Monday, December 31

My 2012 Memory Capsule ~ Part 1

Where Oh Where did 2012 Go?
Often I have asked myself this question, "Where does time go?"
It is often that I silently reflect on the past, to provide myself with a solid answer.  
 To reflect on my accomplishments, my mistakes, and the goals I need to set for my future.
To remember the year was full of mysterious wonders, beautiful memories, and wonderful new people walking in to my life.

Today, I am not going to silently reflect, but am rather sharing and posting my personal reflection of the Year 2012 with all of You.

I hope you enjoy these Memory Capsule Posts I am sharing and will join me in reflecting on what the Year 2012 meant to you.   I want to reflect on what each month held within its grasps, whether it be related to crafting, family, friends, or nonsense.  I want to reflect to push me in to full gear when I embark on the journeys ahead of me in the upcoming year  ~2~0~1~3~!  

I want to set so many goals for 2013 and want more to accomplish them.  I hope to bear witness to others setting and achieving their own personal goals, too.  I wish to make new friends and connect with others so that we can bounce our creativity off of each other.   I hope to watch the connections that were made in 2012, blossom into beautiful relationships!

I will start this Personal Series of Memory Capsule Posts with my Reflections of the Months, January through June of 2012.  I will continue with a Part 2 Post to show my Reflections of the Months, July through December 2012.  I hope to draft up more for you to read and I value your input, comments, and ideas you wish to share as a result of reading through my Blog and gazing at my pictures.  I will also share a Personal Series of the 2013 Goals I will set for myself in hopes that I can always look back and revisit my accomplishments to encourage more Goal Setting further down the line.

I will be spending some time gathering up some fun Crafty Goodies to offer as a Giveaway if we have enough people joining in, reading along and sharing their input.  So, it wouldn't hurt to share this with your friends so they know there is a Prize Up for Grabs!  And, I promise, I will make the Prize a GOOD One, so your efforts and time spent reading along, do not go unnoticed!

~~~REFLECTIONS~~~

January 2012
I loved linking up in the fun Friends With Flair Fridays at the Unity Blog.  It is nice to look back and see a time when I was able to do that.  The link up party was a great way to connect with other crafters who admire Unity as much as myself.  This is one of my past favorite cards.
This motivates me to find more time in 2013 to Link Up.

January 22, 2012 was a wonderful day as I celebrated my 1st Year of Blogging.  I had a fascinating group of talented Blends (Bloggers+Friends) join me in celebrating with my Blends Join Hands Blog Hop.  
It was so much fun watching my Blends share there creativity and use something I had created previously to inspire them on a new project!

Being a DT Member with all the Divas at the Mansion, was a true Highlight in 2012!  I had so much fun with all the girls and enjoyed all of our fun Blog Hops, Challenges, and Crafty Tip Shares.  In January, I spent a lot of time crafting some fun "Special Boxes" for my sweet little children.  I made one for Ariana out of a Taco Bell Party Pack Box and she LOVED it.
Wow, this really makes me appreciate the fact that I capture these moments of my children smiling often.  They grow up so fast.  

February 2012
 Playing along with the Paper Secrets gals during the Scrap Your A$$ Off Challenges were amazing.  Each week, we had to create under specific guidelines.  The amount of layouts I was able to complete was great.  It really lit a spark under me and now I have a lot of layouts finished for my children and other family members.

 I often make a card to send to my family since we live a fair distance away from each other and visits are far and few between.  I made this one to send to my mom, Just Because.  Of course, I used my favorite Unity Stamps, too ;)

When I came up with the idea of calling my Blogger Friends, Blends, I had no idea it would catch on so quickly and be so widespread....but wow, how fun that it was!  My sweet Blend, Beckie of Just B Creative Crazy, even decided she would create the Green Blend Award to pass out to other Blends and send the smiles across the miles.

March 2012
Chardon Wins Rock Your Prom 
March was full of crafty time for me.  I entered a lot of challenges, was on a few Design Teams and I had tons of fun doing it all!  My favorite highlight from March, wasn't craft related, however.  I was thrilled to see the amount of emotion that poured out from the crafty community to help Chardon HS Win the "Rock Your Prom" contest in March so that they could enjoy their Prom in Style despite the tragedy that they were all faced with earlier this year.  Thank You To ALL of You who helped and voted.  This truly was my personal favorite part of March 2012!

