Hmmm...

I'm not doing really well in my goals at trying to blog more, am I?

Well, the good news is that as of last Thursday, I am down to three stores!! YAY!  However, one of the store administrators went off on sick leave, which left another FIVE stores open... Eek!  As much as I felt like I should step up and help out while the interview process took place to fill these positions, I just couldn't, in good conscience.  They did ask me to train someone again though, so I agreed to that - an extra pair of hands will come in handy while I get my stores back into ship-shape!

And yet, somehow, I still struggle to try to find time for my writing and creative time.  I'll admit that television does account for some of it.  Some days, I'm so tired from work and chauffering Connor to practice that by the time dinner is over and the kitchen is tidy, I'm ready to just sit and veg.  I think I'm going to have to bypass watching my shows during the week and then marathon it on the weekends!

What I have been doing for an hour or two each night is trying to organize my studio so I can once and for all take and post photos!  It's ridiculous how long it has been since this project was started.  I've been searching around on Pinterest and the web and found lots of organizational tips, so each night, I do a little bit more...

Soon, I may be able to see the top of my worktable, if I'm lucky! :)  Really soon, I hope, as I have a few final touches to add to a few layouts for some DT work!  I will share them soon but for today, I will share this wonderful news:

The Spring 2011 issue has begun shipping so watch your mailboxes!!

While I didn't write a Hands On! Photography article for this issue, I do have a couple of projects published...

You may remember WAY back when I first posted a sneak peek, just prior to sending it off to Jackie?  Well, this baby is still my favourite layout of all time, to date.  As soon as I saw the images of the stamps to be used for the One Stamp, Five Stampers article, I knew what I was going to do!

Here is the stamp set, by Local King Rubber Stamp:

And here is my layout:

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; Basic Grey patterned paper; Local King Rubber Company stamp set and matching die cut;  Spellbinders Nestabilities die cut; Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger; Doodlebug Designs alpha stickers; Pea Sarah font (available here for free download); Glue Dots; Fiskars and All Night Media foam adhesive;  Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L; miscellaneous buttons, twine and googly eyes from my stash.

Journaling reads:  I came home one day to find that Daddy had let you nap in Connor's room.  He didn't think there was anything wrong with it, until I went in to see you - and found that you had discovered a blue marker.  It was hard to stay mad at you, with your sleepy smile and bedhead!

I stamped six sheep, using the single stamp and die cut them with my Big Kick.  Using various thicknesses of foam adhesive, I grouped them as an accent piece, as well as title embellishment.

As you may notice, and as commented in the article, my first go-round of stitching messed up because of improper tension.  However, rather than scrap the whole thing, I just went over it again - it gives it a more worn feel, like it was done on purpose!  Sort of when you mess up doodling - just go over it a few times and it turns out cute! :)

I also had 3 cards featured in the Sealed with a Kiss section, using My Little Shoebox products, but I sent them off to Jackie so quickly that I forgot to take photos of them!  I will photograph them this weekend and share early next week!

Thanks for looking!