Sneak Peek

This was my Sneak Peek for The Scrap-Room's Double Shot Kit this month

products used were:

TSR's Double Shot kit containing Jillibean pp, bazzill cardstock, American Crafts Junior Buttons, and Coordinating Ribbon

Items added from my stash were:

We R Memory Keepers Eyelets set with my crop-a-dile

bazzill cardstock

large paper clip (rak from my friend shellbowie)

Heidi Swapp Chipboard letters (black and orange)

Making Memories tiny alphas

acrylic paint

I used a toilet paper roll to stamp the circular images on the cardstock

mi casa es su casa

"My house is your house"
So join me on a tour of my scraproom.
We just moved out of state and while I always dread moving, this new house had a perk that my apartment did not have..... A SCRAPROOM. I am still trying to figure things out but all in all I really like how I have things laid out/organized.
This is my main organization unit. I purchased it from Ikea and it was worth every penny. My scraproom is right off of my living room. I think it was supposed to be a sun room. It has a beautiful set of french doors, and once inside the room, to the right is this shelving unit.

In the middle of the room (not pictured) I have a large dining room table, seats 8, that I have raised with bed raisers that I purchased from Walmart. My workspace is now at counter top height. I also have some Rubbermaid storage drawers under the table and plan to "someday" make a skirt for the table to cover all the junk I hide under there.
Here are my buttons. I used to have them in tiny bottles all sorted by color but this works for me and I end up using more random colors. Also hedgie... a gift from my kids.

I store my chipboard letters in these plastic cases. They are sorted by letter. I like to mix and match different letter styles. This way I can just Grab N Go ;) My Clip It Up! Ah, do you feel the love. I simply adore this item. If I could afford it I would have about 10 of these. I love that everything is VISIBLE! I don't know about you gals but if something isn't right in front of my face, I sometimes forget I have it. I keep my dwindling supply of Thickers on the Clip It Up as well as my favorite "go to" embellies.

Okay, you caught me. I admit it. Hello, my name is Shawnna and I have a messy desk. Seriously though I love this "desk". I use the term loosely because it is merely two file cabinets (which I already owned) and I purchased a $50 6ft. counter top from Lowe's. This is on the left side of the room. When you enter the room there are 3 large windows straight ahead, thus the lovely lighting. Sorry for the blown out photo.

I keep my embellishments sorted by color in the same plastic cases as my chipboard letters. I have a ton of these (one for each color plus metals and clear) and I purchased all of them when Hobby Lobby had a 1/2 off sale.

In the two cubbies to the left you can see my kits. I sort them in alphabetical order by the name of the manufacturer, except for Scenic Route Kits, they get their own Cropper Hopper Vertical Paper Holder. I do show favoritism.
I house many of my mini albums in baskets. This allows easy access for my family and visitors.

These owls and sign sit on top of my Ikea Shelving unit. These were all 3 gifts that make me smile every time I see them. It is so important to surround yourself with things that make you happy, things you love.

I keep my paper scraps (both cardstock and patterned paper) stored by color in these 12x12 drawers. This way I can go here first before grabbing a fresh sheet of paper. Reduce Reuse Recycle People. Also my kids know that they can use this paper for their own craft projects.

My paper storage is a little tricky. I couldn't decide on just one way to store so I have a few different categories of storage. First is cardstock, it is stored by color in vertical Cropper Hopper Paper Holders. I used to buy several sheets of every color of Bazzill, now I buy several sheets of only the colors I tend to use over and over. It took a little time to figure this out but it has saved me so much money.

Second is Patterned Paper -- OH HOW I LOVE THEE -- I have Scenic Route in a Cropper Hopper of it's own. I also have paper sorted by theme.... like Halloween/Christmas etc. If a piece of paper doesn't have a set theme then I file it by color unless it is one of my favorite manufacturers then it is filed by name alphabetically. See, I told you it was tricky. I keep my most recent Scrap-Room kits all the way to the right and in the same cubby I have a Cropper Hopper for kit left overs that I use to make cards. Ribbon is stored one of two ways. If it is long enough it is wrapped around a cardboard insert and placed by color in this basket pictured. If it isn't very long I have a large jar (same size as the button jar) that I keep snippets of ribbon in.

