OK we have 2 posts again today. Im just one busy girl these days.

My video for the technique is taking its SWEET time loading to YouTube. Ill be back in a bit to post it.

Sorry for the delay

I am SOOOO long winded today. Don’t know WHY!

I just have so many thoughts going though my head about my life and juggling it all.

Before I do that, let me share my card-and then you can totally skip the needless banter that is what I call my blog-therapy! LOL! Cheaper than a shrink listening to be babble about my imperfections

OK So today I am peeking AmyR’s Thank You sentiments. This will be released June 1st

I also decided to ink up a yet to be used set I had: Bug A Boo’s. Available NOW!

I LOVE the butterfly (of course! :D) and had to use her finally.

I used purple and black-Im so into purple these days-its ridiculous! LOL! I love the colors and layout on this-I was quite happy for my mojo to return. I am sad that today is RAINY RAINY RAINY! Nothing like the day this was taken which is pure Spring and sunny.

The sentiment got me thinking about today, my life and the gift or Motherhood. The up and downs! All of it. Im so thankful I have my children. When I was 17 they told me I wouldn’t be able to have kids! I had severe ovarian cycts and endometroisis. REALLY BAD. On top of a tipped uterus. Obviously they were (THANKFULLY) very wrong! It actually got better after having my children too.

I am coming to the realization as my kids grow that being a mom is a WAY tougher job than I ever imagined. Makes nme really appreciate my own mom who raised us on her own.

Can you imagine the Ad that would be in the newspaper for the job of a mother?

WANTED:

 Job title: Mom

 No experience necessary. On the job training. Must be a selfless, loving person who is willing to give 200% of them-self at all times. This is a full time position. Must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No holidays, no vacations or sick time. Must be able to tolerate the handling of any/all bodily fluids. Drivers License is required. You must be able to work on little sleep at times. Must be able to provide minimum of 3 meals , and 2 snacks daily. Job requirements also include cooking, cleaning, laundering, teaching, refereeing, and some nursing skills.  You must be able to count to 10 and recognize when YOU require a time out. When you do something wrong you are required to wear a virtual GUILTY sign on your back for a minimum of 2 days.

Payment comes in form of  love, happiness, heartwarming moments, and memories, along with hugs, kisses, and I love yous. Also included but not limited to: worry, heartache, headaches, and amazement.

Benefits included and provided after 18 years of service and dedication in the form of a hopeful THANK YOU MOM! I love you.

Now that is some job title.

We all learn as we go right? And I think we can all agree its worth every second.

My biggest fear is realizing I did it ALL WRONG! LOL!! I’m sure Im not alone.

One thing I am (proudly) is organized. NOT all the time but for the most part. I do my best to keep track of everything, keep my house in order (not spotless as I would like-like my mom’s house) but clean all the same, and I do everything I promise I will. I even somehow manage some sort of one on one time with my kids daily-and make arts and crafts a daily part of our lives.

I have the ever going “to do list”.

One thing I’m far from- is perfect! It is easy to confuse the two, or think they go hand in hand!

Organization is the ILLUSION of perfection. In my opinion.

More time that passes the more I realize I don’t have that Wonder Woman cape that I thought was trailing behind me! I think I lost it somewhere! LOL!

That being said you all know I have 3 kids. I don’t know HOW they became such busy little people. They don’t tell you that when you have them! Now I know there are by far larger families out there, and my point to this is HOW do you do it? I just don’t know.

I am fortunate enough to be able to be home with them. They are my PRIMARY “job”. By that I mean everything they are involved in, I am involved in, to the fullest extent of my being.

That means if there is a field trip I am chaperoning, a class party I am there, with some sort of goodie (not home-made! I gave that pressure up a long time ago, and I think my kids will survive. They won’t (hopefully) remember that I BOUGHT the cupcakes! Just that I was there and I brought them!!) I go to every appointment, stay on top of their education (and fight with doctors and schools endlessly!) and then of course there are the extra circular activities that happen. When you have THREE kids it seems there is something DAILY. Then there is the taking on MORE kids (aka my children’s friends) for play dates, and adopting a few kids whose parents can’t be/aren’t home for them-ever. That to me is what being a SAHM is all about. Doing every thing I can while home with my kids. Lord knows in a few years I will turn into a virtual TAXI cab, and my kids won’t even know I’m alive, until its time to pick them up from X, or I say NO to something the NEED/WANT!

Honestly now that they are getting OLDER I feel LESS organized, and like I’m always running in 5 different directions. I am thankful THEY remember everywhere “I” am suppose to be these days! LOL! It just seems like each day melts into the other, and time is flying by. I mean really-its ALMOST June and I’m still feeling like its April! LOL!

