And We're Off!

Our internet is getting turned off today. If all goes well, we should be pulling out of the driveway around 9am Friday morning. We were planning on leaving much earlier, but need to go to the weigh station and weigh our trailer before heading out to South Carolina.

If the trailer is too heavy, then it's back to the house, unload some things to take to a storage unit, and then head out. It will delay things even longer, and cause Tom to move more things from storage back to South Carolina on another trip, but it will be worth the piece of mind knowing we aren't overloading the trailer and subjecting ourselves to exploding tires from the weight during the trip.

Please pray for us.

If we can stay on track, this is our travel plan:

Fri: 710 miles to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
Sat: 827 miles to Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada
Sun: 797 miles to cross border, stop in Shelby, Montana, USA
Mon: 762 miles to Draper, South Dakota
Tues: 682 miles to Columbia, Missouri
Wed: 715 miles to Asheville, North Carolina
Thurs: 136 miles to Home - Prosperity, South Carolina

My tummy is doing flips because I'm so excited to be back in the lower 48 and home again very soon!

As I sit here at the kitchen island looking around downstairs, I still see so much I need to do. The island is cluttered with my computer, phone, Bible & Psalm 23 study, notebook, to do list, Happy Planner opened to August, packing tape, wrapping paper for packing, tools, purse, passports, case of bottled water, cleaning supplies, dog food....

All of our furniture is already loaded in the trailer. Just need to put in the things we are still using. The only major thing is the TV and TV stand is still in the den. But that gets packed tonight. We've been sleeping on air mattresses this week. Which isn't horrible, but this old lady has a terrible time getting off the floor in the morning. LOL

Bonnie woke up humming today. You know it's going to be a good day, when Bonnie starts it off humming.

Lots of errands and appointments today. Last busy day. Tomorrow it's time to say goodbye to beautiful Alaska for our last time, and time to head toward what Tom is calling our "forever home."

I'm not expecting to get everything unpacked and sorted right away. Normally we have that all done in just a day or 2. But I'm in no hurry this time. It will get done quickly still, but it will be a little harder since we are moving to a smaller house. Not as easy to throw boxes and things in the garage to figure out where to put it later (because we won't have a garage) or just put boxes in that extra room to figure out where it's going until later (because we won't have that extra room). But it's going to get sorted. Get unpacked. And be awesome.

Since the piano I was planning on putting at the new house won't fit, I'm looking into getting a keyboard instead. I'm not a good piano player, but I do enjoy trying to play it. Anyone out there have a keyboard you would recommend? Or not recommend?

Thanks for visiting with me today. I have craft projects scheduled to post to my blog most days while we are traveling. When we get home, get settled, and have internet, I'll be sure to jump back on the blog and tell you how it all went.

Big hugs!

Now... to enable all you crafters...

Labor Day Sale Use code LABOR40 for 40% off Face stamps

New Close To My Heart Catalog goes live September 1st!

Beautiful Backgrounds

Time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!

Projects for this challenge blog are all for the Galz. You can create anything paper crafting related: card, tag, scrapbook page, altered art, etc as long as the theme for the challenge is prominent in your project.

Challenge:  Beautiful Backgrounds

(No Pattern Papers, stamp your own background)

The Stamps of Life stamp set and dies, shells2stamp
My Favorite Things, stitched banner dies
Scallop die
Enamel dots, Dies, Ribbon, and Twine

Thanks for visiting with me today.

Be sure to swing by Cardz 4 Galz to see what my Design Team Sisters created,

and to link up your own project in our challenge.

No Craft Project for Today

Hi, friends!

I'm having craft withdrawals.

All of my crafty goodness is packed.

We leave Friday for South Carolina!

Feels weird to not have a craft something to share with you.

Sigh.

Looking forward to being in the truck for 7 days to get to South Carolina.

