SOCIAL MEDIA

Zoey Art

5.31.2009
Mama Blowing Heart Shaped Bubbles by Zoey

Zoey was hard at work at her art desk while I was scrambling to finish up baking some things for a bake sale that was this weekend and while I was also preparing a dessert for the end of the year MOPS picnic that was held Saturday evening. When she was finished with her picture and came to show it to me in the kitchen, she shared with me that it was a picture of me blowing heart bubbles outside. This little girl makes my heart so very happy. =)

Marks Paper Company Projects

5.27.2009
Memories of Mike

I had been wanting to scrap these photos of a dear friend that we lost too soon for quite a while now...it came together nicely using these papers from Marks Paper Company's August Collection.

Memories of Mike

I used the butterfly die and Cuttlebug for the butterflies and intentionally cut them out with the text upside down just because it doesn't make sense that we lost this friend so early in life. I also clipped the wings to the page with the green metal rings to represent it being "caught." Such a special guy Mike was...I am truly blessed to have gotten the chance to know him and call him a friend.

Memories of Mike

Supplies for layout: Marks Paper Company, patterned papers; Bazzill, cardstock; Cosmo Cricket, velvet green trim; Basic Grey, purple fringed trim; 7gypsies, "journey" tag; Making Memories, copper brad + green rings; Bookwerks, word sticker; Chatterbox, letter stickers; SEI, rub-on words; Cloud9 Designs, rain dot stickers; Cuttlebug + Cuttlebug die

Friends Card

I also wanted to make a quick card using scraps from my Marks Paper Company project of the month (directions for that can be found here) and used the "quilt" prompt from one of Cocoa Daisy's daily prompts/challenges that they post on their messege board to put this card pictured above together. I simply cut scraps of papers to 1 1/2 inch size and put them together on a cardstock mat. For the "Friends" embellishment I cut down a sticker from a 7gypsies sticker sheet that I had and placed clear buttons over the top with a glue dot. The stitching is actually rub-on stitches from Kaiser Craft and I used the butterfly die again from my Cuttlebug to cut out the corkboard butterfly.

Supplies for card: Marks Paper Company, patterned papers; Bazzill, cardstock; Kaiser Crafts, rub-on stitches; Cloud9 Designs, rain-dots; 7gypsies, stickers; Creative Imaginations, clear buttons; Karen Foster Designs, adhesive backed cork-board

Thanks Grandma!

5.26.2009
Leopard Zoey

My mom was up visiting and with her she brought a big old box full of summer clothes that my grandma picked out from a neighbor lady friend who has a garage sale every year who just happens to have a little girl that is exactly one year older than Zoey (my grandma has done this every season for Zoey...we often joke that she has kept Zoey clothed since birth, and the truth is...well, she probably has!). Within the box of clothes there is always some fun little addition...one time it was a cabbage patch kids lunch box, I think last time it was a backpack that looked like a dog and this time it was a leopard costume! What an amazing score! While visiting, my mom and I tried to hit a few garage sales and did some shopping downtown. Zoey wanted more than anything to wear that costume around all day...we convinced her to remove the costume part and just wear the head piece as it was super warm and sunny out. Needless to say, everywhere we went there were comments and giggles. Thank you grandma!

Memorial Day : 2009

5.25.2009
Spring Blossoms

We made the best of it here...Ethan arrived home from being out of town all weekend and my mom took off early this morning so the three of us (Ethan, Zoey and I) decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and our surroundings and took off to do some hiking and exploring.

Bearskin Trail

We drove a bit to the southern end of the Bearskin Trail and parked the car and we set out walking...

Bearskin Trail

there did come a point when Zoey decided that walking wasn't all that great and a bit later ended up hitching a ride on Ethan's shoulders.

Bearskin Trail

It was an absolutely gorgeous day, we only saw a couple other people out hiking the trail which was surprising, but kind of made sense as everyone was probably on their way home from the long weekend.

Bearskin Trail

Whenever there is water around we have to stop and throw in some rocks and twigs...

