We have a housefull!!

Beth and Matt are moved in, Heidi is home from college, and my dad and Carrie have arrived. We do have a housefull! I am so happy that my dad is able to visit while Matt and Beth are still here! It has blessed my heart beyond measure to see all those I love, here together. I am so not looking forward to the "Big Move", but I am totally enjoying the time we are having together and for that I am truly thankful!!

Carrie and I pulled out all the photo albums and looked through all my scrapbook pages! What fun reliving all those memories again with her! She is such a sweetie and so very patient going through all those pages! That's why we do this thing though-to relive and enjoy those old memories with the ones we love!!

I will have to get some candid shots of all the goings on this week, but I can tell my kids are already over the picture taking. I am going to have to sneak it in here and there while they least expect it! I do have a couple of pictures from the graduation party to post. It was a fantastic party! Our kids have so much support and we are so proud of them!

Matt and Beth with Ed and I and Ed's family.

Whoo hoo, I only have 9 more days of school left!! I am so excited to spend a few days scrapping away with no other cares in the world! Aaaahhh....just thinking about it sounds heavenly!!

I will have to get a job this summer, but I am hoping to find something part time so I can scrap to my heart's content. Speaking of scrapping I have some layouts that I haven't posted here yet:

I used Graphic 45 papers in these layouts. I totally love Graphic 45-awesome paper! These were designed for a class at Keepsakes By Design.

Here is my quote for the week:
Happiness is a matter of one's most ordinary and everyday mode of consciousness being busy and lively and unconcerned with self. ~Iris Murdoch
Have a fantastic week!

Such a Glorious Weekend!

We had totally amazing weather this weekend!! Its about time!! The 80's felt so good after such a long and snowy and gloomy spring! I was able to work out in my flower beds and soak up the sun! This was such a glorious weekend!

Heidi made it home on Friday evening from college in Spokane, Washington. It is so good to have her home for the summer! She received some awesome news before she left Spokane-The hospital here in town wants to hire her for the summer! Such an answer to prayer! She was also told she may have another part time job! How awesome is that!

I finished a layout today that I did for the Pick Me Up Challenge at LittleRedScrapbook.

This is of my oldest dd Bethany. She was so excited about her twirly dress. The funny thing is, you can't tell whether she is a tom-boy or a girlie-girl. I love the look on her face!! Too fun.

Here is my quote for the week:
Jumping for joy is good exercise. ~Author Unknown

Wishing you joy,

kristii

May LRS Designs

The LittleRedScrapbook May kit featured the SEI Dill blossom line. If you haven't had a chance to work with this line of paper, check out LRS and get yours today!! I totally loved the Maya Road Chipboard Trees that came with the kit! They are so cute and fun to work with!! Here are my designs for May:

So proud!!!

What a whirlwind life has been the last couple of weeks! Last Thursday we moved my oldest daughter and her husband in to live with us for the next month. Saturday we attended the MSU graduation and we are so proud to say that our son-in-law graduated from Montana State University with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He and Bethany will be moving to the fine state of Washington where he will begin working as a nuclear engineer. I can't tell you all the emotions that are flowing through me even now. I am so happy for them, yet my heart aches knowing that I will not get to see them every week. I will miss them so much, but I know they will do very well there! They are amazing kids and I know they will accomplish amazing things as they start this new chapter in their lives!
We are so proud of you two!! You are gonna knock their socks off in Washington!! WE are going miss you!!

Mother's Day Layout Challenge

My friend Cathy decided to take me up on my Mother's Day Challenge and here is her layout

The colors are very striking and the flowers add the perfect touch!! Great job Cathy!! Thanks for taking part in this challenge! There will be a little RAK included in your Card kit!!

It is Monday once again...

Wow, do the weekends go by fast! This was a great weekend though! I had a great time at the open house at keepsakesbydesign. It was so good to see so many familiar faces! I just have to say that the upcoming classes are going to be the best ever! The girls are all so talented!!! ...you ladies totally rock! Over the next few days I am going to be posting the classes that I will be teaching over the next couple of months. Today's project is a two page layout featuring tag pockets. I totally love the family tags from 7 Gypsies and I had fun using them in this layout!