I use this Cropper Hopper box to store all my stickers and rub-ons. Most are by theme but I also have a section for each child, I use this area to store things I bought to use in their specific albums (think birthday party themed stickers/embellies).

Last but not least, my cart of drawers. My husband purchased this for me several years ago from Costco when I began outgrowing my wheeled totes. This is stored to the left of my desk, within arms reach, and houses tools, extra adhesive, and stamps. My Clip It Up sits on top of this cart.

So there you have it. Hope you enjoyed peeking inside my scraproom. Please leave links to your scraproom photos in the comment section. I would love to check them out.

Shades of Summer

This summer, shortly after our move, I was able to participate in Liz Kartchner's SHADES OF SUMMER. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to see the completed project with bits and pieces of everyone. So go check it out. My photo is in the second grouping and is on the top far right corner :)

Designing for TSR

This month was my first month Designing for the Doubleshots Kits at TSR. Getting the kit in the mail was a euphoric high. Nothing like opening your front door to a box of scrapping goodies. You can click here to see the entire Coffee House of Ideas. All the Designers did such an incredible job. I am honored to be listed among them. I also designed another two page layout along with specific instructions (Recipe Card) but it can only be viewed if you are a member of The Scrap-Room...... So what are you waiting for???? GO SIGN UP ;)

It's Me

Hey You!
Yep, I'm talkin to You.
Remember me?
It's Shawnna, your long lost buddy.

Chicken Pox

Although I fully intended to be back up and blogging

by now, another blogging hiatus has ensued.

Makenna has the Chicken Pox. Regular blogging

will ensue once all spots are fully scabbed over.

I wouldn't want you to catch the pox virtually.

Plus this will insure that I am available to answer

"Mommy, how much longer till the chicken pox are gone?"

for the 5 millionth time.

send prayers and calamine lotion ;)

Barista

Need to interrupt this blogging hiatus with Breaking News

Just found out that I made the Design Team at The Scrap-Room.

That is right, I am now a Barista

I keep having to reassure myself, it doesn't seem real.

Feeling so so so BLESSED!!!

Can't wait for the September kit to arrive in my mailbox.

Blogging Hiatus

I have been taking a CNA class all week, and I will be in class and doing clinicals next week as well. A short blogging hiatus has ensued. Will return as soon as I master all my new skills which include but are not limited to: pulse and respiration, blood pressure, perineal care, bed bathing, and etc.

Crafty Goodness

Just received my Gauche Alchemy order and I am in

♥ LOVE ♥ ...seriously

They had me at Hello

The kids were ecstatic because they thought the Postman delivered us pizza (the box resembles a pizza box, at least to a 9 and 10 year old).

Once I opened the box I was elated. It was even wrapped neatly. I totally felt like I was opening a gift and at their prices it was practically true.

For the love of crafty holiness run and place an order....did I say I was in love ♥ (have a pic to post but need to find my connecty cord thingy...yeah I'm all technical and stuff )

13 years

Another year
Another anniversary
tough day
always is
wonder if that will ever change

I love my first born son so much
forever and always

I wonder what he would be like
what sports would he play
would he even like sports at all
what would he look like
what would his personality be like
serious, organized, type A
or goofy and spontaneous

I miss him
I wish he could still be here with me
but my wishing doesn't change things
my only comfort comes from believing
I will see him again

Today I hugged my other children tighter and longer than usual
and today they let me without pulling away
I needed that and I think HE knew it
Thanks BIG GUY (I like to call God that sometimes)
____________________
back story:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three

My Tiny Dancer

Another Girl Friday Layout. I love this paper :) and the TSR KIT was loaded :)
Title and Journaling: My tiny Dancer. Life is Beautiful. it is such a joy watching you at dance class. Photo 2007
Products
cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Crickt Girl Friday
Vintage Lace
assorted ric rac
Flowers: Prima and Making Memories
White paint (to distress the letters, they were a little bright for the layout)
Puff paint
Letters: Making Memories, American Crafts Thickers, and Cosmo Cricket
Embellishments Cosmo Cricket and Heidi Swapp

Isn't She Lovely

These were photos of Makenna from 3/22/07 in the bluebonnets out west of Houston toward the Hill Country.

