WOW! Are we ever getting hit hard with snow. I have to say it makes the holiday season very festive, and pretty. Although makes my last minute shopping difficult.
I’ll be sledding with the kids, all day today I have a feeling. Note to self: Get ski pants!!
I felt like an awful mom, when the other day Amber said to me (after playing in the snow for 4 hours!) “Mom I had so much fun playing in the snow. You know, I never did that before.”
That hit me like a ton of bricks.
I realized, OH! MY! WORD! She never has got to “play” in the snow. She has sledded a handful of times, but she was only 1 when Alexa got sick, and I spent what seemed like forever in the hospital. So for the last 2 winters, (she was really young anyway) she never got to just go out and PLAY! Even last year, Alexa couldn’t really risk being outside for too long. I felt SOOOOO terrible. I saw what a backseat she has taken in some areas and felt terrible. Talk about a “bad mommy” moment. I seriously almost cried. So, now every chance she gets she’s goin out! She’s at a better age anyway. Under 4 seems so small to be out in the freezing cold. Maybe that’s because I LOATHE cold.
I’d love to hear a bad mommy moment you had recently, so I don’t feel so awful. This is the place to unload the guilt. We can’t do it all, all the time. That is why I’m starting to take note of things like that, and try harder to change them. Like Dr. Phil says “You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge!” Granted some things are beyond our control, like when Alexa was sick, but doesn’t mean I can’t change the fact that Amber may need a little more attention, time to time, now.
Anyway-back to the point of the post. On design teams we are ALWAYS months ahead of holidays, and we are currently gearing up for Valentines Day. (I know-INSANE!) I’m trying to finish Christmas stuff, and I’m working with hearts, and LOVE stuff. Too funny. I don’t know which is more amusing-the fact that its JUST before Christmas and I’m working on LOVE stuff, or that I started Christmas stuff in AUGUST, and I’m STILL not done! Jeepers, that is insane.
Well as you know it IS Saturday, and that means Sketch Time!
Thank you to all who give it a go. I do my best to peek around and comment when you do. I’m always in awe of everyone’s take on things too.
For the sketches, just use them as inspiration. If something doesn’t work, don’t kill yourself to get it there, just go with the flow.
OK I am totally LOVING this week’s sketch-keyword mytimess
I definitely want to use this one again and again.
SO for my card I got this image from Stampavie the Rachelle Anne Miller Collection-Lily & Milo.
This is the WINTER COLLECTION
I felt it was PERFECT for me at my “in between” holiday faze of Christmas & Valentines day!
Embrace Happiness
Isn’t it beyond adorable? I’m giving this to Jay with his Christmas gifts 😀
I LOVE that sentiment! It’s from Mixed Messages. Its just perfect.
In place of the “circle” I used ribbons.
I think its important to embrace happiness and love when we can. Acknowledge the one’s you love. I rarely make cards for most “holidays” to give away, but I think Jay will like it. He loves when I make him cards, especially for no reason. He does love the DETAILED ones, and holds me to a high standard I think. That can be stressful! LOL!
Close up view
OK so I LOVE these colors together!
Poppy, Regal rose, dark chocolate, caramel/kraft, pink.
THIS is why I LOVE my copic’s! That POP of color is so WOW! (I just realized I’m capitalizing a lot. Yes I am that passionate about my points here today I guess. :O)
I have to say for me coloring is so soothing. I love it.
I also have to say that ANY time I have boy/girl images together, I totally STRESS about WHAT colors I am going to use on the boy! He HAS to match her, but he shouldn’t really be in PINK! KWIM? This is always a safe route, since I never want to throw off my color scheme.
I know I sound a little crazy, but these are the weird things that throw me in a frenzy sometimes. Plus not using ANY patterned paper can be hard, as it is often a jumping point for me when coloring detailed images as well. I think the sketch and image are detailed enough without needing the busy look patterned paper can sometimes bring.
