Online Classes Available

In all my free time when I am not taking care of a new puppy, running a Scrapbook store and caring for my family...

Whether you live 5 minutes from me or a continent away, you can take my classes in your own home in your jammies!

I have two great upcoming classes coming up.

Begins September 29th
Digital Photography is an amazing tool if you know how to use the camera. There are so many buttons and sometimes it is hard to just figure out what to do just to get a good picture.

This course will cover all the basics you need to get started with your digital camera as well as some tips to get the best shots you can. We will cover all the automatic settings, what all those little symbols mean and when to use them. Also, we will discuss in detail how to use light to your advantage in terms of your camera settings as well as the placement of your subject. whether you have a simple digital point and shoot or a DSLR, this course will cover all you need to successfully operate without looking at your user manual.

Photography doesn't have to be difficult. I will explain in instructional slide shows or videos how to make your digital camera your best friend and get the pictures you want.

This class will include slide shows or videos, photo tutorials, sample projects, student art galleries, discussion forums, scheduled chats and a useful plain English glossary of all those confusing photo terms.
Begins October 20th
Copic Markers are one of the most popular tools in paper crafting these days. Why not incorporate them into your scrapbooking pages?

This class will cover how to use your markers in other ways than just coloring to create stunning, vibrant layouts. I will walk you through all the techniques and show you just how to use those markers in tons of new ways.

Join me for this 3 week class, where we will cover more than 5 techniques and I will walk you through it all step by step.

This class will include instructional slide shows or videos, photo tutorials, sample projects, student art galleries, discussion forums, scheduled chats, and informational links.

I can't wait to get started with this new gig.
I will get to meet even MORE people in the cyber world and make more crafty friends.

My Busy Life

(that title's an understatement!)

I don't think that title is larger enough or bold printed enough for the magnitude of my busy life.
I miss blogging.
I miss being bored at work.
I miss having extra time, just a few extra minutes to breathe.
I miss my friends and family.

But life is good.
Real good.
We are all moved in and settled (for the most part) into our new house.
There is always something to do or fix, but compared to a year ago and living in a tiny 2 bedroom apartment....we are in heaven.
Our family has been a major help to, installing water heaters, painting rooms, advising, and helping in about every way you can ever imagine, thank god.
Here we are the weekend we finally moved in back in late May...
(the kid IS a lot taller but he's standing on a higher step too, he's not THAT big...yet)

And the store, everyone is always asking, "How's the store doing?", well it's fine.
Could be better, could be a lot worse.
I've met so many crafty people at the store and am so lucky that part of my job is to hang out and talk crafts.
That's probably the best part about the store, the people.
I am even more busy this year than last, you would think that I would have learned to do things a little more effectively or been more organized but sadly I am a person who creates work for herself.
Like I tell my friends, I am the person standing in a large hole and instead of climbing out, I'm digging myself deeper.
We celebrated our first year anniversary and we have learned a lot in the first year, so hopefully we will have an even better second year.
And we've learned some lessons, the hard way but will just grow stronger because of it.

And since I have so much spare time.
And I'm already so deep in that hole.
I dug even deeper....much, much deeper.
And adopted this little bugger from PAWS.
Meet Nasdaq. (this picture is the best representative of the massive size paws this little guy has and just how big he will grow to be)

He's my new baby.
Everyone is always commenting about how I ONLY have ONE kid.
Well, I actually have three now.
And they are all adorable.
And two out of the three don't talk back.
Our old dog Neo is still getting used to having the little troublemaker in the house.
But he has a #1 fan who is always giving him undying attention, so that has to makes him slightly happy.

And he is an amazingly good puppy.
We've had him 3 whole weeks and I really think we are about 90% housebroken and he already knows sit really well.
He eats EVERYTHING, especially sticks, but luckily if you just tell him to drop it, even from a distance, he does.
And he is kinda lazy for a puppy so we are lucky he isn't a hyper little fella.
Oh yeah, since I know you are all wondering since you saw the size of those giganto paws...He's 13 weeks old today.
Like I said...He will be HUGE, bigger than our Rott when full grown.

