Uriah is in the news!

Apparently my grandson is the "face of measles" these days. My son and daughter-in-love were interviewed for a segment on NBC Nightly News January 30th and ABC news made some calls to them also. (Updated to include CBS Evening News, BBC Radio, KIIS-FM Radio Interview with Ryan Seacrest, People.com article)

Here's the link to the NBC video and article

During his isolation at Children's Hospital of Orange County he still managed some smiles.

Uriah was a pretty cool customer in front of the news cameras!

It's important for everyone to know that your child is not fully immune until they have the second shot. CDC Vaccine Info  Measles Information from CDC
With so many people choosing not to vaccinate their children we are seeing a resurgence of a killer disease that was once nearly eradicated. Measles spreads easily with infected people not showing symptoms until days after they are contagious. It first appears as a cold or flu until the painful rash shows up a few days later. Uriah was very sick and he had a fairly mild case of measles. There are no medicines for treating measles. I hope by sharing their story it will help others in making decisions for their children.

blessings,
nancy

Uriah's Birthday and a confession: Feeling Very Uninspired Lately

I don't know how it happened....I've not only lost my mojo, it seems I've lost my will to craft. Things are looking pretty bleak here in the studio. I tried just powering through and creating something, anything but it just got me more frustrated that I didn't have any vision or focus or any fresh ideas.

So, I've left the studio to ponder and get to the heart of what's really troubling me. I'm finding answers in the Official Manual for Living (the Bible). After a much needed tune-up, some attitude adjustments, and a change of scenery (can you say Scrapfest?!) I should be able to find my happy crafting heart once more.

Okay, so that explains my blogging absence now on to what has been making me happy lately.....my family, especially my little One Year Old Uriah!

My heart just melts when I see that precious face....he was just adorable digging in to his birthday cupcake!

Uriah has been learning to swim since he was 4 months old so it only seemed right to have a pool party to celebrate his first birthday. All the dads were in the pool with their kids and they all played with the fun pool toys. My Daughter-in-Love, Kellie, did a fantastic job planning the party and everyone had a great time!

My hubby, Uriah's "Pop Pop" picked out this cute little ride on 4 wheeler for Uriah.

Grammy even found a creative spark and made the birthday banner.

Digby update: My golden boy is still wearing socks but there is good news too. He is healing and they found out why he was scratching himself raw...a non-contagious strain of ringworm, which happily isn't a parasite but a very treatable type of fungus. Unfortunately, the treatment involves a month's worth of weekly lime baths at the vet- expensive and seriously stinky. We still don't know exactly where or how he picked it up but I suspect the pack of stray cats in the neighborhood....we've been trying to teach him to chase them out of the yard to no avail. Apparently, he's a lover not a fighter. At least Tia has been spared the skin scourge so far. 

And in other good news, the thyroid medicine is working! Digby has lost 15 pounds and has found his inner puppy again!

I'm looking forward to my trip to Scrapfest next week....it will be a whirlwind 4 days. The Lawn Fawn team will be back together for this event and I can't wait to see Britta and Chari again. Finally having the chance to meet some of my closest inter-web friends is also putting a big smile on my face.

Here's a Thought!

Hold loosely all that is not eternal. ~ Agnes Maude Royden

blessings,

nancy

Catching Up on Scrapbook Pages

I finally had time to work on my Uriah page for March. I had a cute photo of him wearing a little jacket featuring bear ears on the hoodie. I have one set of Paper Smooches stamps that gave me the idea for "bear hugs".

Just a simple layout again, apparently that's my style of scrapbooking.

InLinkz.com

blessings,
nancy

A Few More Cards

I had a friend ask me to make some last minute Mother's Day cards for her last night, I was so happy that I had enough creativity to come up ideas that she liked. For her daughter she wanted a card with a black dog, she's not a mom as yet but she loves her dog.
The dog from Critters in the Burbs by Lawn Fawn worked perfectly and I added a B Line Designs sentiment (a gift from Suzanne a few years ago, thanks Suzz).

I used another newly obtained Hero Arts set "Pattern Hearts and Flowers" for the next card....

I thought the roses paired nicely with the golden paper by Crate Paper.

And now for something completely different. Every now and then I get an interesting request for a card. My sister, Donna, who is a world traveler wanted to send a card to her travel buddy that featured Thailand and a tiger. I just work here folks...

The tiger is attached with an action-wobble springy thing. All images were found online. I included a sentiment from the well-used set "Life is not Perfect" by Hero Arts.


And I couldn't leave you without sharing another photo of Uriah....all dressed up for a Mother's Day visit to the Reagan Library.

He's a handsome little guy!

blessings,
nancy

A Little Scrap-booking Today

I'm still trying to find my way as a scrap-booker, but I have an adorable subject to document so I will keep working at it. For now I'm keeping it simple so I won't get too far behind.

