serendipity

I've passed this street sign numerous times on my way to Tar-jay or Roberts before I noticed that someone tagged the word 'dip' to say 'serendipity.' When I pointed it out to Collin it was old news. Either I'm not a very attentive driver or sometimes if we aren't looking we miss cool/fun/ironic/beautiful things around us... I know what Collin's answer would be to that question.

Had fun playing with some of Danielle Thompson's fabulous digi stuff-- vintage buttons + tape frames//PS I am going to label this post scrapbooking... is that pushing it? Or does this qualify? ;)

Happy Birthday Collin!

guess who?

It's Monday already? I hope everyone had a terrific weekend! Just wanted to share my last project I put together for my guest spot over at Hambly...
There's nothing like some mustache rubons to jump start your creativity! I loved all the Hambly products that Allison sent me & I knew for sure that I wanted to creative-play with those super cool cookie dusters!
It turned out being one of my favorite minis of all time... I know I shouldn't play favorites but the humor & simplicity makes me happy!

I think handlebars are a good look for Collin.

This girl loves flipping through the pages and says, "Look, Avery's funny."

The mustache rubons are on the clear heavy overlays... Miss Q is quite cute sporting her soup strainer.

It was a fun project and not only cause I had an excuse to break out my Bind-It-All and Corner Chomper...

Hambly: Rubons, Transparencies, Clear Heavy Overlays Happy Monday!

bored+donuts

Somehow Collin's birthday that we celebrate this Wednesday has now become his 'birth week' (He said he was crowning for a week... that's when I spit out my drink because I busted out laughing.) This kills me because planning one day is already more stressful than finding the right gift at Christmas for my Greek grandma (Love you grams). I guess his birth week started tonight so he's at a baseball game with some buddies-that's when I made a turn for the worse.

When you are bored you should never ever eat donuts... especially the mini ones. The mini ones are the worst because you don't know how many of them it takes to make a regular sized donut & you just keep popping em in.

Can you tell I'm bored...

My recent favorite jeans + comfy tee + donuts + chick flick (Return To Me, Sweet Home Alabama or The Notebook)=me tonight. Wanna join me...

Does anyone know what my shirt says... ? I should probably figure that out before I wear it around town... :)

to-do list

Creating Keepsakes

Woke up this morning with a plan... lots of stuff to do today. The best part is I feel the motivation & inspriation to do it. I am working on a couple fun projects lately that will stretch myself and my hope is that you will embrace & love it. Don't you love when I tease you like that... Well, for now there are to-do lists, lots of lists. Sometimes I get things crossed off & sometimes Q&A have other exciting adventures for me...
digital frame
I'm such a list girl... are you? The page above was made for Creating Keepsakes & focused on our daily routine. Keep in mind this was before I was a mother of 2, so things are a bit different now. I took the photo in the morning then wrote down everything I planned on doing that day. It was fun! What I should have done was make a prequel page listing what I actually did get done... ha!

Heidi Swapp clock & butterfly (from CHA make & take); KI Memories: Stripe; Making Memories: flower & clip

moms rule

Attended the Mom's Who Make It conference last week with these darling ladies... Margie, Jefra & Rhonna. It was a complete blast learning from other moms. Some of my notes include: "Be brave, Challenge youself, Live your goals, Follow what your heart tells you & Be who we were made to be." It was empowering to be surrounded by other women who seek to find balance & although it is a challenge at times, it's important as we strive to fulfill our purpose.I stayed up way past my bedtime, laughed way too hard while taking photos & dancing. FYI:: I am a really dorky dancer... I should avoid it at all costs.

Speaking of dancing... Jefra & Rhonna started their fabulous class with a trailor for the movie FAME. How did they connect the dots with fame and creativity...? This quote from the movie below... love it! I remember Jefra having to repeat it a few times because we were so inspired by it and trying to write it down. :)

pixel pop

Hello Monday morning I am about to hit the sack but wanted to share this page with you!
I know I am a bit biased when I say this but--she is the cutest! heehee.

This page is seen over at the Hambly blog in my guest design gallery. Allison is also doing a giveaway with stuff I've used on my projects so check it out! I used the darling onesie paper and cut out a couple strips then used some foam squares to pop them off the page in a clothes-line fashion. The papers are a mix of Hambly (baby onesie)

really pretty collection by SEI (stripe); super cute line by Crate Paper (circles); American Craft (b&w polka dot) Love those new Prima flowers & fabric thickers.

Another thing that I love recently is Collin, my hubs, on twitter. I'm glad that he finally has found an outlet to post his humorous thoughts & shock factor jokes. This is my recent favorite...

