sugar coated day

If pictures could talk, or if 3 year old kiddos could stop long enough, they would say this party was totally awesome!! Bubbles, Craft time (putting together foam animals & painting) and all you can eat cake--what more could lil fancy pants ask for?
patiently waiting We sang the birthday song Avery style... 'Happy Birthday to you... cha cha cha. Happy Birthday to you... cha cha cha!...'
Make a wish...
After the sugar kicked in... this face made it all worth it!

On the menu we had fruit kabobs and the yummiest fruit dip, chips and salsa, veggies and dip, pink lemonade... and lots of treats!
Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us!! ♥ and the rain for being somewhat cooperative!

no way

I can't believe I am planning Avery's 3 year old birthday party! craziness. When did she grow up?

Just wanted to share some simple invitations. I've been saving this circle flower paper for a rainy day... so glad that I did. The photo below with the where and when slide behind the front cover.

Totally inspired by Cup of Jo's engagement photos with the big balloon.

Classic Avery moment.

Happy Friday to you!

simple things

Today I was on Studio 5 via telephone for a few minutes to talk about monthly merriment. It's a peek into the simple things I love at the moment. After the show I realized I haven't shared April yet.

(Jellies from Old Navy, thread, a cute apron from Lucy at Scrap Etc, new plant symbolizes the new life springtime brings, Lenka cd (Avery is singing her songs now-so cute), this book that is FULL of inspirational quotes and questions with journaling spots. (Love all the books by Dan Zadra.) Scarlet Lime paper & Martha Stewart strawberries, Studio G letter stamps & Anthropologie bowl.

Reading Avery books from when I was a little girl and my first dogeared necklace--very cool/inspiring jewelry... I've been wanting one forever but it's much more fun when it's a gift. (thanks, you know who you are...xo)

Collin lived in Taiwan for a couple years while serving a mission and said people there absolutely love lotus flowers because of their symbolism... The quote that came with this lotus fower necklace inspired me after reading your many wishes & then even more when I found out yesterday that someone very close to me has been diagnosed with cancer...

"Lotus flowers grow from muddy swamps into beautiful symbols of creation & rebirth..." remember your own beauty and strength.

PS. Do you love this song as much as I do? Zee Avi is her name.

bouquet of wishes

If you had one wish


what would you wish for?

piggy paint

As seen in Creating Keepsakes magazine.
There's nothing like some quality girl talk and finger nail painting. Avery always reaches for the brightest colors-her favorite is "flirt alert." Which I hope isn't an indication of what to expect in the highly anticipated teen years.

Thanks to Kerri, one of my blog readers, sent me a link to Piggy Paint. (An all natural nail polish.) I'm excited to check it out...

One of my fave lines from Sassafras: patterned paper, cloud trim
Making Memories: Puffy Alphas
I want to get this awesome circle cutter
PS Guess what? Out of the 10 boxes sent out for Shades of Summer 1 box found it's way home. yay! I'll share pics soon. (if you have one sitting around-keep it going)
Stay tuned for details about the second round of Shades of Summer-it's gonna be fun!

treat yourself

Come scrapbook with me! Here are details of events I will be teaching at this year!

Creating Keepsakes University Nashville May 27-30
This is my next stop and I am thrilled to be teaching my album track called 'Seasonal Bliss.' Where we will scrapbook a year of your photos through the seasons. We will finish 16 12x12 pages and 4 6x12 pages. (Same as Provo, Utah class)

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Memory Box Puerto Rico June 13-14

Surfer girls one day- scrapbookers the next.

Creating Keepsakes University Provo August 5-8

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CKU Japan September 19-23

Working on my Japanese for this one. domo arigato mr roboto

Scrap Etc Event (to be announced)

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Sun and Scissors Hawaii October 15-19

What is more perfect than scrapbooking & sunshine?! Pack a swimsuit and sunscreen in your scrapbook tote. The whole family is coming with me to this one. I would squeeze you in my suitcase but Brittney & Beth already called dibs on that one.

Classes are such a great way to learn new techniques, start scrapbooking for the first time, treat yourself to fun-filled days, meet new friends & get your pictures off your computer and onto scrapbook pages. Treat yourself to one of these fabulous events. you know you want to. ;)

PS I will get a tutorial up for the bag... sometime soon, hopefully;) I also answered your questions from yesterdays posts in the comments section.

you and you and you

Today was nothing short of marvelous. When Collin asked what I wanted to do for Mother's Day a smile lite across my face as I pictured exactly what I'd love to do. It was simple really... pack a lunch, bring a cute (picture worthy;) quilt, an elmo kite, 2 crazy little munchkins and I'll be a happy girl!