Him

Super special day...we arrived home just before dinner time and to say that we were all tuckered out from the day's adventure would be an understatement. It sure did feel good to spend the day outside in the fresh air and to be all together. This is what I love about living where we do...the ease of getting out and doing something in the outdoors and taking in all the beauty that is around us.

Bearskin Trail

Getting to spend the last couple of days with my mom was a beautiful thing for me as well...I'm already missing her and counting down the days until her next visit. We were so busy that I didn't even pull out the camera! Sometimes I guess that is a good thing. I really needed to download a bit with the one and only person that I can do that with wholeheartedly, my mom. Thanks mom!

Truly ended up being a wonderful Memorial Day weekend here for us this year! Hoping the same for you...

A Layout

5.22.2009
Gettin' Stuff

A drive-by post today...getting ready for my mom to visit for the long weekend! Can't wait! And it's just us girls here so I just know we're gonna have a blast!

The photos in the layout above are from Zoey's birthday last year, it's hard to believe that here we are already getting ready for another one. We're thinking that this year's party will be a fairy themed one...we've been busy looking for party ideas and games and thinking about what kind of cake we should make. Should be another fun one!

Supplies: Bazzill, cardstock; Pink Paislee, patterned paper, Doodlebug Designs, brads; Creative Imaginations, patterned paper; Sassafrass Lass, patterned paper; American Crafts, chipboard alphas; Adorn-It, mini-alpha stickers

Upcoming Class for the Paper Studio

5.20.2009
Little Book of Treasures

Just wanted to share one of my next classes that I'll be teaching for the Paper Studio. It's a book to share some fun "baby/kid" photos in using the beautiful papers from Graphic 45.

Little Book of Treasures

The two little squares on either side of the inside of the album that are tied with ribbons actually fold out accordian style so that you have more room for journaling and/or photos.

Little Book of Treasures

Such a fun project and an easy one too...perfect for giving pictures of the kids to a grandparent in!

Little Book of Treasures

From the Weekend...

5.19.2009
Playing

Spent some time together over the past weekend just hanging out outside enjoying the beautiful (but rather windy - perhaps explains the hooded sweatshirt) weather...

Soccer

and playing some soccer. Zoey is signed up for soccer this summer...part of me just can't believe it. Looking forward to watching her games and crossing my fingers that there won't be any black eyes or broken noses.

Zoey

Zoey

So happy that summer is approaching and there will be many more days like these...

Swinging

spent swinging and playing and perhaps no more knees in jeans that need scrubbing (and scrubbing and scrubbing) in the wash.

At the End of the Day...

Decorative Fold-Out Album + Tutorial

5.18.2009
Decorative Fold-Out Album

Ever since I finished this project I was just itching to share it, and now I can! It's my month this month to create the project of the month for Marks Paper Company and this Decorative Fold-Out Album is what I came up with for my project. To view and print out a pdf. document of the project instructions, please visit the Marks Paper Company site here.

Decorative Fold-Out Album

I truly love ever single thing that I have created using Marks Paper Company's papers thus far...the papers are so rich in color, I love the classy designs and the fact that the papers are designed to look like fabric (by capturing the "texture" in the printing process) is just plain awesome.

Decorative Fold-Out Album

The printed tags that you see throughout this project were actually free downloads that were available a couple of weeks ago on the Marks Paper Company website. They were available for just a week, so if you missed out...you truly missed out, but be sure to check the site often as Stacy frequently posts digital freebies on the blog or hosts challenges for people to participate in and the winner's score some pretty incredible paper collections!

Decorative Fold-Out Album

The felt words that I used on the cover and on the flap inside the book are by Creative Cafe (a collection by Creative Imaginations).

Decorative Fold-Out Album

Thought this would be a fun book to put photos in and to have sitting out on the coffee table on display.

Decorative Fold-Out Album

Super fun project and really not that complicated to put together and make your own.

Marks Paper Company just released their new Spring Collection not too long ago and to check it out, click here. I'm so excited to start playing with this new collection soon!

