I Love You This Much

Originally published in Scrapbook News and Review January 2011

I love everything about this layout.

First and foremost I love the picture. 

I love the pinks and reds and chocolate browns. 

I love the block format.

I love all the texture - the glitter and foiled papers, a yummy Precocious Paper satin bridal bloom (my faves!), the crepe paper pleat, the stitching, the metal gromlets, the ruffly ribbon.

And I love the heart punched border.

This layout has hung in my family room since the day I made it. 

****

A few announcements:

Sketchy Thursdays is holding a Design Team call for our April - September term.  All crafters - traditional, digi, and cardmakers - are encouraged to apply.  See this post for details.

Precocious Paper is hold a DT call for the April - September term.  See this post for details.  I will GREATLY miss being on this amazing team and have been honored to be on her inaugural DT. 

Want to get published?  See here for the calls for the April issue of Scrapbook News and Review.  The call is open through March 12.

In Your Face!

May 2011 issue

Supplies Patterned Paper & Bling: Paisley Pop kit by Karen Funk; Stitches: Feedsack kit by Splendid Fiins; Word Art: An Unkind Word by Deena Rutter; Brush: Stitch by Boyingopaw

I just discovered these pictures.  I don't remember taking them although they're taken from where I was sitting when we went out to dinner a couple weeks ago.  LOL.  Getting old, people.  :-(

This layout is based on the sketch I made for Sketchy Thursdays this week, although I knocked it on its side:

We'd love to have you play along with us!!!! 

And check out the Sketchy Thursdays site on Friday for a special announcement!!! 

♥Heidi

Sunshine In My Soul

Today I'm going to showcase a couple of projects I made with some Precocious Paper Sweet Spots.  The color scheme of these is Sunshine In My Soul. 

The colors are so yummy - sunshine yellows and sky blues with a few adorable butterflies thrown in for good measure.  The bases are felt with various embellies such as buttons, pearl brads, flowers and awesome punched shapes. 

Supplies Cardstock: The Paper Company; Felt Embellies: Precocious Paper; Ribbon: Stampin' Up!; Stickers: My Little Shoebox; Stamps: Autumn Leaves, Technique Tuesday; Ink: Clearsnap, Stampin' Up!; Ink Spray: Maya Road; Other: drywall tape, staples

Love this pic of my little man right around his first birthday. 

Supplies Felt Embellies: Precocious Paper; Chipboard Stickers: American Crafts; Rub Ons: Doodlebug Designs Inc.; Other: scalloped card

I'm annoyed by this card.  No matter how I photographed it, lit it, futzed with the settings on my camera or tried to correct it in a photo editing program it shows up blue.  It's a really gorgeous dark teal color.  But the Sweet Spots look adorable nonetheless.  ☺

Check out the Precocious Paper blog for more DT inspiration using the amazing Precocious Paper products. 

Have a great Friday!!

♥Heidi

Makin' Sushi

OK, I promise I'm not permanently moving over to the Dark Side (aka digi) but for some reason I just can't get enough of it right now!

April 2011 Issue

Supplies Kit: Starbrite by Polka Dot Pixels; Fonts: Carbon Type, Scriptina, Trashed

This past Sunday we made sushi together as a family for the first time.  The kids really loved it.  They had a blast!

The sushi in the background is some of our creations!

(P.S.  My countertop is not acid green as is suggested by the pictures.  It's a very neutral off-whitish Corian.  I just couldn't get the color in the rest of the picture to look how I wanted without having the countertop change to this color.  Weird.)

This layout is based on the sketch I made for Sketchy Thursdays this week. 

I hope you can play along with us, especially because this week's prize is an awesome one by Blue Moon Scapbooking.

Today I chaperoned my son's first grade class on a field trip to a natural history museum.  They had a blast!  But I am beat!!!!! 

♥Heidi

Happy

Have you heard?  It's Precocious Paper's Etsy anniversary!



If you've never perused the juicy goodness that is the Precocious Paper Etsy store, you really MUST! 

In addition to amazing fabric flowers, Tessa also makes some other awesome embellishments such as the felt stars I used in this layout:

Originally published in Scrapbook News and Review January 2011 issue.

This is one of my favorite pics of the kids.  They dressed themselves alike.  They're even holding similar bears. 

