christytomlinson

lazy days..

one of my FAVORITE things about Christmas day is the fact we just stay home. We do all of our family visits on Christmas Eve and it's always wonderful and magical (here is a picture of us at my sisters house on Christmas Eve)

 we had dinner and then the younger children acted out the Nativity story as my sister read it for us. It's always been a tradition for the last several years to go to my dad's house and read the story.. infact my dad INSISTED on it.. before any gifts were exchanged.. it was the reason for the season. Last year was the only year we didn't.. I think we were all still so raw from loosing him, we didn't know how to cope and get through that night without him.. but something very special did happen last Christmas with my dad.. and Christmas eve.. probably one of my hardest and yet most favorite memories of last year. I wrote about it last year on christmas day.. you can read about that post here. Anyhow..

One of my favorite things about Christmas Day is just staying at home, hanging with my kids and my hubby.. wearing our pj's all day (except okay.. I do that alot anyway.. haha). Everyone playing with their new toys.. watching movies.  Just low key.. oh and having a huge breakfast (which is a tradition we had growing up when I lived with my mom!).. love that.  One thing I always love is that usually that is the day I do a project I have been wanting to do forever. not for work, not for someone else.. but for me. I would not worry about the messy house or the dirty kitchen and just craft or scrapbook (back in the day) or read that book I had been wanting to start. (I can't start a book unless I have time to finish it THAT day.. because I love to read and I get so lost in my book my entire house goes on "take care of yourself mode" until I am done! LOL) You probably know what I mean.

Well this year I was looking forward to it EVEN more.. because we had been traveling so much and had been gone so much. I have started making beaded wrap bracelets (many of you comment and ask me where I get the bracelets I wear in my videos).. . I love wearing a combination of leather bracelets that I have stamped words or names into and wearing it with a beaded wrap and then a simple braided bracelet out of thread or cord. I love just mixing and matching.. but wearing stuff that isn't clanky. Here is a few of the beaded ones I have made.

 I spent a few hours before our Football trip last week gathering all the supplies.. cording, thread, beads.. you name it.. ready to just sit on the couch and watch movies and make all sorts of new bracelets for friends, family and myself. Well Christmas came and man for some reason.. after christmas morning and then after church.. ben and I came home... snuggled up on our couch and SLEPT until 6 PM!!!  we didn't even eat.. let alone make that "christmas breakfast for our kids!  lol.. 

We woke up to a phone call from our 15 year old asking us if we were going to come down to my dad's house for dinner.. since everyone else (my sisters and brothers)were already down there waiting for us to play games and have fun. I think we would have slept clear until the next day if he hadn't have called us. most of our kids were gone at down to my dad's house.. no wonder we slept.. the house was dead quiet! lol. and while sleeping wasn't a bad thing.. all day yesterday I kept thinking how BUMMED i was that i wasted my entire Christmas day sleeping.. the one day I get to really do what I want.. not feel like I have this responsibility to keep a clean house or answer an email.. or something! lol.. and I Slept! So all day yesterday while I worked I kept thinking.. oh I just want to go back and to yesterday and only sleep for like an hour and THEN make those dang bracelets! lol..

Today I woke up.. ready to get into my studio and paint.. as I have 20 or so new designs I had told my agent I would get to her by the end of this week for my portfolio.. (for the licencing show in January).. and I just could NOT get motivated! I had the inspiration.. I knew what I wanted to create.. but I just had NO motivation to do it. so guess what? instead of working today (and man I hope Jan, my agent, isn't reading this! lol i love you jan! )..  well instead of working.. I got back into my pj's.. sat in my bed .. watched the new show "scouted" and made bracelets.. ALL day. I kept texting my friend Meredith.. that I should be working, not wasting time.. and she kept texting back.. that she was proud of me! lol. 

So the point of this post? well nothing really.. I had was just here in my office thinking how I was going to plan some fun creative blog for tomorrow.. about creating some wonderful art.. and yet I didn't do any of that today.. I just sat and made adorable bracelets for people I love.. I guess that sometimes those moments are just ones we need. This morning I woke feeling un-motivated and just not wanting to do ANYTHING.. and now..after spending the day just doing something I wanted to do.. but shouldnt have.. I feel TOTALLY inspired and motived to get back to work tomorrow and get all my assignments done before the new year. and it felt good. I hope you all sometimes take a little time out of YOUR busy day and life to just do something that maybe doesn't feel important or like you have time for but that makes you feel good. :)

Happy Tuesday!