(Ask me again after 3 days if I still feel the same way. LOL)

I have lots of busy things in a couple of bags to entertain me. Coloring books (adult and children kind); Bible Study & Bible; Empty spiral notebook ready to be filled with thoughts, ideas, prayers, things we see, etc; yarn and a couple of new crochet books - that's going to be fun. On every trip we've driven between South Carolina and Alaska going one way or the other (this is trip #6 as a family) I've always crocheted something on the way. I'm not very advanced with crochet, so usually its a simple blanket pattern or flower squares. But it's fun to see the project grow in size the more time I spend working on it.

Bonnie has her DVD player which we will also have her XBox hooked up to. She should be in hog heaven. Plus the doggies will be in the backseat with her keeping her company... unless I switch with her to lay down and take a nap with the doggies. :)

We are so excited. Can't wait to get home.  I haven't seen my Mama in what.... 3 years? Can't wait to go spend some time with her hearing her stories and give her a hug. I think Bonnie & I need to pick her up from the nursing home and take her out to eat. She loves doing that. Her favorite places to go are Rush's for a chicken sandwich, Chic-fil-a (chick no pick), and Grecian Gardens.

Of course, Tom will be busy driving. That man loves long driving trips. I don't get it. If I'm driving for more than 45 minutes I get lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the road. Not Tom. He thrives on it. That's when he always gets a lot of good ideas for our next adventures, remodel plans, vacation destination, etc. So glad he likes to drive so much.

I was packing my clothes in the suitcase, and realized something. I own 7 short sleeve shirts. 7! That's horrible! I'm moving to the humid heat of the south! Most of my clothes are long sleeves or sweaters. Sounds like somebody needs to do some shopping when she gets back home. I hate shopping. Wait. Let me clarify that. I hate shopping for clothes. Now get me out shopping for kitchen appliances or grills or crafty goodness or LEGOS... I LOVE some Lego buildings... I'm all over that. But clothes shopping I loathe. I'll tell you a little secret about me. When I find a shirt I like and it fits well, I buy one of every color. That's how much I hate shopping. Just give me something to wear. I don't care if it looks just like the shirt I wore yesterday. It's a different color at least. LOL

I think I've bored you enough for one day. Thanks for visiting with me. Love you guys!

Bare footin'

The Paper Nest Dolls image, Watermelon Ellie

MFT Die-namics Cross Stitched Oval Dies

Carta Bella pattern paper scraps and sticker

Stampin' Up cardstock 

Stampin' Up Blends for coloring

My Creative Time stitched tab die

Cardz TV Stamps, Summer Fun

Getting Caught Up

Hi, everyone! No craft project today, but I did want to share a few things with you.

1.  We move Friday! It's been a very interesting couple of weeks since we found out we were moving. God has really blessed us. Everything is coming together nicely, and I pray God will continue to watch over us this weekend with the 5,000 mile drive from Alaska to South Carolina pulling all our belongings in a trailer behind us.

2.  I haven't posted a Weight Watchers Wednesday these past couple of weeks because everything over here has been off schedule. But here's an update: Today is my weigh in day, and I'm down 1.3 from last week with a total of -11.2 since I started last month. :) Yay!

3.  Doggies had to go to the vet to get Certificate of Health papers for the border into Canada and back into the US when we reach the lower 48. Once again we hear they are overweight and need to go on a diet too. Fine. So we are feeding them 1 cup of dry dog food combined with 1 cup of green beans each twice a day. They are loving the green beans! I don't think they realize they are on a diet. Well, Mary Ann does go to her food bowl and whine some during the day, but we distract her until it's time for them to eat again.

4.  The house is ready for loading the trailer! I still have out the essentials for day to day living, and a couple of pots I've been waiting to pack at the last minute. I also have some can food I need to donate somewhere. Goodwill wouldn't take it. Even after I called first and they said they would.

