Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Fresh-Picked Memories

Here's a quickie little page I made to capture some of those oh, so cute clothes my baby has worn this year.  I love this little milk outfit with the milk truck on the zipper and the cuffs of the jeans. 
I wanted to accentuate the green and blue color combo, so I stuck with the Simple Stories summer line and accented with some pieces from the elmwood park kit from Studio Calico.
I love that there is burlap paper in the summer line - I'm not allergic to it, so no sneezing or sniffles were involved in the making of this page!  :)
And....I believe I hear that little one crying for some milk, so this little milk maid has to run!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Washi starburst

Okay, so I'm trying to embrace this starburst rage (I love the look....just not good at creating it!) and do it well on a layout.   If you have any tips for creating this look successfully (without taking hours of time...) I'm all ears.  Well, all eyes in this case!
 Anyway, I got this idea to create a page and start with this little sunburst title.  I used the starburst to guide the placement of the washi tape.  Once I had the washi on my layout, I masked off each section to spritz with mr. huey.  I wanted to leave a few sections open for my journaling.
I used Bonnie Blue and Pony Mr. Hueys to spritz.  I took Barnwood and splattered on the other two spots.  The patterned paper is Authentique and the Starburst  and Washi is My Mind's Eye.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Project Life....catching up!

I'm starting to get caught up on all of my Project Life weeks.....this is the middle of April here.  I used some scraps from a Studio Calico kit and some Echo Park stickers for this page.
Note the bottom picture....my daughter took a doll brush and decided to play the handle of our wood stove as an instrument.  It makes for a rather interesting version of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, I must say!!!
Here is my brother and his first son meeting my new baby boy.  And the bottom picture is one of my little boy meeting his brand new baby boy the first day he was born!  Cousins....a month apart!  I love the way the sequins look on my journling spot - they give it a bit of pep and pizzazz!!
Oh, the glare....grrrr.....
I bought some fun new Fabulous pieces from Simple Stories at Archivers, so they were just perfect for these pics of our bike ride and some spring flowers.  I love the stickers that are made to look like Washi tape!  Too cute!  The Dear Lizzy sticker was quite appropriate for the bike card....that's exactly what my daughter says every time she wants to go  for a ride!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

1st Smile

Ah, what an age - our sweet little boy is 4 months old tomorrow - about 2 months ago he started flashing those first smiles and has been all smiles and giggles ever since!  Now he's started blowing bubbles....they are just so very adorable at this age - I just want to eat him up all the time!  ;)
Here's a quick page I made last night to remembber this sweet moment - I used the So Cal kit from Studio Calico to create this page.

My Mind's Eye paper, chipboard, and buttons, Studio Calico paper and letter stickers, October Afternoon letter stickers

Friday, July 20, 2012

Lovely Day

Can I just say that I had the very best time this past Monday?!  One of my best friends from high school came to see me - we hadn't seen each other in close to 20 years!  And who would have thought that her little girl was the same age as my daughter?  They played nearly all day long together without fussing - amazing!  And as for us...we had a super duper chatfest!  So much fun!
So....I know you're looking at these pictures and thinking....okay, what does that have to do with these pictures on this layout? 
Nothing!
It's the paper and embellishments on the paper that have to do with her!  We had a swap of supplies - who would have thought that we would both be major scrapbook people?  No one in a million years!  Anyway, I fixed a huge box of duplicates I had from a Studio Calico hosted crop I went to in Bowling Green.  She brought me a ton of fun items including these great October Afternoon papers and embellishments.  Can I just say I was in HEAVEN!??!!? 
And how perfect were these papers for this page about one of our bike rides lately?
I think most of the OA items were from either the Cakewalk or 5 and dime collections.  The buttons are from Basic Grey and the letters are mostly Thicker (AC).  The large L is a Tim Holz Grungeboard that I spritzed with the OA mist and covered in crystal effects.  I added pink chunky glitter (SU) on top to make it really sparkly!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

