Living My Dream

American Crafts Layouts

I made TWO American Crafts layouts today - whoohoo. So proud of myself! And they came together really quick, so I think my creative side of the brain may still be intact. Now if my short term memory would just return, I'd be as good as new! haha

When I was going through all my AC products, I pulled out my favorites and almost all of them were from the Sketchbook line by Amy Tan. I just adore this line because it is full of hand-drawn looking doodles and lots of wonderfully bright colors (both so me!).

 

Since surgery, my time spent on the computer is very limited - I usually don't feel good enough to sit at my desk, so if if doesn't happen on my bed or on a beach chair, it doesn't happen! So I have been taking LOTS of phone photos and editing them in Instagram. I love my phone. I love using it for photos. And I may never take my expensive camera anywhere again! haha  These two little photos were taken on the beach and framed in Instagram. I used part of the Shoreline collection and lots of the Sketchbook collection - who knew they would go so well together? All of this is AC except for the twine and sequins. Here are close ups - I used A LOT of products on here - tons of layering!

This next one has some of my favorite photos (taken before surgery with my REAL camera!) of Chloe with our new puppy Annabelle. Again, I used primarily the Sketchbook line by Amy Tan. I think it's time to buy doubles of all of this since I am quickly running out. Since my Love, Elsie days, I haven't seen many lines so full of artistic type of doodles. Hmmm, maybe that will be my next scrapbook adventure!!!?!?!?!?!

And now, I am back to working on my Project Life - trying to finish another week and having fun doing it! Have a great day friends! I am doing well, just suffering from terrible headaches every day. Hoping this is temporary and not my new reality...  Suzy

Scrapping Just For Fun?!?!

Who knew it could be so enjoyable?!? I started Project Life on week 29 but at least I finally started it! I planned on doing it all year to get back to the basics of why I scrapped in the first place. Life got in the way and I never did more than an intro page.

So now that I have some free time and we are busy having lots of summer fun together, I decided it was a good time to start. And I loved doing it!!!!! Rather than scrap/document every little thing we did during the week, I made the two pages about our trips to the beach. It was a big deal for me to make it there (thank you elevator), so it was the focus of my happy memories for the week.

I've always loved making mini albums. I was on the Maya Road design team a few years ago and loved working with all their cute chipboard albums. I also enjoyed teaching mini album classes at Scrapbook Oasis over the years. The PL method of scrapping reminds me of making mini albums because you are working on a smaller "canvas" and you can decorate the photos and use lots of embellishments. I really enjoyed this and I plan to keep it going. But I ain't committing to making up the missing 28 weeks!

I used my last two Studio Calico kits to make these pages. I found it way easier to have a set number of products that all went together to work with. It made it much less over whelming this way. So I think I will keep using their kits for this project with a few extra goodies I already have laying around. This might keep me on a scrap budget too!

Summer is great over here and I hope all my blog friends are enjoying it too. I feel good, but have a long way to go still. Two steps forward, one step back as Mr. Doc says. I continue to appreciate all the kindness and love that has been shown to me and my family during this difficult time. It has made it so much more bearable and reminds me of what is important in life.

Love and happiness to all!!!!! Suzy

And the winner is....

The winner of the Mixed Media book by Creating Keepsakes from the last post is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

22

Timestamp: 2012-07-23 01:24:15 UTC

I'm glad you are doing better! *hugs*

Posted by: Tran Polizzi | July 18, 2012 at 10:12 AM

If your name is Tran Polizzi, please email me and I will have the book sent out to you. Thank you for all who left such nice comments!

Suzy Update: Hey, that's me! And I'm on my computer for the first time since surgery - whoohooo! I tend to stay in bed most of the time. But last week, I got myself out of bed and went to the beach on three different days! It was AWESOME! I don't go in the water as I might get knocked over, but if I am just sitting around relaxing, the beach is the best place to do it!

Today I also went to church for the first time. Now THAT wore me out! I came home after one meeting and fell asleep for two hours. Not sure I was ready for all that excitement and noise.

I am doing great though - progressing and feeling better and better. I'm still in lots of pain in my head and neck area and still have lots of problems walking steady, but it takes time. My friend's friend had this surgery a few years ago and said it took six weeks to feel human, three months to feel some what like herself and nine months to get back to normal. So I think I am doing well!

And here is a beach sunset picture to end this post with. You can see why this gets me out of bed! Thanks to all again for your kind words of encouragement and prayers!!! xoxoxox

Mixed Media Scrapbooking book give-a-way!!!

Creating Keepsakes has a new book that just hit newsstands today called Mixed Media Scrapbooking. I'm super excited about this book because I wrote two of the chapters on beads and bling and using items from around the house in your scrapbooking projects.

The projects in this book are amazing. I had to give assignments to Heidi Swapp, Jenni Bowlin, and many other incredibly talented designers. It was a bit intimidating to say the least!

I made one of my favorite projects ever for this book. It is in Chapter Three on using beads and bling (as well as other mixed media products) in a mini album. There are some snippets from the album below and much more in the book.

The book includes ideas to use many mixed media products in your scrapbooking including color mediums, paint, fabric, metal, gesso, fiber paste, and many, many others. I love mixed media and have learned a lot by contributing to the book and by reading it.

This is one I wouldn't miss, so leave me a comment on this post and I'll give a copy away on Sunday. Have a great week friends!!! Suzy

PS: I'm feeling GREAT and actually went to the beach this week!!!

