I remember you

I was delivering breakfast to some toddlers in the 1-year-old room.  My cell phone rang. It was my husband. I said, "I only have a second, I have to feed these kids".  He said "something bad is happening. The World Trade Center was just bombed."  I got someone on the breakfast and ran to the tv.  No one really knew what was happening. We turned on the radio and still, no one was sure what was going on.

Feelings of what the heck is going on?  Feelings of "I can't believe this", and feelings of terror flowed through everyone. Then it happened....... we saw a PLANE fly into the second tower.  What in the world?  Is that really what happened?  Yes, it was.

Rumors began to fly, we were in the middle of an attack.  An attack on everything we knew.  I was 7 weeks pregnant and scared to death.  I grabbed my 4-year-old child from her classroom and kept her with me while I tried to help keep the children calm all the while feeling that life as I know it was ending.  Workers had to leave to get their own children, parents began flocking to be with their children.  There were tears, prayers...and then a third plane hit the Pentagon.  And a fourth crashes into a field.  A NIGHTMARE descended on our great nation! 

Panic began to take hold in Paducah, KY (not that it wasn't inside all the time), there were rumors they were coming for us (with all the uranium and TVA).  There were rumors about so many things.  Most of it fueled by our general terror and disbelief.

My how life can change in a span of 90 minutes.  NINETY MINUTES!  90 minutes that changed the life of every single American alive at that time, regardless of their age.  You may have known someone, you may have begun to look over your shoulder, you may have been scared to fly, you may have been scared of anything or anyone with different ideas than you...someway YOU were affected.

In the hours and subsequent days that followed we saw miracle upon miracle. Heroes were born over and over again. Our leaders stood together without party distinctions. We heard tales of survivors. We banded with our fellow citizens to assist those in need.  We gathered in churches and homes to pray for the lost, the survivors, the loss of life and prayed for America.  We all sported our RED, WHITE, and BLUE.  There were flags everywhere, praises of "God Bless America" graced our lips, and American united to rebuild our country.

It's so hard to comprehend that less than 20 people that morning changed ALL of our lives.  We all have our stories.  Some are stories that will send chills down your spine, some of us were there, some of us had relatives there.  Some of us lost loved ones.  Some of us had our lives destroyed by the events. The scenarios go on and on.

In the next few days, we will hear many of these stories.  Let us once again bond together for our citizens.

We are America!  We are strong!  We are powerful!  We are unbeatable!  We are the United States of America!!!!!!

God Bless the USA!!!!!

Rolodex

I am on a mission, I need some type of Rolodex....I am being overrun with post it notes.  Now, that would be fine, but space is limited.  When Michelle works, paper work EXPLODES everywhere.  Excuses, attendance, census, and most of all post it notes.  Post it notes contain numbers, tips, things I want to remember and maybe just a friendly one. 

Two days ago, I began a mission to find a "rolodex" to contain these little tiny pieces of paper. I am not buying something, if there's one thing I am its cheap (unless it concerns paper products and shoes).  It was a no brainer to make something, actually that is what I told Natalie Massa I was going to do.

TA...DA.....

Blue Moon

This week I am making cards for me to use next year that are a year on the life but more of a reflection on life and not typical events. I am using 3 events that everyone uses....Christmas, Father's Day and Mother's Day.  For Mother's Day, I really wanted to use this clip art that I found. 
I found this on a free site   http://www.freeretroclipart.com/, you can't use it for commercial use, but you can use it on your own.  You want to be careful with copyright, that is why usually I use my own drawings, but this one is too good to pass up.  There is also a blog on this site that is very worthy of your time.

http://americanwomendidntgetfat.blogspot.com/

Here is my creation:

To get the look:
You need lots of papers and junk in your craft bin. I had a ripped up doily, a page from an old Bible, a tag from my tagger that says "so easy to attach" an old Hugs label and a yucky old tag made new by Tim Holtz inks (spun sugar, broken china, old paper and walnut stain).  The Ali Edwards handwriting font on your computer and blue ribbon.  This was fun

Stacy Renee Isbell "Squirt" Robinson

Is a girl I have known since I was very very very young. Our parents introduced us to each other. She had hair that was so long, black and silky and I was jealous about that! She had a massive collection of teddy bears and a pool table (very fun) and my favorite part of her house was this little spiral staircase (I don't even remember if I even knew where it went---I never climbed it, but I did sit on it). She had some teen idol stuff in her room and a day bed in the corner.

Her mom was precious, but I really don't remember her dad too much (I think he was at work when I visited).

