Posts
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Hey Friends,
This is a little late in posting, but be sure to head over to Kassidy's site, Inking it up Crazy for the remainder of June. She has some awesome giveaways going on. I'm spending some time over there now, leaving comments so I don't miss my chance to win some great prizes. Head on over and tell her I sent you!
XO ~ Amy Jo
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
FCCB Thursday's Tutorial: Summer Sun
Hi Ladies and Gents,
Don't forget today I have another fun tutorial for you over at FCCB. It goes along with our weekly Summer Sun theme so please take a moment to head over there and check it out for yourself!
XO ~ Amy Jo
Don't forget today I have another fun tutorial for you over at FCCB. It goes along with our weekly Summer Sun theme so please take a moment to head over there and check it out for yourself!
XO ~ Amy Jo
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Domestic Violence: Something to Think About
Hi everyone,
Today my post is a little different. I wanted to focus on a huge issue around the world that actually has affected me personally (long time ago), multiple friends, and just recently one of my dearest friends. In fact, she was victimized just last night. We have been through 2 days of fear, sadness, anger and utter disbelief. I'm going to share her story today and my story on another post with the hopes of helping people to open up, and also maybe we could get some feedback from you because we need to help this lovely woman who didn't deserve what happened to her last night. I need help to help her and I am reaching out to you, my friends, for some advice and some support. Thank you for taking the time to read this today. This is a very long post and I know you have a zillion things to do so I will highlight the part where I am really asking for help if you want to just skip to that. :0)
First of all my friend came home last night after a quick vacation with a girlfriend only to have her husband hold a gun to her head. They've been having marital problems for a long time and normally it never escalates to violence or anything like that, but he does have severe depression and likes to drink. He broke into her email before she came back home and saw a letter she had written to a girlfriend mentioning that she was wanting to leave him. She had no idea about this until later when they started talking and he started drinking. His mood was all over the place and she finally just decided to leave the situation and go and unpack. He followed her to the bedroom and she wasn't worried or anything until she knelt down to unpack and she saw a red laser-like light shine next to her. She looks up and he's holding a gun with a beam pointing right on her and said "This is what's going to happen if you decide to divorce me". Then he walked over and actually held the gun to her head and asked her if she was scared. She said she was. He then threw the gun on the bed and laughed and said "You didn't think I would actually do something like that did you? Besides, it's not even loaded." By that time she was shaking and scared and decided she had to get out of there so when he turned around, she bolted down the stairs, grabbed her purse, just praying her cell phone was in it and ran, barefoot in the pouring rain, until she felt safe enough to call 911. The cops showed up right away and kept her in the car with them while they surrounded their house. She was with the police for about an hour and a half. I don't know what took them so long, but when I got to her house later, I noticed the door had two big holes punched or banged in. Must have been the cops trying to get in and her husband wouldn't let them or something.
Anyways, back to the story. I had a bad feeling and I knew she was coming home that night from her trip so I just decided to text her and make sure she was ok. She sent me a message that said no, her husband just wanted to shoot her! Well, I flipped out, of course, because I (and she) always had a bad feeling that someday he would turn on her and then more than likely kill himself (we still think that) so I rushed right over to her house to be with her. I was so thankful to see her alive, shaken up and white as a ghost but alive, that I just hugged her and started crying. What a mess!
So they toted him off to jail (before I got there) and as they were doing that, when she and the officers reentered the house, the officer found the gun in a box. Her husband had tried to hide the gun. She asked the officer when he found it, "Can I ask, is it loaded?" Remember, her husband told her it was not? Well, the officer said "I hate to tell you this ma'am, but it's a full metal jacket, fully loaded". She had narrowly escaped death. I truly believe had she stayed there with him in his state of mind, my sweet friend and her husband would have both been dead by today. Thank you Lord for protecting her and for her to have the courage to call 911, which I fully believe also saved his life. In a DV situation it can be very hard to call the police because you still don't want to hurt the person who's hurting you or sometimes the person who's hurting you threatens to hurt you or your family if you call the cops (which was my previous experience).
It just amazes me that people can think they have the right to try to control someone else's right to live. It happens every day and it is a sad, sad thing.
She is ok now, but has no money, doesn't feel comfortable staying at the house because, let's face it, a restraining order DOES NOT keep you safe. Not against someone with a mind like that. For any of you women out there who do think it's safe, let me tell you from my own experience, it is not. A man that wants to kill you will do it whether or not he's "allowed" near you. At that point, they just don't care. Especially a man as depressed as this who doesn't even care for himself. Scary situation.
Anyways we need some help. I am wondering if anyone out there can give us some guidance for a few important things. Most of which I cannot post here, because asking these specific questions I have would help identify her and I don't want that to happen. So please, if anyone out there has been through something similar and would like to help in some way or even offer the advice I need, please send me an email (amyjrockstar at gmail dot com) and I'll send you more of the personal details we need help with. For now we have to be very cautious about any of the specifics for her safety.
Please note the right sidebar on my blog. I will be making cards to send, but now I was wondering if any of you would make a card or something with some words of wisdom, or love, or support, for my dear friend. I know it would help her so much. I just know it would. I know you all have very busy lives and we all have so much going on but if you could find it in your heart (and your schedule) to make her a little something special (it could be anything), I would be extremely grateful to see her lovely face light up. She needs to know she is not alone right now because she feels very alone. I am her only friend in this state and one of two friends in this whole country. She is not from here and is very scared right now. She needs to know the love that Americans can show and she needs to believe that not all Americans are liars and backstabbers. A lot more happened besides what I have mentioned here and some of the people she trusted most here have turned their backs on her because he went to jail. Like she had any other option but to call the police. Let's show her that we are a good people, a kind people, and a caring people. Let's prove that to her. Please, if you want to send something let me know and I'll send you my address so I can get everything to her Again, amyjrockstar at gmail dot com.