My World

I love this picture so much!  We took this picture at a doctor's appoint when Owen was first born and still had a bit of jaundice.  We had to go nearly every day for about a week or two!  When I printed this picture out, I loved the way he looked so tiny snuggled in the my arm.  We took the picture with our phone, so you can't usually get those pictures too much bigger, so I just decided to keep this as a focal point.
I have been wanting to try this sunray effect in my scrapbooking for a while...I was just scared to do it!  I still need to work on it, but overall I was really pleased with the way this turned out.  To make this page, I took several scraps from my Handmade and Brooklyn Flea kits from Studio Calico and went to work. 
There are My Mind's Eye papers, Washi Tape (My Mind's Eye, and Smash tape), and a few other scraps making the sunray effect. 
I used an Amy Tan journaling spot to help my title stand out.  Title is made with AC Thickers, a Pebbles circle for the O, and a My Mind's Eye brad.
In the top corner is another My Mind's Eye chipboard sticker and a handmade butterfly from another one of my kits. 
I can't believe he has already doubled his weight since then!  They grow so quickly!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Perfect just the way you are!

I just adore this picture of my daughter kissing her daddy.  I don't even know who took it - probably Aunt B!  I think she had the camera.  This is right before I had the baby, so I was getting a spinal tap - who's having more fun here?!?! 
Even though they are in the background, I think the look of adoration on the janitorial staff's face is priceless, too!  
I guess I got all of the Simple Stories papers and stickers I wanted at Archivers the other day!  Mission accomplished.  Here's the first chance I had to play with it.  I entered the contest Pin it to Win it at Studio Calico - I believe I may have purchased nearly everything on the list already!  ;)  I made my own kit, eh?
I used the Fabulous line by Simple Stories for the main pieces here.  The large banner pieces are from Pretty Little Studio - Summer Gingham Bunting.  The smaller banner is from Dear Lizzy and the center of the flower is a Pebbles stitched circle.  The flowers are Stampin up punches with some scraps of paper.
By the way, did you notice my little wood veneer birdies (studio calico)?  I set them up to look just like daughter and daddy giving each other a kiss!!!  I know...I am a total cheeser....just can't help myself sometimes!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Today Eli

About a month after my son was born, my nephew was born, so we got to celebrate two births very quickly....and the number of grandchildren on my parent's side doubled very quickly! 
I created this layout to show us meeting Eli for the first time - as well as my brother meeting little Owen for the first time!
I used the recent Elmwood Park kit from Studio Calico for this page.  I loved the chevron paper as well as the huge letter paper from Basic Grey.
I added this darling little vintage circle boy (Pretty Little Studio) next to Owen - look at his cousin Gage giving him a kiss!  So sweet!
And here is my daughter holding Eli - funny story - she was the only one of us who got to hold Eli!  We didn't get to stay long, so it was okay.  Look at those cheeks!  Adorable, I tell you!
I used the Heyday sentiment stamp on the right side and a vintage cuddle card from Pretty Little Studio under the October Afternoon tag.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

You are my Sunshine

I found a new website that I think I'm going to really like - it is called Designed to Color.  I have Copic markers and bought them becuase I really do love to color.  I got inspired by their website to make this card. 
I used an image from By Lori Designs - I colored it with my copics and then added punched circles to the dress where the polka dots in the dress's design were.  I made this for the sketch challenge they are having right now.  All of the supplies for this came from the City of Lights kit by Studio Calico.  I added a few ephemera butterflies from Heyday, and cut some little pearls to add a trail for the butterflies to follow.  The sketch had butterflies, and yes, I realize you don't have to use butterflies....but I LOVE butterflies!  I just couldn't help myself!
Now....to wait patiently for my digital issue of the magazine!  ;)

Friday, July 13, 2012

The Dance Off

I still have no idea how this silly game came to be one day.  My daughter was showing her newest dance moves she learned in dance class.....which turned into a little game of, "Bet you can't do this...." between her daddy and her!  I can only wish this one picture could do justice to the silliness of the moment!  We were literally ROTFL!  Which is probably why I didn't get many good pics - guess you have to hold the camera somewhat still for that!  ;)
Anyway, I was inspired to create this page after looking at a layout made by Maggie Holmes on the SC Design Team gallery.
All of the pieces on this page come from the So Cal kit with the addition of some ephemera from the Heyday Collection at Studio Calico.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Our Anniversary

