19 July 2013

SUMMER - releases releases releases

SO.

So many gorgeous scrapbook lines are coming out for summer.  I had made a decision to stop buying and use the hoard that what I have as I haven't even cracked some of the winter releases yet.  

/pushes winter paper releases to the back of the closet. 

So many gorgeous scrapbook lines are coming out for summer. 


I NEED THEM.

NEED.

Like a diva needs to wear her 'Pin Cess Ahwowra' glasses at night.




Here is one of my very very very faves ...  Allison Kreft, of course, for Webster's Pages.  Her designs have been my favorite for a while.  Have you seen how much Everyday Eclectic I've used? (I know, Echo Park days, but STILL from the beautifully talented AK)  LOL.  ANYHOW.  Check out the sweetness of RECORDED!


18 July 2013

JULY! Already...???

I cannot believe it is already mid-July.  The summer is going by too quickly!  I have a long post to write for our happenings in June, but first, I will post a link to this months BOSSY SCRAPPER!  (Or see what is happening on the FB page) Brought to you this month by yours truly.

The LIST:
1) Monochromatic
2) Single photo
3) Song Lyrics
4) Misting
5) Bling (enamel dots, brads, etc.)
6) Hand Journaling
7) Sewing
8) More than four pattern papers


And the Layout, of the little and adorable Aurora many moons ago ;):


I hope you are able to play along!

Check out June's Bossy Scrapper winner, and other inspirational LO's as well while on the Bossy site!

05 April 2013

April Bossy Scrapper is LIVE

The April Bossy Scrapper is LIVE!  This month it is brought to us by the lovely Jamie Striplin.  She put together a great list; I am most looking forward to the stitching requirement, as Amy Tangerine has the cutest templates out with her "yes please" line!

The list:
1. Cluster of photos
2. Something with grid pattern
3. Stitching
4. Banner or flag
5. ink drops/Misting
6. Bling (brad, sequin, rhinestone, enamel dot, etc...)
7. Kraft element
8. Date stamp or calendar

Check out the take on the Bossy Scrapper Blog, or on the Facebook page! 

And here is my take on the list...I scrapped our trip to New York City last March for our 10th anniversary.  Keeping to tradition, I somehow only took about eight photos (eight more than on our honeymoon, tho!).  Loren and I spent a long weekend being tourists - taking the double decker bus, sitting in Times Square at 2am, and sitting front and center for the Broadway production of WICKED!

took the photo with my banged up phone - sorry for the crazy color.
 

03 April 2013

March in Review.

Happy April everyone!  I hope your Easter was filled with the blessings and hope of our risen Savior!!!  Our Easter was fantastic, with a great Church service, naps, and an Easter Egg hunt for Me Aurora.  I dyed eggs for the first time in two decades for the occasion and LOVED it.  There really should be another holiday that gets beautifully colored eggs!  I hid them where Aurora could easily spot and grab.  She got the concept pretty quick and before we knew it, eggs were flying in and OUT of that basket!  Most of the eggs were total casualties and didn't make it to leftovers, but that was okay.  The $3.99 and dying time was well worth the fun Aurora had.

March also had a new Bossy Scrapper!  Ms. Aimee Westcott (she needs a blog update. subtle hint.) came up with a fantastic list of items that were challenging, but super fun.  Here is my take:


And the winner was Peggy Benn Kushman.  Check out her great take on the Bossy by visiting the linked FB page

And now for a short journal of our amazing month!

Excuse me, I 'mustache' you a few questions. LOL.

Keeping our spirits up, even during a terrible loss to the Timbers.  Go Sounders!

the.most.amazing.cesars.ever. The Cliff House, Bellingham, WA

Happy Easter!

Loren and Aurora, enjoying a family day to celebrate 11 years!

HAPPY EASTER, LOVE, AURORA.

