of remaining sane during this process.
The funny thing is, the older I get, the more accepting I am that this is a part of my fate. I’m accepting, but I don’t necessarily like it. I’m also old enough to admit that this time I have an attitude. I don’t want to move; at least not to Michigan. I wasn’t a big fan of the weather in MI is a nice way to say, I hate snow! I hate cold!
The positive side of moving back to MI is the people. We did have a lot of good friends that I am looking forward to re-connecting with. And we left a daughter there so it will be nice to be close to her again.
Another positive is we are moving back to an area where we’ve already lived so that initial adjustment period should be shorter. That first year after moving is such a downer. I’m always sooo disoriented. I have to find new doctors, new routines, finding new places for all stuff in the house. Everyday life is just more time consuming which means less time for downtime. It really cuts into my crafting time. The second year is a little better. By year three, we finally make friends, establish a normal routine, fit in, and then bam! -- it’s time to leave. Three years is the average amount of time we’ve lived in one place with the range going from 1 1/2 years to 6 1/2 years. We will be here exactly 3 years in about a week and a half.

There will be so much to coordinate and do over the next two months--which is about how much time we have before school starts. We have to sell a house-- which means we have to clean up and finish all those projects we've started. We have to figure out where we are going to live in Michigan, which means buying or renting a house. We have to actually schedule and plan the move. There is so much to coordinate. These things don't necessarily stress me out, but they can. Murphy's law is always in effect in times like these. "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." But, I prefer to concentrate on this mind-set. "Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it." This is a quote from Lou Holtz. He's got more to say that inspires me that I'll quote from time to time.

Journey with me as I try to find positives and especially God’s hand in each aspect of this endeavor.

Father's Day...

2010-06-23T14:42:00.001-04:00

I had a card I could've given to the kids to give their dad, but inspired by Christopher, my 5 year old friend, I created this one really quickly using an image from Darcie's and a message from GinaK. While I'm on the subject, I remembered that I never showed you the card The Boy made for me for Mother's Day. "The Boy" by the way seems inadequate a name anymore. It's more like "The Tall One", or "The Man." At 5'9" or maybe 5'10" by now, he hardly looks like a boy anymore. I know I talk about that a lot, because it seems like every time he goes to sleep, he wakes up a little taller. :)

Anyway, he made this card for me. He is very artistic. One of these days I'll scan some of the sketches and drawings he does and show you just how artistic he is.

The sun washed out the details in this picture, but he used a textured card stock and stamped the greeting in white ink. He couldn't find a stamp that he wanted to use for the inside so he used parts of three different stamps. "We" came from a "Welcome" and the "You" came from "Thinking of You." I was impressed.

For Father's Day, our dear friends the Hyde family -- most of them anyway (we miss you Beth) -- came here to spend the day with us. Michael wanted to "light up the grill". I wish I could say that I thought of cooking steaks for the dads, but that was an afterthought. --Or more of an unexpected opportunity. After he cooked the burgers and dogs that I planned for our simple dinner, he decided the grill was just the perfect temperature for steak. He and Tony stopped what they were doing and went to the store. It was so impressive that I had to snap a picture. :)

Tony is Amanda's husband. I got a call from Amanda on Friday that she was going to be in town on Sunday with no specific plans-- so of course that meant that they needed to come here. We had a delightful time with them and the Hydes.
Tony let me "see" his superbowl ring. I don't know anything about football, but that ring was impressive. My first thought after holding it was, "I need to take a picture of this!" The last few pictures are of the kids goofing off with the web cam. Be blessed. I'm going to be working on a card order over the next few weeks so I'll have lots of cards to show you. Until then... Be blessed!

School is over!

2010-06-17T23:37:00.000-04:00

Done! 'Nuf said!

Time for a Happy Dance

2010-06-17T23:30:00.000-04:00

I'm going in...

2010-06-17T11:59:00.003-04:00

I'm getting ready to start my final exam in my Psych class. I'm a little nervous, can you tell? I had a hard time focusing the last couple of days, but I still managed to get a lot of studying and organizing done. Once I start the exam I'm allowed 3 1/2 hours to complete it. It's open book and open notes -- online, but it's still going to be tough.
Someone asked on Facebook so I thought I would say here-- I'm taking classes at Devry University. So far, I love their program. I haven't taken online classes before of any kind. They provided me with a coach, which has been really helpful. The rest of the staff and departments are all easy to reach. So far, it's been all positives.

