LAYOUT SHARE: So Loved and Swimming Lessons

I took a break from card making this past weekend and made two layouts just for fun!  I really enjoyed it!  

That has put me behind in posting and sharing new cards, and also to work on the surprise video I mentioned in my last video.  I have taped the surprise twice and am just not happy with the quality (lighting issues, mainly) so I will be filming again in better lighting and will get that posted soon.

In the meantime, here is what I created using Studio Calico's Blue Note Scrapbook Kit from December, 2013 which is still available by the way.  Just sayin!

Title:  Swimming Lessons

Title:  So Loved

You can't see it from the photo but the three leaves under the title are sprinkled with Diamond Dust and they sparkle just like crushed glass....so pretty!

LAYOUT SHARE: If I Could Bottle You At This Age . . .

This page is a mish-mash of recent Studio Calico kits.

Incidentally, this photo was taken last year at the Memorial Day parade!

Title:  If I Could Bottle You At This Age . . .

I used old Making Memories felt alphas (blue), and old black alphas (not sure manufacturer).

Journaling:  You are so cute, still tell me "I love you" and hug me every morning.  You are proud of growing up, looking for signs of puberty and showing me how tall you're getting and the muscles on your arms.  It's so fun to see you at this age!  (10 years old)

LAYOUT SHARE: Beautiful Girl

I created this page using Studio Calico's April kit add-on, Versailles

Title:  Beautiful GIrl

The circle tag on the bottom was old Cosmo Cricket I think, the flowers were old BasicGrey.  I added Stickles to the flower petals at the top so they have a gorgeous sparkle.

The journaling is tucked inside of the envelope at the bottom.

LAYOUT SHARE: Riding Bikes

I created this layout using Studio Calico's April kit, City of Lights
Check out that bicycle stamp I used across the middle.  (One of the reasons I'm addicted to Studio Calico -- their amazing exclusive stamps for kit subscribers!)

Title:  Riding Bikes

I added some old Theresa Collins bracket paper, a Basic Grey border sticker, and some old black alpha stickers I've had in my stash.


Journaling:  This is how you looked on any given Saturday.  You would ride up and down the street and I'd usually be there with a watchful eye.  This is your second set of bikes and you were so proud to show them off!  Right now I'm trying to build endurance on my bike so we can all go biking around Madison.

Photos:  Summer 2011, Journaling April 2012

LAYOUT SHARE: Getting Braces

Another layout this week using the March, 2012 Studio Calico kit "Story Hour."  Photos of my daughter getting braces last year.  

Title:  Getting Braces

Journaling:  You were so excited to get them.  It was

June, 2011 and we had Bella sitting in the stroller watching.

You can't tell from the photo but I added Glossy Accents to the diamonds so they have dimension and shine.  

LAYOUT SHARE: Katerina Rose

Made with the March, 2012 Studio Calico kit "Story Hour", a layout using my daughter's photos taken when she was just a few weeks old....13 years ago!

Title:  Katerina Rose

The only old product used here were the red flower stickers...believe those were from BasicGrey.

LAYOUT SHARE - More Studio Calico "Lawn Party" Kit

I was able to eek out one more layout from the Lawn Party kit.  I have tons more left to use!

Title:  M @ 3 Days Old 

This is my baby chick, Marley at three days old.  The paper behind the M is a hand stamped piece and the papers behind the doilies is glossy cardstock inked with a brayer.   Both of these pieces were scraps that I just hadn't thrown away. 

LAYOUT SHARE - Studio Calico "Lawn Party" Kit

Two layouts to share using the "Lawn Party" Studio Calico kit.

Title:  6 & 9

Journaling:  Still need to add.

