Friday, May 30, 2008

one more card...

Okay, so I have 101 other things I should be doing, but I came across this fun sketch earlier this morning at Emma's Paperie Blog...and I decided I had to create a card based on this sketch. And I had to do it immediately, lol. So here's the card I created:


Of course, I had to use my new Cuttlebug embossing folder and Circle die...I am just loving this fun toy! (and so are the kids...you should see the pile of embossed papers and all of the circles on my floor right now!!)

holiday confusion...

I have been "working" in the scrapbook industry for close to 8 years now. I still think it's crazy how far ahead of the calendar I find myself thinking about holidays. For instance, it's not even June yet, but I've spent the last 2-3 months working on projects for this coming Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Yes, the Easter decorations were up...and I was creating Halloween layouts using products that will be available to consumers for Fall 2008. It's fun being able to see new products before they hit the shelves...but it's kind of crazy too.

Anyway...as I mentioned, I was working on Halloween projects using yet-to-be-released products when I came across a package of older, discontinued Halloween products on my shelf. The Making Memories line from 2 Halloween's ago (that would that be 2006) is my all-time favorite so far. After I saw it, I had to pull it out and use it - obviously the product is "old" and it's not "publishable" because it's been discontinued - but I love it, so I used it anyway. Here's the layout I created with my all-time favorite Halloween line:





And just in case you were wondering if this holiday confusion affects anyone else in my family...just take a peek of Seth coloring Easter Eggs this year. Nice shirt, eh?

Thursday, May 29, 2008

scrap cards...

A few weeks ago I was working on a layout for an assignment (something I can share in a few months) and when I finished I put all of my scraps in a baggie. Yesterday I wanted to put together a few quick cards, so I pulled out the scraps and a few other things and just started putting things together.
I also pulled out my brand new toy - a Cuttlebug! Yep, I was also enticed by all of the fun embossed and die-cut images I've been seeing on some of my favorite scrapper's blogs and I succumbed to the pressure! I love it - and I'm so glad I made this investment. :o)
Okay, so here are a few of the cards I put together with scraps and my new toy:





Tuesday, May 27, 2008

day one of summer vacation...

...was a lovely day. The weather was nice - not hot...but it wasn't raining (or snowing) like it was last week. The kids played outside a lot. They're still outside playing with a bunch of neighborhood kids -- you know it's summer when everyone is still outside in their front yards after the sun goes down! I love it! {There are about 6 kids out on our front lawn squealing and playing frisbee right now - they just put down their scooters for a minute, but I'm sure they'll be taking them out for one more whirl around the cul-de-sac before the night is over.}

Nights like this bring back memories from when I was little and we'd play outside with our cousins until it was dark. When it was too dark to see (or when our moms made us go inside) we'd go in and get ready for bed. (our cousins would head in and get their flashlights so they could go back out and hunt for night crawlers...I can't remember for sure, but I think they sold them to fishermen...)

We had ice cream before bed a lot during the summer -- mom always chopped up walnuts and there were plenty of toppings to choose from. I almost always had vanilla ice cream with chocolate topping and walnuts...then I'd wait for it to melt a little and stir it up until it was a "shake" and eat/drink it...and I believe I probably even licked the bowl a time or two. If we didn't have ice cream, we had watermelon...with salt. YUM! And I'd always always always save the center of my slice for last - it is always the sweetest and juiciest.
Well, that was a tangent I wasn't planning on taking...but when the memory comes, I'm recording it...I may never remember it again otherwise, lol.

and back to the present...

Meagan's first piano recital was tonight. She did such a great job. She said she messed up...but I couldn't tell at all, so I doubt anyone else noticed either. Here she is with her piano teacher, Olivia...who is one of the most talented and patient people I know!



The recital was at UVSC (or is it UVU now?) - she played on a gorgeous grand piano and behind her there were huge windows with amazing views of our valley and Timpanogos. I hadn't been inside the college since they built it a few years ago -- but I'd love to go back and just sit there and watch the sun set every night!

Tomorrow we're getting back on track with our summer chore schedule - which I am excited about. The kids aren't...but I am! They are such good helpers when they are motivated...so hopefully tomorrow they'll wake up with lots of energy to spend in the house with me before they head outside to play.

Have I mentioned how excited I am for summer to be here?!?

Monday, May 26, 2008

just the girls...

Am I the only one still trying to remember that tomorrow is TUESDAY and not Monday? I know I'm going to be confused all week long...but I'm going to look on the bright side and remember that the weekend will be here one day sooner than it feels like it should, lol.
Speaking of the weekend coming...I'm looking forward to a girl's night out on Friday...a few hours with just the girls - dinner at a fabulous place and a farewell party of sorts for one of our neighbors who will be moving away for a few short years...
In honor of our get-together, which is only four days away (not five), I thought I'd share this fun card I made using lots of Crate Paper goodies!

So, here's hoping that this Tuesday feels NOTHING like a Monday!! :o)

Thursday, May 22, 2008

an evening on the lake...