My verse of today...

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

I'm going in...

counting down...

2010-06-15T01:51:00.003-04:00

Time flies, doesn't it? Three more days of an 8 week term -- that just came and went didn't it?
I'm writing a paper and studying for a final. And then, after a good night's sleep, I'm going to have a day of card making! --a day of epic marathon-like proportions!!!
I'll "see" you Friday with a lot of the cards that are already in my head, and I am trying to ignore.
After writing my persuasive essay on the topic of why everyone should create an autobiographical scrapbook, it looks like I'll be working on that this summer too... Hahaha.. I persuaded myself even if no one else gets it! LOL!! Lots to talk about, lots to show. But not tonight. Tonight, actually it's this morning... I need to go to sleep.
Psalm 4:8 ~ I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

I know the picture is random, but I had to include a picture. This is my favorite computer (say hi to Baby Mac) and my favorite mug (given to me by Karen...) which is now broken. :( I'm so disappointed about that. You can see tulips in the background.. they aren't purple, but we won't hold that against them, they're still tulips. Ok, I'm really going to bed... Be Blessed. Jacki... who is feeling better today, thank you! :)

YOLANDA ADAMS LIVE - I'M GONNA BE READY

2010-06-13T19:43:00.001-04:00

Sight beyond what I see
You know what's best for me
Prepare my mind, prepare my heart
For whatever comes, I'm gone' be ready

Strength to pass any test
I feel like I'm so blessed
With you in control, I can't go wrong
'Cause I always know, I'm gonna be ready

What a difference a day makes...

2010-06-12T01:55:00.004-04:00

or a couple of weeks. LOL!! Let's see... so much has happened since the last time I posted. I really don't have time to post now, but what the heck?!

I never did show you what they got me for Mother's Day. It's a necklace that says "Jones 7" This is the name I gave our little bunch. There is birthstone charm and a star charm. They were pretty proud of themselves for picking this one out. I'm proud too...

My daughter graduated from high school. Three down, two to go...

I ran away from home for a week alone. I headed north, making stops in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, before returning home. Guess what I did? I went to the Apple store in Virginia. I LOVE the Apple store... I wonder if they would hire me. I might look into that...

I really wished I had a card to show you, but alas, I don't. I have done some coloring here and there, but mostly I've been studying and writing. This is the last week of classes. Yup, week number 7 of my 8 week session with week 8 as finals week. I can only see one thing in my near future. I'm writing a persuasive essay for my composition class on scrapbooking. I'll share it when it's done. The other class is a Psych class called Motivation and Leadership and it is kicking my butt, but I'm learning a lot! So far two B's. I had a 98 average in the composition class until I had a technical error last week in uploading my rough draft of my essay. I'm sorry, I still can't talk about that without crying. :(

And if my life needed any more excitement... Are you sitting down? I have some news... Ready??

My husband accepted a position in Battle Creek Michigan and we're heading back up north (to freeze). The good news is, we are going back to the place we moved from three years ago and already have lots of friends there. The bad news is, I've been talking about looking for a job once this session of classes is over. That means, I won't be able to sit by the fire on snow days and watch everyone else struggle to get to work when it snows. That is, unless I can find a job that involves telecommuting. -- that is not something I'm opposed to. P.S. I hate snow.

The good thing about the cold weather is I'll read more, cause I ain't going out from November 'till June. :) AT least as soon as school is done next week, I can finally relax ( hahaha) and read the new book Heart of the Matter, by one of my favorite authors, Emily Giffin. I pre-ordered it and it's been here for a few weeks now. I dare not start reading it until school is done, or that book will have cost me a couple thousand dollars by the time I fail the class. Her writing is engaging. The characters will become your friends and you can't walk out on your friends, right? Once I've started a book of her, I didn't put it down until I was finished. By the way, Her first two books are currently being made into a movie. The cover design is originally what attracted me to Love the One You're With. Once I read it, I went back to see what else she had written. I haven't read Heart of the Matter as I said, but I've heard it is as good as the rest. I just remember when I read each of them, nothing else got done until I was finished... sometimes including sleep.

Something Borrowed

Something Blue

Baby Proof

Love the One You're With

What's with me taking so many pictures of myself lately?