I don’t know how working mom’s balance it all. I envy that they can, because I am HOME and barely keep up. Granted if my daily “plan” plays out step by step I’m all good, but good grief if anything unexpected and not in my “plan” pops up, its all shot up.

Just today Noah reminded me that it is his Authors Tea, and I need to be there by 10am! He was to dress up, and bring in a stuffed animal. OK got it!

WHEW! Thank GOODNESS he reminded me! Even though it was on the calendar I would have forgotten. I have like 6 other things to do today, but that immediately jumped to NUMERO UNO!

OK so maybe Im not even organized anymore, let along close to a shred of perfect! LOL!

I totally spaced it on his class Thanksgiving party this year! I thought it was on one day, and they had it on a odd day- the day before I thought it was. I am the ROOM MOTHER! How did I space that? I put my GUILTY mommy sign on when I picked him up the minute I heard a little girl in his class “claim” to me they had a party today.

 I sat there and “argued” with the 5 yo saying. No sweetie that party is tomorrow.

Nuh UH! We had it today.

I continued to tell her NO! Its tomorrow. I’m bringing in brownies. Your must have had something else.

She said “Well Miss Lauren (she is SO cute she always calls me that)I’m sorry to tell you, but you missed it because we didn’t have brownies at our party, and we had on our Pilgrim and Indian hats”

WHAT!! No WAY! I MISSED it!?! REALLY!? SERIOUSLY!? OH! NO!!!!!!!!!

So Noah comes around the corner, to tell me I missed the party! Where was I? I can’t believe you didn’t come to my party. You always come!

Um at home. Thinking it was TOMORROW! The day it usually is for the past 5 years!!

Do you think he ever lets me “forget” anything now? NOPE! I try to forgive myself and get over it, but I can’t! LOL!

Even when I go to ALL  the parties now he says” Hey mom remember at Thanksgiving when you forgot to come to my party? Do you think he’d forget-NOPE!!! He really does remind me of that.

Anyway, Im not sure what my point to this post is. I guess I just don’t know how I can squeeze everything into each day. These days I feel like Im not cutting it. I’m always running and not getting it all done. How or when did that happen?!

I want to make sure when its all said and done that I did my best. No regrets. I don’t think there is a mom alive who doesn’t regret something right?

Why do I feel like I need that Cape?!

I guess I have to embrace the fact that I CAN’T do everything. Life isn’t one big planned out event. I should know this having had Alexa get Cancer! You NEVER know what is around the corner. Maybe that is why I try so hard to squeeze every ounce I can out of each day? Live to fullest.

Bottom line I guess is, do what we can. Try our best. Be there for our kids, and at the end of the day-if they know you love them, (even if you missed a party (even if they NEVER forget) in the end they will remember that you did your best. They will remember the majority of the good stuff.

My hope, my wish, my goal-despite all I can, can’t did or didn’t do, that they will be self sufficient, caring, loving and happy people who contribute their best to society. That’s all we can hope for in the end.

OK Im off of my blah blah blah! Yikes!
SORRY you had to endure that. I feel better about my inadequacies now though

As for the Wii advice-thanks to all.

I do pretty crazy workouts so Im going to look into some other options I think.

Ill keep you posted. You all helped me get invigorated again-so thank you!!

Tomorrow I have a CHALLENGE for you all-so come back then

Till tomorrow

Hi all!

I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend.

We purchased a swing set for the kids, and today I have a dental “emergency” for Noah so Im off and running like a chicken with her head cut off! LOTS to wrap up this week.

In the meantime…….

 Don’t forget this week has ALL the fun for Stamp Out Alzheimers! All you need to do to enter in the fun is make a mere $5 donation that all proceeds benefit this great organization

My Timeless Templates is part of the daily giveaway today—CHECK IT OUT!!

Have fun while supporting a great cause!

OK Im off and running-thanks for stopping by. In case you were busy I have some great stuff posted over this last week-so check it out too!

I have 2 posts today-one is cards for troops and another is the Saturday Challenge-so SCROLL down OK!!

I was asked to participate in a Blog Hop for- Cards for Heroes. This is their mission:

Our mission is to create blank, handmade greeting cards that our soldiers/military personnel serving in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East can use to write special notes home to their families and friends.  To date, we have sent over 130,000 greeting cards, and we are growing in leaps and bounds.  We are all volunteers in the organization, and it is a true grass roots effort.