08 March 2013

FEBRUARY SCRAP RETREAT

President's day weekend I drove to Belfair, WA for a bit of scrapbooking with 22 other creative ladies.  The amount of talent at this crop is amazing!!! We have an amazing time relaxing, snacking and creating.  

Here are a couple of layouts I completed.  I am going to submit a couple, and then need a little tweeking.  I'll post them shortly. :)  In the meantime:



2012 Independence Day.  Aurora was such a doll!
I saved those  pinwheels to use on the layout - I am such a scrapbooker.

Ah, Instax, how we love you. Anyone poses for a photo when that baby comes out!

This was a 'grab bag' layout.  All the elements, save the photo, twine and wood border, came from the grab bag.  Not too bad.  The colors aren't my style, so it was quite challenging!

I love this photo of the three of us.  The Maggie Holmes and Bella Blvd elements really class it up that much further!

22 February 2013

FEBRUARY BOSSY SCRAPPER!

The February BOSSY SCRAPPER is posted, brought to us by Kim Holmes this month!  You can view it on Facebook, or check out the new Bossy Scrapper Blog

Elements for this bossy are:
1. Only two photos
Got it.
2. Ink or mist 

Inked the edges
3. Tag
I totally forgot. I'll have to add it!
4. Camera
This 'fussy cut' camera brought to this layout by Aimee Westcott. Gracias, my friend.
5. Fussy cutting - something must be cut out of paper 

I was tricky and doubled up....this 'fussy cut' camera brought to this layout by Aimee Westcott. Gracias, my friend
6. Hand written journaling
Got it.
7. White cardstock

Got it.
8. A popped up element

What ISN'T popped? I think I pop everything. :D  Seriously, tho, I popped the main photo of Aurora and me.
9. Alpha stickers

Got it. 

Due to a weekend scrapping retreat, I finished mine 'early'!  It is nice having it completed before the night it is due (reminds me of college...lol!).  


This is a sweet little 8.5" x 11" LO of Aurora and me.  I love how simple it is, even thought it has 9 8 required elements!

Thanks for stopping by and have a FANTASTIC FRIDAY!


14 February 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentines Day, friends!

I won a sweet little blog draw from Elles Studio today!  I saw their booth at CHA - such cute product!

We spent our evening as a family...first stop was some Dickey's BBQ.  Aurora had her first chicken nuggets, while we feasted on some pulled pork.  We then had a quick trip to the store for some provisions, and then home for some playtime before ni-nigh time.

And now ice cream.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a single photo.

Sad, sad panda.

So, here is a photo of my Valentine and me at Mt. Rushmore. <3 p="">



04 February 2013

Old Layouts!

I just got a Macbook Air (WHEEEE!) and am cleaning off my current computer.  I found photos of layouts I hadn't gotten around to posting, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to post before blowing them away. :D  All of these are circa Fall 2010. 

Some beautiful flowers I received from Loren on my birthday!

My mom loves ice skating, so I go with her and take the photos. :D 

This was a 'grab bag' challenge.  The taped element was a GOOGLY EYE.  OMG.  I rocked it. ;)

I love the Bellagio in Las Vegas.  The displays are so peaceful.

Weekend in review

It was great being home this weekend after a short trip to San Diego for work.  The only personal highlight was the evening view from my hotel room and breakfast - we need a Broken Yoke Cafe up here!  Somebody do it! LOL.




Saturday I went to the annual scrapbooking garage sale in Mountlake Terrace to see my scrappy friends and pick up some goodies.  Andrea Ancich, Kim Holmes, and Christina Clouse were just a few of the ladies making that sale run smooth as butter!  It was mayhem up in that place - so many people stopped by to get some great deals!

On the way back we stopped at Nordstrom to get Aurora's feet measured and pickup some shoes.  She is a whopping size 6 toddler, and is now the proud owner of some purple high-top Keens.  She also had a great time pushing her stroller; here is the star of the morning:

This girl is NOBODY'S passenger. :)

Tonight I am going to focus on getting my scrap room cleaned, and maybe start some Valentine's Day cards. With cupids, hearts and love on our minds, I'll sign off with a few lines of a classic Tom Jones tune: "love is in the air, everywhere I look around...Love is in the air, every sight and every sound..."

hehehe.