Sunday Doodles

Today I missed church for the third week in a row. So while my family was gone, I decided to look up some quotes/scriptures on adversity and challenges to doodle. And it felt easy and natural for the first time since surgery. My heart, hand and brain are happily working together again, and that makes me happy.
I continue to progress. It will be three weeks on Tuesday. I am so amazed and shocked at how our bodies heal and recover. I am worried about my hearing sensitivity being worse then before surgery (I cannot handle ANY noise), but other than that, things are great. I'm happy it is all behind me. And I'm so very thankful for the Many prayers and blessings I have received.
I am starting to wonder what comes next. What my "after surgery" plan will be. I no longer have industry commitments. I am "unemployed" for the first time in years. I have a hard time not having commitments driving my productivity daily. Will I still scrap? I've only scrapped for assignments for years. Can I find the joy of just scrapping for fun again? Will I try something new? I'm really unsure. I want God to direct me and I'm hoping it figures itself out with time. My third quote below describes this stage I am in.
So with that, here are my doodles from today. Hope you enjoy them. I'm still using my phone to update my blog, so the pics are not great. Happy Sunday to all! suzy

American Crafts Doodling Week

This week there are two reasons to visit the American Crafts blog. First, they are debuting all the new summer CHA products. This includes a new Dear Lizzy line and a new Amy Tangerine line. Both will be my new favorites! These two girls just always do it right!

Second, it is Doodling Week. Of course I made sure I had an assignment for the blog being a doodling addict. So hop on over to see all the wonderful projects created. AC blog link on the left. I've been updating my blog from my phone and i don't know how to add links.

As for me and my no longer invaded head, I'm doing great. As my doctor told me 200 times, two steps forward, one step back. After pondering this statement, I have concluded that the outcome is moving forward. Even if the going is slower than my usual energizer bunny self is used to. I'm progressing and that is what matters. And I even slept for two hours on my right side last night. Major progress!!! I'm really enjoying such a lazy summer with no where to be and no to do to list. We just "hang out" and I'll forever appreciate the memories we are creating just being together. Some times getting off the treadmill of life has its benefits.

Love and appreciation to all my friends! And as my blog reader Dominico put it, have a cupcake on me. He cracked me up with this statement: "Went to Sprinkles today to celebrate your recovery. Went big and had three. You were so worth it." Thanks Dominico, that made me laugh!!!

Suzy

Jul 9, 2012

I am soooo happy today! Several reasons for this current elation. first, I don't feel great, but I do feel better each day. I have less pain and can tell I'm improving. I am just so happy to be moving towards being healthy and tumor free. It is like a four year nightmare that is over! Next, my niece arrived today from Utah. I adore her and know she will keep the girls busy and happy which in turn makes me happy. And on the way home from the airport, Tom took us to sprinkles which only made the day better. Cupcakes are my most favorite treat.

All I all, things are just improving and life is oh so good! Summer weather is here and it is cheering my soul! Xoxo

Jul 8, 2012

I guess it is time to stop my daily blog updates as I really don't have much new to report! Things are going well and I feel better each day. The world is becoming less shaky and I'm walking better. In less than two weeks, I am feeling close to being my old self!

Today my sweet mother in law brought us a delicious meal which made me very happy. I also felt good enough to doodle (see below). And I played games with the girls. Yes, life is getting back to normal.

Tomorrow my niece Emily comes for three weeks. She will drive my car and run the house while I take a back seat and let go of all control. Looking forward to it!

My advice for the day is to know you can get through anything God sends your way. I have learned I am capable of much more than I ever thought was possible! He doesn't give us more than we can handle and for that I am grateful. Im so happy to have some new blog readers leaving me words of comfort. I also appreciate those that have been here for a long time and are still stopping by!

Love to you all! Suzy

PS: This second quote is for my husband Tom, who has been my rock and my strength through the past two weeks. Challenges always bring loved ones closer as we learn to rely on one another.

Jul 7, 2012 - Attitude Progress

Hello all! I want to thank you again for all your kind comments. I enjoy reading each one and so many if you are helping with your words of wisdom! Especially yesterday when I was so sick and down!

Today was a good day. Not only did I feel better, but a good friend of mine was baptized at my church. I didn't think I could make it through the 1.5 hour program. When I walked into the crowded room, I almost passed out. But after a while I calmed down and enjoyed the wonderful spiritual experience. I know God helped me through it.

A nice lady from church came up and told me she had heard about my surgery. She said her sister had the same surgery years ago and how difficult it was. She said when you hear someone is having surgery, you don't think it is a real big deal, but when she knew the surgery I was having, she was well aware of the difficulty level. It made me feel good for someone to acknowledge that it is understandable I am still suffering and feel like shizzle much of the time. I made that word up in the hospital. Its the only word that describes how I feel much of the time!

I let yesterday get to me. But I'm much better tiday realizing I'm through the worst and I'm gonna make it. And as many of you have said, I'm not even two weeks past brain surgery, so of course it's still going to be hard.

I just hope I can create again and that that part of my brain still works. I tried to doodle and paint a quote yesterday and it was horrible. I'll keep trying though!

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! Sorry for the blurry photo. But here i am with my good friend Lori and her daughter Kim who got baptized tonight. A blessed day indeed! Xo

Jul 6, 2012 - I'm not as tough as I think I am

Today won. It beat me up. Nausea, sea sickness, misery, crying, over whelmed, not sure I can do it.

But tomorrow is a new day. Just didn't want anyone to think I'm strong all the time.

Xo