30 days + 50,000 words = NaNoWriMo

so i'm done.



i WON National Novel Writing Month by writing 50,000 words in the month of November. let me tell you, it wasn't easy... but like i explained to my students, "I'm really competitive--it'll get done."

you should have seen me do a happy dance when it was all over... such a big deal, and so glad it's done... now i know i won't know what to do with myself for a while.

i've actually been done for a while (aka Nov. 30th @ 8pm PST), but i think that i've been enjoying the extra time after work to do nothing rather than post to the blog... so, i'm sorry for that long absence. i'll be getting some new cards and other things up on the blog asap.

i am thinking of doing the December Daily scrapbook, and i've taken a few pictures here and there (actually, i think i've taken at least one picture a day, but i haven't done journaling or gotten the book together). the picture of me above is when i printed out my winner's certificate, and was quite happy about my accomplishment, and i think i'll be using that one as the Dec. 1st picture... now to journal about that happiness ;)

my mom and sister were so sweet too--my sister Cecelia was actually doing NaNoWriMo with me, but couldn't keep up because of some new job assignments, etc.

they brought me the prettiest bouquet of flowers TO SCHOOL on Tuesday during one of my classes... my kids were like, WOW! that's so cool! and they've been sitting on my desk smelling oh so good at school, and i just brought them home yesterday. seriously sweet of them.

anyway, like i said, i'll be back to post a card or two soon, and possibly some of the yummy things i picked up at a craft fair i got to go to--featuring my favorite crafty sisters, Paulina, Carolyn, and Krista. fun fun fun!

hope you enjoy your weekend!

nearing the end of NaNoWriMo

i am so close it's not even funny.

i am working on my National Novel Writing Month novel, which has yet to have a title, and i'm really close to reaching to 50,000 word goal... just a few more thousand words. i have been neglecting the blog here lately, and while i was going to update sometime this weekend with a new card or tag, i was suddenly unable to because of Internet issues at home.

so i'm writing this from the library, and thus writing it without any pictures to show you. yes, it's bad. i really didn't realize how awful it was to not be able to check your email until it i went by the living room computer about eight times in one hour, thinking every time, "oh, i'll check my email... oh wait... just kidding." it was embarrassing.

it's just bad. but i'll stop complaining and get back to writing. i'm really glad you stop by every once in a while and ask me how it's going--makes me accountable, which is good. thanks for that.

thought i'd leave you with a fun picture... it's of my Thanksgiving dinner on thursday. it was yummy.

and yes, i did put the broccoli "tree" in my mashed potatoes and then made a "lake" with the gravy. it never hurts to do fun things, right? i love playing with my food :D

hope you enjoy the last part of your holiday weekend (if you did have a holiday weekend), and i'll be back as soon as possible :D

concert and cards

oh my goodness.

if i haven't mentioned this before, i'll say it again... i LOVE music.

right now i'm on a Christmas music and classical music kick (don't ask... it might have something to do with the fact i loved playing in the concert band [clarinet] from elementary school through college and then the marching band [tenor sax] in college all 4 years). so yeah, i love listening to stuff that makes me react emotionally. that's why i have a HUGE pile of CD's a super long list of favorite artists...

and i love going to concerts... there's somethings that's just awesome about seeing one of your favorite artists performing songs that you know all the words to (cause believe me--i KNOW the words!) SO, i just went to a super fun concert. Jeremy Camp, Natalie Grant, and Bebo Norman came to MY town as the last stop on the "Speaking Louder Than Before" Tour. it was so great :D such a great time to reflect on my life and what God has been doing in my life, and what i need to change. i think that a lot of times when i get busy with life, i forget that i have a greater purpose for being here on Earth. so, i thought i'd share a bit... i took some photos that i cropped and compiled to share with you... mostly for the benefit of my friend Paulina who wasn't able to be there... because she's in CA (lucky ducky!)

and here are some cards... yes, i know these are Christmas cards again, and that they have snowflakes, and that they are simple, but i haven't had time to make any new ones, and these have been waiting in my stack to be shared, and i thought i'd do that now while i'm scrambling to find time to create.

phew! now moving on to a non-Christmas card. SEI poppy papers, apron lace punch from Fiskars, some ribbon (satin) and TA-DA!