25 January 2013

Best Thursday ever!

Thursdays are my 'night off' at home.  Loren takes Aurora, and I get to scrap, dink around, drink vodka straight from the bottle, go have coffee, whatever.  This Thursday was FANTASTIC!  I watched four episodes of Glee, ate some Lindt chocolate I've been hoarding from Christmas, scrapped, and opened my two new FREE die cut machines I won at CHA!  I couldn't believe it when I won the Silhouette at the show, and then when I returned I was notified by Sizzix that I won the Tim Holtz Vagabond!  WOWZAH!






I scrapped this adorable photo of my two nephews.  Aren't they the cutest brothers ever?  I used My Mind's Eye for all of the pp, wood veneers are Studio Calico and the ribbon is 'vintage', from my Grandma Dee's collection. 


 



22 January 2013

Completed January Bossy!

Here is my completed Bossy Scrapper for January:

 Required elements are:
1. metal element:

7 Gypsies brads (I put a little acrylic paint on them to tone the shiny down a bit)
2. distressing:
I distressed the horizontal yellow strip and the outside page edge
3. chevron:
on the pp paper
4. matted photo: 
it is matted!
5. the color yellow: 
My Mind's Eye
6. popped embellishment:
You can't tell in the photo, but the photo is popped, as well as the hexagon shapes
7. four patterned papers: 
My Mind's Eye (Frame is Studio Calico)
8. stitching: 

I stitched a circle under the photo; probably should have hand stitched with floss, as the machine thread is reeaaaalllllyyy light


And here is a photo of Aurora being super duper good and not touching the LO while looking at it:


Jump on over to our Facebook page and play along!!!  It is good inspiration to use elements you maybe wouldn't have thought of (or put together) and get your creative mojo flowing!



18 January 2013

BOSSY SCRAPPER: JANUARY

Happy Friday!

Here is the Bossy Scrapper list of items for January:
1. metal element
2. distressing
3. chevron
4. matted photo
5. the color yellow
6. popped embellishment
7. four patterned papers
8. stitching
It is a little delayed due to CHA goodness, however,  better late than never, right?
 HAVE FUN!!!  I'll be working on mine this weekend. yea!
And because a blog post is boring without a photo, here is one of Aurora Playing with her new Jingle (maybe Belle?) and waiting for a phone call.  LOL.

16 January 2013

#CHAWINTER2013

Well, back from CHA and into the real world!  It was my first time at CHA, and it was a great time of meeting new people, re-connecting with old friends and seeing lots of beautiful product!!!

Here are some of my faves from the show:


I WON A SILHOUETTE PORTRAIT!!!! WOO!!!! And Stephanie Wheeler won a Cameo. In her words, "LIKE A BOSS". WINNERS!  I can't wait to get it and start using it - I think it will be great for card making.  THANK YOU SILHOUETTE AMERICA!


This photo is from the Elle's Studio Blog (I was in awe of the product and make-n-takes
and forgot to get any photos).  It looked JUST LIKE THIS. ;)
Elle's Studio: Elle's Studio had some of the coolest paper and tags that I saw at the show.  PLUS, they are from the Pacific Northwest and super fun.



Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper: If you've cropped with me in the last few months, you will know my FAVORITE line has been Everyday Eclectic by Maggie Holmes for American Crafts.  She hit it out of the park again!



Amy Tangerine for AC: LOVE LOVE LOVE the piercing templates!  I can't wait to get this in my hands and use them all (especially the feather)!


Failed to photograph any of this with my phone, SO, this
is a stock photo from the BG website.
Basic Grey: I was expecting *bleh*, but fell in love with their Kneehigh, Hipster and most amazing was the Mint Julep (the embellishments and paper are SO pretty in real life!)



