The PaperLife

Goodbye and butterflies

Just a real quick post from California because I know my gram would want me to share especially with my family back home. I am in no shock, grandma waited and took all the pain of the wait until I was able to handle it. That was just my gram completely unselfish. You come to a point when you love someone so much you pray for them to go and have their pain taken away. I never thought I would be strong enough to let her go, but she unselfishly made sure I was. It still hurts but, she waited until I was ready to feel the joy for her to move on. She is with my grandpa and her daughter Shirley now both of whom I helped her grieve the losses of on a daily basis after everyone else had to go back to living. It was hard at such a young age but she needed me there everyday and after all she had done for me and meant to me I did not mind. We spent so much time together there was hardly a day growing up I was not with her. She would even come pick me up and take me back to college when I was feeling homesick and always tell me she missed me so much she would do it anytime. I will never forget the day I was married and gram came up to me and said how happy she was on that day "this feels like my day wedding too.". Or when she went with us to the courthouse to finalize Tucker's adoption and she told everyone in the room how much she had prayed for this little fella to come into our family. The day gram first had her stroke 6 years ago, the kids and I were staying on the farm with my parents and I had asked gram to come keep Jaycie Claire for me in the morning ,the night before so I could run to town and get diapers for 4 month old Jaycie. She was so excited to get some alone time with the baby in the morning she told me she probably wouldn't sleep. That morning it was 5 minutes past gram's arrival time. I just knew something was wrong I called and called and no answer so I called my mom who ran over from work to find her having had the stroke and called the ambulance. When I arrived to the hospital shortly after the ambulance driver was in the waiting room and asked "who was Amy? I said I was and he said your grandmother told me I had to get ahold of you and let you know she did not think she could watch Jaycie Claire this morning, he said that is all she talked about the whole ride to the hospital, her concern that you would have to find someone to watch Jaycie Claire! That sums up my grandma completely, the woman just had a major stroke and all she could worry about was me finding a sitter. Lol, love you gram! There are so many stories, worth telling about my gram, and I am sure they will be told here because, that is what I do I "write it out". But, this morning I just felt like I needed to let you know how special she really was. So, rewind to Tuesday, the last time I saw gram, I had her all to myself and I knew I needed to say goodbye. She was alert, I asked her if she knew who I was and she said, I'm not gonna lie I can't remember your name. I said it's Amy. And I swear her eyes lit up so big and she said "I have an Amy!". I said it me gram and she said your so grown up since I say you last I didn't recognize you. So sweet, I got to hold her had and tell her I would be ok if she was ready to go. She was in a lot of pain and I told her I was ready and would be ok she didn't need to suffer for me. And she said ok. And it was so peaceful, she smiled at me and said it would be really soon, and I said just take care of us from heaven and she said she always would. We sat and she thanked me for all the tome I spent with her so she never felt lonely, and I thank,Ed her for everything she did for me. It was an amazing gift she gave me once again. And then in true grandma style she wanted to know where her kids were, I said they were in the car with Jason did she want me to go get them? And she looked at me like I was crazy and said well yes! So, I even got to bring them in and they were able to see her one last time and put a smile on her face as well. Yet another gift from gram to me. And with that she and I were good, I knew when I kissed her goodbye and left that room it would be the last time I saw her on earth. I boarded a plane with my family to california knowing that and sure enough I got the call 2 days later she had passed. It hurts but, because of what my grandma did for me all the way to the end, it is peaceful and comforting at the same time. I have never lost someone so close to me that I loved enough to be ready to let go. It's an amazing way to feel. I am so happy for her right now knowing she is watching over us and up in heaven celebrating with all her friends, grandpa, and especially our beloved aunt shirley. This brings me to the butterflies. Right before I got the call grandma had passed a beautiful butterfly land right beside me at the park. So unique and special for a Midwest girl in January. I know it was a gift from grandma as she left. And yesterday yet again, I was deep in a childhood memory with my gram and what fluttered right by me? A butterfly. Thanks for those gram you couldn't have picked a more perfect gift to send me. I will miss you so much but, it is so comforting to know you are always with me still. Have fun in heaven till we all get there and keep sending the butterflies you could not have picked a more perfect gift as usual!

S.O.S. This Lady Needs a Name.

Just look at her.

Isn't she lovely?

She is a daydream believer and a homecoming queen.

But, she desperately needs a name.

You see she is the mascot of something big.

One of my biggest WISHES to be exact and she needs a fitting name.

Oh you should have seen her when I brought her home.  It was bad but, I could see her beauty.  (however, being the all or nothing girl that I am I didn't stop 2 seconds to get a before shot! DRATS!!  Oh well she said she would be embarassed for you to see it anyway)

So help a girl out.  What would you name her? Leave me a comment I would love to hear.

P.S. I have a coveted antique french dictionary that only gets its pages mod podged onto my most prized treasures and she made the cut!

