Chalkboard Obsession & Creative Linky Party!

Chalkboard Obsession & Creative Party!



Spring finally seems to be showing itself, since we had a thunderstorm and My Darling Hubby is out on the deck sanding the dresser, next in line to be refinished! Yay! (Watch for it to come)



Here is this weeks chalkboard!

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Now... it is your turn...What have you been up to lately?  

Show me anything creative, I love to be inspired!

{Share the Love} Linky Party

My rules are simple... Please start following me!

1. Share as many of your projects below as you would like...

2. visit other blogs that shared their projects...

3. comment if you would like.

4.  Grab a button...

lf you would like to be a co-host and grow your audience please email me: jennobyrne@gmail.com

<div align="center"><a href="http://throughmycreativemind.blogspot.com" title="Through My Creative Mind"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hK9PdaIcgaY1LzzXNeltsuX71HOQK6tjM72L6Idql_3xWCI8GPgcUhEFkC8cCRE5dTBxkpTVvYokuQEUdHOQ8fXO4P-LYP_IBPuONKQUyeFiwLYK3RQZg2qCSZq104_Kb8tR2mz-VqfH/s220/chalkthumbnail.jpg" alt="Through My Creative Mind" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Linked up on...

Easter Egg Cake

This delicious Easter Cake was quite a sweet treat but it scared us as first!

It is a strawberry cake with layers of buttercream frosting and sliced strawberries.  The next morning when we went to add the fondant the cake was oozing with juice from the strawberries.  We had not idea if the cake was going to be ok or not...but OHHHH it sure was yummy!

The cake with layers of buttercream and sliced strawberries before fondant is added.

Linked up on...

Listen To Your Body???

Current Me

You know how when you are feeling under the weather or you crave something, people will tell you to listen to your body?  Well...I have a question...what if I am craving chocolate...like lots of chocolate?  Is my body trying to tell me it wants me to fat?  haha  My body wants sweet, anything sweet and yummy and so bad for me.

I am now on a "Don't Listen To My Body" diet!  It is screaming at me at 11 pm that I'm starving and I need to feed it...sweets of course!  Come mid-day, again...shouting is happening from my belly...feed me!  I can't listen anymore since it has only made me gain 30 pounds that I now have to work hard to lose again!  Thankfully, I didn't gain the whole 50 pounds I had lost about 5 years ago.  I fell off the wagon but I'm climbing back on.

Me in 2007

Me in Spring 2008

They say that when you go through a divorce you lose weight...you are dating again so you want to look sexy and healthy.  Yep...I did that!  50 pounds!  Then two years ago I met my Soul Mate...Scott.  I guess baking cakes hasn't helped, but I've also become comfortable and happy and very well fed by one of the best cooks I've ever met!  He too, has gained about 30 pounds.  So we are now eating healthy, eating out less and becoming more active again.

I had a setback two months ago, with a hysterectomy which enabled me to sit around more and become lazy.  Since I clean houses, I've always been active but I was off work for 5 weeks.  My weight climbed and climbed even faster.

I started going to the gym and walking...very slowly at first and then gaining speed until my 6 week mark came after my surgery.  Last Monday, Scott and I started doing the Insanity workout together.  Ok...Yes...it is INSANE!!!!  The fit test nearly killed us and the second day I was begging for a beginner video.  Scott said...this is the beginner video.  Then, later realized that it was day 2, MONTH 2!!!  No wonder why it was so hard.  haha  We then got on track and started at the beginning.

Me in 2008

I have since lost an inch all around and 3 pounds down.  Scott is almost 10 pounds down but hasn't lost as much in inches.  Just proves that Men and Women lose weight in different ways.  Unfortunately...I've lost most of my in my boobs!  Yep...its a bummer but I'll trade it for looking better any day.

My goal is to be back to the weight I was in the photo to the right.  I went from a size 16 to a size 4 and weighed 140 pounds.

Share your weight loss stories with me and leave words of encouragement in the comments below!  I'd love to hear them.

~Jen

Scrapbook Art & Creative Linky Party

I love scrapbooking but I'm so far behind on my scrapbooks it is overwhelming.  I do love having that scrapbook feel though and still display my favorite photos.  To I decided to start combining them together.  I have found using frames and canvas as my base piece work very well!

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Now... it is your turn...What have you been up to lately?  

Show me anything creative, I love to be inspired!

{Share the Love} Linky Party

My rules are simple... Please start following me!

1. Share as many of your projects below as you would like...

2. visit other blogs that shared their projects...

3. comment if you would like.

4.  Grab a button...

lf you would like to be a co-host and grow your audience please email me: jennobyrne@gmail.com

<div align="center"><a href="http://throughmycreativemind.blogspot.com" title="Through My Creative Mind"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra3MCfldM4z7v2Y_XzdcWy157XkAzTUBVMpf7FkWsqH-tWbDG1SqXt6DTXgHgOjsPJu8JtntIwqFYPhlJcA8viqBx-i_5TZPc-e9yg8zh-ImOnpQjk5r-WpIH8l2CexX9uu8HTKyUaBgX/s220/thumbnail1.jpg" alt="Through My Creative Mind" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Chalkboard Obsession & Creative Saturday Party!

