RoundUp Retreat

I have been working like crazy this week getting ready to host my first retreat with my new business venture. Check out my blog site: http://texasroundupretreats.blogspot.com/.

I hope all goes well and it's not a rainy weekend. As I am writing this post, it's storming outside. Well if anything we will have plenty to keep us busy scrapping and lots of movies.

I have a lot to do tonight, preparing the yummy desserts and food for the girls. Thank goodness I finished the goodie bags. I will post pictures later, I don't want to spoil the surprise for Ms. Kareena.

I am really excited because the last time I was out there I did not have my new camera and there is so much to capture in photos at Blisswood. Carol, the owner sent me an email last week to let me know that she has some new babies on the ranch - new calves, burros, and a joey (yes a baby kanagroo). Can't wait to get those photos. Also, the ranch is blooming with bluebonnets. Now you know why I am hoping for good weather.

So many cards...so little time

I just finished some cards for a Birthday and Thank You card swap I am in.

I did not think I would like the color combo for my Thank You cards, but it grew on me. I used the Cuttlebug circle embossing template for the background for my cards.

The Birthday cards was a scraplift from scrappers blog site I often visit: http://wizardshangout.blogspot.com/. The card isn't as complicated as I thought it would be.

The idea for both of these cards was to use only items I already had. Although, I did splurge on the pre-made cards for my Thank You set and the "You Rock" stamp set (which I was likely to buy anyways), everything else from the cards was made with paper scraps.

After prepping my room to paint, I soon realized I have a lot of scrapbook junk I don't need or want anymore. So, here forward I am only buying things I need for certain projects.

It's finished - her Picasso

Samantha has been working on a painting for her room for a while now. She has a shelf in her room and decided that she wanted to put her own artwork on the shelf for decoration and display.

The picture is her interpretation of the Eiffel Tower. She wasn't pleased with it in the beginning, but I told her "it doesn't have to look exactly like the tower, it's your interpretation". So, after months of adding stroke by stroke she finished it.

She said her next project will not be so detailed, maybe even splattered paint on canvas.

Scraproom

Before

After
I finally have a place I can call my very own! My new scrapping den.

This was the last room in the house that needed a remodel. I had a mish mosh of all kinds of furniture people had given us. Well the day came that I finally decided on what I wanted to do with this room. I am going with a Safari theme!

The color of the room is called Desert Caravan and the base boards are painted with Spiced Leaf a kind of a blackish brown color to blend with the furniture I had chosen. The furniture is from IKEA the Expedit line. I so love it because once I get my baskets I can start to organize my papers, embellishments, and other scrapping materials. There is still a lot to get done in this room - like artwork on the walls, more creative touches, and possibly a new computer desk to replace the current armoire. I found a cool leopard print rug I would like to get from Hobby Lobby and of course some other added animal safari prints.

As you can see in the before picture my pet's crates were currently housed in that room, well we moved them to the laundry room. They haven't gotten the routine down yet to go to the laundry room to get in their crates, but with time they will. The first day I told them to go to their crates, they went right where their crates used to be and looked so lost. I felt bad for them, maybe momma will find them a cool zebra, leopard, or giraffe print doggie bed that they can have in there.

I will keep you updated on the progress of the room as I start to decorate.

BIG 11!

Samantha turns 11 today! Wow...my little girl is not so little anymore. Literally, she will pass me up this summer for sure.
The day will be low key, but she will have some friends over for a slumber party on Friday to celebrate her belated birthday.

Samantha has been such a great girl, we couldn't of been blessed with a better child.
This is a shout out to Samantha - Ten Things I Love About You:

• You have a strong empathy towards others. Which means you really care about how someone feels about what you say or others say to them.
• You are such a mom and dad's girl. Although you tend to lean more towards your dad, but that's okay.
• You are good at doing your chores. We may have to coax you couple of times, but you get it done.
• You love to entertain, just like your mom.
• You are getting really computer and graphic saavy.
• You have a great eye for fashion. Keep that dream of going to fashion school alive.
• You are a great sister to your four-legged brother and sisters.
• You love to travel like mom and dad.
• You have a great eye for art and creating, I just have to push you sometimes.
• You are a great student and never have given dad and I any reason to question your homework ethics.

Enjoy your day Samantha and get ready to party on Friday!