Simple Stories: Kim Holmes is on their design team and I love all of their product!  I'm even in a photo that Kim posted on their BLOG for CHA!!!


Other fantastic lines were found at the Allison Kreft for Webster's Pages booth. Her line has beautiful paper, paper tape, and bags.  And she is SUPER nice.  She took an Instax photo with Andrea and me. Chic Tags: Veronica Milan has a fantastic line of tags and an even more fantastic personality!  Also great stuff at the Jillibean Soup, Lilybee and My Mind's Eye booths!

10 January 2013

Here in Anaheim...for CHA!

It is almost time for some CHA action! Yikes!  It is my first time here, and I am trying to be cool about it.  You know, "OHMYGODTHEREISHEIDISWAPP!" oh there is Heidi Swapp.  NO BIG DEAL.  "nice to meet you".  I'll let you all know how I'm able to keep it together.  Like a drunk spotting banana runts in a vending machine.

I saw that Sherry Grove may or may not have been scrapping tonight, getting her mojo started for the weekend. Pretty awesome, right?  It is going to be a fantastic sight at 10am Saturday! 

The internet it horrible here at the hotel, so we are going to try and find a way to get better connection and upload some of the great things we are seeing!  Until then, may you never run out of washi.


23 December 2012

MERRY {almost} CHRISTMAS!

We chopped our tree down last weekend at Stoney Ridge Farms, just outside of Lynden-proper. 
We got there right at 9am to avoid the mad crush of fellow tree hunters we experienced the year before. 
It worked.  We were the only visitors there. It was us and the wilds of a perfectly manicured tree farm. I guess most families don't wait until the week before Christmas to get a tree.  Ha!  All I gotta say is that all the pine needles are still on our tree.  WIN!

The next step was getting Aurora's photo for the annual Christmas card.  It went great!  As long as she was holding Loren's calculator the mood stayed calm.  The moment I tried to take it away, or exchange it for a pretty Christmas ornament, book, ANYTHING, she had a meltdown.  Loren thought it was great. Proof of a budding scientist, right? :)

May your family know the JOY of Christmas and Calculation
I hope you each have a blessed Christmas!  

Silent night! Holy night!  
All is calm all is bright  
Round yon virgin mother and child  
Holy infant so tender and mild  
Sleep in heavenly peace!  
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Silent night! Holy night!  
Shepherds quake at the sight  
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah  
Christ the Saviour is born!  
Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night! Holy night!  
Son of God love's pure light  
Radiant beams from thy holy face  
With the dawn of redeeming grace,  
Jesus, Lord at thy birth,  
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

15 December 2012

December Dailies

I have committed to doing the December Daily this year.  I received a beautiful album from Christina Clouse, and to NOT use it would be wrong!  The photos are all printed up to today, and I just need to get them into the album.  Here are some of the highlight photos from the last two weeks!

December One: Went to Urban Craft Uprising with some fun friends!

December Three: Hanging with my Love!


December Six: Loren and I went up to New West in Vancouver to support a friend at a comedy gig



December Seven: Aurora being cute on our way to Lacey, WA


December Eleven: Getting some Christmas decorating done!




20 November 2012

'tis the season...for sickness...

Well, it is another sick day.  A trip to the doctor later this morning confirmed that she had the foot/hand/mouth disease.  {virus}  I don't know why they call it a disease.  Sounds REALLY bad as a disease.  :D  

Gratefully, she is likely no longer contagious as it started last week, and will be in the clear for Thanksgiving! 

Pushing that back for a moment, how about some thing fun and not sick? 

I found some blog crawls and scrappy contests you may want to check out.

- Echo Park has  blog hop until November 25 - each DT blog will have a winner!

- Jamie Dougherty is a design team member at Shimmerz Paints (with some awesome video tutorials), and I saw that she linked up to their "thankful" blog hop today. There are some beautiful projects you can complete with their products.  Check it out here: Shimmerz Paints


- Paper Issues is giving the chance to win a Reminisce holiday collection of papers.  All you have to do is like them on Facebook!

