Gettin' By

The summer bucket list may include pinot grigio.

It's officially the last day of the 2012-13 school year for both kiddos today. Or as I like to refer it: the eve of me realizing that the teachers who spend all day with these creatures are really not getting paid enough. Yes, I am looking forward to a few months with no early morning alarm clocks, no crazy hectic schedules and (holy hallalujah!) no math homework....but there's also a reason that my wine consumption increases during June, July and August. Make that two reasons.

So while we work on a summer bucket list to keep the I'm boreds from driving this mama crazy, I wanted to wrap up the school year with a gift of appreciation for our amazing teachers. They do a thankless job with patience, enthusiasm, dedication and passion. Both kids have mentioned how much they'll miss their teachers when school ends, so today they'll present them with a small token of our gratitude:

I have to give full credit to Pinterest for the idea to combine a bag of marshmellows, a giant Hershey bar, and a sleeve of grahams with this clever tagline. I also attached a Target gift card to each bundle so the teachers can stock up on any other campfire needs (or, i dunno, maybe some WINE??)

The tag + s'more title were die cut on my Silhouette and then the kids helped me stamp the rest of the words (we used these Hero Arts Typewriter Letters). I thought I'd share my die cut files in case anyone needs a quick and easy teacher gift:

You can download the zipped files (.ai, .svg, .dxf and .png) by clicking here.

And now I'm off to enjoy my last day of peace and quiet...and make sure the wine cooler is fully stocked.

 

Gardeners' Digest | Two Peas in a Bucket

It's time for the May issue of the Gardeners' Digest, a blog hop to feature the latest happenings at Two Peas in a Bucket. Today I'm sharing my Garden project for May, an amazing layout from one talented Pea, and some of my favorite new additions to the Two Peas digital store, and there's a pretty cool giveaway, too!

The photos took center stage in this month's Garden, with a wide variety of inspiring ideas revolving around photography, photo treatments and photo-themed products. My page was a tribute to my love for photos - and the moments in my life they capture!

 S U P P L I E S :

The Two Peas Gallery never fails to lend endless inspiration! I adore this layout by Tina (adogslife13) for the fabulous layering and fresh color palette. She layered a sheet of vellum over her hexagon die cut for a soft dimensional look that I love. And how cute are those chipboard glasses over that sweet doggy face??

Have you stopped by the new Two Peas Digital Store lately? There are all kinds of wonderful new goodies, including some awesome cut files (and some are even FREE!) that are keeping my Silhouette busy. But many of them will only be around for the month of May, so be sure and check them out soon! Here are some of my favorites:

We all have them: punches, die cut machines, die cut shapes, and even our most basic tools. And while some of these tools get more use than others, some get completely neglected. Garden Girl Jen Gallacher comes to the rescue with this workshop designed to help you use your tools in creative new ways.

The "Tool School" workshop includes over 100 creative ideas for using your tools. One lucky reader will be selected to attend Jen's online workshop. If you'd like to be entered to win, just leave me a comment below and telling me your most-used scrapbooking tool. I'll randomly pick a winner on Saturday, May 25 and announce it at the bottom of this post.

And now please hop on over to the amazing Shannon Tidwell's blog for even more Gardeners' Digest!

 

Around here lately...

This little girl had a Sock Hop day at school and requested a pink satin poodle skirt for the occasion. A very slippery, satiny poodle skirt that might have made her mama yell bad words at her sewing machine.

This talented trumpet player, along with his fellow sixth grade band members, put on an amazing end-of-the-year-concert featuring an impressive rendition of the theme from Jurassic Park (velociraptors not included).

The beautifully warm, sunny (and dare I say it?) summer-like weather has me filling the window boxes, patio pots, and other bare spots with colorful flowers and plants that I will try my best not to kill. At least until Labor Day.

This handsome yard boy has been helping with said plants (and the rest of the yard) by weeding, irrigating and mowing. And occasionally hosing down kids that try to disturb mama while she drinks her sauvignon blanc on the patio.

This girly and her dance club entertained locals at the town fair with an adorably executed version of Gangnam Style, proving dancing skills are clearly not hereditary.

And as the school year winds down and our morning wait for the bus becomes but a mere memory, (only three days left!) we are all starting to compile our summer bucket lists. I'm guessing music, water fights, and patio time will be at the top!

So what's up in your world, my friends??