CeCe Winans--"Songs of Emotional Healing"--In Stores MAY 18, 2010

2010-05-21T09:01:00.042-04:00

I'm not blond, so I don't have blond moments. I'm also not a senior just yet, so I can't call this a senior moment. However, I am passionate and sometimes I can be a little bit impulsive. Ok, a lot impulsive. More often than not, this part of my personality is a positive attribute. This time my impulsiveness has worked to benefit you.

I pre-ordered CeCe Winans newest release entitled "Songs for Emotional Healing" the moment I heard about it. I didn't hesitate for a moment. I LOVE CeCe Winans and have all of her CD... every single one.
The realization that I was having a Jacki moment came as I was reading the email to let me know that my purchased was shipped. As I read the description of the item en route to me, I realized that this was a compilation of some of her already released songs. -- all of which I already have and most of them are some of my all time favorites of hers. So I thought I would pass along this beautiful music to one of you. If you aren't the winner, and you don't own a lot of CeCe Winans CDs you should get this ... It's only $7.00 right now on Amazon.

On Monday I will go to the post office to ship this CD to the person who:

leaves a comment on THIS post no later than midnight eastern daylight savings time on Sunday night May 23, 2010.
includes a way to contact you by email. If your post is linked to your profile and there is an email associated with that profile, you don't have to do anything else. If not, please leave an email address.
is the closest to guessing my favorite pizza (excluding the ones I make myself). Your guess will include restaurant or manufacturer, type of crust, and toppings any and all of them-- or none if that's your guess.

As a busy college student ( I'm a junior) and the mom preparing for the high school graduation of her third daughter and the visit of her mom and god mother, please understand that I don't have time to track you down. If you follow the directions above and have the closest guess, I will contact you for your mailing address if anything is missing, I will move on the next closest guesser.

Are you ready to guess my favorite pizza?? Anybody?

ETA: The winner has been chosen. Thanks for playing!

Sharing some pictures...

2010-05-11T18:02:00.003-04:00

I have some Mother's Day stuff to post but I want to get to a certain point in my course work this week before I take the time to do an actual blog post. I uploaded a bunch of pictures of me and the kiddies this weekend and I thought you might be interested in seeing them.

Mother's Day Album

A long time ago, I put aside a few photos to do a Mommy and me page for each of their scrapbooks. I'm still going to do that one day. I don't get in a lot of pictures and was pretty surprised that I had so many of me with them.

Come back in a few days. Choosing Joy (inspite of the fact that I am not able to do anything but course work these days. :) )

Even more Roses...

2010-05-05T22:54:00.001-04:00

I think I'm finished with this rose after this. A couple more were colored, but this is the last of the cards made with it before school started.

Speaking of school, when I mentioned it before, Staci wanted to know what I'm studying? Right now all I know is I'm interested in Web Design and Graphic Design. Both are Associates Degree Programs. I already have an Associates Degree so we are trying to see if I can get a Bachelor's degree in Technical Management or something similar. I'm going to enroll in the program that accepts the greatest number of my credits from before so that I will spend the least amount of time killing myself in school now. Whichever Bachelors degree program I'm in, my concentration will be in Web Design.

I'm in week 2 of and 8 week term and I can't wait until it's over! :)
The headaches are no better except when I'm asleep, so the medicine has got to go. I told you before, I don't do well with medicines. I don't know why I let these doctors talk me into it. If you think about me, pray for these headaches to go away. I'll take a miracle, or whatever way He wants to rid me of them. :)

My singing daughter is at it again this week. The Spring Musical is underway at her school. I must admit, I'm a bit sad because she's going to graduating and this is her last musical as a high school student. I'm really proud of her. Really really proud.
Last night was parent's night for the musical and I tried to just watch and not film it. I couldn't resist getting a little bit of footage of her singing one of her solos with my camera. I'll have my video camera and ahem.. tripod for the performances. I'll post some video if my camera makes nice with the computer. It's one of the weird technology things. Sometimes it recognizes the video camera and sometimes it doesn't. In the meantime, here is a preview.
Next time, I'll actually film her two friends who are beautifully singing with her. There are dancers on the stage too.

