Monday's Musings: The Simple Way

What ever happened to reading a book made of paper?  Playing jacks or pick up sticks.  I loved Seven Up when I was in elementary school.  I remember playing sports as a kid, but not the organized type.  We played neighborhood sports.  We split into teams the old fashioned way, did not wear matching uniforms.  Baseball, soccer, and football....we played in the mud and the rain, it didn't matter.

I played Chinese jump rope so many times in life.  I loved playing night tag every evening in the summer.  It was simple, imaginative.  It did not have anything to do with Kindles or iPhones.  It wasn't about electronics or screens.

I want that for my kids.  Maybe I need to teach them these games.  Help them find the simple way.

Scrapbooking is simple.  Paper, glue, your creativity.  It requires thought and imagination.  It makes me smile.  My kiddos need a hobby like that.  Not an obsession like minecraft.

I used the Summer Stories collection by Teresa Collins to make this...her collections get better and better!  This is one of my favorites!

I created this little banner using diecuts and borders!  I love that each collection comes with alphabet sets!

Little joys.  This summer, we are discovering them!

At Home: Happy Father's Day

This Father's Day has me thinking about home life.  It has me thinking about how blessed I am.  During my life, I have had a rock, someone who has loved me unconditionally.  He taught me how to drive a car, how to ice skate.  He pushed me at school so I could go to college and be able to take care of myself.  My dad is my hero.

He has been there for all the big moments, my graduations and birthdays. But, its the little moments I remember the most.  The elaborate snowmen he would build or how he let me cry on his shoulder when my heart was broken.  We had one major fight in my childhood and I hated every minute.  It was hard being so mad at the man who always worked to protect me. I didn't stay mad long.  Because I love this guy.

My dad showed me firsthand about big concepts like loyalty, perseverance, bravery and kindness.  I can't count the number of times he stopped to help someone who was involved in an accident.  He has given to others his whole life.  As I have searched for love in this lifetime, I have been able to meet my life partner.  And Steve is loyal, shows perseverance, is brave and is one of the kindest people I know.  I knew what to search for because my dad showed me.

Steve is a great dad.  These two adore him.  I feel lucky to be able to watch their relationship evolve, to watch Steve share his knowledge and life lessons.  He is the even in our world.  He is the calm and the steady.  We are all blessed to have him.

Then there is the father I didn't know very well.  The father I didn't met until later in life. The father I have had the opportunity to get to know only after his passing.  Even though he wasn't a presence in my life, I have learned much from him, have learned much because of him.  I learned about how he was as a father by meeting my siblings.  It has been an incredible journey.  I am sure he is looking down with great happiness knowing we have come together. Today I celebrate the opportunity to be able to share this photo.  

This Father's Day, I am cherishing all the moments and memories from the fathers in my life.  There are many.

Every Day is Mom and Dad's Day

Especially when every day is full of teaching manners, modeling responsibility and explaining life's lessons.  Every day holds a new challenge as a parent.  One day, we are asking too much according to our children and the next, we are treating them like babies.  Steve is really good at describing the why and whens to the kids.  Calmly, directly and in a way that they listen.  

One of the many reasons why he is a great dad.  I decided to document all the reasons why on this layout.  We are celebrating Father's Day over at the Lily Bee blog...this is my interpretation!

I used the tag as a journaling block.  I also decided to repeat circles big and small around the page.  I love the new alphabet stickers, particularly the size of the fonts.  This layout features Sweet Shoppe...awesome pop of black in this collection!

Every day is about parenting.  The best part...the daily hugs and love we get.  All that love is the greatest celebration ever!

Monday's Musings: Smores Might Taste Good...

But they are not good for the 40+ year old body.  It is amazing how things shift and ache and creak.  Two weeks of no exercise and a couple of extra smores equals downward shifting.  I don't remember it being like this when I was younger.

My BFF Marcia and I would get extra cheese pizza and pizza rolls from a local place at least once a week.  Tina, the other BFF, would drive us to get hot chocolate chip pie with ice cream.  I once ate two Jim Dandies in one sitting. 

College was full of Dominos and Doritos.  I ate enough ranch dressing to own stock in Hidden Valley.  I put that stuff on every single piece of cafeteria food.

Even in my 30's, I loved having crusty bread with every meal and ice cream every night.

Childhood, youth...full of yummy and yucky food stories.  That is a part of it all.