Tweet: Booked a wedding for November, groom is from Germany bride from Provo. Excited to try my first Lil' Smokies in Green Jello dish.10:30 AM Jul 14th from web

It's made my job a bit easier as the family photographer since he loves grabing the camera. Now I can kick my feet up and be a back-seat photographer. "Oh, get that shot, hun. Hurry! Look at Avery... did you get that?" lol.

He has such natural talent and amazes me with his eye for cool angles! He's a rockstar behind the lens and is doing photo shoots at a killer price... You should check out his photography blog & his website here.

He is also booking shoots for the begining of October in Atlanta & possibly this Fall in Denver area if you are interested let us know! (Fill out a client form on his website or email pixelpopphotography@gmail.com) You've seen all the cool photos he's taken on my blog and here's a picture pile of some others I like.

gift a book

Hambly take 2:
If you are like me and enjoy making gifts for people this is a fun and simple mini book, not to mention cute, for baby or toddler. The key to making your own minis are the tools. My recent obsession is the Corner Chomper. I love it cause it works great with the Hambly Clear Overlays (which is a thick piece of acrylic). It rounds the corners of chipboard and other thick materials... like the Crop-A-Dile.
Clear Overlays are cool because your paper trimmer can cut them and then you can use double sided patterned paper to get 2 pages in one shot. Sometimes I get frustrated covering both sides of chipboard. ha!
Another great tool for this project is spray adhesive... is adhesive considered a tool... ?:) Spray an even amount of adhesive on the acrylic it dries clear and secures the paper. Just try not to get it on your finger tips and then touch the rest of the album cause it will leave your little prints on it... learn from my oops. :) I used a spray adhesive by Elmers, you should be able to find one anywhere. First, I cut the clear overlays and patterned paper into 3X4 pieces.
Then, I sprayed the acrylic and adhered the paper.
Next, I applied the rubons to the front of the acrylic pieces & chomped the corners.
Last, I added the frame and owl sticker & bling to the cover. American Crafts minimarks for the 3 'animals'. Poked holes in the pieces with the Crop-A-Dile & added a ring.

TGIF!!

all smiles

Here's my first share for my guest spot at Hambly Screen Prints. Have I told you how much I ♥ Hambly? Well, I do... a lot!
One of my favorite techniques in scrapbooking that is quite preschoolish but fun-- paper piecing! Which is basically a fancy way to say cutting & layering paper. It took a bit more time to piece each of the butterflies from the blue wings paper but I love the dimension & cascading effect across the page.
My other favorite part of this page, besides adorable q-bear, is the title. Not for what it says but how I made it... I was missing a bunch of the letters but I was determined to make it work by cutting 8s for the s's, j for the l & an upside down w for the m. (Reason #274 I adore my thickers.) It would have been much easier to think of a different title but what's the fun in that?
blue wings paper
orange/magenta circles paper
pink wings transparency
love these woodgrain rubons I used on the bottom of the photo
American Crafts: letters & orange puffy thickers

Happy Wednesday!

sending out an SOS

These boxes are heading out to a blogger near you... I bought out all the pink shades at Forever 21, copy and pasted over 300 addresses into spreadsheets, well, Collin did that part and addressed the boxes- the rest is up to Mr. Postman. Can't wait to see the first pic! I will send out an email in the next couple days and let you know if you are on the list, but if you emailed me you are on it. :)

We spent some time at the lake yesterday... too bad instead of glass we had white caps which made it difficult for Collin to get out on the board and throw down his crazy tricks- Backside Butterslide-Tantrum-to a 180 Japan Air-Indy Slide and end with a Potato Peeler--to a face plant. But it was still great fun!

Stay tuned for a few projects of scrappy goodness for Hambly and my favorite mini album of all time!

splish splash

Every morning you will find us at the pool with this little aqua monkey. I'm really not sure what she learned in her first swim class but she did deserve an A+ for successfully running away from coach Nate, splashing her fellow swimmers and monkey kicks... she's got those kicks down pat.
Frame from House of 3

group hug

I have the coolest blog readers in town! (That means you!)
Thanks for playing along with my fun game 07.08.09 10:11:12! I was blown away by how many people got involved. The best part was clicking through the comments and seeing what all of you were doing at that very instant. I feel connected to all of you and was so flattered ... okay, I won't get all sappy on you--but just know it meant a lot. If I had all the time in the world I would put all your photos on here:).