I will tell my experience with DV in a different post on a different day. I'm exhausted from the past two days and hope I can maybe get some sleep. Plus, you all have been kind enough to stick with this super long post and I appreciate that very much. Thank you, my friends. If any of you were in this same situation, I would do whatever I could to help and I know I can count on you the same.
XO ~ Amy Jo
Today my post is a little different. I wanted to focus on a huge issue around the world that actually has affected me personally (long time ago), multiple friends, and just recently one of my dearest friends. In fact, she was victimized just last night. We have been through 2 days of fear, sadness, anger and utter disbelief. I'm going to share her story today and my story on another post with the hopes of helping people to open up, and also maybe we could get some feedback from you because we need to help this lovely woman who didn't deserve what happened to her last night. I need help to help her and I am reaching out to you, my friends, for some advice and some support. Thank you for taking the time to read this today. This is a very long post and I know you have a zillion things to do so I will highlight the part where I am really asking for help if you want to just skip to that. :0)
First of all my friend came home last night after a quick vacation with a girlfriend only to have her husband hold a gun to her head. They've been having marital problems for a long time and normally it never escalates to violence or anything like that, but he does have severe depression and likes to drink. He broke into her email before she came back home and saw a letter she had written to a girlfriend mentioning that she was wanting to leave him. She had no idea about this until later when they started talking and he started drinking. His mood was all over the place and she finally just decided to leave the situation and go and unpack. He followed her to the bedroom and she wasn't worried or anything until she knelt down to unpack and she saw a red laser-like light shine next to her. She looks up and he's holding a gun with a beam pointing right on her and said "This is what's going to happen if you decide to divorce me". Then he walked over and actually held the gun to her head and asked her if she was scared. She said she was. He then threw the gun on the bed and laughed and said "You didn't think I would actually do something like that did you? Besides, it's not even loaded." By that time she was shaking and scared and decided she had to get out of there so when he turned around, she bolted down the stairs, grabbed her purse, just praying her cell phone was in it and ran, barefoot in the pouring rain, until she felt safe enough to call 911. The cops showed up right away and kept her in the car with them while they surrounded their house. She was with the police for about an hour and a half. I don't know what took them so long, but when I got to her house later, I noticed the door had two big holes punched or banged in. Must have been the cops trying to get in and her husband wouldn't let them or something.
Anyways, back to the story. I had a bad feeling and I knew she was coming home that night from her trip so I just decided to text her and make sure she was ok. She sent me a message that said no, her husband just wanted to shoot her! Well, I flipped out, of course, because I (and she) always had a bad feeling that someday he would turn on her and then more than likely kill himself (we still think that) so I rushed right over to her house to be with her. I was so thankful to see her alive, shaken up and white as a ghost but alive, that I just hugged her and started crying. What a mess!
So they toted him off to jail (before I got there) and as they were doing that, when she and the officers reentered the house, the officer found the gun in a box. Her husband had tried to hide the gun. She asked the officer when he found it, "Can I ask, is it loaded?" Remember, her husband told her it was not? Well, the officer said "I hate to tell you this ma'am, but it's a full metal jacket, fully loaded". She had narrowly escaped death. I truly believe had she stayed there with him in his state of mind, my sweet friend and her husband would have both been dead by today. Thank you Lord for protecting her and for her to have the courage to call 911, which I fully believe also saved his life. In a DV situation it can be very hard to call the police because you still don't want to hurt the person who's hurting you or sometimes the person who's hurting you threatens to hurt you or your family if you call the cops (which was my previous experience).
It just amazes me that people can think they have the right to try to control someone else's right to live. It happens every day and it is a sad, sad thing.
She is ok now, but has no money, doesn't feel comfortable staying at the house because, let's face it, a restraining order DOES NOT keep you safe. Not against someone with a mind like that. For any of you women out there who do think it's safe, let me tell you from my own experience, it is not. A man that wants to kill you will do it whether or not he's "allowed" near you. At that point, they just don't care. Especially a man as depressed as this who doesn't even care for himself. Scary situation.
Anyways we need some help. I am wondering if anyone out there can give us some guidance for a few important things. Most of which I cannot post here, because asking these specific questions I have would help identify her and I don't want that to happen. So please, if anyone out there has been through something similar and would like to help in some way or even offer the advice I need, please send me an email (amyjrockstar at gmail dot com) and I'll send you more of the personal details we need help with. For now we have to be very cautious about any of the specifics for her safety.
Please note the right sidebar on my blog. I will be making cards to send, but now I was wondering if any of you would make a card or something with some words of wisdom, or love, or support, for my dear friend. I know it would help her so much. I just know it would. I know you all have very busy lives and we all have so much going on but if you could find it in your heart (and your schedule) to make her a little something special (it could be anything), I would be extremely grateful to see her lovely face light up. She needs to know she is not alone right now because she feels very alone. I am her only friend in this state and one of two friends in this whole country. She is not from here and is very scared right now. She needs to know the love that Americans can show and she needs to believe that not all Americans are liars and backstabbers. A lot more happened besides what I have mentioned here and some of the people she trusted most here have turned their backs on her because he went to jail. Like she had any other option but to call the police. Let's show her that we are a good people, a kind people, and a caring people. Let's prove that to her. Please, if you want to send something let me know and I'll send you my address so I can get everything to her Again, amyjrockstar at gmail dot com.
I will tell my experience with DV in a different post on a different day. I'm exhausted from the past two days and hope I can maybe get some sleep. Plus, you all have been kind enough to stick with this super long post and I appreciate that very much. Thank you, my friends. If any of you were in this same situation, I would do whatever I could to help and I know I can count on you the same.