LOVE, WISH, DREAM
I served as a Design Team Member with the One Stitch at a Time (OSAAT) Challenge Blog for a the first few months of 2012.  I have to say that I adore how this card turned out using the gorgeous Fairy Moon digital image by Jessica @ Floppy Lattes Designs during the Use a Digi Challenge (#104) with OSAAT.

Happy EASTER Wreath
Many of you also know, that I enjoy working on all types of art.  A long time favorite has been designing handmade wreaths for different seasons and different Holidays.  This is one I created with Easter 2012 in mind and posted for the CS Divas Spring Fling Blog Hop.  This wreath soon was gifted to my SFF Heather Lynn ;)

April 2012
 "Making It To The Mailbox Monday (MITTMM)"
During the entire year of 2012, I was blessed to have time to enter challenges, hop along a lot of Blog Hops, and enter many contests.   I used to dedicate every Monday at my Blog as a day to highlight the generosity that I was shown by others in the crafty community.  My posts were called "Making It To The Mailbox Monday (MITTMM)".  Many of you may remember these posts, and I wish I still had the time to continue this tradition as it was a great way for me to shout how Grateful I was to each and every person who sent something my way.  Many times, my crafty budget doesn't exist, and this helped me to obtain some of the newest items out and new products to try out in my crafting.  I want to take a moment to reflect on some of the wonderful gifts I was Blessed with during the entire year.  These are a few snippets of the fun items I was Blessed to Receive during the month of April 2012.
Making It To The Mailbox Monday - Week 16
A wonderful array of Scrapbook Kits from Homeketeers, Rubber Stamps from several manufacturers including Fresh Brewed Designs, and Treat Bags from Whisker Graphics

Making It To The Mailbox Monday - Week 15
 Super Cute Papers, Digital Stamps by Fresh Brewed Designs,, Rubber Stamps from Sweet Stamps, and a fabulous Scor-pal and Scor-Mat

I also want to take time to share with all of you, how I have stored my Unity Stamps for the last 8 months all Thanks to my Wonderful New Groom, Lance.  It does look a wee bit fuller now, too.  Oh, who am I kidding?  It is overflowing now, but is still sturdy and serving its purpose!

April was an eventful month, as I said before.  But, I can't leave out the tremendous announcement that I was able to make on April 2nd, that I was HONORED to be chosen to join as a Design Team Member with Julie K, A Little Bit of Bling, for her Brand New DT at 3 Girl JAM.
December marks the end of my 2nd term as a DT Member, and I have graciously accepted a 3rd. Julie will  probably find it very difficult to get rid of me if she ever decides to do so in the future.  She is the epitome of a Fearless Leader, with Wonderful Devotion to her Team and prides herself on 100% Customer Satisfaction.  This has been an amazing experience and I love everyone involved.  It is truly one of the Best Design Teams I could ever ask to be a part of.

May 2012
National Scrapbooking Day
How could I resist talking about this Spectacular Day of the Year, right?

Playing along in the NSD Celebrations that flood our Blogiverse and Crafty Communities around May 5th each year, is an amazing experience that I always look forward to arriving!!!
Here is the layout I created to play along with the Unity NSD Sketch Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers 
 This layout was created to highlight the first day that Heather Lynn and I ever got to meet in person!  Who knew we would end up becoming such close friends?  It was a special day and I really loved inking up my Unity Stamp Company stamps and making those luscious flowers out of 3 Girl JAM Crinkle Ribbon!

400 Followers Celebration
May was a fabulous month for my blogging journey.  In May, I reached 400 Followers.  You may know, I love playing games and giving away fun prizes to all of my Followers and Blends!  Here was the Grand Prize, won by my sweet and cherished Blend Karen Ladd.  She has followed me from my transition from the "CSDivas NING Mansion" to the "CS Divas Mansion" on Blogger and continued to follow me even after the Mansion Doors closed in April 2012.

We played a game of "I Spy"   . . .
 . . . enjoyed a Crafty Challenge to find past projects here at the Shaque that inspired them most to create a project using that inspiration . . .
and from there,  we had a Project Link Up as part of the Fun Festivities.



 June2012
Crops of Love
Spellbinders Paper Arts! hosted a wonderful challenge to get people involved with sending in pre-made scrapbook layouts.  These layouts would make their way to the Crops of Luv™ Organization.  Crops of Luv™ creates scrapbooks for critically ill children and their families. Most of these albums are used to commemorate trips through the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Since it's inception in 2009... Crops of Luv™ has created over 250 albums... all with help of volunteers. Now it's our turn to volunteer.  
