Monday's Musing: Proud of Who He Has Become

My little guy turned eight years old yesterday.  How can he be 3/4 of my height?  I tried to pick him up yesterday, baby style and had a hard time.

He has those goofy eight year old teeth that are adorable.  He is so curious about learning, non-fiction and how things work.

I am so proud of his character, his nature.  Both are pure and kind.  Considerate and selfless.

I can really learn from him and feel like it is a gift that I get to be his mom.

He was three in this photo.  There he is with Ella...he looks after her all the time.  It is in his nature.

 

One year later. 

 

 

And last year.  Notice how it has changed a bit.  They are walking away from me...symbolic, huh.  They are more independent. 

 

This is another layout from my guest designing gig with Scrapping From the Inside Out.  I used the October Journey kit from to make this layout.  I adore this kit!

 

They are two together.

 

 

I trust in the man he will become.  I know he will be kind and giving.  Considerate and selfless.  I know he will look after Ella.  As a mom, I take great comfort in that fact.

 

 

World Card Making Day

Happy saturday!! If you are here for the Webster's Pages blog hop, then see the post below. But...before you do that...check this out too...Its a special day!

World card making day!

I am here to share a new card using The Persnickety collection from Lily Bee!

 

I combined one of the Journaling Index Cards along with the "Celebrate" stamp and stickers.

 

My fellow design team members created some amazing cards to be sure to head over to the blog and check them out.  There are giveaways....

 

Even more special!

Hopping Halloween: Webster's Pages

 

 

Welcome to the Webster's Pages Halloween blog hop!  We are sharing projects that are sure to get you excited about the upcoming holiday!  You should have come from the talented Emeline's blog!  If not, go back to the Webster's blog and start from the beginning!

 

I am sharing a Halloween inspired layout that celebrates a tradition many of us take part in...carving pumpkins.  Except that in our house, we decorate with markers.  I caught photos of my daughter coloring in her jack-o-lantern while sitting on our front porch.  It was easy to create this design using the Once Upon a Halloween collection.

 



 

I started with three photos...be sure to take many pictures this Halloween and capture the small details.  I hand cut this chevron owl and placed her on a perch.  I cut the fabric circle from the trim and layered in underneath.  The Pumpkin Carving title is from a sheet of paper in the collection...talk about easy!

 

I added a bunch of circles to show off all the patterns and placed charms or rosettes in the centers.

 

I added some texture by layering the orange trim under the strip of green paper.

 

 

This Halloween, be sure to capture all the traditions and details, even those that don't take place on the actual day.

In order to celebrate, we will be handing out our own Halloween treats!  To be eligible to win one of our special treat bags, be sure to leave a comment on every blog, including this one.  Prizes will be chosen next Friday!

Thanks for hopping by...be sure to move forward to Jaz's amazing blog!

 

Be My Guest: SFTIO

I was just thrilled when I was contacted by talented designer and fabulous design team leader, Melissa Elsner, from Scrapping From the Inside Out.  She invited me to be a guest designer for the month of October using their Journey kit.  I enthusiastically said yes!

The kit arrived and I was in love.  A mix of Basic Grey and Echo Park with very cool embellishments.  Using the theme of "journey", my mind went wild.  I easily created five layouts, all of which I will share over the next couple of weeks.

Here is the first one.  It tells the story of my personal, life journey.  My mom keeps saying that my life has come full circle.  I have mended and healed the wounds of the little girl who lives inside me.  It is a story I needed to tell.

I love this woodgrain paper and wanted to use the Kraft circles from the kit to create monochromatic texture.  Of course, the circles fit my theme.  The bird represents freedom and the ability to soar.  I simply layered other pieces to give my black and white photos a place to rest.  The punch of pink represents the girl inside.

 

This kit rocks!  On top of that, I love the whole idea behind SFTIO.  It isn't just about the page, but its about the stories.

 

 

Monday's Musings: October

How did this happen?  October is already here.  It freaks me out how fast time is going!

Tomorrow, I turn 42 years old.  I do not feel 42, not that there is anything wrong with that age.  I have never felt better, more comfortable in my own skin.

We went out Saturday night to celebrate a friend's 40th.  I haven't been out in the thick of the bar scene in a long time.  Wow, has it changed.  I think the thing that struck me the most was how the young girls were portraying themselves.  Yes, I remember drinking, dancing and get dressed up.  I remember flirting and looking for attention.

But not like that.  I realized that most girls in that bar don't know who they are yet.  They are not comfortable in their skin.  One day they will be in a situation where they look back.  They will realize they loved the freedom and fun of those days, but that they wish they were more sure of themselves back then. 

Along with October comes Nathan's birthday.  He will turn 8 in just a few days.  My tall dude who doesn't fit into any pants from last year.  He is growing so fast.  Then it will be Halloween.  Then November and Thanksgiving.  Before we know it, we will be celebrating Christmas.  Crazy.

 

I used the Lily Bee Christmas Cheer line for this layout.  Gosh, I love that blue!  I used the stamps for the numbers, stickers and papers. 

 

Before I know it I will be asking them to make their list.

 

 

So Excited to Share...

I am so excited to share that I am joining this amazing team:

I have loved Lily Bee across the years.  Some of my favorite projects are made using Lily Bee products!  I couldn't be more excited to represent such a great company. 

Kristen is super sweet and I am honored to have been invited to the team.

Speaking of the team, whoa nelly!  Some of my biggest scrappy crushes have been on that team for a while.  Best part, many of my scrappy friends just became a part of it too.  I feel very lucky today!

Newest additions:

Leslie Ashe

Andrea Budjack

Heather Leopard

Deanna Misner

Nicole Nowosad

Becky Williams

Someone pinch me!