It was our 13th anniversary this week, so I wanted to do something a little special so it wasn't just another day or another year.  We used to take a special trip on our anniversary, but it hasn't been possible lately, so I wanted to do something sweet....well, probably more cheesy than anything! 
I saw this idea on Pinterest....and actually did more than just pin the idea!  Novel idea, I know!  ;)
I decided to get my husband cokes (they are his favorite) and tie a balloon to each one for a total of 13 - one for each year we've been married.  
And to make number 13 extra special, I went all out and splurged on a pack of the little glass bottle cokes - they were even regular price!!!!  That's big time, people!  That was actually his favorite part of the cokes!  He drank 3 bottles that evening at dinner.....yes, I know, my husband doesn't down a case of beer - he guzzles Coca-Colas!  Hey, I'm not complaining! 
And, just in case I wasn't cheesy enough, I bought his favorite socks and started making silly little tags with Smash journaling spots and Washi on plain tags!
By the way, he got a kick out of that one! 
Now, I realize these are not the most artistically designed tags ever.....by the time I made it home with balloons, filet mignon, and an ice cream cake (LOVE Culver's), I only had about an hour to get this done before I had to get the kids and he got home!  Needless to say, I rocked these out in record time!
I was loving the incredible ease and cuteness the Washi tape and the Heyday ephemera were adding to the tags!  In fact, I bought some more Washi last night at Archivers! 
And here are some of the Smash journaling tags - the were super easy with the Galaxy markers from American Crafts.
So, there is a super easy and fun idea for your anniversary - you don't have to plan it a month in advance...you just have to have ample space in the back seat for the balloons.
Oh....and a word to the wise....DON'T try to back up with 13 balloons in your car!  Nearly gave myself a heart attack doing that!

Monday, July 9, 2012

2nd birthday

Phew!  I made this just in the knick of time....literally!  I was cropping and pasting like a madwoman tonight!  I had this idea in my mind - I just had to get the kiddos off to bed first...you know how that goes! 
I saw this sketch on Pretty Little Studio's blog this week and decided to play with some of these darling new die cuts....are these not just the CUTEst!? 
Well, it just so happens that we might possibly be invited to a birthday party of a little boy who is turning two.  Totally a random thing.....the people know my husband and are related to my husband's cousin's husband......totally random and crazy!  See what I mean?  Anyway, so when I found out that I may have to get a present and take the kiddos off to this random party on Saturday, I went digging.  And I found this die cut.  Totally random and crazy.....and perfect!!!!
So....anyway, to make a long story short, I whipped up a boyish card (my husband bans ribbon from boy cards.......boys.....what can we do with them?!)  I tried to use argyle embossing folders, chevron paper and die cut edges, and grid paper.  Okay....so I did add a somewhat girly little accordian flower - but it is green and brown to match!  ;)
The paper all came from the latest Studio Calico kit, Elmwood Park.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Take 2

Using a little bit of the Handmade and Brooklyn Flea kits, the two oldest kits I still had intact from Studio Calico, I made this layout about finally getting to eat at the Whistle Stop this spring.  When I was pregnant we tried to eat there, but it was closed for the winter and reopening a few weeks later.  This would have been no big deal....except it is about 2 hours from our house!
Here you see the circle garland I recently bought from Studio Calico.  I hid half of it under some Riding Hood Red ribbon from Stampin' Up - I love that it is already pleated.
My daughter - held her ears because the train was so loud...
My mom - actually looked at the camera and didn't blink or squint!!!!  Miracle in Glendale, Kentucky!
The tag was in the kit and is from Ormolu.  I spritzed it with Barnwood Mr. Huey and splattered it with Holly Berry Mr. Huey.  And...I actually caught a smile from my dad - he usually doesn't smile, because he's afraid you'll notice that he doesn't have any teeth!  Ah....the rewards of chewing tobacco.....

Thursday, July 5, 2012

So Tiny

Okay, so I looked at a layout by Maggie Holmes as the inspiration for this little number.  I always adore these patterned papers by MMI, but I can't always figure out how to use them.
So...I started by stamping the hexagon with Early espresso on the background and adding a few hexagons spritzed with Bluegrass mr. Huey. 
I used a few paper scraps behind the picture as well as some new October Afternoon paper for the mat.
A few word banners from MMI and these Heidi Swapp letters for the title. 
I sprayed the title with Dewey Mr. Huey to match the Adorable word....but now I'm thinking I should have used Bluegrass even though it was clogged up.....oops!  Maybe need to fix that one!  ;)