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Friday, July 29, 2011

Sometimes….

Sometimes I look at art and I get it.

Sometimes I look at art and I’m confused. 

Sometimes it’s the same art, just different days.

Sometimes I wish we still lived in California so I could go to the beach and see my friends.

Sometimes I’m so glad we don’t live in California anymore.

Sometimes I’m thrilled when others identify with things I post about.

Sometimes I’m dismayed that I felt so compelled to share my thoughts.

Sometimes I  just want a great chocolate mousse.

Sometimes I just want a great salad.

Sometimes I want to hang out where there are tons of people and loud music and laughter and dancing.

Sometimes I’m so grateful for the complete silence.

Sometimes I feel such gratitude for the many friends in my life.

Sometimes I feel so lonely.

Sometimes I think too much.

Sometimes I work too much.

Sometimes I worry too much.

But never, never, never do I love too much.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Monday Muse - Rice Krispies Watermelon

My husband and older son aren't exactly fans of watermelon. Its not that they dislike it...its that they don't like it...its  a neutral fruit. Take it or leave it.

On the other hand, I love watermelon...all kinds of melon, actually. One of my favorite summer treats growing up was a melon and strawberries fruit salad my mom always made.  I never get to eat that salad at home with my kids because I don't really want to eat an entire melon or three by myself. They are berry people, those men of mine. If I make berry salad, they are all over that...

But I came across this little gem atDine & Dish. I do believe this is a watermelon my family will eat!


So...what about you? What are your favorite summer foods? What childhood summer foods do you miss? What don't you miss? And, what could you do with something you LOVE to make it appear like something you DON'T love.

Now...if I can find a broccoli shaped cupcake, I just might have a veggie eater too!

Peace, ya'll!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Monday Muse - Butterfly Project

Today's Muse is another courtesy of A Creative Mint


This project would look good in my office!!!

So much to be inspired by here...butterflies, that gorgeous muslin background, the grid pattern and the colors...

What do you think of this muse?

Peace!

Friday, July 15, 2011

More CHA picks

Oh, the CHA stuff is coming out fast and furious now!!!

Here are a few additions to my desires:

Jillibean Soup's Christmas Eve Chowder - CUTE PENGUINS!!


Studio Calico's Journal Kits and Huey Masks:



American Crafts Daydreams line:


Crate Paper's new Farmhouse Collection has some sweet things...they are MASTERS at the cute button ensembles!



And I do really love their Random Collection too. Although I'm somewhat perplexed about how to use some of it...except this one:


And this one...I could use this one for sure...


Oh, and this one too....


Ok, maybe I'm not perplexed after all... apparently I have creative ideas for the whole thing.

Of all the school lines I've seen this time around, the Fancy Pants Off to School line is the one I like the best. I'm partial to Fancy Pants anyway, and a lot of the school themed lines I've seen so far are either too dark, too fussy or to cutesy for my style. I'm really liking their embellishments for this line:


I love love love Cosmo Cricket's new Tiny Text phrases...LOVE:




I'm kind of hit or miss with Lily Bee Designs...I love some of their lines and others I can pass on...but the new Memorandum Collection is one that I want all of! My favorites are this paper and the index cards:



And Imaginisce wins my award for the best product I didn't know I needed with Colored foam tape. I got to thinking about this and thought it brilliant. I'm forever trying to hide my foam tape and pop dots. I have some black ones, but sometimes, brown or red are better. (they have black too!)



One of the things I think Webster's Pages is amazing at is trims. They certainly do not disappoint this time out! I think I might have to go take some pictures of girl things just so I can use that pink feathery stuff.




And finally, a Christmas line I like...I love Christmas lines. Two years ago, I bought THREE complete Christmas lines. Since I have these adorable, rambunctious little boys, finding a line that is not too feminine, and not to nostalgic, and not to dark, is a challenge. This is the year of nostalgia and flowers in a lot of the Christmas lines. I love them, don't get me wrong...I just can't bring that home. It will never get used on actual projects. But Fancy Pants has the Christmas line I'll be hunting down this year - Saint Nick:


Since CHA is next week, I'm so looking forward to seeing what YOU think...do you have any favorites? Any front running craft and hobby supplies you see coming your way that you have to have?

Peace, ya'll!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Boys Live Here

There are action figures in the dish drainer...


Ducks on the coffee table...


And Buzz Lightyear having an "Operation" on the kitchen table...


Yep...

Boys live here.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Monday Muse - The One With the Green and Blue Color Board

Today's Muse is courtesy of A Creative Mint - a site I am particularly inspired by...Just look at these colors!!!


This is the sort of pallet I wish my house were decorated with. Its right up my alley...alas, white and little boys doesn't really work...maybe when they are older???

I'd love to scrap this color combo...maybe with a little craft.

That gives me an idea!

What about you? What do you think of this muse?

Friday, July 08, 2011

Counterfeit Kit - July

Its that time again to counterfeit a kit.

This month Counterfeit Kit Challenge chose a kit that is a year old for inspiration.

The kit is the July 2010 Main Kit from Polka Dot Whimsy:


When I first got a load of this kit, I wasn’t sure I was going to participate. The colors felt a little too much for me and it seemed like there was an awful lot going on visually with this kit.

BUT I have that Girls Paperie On Holiday paper and thought I could hinge the entire kit on that.