 

Simple Saturday

It's been a busy week, full of end-of-the-school year craziness (sock hops and field trips and speech contests and band concerts, oh my!) and I MIGHT be feeling just a little bit woozy waiting for my brain to catch up to all the places my body has been rushing to this week. And while our weekend is equally jam-packed with fun events, beer and bbq will be involved. 'Nuff said.

Even though life is moving full-tilt right know, there is one thing I can count on to remain simple and uncomplicated - my scrapping! This week I'm featuring a page from my Seeing Double video that went live yesterday at Two Peas:

S U P P L I E S :

It's a simple horizontal arrangement of 3x4 journaling cards, topped with my photos, lots of washi tape and embellishments. I love these Project Life-style cards even though I don't do Project Life, because they are easy to incorporate into grids and other linear designs. They make a perfect home for journaling, or a frame for photos, or a backdrop to other accents on your page.

I've added lots of chipboard accents to this page and covered them with washi tape to create colorful custom embellishments. It's a fast and easy way to make bare chipboard look fabulous.

Because my page includes a lot of bright colors, I opted to cut my title from vellum using the font Cookie. It's soft and subtle and doesn't compete with the rest of the page.

For more tips and tricks using journal cards and washi tape (and to see the accompanying card!) be sure to check out the video (and let me know what you think!)

And now I'm off to partake in some weekend revelry. And possibly do a little brainstorming for trips/outings/activities/sports/crafts to keep my kids entertained (and me sane) when they finish up school in a mere four days. And here's where you should feel free to console me that I am not the only bad mama with absolutely no summer agenda worked out yet...

Wardrobe Wednesday.

Dare I even tempt Mother Nature by pulling out a pair of sandals before the end of May? I hate to get too comfortable with the streak of warm weather we've been having, lest she remind me of her capacity to dump a foot of snow all over our bare-toed, short-sleeved selves.

I couldn't quite resist the lure of my blue sandals, however. And I did try to pay homage to the (hopefully long gone) chills of winter by pairing up cool tones of navy, aqua, and royal blue. Ah winter, we shall miss ye. Not. Of course, pops of white, yellow and even a little pink can only mean spring is here. Break out the sandals and let's paaaartay!

_______________________________________
Gap Jacket - similar
J. Crew tee - similar
Old Navy crop jeans
Lucky Penny sandals
DKNY clutch - similar
Burberry sunglasses
Forever 21 bangles
necklace - made by me

Simple Saturday

If you've only got a few moments to sneak in some scrapping, here's a layout that you can complete in record time, and it's brought to you by my very favorite design framework - the undisputably easy 9-square grid! I've used this tic-tac-toe style foundation on countless pages but because the elements within the grid change with every layout, it still looks fresh.

For this page, I've featured four photos from my childhood (and, er, please direct any comments about my hideous bowl haircut to my mother, who assures me this is was a stylish and trendy coif for the early 70s. I have yet to take solace in that, because the emotional scars from being mistaken for a boy for most of my youth just run too deep.  *sob* )

S U P P L I E S :

 

The photos were different orientations and sizes, so I knew each square of the grid wouldn't be identical.  By mixing in slightly various sizes of patterned paper squares, as well as a large flower and number for my title, the grid squares are asymetrical, but balanced.

I added embroidered stitching to divide my grid, and also around the outer edge of my die cut numbers. To see a detailed tutorial on this easy embroidery technique, hop over to the BasicGrey blog!

Give-It-Away Thursday: Big Picture Classes

I'm kicking off this Thursday with some exciting news from Big Picture Classes! Today their newest class, The Phone Photography Project opens for registration. I'm excited to be a contributor to this class, because like many scrapbookers, my iPhone has become my go-to camera and I'm always looking for ways to improve and perfect my phone photography.

The Phone Photography Project is a month-long workshop where you'll learn to take better photos with the camera you always have with you. Document your summer adventures—with help from 32 incredible instructors who will be issuing daily smartphone photography challenges, as well as:

• dozens of tips and tricks from the pros for taking better photos with your mobile-phone camera
• a handbook of 60+ photography app reviews for iPhone and Android, so you know which are worth your time and money
• dozens of project ideas for getting photos off your device and into your world
• interaction with 32 experienced iPhoneographers and Androidographers, and hundreds of fellow students in a private classroom and on Instagram
• giveaways, contests, discounts, bonus downloads, and fun fun fun!