XO ~ Amy Jo
Design Team Bliss
Hey Awesome, Fantabulous Friends,
Good news...so, not only have I just recently been picked to be on the design team for Vintage Heartfelt Designs, but I have also been lucky enough to land a spot on Jillian Vance's design team!!! How incredibly cool is that? I posted the blinky on my sidebar which will lead you to the blog. We are just getting set up and deciding which blog address we'll be posting on, but I'll let you know ASAP. We have some fun projects coming up featuring Jillian's awesome products! I have some of the stamp sets already, which totally rock, btw, but also will soon be receiving some other materials to work with. I'm stoked about it. They have some fantastic, unique stamps, and - oh yeah, did I mention b4 (like a hundred times), she's only 12!!! I'm so honored to be picked by Jillian and Bunny (her sweet and amazingly supportive and talented mom). This means, you will be seeing a ton of new posts on my blog all the time! Oh yeah, I have one more HUGEr than HUGE announcement to make very soon, but for now, I have to keep you guessing. Still not allowed to share my incredible excitement with you on this one, but how awesome is it that two lovely blogs (besides my FCCBlog, whom I adore) have picked me up to help with challenges and other fun stuff? I'll get all the links and info to you shortly in one post as soon as I get to tell you my other great news. For now, use the blinkies on my blog to get there. :0) Thank you all for sharing in my joy and for all your support and kindness whenever something good happens to me. I appreciate it so much and adore your comments.
XO ~ Amy Jo
Good news...so, not only have I just recently been picked to be on the design team for Vintage Heartfelt Designs, but I have also been lucky enough to land a spot on Jillian Vance's design team!!! How incredibly cool is that? I posted the blinky on my sidebar which will lead you to the blog. We are just getting set up and deciding which blog address we'll be posting on, but I'll let you know ASAP. We have some fun projects coming up featuring Jillian's awesome products! I have some of the stamp sets already, which totally rock, btw, but also will soon be receiving some other materials to work with. I'm stoked about it. They have some fantastic, unique stamps, and - oh yeah, did I mention b4 (like a hundred times), she's only 12!!! I'm so honored to be picked by Jillian and Bunny (her sweet and amazingly supportive and talented mom). This means, you will be seeing a ton of new posts on my blog all the time! Oh yeah, I have one more HUGEr than HUGE announcement to make very soon, but for now, I have to keep you guessing. Still not allowed to share my incredible excitement with you on this one, but how awesome is it that two lovely blogs (besides my FCCBlog, whom I adore) have picked me up to help with challenges and other fun stuff? I'll get all the links and info to you shortly in one post as soon as I get to tell you my other great news. For now, use the blinkies on my blog to get there. :0) Thank you all for sharing in my joy and for all your support and kindness whenever something good happens to me. I appreciate it so much and adore your comments.
XO ~ Amy Jo
Monday, June 20, 2011
FCCB Challenge Me Monday's - #65 Summer Sun
Good morning everyone! Today is Challenge Me Monday over at FCCB! The challenge is to use a sun and don't forget, at least one Cricut cut on your project. That is, after all what FCCB (Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog) is all about, right? :0)
So, for today's project I made a card for a friend of mine, but still haven't sent it to her. I got carried away this weekend.... Decided to check out Season 1 of GLEE for the first time and ended up spending most of the weekend totally transfixed on the television. Anyways, got nothing done, feel totally guilty about that and back to the post! LOL This is a long post with a lot of pics so I apologize in advance.
Sorry for all the pics. Hope you have high speed! There's a lot of detail and dimension on this card that I wanted to show.
I decided to try my very first gate-fold card, can you believe it? Well, I wanted to make it extra special and just hate to write inside the cards I make for some reason so I made a pocket. Stamped a strip of paper with a notebook lined stamp and wrote my letter on that. Obviously had to add some folds and put a little pull tab so she would know it's in there, but I think it turned out just adorable. Hope you guys like it too! Now for the deets:
As you know, I'm really trying to use a different cartridge on each project and really try out all my cartridges. Right now I've got somewhere btwn. 50 and 60 of them and always want more! In fact, I think there's only like 5 or so out there that I don't really want! So to the point... for this card I used Campin' Critters because I just love the bugling sun. I love being awake for the sunrise, which I usually am now. I go to sleep between 4 and 6:00 AM.
I found the directions for the gate fold somewhere online and it turned out a little smaller than I was hoping, but still is cute!
Details:
If you guys need or want any guidance in making this or one like this with a cute lil pocket, let me know and I'll put together a pictorial tutorial. I've never made a video one before because I don't have a camcorder or anything. I have a web cam I might try out soon tho if anyone is interested in me doing any tutorials. Let me know!
Thanks you guys for checking in today. I am posting this in a few other locations -- challenges and FB for Jillian Vance. I'll post links below when I have them all figured out.
Now please go show some love to my awesome DT at FCCB! Enter the challenge and you may be the lucky winner of an awesome prize!
Challenges Entered:
Getting Cricky - Face It
Gimme A Break Challenge Blog - #20 Anything Summer
Celebrate the Occasion - Challenge #19 Sun
Scrappin' Chics Challenge Blog - Sun and Inspirational Saying
XO ~ Amy Jo
*All starred items are available for sale through my Memory~Works store. If you would like more info or to purchase any of these items, please contact me! I'd be happy to send a catalog too.
So, for today's project I made a card for a friend of mine, but still haven't sent it to her. I got carried away this weekend.... Decided to check out Season 1 of GLEE for the first time and ended up spending most of the weekend totally transfixed on the television. Anyways, got nothing done, feel totally guilty about that and back to the post! LOL This is a long post with a lot of pics so I apologize in advance.
Sorry for all the pics. Hope you have high speed! There's a lot of detail and dimension on this card that I wanted to show.
