{ : : creative zen : : }

Well I did it!

2010-02-09T18:20:00.000-08:00

I submitted myself for the Design Team at House of Paper!
Wish me luck.

2009-12-13T12:51:00.000-08:00

Design Dazzle

2009-12-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

another giveaway! Moody Mamas clothing!
OOoh what a great one.
LOVE, love, love this dress.

Go here, enter for yourself!

Pearl Giveaway

2009-12-13T12:43:00.001-08:00

Design Dazzle is at it again, giving away pearls this time!
Thanks to Pearl Paradise.
This my favorite.

Head here to enter yourself!

JYC Day 12

2009-12-12T21:20:00.001-08:00

Past, present, future.
Hmm.

Past: large family gathering, cousins, aunts, fun!
Present (aka: today): today we saw Santa!
Future:

JYC Day 11

2009-12-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

The tree, the tree!
We used to have 2 trees, I prefer a real tree, but when we married, our first tree was real and its been artificial since. When J&E were born we put up just one, in the family room. I foresee someday having the other one up, but for now, it'd be in the way. We have a mini one we added last year that accents the nativity scene.

My favorite feature about our tree is that we have rope lights on it.

JYC Day 10

2009-12-10T19:49:00.000-08:00

Wrapping!

How funny, I just wrapped last night. All done, unless we buy more.
We don't wrap certain gifts, that are from the man in red. That helps! I'm not picky about the papers just so long as they are cute!

JYC Day 9

2009-12-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

Traditions.

We don't really have any at this point.
It's a goal I have to start making them for J&E.
Watching A Christmas Story, then Monopoly and junk food on Christmas Eve.
Baking cookies, advent, singing carols, holiday books, those are all things that can be traditions.

JYC Day 8

2009-12-10T19:46:00.001-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Or it will tomorrow, we are having a blizzard! Eeek.
Today was a big day, J&E are 2 1/2! So we measured them on the wall, and played in the snow, made snow angels and went grocery shopping, what fun! Cookies and the tree.

JYC Day 7

2009-12-10T19:44:00.000-08:00

To do!

I don't have much left to finish, we did the remainder of our shopping over the weekend. I need to wrap gifts yet, make some cookies, and pickup and make my part for Christmas Day. Low stress here this year. Oh! and finish my cards!!!!

JYC Day 6

2009-12-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite memories of the holidays is actually of Nan coming to our house on Christmas Eve, and staying overnight. We'd arrive back at our house late at night, having done a family Christmas at her & PopPops house. Having her there was always so wonderful.

A bad memory is the year I got sick all over the hallway floor when I didn't make it to the bathroom in time. I was so ill I wouldn't eat anything. I got sick on the 23rd and wasn't better until the 27th. What way to spend your birthday and Christmas!

JYC Day 5

2009-12-10T19:37:00.000-08:00

Advent, I don't remember having a countdown to Christmas as a kid, it actually wasn't until I met James, and we came across those grocery store ones that I ever thought about it. We did that for a few years, just the two of us.

Now that we have J&E I've done two different ones, the one I didn't fill this year and I even bought it with intention of doing it for J&E. However, the treats I wanted to use just didn't fit, so I used the one I made last year.

I have ideas for future traditions, like a movie a day or a cookie a day, a charitable act a day, a craft a day. And so on...when they are a bit older.

JYC Day 4

2009-12-04T05:55:00.000-08:00

Everything is prefect.

I started this several times and am struggling with it. I know what I would want, but it's just not ever going to happen and I struggle with the expectations and can't get my head around it's supposed to be different.

So this is what I've decided on.

I wish I way I wish I might have this wish I wish ....
Love, family and traditions.

xoxo

JYC Day 3

2009-12-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

Holiday Cards

I ordered the photo card portion (cheaper than individual prints thanks to codes I found) and they should arrive very soon!

I have cut the parts to our card, handmade, and need to assemble them yet. My goal is to send them out by Monday, December 7th, or the following day, all dependent on when the photo part gets here.

Around 45 will go out this year, with a family newsletter enclosed that recaps the kids year in review mostly, with a few random highlights about the adults *note to self to get to that too!*.

Cards are displayed the mesh mailbox James bought me one year that accents this page well it will on my LO).I save them from years past and make a collage from the previous years, or a wreath for this year.

-------

Open 12.3.10

Letter to self!

JYC day 2

2009-12-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

12/2

Weather.Blech.
I prefer that we have nice white Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
I like to play in the snow at least once.

Other than that, I don't mind if we don't get snow. Of course, now that we have a snowblower we don't shovel so much anymore and that makes days easier. Harder for James I bet though.