5. We found a place to live last week after we get to South Carolina!  So happy we will be back to living on the lake again. Tom is calling it our forever home.  We don't plan on moving anymore. We've moved 22+ times in our 32 years of marriage, and have enjoyed all of the new adventures. But we are both ready to settle down for retirement. It's a small home, but we think it will be cozy. All of our furniture won't fit, so we are selling some, giving some away. We still have a pool table, dining room table with 6 chairs, buffet, and a china cabinet we hope will sell before Friday when we leave. If you want to say a pray about that, I would greatly appreciate it. Also loaded in our trailer is a co-worker's of Tom's stuff who is moving down to Atlanta. So her stuff and our stuff all have to fit in this trailer. I'm not sure the dining room furniture and the pool table will fit even if it doesn't sell.

6. We have a lot more to do this week. Need to pick up refills for all of my and Bonnie's medications, return cable boxes, take the trash to the dump, clean up, do the walk through, and all sorts of stuff involved with moving.. And when we arrive in South Carolina (will take about 7 days of driving) we will have tons to do there too. Go to the closing for the house, unload, unpack, get things we need like stocking the pantry, etc. It's an exciting time, and a busy time, and we are both looking forward to being home. I will actually get to meet one of our grandchildren before they turn 6 months old! We've never been around before to see them as newborns.

Thanks for visiting me today. Again, I would love it if you would pray for a smooth drive with no issues since there are several areas of no cell service and miles and miles between nothing and small towns. Thank you so much for that. I know God hears them!

I have projects scheduled to post to my blog this week and next week, but won't get to moderate the comments for a while to have them publish. But I'll be reading them. Big Hugs! Have a marvelous week!

Pumpkin Pie Gift Box

Pie Box and Pumpkin, Cricut cartridge Thanksgiving Table Decor

Sentiment, Tag punch, and Ribbon

Thanks for visiting with me today.

Christmas in August

Today starts a new challenge over at My Time To Craft.

Theme: Christmas in August

Card sketch from Carolina in The Stamps of Life Gallery

The Stamps of Life, lights4christmas stamp and die set

Taylored Expressions, snowflake embossing folder

Sequins

BoBunny, Carousel Christmas Collection 6x6 paper pad

Thanks for visiting with me today!

Hope you'll join in the challenge at My Time To Craft.

Always Happy Birthday Challenge Reminder

Hi, everyone!

There's still time to play in our challenge this month at Always Happy Birthday.

Robot print and cut file HERE
Gerda Steiner Designs, Dachshunds stamp set for sentiment
Backgrounds stamps from Stampin' Up sets: Best Birds & Gorgeous Grunge

Come join us this month!

Wishing You Tons of Fun

New monthly challenge at Sunny Day Crafting 

where the challenges are always ANIMAL projects - any theme.

My Favorite Things, Adorable Elephants stamp set

Flip-Flap Card, Banner

Stampin' Up cardstock and Blends

Distress Ink for sponging grass and sky

Thanks for visiting with me today.

See the Design Team creations and link up your projects HERE.

Summer Birthday Party

My Besties image HERE

I have a terrible time trying to figure out how to fold the flip cards.
I know to some that sounds ridiculous, but seriously, it confuses me every time.
So I decided to create an S Fold card and just use the elements from a flip card.
It doesn't flip, but it was so easy to make, and I love it.

S Fold A2 size card
Using elements from a flip card
Beach background colored with Spectrum Noir Markers
Image is a print and cut popped up with foam tape
Sentiment from The Stamps of Life
My Favorite Things, stitched banner dies

See what the Design Team Created and Link Up HERE

August Christmas Challenge

My Besties image: image170 Show Day from the White Christmas CD

Cricut cartridge: Winter Frolic for tag

Cardz TV Stamps, Christmas Joy

Pattern Paper: Echo Park, Wise Men Still Seek Him

Stampin' Up! supplies:

Cardstock: Soft Suede

Ink: Soft Suede

Ribbon: Copper Trim

Stampin' Dimensionals

Link up your Christmas project here.