Supplies: Marks Paper Company; papers from the Old Fashioned Courtship Collection + paper patches (free printable downloads), Bazzill; cardstock, Basic Grey; fibers, Creative Imaginations; Creative Cafe felt words, Creative Cafe pearls, Fancy Pants; florals, Making Memories; paper edger, Misc; pages from a book (for cover)

Creating Keepsakes New Special Issue + Other Fun Stuff

5.16.2009


Just wanted to share that the Creating Keepsakes new special issue is out and available for purchase here. Kind of exciting because I have a two page spread in this one that is a layout in which all of us (Ethan, Zoey AND me!) are in as well as a card made by using scraps from the layout. Really a nice publication...I'm looking forward to getting to look it over more closely this weekend!

And then, just to share a quick layout that I did of Zoey trying on her costume for the first time for her most recent dance recital...

Precious

she was so cute looking in the mirror the way she was and making faces, I just had to make up a page with these photos! It's hard to tell with this photo but the orange floral paper (by Die Cuts With a View) is actually embossed and glittery...thought it worked well with her sparkles in her costume and is also why I kept the design a bit simple.

I also wanted to shout out a big thank you to this site: One Pretty Thing, for featuring me and my wallet book project the other day. Be sure to check out this site for not just scrapbooking ideas and projects but for many other craft and do-it-yourself ideas as well. Very comprehensive site and lots of great ideas and fun finds are on there!

Hope you have a great weekend! Busy here with work stuff...most likely will be back Monday!

Narratives Doily Paper

5.15.2009
Bailey

I just wanted to share this quick layout I did featuring the Sky Doily Paper which is part of the Narratives Collection by Creative Imaginations. Really pretty stuff and I found it was perfect for showcasing one of my favorite photos of my little sister. This would be really pretty paper to use in a shadow box or in creating a decorative portrait frame as well.

Supplies: Creative Imaginations; Narratives Sky Doily Paper, Renaissance Sky Paper, French Blue Bell Chipboard Alphas, Cuttlebug + butterfly dies, sewing machine stitching

Using Heidi Swapp's Invisibles

5.14.2009
I was excited to see that the cool Invisibles paper by Heidi Swapp was in the Cocoa Daisy kit for the month of may. Just thought I'd share one of the ways that you can have fun with this paper....I simply painted my sheet with acrylic paint (I chose the color Monarch by Making Memories).

Heidi Swapp Invisibles

I covered my entire sheet so that it looked like this:

Heidi Swapp Invisibles

Then I spritzed it with a bit of water and wiped it down so that the resist pattern would show more, like this:

Heidi Swapp Invisibles

Then after it dried I created my layout, which is below:

2 Friends

The photo is of my mom and a good friend of her's and was taken when I was probably around three years old outside the cafe that they used to wait tables at together. I created this layout also keeping in mind that I wanted to enter it into the One Little Word challenge this week which happens to be to use the number 2 (or two) somewhere in/on your layout.

Using this paper is easy and fun and a great way to feel like you are doing something a bit more artsy! You could use more colors of paint to create a unique background (I only chose the one color this time around), you can use inks on this paper and some of the alcohol ink spray mists that are on the market these days as well.

What I'm Listening To...

5.13.2009

And Then There Are Days...

...when all I can think of is being tucked away in some small little clapboard house that is standing tall and alone along the water's edge somewhere where all I can see is grey and surf and stone. I will feel the mist of water when outside and be able to breathe deep, even and measured breathes. Breathes that I will not have to think about taking. The only curtains that will hang will be those that are sheer and they won't even hang at all but blow in and out, acting as a partner with the dancing gusts of wind. The house will be painted white and the wood will be peeling and I will be happy to leave it just as it is, nothing more and nothing less. Let them weather and have a turn at taking the sun and wind, the rain...and the snow of a very long and hard winter. Let them keep me warm and safe and then open themselves up when the time, it is ready.

Card

5.12.2009
I Appreciate You Card

Last week was teacher appreciation week at Zoey's school so I made this card for her teacher. Some of the mom's got together and organized a meal for all the staff at her school too...each of us bringing a dish to contribute. My responsibility was dessert! It went over very well and I'm glad that I was able to contribute a little something as I really do appreciate all they do for the kids and this year has been a great one for Zoey.