Hugs,

Amy

Be Mine

*EEK ETA*  this sold minutes after I put it up and I am working on a couple of more variations of it so keep watching but, I wanted to go ahead and let it post so you could maybe be inspired.  I have some other mini's in the shop and will be adding more!

Just put this little cutey in the Paperlife shop yesterday for someone to give their sweetheart.  Used my over the top favorite material right now, burlap. And love the juxtaposition of it and the vintage glitter and velvet sprinkled throughout.  If you are interested in grabbing it, there is only one, head over to thepaperlife shoppe  and I will ship it out asap!

Next is one of my German Glass glitter clips, look for those to hit the shop in sets of 5 soon!

As for me, I am on the prowl today with my girl Echo!  We have been taking mini roadtrips all over to visit area antique and Junque shops, today is Decatur day!  Thinking about renting a few booths in some places, if you know of a good one in the central IL area we should check out please let me know!

Little Woman in Black

Ok so this is a Jaycie Claire post, it is the first week back to school for the new year and they are doing this cool thing to boost school spirit in the elementary.  They have themed all the days this week and are giving away special prizes to the kids and classrooms that participate.  (have I mentioned I love my kids school? I am lucky to have my kids in the best school in the land I am convinced)  Anyway, yesterday was "men in black" day, and the real kicker for my little fashionista was that if you wore all black you were given a secret mission!  Jaycie Claire is all into the secret spy thing since Car 2 was released, and that paired with her ability to put together an all black outfit, well, lets just say the angels were singing as far as she was concerned!  LOL!

So this is what she put together and I just thought it was so cool!  Very secret spy looking.  The girl just has a nak for fashion!

So, the secret mission was to get their classroom's symbol on all the hornet posters in the school.  Whichever class had the most, wins a prize!  Tuckers class, who ironically is not so into this whole thing, but did do all black yesterday, won!  He was so excited to get to school today and enjoy donuts in his classroom.

Here are some more pics i got of her before school.  I just love this girl!!!

Oh and today's theme is twins day, Jaycie class decided to to all dress in jeans and white t-shirts to be a room full of twins.  And Tucker, well, like I said, not so much!  LOL, he makes me laugh!

Now to get that stupid Men in Black song out of my head!  GAAAAAAAAH!

Off to the studio for the day, I am in a creative zone right now and tomorrow is roadtrip day to one of my fave Junque spots.  I will let you know what we find.

Pre-Travel, Travel Journal

OK so I wanted to do it right this time, you know have a completed album for our trip for once, within a decade of when it happened.  Sadly, not even kidding on that one.  Well, heres my story,  I have helped my friend Teresa while she taught many a travel album class, and have heard her say over and over "put the thing together and journal as you go".  But, did I listen?  Heck, no.  Oh I knew she was right, I just, well, ummm, was to lazy and "the put it off till I get home syndrome" always won over.  Well, not this time dang it, I am, in the words of spongebob, "ready, I'm ready, I'm ready"

So, you heard, Santa graced us with tickets for the whole family to go out to Cali with me this January complete with Disneyland, legoland, beachland, etc etc etc.  We wanted to do it last year but they changed locals on me for the show to downtown LA and well, I was to "sKeered."   I really shouldn't have been though, many lived to tell you I can maneuver a mean mini van anywhere downtown LA thank you very much!  Anywho, the whole crew is coming this time and I really want to make sure I document this.  So, here you go, again thanks to T. who put together this fabulous World Traveler kit, I have the "bones" of our California Disneyland trip ready set.

Now, this is perfect for my style, I am not a themey girl, and don't really go for the bright cartoony colors.  This album let me transform a more vintage color pallet to fit a Disney/Lego trip.  Now of course I will grab a few themed stickers and brochures, etcetera to throw in because I love "real pieces" of a trip.  But this allows me to do so in a much classier more me style.  I will most likely photoshop all of my pictures in a more vintage color action to tie it all together too.  Ok so, more on this awesome kit, that I truely believe you can customize to fit any trip.  I mean heck, I made Teresa Collins fit Disneyland didn't I?  LOL! (and she thought she was being all elegant with this one!  LOL! just kidding T.)

this is a shot of the tons of product I have left to incorporate after getting the "Bones" of the album together.

Above are just a few of the ready to go pages in the album.  Love that there are pocket and envelopes to tuck memorabilia in and make the album more interactive for the kids.

The above 2 are shots of punchout journaling, titling, and embellishments that are 3 hole punched and I placed in the back of the album to take along and add during the trip.  I am hoping to only need my journaling pen and adhesive while we are gone.

wanted to note a couple of cover details, the title letters are all included in the kit and there are a ton, but, to add dimension and texture to an album I always like to use pop dots to give a layered look.

The cover's background is a decoupage of some of the tags included in the kit.  Really like that eclectic feel it gives.  And you might also see my subtle, "Amy style" hint to Disney out of the TC blingage gems to look like the mouse.  I will be adding those here and there throughout the album.  May even put some real legos in for a nod to that part of the trip.

