a couple CP pages

 I used Crate Paper's "Little Boy Blue" and "Little Bo Peep" for these two pages. The red alpha is from Basic Grey in Studio Calico's August kit. This picture of Cohen makes me happy just looking at it.

"She is Quick and Curious and Playful and Strong." So Ella! And the expression on her face says it all..."yep, that's me." A little ornery, too, I might add. I free-hand cut the title, using the wood grain PP from October Afternoon's "9 to 5" collection.

home, sweet home

 Last Monday,the kids had a neighborhood friend over and I was able to get a bunch of cleaning done. And since I had it picture perfect, I thought I'd better take a picture...because it doesn't look like this often!

 This is my favorite little nook, recently re-decorated. It's some of my favorite things, a picture of each kid, a picture of my husband and I on our wedding day and the chest I found while I was out shopping with my sister, so it will always remind me of her. And my favorite number has always been 23- so I love the 2 and 3 blocks.

This wall needs a little something extra. Something to hang in between the family picture and the bench. Perhaps a small old ladder hanging horizontally. I'd love to have two large black lanterns with candles on the table that's under the TV.

Have a great day!
~amber

October Afternoon Pages

 I love using quotes on my layouts- it gives me a great jumping-off point. I find so many on Pinterest that I often can't wait to find the perfect picture for.

This page was inspired by August 16th's Thursday Sketch challenge on the October Afternoon blog.

Crate Paper & Pinterest

I just stopped over at the Crate Paper blog http://crate.typepad.com/cratepaper/ and I was surprised to see a page of mine on their CP: Spotted Pinterest post. And of course they are asking blog readers to leave a comment with which layout/ project they like best. One comment will be chosen and both the person who left a comment and the designer of the layout will win an entire collection pack! Super fun! So, shameful as it is, please check it out and vote for me!!! (This is the page, below).

Studio Calico August Kit

 August's kit, "Summer of '69" was just perfect for the Instagram pictures I took of Ella and I at our county fair a few weeks ago. I added Tim Holtz tags that not only had the perfect words, but represented the ride tickets, as well. This picture (above) was taken on the Ferris wheel, hence the "SOAR" ticket and the OA cloud paper.

 I put to use the glassine envelope that was used as packaging for the kit.

 I love the vintage look that Instagram gave the fair pictures.

The day we went to the fair, it had rained all day. But it was the last day of the fair- and I had to take Ella to the fair, or I just knew she'd never forget the I let her down- so as soon as the rain stopped, I took her, mud and everything.

Because it was rainy, the fair was practically a ghost town. There weren't any lines and we were the only two people on the Ferris wheel! That would never happen at a State Fair. Thanks for looking!!

hello monday!

It has been unusually cool for August....and I'm loving the mid-70's temps! I love having the windows open. With the cooler air and the back to school shopping, I know Fall is just around the corner. By no means do I want to hurry Summer away, but it put me in the mood to make a few Fall-inspired canvases. This one is little, just 6x6 inches. I normally used alpha stamps for my word choice, but I'm trying out my hand-writing on a few pieces. If anything, it's quicker!

School Shopping with Ella

 Today, Ella and I went back-to-school shopping. This is the first year she's had a supply list to buy for and it was fun to pick out a new backpack, crayons and a pencil box, skinny jeans and stick-om earrings.

 Simce we were so excited about our girl's day out, I thought I'd better take a few pictures before we headed out.

 Ella always has to take a few pictures, too.

 Eyes the color of the sky. Lucky girl.

My favorite purchases: Tom's for two! How cute is that. If I was 6, I would so have those silver Tom's. They are perfectly her. Now hopefully I can pull them off!

Summer Fun

 A few fun summer pages using Amy Tangerine's "Sketchbook" line from American Crafts.

I used Studio Calico's stamp set from July's kit, with the arrows and the "HEY GIRL." So perfect for this layout. I wondered how often I'd use that stamp...and then I saw this picture... what could be more perfect?! I love that I caught this look on Ella's face while she was "talking" on her Barbie smart phone, wearing her Barbie sunglasses.

Leave it to Ella to bring out books while we are swimming on the deck in the baby pool You just never know what she's going to do next). And leave it to Cohen to just follow along with whatever that girl tells him to do. The "Sketchbook" line is the perfect summer palette. Although, I have to admit, it was a challenge for me to work with because I tend to work with vintage-looking lines like CP and OA. It's always good to challenge yourself once in a while?

Crate Paper Mini Album "Welcome Baby"

 This is a 6x6 inch album that I made for my friend that had a baby boy this summer, using "Little Boy Blue" by CP. I made it with the intention of using 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch Instagram photos. I'm going to give her the chipboard stickers so she can layer those alongside her pictures.

 I first cut chip-board, then adhered my PP and then sewed around the edges. I used pages from a nursery story book that I found at Goodwill. It was the perfect vintage-looking extra for this book!

 I inked the edges using Tim Holtz's Distress Ink in "Weathered Wood," which is a gray-blue color.

 It went together really quickly because I used some of the same elements on the pages, like tags, scalloped circles and hand-cut banners to add layers.

 I used a glassine envelope to layer behind the sheep and slid a tag inside it for journaling.

 A close-up of the pull-out tag.

The End!! The embellishments and vintage prints of the PP couldn't have been more fun to work with!

Sunday...family day

Ever since the Instagram bug hit me (and I caught it bad!) I haven't taken any pictures on my actual camera all summer. So, I dusted that baby off and brought it outside for some great pictures of the kids. It was a cool and the afternoon light was beautiful. We collected sticks and debris from around the yard after Saturday's storms and built a bon-fire.

                                                      Cohen and Ella filling the fire pot.

The kids set out chairs and a blanket for our fire-viewing pleasures.

         Cohen actually let me photograph him....even making faces for me. This is his silly face.

                                                                           Sad face.

                                                                    happy face.

                                    Ooops. sad face again. He did a cute excited face, too.

Cohen was all done after I suggested a "baby face," so Ella jumped in with her sweet, cuddly baby face look.

Have a great day!!

Crate Paper August Color Challenge

"My Loves"

This month, the challenge colors were vintage linen, pear green and sea glass blue over at the Crate Paper blog: http://crate.typepad.com/cratepaper/.

This page has so many layers, I lost count! I used pieces from "Pretty Party," "Story Teller" and "Paper Hearts." I made a banner of hearts using punched paper and vellum hearts, layering them as I pushed them through the sewing machine. I've been saving the chipboard birdie for just the right project...and this was it!

Summer Catch-Up

 Just like everyone else, we're having a busy summer. But, I wouldn't have it any other way! We were in Wisconsin for the Fourth of July. We spent a weekend with the Grandparents and cousins at the end of July, and then Ella went to back Wisconsin for 5 days with Grandma and Papa. Yesterday, we celebrated Eric's 34th birthday.

 We've spent a few Sundays at our local little beach in Rochester. It's shallow and sandy- perfect for little kids.

Ella learned to ride a "no-training-wheel-bike," as she calls it. She taught herself...which won't surprise anyone who knows her!  It sure didn't surprise me. It doesn't surprise me, either, that she rides that thing like there's fire chasing her. She's fearless.

I've started getting back to school paperwork in the mail. I can hardly believe my baby girl will be getting on a bus this year and heading to Kindergarten. And my baby boy is starting preschool! Oh, what will I do with my time without kids two mornings a week?! Did you notice my new blog header? I've spent the past two months working on my art and discovering my style. I think I've found it and I'm really really excited about it. My next goal is to start selling my work! I'm taking it slow, though. I want everything to be just right.