I thoroughly enjoyed creating as many layouts as I could and even went through my collection to gather some more to send off to the well deserved families.

YEEEEEE HAAAWWWWW" Come Party at the Outlawz 
Partying it up with the Outlawz is always a Good Time.  June 2012 was no exception!!!  The Outlawz site celebrated with their the 2000 Member Party!!!  Full to the brim (of the Cowgirl Hat of course) with loads of fun challenges, games, and a Blog Hop.

Well OWL Be, It's Heather Lynn's 1st Blog Hop
June was the first time Heather ever hosted a Blog Hop herself.  The idea was created when she and I were discussing the fact that she had never had a Blogiversary :( .  After discussing options with her about celebrating at her blog, the idea of hosting OWL Themed Blog Hops sounded Extraordinary.  Who knew that by the end of the year, she would have hosted a total of 3 Blog Hops that were very successful and would already be planning her first one for 2013?
Congratulations Sweet Heather!  I am so Super Happy at the Success they have had for you!

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Now, I will leave you to do other fun things out in the Blogiverse.  I will continue to share the remaining months' highlights, July through December 2012, in a separate post.
I have really enjoyed this "Trip Down Memory Lane" and I hope you have also.

 Maybe you would like to do a similar task.  I urge you to look back at your accomplishments at your very own Blogs to revisit the fun and great time you had Blogging in 2012!  I have a new found appreciation for friends, crafty time, and those who have inspired me this year.
I welcome 2013 with a positive outlook, infinite thoughts, dreams, and hope, and invite persistence and perseverance to stand on my side.   

What are your HOPES, DREAMS, & WISHES for the NEW YEAR???
Tell me below, I would love to read them!!!

Remember 
to 
Keep Crafting, 
Because 
♫ CRAFTING  ROCKS ♫ 
\m/-_-\m/ 

:O) Jessica



Friday, December 28

Beaded Stretch Bracelets and more Gift Boxes: Growing In Unity - Day 5

Happy Friday Blends

I am here to share my last Growing In Unity Post for this week.  :(
I have had an amazing week being able to play with my Beloved Unity Stamps and being able to share all of my projects and creations with my dear sweet Blends!

Thanks to all of you who have taken time to stop in for each post, for leaving such uplifting comments, and for sticking with me during this blasted head cold.  I was hoping to create a fun New Year's Celebration Project as my Day 5 Project, but the dizzy spells that I am having aren't allowing me to stand or concentrate for long periods of time.  
 
Many of you commented on how eager you were to see what the Handmade Beaded Stretch Bracelets looked like that were being given out as gifts as I mentioned in my Growing In Unity Day 2 Post.  So, I figured, why not make a positive out of this negative cold, and show you a few more of the fun Pizza Box Gift Boxes I created using my Unity  Stamps and give you a peek at a few of the bracelets that I made my Mom and Sister as gifts!  
 
Keep in mind, the Handmade Beaded Stretch Bracelets are a fairly new item/product being offered at our Pinque Peacock Shop and custom requests are always accepted!!!

Here is the bracelet that was placed in the Box I shared on my Day 2 Post . . . 
This one was for my sister Tammy.  She isn't a big jewelry wearer, but she does love
our Native American heritage and proudly wears Turquoise.  So I made this to suit her fancy.  The Bracelet includes Turquoise stones, turquoise glass beads, and Topaz/Citrine colored glass beads.  I included the Topaz since that is her birthstone.  There is also a little boy charm to represent my nephew Jace and a charm with the letter T to represent Tammy.  Each stone or bead is separated by a fun metal spacer.   As you can see, I also stamped the PEACE Stamp from the Kissmas & Misteltoe Unity Stamp set on the inside upper lid of the box, too.
 
For my Mother's gift,  again, I followed the wonderful tutorial by Sarah Hamer, Pink Cricut to create the gift box and belly band.  This time I used the fun itty bitty called
 
 The papers I used are from Bo Bunny (Double Dot), Red card stock (textured), vellum, and Echo Park (Very Merry Christmas)
 
 I stamped the wreath image onto Vellum using Embossing ink.  I then sprinkled green embossing powder and heat set it.  After that, I fussy cut the wreath and set it aside.  I used the  Warm Wishes circular sentiment from my September 2012 Kit of the Month {the Vintage Touch} on vellum, but this time using black ink and no embossing.   
