Happy Birthday Collin!

Thirty years ago God was in a very good mood when he sent Collin down to Earth. He knew exactly what the world needed...

Someone who could do a great James Stewart impression, "You want the moon? Say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it."

Someone who would live in Taiwan for 2 years and change their lives forever.

Someone who could sing the high note for the Oliver play in 5th grade.

Someone who could handle 3... almost 4 dramatic girls.

Someone who takes great pride in his keen police-dodging skills when his plates are expired.

Someone who could do a tantrum black flip to a blind-slide 180 on a wakeboard to swoon Liz Brown into liking him.

Someone who recognizes the importance of teaching our kids the proper way to eat an Oreo.

Someone who could have Cleetus McDuffy as an alter ego.

Someone who would wake up at 6 am with the kiddos so momma can get some more sleep.

Someone who can find the greatest joy in a delectable Shirley's raspberry roll.

Someone to teach a boy a lesson when he saw him shoplifting a laffy taffy from the grocery store.

Someone who let's his daughters pile-drive him to the stomach and jump on his head because they think it's fun.

Someone who's biggest goal in life is to take care of his family and make sure they're happy. (Well, that goal is exceeded everyday...!)

Someone to post hilarious Facebook updates about the randomest things to give us a chuckle during our work day.

Just before God was finished... He threw in a dimple in that smile and an espionage-like instinct for good measure.

I remember our first date when I was 15, he gave me a silk rose bud from the dinner table. I put inside my heel and walked funny the whole night so I could keep it.

I remember when we were first married and I couldn't wait to open my eyes in the morning and see his cute face... things haven't changed. Well, he has 10 grey hairs. But even better because I knew I'd be with him when we were old and grey.

Man, I love this boy! Happy Birthday!

And just for fun some of my favorite tweets of his:

A good rule of thumb is for every 1 minute I can't hear my kids playing, they've done $500 worth of damage.

Sure, I always envisioned spending the last day of my 20's watching "Goofy Movie" my 2 kids, one of which who just pooped in the bathtub.

One thing I remember most about my grandpa is that he was such a proponent of change, and kept at least $36 worth of it in his trousers.

Guys, if you let weeds overtake your lawn and just mow it on the lowest setting, it still looks like grass. #heretohelp

My 4yr old found a 2-foot snake in our backyard and now I have to explain to her why daddy sometimes screams like Dora the Explorer.

I just saw a bumper sticker that said, "R.I.P America, 1776-2009" and now I'm sitting here crying cuz I didn't know America was even sick.

I'm pretty good at pointing out dogs in the back of trucks to everyone else in the car.

At my current rate, I'm 3 years away from being the guy who calls the cops on my neighbors lighting fireworks past 9pm.

If Cheetos had omega-6 in them, my kids would be doing derivative calculus.
I could probably give more responsibilities to a couple of my toes.

day one details

some quick pics of cha in Chicago

bottles and flowers

half doors on each side with pages and banners

shoes
cutest ladies

Yamille mi amiguita

hanging decor inspired by April Meeker

cute Michelle

quirks

Blogging again from 10,000 feet in the air on my way to Craft & Hobby show in Chicago. I've never been to Chicago and don't know how much of it I will get to see, but I'm excited.

Me and My Quirks is a layout using some of the new Dear Lizzy goodies debuting at the show.

The center square of paper has this cool, green design on it and is called "Charming Collin." ha! He is charming and the reason I made this flight since I had to make a quick detour to the DMV on my way here... but that's another story. I figured out that Collin has super hero powers for all that he does for me & as a daddy.

So back to my quirks. Here's the hidden journaling for the page:

I'm too lazy to dry my hair so it's usually messy curly.

Since I was a little girl I insist on lifting my feet up while driving over rail road tracks. Once I missed one and made Collin reverse over them while raising my feet.

I despise TV but wouldn't miss 30 Rock.

I chew on the ends of pens.

I have issues with folding and putting away laundry. I need to take this domestic duty more seriously... Collin picks up the slack on this one.

I do love being organized but right now my studio is a disaster.

I change my outfit at least 3 times a day. Collin refers to this as Cher's wardrobe changes.

I like to eat healthy but like peach o's and cinnamon rolls more.

I don't like when people can hear me sing at church etc but while driving with the radio turned way up-all inhibitions go out the window.

Every time I fly I ask for Ginger Ale. Wondering why it's the only time I ever drink it because it's quite refreshing. (Sipping it right now.)

Share something quirky about you... because I think I've revealed too much. ;)

Someday

My Quincey Rose. Photo By Jefra Starr Linn

Yesterday I visited with a sweet friend of mine who recently lost someone very close to her. As soon as I saw her we embraced and cried. Her sad eyes linger in my head and I wish I could take all the pain away from her. Pain of losing someone... it hurts so bad. I wish I could tell her that it's okay, or it'll get easier but I can't. The only thing I can tell her--she already knows. That she'll see him again.

Life is so fragile.

Spent the afternoon following my busy Avery around. Didn't let myself get distracted by anything and just ran around the back yard doing whatever her curious mind wanted to do. We made mud pies, inspected all sorts of leaves, smelled dozens of flowers & picked each petal from a rose. At one point, while she chased a white butterfly across the grass, I got choked up. (Surprise, surprise since I'm doing that lots lately ;) I was just so moved watching her eyes beam as she followed it & laughed each time she tried to grab it.