Our website if you’d like to learn more is www.cardsforheroes.org

 Being that it is after-all Memorial Day weekend I knew I should definitely par-take in the challenge in raising awareness for cards for our troops!

You know I don’t really ever recall making a Patriotic card? YIKES! That’s not good.

I don’t have any family in the military, but my PSF Laura, her husband Stefan, has served MANY years, and many long deployments! I have so much respect for ANYONE in the military and their families for giving up time with their loved ones, to fight for our Country! So if you or someone you know serves in the military-THANK YOU! We appreciate all you are sacrificing for our freedom

If you haven’t started at the beginning please do so —–> here <—–after you complete your visit here!

Now for my first Patriotic card

You are my HERO

I used the star as the “O”. My husband didn’t “get it”, so I hope everyone else does! LOL! He usually doesn’t get much when it comes to design!

Its pretty clean, and simple.

I wanted to use a star for my “O”! So I did. I can see “it” spells HERO.

I used JustRite Stampers: Brayton Upper Case letters for the “H E R”.

I then used Star Prints (which I totally in love with) and used 2 different stars, with the punch, then cut them to create a fancy sort of Star Flag.

The “you are my” is from Father Knows Best.

I loved the swirl, so I used Fancy Flourishes to lead your eye to the falling star print. I also used Background Basics: Text Style, and the Retro set as well, along with the Let Freedom Ring set

Close up details:

So that is that.

Now its time for YOU to HOP ALONG—–>to Mou Her blog is called My Life in Collage. She does some FAB scrapbooking-so check it out.

Lots of amazing stops along the way. I hope it inspires you in some way to not only be thankful for our freedom and our troops, but maybe offer to send some cards their way

Thanks again

I have promised myself I would clean my house-in its entirety top to bottom today, before I got ANYTHING recreational/work related done. I have been neglecting that duty far too long. Due to all my hustle and bustle for release after release I notice a nice layer of FUZZ growing on my nick knacks! Its no wonder I feel like I have allergies this year-my house is a DUSTY mess!! So not like me. I also notice things creeping into corners that don’t belong. In other words-SPRING CLEANING is in need. My mom owns a cleaning company. Maybe I should hire her to come to help me get my life back together! My closets look like someone ransacked it! Not good :C

You know its getting unkempt when your HUSBAND notices! LOL! Granted I do a quick clean daily, but my house really needs a scrubbin. Now I don’t want it to sound like my house is a disaster! Its always picked up and my bathroom is ALWAYS clean, but the BIG cleaning hasn’t been done. So I’m decaffeinated up and on a mission before the holiday weekend.

Now here is the FUNNY part. Thinking of cleaning my house, got me into creating a house! LOL! See what the mind can do when you are trying to subconsciously AVOID something?! I somehow ALWAYS manage to get distracted. I really do have stamper ADD.

Now I really AM cleaning today, but wanted to share this first

It is a House Box I altered, filled with recipes inside!

I about did a cartwheel for this project! I swear Lots of time and love went into this

I just fell in love with this paper from October Afternoon-Weathervane. I did a little distressing too.

I lined the edges of my chimney, roof, and peak with Doodlebug Paper Frills. Makes is all nice and neat.

Having new paper is just the BEST feeling. See it applied to a project like this is SO rewarding.

 I love the colors and everything about this box! LOVE! I am parting with it though-its going up on my Etsy Shop!

I purchased the Recipe Borders and Centers and have been DYING to make my own version of a recipe box!

I love all the little recipes that can be punched with the 1 1/4 circle OR the 1 3/8 circle-which is what I used

I used the “Homemade” border sentiment for the sides of my box I love the “pun”. The little house in the center is from Papertrey Ink Holiday Treats set, as is the ribbon, and button in Aqua mist. Flowers are May Arts. Also found atPapertrey Ink

On the door I used the “Family Favorite Recipe” border! I thought it was wicked cute

You can also get this set as ATS–>HERE!

I also used some May Arts velvet ric rac in Sweet Pea along the bottom for my “grass”. You can’t see it in the photo, but its a sweet touch I think!

The top peak comes off and reveals the recipe cards inside.

I also found a Weekly Meal Planner magnetic note pad to match!

Recipes inside-

I had no real recipe cards (EEK! I have some on order though!), so I used blank index cards, and then made my dividers.

This went together easy peasy!!

OK now I can’t go on and on like my usual-I need to get back to cleaning!!

I hope you have a great day, and THANK YOU for stopping by to visit. I know first hand how busy everyone is, and to think YOU took time out of YOUR busy day, to visit me, makes me so happy!! I myself rarely get “out on the net”. I’m in my own little crafting world here, caring for the kids, and “working”! So I want you to know I appreciate you! With ALL the amazing blogs and talent out there, I’m just amazed anyone ever stop by here :D) So thanks again!!!