And, one more thing on this pre-trip album before I pack it, this all comes in a cool box that is perfect to store bits and pieces of your trip and the album and the supplies you will need while you travel.  Love that!

So, I will let you know how it goes, and I fully expect to get an "I told you so" from Teresa but, that's ok I might actually have a completed trip album in the end, so I don't mind!

Fingers crossed and Pixie Dust on this one!

Amy

 

 

Pre-Travel, Travel Journal

OK so I wanted to do it right this time, you know have a completed album for our trip for once, within a decade of when it happened.  Sadly, not even kidding on that one.  Well, heres my story,  I have helped my friend Teresa while she taught many a travel album class, and have heard her say over and over "put the thing together and journal as you go".  But, did I listen?  Heck, no.  Oh I knew she was right, I just, well, ummm, was to lazy and "the put it off till I get home syndrome" always won over.  Well, not this time dang it, I am, in the words of spongebob, "ready, I'm ready, I'm ready"

So, you heard, Santa graced us with tickets for the whole family to go out to Cali with me this January complete with Disneyland, legoland, beachland, etc etc etc.  We wanted to do it last year but they changed locals on me for the show to downtown LA and well, I was to "sKeered."   I really shouldn't have been though, many lived to tell you I can maneuver a mean mini van anywhere downtown LA thank you very much!  Anywho, the whole crew is coming this time and I really want to make sure I document this.  So, here you go, again thanks to T. who put together this fabulous World Traveler kit, I have the "bones" of our California Disneyland trip ready set.

Now, this is perfect for my style, I am not a themey girl, and don't really go for the bright cartoony colors.  This album let me transform a more vintage color pallet to fit a Disney/Lego trip.  Now of course I will grab a few themed stickers and brochures, etcetera to throw in because I love "real pieces" of a trip.  But this allows me to do so in a much classier more me style.  I will most likely photoshop all of my pictures in a more vintage color action to tie it all together too.  Ok so, more on this awesome kit, that I truely believe you can customize to fit any trip.  I mean heck, I made Teresa Collins fit Disneyland didn't I?  LOL! (and she thought she was being all elegant with this one!  LOL! just kidding T.)

this is a shot of the tons of product I have left to incorporate after getting the "Bones" of the album together.

Above are just a few of the ready to go pages in the album.  Love that there are pocket and envelopes to tuck memorabilia in and make the album more interactive for the kids.

The above 2 are shots of punchout journaling, titling, and embellishments that are 3 hole punched and I placed in the back of the album to take along and add during the trip.  I am hoping to only need my journaling pen and adhesive while we are gone.

wanted to note a couple of cover details, the title letters are all included in the kit and there are a ton, but, to add dimension and texture to an album I always like to use pop dots to give a layered look.

The cover's background is a decoupage of some of the tags included in the kit.  Really like that eclectic feel it gives.  And you might also see my subtle, "Amy style" hint to Disney out of the TC blingage gems to look like the mouse.  I will be adding those here and there throughout the album.  May even put some real legos in for a nod to that part of the trip.

And, one more thing on this pre-trip album before I pack it, this all comes in a cool box that is perfect to store bits and pieces of your trip and the album and the supplies you will need while you travel.  Love that!

So, I will let you know how it goes, and I fully expect to get an "I told you so" from Teresa but, that's ok I might actually have a completed trip album in the end, so I don't mind!

Fingers crossed and Pixie Dust on this one!

Amy

 

 

Well Hey There 2012

Hi, and happy new year!  2012, wow, I am kind of excited, are you?  I have some plans for this year and cannot wait to get them going.  I will share with you here first so be sure to stay tuned.  Lots going on at our house, Santa brought a trip to Disneyland on his sleigh at the end of this month, along with preparing for CHA Anaheim.  So excited to see what is in store in the paper world for 2012 too.  I will share with you what I find here and on facebook/twitter (amycoon11) so be sure to watch those for updates.  I have seen a few things already, and let me just say eeeeeeeeeeeek! you are going to love them.

So, the Coonkids are finally back to school today and I got some Christmas morning photos edited and wanted to share:

This is how we know every Christmas morning Santa has been in the house, he leaves special north pole snow off his boots all over the house.

This is the note and countdown chain left for the Coonkids letting them know they were headed to Disneyland and to help them countdown the days.  Hmmmmmmm, Santa's handwriting looks awful familiar........wink.

Just love these kids, and their joy for life, look at the faces, priceless.

Sidenote: see the orange in Jaycie Claire's stocking.  Cannot believe santa found that!  Do you watch those cheesy homemade youtube videos with the fruit and veges?  Well, Jaycie Claire loves them and between those and her Miss Teresa's videos she is always on the ipad or apple tv watching youtube.  She has taken that orange everywhere all break and it was hooked to her backpack when she went to school today.  So funny!

Big New Year Hug to you all!

Lets get this party started!

Go make a beautiful mess of your paperlife starting today in 2012!!

Amy