Maya Road Calendar

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.  The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.  ~Henri Nouwen


For my long time friend's birthday, I wanted to create something that could be appreciated all year round.
I thought and pondered for some time...then the light bulb started glowing, and soon it was shining bright!!

Many moons ago, I saved and had forgotten all about a free printable >>  Maya Road calendar. 

And, in my long lost stash was a chipboard book by Colorbok. It had only 5 pieces and I needed 6, so I could create a month on each side. 
That took me on a search for another package. I found one right away on Ebay and had it in my hands in no time!

I put the two together, along with patterned paper, ribbon, embellies, rub ons, cut aparts and inks, and stencils, and markers....you name it!!

Let me tell you, the mojo was flying and I was on a roll!

Linda adored her gift and needless to say, I had fun creating it! 

She can appreciate the time (and love) that goes into homemade creations. 

Till Next Time...

TTFN !

aka The Rebel Blogger

Think Love & Smile

The real Valentine's Day is not comprised of roses, chocolates or pretty cards.

Actually, Valentine's Day has some dark origins. It harks back to a pagan festival known as Lupercalia.

In the 5th century, in an effort to Christianize the pagan tradition, Pope Gelasius declared Feb.14th Saint Valentines Day.  

Centuries later, romantic authors like Shakespeare helped seal the deal with references to the day in their works.

Now, Valentine's Day is celebrated as a day to express one's love.

I have put together a small list of some of my favorite love quotes. 

Inspirational:

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart" ~Helen Keller

"You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly" ~Sam Keen

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction" ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Funny:

"As a man in a relationship, you have a choice...you can be right or you can be happy" ~Ralphie May

"I wanted to make it really special on Valentine's Day, so I tied my boyfriend up. And for three solid hours I watched whatever I wanted on TV" ~Tracy Smith

"I love being married. It's so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life" ~Rita Rudner

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My husband and I are way past being lovey, dovey and gushy!

But my baby is hunky dory with me and can still do the hanky panky! (Oops, ...I should probably not post what might be considered R rated content, so sorry)  Tehehe!  ;-o

Tom is the outdoorsy type...loves to hunt, fish and ride his Harley. 

In the dead of this extremely cold winter, he is like a lost puppy who can't find his home! Can you picture it?!?!

As I have said in the past,

I always find it a difficult but a challenging job of creating a masculine card.  

There will be no traditional Valentines colors, no lace and no fufu for my man!

Ingredients:

Prima ~ Doodle Deux  patterned paper

Paper Accents ~ Smooth Black card stock

Martha Stewart ~ Flourish  clear stamps

Fiskars ~ All Year Greetings   clear stamps

Fiskars ~ Sentiments  clear stamps

Fiskars ~ Lace 3in1 corner punch

General's ~ Pastel Chalk Pencil, white    

Posh Impressions ~ Heart Trio  rubber stamp

Micheals ~ Silver Pearl  flatbacks

May Arts ~ Green Leaf  ribbon

I have always loved the chalkboard effect but never experimented with it. And yes, I know, I am way behind the times!

There is a whole roll of chalkboard vinyl sitting in my crafting space that has been staring at me for almost a year! 

Hope your Valentine's Day is filled with sweet love! 
And no matter what the age, keep that love light glowing.

TTFN!

aka, The Rebel Blogger

Thirty Four Years Ago

Wow, does time whizz by faster and faster or what?!

I remember my mother would say to me, "time flies by and the older you get, it flies by so much faster!"
I didn't really take heart to her words till later in life. Now, I know how she felt!

When I see young mothers with their newborns and toddlers...I think to myself  
"I remember when that used to be me."
Those very same words my mother said to me, I have spoken to many young mothers. 

Somehow, like overnight, I have become one of those older women. 

Here I am, closing in on the big 6-0 in three years, thinking I need to add a new, different label, something besides "mom". 
That label has become tattered, rundown, unusable and out-of-date.
I will always be "mom" but it's not on the top anymore. It hasn't been for a long time.

Though I feel deep down in my heart I deserve that "mom" label...
By living through the tough times, enjoying the good times, being the best mom that I knew how to be...not just from giving birth.

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It was 34 years ago I had my second child, Christina Renee. 
Who has become a strong willed, independent, and outspoken "mom" herself. Wonder where she gets those traits from!? 
She has also blessed me with two beautiful grandchildren! 



Here is Christina's crisscross style birthday card I created for her.

Recipe:

Cosmo Cricket ~ 2WENTY-THR3E  patterned paper and chipboard pieces

Fiskars ~ All Year Greetings  clear stamp

Hero Arts ~ gold embossing powder

Sure, I have other labels, "grandma" and the initials "LPN" after my name but being a mom is the core of me, no matter what else I have done in my life.

I count my blessings, ignore regrets, and will continue to grow with the label(s) I own and the new ones to come!  

TTFN...
Happy Crafting!!

aka The Rebel Blogger