Till tomorrow……..

OH BOY!

OK over the next day or so you may notice weird things on my blog. Things missing, changing, popping up or that don’t belong!

My subscribers thingy is gone as well as MUCH more-Splitcoaststampers is the host of my blog, and they are making some changes-so this is effecting my blog till its all sorted out.

That being said when you comment I have NO IDEA, and a bunch of other stuff.

HOPEFULLY it will be sorted out soon.

Just wanted to update you on my ISSUES

Here it is!

This is your challenge for this Saturday!

Use ANY My Timeless Template, and follow the challenge above!

Since its my Birthday month I decided to have you try my favorite color-or image-butterfly!
Link your creations HERE!

Sadly I didn’t get to photgraph mine yet-I had some unexpected things pop up so NO computer time. But will try to get it posted tomorrow. I have a shopping date with friends today at CKC! So Ill be gone till tonight, then Amber is going to a PJ party! Should be fun.

In the meantime……here are my Design Team Peeks

They really rocked out the challenge Take a LOOKIE

So I hope you get inspired!

I’ll be back later Enjoy your day, and I hope you get some ME TIME!

My Etsy Shop has been updated!

Feel free to lookie

www.laurenmytime.etsy.com

 Let’s Do Lunch!

NOTE: templates released on the 15th!

Great Guide-This was my concept project for this template. AKA hard copy from my original template.

I am so excited about this template that I nearly did a cartwheel . I’m OVER THE MOON that I was able to figure out HOW to get a CARDSTOCK version of one of my most favorite gift packaging items ever–>the rounded top, metal lunch box, is NOW a gift packaging template for papercrafters! WOOT! WOOT!!

 I cannot tell you HOW MANY, metal lunch box tins I have personally purchased for my children and/or for their friends for gifts! I mean let’s face it, they are pretty darn cute! They can hold a boat load of fabulous stuff , and look super cute altered.

 BUT………..there is always a BUT!………… They cost UPWARDS of $6 EACH!! If you don’t believe me-price them out yourself.

Lots of time and money wasted, I finally decided that my paper version is just what was needed, to not only make life easier, but personalization, as well as the expense! Now there is NO FUSS! You get an amazing Lunch Box Tin, every time, in much less time than it takes to cover something you don’t like to begin with.You can make it for ANYONE!

Here are some links to the kind you BUY in a store

http://www.lunchboxes.com/lunchboxes.html

http://www.nextag.com/norob/PtitleSeller.jsp?chnl=main&tag=718113577&ctx=7lL9kTn%2BHEwhkKt7IZfDwQLS%2BMGkpXK9OK8oZAbG%2FhzDktiKSLP39iI61xfWqNQrJa%2BYqwE3tw3rlXXffWy2Q9EBqOJ3gWICvfSdN3mx8uBBR3DLpXN4gtA8UbaeBJYv%2FxJhtDMiD8Y1VkAiAiGDUfLz9ZJpA8waAZCwr3Lab3Ijpfg3DMFs8BzfNLCX8RTJQzaC9KMDBFVFCH6SF1YDng%3D%3D&ptitle=648811012

http://www.createforless.com/Provo+Tin+Box+Lunch+Box+Medium/pid128611.aspx?utm_source=nextag&utm_medium=cse

http://www.nextag.com/Howie-Hearts-Fashion-Lunch-646537837/prices-html

http://www.target.com/1006-Retro-Tin-Lunch-Box/dp/B000BXKT2U/sr=1-1/qid=1242081917/ref=sr_1_1/179-5670750-5579923?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&field-browse=1038576&rh=k%3Alunch%20box&page=1

CRAZY!!!

Now we have the Let’s Do Lunch by My Timeless Templates!

You can just print, cut, score and assemble! EASY PEASY! I promise. Seriously goes together very quickly.

Side/back view

Supplies:

My Timeless Template: Let’s Do Lunch

Stamps: Guidelines 2

Cardstock : True LBack, Raspberry Fizz, Guidelines 2

Ink: Gray, Raspberry Fizz, Black

Ribbonin Prasberry Fizz, True Black

Vintage Button in True Black

Other: Scallop punch, large eyelet colored black with Sharpie marker, Paint can handle, Prima Flower

 As you can see they are 2 pieces so you can mix and match. So many possibilities.