Today is cold, brrr! We all needed mittens. Tomorrow we have a chance for snow flurries but I doubt it will stick. Next week we might actually see a bit of accumulation. Odd for WI winter!

Jounral Your Christmas 2009

2009-12-01T08:13:00.001-08:00

JYC Day One!

"This is my first year doing JYC and I'm super excited, and a bit nervous that I won't finish everything. Then I remind myself that if I get a photo and the general idea of the thoughts at minimum I can catch up another day if I don't actually get to executing the layout everyday.

So, I commit to, starting today, keeping a record of the holidays 2009. I will take time each day to reflect on the prompt and attempt a photo everyday to represent each topic. I will not stress, I will work at my pace, but with the idea known it's a daily thing to create the layouts to correspond.

I want these to reflect for James & Evelyn to look back upon and remember as well as for myself and James. This is Our Christmas 2009. "

Photo and Layout to be updated when executed hopefully tonight!

I also am doing Holidays in Hand, with Jessica Sprague and today we watching a holiday movie/show (probably Rudolph I think is on tonight) with popcorn and making a wishlist.

Urban Swank Giveaway!!

2009-11-24T12:55:00.001-08:00

Urban Swank is giving away paper! 50 sheets! Lulliloo, Blink, Just Add Color, Mooch, Happy Everything, California, Oh So Merry, Everyday Lily!

Go, see, enter!
Win!

Design Dazzle

2009-11-16T06:16:00.000-08:00

I'm totally in love with this website, it's so fun, and fresh and I'm getting so many great ideas for J&Es bedroom.

They are doing a great giveaway right now, $500 in product from Bei Bambini TWO Giveways of $500 prize package, one girl, one boy . Check them out, I think that the dresses and Marsha shirt are just a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!

Design Dazzle

2009-10-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

I've just stumbled upon a great website while searching for mural ideas for J&Es rooms.

It's Design Dazzle. http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/

Check them out, LOTS of great ideas and giveaways too.

Check out this giveaway!!!

2009-10-08T04:59:00.000-07:00

HomeSpun Threads is giving away wedding rings!

There is this great online website that sells beautiful
Platinum Wedding Rings
the company is called
Tungsten Wedding Rings
One lucky reader.
Go, visit, enter, win!

Absence

2009-03-13T13:04:00.001-07:00

I've been away awhile, from blogging.
I used to blog several times a day, now I hardly blog at all.

Here are two of my favorite layouts of lately, which also happen to be for the American Idol 2009 Event at Scraptastic!

This one was to use at least 10pp and no cardstock with a song as inspiration/theme (the songs beat/tone should set the tone for your page too)

This one was to use no pp and only cardstock, make your own pp and embellishments (no premade)

One word

2009-01-27T12:16:00.000-08:00

Got this from Sethro's blog who got it Chiara!

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS USING ONLY ONE WORD

It's not as easy as you might think! Consider yourself tagged upon reading this and post it on your blog if you so desire. It's difficult to only use one word answers.

Where is your cell phone?
counter

Your significant other?
babe

Your hair?
dry

Your mother?
sick

Your father?
works

Your favorite thing?
family

Your dream last night?
none

Your favorite drink?
coffee

Your dream/goal?
retirement

What room are you in?
family

Your hobby?
scrapbook

Your fear?
death

Where do you want to be in six years?
living

Where were you last night?
home

Something that you aren't?
confident

Muffins?
banana

Wish list item?
baby

Last thing you did?
tidy

What are you wearing?
jeans

TV?
off

Your pet(s)?
kitty

Friends?
wonderful

Your life?
good

Your mood?
fair

Missing someone?
james

Drinking?
soda

Smoking?
nope

Your car?
good

Something you're not wearing?
shoes

Your favorite store?
target

Your favorite color?
red

When is the last time you cried?
saturday

Where do you go to over and over?
grocery

My favorite place to eat?
kitchen

Favorite place I'd like to be?
home

2009-01-26T12:49:00.000-08:00

Shimelle Class

2009-01-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

Shimelle is offering an awesome mini class here, check it out. It looks like its' going to be so much fun, and easy!

I'm back

2009-01-15T05:31:00.001-08:00

I've had a lil gap here in my posts. Forgive me.

I've been busy creating, just not discussing it. I'm loving my room more and more everyday and spending mroe time there-because I want to. Not because I feel I should.

Project 365 is going well, I'm about to close on week two. So I suppose the energy still being there would make sense to keep going with it yet.