 
Oh, how I miss getting those fun kits in my mail box each month.  But my daughter is ecstatic to have her own phone now.  I hope she knows the sacrifice I made for her  <<wink>> :)
 
I used my 2" circle punch for the background circle and placed the warm wishes on top of the vellum wreath.  Because of the rush we were in on Christmas Day to get the gift boxes and bracelets finished, I didn't get any "great" pictures, but will try to take more the next chance I get.
 This bracelet was Custom Made for my Mother.  Since she is a Mother of 13 kids, this was a task all in itself.  Each glass bead between the spacers is accompanied by a coordinating charm of a little girl or a little boy.  So 8 girls and 5 boys rest along side a glass bead that represents that child's birthstone.  The bracelet turned out quite pretty I thought.  It was funny how well the glass beads looked together since there are several birthdays in February, May, and November.


This is another gift box I made using the same Celebrate Wreath Stamp by Unity, only this time heat embossing it on green card stock with white embossing powder.  The Christmas sentiment is one from a Grab Bag purchase.   The papers from from Echo Park (Very Merry Christmas) and Simple Stories (Harvest Lane)
  

Here are several of the boxes that were finished in time for pictures on Christmas Morning.
 

DON'T FORGET!
A random winner will be chosen TOMORROW to receive
2 itty bitty
stamps 
of their choice

Thanks for stopping in today.    Be sure to stop back later tomorrow for the Winner  Announcement.  And another Sincere Thank You  SHOUT OUT to Unity Stamp Company  for this amazing opportunity.

Remember to 
Keep Crafting, 
Because 
♫ CRAFTING ♫ 
♫ ROCKS ♫ 
\m/-_-\m/ 
:O) 
Jessica

Follow Your Heart ♥ang♥ Growing in Unity - Day 4

So Sorry Sweet Blends

I am a weeee bit late, sharing my Day 4 Growing In Unity Post for this week.
Day 5 should be up later in the day.  I have a horrible head cold that has really grabbed a hold of me and slowed me waaaayyyy down.  I am soooo sorry for the delay Blends!

So all this week, I have been sharing a project each day which I have created using my ALL TIME Favorite Stamps EVER . . . . Unity Stamps!

I am glad you are stopping in today because each day that you stop to see my Unity Project, you will be entered to WIN some Unity Stamps yourself!
And, if you missed out on any previous days, GO BACK THROUGH!!!
No penalties there.  Just be sure to read each post and leave a comment so that you can be included in the drawing!

A random winner will be chosen at the end of the week to receive
2 itty bitty
stamps 
of their choice

For my project today, I wanted to pay tribute to a wonderful soul.  A person, who makes Unity so very special.  It was her vision and her dream.  She is a wonderful person and I am happy to have crossed paths with her in this lifetime.  She has been an encouragement to me, to constantly continue to DREAM, and to constantly remain POSITIVE in the climb to reach my goals.
♥ THANK YOU ANGELA MAGNUSON!!!  ♥
So, I created a Mixed Media piece that includes some of Angela's Personal Favorite Stamps ;)

My crafty inspiration came from her wonderful new venture along her life's 'journey'.  She recently started a new Facebook Page called ♥ang.mag.♥ that is a MUST FOLLOW!!!!


My base and layer of square tiles is a desert sand card stock and my next layer (under the tiles) is the back side of the Sugar DoubleDot card stock by Bo Bunny.
Since this horrible head cold has really taken its toll, I opted to take a picture of the supplies I used rather than list them all out....hope you don't mind :)
Here are a few of the fun supplies linked for you to access quickly!
Want2 Scrap - Blue/Green Rhinestones
GlueDots (Pop Up)
Xyron ATG Mega Runner

These two sets by Unity Stamps have really gotten a lot of use.  I have to say,
they are my Go To sets in most cases!

Thanks for stopping in today.  Please be sure to come back for my Day 5 post later today and peek back at all the posts from every day this week, for more chances to win the prize being sponsored by Unity Stamp Company


Remember to 
Keep Crafting, 
Because 
♫ CRAFTING ♫ 
♫ ROCKS ♫ 
\m/-_-\m/ 
:O) 
Jessica

Wednesday, December 26

Thank You Tag - Growing in Unity Day 3

Happy Day after Christmas Sweet Blends

I hope you had an amazing Christmas Day filled with tons of Love, Memories, Great Food, and Joyous Celebrations.