Most products came from The Scrap-Room's April 2009 kit :)

Products:

Cardstock:Bazzill

Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday

Buttons: Making Memories & assorted

Ribbon: Making Memories

Letter Stickers: American Crafts and Making Memories

Embellishments: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday :)

Hidden Journaling reads:

I know that all too soon you will be finished with letting me fix your hair and posing for photos. I cherish these fleeting moments. I {heart} you!

Superficial Stuff

posted about this layout on the TSR BLOG a bit ago. This one is filled with random superficial stuff that makes me happy :) Many of the items used were from The Scrap-Room's April 2009 kit.

Cardstock: Bazzill

Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Girl friday, Imaginisce

Letters: Thickers, EK Success Sticko, Cosmo Cricket

Random Labels

Making Memories and assorted buttons

Prima flowers

a Scenic Route Button from CHA 2008

and a drink topper I got at Shogun ;)

Journaling: Superficial Stuff that Makes me HAPPY - mermaids, owls, and hedgies. Thickers, Cosmo Cricket, Old Navy, Gap, Scenic Route, anthropologie, love elsie, October Afternoon, and 7 jeans

I like to scrapbook....so sue me

Here is a layout I made of my ubber hunky husband.

Almost all items are from The Scrap Room's 4/09 Making Memories Love Notes kit

full product list:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Patterned Paper: Making Memories

Embellishments: Jenni Bowlin tickets and bingo card

black bracket from The Paper Studio

Staples

Felt heart

black lace

black zig pen

Journaling:

You're the best friend that I've ever had

I've been with you such a ling time

You're my sunshine and I want you to know

That my feelings are true I really

love you. You're my best friend.

lyrics by Queen

I'm Alive ;)

Alive and well in Arkansas
Trying to get used to the slower
pace of life in such a small town.

We did go into Little Rock on Saturday
to check out Gusano's Chicago style pizza
and hit up the farmers market

I am almost finished unpacking
Still have Noah's room and my scraproom
We worked on the garage on Saturday evening
and I ended up hurting my back so we took Sunday
to try out a new church and relax

Missing my kiddos who are visiting family in
Houston and excited to see their reaction when
they finally see the house

A Whirlwind

Lots of stuff has happened in the past few weeks.

• I had my doctor scare.
• Heath was offered a job in another state.
• He accepted said job and found out on Wednesday that he had to report to work Monday morning (May 18th)in Little Rock.
• We took the kids to Aunt Christi's on Friday and then drove to Little Rock.
• While we were in route we received a call from our realtor, who was going to show us about 20 houses for rent (or houses that have been on the market for a while and the owners are willing to rent) over the weekend, saying that his wife was in labor and we were on our own for the weekend.
• We arrived in Little Rock after 1 a.m. and began composing a list from newspaper/internet ads and started calling Saturday morning to try to set up showings because we needed a realtor to view all the houses we had previously planned to look at.
• We had a difficult time getting a hold of people and were only able to walk inside about 6 houses all weekend. We spent most of our time driving through neighbor hoods that we had heard had good school districts looking for FOR RENT signs.
• This weekend just so happend to coinside with my PMS so one minute I was saying "it's ok God is going to lead us to the PERFECT house for us with/without a realtor", and the next minute I was fighting back tears thinking ARE WE REALLY DOING THIS AGAIN?
• Saturday the kids stayed the night with my mom and my mother met me here in Tulsa on Sunday night.
• Heath is staying in Little Rock throughout the week and will be coming home on the weekends, until we can find housing there and the kids are out of school. He also found out yesterday (his first day on the job)that he will be traveling to the Jonesboro, AR area for at least the next couple of months. Isn't that like bait and switch or something?
• We were told in the beginning that his relocation package would be the same amount if not a little bit more than last time. We found out on Friday that the amount was $3500 less than what we had expected. Then today after some recalculations it is $2000 less than what we expected and that is the final number.