The random winner of the awesome prizes sponsored by GCD Studios is...

summer ensemble

Bargain shopping is a game for me... love finding killer deals so I can splurge on other things that I have-to-have. My high school reunion was very casual and some blog readers wondered where I got my getup sooooo, because you guys are the coolest, I included links below. You can't beat a floral tunic for $12.50. I don't even have to hide the receipt from Collin when I come home with something that cheap. ;)

tea rose belt: Anthropologie (This is my favorite and it comes in other colors. Why don't you get another color then we can share.)
floral tunic: Forever 21; shorts; wedge sandals: Steve Madden (I couldn't find my wedges by BC Footwear but these were close enough)

what we were doing

Here's mine! This morning was a busy morning: went on a run, swim lessons for Avery, carpet cleaners were scheduled to come sometime between 9am-2pm, so I knew I had to have my camera with me at all times. What were we doing when the clock struck 7.8.9.10.11.12? Nothing too stupendous-we were in the driveway coming home from swim lessons, ha. Avery was warming up in the sun, Quincey was laughing and playing with her toesies, and I was being the awesome chauffeur that I am while eating skittles and listening to Cake 'Love you Madly.' good times good times. Keep posting your pictures I love seeing them!

10:11:12

I took my photos... will upload it asap. Until then, share the links to your photos in the comment section of this post. SO excited to see everyone who played... you can still do it tonight! :)

duh

"It's okay," that I completely overlooked posting the winners to the Evalicious & Elle's Studio guilt-free giveaway... until now!
The Evalicious Coptic Journal Kit:
Mindy said... It's ok to take a chance on something unexpected and new! June 30, 2009 6:48 AM
Elle's Studio yumminess
Lindsay said... It's ok to get overwhelmed being a single mom. It's ok to cry. And it's ok that my 3-year-old comforts me. Mommies get overwhelmed sometimes and...it's ok. June 30, 2009 9:42 AM
Shoot me an email... Yipee! You won! and your bragging rights start... now!

Rounded corner digital frame: designed by Rhonna: House of 3
Rhonna talks about some other cool frames on her blog today.

smorgasbord of numbers

You could call this post a smorgasbord of random thoughts but they all tie together with numbers.
This past weekend I celebrated my 10 year high school reunion. It actually was a lot of fun! I got the prize for 'Been in a Movie' even though I actually haven't been in a movie but I guess being on television was close enough. I loved seeing long lost friends, ones I see all the time, and ones I probably won't see again until my twenty year reunion. It's surprising that no matter how long it's been it feels like old times again.

This Wednesday come play a fun game with me:

Last night Collin thought of this cool idea to have everyone take a photo at the same time! Are you in? Here's how to play:
1 Have your camera handy on July 8th-this Wednesday mary's birthday! :)
2 Take a photo of whatever you are doing when your clock says 10:11 am or pm. (we won't worry about timezones)
3 Challenge yourself to think outside of the box in how you take the photo or don't worry about that part and just snap one real quick!
4 Post the photo on your blog or an online gallery. Leave a comment on my blog linked to your photo and be entered into a giveaway
(Yes, share this fun game with your friends on your blog, the more the merrier.)

If you need some extra motivation... here's a peek of the prize.

This Thursday July 9th is the last day to sign up for CKU-Provo! and the word on the street is that this will be the final CKU. So you won't want to miss it!

Stay tuned for the SOS release this week...

live on channel 13

Collin and his Grandpa got their interview skills put to the test while we were setting up camp down at the Provo parade. Turn off the tunes on the sidebar ==> Fast forward til about :45 seconds.

red, white & blue

Of course we celebrated today at the Provo Parade!

tickling the ivories

Collin made the whole gift giving a lot easier this Father's Day, and I mean easy as in-he bought his own present. It happened as follows:

He spotted this piano on the side of the road at a garage sale on his way to work

He called me ecstatic about his 'perfect condition find' so he bought it

He then tried to move it with Russ up the 99 steps to our house (okay, that's an exaggeration)

We asked our husky neighbor to help us

Ta-dah!! It is now safely in our home.

This piano definitely brings a magical feeling to our home. One Friday night, after a long day, I fell asleep with the windows open and a cool breeze while he serenaded me... like I said, magical.

Plus, he learns my favorite songs: Adele 'Hometown Glory' & Coldplay 'Death And All His Friends' <=love that one!! Sometimes he makes me sing along... haha it's hilarious! Have you ever tried to sing like Adele? There's a reason she made a CD & not me. I will stick with cutting paper & glue and only singing in the shower or in the car!

Do you remember the SOY announcement and although I was a tearful mess I said I wanted to buy Collin a piano... it finally happened. :)

PS you may still enter the giveaway below, I'll announce the winner... soon.