PimpDaddyPain completly spoiled me this Christmas, he hit all the right notes, things I needed, things I wanted, thing I would have never bought myself… and he gave me the day off. We had a very low mantience meal of frozen pizza and peanut clusters. Later in the evening we went to see family, and he enjoyed turkey and excess there… The best gift I got this year though, was the ok to go ahead and quit my job.
The snow kept me house bound for days, and we both got used to me being home again. He liked coming home and not having to wait for dinner. I liked not having to worry about making so many sales a day. Not having to worry about getting back and forth to work is a blessing. I tried to take the car out the other night and got stuck right away. I’m not good in the snow. We sat down and looked at our income to expense ratio and realized if we cut down on our extra spending by just a little… I don’t need to work. So he told me to quit.
And it feels good. I am going to be looking for part time work (less than 20 hours a week), just so we can pay off some debt and put money in savings… although right now I am talking to a friend about doing in home childcare for her, two kids at $3 an hour (although one is in school)… and maybe another little boy. I used to do this, and loved it… so I am hoping it works out. Even if it doesn’t, I already have several other jobs in mind just to pass the time a few days a week.
I did promise to put more effort into my art. He wants me to do something every day.. be it crochet, make a card, think up a recipe, or use Photoshop. Keeping the house clean, cooking, and making art… oh yeah, Merry Christmas to me!
I picked up 7 more Christmas gifts this morning, and PimpDaddyPain took care of two last night. We’re down to like… 10 people, 5 of which live out of town and understand it’s going to be a while. I still have to mail Mary Dawn her birthday present, at this point I’m just going to wait and send it with the goodies for her kids at Christmas. This is the first year I’ve done “serious” Christmas shopping, when our list totaled a rough 30 (after paring down), I just about died.
Part of me really wants to be responsible, and make them all candy or something… but I’m lazy, and my schedule at work has been all over the place… so I couldn’t commit to time in the kitchen like that. As it is I’m making like 7 scarves, two blankets, and a set of kitchen stuff. Thank goodness I can crochet at work! We even seriously discussed gift cards, and then vetoed the idea. As much as we love receiving gift cards (hint hint hint!), PDP and I both deplore giving them for reasons that are personal and silly.
Anyways, the point is… I am nearly done Christmas shopping… and have yet to even buy cards, or put a tree. We raided The Dollar Tree last weekend and got ornaments and ribbon, I have a few Superman ornaments (it’s tradition, my Mom has given Becky and I one every Christmas since my dad died), a few of my Dad’s snowmen ornaments (he collected them) and a few we’ve picked up randomly throughout the year… but otherwise, everything is cheap, and thankfully plastic. My cats are awful, and have broken several things in the past few weeks.
I’m rambling again. It’s cold, and I feel like I talk more when the temperature drops. Perhaps to keep my hands warm? Who knows. I am off to cuddle up with Chris and a book. Comment, dang it! I miss hearing from you guys.
While in the Centralia area a few weeks ago, I gave Nicole the blankets I had made for her little baby boy. Luckily they went with a jungle theme for the nursery (you should see the dresser she painted, it’s super cute and wild!), and the predominant color yellow blended in just fine. I gave them to her just in time, too! Orin Luke arrived early Thanksgiving morning, weighing 9pounds-5ounces, and measuring 20 1/2 inches long! The sweet thing about his delivery date is, 23 years ago on Thanksgiving, Nicole’s Mom went in to labor with her… although she was born on November 30th, yikes… long labor!
So, welcome to the world, sweet Orin Luke, I can’t wait to meet you! Soon enough he’ll have a little cousin to play with… Becky’s ultrasound came back, and she is having a boy, two weeks earlier than originally though… March 30th! She’s over half way through. On Thursday my sister-in-law is having her sex check ultrasound, although she isn’t due until some time in May.
Back to the point… I wanted to share the blankets I made for Orin. Keep in my mind the mainly white one was my very first crochet project. These aren’t the best ever, but I had a blast making them, and can’t wait to make more for all the little nephews and nieces in my life.
I know, I know… and I promise… I’ll post! Until then, I will leave you with some of my latest work. It’s not the best, but it’s nice to be puttering in PS again. If you’re interested in the resources I used, let me know, and I’ll try to make a list.
I’ve been looking at my crafting table thinking I should make something for weeks now. But the cards I made and never posted haunt me. So today I finally took them out and grabbed barely decent pictures to post here. Hopefully this will allow me to move on and make some new ones. I made all of these cards on the same day several weeks ago, and can’t tell you much about them anymore.
The beach girl card says “Sometimes you just need to jump in without your floaties” and the stamp was drawn by Kelli of Lilac City Designs. The word love on the kraft paper card is from Alli Miles at Papertrey Ink, the you’re invited stamp (which looks awful there, I know) is Studio G, and the rest is self explanatory.
I found this cute little boy in a present box at a garage sale a few weekends ago. He was so cute, I simply couldn’t leave him there on the table. So home he came, and as soon as my ink from PTI arrived I stamped him up for a challenge at SCS! Can you believe this is the first card I actually used ink on? Honest, I must have stamped him about ten times before I got the right impression and clean lines. Practice will make perfect. The coloring is done with my pencils… no special blending or anything.
The kraft paper and colored paper is from Paperbilities, while the white paper is Georgia Pacific. The word celebrate (which you can’t see well, sorry) is from Alli Miles - Wedding Day set. I have had so much fun playing with this set she sent me as a blog candy win, I am using it to make a set of thank you cards for my sister’s bridal shower. She already sent out invitations or I’d be making those too.
I layered red and blue paper decorated with hand drawn stars behind the white ribbon for depth, and then drew the silver stars around the sentiment. This was my first time to use kraft paper for an entire card. My husband said to was “to simple”, but I love it. The dew drops are just random ones I have received from either Jessica or Mary Dawn.
I’m incredibly proud of this card. I made it for the Color Inspiration #14 at KWerner.com but didn’t submit it. The challenge was to use black, gray, a yellow stone color, and pink (she issued the challenge with SU! colors, I don’t have any, so I won’t name them)… I used black, gray, an old gum package, kraft paper, and a sandy yellow color… I cut the circles with my Creative Memories cutting system, free handed the large ovals with colored pencil, drew the swirls and stiches with a silver gel pen.
