I tried holding out as long as I could, but the end has come…

I’m pulling out of the shop that I sell my crafts at…the shop itself isn’t doing so hot, and with her lease coming up in June, there might be a chance that she’ll close down completely so I figured I’d better get out before I get forced out.

So now I’m sitting here with a ton of inventory – guess I’ll have to have a blow-out sale at the shop before I leave officially – think people will want to buy Christmas items in March? LOL.

I’ve been doing more research on Alzheimer’s Disease (mom was recently diagnosed with moderate AD), and I’m just so emotionally drained…

With my dad being her caregiver, and his own issues with pride and not understanding the disease, I now not only find myself trying to not only manage her care, but trying to educate my dad as well – and dealing with his stubbornness.  Thank goodness DH works for the airline so we have flight benefits – I’d never be able to fly home as often as I do and who knows if this whole disease would have even been diagnosed before things got too out of hand.

It’s amazing how the disease just robs one of their mind…

I need to call her and have the kids talk to their grandma before she gets to the point of not remembering them…I wish they had a cam so at least the kids could see her and vice versa.  I was thinking about setting one up on their computer the last time I was home, but the puter was stored away, and trying to teach dad how to use it would be another journey in itself…

Sigh….

Since I got called out for not putting up the Feb specials for LunaWolf’s Mystical Essence, I figure I’d better update y’all with the giveaway that Vicki is having…

Seriously…Vicki has some fantastic products, and her giveaway is the perfect way to get hooked on LWME!

Here’s what’s included in the Goddess Pampering Set:

Pamper the Goddess in you with LWME!

4oz Lotion
Colored & Scented Bath Salts
Celtic Knot Soap (Personal Size)
2 Soy Votive Candles
Each of the above items are scented with, what else, LWME’s Goddess Scent.

This fantastic kit, valued at $20 could be yours with just a few clicks!

Just go here and find out how you can get your hands on this Goddess Set!

I’ve neglected my craft business for quite awhile – life just gets in the way sometimes, you know??  So anyway, in my efforts to change up the way I do things, I’ve decided to devote some time each week to doing some crafts and adding them to my shop here in Castro Valley.

So…here’s my first quickie project.

Tic Tac Mini Mint Valentine

While I normally create my own tags and things, I decided to use a pre-made tag that came in the “My Valentine” printable collection from Olivia and Co – I just added the little phrase to it and printed it out.  It made things go pretty quickly, which is what it’s all about in my household!  I had a bunch of little cocktail decanters/bud vases left over from a wedding favor order, so I filled them with little Tic Tac singles and wrapped it in cello.

Quick, easy and cheap!  Maybe I’ll make more for little gifts for the kid’s classmates.

Okay…now I understand that there are a lot of women out there who want to be work-at-home moms, and are willing to put the time and effort involved…and to those women, I applaud you and all your hard work.  This post isn’t directed to those that work their business daily and make a sincere effort to establish a reputable company that provides product and customer service… it’s directed to those so called WAHMs who  think that they can just put something up on the web and have everyone come and sign up to be consultants.  Seriously…did they really think it would be that simple?

They complain when they have to answer questions from consultants and customers, whine about not having enough family time when people complain that their products don’t arrive in a reasonable amount of time, and beg and plead their consultants for sales when times get tough.  And yet…these are the exact people who raise all hell when they don’t get their orders within 24 hours.  I mean, c’mon people…practice what you preach, would ya?