I am so frustrated with all of this. It has been a uphill battle but I know that my husband made the right decision taking this job. I know that God has blessed him with this opportunity and I know that God will see this move through to the end. He is with us and is going before us. I just have to keep reminding myself of this. It is easy to just throw your hands up and say "I QUIT" it is much harder to do what you feel God is calling you to do. Too bad it can't be the other way around! LOL!! :)

Moles

had a dermatologist appointment today
and I must say I don't think there is
anything more humiliating than having
someone look over your entire body with
some sort of odd magnifying apparatus

Cause REALLY some parts of me just don't
need to be magnified.

on a side note: I can't even think about the word
MOLES without thinking of Larry the Cable Guy

I was tagged by my sweet friend Ashlee last week, and due to all the hair pulling finals I had to take, I am just now getting to it.

What's your current obsession? music,owls, hedgehogs, toadstools, and mermaids
What's your weirdest obsession? ummm....see the list above
What are you wearing today? flip flops with jeans and a tee of course
Why is today special? well.... I'm breathing so I say it's off to a good start ;)
What would you like to learn to do? I would love to learn to play the piano, sew something more than straight lines, knit/crochet..... the list is endless
What's the last thing you bought? Fish .... it's what's for dinner
What are you listening to right now? Jason Mraz and my new neighbors russelling around upstairs.
What's your favorite weather? I like it HOT HOT HOT (I have some sort of weird cold intolerance that I blame on my thyroid or lack there of)
What's your most challenging goal right now? becoming a NURSE....finishing my degree, with all these moves it seems to be getting further and further out of reach
What do you think about the person who tagged you? Ashlee is super sweet and creative.
What's your favorite guilty pleasure? No Bake Cookies --- I just luv em' but only make them once or twice a year because I just can't resist them
Favorite vacation spot? I like Mexico .... but there is the swine flu issue
What would you like to have in your hands right now? a cup of coffee I am freezing but don't want to turn the heat on
What would you like to get rid of? All of our excess STUFF ..... living in a tiny apartment with the majority of your belongings in a storage building for a year really makes you think
If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Italy or Iran
What language do you want to learn? spanish for work purposes but italian just because it is such a beautiful language
What super power would you like to possess? i don't know
What's your favorite thing about the city you live in? ummmm.... the fact that there is virtually NO TRAFFIC
What's your favorite piece of clothing in your closet? my seven jeans and my simple shoes
What's your dream job? NURSE
If you had $150 now what would you spend it on? if I was spending it on myself probably some actions for Photoshop
Do you admire anyone's style? I think there is something unique about everyone's individual style so I guess I admire you ALL!!
Describe your personal style. comfy and casual
Who's fashion show would you want tickets to? could I stay home and read instead
Who's closet would you like to raid? no clue
What are you most proud of? My family .... our love for Christ and each other
If you could choose one person who had passed to have lunch with who would it be and why? my son
If you're tagged...get to answering! Copy the questions and tag some of your friends just to tick them off!!(love that)
1. aloughridge
2. Nicole Maki
3. Janine
4. Angela

Ultrasound

I had my ultrasound yesterday and everything went really well. He did see some scar tissue and commented that my carotid artery was smaller than normal and asked if I was getting adequate blood flow to my head.

Ummmmm I hope so

LOL!!

then again maybe that is why i am so crazy

The best news is that I don't have to see an endo for 6months. That is BIG people. HUGE
I have been seeing a doctor every 6 wks (lots of blood work) for nearly 2 years now.

