More Little Projects
Painting: Bazzill cardstock (white + green), Cosmo Cricket; Girl Friday pp + cardstock stickers, American Crafts Alpha stickers, misc: buttons, embroidery floss, journaling pen
Slumber Party Card: Bazzill cardstock (white + kraft), Cosmo Cricket: Girl Friday pp + cardstock stickers, misc: sewing machine stitching
Notebook + Pencil Set: Bazzill cardstock (green), Cosmo Cricket; Girl Friday pp's + cardstock stickers
Best Wishes Card: Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket: Girl Friday pp's + cardstock stickers, Jenni Bowlin pearls, Kaiser Crafts rub-on stitches + flowers, Hero Arts stamp, Pink Paislee cardstock sticker (center of flower)
I just wanted to share a purchase that I made from one of my favorite Etsy seller's, Kristy Kempinger, owner and creator of The Glass Chickadee. I love her beads and glasswork so much but I always feel so guilty purchasing something like this for myself (I know, I'm crazy) but a couple of weeks ago I saw that Kristy made some fun whimsical beads (one of which was the bunny above) and I thought it would make a fun little gift for Zoey. I didn't end up getting it right then and the other day while checking out my favorite Etsy seller's (her shop included) I saw that it was on sale for just $6 (she has weekly specials that you just have to check out!). I snatched it up right away and can't stop looking at it...I can't believe all the work that had to have gone into just this one little bead. So cool. Oh, and another thing that makes it even more cool, Kristy just happens to live here and has become a friend of mine too, she actually taught me how to make handmade soap at one of our MOP's meetings a couple years ago. So neat to know so many creative women and to be able to support one another's crafts and artistic endeavors in this way. Etsy just rocks!
MPCo. Layout
Supplies: Marks Paper Company; First Date Bouquet, Your Sunday Best, Dapper Dan, Prima Marketing, chipboard alphas, Misc: text paper from a book, buttons, tag (made by Stacy Marks), sewing machine stitching
Be sure to stop on over to visit the MPCo. gallery as lots of stuff is being added for inspiration...also be sure to check out the MPCo. blog now and again, I am told that the Spring Release sneak will be coming soon!
little z: Bazzill cardstock, Bazzill pom-pom trim, Cosmo Cricket; Girl Friday pp's + cardstock stickers, American Crafts Puffy Rainboots Alpha Stickers, Fiskars Circle Punch, Marvy Scalloped Punch, misc: buttons + machine stitching
Sometimes you create a layout that you really love and it's okay to tell the world that you do...this is one (the one below) of those layouts for me, I just love how it turned out and it's one of those that I know will be fun to look back on for both Zoey and I. Being a snack leader at Pre-K is pretty darn important and Zoey always wants to make a special thing of her responsibility of it and I love helping her do just that.
Snack Leader Day @ Pre-K: Bazzill kraft cardstock + green cardstock + brads, Cosmo Cricket; Girl Friday pp + cardstock stickers, American Crafts Puffy Rainboots Alpha Stickers, Kaiser, Rub-On Stitches, Fiskars Corner Rounder Punch, misc: white journaling pen
You Are Here in This Crazy Life: Bazzill cardstock, Fancy Pants Designs; On a Whimsy pp's, Cosmo Cricket; Girl Friday pp's + cardstock stickers, American Crafts Puffy Rainboots Alpha Stickers, misc: journaling pen, 3-d adhesive (for arrow)
I've got a ton more stuff left over from this kit so I'm hoping to get a bit more crafty time in soon...don't forget about the Scrapbook Circle Design Team Call, you can learn more about it here!
Here are some yummy sneaks of the April Kit for Scrapbook Circle...looking forward to getting some time to start digging into this one as it arrived at my door just today!
It's kind of bittersweet as this will be my last month designing for Scrapbook Circle, it's been a wonderful team to be a part of and Lisa has been the absolute best all throughout my term with Scrapbook Circle. Now I'm glad to let some other lucky lady take my place!
Here are the details...hope some of you try out for it!
Scrapbook Circle Design Team Call
What’s in it for you?
Our monthly kits of newly released scrapbook supplies delivered to you!
Exposure on Scrapbook Circle’s gallery, blog and community
A chance to share what you love with others
25% off any extras you want to purchase (shipped free with your kit!)
What do you do if you are chosen?
Complete 4 layouts each month using the kit of the month
Post weekly on our blog
Participate daily in our forums/community
Commit to a 6 month design team term
Participate in our online crops/challenges
Promote Scrapbook Circle where you feel it is appropriate (blogs, forums, etc.)
How do you apply?