It's another Saturday Chalkboard Obsession & Creative Party!

As some of you know, every Saturday Morning I create another chalkboard on my beautiful, turquoise (4 foot) chalkboard in my living room.  I love seeing this chalkboard every time I walk into the room.  I hope you enjoy this weeks board.  I was inspired last night as I laid in bed...I NEED Spring to come!  And they are saying more snow for tonight.  This is one of the snowiest March's I remember.  Please send the warm weather to Minnesota...PLEASE!!!

Last Weeks Chalkboard...

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Now... it is your turn...What have you been up to lately?  

Show me anything creative, I love to be inspired!

{Share the Love} Linky Party

My rules are simple... Please start following me!

1. Share as many of your projects below as you would like...

2. visit other blogs that shared their projects...

3. comment if you would like.

4.  Grab a button...

lf you would like to be a co-host and grow your audience please email me: jennobyrne@gmail.com

<div align="center"><a href="http://throughmycreativemind.blogspot.com" title="Through My Creative Mind"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hK9PdaIcgaY1LzzXNeltsuX71HOQK6tjM72L6Idql_3xWCI8GPgcUhEFkC8cCRE5dTBxkpTVvYokuQEUdHOQ8fXO4P-LYP_IBPuONKQUyeFiwLYK3RQZg2qCSZq104_Kb8tR2mz-VqfH/s220/chalkthumbnail.jpg" alt="Through My Creative Mind" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Linked up on...

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

Happy Thursday and welcome to Thursday Favorite Things Blog  Hop. 

 I'm very excited to be Co-Host for Katherine's Corner...Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.  It is a great honor!  

 I started my blog in late 2012 with the hopes that it would inspire me to be more creative and keep me honest about being better about taking my "Creative Time", which is rare with four kids and running my cleaning business.  It has worked pretty well and my creative juices are always flowing now.  Sometimes too much...especially late at night when I should be sleeping.  

With everything we do, friendships come about in the strangest ways.  Many years ago, I was a scrapbook manufacturer (Fairytale Creations) and known as The Chalk Lady.  Over the 7 years that I was in the industry I made new friends at conventions, customers, people I met while taping "Scrapbooking" for the DIY Network and even on airplanes.  I have many wonderful friends from those 7 years and miss seeing them on a weekly or monthly basis.  

With my blog I am again, meeting new, wonderful friends!   Others that have passion for creativity and beautiful things.  I found Katherine's blog a few months back and have been enjoying the read every time she posts.  She has also been a great help with giving tips on how to make my blog audience grow and I feel so lucky to be her Co-Host this week!  

Here is to many new friendships to come...

Please come and leave me a comment and let me know a little about yourself!

 

{Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop}

Now it's your turn...

Please share the hop with your readers and let Katherine know if you would like to co-host with her.

Remember to leave her a comment if you are a new follower so she can follow you back.  Thursday favorite things is where you can link your favorite post or write a post about your favorite things You gain visibility for your blog and make bloggy friends too!

Here are the rules, yes there are rules. But just a few:

~  Follow Katherines Corner preferably through Email it’s on her right sidebar (or facebook, twitter,       bloglovin, etc. they are on her sidebar too) And My Blog too...Through My Creative Mind

~  Visit as many blogs in the list as you can.
~  Share the button or a linklback on your post. Grab the hop button code from Katherines button page It’s always nice to have the hop button on your post. It IS NOT mandatory; but a Link back to Katherines Corner  and Through My Creative Mind  is always appreciated

No adult content blogs

Super Cool Cakes

This week has been a busy one but wanted to add a quick post so I thought I would feature some of our cakes we have made in the past year!      It's been fun creating new cakes with Scott...sometimes it gets a little tense though when two creative minds have different ideas of how it should look!  Every cake has a story...here are a few of them.

{The Sleeping Fisherman}

 This gigantic cake was made for my Uncle...it was a full sheet cake.  The first one that I have actually piped most of the cake.  My hands were aching my by the time I was finished.  The sleeping fisherman is my Uncle and the three fish are my cousins who share birthdays all the in the same month as their Dad.  They are playing pranks on him...one has his lure hooked to a tire (left), one is going in for his toes and the other one is laughing. 

SOOO....The delivery of this was our most stressful one!  It was so big we had to take our Suburban but the A/C was out....and did I mention it was 95 degrees that day???  Plus an hour drive!  I was so stressed  by the time we got there I headed right for the bar after it was placed in the party room.  Glad we got to celebrate the rest of the time.

 

{Twins Cake} 

Made for a couple who found out they were having twins.  It was just a small cake but one of my absolute favorite ones we made.  The babies are in a round crib with a cute dust ruffle on it.  It makes me smile just seeing it again!