Last Saturday we decided to take the boat out on the lake for the first time this year. Okay, I should say Brad decided to take the boat out - I was a party pooper and made a stink about NOT wanting to go. Brad actually took the boat back and I made him go back and get it...I don't know how he puts up with me sometimes...but that's a whole different story. Anyway...

We took two vehicles, Brad pulled the boat and took the little guys and my brother and I followed behind in the van with the big kids - we stopped to pick up some treats and bottled water too. When we got to the ramp, Brad had just been interviewed by a reporter from the Tribune...kind of funny...we loaded up the treats, hopped into the boat and waited for our turn to unload. I loved that Tony was with us so he could help Brad with the truck/trailer/boat...I can do it, but I don't like to...so it was nice to just sit in the boat and wait to get out on the water.

The kids were SO excited! They love riding F-A-S-T and hitting the wakes from other boats...they love it when they fly off their seats...I do not.


I was content to sit right back in my little corner...where I bounced around the least...this was my view...


Zach thought he should drive...



I took this little picture of the mountains right across the street from Jordanelle ...still covered in snow. It's spring in Utah! :o)





After riding around for a while, Brad decided to pull over to the shore and let the kids hike around. Is it just me, or are these shores kind of creepy? All of the dead wood just kind of creeps me out. But the kids had fun finding sticks (and dinosaur bones - just ask Seth), playing in the sand and the water (even though it was barely above freezing, brrr...), and hiking around.



This is my favorite thing to see...ever...anywhere...


Seth picked up this stick and brought it over to show me...I thought it looked so neat...the way all of the layers were dried and curling...



We hopped back in the boat, rode around for a while, and pulled over to another shore. This one was much less creepy -- no old wood, just lots and lots of rocks. The kids skipped rocks - and threw rocks, and just had a great time.



Then, we noticed a couple of Crocs floating out in the water...just about 100 yards away from the back of the boat. Can you see them? Yep, Seth or Zach (nobody was fessing up) decided to put Brads shoes (crocs) in the water to see if they would float. They did. And they pretty much floated away. So we loaded up again and went fishing for shoes. :)


It was getting pretty cool by the time we headed out again. We noticed a stranded boat not too far away, so we towed them back to shore and then we headed back to the ramp to load up. It really was fun - I'm glad Brad makes me do fun things sometimes - I pretty much always end up enjoying myself...it's just the "getting there" that makes me into a party pooper.

And today, we saw this in the Tribune:



{I told him he should get paid for advertising his company (his hat and shirt both have their logo) lol.}

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

happy birthday...

...to anyone who is celebrating a birthday! ;)

I recently noticed a birthday celebration over at the Lime Tart Blog...it's their birthday...so I am posting a few birthday cards and projects in their honor!
[this one was for my friend, Angela, who celebrated a birthday earlier this month]
[sometimes I like to pull out my scraps and create little items to have in my stash - that's how I created this set of birthday tags]
[This American Crafts card was for a QVC segment...that's why the ribbon isn't actually glued down]
[and this is another little set of mini cards made from scraps...and using the cute little tiny doodlebug stamps]

Friday, May 16, 2008

seeing flowers...

I can honestly say that seeing these bloom in the spring is one of the best things about living in this house -- they were such a nice surprise last spring (I had no idea the previous homeowner had planted these gorgeous bulbs) and I was anxiously awaiting their arrival this year again!


Speaking of flowers, I had a lot of fun experimenting with some flower stamps for one of my project assignments over at Emma's Paperie. The assignment was to use stamps to create a background. Now, I am NOT a stamper and would not claim to be at all creative in this arena...but the stamp images were really fun, so I did my best. :)
Here are a few peeks -


You can visit the Emma's Paperie Blog to see the rest and to see the fun stamped creations made by the EP full time designers. :o)

busy kids...

I'm so glad it's finally Friday! The kids have had a busy couple of weeks...which is always the case when the school year begins to wind down. Besides our regular schedule which now includes piano lessons, softball practices, softball games, scouts, and achievement days - we've also had 2 field trips, school plays, a family picnic (at school), orchestra concerts, state fairs (5th grade state report displays), and probably more that I just can't think of right now.

I gave Meagan and Josh both disposable cameras to take on their field trips - when I get them developed, I'll have the photos put on a cd so I can have a copy too. I didn't take my camera to all of the activities I attended...it's just too crazy when I have to take both of the little guys and try to juggle a camera as well. However, I did take my camera to two of this week's activities.
The first was Meagan's State Fair. 5th grade is the year to study US History and at the end of the year, each student writes a report about a state. Meagan chose Maine (which just happens to be the same state I wrote my 5th grade report on...a few years ago...). Most of the report, which included a power point presentation, was prepared at school. In addition, each student had to create a tri-fold to be displayed and presented in front of their fellow classmates, other students, as well as parents. Meagan did an incredible job on her tri-fold. She made it interactive. She really wanted the other students (and teachers and parents) to stop and really look at her display. She had flaps with all of the state symbols (animal, insect, motto, etc.). In addition, she looked up and printed off hundreds of "fun facts" about Maine and created a pocket to hold them - she encouraged people to "take a fun fact" as they walked by. She even had a real live (well, technically it was dead, but it was once alive) bumble bee, a bag full of toothpicks, and a personalized license plate (which translates to "Meag Rocks." And rock she did. I had teachers and parents come up to me and compliment me...and I had to tell them that I had nothing to do with it. Meagan did it all by herself (ok, I did help her cut her title with our Cricut, but that's about it). She did an incredible job and I am so proud of her!


