2011 Christmas Ad

The ad for the paper for this Christmas season..... =) We are growing...when I first started doing this, I think there were 8 people and we have grown to 22 in our clinic....

Justifing Text

Our Christmas Ad

Here is our new clinic Christmas ad for our local newspaper. I can't believe it is that time already. They called on Friday and said it was due on Monday (yesterday). I have been thinking about what I wanted to do, but I didn't get photos of my co-workers so pulled the camera out of my purse and got some of the people I worked with on Friday and spent a couple hours on Saturday and Sunday and printed a poster off for work and sent the file on in to the paper yesterday...now I will start thinking about what to do next year. I had this idea for last year until the boss wanted the grinch one....that was fun, too. ... =)

Christmas Ad for Paper

My sis-in-law was asking about the ad I designed for the local paper for my clinic. My boss wanted my other boss to be the Grinch, so this is what I came up with and I told the rest of my co-workers it was fun working with them for the last couple of years...... =)

He did fire me, but he has done that several times before and I just keep coming back. He was fine after I baked him an apple pie.....

Photoshop Elements Tips

Designer Digitals Photoshop Elements Tips

If you haven't, you should sign up for the newsletter from this site. Each week the feature two 25 cent items and show their new products and have three freebies for challenges. I have several sites that I love to browse through their galleries to get new inspiration. Those of you who, like me, use Photoshop.Elements will also benefit from the tutorials and tips from these sites.

Wedding Dresses Through the Years...

First-off...no baby news yet, but Jude is due to arrive this week, so we are anxiously awaiting a call. Will post when we he gets here!! =)

This is the poster design for our upcoming Salad Buffet Night. We are having a style show of wedding dresses/ brides maids and flower girls. Some are modern and some are ...shall we say....antique. The centerpieces on the tables are little wedding cakes! It should be a fun (and beautiful) evening!! =)

Graduation Announce.ments

Ryan's are all printed and I am putting them together. I have Julie's cut and photos printed and still need to get the vellum layer done. She only has 50 and Ryan is getting 100 but one probably doesn't take much longer than the other......so back to work..... =)

Julie will make her own open house cards to be mailed with hers.....

A Little Freebie.....

I downloaded some cute *free* kits from a sweet gal that Anna had given a link to from her blog and happened to think that I might have a few things tucked away that I could share as well. Here is a link to the alpha I made that I used in this page that I use as my desktop...soon to change when those two new grandsons arrive!!!

click here for: Stamps Alpha

I'm new at that shared files site so let me know if you got the file downloaded ok....thanks!! =)

Happy Birthday Dad...... =)

This photo was taken last year when the kids and I went down to visit Dad & Peg right before his birthday... =) Hope you are having a good day, Dad!! =)

graphics by shabby miss jenn and shabby princess

I was invited to take photos at the Girls of Grace Daddy Daughter Date Night at our church last night. They had a sports theme and the food was "game-day" food.....hot dogs and hamburgers, chips, fruit, carrots and dip and pop or water.

A skit (by my good friend, Chris T) was performed by some high school girls and Chris. She was a coach and handed out the 'game book' in which they were all to read before tryouts. Some of the girls did not read the book...but worked hard to make the team, or read lots of other books, but not THE book, or were excited but when it came time to try out..didn't show up, or were just plain lazy.....sounds like the parable of the sower, doesn't it? Well, coach Chris, explained that to the only girl who read the book and tried out by the rules of the book. It was a great skit for any age level, and could easily be understood by the little girls and their dads and some grandpas.

Their speaker was Jonath.on Goodd.ing, and he too, did a good job on his message that fell around verses about running the race. The girls had a fun game time at the end.

I spent most of the day putting their photos into a baseball card template and they will be printed and have their 'stats' on the back (favorite memory with dad or grandpa, favorite bible verse, etc.) and then laminated so each girl and dad can have one.

I got some of the girls from the skit and the one above is my niece with her friend (the other is Caroline's best friend, Ashley, and her daddy.

We hope to get to Julie's play at her high school tonight. I heard it is excellant!! =)

Julia Scrapbook

This was a little project I worked on before the mega DVD of wedding photos came. The instructions for this project were in the latest edition of Digital Scrap.booking magazine, so I had to give it a try. Now don't run and show this to Caroline. If she runs across it..that is ok, but I want to make one for her too and the rest if it seems like they are going to work. I will make the other cookie girl one too, but got sidetracked with my flip book...and of course, I do have things in the house I should be doing... =)

February Brunch Break....