Back to School

Cricut cartridge, Simply Charmed

SU brick wall embossing folder and oval dies

Cardz TV Stamps, School Days

PDE Ch# 33 Photo Inspiration

Cricut cartridge CTMH You Are Here
Stampin' Up cardstock
Echo Park Summer Fun 6x6 paper pad
Cardz TV Stamps, Good Times

See what the Design Team Created and Link Up HERE

Craftaholics R Us Ch# 33 Anything Goes

Ana Griffin shaker card kit

Be sure to link up your creation at Craftaholics R Us .

Long Time, No See

Happy Friday! We have a brand new challenge for you today 

at the Alphabet Challenge Blog. Come join us!

Theme: Kraft Card

Cricut cartridge, Paisley, for Giraffe die cut
My Creative Time, stitched grass die
My Favorite Things, Giraffing Me Crazy stamp set (sentiment)

Thanks for visiting with me. 

Would love to see you join us this week at the Alphabet Challenge Blog.

Shared:

Crafteezee - summer

Cardz TV - anything goes

Jo's Scrap Shack - anything goes

Creative Fingers - anything goes

Daisy Chain - anything goes

Aud Sentiment - anything goes plus sentiment
Time Out Challenges - bright
Crafting with an Attitude - anything goes

Dies or Punches

Time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!

Projects for this challenge blog are all for the Galz. You can create anything paper crafting related: card, tag, scrapbook page, altered art, etc as long as the theme for the challenge is prominent in your project.

Dies or Punches
My Design Team Project

Beach Duck with Beach Ball Silhouette print and cut file

Scallop Lace border punch

Stitched wave metal die

Stampin' Up burst punch

Scallop circle, and circle punch

American Crafts, Saturday 6x6 paper pad

Cardz TV Stamps, Summer Fun

Thanks for visiting with me today.

Be sure to swing by Cardz 4 Galz to see what my Design Team Sisters created,

and to link up your own project in our challenge.

Weight Watchers Wednesday, Week #4

This week's weight in: -1.7
Total lost so far: -9.2

I am so sorry I don't have a video for you today. I've got some health issues going on which made the weekend and Monday just horrible for me. I also have appointments every day this week, so life is busy and crazy at the moment. It's okay though. Sometimes we are just busier than we'd like to be.

Found out today we are moving in 2 weeks back home to South Carolina. We are currently in Alaska. Very happy and excited about this, and now am flooded with lots to pack and get done. Which means, I may not have a video for the next several weeks. And I probably won't have weekly updates while are are driving. It's about a 5,000 mile drive. I'll have my phone, but can't do blog posting from that. Also won't have cell service for several days during the traveling either. Lots of places in Alaska don't have cell service, and a couple of days in Canada travel without cell service.

Anyway, last week was rough as far as weight watchers. I like to weigh myself everyday to keep a close eye on how I'm doing. I've been exercising twice a day during the week, and trying to stay within my points - which I'm happy to say I was successful at all but one day last week.

My official weigh in day is Mondays even though I don't post my WW journal until Wednesdays. And let me tell you, already this week the scale is going up and down every day like it did last week. With all of the appointments already this week that have taken up most of my day, I have not done a bit of exercise. I hate that. But I'm not feeling like myself and the appointments are wearing me out. I've also made a discovery this week. When my body is fighting pain, I don't handle stress as well as I normally do. That's probably common. Anyway, no worries about me. Things will be resolved, and I'll be back to my old chipper self soon. Surgery will be put off until we get moved back home.

If you are doing WW with me, I'm so happy for you! If not, why not click this link and get some information about it. If you want to give it a try, sign up. Using my link will give you a free month and me a free month. Which is awesome.

Okay, gotta run. Appointment in a few minutes and lots of packing to get done.

Big hugs, everyone! Thanks for visiting with me today.

Creations in Pink Ch# 1

Hi, everyone! So glad you came to visit with me.

Creations in Pink has a new challenge today.

Ch# 1

Always Mostly Pink Creations

Hope you'll join us!