The full inside
The pocket (tag is able to swing)
This little clip holds it all closed!
Check this out - A Jillian Vance Design - I'm excited to tell you something new soon, but it'll have to wait for now. :0) Remember Jillian's Blog Hop? I got the stamps from there so be sure to check out her awesome stamps! www.ajillianvancedesign.com
I decided to try my very first gate-fold card, can you believe it? Well, I wanted to make it extra special and just hate to write inside the cards I make for some reason so I made a pocket. Stamped a strip of paper with a notebook lined stamp and wrote my letter on that. Obviously had to add some folds and put a little pull tab so she would know it's in there, but I think it turned out just adorable. Hope you guys like it too! Now for the deets:
As you know, I'm really trying to use a different cartridge on each project and really try out all my cartridges. Right now I've got somewhere btwn. 50 and 60 of them and always want more! In fact, I think there's only like 5 or so out there that I don't really want! So to the point... for this card I used Campin' Critters because I just love the bugling sun. I love being awake for the sunrise, which I usually am now. I go to sleep between 4 and 6:00 AM.
I found the directions for the gate fold somewhere online and it turned out a little smaller than I was hoping, but still is cute!
Details:
- All Cardstock: Stash
- All Patterned Paper - Stampin up that I won from Jill Coleman (Stampin in His Name) Except for the brown patterned paper inside, which is from Bo Bunny (available from me through Memory~Works)
- Used Gypsy and Expression for all the layers (6 or 7) of the sun & bugle
- Orange and gold Stickles*
- Center of the Sun: Glossy Accents*
- Orange Ribbon: Stash
- Antiqued Edges: Colorbox - Chestnut Brown* and another light brown*, red, Studio G blue
- Cuttlebug Folder: Swirls? Can't remember the name, inked it to make it vintagey
- Martha Stewart Punch: Forgot the name
- Tag: Memory~Works*
- Glitter Brad: Bo Bunny*
- Zig Pen
- Jillian Vance Stamp: Have Faith stamp set
- Pull Tag: Sticker from stash
- Adhesives: Pop dots, ATG gun, Zig 2way Pen, red tape
- Wooden clip: Stash
If you guys need or want any guidance in making this or one like this with a cute lil pocket, let me know and I'll put together a pictorial tutorial. I've never made a video one before because I don't have a camcorder or anything. I have a web cam I might try out soon tho if anyone is interested in me doing any tutorials. Let me know!
Thanks you guys for checking in today. I am posting this in a few other locations -- challenges and FB for Jillian Vance. I'll post links below when I have them all figured out.
Now please go show some love to my awesome DT at FCCB! Enter the challenge and you may be the lucky winner of an awesome prize!
Challenges Entered:
Getting Cricky - Face It
Gimme A Break Challenge Blog - #20 Anything Summer
Celebrate the Occasion - Challenge #19 Sun
Scrappin' Chics Challenge Blog - Sun and Inspirational Saying
XO ~ Amy Jo
*All starred items are available for sale through my Memory~Works store. If you would like more info or to purchase any of these items, please contact me! I'd be happy to send a catalog too.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Winner of Jillian's Birthday Blog Hop
Wanna know who the winner is? Well the lucky number that was drawn by random.org was #32, which adds up to be.. Kathy!Thank you for playing our Simply Sunday Challenge at Getting Cricky.
Hugs :),
Kathy - Getting Cricky DTM
http://the3esblog.blogspot.com
Kathy, congratulations on winning my blog candy! Please shoot me an email at amyjrockstar at gmail dot com with your address and I'll get your prize out to you as soon as I can! Might not be 'til the beginning of next week because my hubby runs all my errands for me, but it'll get there. :0) Enjoy!
XO ~ Amy Jo
Hugs :),
Kathy - Getting Cricky DTM
http://the3esblog.blogspot.com
Kathy, congratulations on winning my blog candy! Please shoot me an email at amyjrockstar at gmail dot com with your address and I'll get your prize out to you as soon as I can! Might not be 'til the beginning of next week because my hubby runs all my errands for me, but it'll get there. :0) Enjoy!
XO ~ Amy Jo
Cricutastic Awards to Give - Long Over Due!
Hi there Lovelies!
I received an award a while back that I was supposed to pass on to 10 deserving blogs. Yes, 10! That's why it's taken me so long to post this. I follow hundreds of blogs and it's so difficult to choose. I want you to know that I love all of your blogs. Everybody deserves an award just for being brave enough to show the world your creations and a look into your personal life. That's more special than most people are aware of, I think. Well, I'm finally ready take care of that now! Better late than never, right? I really must be late a lot because I seem to always be saying that. LOL
I received an award a while back that I was supposed to pass on to 10 deserving blogs. Yes, 10! That's why it's taken me so long to post this. I follow hundreds of blogs and it's so difficult to choose. I want you to know that I love all of your blogs. Everybody deserves an award just for being brave enough to show the world your creations and a look into your personal life. That's more special than most people are aware of, I think. Well, I'm finally ready take care of that now! Better late than never, right? I really must be late a lot because I seem to always be saying that. LOL
I am so honored that Tiffany from Sparkled Memories (a lovely blog, btw) chose me as one of the lucky recipients of "The Cricut-tastic Award". She has a great site so please, as friends of mine, pop on over there and check out her blog. She has some great creations over there!
And the recipients are:
Maquel at http://papermaineiac.blogspot.com/
Jamie at http://glitterstampsandpaperohmy.com/
Sarah at http://sarahvaitstamps.blogspot.com
Kate at http://smallbitsofpaper.blogspot.com/
Jayne at http://jayne-designs.blogspot.com
Ok, this is only the first five, but I will continue soon! Ladies, Congratulations for all the awesome work you do on your blogs. Friends and Followers, please stop by and check out these ladies awesome blogs if you haven't already. You will be glad you did.