Behind the Page: Make Something Out of Something

Ever have a brilliant idea and are able to execute it?  I wonder how many times that has actually happened.  How many times have I had a real idea or plan before I started pushing paper?

I don't think it has been that many times.  Instead, many of the best, most creative ideas have come from discovering something along the way.  Many have come because my project just needed that step up at the end.

Sometimes, there are happy accidents.  A spill or rip. 

A bad cut along the center of a large paper flower?  One that resulted in a bit of crookedness and a very asymmetrical half flower.

Or it can be a cloud.  One of those flat-bottomed clouds.  An idea is born.

 

Those flat-bottomed clouds added the last touch to this layout.  It made that whimsy happen.  I finished it off with a large, mixed font alphabet.  I love this photo and the meaning it holds so I wanted it to have a special place to rest.

 

A little bling for the two girlies!

Those clouds...happily realized and then executed a few times over.

Making something out of something.

Sunday At Home: Thanks to Mom and Dad

Steve and I had a Sunday away from home...thanks to my mom and dad.  This weekend was all about wedding festivities for one of Steve's friends.  Since it was being held an hour away, we decided to make an event of it.

We drove down yesterday and had a leisurely lunch at a cool restaurant in Mystic, CT.  Then we went to the beautiful ceremony and reception, followed by sleeping in until 9:30 this morning.

Breakfast at a diner and a pretty ride home...it was great!  Yes, I am behind in chores and scrappy assignments.  But I am right where I need to be in life.

A perk?  Bonding time with my kids and their cousin Xavier as well as Nonnie and Poppi.  They had a great weekend away from home too.

Here is Nonnie with some of the grandkids!

I went with the Count Your Blessings ideas and the thought of adding numerals popped into my brain.  I simply combined a bunch of Bella alphabets to make the left side.  It is a familar design for me, yet...it is different with the numbers! I used a variety of Bella Blvd products to create this layout!

This Sunday and every Sunday...

family makes all the difference...when we are at home or away.

Behind the Page: Seeing Stars

I recently grabbed some Royal Christmas from Webster's Pages and started a layout.  It featured a picture of my daughter holding our Christmas tree star.  Of course, being the thematic girl that I am...I had to incorporate other stars.

I don't own a star punch so I looked for the common and versatile shape in the various Royal Christmas papers.  I found many...cut them out and scattered.

 

To jazz up the stars, I added some Dazzle Me Gems and some journaling strips.  I also drew rays using a ruler and pen.  It is subtle, but gives it a little extra.

 

 

I handcut the window too and just adore it!  I simple layout, made beautiful with Webster's touches!

 

Pretty trim...more stars on the strip and it all completed with one little crown...

 

all inspired by one star!

 

 

Sunday At Home: Those Screens

Screens are everywhere...phones, computers, TVs, the Wii, Leapstars, DSi.  It is hard to get away from them.  But we set parameters.  We have time limits and windows of play.  My kids try to push it though.  It is a constant push and pull.

Summer is easier to promote no screens because it is all about the outdoors.  I caught some cute photos of Nathan and decided to scrap about the topic of screens. 

 

I used Jillibean Soup here.  How fun are those collections...they can keep me off the screens for sure!

I went big title here...love that trend!  I put the "no" on one of journaling circles and just layered.  I love the amount of embellies that are available.

 

You know what...from the looks of his smile, Nathan doesn't seem to mind the lack of screens.  We need to recreate this all fall and winter too!

Behind the Page: It has been great!

There are a few companies that really make my heart go pitter patter.  I walk into their booths at CHA and wish and dream and hope.

Bella Blvd. is one of those companies for me.  It has always just been easy with Bella products.  I love that feeling...no stress, no pushing paper, the ideas just flow.

I had the pleasure of being an on-going guest designer for them this year and it was awesome.  Today marks my last gig with them in that role.

Here is one of the layouts I made for the blog.  I totally mixed product here.  I found a stripe with green, blue and yellow and ran with the rest.  Why do I love Bella?  That Happy Times card starts this layout out with the right tone! 

This photo is of all of Steve's college friend's children...(that is a mouthful).  We used to spend a ton of time together as a large group.  Life happened and many of us went on to marry and/or have children.  We got together at our house last summer for a weekend of fun!  This picture of all the kids is priceless! 

But, why do I love Bella?  Well, that We're Friends Because College sticker made this layout fall together...I went with the black and white touches because of it.  The sunrays were thought out because I wanted happy. 

 

 

Today may mark my last gig with them in my current role, but I will be a fan forever.  And, who knows, maybe someday...

Monday's Musings: That Smile We Share

That smile....
it comes when you see someone you love.  Kids, husband, friends, family.

You don't force the smile or even think about it.
It just creeps and then takes over.

It changes your mood.  It takes away pain.  It makes you take pause.

I love to share in that smile.

But it is equally as cool to witness it.  I see it every night when Steve walks into Nathan's room for a snuggle.  I see it when Ella is hanging out with Daddy on the green chair.

Even though I am not in the exchange, I get to share in the smile.  Because those parts are mine too.  We created that together.

 

(Supplies:  Teresa Collins Vintage Finds including chipboard, stamps, dimensional stickers, borders, rhinestones, buttons and twine)

 

The dad he is...the joy that exists.  It is perfect and timeless.  It makes everything else okay.

 

And that makes me smile.

 

 

Sprinkling Some Love: Part 2

I shared some of the inside pages of my Webster's Pages Sprinkles craftbox project!  I made a mini album from the goodies.  Most of my ideas came from using the trim in unusual ways.  It was fun to explore.

Here are the rest of the pages.

I went with a pictureless page here...just love the papers and made a heart with the trim.

This mini was really fun to make!  I love the Sprinkles concept and I know you will too!