Cocoa, Cookies and Cards

A long time ago in a different life, I used to look forward to Black Friday.  I would set the alarm for 3 am and roll out of bed stumbling to the kitchen for a strong cup of coffee because no sane person gets up this early in the morning.  But sanity escapes us when there are bargains to be found and a house full of young children who need Christmas gifts on a shoestring budget.  I have to say I love bargains which makes Black Friday a particularly fun day for me; one Black Friday I was able to shop for three children with only $75 to spend.  

Not only did I get enough gifts for my children that year, I had a little money left over to buy breakfast.  That being said the true fun of Black Friday was not really the bargain hunting and it definitely wasn't standing in cold lines hoping to get into the store while they had "the perfect gift".  For me the fun of Black Friday was hanging out with my sister for a few hours just the two of us  which was rare since we had 6 or 7 children between us at that point.  Things change, people change and traditions fall away.  

This year, instead of shopping crazy sales, I decided to go a different route.  I invited my neighbor and her children over to make Christmas cards with me.  Her children are a very artsy creative group and I could not wait to see what they would create. These are just a few of their awesome creations. 

I hope you are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas season.  Enjoy the time with people more than the gifts that you are buying and/or receiving. 

Traci

Fall in Sunny California

 My oldest daughter has always been fiercely independent.  For this reason, I was not surprised when she told me she was moving across the country with her new husband.  I was surprised when she called to tell me that her husband, who is in the Coast Guard, will be stationed in Guam for his next post.  This momma's heart is proud that they are going on this journey but it is also very sad because I will be very limited in how often I will be able to visit them in the coming years.

Bodega Bay

Since my girl is leaving the country soon, I made the journey across the country to spend her 23rd birthday with her.  I have only missed a couple of birthday's when she was in college.  I didn't want this one to pass since I know the next four will be spent without mom by her side.  We had a lovely time in on the California Coast visiting the beautiful area that she calls home for now. 

Goat Rock State Park

Bodega Bay

We just drove down the coast and enjoyed each other's company on this day but others were spent laughing and talking as movies played in the background.  The time we had flew by way too fast and it was quickly time to come back to Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving with the rest of the family.  

Thanks for dropping by today,

Traci

Beautiful You Birthday Card

coolmomcreations

I have been in a bit of a creative slump.  I have a ton of awesome stamps but tend to sit at my table and not be able to think of a thing to do with them.  I have started following a bunch of groups on Facebook in order to be inspired by the cool things other ladies and gentlemen are making.  I am fascinated by the baby wipe technique so I decided to give it a try on a birthday card.

I used three colors here and they kind of blended together in a way I was not pleased with.  I feel like my background got a little "muddy" looking. I am thinking that there must be a different type of cardstock that gives the really pretty look some crafters are getting.  I just used the regular Stampin' Up Whisper White on this one. But overall the card came turned out pretty. 

Thanks for joining me today.

Traci

Sheepishly Sweet Rocky

Any Harry Potter fans reading today?  If you are you will understand me a little more when I tell you I am Hufflepuff.  I say this to people who are just getting to know me and they will say, I can see that.  Their reason is always the same when I ask why, they say because of the loyalty thing.  You see I am loyal to those I love and care about.  I will put myself in uncomfortable situations to help a friend. Always.

Rocky

 I have a dear friend that I have been friends with for over 20 years,  she has been through so much with me.  So her life is in a difficult place right now so when she started talking about how she needed another male dog for her breeding business.  I jumped right in to offer to be his "foster" mom since he can't live in her house with the girls.  Too many hormones, etc.  Anyway, there were verbal agreements made as well as written ones.   So, at the end of January Rocky joined our family.

Rocky  as he was leaving

 

 

Being the friend I am I took on more with Rocky than we'd agreed that I would.  I thought these were temporary, she thought they were not.  As things got to a place where I felt I was being taken advantage of I kind of blew up.  Long discussions via text and over dessert did not give either of the us results we wanted.  In the end, hopefully in order to preserve our friendship, Rocky has been moved to a new home. It hurts.  I am not a crazy animal person.  I do not think of my animals as children.  But I love him and IT HURTS.

Unity Stamp Company: Sheepishly Sweet

So today because my heart is hurting over my sweet dog going to live with someone else.  I am sharing a card I made using the Sheepishly Sweet stamp set by Unity Stamp Co.  Doesn't this cute guy look like my Rocky? If you haven't tried Unity stamps now is a great time to check them out because they are having a site wide 55% off sale.  