Super excited.

Now I can focus on more important things :)
thank you all so much for your prayers and support

Finally... heard from the dr. today

they finally received the full report - the doctor reviewed it in it's entirety and called me
The doc thinks that what showed up on the scan may be my throat or more precisely the saliva in it. He wants to do an ultrasound to be sure, but because my tumor markers are low (thyroglobulin levels) he is leaning toward that. Thank you so much for your prayers.

In other news it looks like we will soon be relocating to Little Rock, AR.
We are still waiting to find out the specific relocation package we will be receiving but as long as it is similar to what we have received in the past it will be all systems go.

Heath scored some tickets to see the Jason Mraz concert last night. It was amazing and I must say the Plain White T's also rocked the house. We had a great time thanks to some friends of ours who were willing to keep our kiddos. It was the second time Heath and I have gone out on a "date" since moving here in 2007. Really fun night!!!

just wanted to say

Just wanted to say that I am in a much better place today.
No more gloom and doom.
I think this stuff is always scary for me but when I look at the big picture, really, what is there to be afraid of. This can only go down a few different ways.

A. it is a growth of cells that we just need to watch closely
B. it is a growth of cells that we want to eliminate via more radiation
C. it is a growth of cells that require both surgery and radiation
D. it is a growth of cells that may require surgery, radiation, and chemo (or any combo of these)

The good news is, this isn't my first rodeo. And as crazy as that sounds it does make this less scary, for me at least. I haven't said anything to the kids yet and I probably won't until I have more info. Hopefully my doctor will have the full report (scans and write-up) on Monday. At this point we are just waiting on 1 doctor.

fingers crossed for option A

Abnormal

So I broke down and called the dr's office late this morning
only to have to leave a message of course

and when my phone call was returned it seemed that I would
soon wish I would have never called at all.

Apparently I had some abnormal results but because they didn't
have the full report yet I am not any closer to knowing what that means
Is it BAD, REALLY BAD, or just something we need to watch?

My dr's office was very kind and understanding and apologized that they didn't have a full answer, assuring me as soon as the info gets to them they will call me immediately. They also put in a call to the dr. who was supposed to read the scan at the hospital but she doubted they would hear back today.

All of this should make me feel better but ....

So I made my hubby take me to Chipotle to lunch and I hit up a few garage sales then to top it off I treated myself to a pedicure. I'm feeling better ;)

Thanks for your prayers

Turn of Events

Today in an odd turn of events
it seems hubby was offered the
same position he applied for, only in another state.

hmmmmm

did I mention it was over 6 hours away from where
we live now..... and not anywhere closer to Houston

darn decisions

Shock and Awe

So we did get some news tonight

Not mine but my husbands

Sadly he didn't get the job he applied for

I feel horrible

I can't change the outcome

and I have no control

It seemed as though he was a shoe in but I guess it just
wasn't meant to be.

Waiting (im)patiently

Just wanted to pop in and say I am still here...waiting impatiently
This week is just a week of waiting I guess.
Me waiting to hear about the cancer stuff.
And Heath had a interview for a job last week that would give him some more freedom and a raise. He was told he would hear something on or before Friday. This will determine if we stay in this city or if we continue to push forward with heading further south.

Exciting times!!!!

Have I said how d*mn impatient I am.

Scan Day

Today marked the end of a week and a half of appointments. :) I had my Whole Body Scan today, but it will be next week before I get the results. The hospital here has only one doctor who reads these scans so hopefully it won't take too long. The waiting is always the hardest for me. I am not the most patient person. The technician did let me see the scans and there was some radio iodine accumulation in my thyroid bed, as well as my bladder and colon. Since I no longer have a thyroid I am not sure if there is supposed to be accumulation in the thyroid bed but I do know that having it present in the bladder and colon is normal. I will update when I know more.
Thanks for all of your prayers.
God Bless