Please, take a moment and check out the other class offerings at Keepsakes By Design. They are totally awesome!!

Thought for today...To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson, "Of Men and Books," 1882

I hope you all have a great week!!

It's almost Friday!!!

Oh man this has been a long week! I am so happy it is almost Friday!

We will be traveling to Billings this Saturday for another cold, snowy day of soccer.
Spring soccer is not for the faint at heart, that is for sure!! I am going to have to get around to posting the pictures I have of the boys playing on a shoveled field with the snow falling so hard you can hardly see. Crazy I tell you!

I wanted to take a moment and post the final two cards for the Graphic 45 Vintage card class coming up on April 28. I hope to see you there!!

This first card is a pocket card with a little insert to write your sentiment. Lots of fun color in this one!

This is the insert to the pocket card.

This is the last card in the class-a colorful little generic card.

I had so much fun working with these papers. Graphic 45 is one of my new favorite manufacturers.

Happy Friday and I hope you all enjoy your weekend!!

It's a bright sunshiny day!!!

Oh the glorious joy of sunny skies and warmer weather!!! I think I am in heaven!!

The forecast for today is 71 degrees! A far cry from the 6 inches of snow and below freezing weather we had on Tuesday of last week! I hope you are all having some glorious sunny weather of your own!

This past week I have been busy getting ready for classes and completing different scrappy challenges. It has been a very productive week!

This layout was based on a challenge for Memorable Seasons. It seems as though most of my work is based on empty nesting. I guess that is where I am and where my heart is.

I am teaching a Vintage card class soon using Graphic 45 papers. I so love the whole Graphic 45 line. It is fantastic! Here are a couple of the cards we will be making:

I will be posting more pictures of upcoming classes later this week!

Here is the thought for the week:

"Kind hearts are the gardens, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the flowers, Kind deeds are the fruits, Take care of your garden And keep out the weeds, Fill it with sunshine Kind words and kind deeds” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

May you all give away some sunshine this week!

Quote for the week

It's not what you do once in a while, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference. -- Jenny Craig

It is the little things that matter! Telling my kids and my husband that I love them every day, apologizing when I make a mistake, keeping up with my devotions, fixing dinner everyday, keeping the laundry up and the house clean, doing my best at work, scrapping.......all those little things that make me who I am. May God give each of us the energy to keep up with the little things this week and help us to remember how important those little things are!!

Here is one of those "little things" I finished today. I wanted to celebrate my daughters' relationship in a layout. I decided I wanted to do some embroidery on this one. It took me forever! I originally started this one for book club, but had no idea how long it would take me to do all the stitching. I am so happy I finally got it finished. It is a good thing I do not embroider for a living, but all in all, I am happy with the results. It was good to get out of my box!

Girls Weekend Away

Last weekend, the girls and I took a little break and went to Spokane to see the absolutely fantastic play Mama Mia!

Mama Mia was one of the most entertaining plays I have ever seen!! It was funny, colorful, and the cast was fantastic. We stayed at the Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane and of course did some shopping in the Riverfront Mall! Here are some pictures from our weekend!

I am so very blessed to have such amazing girls!! Thanks for such a great weekend!! You both rock!!

Thank you to all who took last night's Class

Your projects all turned out beautiful! I love all the little touches that you added to your projects to make them your own! You all rock!! Here are pictures of the projects that you can print out for referernce. Thanks again ladies!! I appreciate all of you!

Happy Monday!

Mondays are not one of my favorite days, but today I wish you joy. Here is a little tidbit I found to encourage you today!

There's nothing more contradictory than an unenthusiastic Christian. The Bible tells us that God loves us so much, in fact, that God gave his only son so that all who believe in him will have everlasting life. Nothing not even death can separate us from God's love! If we really believe that, we can't help but overflow with joy!
Ronald Newhouse

Hope you have a very happy and fun St. Patty's day!

