National Scrapbook Day

National Scrapbook Day was a couple weeks ago....did you know there was a holiday just for scrapbookers?...and a bunch of us got together to scrap, laugh and eat (of course!)

I had a great time hanging out with the girls...didn't get tons of scrappin' done, but it's all about the fellowship after all!

Here are the few layouts I did accomplish:

 

 



I {Heart} Summer!

I absolutely do love summer....long warm days with no schedules...baseball...the boys home with me during the day...BBQ almost every night...what's not to love? 

Nothing!  That's how I feel about the new line from Simple Stories!  There is absolutely nothing I don't love about it....I {Heart} Summer is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! 

I have just barely started playing with this fun new collection, but I wanted to share what I have completed with you!  This new line is going to hit my store in a week or so and it is a "must have"!

 

 

 

Happy Summer!

Hampton Arts is teaming up with Echo Park!

 

Welcome!  I am really excited to be sharing today.  This is my first official assignment as a new member of the Hampton Arts Design Team!  Yep, I finally get to share and I can't tell you how honored I am to be among these amazing designers.  You should definitely check out every one of their blogs to see how inspiring they all are. 

 

But today, I am posting to share with you about the Hampton Arts/Echo Park blog hop!  I was lucky enough to get to play with the Scoot line from Echo Park and these fun stamps from Hampton Arts that coordinate with that line:

 

 

This stamp set is so much fun!  It was perfect to document Master William's first birthday:

 

 

In addition to the items I stamped, embossed and then fussy cut, I used the dashed line stamp to mimic stitching on my layout.  I think that stamp might be my go to favorite for quite a while! To finish off my layout I went to my Silhouette and cut out a title....just so happens it's an Echo Park title from the Silhouette Store.  It was perfect, of course!

 

Couldn't stop at just a layout, so I whipped up this quick & easy card with my scraps and the adorable back hoe stamp in the set.... "I Dig U".... teehee!

To officially go on the blog hop, be sure to stop at both the Echo Park Paper blog and the Hampton Art blog.  Of course there is a fun giveaway on each of the blogs if you visit and leave a comment!

 

Good luck & have fun!

 

More goodies to share....

First up is a new card sketch courtesy of Jillibean Soup!  I love to work with Kimber's sketches.....she is a master!  Here is the April sketch and my sample for you....be sure to visit the Jillibean Soup blog for more sample cards!

 

 



 

Yesterday, William and I did a little baking....and it is tradition to lick the beaters...and I am that Grandma who lets him make big messes and cleans them up happily.  So funny how things change from when you are the mom and when you are the Grandma! 

 

 

 

Lately, I've been in a creative funk and haven't been able to get myself out of it....so this week, I have intentionally spent lots of time up in my scrap space....cleaning, organizing and creating.  Sometimes you just need to dive in to get your mojo back.  Here is a layout I did yesterday, playing with some of the Crate Paper Valentine Line that I have been hoarding!

 

 

I'm looking forward to a creative weekend and hoping to shake off the funk even further!

 

Keep it up Camren!

Master Camren is doing great!  He is still in the NICU in Kansas City, but has made some big strides in the last few weeks:

- He is over 7 pounds!
- He is on minimal oxygen!
- He started breast feeding yesterday!
- He is in a big boy crib!
- He gets to hang out with his sister now!
- and it looks like he might get to head home my his original due date, May 1st!

It certainly has been a crazy 3 months since he was born....so many ups & downs and a mirage of roller coaster rides.  To say that it has been hard on us doesn't even come close to how hard it's been on Tom, Angie & Emma....but, everyone is still strong and plugging along with some awesome strength from the Lord.  Talk about the power of prayer and miracles....it's been so apparent that HIS hand has been on baby Camren from day 1. 

Look at how adorable he is:

That one is my favorite.....so happy that Emma can go into the NICU now that flu season is over.

Now for some new creations to share with you: 

I hope you all have a great week!

Time for a Bossy Scrapper!

It's time for a new challenge over on the Bossy Scrapper Blog!  This month's Bossy Scrapper is Jamie Striplin!  You can find her bio up on the blog as well as her wonderful sample! 

This month's bossy was so much fun to play with! Here is what I came up with:

Ingredients:

• photo cluster
• ink/paint
• stitching
• kraft
• bling/dots/pearls
• banner/flag
• date stamp
• grid pattern

We would love to have you play along this month!  You can join us on the blog or over on facebook in our challenge group!

New Layouts for You!

Finally made it up to my art loft to get my hands dirty creating....it always meakes me feel so rejuvenated! 

Played with some new Fancy Pants:

 

and one of my Jillibean Soup layouts and a card from last month:

Enjoy!

Let's Catch Up!

ahhh....the last two weeks have been a blur.  It has been non-stop since arriving home from our Missouri/Arizona trip and it wasn't till last Sunday that I felt like I could breathe again...so let'e catch you up!

Missouri was cold....but, Arizona was beautiful! David & I spent four days connecting, shopping, eating and enjoying the wonderful weather...and it was great!

 

I was thrilled to be able to visit with Sher while I was down there....totally an added bonus to the trip!

 

 

But, while we were there, the boxes for the store started piling up...

 

 

and you all know me....the thought of all that work sitting at home waiting for me was just overwhelming for me...so we came home a day early so I could dive in.  David was totally understanding and even stayed home to help me on his day off.  It actually made me extremely happy to work on all those boxes.  I take it as a sign of success...the store is doing great and I'm thrilled at the direction it has gone.  What started out as a small store handling only collection kits has turned into a full range online store in all things scrappy.  I'm so proud that I now have 300 members in the store with over 100 active shoppers.  How cool is that? 

 

I was also extremely happy to dive in to baseball season:

 

 

and to see this little guy:

 

 

So I am officially caught up....life is back to normal...the to-do list is looking a little lighter and a little funner.  Last weekend we crossed off wash the windows inside and out from our Spring Cleaning list and dove into one of my Pinterest projects.  These are my new closet doors:

 

 

Aren't those pretty cool?  We did both sets of closet doors...and it was great to spend the day with David working on a project together.  It really is a blessing to spend my life with a man I love to be with....I love every moment of every day. 

 

Yesterday, I got an update on little Camren.  He is 5 1/2 pounds and looking rather chunky!  I love it!  He is doing great and is even in the 95% percentile for his weight....definitely a miracle! They are going to start weening him off his oxygen and hopefully start to teach him to nurse....the first step in getting him ready to go home!

 

 

and on the home front, William is starting to walk all over....he loves it when you catch him standing up or walking...so proud of himself!

 

 

 That's about it....starting to prepare for Austin's graduation....getting the supplies for his announcements, taking senior pictures and planning a party.  Of course, that also means we are gathering old photos for the slide show.  I just have to share this one:

I hope everyone has a great day! If anyone is interested in joining the store's facebook group, let me know in the comments and I can add you to the fun!