Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to my friends and family.

I hope that this update finds you all well and happy!

I know that I have been absent for quite a while, please forgive the extended absence.  So much has happened in the time that has passed.  Most importantly is that my spirits have lifted and my interest in being creative has begun to fill my heart and mind.

Our family is now independently demonstrating items available through Stampin' Up! If you are looking for some quality crafting supplies, please visit our website at http://bennetts.stampinup.net .   Very soon I will be adding photos of projects that I have completed, and possibly some tutorial videos.

Again, I want to wish you a very Happy Easter.  I pray that you are spending the day with loved ones, whether they be the family that you were born into or one that you have chosen.

Until next time - I plan to be in touch at least once a week!

Andrea

Sheridan's Birthday

My baby turned 8 this year.  It is amazing to me how quickly babies blossom into children and children bloom into amazing young people.  As planned, the family went to Disneyland to celebrate Sheridan's birthday.  Being confined to a wheelchair at Disneyland means that I spend a lot of time watching people, and trolling the shops.  Recently Disney has changed their princess shop into the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique.  In the Boutique, children are transformed into princesses and knights, complete with attire, makeup and hairdos.  While Sheridan and Doug were riding Casey Jr., I rolled into the Boutique to get all the deets, then surprised my dd with a makeover fit for a princess. 
The makeover started with Sheridan deciding which Disney princess she wanted to be.  I was not surprised when she announced that she wanted to become Belle.  Then we were off to select the dress, the shoes, the crown and the jewelry to aide in the transformation.  Once all of the clothing and accessories were gather a dressing room was set up for Sheridan to change into her new outfit.

After getting dressed up in her new duds, Sheridan was led to a salon chair where the makeover was to be completed.  Two "fairy godmothers" worked with Sheridan styling her hair, applying makeup and painting her nails.  Nearing the end, a sash was draped over Sheridan's shoulder and across her hip.  All the while, a photographer was documenting the magical transformation.  Sheridan was in heaven - she LOVES to be pampered.

Transformation complete, one "fairy godmother" supplied Sheridan with magic words to chant so that she could make a mirror "appear".  Upon the pronouncement of "Bibbity Bobbity Boo" a curtain parted and a mirror flanked by two bluebirds appeared.  Sheridan was thrilled with what she saw in her reflection.  The Bibbity Bobbity Boutique was not finished yet.

To complete the fairy tale birthday experience Sheridan was escorted to the carriage.  For the next fifteen minutes she was posed in different locations around the room; in the forest, by the carriage, and finally in the carriage.

I hope that this is a birthday memory that my little princess will treasure for years!

Amazing Mail Day - Thank you, Lucy!

Just checkin' in to say what an amazing mail day I had.  Today I received my first ever suprprise RAK (Random Act of Kindness).  What fun it was to find something special just for me as I dug through the pile of junk mail.  A friend of mine, Lucy T.,  from ARTHaven Creations and Friendship (Yahoo Group) knew that I was having a hard time facing the 2 year anniversary of "the fall", and she sent a beautiful handmade photo card to cheer me up.   And cheer me up she did.  I wanted to acknowledge the amazing gift that Lucy bestowed upon me as soon as I could (which is why there is no photo of the card included).  When I send out the thank you card for this kindness, I will also be "paying it forward" and sending a RAK out to someone that I think could use a reason to smile.  If you receive the RAK from me, will you pay it forward?
Thank you, again, Lucy!

Journals

Yesterday I shared with you some Christmas cards that I made.  Today I want to share with you the journals 11that I made for my family.  With the wonderful assistance of my friends over at ARThaven I put together a journal for each of my immediate family members; my mom, husband, and two youngest kids; Andrew and Sheridan.

To make the journals I used plain composition books that I purchased from the local WalMart at the beginning of the school year for about $0.50 each.  For my mom's notebook I used DP from JoAnns and ProvoCraft CS.  The die cut images and letters were created using my Cricut Expression and Pooh and Friends cartridge.  So that I could get the exact colors that I wanted I cut the layers out of white CS and colored each piece with my Copic markers.  The inside covers and back were covered with bright red CS purchased a while back from Office Depot.  On various pages I placed small foil stickers of Pooh Bear and his friends, to that the entire journal was personalized for my mom who is a true fan of Winnie the Pooh.  Made to accompany each journal was a matching sticky note holder.  Again, this was not an original idea but one that I scraplifted from other creative sources on the web.

The sticky note holder were made using two chipboard coasters from Outback.  To hold the covered coasters together I used the Zutter Bind It All and wires.  Again the die cuts were cut using the Cricut and coordinating cartridge and the paper from PC and Office Depot.  Inside I adhered a stack of sticky notes for my mom to use.

For Doug's notebook and note holder I used Stampin' Up! CS, Cricut, Pooh and Friends cartridge, Provo Craft CS, Copic markers, and the Zutter Bind It All and wires, and coordinating stickers.

