My World, My Garden

Oh, you know I luvs me some Thursday.  And this Thursday is extra special because not only do I have this week's Sketchy Thursdays layout but since it's the first day of the month, I also have the new Category Stories layout!!! 

This month's topic on Category Stories is "My World". 

Yes, that is a picture of my shower. 

My title concisely sums up why I chose my shower to illustrate "my world".   

Love that Studio Calico camera stamp!!

And to expand on that, my journaling says, "While my hands & body are on auto-pilot my mind is in overdrive." 

I get things done while I'm in the shower.  I make decisions.  I formulate lists. Some of my favorite layouts were born in this shower.  (Such as this one, LOL.) 

I wanted all my "thought bubbles" to appear ethereal, on the verge of coming into focus, so I wrote them on tape and then covered them with more tape.  (BTW, they say:  mull, what's for dinner?, layouts, Think, he said she said i should have said, wonder, to do lists.) 

Once again I must gush over the Ninja Addicts "Don't Get It Twisted" kit.  The only things on this layout not from that kit are my alpha stamps, the camera stamp, and the masking tape.  Even that PERFECT piece of flair "i make stuff up" was in there!!!! 

I wanted the ribbons and buttons above the pic and the papers on either side of it to look like a shower curtain. 

Oh, and I'm sure my whole layout pic looks a bit weird with the included clip board but I wanted to show the scalloped bottom edge of my paper. 

You may recognize the paper as the scalloped border on my "Risk" layout.  I thought it worked perfectly to reinforce the shower curtain theme so I left it as is.  Who says layouts MUST be square or 8-1/2 x 11???  They're more interesting this way, no? 

Come on over and play with the Storytellers on Category Stories!!! 
Details:  All items from the Ninja Addicts "Don't Get It Twisted" kit except - EK Success alpha stamps, Studio Calico camera stamp, StazOn & Stampin' Up! ink, Zig Millennium pen, masking tape. 

Today over on Sketchy Thursdays, not only do we have a new sketch for you, but a whole new Design Team unveiling!!!! 

Here's another shower epiphany.  I knew I wanted to make a layout about our newly planted garden venture and I knew I was going to use some of the adorable papers and stuff that are in the April kit from Torendi.  Earlier I'd been wowed by THIS LAYOUT by the fabulous Miss Mo.  Her misted grid is just beautiful.  And then it dawned on me (we're still in the shower here...)  how the seedlings we're sprouting are planted in little grid-like boxes and voila! 

April 2011 issue

Drug out my Walnut Ink spray for this bad boy.  I don't think that stuff's seen the light of day for a couple years! 

I made this kewl collage on Picnik.  It was so easy I'm sure you'll be seeing more collage photos from me in the future.   The large photo is that of all the seed packets we purchased.  The bottom left 2 pics are of some radish sprouts peeking through.  Woohoo!!!  The top right two pics are of the garden bed itself.  To give you an idea of how big it is, it spans the entire width of our regulation sized basketball half-court!  (Oops, didn't quite line up the cut off on the pics to keep it looking like one pic, which it was.)  The bottom right three pics are the sprout starter boxes.  I'm sad to report that today it was really windy out and we lost an entire box.  We ended up locating the box itself but there is no hide nor hair of its contents (which were cubano chile and leek sprouts).  Very mysterious.  At least if the dogs ate the sprouts I'd think there would've been traces of the dirt, but no.  Nothing.  Nowhere.  Nada.  Weird. 

So, I tried to make it look like there are sprouts in the dirt:

 

And how cute is this little tomato dude?  He's from the Torendi April kit, as well as the base kraft paper and the patterned papers. 

I love the red and white mesh patterned paper that's the flip side of the veggie paper.  I freehand cut out the title word "sprout".  I'm actually a bit impressed by how evenly sized the letters came out.  ;oD

OK, you simply MUST hop on over to the Sketchy Thursdays blog to check out what our new Design Team made for your inspiration (including the highly-contested April GDT winner).  Leave them all some McLovin.  And be sure to play along with us! Up for grabs is a great sampling of items from Kiki Art! 