Thanks for dropping by today,

Traci

 

 

For the Love of Honey

CoolMomCreations 2017

I have one of the most amazing husbands ever.  When I first started crafting he thought I was a bit crazy because the only hobby he'd ever known me to have was reading.  I am sure back then he thought it was just a phase that would pass.  I'll be honest, I never thought in a million years that creating cards with my then preteen daughter would turn into...well the all consuming passion for collecting stamps and paper even if I don't use them I need them hobby it has.  I have no idea how to punctuate that run on read it in one quick thought sentence! 

Anyway, back to my hubby.  He's awesome.  When he realized that this crafting bug was here to stay he jumped right in with me.  He is an architect by trade therefore loves to draw and color.  I do not have an eye for color and cannot tell you the difference between a warm gray and a cold gray.  So, my hubby started coloring images for me. He soon had a stash of Copics that most would envy and like all good crafters he has a wish list of colors he needs.  

For years, I depended on him coloring my images in the evenings to relax.  Then his work started requiring more travel and I lost my artist.  So, I had to learn how to use his Copics or use just stamped images.  I went with learning to color.  I am not as good as he is but I think this little bear turned out amazing.

Thanks for stopping by, please consider following my blog. 

Traci

Bear Stamp: Little Darlings Rubber Stamps

Love Life stamp and card stock: Stampin' Up

  

My People

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

Prov. 17:17

When people  think of finding your person generally it is finding your spouse, someone who decides they can put up with all your little quirks and behaviors forever.  They see all of you and think ok, I can handle this 24 hours 7 days a week only getting a break for work or sleep or the occasional time away with friends.  But that is not the person I am talking about finding.  I am talking about that friend or if you are lucky those friends who will stand by you through thick and thin, who will tell  you that you are wrong when you need to hear it but also tell you to stick to your guns when you are right.  This person knows where the bodies are hidden, so to speak.  

Quote Grey's Anatomy / Photo From Pinterest

I have a very difficult relationship with my family, I have one sister that I have been estranged from on and off for the better part of the last decade.  Because of this My People are so important to my sanity.  I know many people, especially women, who call their husband their best friend.  This is awesome if they really have that kind of friendship with their husband but I don't.  My husband is the first and foremost important person in my life but the last thing he wants to do at the end of a long day at work or a long week traveling is listen to me go on and on about an issue we talked out last week but to be honest, I am not over and I still need to beat that dead horse so to speak.  I have two or three amazing girl friends who allow me to do this when I need to they are My People.  

Quote Grey's Anatomy / Photo From Pinterest

The fall season, as much as I love it, is a difficult time of the year for our family.  My People understand this and seem to get "on the ball" more during this time of the year to encourage me and help me keep myself focused on what's important. As a matter of fact, I'd forgotten all about the Gray's Anatomy, My People thing until early this week when my awesome friend Jenn posted a meme to my Facebook page with a bunch of My Person quotes.  It got me thinking about the few people in my life that I am so happy they have stuck with me through this journey.  The few friends who know me good, bad and ugly yet still decide to stick around for the journey.   

Finding Your People isn't always easy.  There are times I've opened up to someone only to have them walk away. That's ok the beauty in finding friends who are Your People is learning what people are friends for a reason, friends for a season and friends who are for a lifetime.  When you find that lifetime friend, or Your People, treat them well, keep them close, most important do not misuse their trust. You never know how valuable they are until you look up one day and they are the only ones who stick to you like glue. Lifetime friends in this social media driven, everything is disposable world are a rare gift.  Make sure you treat it as such.

This post is dedicated to My People: Jenn, Paige, Cindy, Carolyn, Desiree, JoAnna and Julie. Thank you so much for being there when I need to laugh, cry and everything in between.  I pray that you will always know how valuable you are to me.

Thank you for stopping by, please consider following my blog. 

Traci

Autumn Greetings

Fall is second favorite season of the year.  It's not just because I can get a Pumpkin Spice Latte on every corner.  The bigger reason is because we finally get a little bit and I mean a little bit of a break from the Florida heat and humidity.  While some of you are enjoying cool nights in front of a fire or at least a fire pit.  We are still in our shorts trying not to break a sweat.  It's tough, I know.  

Another reason this is my favorite time is all the fun fall (and winter) crafty things that start arriving in the stores and to be honest my mailbox.  

At the suggestion of my awesome sister in-law I started getting the Hero Arts Kit of the Month.  Oh. My. Gosh.  If you are not already getting these kits you must check them out.  The price is very reasonable and you get a lot for the price.  This card was made using the September KOTM, the layered pumpkins are so amazing to use.  

Thanks for dropping by, please consider following my blog. 

Traci