Sheridan's journal and note pad holder were made using: DP from JoAnn's (front and back outside covers), light pink Stampin' Up! CS (front and back inside covers), ProvoCraft CS, Cricut, and Dreams Come True cartridge for the die cut image and letters, Copic markers, Offray ribbon, ProvoCraft Terrifically Tacky Tape, Beauty and the Beast stickers from two different  Disney Princess coloring and sticker book, Outback coasters, Zutter Bind It All and wires.

Finally, Andrew's set was created using: black CS from Office Depot (all four covers on both the journal and the note pad holder), graphics found on the web, and a silver Sharpie Paint Pen, Outback coasters, Zutter Bind It All and wires. 

Sorry about the long post, I just wanted to get all of the journals and note pad holders posted together.  I appreciate your sticking it out to the end with me.   Thank you for visiting with me.  I pray that I was able to inspire you in some way.  I love to hear from you, so please take a minute and leave a comment.  Here's hoping to see you again soon!
{{Hugs}}

A Few Cards

I wanted to share a few cards that I was able to make and get sent before Christmas.  The first one has a graphic from Christy Croll at http://tiddlyinks.com/ .  She has some amazing art, my favorites of which are the fae.  You will be seeing more cards and other ART featuring her graphics.

 
The fairy is all decked out for Christmas.  All of the coloring was done with my Copic markers.  I am by no means skilled at their use, but I love the rich colors that produce.  Stickles were used on the main portion of her wings, with flocking as the final trim on the edges.  I also applied white flocking to the white layer of her dress.  After fussy cutting around the edges, I layered the fairy onto white  glittered cardstock, then offset it onto red cardstock which has been run through the Cuttlebug using the snowflake embossing folder, then onto the white card.  The last detail that I added was the word love set onto a scrap of the glittered CS, then tied onto very thin ribbon laces through two slips cut into the fold of the card.  My oldest daughter, Malachia, was the recipient of this card.  It was made especially for her.

The second card is one that was much simpler to make, but still made with love.  My oldest daughter lives with my cousin and his family, and I wanted to make sure to reach out to them, especially during this time of the year.

For this card I stepped away from the traditional colors for the focal image, even though I could not resist returning to them for the ornament! I am not certain where I acquired the wonderful graphic for this card, but when I am able to pinpoint theARTist whose work it is, I will be certain to give them their due.   For now, let me say that it is NOT my ARTwork, and that I will make every effort to find out whose it is.  Once again, all of the coloring was done with Copics.  I popped the eyes and the ornament with Atyou Spica pens which are produced by the same company as the Copics.  Once colored and trimmed, I adhered the snowman to turquoise glitter paper, then onto a standard white card.  As the finishing touch, I cut a block from a sheet of glittery word paper, stuck the word Believe on both the front, and then again on the inside bottom edge of the card.
Thank you for stopping by to visit.  I hope that you have enjoyed the cards that I had to share, will leave me a comment, and come back again real soon!
{{Hugs}}
Andrea

New Year, New Hopes and Plans

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy New Year!  I have many hopes and dreams for the year ahead.  First and foremost I plan to be as agressive as possible in regaining my life as I knew it before my fall 2 years ago.  Secondly, and of more interest to anyone who may stop by, I am planning to actively work on my ART and my blog.
Currently, I have a few completed projects to share with you, and then I will be pursuing new ART on a daily basis.
First, I am off to celebrate my birthday with my family, and then I will be back to share those last prjects from 2010.  And then on to the new in 2011.
Once again, Happy New Year all!

Thanks a Bunch!

Happy Belated Independence Day!
I hope that everyone had as wonderful of a time as we did. Doug (my DH) and I were invited by a friend of his to come to the coast for the holiday.  Even though I require some unconventional accomodations we found that we were excited to accept the invitations.  The trip over was slow and easy, or rather as easy as an extended trip can be for me.
We stopped at the Moreno Valley Wally World to buy the Charlaine Harris Book Dead Until Dawn.  My Mom started me on the series, but left out the first book, so we scoured 3 WM's until we found it.  Then, we stopped at the Careml Mountain Chevy's and ate some of the BEST Mexican food that we have had in ages.  They made the guacamole at our table, and the tortillas on a machine just behind our table, within full view of the restaurant, so we knew that the tortillas were hot and freshly made.  YUMMY!!

Then, the real reason for our trip, hanging out with friends, and celebrating the Fourth of July.  We made it up onto the roof of the building, and watched fireworks from ALL over the San Diego area.   There had to have been at least 9 different fireworks displays that we were able to see.  I got pictures from three of them, but the best came from Sea World.

Our trip home was long and hard due to some construction, but I must say, it was worth it.  We went to hang out with a friend of Doug's and left having spent time with great friends to both of us!  What an added surprise.  Anyway, the trip was soo wonderful, I had to make a Thank You card.

I used two Popcorn the Bear stamp sets, the main image from the Smile set, and the sentiment from the Thanks A Bunch set.  The card was embellished with glitter, and Popcorn has Fun Fur added to his edged to make him fuzzy.  Finally, a ribbon was added beside the sentiment.
I hope that Mike and Mimi, or friends, enjoy their card as much as I enjoyed their company and appreciated their simple invitation.  Thanks a Bunch, guys!