Mama, on sale

One of my very favorite kits from cherpea designs, Mama, is on sale for $2 for the next 24 hours! I am still so totally in love with this kit!!

Here are a couple of layouts I made with it almost a year ago (in my days where journaling wasn't important to me...)


(the paper on this layout are from a paper pack of cherpea's - In Behind.)

Hello, friends! I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Ours went very well!! Saturday we had a birthday party to go to, and I was really excited to make this card.


I printed everything out from One Little Bird's kit Unstoppable. (And one little hint I learned from Jessica Sprague recently - use Presentation Paper for hybrids - look at the gorgeous vivid color on this - presentation paper is coated, so the ink doesn't sink into the paper like it does with cardstock! It definitely more expensive than picking up a pack of white cardstock at Walmart, but I love it!) Other products I used - Tombow Mono Adhesive, Elmer's Craft Bond Glue Spots (they are what I used to raise the car off the page and give some dimension), and souffle 3-D pens from Sakura (I won these recently - very cool!)

Lily drew this fun photo of Clifford the big red dog!


And William was in the regional finals of the Knight of Columbus spelling bee yesterday, and won first place! It was especially sweet, as he finally beat the girl who had made him get 2nd place for quite a while now!

Oh, and the mail late last week was FULL of goodness!!! I got a package of Pink Paislee items I won from the very sweet Sarah Eclavea. Such pretty goodies - I can't wait to play with them!! Check out her blog - she is full of inspiration!

I also got something I am so very proud of!! The newest edition of Somerset digital studio! It's not out for the public yet, so here is a special sneak peek!

Why do I have a copy already? Well, because one of my layouts was chosen to be published in it!! Yay!! I am so honored to be in this fabulous magazine! And I would HIGHLY suggest this publication to you!! (And not just because I'm in it!) This is the first magazine where I have truly wanted to read each an every article. There are articles from people I had never heard of, who make beautiful digital art, and other people who I feel I know a little bit who also make beautiful art (like Christine Honsinger and Tangie Baxter!) If you are a digital scrapper, I really don't think you will be disappointed with this!

Anyway - here is my page - mine is the layout on the bottom of the left page.


And one more piece of fabulous goodness I received, and cant' wait to use... I am taking the Mouse, Paper, Scissors class from Jessica Sprague and Heidi Swapp, and received my supply box!!! Yay! I don't want to spoil the surprise for anyone that might read this and may not have gotten their box yet, but here's a little peak (Mmmm... I see lots of Tombow goodness in here!!!) I am so excited for this class to start, and I'm sure you will be seeing plenty of projects soon from it, right here!!!


Take care, my friends!!

Introspective

Good morning, friends! My little guy has kind of been getting his days and nights mixed around, so when he was up a 3 am today, I got online for a while. I happened to notice this beautiful new kit from Queen of Hearts, and fell in love. Couldn't resist it!!

I had been wanting to participate in the MScraps Oscars, but as weird as my life has been lately, I just hadn't gotten around to it. This morning I realized that the contest ends in about a half hour now, so I thought I'd use this kit to make a quick layout. Funny, most of my layouts lately are quite introspective. Must be indicative of what I've been feeling lately...


Everything in this is from the Cool Crazy kit from Queen of Hearts, except the background, which is from the MScraps collab Above All is Love.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Aren't these lovely?? My hubby surprised me with them on our way for our first dinner out ALONE in probably 5 years. It was fantastic!! It was the first time I've gotten a beeper to hold while we waited for a table, I had my first margarita (yum!), and I even wore pretty shoes even though I had to walk across our mud hole of a driveway. It was a fabulous evening!


This weekend I also had some hybrid fun! I got these banner printouts from House of 3, and put together, with Tombow Mono Adhesive, these sweet little toppers for the cupcakes my daughters were bringing to their Valentine's Day parties today. I think we ended up making roughly 80 cupcakes!

Aren't they cute??? I usually go pretty heavy on the frosting, but I decided to try it differently this time. And these banners would be adorable on a scrapbook page, don't you think??

The kids had fun having snowball fights with what snow is left! And somehow Jake ended up in this pink butterfly hat! Funny!!



I also made this "Be My Valentine" banner from Elle's Studio. I've been working on it for a while, trying to find time here and there to cut out the pieces. I though it looked pretty all put together!

On the ends I put some coffee filter flowers. They aren't perfect, but I thought they added a nice touch to the banner.

