Secret Sister Love

I received my my secret sister cupid package the day before Valentines Day and considering how I managed to get sick, I'm glad I had something to look forward too.  It was a fabulous package full of all sorts of goodies including some Tim Holtz products which are my favorite!  I'll also share the homemade items I made for my secret sister although I'm not sure she has opened it yet.  I've already signed up for my next secret sister swap so keep an eye out for those pics too.  In other news I decided to transition my hair back to blonde and made a last minute decision to chop it off which luckily turned out okay.  Truman and I are also planning a trip back to Oklahoma soon.  Well he's going for work but I'm going to see family so I'm super excited for that.  Well back to scrapping for me!

My goodies from my Cupid Secret Sister

Close up, flowers and wood veneer!

Such a beautiful card

The handmade items I made for my secret sister

The altered coffee cup I filled with candy

Top view

Close up

I was using my gelli plate to art journal

The new cut and transition color, it looks more blond than it is :-)

Reorganization Inspiration

So the past couple of weeks, after I finished my Cupid Secret Sister swap package which I will post once I receive my package), I became a little obsessed with watching scrap room tours on YouTube.  So I've been cleaning up, moving things around, and altering items I can use as storage so as to save money.  I am coveting the rolling cart from IKEA which I swear I will get soon but until then...  All the rearranging has made my work space so much easier to use and I even accomplished some actual scrapbook pages!  I know it's insane!  So I will share my progress and when I get that cart I will be posting about that amazingness!  Not to mention my weekend ended with a bang with The Patriots Superbowl win!!!!

New work area actually being utilized!

A new way to store my paints for art journaling

I have room to grow and it opened up a basket and a shelf for other items!

Trying out a new way to store punches.  Might need to get a shoe rack like the paint one for larger punches.

This is the before, I altered it and now I can use my broken drawer space

I've been using these for years, time to make them match

Ta-da!

I altered this lunch box and it's where I store my embossing folders and some metal die cuts

First finished page of three in the last week or so!

Number 2

I just finished this on Friday night

Superbowl spread! Go Pats!!

Long Distance Birthday Love

           Today is my sisters birthday!!!  Sadly we live in different states but I was able to make her a few prezzies to send so I felt like I was there.  I've been doing quite a bit of cleaning that isn't anywhere near done but it feels good to be getting rid of extra stuff.  I also have had a chance to finish a few art projects I started a long time ago.  I had cut down one of Truman's old scotch containers to hold my paintbrushes and I finally got around to altering it to match my studio, or the idea I have of my studio anyway.  Then I was inspired to finish an art journal page I started over a year ago!  Binge watching all those art journal videos on YouTube is paying off for inspiration.
           Now that the holidays are over I was sad to not be getting anymore packages, who isn't?!  So I decided to fix that problem by signing up for a Valentine's Day secret sister swap.  I'm having fun with my homemade item and I already did too much shopping for her of course!  Not much else happening here but I thought a quick post with pictures might be nice.  Happy birthday Melanie!!!!

The Notebook and pen I made for my sister

Altered scotch container

Finally finished journal spread

Page 1

Page 2

Close up

Happy New Year's Eve!

             It's already time for the year to end and another to begin!  Seems like not long ago it was just starting.  The holidays in the Leong house went along famously.  Truman and I enjoyed a few parties and I got to see the lights of Winterhaven with my pup and my cousins family.  For those of you who don't know we have a neighborhood (Winterhaven) that goes all out with the holiday decorations, and I mean all out.  The electric company comes out with their bucket trucks to help decorate and the police guide the traffic while the hay rides go up and down the streets.  It's serious and it doesn't feel like Christmas if I don't get to go.
              Christmas Eve was wonderful.  I got to start the day hanging out with my cousin and her family then off to a surf and turf dinner at Truman's cousin's new house.  Then on Christmas day we had a lovely lunch here at the house.  Daddy brought ham and Truman made korean BBQ street tacos, delicious! We finished the evening at Truman's moms house for a chinese dinner.  I was very happy that I managed to watch all the Christmas movies my heart desired by Christmas.  And for my gift Truman got me a ticket for the next scrap retreat in April!  So excited to have that to look forward to!
              Ironically I am just getting around to unpacking my items from Octobers retreat and getting reorganized.  Since I always tend to make some Christmas cards and Christmas gifts my room is usually a disaster.  Not to mention I keep all the presents wrapped in my scrap closet so that takes up a ridiculous amount of space.  It's nice to see it clean again.  After Christmas Truman and I went out to the desert with some friends so that Truman and Guy could do a test run on the buggy that Guy has been building for the past few years.  They are hoping to race it in the future and needed to see how the communications, navigation, and actual buggy were running.  There were a few kinks but nothing major.  Even better we ended the day by stopping at one of our favorite vineyards in Sonoita.  It was a wonderful day.  Now that the holidays are over I can share pictures of some of the items I made as gifts!  Hope everyone has a safe and spectacular New Year!

Roxy and I at Winterhaven

Bean and I with our treats on Christmas Eve

Our annual Christmas Eve photo

The cutest Santa Bug on the planet!

My love and I

Christmas is so exhausting!

The boys nearly ready for the test run

My sisters gift in progress

The final product, a personalized listography

The homemade washi tapes I made my sister

The special magnets I made for my flappers!

The altered journals and pens

Close up of my cousins.  Her favorite color is green and she loves Alice In Wonderland

Another close up

More homemade washi tape for me!

Thanksgiving and Then Some...

       So it's already the second week of December!  Lucky for me all my Christmas shopping is done and all the projects made, though I can't post pictures of those until later.  Thanksgiving was fantastic!  Truman and I went to my cousin's house and all the food was delicious.  My nephew decided he liked my pumpkin cheesecake the best, score!  My cousin also came up with a great idea to have everyone sign the tablecloth and put the year on it.  She said she wants it to be signed every year and one day she will give it to her daughter, such a great idea!
       There has been quite a bit of tailgating in the last month and our University of Arizona football team has made it to the Fiesta Bowl which is very exciting!  It hasn't hurt my mood any that my Patriots are also having a great season :-)  Truman's birthday has come and gone and we got to go up to Phoenix this past weekend to visit some friends and family.  My cousin's son was in the Punt, Pass, Kick competition again this year (but his last as well) and he won the competition!  It's always so much fun to get to see them and hang out and enjoy football.  I don't know what I'm going to do next year?!
        Well I must be off to finish decorating the house and wrapping presents so I can enjoy some Christmas movies :-)

My cousin, Jennifer, and myself on Thanksgiving

Bean enjoying a second slice of my pumpkin cheesecake

Caught Truman in the middle of a bite

Bean loved the idea of drawing on the tablecloth!

Tailgating with Guy

My fellow Patriots fans!

Ally-B and me

My cousin's son, Chandler, at the competition

My cousin, Truman and I enjoying the last Punt, Pass, Kick!

Hanging with friends before the game

Great seats and great company, thanks Carolyn and Peter!

Cousins