Today is my day to share my Day 3 Growing In Unity Post for this week.  Each and every day this week, I have and will be sharing a project I have created using my ALL TIME Favorite Stamps EVER . . . . Unity Stamps!

It is quite the honor for me to have this opportunity and I want to properly THANK
everyone involved in making this possible for me!  
Thanks Unity Stamp Co.  and TEAM

I am glad you are stopping in today because each day that you stop to see my Unity Project, you will be entered to WIN some Unity Stamps yourself!

A random winner will be chosen at the end of the week to receive
2 itty bitty
stamps 
of their choice

For my project today, I decided to create a "Thank You Tag" for  Christmas".  After all of the gift giving is over, it is a great idea to have some Thank You Tags and Cards to pass out to those who have shown you their generosity.

I started with a manilla tag from Unity and stamped the itty bitty, Vintage Handwritten, with my embossing ink.  I heat embossed white powder then used 3 different colors of glimmer mist around the entire tag.  The colors fit beautifully together and because they were more on the dark tone spectrum, the white really stands out.

I added a piece of vellum as a top layer to the tag.

I tied it together with some fun 3 Girl JAM Goblin Green Crinkle Ribbon.
 Thank You sentiment by Unity (in a grab bag I purchased, so not quite sure what set it belongs to).  The lamp post is an image from the echo park set better with love by Unity. 

Stop over TODAY to do some shopping  with Unity  Stamp Co.   Angela is such a doll, and she offers up sales ALL the time.  So check back often to be sure you don't miss any of the amazing deals being offered.


Other Supplies used:
the fine leaf and the red and white roses were a wonderful gift from the sweet Heather Flaherty
Dual Tip Brush Markers
TH Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Fabric Flowers from Pinque Peacock Shop (more coming soon!)
Zots glue dots
TPC Studios Holly Jolly Bling

Thanks for stopping in today. 
Please be sure to come back tomorrow and every day this week, for more chances to win the prize being sponsored by Unity Stamp Company

SEE YOU TOMORROW
Remember to 
Keep Crafting, 
Because 
♫ CRAFTING ♫ 
♫ ROCKS ♫ 
\m/-_-\m/ 
:O) 
Jessica

Tuesday, December 25

♪ ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas ♪ ♪ ♪ Growing In Unity Day 2

Merry Christmas 
Sweet Blends

I hope you enjoying this day and got lots of goodies from Santa for being Good this Year!

Today is my day to share my Day 2 Growing In Unity Post for this week.  Each and every day this week, I have and will be sharing a project I have created using my ALL TIME Favorite Stamps EVER . . . . Unity Stamps!

It is quite the honor for me to have this opportunity and I want to properly THANK
everyone involved in making this possible for me!  
Thanks Unity Stamp Co.  and TEAM

I am glad you are stopping in today because each day that you stop to see my Unity Project, you will be entered to WIN some Unity Stamps yourself!

A random winner will be chosen at the end of the week to receive
2 itty bitty
stamps 
of their choice

For my project today, I decided to create a "Pizza Box" Gift Box to hold the personalized bracelets I am making for my Mother and Sisters.

I followed the tutorial from my Sweet Friend, Sarah Hamer, at Pink Cricut.
Here is a link to the super easy to follow video she posted so you can try to make these yourself!


As I started gathering supplies, I wasn't sure which color schemes I would be using.   I gained some inspiration from the Unity Challenge - Non Traditional Christmas Colors on a Project.  I like to step outside of my comfort zone from time to time, and try some new things.

So, I opted to go with some Blues and Browns and Black and White.  I think that is acceptable, yes?    The base card stock is a desert sand color.  I used some scraps of the BoBunny Double Dot Sugar card stock I had left from my Day 1 card.  The other papers are by  Authentique.

I chose to use the PEACE stamp by Unity  Stamp Co.  which is from the {ippity} set called Kissmas & Mistletoe.  

I inked PEACE on the belly band that will hold the box closed and on the inside flap for added fun. 

I added a bit of aqua colored bling around the swirls on the Belly Band.
As simple as that, I have a completed gift box that is already decorated, so no need for additional wrapping! 

