Grateful Day 1

I noticed myself changing a lot once I started photography school.  One of those changes came in the form of becoming a night owl.  So, it seems I am becoming a night time blogger now.  Which works for me!! :)

I decided this week that I wanted to do an entire week on Thanksgiving and what I am grateful for.  I am so abundantly blessed in this life, so much so that it seems unfair almost, and I really wanted to share some of it with you.  I would also love to get your feedback on where my blog starts to go from here.  Now that I am finished with school, I do have a bit more time on my hands.  So, I am making it a goal to blog more often.  I have made the decision that this will not be a photography blog.  My business will have its own blog for the photography aspect of my life, so I figured just letting you know that I have updated it would work better.  I want to keep this blog more personal, more about crafting, and randomness. ♥ So, are there things you want me to blog about?  Questions you want me to answer?  What type of things will keep you coming?

I have a couple of cards that I want to share with you.  Do you want to know what I love about blog surfing?  I find some of the greatest challenges while doing it!!  There is this great color challenge going on at a blog called "Just Us Girls".  I had never checked this blog out before, and I am so glad I did!  The color combo is fabulous....pumpkin pie, bashful blue, and really rust.  So, this card is based on that color challenge, and the sketch at Mojo Monday Week 114. 

On the card I used two really cute stamp sets from Renaissance By Design.  The pumkin & leaf images are from the "Halloween" stamp set, and the 'Thanks' part of the sentiment is from the "Curly Trees" stamp set.  If you haven't ever checked out RBD...I suggest you do!  I love the stamps...they stamp beautifully.  It is really hard to see, but I also dry embossed a square around the pumpkin image.  It adds so much to it in real life...I wish it would have photographed better!  But...low light.  What can you do?!

  "Give Thanks" Supplies: 

Cardstock: DCVW & Bazzill Basics

Papers: Sassafras & October Afternoon

Stamps/Ribbon: Renaissance By Design

Twine: Darice Inc. 

Rub-on letters: Creative Imaginations

Jewels: Doodlebug Designs

Ink: Clearsnap Chalk Ink (Amber Clay, Burnt Sienna, Ice Jade)

Border Punch: Martha Stewart Crafts

Embossing Tool: ScorPal

Button: craft supply

I also have a non Thanksgiving themed card to share with you.  My brain has been throwing around this idea with these stamps for awhile now...but I couldn't get the idea to come to fruition.  While blog surfing...I found another keeper of a site called the "Clean & Simple Stamp Blog".  They posted FTL #69 on Friday....and the lights went on! ♥  Love it when that happens!

I used Kitchen Sink's "Plaid Plus" stamp set to stamp the heart stripes on each side of the card.  And then finished off the sentiment with Hero Art's "Sky's The Limit" stamp set.  (One of my faves...BTW.)

"Wishing You Rainbows" Supplies: 

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics

Stamps: Kitchen Sink & Hero Arts

Jewels: Doodlebug Designs

Ink: Doodlebug Designs pigment (Ladybug, Bumblebee & Beetle Black), & Clearsnap Chalk & pigment (Amber Clay, Lime Pastel, French Blue & Heliotrope)

Corner Rounder: EK Success

Alright...so now to get down to what I am grateful for, day #1.  It is going to sound obvious and cliche...but this year couldn't have happened without it.  I am so grateful for my wonderful husband's support this year.  

We made the decision together that I would attend photography school in January of this year.  It was a leap...emotionally, financially...every "ally" word you can think of.  He was right on board with me from the beginning.  He kept me sane during all the crazy hours I kept.  He cooked for the big BBQ bash we had at the end of summer intensive.  He took care of the dogs at lunch time, which had always been my thing.  He has financially supported us 100% since June.  There is so much more, and he has never batted an eye at any of it.  He did it willing, and in full support of my dream.  What an amazing person I married.  I am so lucky that 7 1/2 years ago I got to say "I do" to him.  Now that I am out of school, he is keeping me motivated on my website, and getting my name out there.  

He also got me this: 

(Not from that place...I took the image off the internet.)  So, here is the story.  When Josh was in Turkey he told me that my Christmas present would arrive while he was gone.  Sure enough....two boxes found their way to my doorstep.  About three days after Josh got home from Turkey, he tells me that they actually aren't my Christmas presents and he wants me to open them.  I declined at first, stating that we didn't need to keep spending money on me.  It would be my Christmas present.  Then he says that what is in the boxes was actually free.  I give him the "whatever" look, but he persisted.  I finally relented, because I knew he would just keep at it.  The boxes opened to reveal a Nikon D700 and battery grip.  I cried.  And I told him that they were not free, because I know full well how much they cost.  He reveals that he cashed in some of his stock options to pay for it, so thus it actually was "free".  And I cried a lot more.  It makes me a little teary just typing it.  Seriously...the man is just amazing.  And I am SO grateful to God that I have him in my life...I am so not worthy.     


And the last thing I am going to leave you with tonight is a music post.  I can admit...I am way behind the times on this one, but I was introduced to a band that I am loving right now.  They are called Augustana, and they rock.  You can totally let me know how behind I am...because you have probably heard their music for forever now! I'm okay with that...I deserve it! ♥  This is one of my favorite songs so far. 

Alright...I am going to get going for now!  Sorry my post is forever long.  I had a lot to say tonight!  Hugs & ♥ to you!

Until later,
~Lea