Remembering Mom...

Talk about delayed reactions... It's already May 22nd and I'm JUST NOW realizing why I've been feeling a bit blue and under the weather.  This is the month that we celebrate the joys (and pains) of loving, and being, mothers.  In my case, I get two (yes, TWO) whole days of extra cuddles and recognition for having relinquished my body and heart to bringing two perfect little humans into this world.  Why two you ask?  Well, I'm a first generation Mexican-American and in Mexico, Mother's Day always falls on May 10th.  Regardless of the day of the week, on May 10th you'd better make sure you celebrate mom.  Growing up, this was always a day for my mom, as it was for my husband's, so we've continued the tradition.  The joys of multi-culturalism.

Our kids have become the most important part of our lives and have claimed the center of our universe.  Having said that, I'm now able to look back with fresh eyes at all the times that my mom would tell me after I'd been a pain in her butt, "The day you have kids, you'll know why." 

Boy do I know why... why I work to give them as much as I can, why I want to be a better person, why I'd do anything for them, why I get up every morning after only 4 hours of sleep, the list of why's goes on and on.  And now more than ever, I miss my mom terribly.  Even if it is just to tell her, "YUP, you were right all along.  I'm sorry I ever doubted you or why you did things the way you did.  You are my hero..."

My mom passed away 6 years ago, very unexpectedly, and in those years, I've gotten married, we bought our first home (white picket fence and all), and had two babies.  I'm close to becoming a teacher, AND I've started this blog and stamping hobby.  She was my biggest cheerleader, and I've missed her so much.  So, you can understand why this month has been a bit bittersweet for me.  I know, I know, everyone tells me, "She's with you in spirit.." well, let me tell you, trying to hug empty air just isn't the same as burying my head into her shoulders and smelling her mami smell.  Just isn't... no matter how much someone tries to comfort me with these words, she's still not here... 

So, I still get her Mother's Day cards and this year, I made this one for her with the floral frames framelits and the petite petals bundle:

 

My mom loved flowers and plants and gardens, so every time I'm outside, I think of her and am inspired by what I see...



 

 

This beautiful mosaic butterfly sculpture sits outside of the Office of Education in Hayward.  Since I LOVE butterflies, I HAD to take a picture of it.  I use butterflies a lot in my projects.  We exchanged gifts at work and I came up with this bookmark using the scallop tag topper punch and my beloved Papillon Potpourri stamp set:

 

I couldn't leave it without some bling, so I added the sequins along with the ribbon.

I'm sure my mom would have loved her card, because I love anything MY daughter makes for me, no matter what the colors... Her scribbles mean more to me than anything.  Just as I'm sure mine meant to my mom...

I hope you enjoyed today's share, as sad (maybe) as it may be, but that's me, and this blog is about the projects inspired by my life.  Creating helps me celebrate the realities of everyday life, sad, happy or otherwise. 

What do you like to do to ease your creative soul?

Toodles,
~Maria

 

New cards to share!!

Hello all... Just as I mentioned in my earlier post from this week, I have a couple of cards that I would love to share with you.  But first, a little background story (you might want to get used to this, I usually have a background story for everything). 

I started making cards just last June.  I had started a new job and one day, I noticed a stack of beautiful cards on the desk of one of the other admin's (not that I look at other people's desks or anything, it's just that she's right at the entrance... anyway, I digress).  I had to ask her where she got them, and that's when she told me that she'd made them herself and that she belonged to a monthly stamp club that got together on the first Tuesday of the month to create beautiful cards.  When she saw the look on my face - you can only imagine, eyes wide open, mouth dropped to the floor, excitement emanating - and before she finished asking if I wanted to go to the one happening the next night, I'd already answered, "YES!" before she'd even finished asking... 

