when a picture makes your day

last week was a good week in pictures.

I mean, you can have good hair days, I even declare some days good handwriting days, so why not a good picture day?

I decided to document one of my favorites in a layout, all for that one pic. it will probably make an appearance in the weekly project life layout too, but it was just so good, I decided that two showings for it would be just fine.

(supplies used: maggie holmes “styleboard” mini kit, template h, heritage paper, stitching from anna aspnes, tags and button from queen of quirk, arrow paperclip from sahlin studio, and the glitter from ikari designs.)

and the most awesome thing is that this ^^^ isn’t the only beautiful thing about life lately!

I have had so much energy, so much motivation, my list of things to-do is longer than I have time to accomplish.

I care about life!

I know (I KNOW) that my little corner of the world (at least my perception of it) has so vastly improved because of prayer. prayers of family, loved ones, caring friends, and my own.

it’s sweet..

president eyring spoke just to me (I swear!!!!) at women’s conference. it was aimed right. at. me. even better? I was able to get 3 tickets pretty much last minute for me and lynn and ash to be able to go to the conference center. (answered prayers again..)

I wish I had recorded ashley’s facial expression when I told her she would be in the same room as the prophet. think = priceless.

the only thing that could have possibly made that night better would have been if peyton were 8 and able to attend with us.

but let’s not hurry that along too much…

we also had conference weekend. there were great things that weekend, as there always are. again, I tell you, president eyring spoke right. to. me.

(I mean, you can think it was to you, but.. well…)

I am working on my studio and being just as ocd as ever about ever last detail.

my biggest problem?

committing where to put my table…

the queen of quirk

I will never forgive myself for missing last week’s designer spotlight.  it was danielle of kitschy digitals.  you know, I love her, but what with me dying of the plague and all on my couch..  what was I to do?

*sigh*

but here is another go-to in my stash.

jan = “the queen of quirk”.

she and I have a few things in common.

- digi love

- three little girls

- great taste

her store is on sale until sunday, 40% off!

now, inspiration:

leap day.

so another month has gone by like that.

(snapping of fingers.)

seriously?

again, so much I wanted to accomplish.  not so much of it actually got done.  but whatever.

my family is still kicking and breathing.  so I must be doing something good, right?

here’s a sampling of some of the creativeness from the month:

(click on images for full list of credits.)

peyton turned four..

and then there was valentine’s day.  lynn made these as her valentine’s.

(thank you pinterest.)

I actually snapped some pix of mah-self.

(thank you  merrill for the remote for christmas. xox)

and ashley lost her other top tooth.

(she is terribly frightened that she has no permanent teeth.)

she lost the top right first, bottom right second, bottom left third, and the top left most recently.

(darnit, she’s cute!)

the end of november, really?

it’s is hard for me to believe that november is pretty much over.  I mean, it went by so fast!  it helped that I was a single mother for nearly half of it.  those were days that I prayed would pass quickly.

so here we are, at the end of the thankful train.  not sure I got out all that I was thankful for, I know I didn’t post every day like I wanted to.  but hey, there is always next year, right?

I am thankful for the gifts and talents I have been blessed with.  there are many things I enjoy doing, and most of those things are to the credit of others teaching me how to do them.  I am thankful for many creative people in an inspirational world, who share, teach, and inspire me daily.

here’s a couple of layouts with products from some pretty amazing talented women.

(click on images for full credits.)

so if you love what you see, there is a pretty amazing sale going on at jessica sprague.  save up to 35% on product and 20% on classes (even the new ones)!!  they would make some pretty fun gifts..  for you or someone you love.

not to mention a FREE holiday class.  she does this every year!  how sweet..  it starts monday, so go register!

(click here to register.)

now go tell your friends!

a layout or 5..

I have been getting a lot of scrapping done.

(sadly it is all digi scrapping..  heaven knows how many pictures i have that are printed off, waiting in the mess that is now known as my craft room in the basement..  don’t even get me started on the stash of supplies that keep those pics company..)

I am not sure if this surge of digi scrapping is because of the re-discovered passion my girls have for playing polly pockets or  for watching jurassic park.

(both of which seem to take place in the loft, upstairs where the computer is..)

but anyway..  here’s a few:

(as always, click on layout for list of full credits.)

new today:

“chemistry” by cosmo cricket:

and i was way too excited about these brushes by liv:

and well, then there is all of this other stuff, that was basically just for fun…  our summer has been well-spent, and i have some cute pix to prove it!

(cute pix = more scrapping motivation!!)

hope you are enjoying your summer as well!!

more for you monday(s).

I am still playing catch-up after last week’s holiday..  well, that and all the fun we’ve been having.

I am trying my best to lay back, relax, and have fun with the girls before summer finds it’s end.

(I wish that the end would just get lost though…)

so here’s two weeks worth of goodies:

(click on layouts to link up to full credits.)

queen of quirk’s newest scrap canvas:

liv’s newest needs + wants, stings galore v.2:

and then there’s the temple…

i needed something newish to put in the girls’ rooms in the way of a temple picture.  i played with jodie lee’s vintage crackle textures and got just what i wanted!

A little template for your Tuesday.

That’s right.. it’s Tuesday again and that means another “Template Tuesday” is upon us.

