***BLOG RAK WINNER***

We have a winner!

I'd like to say thank you to all who participated in our blog hop, and hope you'll come back and visit again!

The winner was post #13.....

Congratulations Sandy!! Please send me your address by clicking on the "contact me" envelope in the top right corner of my blog. Again...congrats and thanks for stopping by!

Quick and Easy Birthday Card

Just a simple little birthday card. A little stamping, a little coloring (with my Copics) and some glitter all over the flower for a little sparkle. I made this card for a challenge that I saw at Simplicity blog for a One Layer Wednesday Challenge. I love that blogspot. FULL of ideas for making cards.

With 5 children and 16 grandchildren - I need LOTS of cards! So the quicker the better for me.

This card was VERY quick...and I just love the way it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time....

Hugs!

Ideas for Scrapbookers....Blog Hop (and RAK)

Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Thanks for joining the Ideas For Scrapbookers blog hop today. If you've been hopping along, you just came from Sarah's blog where you learned about medical issues that accompany autism. If you've just joined the hop, you can get a list of all the participating Artists here. I'm going to be sharing information about the treatment autism.

Right now, the main research-based treatment for ASDs is intensive structured teaching of skills, often called behavioral intervention. It is very important to begin this intervention as early as possible in order to help a child reach his or her full potential. Acting early can make a real difference! Some of the approaches may include:

•Occupational Therapy

•Physical Therapy

•Behavior Modification

•Communication Therapy

•Social Skills Therapy

•Dietary Modification

•Medicine

•Sensory Integration Therapy

To learn more, please visit Autism Society of America

Thank you for hopping along on our Autism Awareness blog hop. We hope that you have enjoyed learning more about this issue that affects so many. If you missed some of the blogs, please go to the Ideas for Scrapbookers site where you can find a complete list of the participating blogs.

Leave me a comment so I'll know you've stopped by. I'll be drawing a name (on April 30)from those who leave a comment and sending out a little RAK. Have a great week, and until next time.....

Hugs!

Pssst.....

I know a secret....you'll need to come by on Monday to find out what it is......

GCD Studios is Featured....

on Ideas for Scrapbookers blog. GCD was generous enough to sponsor our design group at IFS by sending each of us their GORGEOUS Lydia collection. You just have to take a look at all the fabulous creations the contributing artists showcased. Thanks Heidi!!!

Here's a couple of layouts I made using the Lydia collection. I absolutely LOVE these papers! (I must admit, this is the first scrapping I've done in about 3 months, and I really struggled trying to scrap. I seem to have lost my scrapping mojo.)

These photos of Jacob, Allen and Helen Grace were taken at the park just a few weeks ago. I love how well these papers match the photos! The tire swing and little people are some Me and My Big Ideas stickers that I've had forever!

This is a photo of my mother and her siblings and their spouses taken sometime in the 1970s. The only ones still with us are my mother and a couple of her sister-in-laws. I cut the flowers from the Lydia paper, put them on pop dots and then added button centers. I added a touch of 3D paint and a little stitching. (I might add that the stitching was VERY difficult to do with my left hand! LOL!!)

Take a minute and pop over to Ideas for Scrapbookers and check out the designs from the other contributing artists!

Until next time!

It's a Special Day

It's been two months now since the surgery on my right thumb. Slowly but surely I'm getting the use of my thumb back. There are still MANY things I can't do, but the list is getting shorter every day. I began my therapy (exercises) a couple of weeks ago to build back strength and flexibility. VERY painful, but I have to do it if I want to be able to have full use of my thumb again.

However...that is not what I was going to write on my first blogpost since surgery. Today is a special day....

Today is our wedding anniversary. We've been married for 29 years! Some days it's hard to believe it's already been 29 years...and other days it seems more like 40 years! LOL! Lots of ups and downs, we've been happy and sad, and we've shared lots of laughter and tears. With all we've been through in the last 29 years, I can definitely say...he's a keeper!

Here's to you and your special someone....have a great day...make it special!

Until next time....

Hugs!

I'll Be Back....

In about two weeks, I'll be having surgery on my right hand (AND that's my dominate hand!), so I'll be away for a while until I can type again. I guess I could type with one hand, but I know from trying it for the past few weeks that it would take me F-O-R-E-V-A-H!!

So, hang in there...I'll be back before you know it!

See ya soon!

I DID IT!

I finally got my blog changed to a three column blog! Every time I've tried to change it, I ended up losing things and changing the formatting!!!

It's really the little things in life...you know?

Well, hopefully this weekend will be the beginning of my office/scraproom remodel. My son and daughter have volunteered to come over to help me move ALL the stuff out (and that should take a while), then hopefully, tomorrow, the carpet will come up and the wood flooring will be going in! I can't wait!

The part I'm dreading is putting all the STUFF back in the room. I really need to decide what I want and get busy finding the tables/storage units that I'd like to have. I love the Ikea store, unfortunately, there isn't one anywhere close to me! ~sigh~ Now I'll have to try to be creative!

Wish me luck as we get started this weekend. I have a feeling it might be a while before I get any scrapping done. I'll try to post pics when I have the chance.

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time....

Happy New Year

What a wonderful time we've had this Christmas season! I love watching the grandchildren when their eyes light up with joy on Christmas! There's nothing like little ones to make Christmas even more magical.

We've had overnight company and some that just visited for a few hours during the day...but all of it was treasured time spent with family and friends.

This weekend we will ring in the new year with a little get together with more friends, and my daughter, Kimberly and her family will be visiting (and bringing Katie, Adam and my newest granddaughter, Maggie Elizabeth). It'll be a full house again this weekend and I can't wait!

From my house to yours...I hope the new year brings you great health, happiness, and prosperity! Here's to a FABULOUS 2010!!

Until next time...Hugs!

Christmas 2009

We finally got the tree up last night. Don't know if all the other Christmas decorations will make it out this year, but the tree is done.

Here's a few photos that I took after we were finished. Jacob was my little helper. He thought climbing the ladder was what he needed to do, but we finally convinced him that his Grandpa would be hanging the ornaments at the top of the tree.

I still don't have my lighting right, but I'm always ready to practice. This is my daughter with Jacob. Not sure why they look grainy to me...hmmmm...need to get the book out and read a bit more about photography.

I love this shot. Jacob was so intent on staightening the ornaments that he didn't notice I was taking his photo.

This one is cute because he was looking at his reflection in one of the ornaments and making faces at himself! LOL!

Just need to move this one just a little bit more.....

Ahhhhh...the tree is finished. Let's just sit here for a minute and look at all the pretty lights and ornaments.

Thanks so much for stopping by. My wish for you this season is that you will have a joyous and peace-filled Christmas with your family and friends. I know my family will spend time together at Christmas, and I hope you get to spend time with your family too.

Merry Christmas!

Hugs!