January 27th, 2012
So I haven’t really posted recently. I have been under this little cloud called “unmotivated” and every time I thought about doing a blog post I would get really discouraged and I would think of all the posts that I have just waiting to be written and get overwhelmed and then I would just hang out on facebook and watch something mindless on TV. Anyone else ever have weeks like that?
So this morning I had a lightbulb moment… I don’t have to do any of those lined-up blog posts, I can post whatever I want! Yeah simple I know, but sometimes it’s hard to get there. So in the shower I had a fun idea for a post: things that I’ve been thinking about lately.
1. Politics
We’ve been talking about politics, watching every (stupid) debate, discussing back and forth our issues with each candidate, and generally groaning about how crazy people are. I really like Mitt Romney, he’s handsome (hey we have to look at the guy a lot!), and hard working, is an honorable human being, and a lot of his ideals fit into my moderate perspective. Newt on the other hand I want to poke my eyes out every time I see him, and he has an ego the size of… well bigger than Texas (been there, done that). I actually like the sitting president though I feel his hands have been tied on so many things both by congress and his inexperience, as well as his desire to make everyone happy. If it were between Newt and Obama I would surely vote for Obama, but for now I’ll keep dreaming and hoping that Romney gets the bid.
2. Oliver and playdates
I’m always obsessed with my little guy, he’s the BEST! He started walking a few days after Christmas (at 9 months!) and is pretty good at it now. We also started play dates – I actually had 2 this week which is crazy! I have found that he loves to poke other babies in the eyes, and he loves swings. It was a great week! There was also a huge sale at Baby Gap, and I got him a ton of cute new clothes which was sorely needed since he decided to GROW out of pretty much everything else we had. So now he’s in between his old jammies making him look like a stuffed sausage and his new jammies which bunch up on his feet when he walks around. He had his 10 month dr. visit and he’s 21lbs and 30″ tall. that’s 50th percentile weight and 75th percentile height. What a big kiddo!
3. CHA
layouts by Amber Packer
I’m on my way to CHA in the morning. For those not in “the know” it’s the Craft and Hobby Association trade show. My new scrapbooking line (that I haven’t talked about here yet) Miss Caroline is debuting and so I’m going to go and have some fun and see some folks I haven’t seen in awhile and generally just get some inspiration and time away from home (I’m sure I’ll miss Ollie like crazy). I am PLANNING on doing some good blog updates while at CHA so if you’re into that type of thing visit often!
4. Blog Re-design
Up until this point in blog-dom I have had Mr. Project do the majority of the programming of my blog, but I wanted a few specialty things so we’ve turned it over to a good friend who is also an awesome programmer. We are going full-speed ahead on a new look for the blog, and more important better functionality via search and tags etc. Hopefully that will be up sometime in March. I need to get it in gear as far as working on all the new graphics etc.
5. Young Women’s
I just got called in our ward as the Personal Progress Leader. Or something like that. I’m basically in charge of keeping track of and motivating the young women in the ward to keep up with their Personal Progress Program. It’s been so long since I’ve done anything YW related so this should be very interesting. I’m super excited in some ways, and completely terrified in others. But I’m mostly happy to be able to use some of my talents. For me that is so important when I accept a church calling.
6. Pinterest
Who is NOT obsessed with pinterest?
7. Decorating
I spent some time and money getting some empty parts of the house filled thanks in part to these awesome (and cheap) lamps at target. Now to take pictures…
8. iPhone 4S Camera
It takes awesome pictures and I always have it on me which allows me to get quick shots of Ollie and his daddy. ALL of my January pics have been taken with it, which means that I really need to dust off the SLR. It also means that I’ve gotten a lot of cute video too. Love my phone!
October 17th, 2011
Are you like me and try to get the most out of your crafting supplies that you can? Karen from The Bald Dragonfly here to show you two quick extra ways to use the gorgeous Vintage Findings: All Hallow’s Eve digital kit available from Design House Digital.
First, how about giving your photos a unique finish by using the digital paper files as an overlay? Most photo editing programs have a layering option. Simply open up your original photo as well as your desired paper choice and then drop and drag. Adjust the layer style and opacity to achieve a new look!
Here’s a look at the unique photo finishes using Linen, Newsprint and Damask papers from the Vintage Findings: All Hallow’s Eve digital kit. (Gosh, aren’t those boys ca-hute? This technique works well with still objects too!)