I have a few graphics projects that I need to finish this week. This is the poster for our Ladies February Brunch at church. I hate that I will not be able to be there that day, but I am sure going to get the cd. I would love to hear Judi speak and I know the gals that are going to be talking about the party planning and they will have some super tips! I wish they were going to tape it so I can see the examples!!

Kristin challenged me to list some of my favorite fonts as she did yesterday on her blog. As my sweet hubby and I had a hot date in the office doing books....isn't that always romantic?...I was waiting for him to finish filling out some forms, so I starting listing some. Daut, do you know what you ask?? I have about 45 just from what is installed, and I have two other folders of uninstalled ....probably a couple THOUSAND! I will try to list a few every once in a while and I think we should let you know at the bottom of our layouts, which fonts we used...if we think of it. What do you think of that idea, Daut?

The graphics from this poster are from mo jack son and Kathryn Balint and the fonts used are AL Uncle Charles and Happy Birthday. Speaking of fonts and hints...

Writing on real Cakes.....
I will give another hint. When I do cakes...I print out the Happy Birthday to ...whoever. I then lay the paper on my turned over mouse pad and use a push pin to poke holes close together following the writing...sort of like a dot-to-dot. I really prefer to use card stock weight paper as it is a bit stiffer, but do use text weight as well.

I then center that paper on the smoothed frosting where I want to write on my cake. I follow the writing, pushing lightly with my index finger, pushing the poked holes into the smoothed icing. I then have a "dotted line" to follow. Another trick along this line is to take two CLEAN pieces of panty hose and tie some powdered sugar in one and cocoa powder in the other and keep them in sandwich baggies. Lay that poked greeting on your smoothed frosting and lightly dust white or light frosting with the cocoa "puff" or on chocolate or dark frosting, use the powdered sugar "puff". The only problem I have had with this is stray cocoa on white frosting...so I tend to just push the pokes with my finger and hope I can see well enough to follow with the frosting tip. I also use a #4 tip because I like that size for the writing. I didn't think of these on my own....I came across the tips somewhere online. I have other cake hints..should dedicate an entry to that, I guess..... =)

Michael is meeting with a friend / neighbor this afternoon to talk about a possible job he might have for him a couple days a week, so if you think of it, appreciate prayers for him as he has always enjoyed the few "outside of the workshop" jobs he has been able to go to.

Well I have a schedule for myself this week as I have a lot to get done, so better finish up my other graphic project (nametags for the brunch) and try to stay on schedule!

Morning Devotion

This is a good reminder to me, as I work each day to get my shoulder back......


Keep Reaching For The Top

READ: Philippians 3:12-21

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. —2 Peter 3:18


Jon Krakauer, author and mountain climber, was determined to reach the “roof of the world,” the peak of Mt. Everest. In an arduous ascent that killed some of his fellow climbers, he persevered. On May 10, 1996, he reached the summit.

“I understood on some dim, detached level that [the sweep of earth beneath my feet] was a spectacular sight,” wrote Krakauer of that moment. “I’d been fantasizing about this moment, and the release of emotion that would accompany it, for many months. But now that I was finally here, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, I just couldn’t summon the energy to care.”

Temporal goals can never fully satisfy. We see this in the ministry of Paul. He told the believers in Philippi: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). It is the goal “for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (v.12). He will “transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (v.21).

That goal can provide the most powerful incentive. It inspires us to become more and more like Jesus. Every upward step gives us joyful soul-satisfaction. How diligently are we striving to reach that goal?

I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining every day—

Still praying as I’m onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” —Oatman

Don’t let contentment with earthly goals prevent you from attaining eternal gains.

Neighborhood Christmas Coffee Invitations....

My invitations are ready to send out today. I was trying to decide how many years I have had a neighborhood Christmas coffee. We have been in this house for 20 years in March, and I have had one every year that we have been here except two. I know I had several in the trailer before we moved over here as well, so if you can't tell, I love this tradition and the planning and baking for it.

Every year, I try to pick some kind of theme and plan my invitations and somewhat decorate around that. Sometimes my games or my little Christmas message dictate what my theme will be. The whole morning is planned to bring my friends and neighbors together to prepare our hearts for what Christmas is really about and to catch up with each others families. We greet old neighbors and welcome the new ones. Sometimes I invited new friends I have met during the year. Some have moved away and come back for the brunch and keep in touch this one time a year.