And that's when it started, this addiction to my newfound hobby.  Fueled by my need to get a moment to myself to just do something fun for ME, I found the stamp club was the perfect thing, the one thing I needed to decompress and forget for a second of all the other things that pull me in different directions and just be me.  Just me and paper, ink, stamps, and rhinestones (believe me, I will look for any excuse to "bling up" ANY card with rhinestones)... Even if it was only once a month... Then I started asking questions and wanting to learn more so I could do more (that's just in me, I was probably the most curious cat in a past life..) and Cindee (as in Cindee Wilkinson from justspongeit) welcomed the curiosity and became an amazing teacher!  I decided to become a demonstrator myself and now I look for ANY opportunity to do some stampin'.  As a demo, I got the opportunity to attend the Catalog Premiere in Sacramento with what seemed like a thousand other demos in the area and we got a to see the new catalog and received a new stamp set to play with...  I was jumping for joy! And this is what I made...

My mom loved tulips and one of the brush stroke stamps looks like a tulip to me so I decided to make this tulips card...  Just for my momma...

All prettied up with a filter for instagram:

 

And I couldn't stop!  I was so excited! (and I just couldn't hide it... inside joke, shout out to my sis) and I made this card:

 

 

(bananas and spices in the background, hey I'm still learning...)



This Saturday, I'll be attending a meeting with other demos and swapping cards.  I've decided to create a version of the tulip card.. I'll share it with you guys next week..

Although this stamp set won't be available for ordering until June 2, check out all the other beautiful sets currently available on the online store, and don't forget to look for me as your demo...

Is there a hobby you enjoy doing?  Something you've become addicted to?

Til next time!
Toodles!!

I'm a blogger??? and DIY spring wreath share!!

After many months of not revisiting this, my maiden voyage into the blogging world, I'm finally back!  I don't know how many people may end up reading, but hey, I'm happy to be posting and sharing... 

Lots of things have happened since my last (and only) post.  My mother-in-law passed away, I completed another term in my credential program (being a full time student is no joke..), and I have discovered another way to enable my addiction to treasure hunting through second hand stores and garage sales (that's a whole different post), much to my husband's dismay.

And to my garage's dismay, it's bursting with stuff that needs to be sold, put away, or given away...  That garage is my future craft room, let's hope I can tame this addiction, otherwise I won't see it happen..

Anyway, after all this, I actually have a project to share with you all.  As I mentioned earlier, my mother-in-law passed away in mid-February.  One thing I remember about her was how much she loved to make things.  She loved making different desserts, jewelry, crocheting (she made my kids the traditional blankets and clothes), and she loved wreaths.  That's one thing I remember her always having on her door.  So for her memorial service, I made her a wreath.  And I enjoyed making it so much that I actually made it my goal to make one for our door.  You don't know the chaos that is my life with a full time job, full time school work, AND babies, but you can imagine how hard it is to actually get the time to squeeze in some fun mommy crafting time. 

BUT, when I say I will complete a project - I COMPLETE THE PROJECT.  And here my friends, is the final result.

 

I found an awesome tutorial on Pinterest,(http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/10/how-to-make-a-tulle-wreath-halloween-edition/) and decided to make one incorporating flowers using my Stampin' Up! spiral flower die, punches, ribbon, and paper.

 

Step 1: You will need tulle (I got mine at Hobby Lobby for 40% off, gotta love those coupons!), a wreath form (I used an 8 inch, I think), scissors, and time to tie and tie and tie knots..

 

 

Step 2: tie, tie, tie...................

 

Step 3: I used the following punches: Elegant Butterfly, Big Petal (retired), Pansy, Blossom, and 1 3/4" circle,  along with the new Spiral Flower Die.  Some hot glue, rhinestones, and a couple of hours later and I had this:

 

I layered butterflies to give it some depth and texture:

 



And that was it! I hope you liked today's share... And don't worry, it won't take me another 3 months to come back and share with you, the next project is ready to go! If you don't know where to get the materials, don't fret, check out my online store.

Toodles!

 

1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch

$16.95

Blossom Punch

$16.95

Elegant Butterfly Punch

$15.95

Pansy Punch

$15.95

Spiral Flower Originals Die

$17.95

Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents

$4.95

Large Rhinestone Basic Jewels

$4.95

Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper

$10.95

2013-2015 In Color Core'dinations

$11.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.