We rode the bus together for 8 years. We were friends but not close friends...then we went to high school. I think we might have ridden the bus together then, but I have blocked out all high school bus riding experiences! We did start hanging out more and more. When she got her license we began making a figure 8 around the little town of Mayfield. We would sing songs, chase boys, and continue making that circle. When I got my license we would take turns cruising in her very cool car (a red Barretta?) and my lovely long stylish wood-paneled station wagon (HEY). We were hip, young and cool. AND LOUD! Wait, maybe that was me!

She graduated from high school and went to Murray and left me. We both fell in love and married, she moved away, I moved away. Sad sad sad, but all these years later, we are still friends. I still think of her. Like today (August 27), the anniversary of her birth. Friend, may your day be full of happiness!

Happy 40th!!!!!!!

I can't fight this craving any longer

Let me tell you a story. A story of a lady that pulled into a McDonald's on Music Valley Drive in Nashville, TN on August 6, 2011.  She was starving to death and had just made some $$$$ working for a scrapbook vendor.  She ordered a double cheeseburger, fries, coke, and a ROLO McFlurry.  She had to devour the McFlurry quickly because she was driving and did not want to spill any on her lap.  It was YUMMY!!! So YUMMY she wished that she had ordered a large ROLO McFlurry.

She told her husband about the McFlurry and told him of her desire to have another one.  A week or so went by and she was still thinking of that McFlurry.  One day she was going to be driving by McDonald's during lunchtime.  She pulled into the drive through...ordered her #6 with a coke and a small ROLO McFlurry.  She was given a total and she pulled to the window.

Upon her arrival, the girl (with lovely nails) leaned out and said: "Honey, the ice cream machine is broken."  REALLY????   Feeling sad and extremely disappointed she ate her burger while longing for that ROLO McFlurry.

A week or so later her hubby went to McDonald's after football practice.  His mission to feed his son and bring the wifey a McFlurry.  He called a few minutes later, the line was out onto the street, there was NO way she was getting that ROLO on that night.

Days went by and the sweet husband decided to give it one more shot.  He pulled through the drive-through line, ordered and was told: "the credit card machine is broken."  He doesn't carry cash.  What is this a conspiracy?  Was the lovely lady ever going to have the ROLO McFlurry?  Would she be forever to just dream of the taste of the caramel and little chocolate candy pieces?  Would she forever be angry with the Lone Oak Road McDonald's for ruining her McFlurry experience?

No, that lovely little hubby would leave the McDonald's parking lot and go to the ATM, where he was reunited with greenbacks and the wife was very happy that the second ROLO McFlurry was just as good as the first one!

Thank you to McDonald's, John Champion and Abe Lincoln (ATM). 

Owl love lips

This weekend, I had a client that wanted a card featuring owls and lips.  I decided I would make a 3-D card to reflect the clients choices.  I wanted to be a little different but not too different.  I decided to make a shutter fold card, because they are unique (as the client is).  It is a very fun fold to make, if you never have made it you should definitely give it a whirl.  I got my instructions from spilitcoasters.  I searched for various card fold a while back and just saved them.  BAM!  A unique fold whenever you need it.  Here is the shutter card...http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/trishuttercard/

This card makes me happy. It is very distressed, very happy and perfect for a 21 year old girl.

To get the look:

Purple card stock---Hobby Lobby open stock
Owl stamps---Wise guys by Technique Tuesday
Letter stamps---Inkadinkadoo
Purple patterned paper, all papers for the owl---from my scrapbin
flowers---recollections
Inks--Tim Holtz distress inks (walnut stain, frayed burlap, spun sugar, tea dye, vintage photo)
Black---stazon

front of card closed



front of card opened

back of card open

Gingersnap Creations: GC 112

This challenge was fun for me because I love the look of steampunk.  Like an Abe Lincoln meets James Bond kind of look.  Like the old Wild Wild West show from the 70's (or was it 60's?).  I notice this look is everywhere in movies (Sherlock Homes and Cowboys and Aliens), on t shirts (very nice) and in the craft aisles. I admit I am one of the big buyer on those craft aisles.  I have quite a few steampunk stamps, rub ons, papers and cardstock.

Today I happened upon this challenge and had to take part.

To get my look:
Vintage Ladies stamps
Butterfly stamp by Hampton Art
Words paper (a scrap) by Prima
Flower paper by Graphic 45
Grunge board pieces by Tim Holtz
Peeled paint crackle paint by Tim Holtz
Inks--Distress Inks by Tim Holtz in Walnut stain, vintage photo, old paper, tea dye, frayed burlap
Achieve font is Bleeding Cowboy

http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/