Details:  Papers and feltie friend from the April Torendi kit, Walnut Ink spray, Picnik.com photo editing, thread, unknown trim. 

I'm so excited!  It's the first so the new Ninja Addicts kit is debuting today.  I'm dying to get my hands on that pretty girl because the sneak peeks have been mouthwatering!! 

OK, off to my son's K classroom for an undoubted morning of cutting, copying, correcting, assessing, being read to, and general adorableness!  I really have no idea how these teachers would present a remote glimmer of the same instruction and hands-on "ness" without the army of parents who volunteer so much time.  We are so lucky to have such an amazing school!!! 

Happy Thursday and I hope you aren't caught by the April Fool. 

Heidi

Risk

Yea!  I finally got to play along with Who's That Girl!  I've been wanting to for so long.  The current challenge, #5, is Risky Business, to document a potentially risky or dangerous thing you've done in your life. 

I was an only child so the prospect of adding a second child to our family was a very risky venture for me emotionally.  But, as you can see by my title, I've never regretted the decision to proceed.

On the right side of the picture is the pull for a hidden journaling card which describes why I felt like having a second child was a risk for me emotionally.  But, as you can see, it's hidden journaling so I'm going to keep the exact details to myself.  ;oD  This layout is definitely going into MY album, not my daughter's, because even though on the surface it's about her, it's really about me and my feelings.

Of course, couldn't let a layout go by without some fun stitching. 

I got the idea for the flower border from a similar embellie by Prima sold at Michaels. 

Sooooo loving all the little extra fun stuff in the Ninja Addicts' "Don't Get It Twisted" kit.  Of all the kits they've released so far, this is the only one I waffled on buying...and the one I've used the most of, to date.  The colors just suit me! 

Topped it all of with a cute little bow!

I had a great time playing along with this one.  All the prompts I've seen so far for Who's That Girl are "thinkers" and I like that.  I'm sure I'll play along again more often! 

Just got back from seeing "How To Train Your Dragon".  We saw the 2D version because the little girl above isn't a fan of the clunky 3D glasses.  No matter - it was one of the most awesome children's movies I've seen in a loooong time.  Definitely a must see.  And there were places where I could see how 3D would've been just that much more amazing.  I wouldn't say no to seeing it again but in 3D. 

Hope your weekend outlook is bright!

Heidi

Details - Everything on the layout is from the Ninja Addicts' "Don't Get It Twisted" kit except:  My Little Shoebox mini alpha stickers, DMC yellow floss, Barbie playing card, thread, masking tape & Zig Millennium pen used on flipside of card for the journaling.

P.S.  Be sure to check out the Torendi blog today!!!!  It's the last day for the Torendi / Mod Podge giveaway.  Just leave a comment for your chance to win a Mod Podge sample pack from Mod Podge Rocks! AND some Hurly Burly fabric from Torendi.  How cute is this??

My "R U Labeled?" layout is also featured on the blog! 

Also, check out the Mod Podge Rocks! site for a secret coupon code!!!  ~shhhhhhh~

~heart~ u, then & now

It's Thursday and you know what that means!!!!  SKETCHES!!!!!  Today not only do I have a Sketchy Thursdays sketch, but also a Design Dollies one.

This week's Sketchy Thursday sketch:

The layout:

January 2011 issue

Every single thing on this layout (except the thread) is from the Ninja Addicts "Three Little Birds" kit, which is incidentally the prize on this month's Sketchy Thursdays Guest Design Team Challenge.  You have until next Saturday 3/20 to play along!! 

I just love all the touchable elements.  That giant fabric & tulle flower is awesome!!!!

Lacey, sparkley, shiney.  Yum!  That blue sparkley paper by American Crafts is amazing.  It's the thickest cardstock I've ever encountered.  It was even a bit hard to cut out the "u" and it's not even that small.

