At Home: Winter Front Porch

So I should probably think about sharing my holiday home set up...but just haven't been able to snap photos!  Next week...even though it will be Christmas Day!

Today, I am sharing my front porch decorations.  I love to change my porch for the seasons.  This winter I was originally looking for an old wooden sleigh to place along the wall, complete with a pair of ice skates.  Didn't have one

so I turned to plan B.  I remembered that I had an antique wagon in my shed.  It was a gift from my dad years ago and I just never put it to good use!  Steve dug it out and it makes such a nice statement...

I simply filled it with a bundle of firewood and lots of greens.  I cut all my own greens from my yard...we have an evergreen, holly bushes and boxwood plants!  I placed the wreath along the mailbox holder to give a bit more detail!

I love all those Pinterest images that showcase lights and ornaments nanging along the porch so I went for it!  I found my snowflakes at Target...white, glittery...and they come 4 in a package for $1.00.  Not bad!

I simply hung them with fishing wire and used sticky tabs on my roof!

It makes me happy to drive up and see it!  I am thinking it can stay for most of the winter, right???

Hoping your Sunday at home is relaxing and full of happiness!

Thursday Trending: White Space

I have always been linear, clean with a twist.

but lately, I have been in love with white space.  We are talking about using clusters of items, small portions of paper or even just strips.  I love it! 

I want enough detail and interest, yet love the white space.  Sometimes, there is a shift in how you create.  I noticed that I started to be drawn to specific artist's work or a certain style.  I think it is important to pay attention to that and figure out what draws you there. It gives you an idea of what you like and what feels right to you!

This layout has that white space I am speaking of...yet there is a hint of fussy cutting!  The best of both worlds...

This layout uses the new Sunday Picnic line from Webster's Pages!  The whole collection will be revealed soon and I can't wait!!!  This is the first collection to feature the Clean & Simple papers...6 beauties perfect for making white space layouts! 

Love this blue, don't you??

Don't forget to submit for the Webster's Pages Clean & Simple Design Team Call.  They are so wonderful to design for...hands-on, generous, encouraging...the team is just amazing!  All the details are on the WP blog here!

I see lots of white space in my future!  How about you?

Tuesday Thoughts: The Unexpected

Ahh...the unexpected.  We have had an "unexpected happen"...money stuff.  A big ticket item is needed and it is not something we were thinking about.  Boy, does something like this cause stress.  The holidays are here, the renovation occurred and everyday costs are up.  This unexpected makes my head spin.

I guess it is one of those things you deal with.  You pull up your big girl pants and move on.  I have a great husband who is smart and careful.  It will be okay. 

The holidays are meant to be a time of celebration and reflection, but they leave me stretched and tired.  So I am looking for ways to stand still for a moment and get my head on straight.  I hit my Insanity workout like a maniac tonight.  I will say that exercise brings me to a different place...I am calmer and more settled after.  It is worth every sweaty and hard second.  And I will try to go to bed early for a few nights.  I made myself stop tonight and just look at my kids as they ate dessert at the table.  They were laughing and happy.  I absorbed that energy.

Other than that, I am thinking about a stiff drink and maybe hiding under my covers. 

I know that won't work so I think I will stare at this happy face and let it all disappear!

How I love this picture of my son!  It made our Christmas card, which I just ordered at the last minute.  Yep, I told you...overwhelmed.  You can sense his inner spirit!  I used Crate Paper's Random here...most of those colors are pinks and yellows, girl colors.  But there are some great boy hues as well!  That denim...swoon!

I went with a circle theme here...the banners and circles and scallops reminded me of a happy circus!

Sounds like my life right now...unexpected stuff and all!

At Home: Celebrations

at home this weekend, we were on the go...constantly.

We went on the Polar Express, had a playdate, saw the fire truck Santa and hosted a brunch.  We are a tired bunch.

