NEW SHOP...NEW BLOG

Hallo All! I have a BRAND NEW SHOP On etsy called PennyPaperworks here!

http://www.pennypaperworks.etsy.com

and so....

I have a BRAND NEW BLOG HERE!

http://pennypaperworks.blogspot.com

And...if that's not enough I have become a twit!

Yes you can find me on twitter here!

http://twitter.com/PennyPaperworks

Yes I am now ms. Penny Paperworks

offering Handcrafted Paper Goodies and Gifts

that are pretty, fun, functional, and

of course, affordable!
SO come by and take a look at my new digs!

I miss my old blog friends!

BlueJude aka Ms. Penny!

MONSTER HANDS TREATS

OK, wish I had a picture of these, but you'll just have to trust me that they are the COOLEST Halloween Treat ever!

And so simple to make...you can do it with your kids too!

You'll Need:

Plastic Gloves

(like the Dentist/Doctor/Salon type WITHOUT the powdery stuff)

Candy Corn

(preferably with the black tips)

Bags of Popcorn

Cheap Orange and/or Black Ribbon

All you do is put a candy corn in each finger tip of the glove. Then stuff the fingers and entire glove with popcorn, (don't over stuff, the fingers should be able to droop a bit) and leave room at the wristlet part.

Tie closed at wrist with ribbon!

The hands are all tinted, bumpy and lumpy, with spooky nails!

I'm telling you...you will LOVE it!

Great for parties, classroom treats, or just in a bowl for your family!

OK GO MAKE SOME!

BEAUTUFUL FEATURE...

Check out this amazing, beautiful feature Kid Giddy did on on her blog!
http://kidgiddy.blogspot.com/2009/10/seller-saturday-art-n-joy.html

And be sure to check out her wonderful shop on etsy! Thanks KG!

OLD FRIENDS...NEW THINGS

"Purple Passion" Bible Keepers n Bookmarks can be found here! http://www.artnjoy.etsy.com
OK I have to admit, I started forgetting an old friend that had always helped me out in the past and somehow gave me some peace and wisdom.
Then one evening, after a long spent day, I lay in bed, feeling...well, not so good. Somewhat sad and anxious, a bit shaken over our financial plight and how we would now get by on one very meager salary. Thankful that my husband finally scored a job at a local factory, but after me being laid off from my PT job...I wondered how we were ever going to make it. What about the winter boots my kids would need? And the list went on...though I won't bore you with it here.
I have always prayed and I have always believed that God would see me through anything as He has shown me many blessings in the past. However, that night, things seemed dim. God seemed distant.
Anyhoo, I turned my head to see, on the second shelf of my nightstand, my old friend. Wisened, Hopeful, Full of Light, but not quite shining...being surrounded by papers, books, debris that distracts. But there it was.....waiting.
I reached for it, bit's of scraps stuck out all over. I let it open to one that guided me. "You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. What you decide on willbe done, and light will shine on your ways." JOB 22:27
I opened to another scrap. "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." LUKE 11:9
I continued...the words were sing song, lifting my heart, giving me strength and light, moving me on. Another day would come. I pray once again. And am able to sleep.
The next day, I decided to replace those scraps, with Bible Keepers. Surely, my old friend deserved better than willy nilly scraps sticking out all over! I made them slightly smaller than the average bookmark so that I could use several at once without my Bible becoming too cumbersome.
I also, cleared out the clutter on my nightstand, so that I could remember that my old friend was always nearby. Ready to give me strength, wisdom and light my way. Only now, it looked much prettier!
I enjoyed making my Bible Keepers so much, that I continued making more in different designs. They are available at my shop ArtnJoy on etsy, if you would like to take a peek! http://www.artnjoy.etsy.com
Have a blessed weekend...full of light

Lighting My Way

"Lighting My Way" D. Altaville 2009

OK so son #1 has been up at college for two weeks now and I guess I'm slowly adjusting.

He however, seems to be doing just fine, as far as I can tell from his vids and emails, most of which his sister receives.