LRS March kit

The LRS March kit was so much fun to work with!!! It has to be one of my favorites to date!! It included all American crafts goodies!! The colors and textures of the papers was fantastic!! I also loved all the embellies-way fun!!! I hope you had a chance to pick one up because they sold out fast! Next month's kit promises to be totally amazing as well! I hope you get in on the fun!!

Here are my designs for March:

The Slide Rule is to make a train and laugh all the way down! Look at those smiles!

This is my favorite layout!! I love the JBS paper with the AC papers. This picture was taken right after we surprised Heidi-she didn't realize her brother and sister were coming to visit with us! What a wonderful moment!!

This picture was taken at Starbuck's when we were visiting Heidi. One of our favorite pastimes is going to get a cup of coffee with Beth and Matt! We are so going to miss her when she moves!

Random shots at Starbuck's and at Cabela's with a Coffee in hand.

This paper just reminded me of butterflies-I just had to make some out of it!

Yay! A new journal to put scrappy ideas in! I love the texture of this paper!! Now I can feel it whenever I want!! I am such a touch and feel type of person!! Weird I know! But I love texture!

A new week begins...

Last week was spring break and wouldn't you know I would be sick all week. Oh well, got that out of the way! Looking forward to brighter days ahead!!

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author Unknown

I am sending you all a smile! Wherever you are and whatever you are going through I wish you brighter days ahead!!

This week brings a new class at Keepsakes by Design. I will be teaching a Memory Wall Hanging class with a bonus card included! I am still waiting on the 7 gypsies paper, so I hope it arrives in time!

Hope everyone has a fantastic week!!

Thank you to all who took Last week's Gramma Book Class

I had a blast with all of you! It was such a relaxing, fun class!! I hope you are all enjoying your books whether you are keeping them for yourselves or giving them as gifts. You ladies rock!!

Congratulations Cathy aka misszula

I drew your name in my blog reply contest!!! I will leave your prize at Keepsakes by Design on Tuesday, March 18, or I can send it to you as I am sure that will probably be easier for you! If you would like me to send it to you, you can send me your email address and I will contact you for further information. Congratulations!!!

Thank you to all who took last night's Cricut Class

I want to take a minute this morning and thank each and every one of you who took the Cricut class last night. I had a great time with all of you! I hope all of you who have a cricut, will take it out this week and have some fun with it. It really is a marvelous machine! Any of you who want to try it again, let me know on my blog here, and I would love to bring my machine back to the store and play some more!

Please, take time to post a message on the blog to let me know what you thought of the class. I am always striving to make my classes better, so your input is important to me! I will hold a drawing for those of you who post an opinion and one lucky winner will win a prize! So please let me know what you think!

I am posting the pictures of our projects so that you may copy them if you would like! Once again, thank you all for coming to the class and I hope to see you all soon!

Check this out!!!

Pink Paislee has started a Live Community! Check it out here!

Wow! I finally got to play!

I decided to spend some time last night scrapping for fun! (Imagine that!!!) I had a blast. My challenge was to Scraplift a friend of mine, the amazing Laura Fiore. I wanted to do a layout that told the story of Heidi getting stranded at home for two days when she was on her way back to school in Spokane. She had the choice of going ahead and flying on to Denver and sleeping in the Denver airport for 2 days before there would be an available flight, or adding another stop in Seattle and leaving from home in two days. Of course she opted for the latter. It was rough being 2 days late for Jan term- like missing 2 weeks of school, but she caught up and all was well. What a fun story to tell after the fact!!!

I also finished a card for the CPS sketch and I will post it in the next couple of days!

Scripture Challenge #4

I am somewhat behind in posting for this challenge, but I am going to keep plugging away. Life just so gets in the way!!! I am learning though, to put those things more important than sitting on this computer, first. I will always be able to post, but my family is growing and changing and I need to treasure the time I have now.

The word for challenge #4 is wait. I decided to use the verse,

We wait for hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his Holy Name. Ps. 33:20-21

My sweet daughter is struggling some away at school and I wanted to do a layout to encourage her. So this one is for you Heidi! He is always there....even if it seems otherwise and He cares for you!!! I love you!!