Stampin' in the Prairies

Doing some thinking

I posted last 5 days ago.  I know I said I would be around, but that day I was thinking...surprise surprise.  I started blogging 2 years ago with blogspot and changed over to this blog a year ago.  I have been of the mindset lately that I need to blog or the rest of my readers will leave me.  Or that I need to only post the best stuff or people will think my blog is a joke.  I was thinking the other day about why I care so much.  I started blogging 2 years ago for me.  I wanted a little place on the internet to hold my creations.  Also I thought it would be neat for my splurge ladies to have a place for a bit of inspiration throughout the month when they weren't at class.  Seriously, lately I look at blogging as a burden.  I hate that.  I post for reasons other than why I started.  I know that my sporatic posts have made it so many of my readers barely check up on my blog anymore.  But I guess what I am trying to say is that, yes, I miss my readers, but I am going back to why I started my blog to begin with.  I don't need to be the best stamper out there, be on tons of design teams, or have 1000's of viewers a day...I mean that would be nice, but those things are not what makes me who I am.  I am a stay at home mother to three very busy children aged 5, almost 8 and 9.5 years.  I am a wife, daughter, sister, etc...and I am a stamper.  I don't need the numbers of my daily viewers or comments on my blog to determine who I am. 

Ugh, I am really trying not to sounds poor me here, just late night writing.  I guess I have realized that I was really affected by how popular/well known I wasn't and that is not who I want to be.  I stamp because I love it, it is very theraupuetic.  I don't want to stamp because I will lose readers if I don't.  I am not sure if this even makes sense to anyone or not.  I am not even sure why I am writing this publically on my blog.  But I am sure that any post after this, I will enjoy! :)

ETA:   I am not saying that anyone that is on design teams, has tons of readers and comments a day, etc is blogging for the wrong reasons...this is soley about me.  I mean, heck, one day I would love to be on a design team or have lots of readers who love what I do....but I will not get there by forcing myself to create and blog.  Just one step at a time and enjoy the process is how I am going to do it. 

Andria

Hidy ho

I haven't been posting as I developed pneumonia this last week.  I have been coughing so hard and feeling so terrible that I haven't had it in me to make anything.  I will be back tomorrow though as my meds are kicking in.  Have a good day today.

Andria

I haven't forgotten

I don't plan on not blogging for long periods of time anymore.  So just because I didn't post for a day doesn't mean I forgot AGAIN!  I have been working on a bunch of projects at once, skipping around.  Today should be the day that I actually finish one of those projects to show you.  I am also still sick wit this pesky sinus cold, which is now moving into the chest.  So that slows me down a bit.  Have a good day and I will see you later! :)

Andria

Card and a big mess!

First I will share this simple card I made this morning for a friend that is going through a tough time.  It took me like 10 minutes to make.  My creative juices aren't flowing today as I have this nasty sinus cold. 

Supplies are SU unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: garden sillhouettes, Women of Life- Papertrey Ink

Paper: river rock, bravo burgundy, whisper white, patterned paper- basic grey

Ink: close to cocoa, chocolate chip

Accessories: chocolate chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, brads- dollarama, cutter kit's distressing tool

I stamped the tree in cocoa and stamped off in the background.  Then sponged the edges with cocoa.  The sentiment is stamped with chocolate ink.

 

 

Next......

What do you get when you have a mother (me) laying down sick in bed and a 5 year old boy (my son) that sneaks out from his nap and decides to be like mommy and be a "stampah"???  Well let's find out....

Yep, that's pretty much embossing powder and dazzling diamonds glitter...all over my sticky slice mat.  Did you notice the scrapbooking paint on the desk?  And he nicely painted shut the inside of my pamphlet that came with my Slice design card.  Thanks son!  Oh, and do you notice for the 4 (3 were brand new!) containers of powder and glitter there sure isn't that much on my desk...so where do you think it ended up?  It sure didn't end up on his little "project"!

 

 

That pink container is the garbage can I have on my desk.  Apparently after he was done with the "project" he created he thought the rest was garbage!  Ugh...kids.

Sick day

I have been sick with the flu since yesterday so I will post this afternoon when I have had a bit more sleep.  My oldest got it and just got over it after three days and now me and my youngest daughter are sick in bed.  See ya later.