While we laughed, chased Avery, played, admired Quincey's curiosity, flew a kite, chased Avery some more-it really hit me. All at once. It doesn't take much for me to be happy. Although I knew it all along sometimes I need a friendly reminder.

all I need is you and you and you... & grape soda.

It's the little things that make us happy, isn't it? :) Happy Mother's Day!

bag and birthday recap

The gifts for our precious mothers are still in the works (meaning I haven't figured that part out yet.) But at least I sewed the gift bags together...
At one of my recent ventures I picked up a little felt bag for Avery with some goodies in it and was excited to recreate my own for presents. I love it because you can reuse them but they don't look like they've been reused. My sisters and I are always giving each other presents back in the same bags-makes me laugh.
If anyone is interested I will put together a tutorial... It was pretty easy, so let me know.

Corduroy Flowers, buttons & large flower are from the Scarlet Lime May kit.

Speaking of which, the winner of the Scarlet Lime May Kit is:

{VICKI} said...
Welcome to GA! I live in Alto, GA--wish I could be attending with you:(These colors would go with just about anything-- love them So I would just scrap what ever photos was next on my list!

The winner of Christy's Eye for Design class is:

kreativeimagination Yay!! You won! Send me your info via email.

Thanks for all your birthday wishes and sweet comments! Big hugs to you for making my day even more special!

Turned out to be a great day! Lunch with Collin at Cafe Rio blasting Adele in the car. Later we all met for a mad game of kickball/baseball, ate pizza, opened presents. Our fam-love them!

Can you believe my birthday blog card? haha! Yes, Collin is hilarious! Yes, he has me laughing all the time and I'm glad you get an idea of the kind of craziness he brings to our home. Yes, I am going to make him live up to his giveaway promise-speedo and all. :) Nope, he doesn't have a blog. (Not sure if the blog world is ready for that;) but he has a photoblog here and follow him on twitter for some more laughs (PixelPop is his username).

it was a group effort

"Happy Birthday Charlie, Happy Birthday..."

Hearken Ye Olde Citizens of Blogland, from anear and from afar...(that means listen up foo.)

It's May 4 peeps and we all know what that means...IT'S LiZ's BiRtHdAy!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUN!

In tradition of previous Birthday's since the invention/curse/blessing/you say tomato I say it's a fruit/ of Blogger, I shall scrap my original plans of creating a birthday card from an old Little Ceasar's pizza box ("I'm Hot and Ready for You") and stick to the blogcard.

I've known Liz since she was a freshman at Timpview High (my baseball team was 0-13 that year). I remember the first time I saw her...she walked across the commons and instantly caught my eye...maybe it was her huge bangs, or the way her butt looked in those Jordache jeans, or maybe it was those sexy metal braces...but it was then I realized "One day, she will be mine, and I'll blog a birthday card for that girl."

Over the years, Liz has taught me many of lessons in wisdom and I have heard her utter many pearls of truth, some of which I'd like to share with you now....

"28 Lessons Learned and Comments Heard by My Wife, Liz Kartchner"

1. After giving Avery a Reese's Peanut Butter Easter Egg, "The best time to put Avery down is after she's had some sugar." Take note, future Mother's of America.

2. It's absolutely worth a 30 minute drive to the only K-Mart that has a photobooth to get a strip of 4 B&W pictures taken.

3. After the nationwide protest of the bailout on April 15, me: "Hey hun, did you see they had a bunch of Boston tea parties all over the nation today?" Liz: "Really!? Oh, fun! I would've had one had I known!"

4. Whenever your husband is on an important phone call, always stick your butt in his face, shake it, and say, "Do you like deese?"

5. When cutting open an apple just a couple weeks ago (yes people, at age 27) "Collin, where do apple trees come from?" Me: "Are you serious? From those brown seeds." Liz, holding up an apple seed, "That big tree from this little guy?!" (go easy, she was a Behavioral Science Major)

6. Always bring a couple quarters with you because you never know when you'll run into a gumball machine. And if it's the kind that has the Nerds inside, bite it in 2 pieces, and always give your husband the side with the most slobber on it.