I took some photos of my front porch and how it is styled for the holiday...but the honest truth is that I didn't even have time to edit them. 

So I will share a layout and try again next week!  or maybe even on a different day this week...because this is real life and things happen!

Tonight, a layout...one I made a while back but didn't share...it features My Mind's Eye and came from the October My Scrapbook Nook kit!  The boards are up and running again over there so come for a visit!

This layout is about my husband and his good friend, Jay...funny story.  They had a boy, named him Tate.  We had a son, named him Nathan (Nate).  We had a girl, named her Ella.  They had a girl, named her Stella.  and we both have dogs named Cooper.  Makes me giggle every time!

How I love this color combo!  That blue with the yellow...love it!

Happy Sunday!  I hope your weekend was full of fun and family!

Thursday Trending: Side Stripe

not to be mistaken with Side Swipper...and, yes, now I am singing the theme song from Dora!

I am a bit tired...crazy speed scrapping, parent teacher conferences and lots of Christmas festivities!  But it is all good!  I have been letting go and just trying new things...cutting without over-analyzing.  Maybe being in a frenzy has helped that.

One trend that I am loving and using is the extreme side stripe!  That thin piece of patterned paper along the left or right side of the layout!  I feel like a side stripe serves an important prupose...it stops the eye from leaving the page and it gives balance.  You can see the side stripe on my Everytime layout on the post below.

It is also here! 

I used the December kit from My Scrapbook Nook for this layout!  The boards are back up and we are so happy to be together again.  I used those words purposely to match the theme of the layout!  To balance out the photos and the big ole snow globe, I tucked some snowflakes and little strips underneath.  I think it grounds all those random elements.

Something about the side stripe that gives a vertical perspective to things. 

I am liking it lately.  What is trending in your world?

Oh, this is a big deal...

What a great week!  I can feel the excitement in the air...and it is not from Santa...although I feel like I have been given a great gift!

Webster's Pages has announced the new Clean & Simple line, which will be added to each traditional collection!  With the announcement comes a new early release, Sunday Picnic!  And now...

A design team call for Webster's!  I am so thrilled that I will be a part of the family...and it is a family!  So all graphic, white space, editorial, clean, simple scrappers...be sure to apply!

You get to work with products that help you create this:

Those solids...I want to marry them! (Ella says that every time she really, really likes something!) 

What we’re looking for:Scrapbookers, papercrafters and card makers who 1. LOVE Webster’s Pages 2. Will help promote Webster’s Pages through their work, as well as through social media including a personal blog, InspireMe, Facebook & Twitter. 3. Love to share their ideas to help inspire others to create beautiful and simple projects.

International designers are welcome to apply.

Specific requirements and compensation details are provided upon invitation to the team. However we would like to mention that regular creation of projects and online participation are requirements for this team, and compensation is provided through a generous amount of product as well as monetary compensation for hard copy published items and trade show/advertising assignments. The term will be until the end of 2012.

Please note that Webster’s Pages Design Team members will be limited to being on no more than 3 paper manufacturing teams total.

To apply send an email to wpdt@websterspages.com with the following information:
•Provide a one or two paragraph biographical statement telling us a little bit about you and your scrapbook experience including any publication history, design team experience, teaching experience (in stores and/or online), etc.
•Explain in one paragraph why you would be a great addition to the Webster’s Pages design team.
•Include a link to any online galleries you participate on (please include your user name and make sure that online galleries do not have a login requirement) and your blog (if you have one).
•Attach a scan or photograph of 3 layouts or projects that you feel best represent your style. Images must be no larger than 600x600 px. Using Webster’s Pages is always welcome but not required.
•Please include your name, address, phone number and email address. Confirmation emails will NOT be sent. Notifications will be made by email or telephone in January.
•Applications must be received by December 31st.

At Webster’s Pages, we value our Design Team. They are an extension of our family, and we have a very harmonious group. We continue to grow and expand and we’d love to share our excitement with you. If you have any questions on applying, please send an email to wpdt@websterspages.com with subject QUESTION.