 

Another Holiday Tutorial.. wood stackable Christmas trees

so as I mentioned on wednesday.. the canvas tutorial I made wednesday was inspired by this project we did earlier this week at my church for a young women's activity..

I am one of the leaders over the young women in our LDS ward.. and another leader, Amilyn found this adorable tree and snowman idea here at  this blog  under my polka dot umbrella  .

Amilyn liked it so much, she thought it would be a fun activity for our girls (they range in age from 12-18).. it simple enough.. yet seriously super cute. .  Here is a picture of the snowman that one of the girls did last night..

 

Both  are made just using 2x4 wood that you can buy at home depot or lowes.. and cut into various sizes and then painted and stacked on top of each other. If you don't have a saw to do it yourself.. home depot and lowes will cut the wood for you. Seriously cool for us NON "wood cutting" skill people!! (me included! Lol)

So as we were sitting there making these cute trees and snowmen.. I started thinking.. I should video tape this and post a tutorial on my blog for it! So I grabbed my camera and started recording us in the process.. I didn't quite have a the supplies i wanted to finish it (things like burlap and berries, etc).. so I brought it home and then video taped the rest in my studio.. showing you how to finish it off!

Here is how it turned out..

 

I just how simple it was to make!  It was just super fun. So hopefully you will enjoy this fun tutorial .

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas this weekend.. I am truly grateful for my Savior and that we get to celebrate his birth and life at this time of year. The gifts and giving and all the crafting are so fun and wouldn't be holidays without it.. but the true reason I celebrate Christmas is about one gift my Father in Heaven has given me.. our brother.. Jesus Christ, who has made it possible for me to live with my Father in Heaven again. So grateful for his Atonement as well. I am so not a perfect person.. not even close. I make mistakes daily in my life and without Him.. would not be able to pick myself up again and start over. To try and be better each day.  So grateful for the love that He has for me. People ask me all the time.. how are you always so happy and positive.. and well first i say.. I am NOT always happy or positive.. but for the most part.. I look at all the trials in my life as a huge blessing because it allows me and helps me to grow. I think that knowing I am loved by a brother and a father above.. who want me to  grow and learn and become like them.. makes all those hard times easier to handle. You know?

 I truly hope you all have a wonderful holiday.. surround by friends and family who mean the most to you! Thank you to you ALL for being so wonderful this year for me! The support from all of you on my blog.. my on-line workshop.. your encouragement in my art.. always being SO supportive .. You have no idea how that has pushed me to leap and go for my dreams.. Seriously.. THANK YOU.

Have a VERY Merry Christmas.. and Happy Holidays..

Happy Friday..

Christy

enjoy this christmas tutorial!

 

Christmas Canvas Tutorial: December Mixed media kit..

So excited to share with you today's Behind the Art video.. it's TOTALLY inspired by my friend Amilyne who found this adorable wood stack-able Christmas tree on the blog www.undermypolkadotumbrella.com

I will show you more about it in the video.. and ACTUALLY I am posting another video/how to on friday.. on how to make the wood stack-able ones too!! So come back friday for some more holiday fun! Here is the Wood stack-able christmas tree I made this week

 

this wood tree.. (which I am going to show you how to make on friday.. here on the blog)

inspired THIS canvas using our December Mixed Media kit !

because the kit included non traditional christmas things like pink, blue, yellow and brown paper palette, butterfly rubons and stamps.. I wanted to create a tree that was very non-traditional but still recognizable as a tree!

I use the traditional saying.. peace on earth.. which I like actually because butterflies often times represent peace..

I love how it turned out and actually might keep it all all winter long! Perfect for winter and reminding me about the meaning of the holidays..

Anyhow.. The video tutorial on this is posted below. My family and I are heading out in an hour or so to drive to salt lake city and then onto Las Vegas to watch the Boise State Bowl Game! We are huge Boise state football fans.. as my husband and I both grew up there and went to college there. This is the last game that Kellen Moore will ever play for BSU as he is a Senior (going pro.. yeah!!).. and my sons all love him. Tickets were actually pretty reasonable and we have been wanting to go to a game all year.. so heck.. why not right before christmas as a family christmas present! lol man we sure fly by the seat of our pants sometimes!  It will be fun!

I will be back here like i said.. on friday.. to share with you a video tutorial on how to make the wood stackable christmas tree too.. that is super fun. I want to make more actually for friends. Oh and if you didn't read monday's blog post.. there is a new show airing this spring on TV!! and YOU COULD BE ON IT! read that blog post to find out more!
Have a wonderful  week! See you friday!