Oh and the kid, well, he's still a teenager.
And he has lots of teenage angst from being misunderstood, naturally.
But luckily the nerd academy is finished for the summer and he's been off a few weeks now and the happiness that comes from a lack of homework has definitely made him nicer to his parents. (and vice versa)
He starts 8th grade in a couple weeks and I can't believe we aren't in kindergarten anymore, time flies.
And he's learning very quickly about girls.
And his mother is not happy about it at all.
Or handling it well.
I find it hard to accept that my baby isn't a baby any more.
Which is exactly why we now have a giant puppy so that I have someone at home to baby that doesn't tell me how uncool I am all the time.

And I still make crap.
Tons and tons of crap to be exact.
I am teaching about 20 classes a month at the store, so I'm still crafty if not craftier than I was.
Here's a little proof...










If you want to see more of my creations and need a little inspiration, check out the CraftFancy Gallery, I make most of that stuff as well.
Or on our CraftFancy Blog.
I also just started unpacking all my crap from when I moved it all into storage back when we moved into the tiny apartment and man, do I have too much stuff!
I am working on organizing and arranging, but expect pictures soon as well as a big giveaway and little garage sale.
I couldn't possible use all this stuff in my lifetime.

And I am teaching a couple online courses as well.
(there she goes again diggin' that hole deeper and deeper...see what I mean??!)
When I get more details and set dates, I will link it all up on this blog.
Since I will be blogging more, it's on my lengthy To Do List toward the top, right below Sleep, Feed Family and Breathe.

That's about it for now.
Back to work, lots and lots of work.
And then off for the week to get ready for our Housewarming Party on Saturday.
Talk about stress.
Hope everyone is well, I need to catch up with my bloglines reader that has over 5000+ unread entries.
Yikes!
Chime in and tell me what's new, save me from my blog list, please!!

Selling off one of my children!

We finally found the house of our dreams, thank god.
(more on that later)
But now we need all new stuff to put in this house and having two cameras seems a little ridiculous.
I'd much rather have a new couch.
Or rugs.
Or curtains for the one million windows on the place.

So we are selling off the one that never really got used anyways.
It's a Nikon D40x.
And it has the kit lens.... 18-55.
As well as a zoom... 55-200.
And filters on the lenses.
And This Book as well.
And all the info, cords and stuff that came with the camera.
We are asking $850.
I think I can buy a couch with that amount.
And it is seriously like brand new, I think he took like 10 pictures with it.
This camera is listed brand new on Amazon with these lenses for almost $1900, so this is truly an amazing deal.
All the details on this camera are listed on Amazon, HERE.
Any questions, just ask.
Email me at spazzgirl555{at}yahoo{dot}com.

After our deal goes through, I'll be back with more details about our new abode.
Until then, keep your fingers crossed for us!

Hello 2009!

(this is for my buddy Michele who begged me at the beginning of January to update my blog, I finally updated Michele! Can you believe it?)

It has been a crazy few months.
The holidays always throw me for a loop and this year it was even more insane with the store and the crazy snow we have been having, I am amazed I haven't checked myself into the funny farm yet.

Here's a quick recap of the last few months.
We had Thanksgiving with the family and of course there was lots of wine involved.


My sister and her fiance, K-Fred were there.
Did I mention before, she's engaged?
My nephew was showing off his new facial bling.
Nice...real nice.
And of course there was turkey.
And I tried to get a nice photo of me and the kid but I refuse to be shorter than him.
While I was trying to tippy toe my sister was jumping up behind us to try and get in the photo.
This cracks me up.
And now when I say I am the tall sister at 5'3", you will all believe me.
We had originally thought that we would have bought our house well before Thanksgiving and been able to host the major holidays in our new home but that just didn't work out as planned.
This made for an even grumpier holiday season.
I pouted about not having a tree.
I pouted about not getting to bake since all my cookware is in storage.
I pouted just to pout.
It was not a happy time in our house for sure.
And now looking back, I think it was probably for the best.
I didn't need all that hassle this year.
I didn't have the time for the tree or the baking or the decorating.
I did all my Christmas shopping 3 days before Christmas for christ's sake.