Well that is all my rambling for today. My mojo is in HIGH gear , which of course always happens when I have stuff I HAVE to do, and it makes me trail off and just “play” which I shouldn’t be doing. I have some super projects to share with you because of that, really soon.
In the mean time, try the sketch. Maybe it will be what you need for something.
Also check out the sketch team-hopefully they got some time in to stamp too!
Till tomorrow-stay warm!
32 Responses for "When Christmas and Valentines Day collide-a sketch is born"
Your card is super cute Lauren!! Your colouring is amazing! Glad the kids are able to get out and play in the snow. It’s super cold here and we can’t get out…lol
Enjoy the day with the kids!
Have fun in the snow! *said while looking at bright sun and palm trees* It was 81 here yesterday, too hot for me but I so don’t miss the snow! 😉
I love the colors you used and the fact that you are not afraid to have pink accents on the boy! 😀
As far as Amber is concerned don’t beat yourself over it, she is a happy and well balanced kid. Life is what it is and we make the best of it with what comes our way. You are one of the most dedicated moms I know, I’m always amazed at all you do with your kids every day so if someone should not feel bad it’s you (especially with all you had to go through with Alexa!). You still managed to have 2 other kids feel loved and taken care off on top of a very sick one. You are a beautiful and inspiring family. 🙂
And I get plenty of “bad mommy moments” too because I don’t spend enough time working with Noah or just playing with both kids… The truth is the guilt doesn’t help, but there are always little things that can be done… 🙂
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onWhen Christmas and Valentines Day collide-a sketch is born – My …Here’s a quick excerptOne Response for “When Christmas and Valentines Day collide-a sketch is born”. Dawn Easton December 20th, 2008 at 10:23 am 1. Your card is super cute Lauren!! Your colouring is amazing! Glad the kids are able to get out and play in the … […]
I really love this sketch. I have saved it to use after Christmas. I’m lovin your card!!
Your card is AMAZING… really. Love the colors- that layout is awesome my friend! I’m HOPING to get caught up on some overdue cards this week…will have to use this one for sure!
these images are too cute – and you are doing an INCREDIBLE job with them…
Have fun in the snow…A bad mommy moment…I’m sure I can come up with one, but don’t have time to post right now… BBL 🙂
Lauren,
First of all, I want to tell you these are adorable cards!!
I have had a few moments of feeling like a bad mommy. I will just tell you a couple. My third daughter of 4 children was born without a hip socket, so she had to go through several surgeries and everytime she was in the hospital, I felt so terrible leaving the other three with someone. I think it was harder for me than them but I felt like I was abanding them.
One other time when we my son (the youngest) was about 3 we took my BIL to Knott’s Berry Farm (he lived on the east coast at that time and has never been). We were walking around and he was standing right beside me and then we started to walk on he wasn’t there. I felt like I wasn’t watching good enough and I started to panic. I found a security officer and told him and said that the found him and he was in the office. I don’t know who was more scared me or him. It was the awfullest feeling.
So don’t feel so bad you are not alone.
That is so sweet! I love those SU heart brads! Think I still have a few of them in my stash!
Vicki
Oh trust me I know the bad mommy feeling. I went into preamature labor with our son. Our children are close in age. any way I was in labor with our son on our daughters first birthday. Thankfully they were able to stop the labor. As it was WAY too early. Every year I can’t help but think I wasnt there for her.
Mmmmm. I needed that. I am doing a ton of last minute projects. And darlin’ – don’t sweat the small stuff re: the kids. I find myself beating myself up for things I haven’t done or promised to do or wanted to do re: my kids. Then I’m bombarded by guilt. Guilt is nothing more than a tool of the devil dear. If you feel convicted and do something about it- then it’s from God, but if we sit and wallow in guilt- then that’s the devil getting us down. I can’t imagine how tough it would be re: Alexa PLUS taking care of two other little ones- but every pic they are smiling and happy and that means all is well in their lives- so you’re doing something right! And they’re young. And resilient. Kids are awesome and instead of sharing my story (cuz hon- I’ve got a few) I hope to encourage you- so take care and take some time to have fun in the snow- and don’t worry. You’ll never be as cold as Northern Canada!!! THATS COLD!! (-36 degress celsius!!) LOL- take care and have a great day Lauren.
