26.2 Layout

I feel like I haven't done a layout in so long, but looking over all my race day photos that Stephen took, I felt inspired to create. I used this weeks Sketchy Thursdays sketch and really liked the design. So, here was the starting point:

And this is the layout that came to be:

Sorry about the crappy photo- it has been raining all day and I couldn't get outside. Had to use my flash. OK- there are a lot of happy goodies on here: Smash tape, Glimmer Mist paint, rhinestones, a faux Polaroid stamp from Lawn Fawn, felt, a fussy cut camera from some wrapping paper I got at Paper-Source, number stickers (26.2), and star embellies. Whew!

The journaling reads: He said I couldn't do it. I was determined to prove him wrong. It took courage, commitment and determination. I was scared and nervous, but also excited and anxious. I trained, and I trained hard. It all paid off because now I can say, "I did it." He was so proud... "

Thoughts from my first marathon- 26.2 miles of trying to beat myself. I won.

Everything but the kitchen sink...

Hello friends, I have a doozie of a Christmas card for your viewing pleasure today. First, I got started with the Jingle Belles prompt "A caroling we will go." Meaning: use music or a song somehow in your card. So, I came up with this little gem:

There is actually a method to this madness of a card. This is my *special* card for my uncle Gene. Uncle Gene is one of six children, my mom's older brother. He is sensitive, sentimental, and truly cherishes everything that has any kind of meaning. A couple of years ago, I made him a card and it was a big hit. Last year, it didn't get done in time, so this year, he's getting a good one!

This card has a ton of meaning. Each little piece of it has significance. My grandmother, my mom's mother, passed away several years ago, but because of her, it's why we have all the wonderful traditions we still carry on today during Christmastime.

The base of the card is red cardstock layered with Silent Night sheet music. On Christmas Eve every year, we would gather together, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, and sisters, and sing Silent Night together before opening any gifts. It was usually off key and wonderful, which always sent my Grandmother into a pool of tears. Thankfully, she kept Kleenex tissues strategically stuffed under her sleeve. So, I added crumpled Kleenex to the bottom of the tree. Once the crying was over and laughing began, it was time for the presents! Grandmommy always wrapped her gifts in tissue paper or newsprint and tied them up with yarn. To remember that, this tree is made of all the things she used to wrap our gifts with. Sometimes, Grandmommy even made all of our gifts- and they were always crochet. Crochet stuffed animals, toboggans, scarfs, and one year... slippers. Have you ever tried on crochet slippers and walked on hardwood or linoleum? It's not pretty and a few of us almost broke our necks. So, the bottom of the tree is adorned with some beloved crochet. Finally, we come to the tinsel. The tacky, messy silver stuff that clogs vacuums and immediately makes any room "vintage." I had to add this because Grandmommy's tree- no matter how big or small it was, it always had a load of tinsel on it. Uncle Gene always came over and helped her decorate the tree when she got older, and he never left off the tinsel. In fact, he probably saved the darn stuff from years past and just re-used it.

So, you see, this tree made with everything but the kitchen sink actually has meaning and symbolism. I know my uncle Gene will love it... especially since it's "Grandmommy's Christmas Tree."

My First Marathon...

My first marathon was this past Sunday in Chicago. I am still in awe that I actually did it. I set a goal and accomplished it. This race was an unbelievable experience- the city, the crowd, the 20 minute crawl to the start line, the miles and miles of hilarious posters made by the spectators. It was a new found energy at this race. I enjoyed (almost) every step. To share with you, here's the day in photos...

Wake up call at 5 am. I head down to the hotel lobby after getting dressed and have 2 cups of coffee and some oatmeal. I go back up and do my Trigger Point stretching/massaging. It's 6:15 and time to meet everyone else in the lobby to start walking to the start.

This is where Stephen leaves me. He can't get into the area that is just for runners, so he snaps a picture of us and gives me a kiss before departing.

 My brother, Ironman Nate, sister-in-law, Lara and me.

Stephen had his day mapped out and planned to see me at several mile markers. He had a backpack full of my nutrition, just in case I got hungry, weak, dehydrated, etc. He was at every spot he said he would be at plus a few and navigated the city by train by himself! This is where we see him at the first spot... mile 4.

Nate took his camera and took so many pictures along the way- it was cracking us up- we really had a lot of fun!

