This Boy

This boy is Jake. This boy is wonderful, but you have to get to know him first. He has a few things going for him (or some might say against him)...whatever you think it makes him who he is. Jake (and his brother Nick) were born with verbal apraxia, which in very simple terms means that there is breakdown somewhere between his brain telling him how to say something and his mouth verbalizing it. He has had this challenge for nine years and through hundreds (thousands?) of hours of speech therapy he has kicked that challenge in the butt. Eight years ago, if you told me he would one day be completely understandable by those outside of the family, I would have doubted it. However, that has happened. What else happened in the meanwhile is that he developed frustration issues. My opinion is that came as a result of not being able to verbalize, but what do I know. So Jake requires a bit of patience at times, but don't we all. He gets overwhelmed with loud noises, crowds and too much action going on around him - sounds a bit like me. LOL! I admire Jake for many things and a few of those are: #1 - he doesn't really care what anyone thinks. He is not a follower. He will not jump off a bridge, because so and so did; #2 - he doesn't require being surrounded by friends to be happy. He is a friend to himself and most days that is enough; and #3 - He is creative and imaginative. He is a joy to watch, because he always has a "play" going on. Jake is his own person and, if you are on his short list of friends, which I am thrilled to be on, he will LOVE YOU TO PIECES. This boy is Jake and he always makes me happy.

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

SIDE NOTE: The layout is a lift of April's. You will find her layout here: Nati and Addy

Hello

I guess last night's American Idol hoopla influenced me in the making of this VERY simple card. I love David Cook. I don't care if he wins or not. Actually, if he doesn't win, there is more of a chance that he will come and be my pool boy. I, of course, would require him to serenade me with his rendition of Hello as he fans me with palm fronds. Maybe not, but one can dream, right? Anyway...like I said...very simple card, but it's for my brother-in-law and let's face it...most men could care less about the card. They just want the Hooter's gift card enclosed within it. My joke is that there is no Hooter's card inside. Instead, I enclosed an Archiver's one. I know that one will sit around and then become mine eventually.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!

Lest anyone thinks I am that big of a dork...I did not get him an Archiver's card. I got him nothing. He has me for a sister-in-law and what other gift can top that? Plus it is the gift that keeps on giving. Awesome!

Learning to Fly

How happy is this? So unlike me. I never know what to do with butterflies, rhinestones and frilly stuff, so this was a challenge. Needed to get out of my comfort zone and this did it a bit. So there that is all I have to say about that. It's light blue, it's orange, it's butterflied and rhinestoned and it scared the bejeevers out of me.

BEJEEVERS IS A FUNNY WORD.

Story behind the photos: Emily looks like she is having a great time swinging with all her might in the photo strip. Her goal was not to soar amongst the crows. It was to kick me in the belly. Yep...she is a little demon.

Being a Brother

My nephews are a little over a year apart in age. They both also have verbal apraxia. I don't know if it is the age or the apraxia that ties them together, but they are unlike many brothers I know. Sure they get in fights. Sure they need time apart, but they are very close. Wanted to catch that in a layout. Tried and for the most part caught it, but there is still a part missing. Oh well...another chance for another layout. Nick, the oldest, is currently in the eye rolling stage...you can't get a photo unless he's in the mood AND pay him. That's not going to happen, so I have to sneak photos. So the quality of the photos isn't great, but I didn't go broke getting them and I didn't get the "hairy" eyeball either.

Birthday Wishes to Aleida

Happiest Birthday to Aleida! Not only does she get a rare and original card made by my two hands, but she also gets my friendship, which is...as they say...priceless. Oh lord...how lucky can one chick get? Would you rather have cash? ;o)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Enjoy your day friend!

Daisy Lions

Basically this layout is about Emily and her love of picking the yellow weeds that have recently taken over the landscape surrounding us. To her they are treasures and currently one of her favorite things on earth. Probably because they are so prolific. They certainly do make a lawn look more perky than just plain green. She calls them Daisy Lions. I think, if they were actually called that, people would like them more. I have had a theory for years - if dandelions were red, I believe no one would feel the need to erradicate them from their lawns. They would be wishing for more.

A Day of Scrapping Frenzy...What's with That?

Should one have a blog named Creative Mayhem, if one blatantly scraplifts another? Not very creative, but Lisa's layout was calling to be lifted. If you think the layout above holds any kind of creativity...get that out of your head. Instead go here and give credit where credit is due: Lisa's This Girl Layout.

MY GOODNESS

Go sit down! A miracle has occurred. I completed two layouts in one day. Two! I need to rest now. Here's the second one. It's a sarcastic response to my nephew's recent dislike of having me take photos of him. May I say that the reason I take photos is because each year on each of my nephews' and niece's birthday I give them a 12x12 album of layouts ranging from last year's birthday to the present. No photos...no scrapbook. He loves his scrapbooks, so he must pose. That is the law.

I'm back with more. I know. When will it end. I'm absolutely silent for a month and then overwhelming you. Here's a card I made tonight for Mother's Day. Yep...I have a mother and she is thrilled to have me for a daughter. Not really...but what can she do about it now?

The top photo is the front, the middle is the inside and the bottom is the last. They are separate scallop circles held together with ball chain. I also made this card in conjunction with a challenge at Studio Calico. Glad there was a challenge, because it helped me get my stuff together and my mom didn't end up with a piece of notebook paper with Happy Mother's Day scribbled on it in crayon. She would have liked that, too.