Friday, July 31, 2009

pattern pizzazz...

I was so excited when Nichole invited me to join her senior design team for another challenge...and the challenge was definitely a good one!  She asked us to combine four or more different patterns on a single project...and then explain why we chose the patterns we used.  

6_patterns_card3_wendysue

I definitely love patterns - but I tend to lean toward more subtle patterns...especially when I am combining several patterns together.  Not that I don't love big bold patterns...I just don't seem to be able to work with them as well as others.  So I'll leave the bold pattern tips to the other gals - and share my more subtle pattern combination here. :)

6_patterns_wendysue

Here are the SIX patterns I used on my card.  As you can see, some of the patterns are from printed papers and others have been stamped.  I used white ink to stamp the small circles, large circles, stripes, and butterflies. The tiny white dots and the grid are from these paper pads.

I am definitely not claiming to be an expert...but my first tip for combining patterns is to use patterns that are the same color/color combination.  On my card, the papers are different colors, but the actual print/pattern (whether it's pre-printed or stamped) is the same color (white), making it easy to mix and match patterns.

6_patterns_card2_wendysue

It's also easier to balance patterns if you use equal amounts of patterns that are similar in "weight," meaning there are not some patterns that are bold and heavy, while others are super light and airy.  (Hopefully that makes sense!)  At least that is what works for me.

Be sure to check out the fun pattern combinations, amazing projects, and great tips from the super talented girls on the Papertrey Ink Senior Design Team:

Nichole Heady

Lisa Johnson

Heather Nichols

Michelle Wooderson

Becky Oehlers

Lauren Meader

and

Dawn McVey

Thanks again, to Nichole and her team for asking me to join them for the last couple of months as a guest designer - I've had so much fun working with them and their amazing products!  I can't wait to see what they are working on for the next release!! :o)

 

 

 

carefree...

This is the layout I created for the American Crafts blog challenge this week:

ac_carefree_layout

ac_carefree_layout_journaling

ac_carefree_layout_title

You can read the details by going here.

And if you would like to play along with the challenge, here's what you need to do:

6a00d8357de06869e201157239ff6b970b

This is your chance to win some brand new FLAIR!! 

Win it before you can even buy it!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

you're so good for me...

 

I dare you to listen to this song and not smile.

Every dang time I hear the Lagoon commercial on tv, I smile. 

It almost makes me want to go to Lagoon even. ;)

vacation...

Summer is over half-way over...and I'm yearning for another vacation.  It's not going to happen anytime soon, darn it!  Oh well, at least we have our little family dates - at the lake, out to eat, hiking, four-wheeling, etc. 

Until we get out for more than a day at a time, here's a layout I created with a photo from our family vacation last spring.

se_buttons_rubons

I used rub-ons to embellish the buttons.

se_buttons_rubons_detail_th 

All of the product is from the Great Escape collection by Making Memories.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

more cha projects...

for Cosmo Cricket:

cute little Bailey B:cc_girlfriday_layout_wendysue

a fun little halloween mirror:

cc_haunted_mirror_wendysue

Christmas, anyone?

cc_holiday_layout_wendysue 

and a couple of cards:

web_cc_begood_ohjoy_card_we web_cc_jollybygolly_card_we

Monday, July 27, 2009

funny boy...

This is Seth.

050309_seth_choc1

Seth likes to talk. 

A lot. 

We're talking stream-of-consciousness talk.

And he has a lot of questions.

A lot.

And when you tell him an answer, he remembers it.

Forever.

He is very smart.

And he's funny.

He makes me laugh every single day.

Having a conversation with him for any amount of time is absolutely entertaining.

I love hearing the little thoughts that are bouncing around in his head.

For example:

fly

"Mom, there was a dead fly in my window this morning.

Now it’s gone.

I wonder what happened to it.

hmmm.

That’s weird, how it’s gone now.

Wait.

I know.

I think it got resurrected."

 

or this little conversation we had a couple of days ago:

flea

him:  Mom, what are fleas?

me:  Little bugs.

him:  Where do they live?

me:  I don’t know. On dogs, sometimes.

him:  Do dogs like it?

me:  No, I don’t think so.

him:  Why?

me:  It makes them itch.

him:  Why?

me:  I think they must bite them.

him:  Oh, so that’s their weapon. A flea’s weapon is biting.

[and then he sits quietly for a moment...obviously contemplating what a great weapon this is...]

dog

him:  It’s a good thing we don’t have a dog since you’re allergic. Because then the fleas could get into our house. And they could bite us. I don’t like things that bite. AND I don’t like dogs.

The hilarity of this statement is increased 100 times if you know Seth and know that he is absolutely terrified of dogs.  He probably thinks fleas are super cool because they actually BITE dogs.  And yet he doesn't really want fleas in our house (he's almost as afraid of bugs as he is of dogs), so it's a good thing I'm allergic to dogs, so we can't have a dog.  or fleas.  good thinking, Seth!

and then there's this little statement I overheard today

scurvy

...as the little boys were playing "pirates."

"Come along, now, Mr. Scurvy."

obviously, he's heard the term "scurvy" used in the same story/show as a pirate...so he knew they were somehow "related," but he misinterpreted scurvy to be a person...not a disease.  Poor Zach, aka Mr. Scurvy.  :)

Thursday, July 23, 2009

have you heard...

...the crickets chirping?  I have. 

Every night this week.

I've been working into the wee hours of the morning with my office window open to allow the cool breezes into my room.  The sound of crickets was not expected, but I thought it was especially appropriate, since I was working on projects for Cosmo CRICKET for the CHA show next week!

Here's a peek at a few of the layouts I created...

