Queendom Relics by Rea'

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Blog Changes

Well ... as you have probably noticed there have been changes to my blog... were you as surprised as I was ?? While I was away finding "My " new normal Blogger was making changes! Lord help... I'm trying to keep up. Shabby Blogs were my amazing helpers when I first learned ( correction when I thought I had learned ) about setting up a blog. They are gone ; I don't know what happened... OMG; my blog has no guts... what do I do  now ??? Okay so if you have not gathered by now I'm frantic, flustered, and  OVERWHELMED  !! And that is putting it mildly.

Reminds me of a song from back in the day  " I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in " haha .

On a serious note it is over whelming but I am determined to work my way through this. Queendom Relics may have a new look soon but we are not gone! If you are reading this ... don't give up on us , we will be back :)

Good lord I'm still in Granny meets Technology 101A for my phone ( it's a year old now); my tablet has only been on twice !!!   Gonna make this go right ... keep me in your prayers !


Sunday, May 13, 2018

WOW...  can't believe it's been that long since I've visited my blog. If you'll remember my last post I stated my new normal was not normal yet ... it's still not !! I'm struggling to keep up with this new  life; and ALL that it brings. As I near the anniversary of my brother's passing I can only reflect on the faithfulness of my Heavenly Father who has kept me sane. I've experienced some health issues ... happy to say no more falls ! Almost a month ago I lost the feeling in my left hand and have since been through many test to try and determine the cause; I'm grateful stroke , aneurysm and cancer have been ruled out.  At this point neurologist believe it's a pinched nerve (darn that thing ... giving me such a scare) !!! As you can see I'm posting ( I'm left-handed )... things have been slow in my crafting... but I'm making progress... only two fingers are still numb ... yay !! So soon I hope to tweak my blog. Oh and my new phone ( almost a year old... is still giving me the blues) has been quite a challenge ... Smart phone they call it... it's not too smart it didn't train me Hahaha  !!! BUT I'm still determined to master this. So I hope to have somethings posted soon. So don't give up on me... I'll be back soon !!

Thursday, July 27, 2017

My New Normal Isn't Normal Yet !

Well ...  here it is July 27, 2017 ! Things have not gone as I had planned ( not complaining , just an observation). I've come to the conclusion , it is what it is. The Queendom is still in progress. I'm happy to report I got the china cabinet back in the kitchen, the bookshelf moved to it's rightful place in the Queendom and the last shelf assembled. That was a BIG task; long over due since the remodel. It took about a week to recover physically but I am so pleased with myself for getting it done. It's funny I go out and stand in the doorway starring at my mess every morning with a BIG Smile on my face. It is my way of reassuring myself that what I want to happen will come to fruition soon.

I'm still looking for my new normal. I thought June was going to be a very productive month for me; in some ways I guess it was. I did six backgrounds in my art journal in preparation for my Dylusions Challenges ( I tried to play catch up ); my thinking was if I did the challenges I missed that might make me feel better ... hahaha! Okay so July  came I started a page for Carte Blanche, made two sets of Hipsters for Tim Holtz HipForSummer Challenge ( Hipsters were finished but I didn't complete the projects I planned for each one); made two Tiny Houses ( Tim Holtz), made two Assermblage wristbands and started a necklace (also Tim Holtz); made an Anniversary card,  and two birthday cards;  and planned and stamped two Julie Nutting Dolls for a couple of Challenges and started three scrapbook pages.  The anniversary card and the birthday cards were the only completed projects. In my spare time in the course of three weeks I attended SEVEN funerals of special people  in my life and have taken care of my husband. I think he's on the mend now. Praise God!

I'm happy to report that in spite of not completing my projects that I was not completely disappointed; I came to the conclusion my new normal just  isn't normal yet !  My plan is to complete these projects and to keep moving. My new target date for the Queendom is August.

I'm also very happy to report I got my new phone ( have had it  almost a month); I'm still in the activation stages ... don't laugh! THIS WAS A BIG STEP for me ... I got a Smart phone. I'm feeling a little like  Grannie from the Beverly Hillbillies ... meeting Technology !! Maybe in another week I'll turn the phone on ... hahaha !  I have crossed a few hurdles moving from an antiquated  Motorola Karma QA1 to a Samsung Galaxy S7. My Motorola had died and I had no display so transferring contacts has become an "issue". Another gentle  reminder that My NEW NORMAL ISN'T NORMAL YET ! See you soon  ...

Monday, May 29, 2017

Reflection

Can't believe it has been a year since I've posted. My life has definitely changed and had more ups and downs then I expected. I'd like to say my adjustment has been great... but that would be stretching the truth, I'm not adjusting as well as I thought I would by this time... let's just say I'm working on it :)

I've created a few things but have not posted; have tried to keep up with a few challenges; but never making deadlines; my cell phone has died and I haven't decided on a new one (that was my source for posting); and my computer has undergone some operating changes. Truth be told ... I hate changes right now. And to add insult to injury I had a few health issues that sidelined me for a little bit.

So ... this is where I am today...  I'm presently cleaning up my crafting area, trying to bring some order back. While I was sidelined the Queendom over spilled into other areas of my house; so now I MUST
return things to their rightful place. I think it's the coolest junk pile ever (meaning it's got all that I could want at my finger tips)... but it has become overwhelming and is interfering with my ability to create ! I'm not sure Mr. Barnes is appreciating my "Creation " ... we now have the Queendom ( my official craft room), Queendom Annex #1 ( formerly known as the living room) and Queendom Annex #2 (formerly known as my bedroom.  I am feeling much better and I'm able to be on my feet longer so I'm working to restore some order ASAP. Not an easy task. My husband still says  " the scrapbook store, Michael's and Joann's may be calling you for supplies  ! "  I so love my Tim Holtz stash... What ... I'm Happy  :)

Hope to be back on track by end of this week. I look forward to a creative , productive June ! See you soon :)

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Hello everyone ! I'm stopping in to "dust the cobwebs " LOL ! It has been a long time since I have posted. I'm missing my  Challenges and my Tim Tags  :(  . I have quite a few new UFO's in my attempt to keep up BUT life kept me from making deadlines.