Email the following to lisa@scrapbookcircle.com:
5 images of your favorite layouts you have created
Link to your blog (if you have one)
Short bio including why you want to be on our design team
List of other current design teams you participate on
List of any scrapbook forums where you regularly participate
All submissions are due by Wednesday, April 8.
New design team members will be announced by Wednesday, April 15. The new DT members will start with the May Kit.
Special note to Grannie Annie: this is the one that has the layout of you and Zoey at Lake George in it and you can purchase it here if you like (if you can't find it locally)! =)
Another one of my layouts is published in the February issue of Scrapbook Trends Magazine. There was a mix-up initially and I didn't get my copy of the issue on time, that's why I'm sharing it a month late! This was my first time getting published by them and I love the publication. We don't get this magazine here and I love that they feature one layout per page and do such a nice job with the presentation of each project.
52Q - Week 5 & 6
just enjoying the process of creating them in little found pockets of time here and there for now.
- finished reading the book Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult
- started reading the book The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck
- taught two classes at my local scrapbook store and met some wonderful women because of it
- went to a fabulous "Under the Sea" birthday party for a very special little girl named Ruby
Ruby's mom sewed mermaid tails for all the little girls at the party and you can kind of see Zoey's "tail" there when she is sitting in the rocking chair.
- spent a day with my best girl, Zoey out on the town, we did a bit of special shopping (window + otherwise) and went out for dinner then went out for ice cream afterwards, just us girls (at the end of the day she asked me, "Did you know Mom, that I wanted you as a mama when I was a baby and did you feel me dancing in your tummy before I was born, because I was")
- watched lots and lots and lots of basketball with Ethan
- got started on my next project that will end up being another online class for my lss
- made a really good vegetable lasagna, using no recipe
- got this in the mail:
- re-arranged Zoey's room, yet again
- had fruit smoothies for breakfast several mornings, courtesy Ethan
It was a good Spring break here!
Also managed a layout for this week's One Little Word challenge...the word this week being "real." It was funny, when trying to scan and print this photo of me when I was younger, I by mistake selected wallet sized prints. Instead of just tossing and re-printing I decided to use them and incorporate the extras into the layout for part of the design. Kind of a different layout, but I like it!
The only supplies that I used for the above layout were cardstock, buttons, embroidery floss, a scrap of felt, my pen and some alphabet stamps (Hero Arts). It was kind of fun to not use traditional scrappy supplies for once.
I think the sepia toned photos worked out with this paper perfectly...the color scheme is so rich feeling, just love it! These were photos that I had taken a couple weeks back when Zoey was getting ready to go to dance class.
I took a close-up picture of the flowers (large ones are by Heidi Swapp) because I wanted to show that I overlapped two and then stiched along the middle of each petal on the front flower for an added bit of dimension.
Wishing you a great day!
Supplies: Marks Paper Company August Collection + Old Fashioned Courtship Collection, Maya Road florals, Doodlebug florals (small), Heidi Swapp florals (large), American Crafts alphabet stickers
Also, check out this adorable "Spot of Tea" set that Pam Callaghan (another MPCo. designer) created using Marks Paper Company papers...this is such a sweet idea for a gift!
I made another one! This one is for a special little friend of Zoey's who just happens to have a birthday this coming week. I chose bright colors because this little girl is like a little firecracker and has such a fun attitude and disposition! Can't wait to see her wearing it! On this one instead of three bunches of flowers, I added an initial in the middle w/some smaller flowers/buttons. Now of course Zoey wants one with a Z on it! To view the one that I made for Zoey (it was a Christmas gift) click here.
Tomorrow officially marks the start of Spring Break week! So excited to have both Ethan and Zoey home all week...and what's even more, it's actually starting to feel like Spring could in fact be on it's way! It was 38 degrees today and the snow is melting! Hooray!
Wishing you all a wonderful end to your weekend!
Currently I am putting together a card class for my lss using papers from Marks Paper Company...I am so excited about this class because the proceeds from it are going to support a cause that really means a lot to me. I'll share more on this later, closer to the date of the class (sometime in April). For right now though, I've got two of the cards created and the class kits cut for both and am planning on adding two more cards to the class. Here is one of what I've come up with so far. Love this paper so much! Hoping to incorporate several techniques within this class such as: paper-cutting, doodling, embossing, paper-tearing, distressing and more!
Supplies: Marks Paper Company: #1001 In the Summer/In the Garden, #1003 Snap Dragons/Sun Kissed, Hero Arts: Clear Design All Occassion Messages, Colorbox: Chalk Ink, Glue Dots, cardstock
It was Zoey's day to be snack leader today and we made some yummy Pumkin Bars and topped them with some of the Annie's Bunny Graham Snack Crackers. They turned out really good, here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
4 eggs
1-2/3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
ICING:
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
Directions:
In a bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour into an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.