Instructions to the recipients:
1. List 5 things Cricut related about yourself.
2. Give the award to 10 deserving blogs and try to pick blogs who have under 300 followers. I made one exception, but this person just has to have this award! :0)
3. Oh, and don't forget to put the award on your blog! Wear it proudly!
Jamie at http://glitterstampsandpaperohmy.com/
Sarah at http://sarahvaitstamps.blogspot.com
Kate at http://smallbitsofpaper.blogspot.com/
Jayne at http://jayne-designs.blogspot.com
Ok, this is only the first five, but I will continue soon! Ladies, Congratulations for all the awesome work you do on your blogs. Friends and Followers, please stop by and check out these ladies awesome blogs if you haven't already. You will be glad you did.
Instructions to the recipients:
1. List 5 things Cricut related about yourself.
2. Give the award to 10 deserving blogs and try to pick blogs who have under 300 followers. I made one exception, but this person just has to have this award! :0)
3. Oh, and don't forget to put the award on your blog! Wear it proudly!
XO ~ Amy Jo
Thursday, June 16, 2011
FCCB Thursday's Tutorial: Wedding Week
Good morning everyone! Be sure and stop over at FCCB today to see the little tutorial I found to go along with this week's theme: Weddings! While your over there, be sure to enter the challenge. There's still time!
XO ~ Amy Jo
XO ~ Amy Jo
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Some more awesome awards!!!
My sweet friend Rae from Wahoo Crafts (whom I design with on FCCB) gave me not one, but TWO awesome blogger awards! I am so excited! I am supposed to post 5 things about me and then pass these on so I will do that for each award.
1. My mini pot-bellied pig was supposed to be a maximum of 60lbs and he is actually 130!!! Not such a "mini" is he? LOL He and my female pit bull were both born on Christmas day, one year apart.
2. Along with my Fibro, I have horrible sleep problems. My latest schedule is stay up til 4:00 in the morning, wake up at 10 or 11:00 A.M and start my day with a pretty structured morning routine. My best ideas come in the middle of the night!
3. You may already know this, but I thought I'd post it anyways, I started scrapbooking during my first marriage. I had taken a long road trip with my best friend to Maine and back through New York City all the way home to Colorado. I had a zillion pictures and my brother's gf was into scrapbooking so that's how started! I stopped though after my dad passed away (like a year or two later) and didn't pick it up again until September of 2010. Since then, it's been non-stop papercrafting!
4. Since I've gotten Fibro, I now longer enjoy music. Not like I used to anyways, for some reason, anything too loud or too stimulating gives me great anxiety. I used to love music and have it on 24/7. Now I listen to it very rarely. I've heard that's common with Fibro.
5. My family started a silkscreen/sign shop in 1995 or so and for 9 years I worked there, eventually running it for the last 2 years or so. Then when my brother sold the shop, I went with it and managed another year before I decided to move. I never realized how much I loved the artistic side of things until I had an Office Management position. Great job too, but not a lot of room for creativity!
The above award goes to:
Brynn at http://flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com/
Annibee at http://anniebeescraftroom.blogspot.com/
Dee at http://vintageheartfeltdesigns.blogspot.com/
Michelle at http://scrappinwithmybug-scrappinwithmybug.blogspot.com/
Robin at http://robinshakoor.blogspot.com/
Brynn at http://flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com/
Annibee at http://anniebeescraftroom.blogspot.com/
Dee at http://vintageheartfeltdesigns.blogspot.com/
Michelle at http://scrappinwithmybug-scrappinwithmybug.blogspot.com/
Robin at http://robinshakoor.blogspot.com/
The next 5 things...
1. When I moved to Fort Collins, I worked for an Environmental Consulting & Testing company and worked my way up to management. I loved my job sooo much and made a fantastic living with it. At the same time I worked at a greenhouse and started Fashion Design School online. When I got full on Fibro, I was 29 and had to quit EVERYTHING. I was bedridden for a year on and off.
3. I have two older brothers. One is 13 years older than me and one is 15 years older than me!
4. My favorite pastime used to be dancing at hip hop clubs. LOL - Don't laugh, but up until I got ill, I used to go at least twice a week and would dance for about 5 hours straight each time. I loved it! It's how I met my husband. :0)
5. I am approx. 1/8 Lakota Sioux. White girl that I am! LOL
This award goes to:
Celeste at http://ccscards.blogspot.com/
Theresa at http://juicycricutcards.blogspot.com/
Robin at http://www.robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com/
Kristal at http://www.gettingcricky.com/p/about-me.html/
Deanne at http://www.deannescreativejuice.blogspot.com/
There are a few more I'd like to give, but I guess I'll play by the rules this time. ;)
Thank you again, Rae!
Ladies I have picked, I hope you enjoy these little tokens of my appreciation. I subscribe to HUNDREDS of blogs and I picked you!
XO ~ Amy Jo
1. When I moved to Fort Collins, I worked for an Environmental Consulting & Testing company and worked my way up to management. I loved my job sooo much and made a fantastic living with it. At the same time I worked at a greenhouse and started Fashion Design School online. When I got full on Fibro, I was 29 and had to quit EVERYTHING. I was bedridden for a year on and off.
3. I have two older brothers. One is 13 years older than me and one is 15 years older than me!
4. My favorite pastime used to be dancing at hip hop clubs. LOL - Don't laugh, but up until I got ill, I used to go at least twice a week and would dance for about 5 hours straight each time. I loved it! It's how I met my husband. :0)
5. I am approx. 1/8 Lakota Sioux. White girl that I am! LOL
This award goes to:
Celeste at http://ccscards.blogspot.com/
Theresa at http://juicycricutcards.blogspot.com/
Robin at http://www.robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com/
Kristal at http://www.gettingcricky.com/p/about-me.html/
Deanne at http://www.deannescreativejuice.blogspot.com/
There are a few more I'd like to give, but I guess I'll play by the rules this time. ;)
Thank you again, Rae!
