LO share

I've been playing with some Webster's Pages goodies. Love the designs and the foo-foo embellies! BTW, Nick took this awesome picture of my nephew at the lookout point in our hometown in Mexico. Future photographer? I hope so!

Blessings, 

Martha

Cloud Nine

There are only a few of these kits left... buy yours for just $15 with a qualifying $35 purchase:

 

This is the accompanying stamp set:

 

 

And the embellies (you'll have a ton of the shimmer trim & gold polka dot washi tape left over!):

 

The stamp set coordinates with the Cricut Artiste cartridge BUT

the shapes you'll be stamping are pre-cut for you--> bonus!!!

 

Like I said, there are only a few left so get yours now!  Shop here: 

http://marthasaenz.ctmh.com/retail/category.aspx

Elle's Studio

Elle's Studio is an online shop that I've followed for a while..  It was when I saw my

friend Valerie's blog-- I *love* her work!-- that I knew I wanted the ES Jan

kit (check it out HERE!).  Here's Valerie's take:  Valerie's BLOG! 

 

So I used some of those cards on my post yesterday, wrote down some of

 my 2014 goals: One Year Later

 

Today I saw this on Elle's Studio FB page and I *had* to copy it! 

 

 

So, I didn't have the background paper, I didn't have the paper for that gorgeous heart, either.  I found something else that was suitable and the heart, well, I made my own with CTMH background stamps.  I even enjoyed the sewing part!

 

 

(I used the stamp on the bottom left on cream cardstock, with brown ink)

 

 

The background paper is Pink Paislee, the "@" is American Crafts, the pink stamped stars & arrows are Technique Tuesday, steel dies are TT, and all else is the Elle's Studio kit. 

 

 

The arrows are die cuts from a Technique Tuesday steel die (see those HERE).

 

 

And about those Technique Tuesday dies... I've gotten a few of them and I *love* them.  Still love my Cricut, of course, but sometimes you just want a quick die and your Big Shot or Cuttlebug to get a quick cut.  :)  Here's a page I made yesterday with some TT dies. 

 

 

The background paper is CTMH (Dream Pop), the "hugs" "love" and arrow are TT dies, while "SWEET" and "TODAY" are Cricut cuts from the Small Talk Frames & Tags cartridge.  There's also a CTMH stamp on the left-sided card, and American Crafts button on the heart, and the right-most card is Webster's Pages.  I felt like sewing on this one, too.  Love the cute touch that gives. 

 

 

 

So today Elle's Studio has announced their next kit... and yes, I ordered a few bits.  I ordered this morning and ALREADY got a "shipped" notice-- talk about GREAT SERVICE! 

 

Here it is, and you can order it HERE.

 

 

 

Sorry for enabling... but it's a cool little bag of embellies that you get

through fast service.  Love it!

 

 Thanks for stopping by and leaving love!

 

Blessings,

 

Martha

 

 

 

 

One year later

On a more personal note (because scrapbook pages aren't as personal as this-- HA!)......

It's been a year since my kid and I moved back to my parents' house. 

It hasn't been the easiest year.  Nor the prettiest.  Nor the most fun.

It's been a year of embracing trials, like unemployment and having absolutely no funds for anything, when all you really want to do is go running down the street kicking and screaming like a 2-year-old at a candy store who wants it all. 

It's been a year of some loneliness, even while living amongst my nearest and dearest family members. 

It's been a year full of regrets and what if's and why did I do that and what was I thinking and why did I let him get away with that. 

For a long time I was just surviving but as I stop and contemplate where I've been and what I've done over the last year... I find that I am now thriving. 

THRIVING!

I'm moving on, not feeling lonely at all, getting exercise, eating right (better anyway!), working again, still pounding out a path towards my dream job & career, loving my son like never before, and.... big surprise... loving myself, too.  My hope is renewing..... and I absolutely *REFUSE* to live with regrets anymore.  I can't change the past.  I can only learn from each thing it is that I regret.  I will embrace my mistakes and learn from them!  Every single mistake makes me the woman I am today and I will embrace that fully and move on with the knowledge that I survived all the messes and hard times and ugliness and that means I'm strong.  God has seen me through it all and, though I had to rely on His strength most of the time, I made it through.  I am intact, stronger than ever, and smarter because of the mistakes I've made.

I appreciate the trials, appreciate God's work in molding me and planning a prosperous life for me, appreciate just how much He loves me that He has unending patience with me, coupled with heaping loads of mercy and grace and forgiveness. 

 

THRIVING.

