New creations to make us smile

     So, I have a new love. 

Oh, wait...he's my baby love but not my new love. But doesn't that photo make you smile?! He is a 2012 creation, just not mine :)

Here are a few samples of my new "love to create". And they make me smile. Hope they make you smile as well. They are chipboard mini albums. I started with some of the free chipboard that comes as backing to some of the Stampin' Up! Designer Series Papers and also the white backboards that many DSP packs have. Cut them to size, used some of the sets of paper and die cut stickers off of SU's clearance rack and added my own special touches and voila!

 Glitter paper, embossed cardstock, cute tags and pockets for journaling and lots of space to include your pix! Fun and easy- and a beautiful way to show off your favorite photos!

Later I'll show you some baby mini albums I made. Too cute! 

And if you want to check out the latest on Stampin' Up's clearance rack or their new spring mini catalog

just click the link below!

www.janebuchanan.stampinup.net

A step in the right direction

     Well here I go moving forward already in 2013. Today I took a medical-surgical certification exam and .....PASSED! Yes! Sweet success!

     What does that mean? I am now a board certified RN with a med/surg specialty. It means a small raise and it's nationally recognized by ANCC. But one of the best things it means to me is that I can still study, learn and pass a really difficult exam! No, my brain is not yet dead. Hurray!

     One more step in the right direction. One more reason to be grateful!

     Thank you, Lord for creating me with a determined spirit, a desire to grow, a willingness to change and the ability to focus. Now keep my heart kind, compassionate and caring and my hands competent, creative and capable.

Focus!

     Tis the new year. Resolutions? Hmmmm. Focus.

     On the positive. On what is true and lovely and pure and kind. On the beauty and hope in life. On what there is to gain by new beginnings.

     Have you seen the commercial that talks about gaining in the new year instead of losing? I love that commercial. It shows people at the beginning of the commercial talking about their weight and losing weight seems to be the focus. Then they switch to people responding to what they want to gain in the new year.

     For me? Hope, Joy, Love, Creativity, Perspective. and Focus.

     What do you hope to gain in the new year? 

And here is that painting I promised. My extremely talented daughter in law, Brooke, painted this from the photo I shared in an earlier blog post. This brought tears the second I saw it. For many reasons, but I think mainly because I had mentioned that this was one of my favorite photos with my grandson and Brooke heard me and put time and effort into creating this for me. And it is so GOOD! 

Thank you, Brookie!

And thank you little baby for bringing sweet joy to my life.

horrible bad awful day

     So....I survived one of the most horrible bad awful days I've ever had. Thank you LeeAllie.

     Sometimes the things we know are best for the people we love hurt us really deeply. That happened to me, ummmm, again. Another of my children moved out of state. A good thing. but painful beyond what I can describe.

     It was a horrible bad awful day. The crying was soul wrenching. gut tearing. stopping and starting again. thought I was done. triggers set me off again. so so alone now.

     How is it that even knowing it is such a blessing for my son and his wife, knowing each of my kids that  I love beyond understanding are where they not only should be but in a great situation with the loves of their lives, how is this separation so painful that I want to.... well I'll not even go there.

      The thing is I survived. Like running that extra mile or two. Like staying at work when you feel you can't. Like getting up in the middle of the night when you are beyond exhausted. But not quite like any of that. More like vomiting and dry heaves and fever and laying on the cold tile floor praying the sickness will pass.

     And now. Survival isn't enough is it. Survival isn't enough. Moving forward. Pastor Ron talked about it today. 2013. Moving forward to a better tomorrow. Praying for wisdom to know the direction to a better tomorrow.

My sweet superbaby grandson.

Just wait until you see the painting my talented daughter in law Brooke did of this superbaby photo. It is amazing!! Soon as I get back home to download a photo of it I shall share. In the mean time...

take a look at that gorgeous smile! My grandson is one juicy sweet peach!

trying trying trying not to be down today.

     Well, it is Christmas day and I was so optimistic that my out look two days ago would hold. So hopeful that the great days I had on the 14th and 15th would overshadow the emptiness of today. Guess not.