So, I went after aqua, deep navy, bright yellow and red to and started shopping my stash.

Here's what I came up with (sorry...the color on this picture isn't the greatest...I took it at night.)


Here is what is in this one:

Printed Cardstock/paper:
The Girls Paperie On Holiday
Basic Grey Basics Table
Basic Grey June Bug Admiral
My Minds Eye So Sohpie In Love
Crate Paper Toy Box Collection Explore
Sassafras Vintage Yummy Pleasantly Puzzled
Rusty Pickle Get Your Tickets
Scrap Within Reach Industrial Park Market Street
Daisy D’s Railway Station (now there is an old one!)
Jillibena Soup Old World Cabbage Stew Caraway Seeds

Cardstock:
Bazzill Maraschino
Bazzill French Vanilla
Bazzill Kevin
Bazzill Sugar Cookie
Kraft (misc)

Embellishments:
Journal cards cut from scraps in my scrap bin
Making Memories Passport chipboard alpha
Travel Themed Sticko Stickers from EK Success
Collage Press Border Stickers
Bazzill Just the Edge in Red Devil
Jenni Bowlin Studio Play Date Banner Stickers
Jenni Bowlin Studio Mini Chalkboard Alpha Red
Jenni Bowlin Studio Mini Bingo Cards Red
The Girls Paperie Paper Girl Eclectic Chipboard alpha
My Minds Eye tickets
Misc buttons (most from Creative Café) in Red, Navy, Yellow, Aqua, and wood
Red Dot ribbon from Basic Basic

Now I have to decide...does this go to the convention with me or do I scrap a little bit!?!?!?

hmmmmm....

Peace, ya'll!!

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Fave CHA Sneaks

If you know me, you know I love scrapbooking...

I always eagerly watch the CHA sneaks looking for something fun and interesting...Since CHA starts on July 19th, there are a lot of product sneaks out there this week.

So far, this is what I'm loving....

Echo Park's Country Drive - this is one of my favorite papers from that collection:



I'm loving Basic Grey's new Picadilly line:


Jillibean Soup has TWO sneaks out that I think I might need...

Sweet and Sour Soup:


And 6 Bean Soup


Graphic 45 has a new release called An ABC Primer that has lots of fun things:


I'm loving Studio Calico's Memoir line.


I'm forever a My Minds Eye fan...and I'm loving their sneaks:

Lost and Found Breeze (don't you LOVE these buttons!?!?!?!?)


I really am quite smitten with their 12 Days of Christmas Line.. This paper alone made me a fan:


And while I'm not a big Halloween paper fan, the Mischievous line has TONS of promise:


And I'm intriguedPink Paislee's new Mistable's Line...so much fun to be had here!


Of course I could never use all this stuff, but its very fun to see where the trends of papercrafting are headed!!!

I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for more to come...

But have you seen anything YOU like?

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Tennis and Popsicles

AKA Gratuitous pictures of my cute kids...

Well...summer is fully in swing in our household...

So far there has been:

Fishing:


Hot Dog roasting:


Swinging:




Sprinklers (or avoiding sprinklers in Noah's case):


Tennis Camp:




And LOTS of popsciles! (Noah is a NATURAL at popsicle eating!)


And NEXT week...SWIMMING LESSONS! WOOHOO!!! (I'm pretty sure there will be drama...Jayden doesn't like getting his face wet and Noah has hit his independent phase) BUT, we are having QUITE a lot of summer fun!!!

How about you? What have you done so far this summer?

What plans do you have for the REST???

Peace, ya'll!!

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

ANNIVERSARY BLOG HOP - EXTENDED!

Today Scrapbooking From the Inside Out is THREE!!! (Well, on July 2nd they were. By the way, if its a website, is it an anniversary or a birthday???)

ANYWAY, they are CELEBRATING with a blog hop...and there are PRIZES!

If you got here from Jamie's Blog , WELCOME!!

If you are just starting here, head on back to Melissa's Blog to get started...because, THERE ARE PRIZES! (Did I mention that already?)

So, first, I was asked to share my favorite layout from my time as an SFTIO Designer. That is a tall order. I was a designer for a year...that is 12 amazing kits to choose from....oh, what to do?

But there was one kit that just seemed to fall in place for me...that was the Enlightenment Kit from September 2010.


I literally loved every layout that kit inspired. It took me less than an afternoon to finish FIVE layouts AND some special creative embellishments:


Anyway...my most favorite layout was this one:


Which, oddly enough, doesn't have that much journaling. I love journaling, so that is sort of an oddity. I believe, tho, that volumes are spoken in just a few words with this one!

So...on to the prizes...Each winner will be given a choice of one of these amazing kits:

Independence:

Optimism:

Friendship:

And one GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be given a $50 gift toward the amazing CRAFT Beach Retreat in Santa Monica.

Here's how you win: Leave a comment for every blog on the hop. You have until 7:00 PM Pacific Time 5:00 PM on THURSDAY to hit each blog and leave your comment. We will draw winners from ALL the comments left on each blog. So...the more comments you leave the greater your chance of getting one of those amazing prizes!!!

So...go leave me a little comment love...and THEN, head on over to Amy's Blog and see what she has in store for you. (browse around while you're there. She does some amazing projects!)

Have a GREAT HOP!!

and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO SFTIO!!!

Peace, ya'll!!