Here’s where you can get it, and here is what I did with it:

All papers and elements are from The Queen of Quirk- “You are Here” full kit.

The alpha is another goodie from The Queen of Quirk- “Aubergine”.

Staples are from Splendid Fiins.

And that stitch..  well that is from this brush class.

(Take it.  You won’t regret it, I promise!)

Font: Pea Matt & Kari

Some yummy for your Monday.

Happy Spring!!

(More to come on that subject later..)

For now, here is some gorgeous stuff to get you started on a great week of digi/hybrid scrapping/crafting.

(More to come on that “Hybrid Crafting” part too.)

First up:  Cosmo Cricket “Lil’ Girl & Lil’ Boy” Papers and Elements.

LOVE them.

(Click HERE for full credits.)

And then there’s more Splendid Fiins.

(LOVE HER!!)

This time around it is border bits that go with the “Brilliant” collection.

You should already know of my love for that line..

(Click HERE for full credits.)

Go check out what else is in store today..  have some fun with your Monday!

Strictly for fun.

It is nice to have a reason (motivator) to scrap, but it is even funner to just do it for fun.

My friend Mandi created this template and I couldn’t wait to play with it.

I am learning a few things about myself as I scrap..

1- Music really influences the choices I make as far as style is concerned.  (That should be a no brainer.)  The pink was added in as the music I was listening to became a bit more gentle.

2- Scrapbooking pictures of Peyton is difficult for a plethora of reasons.  Besides the obvious (baby hungry, will be forever!!), I can see flaws in the way I was taking pictures before.  (Thanks education.)  Not to mention the quality.  The quality of the cameras I was using is not quite the quality of what I use now.  (Darn those megapixles!)  Some pictures are more pixilated than others, I can tell I was zooming way in.

3- I get to know my stash so much better when I am not focusing on must one designer.  It’s quite fun to hunt for the perfect elements for a page, from all over my hard-drive. 

4- I also know I need to get better organized.

5- I also want more “stuff” to play with.  But when don’t I? ;)

Credits:

Papers:

- Cream, Charcoal, and Mustard papers: Splendid Fiins.

- Pink: Jessica Sprague

Lace:

- Kitschy Digitals

Buttons:

- Small grey, white and yellow (I did change the hue & saturation on this one a bit): Kitschy Digitals

- Large grey button: Queen of Quirk

Fabric Flower:

- Kitschy Digitals

Stitching:

- Splendid Fiins

Staple:

- Crystal Wilkerson

Frames:

- Carina Gardner

Overlay:

- Queen of Quirk

Font:

- Firefly Castle from Kevin & Amanda

Another designer, another freebie!

I have been MIA, I know, I know.  But have you ever had the devil in your ear, telling you, like ALL the time that you totally suck?!

Welp, I have.

I finally knocked him off my shoulder.

Happy days! 

So at Jessica Sprague there is another designer spotlight!  They are so fun..

This week is Jan of “Queen of Quirk”.  I LOVE her style, adore her overlays especially.  She is just fun, and I love the quirk!

Head on over to Digi Lovely for a freebie (!!) from the Queen herself.

Some of Jan’s gorgeous stuff:

Fun new products..

I love seeing what fun new stuff the designers come up with at Jessica Sprague..
Just a couple of things new to the store tomorrow:

Okay, so part of this one isn’t new, but it’s newish.
Splendid Fiins put out a “Splendid Tutorial” on how to make Silhouettes, from beginning to end, and making them into your own brush!  Pretty incredible, I know.
Tomorrow, new to the store, will be these alternate borders.  You can color them, but I am just boring and left them black.
I made mine into ornaments, and if you click on it, you can see the name and age of the little girl whose silhouette is on there..
I just printed off the finished product, cut it out, rounded the corners, and glittered the edges of some chipboard before I stuck down my silhouette with craft dots.  Add a little rick-rack and you have a cute little ornament!  I would have liked to have diamond glazed it, but ran out of time.
My mind is just racing with all the possibilities with this one!
Queen of Quirk (I love all things quirky..) has “Reindeer Games” coming out tomorrow.  I wanted to use all of the elements and papers on one page, but that wouldn’t have looked too great.  It is all so fun though!

Papers.
Elements.
I also used her template.
Stitching, Splendid Fiins.
Fonts, Marcelle Script and Caviar Dreams.
Don’t forget, the great holiday sale is going on there, and prices are slashed by 20%!!  With any purchase over $20 you get a free comp kit, that is pretty fun too..  need to find more time to play with that one…
Oh, and the FREE class starts TOMORROW!

7 days in may.

i had so much fun this last weekend participating in challenges that really..  well..  challenged me. :)
there was one challenge that had to meet certain criteria and be executed in one hour or less.
then another one that had to be done in 1/2 hour or less. :O
i have loved them all, and am thankful that this week there are more!!
if you are wondering where i am playing, wonder no more!

yesterday’s challenge:
- stripes + a large letter + one picture =

(using crystal wilkerson’s {sweet summertime} line, june 2009 “office supplies”, and jumbo alpha.)
today’s challenge:
this freebie
 
+ this ad for inspiration

=

(using the freebie from “live designs”, and “queen of quirk” knotty girl paper and sitting pretty elements.)
come and play, it’s pretty fun!!