Happy New Year - 2013

Merry Christmas

May God bless you this Christmas and in the coming year.  Susan

In the process pictures

The remodeling is moving along - yes even during Christmas week.  I told the guys they didn't have to work today (Christmas Eve) but I think they want this done as much as I do.

The top two are after they ripped everything out.  This is not a bad size bathroom with that big corner tub out.  I always hated that thing.  Too hard to clean...to hard to get in and out of.  I think I used it 3 times in the last 10 years.

 

 They have started the tiling.  The lighter will be on the walls and around the tub and the darker on the floor.  I can't wait to see it finished.

  

Oh, and the vanity was delivered...it's sitting in my bedroom until the tiling is down.  I just love it.

 I have two mirrors to go above the vanity.

I'll show you the finished room - it'll be awhile though.  The counter-tops will be measured Wednesday and not come in for 3-4 weeks :(

Wallet card

I hope my nephews don't read my blog - pretty sure they don't!

I think whoever came up with the idea of gift cards should have a holiday named for them! 

Here are the wallet cards I made for my nephew's gift cards. They are held shut with a little square of velcro.  You could slip bills in the back pocket (well, I can't because I glued down the middle but if you left it open you could).  I actually stitched the 2 pockets together on my sewing machine.  I've got to do more sewing in my scrapping...since I'm not using it for clothes!

Have a Merry Christmas.  Susan

New Front Door

Here are pictures of my new front door.  I just love it.  So...let me know if you think I should keep the sidelights white or paint the trim in red.

Here is a photoshop rendering of red sidelights - I know it looks bad but I've never been good at coloring.

Thanks for stopping by...hopefully I'll get back to crafty stuff next week.  I'm off all week but with the renovations who knows how many times I'll have to run to Home Depot!

Have a wonderful Christmas.  Susan

Remodeling 2012

Who is silly enough to remodel during the holidays AND when your husband just had neck surgery...me, that's who!  My husband had a degenerated disc in his neck repaired and is in a neck brace for 3 months (only 2 months, 1 week to go, but who's counting).  We started our remodeling last week.  I also work from home (and have 2 other employees, okay, one is my son).

So, things are crazy here at home.  The remodeling is my husband's and mine Christmas gift and we helped my son get tires for his truck earlier so other than a few gifts for my nephews, something special for my sisters, and a few homemade goodies, I didn't have much shopping this year.  I'm very thankful for that.

I love watching home improvement shows because I like to see ideas people have. I've been at Home Depot so much, but I haven't seen any of the crash people from HGTV.  Believe me, I've been looking for them!

Here are my before pictures...I'll post some "middle ones" tomorrow.

 

The giant corner tub is gone and the hideous black shower walls and sink top are gone.  

Here is the front of the house.  We've had the large tree and large round bush pulled out.  The door has been changed and painted red.  More pics later on.

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Love cards for OWH

It's been slow at work so I got to sneak off to my scrap room.  I want to get a box out to OWH before Christmas so I have several cards to make!  It's going out Monday...full or not.

Our heroes need I Love You cards...I hope someone will be thrilled to get these cards.  Keep your heart open so you can change a life.  Thanks for stopping by...Susan

 

Praying for their families and friends and relatives and classmates.  Praying for those children who survived and their families.  Praying for the teachers and administrators who have some tough decisions ahead.  Praying for this community.

Christmas Card #2

I wanted to make cards for my neighbors this year and found a second design to try.  These cards have crocheted snowflakes that can be used on a Christmas tree.

If I don't make it back to here before Christmas...I wish each one of you and your families a very Merry Christmas filled with love and family.  Remember the Reason for the season.  Susan

Ornament

A friend needed an ornament for her dog's daycare.  I had seen an ornament on Pinterest that I thought would be cute to do.  Here is the back and front of my rendition:

I hope Jake likes this!  I'm glad she asked me to make this.  It forced me back into my scrap room and I actually used by cricut :D

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

The Twelve Days of Christmas - do you really know it?

I received this email from my Bible Study leader and wanted to pass this on.

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? This week, I found out.

From 1558  1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code Word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the Sevenfold gifts of the Holy  Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes,

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace,Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Now, when you sing this song (or hear it), you'll look at it in a different way.  Have a blessed Christmas season!  Susan

Are you interested in Digital Scrapbooking?