So after you’ve had your fun adjusting the images, use your new photo on a layout! The image will coordinate perfectly with the other elements in the digital kit. I decided upon the Damask print to use in the following layout.
And if you aren’t really a layout person, digital kits are perfect for card makers too! For a quick and easy card, use a portion of the spec sheet provided with the digital kit as the main image in your card! Crop and print, then score lines and adhere to your card base. Embellish with a coordinating button and twine and you have a fabulous masculine card!
I’m really excited about these techniques and I think it will take my scrapbooking and cardmaking to a new level. I have a bunch of tips and tricks up my sleeve and I can’t wait to show them to you! Thanks!
August 25th, 2011
So I finally got a hold of all my new My Mind’s Eye releases. I actually laid everything out and took a bunch of photos, but that’s a whole other post! Just looking and touching it made me really really want to play with it. So I rearranged some stuff and made some time to just get my hands dirty. First I had to unpack all my craft supplies. As I was doing that I found these three 5×6 pieces of foam core board and it got me thinking of what I could do with them.
I knew I wanted to play with all my pink goodies… if you could see how gorgeous they are, you would want to play with them too!
To make my Home Sweet Home wall hanging, I used pretty much all of the Lost & Found 2 Blush set not including the titles, and definitely including the 6×6 paper pack. I did cut some of the 6×6 papers on my cricut. For the Home Sweet Home lettering I used the Freak Show font (with SCAL) to cut it on my cricut. For the Bracket shape, I made a quick .SVG File that you can download for free.
The first thing I did was cut and mount this glittered dance paper on my foam core:
Then I used this Creamy Brown chalk ink to make the edges look a little edged.
So then I just played around with all the supplies and made these cute rectangles:
To get the striped ribbon to have those pleats, I just cut a strip of card stock a little more narrow than the ribbon, and ran the glue runner over it. Then I adhered the ribbon, and toward the end, I just made 3 loops. Then I ran the whole thing through my sewing machine – looped side first with a contrasting ribbon.
Then to put the brad on, I just took my crop-a-dile and punched a hole through the whole thing and dropped in the brad.
The other fun thing I did with this rectangle was use the coordinating stamps to stamp that cute but still subtle banner.
With this crocheted ribbon, I gathered it with my sewing machine with my very technical method of shoving it through the sewing machine quicker than it can feed itself.
One of the fun things I did with this rectangle was take the pearl swirls and cut them up to fit the bottom of the rectangle instead of using them as a full set. It worked so well and was a super easy way of customizing the pearls.
When all that was done, I glued the rectangles to a wide ribbon and looped it at the top, and hung it in my guest room (which so does not look like a guest room at all!). Yay for baby steps to decorate the house.
August 24th, 2011
Okay so I know that I am late since CHA was a good month ago, but I just barely got my box of all the products that I designed for My Minds Eye. I hate taking this big product shots because they never come out super well, and the products just look so so so much better in person. Well if you’re in my neighborhood, feel free to stop by and come and ogle my goodies in person. (Warning: Photo Heavy!)
Lost and Found 2:
Rosey
Sunshine:
Blush:
Breeze:
I also released Lost & Found Christmas:
and 6×6 Paper Pads:
Those are all my new goodies. I made a super cute wall hanging today and will post it tomorrow morning!
May 4th, 2011
When I was designing Lime Twist for My Mind’s Eye, I didn’t have time to have anything manufactured overseas, but I BEGGED to get some twine made. I am so in love with twine, but its so hard to find great colors. I got my wish and voila, gorgeous luscious twine. I just got my package in the mail yesterday with all the Lime Twist goodies. I couldn’t wait to take a picture and show you how yummy the twine is! The pictures don’t even do it justice either — the twine is super thick and plush and the colors are fun and vibrant.
There are 12 different colors, including an awesome gray (I’m so in love with gray right now), and each card holds 20 yards. That’s just the perfect amount for a set of invitations or some party gifts/favors etc.
Of course there is more than twine in Lime Twist… I love all the pieces and papers too. Here is a snapshot of some of the diecuts, titles, and stickers in the line. 
When I was going through them, all I wanted to do was make a layout with my cute guy… no time for that today, but here is a picture of him in his leg warmers:
He’s 8 weeks old today! Time goes by way way way too fast!
If you are interested in purchasing the Lime Twist Twine, please check with your local scrapbook shop. Here are a few online retailers who also carry the line:
Two Peas in a Bucket
Oh My Crafts
Claudia and Company