Back to do a little more reading before I go to bed...
Once I get through this week. I'm going to take a day and have some coloring therapy! I NEED it. :)

More Roses

2010-05-05T22:36:00.000-04:00

I just realized that I didn't post the rest of the Mother's Day cards I made. I know you're probably bored with this rose, but once I decided to work with it this year, it became the stamp to use. I think I made 10 cards with it? Several of them are copies of the same basic layout just different color schemes.

coco moo cow

2010-04-29T16:25:00.001-04:00

My boys call chocolate milk "coco moo" and they drink it all.the.time. As a matter of fact, we consume a gallon of milk a day in this house. And I use the term "we" very loosely. My daughter and I may have a bowl of cereal now and then, so it's mostly "them". I shouldn't surprised seeing how much they are growing! The Boy is officially 5' 8" at 14 1/2. yes.. I'm looking up to him, thank you. The Other Boy is staring me in the eye and he's only 11. It's only a matter of time... I know it's something I have to accept, I am just having a stinkin' hard time with it. It wasn't as bad with the girls, who are all a little taller than me. I guess it's because the boys are my babies. Oh well. I guess I'm going to have to go back to wearing heals like I did in my early days.

Anyway about this card, when I decided to color this cow, I made him 'chocolate' in honor of my boys and their "coco moo" drinking selves.

The paper is Basic Grey and this is Happy Cow a Hambo digi image. The message is also a Hambo.

On a Personal Note:

What's going on with me? What isn't going on with me? I have a daughter graduating in a few weeks. I say that, and I still can't believe it. As a matter of fact, I still haven't created her graduation announcements yet, and they should have been mailed at least a week ago.

I am officially a college student. Yep. I just said that aloud and I can hardly believe that myself. I mentioned a while back that I was ready to re-enter the work world. I realized that since it's been a "couple" of years since I worked full time, it was time to get some training or re-training. So, I did it. I started classes online this week and I'm realizing that the old brain has a few cob webs that need to be shaken off. People in college just over-think everything... oh I'm sorry, that's called "Critical Thinking" :)

The good news is, I got the results of my MRI last week and I DO have a brain. No worries there. They wanted to rule out other possible causes for my headaches which we are now certain are migraines. The lovely thing is this time of year my headaches are more frequent because of pollen. This year the pollen has been unusually high. Very very high. I'm on a new medicine which makes me sleep. The good news is I feel better and the headaches are less severe. The bad news is I sleep all the time. Remember I said I have college courses and homework and essays to write? Unless someone can tell me how to do it in my sleep, this isn't going to work for me. :) Headache? or Sleep? Hmmm.... which should I choose? ... and so the saga continues... Until next time, and I have no idea when that'll be, I'll leave you with my verse/motto for the week.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13

Be blessed! Choosing Joy! Jacki

More Copic Coloring

2010-04-23T17:23:00.000-04:00

The two cards I'm showing today feature images I also colored while I was playing with the Copics on Monday-- one during class and one after class when Colleen so graciously let me borrow her markers to color in my hotel room. There are a few things I would fix now that I'm looking at it blown up on the screen, but I don't own those colors, so I'll just know and do better next time. It's all about practicing and experimenting.
My blending still needs work, but it'll come. The thing you need to notice about these cards is the airbrushing in the background. I told myself that I didn't or wouldn't want that... until I used it... Sigh.
Don't worry, I can wait. I won't spend my grocery money. LOL!!!

I hope your weekend is blessed!

Iris Mother's Day Card

2010-04-22T22:56:00.000-04:00

I was so fortunate to attend a Copics Certification class in Florida a few days ago. First of all, if you live in the south east, and you have a chance to attend any class in person taught by Colleen Schaan, jump at the chance. I'm not kidding! She is the Regional Certification Instructor for Copic. She's very knowledgeable and she is an excellent teacher! She also teacher on/at My Creative Classroom.

This image is one that I colored as I was practicing in class. I'm not really sure who made this one. I wish I could tell those of you who care which colors these are, but I didn't write them down(sorry). What I can tell you is that the technique I used requires 3 shades of the same color family and is called On Paper blending. ;). The background stamp and the message is from Hero Arts.

And another Happy Mother's Day...

2010-04-17T14:47:00.001-04:00

I forgot how much I love coloring this rose. I've colored it several times in the last week or so. I posted three similar cards the other day. This one is a larger gate-fold card. (8 1/2 x 5 1/2 closed and 8 1/2 x 11 open) I think I'm going to color a few more yellow ones and then I'm done with this for the year. :) I spent the bulk of my day today coloring and I only got four of the colored. It's big and beautiful, and there is a familiarity to it. I first bought this stamp 9 or 10 years ago? --somewhere in that time frame. It tends to be my go-to when I want to make a big statement.