Ladies I have picked, I hope you enjoy these little tokens of my appreciation. I subscribe to HUNDREDS of blogs and I picked you!
XO ~ Amy Jo
Exciting News!
Hello all my lovely friends! I just wanted to let you all know that I was chosen to be on another awesome design team! I'm so excited to be working with the awesome ladies over at Vintage Heartfelt Designs (VHD)! I can't wait to start some work for them. It's a wonderful blog. If you haven't gone over there before, please be sure and check it out! We will be having some great challenges over there and everything is vintage-style. One of my faves! ;)
It is a fairly new blog and we are looking for followers and people who want to take part in some great challenges. We will be putting on some fun blog hops in the near future and will also be hosting some great challenges so come on over, sign up to be a follower and join us in our new and exciting journey!
XO ~ Amy Jo
It is a fairly new blog and we are looking for followers and people who want to take part in some great challenges. We will be putting on some fun blog hops in the near future and will also be hosting some great challenges so come on over, sign up to be a follower and join us in our new and exciting journey!
XO ~ Amy Jo
Monday, June 13, 2011
Jillian's Blog Hop Day 4 - Birthday Card For Jillian
Welcome to Jillian's Birthday Blog Hop!
*Be sure to scroll down a few posts for my 500 follower giveaway*
We are so glad you are here! If you came from My Favorite Blog you are on the right track. If you just happened here by chance and want to start from the beginning, please go to the beginning at Deanne's Creative Juice. For those of you who don't know who Jillian is, I think you'll want to know her. Go to her blog for her own hop at http://www.ajillianvancedesign.com/Blog.html. She is turning 12 years old and already has made for herself an amazing business! She has some of the best stamp sets I've seen. In fact, I went over there a few nights ago and bought 4 sets of her stamps because she's a smart chick who created phrases for particular Cricut cartridges which I really need! I do have some awesome ones from a few of my other favorite blogs, but Jillian is just 12!!! OMGosh!
For this awesome hop, we have four straight days of birthday fun lined up for you all. Each day, each blog is going to post a new project and there may be some blog candy involved. ;) Am I doing blog candy, you ask??? Well, OF COURSE!!! What would a hop be without some fun goodies? All you need to do is leave a comment below and please become a follower if you are not. You don't have to comment each day, but if you do, you have more chances to win the blog candy I'll be giving away after the hop is over. This hop goes from June 10th through June 13th.
Every participant is linking their project back to the hostess' blog. Bloggers will vote on their favorite projects. CLICK HERE to vote for the project you believe deserves to win a new Cricut cartridge:) If you like any of my projects best, PLEASE be sure to vote for me. I'd greatly appreciate it because I really want to win the cartridge being offered! Thanks for taking the time to do so each day. :0) (If you haven't seen yesterday's project, please go down one post to check it out and vote on it if you like it.) I have been unable to link yesterday's and today's post so please come back and click on the "Click Here" link again. I'll try to get it fixed by tomorrow morning.
Today's post is an easel card I made for the Birthday girl herself! Jillian, I hope you like it. It will be on the way to you tomorrow. :0) For the deets see below.
I saw this awesome sticker from Creative Imaginations and just knew it was perfect for Jillian. There's way more to her than meets the eye! I didn't focus a ton on the birthday aspect because I wanted her to be able to display this and look at it to remind her how special she is. I used some fun bling from Creative Charms, Flowers, Stickers and pop dots. Background teal cardstock is from my stash. Purple glitter paper is from DCWV. I inked all the edges with an awesome deep purple Studio G ink pad. For more details feel free to ask!
Thanks for your patience today! Sorry this is up so late. Don't forget to get your votes in as today is the last day to vote. I'm going to post this card now.
I hope to enter this into some challenges and will post them at the bottom of this post when I do.
Thanks so much for hopping with us, now be sure to head on over to Funky Cards to check out what Madison has in store for us today! She makes some great projects!
Here is the blog list!
Scrapping Card Making and Living with Fibro - You are Here
Funky Cards - Next
Don't forget to leave a comment and become a follower for a chance to win my blog candy (fun tags, stickers, accents and rub-ons from Colorbok)! 1 comment per day please. :0) If you are unable to leave a comment b/c Blogger has been acting up, try using Google Chrome or a different Internet browser to open my blog in. That should do the trick. You don't want to miss out!
Jillian also has a hop going on over at her Blog! Head over and see what's going on there. Tell her that you came from Deanne's Blog Hop and give her some birthday love.
Jillian's Blog Hop Day 4 - Running Late
Hi friends,
Please bear with me. Had a rough Fibro day yesterday and don't have my post together yet. Please check in with me a little later. I have a Birthday card in store for the Birthday Girl herself! :0) It's turning out really pretty so please come back to check it out!
Hugs,
Amy Jo
Please bear with me. Had a rough Fibro day yesterday and don't have my post together yet. Please check in with me a little later. I have a Birthday card in store for the Birthday Girl herself! :0) It's turning out really pretty so please come back to check it out!
Hugs,
Amy Jo
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Jillian's Blog Hop Day 3 - My brother's B-day card
Welcome to Jillian's Birthday Blog Hop!
*Be sure to scroll down a few posts for my 500 follower giveaway*
We are so glad you are here! If you came from My Favorite Blog you are on the right track. If you just happened here by chance and want to start from the beginning, please go to the beginning at Deanne's Creative Juice. For those of you who don't know who Jillian is, I think you'll want to know her. Go to her blog for her own hop at http://www.ajillianvancedesign.com/Blog.html. She is turning 12 years old and already has made for herself an amazing business! She has some of the best stamp sets I've seen. In fact, I went over there a few nights ago and bought 4 sets of her stamps because she's a smart chick who created phrases for particular Cricut cartridges which I really need! I do have some awesome ones from a few of my other favorite blogs, but Jillian is just 12!!! OMGosh!
