Interesting...

When there are no cute kids around to photograph...you start looking around for other things that your eyes love to capture. Like sunsets. And cornfields (it is getting SO high!)
Like pretty bridges all lit up. I loooove bridges...but if it lights up it gets bonus points in my opinion. And don't ask me why I like them so much, maybe I feel a little bit of danger driving or walking over them? It's kind of like taking a chance. Maybe I think they are just structurally amazing and I have no idea how they hold cars up (even though I'm pretty sure I watched the program on the history channel all about it.)
And even though downtown Peoria is super tiny (as far as downtown's go) I think it being on the river is beautiful!

I thought about doing the color scavenger hunt this week that I have read about on so many people's blogs. (Basically you drive around looking for things that are all one color and photograph them.) Unfortunately we mostly have corn fields...so on the day I photograph green I would be golden...but for all the other days, I would be driving all over the state! We'll see I may have to try it...it would definitely make me really LOOK at my surroundings instead of just zooming by. I like the idea of that! Hope you found some color in your day today!

Work...

Working and waiting for all of the fun things from CHA to get here! The boxes have started rolling in, so it's like Christmas around here! It is going to be a September kit to remember. Full of fun! For now I have another Mother Theresa quote to share...LOVE this! I can truly say that this job is not slavery! I love it!
And this one too...makes me think of two very special small people who are finally coming home this weekend! I cannot wait to put back on the "mom hat."
And here is a little birthday card that I made at CHA a few weeks ago...it's going to my sweet Grandma Suz who turns 83 this coming week! And since she hasn't joined the Internet craze it's safe to share it here a few days early. I love my Grandma, I know 60-year-olds who act "older" than she does. She is amazing and healthy and wonderful and I miss her loads.
Hope you all had a fantastic weekend....and that your work is FULL of love!

Ramblings...

So my kids have been away for 2 weeks now...visiting their dad. I have one week to go before they return. I have tried to take some time for relaxing and sleeping in...as well as tackled some bigger projects that are hard to complete with the kids constant interruptions. But two children were NEVER missed more than mine right now! I miss the constant giggles and singing through the house. I miss tucking them into bed every night, praying with them and reading them stories. I miss getting to act like a kid myself and playing with them. I miss having someone to EAT with. I know that seems silly, but I haven't made any macaroni and cheese in 2 weeks and I'm thinking of making some just so my skills don't get rusty. I ran to the grocery store this afternoon to get a few essentials and schools supplies crossed off the list. When I came home and unloaded the bags...I had bought 2 peaches...tortilla chips and cheese, shredded cheese, hand sanitizer, twizzlers, chocolate, milk, potato salad, and ziplock bags. Real healthy huh? I keep forgetting to eat...and look at the clock at 2 p.m. wondering why I haven't taken the time to eat something? Kids are good, they keep you on schedule...I need mine back! LOL.

Just so this post isn't too boring, I thought I would share a couple photos. This shot is out the window of the plane a few days ago. Don't those clouds just look like you could really walk on them? Ever since I saw the movie "Up" I can't help but looking at clouds a little differently.
iphone pictures are just not the best quality!
And a quote out of a little book about Mother Theresa...full of her wonderful words of wisdom.

In other random news, I have been reading Pride and Prejudice again...such a great book. It's been years. I also just finished reading an unbelievably good book called "Revolution in World Missions" which was totally eye-opening. I loved every bit of it. And am also working on a heritage album for a good friend. Why is it so much harder to scrapbook other people's photos? Off to add some journaling to her pages now! Hope you had a great day!

Newsletter!

Freehand Scraps Newsletter (Just in case you didn't get it...I'm posting it here.)

Happy August! It’s hard to believe that summer is nearly gone, that the kids are getting ready for school to start, and that the night air is getting crisp. I love summer so much, that it’s hard for me to say goodbye. But with the kids almost back to school, it will definitely give me a little more time in the craft studio, if you know what I mean! If you haven’t had a chance to see our latest August kit “Happy Go Lucky” you are missing out on all the fun! Take a look HERE…and get one while you can!