I always enjoy making little gifts for everyone to take home and my light breakfast has turned into a full brunch. A lot of my dishes are traditional repeats, but I usually try something new, and have added Chai tea to the list of beverages served. Next week will be spent decorating, baking and listening to Christmas music! =)

I don't want to minimize this season of Thanksgiving and all the blessings we certainly do not deserve, but have been graciously given, and I am excited to head down to KC in the morning and spend a rare Thanksgiving with my folks this year. Lots to be thankful for..... =)

graphic by Debbie Mumm

Merry & Bright

I did this for the "kids" at my therapy clinic. Don't they make the cutest elves! =)

graphics by Debbie Mumm and mo jackson

Calendar Cover....

I took some photos of the staff at the therapy clinic on Wednesday. The girls had been talking about photos that they have been taking all year and wanted to make into a calendar. I told them I would help them with one if they got me the photos and captions. A couple of them dressed up for Halloween but the other four didn't. I told them "no problem"...."I will take care of that". It got me started on this super hero idea, so I ended up "dressing" all of them and posterizing it. Alison wanted to be a cheerleader, so I made both she and Kelly cheerleaders and the MT and PTs all superheroes. I told them we could make it somewhat like a comic book.

They are a hoot. I keep telling them, they make a painful situation a lot more fun for those of us in there getting therapy. It is not uncommon for them to just break out in a song, and always joking with each other and their clients. Nice bunch of kids...well...they are my kids ages... =)

I am sitting here listening to the husker game. I was so hopeful when we got the first touchtown, but it is not to be......score at this minute: Kansas-76 to Nebraska-39, with just 4 minutes left. Pretty sad..... (that was the final score)...

***added later***

The girls volleyball team did a GREAT job at KSU! They lost the first two games and got it together and came back and won the last three. We were exhausted just watching it!! Saw our "Cooper" sign all throughout the games, J!! =)

Jacks

Photos from grammy's punkin patch day last week. I don't know who had more fun....them or ME! =) I have another page to go with this one of more of the photos.......just don't have time to work on it for a few more days. These were a few of the favorites! =)

Beautiful Day

The boys went down to start the fan on the bin and let me grab a photo on the steps before Brian headed to town. He and Andy are going to the NE game this afternoon. This will be the nicest day we have had in the last couple of weeks. The guys will finish Liz's corn today. They hope to switch back to soybeans this afternoon. There is a chance of rain in the forecast for every day next week. .............very unusual fall......

Graphics: "Autumn Decay" from Catscraps

Potty 101 Prizes

The three grand babies born in one year...from one September to the next, are all busy in the class of potty training. Cami is having the most success to date from what I understand, but how well we know that each has to go at their own pace. Since Brian and Rylie will be here in less than a week, and they all will be at the house at one time or another in the next weeks, I thought it would be fun to make up a little prize basket. There are boy and girl prizes. Boats, dinosaurs, a ball that lights up, and several bracelets and other special girly items. I had fun picking them out and would love to see them all given out! =)

Grammy is sure looking forward to having all of my kids and grandkids around my table for the first time in a long time! I might even have to take a few photos! =) ...(please, Xander..) =)

graphice by Shabby Princess " Smell My Feet"

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Sticks & Stones

Another photo from Saturday when we were all outside playing. All three of the little boys could throw rocks in puddles for hours. I have many photos of them doing that. This day Raymond and Xander both found some mighty interesting sticks that kept them busy for a while.

Therapy again this morning. We changed some technique around as I could tell I was not keeping my arm out straight on the one that I walk my fingers up the wall, and it was so painful when he would do my stretches. He has my back up against the wall now, so I can follow the wall and try to keep my arm and hand touching the wall as I lift up. I can only get about half as far doing it that way, but that is the only way I am going to get that stretched back out right. I know I expect too much for only being in therapy for a week today, but I'll keep working at it.

Got more ceiling painted yesterday. I know that has to help my shoulder as well. I could sure feel it in my neck and arms today. I am only about half done. I can only work about 20 minutes or so and have to take a break and start over again. Like Steve says.....there is no time limit...just work here and there and eventually it will get done! I keep walking around and touching up spots, too. It does look nice in the laundry room, kitchen, and dining area and front entry...where it is all done. I have the dining...most of the living room and the stairs and upstairs hallway to go..... so I better get going! =)

graphics by Shabby Princess (French Countryside) and mo jackson alpha