For this awesome hop, we have four straight days of birthday fun lined up for you all. Each day, each blog is going to post a new project and there may be some blog candy involved. ;) Am I doing blog candy, you ask??? Well, OF COURSE!!! What would a hop be without some fun goodies? All you need to do is leave a comment below and please become a follower if you are not. You don't have to comment each day, but if you do, you have more chances to win the blog candy I'll be giving away after the hop is over. This hop goes from June 10th through June 13th. Works well for me because my brother's (Dennis's) b-day was yesterday so I just happen to have a card for him! Today is the day I'm showcasing that card. :0)
Every participant is linking their project back to the hostess' blog. Bloggers will vote on their favorite projects. CLICK HERE to vote for the project you believe deserves to win a new Cricut cartridge:) If you like any of my projects best, PLEASE be sure to vote for me. I'd greatly appreciate it because I really want to win the cartridge being offered! Thanks for taking the time to do so each day. :0) (If you haven't seen yesterday's project, please go down one post to check it out and vote on it if you like it.) I have been unable to link yesterday's and today's post so please come back and click on the "Click Here" link again. I'll try to get it fixed by tomorrow morning.
The card I have for today's birthday project is for my older brother Dennis. He's the middle child and is now 46!?? OMGosh, I thought he was gonna be 45! I've totally missed doing something extra special for his 45th! Dang! :p I am always running late when it comes to actually mailing cards and since his b-day was yesterday, I'm sure you can see where this is going. LOL Anyways, he is really into antiques, likes the color red and likes things that look old-timey, not modern so this is what I came up with for him. It is a completely Cricut-less project! I can't believe it! I really had about 6 projects in mind that I wanted to make for him that would have included the Cricut, but you just can't squeeze everything onto one card and I know he doesn't want 6 cards for his b-day. LOL
I'm not going to ramble on today about how this one was made. The pics are pretty clear although you can't see what was raised with pop dots very easily, but I do want you to know that the awesome stickers, papers, and stamps (for the clock background) I used all came from my Memory Works store! So, if you are interested in any of these products (this line was mostly Bo Bunny) please let me know and I can help you with pricing and ordering, etc. Everything I used for this gorgeous card was really inexpensive! I even added a little to the inside. :0) Let me know if you would like a catalog mailed to you. Hope you all enjoy this card and I really hope my bro likes it too.
I hope to enter this into some challenges and will post them at the bottom of this post when I do.
Thanks so much for hopping with us, now be sure to head on over to Funky Cards to check out what Madison has in store for us today! She makes some great projects!
The card I have for today's birthday project is for my older brother Dennis. He's the middle child and is now 46!?? OMGosh, I thought he was gonna be 45! I've totally missed doing something extra special for his 45th! Dang! :p I am always running late when it comes to actually mailing cards and since his b-day was yesterday, I'm sure you can see where this is going. LOL Anyways, he is really into antiques, likes the color red and likes things that look old-timey, not modern so this is what I came up with for him. It is a completely Cricut-less project! I can't believe it! I really had about 6 projects in mind that I wanted to make for him that would have included the Cricut, but you just can't squeeze everything onto one card and I know he doesn't want 6 cards for his b-day. LOL
Front of 5x7" card - pop dots were used, red textured cardstock, Bo Bunny papers, bronze brads, (rest listed below in other pics)
Main message - This just fits for my brother - Used stickers, rub-ons, and an awesome brad
Top border is actually a sticker from Bo Bunny that I added Creative Charms - Dark Brown Pearls to
This star is something I got in a Craig's List lot with a bunch of other western embellishments
Inside of card - Used a chipboard frame, 2 black pearl embellies, and stamped the background with my clock stamp from my store - Stickers are from my store too! Not sure which paper line at the moment, but ask if you have questions.
I'm not going to ramble on today about how this one was made. The pics are pretty clear although you can't see what was raised with pop dots very easily, but I do want you to know that the awesome stickers, papers, and stamps (for the clock background) I used all came from my Memory Works store! So, if you are interested in any of these products (this line was mostly Bo Bunny) please let me know and I can help you with pricing and ordering, etc. Everything I used for this gorgeous card was really inexpensive! I even added a little to the inside. :0) Let me know if you would like a catalog mailed to you. Hope you all enjoy this card and I really hope my bro likes it too.
I hope to enter this into some challenges and will post them at the bottom of this post when I do.
Thanks so much for hopping with us, now be sure to head on over to Funky Cards to check out what Madison has in store for us today! She makes some great projects!
Here is the blog list!
Scrapping Card Making and Living with Fibro - You are Here
Funky Cards - Next
Don't forget to leave a comment and become a follower for a chance to win my blog candy (fun tags, stickers, accents and rub-ons from Colorbok)! 1 comment per day please. :0) If you are unable to leave a comment b/c Blogger has been acting up, try using Google Chrome or a different Internet browser to open my blog in. That should do the trick. You don't want to miss out!
Jillian also has a hop going on over at her Blog! Head over and see what's going on there. Tell her that you came from Deanne's Blog Hop and give her some birthday love.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Jillian's Blog Hop Day 2 - One of my favorite cards
Welcome to Jillian's Birthday Blog Hop!