And HELLO! ONLY $5! For LESS than ONE metal lunch-box, you get our template, 5 exclusive ideas, and unlimited gifts that you can easily design for yourself, over and over again. Just ONE use of this template pays for itself.

This template is SERIOUSLY easy and fabulous Yes I’m tooting my own horn, because it wasn’t easy to figure out HOW to get this one perfect. It took me MANY HOURS to design this so that the lid had a PERFECT curve-that is ONE piece, and folded together SMOOTHLY, and EASILY!

For handle options you can:

Use a thick wire, and bend your own (template provided!)

Use paint can handle-with large eyelets (like sample above)

Use Ribbon

Use cardstock

 or omit handle and make it a gift box, or decorative box.

Buy purse handle at store for $1.99

Now we have another project sample!

Darling Daisy

Supplies:

My Timeless Template: Lets Do Lunch

Stamps: Floral Frenzy

Cardstock: Smokey Shadow, Black, Lemon Tart

Ink: Snow White, Craft ink in yellow, Smokey Shadow

Ribbon-Michaels stitched ribbon

Other: Hodge Podge Hardware, banana brads, purse handle

Included in the template is the scoring guide, to help you get the PERFECT curve when folding, a guide to create a perfect hidden latch closure (if you want that type of closure), as well as the curved decorative side panels for EASY layering for the sides of your Let’s Do Lunch Box! We also added a printable guide for you to create your own decorative handle from special wire

For my box I purchased a metal pocketbook handle at Michaels Craft Store of only $1.99!

You just unscrew the bottom, and insert it into the box top In the idea book, I have another idea using the same handle BUT you gotta purchase the template to see the Idea Book

You can also use many ways to CLOSE your box!

Here I used some Hodge Podge hardware to make closures to tie my Let’s Do Lunch Box closed!

Other easy Latch Options:

Use latch template provided

Use hardware to close

Use ribbons to tie shut

Use scallop borders to secure closed

Inside this box I purchases some Gourmet Popcorn from PoppyCock-Caramel Cashew! YUM-A-Licious!

I just put it in a adhesive bag, and wrapped it in tulle, then added a Prima Flower.

Fits perfectly in here, and make a nice keepsake for the receiver to keep and use at their discretion.

Now I loved the Black , Smokey Shadow and Lemon together, so I made another variation of this box, only this one is being used with NO handle, and given as a CARD BOX!

Let’s Do Lunch goes Decorative Gift box!

Poppy Color Pop OSW

I LOVE making my own patterned paper! Which is exactly what I did in ALL three samples today. Its CHEAP, FUN and EASY. I can make as much or as little as I want, and not worry about “running out”.

I think this is SUCH a pretty BOX! Weather you use a fun and funky handle, or closure, or just keep it BASIC-its stunning for packaging anything!

I made this a card box-but it would be a STUNNING Recipe box too

Supplies:

My Timeless Template: Let’s Do Lunch

Stamps: Remember, Mega Mixed Messages, Background Basics :Text Style

Cardstock: Smokey Shadow, Soft Stone, True Black and Lemon Tart

Ink: Smokey Shadow, Sahara Sand, Lemon Tart, True Black

Ribbon: Lemon Tart

Vintage Buttons in True Black

Other: Scallop Border punch, circle punches

Here is the lid open. I made a scallop border, which I adhered INSIDE the top lid, so that the scallop borders fits IN the box bottom, and hold it closed, but looks SO pretty when you open it!

 I designed 6 cards (and 6 envelopes for 4 1/4 squared) 2 lemon base, 2 smokey shadow base, and 2 black base

2 each of the 3 different designs you see here-and put them in the box

I basically stamped a One Sheet Wonder, and used the elements from that ONE sheet of stamped cardstock to make my gift set!

I love the look. I hope you do too!

Now I would SO love to hear your thoughts on the newest templates!!  It took forever to get this one done, so I hope you are as excited by it as I am!!

So that is my peek for tonigh! I have SOOOOO many more ideas As always! So wait until you see my next post. More of making my own patterned paper too. These projects are what keep me SOOOO crazy busy-but its a good crazy and a fun kind of busy

I LOVE my job. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world being able to share what I LOVE to do daily. I can’t even express how much enjoyment it brings me. Then when I see what YOU do with the templates, its the best feeling ever!!!!!!

So thank you all for the excitment, love and support. Thank you for allowing me to share my dream and love of papercrafting with each of you, every time you visit, and when you share your ideas with me

Now for more peeks be sure to check out Kelly’s blog for another template peek (tomorrow), as well as  Nicholes blog, Melissa, Lisa and Candice.

Thanks again for stopping by!