The one that I did get, was in response to some questions I had for the ole wise boy.
Stupid Mommy, I asked what he was eating...curious about the range of fare available at the cafeteria. His reply was...I'm old enough to take care of myself! Do I really have to list what I'm eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday!

(Well, no...not exactly (:)

The other two are off to a great start in school as well.

Though, since turning seven in July, the little guy seems to be getting an attitude that's too big for his pants.

(is there something in the water?)

He is by far my most persistent and stubborn child.

I decided to entertain him recently with a "photo walk" where we could take photos together, since he was dying to use the digi camera (afterall he is seven now, he explained).

The little bugger was quite an inspiration and I remembered how much I loved exploring photography.

Sooo... I have a new shop on etsy called Velocity Joy featuring my recent explorations.

Since I was laid off from my job a few weeks ago I'm hoping maybe this will bring in some spare change since we are back to struggling once again. Though I know God will see us through this, and light our way somehow. Anyhooo...

If you have a moment...take a peek....

http://www.velocityjoy.etsy.com

Big BlueJude Hugs and Blessings to all!

HOW STUPID Am I....

Geez, Ok so #1 son got into college and all was covered...so I thought. Of course there are book expenses, BUT did you know there is also insurance and all these hidden costs??
PLUS the dorm neccessities of which follow for those of you who are as stupid as I am at the moment. (I'm sure thre are not many!)
Towels Crate
Desk Lamp Laundry Bag
Trash Basket Bathroom Caddy
Underbed Storage Extra Little Bins?
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hair Brush Deodorant
Shampoo Razors
Shower gel Q Tips
Toothpaste Laundry detergent
Toothbrush Hangars
-------------------------------------------------------------
2 Pairs of Jeans
Sneakers
Underwear
Socks
-------------------------------------------------------------
AND GOD KNOWS what else I'm forgetting! Oh yes, a laptop case for sure!!
And Believe it or not I even thought of Chip Clips...don't ask me why!
Of course I will go to the dollar store and The Marts..but still it is all adding
up beyond my control!!
AND I was having such a good Monday! (A rarity! (:)
Anyone who can help please (as food stamps don not cover this!) please send to teh #1 Son College Fundraiser via PayPAl at bluejude126@yahoo.com
OH and did I mention...I started doing some art again. Hmph..gotta get the release somehow I guess. Soon I'll share. Thanks all for letting me vent and bore you to death!
BlueJude hugs!

MILESTONES

Well, below you'll see pics of my star graduate, my beautiful, fantastic son at his Roast n Toast Barbecue.
I've had a bittersweet few days as he has been at his College Orientation with his Dad in upstate NY, where yes, I have already proudly told you, is being paid for by scholarships and grants that he obtained on his own. THANK GOD for that!
He's a reserved kind of kid, very selective of friends, an individual that believes in being kind, honest, and gives a 110% to anything he does.
Except when making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, because he still claims I make the best!
I think I'm being swindled on that one! (:)
I must say that when I got my morning coffee yesterday and passed by his sneakers in the TV room, I cried a little. I remembered those sneakers being oh so small, sitting askew next to red patent leather Mary Janes (my fave) that belonged to his sister, his soul mate, his Irish twin (as we call it) that is only a year younger.
I thought of how she will miss him. How I will miss him dearly and how the little guy will have a void in his heart for a while without his big brother around.
Geez, and he hasn't even left yet...it is after all...orientation!
I want to thank the family and friends at the barbecue and their generous gifts which helped my son get the laptop he so needed for college.
We only had to chip in a little bit, which is all we could afford.
However, he still needs book money and dorm necessities.
So if anyone is so inclined to help us send this wonderful kid off, with all he needs as he embarks on this wonderful journey, I am once again taking contributions at Paypal to bluejude126@yahoo.com
Thank You! And congrats to one of the most extraordinary people I have had the privilege and blessing to be the mother of for the past 18 years!
BlueJude hugs to all!

The STAR Graduate

OUR STAR
GRADUATE
At
OUR
ROAST
N
TOAST
BBCUE!
WHAT FUN!!