Happy Wednesday..

 

and we are back... giveaway results..

we are finally home from hawaii!! wow. What can I say.. i didn't get the tan I wanted.. but I DID get some much needed rest and relaxation! Maui was so beautiful! and we got lucky and had pretty much overcast the entire time.. which.. don't get me wrong.. LOVE the sun.. but when you aren't used to the heat or the humidity that comes with it.. the overcast thing is nice! It was still so warm and in the 80's the entire time! We tried to go to the beach as much as possible.. and I even learned how to surf! wahoo! We did do a few fun excursions with our friends.. zip lining, snorkeling with the turtles and the fish (AND dolphins who decided to come play with us too!!)..

(this is me and ben on our snorkling excrusion.. so relaxed.. it was the second day of our trip..one of two days we had sun!)

  and we took a hike to a waterfall and swam in it! so fun! but really my favorite part of the entire trip was sitting on the beach.. just looking at the ocean and watching the waves come in and out. Sitting, reflecting, thinking.. letting my mind just slow down.

  As many of you know.. I have fibromyalgia.. and before I left, I was taking my medication three times a day just to seriously.. be able to get through the day. Well by the last 3 days in Hawaii.. I was only taking it ONCE.. in the morning! It was crazy! I am pretty sure the weather and the release of stress is why. I my husband took this picture of me outside of our condo one morning.. and I when I looked at it.. I could see the stress out of my eyes.. I just felt so relaxed and like I could come back.. ready to take on the world again.. 

 (and yes.. i went blond again.. right before I went to hawaii.. wasn't sure I liked it at first.. but it's growing on me! )

 

 but I have to be honest.. by day 6, I was ready to come home.. I MISSED MY KIDS SO MUCH! i decided next time I go to Hawaii.. I want to stay longer.. but I will have to bring my kids! lol. If I can find cheep flights like that again.. I am all over it! It's cheaper than a cruise or Disneyland! that's for sure! The condo we stayed in.. that we got for 80 bucks a night.. was SO stinking cute and nice! You never know what you will get.. but man it was awesome! it wasn't over the top.. but it was clean and big enough for four of us to not be on top of each other! Plus really, we didn't spend any time there.. except at night. Not much to do in Hawaii at night.. we don't drink.. and it seems most of the shops in Kehie close around 6.. so we would just go to bed early. I found myself waking up early the first few days I got there.. and just sitting on the lanai listening to the sounds of the birds  and the ocean close by. It really was magical.

Anyhow! now we are home.. and life is back to craziness again! lol. I think I have over 500 emails to sort through today.. holy cow.. it will be a long work day today..

I have to tell you about one of the most exciting things that happened to me while I was in Hawaii.. the second day there.. I got an email (i tried to check my emails at first while I was there from my phone.. but gave up after about day 3.. as I seemed like I the replys never were going through..) anyhow.. I got an email from a wonderful lady name Judy who is the casting director for a new show coming up...

have you ever heard of Cupcake wars? ( I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show).. well the producers of this show are starting a new show called the Ultimate Craft Throwdown. The show will be based like Cupcake wars.. where 4 contestants will start and be given a craft challenge and then after each round someone is cut by the judges until only two are left. The winner receives 10,000 dollars and their craft pieces featured somwhere as well. Anyhow.. Judy, the casting director.. emailed me.. saying she had found my blog and wondered maybe two things.. one: if I would like to possibly be one of the contestants on the show.. and two.. if I would post about it on my blog for anyone else who might be interested and want to apply! I was like.. oh my heck are you kidding me???  I emailed her back immediately and said.. YES YES YES!!!!  I had to send in an official "resume" like thing.. like my name, contact info and why I want to be on the show.. and pictures of crafts I have made.. so I didn't get to do it until I get home.. friday. so now patiently waiting to hear back if I made the cut! I hope I did!!

So anyhow.. here is the info for ALL of you on it!! Even if you don't want to try out for it.. it would be a fun show to watch!! I have a few friends in mind that would be PERFECT for this show too.. Margie is one of them! Gonna encourage her to send a submission too!