see those smidges of polka dots on the bottom? it's the double sided paper working its magic :D

and that's it for me tonight. hopefully tomorrow i'll get something new created and posted... really been missing out on some great sketches lately. bummer! hopefully with Thanksgiving coming up i'll do some catch up, right? :D

thanks for looking! (oh, and in NaNoWriMo news, i'm at 26,711 words... plenty more to go, but as i tell my students, "Don't worry. I'm competitive... I'll finish." hehe :D)

maybe the worst photos ever...

okay, so i admit--these are bad photos. can't help it. tried to edit them a tad so they'd look like, at least, half decent. (can you tell i'm talking in my "Valley Girl" voice? i really can't think in anything serious at the moment, cuz it's FRIDAY :D) buuut... no luck. so the red card above is actually a real red. and the vintage buttons in the middle of that amazing stitch stamp from Impress--LOVE THEM! the buttons come from a stash my mom had from who knows how long ago... they're being hoarded at the moment. minus these, of course. the snowflakes are Martha Stewart, and i embossed the stamped image to give it some more texture/ interest. i like how simple this card is--especially since it's instantly gratifying.

the next thing i want to share is a tag--not my usual card, i know, but it was a ton of fun, and i actually think i'll be making some more of these to add to gift presentations for friends/ family.

the pink button is threaded with some hot pink tulle, and tied in a bow, although you can't see it here. i used a smidge of the WeRMemory Keepers Christmas paper for the polka dot strip at the bottom (CK buy!) and the pink panel is dotted cardstock from Bazzill.

down below, you can see the other side of the tag. i did some more embossing, this time with white instead of clear powder. the Hero Arts "Merry Christmas" sentiment that comes along with the owl set is just adorable, don'tcha think? i used some more of BasicGrey's Eskimo Kisses paper... those trees are so cute in pink and green, don't you think?

ohhh! don't forget--i actually tried some new glitter--a bit chunkier than what i normally use, but i think it's cool... i used some double sided glitter tape to put it at the top. BUT, really, let's be honest...

the best part about this whole tag is the amazing ribbon selection at the top--loving the overflow of textures and lengths... it just seemed too perfect to pass up :D

wellllll, thanks for looking, and hope you have a great Friday. i'm busy tonight with a group of "college/ career" people coming over for a get together... need to do some last minute cleaning. i honestly cannot believe how fast Thanksgiving is coming, and then CHRISTMAS! **love love love Christmas**

okay, really, i'm going... thanks for your sweet comments <3

smile in style!

so today has a smattering of everything that i love... Sassafras, Cosmo Cricket, rhinestones, ribbon, and bright colors!

it seems with the days getting shorter and no snow yet here in WA, i'm finding plenty of substitutes to make my evenings happy and bright. personally, i CANNOT wait until the Christmas lights go up--it lifts my mood so much in the evening.

i made this card for the Everything but the Kitchen Sink challenge, and i'm sending it off to Lynne along with her goodies from my blog-o-versary giveaway (sorry Lynne, i spoiled the surprise :D) i love the sketch--totally inspired me to use some double sided papers that i tend to hoard because of their loveliness.


i love how it turned out, and i definitely smiled when i was done with the card. i like the vintage feel to the Sassafras papers in their Anthem and Vintage Yummy lines... here i just used the Anthem papers.

anyway, that's all for me tonight--i'm behind in so many things (cleaning, NaNoWriMo, etc), but NEVER FEAR... i will catch up. i'm actually being a nerd and wearing my "i eat novels for breakfast" button right now, even though no one's around to look at my shirt and the decorations on it.

ok, this is farewell for now. have a lovely Friday coming up :D

brighten your day <3

i made ten cards last night.

WAIT A MINUTE!?


i made TEN cards last night? (oh wait, i guess i did...)

hehe. they were sooo much fun to make. i used about six different supplies that i switched up to give each one a different look. i've got to say that the paper that i used was fantastic, it totally gives everything a special "interest" or detail to the card.

so i used: bling (all shapes, sizes, colors), corner punch and circle punch, buttons from DeNami Design (tuttifrutti pack :D), ribbon (satin, grosgrain, stitched), 3 sheets of 6x6 "sweet marmalade" paper from Sassafras, and some stamps (cupcake from DoodleFactory, a juggling dog from Poppy Stamps, and some sentiments from Stampin' Up).