The next thing I know, she's in tears because it flew away. You know, those big crocodile tears girls can dish up so well. The tears that cause me to dig deep into my mommy skills to find the remedy. And all because she wanted to hold it.

"The butterfly will come back someday." I told her. Just like I told my friend... you'll see him again. And she will.

Remember when I was bragging about Jefra and the brilliant photos she takes? These are a couple photos she snapped of my beauties while we were setting up the photo shoot. Thanks Jefra! Love them. Love.

Christmas in July

The Dear Lizzy Christmas line turned out very merry. Featuring a vintage and nostalgic feel, this line focuses on the hand-made Christmas traditions of home. Which resembles how we celebrate Christmas in our family. It has a classic color palette with a few cool touches added for good measure. Designs include popcorn garlands, wintry wonderlands and poinsettias.

This is just a peek. I love one of the stickers that includes an old car with a tree tied to the top. My dad loved our family tradition of picking out the perfect fresh cut Christmas tree every year. Collin and I still continue that tradition today.

The Dear Lizzy Christmas collection features unique products such as Mementos metal embellishments, Delights paper flowers, metal rose brads, mini pearl brads, Mixtape decorative tape and Bits tags, and favorites like patterned paper, foam and glitter Thickers, assorted brads, glitter buttons, specialty ribbon, clear stamps, Details, Minimarks rub-ons and Remarks stickers.

There's even a complete Christmas Card Kit that includes 40 cards and envelopes and coordinating card embellishments.

Hope you're humming Jingle Bells by the end of this post... and feeling Christmas-ey in July.

beach bums

Warning: Self-indulgent vacation photos below where I gush over how cute my darling daughters are and post pictures of our sandy toes. Proceed with caution.

As much as I wanted to stay in California we decided to come home after all.

Home sweet home.

Such a needed break for us, but now I'll require a swift kick to shift back into high gear. Pretty sure I'll be having withdrawals calling Collin around noon tomorrow... You mean we can't just play in the sand all day? Ah, man.

If you could bottle up this girl's energy and sell it you would give Red Bull a run for their money. She's such a zestful, little lady who skipped around the beach all day... my sweetie. xo

Then there's Q-bear who's as silly as they come. I'm not sure what's cuter... her lisp while saying "what's that?" & "I no see," how she hides her face whenever she gets attention or that silly prance around on her tippy toes. xo

Dear Lizzy Christmas in July coming up next.

sand and a sunset

I wonder if anyone would notice if we stayed here in California? Because I'm definitely getting used to these carefree days at the beach & steps from the sand.

It's going to be difficult to say goodbye... until next year.

PS Thanks for the book recommendations! And all the love for my new line: Enchanted.

just a peek at... Enchanted

We couldn't quite contain ourselves and wait until the craft and hobby show to show you the two new Dear Lizzy + American Crafts lines. This first one was such a fun project to work on, with designers Richard & Clarice... Enchanted!

It's beautifully sophisticated with whimsical florals, lace cut papers, and eclectic key & teacup embellishments. I love some of the new products including plastic rose brads, pretty decorative tape, metal embellishments, fabric brads, ticket journaling cards & of course rub-ons and thickers.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the charming elements from Enchanted.

One of my favorite parts while designing the line was reworking old adages and giving them a twist. Like the stamp above says, "The best thing in life is love" or "Stop and frolic in the roses." I'll show more of that tomorrow.

It's been a thrill designing projects and pages with it for cha. Let me know what you think... I hope you like it!

good read

Need a new book to dive into... besides Dr Seuss' Ear Book and There's a Cow in the Road! which are both memorized. What's your favorite summer read these days??? Besides Twilight series...

Counting down the days until these two get married... We had a fantastic engagement shoot. This one was for fun and because they are incorporating vintage books into their decor.

Photo Actions: Totally Rad

diy: fabric and felt album

Another mini... this time using felt and fabric. Because somedays my fabric stash is beckoning me to unfold them and make something pretty. Not for an assignment or to scrapbook a recent holiday but for creative play. This is one of those projects. Pretty fabrics and textures paired with some of my favorite photos and voila!!

Sewed onto the fabric swatches and photos then glued them down. (Dear Lizzy crochet flowers)

Love these pictures.

For the cover:

Cut a piece of fusible iron-on interfacing the size you want your cover. The one I chose is thick to give the album support.

Cut your fabric just about 3/4" larger than your interfacing.

Iron the interfacing to the fabric while folding over the edge. Sew the edge.

Then I glued a piece of white cardstock to the inside of the cover.

Felt pages are cut using a wavy rotary blade. Oh my goodness... I just realized the reason I made this album was to use a decorative edge rotary blade on felt. Because I love the finished edge it gives the overlapping pages.

Add a piece of fabric fused thick interfacing for a strap to keep it closed with velcro.

Layered the pages how I wanted them then sewed them down the middle onto the album.

Dear Lizzy: Crochet flowers

Girls' Paperie: Vintage Buttons

American Crafts: Ribbon

Making Memories: Eclectic metal signs

Fabric, Thick Fusable Interfacing, Felt, Fabric, Velcro, Tulle