This race was packed with runners... about 45,000 to be exact. It was crowded and the weather was hot- a sunny, almost 80 degree day. The heat didn't bother me much since I trained all summer long and lots of days the heat index was well over 100 degrees. Stephen got a picture of this guys running outfit...

Someone must have paid this guy $2K to run in that awful outfit.

Hi guys! I run into my brother, Adam, sis-in-law, Erin and Stephen again at mile 21. Adam is hootin' and hollerin' cheering me on! I stop for a minute to say hi, laugh and ask if they think I can finish in 27 minutes. Um... I don't think so...

Adam says, "LULU, You can do it! You look great! Keep going! Woo-hoo!"

Later, guys! I have about 5 more miles to go. See you at the finish line... 

By the time I reached the 24th mile, I really felt like stealing this guys shirt:

I did have a goal to finish in 4:45 or at least under 5 hours. Already, I had been running for about 4 hours and 50 minutes. I knew I was getting closer to the finish, and I also knew I wasn't going to make my finish time, but never during the entire race did I say, "I don't think I can do this" or, "I need to stop" or "I just can't go any farther." I never hit a wall or ran out of steam. The only thing going through my head was, "I trained so hard for this, I can do it and I am not going to give up." And by God, I didn't. I came across that finish line with a smile, saying to myself (or I may have said it out loud) "I knew I could do it!"

showing off my bling

My reward, immediately after the race... 

replacing lost carbs

I reunite with Nate and Lara, they were about 20 minutes behind me. I was so proud of Lara for pushing through. Not only was she running a marathon with an injury (shin splints), but she also has colitis. She did awesome! 

The sweat, the tears, all the self doubt, 16 weeks of training, over 300 miles of running, sore legs, blisters, narly toenails, 4 am wake up calls on Saturday mornings, running through 2 states in one day before 7:30 am, music malfunctions, carb loading and obscene potty breaks... it all paid off.

 The best running buddy and friend anyone could ask for, and I get a bonus because she's family!

Will I do it again? Absolutely. 

I'm Leaving...

I am bustin' out early in the morning to go to Chicago. My first marathon is Sunday. I am excited. I am nervous. I have worked and trained so hard for the past 3 months, I am ready.
When I started running, just this past January, I was elated that I could run 1 mile without stopping after "training" by running around my measly little court a few times. I set some goals, stuck with my training and here I am... headed off to conquer one of my biggest accomplishments. A 26.2 mile race. I can do this.

I hope to give you all a play by play when I return Monday night and share some pictures of the experience.
Wish me luck! ;)

Hang In There!

Good morning! Wanted to share this little card and goody bag I made for a friend of mine going through a rough patch. 

I used the Paper Smooches set "Falling for You." This was the first set I purchased and it's still my favorite. Lots of cute images that can be used all year round! I stamped the bat and colored him with Copics and added black rhinestones for his eyes(which you can't see from this picture). I added some decorative tape, twine and chipboard buttons. I used stickers to spell out my sentiment.  I folded the card over and attached to a polka dot bag filled with Dove chocolates.

My friend loved it and I think it cheered her up. Mission accomplished! :)

Peace

This weeks Jingle Belles prompt is "Peace." You can use the word peace or a peace symbol. I love the Paper Smooches stamp set, "Pretty Phrases" and that's where I started.

I embossed the sentiment in white on kraft and then added my patterned paper, felt border and small stitched felt heart. I used the new Claudine Hellmuth Studio stamps for my bird. First, I stamped him with white paint, then ink chocolate ink for the outline. I added a small silver rhinestone for an eye. This card was pretty easy and could easily be mass produced.

Enjoy!

More Recycled Cards

A few posts ago, I wrote about the flyer I got in the mail with a circus theme. I loved the images so much that I cut them out and saved them. So glad I did too... I made 4 birthday cards from something I would normally pitch!
The fire eater...

The muscle man- this one went to my Ironman brother, Nate yesterday for his birthday...

The trapeze artist- this card went to Stephen's grandmother this weekend for her 89th birthday. She's still always up for a thrill of any kind!

So, together with a few odds and ends, this trash certainly turned into some treasure!
Enjoy, and I hope you find a treasure in your sea of junk mail soon! ;)