15 November 2012

Clinically Clean Finger Painting

Aurora is taking a sick day today.  Poor little girl has a 102 temp (with baby Tylenol) and some icky congestion.  The doctor prescribed some penicillin and hopefully she will be on the mend after a day or so. 

As our week is taking a pause from normality, I thought I'd post about a better afternoon, when everyone was feeling great. 

FINGER PAINTING!!!

Aurora is getting to the age where she is starting to like colors and marking things - pens, crayons...really, whatever we let her have.  A random thought ran across my brain that she would like finger painting, but what a mess.  I just can't get behind that idea with a toddler.  I then ran across an older blog post by Kayla Aimee, where she has her little girl finger paint in a zip lock bag. Genius, right?  I thought so too!  So, I followed her instructions, and got Aurora all set up.  She was completely into trying to open the zip lock {dear Lord, thank you for washi tape}, but wasn't too sure about the actual paint.  She finally gave up trying to open the bag and did some poking around, a few slaps and voila!, art!





13 November 2012

Scrapbooking retreat

Beware: this is going to be a long post with lots of scrapbooking photos.  

I spent the last four days unwinding with some fellow scrapbookers.  It was terrific!  I ate too much, sat too long, went to bed too late, all to finish 19 layouts, getting me to 50 weeks of Aurora's 52 week album.  My goal is to have one full size layout of for each week of her first year, and then fill in the gaps of busier weeks with a project life style insert.  So, getting to 50 weeks is pretty exciting!  I figure that if I only ever finish the 52 I'll be good.  AND, she is only 16 months, so I'm not even that behind!

Here are the favorites from the layouts I finished:



1) My friend Kim Holmes had  Elizabeth Karchner's Scrapbook Trend's Signature Series magazine at the crop, and was generous enough to share! I directly scraplifted from one of her layouts. :D Love it!


2) Another scraplift from Elizabeth Karchner's and Scrapbook Trend's Signature Series.  This ombre {many questions came up with what ombre is...basically it is a gradient of color.  The fashion world is using it for hair and nails right now} style is beautiful.  I didn't realize there were 'mist-able' thickers, so I just used some that were fabric and felt, figuring the mist would do just fine with it, and it did great!  I love how it turned out.


3) This layout was inspired by the beautiful designs of my friend Aimee Westcott.  Her style is so detailed with plenty of white space.


4) This layout is a direct lift from Aimee Westcott - which diverges from her traditional style. :D  The 'envelope' was the packaging from a sweet gift of scrap goodies from Marilyn McDonald. Sorry, the photo turned out terrible!


5) This layout was done from a 'grab bag'.  The challenge is for all participants to put three papers and three embellishments into a paper bag. We then all take three of each out (blindly).  There has been a bit of a learning curve, as the first time we played I pulled out a googly eye.  Yes, a googly eye.  I put some washi over it and called it good, but I still bring it up every time.  Most people now put good elements into the bag.  Even with current product, it is challenging as everyone has a different style, and pulling out a leopard print paper or a transparency frame is hard! Right, Andrea???



6) This crazy layout was a random thought I had, and it took forever.  After getting it home I think it needs some little element additions, but otherwise, it is fun.  It was also a bossy scrapper that required the following elements: four punches (clouds), sequins (fudged a bit with the shaped Martha glitter), something round (clouds), three photos (photos!), four patterned papers (clouds x2, matting x1, tiny tags on frames x2) washi tape (pink chevron), the color grey (ribbon on first photo mat) and an address tag Andrea provided (journaling spots). PHEW! 


7) One of my favorites of the weekend is this last layout I'll post.  This had some elements I lifted from Elizabeth Kartchner {I really need my own mason jar stamp!}.  However, I really like the hand stitched chevron.  Chevron is the new black, right?