Love all the SRM Stickers I used as the picture frame, too.  Love all the different fonts. 

Hope you're "Happy" today, too.

;o)

♥ Heidi

Over the River...

I really love the red satin bridal bloom by Precocious Paper I used on yesterday's card.  I think it's my favorite color of my favorite flowers made by Precocious Paper. 

I'd based my card on a layout I'd made for the Scrapbook News and Review Holiday Sampler. 

Supplies Patterned Paper: Me and My Big Ideas; Flower: Precocious Paper; Stickers: Pink Paislee; Marker: Stampin' Up!; Pen: Zig; Glitter Glue: Ranger

Seriously, how gorgeous are those bridal blooms?

Check out the Precocious Paper blog for more beautiful flower creations. 

It's been raining here all day.  Normally I love it when it rains because it's usually few and far between but we've had quite a bit of rain in the last couple months.  I'm done with it.  LOL.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Jingle Belles

Today on Sketchy Thursdays we're bringing you a Second Chance Challenge.  We haven't done one of those in a while.  Basically, it's a regular sketch challenge on an "off" day and can last longer than a week. 

This SCC partner is Jingle Belles, a card challenge site that is focused on helping you take back December one card at a time. The idea is that you can make one card a week for the duration of the year and would essentially have your holiday cards done and ready to go.

Here's my card:

Supplies:  Cardstock: The Paper Company; Patterned Paper: Me and My Big Ideas; Flower: Precocious Paper; Ribbon: Michaels; Sticker: SRM Stickers; Glitter Glue: Ranger Industries; Other: journaling spot

Here's the sketch:

It's a card sketch but you can translate it into a layout if you'd like.  You have until next Thursday night, 2/24, at 10pm EST to link up in the comments on this Sketchy Thursdays post and also over on the Jingle Belles site.  The lucky winner will receive this lovely holiday prize:

Saturday Morning Technology

May 2011 issue

Supplies: Digital Patterened Paper: Paisley Pop kit by Karen Funk, My Shabby Valentine kit by Karen Funk; Digital Felt Circles, Journaling Block, Staples: Paisley Pop kit by Karen Funk; Stitching: My Shabby Valentine kit by Karen Funk; Fonts: Bad Robot 3D, Registry BRK, SS Play Font

My kids are so technology savvy.  And crazy.  I love the family pic.  Quality time with dad, eh? 

This one was made for this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch - definitely a great one by Diana!

OK, I promise. I have not completely switched to digital layouts. It's just all my traditional layouts lately have been made for Scrapbook News and Review magazine upcoming issues. All my others have been made after bedtime when it's easier to work on the computer than get into my scrap room. Besides which my scrap room looks like it violently threw up at the moment.   It's buried in the remnants of projects for the SNR March issue and boxes upon boxes of the kids' preschool art projects that I need to ruthlessly go through. 


I'll share a few traditional layouts very soon.

Have a great weekend!

Heidi

House of Tomorrow

Patterened Paper & Journaling Block: Paisley Pop kit by Karen Funk; Stamp: Be You kit by Karla Dudley; Stitching: My Shabby Valentine kit by Karen Funk; Font: carbon type; Poem: "Children" by Khalil Gibran

Love these current pics of my son.  He's technology-obsessed. 

The current poem challenge over on Scrap That Poetry is "Children" by Khalil Gibran.  So much of this poem spoke to me.  I am sure I'll use various parts of this one over and over again on my layouts.  

Come on over to STP, check out what the DT made for your inspiration and we would LOVE for you to play along with us.

Speaking of love, how was your Valentines Day?  I was showered with homemade cards and gifts and lots of love.  :oD  My hubby also got me a stereo system for my iPhone.  My kids quickly broke it in by busting a move, LOL!  There's video.  I'll try to post it in a little bit. 

Long Hair

Patterned Paper, Ribbon, Stitching, Trim, & Stamp: Starbrite Kit by Polka Dot Pixels; Tape: Tape It Up - Noted by liv.e designs; Brush: Splatter by Corelila; Fonts: Carbon Type, Century Gothic & CK Becky

It wasn't a conscious decision, the long hair.  It grew (pun intended) out of my inability to locate a hairdresser that could cut the boy's hair properly.  It always came out too short, too bowl-like, too mushroom-y, too something.  So I refused to take him to get his hair cut.   For about 6 months. 

