Wednesday, September 30, 2009

revised...

better, no?

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In addition to nixing the blue background and replacing it with white cardstock (my favorite textured white cardstock by American Crafts), I took off the blue rick-rack and replaced it with teal ribbon.  I also added a teal bow and an additional piece of flair - rah! rah! rah!

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a quick layout share...

I posted about Meagan's team winning the county championship here - and I'm finally making a page for her scrapbook about it.  I love the new "Junior" line by American Crafts and I thought it would be perfect for this layout.  I also used some more Silhouette print&cut images - loving those!ac_champs_lo

I'm not really digging the blue background...I think I'm going to switch it to white.  I'm just not really a colored background kind of girl - not sure why, because I love when other people do it...I guess I just don't know how to do it well.

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supplies2

American Crafts Shazam! varnish paper

American Crafts Ta-da! paper

American Crafts Letterman Thickers

American Crafts Junior Flair Adhesive Buttons

American Crafts Slick Writer (works great to write on photo paper)

Silhouette cutting machine and print & cut images

Doodlebug blue-jean rick-rack

Doodlebug stitching rub-ons

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

snowflakes...

Tomorrow's forecast is for cold and SNOW.  Can you believe it?

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Looks like those Christmas tunes I've been enjoying will be even more appropriate in a mere 24 hours! :o)

Friday, September 25, 2009

autumn leaves ...

Josh brought home a note from school this week, requesting that we start gathering and pressing leaves for a school project.  I don't know about him, but I felt giddy with excitement!  I can't wait to drive up into the mountains this weekend to gather autumn leaves to bring home and press...and hopefully I can take some fun autumn pictures too.

Earlier this year (during a HOT, non-autumn-like, summer month), I made this set of tags for Making Memories using their new fall line, Autumn Splendor. autumn_tag_set1

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autumn_tag_set3 autumn_tag_set

Thursday, September 24, 2009

lil' man layout...

Thought I'd share a quick layout with the same products I used on my card yesterday -

Lil' Man by Cosmo Cricket.

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When we moved into this house, one of our favorite things was having a back yard with GRASS!  Our first home had a big backyard, but it was "natural mountainside landscaping."  Um, yeah...lots of big trees, bushes, etc...which would be lots of fun for the bigger kids, but not so much for a toddler.  Seth was thrilled with the back yard - knowing he could go out and roll around (literally) on the grass made him so happy! :o)

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

howdy...

It's already close to midnight and I still have a long list of things I need to do before the sun rises on another day, but I wanted to share a simple little card for those of you who are popping in looking for inspiration for World Card-Making Day! :o)

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I used the Lil' Man line by Cosmo Cricket for this card. 

I just love the colors in this line - especially the striped ribbon...possibly my favorite ribbon ever!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

win a kit...

So...remember my post a few days ago about the crop I was able to attend to support cystic fibrosis research?  I provided a kit for the attendees...and you can still buy them by visiting the Scrapping to Breathe blog

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Creating Keepsakes magazine is giving away a kit to one lucky person!  You can enter to win by leaving a comment on their blog.  Good luck! 

Monday, September 21, 2009

world card making day - blog tour...

Welcome to those of you who have found my blog via the World Card Making Day website!

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(and, of course, welcome to those of you who are here via any other means as well, lol!)  

I am already counting down the days until October 3rd - World Card Making Day!  I'm excited to be participating in this fun annual event - and I'm looking forward to all of the creativity that will be (and already is being) shared in response to a day dedicated to one of my favorite hobbies!  There are 25 other bloggers who were asked to participate on the tour - you can find links to all of their blogs here.  And if you're interested in participating, you can link yourself up and join the tour! :o)

Speaking of cards...here's a Christmas card I made using some of  the new Making Memories  holiday line, Mistletoe.  (nope, it's definitely NOT too early to start thinking about your holiday cards...only 94 days until Christmas!)

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Oh, and you're definitely going to want to check out all of the inspiration you get from here, at the Paper Crafts online store - if's full of idea books, magazines, and more...perfect for getting your creative juices flowing so you can enjoy putting together loads of fun cards on WCMD!!  (and wouldn't an idea book be the perfect stocking stuffer for fellow paper crafters on your holiday shopping list?!?)

And just because you stopped by for a visit here on my little old blog, I have something fun to give you -a special coupon code for a 25% discount off your purchases at the store

Just enter this code:  Y8NB-SSPV-H9JV when you're ready to check out.

(The coupon will be valid from midnight (MDT) on 09/21/09 through 23:59:59 (MDT) on 10/12/09, and is good for 25% off of the user's cart subtotal.  It will work only within the scrapbooking store.)

Keep checking back, I have more fun card ideas to share with you in the days leading up to WCMD!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

changing colors...

Everywhere I look, colors are changing:autumn2 autumn4  autumn3

Even in my own house:

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So, I figured I'd join the party...and change my hair color:

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And today I'm a brunette for the first time ever!  It's actually lightened up a lot already (after only one wash)...so I'm debating calling and having it darkened again, or just letting it lighten up so it's a really light brown with blonde.  OR just going back to my natural blonde (only with no highlights).  Opinions?

Several of you guessed that I colored my hair, so I put your names in a hat and drew out one name...and that name is...Rhadonda!  So, Rhadonda, please e-mail me so I can get your mailing address to send you some goodies! :o)

Thursday, September 17, 2009

ninety-nine...

That's how many days there are until Christmas!! :o)  I know.  You're welcome.