Head over to LisaStuf blogspot to win a software program that will help you create lots of fun stuff- scrapbook pages, cards, photo postcards.

Weddings

I found pictures of my sister's wedding in 1980 and my brother's in 1985.  Wow, those people sure are young :)

These pages looked a lot prettier in my head!  Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Christmas 2001

I've been working on some of my older pictures.  Here are pictures from 2001.

Do you see my gingerbread men?  I was going to buy the Creative Memories border punch (the one that you can interchange the designs)...but then I figured I could recreate this on my Cricut!

Thanks for stopping by...enjoy the holiday season.  Susan

Bow fishing 2012

My son is a hunter and fisherman.  He found a way to combine both - bow fishing.  He and his Dad were out back practicing.  I love these guys.

Thanks for stopping by.  Scrap something that makes you smile.  Susan

Christmas Card 2012

Hello...last Saturday was my monthly church crop and I worked on Christmas cards - got 45 done.   If you are on my list then don't look :D

 I made 35 of these for friends and family.  The other 10 are different and for my neighbors (I'll get a picture up later when the last touch is on them).

I got to work in my scrap room today (after my Thanksgiving nap)... finished the pages from last month's crop (putting lettering on them).  I'll be posting them this week.

Thanks for stopping by...I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving day.  Susan

New Card

Didn't realize that it's been so long since I've posted.  I did have a crop this month but I haven't even unpacked from it. I have pages that are done but post are needing the finishing touches (meaning, adding stuff I forgot to take!).

But I did get a card done today (while taking my scrapbook organizational class).

I gotta run - work is calling.  Keep your hearts open and let your creativity change someone's life.  Susan

Birthday cards

Don't you love celebrating birthdays?  I do .  It's an excuse to get together with family and friends.  Here's a couple of cards I made over the weekend for a couple of birthdays. 

 Do you notice the candle that is really a present!

Thanks for stopping by.  Create something for someone and make their day.  Susan

Scrapbook pages, page 4 (I think)

Okay, here are the last of the pages.  Disney's Animal Kingdon.  My husband and I went to Florida for a business trip and took a day at the park.  I can't remember the last time he and I took a trip alone.  It was nice.

Keep your heart open and look for an opportunity to use your creativity to change someone's life.  Thanks for stopping by, susan

Scrapbook pages, part 3

I'm back with some more pages.  A friend asked if I'd post hers here some day so someone other than her would see them!  I told her I'd be happy too but I'm not sure how many people are actually looking at mine.

 We went to a wedding and my son's friend handed him his baby to hold.  The top picture my son looks scared to death.  But then I don't know that he's ever held a baby!  He got more comfortable when the baby didn't squirm around.  I love that their clothes match!

Have you driven in a terrible storm before?  You know how white-knuckled it can be.  We were following that ugly red line right up the freeway.  In the top left picture, you can see an overturned semi on the other side of the road - from the wind.  We saw 3 of these.  I was very happy to get home that day.

Of course, we were out for a very important mission.  A scrapbook store was having a going-out-of-business sale that we just couldn't miss! 

Have a great day.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Scrapbook pages part 2

Here are some more pages I got done at church this weekend.

 My Great Aunt and Grandma took me to visit Brother Damian.  I don't know who is was other than he was connected to the Catholic Church.  He gave me an old doll that I named Henry.  Wish I had him today.  Brother Damian was really into short-wave radio.  Even though I visited him only once, he made an impression on me...not sure why :D

 My family got together Mother's Day weekend at Columbus Commons park downtown.  It is always fun to see the kids enjoying themselves - the little ones and the big ones!!

Keep your family close.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Scrapbook pages

I love cropping at church with the sweet group of ladies that come every month.  We share ideas and supplies and chit-chat.  It is such an enjoyable day.  Oh, yeah, I do get some pages done too!

I'll be showing you all week what I got done.  Here are my favorite pages.

 I love that patterned paper but I don't scrap 8.5x11 any more.  This worked perfectly and I added my own crocheted trim.  Love that pattern and I can change the size by using different thread and needle.  And, of course, any picture of me and my son is special to me.