Now, I live through my kids.  Watch them rock the smores out.  Sure I have one...it is hard to stop there, but that shifting and aching and creaking 

I used the new Adrienne Looman/Webster's Citrus Squeeze collection for this.  I have been so drawn to the reds, whites and blues of this collection.  I made myself use the green and I am sooo glad I did.  It is a great color to have as a base!  I am in love with all the elements that can be cut from this line.

The bird and fun circle, the tab and even the So Much Fun label...all cut out!

Even though I can't eat like I used to, there is such a thing as cheat days.  I am going to cherish those!

At Home: In Just Ten Days

Two more weeks of school and then summer is here.  I long for it.  Cannot wait for it.  I have a list of things I want to do around the house.  Here is some inspiration...my thoughts for upcoming projects.  All of these are from my Pinterest boards.

Which color?  My house is gray with black shutters and a red brick porch.

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I have been busy planting my beds, trying to create that cottage feel.  I would love to someday have this:

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Of course, after you walk by that garden bed and through the fabulous painted door, I want to see an updated stairway.  Black accents maybe.

When I think of the inside, I am really interested in painting the stools at my breakfast bar.  My kitchen has white cabinets with dark gray counters and blue/gray walls.  I have lots of red pops, but I am really wanting a splash of color.  Thinking of going with yellow on those stools.

I am also realizing that it is time to update Nathan's room.  He has asked that we take out some of the "younger" items.  It is time to bring it up a notch.  I want to add some stripes and painted a bookshelf.  Maybe something like this:

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Sure, I can't wait to relax and have a slower pace in just ten days.  But I also can't wait for some DIY time!  Soon, so soon...

Page Maps: Lily Bee

The Lily Bee team and Becky from Page Maps have teamed up this month!  Many of us created layouts with  the awesome sketches this month.  Head over to Page Maps to see the newsletter and the sketches!

I made this page:

I followed the sketch pretty closely...I placed some elements on the opposite side of the page.  It just fit my photo better.  These hearts were inspired directly by the sketch!

Head over to the Lily Bee blog to see other samples from my talented teammates!  Be sure to also look at the post below for a cool giveaway!

Blog Hopping: Projects That Wow!

I am super excited to share this awesome opportunity with everyone!  Jennifer Grace has put together a fantastic online class that is sure to inspire!  I had the opportunity to create a layout as a class sample and was very inspired!

Here are some details!

Projects that WOW!’ is about making your projects stand out from the crowd. What makes you pause and look closer at a scrapbook page when you are flicking through your own albums, or looking at other people’s layouts in magazines? Which cards jump out at you from Pinterest or from envelopes when you open them? What details of paper-crafted home décor or jewelery make you stop and say ‘wow!’? It’s time to learn some of these techniques or styles and put them to use!

This online class will consist of 15 PDF prompts (lessons) and at least 3 videos, and it will run as a ‘live’ class from Monday, June 10th to Friday June 28th.  All the class material will still be available to participants after the end of class, so don’t worry if you can’t manage it while it’s ‘live’. Class participants will receive an email with a prompt attached every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for three weeks. The class will feature lots of scrapbook layouts, but also some cards, jewelery and home décor crafts (all involving scrapbook paper/supplies). There will be a forum, and a gallery for class participants to upload to, and there will be some prizes up for grabs for those who join in while it’s ‘live’!

Each prompt will have a ‘theme’ of a particular style or technique, which can be used to make crafty projects that grab your attention. You may have seen these styles before but not been able to define them, or you’ll be learning new ways to use them! There will be two layouts, two cards, and another item (eg jewellery / home decor, etc) by Jennifer Grace on each prompt, as well as a layout by a guest contributor. Some will have step-by-step tutorials, some will be super inspiring!

Here is a sneak peek of the page I made as a guest contributor:

This blog hop includes a giveaway for three class places (worth £10 each). To enter you just need to comment anywhere on the ‘Projects that WOW!’ blog hop by 11.59pm BST Thursday June 6th. EACH COMMENT on EACH BLOG in the hop counts as an EXTRA ENTRY into the draw. The winners will be announced at Jennifer Grace Creates on Friday June 7th . If you’ve already purchased a class place and then you win, the class price will be refunded to you. So don’t wait to sign up! Go HERE to buy a place now!

Have fun blog hopping and see some great sneaks from all the contributors...it is a good list!!