7. There are a couple ways to buy clothes without your husband knowing/asking questions. When he notices you wearing a new outfit, but can't recall being there when you bought it, you respond one of the following: A.) "Oh this? Oh...I got this a LONG time ago. Haven't worn it forever!" (you bought it last weekend) B.) "Oh, this? I had an old gift card I never used." or C.) "Oh, this? I took back that one jacket I bought a while back." Women be shoppin.

8. When you're done chewing gum, do NOT get off the couch and go throw it away yourself. Simply, roll it up into a disgusting ball, inconspicuously pretend you want to hold her husband's hand, and stick it to his palm. When he says, "Gross, I ain't chucking that for you," just sit there and smile real big.

9. When you are done with dinner, there is no reason to waste good dish-soap.

10. While signing in at the hospital for a planned baby inducing for Quincey, speaking to the nurse through the window, "This is weird, I feel like I'm checking into a hotel....'Hi, I'm here to have a baby?'"

11. Sleeping with earplugs is a great way to pretend you can't hear your husband saying, "The baby's crying...hun?....Liz???...."

12. Never ever ever pay your cable bill on time. It's best to wait until the TV doesn' t work or you can't use the internet, because every webpage that opens up is Comcast saying, "PAY YOUR BILL."

13. Hide your credit card statements in a magazine you know your husband will not look through, like Simple Scrapbooks...or Domino.

14. "One day she'll LIKE Time-Out."

15. No photo-op is complete without a squished in close-up picture of "Sisters!"

16. "Avery, say 'Shake shake shake....shake shake shake, shake your booty, shake your booty."

17. It's completely fine to always order off the kid's menu at a restaraunt. But when you do, always ask like your embarrassed and this is the first time you have EVER done this. "Um...is it okay if I order something of the kid's menu???"

18. When you get a chance to sneak a shower in before your husband leaves to work, make sure you make it count. At least 20 minutes at at least 112 degrees.

19. Every time your husband rips one, walk into it like Kramer walking into Jerry's house and react like it's the first time you have ever smelled a fart in your entire life. "Oh my gosh!! Did you fart!?"

20. No matter how much free scrapbooking supplies you get, always support your LSS (?) and buy a couple pages here and there.

21. The kid's bedtime is ALWAYS at 8pm...except on Tuesday/Wednesday because of American Idol and Thursday because of The Office...and Friday because we're partying.

22. Family is the most important thing in the world, no matter how crazy and silly everyone is.

23. "Vanilla is the new cholocate!" (while ordering a Frosty.)

24. Even if you scrapbook 73 pages in 2 months and you swear you will never ever do another scrapbook page again, those feelings only last for about 43 seconds and you will soon start another layout.

25. The Dash-cam shot is the ONLY way to prove you actually took a road trip.
26. Always support your husband's attempt to prove he is not a Fat-A, even if it means going with him to another state to do so.

27. Always carry-on family traditions, even if it means having to sleep over on the side of the road, get soaked when the sprinklers come on, and chase your kids away from huge parade floats.

28. "I could live on Tiger's Blood."

Most important lesson I've learned from Liz is that you love people no matter what, always assume the best in people, and use the talent's God has given you to make things beautiful

Happy Birthday Liz.

EVERYONE LEAVE A BIRTHDAY WISH and I will enter you into a drawing for an autographed picture of myself mowing the lawn in a speedo. kidding

highlights from Georgia

Back from Georgia... I didn't catch onto the accent as well as I'd hoped. Even though Brittney had me reciting, "Gretchen, do you want some piiie?" and "That is niiiiiice."

This event was a blast!!

Highlights of the trip:: Turning off the lights to my class when I was attempting to make the classroom brighter then finding out I'd turned the lights off in all the classes! ha! The buff dude in the bottom right of photos (ask Margie about that one), putting all our cameras on self timer at the PJ party so we could all be in the photo then laughing at the cameras going off, getting 2 hours of sleep before my flight home then the sweetest* Jennifer giving me a ride to the airport!! (She didn't trust my shuttle:) Running (literally) with Brittney to the mall to get PJs, sharing a room with my girl, Grethchen! :) Thank you Lori & Betsy for the necklaces! Can't wait to get some photos with Q&A wearing them.Taking photos over and over with Nancy Holley b/c we we kept laughing (the girl who won the golden ticket on my blog). Thank you to Kimberly for the "Q," Rebecca for the party hat and banner. Thank you to everyone for lots of laughs and instant friendships!