I thought I would take a minute also to highlight some of the awesome projects found in the gallery this month! We have a wonderful guest designer this month…her work speaks for itself…the very talented Jen Jockish! See the rest of her gallery for even more inspiration!

We just got back from CHA, (Craft & Hobby Association) the big trade show where all of the scrapbook companies come out with their brand-new products. The show took place in Orlando, a very hot and sticky place at the end of July, but it was all worth it because of the brand new products we have in store for you in the upcoming months! One of the things I love about my job the most is finding the perfect pieces to go in each of our kits…and my friends I do think we’ve succeeded! Stay tuned!

I just have to say another great big “thank YOU” to all of our loyal customers! You make my job such a joy! Thank you for your continued support of Freehand Scraps! Have a fantastic day!

A few more things...

I have a few more things from my gallery to share...some fav's! My re purposed EXIT sign.
Another card for my sweet boy Tanner. I love this glitter KI Memories paper...I used another Heidi Swapp "Invisibles" star and added some sage acrylic paint. Before the paint was fully dry, I rubbed some of it off with a damp paper towel, to make it a little more shabby.

This one I brought to my sister in Florida. I knotted the flower ribbon and then attached it to the card. This kit is so very much fun to work with!

I am going to be working on a newsletter tomorrow! I mowed the yard today...and so I didn't quite get it finished! Hope you all had a great day!

Checking in...

Oh my where does the time go? It's hard to believe it's August already! I feel like ever since I got back from CHA in Orlando I've been playing catch-up. So if you haven't already checked out our latest kit "Happy Go Lucky" you need to get on over there and see it! There are so many fun things in this kit!

I thought I would share a few things from my gallery today...this little door hanger I made for Chloe. I used the JBS chipboard heart and covered it with the KI Memories glitter heart paper. I loved that paper so much at CHA, that I wasn't sure which kit it would work in, but I ordered it anyway...determined to fit it in somewhere. It just ended up working perfect in "Happy Go Lucky!"
I cut one of the small birdhouses out of the Crate Paper patterned paper and stuck it on a pop dot, and added one of the Prima Pebbles with a cute little bird!

I made a few cards with this kit to send to my kiddos who are spending time with their dad right now. (Man I miss them!) These were put in the mail today! I made the scalloped border on the bottom using my circle punch and cutting the circles in half. I just over lapped them slightly and glued them down. It would have been just as easy to use a border punch too I guess. The chipboard heart is an "invisibles" shape by Heidi Swapp. I used aqua paint to make the image underneath really pop.

I added this to the blog earlier...but wanted to explain how it all came together!

First of all, this Prima printed cardboard paper was *I think* my favorite thing in the entire kit! It's such a change from the ordinary patterned paper. I added white paint splattered and then I blew it in different directions to make it spread out a little more. (I'm sure you were dying to know that technique! HA!)

These crazy pictures are from our Freehand Scraps winter retreat. We put those crazy Hambly rub-ons on with glue dots. We were laughing SO hard the mustaches were falling off!

I sanded the edges of the photo also to grunge it up a little...I thought it went well with the background. More Pebbles and buttons from my stash.

It was very cool to use the stapler with the cardboard...how perfect that the Cosmo Cricket "Elements" sheet had the cute stapler image.

I also had a great time with this Fancy Pants bracket paper.

I used my crop-a-dile to make the chipboard butterfly into a button just for fun.

I added a few brads to the branches and used a paper piercer to punch holes around each tree, leaf, and the border edge of the paper.

This is a little photo shoot we did in Claire's in Orlando. We are silly SILLY girls. Here is our librarian look.

Is my sister cute or what? She totally pulled these crazy glasses off! LOL.

Oh yeah...this was a definite Kodak moment. We are such rock stars! LOL.

I just have a philosophy in life that you are never too old to laugh like an 8 year old...and in moderation act like one! We laughed so hard we cried! Hope you are having a great week!

Blinkie!

Hey everyone! Just thought I'd better give you the updated link for our August blinkie!

http://freehandscraps.com/images/fs-ad-120x120-aug09.gif

I'll be back with more later on our gallery! Thanks for posting all the Freehand Scraps love on your blogs...you're the best!