Anyhow.. so fun. and exciting!
well this week is crazy for us.. we are leaving out of town again.. heading to utah and then vegas.. to visit family and go to a football game.. right before the holidays.. our entire family is coming with us.. so lots of packing to do.. laundry.. and catching up on work! So I guess I better get back to it! I am doing a video today on the mixed media kit for December..and will have it posted on wednesday!

and before I go.. I wanted to list the winner of Jeanne Olivers Camera BAG!!!  AND Jeanne and I talked when I got home this weekend and she wants to offer all of you 20% off her entire store.. if you place an order before the 24th!!

 Use coupon code JOY20 

she has some GREAT last minute christmas gifts!!

here is the winner of the bag!

Posted by: Cheryl Stoneham | December 07, 2011 at 09:08 AM

Cheryl.. email me and I will forward jeanne your info!

Happy Monday to you all! I missed you!!!  Glad to be home :)

 

Jeanne Oliver Coming Home release and giveaway!

I am super excited about today.. lots of fun things to share and one of my dearest friends has offered to do a giveaway on my blog! yeah!

Okay.. first off.. people ask me all the time where i get my "tag or elements" that i use in my icons for my workshop and other things for my blog.. and they are honestly just digital elements made my sister Leora!
well today on Peachy Cheap.comshe is being featured as one of their steal of a deal products.. and she has created an exclusive "kit" just for them.. and its PERFECT for holiday gift cards and other fun things.. I just had to tell you about it.. it s only available TODAY..

it's got tags and cards and banners.. Love love love these! And cutting lines included for accuracy.. so cool!

so go check it out!!!

http://www.peachycheap.com/

okay.. SO onto our giveaway..
My dear friend.. Jeanne Oliver is one amazing and talented designer. Each Spring and fall she releases her line of soft goods (Dresses, handbags, clothing) and vintage jewelry, art and other beautiful things.. all hand created.. on her website. Her newest Collection.. Coming Home.. is one of my FAVORITES.. as it includes plaids, and tweeds and demin and goregous red flower fabric.. oh my heck.. I am in love!

Besides her clothing, bags and jewerly.. she also has brand new art and prints..

this is one of my favorites.. gonna have to get me this print too..

I just purchased a few of her things.. (a vintage necklace, a plaid coat ).. but I also got her new camera bag! I have needed a new one FOREVEr.. and when I saw hers a few months ago in person.. I was IN AWE of the construction of it.. and how well it was made! Plus it's the perfect size.. can be used a purse and a camera bag.. and its cute too!

The one is in grey pinstripe fabric.. oh so cute.. and yellow inside..

it holds a camera and two lenses.. PLUS plenty of room for other things!

You can see her entire release here..

Coming Home Collection

WELL she has graciously offered to give one of these gorgeous bags away on my blog today!!! YEAH!!

all you have to do is leave a blog post comment.. maybe one of your favorite holiday tradition! I love learning about new traditions.. and when I get home from Hawaii next week.. I will announce a winner!

yeah! Thank you Jeanne.. you rock sweets!

Happy Wednesday!!

 

Happy Monday.. and more Muvazi love.. :)

Happy monday!! hope everyone's weekend was fabulous! SinceI had a whole weekend home and was planning on being gone. I decided to take a day off and go snowboarding! Be still my heart! ahh.. i could live on the snow or in the water.. seriously. So blessed to live in a place where I get to enjoy both! AND I finally learned how to CARVE!! wahoo!! now I am a TRUE snowboarder! lol..

 So today.. The Artsy Ornament workshop starts and there is still time to join in!   just click on the link to come :) love to have you! 12 Artsy Ornament WorkshoP!  you are gonna die when you see all the fun projects we are doing! Come join me!!  and.. speaking of classes.. my dear friend Margie just launched her first online workshop.. Spark your Christmas! If you have ever heard me talk about the Spark event.. this is just like attending the event.. but from the comfort of your own home! She shows you how to create Artsy things for Christmas by re-purposing things you already have! AMAZING!

You can see a sneak peek video on her blog.. and sign up here!

Spark your Christmas

 I did a video about it.. etc. (you can read about it all here). Muvazi Blog Post..

 anyhow.. It's a skin care line my sister and her husband created and i started using this past spring after having some damage to my skin from using ProActive.  I was sooo skeptical at first.. but when I started seeing my beautiful skin coming back again.. I was hooked! Well if you remember,  when about it  on my blog back in October, they also offered all of you a special price to try it as well.  and Soooo many of you took advantage of it.. I was blown away by the support for Muvazi! so was my sister and her husband! Since then they have had so many wonderful loving emails from all of you just raving about Muvazi and the results that you all  have had from it too. They sent me some of those emails to me the other day and I was floored by how many there were! You gals are so dang sweet to take the time to do that! You have no idea what the means to small companies when customers take the time to send them feedback.. you guys rock.