How cute is this felt & fabric birdie.  Toooooo cute!!!  Ally & Nely did such an awesome job with their debut kit!!

Incidentally, this has always been one of my favorite pictures.  I turned my bedroom into a little photo shoot one morning when they were so much smaller and clicked away.  I don't know why this particular pic stands out to me.  I've never been able to put my finger on it.  It just does. 

Be sure to hop on over to the Sketchy Thursdays blog to see what our amazingly talented Design Team made for your inspiration.  And up for grabs this week...some yumminess from Sweet Twee Lab.  Be sure to check out their etsy shop.  Lots of lip-smackin goodness there!

This week Design Dollie Kristy outdid herself with the sketch:

It was a Ninja Addicts sort of crafty evening:

January 2011 issue

This one is almost entirely made from the Addicts' "Don't Get It Twisted" kit.  Only the base paper (My Mind's Eye) and alpha stickers (My Little Shoebox) aren't from the kit. 

Again, had lots of fun with texture.  Cloth, tulle, stitching, glitter.  Yummy!!!  I know it's hard to see but the two pics are our first posed family pic in 2006 and a posed family pic in 2009.  (Yes, I just noticed I wrote 2004 on the layout...gonna have to correct that.  Little girl didn't even come along until the end of 2005!)

I love how this whole kit is so bright and whimsical. 

And who wouldn't love this adorable Fimo cloud friend?  Smile!!! 

Be sure to check out what the rest of the DT made over on the Dollies site for your inspiration. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Heidi

Wizards & Monsters

Wow!  I can't believe it's already March 1st! 

Today is officially my first day on the Category Stories Design Team.  We have a very cool prompt this month:  "__________ was one of her very best friends." 

As I note, "Yes.  I'm a nerd!" 

I'm guessing those of you who aren't Harry fans don't get the three rings...they're the Quiddich goals...it's a game played on broomsticks with 4 balls and...oh, you don't care!  As mentioned, yes, I'm a nerd. 

My journaling reads, "I read 29 books in 2009 - 21 were Harry Potter! Quiddich.  Butterbeers at the Three Broomsticks.  Accio Firebolt!  Expecto Patronum!  Severus Snape - Oh u no u ~heart~ him!  Invisibility cloak.  Don't make me go Avada Kadavra on your ass!  Yes.  I'm a nerd."  These are some of the things I wish I could do/see/have.  And, yes, I'm 1/2 way thru my 4th tour with Harry.  I just get to the end of the 7th book and feel like I'm losing a bff so I have to start over again.  And, no, it never gets old and yes, I discover new things everytime.  Yes.  I'm a nerd.  Haven't we established that yet??

The paper and fabric from which I cut the hearts are yummies from the Ninja Addicts "Don't Get It Twisted"  kit.  Of course I had to stitch - my "thang".  Harry is cut out of a box of valentines. 

Head on over to the Category Stories site to check out what the rest of the team made for your inspiration.  I love that we all had such different takes on the prompt.  And be sure to play along with us for your chance to win this amazing piece of art by Amy Lapi:

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Today is also the first color challenge for March over on the Design Dollies.  LOVE this color combo:

Royal blue, sky blue, and lime green.

I couldn't believe I actually had the perfect piece of paper for this!!!  Every single piece on this layout except for the "Rawr!" letter stickers are from the Ninja Addicts "Mommy's Little Monster" kit. 

The Social Distortion song "Mommy's Little Monster" was an anthem to my teen years.  And I've been calling my son "Mommy's Little Monster" since day 1 so how perfect is this kit for us??!!!! 

Love the little Fimo dino made by Ninja Master Nely!  Too cute!  And the feltie dino montage made by Ninja Master Ally.  These chickies ROCK!  I also like that in this pic you get a sense of how cool and rainbow-y the ponchello is. 

Hop on over to the Dollies site to check out what the rest of the team made.  These girlies are so talented!!!!!!!!!!!!  I love being a part of this amazing group!

Hope you have a great Monday!

Heidi