Apply...it is a great team...there is support, beautiful products, generosity...I can't say enough about this family of wonderful, beautiful people including Brandin, Courtney, Anabelle and all the DT girls!

Monday's Musing: Being You

I just want to be free to be me.  With my family, my friends, my job. Adopt a "either you love me or not" philosophy so that when people don't, its okay.  It is something I can acknowledge and reflect upon...and then let go.  It hurts when someone doesn't like you or someone is mad at you...deserved or not.  I might wish for forgiveness, but it doesn't always come.  I learned something this week that hurt my feelings.  Someone talking about me behind my back when I thought the situation was just done.  I just want it to be a non-issue.  The relationship is over and that is that. At the end of the day, I am who I am and that will not match with everyone.

This applies to scrapbooking too.  It is supposed to be an outlet.  A way to express myself. I love when I can grab a stack of scrappy stuff and just be me.  Free to create. Free to tell the stories that mean something to me.  When the product you are working with brings you to a new place.  I love when it is a good fit.

It is amazing how connected real life and scrapbooking are...one is represented in the other.

I went off on a tangent again...LOL!  My initial reason for making this post was to announce the new direction that Webster's Pages is moving in!  Brandin has come up with the amazing idea to add to her amazing collections.  Instead of 6 papers, each collection will now have 12.  Six of the papers will be traditional Webster's.  The other 6 will be Clean and Simple...think bold colors, smallers patterns and solids.  Yes, solids to rest all of those amazing WP fussy cuts upon!

I have the new Sunday Picnic collection in my hands...it is a breath of fresh air!  It felt so good, so me to use the solids as a major part of my designs!  My fellow clean scrappers will adore this...no more being afraid of Websters!  Here is a sneak:

Do you see the possibilities!?  Here is my interpretation using the new Clean & Simple papers along with the traditionally designed WP!

I love that Webster's wants to celebrate the graphic in me...and now you can celebrate the same in you! 

Be on the lookout this week for even more, and very exciting, news about Webster's!

Free, free, free!

At Home: DIY Swag

Happy Sunday!  This weekend is our only slow weekend for the month of December.  We spent is decking the halls as a family!  The rooms are decorated and the trees are up!  I will have pics of my living room decor next week...but wanted to share some easy DIY ideas today!

Of course, I have been inspired by Pinterest yet again...

I have seen a variety of these...

and this....

so I made this:

Want to know how?  First, go to Jo'ann's when they are having a fifty off sale...grab a variety of large evergreen picks.  Pick up a set of bells...I got mine at Kohl's for 50% off...score!

Collect your evergreens...this would work with the real stuff too, but I want to have this year after year!  I had to use wire cutters to trim the stems on each one.

 I had to remove some of the pine cones from these...keep them!   I am going to show you what you can do with them over the next couple of At Home posts!

Layer these on top of each other, each one longer than the other.

That is my daughter dressed up as Batgirl coming to my rescue!  Fasten with heavy duty elastic bands.

To hide the bands and create a way to fasten your bells...grab some ribbon.  Cut a small piece off and wrap it around to hide the elastics.  I used Glue Arts Ribbon Adhesive to help!

Then grab more ribbon to make your bow!  Before tying your knot, loop the bells through so they are securely attached to your swag.  Mine came with this cool ring at the top!

Finish off your bow and you are ready to hang it up...I tied a small piece of ribbon around the top and tied that to a nail on my front door!  Pretty, huh...and cheap...and festive!

It will welcome my visitors all season!

Driving By...

Wanted to stop by and share a couple of cool things!

First, My Scrapbook Nook is having some awesome specials right now...perfect timing since Christmas is just around the corner!  Find the details here!

I have been working with the December kit featuring Crate Paper and it is awesome!  We are expecting the board to be back and running soon!