Don’t beat yourself up. Under 4 is awful tiny to be out in the cold snow anyway, and you can only do what you can do. I had a bad Mommy moment this week too. Tuesday my 7 year old daughter was doing a report on Japan in front of her class. The whole class was doing it. Only, my daughter was the ONLY one without a parent there because I was in court finalizing my adoption of my three youngest kids. I couldn’t help not being there but I still felt about an inch tall when Toti told me that she cried and cried and her teacher went and asked her dance teacher to come and watch her give her speach. I tried to explain to her that I had said I wouldn’t be able to come unless the judge hurried (he didn’t) but I would try. She apparently heard” Of course Toti, I’ll positively be there”. Anyway, I did take off work on Friday and go to her class party so I guess I’m forgiven. I am single with 7 kids so I have to tell myself all the time that I can’t do everything and I can’t be two places at once and it is what it is.
Have an awesome Christmas and take time to enjoy the holidays. You are so talented and I visit your blog everyday to see what great things you’ve done.
When you have a child with special needs they just take more time. You can only do your best! My youngest daughter wrote her essay for her college acceptances on how having a sister with Down Syndrome effect her life. The essay wasn’t about her sister, it was about herself and how Kristen affected the person she is today. I was surprised when I read that when she was little she was jealous of Kristen. She got to do all those fun things like speech therapy, and OT and PT. It went on to say that as she got older, she realized how hard this must have been for her parents and how much better of person she is now because of Kristen’s influence. If Kristen tried to always do her best and achieve she better too. As young adults now the three sisters are very close.
On the funny side, their Barbie town was one of the few who had a speech therapy office in the town.
Know you are doing your best. From your postings I can tell you are a wonderful Mom.
Melody
We got snow also! I hope you had fun. I didn’t get a chance to play with the sketch this week but you did a fantastic job!
hola lauren! this is such a cute card! i’m right there with you sister about gearing up for Valentine’s Day! i’m looking at Christmas decorations on sale right now wondering if i can “morph” them into fun little Valentine’s gifts! our brains never stop!
this isn’t so much a “bad mom story”, but i laugh when i think about it. we are in the middle of doing a bunch of baking (from scratch) and my rolling pin was out. audrie (5) came in and started playing with it, and then started rolling it on everything, saying she was going to “flat” whatever she was rolling it on!! haha! then she rolled it on my tummy, saying ‘I’m going to flat you”! and i said to keep rollin’ it honey, and get it as flat as possible!! i’ll take all the help i can get!
ooo, this card is just stunning! I love how you combo’ed the christmas time and stamp and even colors to make a totally lovey dovey heart day card. So stinkin cute! I havent even played with my rachelle anne miller stamps yet! So sad. I dont even think i got any of the kids and now i really wish i had!!!
that card is absolutely adorable! i love the colors!!!!
As parents, we are the best role models for our children. She won’t remember not playing in snow when she was three years old. She will remember the love and devotion her Mom and Dad has for her and her siblings.
First, absolutely adorable card! Love it & the colors. About mommy guilt…I have it all.the.time. My daughter is an only child, so you’d think I have all the time in the world to do whatever she would like, whenever she would like. Not so b/c I have MS and have many days when I just don’t feel up to doing much of anything. I see the look on her face and it just destroys me. I do work hard to do what I can when I feel up to it, but, of course, one sad little look, and I forget all about it. So, yeah, I know mommy guilt, and I feel for every mommy who feels it!
Adorable! How cool that you didn’t use any patterned paper. Remember a few years ago when very few people used patterned paper in cards? Great job coloring as always. Please, can I have a copics class?
And no worries about “bad mommy” moments. We all have them. You’re a fabulous Mom. And I agree that last year or the year before, she wouldn’t have had a lot of fun for a long time outside. 4 is a great age for outdoor play (especially when Daddy’s the one outside in the freezing cold with her!).