Oh...and they ended up having a boy and a girl!

{Cherry On Top Cupcakes}

What better way to celebrate a 7 year olds birthday than giant hot pink cupcakes with bright yellow frosting and a fondant cherry on top!  Yummy!

{Fairy Cake}

Every little girl dreams of a fairy cake right?  This two tier cake was a heavy one!  With all the fondant on it I could hardly lift it by myself.  This was our first cake that Scott and I made together.  Everything is edible...even the fairies.  

  

...and a couple pictures of us hard at work!

Creative Show & Tell Monday!

This past week we were down in Arkansas for spring break to visit my parents.  It's been a busy week so I didn't get much of anything done.  I did find a small Round Tin Album I had made my Mom a few years ago, so I thought I would feature that this week for the Linky Party.

I love looking for odd shaped boxes and tins...Michaels is great for these...look in the gift wrapping area.  This is a fun, fast project for any age and for any occasion.  Just pick some photos out, some scrap paper and stickers and have fun decorating!

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Now... it is your turn...What have you been up to lately?  

Show me anything creative, I love to be inspired!

{Share the Love} Linky Party

My rules are simple... Please start following me!

1. Share as many of your projects below as you would like...

2. visit other blogs that shared their projects...

3. comment if you would like.

4.  Grab a button...

lf you would like to be a co-host and grow your audience please email me: jennobyrne@gmail.com

<div align="center"><a href="http://throughmycreativemind.blogspot.com" title="Through My Creative Mind"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra3MCfldM4z7v2Y_XzdcWy157XkAzTUBVMpf7FkWsqH-tWbDG1SqXt6DTXgHgOjsPJu8JtntIwqFYPhlJcA8viqBx-i_5TZPc-e9yg8zh-ImOnpQjk5r-WpIH8l2CexX9uu8HTKyUaBgX/s220/thumbnail1.jpg" alt="Through My Creative Mind" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Chalkboard Obsession Saturday

Another Chalkboard Obsession Linky Party is here!  Sorry this is a day late...but it's been a busy week. This weeks chalkboard was a fun one because I incorporated a background picture with the quote.

Don't forget to share your Chalkboard Obsessions too!

Linked up on...

Antique Lamp Globe Fix

My parents are big antique collectors and have lots of beautiful, BREAKABLE pieces throughout the house.  Several years ago, I was visiting my parents with my dogs and low and behold...the knocked a table and an old globe table lamp fell over and broke..EEK!

Last week I was down visiting them and my Mom pulled out the globe and some paint and wanted me to paint the globe.  She had already done the background color over the entire globe.  

Now...keep in mind, I haven't done this type of painting before, so this was all on a wing and a prayer.  I was very surprised that it didn't take me more than 2 hours and I think it turned out pretty good.  

Card Challenge #2

As you may know...I hate throwing scraps of paper away.  Here was my next card challenge after making my chipboard flower album.  It took me 10 minutes to make 4 cards and used up the remaining scraps of paper.

Tip: Make some cards after completing a project.  All the coordinating papers and embellishments are already out and you will fly through cards quickly!

Decorated Drink Holder & Linky Party # 7

My Linky party is a little delayed this week.  We spent my 41st Birthday yesterday with my parents in Arkansas and we have been busy!  So here is my late party!

What is this?  It's a cardboard drink holder.  This one in particular was from a 6 pack of beer but you can get different shapes and sizes.  Coffee shops have cool ones too.

I loved this project and it is so simple and you are recycling.  Just pick your coordinating papers and embellishments and a ruler.  Measure each side and cover it with paper.

What can it be used for?
~Pen holder
~Vase for Flowers (put cups or vases in each holder area
~To hold a present
~Kids crayons and markers (use plastic disposable cups)
~Picnics and Parties to hold silverware and napkins
~Craft rooms (scissors, pens, glue)
~Hair accessories (use plastic disposable cups)
~Kids gardens (place little pots in each holder area)

********************************************************************************

Now... it is your turn...What have you been up to lately?  

Show me anything creative, I love to be inspired!

{Share the Love} Linky Party

My rules are simple... Please start following me!

1. Share as many of your projects below as you would like...

2. visit other blogs that shared their projects...

3. comment if you would like.

4.  Grab a button...

lf you would like to be a co-host and grow your audience please email me: jennobyrne@gmail.com

<div align="center"><a href="http://throughmycreativemind.blogspot.com" title="Through My Creative Mind"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra3MCfldM4z7v2Y_XzdcWy157XkAzTUBVMpf7FkWsqH-tWbDG1SqXt6DTXgHgOjsPJu8JtntIwqFYPhlJcA8viqBx-i_5TZPc-e9yg8zh-ImOnpQjk5r-WpIH8l2CexX9uu8HTKyUaBgX/s220/thumbnail1.jpg" alt="Through My Creative Mind" style="border:none;" /></a></div>