It was so cute.  He looked like a cool skater or something.  He looked older.  The girls (moms included, lol) thought he looked adorable!!!! 

I loved it. 

Apparently he didn't.

After much whining he finally convinced me to take him for a haircut. 

This is minutes before. 

When they called his name I grudgingly took him over to the stylist chair, told her what haircut he was looking for, and went back to sulk in the waiting area. 

That was back in November.  Almost 3 months ago.  I haven't taken him to get a trim since.  It's starting to get long again. 

:oD

This layout is based on this awesome Sketchy Thursdays sketch by the talented Diana!!!!

Plans for Valentine's Day?

Do you get the Scrapbook News and Review email newsletters?  You should!  Right now we're running a week-long ode to Valentine's Day with a V-day tag and a V-day multi media project (inchie or atc) being sent out in the newsletter DAILY.  Each tag and project will also have step-by-step tutorials!  I have a multi-media project mailing out in Saturday's newsletter (2/12).  It's free to sign up for the newsletters.  Go!!!!!  Sign up!!!!  You'll be glad you did!!!! 

Hope you're having a great week! 

♥ heidi

This Is So You

Supplies Digi Patterned Paper, Flower & Staples: Paisley Pop kit by Karen Funk; Digi Stamps: Shabby Valentine kit & Be You kit by Karen Funk; Digi Stitches & Epoxy - Be You kit by Karen Funk; Font: CK Ally's Hand Official

Got another digi layout for you on this fine Sketchy Thursday. 

Both the kids got inline skates for Christmas.  I was a bit trepidatious giving them to them, especially the girl who's only 5, but they took to them very quickly.  I was impressed.  They obviously didn't inherit mom's terrible sense of balance (although I've always been good on skates - I can bump into a wall while walking but am  perfectly balanced on wheels, go figure).  I guess I shouldn't have been worried about the girl - she can do anything she sets her mind to and she's determined to keep up with her brother...and does, VERY well.

The boy really wanted a skateboard, and I would've obliged except everything has to be equal for Christmas and there was no way I was going to give a skateboard to a 5-y-o, athletic or not.  But, as mentioned, he took to skating very quickly.  It's so cool.  Now I just gotta break mine out and go skating with them. 

The journaling on the layout refers to the fact that the boy doesn't usually take on new activities until he's sure in his mind he will be able to do them.  He studies and thinks first and by the time he finally actually does something, he's usually a pro within minutes. 

This layout is based on the sketch I made for today's Sketchy Thursday challenge.

Have a great day!!!

♥Heidi

Loved

Happy February!

Today's Scrap That Poetry poem, "May You Always Feel Loved" by Sandra Sturtz Hauss, made me reflect on welcoming into our lives both our babies. 

April 2011 issue

Digi Papers & Stamp: The Best Things kit by Anita Richards; Digi Metal Charms, Hardware & Trim: Heart Sweet Heart kit by Dianne Rigdon Design; Font: Bookman Old Style, Carbon Type; Software: Adobe; Other: scalloped border 

I'm struck by just how similar they look in these pics.  LOL!  My little Baby Burritos.  :oD

This layout is based on my Sketchy Thursdays sketch for this past week. 

I'm really on a bit of a digital kick lately.  Amazingly, contrary to what I expected, it doesn't take any less time to make a digi layout for me than a traditional one.  That's a bit disappointing, LOL. 

We'd love for you to play along with us for this poem challenge.  Check out the STP blog for the poem.  It really is beautiful and full of scrapping possibilities.

*****

Some exciting news on the Sketchy Thursdays front...

To fill the gaping hole Mirjam left behind when she decided to unfortunately step down from our DT (we miss you, Mirjam!) we've asked (and she's accepted) our amazing Guest Design Team Member from December & January, Heather, to join our regular DT for the rest of the current term!   Welcome, Heather!

(Which reminds me...keep an eye out later this month for the next DT call!)