Love the card Lauren. I used that same one as a Congratulations card to my son and Daughter-in-law after they told us we were to be Grandparents again!! I thought it fit so well for that too. They just loved it.
Your certainly not alone with guilt from Mommy moments. Some of it they remember some they don’t. All you can do is your best, with what you have at the time. When you know better, you do better! Your a great Mom from what I can tell by reading your blog. Your totally involved with their school, friends, and activities. You color, stamp and play with them. All our kids really want is Time with us and Love with Limits.
Lauren your such a giving person, don’t sweat the small stuff. You’ve already been through some of the big stuff and survived it!! I’m sure your children are very happy and loving and full of knowing who they are and what and where they come from. Blessings to You and Your Family for Christmas and New Years. I truly enjoy your blog and your writing. You are such a careing and loveing person full of such Creative Ideas. Your willing to share yourself with all of us and still give to all others with your deeds and words. I know you are loved by many whose lifes you’ve touched! I’m one of them…… Blessings.
Every mom has bad mommy moments that they remember.
I have too many to list and I shudder to remember them. But, Lauren, read on:
Here’s part of an email my DS wrote me almost 3 years ago when I was feeling bad that I went back to work full time when he was around age 11. He’s almost your age now.
“Mom, it is amazing to me that you could question you going back to work. You were home an hour after us at most, and left us apples in the fridge and notes on the stove, they all made us feel so glad to be home. I would not give anything for walking home and walking into the house, with the kitties saying hello, spending a half hour alone, and then you coming home, with the kitties
saying hello for again. Those are honestly some of my best memories, falling asleep on the living room floor, until you came home, I enjoyed the wait, just as much as I enjoyed you coming home. At the time,
it gave me a sense of independence, something I had never felt before.”
Hi Lauren, I love your card. The colours are perfect! This was a super fun sketch to work with…thanks so much!
Fun sketch Lauren!! I thought it was perfect for my little dancer!!
a link would help!!LOL!! Heres my card
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1166569?cat=500&ppuser=89875
Hey girl! Hope things are still going well for you. I’m glad you and your kids are enjoying the snow… I like looking at it, but I don’t like walking in it or driving in it! 🙂
Anyways… I thought I’d play along with your challenge. I am not sure how totally in love I am with the card I made, but I enjoyed the stretch! I never make cards like this, so it was fun to step outside of the box.
I think I’m going to try one more time, I’ll be back! 🙂
~Kendra
P.S. I was wondering if I could be on your sketch team… I’d love to stretch myself and maybe taking on this commitment will help me take more time to stamp this next year!
Mele Kalikimaka – Buon Natale!!!!
I am so excited with myself for finally starting to get in on all of the sketch challenges. I didn’t fully understand them at first but lately I have been having a bit of fun. Can’t wait to try out my new COPICS. Santa was good to me this year. Should I post my card at PCP or SCS??? I will try SCS
Hugs,
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1168852?cat=13584
Sorry for 2 comments but here is my card
Lovely sample as always. Here is my card:
http://woodedviews.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-hugs.html
I think you’re a great mom (hardly think Amber will be bitter about having to wait 4 yrs to play in it, she has lots of fun to be had in the future that will more than make up for it!) Love your sketch – used it, better late than never, huh?
http://stampamaniac.blogspot.com/2008/12/gkd-challenge-buttons-bows-on-angle.html
Love, love, love your card!!! Here is my attempt: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1183468?cat=500&ppuser=30139
So it took a while but I got it done and posted. Super fun. Thanks!
http://mollyslazydogblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/cupcake-day.html
-Molly B
FINALLY got this one done- Thanks! http://tanyastampsnthings.blogspot.com/2009/01/old-birthday-challenges.html
QWHSYGMMOLBHL
She brought the leopard pony Discount Louboutin Sweet Charity bag while out to banquet with her sisters.
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