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I am itching to break out the Christmas music. It makes me happy - and though I'm not wishing away the next 3 months, because I truly do love autumn, I don't think I'll make it until Halloween this year....that's usually when I start playing holiday tunes.  In fact, I'll be participating in a one-woman marathon cleaning session in my office later today...and I'm thinking that will be the PERFECT time to start cranking up my holiday stations on Pandora!  Yep. I've decided.  It's a date. :)

And on a topic completely unrelated to Christmas, Autumn, or cleaning...yesterday afternoon I did something I have NEVER ever ever done before.  I'm still not sure if I'm glad I did it or not.  It's changed me.  I'm going to give it some more time before I decide if I'll ever do it again...but you know how it is with "firsts," once you have done it, you've done it. lol. 

Are you curious?  Wanna guess?  Go ahead...guess...leave me a comment...I'd love to hear what you are thinking.  And maybe, just maybe, I can put together a fun little box of goodies (remember that marathon cleaning/organizing session that will be commencing today?) to send to someone who guesses correctly.  I'll pick a winner tomorrow (Friday) night. :o)

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

eating right...

Now that school is in full swing, Zach is stuck at home with me for half of every single day.  Although the first few days he insisted he liked cleaning...which is true, as long as it involves a bottle of something to spray and an entire roll of paper towels!  Anyway, I have been feeling kind of bad for the poor kid - he's lonely...and I must not be very fun.  lol!   So when this fun little package arrived on my doorstep, I knew it would be the perfect little thing to make his day special. 

Let me back up, several months ago, I applied to join an online group called Team Mom.  They review products for companies...and give them feedback from the point of view many companies are looking for - moms and kids.  That's how I received this little box of fun.  It's full of product samples from Safeway and Warner Brothers, Loony Toons - who have teamed up to create meals, snacks, cereals, and drinks kids love and moms feel good about giving them (because they are healthy)!

Anyway, here's my cute little guy with his fun surprise:

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He loved the bag - and immediately asked if he could keep it to take snacks when we go in the van.

He carefully unloaded the contents:

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(a chewy bar)

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(fruit)

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(juice)

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(pasta)

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He was anxious to give each one a try:

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He tasted the chewy bar, but didn't love it.  I, however, quite enjoyed it.  It had dried berries and a layer of chocolate on the bottom.  Yum. :)

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He tried the fruit cup also.  He couldn't get the fork to cooperate, so he opted to use his fingers.  Good stuff!

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Of course, the apple juice was big hit - especially when we put a straw in the bottle.

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And he gave the pasta a valiant effort, but just didn't love it.  He's super picky though.  I saved it, and we'll see if Seth would like to eat it for lunch.  It smells good.

I really like that this company has geared a line of HEALTHY food toward kids with these classic cartoon characters.  (instead of fruit snacks, candy, etc.)   The individual packages would make GREAT additions to school lunches (if your kid is a 'brown-bagger').  They would also be perfect to keep in the pantry for after school snacks. I can see my big kids enjoying the food (as long as their friends didn't see the cartoon characters on the packaging, lol).

I also thought it was interesting to note that the FTC highlighted this product line for it's ability to have a positive impact on childhood obesity.  Even though my picky little eater didn't love everything in the sample pack, there are over 60 other items (across 18 categories, including breakfast foods, produce, dairy, snacks, beverages, and frozen entrees) available at Safeway

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And we'll definitely be using the cute little insulated tote on many future road trips! :o)

Monday, September 14, 2009

a good cause...

Last weekend, I attended a fabulous fundraising crop organized by  Brenda Hurd up in Layton, Utah.  The crop was a day-long event aimed at earning money for Cystic Fibrosis research. It was my privilege to be able to put together a simple two-page layout to share with the ladies at the crop.  O'Scrap sponsored the class (thanks again, Terri!) and provided all of the contents for the kits.  Everything needed for this layout is included in the kit (including a full package of cute rock-a-bye thickers) - and everything is already pre-cut!  beautiful_autumn_layout

All you have to do is glue down each piece and add your photos and journaling.  Of course, you can always take it up a notch or two if this is too simple for you - add stamping, distressing, etc. to make it your own! If you weren't able to attend the crop - you can still help them reach their goal by purchasing one of the kits for only $10, which includes shipping.  For more information about purchasing a kit (and other fun items), please visit the Scrapping to Breathe Blog.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

the first...

Today is the first day of September. 

Today is also the first day of school. 

This one was up with the roosters:

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She has to be...since school starts at 7:45. 

See the early morning glow on her cheek? 

She was so excited...and suddenly she looks so grown up to me.

Here she is boarding her "bus":

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aka Dad's ride. 

Nice of him, huh? 

She'll ride the big yellow bus most days, but when it works for them,

Dad's ride is much much more comfortable. :)

And an hour later, this handsome guy was ready to go:

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Again...looking way too grown up - funny how one summer makes such a huge difference! 

He only let me snap one quick photo before he turned and headed to the bus. 

No hug. 

No kiss. 

No nothing. 

whaaaa. 

I asked him to wait for me so I could walk down to the bus stop with him. 

His reply sounded something like this: "moooooo-oooom, NO!"

Whatever, kid. 

I gave him a 30 second head-start. ;) 

But I left him alone. 

I didn't ask him to pose at the bus stop. 

I didn't even talk to him. 

I just hung back with the other parents and snapped a quick shot as he climbed onto the bus:

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And then there were two. 

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The little boys and I hung out all day - they worked on some art projects while I did a little bit of work.  We also did some laundry, ran some errands, and bought icees to give to the big kids when they came back home. 

It was a good first day.

Seth's big first day is coming soon...but he has another week or so to spend with me and Zach - even though he can hardly stand the wait, we'll make the most of it!