To make this card, I used one of my scoring boards. The jury is still out as to which one I prefer. I think they all have positives and negatives. When I say they all, I mean Score It, Score Pal, and Martha Stewart's Score Board. Holly wrote a very thorough review on her blog about Martha's Score Board, Today's Creations, so I won't repeat what she said. If you haven't already and you are interested, go and read what she wrote.

I used Nestabilities to cut the circles. The rose has a vellum overlay which is where I stamped the message. I only put a tiny bit of glue in the two places the anchors would cover, but it's not going anywhere.

I usually leave the insides blank for personal notes and quotes. A card this size is big enough for a group to sign. I get a lot of my quotes from Thinkexist.com.

*************

I'm going to a Copic certification class on Monday. I can't imagine anything better than coloring all day long. I can't wait!

More Happy Mother's Day

2010-04-11T13:40:00.001-04:00

Still working on Mother's Day cards. This flower is a digital stamp from Hero Arts. It's February's Flower-of-the-Month. I removed the color in the image so that I could color it myself with my Prismacolor pencils. The background is a Hero Arts DesignBlock stamp.

Birthday Cupcake

2010-04-10T10:25:00.000-04:00

Paper piecing, glitter, gems, colored pencils... even with all that, this was a fairly quick card to make.

It's Saturday morning and I woke up with a dilemma... clean the house or make cards... It only took me a few minutes to decide. I'm on my 4th day of totally NO caffeine and yesterday was particularly rough. Cleaning is one of those things that is always present, am I right. I'm headed into the Card Castle today. I may make some cards, I may clean/organize, but if you're looking for me today, that's where I'll be... far away from the Dr. Pepper. LOL
Have a blessed weekend!!!

The Card Castle

It's time...

Pink for October

Fall-ish and Fruity.

Happy 49th New Year to Me!

I put a lot of thought into a post I did 2 years ago for my birthday. I spent a lot of time reflecting on some key life lessons and came up with a list of 47 lessons which I posted on my birthday in 2009

The reflections of a tropical wedding ...

My first card in months...

I did it...

I love these roses...

How's this for a summer birthday?

Baby, Take a Bow...

Happy Birthday, Dad.

For Sale: All My Memories Vituri Urban Shoulder Bag

All My Memories Vituri Urban Shoulder Bag

Magazines for Sale ( you pay only shipping)

You're my 'mane' man...

Sorry, I'm late...

Top Secret Admirer

Game On

New Year, New House...

Christmas Card Favorites....

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 20 ~ Rest

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 19 ~ Quiche

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 18~ Purple

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 17 ~ O is for Offer!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 16 ~ Naps!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 15 ~ Music

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 14 ~ LOVE

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 13 ~ Knowledge

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 12 ~ J is for... !

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 11 ~ Happy Veteran's Day

Taking a break from the alphabet today to say Thank You and Happy Veteran's Day to ALL who have ever served our country (and their families), especially those I call family and friend. Thank you for your service!!!

Brave Girls Club...

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 10 ~ Internet

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 9 ~ Heritage and Hope!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 8 ~ Grace!

"Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too... " ~unknown

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 7 ~ Friends!

Nintendo DS Card

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 6 ~ Everlasting Life

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 5 ~ D is for Sisters!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 4 ~ Creativity

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 3 ~ My Babies!

Anybody Wanna Pray With Me?

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 2 ~ Attitude

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 1~ Adversity

And NOW are YOU aware?

*Somebody* needs to update this blog.

World Card Making Day Results...

Back in Business...

Casting Crowns - Who Am I

I Wish...

Happy Birthday, Daughter!

Happy Birthday to me... 888/48

It is what it is...

They are packing The Card Castle...

Happy Birthday, Son!

Coloring for Sanity...

Now That's a Friend!

The Card Castle Clean-out Sale

New Day, New Attitude...

Another Special Birthday Card...

Plan K

So Far, Not So Good...

A Special Birthday

Notes on the subject of moving...

Another Simple Birthday Card

Simple Birthday Card

House Hunting (part one)

With Sympathy (more)

Sale Postponed...

Belated Birthday

The Card Castle Re-Do/ Re-duce/ Rearrange

With Sympathy

The deck is coming along nicely

You can stand under my umbrella...

“May God give you...

For every storm a rainbow,

For every tear a smile

Somebody needs to update this blog.