Wordless Wednesday

                                                             digital photography art by L

Rolling the Dice

 Where have I been? Well life sometimes throws you a curve ball and you just gotta roll with it. Things are about to take a serious change in our house and I've been busy trying to put all the pieces together. We could be going from Military Life to Civilian Life in about 1 year. I had hoped to get my photography business off the ground and running full force over the next year. But a starving artist can't pay the bills. So I have decide to return to school. Starting next fall I will be engaged in the fascinating world of health, Medical Health Care that is, I will be going to school to become a Medical Assistant. I wanted to attend Photography school but after much research it turns out the shortest degree time is 4 years this girl doesn't have 4 years. And with the Medical field being about on of the most secure jobs around, I went with my second choice.
  I've been busy contacting schools, talking to admissions, studying for pretesting. And being a Mother my favorite time passer of all. :) And working in a little graphic/art/photography in between. I have not forgotten about my blog or my blog friends I have just been consumed with making sure I was making the right choice for myself and my family. I am so looking forward to this new challenge and all that it brings, both my girls will be in school next year so attending school for me shouldn't be to much of a stressor knowing they are doing the same and not stuck in a daycare some where.
  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and your New Years is off to a magnificent start. Mine started off with a bang but I know it my heart that 2010 is gonna ROCK...
       Much Joy and Love, L

Wordless Wednesday

Photography by Lisa Marie

Pillow Box Gifts

   Last year for Christmas I made gifts for all of "The Cellist" teachers and everyone that worked in the office. I made 13 sets of coasters hand-stamped and sealed. What a job. This year for her Teachers I wanted a much easier project. I seen some pillow boxes on Martha Stewart's website that were stuffed with candy. Sounded easy enough for me. I have a Plaid template for pillow boxes, but I actually used one off the net, Google pillow boxes click on images and you will finds tons of templates for pillow boxes. They are so easy to use, simply print off the template then copy it on to colored papers of your choice or scrapbook paper on the reverse side not the print side. Cut and fold, after I had one end folded up I wrapped a variety of little Christmas candies in tissue paper stuffed them inside the box closed up the other end. Wrapped with ribbon and toile, then attached a gift tag that I made in Print-shop with my own graphics then hand cut and tied them on...SO SIMPLE... and pretty too...

                               Another you can do it too Project... Happy Holidays, Lisa Marie....

So Simple and Easy to do...

Supply list:

•  Colored Paper, a heavy paper,not Construction. Or scrapbook paper is great too.
  
• scissors
• toile
• ribbon
• candy
• tissue paper
• Double sided taped to tape down the inside long flap
  

Easy Christmas Art

  Last year at Christmas I was feeling super festive and made my own Christmas art. I loved how easy it was and the fact I can keep it in the frame or change it out. So simple to do. Below I will describe as easily as I can how I made these pieces.

 First off you need some picture frames, I had extras, lots of extra's in my storage. Or you can purchase cheapo frames at Wal-Mart from 3 to 5 dollars or even the dollar store. I prefer the above frame that is made of wood and already painted black. White frames would be great too, especially for the cottage style home.

Simply open the frames up and remove the glass if you want to put the glass back in later make sure to wrap it well and store it for later. The back of the frame, the cardboard part that fits inside, that is your template, use that to trace onto chipboard since it will pop right in the frame with a nice fit and will be secure. After I have cut out my chipboard I adhere the first layer of paper the background image then I layer all other pieces on top of that mats cut from holiday scrapbook paper or glitter letters spelling out words.

 I also like to make ornaments from paper as above or use the snow flake ornaments you can find at Target or Wal-mart they come in packs of twelve for just a couple of Dollars. You can layer those with hot glue. If you bought the wooden frames then you can easy ink or distress the edges with some silver or gold inks I just rubbed the small stamp pads of silver or even copper over the edges then rubbed it out with a cloth. So simple hang or use picture stands. After the holidays you can pop out your chipboard art replace with a new design or just store them in the frame for next year, I did the latter. I just opened my box of pre-made art from last year took my current pictures of the walls and hung my Christmas art.                                                                                    So Simple...Enjoy Lisa Marie...

            Supplies

• Picture Frames
• Holiday Scrapbook paper
• Glitter letters
• Chipboard
• Hot Glue
• Stick Glue
• Glitter
• Ink
• Imagination.... :)
  

NaUghTy oR NiCe

 

So have you been Naughty or Nice this Year?

I think my year has definitely been a good mix of both.

I mean who wants to be GooD all the time when NauGhty is so much more fun.

Lately my naughty list includes:

• Eating Ho' Ho's after dinner and as late as Midnight while working
• Telling my Madkat I'm gonna Call Santa more then 3 times in a day... :)
• Well throwing away the No Chocolate for me Rule
• Telling my kid "I really believe if you don't eat your green veggies you'll get pointed ears" LOL... :)
• Googling one to many True Blood video's and songs
• Listening to "Bad Things" way to much on my MP3
• Deleting a TV show the Girls had saved that I didn't wanna watch AGAIN and blaming the DVR. 

Recent Good Things

• Donating to just about every Cause at the Check out of  the Stores
• Helping a Friend make a Gift for Someone in her Family
• Going out of my way to make others Smile
• Complementing those I can tell need a smile
• driving others crazy because I let other people out of parking lots to get on the road
• Making Secret Gifts... :)
• Surprising the Girls with a Holiday Movie
  

 So how Naughty or Nice have you been??? 

                                                                                                             Lisa Marie