The January layout challenge at House Of Paper is in full swing and I'm making progress on that-with the mini crop there this weekend I'm sure to get further too.

My favorite layout of the moment is this one;

Tonight I have my monthly mothers of multiples meeting, it's so very cold here today (-15) that I feel like staying in bed all day. Alas I can not, and instead am making cupcake bites and will be showing any member intersted in learning how to make them-how to. It should be fun-just cold!

Lazy Sunday

2009-01-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

Sundays most usually end up being a lazy day for us. We usually stay in our PJS, and just hang out-it's our family time. The kids are still napping in such a way that church is difficult and there is still that fine line of where we aren't exactally sure where in that we fit yet.

I was up on Friday night, into Saturday morning until almost 2am scrapbooking getting my room back in order. My photo for that day (Friday);

I love my room and it makes it so easy to get things done in there.

I got two layouts done for the January Challenge at House of Paper, and started work on my January calendar. I used my cricut to cut out the 1-31 numbers for the dates, and then january title and some awesome snowflakes for the layout area of the calendar. I still need to finish it up, but it's coming along. My luck it'll be January 30th when I finish. lol.

Saturday & todays photo;

An external backup drive for our photos- keep them safe-ish :)

Part of the reason we are having a PJ day today

2009 One little Word

2009-01-02T19:38:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Ali Edwards One Little Word and encouraged by scrappin friends I've decided on my one little word for 2009.

renew re-new /rɪˈnu, -ˈnyu/ [ri-noo, -nyoo]

\–verb (used with object)

1. to begin or take up again, as an acquaintance, a conversation, etc.; resume.
2. to make effective for an additional period: to renew a lease.
3. to restore or replenish: to renew a stock of goods.
4. to make, say, or do again.
5. to revive; reestablish.
6. to recover (youth, strength, etc.).
7. to restore to a former state; make new or as if new again.
–verb (used without object) 8. to begin again; recommence.
9. to renew a lease, note, etc.
10. to be restored to a former state; become new or as if new again.

There are many reasons I have picked this word. I think it states where I am very clearly. Renew/restate my personal being, find myself again and my place within a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a daughter in law, a sister in law, a friend, an aquiantence, ect. Just finding myself again. I felt renew was a good word to explain it, I'm reviviing, renewing, restoring and replenishing. It fits where I am now and where I want to be.

Finding me. Renewing me. Restoring me. Rediscovering me. Reviving me.

Progress

2009-01-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

I worked for several hours in my scrapbooking room last night after the kids went to bed. I'm making strides. I had been out several times in the last month to events outside the house for scrapbooking, crafting and whatever. So my supplies are in a bit of a mess having just shoved things into bags and not really organizing them properly. I purged somethings I was holding onto that I *know* I'm never going to use, and some orgnaization I had that just wasn't working anymore. I sorted my embellishments by such things as 'food, baby, travel, ect" and sorted my stamps and chipboard, just time stuff that needed to be done.

My first photo for the Project 365 with Becky Higgins is;

I have a plan for todays photo, later tonight I'll attempt that. It's pretty darn cold out today, but I'm hoping to make a run later tonight or this weekend to pickup somethings to finish my room off for good (yeah! right! it'll never be fully done, will it?). I want to clean up and organize my sewing stuff a bit better though too and right now I"m using my little photo boxes and a large paper bag... lol. So I need something for that.

Feeling rather frustrated and down today. Not quite sure what is up with that after my previous post. Blech.

New Beginnings

2008-12-31T13:19:00.000-08:00

It's a new year (well almost) and I'm ready to get back into the things I love. While on the way home from grocery shopping today I was listening to the radio and all these 'year in review type' songs are on, or in the case of the station I was listening to they were counting down the top 10 songs of the last 30 years (the length they'd been on the air). Anyhow, I hit the station at the time when they were playing Shinedown ~ 45. The host talked about the meaning of the song and how it's been misleading/mistold. That the song has deeper meaning and isn't about a gun (despite stating staring down the barrel of a 45). Instead

It's basically about how hard life is, and trying to understand who you are as a person. 45 stands for the world, and how at times it can feel like a gun. It's about being comfortable with yourself, which is one of the hardest things to do. "nobody knows what I believe."
it's about a realization that life can get really hard because of what the day hands you, but you can get through it. Individuality is really important even though sometimes it may not seem like it. This is an amazing song and shinedown is an amazing band. 45 isn't about suicide, it's about sadness dying, and that same person fully awakening to life.

I think, especially in the last few months. It's been a rollercoaster for me. Of emotions, feelings, and just learning again. Anyhow, this statement made me sorta reflect on myself, and how really, you are handed what you get. Yes, sometimes you make your own 'luck' but usually it's just about how you have to be comfortable with yourself.

