Back From a Break

Hello all!  Not sure how many of you actually READ this blog, but I am sorry for my absence!  My finger is much better, but I have been VERY busy lately with preparing and dealing with the start of school for my two kids.  The oldest (14) is a freshman in high school and is in the marching band, so had band camp for the last two weeks of summer.  Marching band, I am learning, requires a LOT of commitment, not only from the students, but also from the parents!  Honestly, I had no idea...I never did such things in high school myself.  I was too busy obsessing over Duran Duran and trying to keep my hair as big as possible!

Anyway, I have not been doing much in the way of crafting in these last weeks.  My lovely new Big Shot has mostly sat in the living room, lonely, with only the occasional experimental use.  I did check out the Sizzix website and went NUTS over their clearance center- oh what a happy place that is!!  I ordered some lovely items and hope to use them in the near future.  But not til things settle down a bit.  Right now, I'm lucky I have time to sleep, let alone craft!

I have not even been able to keep up with the wonderful Yahoo paper crafts group that I belong to- I have not participated in a weekly challenge in a few weeks because of lack of time.  However, I did join a Christmas card swap, so have done a little work on my design for a Christmas card for that.  I am hoping to get my cards done this weekend and mailed out, since the deadline is next week.  I am not usually one to wait until the last minute, but as hectic as things have been, I must forgive myself this time!


The leaves are are beginning to change colors here in the Northwest, and I am getting excited, because that means FALL LEAVES!  I cannot wait to try some bookmarks with some beautiful fall-colored leaves!  I have already scoped out some trees in my neighborhood and near work so that I can score some of those leaves that I envisioned last fall in a bookmark.  Stay tuned to see the results of that, because I am determined to make it a reality!

Well, that's all for now- I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things soon.  Will definitely post pictures of my Christmas cards- I think they will be nice, though not in traditional Christmas colors.