Well It's been a month!

Christmas is a time I really cherish with my family.  I obviously started cherishing it early as I haven't posted in a month!  I was busy with my daughter on December 12th onward...she got her tonsils out and had a rough time with it.  My mom was also here from out of town helping me after my almost 2 week stay in the hospital.  She left just before New Year's and now I am back on track!  I am excited that the kids are back to school in 2 days as I will have lots of time to stamp!

  I do apologize for the pajamas and bad hair but I needed to show you my excitement with my new present I got for Christmas from my awesome hubby!

I had been wishing for the Making Memories slice machine and got it!  I am loving every minute of playing with this awesome die cut machine!  I also got the Noteworthy die card which is totally awesome!

So look for future posts using this great machine on some projects and cards!

Thanks for stopping by.

Andria

Such exciting news!

During my last absense of blogging my baby sister, Amber, gave birth to a baby girl, her first.  She was born on October 25th.  Her name is Tristyn Serenity.

Here I am with her 3 days after she was born. (The dates on my camera were wrong)

My other sister, Nicole, was due December 7th so they were due five weeks apart.  I got the call at 3am this morning that my sis was in the hospital and getting the epidural.  Well with all my health problems and meds I am on I can't even drive.  So my mom drove me into the city and I was with my sister by 4am.  Well, she gave birth at 8:26am this morning to a baby girl.  So two nieces 5 weeks apart! :)

Her name is Skye Sophia Lynn.  She weighs 6 lbs 8 oz and was 19.5 inches long.  Just a little peanut!

Watching a baby enter the world and take their first breath never gets old.  It was an amazing experience! 

I am finally back home and in bed resting up for a big test in the morning. 

Of course I couldn't not post a picture or two of the beautiful little niece of mine! :)

 

 

 

    Here I am with the little beauty!  Can you tell I only had an hour of sleep and am on heavy meds?  I am so thankful for God to allow me to be well enough today to be there to witness one of the world's most miraculous wonders!

Anyways, I have a big test in regards to my current health state tomorrow morning and have to be at admitting in the hospital early for sedation.  So I will do a quick post in the morning of what I made for Skye's shower (just two days before) before I leave for the hospital.

Have a great night

Andria

P.S. All of you who have emailed me for the votive box pattern, I obviously wasn't expecting to go to the hospital today, so depending how I feel I will put it up tomorrow or Thursday.

Help...

First off, I haven't been able to post because I was just in the hospital for almost two weeks.  I didn't even miss stamping or the internet, that is how sick I was.  Now I am home with tons of different meds and my mom flew in to help out.  My oldest daughter is having her tonsil and adenoid surgery on Dec. 12 and I am hoping that I am not back in the hospital by that point as I really want to be there for her!

Anywho, I am in bed (some of the meds the docs gave me are kinda knock-me-outers.  So today I am fiddling with the blog design and might post some pics later of the goodies my mommy bought me for Christmas.  She gave it all to me early as I can use it instead of staring at the walls till my next big test.  Man, I talk, er type, too much!  Have a great day all.  I will see you back here later.

Andria

Sorry

I said I would be back yesterday to post the tutorial for the in colors on stamps.  I had totally forgotten that my sister-in-law was moving.  I had to help.  Got her mostly moved in today but still am going to help her unpack as she has two little ones and is a single mom.  Ain't I nice?? :)

Anyways, I have the tutorial all made up.  Just have to post it.  But since it is almost 2am, I am going to post it in the morning.  Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Andria

Been a long time!

I have taken a much needed break from blogging for the summer.  I needed a breather with all that has gone on in my life.  And then in the last few days I got to thinking that noone probably even comes here anymore.  I hope you still do, but if not I totally understand.  I wouldn't want to visit a blog that has had no posts in almost two months either. 

Anyways, to get into the who's and why's of me being away is too much to type in one day.  But in the past few days I have realized that I need to stamp.  It is my therapy.  I just need to do it!  And I really enjoy having my blog and reading the comments and emails I receive.  I just hope you all come back and check in.  My last child is now in school so I will have lots of good stuff to post.  See you tonight when I post something decent besides ramblings!

Andria