this past year...

...has been a blur.
so much change has happened.
i find myself another year older today & a little more tired, but SO BLESSED in
many ways! (and i love being mistaken for being a lot younger than i really am!! ;))

i am more at peace this year. last year at this time the loss of my Dad was so fresh that it was hard
to really celebrate.
then, i vowed to nurture my creativity more

i've LOVED every bit of that creative adventure!! it has been so therapeutic and such an
escape. :)
March came and we moved...
then i had surgery a month later!
i learned to FOCUS on what i CAN do rather than be disappointed by what i cannot do.
i learned to be grateful more, to tell people how appreciative i am...to not wait.
i learned that everything i NEED, i already have!!
i've come to know some AWESOME friends online and hope that some day, some way we can meet!
i have been loved, laughed, cried tears, loss lots of sleep, and grown closer to God and my family through it all.

i don't know what this year will hold. i hope that my creativity will continue to blossom.
i want to learn to quilt. i would love to screen print some rad paper goods.
most of all i want to love and be loved by the people closest to me.
i also want to laugh and smile a lot, too! ;)

happy friday!!

have a great weekend! :)

xo

cloud play || wordless wednesday

InLinkz.com

my girls || Studio Calico Sunday Sketch

i was thrilled to participate in Studio Calico's Sunday Sketch challenge for 8.26.12
i was asked to create a layout based on Dawn McVey's card
i was drawn to 2 things especially, 1) layering 2) a more "girly" look
i have 3 girls, but honestly i don't do a lot of girly-looking layouts.
so i stretched my creativity and came up with this:

i used elements from 6 different Studio Calico kits to achieve this look!!
to see the links to the kits and more info about this page, hop on over to the SC blog and take a look!

:)
happy Monday!!
i've got loads of housework to catch up on after a BUSY weekend!!
wish me lots of luck and coffee!! ;)
xo

and, hey!! look down there! a little InLinkz action going on!! hoping to have more of this in the future!! :)

American Crafts glue dot runner

Silhouette Cameo Die Cutting Machine

Mister Huey's Opaque White

Mister Huey's Calico Shine

InLinkz.com

dude...just because

step 1:  start my day with downloading this free digital file from erica hernandez
she has a tutorial on how to use/install digital brushes.
if you are already familiar with that, go to the end of the post for the download.
then, make something and share the love. let her know how awesome it is!! :)

one might say it is a triangle or an arrow, or if you are a genius, a directional triangle! ;)

step 2: try to make a Silhouette cut from the aforementioned digital file. i always try this. especially if it is a shape or word file. it's like i can't stop myself. it was a learning curve, for sure. i had to slow the speed down and make a  few lots of cuts to get what i wanted. in the end, i found it was time for a new blade.
step 3: use awesome papers from my awesome friend Allison that she sent me some time ago. i admit that i was hoarding these papers. ;) but don't they go perfect with this layout??

incidentally, i have been making 12x12 layouts like a BOSS lately!! (or at least that is what it feels like)
crazy, right?! i thought i never would again. turns out i like the extra white space it gives my layouts now.
i used a lot of Studio Calico in this as well. Hey Day papers, Take Note collection and Mister Huey's.
I believe that arrow badge is from Marcy Penner as well.
"dude" word bubble is from here

**if ANYONE can give me a crash course on the whole InLinkz thing, i would be forever grateful!!
what am i missing???
i would love an easier way to link all of the products that i use for you. :)

that's that!!

happy thursday!!
go play! :)
xo

so i don't forget...

...i do this because life goes by fast!!
i take pictures.
i scrapbook.
i remember. i smile. sometimes it even makes me cry.
it's why i do it.

20 years have passed and I wonder...how? why? when? what happened?

and here we are.

my passions. my family. :)

so i don't forget...

happy Monday!

xo

Currents: 08.13.12

*time: 8:58 am
*lots of laundry to do today
*sitting here at the computer watching the dog sniff around outside
*thinking i've got to leave in just a minute to get the girls from their practices
*glad that we saw a few meteors streaking across the sky last night
*sad that i am going to have to kinda give up on running right now--it's my kryptonite :(
*grateful that i have my health
*trying to not cry when i think about my oldest leaving...again...i will miss seeing her face everyday

seen via Kelly Purkey's blog

*LOVING a little bit of the cooler weather early in the morning/late at night
*SO THANKFUL for my creative outlets. i love making stuff. :)
*feeling empowered by saying "no" and having internet friends keeping me accountable :)

*using my Cameo and creating/designing more (why haven't i done this more)
*at peace with me

*out the door now!! ;)
short and sweet! have a great week!! :)
happy Monday!!
xo

"currents" is a concept/idea that i got from Tina. she's awesome. :)

Elle's Studio: Thursday sketch!