I had a project up on the Teresa Collins blog this past week!  We are focusing on making tags this month!  I came up with this one using the World Traveler collection:

And I had the honor of contributing to the Card Maps Newsletter!  I always love Becky Fleck's sketches!  Check out the December Newsletter here!  Design team girls from Jillibean Soup and Webster's Pages were invited to be inspired by sketches!

Here is my card:

The Botanical Christmas line has this cool sheet of patterned paper that is made up of vintage postcards!  Makes for easy card making!  I topped it off with this velvet ribbon and beautiful candle Silhouette.

I have loads of work to share over the next few days!  I am working on something special and can't wait to share it with you...soon...soon!

Happy Friday!

Behind the Page: Challenge Me Happy

Sometimes you just need a scrappy push...a Pinterest inspiration, a DT assignment or a challenge site that makes you want to scrap!

I had the chance to be a guest designer for a great challenge blog aptly named, Challenge Me Happy!  The lovely Annelie Maddock invited me to play along with this month's challenge which involved a color combo:

I looked and immediately thought about the Western Romance collection from Webster's Pages. I pulled it out and the color combo was perfect...soft mauves, a brighter pink and those greens!  It is a pretty palette, isn't it?!

Here is my interpretation:

Gosh, my Ella looks so grown up in this photo...I thought it needed a sophisicated palette and products!  I love how the pops of brown including the Princess Petal flower accents the layout!  I kept the rest soft and girlie...I am still not over banners...sorry! 

The layout wouldn't be complete without the story so I split the journaling around the title...I actually included the title into my narrative!

I hope you play along in the challenge!  There is a wonderful prize from Artfull Crafts!  Be sure to check it out!

You will be inspired to create!

Monday's Musings

Sometimes I think we go too far with our children.  Maybe we are making up for things we lacked as kids or we think there are certain holiday events we have to engage in because the "list" says so. 

Disney is the perfect example.  We pushed and trudged and planned and exclaimed, "look at that!"  The kids loved it, but at a certain point, they wanted something simplier.  Nathan asked to leave the Magic Kingdom so he could go swimming in the pool. 

We take our children on the Polar Express every year.  I look forward to buying them new pjs and meeting all of our friends.  My kids have a great night.  Funny thing is that it is not the Polar Express train or Santa or the singing that gets Nathan most excited.  It is the simple, old-fahioned train set that is set up in the waiting area.  I can't drag him away from that. 

It is the whole "buy them new toys, but they love the box" syndrome.  I am going to try to be better about reading my kids.  I am going to try to meet their simple needs.

I caught these photos on my iPhone...not the best, but they tell the story!  I used the Dec. kit from My Scrapbook Nook to complete this layout!  It features Crate Paper's Peppermint.  Fun collection perfect for December!

On to simplier times...

At Home: Turkey Day

Twenty years of the same tradition.  It involves an early morning, lots of prep work, protective googles, $30.00 worth of oil, 15 friends, multiple family members, a fire, mayo, cast iron pan for the grill and laughter.

For the past twenty years, Steve has opened his yard to his buddies.  It is about deep frying 12 birds for dinner.  But it is more about having a reason to get together with close friends for a celebration.  It is a bonding day for Steven and Uncle Jimmy.

For the past few years we have been short one member.  It is not always talked about, but the awareness is there.  This is a day that Jay loved as much as Uncle Jimmy and Steve. 

Here are some shots of the day:

Yes, this is my kid's breakfast on this day!

Steve did this 12 times this year.  Slow and steady...

Yep, that is an axe...shh, don't tell him!

The first bird of the day!

Pinterest inspired...can you day dollar store glass jars and candles!  Split peas and cranberries for color...easy and cheap!  I used up some scrappy ribbon to tie my utensils together!

Black Friday prep...

It was a great day...I was even caught singing Christmas carols a few times (even if I was making up my own words).  Who isn't happy with friends, family and a good meal!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!