I finally had some time to do a {Uriah} page for January. Truly the hardest part is narrowing down the photos, his cute little face just makes me smile.

I'm working with an 8x8 inch album and the smaller size helps to take the panic out of filling a large blank page. I used a few Lawn Fawn sets: Chevron Backdrops, Critters in the Snow, Say Cheese, Claire's ABC's and Bright Side alphabet cardstock stickers. I got really ambitious and added some machine stitching on the Echo Park Country Drive paper strips.

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There's a story behind each of these photos so I've added a little pocket on the back for my daughter-in-love, Kellie to add her own words.

blessings,
nancy

Uriah's November Page- Digi Hybrid Scrapbooking

I can't believe this is my first post in December! Where does the time go? No really where does it go?
I've been busy putting together Make n Takes for the Hero Arts Catalog Party at Stamp Fever, so much fun playing with brand new stamps and supplies! The partying happens Friday at 4:30-7:30 and Saturday 10-2.

Today is my son Andy's 28th birthday and I'll be sharing his birthday card later in the month but I wanted to share the photo page I made for Uriah.

I used digital scrapbooking kits and papers and printed the page on Kodak Premium Picture High Gloss paper.  Then I added the little Lawn Fawn turkey that I colored with Copics and popped up with foam adhesive.

I'm off to celebrate Andy's birthday with dinner out and birthday pudding!

blessings,
nancy

Uriah- October 2011

I'm taking Latrice's online class, Handmade Holidays and today she had a scrapbook sketch for inspiration. Now everyone knows I'm not a scrapbook-er but I gave it a shot anyway.

As per my usual, I didn't follow the sketch very closely and I didn't use a holiday theme, but it did give me my jumping off point for this 8x8 page. And what better subject than my adorable two month old grandson, Uriah!

I used a bunch of {ancient} paper and stickers/embellishments from my stash; K&Company, Cosmo Cricket, Heidi Grace. It was about time I found a use for these cute little doodads. This is really a primitive page by today's scrapbook standards but it's a start. Who knows, I just may make a few more now that I will be taking lots of photos of favorite my subject!

I just love the large photo of our little guy with his daddy (my not-so-little guy). Uriah has wonderful parents, he's one blessed little boy.

~Philippians 1:6 ~

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you,

will continue His work until it is finally finished

on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

blessings,

nancy

Stamping Basics Class Card Samples

My creative mojo has completed gone on vacation lately. I'm teaching a class this Saturday and only just completed the cards yesterday. That's cutting it much closer than even this veteran procrastinator is comfortable with. The cards use a matte finish cardstock that gives a really unique resist effect when paired with some layered stamping. I've used this cardstock before on this card. Both cards feature Hero Arts cling stamps: Large Solid Flower and Small Solid Flower; they are perfect for this resist technique.


Here's the first card; you'd be surprised how many failed attempts preceded this one that finally made the cut.

For this card I did some simple resist on the background; I stamped the Large Solid Flower with Versamark ink 4 times on the white card base and set it aside to completely dry. Then I blended Wild Honey Distress ink over the top to cover the card. Since I didn't clear emboss the stamped flowers the resist image is softer.

The main panel was first stamped with an Impression Obsession Cover-a-card background stamp, Small Paisley, with Versamark. Then the Small Solid Flower was over-stamped in both Wild Honey and Seedless Preserves Distress inks. You can see how the paisley pattern resists the Distress inks. To finish the panel I used a bit Seedless Preserves on an ink blending tool to lightly ink the edges.

I die cut the leaves and inked them with the Wild Honey and Seedless Preserves Distress inks, stamped the Hero Arts sentiment, then punched a tiny hole in each leaf. I wrapped a length of jute twine around the panel twice and tied it in a simple knot. I threaded the ends through holes in the leaves and knotted them.
The panel is attached using a tape runner and the leaves are held in place with dimensional foam adhesive.

The second card is totally simple but with that same fabulous resist effect.

Just lots of layered stamping here. Friend Definition stamped with Versamark, then Large Solid Flower over-stamped with Seedless Preserves Distress ink. Then I stamped the sentiment with Black Soot Distress ink. A little layering with a lace edged die cut and a clear crystal gem and this 4.25 square card is done.

Here's a little peak at some of the designs that didn't make the cut:

I tried several different backgrounds before I realized I really didn't like the colors I had used. There were many more attempts that I didn't photograph, too awful for words.

If you have stuck with me through all of this I think you deserve a little peak at my adorable grandson. I hate to admit it, but I'm that grandma proudly sharing photos of the little darling.

Little Uriah is just over a month old, growing like a weed and such a happy little guy. If the bib is any indication he apparently takes after his daddy.

~ Proverbs 9:7-12 ~
"Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
So don't bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you.
But correct the wise, and they will love you.
Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement.
Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.
If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer."

blessings,
nancy

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