Well they also said so many of you guys have been asking about how to get on to an auto ship program.. so you can always get that special price.. and get it shipped automatically without having to remember to order it. They had given us all the  special price of $59.95 and if you go to their website.. you can see it's normally like what? $139.00 bucks? So that was an awesome price! So guess what??  They are offering again for my blog readers.. the special price.. AND they are going to make it easier for you to keep getting it by offering auto-ship too. (ask and you shall receive! .. ahh the power of creative women.. lol)  I think they have both a 30 day or 60 day option. Anyhow.. that seriously ROCK!!

They aren't advertising this price .. or even the auto-ship.. on their website or to their other customers.. so seriously.. they are just doing this for us.. lol. So funny I LOVE IT!. So  what you have to do to get it..  is go to Mavuazi.com The link is here

Muvazi

 and then go to "my Account..  you will see something that looks like this..

 

Then log into your account (if you don't know your account number you can email Tia for that info at admin@muvazi.com )

then you will choose either the 30 day or the 60 day auto-ship.. easy peasy! (um thanks tia for these screen shots.. because I went to do it and i have to say the pictures made it a lot EASIER! lol)

 

EDITED TO ADD: For those of you that didn't order it the first time, you can still sign up for the autoship.. simple create an account and once you create it.. my sister will activate your account and then let you know by email  you can log back in to start the autoship!

anyhow..OH!! Iwas also going to tell you.. some of you asked me what my favorite mask was.. well I wish muvazi made a mask (maybe if we all ask loud enough they just might!! lol ).. but right now I love love love the Pro-Active Mask (you can get it on amazon without having to buy their other products).

Their other products just seemed to damage my skin.. but their mask.. oh my heck.. it is amazing. And it takes away zits overnight! If I have a breakout.. I just stick a little dab of the mask on my zit at night and leave it there all night and by the morning.. seriously almost gone. I will warn you though.. it does stink like sulfur.. I use it once a week and when it's like a husband repellent lol.. even after you have washed it off.. you still smell like sulfur the rest of the day. So maybe use it at night! lol and you just might get a good night's rest with no interruptions.. if you know what I mean.. hahaha. okay that was bad. Well anyhow! If you are using Muvazi and love it.. post about it here.. love to hear about it!

So over the weekend. since i Had some extra time, I also did a fun video for the holidays.. a special holiday canvas. I will post about that later this week..  I am excited for this week! We are leaving tomorrow with our friends to Hawaii! And man did we score! Well first off, we were supposed to go to CHA in July and had already bought our tickets to go.. well we didn't end up going and so had a credit with united. OUr tickets to CHA were over $600 bucks EACH so we had a pretty good credit. We were just going to book them to go to another CHA in January and my husband made a funny comment about "we should just use them to go to hawaii" . I was like.. yeah right. Tickets to hawaii are like $1000 bucks! but just out of sheer curiosity.. I decided too look. I must have hit a really good day because when I did look.. they are $400 BUCKS!! round TRIP!  I  texted ben and said "were you serious about Hawaii? and he said. SURE! lol"  so I called united and booked it! AND we still had enough credit left to book our tickets to CHA January because those flights were only $200 bucks! lol. we totally scored! ANd to top it all off.. I did a search on "for rent by owner".. which is a website were people list vacation homes for rent and we found a condo , 2 bedroom in Maui.. for only $80 bucks a NIGHT! and it's a block from the beach! and since our friends are coming.. we only have to pay $40 per night! even better! lol.  I use that website ALL the time when we travel as a family.. so much cheaper than staying in a hotel. You can find houses and condos for so much cheaper than a hotel! You will have to try it on your next trip! The website is www.VRBO.com . anyhow. so we are going to hawaii and pretty much spending nothing! lol. I love scoring good deals on travel! soo.. then our friends decided they wanted to come because the tickets were so cheap and we could both stay in the condo! So we are just excited. I have been working so hard lately.. I can't WAIT to just chill and sleep on the beach. We are beach bums. I can spend the whole week just swimming and surfing.. and be content. anyhow..I am EXCITED! lol.. well.. enough talk.. I hope you have a wonderful monday.. come back wednesday to for  HUGE giveaway from my friend Jeanne's NEW Coming Home Fall/Winter clothing and jewerly line! Gonna be great!! 

Happy monday!