Like the gal who started and sold, oh, I don’t know, 8 “companies”…she started them with every intent on making it work, but of course, it never panned out, and she ended up having to sell them because of financial issues (yet, she still joins other direct sales companies constantly…with what money, I don’t know).  And even had the nerve to send products in… get this… manilla folders taped together.  Oh yeah, that’s real company pride for you! And of course this is the same gal that, when sent product that wasn’t top notch, would post all over the boards about

Or the other gal that takes orders, turns around and uses the money that she received on her family outings…and then complains that she can’t pay the consultants their commissions ’cause she had to pay the electric bill (funny how she can’t pay that, but she can take her family of 4 to Disneyland for a week while her husband is laid off from work)…and who’s product is so shoddy that my 6 year old could do better.  And then has the nerve, when she can’t pay her consultant, to ask that they take it as credit for purchases. Um…hello?  My friend was so ashamed that the products came out so crappy that she ended up giving the customer a refund out of her personal account and quit being a consultant – and when she just wanted her commissions from that sale, was asked to use it as credit…um…credit for crap?  Thanks but no thanks!

Then of course there’s the whole fiasco where one person faked cancer, and even went so far as to fake her death, and made a lot of money off the sympathy of others…

I normally don’t complain publicly about this like this… I guess it’s one of those days where I’m just sick of being fed bull and had to vent.

Since I’ve been working on her website, I figured she needed a new business card to go along with her new design…

Donna Harrison, aka The Stamping Queen's new business card

Okay, so I finished Donna’s project from Stamp Camp last night…pretty quick actually – just had to cut out and attach the leaves and acorns since she had us dry emboss and distress it at camp before we left.

Here’s the front…it’s a darling little portfolio made of a sheet of 12×12 paper…

Here it is when you open it up…there are 4 notecards and 5 matching envelopes (you think she’d plan this especially for me…how did she know I ALWAYS screw up at least one envelope, especially when it’s coordinating with the card – I never screw up the plain ol white envies!)

And here are the cards and envelopes themselves…

While her project took the longest, it was actually pretty easy and really cute to boot!  It’s a perfect hostess gift!  I can totally see my SIL getting green with envy when I send this to her – she’ll be so sorry she missed the Camp!  Oh well…you snooze, you loose M!

Because of my SIL’s obsession with cards and stamping, I thought I’d take a Stamp Camp that was offered through Stamper’s Warehouse and try to catch up with her skills…

I made the call to Donna Harrison, who was in charge of coordinating the camp, and we started chatting, and next thing you know, she hired me to do her website…long story, I’ll save it for another post.

So anyway, the camp was yesterday, and it was a blast!  I had so much fun…there were 4 teachers, each with a different project.  Of course Donna had to embarrass me a little, but that’s okay, I’ll get her back.

This project was presented by Doraya Goeppert, and boy, talk about amazing!  Donna said that Doraya was the “punch queen”, and boy, was she right!  This card is made up entirely of punches!  It’s absolutely amazing, and there’s NO WAY I’m sending this card to anyone!  I might have to put this one at the top of my tree and kick the angel off! LOL.

Doraya Goeppert

This card project was presented by Kathy Yee…a local transplant just like me!  (It’s funny how the pidgen comes out as soon as I find anyone that’s from Hawaii!)  Another beautiful card that I seriously doubt I’ll be sending off to anyone!  Kathy’s use of washi paper, gold thread and beads makes this card absolutely beautiful…

Kathy Yee

Donna had fabulous project…and of course her’s was the most time consuming, but it was so simple and easy! I actually didn’t finish it at the camp (It’s a portfolio style booklet with 5 envelopes and 4 notecards…I just need to cut out and assemble the rest of the notecards), so I’ll have to post pictures and show you when I finish it up.  It’s a really fun and cute project, and she had some examples of variations along the same theme that were beautiful, I think I’ll have to make a bunch of these and send them to my SIL just so I can show off my new skills.

The other project was presented by Diana Diaz, Donna’s mentor and partner in crime.  Her project was a fun gift bag…another one I have to finish up (I didn’t put the ribbon on yet)…but it’s absolutely adorable and super easy!

I really wish I had brought my camera!  It would have been worth just to take pictures of the decadent treats that Donna made (seriously, this girl does it all…she’s one of those that just makes you sick ’cause she can do everything perfectly…like another Martha only better!).