So I sat back this year and just went through the motions of the holidays.
We had Christmas at my dad's first, before Christmas.

And while opening presents, my father wouldn't turn off the golf game, so Tiger is in all my photos.

I got some really nice gifts.
And my parents weren't really thrilled that I still haven't opened my expensive cookware from last year.
But they bought me new kitchen goodies to go with them when I do eventually open that box.
My sister was there and I only see her a few times a year.
Nice to see that the kid ruins pictures he takes with everyone, not just me.
Christmas day was spent at my mom's house which is convenient because she lives so close.
Most of my siblings weren't there.
Only these 2 were.
The kid was being himself as usual.


And apparently I was in a totally pouty mood that day too because when I went searching for Christmas photos I only had about 5.

When my brother and his girlfriend came back from her family in Minnesota, we had Christmas for the third time and apparently by then I had had enough because I don't have a single photo!
I have to admit, not having pictures is kinda sad but not having to be the one taking them all the time is kinda nice.
It was good to just sit back and enjoy.
Even if there is no proof.

New Years was low key as usual.
We went to dinner to celebrate my psuedo-SIL's bday.
My little sister was there with her new beau.
Here's my brother and his 'stache.
Oh yeah, that's Katie and the kid too.
That 'stache kinda steals the photo and I forget there are other people in there too.
And this is officially the first photo of 2009 the kid had ruined.
Love my triple chins in this picture.
And am I singing??
WTF?
The kid turned 13 on January 1st too.
And I don't have a single picture of that either.
I think I just freaked out all day.
Pray for me people...pray that I survive these teen years.

My word of the year....TIME.
Make time for my friends.
Cherish time with my family.
Make time for me.
I need more of it and to learn to use it more wisely this year, for sure.

And for all you crafty people, I have made a zillion things in the last few months.
So feast your eyes on these...












(If anyone needs details about any cards, just shoot me an email or check out the CraftFancy gallery.)

I bought a paperwhites kit at Target after Christmas on clearance for $2 and last week they shot up like this...
This week they are gorgeous and smell great...

I am off work for 4 days and I am trying to distance myself and just enjoy being off.
Easier said than done.
I'm heading to the south side later.
I'll probably get lost like I always do.
I am meeting up with my friend Josie tonight to check out her new house.
Then it's off to see the stamping divas.

Tomorrow I am having a complete makeover and I am toying with the idea of an extreme change in hairstyle.
But I am a total chicken when it comes to hair, so we'll see how that goes.
And then out to dinner with my favorite friends and family tomorrow night at one of my favorite restaurants, Friendship.

Have a great weekend.
And enjoy it without your cameras or from the other side of the lens.

Joanne

It is with a very heavy heart that I type this post.
I got a call from my buddy Michele yesterday, which I should have known right away was a bad thing since we rarely call each other on the weekends because we are so busy.
Our friend and fellow stamping diva, Joanne, passed away Friday night.
I think I said, "Wait...What?!!" about 5 times on the phone.
It is a shock to say the least.
Sudden and shocking.

Joanne was just the nicest person.
She had a kind heart and a sunny disposition, complete opposite of me.
She was a very talented stamper and cardmaker.
She loved her family and friends and it showed.
And she will be missed very much by anyone who knew her.

The first time I met her, she brought along this card as our project of the month.
And it's still one of my favorites.
I'm glad I never sent it to anyone.
I'll treasure it always.

I know Joanne is in heaven now where there are unlimited Copic makers, cardstock in every color you can imagine and your letter stickers never run out of the letter E.
She's making cards for all the angels.

It just reminds me again to tell the people in my life how cool they are.
To tell my family that I love them.
Hug my friends extra tight.
And make sure that everybody knows that they mean something to me.

Joanne, I will miss ya.
The divas won't be the same without you.
I was lucky to have called you my friend.