Every Thursday Elle's Studio has a "Thursday sketch"
one or two members of the DT play along and this was my week. :)
The original sketch is based on a layout by fellow DT member Sophie Crespy
Here is the layout I came up with for this week's sketch:

now go play along and get a chance to win a $5 GC to the shop!! :)
Have a fab/rad weekend!
xo

layers and color and stuff

this layout started with our very casual family beach pic and
"THE FAM" button from Ormolu Designs
one thing kinda led to another, as most of my pages do, and suddenly there were lots of layers and some vibrant colors!!
my process is:
*i start out with white cardstock 99% of the time 
*add a photo
*maybe some specific embellishments or papers that i want to use...maybe...
*then it's all just a "go with the flow" style ;)

and i ended up with this

i used some papers and bits from this month's Studio Calico kit, Summer of '69

using the negative space from my Silhouette cuts or from punches, like the EK Success Large Swiss Cheese Punch, has been a favorite of mine lately. it adds texture and dimension that i love.

but WOW!!! what really looks vibrant on this page are the Hero Arts Neon colors i used on my wood veneer shapes! the color really IS that bright and vibrant...NEON just like it is supposed to be! :)

also, used up more of the paper from Marcy Penner's star cut file that i made.

then i remembered I had come across this tutorial by Amy Heller over at the October afternoon blog to make trendy arrows using a square punch.

lots of cool, colorful little bits and layers to share today! :)

happy Wednesday, friends!!

xo

ps...I am quickly becoming the shortest person in the fam...not that it's any feat at 5'4"...

just sayin'... ;)

those moments...

...that take your breath away. with 3 girls, i have many of those moments.
when they were little, it was the cute little things that they did or they way they looked when
they slept so peacefully.
now, those moments come when i get a glance or capture a picture and i see a whole different beauty.
the realization that they are growing up and becoming young women.  feeling in awe for the
fact that they are actually mine. that God entrusted all 3 of them to me, and that they are a
HUGE part of my heart.
my middle daughter turned 14 last week. she actually allowed me to take pictures of her.
most of the time i think kids these days, with their own cameras and phones, want pictures on their own terms, not taken by Mom. ;) but it was a good day, so i went with it.
i knew a scrabooking layout would come of them.
here is the first.

other than the photo, obviously, my inspiration for this page came from Marcy Penner.
she made a star cut file that i could download and use with my Silhouette Cameo.

second, i knew i wanted to use softer colors. i immediately reached for my Studio Calico Hey Day
collection 6x6 paper pad. i used four different patterned papers to achieve the overall look.
add some wood veneer stars, Elle's Studio tags, stitching, some mists, done.
it's not as complicated as it sounds. mostly, because i had it all planned out in my head first!! ;)

i felt like i ventured into new territory with using my Cameo and by using different colors than what i would normally reach for on a layout.

thanks to Marcy for always and inspiring!!
now, go run and download her star cut file!! ;)

first Elle's DT gallery post!!!

in case you haven't heard yet, the new Design Team gallery over at Elle's Studio is LIVE today!!!
i am so blessed to be a part of Elle's expanded team of 10 ladies. y'all there is SO much talent over there!!!
***note:  when i get excited i say y'all and my family looks at me like i am an alien because, really, we don't say y'all around here!! ;) hee!!

i will show you just a few of my layouts because i REALLY want you to head over to the gallery and check EVERYONE'S inspiration and designs out!! ;)

LOTS of wonderful summer tags got used because i had just gotten back from the beach.
in most of my layouts i used the Summer Lovin' cutouts.

my first successful 12x12 layout in ages! woot!

this card just makes me smile :)

so what are you waiting for??!! head on over to Elle's Studio and see what everyone has created!!
Happy Wednesday, y'all!! ;)