Now, I won't share all of the bracelets I am making until later next week probably.   With 7 sisters, I really should have maybe gotten a little more of a "head start" since I have to go to visit with all of them in just a few hours...LOL!  Nonetheless, I hope they are surprised when the see their very own.
 
Stop over TODAY to do some shopping  with Unity  Stamp Co.   Angela is such a doll, and she offers up sales ALL the time.  So check back often to be sure you don't miss any of the amazing deals being offered.

Thanks for stopping in today.  
Please be sure to come back tomorrow and every day this week, for more chances to win the prize being sponsored by Unity Stamp Company

SEE YOU TOMORROW
Remember to 
Keep Crafting, 
Because 
♫ CRAFTING ♫ 
♫ ROCKS ♫ 
\m/-_-\m/ 
:O) 
Jessica

Monday, December 24

Growing in Unity Day 1 - READ & WIN

It is Christmas Eve Blends

I hope you are enjoying this wonderful day as I come to you today, to share my first Growing In Unity Post for this week.  Each and every day this week, I will be sharing a project I have created using my ALL TIME Favorite Stamps EVER . . . . Unity Stamps!

It is quite the honor for me to have this opportunity and I want to properly THANK
everyone involved in making this possible for me!  
Thanks Unity Stamp Co.  and TEAM
When I was playing around on Splitcoaststampers and noticed there was a Call out for Growing In Unity participants, you didn't have to ask me twice!
WHOOP, WHOOP

I am glad you are stopping in today because each day that you stop to see my Unity Project, you will be entered to WIN some Unity Stamps yourself!

A random winner will be chosen at the end of the week to receive
2 itty bitty
stamps 
of their choice

For my project today, I decided to create a "Twas the night before Christmas" card! (you may see an intentional theme being followed as the week progresses, just sayin')

I started with black card stock as my base, some patterned papers for my layers, and vellum to stamp SANTA onto and paint. 

I really love the SANTA and the Santa Bingo images by Unity!

I have pointed to the proper areas and labelled the products I used.
You can head over to the Unity  Stamp Co.  site to Shop.  Angela is such a doll, and she offers up sales ALL the time.  So check back often to be sure you don't miss any of the amazing deals being offered.

Since Christmas is well known for being a year when everybody is making a list, I will also share a supply list of other things I used to create my card towards the end of my post.

***GASP*** 
I didn't make any 3 Girl JAM mini bows this time....LOL
Instead, I just twirled it together and left the ends open at the knot.

 I had never painted on vellum before, but I was quite pleased with how puffy the vellum got as the paint dried.  It gave a great amount of dimension to Santa's beard and suit.  This may be a new favorite technique to use.

Making my List, and Checking it Twice:
black card stock by Core'dinations
FolkArt paints (engine red and yellow ochre)
white and red embossing powder
white and black jelly roll pens
adhesives
stocking charm
various paint brushes
embossing ink
Twinery Twine - charcoal
TPC studios Holly Jolly bling

Thanks for stopping in today.  Please be sure to come back tomorrow and every day this week, for more chances to win the prize being sponsored by Unity Stamp Company

SEE YOU TOMORROW
Remember to 
Keep Crafting, 
Because 
♫ CRAFTING ♫ 
♫ ROCKS ♫ 
\m/-_-\m/ 
:O) 
Jessica

Sunday, December 23

♥ Lance and I said "I DO" ♥ ... Blog Hop announcement & UPDATES with a Little Secret

Happy Saturday Crafty Blends.  I am so sorry for the delay in 
my posts lately.  So much has been happening in LIFE, that 
I had to take a little break from Blogging
and 
TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS!!!!

I sure have missed you all SO VERY MUCH

This is a long post, but I wanted to be sure to catch up with all of you
and give you some reasons for my lag between posting . . . . 
PLEASE, PLEASE
bare with me, and Read All the Way through!
I Don't Want you to Miss a Thing

"I DO" ANNOUNCEMENT
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
On Monday, December 17th, 2012


Lance and I said "I DO"
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 Can I get a What, What???
♫ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♫
 Yeppers, we finally DID IT!!!


I can now proudly announce that I am now officially
Mrs. Lance Buffa
(but still hyphenated on Facebook as Jessica Shelton-Buffa....LOL)


We started our journey together on June 3, 2006 and our  ♥LOVE♥ only continues to grow stronger and stronger with each and every passing day.  We often discussed how we felt as if we were already "Married" even though the actual ceremony had not yet taken place. 