It was a fantastic weekend at our house!! I hope yours was fantastic as well! Have a happy day today!!

A big change

Hmmm... take a look over there at the sidebar. I've decided to make some major changes in my life, and one of them is that I need to stop creating for other people, trying to meet deadlines and feeling incredibly guilty when I can't. So - I have said sad good-byes to all my creative teams. It was very tearful for me, but it was a decision that in my heart I know was the right one. My marriage is really struggling right now, and between trying to keep our family businesses afloat, and trying to care for 5 kids ranging in age from almost 2 to a senior in high school, and trying to make things work with my hubby - it's just time for me to focus on all the stuff that really, really matters!!! And while I TOTALLY plan to keep scrapping and crafting, I will be doing it for myself and for my family - not worrying about if others are going to like it. So, don't think I'm going away. No. I just hope to bring you perhaps things that are a little more me, and maybe make this a little more personal. I will still totally be showing you things and designers I love - I can't stop doing that! But, this will be purely out of love for right now, and nothing more. I hope you all will stick with me!!

So Excited!!

I am so excited, I just had to share with you, my darling blog readers! I showed you a few days ago some hybrid cards I made with some things from House of 3 and Pink Paislee. Well... I didn't win any of the exciting prizes that House of 3 was giving away for their birthday, but I sure felt like a winner anyway!! Because Heidi and Rhonna SHOWED my cards on the live web show!! I just about fell over when my kiddos yelled - "They're showing your cards mom!!" Now, I didn't get to see it live, because my hubby had just gotten home from pushing snow for about 2 days before that, and I was trying to be a good wife and not sit in front of the computer while he was home. But, I sure did watch the next day!!! Anyway, that was my little moment in the sun this week! And I just wanted to share it! :)

Gaga

Oh, my goodness! Couldn't you just faint at the cuteness of this kit??? Sir Scrapalot introduced Gaga for Little Monsters today, and I had so much fun with it! Adorable!!!

Here are some hybrid Valentine's cards I made. I really like them, but I'm not sure I'll take the time to make all the Valentine's for my girls' classes! That would be a LOT of monsters to cut out!!


I also made this layout with it. I'm really into the journaling right now, but I just couldn't get serious about that with this funny kit!


Gaga for Little Monsters kit by Sir Scrapalot
Font is Joe's Hand

Kendi

Check out this gorgeous new kit from Brine Design - Kendi. Kendi is the African name meaning "The Loved One", and this kit is full of beautiful loving elements. And I really like the color palette.


Here is the layout I was inspired to make with it.


Journaling: My darling Jacob, You are so very special to me! I adore holding you on my lap, and watching you fall asleep snuggled against me. It is the most beautiful time of my day, when you go to sleep on me. This particular day though, I was busy on the computer, and you were watching a movie, and you fell asleep all by yourself for the first time. You looked so very, very sweet. But, I have to admit, my heart broke just a little bit. You see... you are growing up, and don't necessarily need me to fall asleep anymore. And it made me kind of sad. I love you!

Kendi by Brine Design
Font is 1942 Report

twolittlepixels 3rd Birthday!

The Artisan Notebook

I am very excited to share with you my first layout published in The Artisan Notebook! This was in the January 2011 issue.


Sentimental from K Studio - backgrounds and buttons.
Scribbles 'n Scallops Alpha from K Studio - bracket
Essential Stitches #3 from Syrin - Stitch
all available at CatScrap
Song- It won't be like this for long by Darius Rucker
Font - Jellyka-Estraya's Handrwriting
Journaling: As I looked through old photos from my childhood, and started to scan them into the computer, I was struck by emotion. My mom was meticulous about writing a caption on the back of all the pictures. Most said things like, "Rebecca's Sand Castle Sept 8, 1981" or "Rebecca 13 1/2 mos. old", even "Becki is 'nursing' Teddy". The caption on the back of this photo however was not my mom's lovely handwriting, but mine. It says simply, "our ex-family". I don't know the date of this photo, but I look to be about 6, I think. In that case, roughly 2 years later, my parents were separated, my mom was in a mental hospital, and my sisters and I were living first with Grandma, then with my aunt and uncle. I am so thankful that when this photo was taken, I didn't know how life would change so soon.