Radioactive once again

So this morning, after getting the kids to school, I had a couple of appointments. The first was somewhat of a surprise. I had some blood work to check my thyroglobulin levels. It was really funny because I looked at the tech and said "I don't think I am supposed to be getting my blood drawn", to which he replied "ummm well ma'am that's what it says here"
WELL ALL RIGHTY THEN
at this point what is one more stick gonna matter ;)

Then it was on to the Nuclear Medicine department where I was privileged to meet and visit with 2 other families. Families who were there for cancer testing as well. I was able to meet a young boy. I listened as he complained of his IV, asking his mother if they could take it out now or if he had to have it in all day. I listened as his mother tried to make him comfortable. Before long we struck up a conversation on the usual hospital talk, how extremely cold they kept it and how we wished we had brought in jackets. They were there to find out if he had cancer. A boy no older than my own 10 year old son. A sweet and funny boy who told me how he loved his surprise baby sister even though they were 8 years apart. How is 13 year old sister wasn't as thrilled with the announcement of a new sibling. How he looks out for his little sister, and funny stories of his corgi who can catch a baseball. A boy I won't soon forget and a boy I plan to spend some serious time on my knees in prayer for. I encourage you to pray for him too.

There is such a strange bond between people who have experienced this monstrosity and even those who have come so close to the edge of it. It can't be explained in words. Sometimes it is a look - sometimes in words shared - but most importantly it is the strength we draw from one another. I don't know how to describe it but every person that I have met either online or in person who has faced cancer has given me something, a piece of them. Something that tells me over and over that no matter how much I want to shove this cancer thing in the closet forget about it and pretend it never happened, that I can't, that I shouldn't. That I have to go to these appointments, I have to do everything in my power to make sure this doesn't come back. And if one day it does come back we will catch it early, because of these tests.

That being said I found it so ironic today that I voluntarily ingested a radioactive pill that had to be encased in a protective lead container as it traveled across the country to protect others. hmmmmm....... ok I had to get my funny in

Injection Two

Yesterday was injection #2
much less side effects - a little nausea
and a monster of a headache but other
than that all was good.

Whooo hoo!!!

injection day one

Today started as most, getting up, getting the kids ready for school, fed, and out the door.

But then I made my way to the doctor's office for the first injection. My week is filled with appointments. Injections on Monday and Tuesday. Ingest radiation on Wednesday. Then a Whole Body Scan (WBS) on Friday.

I have had these injections only once before and had only mild side effects (headaches with some tiredness). This time around it doesn't seem like I will have it as easy. My injection was at 9am and before noon I had some nausea, by 3 it was dizzyness, mild headache, nausea. I layed down from about 4-6. Then tonight it was full on vomitting - out the mouth and nose to the point of micturition. There were moments I was wondering when I would get my next breath. Disgusting I know but it is the raw/unedited truth.

Fingers crossed that tomorrow's injection comes with fewer side effects.
Now to try to muster up some energy to get a little bit of school work done. If not I may just go to bed.

getting real

let me preface this by saying - Most days I am so thankful - I have been blessed beyond measure. However - last week was particularly difficult and I wrote this post which I thought about deleting, but then realized it is important that we admit to ourselves and to each other that we don't always feel the way we want to or the way we feel we should. These are my feelings and this is my blog it is about time they were reintroduced....

I don't know what it is lately. I just haven't felt like myself. I like to analyze and make excuses like, "Well, it could be PMS" or "I am just stressed out because of school". But in reality I think it has more to do with the fact that I am about to go through another round of testing. Testing to see if the cancer has returned. I don't really understand why these tests that are designed to save my life (early detection) can trigger these feelings. I think it is mainly fear. Fear in something that is out of my control. I feel frustrated because something that I didn't want - something I never asked for still has such a hold on my life. It dictates that I take pills for the rest of my life at the same time each day. It dictates never ending doctor appointments that leave me with statistics that may be good for "cancer patients" but don't really feel good for ME. It leaves me feeling angry, and then in full circle fashion I feel disappointed in myself for having these feelings because so many others have it so much worse.