Aaaaannnnndddd...we've asked Julie to join our ST team indefinitely as our Social Director.  Julie is a social force to be reckoned with so we're going to tap that incredible energy and have her help out with the Fave posts, our Facebook page and , as Diana so eloquently put it, help "...with our social marketing and commenting strategies." 

I mean, really, who doesn't love getting a gaggle of Julie smileys in their comments??!!   :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) 

*****

Now, tell me...how do you deal with a child who has figured out that you can't disprove a stomachache and employs the doubled-over, grimacing, groaning strategy far too often?  Do you just make them go to school or do you give in? 

Have a great day!

Anticipation

I've still got a few holiday layouts I haven't shared with you so I'm going to start sprinkling them in here and there.

Supplies Cardstock, Patterened Paper, Journaling Block & Ribbon: SEI; Felt Embellie: Precocious Paper; Clip: Making Memories; Stickers: American Crafts; Pen: Zig

Originally published in Scrapbook News and Review Holiday Sampler 2010

I think the picture here is so funny because this is the first year the kids really understood the concept of Christmas Eve presents. (That they were getting a present! LOL!)  The funny part to me is I know how their faces looked after they opened up these presents.  Because, although I want them to have the fun of opening up a Christmas Eve present, I don't want to give away the whole farm, so to speak, the night before the "real" fun. So, the CE presents are cool but not necessarily a toy.  In these presents there are robes.   Granted, they eventually came to love these robes and still wear them to this day but yeah, they weren't so enamored of them that night.  Ha ha ha!

Check out that awesome, gorgeous, enormous felt star on the layout.  That's one of Tessa's Precocious Paper goodies.  I ~heart~ these so much. 

Hope you're having a great weekend. 

We're off to yummy sushi for lunch in a bit - one of the kids' favorite!! 

- Heidi

Buds

This is a bittersweet layout, pics of my son with his bestie.  They clicked on the first day of school and have been close ever since.  My son even takes piano from his bestie's mom!

Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper; Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup; Border: Doodlebug Designs; Stickers: American Crafts; Twine: EK Success; Stamps: Technique Tuesdays, Unity Stamp Company; Ink: Ranger Industries, Stampin' Up!; Pen: Zig; Spray Ink: Maya Road, Tattered Angels; Glitter Glue: Ranger Industries; Masks: Ranger Industries; Other: metal charms, thread

I say this is bittersweet because I made this layout as a going away present.  His family is moving to another state this weekend.  It's a great opportunity for his family but we're going to miss him (and his awesome piano teacher mom!) like crazy.  Yesterday was his last lesson and the parting was tearful.  Besides the layout, we got him a scrapbook - the same as my son's for 2011 - and a Webkinz so they can stay in touch and play online. 

The background is misted over a Tim Holtz overlay and then stamped inside masked by using the negative of the overlays.  I also colored in some white Thickers and glittered them up. 

Fun with alcohol inks.  :)

This layout is based on my sketch for Sketchy Thursdays this week:

The Sketchy Design Team knocked their inspiration for this sketch out of the park this week.  Please go check it out!!!  And play along with us!!!!

I wish my son's friend and his family all the best in their new home!

I gotta ask...what's your favorite white cardstock?  I'm trying to find a nice THICK one I like for layout bases, especially one that'll stand up to misting and paint without warping.  Any suggestions?  Where do you find yours?

On another note, I think it's so funny that one of my DIGI layouts is on the front page of the Scrapbook News and Review site right now.  It's a slippery slope, getting props for my digi work.  I bought another digi paper set yesterday.  :-O  LOL!

Be sure to stop by the SNR forums and front page and give us your opinions on all the new CHA sneak previews, too! 

Speaking of CHA, are you going?  LUCKY!!!!

And, finally, a big Happy Birthday to the hubby today!  Mwah!

Hope you have a great weekend planned and aren't too cold and/or snowy.  We've been hovering around the 70 degree mark for a couple weeks now.  THIS is why people live here.  It just amazes me how we're all willing to suffer through 8 months of hot as hell for 4 months of good weather.  LOL.

I've officially crossed over to the dark side.

I've dabbled in digi in the past.  But it was free digi.  I was never very committed to the whole idea of making digi layouts so I didn't want to "waste" any money on digi elements or paper. 

Well, I officially crossed over to the digi dark side today...I bought TWO complete kits with the full intention of using them for layouts. 

