Saturday, June 26, 2010

Dirty Scraps Reveal - I wish I had known....

It's Challenge time at Dirty Scraps once again. This challenge is asking you to dig deep and be reflective. Here are the details:

I wish I had known......
This is a reflective challenge. Everyone has had those moments, those "I wish I had known then" moments. Maybe it was too late to say goodbye, maybe you wish you had known you were beautiful and sexy, maybe you wish you had known how hard it would have been or how EASY it would have been if you had tried it earlier? I wish I had known it was going to be ok, I wish I had known I was going to lose you, I wish I had known how valuable I really was.
So much life to scrap, so little time. So put on your thinking cap, pull out those memories, dig deep, scrap it real. Can't wait to see what you do!

This challenge is being sponsored by
Nikki Sivils. She has donated one amazing prize pack for the winner!

My LO:

Journaling:
I wish I had known how hard it would be to tell you goodbye. You were my father’s father, My Grandpa Page. A man that was happiest sitting in his recliner watching a football game or in your workshop building. Working with wood. You had a magical hand grandpa, you could build anything and I always looked up to you for that. But in your house I always felt like an outcast. After all, we were our father’s children. Children that came from a home you did not approve of. From a man that has caused the family a great amount of disappointment. I know you had big dreams for your children. You worked hard to make a life for them, and he let you down, and in retrospect I always felt like I was a disappointment to you as well. In your house we were strangers. As a child I always wondered what was wrong with me. Mom and Dad always made us give you hugs when we left your house, it was never comfortable. It should have been hugs filled with love; instead it was a race to see who could let go fast enough. I have a childhood filled with memories of awkwardness, forced affection, and I just want you to know that I do love you. I always did, but I did hold a lot of resentment towards you and my grandmother. When we found out that you had cancer and were becoming sicker by the day I loaded up my family and drove 9 hours to be there. I was only able to stay a couple days, but those few days changed my heart towards you in ways that I can’t even explain. I came to your house and saw you laying in bed and my heart hurt. This distant man who has been such a huge part of my life is leaving us. You asked to see Kyrsten. You had never met her. She was only a few months old at the time. You looked at my girls and told me how proud of me you were, that I was a strong person and that you loved me. In all honesty I had never felt so loved in my life. It’s a silly thing to think that those few words could make such a difference, but they did coming from a man that I had longed for acceptance from for so long. Less than a month later you passed away. I made the trip back down to attend your funeral. I was lost. I was upset. I was sad. I was an emotional rollercoaster that kept turning circles with no destination, and all of a sudden I crashed into a river of tears. Tears for the past 23 years of my life that I knew you, but never really knew who you were. You were a good man, a strong, silent, observant man. I know this now. I know you loved me in your own way. I know you only wanted what was best for me, and I love you for that. Every time I get the chance to visit you I do. I sit at your grave and talk with you to let you know how I am, but you know that. Now that I have gotten older I understand you. I just wish I could have known then what I know now. I wish I had known that telling you goodbye would be one of the hardest things I have had to do because I do love you grandpa. I do.


PeaceOut-ScrapOn-LoveAlways

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Some Exciting and Randomness stuff

First off I want to apologize, I have been really really busy this week and I am behind on posting, commenting, and emails. I am playing catch up as we speak! Today we celebrated Koen's 3rd birthday. It was a blast! He specifically asked for a bubble party and a car cake. I thought it would be a fun idea for me to personally take on the task of creating this cake with wheels.....big mistake! It was a task I was not ready for to say the least. But I sucked it up and did my best. He loved it, so that's all that matters!

Here he is blowing out his 3 candles on his tank cake, fork in hand ready to dig in.

Little man had me relight them 4 times so he could keep blowing them out!


Another thing that has kept me over the top busy this week.....Kayla had to create a project for school that determines if she passes on to 5th grade. She used some wonderful MOSD products on her project, and it's currently being featured (by a proud momma, of course) on the MOSD blog! Please head on over there and leave Kayla some love. She would love to read it. And THANK YOU!!


My big announcement!! I am SO very excited about this as it is something rather new and different for me to! I received an email from Karan Gerber this morning telling me that I had made the new Sketch Design team at SKETCHABILITIES! I was so nervous when I sent my application in because I am SO SO new at sketches. I had only created 4 when I initially sent my app in. I wrote it up, hit send, and held my breath for 3 weeks...until this morning! Thank you Karan for this opportunity. You have no idea how excited I am to be doing this!!!

**Freebie Friday will be back next Friday! I have some great stuff planned!!

PeaceOut-ScrapOn-LoveAlways

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Birthdays Challenge - Candy Shoppe Designs

As you have probably noticed, this month is all about Birthdays over at the Candy Shoppe Designs challenge blog. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to create a project that reflects anything and all things birthday. The deadline for this mission is: 24 hundred hours (midnight), 21 June.