As many of you know, for the past three years I along with my wonderful sisters have been caregivers for my brother who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer three years ago. He out lasted their predictions ... they didn't expect him to live this long. As a family we prayed ; God saw fit to Bless us with three years to make some precious memories ; and that we did. It was a long life changing, challenging  battle . Last Wednesday May 25, 2016 God called my brother home. No more blood draws, no more chemo, no more infusions, no more transfusions. While we are saddened by his absence here ... " To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord !" Ross' assignment here was completed.




While I miss my part-time twin , friend and neighbor dearly; I'm grateful for the time God gave us and I celebrate his  Graduation !

Thank you to all of you who faithfully prayed with us and for us. We felt your many prayers. May God continue to Bless you richly !

With some luck I hope to be back crafting next month Right now I'm cleaning up my area... it's a little messy ( okay... so a lot messy LOL ) ! My goal is to play catch up with my Tim tags. At the beginning of the year I had decided I would just sit on the sidelines and enjoy all the creativity of the Tim community... BUT having done tags for the last eight years I was feeling a little lost... so see you come June !! Yikes ... tomorrow is June 1st, can you believe it ??

 I will also be taking Tim's Creative Chemistry Classes  too ... Woo Hoo !!!

Well that's it for now... see you soon !

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Happy New Year...

If you are reading this post ... Congratulations ... as the old folks used to say " You made it over ! "
I don't know about you , but I have not made a lot of  New Years Resolutions ... I think I'm still going to work on some from last year LOL. I'm grateful to see another year, I'm excited to see what the New Year will bring. I've created this New Year Tag   Using my Ledger Script Stamp, Linen background stamp, Calendar Stamp  and Snowflakes from Mini Holidays 2 Stamp Set and  Tall Text Stamp Set. ( all Tim Holtz of course).









I used antique linen distress paint with the linen stamp for the base of the background; then used frayed burlap and pumice stone spray distress  stain drying with the heat tool between layers to get that cool effect. I stamped the script with black archival ink. The calendar was stamped with cornflower blue archival ink, and the snow flakes were stamped with  stormy sky and weathered wood distress ink. I used the snowflake stencil and blueprint sketch for the other snowflakes. I distressed the edges with the distress tool and walnut stain distressing ink. I added foil to the tag for highlights. The blue was a little brighter than I had envisioned but certainly added interest !




I'm praying that you will have a prosperous New Year; in your families, in your crafting adventures; in your personal lives. Whatever your desires are make the best of everyday  you have to spend with family and friends; and don't forget your " Me" time!

Invest some time in your spiritual growth; if you haven't met my Best Friend ... get to know Him in a personal way ... He desires a personal relationship with you and He's the Best friend you will ever have... He loves you unconditionally! :)


I have loads of projects now UFO from 2015 that I would love to see finished, this first month in 2016. And of course the Queendom is always a priority. If I left it to my husband I think the living room aka as the Queendom annex would be the first priority ... we shall see.

Whatever you do enjoy yourself... Have a Blessed Day ... Happy 2016 !

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

T'is The Season ... Anything Goes December Challenge

Now you all know I don't like to be left out ... Inspiration Emporium's  last Challenge of 2015... Let's do this...
So I made tags , with the intent of using them on a couple of packages... well I forgot I made them and sent the packages on ... duh !!

So I've decided to share them with all of you. I won a prize package from Ranger Inc. earlier this month so I decided to play with the stamps I won. Such a cool prize; Dylusions  Stocking Fillers  Holiday Stamp Set and Dina Wakley's Scribbly Holiday Birdies both autographed by the ladies themselves; And Holiday  Stickles!! Thank you again Ranger :)

Okay ... a little bit about my tags for  two of the  tags I used Dylusions ink london blue, vibrant  turquoise and after midnight ( I was trying out the color combo for another challenge project I love it!
The second  tag ( the lighter tag ) was a mop up tag; I mopped up excess ink on my craft sheet... very pretty isn't it ?? Using the snowflake stencil from Dylusions I stamped snowflakes on all three backgrounds ... it's cold outside I'm thinking snow :)  .


Tag #1 I used the Christmas tree stamp and the Merry Christmas sentiment from Dylusions.


Tag#2 I used  my Tim Holtz Flourish stencil with weathered wood distressing ink and then the Tim Holtz snowflake stencil ; I created snowflakes with the texture paste. I added Let It Snow  sentiment from Tim's Handwritten Holiday Stamp Set.


Tag#3 I used Dina Wakley's Scribbly Bird; added the cute little ear muff hat, which I customized with my plaid background stamp ... so fun ! I added the holly  and sentiment also from Dina's set. Then I thought I'd try my hand at some snow like Tim showed us at the Carson Stamp Show ... haha
too cute.



After completing the tags to this point I decided they each need a dusting of snow so I used Tim's splatter brush with picket fence distress paint... aaah perfect touch ! I further embellished the tags by adding ribbon and white fiber... burr it feels like winter !!!

Thank you Inspiration Emporium for another fun year of inspiration. Thank you Design Team for all you've done to keep us inspired  and motivated. Blessings to each of you in the coming year!