 

I wonder what the next year will bring.  More trials, undoubtedly, but following His will, His rules (obedience is key!), and His ways, nothing but His peace will overtake my life.  It's a good path to be on, friends.  Is it a coincidence that I saw my friend Valerie's blog and was inspired to order the Elle's Studio Jan 2014 kit?  It's mostly little embellies and cards but there were two gems in there that I (coincidently) found this morning and promptly filled out.  (And, FYI, I don't believe in coincidences! ;-) )

 

Now I need to get a selfie so I can make a page to include these cards.  Next year I will once again take stock and find out how much I moved forward. 

So, here's to another year of major personal, spiritual, and professional growth.

Blessings and loads of love,
Martha

LO share!

Just stopping by to share... 

 

Blessings,

Martha

Look at what I get to do!

I GET TO PLAY WITH PINK.  YAY YAY YAY!!!

 

 

 

I showed this to my Mom and she asked if I could possibly add more flowers to

this... and the answer is yes... I might have gone overboard with the bling &

flowers but I had fun doing it.  Love my little grandniece. 

 

Thanks for stopping by and leaving love!

 

Blessings,

Martha

 

Birthday boy (almost a year later, lol)

Nick's birthday is in May... but I just got around to making the pages of his 10th birthday last year.  I haven't scrapbooked the pictures from his 9th birthday... but his 10th is finished.  :)

These all go in their own birthday album, which has a Table of Contents and numbered pages.  Of course the album is in storage and I haven't done his 9th b-day pix yet, so these haven't the pages numbers-- YET.  But you get the idea. 

 

Thanks for stopping by and leaving love!

 

Blessings,

Martha

Snowed in? Move to south Texas!

Last week we had temps in the 20s... BRRR!!!  It only lasted a couple of days.  

Yesterday we were in the 70's...

 

 

 

We live right by the San Antonio River and just a couple of years ago they

really fixed up the trails alongside the river.  We love to cruise them!

 

What's the weather like in your neck of the woods?

 

Blessings,

Martha

 

Makin' the Grade

This LO is an exact replica of a layout on a CTMH catalog cover from a couple of years ago.  I finally had a *great* 5x7 to add.  Isn't that one handsome little fella?  (I am not at all biased, I know!)

 

Thanks for stopping by and leaving love!

 

Blessings,

 

Martha

The quickie page

I made this in less than an hour... I used Sesame Street font & CM Traveler for the car. And, yes, I drew in stick figures because I thought it would be fun!

The chipboard is old CTMH, including my car's hubcaps!

My title has a CTMH background stamp on the plain CS. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings, 

M

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!

Remember that old song?  LOLOL! 

 

Tomorrow is my brother Joey's birthday but we celebrated last night.  Can you say AWESOME!!!  My brother Hector bought all of us gift cards to a restaurant called 54th Street Bar & Grill.  OMGosh it was GOOOOOD!!!  And it was perfect that we all had gift cards to pay for the whole thing-- there were 10 of us-- AND perfect that we all actually got together.

 

It's been YEARS, and I mean YEARS, since all of us got together and went out to eat.  With 7 adults and very different work and travel schedules, it's tough to all get together.  I was beyond elated to get pictures of all of us.  I mean, we didn't even manage to all get together for Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve.  There's always someone missing. 

 

Not the case last night!  :D

 

 

And, after the major feat of getting everyone together, the next major dilemma is getting every one of us to KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN for the picture!  And your mouth shut!  Grrrr

 

 

 

FINALLY-- ONE good one:

 

 

Me, my sisters, and my Mom.

 

 

 

 

My mom wanted a picture of the rest of us.  I'm not sure why she looks ticked off though...

 

 

We got a few other good pictures of our evening out.  Here's a gem:

 

 

Yes, Hector, go ahead and have my drink through your nose...

and my blouse is open because why?  LMAO

 

Rachel (Joey's wife) made this awesome cake, or cakes, with

super cute tool decorations and Joey's 8th grade picture.  LOL

 

 

Joey and Rachel:

 

 

 

Happy 40-something to my brother Joey, my parents' fourth child and one of their favorite sons. 

(and thanks to the "peace" photo bomber... ugh but LOL)

 

 

Blessings,

Martha

 

 

 

I love you more than all the stars!

I'm talking about Nick of course!

 

 

 

 

Paper, stamps, twine, wood from a Cocoa Daisy kit that my bestie gave me for Christmas. 

Thank you JenBarkdull!  <3

 

Thanks for stopping by and leaving love!

 

Blessings,

Martha