For this challenge I opted to create a LO about my DS's 'Birth' Day. Little man is turning 3 years old on 17 June, and is a true joy in our lives. He is very special to us. He is our only boy, our last child, and he joined our lives on Father's Day! It was a very emotional day for our family, especially for Big Daddy. Koen's timing was perfect!

I remember like it was yesterday, when I was in my last month of pregnancy. We were in the middle of a move from Fort Campbell, TN to Fort Lewis, WA. I was staying with my mother while Travis was getting our home set up in WA. We had originally planned on me coming to WA after Koen was born so I didn't have to travel 36 hours in a car while being 8 months pregnant with 2 little girls and a huge dog. But one day Travis called me and was upset due to the fact that he would be missing his only son being born. He wanted to be in the delivery room as he was with our girls. Due to his job he couldn't come to me, so I packed up the car, convinced my brother to drive me, and we started the drive. We made it to WA in 2 days with little to no sleep. I was 38 weeks pregnant and scared to make this trip, but in the end it was worth ever doubt, every fear I ever had. Because 12 days later, when I saw my DH holding his son, knowing that I have given him this joy, it was all that mattered.

So, yes, I am rambling....it's been a very emotionally draining week!!! But here it is. My LO dedicated to our son on his 'Birth' Day:

All entries for this Challenge will be entered into the drawing for a "Good Times" kit that has been generously sponsored by Color Me Miki. So come on over, grab something sweet, and celebrate birthdays with the Lollipop girls at CSD!
Side note: I am currently loving Paper Trunk's new Rockabilly line.....OMGoodness, this line is fun!


PeaceOut-ScrapOn-LoveAlways

Monday, June 14, 2010

And the CSN Stores Random Winner is:


Julie Tucker-Wolek


Congratulations Julie! I have forwarded your email to CSN Stores. You should be receiving Your $40 Gift Certificate via email to use at over 200 CSN stores of your choice! Thank you all for playing along and making this giveaway so successful!

PeaceOut-ScrapOn-LoveAlways

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Celebrating Birthday's with CSD via Cupcakes!

The new challenge is now live at Candy Shoppe Designs and we are celebrating Birthdays. Not just any one's birthday though, today is Lynnette Davis' big day! Happy Birthday Lynnette!!

To kick off her birthday festivities CSD is hosting a Cupcake challenge. You are being asked to create a cupcake out of paper and decorate it using scrapbook supplies! (there is a tutorial on the CSD blog) I personally had a lot of fun creating cupcakes although I couldn't make up my mind on a theme. So.....I created a Girl and a Boy one just to keep things fair in the Oxford household.


Color Me Miki is sponsoring CSD this month with this "Good Times" kit. All you have to do to be in the running for the win is create a paper cupcake and post a link in the comment section on the Candy Shoppe Designs blog. Pretty easy, and not to mention fun! Come on over and get sweet with the Lollipop Girls!



PeaceOut-ScrapOn-LoveAlways

Monday, June 7, 2010

Giveaway brought to you by CSN Stores

Happy Monday Bloggy Friends! I am so excited to announce a Wonderful Giveaway for you today courtesy of CSN Stores. When I was asked if I would be interested in hosting a Gift Certificate giveaway for my followers I jumped at the chance! I love you guys, and it's easy to say that you light up my life! And we all know how important lighting is, right?! It can add such a beautiful ambiance to a room, make a subtle statement (or a bold one if you're like me)! There is one particular type of lighting that I prefer and that is Track lighting. I think it makes all the difference in a Scrap room, or any room for that matter. I have been stalking the lighting store over at CSN Stores; take a look at what I am coveting.


Mini Pendant in Turquoise

Illuma-Flex Mini Pendant with White Glass

Madeleine Mini Pendants


How amazing would any of those look in my Scrap Room?! I'll take one of each please!



CSN Stores is offering up a $40 Gift Certificate to one of my fabulous bloggy friends because they love you as much as I do! That's $40 you can spend in one of over 200 CSN Stores Online. It doesn't get much better than that!


All you have to do to be in the running for the $40 CG from CSN Stores is:

Please leave a **Separate** comment for each. You are not required to do all of these. I was just trying to give everyone a better chance at winning :)


1) Be a Follower of my blog.
2) Head over to CSN Lighting and tell me one product you would love to have!
2) Become a Follower of CSN Stores on Facebook - Tell them Amy from 'Pieces of Me' sent you :)
3) Share about this Giveaway on Facebook.
4) Follow CSN Stores on Twitter
5) Tweet about this Giveaway on Twitter and leave me the permalink in a comment.
6) Blog about this Giveaway on your personal blog and link me the post in comment.
7) Have a look around my blog :) Leave me a comment on an idea for a tutorial you would like to see!