And today we had a family picnic with the 2nd graders. Josh was so excited for us to come and bring a picnic to eat with him outside. Of course, he asked if I would go to Sonic and get lunch for us - he requested a grilled cheese sandwich and water. So the boys and I loaded up, went to Sonic, and then went to pick up Josh in his classroom for lunch. Meagan just happened to be on hall monitor duty today (a student council responsibility)...so she ducked out and joined us for lunch. The weather was gorgeous - about 70 degrees and the wind wasn't blowing - it was a perfect day for a picnic.

After lunch, we went back to the school where we watched the 2nd graders perform for us. The play was called The Wackadoo Zoo and it was mostly singing...which Josh wasn't happy about...but he did a great job anyway! Unfortunately, by the time the program started, Seth and Zach were not happy about having to sit still for one more minute...so it was a bit trying for me. I didn't get any good photos, but I did video tape most of the play - hopefully it's not too shaky, and hopefully we'll be able to hear the songs over my shushing and threats, lol. This is the only half-decent photo I got of Josh in his "costume."


And this is one I took right after school - the 2nd graders were allowed to leave school early today!


Only one more week of school...I honestly think I'm more excited for summer than the kids! :o)

Thursday, May 15, 2008

a boy project...

Even though I have three little boys and only one little girl, I still find myself creating mostly "girly" projects. I guess it's because of the abundance of flowery/frilly products available to me.

When I was asked to be the guest designer at Emma's Paperie this month, my first assignment was simply to create a project to share -- anything I wanted! After browsing the store (which is fabulous, by the way), I decided to create a boy project. This cute dinosaur line was perfect for what I wanted to do!


Here's a sneak peek of the project I created...


If you want to see the whole thing, please click here to go to Emma's Paperie Blog.
Emma's has the most amazing team of designers who contribute fabulous ideas each and every month - Anabelle O'Malley, Jessica Witty, Lisa Dorsey, and Melissa Phillips
- you'll definitely want to bookmark the site and check in regularly for future ideas from these talented ladies!

And while you're there, don't forget to leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a box of goodies from Emma's. (Today is the last day to enter!)
I have some more fun projects to share...but I have to wait until they go up...so I'll be posting again soon! :o)

mothers day...

Mother's Day was a typical Sunday at our house. I spent the morning preparing my primary lesson, helped get everyone ready for church, and headed out...just in time. Seth started getting one of his headaches during Sacrament Meeting, so Brad brought the boys home from church early. By the time I got home, everyone except Josh and I had changed out of their church clothes (even though I had specifically asked the kids to KEEP them ON so I could have Brad take a picture of me with the kids for Mother's Day). Seth and Zach took naps, Meagan wasn't feeling well because of a tooth issue she was having, and it just seemed that nobody was in a very good mood. Seth's headache finally started feeling better around 7:00 pm so we went over to my mom & dad's to take Mom her Mother's Day gift. We visited for a while, then came home and tried to get the boys settled down for bed...which wasn't happening since they'd taken long afternoon naps. Oh, the fun!
Maybe next year I can get that Mother's Day photo that I can never seem to get.
The day wasn't all bad - Brad did cook a ham and some rolls for lunch - very yummy...and the house smelled so good when I came home from church!
I do want to share some fun gifts I received for Mother's Day though. Meagan spent some time on my computer Saturday. She printed out a cute card and some great coupons for me to use - so sweet!


Josh made this great butterfly picture and card for me. I love the handwritten parts of the card - such a sweetie! He also painted a pot and gave it to me with a plant in it (I'll have to take a picture of it and add it).


I already shared the gift Brad bought for me...my new Kitchen Aid...I love it! The kids and I broke it in on Friday and made a big batch of chocolate chip cookies. It was SO nice to be able to mix the entire batch and not have to use my hands to mix in the last cup of flour!! :o)


And Brad gave me this fabulous basket full of goodies too! How sweet is this?


Can you believe he actually WON this Mother's Day gift basket?! He entered a drawing at the AutoSpa here in town -- he washes his truck practically every day, so I think it's only fair that he would win since he pretty much funds their operating costs every month, lol.
(When I drove past the car wash yesterday I noticed the marquee still had the info for the drawing...since I had my camera with me, I circled around the block and took a quick photo - just for fun!)

He has the BEST luck of anyone I know! (Okay, except for maybe my sister who won a car last year) But seriously - he is one lucky guy! Which makes me one lucky girl! :o)

And I can't forget this beautiful flower bowl my parents gave to me. Now I just have to wait for the weather to be warm enough to keep it outside - until then, it looks pretty nice right out on my kitchen table - it's so bright and it makes me happy!