     Ran my 5 miles in wind chill temps of 10 to 15 degrees. Ouch. Oh my lungs. But I persevered. My coping mechanism at its best. baked some Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. comfort food. napped. before noon. not looking good at that point for positivity.

     Spending the night tonight at my son's empty apartment. Grateful not to have to deal with the weather. This is weird.

     I feel determination building.

     Moving toward a better tomorrow. More love. More authenticity. 2013.

It's the most wonderful time of the year?

   Well, that's what they say. The most wonderful time of the year. I'm pretty sure we Americans have been buying into and promoting the unachievable hype for the last hundred years or so.

 Why are we dreaming of a white Christmas, for instance? Not because that's how Jesus started out.

 Why do we insist on spending too much money on too many gifts our families don't need? Not because of our faith or religious beliefs.

 Why do we get depressed when the holidays are all over and our bloated expectations are deflated while our bloated bellies are not? Not because we look forward to disappointment.

     This year our family came together to celebrate my son's graduation and Christmas on the 14th and 15th rather than the 25th. Because of this earlier date all my last minute shopping was eliminated. Ran out of time. Overspending on presents far decreased but more planning went into the gifts. And the stress and panic of getting Christmas day "perfect" was not there, just because we held it on a different day, an earlier day and I looked at things a little differently. This year my focus was on having my little family together (including new grandson!). I can't remember enjoying a brunch with my immediate family, the chaos of 17 people for Christmas dinner or after dinner games and visiting more than I did this year.

     And today, 2 days before so many will be celebrating their Christmas I am relaxing, grateful there is no stressful holiday approaching and I'm dreaming of a way to make my future Christmases more about love and kindness and less about what the retailers, movies and hallmark cards have imposed on our Christmas season.

Opting out

     Today is black Friday and I have decided to avoid the madness. Over the past couple of years I have become more aware of the need to support small businesses. Considering myself a small, even micro, businesswoman, I understand the need for people to look beyond the cheapest price and loudest hype and see those of us trying to make it on our own without the big bucks for advertisement and mass purchasing ability and often offering better quality and a kinder environment.
    And while you're shopping the independent businesses or direct sales in home shows I hope you recognize that gleam of appreciation in their eyes when you support and encourage them. Usually, I believe, you will find someone who loves what they're doing, someone who has found that niche that helps describe who they are, someone who cares about the end product or service enough to put that extra effort into the creation, product and follow through.
    Recently I purchased 2 purses from what I will call a fabric artist. Her work was true art! I learned something from buying from her and it is something that whenever I have seen it done in the past a little light goes on in my head that I want to remember for my creations and sales. And that is to  include the little extras that don't make the product but they make a statement.
    So, today I am going down to my craft room and play with paper! I will continue to create what makes me happy and try to always remember to include an added touch that says "Jane". And tomorrow I will go out on "small business Saturday" and shop our local small businesses. Hope you do the same!

A little creation of mine I thought you might enjoy.

www.janebuchanan.stampinup.net

And that is a link to a portion of my own small business if you would like to see more ideas or purchase high quality products to create your own beautiful paper art!

Stampin' frenzy!

     What a frenzy of stamping and creating we had last weekend. I held my annual stamp-a-stack classes and pushed my stamping friends almost to the limits of their tenacious little creative minds! Over 4 hours into our "3 hour" class I realized I may have included a bit too much. 

However, few dropped and most stayed to finish the very last card, box, tag or snowflake available!

     Eazy peazy... I knew they could ;)

This is how the set up looked before frenzy...oh how I wish I had taken an after picture.

     Here are a few of the creations!

 

I tried to keep them relatively simple yet still great. The merry card I'm pretty sure I got the main idea from a pinterest card. Sorry I can't give proper credit but if you recognize it, let me know and I will! 

Anyway, of you see something you like and would like to create it yourself, all of the products are Stampin' Up! and can be purchased here:

www.janebuchanan.stampinup.net

Thanks for looking!

self imposed chains?

it's something of a contradiction

to say that i am free

when everywhere my mind turns

i sense the shackles chaining me. 

lusting after passion

dreaming i am more

leaves me hollow and dejected

more rejected

than before.

by Jane Buchanan 11/2/12