April 2011 issue

Supplies - Papers, flowers, trim, and rhinestone: Heart Sweet Heart kit by Dianne Rigdon; Word art: Live Well Word Art kit by Jo Hanna

This is based on the sketch I made for Sketchy Thursdays this week:

We'd love to have you join us and play along.  You have until next Wednesday to be eligible to win a really cute kit prize!

Don't forget, we still have our February Guest Design Team Challenge running, too! 

Have a fantastic day full of laughter!

Enjoying a Day Off School

We're enjoying a day off school today for the MLK holiday.  (Like we didn't just have 3 weeks off, LOL!) 

In just a few weeks we're going to be declaring our intent to return to our school for another year for my son AND enrolling my daughter (finally!!!).  I'm hoping to get her in with the same K teacher my son had because we loved her.  Here's a pic of my son with her at the meet-the-teacher open house before his first day of K. 

I made this a few months ago for the school issue of Scrapbook News and Review. 

Speaking of which, the January issue is live on the website!  I am soooooo proud of so many of the layouts I made for this particular issue.  I don't know what it was about this month but I had some great mojo.  If you have a subscription go check it out!  If not, get one!  For less than $5 a month you get a mag stuffed full of over 400 pieces of inspiration, articles, product reviews and tutorials a month. 

I'm in the midst of reorganizing and cleaning top to bottom my house.  Yes, it's a gigantic task and it's taking/going to take for. ev. er. but it's about time.  I've been ruthless with tossing and putting in the donate pile so far which is awesome!  (I'm a terrible hoarder.) 

Back to the mess!

Sketchy Thursdays sketch up

Unfortunately I wasn't able to play along with Sketchy Thursdays' sketch this week but check out what our Design Team made for you.  Some stellar work!!!!  So inspriring!

We'd love to have you play along with us.  This week's sponsor is Scrappy Jo's Scrapbook Supplies with a Marks Paper Company paper set up for grabs.  You can submit your layout based upon this sketch through Wedensday 1/19 for your chance to win.  

I was busy, busy, busy this week getting in a few last minute projects for the February issue of Scrapbook News and Review.  I have to say I am so loving being an SNR Staffer and besides getting to share my work in the magazine I am learning so much.  The SNR Admin and Staffers are quite a diverse and knowledgeable group and we have so much fun! 

SNR is having its first ever Staffer Call until February 4!  Check out this link for info.

The January issue of Scrapbook News and Review goes live this Sunday, 1/16.  I am so excited to see this one.  I have to say I made some of my All Time Favorite projects for this issue and can't wait for them to debut!!! 

Have a great day!

Heidi

Toot! Toot! CK Baby!

I am so excited!

I have a layout in the February 2011 issue of Creating Keepsakes Magazine!!!

Page 16!!!!

It's the "CK&Me"  layout of the month (where you submit a layout that was inspired by another you saw in a previous CK).

************

Speaking of being published...

Scrapbook News and Review's February call is online now.  Check it out!  Let me know if you submit!!  The deadline is January 20.

I'm so excited to be a part of their new Education Team.  We're working hard to bring you lots of quick & easy and in-depth tutorials each month.  I'm also helping to get a whole new Stamping section started in the magazine.  If you like to stamp -on anything: cards, layouts, multi media - check out the February calls. 

I absolutely LOVE working for SNR.  I'm learning so much and having a great time!!!

Hope you are all having a great weekend!!

Precocious Paper February Sampler Sneak Preview

Have you checked out the Precocious Paper shop lately?  Beginning this month Tessa is offering monthly limited edition samplers that are to die for.  They include handmade flowers, many of which are exclusive to the samplers, plus other yummies such as coordinating ribbon on adorable wooden clothes pins. 

The January Sampler includes:

 ♥ 1 Fabric and Felt Flower (3 inches)

♥ 1 Yo-Yo Posy (1.5 inches)

♥ 1 Aqua Lace and Felt Flower (exclusive to sampler, about 3 inches)

♥ 1 Mustard Yellow Lollipop Lace Flower (exclusive to sampler, 2.5 inches)

♥ 1 Classic Ivory Rolled Fabric Flower (3 inches)

♥ 1 Set of Spiral Felt Flowers in Aqua, Ivory, and Mustard Yellow (exclusive to the sampler, ranging in size from 1 - 1.5 inches)

♥ 1 Daffodil Dyed Cardboard Flower (about 3 inches)

♥ 3 Leaves (about 1.5 inches long)

♥ 3 Ribbon Clothespins with a Decorative Stick Pin (set exclusive to sampler, 4 total yards of ribbon)

 Seriously, how cute is that kit??
 