For icing, beat cream cheese, sugar, butter and vanilla in a small bowl. Add enough of the milk to achieve desired spreading consistency. Spread over bars.
Yield: 2 dozen.
And a fun song to start your day off on the right beat!
Showing Up + Doing What You Are Made to Do
I watched this clip the other day for the film Who Does She Think She Is? I am hopeful that this is something that I will get to see.
Yesterday while listening to Wisconsin Public Radio I heard a really good program with the guest, Stephen Hinshaw, the author of the book, The Triple Bind: Saving Our Teenage Girls From Today's Pressure's. Really interesting (if you like you can listen to the audio of it here in the WPR Archives). They talked about how today's young girls are being told that they need to excel in all areas of life (athletics, academics, to be nurturing yet independant, beautiful, etc.) and how it is causing risks to their sense of self and well being. Some of the studies that they shared throughout the program were really interesting and alarming as some of these tendancies for social pressure and consequences thereof are starting as early as the third grade. I will be requesting this book from the library for sure.
Another video clip that I recently happened upon is one of the TED Talks episodes featuring the author of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, Elizabeth Gilbert. Lots about trust and just showing up for what it is that you have to do.
I think that creative people sometimes have this sense of guilt...as though their "work" isn't or shouldn't be "work" at all. The sense that is gained from the actual act of the creativity is so amazingly powerful and the sense of satisfaction can be so great at times that it's almost embarrassing to share it with someone that doesn't perhaps "get it." I think that's why it's possible to be walking next to someone for month's upon month's of time all the while not knowing that they spend their evenings sewing in their basement or throwing pots on their potter's wheel in the early morning hours. It's funny how you sometimes feel like this act of being creative is something that you should keep a secret. Perhaps this reason is that it's something so personal, an extension almost of who it is that you truly are. And then once you put yourself out there and expose who it is that you are, how much fear there can be...or fear that people can expect of you (you'll get this if you watch the above video).
Perhaps enough rambling about my thoughts today! Pictured below are some of the necklaces that I made over the weekend for my mother-in-law. I made a total of six, but just took photos of these four. The acrylic pendants are from D.Reeves Design House. I stamped the images on them using Staz-On ink.
you can find those here. I think these notes by Knock Knock are a hoot...and perhaps something that (a..hem) I probably would have used in all seriousness at one point in my life.
Pictured above are two sets of my favorite clear stamps by Creative Imaginations. They are awesome! Sometimes when I get clear stamps it seems that there is a film on them and I can't get a clear stamped image until I wipe them down or use them several times, that is not the case with these stamps! I got a clear image right off the bat and they are of very high quality, and the designs are just cool, I love them...can you tell? Pictured above are: Alphabet Stamps + Journaling Stamps. Right now they are on sale for just $8 on the Creative Imaginations website. Is that awesome or what?
The layout below uses all Creative Imaginations products with the exception of the cardstock (Bazzill) and the trim (Making Memories). The stamping was done using some of the awesome stamps from the Narratives clear stamp sets (there are three of them and I love them all!). The photo was one of my favorites of Zoey after her first performance of the Nutcracker...she was so tuckered out when the evening was through and all the excitement had passed, glad I got this shot.
Now today I am getting things ready for a visit from Ethan's mom...if all goes well, she'll be arriving sometime on Saturday and staying throughout the beginning of next week. Fun times are in store for Zoey for sure when a Grandma visit is in the works! I'll be getting to spend some extra time working at my lss too, so that's always a fun thing too!
Wishing you all a fantastic weekend!
The "recipe" is essentially: one part water + two parts plaster of paris + enough tempera paint to achieve the color of your liking. The first step is actually to wipe down the inside of your Dixie cups with petroleum jelly (this will make it easier to get the chalk out once hardened). After you line the inside of your cups with the petroleum jelly, very carefully (so you do not inhale the dust of the plaster of paris) pour two Dixie cups of plaster of paris into your plastic container and add one Dixie cup of water. Stir until well blended, the mixture will have the texture of a paste. Add your tempera paint at this time until you achieve the color of your liking and set aside for at least 24 hours to harden.
Once dry and hardened you can tear your cup apart and reveal your very own handmade chalk!
Super cool project and an easy one too. I also saw that a woman suggested using plastic easter eggs as molds for your sidewalk chalk for Spring. You can get her "how to" here.
And then I just wanted to share a layout that I did using the March kit from Scrapbook Circle.
It's a pretty simple one, used lots of the cardstock stickers on this one by Pebbles, Inc.