Jennifer Grace
Sarah Webb 
Elena Stefanidou
Stacey Young
Riikka Kovasin
Peg Hewitt
Ashley Calder
Stacey Michaud:  That is me!
Brit Sviggum
Sasha Farina
Jill Cornell
Diane Payne
Anna-Karin Evaldsson
Natalie Elphinstone
Jennifer Chapin
Angie Gutshall
Jennifer Grace

Be sure to sign up today!  Happy hopping!

What's New on Wednesday?

What's new this Wednesday?  I am showing you the newly released collection from Webster's Pages...we have a new designer in the family.  Adrienne Looman has created two beautiful collections full of vibrant colors and interesting patterns!

I can't quite get enough of the Citrus Squeeze line...reds, greens, blues and whites!  It is refreshing and perfect for summer!

I wanted to show off the white patterns in the line and pop them with the citron and blue!  I love elements that can be hand cut to create unique embellishments and this collection does not disappoint!  It is a stunner.

The Webster's family is getting bigger and better every release.  I am one lucky girl to be a part of it!

At Home: Never

I would love to post some At Home photos, share the new bathroom...but I would have to be home in order to do that...LOL!

Just 4 more weeks and I will be at home for the summer.  I have a list of things I want to work on.  I list of things I want to share.

For now, this past weekend marked the end of dance for the year.  Our girl made us proud.

I was struck by how brave each girl needs to be when she goes on that stage.  That makes my heart beam.

Here are some photos of her and her family.

Our little ballerina!

This face makes me know the meaning of love!

Ella with her grandmothers.  She loves these two!

I adore this one of Steve and Ella.  They beam.

This tutu was so big and super pretty!

The way she is looking at him.  It melts my heart.  I have looked at him this way my whole life, my dad.

The Grumpster and Ella.  They are tight and she loves to tell his stories!

We are proud parents.  So blessed with Nathan and Ella.

Life may be crazy, but it is pretty great too.

Do All Girls Love the Phone?

I know that I am addicted to my iPhone.  I enjoy texting friends and having that exchange on a regular basis.

My daughter...see adores the phone too.  She asks to call her Nana each day, sometimes several times a day.  That girl can talk.

That small life moment needed a page!

I used the new Summer Stories collection by Teresa Collins...so beautiful!  I love all the embellishments in this line!

I added several punched hearts along the side to add texture to my page without it being too heavy.

I layered a bunch of the journaling cards and die cuts.

This can girl can talk...but I love every detailed, loud minute.

Well, almost every!

Monday's Musings: We are Who We Saw

Interesting thing about people...everyone has some kind of story.  A defining moment or a life changing event.  Everyone has an experience that mattered.  There are people who shaped each of us.

Some of that shaping is good, but some helped to create greatest weaknesses.  I really think that everyone's behavior serves a function.  It exists for a purpose.

I realize that my own children will become who they see.  They will learn to giggle from Nonnie, will learn how to look at the world with learning eyes from Nana.  They will learn Steve's honesty and kindness.

I am going to try to teach them forgiveness.  I hope to show them that mistakes are made, but you forgive and move on.  Especially when you are the one making the mistakes.  Every mistake is an opportunity to grow.

I hope to teach them how to focus on strengths and try a little every day to overcome weaknesses.

I hope to show them that each of them is a firework.  Bursts of light and beauty and power.

I made this layout using the Pinwheel collection from Lily Bee...the focus on the blog this week is on the new chipboard stickers!  I love chipboard!

I turned each chipboard banner into a firework by turning it on its side.

Isn't it nice to know that perspective can help us see things in a new way?  I hope to teach that to my kiddos too.

Tuesday Tip: Extend It

I had the pleasure of designing the card sketch for this month's challenge over at Lily Bee!  It is a simple design overall.  How do you make something relatively simple feel interesting?

I think you group and cluster.  Maybe you include elements that are all related, yet are different lengths and widths.

Take the banners on my card.

I went with different lengths starting with the longest sticker banner on the right.  I like how it brings the eye down to the sentiment.

The Party Time sticker had looked too small to be my sentiment, so I extended it! I changed the length of the sticker by placing it on the chevron paper.  I turned it into a banner by cutting the end.  

I used many of the elements of the new Embellishment Bundles to create this card!  The sketch I made is right here!  

I hope you will be inspired to create  your own card and share it with Lily Bee.  You'll will be eligible to win a prize pack!  Head over the the blog to see the details!