 This one is a blast from the past - 1988.  My sister started doing Mary Kay parties and my friends graciously came down to my house.  At the time I lived "in the country" and the 45 minute drive was a long one for most of them!

I love mixing patterned paper together.  And both these sheets reminded me of Easter.  Can't wait to have new pictures of babies at Easter, but that will have to wait...

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll be posting different pages all week.  Have a wonderful one, Susan

Do you want to save/earn some money?

I earn money by shopping online through Ebates.com.  I go to Ebates website and log in and pick the store I'm going to shop at. Then I shop and get a percentage of my purchases; quarterly I get a check (or credit to my paypal account - whichever I chose).  I've received checks/credits of $53 so far and I have a check of $74 waiting for me in November!

If you decide to join for free, could you please use my Ebates referral so I can earn a little extra with them. 

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=dxY9uQIkYhBFaiVu8ouzew%3D%3D

One other place I could use your help.  If you are considering NutriSystem, let me send you a buddy referral.  We will each get a $30 reduction on our order.  I'd be happy to chat with you about NutriSystem.  I've lost 46 pounds since January.  Send me an email at shmi2 @ sbcglobal dot net to either ask questions or to give me your email address so I can send the buddy referral.

Check out my stash of scrapbooking stuff for sale on ScrapbookHoardersAnonymous.  If you can't see the albums without being a member, just ask to join the group ... there's a lot of items for sale there.  Mine are priced to move; prices are listed on the pictures and I will add in postage and paypal fees (very low).  There may some ribbons, stamps, flowers, paper you really need!  Email me at shmi2 @ sbcglobal dot net with the items you want and I'll send you an invoice from paypal (I'll need your mailing address and email address).

Also, if you are interested in signing up for DirecTV, please let me know (by email). By me referring you, I get $10 a month off my bill (for 10 months) AND SO DO YOU!


Sorry for the commercials - but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to save a little money :D

Card and layout

I've been cleaning up my scraproom in anticipation of my Get Organized class that starts on Tuesday.  I'm also trying to get ready for a scrap retreat in March (yes, I know, that's next year ... but that's only 6 months)...actually I have an all-day crop at church in a few weeks.

I found this layout from last month.  My son's 12th birthday...and the momentous occasion we had "the talk".

And here's the card I started yesterday but was whisked off to Walmart before I finished.

This is a CASE from a card on Splitcoast Stampers that I saw on Pinterest.

I start my water aerobics tomorrow.  I'm excited because I've never done this.  In fact, I can't remember the last time I was in a pool (and I loved swimming growing up).

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.  Susan

I'm getting organized

You can too...join in the class given by the ScrapRack - 2012 Back to School, Back to Scrapping (click on this link and check them out).

I've already started going through my paper, stamps and ribbons.  Oh, I found a great place to try to sell some of your scrappy treasures that you are not using...and you may find some great deals on things you've been looking for.  Or things you didn't know you needed!  It is a facebook group - Scrapbook Hoarders Anonymous!

If you'd like to see what I have for sale, visit my photo album on SHA - Susan Strawser's Scrappy Stuff.  The prices do not include shipping and I accept payment via Paypal.  If you see anything you want to buy, send me an email at strawserbs @ gmail dot com.

I have a busy Saturday - Y at 8, bookclub at 10, lunch with the girls at 1.  I hope I'll get into my scraproom now that it is a little cleaned up.

Thanks for stopping by.  Susan

Cards

Here are a couple of cards I did one morning before work.  I've been working out at 6:30 so every other morning I'm still awake that early so I sneak into my scrap room to create a little!

 My husband's uncle passed away and this is the card I made for his aunt.

My sister's birthday is coming up and I wanted an extra special card for her.  Happy Birthday, Debbie!

Thanks for stopping by.  Let your creativity change a heart.  Susan

OWH VCMP - Challenge #10

What a wonderful couple days of crafting!  Thank Operation Write Home for the excuse to get lots of cards made to send to our heroes. 

The final challenge was to make a card representative of your home state.  Well, I'm from the great State of Ohio and everyone here recognizes the significance of Scarlet & Gray - OSU colors.

Thanks for coming by.  I hope you visited all the other blogs and got some wonderful inspiration.  Keep your heart open and change a life.  Susan