Just Because Card & Blog Candy

I'm still playing with my February kit from Studio Calico. I know the March kit is about to ship, so I feel compelled to whip something up before I bury it in my files. I keep my kits in 12x12 hanging files in a filer in my Arts & Craps Room. I only do this with SC Kits for some reason. Everything else I buy gets sorted by color in the same drawer. All of my embellishments get sorted by color too. The new stuff stays in a special basket at my desk though. I want to keep that stuff close by. Whenever it's time to purge (often) I just go through and move the "keepers" into the color bins, and the items I don't plan on using go into my donate/sell/blog candy bin.  It's getting pretty full too, so it might be time for something to share soon... :-) If any of you have pictures of your organization I would love to see pictures of it. Maybe even post them here on my blog to share too. I'll take some pictures of my room this weekend for you all.

This weekend I'll also be posting up all the cards that readers have scraplifted too. It's a monthly occurrence, so don't worry if you're not ready this month. I'll do this the first weekend of every month. If you've scraplifted one of my cards just send me a link asap, because I'll be sharing them right here with everyone! You may even get some BLOG CANDY! :-) Yummmmmy!

Anyway, on to the card...

Sorry, the picture isn't too great. I normally take my pictures upstairs by the big window next to my computer desk, but this one was taken downstairs at the back of the house on a bed in Ethan's room. The sun sets back there, so it was the best I could do. I suppose I could have waited until another day, but I come and go in the dark it seems being in the military and all. It would have been next weekend by the time I was actually home to photograph in some decent light.

Hey Card

Here's a little lovely for you to maybe brighten up the day...

Project Life Update II

Here's a little update since my first Project Life entry...

 11Feb9: Mail Pile Vase

11Feb12: Where's the Snow Plow?

11Feb13: I love cupcakes

 11Feb15: Ron White's Salute to the Troops Taping at the Opry

11Feb18: View from the Front Door 

 11Feb20: Sappy Stick-Dropping Front Yard Trees

 11Feb21: Homemade Pizza

 

Feelin' the Love

Well, after a depressing weekend I've finally gotten a little pick-me-up! The first one is from Cassie over at Paper Issues blog. They featured one of my cards today. That's always exciting. Go on over and submit your creation too!






The second one is from the oh-so-sweet Monica who has given me a blog award over on her blog. She's quite talented, so go on over and leave her some love as well!

And since there might be some new visitors today, I'll share a special card I just made for my hubs, Vince. He's over in A-stan as some of you have figured out by now. Last time I was with him over there, so it wasn't as difficult, but now that we have little Ethan that just can't happen. I miss him madly!

Check this card out in the October 2011 issue of CARDS Magazine

SHeDAISY - Come Home Soon

I miss my Vince...

Another One

Six Months

(Can you believe it's been six months since he's arrived? Time has flown by!)

At six months he...

rolls left, right, back, forth, and somehow even directions I can't explain.

loves applesauce, pears, peaches, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, peas, but still not those icky bananas.

loves to splash in the bath tub.

still refuses to bend at the waist.

only wants to stand which wears out my arms.

slept through the night last night!

thinks Max & Lilly are hilarious.

gave Former President Bush a very slobbery handshake on Wednesday.

hates getting into the car seat.

feeds himself a bottle totally unassisted.

turns any piece of paper he can get his hands on into a giant spit ball.

says, "Ahhhhh..." when a spoon gets near his mouth.

still barely fits in 3-6 month clothing, but 6-9 is way too big.

is always drooling.

WZTV FOX 17

Recognize a little dude in this news clip from last night?

WZTV FOX 17 :: Newsroom - Top Stories - Soldiers Talk about Bush's Return to Fort Campbell

Make a Wish

A New Favorite Thing

Ever since Beverly started carrying these tags by We R Memory Keepers I have been able to whip out cards so easily. The last time I went I picked up one of every tag, and I keep them in a little bucket next to my workspace. They come with little eyelet holes for ribbon or giant brads, but it's way too easy to just snip them off if they don't work for you. They're my new favorite thing!

Check out this card in the July 2011 issue of CARDS Magazine

P.S. What do you think about the new way I used ribbon here? Too funky or just right?

CARDS Magazine January 2011

Okay, I'm officially able re-release the pictures of my cards that made it into the January issue of CARDS magazine.  Here they are...

And this version of the previous card ended up getting cut from publication, but I still love them both...



Get Well Card

Check this out in the July 2011 issue of CARDS Magazine.

My Dear, Card

Sorry... you'll have to wait and see this one again in CARDS Magazine July 2011.

Checkbook Cover

I just got an order for a checkbook cover in my Etsy shop, but before I mailed it off I wanted to take a quick picture. I think I want one for myself now. I don't use a checkbook, but perhaps I'll turn it into a purse calendar. I love these happy colors!

Swirlz Art Studio 5Feb11

Last One...

...for now at least.

Another Sneaky Peeky...

Where's the Pause Button?

I've been so exhausted with all the happenings of life that are going on right now. I feel like this last week lasted for months. I have several crafting deadlines quickly approaching, so I'm doing my best to keep up between Ethan's naps and keeping up with my school work. I wish I could just put life on pause sometimes so I can enjoy a pedicure, nap, magazine, or just a few deep breaths. There's just so much on my to-do list right now that I don't even know which one to put first. They all needed to be done yesterday it seems.

Project Life 2011

I put the Project Life button over on my side bar weeks ago, but I never got around to mentioning that I was going to participate in it this year. I did my own version while I was deployed in 2009 here on the blog, but then I discovered the PL scrapbook. It's (almost) perfect! The kit comes with everything you need to document the year or whatever you'd like really. All you need are photos, a journaling pen, and an ink pad if you'd like to use the enclosed date stamp. I wrote all of my dates, but that's because I forgot about the stamp.  I really wish it had come with a few extra title cards because I don't have one to spare after I made a couple mistakes.

This year has a lot of change going on with more deployments, Ethan's first year, my becoming a civilian in a few months, starting up school again, and all sorts of stuff. It's just a year that I want documented in detail again. I really love the kit Becki Higgins has put together. The only thing that really bothered me about the kit was that all the photo sleeves were made for landscape pictures. I told this to my LSS owner, Beverly, and she immediately pointed me to some of these We R Memory Keepers page protectors... Now it's perfect!!!

Becky Higgins has since added vertical layout sleeves, but I really like all the choices I have with these. I read some reviews complaining about the funky sizes, but I don't think those people really "get it". These are designed to simplify an entire scrapbook layout. Apparently, We R Memory Keepers has an entire line of easy scrapbooking products to use with these fab protectors. Just trim the papers or tear off a journaling card from the little book and slide it in with your pictures and your layout is done. Waaaay easy! I'll be sure to post a picture of the less than 5-minute layout I created with all the extra photos I took of Ethan on the 11th for his monthly pictures. It was the first "scrapbook page" I've made in probably over a year.

Anyway, since I didn't post them before here are a few of my favorite pictures that I've included in my project so far...

7Jan11: Lilly Belle 

10Jan11: Max

14Jan11: Winter Formal

 15Jan11: Secret Santa Party

 24Jan11: Snow Day

 25Jan11: Visit from Papa

 26Jan11: Four Remotes vs. One TV

 31Jan11: Dr's Office Nap

 1Feb11: Introducing... Sippy Cup

2Feb11: I Cooked Something!