This morning was our morning to have waffles or pancakes (Zoey's choice, this morning it was waffles) at home...love Thursday mornings for just the reason that it's the one morning that Zoey and I get to spend together and have no specific "agenda" that is looming. I know that next year I'm really going to miss this with her being in Kindergarten all week...so I'm trying to take advantage of this time we have now the best I can. Speaking of which, I have someone who is wanting to do some painting with me! Have a great day!
A brief breakdown of my space:
1. Picture of my space taken from the living room. The wicker trunk in front of my small bookcase is filled with Zoey's trains and other toys, you can kind of see that I hung a curtain in front of my bookcase (this hides baskets of supplies: stamps, inks, stickers, adhesives, brads, gems, etc.) from this view and is open on the other side for easy access. The tall, skinny cabinet to the left of my bookcase houses bottled adhesives, resins, matte finishes and my Cuttlebug, Bind-It-All and jewelry making supplies.
2. Picture of a scale that I got from the bakery that I used to work at. I love it and it sits on my desk and is perfect for holding a tray filled with little bits of things that are somewhat newer that I want to keep out and about for the sake of use.
3. On top of my standing paper rack I have a metal basket that I found at one of my favorite antique stores that holds all of my punches and my Crop-A-Dile. Behind this basket my paint is stored in an old wooden coca cola bottle box. I got this tip from Erikia Ghumm (I LOVE her craft room so much!).
4. I found this metal star at a thrift shop and hung it on the wall to display some of my favorite vintage trims that I've picked up along the way.
5. View of my desk where I do most of my work. The wooden display shelf was also something that I got from the bakery - originally meant to display decorative plates - it's perfect for storing mini albums, loose art journal pages and much more.
6. This is just a cool vase that I found (again at my fave antique store) and I use it to store recent cards and tags that I have made.
7. On top of my secretary desk (more about that later) I have scraps of fabric, some of the mini's that I've made and I framed some of my favorite papers (by Anna Griffin) into cool frames and display them here as well.
8. Here is a shot of my secretary desk as well as Zoey's (the smaller on the right). I was so tickled to have found this small child's version secretary desk at flea market last summer and it's been positively perfect for Zoey. It's been awesome for the both of us to have a place to sit down together and "work." She loves the fact that she is included right with me in my creative space. My secretary desk is actually a piece of furniture that was given to me from my father. It's the one thing that as a child I remember really loving and being intrigued by (I loved all the little slots and drawers and hiding places in the inside of the desk), so I was beyond happy when my dad said that I could have it. There is a bit of history attached to it as well...it was brought over from India by my dad's great grandfather who was a missionary there for quite some time. My dad's father was actually born there...so that makes this piece all the more special to me.
9. Picture of my secretary desk opened (inside the shelves I have jars of small embellishments and inside the drawers I have adhesives and small tools. The longer two drawers is where I store most of my paper scraps. The standing slots house publications that I refer too often and project instructions/tutorials that I've created).
10. On the walls...
11. Another view from the living room.
12. Stickers, tags and labels I store in an office clip on my desk.
13. Had to throw another photo in here for this collage so this is yet another photo taken from the living room!
14. Top view of my secretary desk.
15. On top of my small bookcase is where I currently have my sewing machine and where I actually do my sewing as well. It's not the best set-up, but it's working right now until I find a sewing table that I absolutely love and that will fit in this space.
16. Hanging baskets store little bits and things above my small cabinet and desk area.
And here are some of my favorite crafty spaces belonging to others:
- Erikia Ghumm's - love that her's is in a small attic and I looooooooooooove her ecclectic, bright and fun taste and I also share her phobia of any and all plastic storage containers!
- Candace Stringham's - love that it's so small (the dimension's are the same as mine!) and that she's super organized...I love the idea of putting up chicken wire on one wall for clipping things to!
- This girl has an adorable space and take a look at all her fabric here!
- Shabby Scraps room is just so sweet, isn't it almost blissful? I'm not sure I could actually get down and dirty and into a painting project in there though...doesn't make me love it any less!
- Tara Whitney's space is so open and organized looking and I love all the natural lighting that she has...and someday I will have some of my own library index card drawers!
- One of my favorite artist's, Christine Adolph (who just happens to design product for Creative Imaginations) has a studio set up in her garage! Which I just find so cool, I tend to have these vision's of glamour when I think of people that I admire from afar and it's just nice to know that we're all just looking to carve out that special place that will be just ours...
- And lastly...this video that Emily's husband did of her creative space is just priceless. I was laughing out loud and yes, I made Ethan watch it too...just for the sake of him knowing that I was not the only mildly insane woman out there who refer's to their husband as "dh" whenever on the internet.
And here is Zoey hard at work at her desk...