Title:  You've Always Been a Nurturer

Journaling:  This has not been uncommon to see you caring for your "babies."  You started with your Pooh Bear and baby doll, then a bigger baby doll, an American Girl-tye doll that had a horse and you could have her change outfits, then Barbies and Bratz dolls.  Then you went for playing Mom and making your brother be your baby.  You also baby our cat, Claire, wrapping her in blankets and carrying her around.  (Photos from 2000 and 2007, Journaling Oct. 2011)

LAYOUT SHARE - Using Studio Calico "Boardwalk" Kit

Three of my recent layouts using the Studio Calico "Boardwalk" kit.

Title: Words From the Heart

Journaling: Letter about "My Mother" written by Katie, tucked inside of the library pocket.

Title:  Summer Dog Walker

Journaling:  Katie took a big interest in taking Milo for walks this summer.  For a girl who isn't big on physical exercise, it was a welcomed change.  She took him up our street by herself for the first time.  2011

Title:  I am a Writer

Journaling:  I have been frustrated with myself for years because I don't write every day like a "real" writer does.  I don't know why it's a struggle but I am learning to let go and just be ME!  Sept. 2011

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Full Circle

I was just reading my Thursday Thoughts from 2005 and 2006 written before blogging and sent via weekly emails to my family and friends.  I always had a new surprise in there for you.  Either a motivational piece, a recipe, a goals scorecard, a joke, etc.  I would like to get back into that habit. 

I was curious ... what was I doing exactly 5 years ago?

I was attending my very first CHA in Chicago!!!  I met Tim Holtz for the first time.  I was successful in getting sponsors for our review team and having a blast meeting new people and was completely out of my comfort zone.  I woke up at 6:00 AM one morning and emailed Kevin my deepest thoughts about feeling overwhelmed and the need for decompression time.  I ate an early breakfast on my own, read the paper and journaled my feelings.  I also flew to Orlando for some work training and enjoyed a bit of time shopping in Downtown Disney.  I came back feeling overwhelmed but confident in myself.  I felt it was only a matter of time before I realized my dreams of writing and scrapping professionally.

I haven't achieved either goal but I still feel like they can both be a part of my life.  After taking a long break from scrapping I just rejoined Studio Calico monthly kits and am super excited to get that box of new goodies every month.  There is something so inspiring about receiving the new goods on a consistent basis.

I am also planning on doing some more submitting.  As far as design team work goes, the right opportunity would have to come along and not require a huge time commitment. 

My head is bursting with creative ideas for my shop and for a new novel.  I have a great concept in mind for what would be a third novel-in-progress.  I am going to hold off on starting that one and focus on finishing my other two first, at least have a first draft done.  My writing time so far has been zero, but I am trying to approach the process as a second job of sorts that requires regular writing time.  I am excited and will share my progress in weekly Wednesday posts.  

As far as the family goes, everyone is doing great.  My son has his last day of summer school tomorrow.  My daughter is now trying to learn the guitar after my son has pretty much abandoned his progress.  I also am interested in learning a bit of guitar so we may start having family guitar nights. 

I am also making sure the kids do lots of reading this summer and doing book reports on them.  The summer seems to be flying by!

Quote for the week:
“Success is largely a matter of holding on after others have let go.”
-unknown

USE YOUR STASH - Sequins and hole punches

I had a bunch of red sequins sitting in my stash waiting to be used.  I thought the color would work well with this so I sprinkled them around and then topped each with a small yellow hole punch from the excess cardstock. 

A fun technique I used on this layout - I stamped the words down the left side using Studio Calico's Storytime Alphabet stamp and then scribbled them in with a white gel pen.  Love the effect. 

Title:  Easter Morn Gifts

STUDIO CALICO GOODNESS - Quilting Bee

Here are a couple of creations from the latest Studio Calico kit - Quilting Bee. I don't know why but I'm having a very hard time with this kit. Although the layouts came together pretty easily, I am just not feeling them.

I do know that banner stickers are just not my thing. Anyone want the leftover JB banner stickers? Leave me a comment and they are yours!

Title: Four Wheelin Fun

Title: Hi-Ya!

STUDIO CALICO GOODNESS - Baker's Dozen

Close Up:

Here are a couple more layouts using their Baker's Dozen kit. You can see more about these in the Studio Calico gallery. (Link to site on my favorites list.)