The is the new Jolly by Golly line - so bright and fun for winter!

cc_jollybygolly_layout_wendysue

This is Snorkel - it's not brand new...but it's still awesome:

cc_snorkel_layout_wendysue

Another fun new line called "Earth Love":

cc_earthlove_layout_wendysue

And my favorite line of the new releases, "The Boyfriend":

cc_boyfriend_layout_wendysue

I'll share more soon...but for now I just want to get my kitchen cleaned up from dinner and then I want to spend some time with the family and relax all evening...

and hopefully I'll be sleeping way too soundly to hear any crickets tonight!

Friday, July 17, 2009

five things...

...that are making me happy today:

1.  An e-mail from my friend, Jane, telling me she had the new catalogs...and I could get one TODAY!071609_catalog

2.  A wonderful visit with Jane...seriously, she is someone I could just chat with all day long! 

And when I was leaving, she gave me these, freshly cut from her flower garden this morning:071609_lavender

oooh, if you could only smell the lavender...it's so sweet!

3.  Since summer has finally arrived (and the temps are consistently 90-ish lately), I've been drinking lots of H2O.  You've gotta love a nice big glass of ice-water.  I love it the most after it sits for a while, so the ice is soft and chewable, mmmm.  And drinking it out of my new cups (from Target) makes me even happier!

071609_icewater

(okay, looking at this picture, the water looks murky.  it's totally not - it's the way the glass "fogged up" on the outside...I promise...the water is fresh and clean and super yummy!)

4.  Next, to water, this is my favorite drink this summer.  I pour 1/4 of the cup full of limeade (it has to be this brand), and then top it off with diet coke.  It is soooooo good!

071609_dietcokeandlime

5.  Does this even need an explanation?

071609_dove

I didn't think so. :o)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

i'm off...

...to buy about a million bottles of evian water...

...because I'm all about living young these days!

come on...you want some too, right?!?

(Zach has watched this thing about 6 times...and keeps asking to watch it again...it's SO cute!)

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

papertrey ink...

I finally get to share the projects I created for this month's Papertrey Ink release!  Have you been following along on Nichole's blog to see sneak peeks of the amazing sets being released in a mere 24 hours???  If you have, I am sure you are just as excited as I am!  So, without further ado...

Everyday Button Bits:

pti_my_life_layout

This sweet set has lots of super cute images...and every single one has a place where you use a button to complete the picture.  I love and adore my buttons...so I was absolutely thrilled to incorporate this set on my first layout this month!

Some details:

pti_my_life_layout_close1 pti_my_life_layout_close2 pti_my_life_layout_close3

pti_my_life_layout_close4

pti_my_life_layout_close5 pti_my_life_layout_close6

On My Couch:

 pti_couchantics_layout

Using this set was WAY more fun than couch shopping!  There are soooo many options - outlines, solids, patterns, accessories...the WHOLE package...minus the annoying salesman! 

some details of the cute couch images:

 pti_couchantics_layout_close1  pti_couchantics_layout_close2 pti_couchantics_layout_close3 

In Bloom:

 pti_friend_card

I just love the crisp, clean images in this set - can't wait to use lots of different color combos with it!

details:

 pti_friend_card_close1

eta: someone asked how I attached the flower.  I used two foam squares (see photo below) behind the flower and place it right above the bow.  The leaves are attached directly to the back of the flower, so they overlap the bow slightly.

 pti_friend_card_close2

Don't forget that TONIGHT is release night!!  All of the sets I used to create these projects (plus LOTS more) will be available for purchase tonight (July 14) at midnight, EST at Papertrey Ink.

Thanks again, to the Papertrey team, especially Nichole, for asking me to join them for these two months.  They are an incredible company to work with - and the designs are so much fun to use!  I'm not quite finished with my official contributions - I will be joining them in their monthly challenge on August 1st...can't wait for that fun day as well! :o)

Monday, July 13, 2009

on top of the world...

literally.  We spent the weekend of the 4th down in St. George with my parents.  On the 4th, we drove to Zions...because our little rock hound (aka Josh) insisted on visiting some rock shops there.  It was a nice drive - we enjoyed the air conditioning, some cold drinks, Subway lunch, and sweet snacks along the way.  We found some rock shops, did a little bit of exploring, and visited a few other stores before we decided to head back to the house in St. George.  On the way back, Brad decided to follow a sign pointing to "Kolob Reservoir."  Of course, we've never been there...so we thought we'd check out the old lake.  The kids weren't happy...but they ended up falling asleep soon after we took the turn-off, so that worked out just great!

The ride was amazing.  We literally felt like we were on top of the world...and judging by some of the sharp drop-offs, cliffs, and all-around scary roadsides, my "afraid-of-heights-side" was convinced.  Other than feeling sick to my stomach because of the aforementioned scenery, I was in awe - it was gorgeous.

Don't you agree?  (please ignore the dirty windows and funny reflections...I was taking these pics with my little point and shoot as we were driving)

And further proof that we were so dang high:

(near the top of the mountain)  vs.

(almost to the bottom of the mountain again...I forgot to take one when we got all the way back down to the main road, but it was about 105 degrees there).

And, ironically, we never did find the reservoir.  Must have missed a turn somewhere...or maybe we didn't go far enough before we turned around to head back down to safe ground. :)

And figuratively.

logo_02 

I am so excited to be joining Cosmo Cricket as a member of their design team for the next year! 

I love cute product (as if you didn't already know), so I am absolutely thrilled to be able to work with their fun designs...just wait until you see what's coming out in a couple of weeks...I'm so excited - can't wait to share!! :o)