*This Giveaway will be open through June 13, 2010. Winner will be announced on Monday, June 14th.

**On a side note. Please be aware that the winner is responsible for shipping charges and/or any amount that goes over the $40 CG. (A lot of items are free shipping though). This is normal with all websites though, so it's nothing new, right?!


A BIG Thank you to CSN Stores for hosting this Giveaway for my AMAZING friends!


Good Luck!




PeaceOut-ScrapOn-LoveAlways

Friday, June 4, 2010

Self Portraits of a Little Man

I want to thank you all for leaving comments on Freebie Friday! The first 10 comments:

Rita
Julie Tucker-Wolek
Laurie!
Velechula
Ilene
Darlene Servolini
**Treefrog**
xoxOGirls
laterg8r
Jennifer Shaw

Please send me your address and I will get those mailed out to you!
(If you have already sent me your addys - thank you!)


This week I thought I would peruse the web and see what I could find for inspiration. You see, I have been on a little scrappy hiatus for the last week or so, and I needed a boost. So enter: Sketchy Thursdays to the rescue!
When I first saw the sketch I just knew I had to utilize it. How could I not?! It was screaming for some paint splatters and overall messiness, which in my opinion, equals uber FUN! I have had these pictures of Koen sitting on my scrap table for about 2 months just waiting for their turn on a LO! The little man got a hold of my Blackberry and took some self portraits which I found a few days after the fact. All I could do was smile at his squinty eyes (due to the flash) and cheesy smile. Melts a mommas heart! I used my Know Your Signs printable on this LO. I know they have nothing to do with pictures, but I don't really care...lol


Check out this amazing sketch: If you want to take a crack at this sketch you have until June 9th to link it up to Sketchy Thursdays!

Also, Lynnette is having a giveaway on her blog for this Lovely 'Heritage 1981' kit to celebrate her birthday. Head on over and leave her a little love for your chance at winning this beauty! Winner will be chosen on June 8th - her Birthday!
PeaceOut-ScrapOn-LoveAlways

Freebie Friday Only a little twisted!

Welcome to Freebie Friday. I am doing things a little different this week. I created sets of buttons for a kit that never made it due to sitting on the post office shelf for 4 weeks (darn inconsiderate post office). So I now have 10 sets of these buttons to give away, because let's face it, I will never use that many owls! The colors are burnt orange, brown, green and light blue. If you want a set all you have to do is leave a comment. The first 10 people that say "Hey yeah" will get them. It's nothing big, but I think they are cute!


Also I have a new sketch today. I am playing around with more layering because I know that is something that I, myself, have a problem with doing. I seem to not be layering much these days, so I am trying to give myself a little push in that direction!



Have any of you ladies ever heard of '
Plumb'? She is a Christian singer that has apparently been around for a long time. I just heard her music for the first time today when my husband calls me and tells me to hit up Itunes for the song 'Cut'. I fell in love. I have seriously been shedding tears all evening. Think Evanescence meets Christian music....totally awesome and emotionally beautiful. It's just nice to hear music that touches the heart in a positive way. I could have used this music a loooong time ago! Thank you husband!




**Be on the lookout for one Amazing giveaway right here on my blog SOON!



PeaceOut-ScrapOn-LoveAlways


Thursday, June 3, 2010

For the Love of Boots!

I have recently come across a challenge blog that I am falling in love with. These Are a Few of my Favorite Things is a challenge blog that prompts you to create LO's around things that you love. Well, when I saw the current challenge that highlights your favorite shoes....how could I NOT play along?! I mean seriously....SHOES! This girl LOVES her some shoes! I already had the perfect pair in mind too, my favorite boots in the world, my Sugar Rhapsodies. So many people think they are ugly, I mean seriously ugly, but to me they are patch worked, over stitched, sequin covered, flowered, leather goodness that make my feet glide as they hit the ground. Every step I take is more enjoyable because I am taking those steps in these boots! I will admit, before I started scrapbooking, I too, would have looked at these boots and thought they were a bit 'out there', but as my Sister-in-Law puts it I am now 'scrapbooting' lol

I used Sketch Inspiration's sketch #126 as inspiration for this LO. It turned out quite different than the sketch , but the base is still there! Also I took on the color purple for the first time EVER in a LO. The color intimidated me so I felt the need to try to conquer that fear and go for it. Little did I know that out of all the paper I have I only owned 1 (yes one) piece of purple paper! I didn't realize my fear of scrapping with the color ran that deep. *sigh* Take that purple!

If you have a little extra scrappy time on your hands like I did then head on over to These are a Few of my Favorite Things and play along. Julie has lined up 500 million sponsors, OK more like 27, but that's still a lot. Not to mention they just got published for the first time AND they are celebrating their 1 year anniversary! Awesomeness, right? So head on over and play along!


PeaceOut-ScrapOn-LoveAlways