*Be sure to scroll down a few posts for my 500 follower giveaway*
We are so glad you are here! If you came from My Favorite Blog you are on the right track. If you just happened here by chance and want to start from the beginning, please go to the beginning at Deanne's Creative Juice. For those of you who don't know who Jillian is, I think you'll want to know her. Go to her blog for her own hop at http://www.ajillianvancedesign.com/Blog.html. She is turning 12 years old and already has made for herself an amazing business! She has some of the best stamp sets I've seen. In fact, I went over there last night and bought 4 sets of her stamps because she's a smart chick who created phrases for particular Cricut cartridges which I really need! I've been handwriting and using stickers as you'll see below, so it's time for some more great stamps. I do have some awesome ones from a few of my other favorite blogs, but Jillian is just 12!!! OMGosh!
For this awesome hop, we have four straight days of birthday fun lined up for you all. Each day, each blog is going to post a new project and there may be some blog candy involved. ;) Am I doing blog candy, you ask??? Well, OF COURSE!!! What would a hop be without some fun goodies? All you need to do is leave a comment below and please become a follower if you are not. You don't have to comment each day, but if you do, you have more chances to win the blog candy I'll be giving away after the hop is over. This hop goes from June 10th through June 13th. Works well for me because my brother's b-day is on the 11th so I just happen to have a card for him! (Not on todays' post though.)
Every participant is linking their project back to the hostess' blog. Bloggers will vote on their favorite projects. CLICK HERE to vote for the project you believe deserves to win a new Cricut cartridge:) If you like any of my projects best, PLEASE be sure to vote for me. I'd greatly appreciate it because I really want to win the cartridge being offered! Thanks for taking the time to do so each day. :0) (If you haven't seen yesterday's project, please go down one post to check it out and vote on it if you like it.)
Today's project is one of my all time favorite creations and it just so happens I haven't posted it yet. Glad I saved it cause it's perfect this hop! I made a card for my mom's b-day on May 26th. I actually made it over Memorial Day weekend during my trip back home. I used my Expression and the Animal Kingdom cartridge (which I've had forever and never used!) I have a goal to use each of my cartridges in alphabetical order until I've used them all. This will make about 55 projects or so at least! Anyways, onto the card. I know this is a hop and we need to keep it short, but I just have to give you some of the details so they will be posted below. Feel free to skip through them and just enter the blog candy if you're in a rush! :0)
Jillian also has a hop going on over at her Blog! Head over and see what's going on there. Tell her that you came from Deanne's Blog Hop and give her some birthday love.
Every participant is linking their project back to the hostess' blog. Bloggers will vote on their favorite projects. CLICK HERE to vote for the project you believe deserves to win a new Cricut cartridge:) If you like any of my projects best, PLEASE be sure to vote for me. I'd greatly appreciate it because I really want to win the cartridge being offered! Thanks for taking the time to do so each day. :0) (If you haven't seen yesterday's project, please go down one post to check it out and vote on it if you like it.)
Today's project is one of my all time favorite creations and it just so happens I haven't posted it yet. Glad I saved it cause it's perfect this hop! I made a card for my mom's b-day on May 26th. I actually made it over Memorial Day weekend during my trip back home. I used my Expression and the Animal Kingdom cartridge (which I've had forever and never used!) I have a goal to use each of my cartridges in alphabetical order until I've used them all. This will make about 55 projects or so at least! Anyways, onto the card. I know this is a hop and we need to keep it short, but I just have to give you some of the details so they will be posted below. Feel free to skip through them and just enter the blog candy if you're in a rush! :0)
Front of Card - Was 4x6, but made it square 6x6" approx *see note below
Sorry this is so blurry! Inside of card says "You are 1 cool Chick"
I just had to make a card with chickens on it because my mom is always talking about her little hens that my brother gave her. She's always loved chickens and I had just acquired some new chicken scrapping stuff so it worked out so well! There's a lot to this card so look closely!
Elements used:
- Cricut Expression
- Animal Kingdom Cartridge - I cut the chicken before I left for my trip so I wouldn't have to load up the Expression - I cut two layers, then used my cat's eye Colorbox ink, Orange Stickles, and my Zig pen to add dimension to the chicken
- Card Stock and Background Paper - from stash (inked the edges, of course)
- Stampin' Up Chicken Wire stamp & Chicken Border stamp (used colored pencils to enhance the border)
- Crocheted Flowers from my favorite embellishment shoppe Creative Charms - If you go there, please tell them I sent you. ;) They have the cutest stuff ever and the prices are so affordable!
- Ribbon for stems - Michael's $1.00 bin
- Ribbon for fence - Huge roll of holiday ribbon that I got off Craig's List in a lot of stuff for $3!!! I really scored and this ribbon was perfect for a fence
- The pink circles with chicks on them are actually from a paper pack that I have. I used my Fiskars circle punch to cut them out and then added Glossy Accents and my Zig pen to write on them. The word "Happy" is from a magnetic stamp set by Making Memories, "Birthday" was handwritten, and "Mom" was a foam sticker.
- For the inside I used the same paper (with a chick on it), Zig pen, chipboard words from Colorbok, stickers from a K&Co. To Go stack, and Stickles! Once again sorry for the blurriness of the photos. The inside stickers are "1" and "r". I faux stitched the tag and added a "cool" sticker from my stash.
Gosh, I think that's everything! *Just a side note... I like to use a base sometimes of a smaller folded card and then cut a background paper to leave above the top of that card, but usually when I do this, I make sure to glue a piece of card stock on the back so it stays stronger. Hope that makes sense! LOL
There you have todays' project. Thanks so much for hopping with us, now be sure to head on over to Funky Cards to check out what they have in store for us today!
Here is the blog list!
Scrapping Card Making and Living with Fibro - You are Here
Funky Cards - Next
Don't forgetons from Colorbok)! 1 comment per day please. :0)
Jillian also has a hop going on over at her Blog! Head over and see what's going on there. Tell her that you came from Deanne's Blog Hop and give her some birthday love.
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