And there are even coordinating journaling spots and additional flowers in the shop! 

I was lucky enough to get to work with the February Sampler, "Sweet On You", which will be available in the Precocious Paper shop 1/25.  Here's a little sneak peek at this adorable kit...
 
 

I love the color scheme of the February kit.  It's all frosting pinks, luscious reds, and cool minty greens, just perfect for layouts about sweet, yummy, pudgy little children. 

My daughter is about 3- or 4-months-old in this picture.  Man, she was a chunky little thing!  She's now a little twig.  People often comment how light she is compared to other children her age (or even younger!).  She takes after her daddy.  :o)

The three flowers and the dotted ribbon are from the February Sampler. 

Here my son is 15-months-old.  I absolutely love this picture and didn't want to detract from it so I went very simple on the layout. 

I think these rolled felt flowers are my favorite ones in the sampler.  They're so sweet, like little flower cupcakes.  They lend just the right amount of height and softness.  The mint ribbon and the heart stick pin are also from the February sampler.

After stitching the edges of the layout, as I was sweeping the thread trimmings off my work surface, I noticed a few of them landed in very cool designs.  Serendipity, I say!  I transferred a couple of them to my layout and glued them on, careful to not change their shapes.  There's the swirl above and the infinity shape below.  

How perfect is that?  An infinity symbol on a layout about how much I love this little guy.  And yes, his eyelashes are that long and luscious and they've gotten even longer as he's gotten older.  (So unfair, on a boy!  LOL!)  Just like his daddy!

Check out the Precocious Paper blog to see some samples today by Suzy using the January Sampler and be sure to check back every Friday for additional samples from the very talented PP DT!  I'm so grateful to Tessa for choosing me to play along with this talented group and her amazing products!!!! 

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

Heidi

Mmm...Oden

I much prefer winter fare to summer, probably because we have such a shortened season here in Arizona so there's not enough time to get sick of anything. 

One thing our whole family enjoys is oden, a Japanese soup/stew. 

Supplies Cardstock: The Paper Company; Patterned Paper: Aitoh Co., Creative Imaginations, K&Company; Stickers: Pink Paislee; Chipboard: Colorbok; Trim: Making Memories (yellow); Ink: Clearsnap, Tsukineko; Cricut: Create a Critter; Other: thread, drywall tape, trim (black)

 Up until a week ago, it had always been made for special occasions by Obaachan, my mother-in-law.  I just assumed it was a labor-intensive, secret-recipe sort of thing.  Until she gave us the ingredients for Christmas and we undertook its making on New Year's Day.  Uh, nope.  Suuuuuper easy to make.  I can tell you this will be a regular in our menu rotation now!  Woohoo!!!! 

I realized there really is no exact recipe for this.  As my journaling says, "Oden is a Japanese winter dish consisting of several ingredients such as boiled eggs, daikon radish, konnyaku and processed fish cakes stewed in a light, soy-flavored dashi broth."  We started with an "oden set" which was a frozen package of various fish cakes and the base for the dashi broth.  We added some water to the broth base and then we included in ours the fish cakes, plus sliced up another fish cake our kids love which looks like half a log that's white on the inside and hot pink on the outside, taro balls, enoki mushrooms, konnyaku noodles, sliced daikon radish, and hard-boiled egg.  YUM! 

I happened to hit an awesome New Year's sale on Cricut cartridges and pretty much purchased the Create a Critter cartridge entirely for this adorable ramen bowl!

I'm not usually one for the cutesy but that's just too stinkin' cute to pass up. 

I used some StazOn ink to color that drywall tape you see...it starts out white.  I love being able to alter the color of things!

This layout is based on this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch:

Come play along with us.  This week we have a yummy prize from Nikki Sivils!!

Hope everyone had an awesome holiday!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Heidi