It's a GORGEOUS kit and I'm seriously addicted to these colors! They just remind me of candy!

PS - Working on some new mixed media for my Four Eyes Designs shop. Hopefully I can debut some more crafty goodness soon!

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Giggles and Craftiness

I'm having a serious love/hate relationship with the computer lately. I am on it CONSTANTLY it seems but never can get all done that I want to do. I haven't had the time to do my Thursday Thoughts for a few weeks and even longer to respond to some of my personal emails. *sigh* Work has been sucking out my life energy the past couple of months. I have so much to share though so here I am, a few days after Thursday, but better late than never. ;o)

About a week ago I got my first hot stone massage. Hubby just completed schooling for that style of massage and is near being able to offer it as a service to his clients. I was his guinea pig. The massage is "sacred stone" and it focuses on energy and mental clarity as well as massage. The rocks are placed head to toe, but also crystals for energy work. I don't know how that stuff works but in the middle of the massage I burst out giggling and I COULDN'T STOP. Seriously...I had tears streaming down my face and laughing at my own laughter. This kind of laughter is rare for me, unfortunately, and certainly not one that would normally occur during a massage. Something did it's work on me and I felt WONDERFUL. I hadn't felt that happy in a long, long, long time. It lasted a good 5 days of pure happiness. In fact, I even woke up from a dream giggling during that period! I normally don't even have funny dreams like this. Very strange, but dude, this stuff really works. That's all I've got to say!

So today, the kids have been playing "store" and "restaurant" almost all afternoon. These kinds of moments are pretty rare now. It seems they fight more than they enjoy each other most times. It was pretty amazing to listen to as I worked away on my newest Studio Calico goodness. I got two layouts done this afternoon. Here's one of them that I am going to enter into a sketch challenge at the Scrap and Stamp blog.

Title: hb

I just found out last week that my favorite cardstock manufacturer is going out of business. I am so sad. Prism was hard to come by over the years and I would have loved to see it in the forefront of cardstocks. It is that good. I am planning on placing a large cardstock order at MemoryVilla to grab all of my favorite colors. I know that the big cardstock manufacturer, Bazzill, will be acquiring all of my favorite colors from Prism so that's cool, but it's just not Prism anymore.

I will try to post again with more updates soon!

STUDIO CALICO GOODNESS - Saturday Morning

Here's some more Studio Calico goodness. Using December's Orchestra kit + Bazzill border strip and stamp from January Colonel Mustard Add On.

Title: Saturday Morning

Additional Supplies:
Cricut and Storybook Cartridge (Provo Craft)
Button, Ink (Stampin Up)
Other: patterned paper, silver metallic pen

Journaling:
I love Saturday mornings! We can sleep in, then snuggle while watching Saturday morning cartoons. I love those peasceful moments with you! 2009

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Hannah Montana Had a Bad Hair Day

Hannah Montana showed up at my house for Christmas having a really bad hair day. I hope she doesn't mind me posting this.
I got my first kits from Studio Calico yesterday so I had to play with them! More details are in the Studio Calico gallery here.
And here are a few cards I made using Glimmer Mists...wish you could see the sparkle in real life...absolutely gorgeous. This dreary Wisconsin weather doesn't provide good sunlight for photographing them.
These won't be going in my shop - they have flaws - but they are great concept cards that I will make again for the shop.

Finally, I've been tweaking my blog. Sorry about all of the cyber dust, but I am finished now. How do you like the new look? If there's anyone who knows how to add color behind the blog banner so that it's not white on the right-hand side, please let me know. I've had enough fun with html for this week.

We got another 8" (or so) of snow today and it's been freezing. I took the day off to play with my scrap stuff and stayed in my pj's all day...shhhh!

I think that's about it for the moment....next week hoping to have Wednesday Words for you. I've been slacking! But I have some great ideas to get me started. Ta ta!