Here's a nifty video preview of some of the fun you'll find in this class:

Right now you can register for the introductory price of $39, but this price won't last long, so don't delay!  You can find out all the important details at Big Picture Classes. I hope you'll join us for this fabulous fun summer course!

And while we're on the topic of Big Picture classes, I have a spot to give away in the fabulous May Flaum's newest adventure, Camp Scrap:

Camp Scrap 2013 is the place to be this summer! Spend the entire month of June scrapbooking with May Flaum and hundreds of her closest friends in an online, choose-your-own-adventure paper crafting camp. You'll enjoy more than 40 new and exclusive projects from May, a dozen "mini class" videos with accompanying handouts, daily emails, a bustling student message board and gallery, and more!
 
This 4-week workshop includes all the fun, instruction, and inspiration you'd find at an in-person scrapbooking retreat. But you get to participate entirely from home in your shorts and flip-flops (or whatever counts as your comfort gear for summer).

If you'd like to be entered to win a spot at Camp Scrap, just leave me a comment today telling me what you're most looking forward to this summer! I'll randomly pick a winner from the comments on Monday, May 13. And let the countdown to summer begin!

UPDATED WITH WINNER:

Wardrobe Wednesday.

Until recently, I've only sported neon footware when I've been out burning off my cheeseburger consumption on the running trails. And I've delighted in purchasing every day-glow pink, purple and green pair of athletic shoes I've ever owned. But not so much as a recent splurge on neon yellow pumps. I was giddy when they arrived, positively gushing when I tried them on, and have been seen wearing them most waking hours ever since (despite my family's insistence that they don't go with pajamas.)

So here's an ensemble I think they do work with: my white cropped jeans (also making their debut appearance for spring), a simple tee and my trusty jean jacket. It's just as comfy as pjs, and undoubtedly more publicly appropriate. I am wearing heels, after all!

I kinda adore this yellow paired with aqua, as evidenced by my goofy grin in several of these shots. Proof that the mood-boosting powers of good shoes (and electric yellow?) should not be underestimated.

Happy Wednesday, fashion friends!

_______________________________
jean jacket & graphic tee - Old Navy
cropped jeans & skinny belt  - Target
canvas tote - Gap
Calvin Klein neon pumps - Zappos
watch - Fossil
similar earrings - Etsy

Monday.

Forgive me for the oh-so-original blog post title today. I've sat here for the last 20 minutes trying to come up with something more clever, but I fear the weekend of Cinco De Mayo celebrations may have impaired my creative tendencies. But the margaritas were delicious!

Today I wanted to share a few scrappy projects with you. Over the weekend, the new idea book Everyday Storyteller 2 debuted and it's now available for sale!

The book is jam-packed with practical and innovative ideas from 33 fabulous scrappers.  I'm honored to have been included amongst them and and my contribution to the book includes an article on grid design with accompanying layouts. The eBook is available for $14.99, or you can bundle with the first book, Everyday Storyteller and get both books for $24.99. So check it out!

I also wanted to feature one of my recent Two Peas projects, a rare (for me) two-page layout using stencils and mists:

S U P P L I E S :

This was a really fun project to create and I loved working with the Prima camera stencils! I also created a card with them and you can see the whole process in this Seeing Double video.

Enjoy your Monday now!

Simple Saturday

Happy National Scrapbook Day, my friends! Hope you are getting a few moments today to celebrate with a little bit of scrapping. And since it is an official holiday and all, don't hestiate to add a little chocolate or champagne into the process - or even better, both!

So today, in amongst the celebratory toasts and treats, I'm sharing a recent layout I did for Lily Bee. I'm sure you'll be shocked (not) to see it uses a modified grid design of 2-inch squares - both paper and photos:

S U P P L I E S :

First I selected 12 pictures that gave a good overview of our vacation and mixed them in with patterned paper squares from Lily Bee's Pinwheel, Sweet Shoppe and Destination lines to complement the colors in my photos. I positioned each square slightly staggered from the one below and aligned the rows at a slight angle. I love the sense of energy and motion a little slant adds to the page.

Then I adorned the majority of my paper squares with small embellishments. I tried to stick with accents that matched the paper so the details would be subtle and not too busy.

My title was cut from deep teal cardstock using the font Shishoni Brush. It's a rough-edged type that has the feeling of hand-lettered calligraphy. Before I cut the title, I also drew in a few small circles to cut at the same time that adorn the corners of my layout.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your NSD, peeps!