all the cards are 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" and they've got similar, BRIGHT color schemes :D just my type of cards... i figured since two of my brothers, Lincoln and Joey are jugglers, i could definitely use these for them or just for cheering up, or birthdays!

that cupcake and the icecream on the first card are making me hungry--yummy stuff, right?
what a cute little dog, right? he's called Juggling Rex, and he appears on other images as well... i have some snowballs that i think i'll use for "winter themed" cards :D

here's a close up of him--i left off the top part, and just added 5 "balls" for him to juggle. my brother Lincoln is the most talented juggler in the family, and he's able to juggle 5 balls while riding a unicycle. and no, he's not a clown, but he is funny.

just fun stuff, right?

this card above i kept super simple, but i just love that sentiment, "just because i care." i might be sending this or another one like it to my pastor--he is so caring and faithful. he shared his heart yesterday during the sermon, and i was so grateful for that, and for him. i think he deserves to know, don't you?

ooh, again, simple. but who doesn't love gathered ribbon? sorry the lighting on this card is so distorted--it was hard to keep the yellow cardstock yellow and the kelly green ribbon green at the same time. it's just a fun 80's ish card :D

i think i'm getting better at tying bows! look at that fabulous yellow satin stuff... *sigh* heaven!

hehe, and here we are again, with that lovely patterned paper--so glad i have a whole stack of it! (and btw, Kristina Werner is giving a whole stack away in her craft room cleanup giveaway. you have until TONIGHT (11/16) to comment on her blog HERE. check it out!)

hmm, distressing! doesn't it just fit here? (i did use a flower on this card, it just was lying around my bins, and it looks so cool here!)

and on this card i finished a bit of the inside too--

the front doesn't need much in the way of additions--those little borders on that patterned paper really should take front and center, don't you think? a row of bling, and it almost looks Eastern Indian to me... what do you think?

this last card has to be one of my favorites--seriously, it's so stinkin cute! i love the duckies, and the button, with that ribbon... and *sigh* just about everything on it is amazing. i was definitely on a roll last night! hooray for productivity :D

thanks for looking, have a lovely Monday!

WINNER, cards, nano, and more :D

okay, so O.M.Gosh! there were sooo many comments on the blog candy giveaway! this has been an awesome blog birthday, even though i'm the one giving away the presents :D i am still in awe that i have been running a blog for ONE YEAR! it's really a benchmark.

i loved hearing everyone's comments about their goals and how they accomplished them--so many of you have gotten into shape, and that is awesome!

well, i used http://www.random.org/ to generate a random number for comments... and our winner is

comment #41 Lynne

of Ruby-Dooby-Doo's Stampin Spot!

congratulations--your zip-wire slide sounds like fun--what a super goal! :D

send me your info to larsenvt (AT) gmail (DOT) com, and i'll send out your goodies! thanks for playing everyone!

whether you know it or not, you've all encouraged me to keep on writing my novel... it's definitely something i'm going to follow through with because i have seen your successes. my story is getting interesting--so far i have about 7 characters, and they're going to be on a reality TV show--but i have only just been introducing them (in the first 20,000 words!) my characters include:

• Jen - a 15 yr old girl and her dad, Jerry. they lost their mom/ wife 7 months ago



• Melli - a 20 something year old, sister to Paul, dealing with a crazy pet dog



• Aitken - bounty hunter from Moon



• Derek - mechanic on a space ship that just had a major explosion



• Ian and Jason - talking coyotes who get into bar fights



• Meridian - female MC of "The Big Space Game" who wants to jump start her career again(needing a new title for the reality show, but won't have to worry about that now)

so yeah, if you can't tell, i'm mixing genres, time periods, and just using bits of everything from my imagination. the best part is seeing where i'll go next--so far, i don't have a fixed plan, so i can really expand however i want :D

anyway, thanks for participating, and *please* make sure to check back--i've got more candy coming next month, at least.

now, on to the cards :D

i bet you're getting sick of seeing snowflakes, border punches, and velvet ribbon... well, this is the last batch, for now ;)


don't worry, i've got some super funky and ultra bright/ colorful cards to share tomorrow if this isn't quite your thing :D

this first one was made with my brothers in mind. i might pass it on to an uncle, though, since my brothers have seen this card before... but they liked it for Christmas, and that's what matters, right?

so glad you could stop by again--it means a lot. hope you have a fabulous week ahead!