Close To My Heart, Happy Times pattern papers (retired)

SU stamped image, hand colored

Close To My Heart, tiny jewels

Scallop Oval and Oval die for image framing

Image popped up on foam tape

Link up your mostly pink projects at Creations in Pink.

Shared:

Crafty Hazelnut - pattern paper

Creative Moments - anything goes

Word Art Wednesday - anything goes

Penny's Paper Crafty - anything goes

Sparkles Monthly Challenge

A new challenge starts today at Sparkles Monthly Challenges.

Theme: Stamp your background, No Designer Series Paper

My Design Team Project

For this card, I followed the card design in the 

Stampin' Up! 2018 Occasions catalog on page 48 with a few changes of my own.

Stampin' Up! supplies:

Stamp Set: Waterfront

Cardstock: Pool Party, Whisper White

Inks: Dapper Denim, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight,

Old Olive, Lemon Lime Twist, Crumb Cake

Punch: Banner Triple

Ribbon: Pool Party Baker's Twine, 

Lemon Lime Twist Finely Woven Ribbon

Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks so much for visiting with me today.

Be sure to visit Sparkles Monthly Challenges and play along with us this month!

Shared:

Crafty Galz Corner - add ribbon and / or bow

Crafty Creations - anything goes

Word Art Wednesday - anything goes

Penny's Paper Crafty - anything goes

The Male Room - wild and free

My Hero

Cricut Cards Section - customized a little

Cricut cartridge - Campin' Critters

Always Fun challenge theme: Going in Circles

Thanks for visiting with me today!

Shared:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - anything + animal

Crafty Animals - anything with animal

Dream Valley - animals

Crafts Galore - anything goes

Design Team Call at one of my challenge blogs

 

Design Team Call!!

We are looking to add a few ladies to our team.

Please email Janis... pausedreamenjoy@gmail.com.

Include in your email:

Name and your blog link

Tell me what you prefer creating (cards, tags, scrapbook layouts, planner pages, etc.)

Tell me where you saw the DT Call (blog post, Facebook group, from a friend, etc.)

Design Team Responsibilities:

1 - Projects to the Design Team Facebook group by deadline for each month

2 - You can work ahead as far in advance as you'd like

3 - Comment on your assigned numbers for every challenge. This is a must. 

Project information:

1 - You can use any company products in your creations

2 - Create any type of project as long as it is Christmas themed

3 - When we have a sponsor, using their product is NOT required. 

DT Call will stay open until all positions are filled.

No previous DT experience required.

Really looking forward to hearing from you!

Janis

Just Sittin' Here Thinking of You

Hi, everyone! Hope y'all are having a great weekend. It's in the low 50's here, raining, and gusts of wind. Sounds like a good day to curl up with a good book.

Card details:

My Besties precolored image found in their store HERE

Leaves embossing folder

Ribbon

Wood Heart with Tea Dye distress ink around the edges

Lawn Fawn stitched scallop rectangle die

Thanks for visiting with me today!

See you tomorrow.

Hugs!

Shared:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - anything goes

Dragonfly Journeys - flower power

613 Avenue Create - anything goes

Your Scrapbook Place - anything goes

Love to Craft - anything goes

Fabrika Fantasy - anything goes

Daisy Chain - anything goes

Creative Craft Cottage - no pattern paper

Teacher, You're the Best

Today starts a new challenge over at My Time To Craft.

Theme: More than 1 fold

Image from Cricut cartridge, Teddy Bear Parade

Cardz TV Stamps, Back to School for sentiment

Echo Park, Go, See, Explore 6x6 paper pad

Thanks for visiting with me today.

Hope you'll join in the challenge at My Time To Craft.

Not Just Cards August Challenge

A new monthly challenge starts today at Not Just Cards (but cards are welcome),

and the theme is Always Anything Goes!

Close To My Heart, Florence Workshop Kit

Thanks for visiting with me today.

Hope you'll join us this month at Not Just Cards (but cards are welcome).