Supplies: Bazzill, cardstock (kraft + blue); Making Memories, flower (pink); Prima, flower (blue)l Creative Cafe, button; May Arts, crocheted lace; Hero Arts, stamp; Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots embossing folder; other: vintage book paper

Spring Dance Recital

DSC01581

Zoey backstage with the other butterfly fairies....

DSC01578

waiting for their turn to go on.

DSC01612

Here they are dancing on-stage.

DSC01611

It was kind of hard to get photos just of Zoey (and not get some faces of other girls, hence the butterflies!).

DSC01616

Got one shot of just her (below).

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Collage of some of the other groups....

Spring Dance Recital 2009

I can't even tell you how proud it is that I am of her. She did a beautiful job and at the end of the performance, while still on stage, she put both of her hands on her hips and scrunched up her little nose and crinkled her brow, and with her chin jutting out she was looking into the audience expectantly for where it was exactly that we were sitting watching her! I had tears running down my face, as I knew just exactly what it was she was (or who rather) that she was searching for. She is the one that made my Mother's Day a special one....I love this little girl beyond measure.

Mother's Day Weekend

5.09.2009
Gerber Daisies

Hope you are enjoying a beautiful Mother's Day wherever you may be! Zoey's got her Spring Dance Recital this weekend so family is here and we're sure to have a nice time. Ethan and I both have some sinus cold action going on, so we probably won't be doing too much other than attending the recital, but it will just be nice to spend some time with loved ones taking it easy.

Here is a quick Mother's Day Card that I had fun making this week for the Creative Imaginations blog (and that I will be giving to my mom - love you mom!). All patterned papers are from the Narratives Collection and the stamps are by Hero Arts.

Mother's Day Card

Supplies: #17568 Honeydew Notebook pp, #17569 Teal Notebook pp, #17574 Honeydew Petal chipboard, #21096 Creative Cafe Pearls, #20813 Eye Candy Olivine, Creative Cafe card (white), Hero Arts, phrase stamps + letter alphabet stamps

Layering Embellishments on Photos

5.08.2009
It's the Everyday Moments

Here is a layout that I created using one of the past monthly scrapbooking kits from Scrapbook Circle (there are still a couple of these kits available for purchase if you like here!). To create a bit more interest on this layout I overlapped some of my journaling strips, tags and chipboard embellishments stragicly directly on top of some of my photos. I think that since my photos were already the focus, adding my embellishments right to the photos added interest without making the entire layout look too busy. It helped that in this case too I was sure to use similar colors that were found not only in my papers and my photos but in my choice of embellishments as well.

Supplies for "It's the Everyday Moments": Fancy Pants, pp, chipboard pieces and die-cuts; October Afternoon, die-cuts and letter stickers; Bazzill, cardstock Misc: buttons and twine

Layout Using Alphabet Stamps

5.07.2009
Riding in the Car to Minnesota

Too often it seems I forget to pull our my alphabet stamps for using on my layouts...it really makes sense if you stop and think about it. The other day when I was working on the above layout I knew that I wanted a bit of a lengthy title thus decided using my alphabet stamps were just the ticket...love how it turned out and I didn't go through three packs of alpha sticker's in the process!

Supplies: Bazzill, cardstock; Bo Bunny Press, pp; Scenic Route, pp; Basic Grey, pp (green solid), brad (orange); SEI, ribbon; Cosmo Cricket, chipboard letters; Making Memories, acrylic scrapbook paint; 7gypsies, phrase stickers; American Crafts, letter stickers (white numbers); Hero Arts, alphabet stamps; Dew Drops, ink (navy), Misc: buttons, twine

She Keeps Us On Our Toes...

5.06.2009
My Goofball

Recently out of her mouth...

Her: "Mom, are those cars with no tops real?"
Me: "Yep."
Her: "I think when I'm older I want a car with no top...yep, that's what I want when I'm a teenager okay?"
Me: "Hmmmmmmmm...we'll have to see about that."