 We began discussing holding off on our "Dream Wedding" and just having a Justice of the Peace ceremony now, to make it all official as far as "Society's Standards" were concerned.   The final decision was agreed upon and we pulled it all together  with just a little under 2 1/2 weeks worth of planning.

It truly was One of Happiest Days of My Life!  Only coming in behind the Births of each of my Children and the Day that Lance and I met!
The Judge preforming the ceremony did an amazing job, the kids were so excited, and everything went Beautifully!  It took all I had to hold back the Tears of Enjoyment, but I knew my mascara would run and that would have made for some disastrous pictures afterwards....LOL!


The kids stood still the entire time.  Lance Jr. holding the rings while McKenzie, Ariana, and Haylee stood prim and proper holding their flower bouquets.   


After the ceremony was over, the Judge even commented  "these children are the most well behaved children we have ever  had in our courtroom during a wedding".
. . . . awwww, Proud Mommy and Daddy moment, right there! ;)


 We all shuffled over to Lakeview Beach to take some fun pictures with my Amazing Mother-In-Law serving as our Photographer.

 
We braved the 45 degree temperature and cold, harsh winds shifting towards us off of Lake Erie.
(plenty of opportunity for some extra cuddle time)


We walked out onto a "rock runway" to gaze at the water  and we combed the sand for Heart Shaped Rocks (both being special rituals that Lance and I have shared many, many times in the past)

 

♥ It was super special ♥ 
Each time I talk about that day, browse through the hundreds of photos that were taken, or even just have a passing thought, I am moved to a grin that stretches from ear to ear!


Thanks for sticking with me still . . . . 
I know that was a lot of pictures to have to sift through, but it WAS my Wedding Day . . . so I couldn'thelp but share so many.....LOL!  Trust me, though.  It could have been worse!  My Mother In Law snapped over 350+ pictures that day!
<<<giggle>>>
So, I went easy on you here!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

BLOG HOP ANNOUNCEMENT
I am so super ecstatic for my Sweet Friend Forever (SFF), Heather Lynn of
 There has been an Amazing Response to her OWL themed Blog Hops this year and I am so proud of the success she has seen with them. She puts a lot of Time, Love, and Dedication into her Hostess Duties and it really PAYS OFF!!!
♥ ♥ ♥ Love you Heather! ♥ ♥ ♥

This weekend marks the 

I am honored to be joining her, along with a Super Talented Lineup of our Crafty Friends. 
I shared my Christmas OWL Themed Project over on the Pinque Peacock Blog and would be Delighted if you would swing over to take a peek!

Also, if you Hop this weekend, you will see more Wonderful OWL Projects and can get entered to WIN~WIN~ WIN some really great PRIZES like
 ~
~
~
THIS

and THIS
or Maybe, THIS

and there are OODLES of Blog Candy all along the Blog Hop Trail!
Pinque Peacock UPDATES
Be sure to read the Major Pinque Peacock Update POST to be brought up to speed
on all the latest:
  • Products
  • Link Up Party
  • "Pin Up" Contest
  • 100 Blog Follower Giveaway
  •  PRIZES
  • and the December SALE

A Little SECRET to Share
I want to let you all in on a little secret I have been keeping, too . . . . I am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to be the Growing In Unity Girl Next Week with
<<<<eek, shriek, squeal, dance, laugh, happy dance, and smile>>>

Be sure to stop by EACH day next week to check out a new project every day that I have createdusing the Fantastic Unity Stamp RED RUBBAH!  You will be entered to win some for yourself just for stopping by and leaving some Bloggy Love!  So come by Each Day for  More Chances to WIN~WIN~WIN!

I hope to be at my craft table and my computer more often.   Crafting and Blogging are such a happy part of my life, that I feel complete when I spend more time at it!

Thanks again, for sticking with me and
AS ALWAYS
Remember to 
Keep Crafting, 
Because 
♫ CRAFTING ♫ 
♫ ROCKS ♫ 
\m/-_-\m/ 
:O) 
Jessica

Social Butterfly?

Charity Wings

100% Certified

100% Certified
BAD A$$ Facebook Fan Page

Bill of Rights

Photobucket

Thanks Deb

Recent Visitors