Hybrid Cards

Okay, so I'm not very good at hybrid yet. Honestly, the feeling of trying to get things lined up right and using glue and all that stuff is still very awkward for me - I'm so used to digi. But I have wanted to so long to actually hold the goodies in my hand - to have actual cards to give away, rather than something I just printed off, to have pretties hanging up on my walls... So, I've really been giving it a go. And one of my favorite companies (and there are many) is House of 3. They are celebrating their 2 year birthday!! Anyway, I also love Pink Paislee, so the Parisian Anthology (along with the new Soiree collection) are definitely among my favorites!! So... today I made this little set of cards. Yay! They are FAR from perfect, but I feel good about them! Because I made them. :)



I used a brush set from the Parisian Anthology line, as is the beautiful ribbon. The jewels are from Jolee, and I used Tombow Mono Permanent Adhesive (I LOVE this stuff!).

my cuppa tea

Just wanted to let you know that Pink Reptile Designs has one of my very favorite kits of hers on sale for only $2 today at Digiscrappers Brasil. Get my cuppa tea today! (image is linked.)

Beauty

Whew - I think this will be last post today. How's this for making up for being such a bad blogger lately?

Hazel Olive has introduced this gorgeous new collection today! I am absolutely in love with Her Journey. Not only are Ashley's kits lovely, but she has the most delicious color combos that are just a dream to work with!




My one word this year is Beauty. I've really let myself and my home go, in an effort to live an easy life, where most things I own and wear are quite utilitarian. I plan to change that this year, and I thought with all the word arts and elements in this kit, it was perfect for scrapping my goal for this year.


Journaling reads: I vow this year to seek Beauty everywhere. In myself. In my home. In my family. In the world around me. I vow to not only seek beauty, but create it. Not only to find it, but to cultivate it. I've lived in a state of function and ease, and failed to recognize how bland that is. But no more. Beauty is in me. Beauty is what I seek. Beauty is me.

Her Journey kit from Hazel Olive Designs

Two

I made this layout for The Right Accent challenge at CatScrap.


Journaling reads: I love watching the two of you together. Father and son. Best buds. Daddy and Jake. Leader and follower. The protector and the protected.

Euphoria Paper Pack from creashens
Schmootzy Romance frames from Nancie Rowe Janitz
Furever kit by creashens
Word Art No. 6 by Kristen Rice
Simply Swell No. 1 kit by creashens
Hand-Picked Flower Brushes from Lynne-Marie

Vintage Valentines

Oh, how yummy! Nancie Rowe Janitz put in her shop today these GORGEOUS Vintage Valentines. She thinks they are from the 1920's.

They are absolutely gorgeous printed out to make your own vintage valentines, but I had this idea for a fun little page. It's kind of cheesy, but I had fun.


In case you can't read them, the 5 sweet words on the red heart say, "Won't You Be My Valentine?"

Vintage Valentines from Nancie Rowe Janitz
Flower from Sweet Life Kit by K Studio
Background (slightly recolored) from Euphoria Paper Pack by creashens
Font is 1942 Report

No Place Like Home

Yippee! While Kristen Aagard is guesting at CatScrap (where she's staying through February!!), she and Kristen Rice did another collab! I'd like to introduce you to Love Lives Here. It is soooo full of wonderful things!!

Here is the page I made with it.



Journaling reads: There's no place like home... There's no place like home... There's no place like home...
I loved "The Wizard of Oz" growing up. We'd watch it at least once a year. But I never realized just how true that phrase was until well into adulthood. Home is the place I would rather be, more than anywhere else. Traveling is fun, visiting friends and family is fun, but I can never wait to get back home! My home is where I eat and sleep. It's where I create and work. It's the only home 3 of my kids have known. It's where I've nursed babies, and kissed boo-boos. It's where I've changed diapers and rocked babies to sleep. It's where I make food to feed my family, and where we prefer to eat. It's where we garden and raise our chickens. It's where we cut wood, and stack it for winter warmth. It's where we preserve food, and store it for later. It's where our children have played, in mud and in snow. Where they swing and play tag, and just run around. It's where they have learned to chores, and care for animals. It's where they have learned the value of hard work, and the incredible joy of getting work finished. It's where I hope my children have learned lessons that will carry them through the rest of their lives. It's where I always want to be. Home.

Love Lives Here kit by Kristen Rice and Kristin Aagard
Font: Jellyka-Estrya's Handwriting

And then for a very special treat... they have put their first collab on sale for 50% off! I haven't had a chance to play with it yet, but wanted to make sure you got it while it's on such a great sale!!



I'll be back later with more!