Oddly enough, or perhaps not- todays One Little Word is "start". Check back to see how that ties in for me.

I have a few scrapbooking goals for 2009.

-Complete Project 365
-Scrap at least 3 full months of kids photos
-8 handmade gifts
-published in print ? hopefully [b]it appears I'll be published in March of Scrapbookingmag.com[/b]
-use av/tv modes on camera - my brother seems to want to assist in this also and he's grown fond of cameras/photography lately
-book one photoshoot? hopefully? even for free, lol

I think I am going to try to revamp my site. Make it a bit friendlier.

New Beginnings

2008-10-07T13:14:00.000-07:00

I've been revamping my blog today, I want to try to use it more again. I was going to start to blog on our family website more, but some people who read there just aren't going to be interested in my ramblings or the creative things I do.

So I added some songs, my favorite 3 at the moment, and changed the layout.

I worked a bit in my room today to just tidy it a bit. Needs more work though. James made me other scrappin desk so I hope to update the photos I posted last time, with recent ones in the next day or so.

beginnings of a new space

2008-04-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

James made me a new scrap table! Yippee!

We finally got rid of that huge desk, which I was thankful to have, but it was far too big for the space. We put it to our curb and several hours later, and a sign that said 'desk' added to the previously added 'free' sign resulted in someone picking it up from us. Yey!

Before:

After:

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have James make me another, but lower to run across the back wall, and have a platform built in the corner where they'll meet (a mini bookshelf type thing is there now).

I'm so excited. I need to finish putting it together/organizing it how it is now as I'm not sure when James will get to making the other one.
I want to hang shelving, and paint the room pink, add accessories and all the junk too. I can't wait. It looks awesome now, I can't even imagine how awesome it's going to look when it's really, really done.

Getting back into the groove

2008-03-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

A bunch of my on-line scrapbooking friends are getting together this weekend and I'm so excited for them, but wishing I was there too. I am hoping that the 2009 Crop plans go together later in the year and James has already agreed I can go then.

But in light of all of us at houseofpaper.come who aren't able to go Chiara is putting together some fun stuff for us.

I haven't scrapped in a while, and I"m really wanting to get back into it. I am finding that I have less and less time as the days go by. I have such a huge to do list, but I think I need to prioritize things a bit better.

Cleaning the shelving isn't really at the top of the list is it?
I end up feeling overwhelmed.... and I forget about me somedays.

Revisited

2008-03-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

Finally after what seemed like weeks of not doing anything creative-wise I was back in my room creating again. Tuesday night I made more progress on my pregnancy album. I took a photo a week with the exception of a week or two when we had a scare in the pregnancy and I was on bedrest-the thing furthest from my mind at that moment was a belly shot.

So I have an album with a page for every week, sometimes two photos for each week. In most the weekly photos I am in the same clothes... towards the end of the pregnancy I wasn't so consistant in using those clothes.

Anyhow, I have about 20-25 more photos to do of weekly shots because of the duplicate weeks. Then I have to do the ultrasound photos and nursery, ect. I am trying to finish this before starting too many of the kids photos, but I'm obviously behind already! being the kids are 9 1/2 months old now.

Of the 10 pages I did, here is one of my favourites.

my voice

2008-02-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

I am so excited, I'm having troubles typing the words for this post.
I can not express how wonderful it felt to be working with my acrylics again. I didn't even touch my papers other than to make a few lines stand out more. I do plan to more, but this is what I was feeling tonight.
I didn't even wait for the paint to dry before taking photos to post.

ummm

2008-02-29T09:03:00.000-08:00

I cleaned up my room a bit last night, so I could play in it tonight and tomorrow night. It was quite a mess from all the things I'd been doing down there for FVMOM. I've learnt today that by giving the kids a diaper, they are entertained for some time.

I also laid down the base for my first entry in my art journal, about my voice. I've been working on the journalling to the pages and am looking forward to sharing it. I'm really looking foward to this process too, I think it'll be a way to grow.

In family news, it's only 100 days till my babies are 1 year old. So sad. I've been having troubles lately with them growing up. I literally am one moment so happy about all the new things, and how different their faces have changed... but then I'm crying over feeling like it went far too fast. I've been journaling a lot of this, so it will make for some very lovely layouts in the future.

Speaking of the kids- I've had this post in progress for hours now... and I think this is as far as I'm going to get, it seems Evelyn is fed up with the Baby movie I put in for them.

Debut

2008-02-27T08:10:00.000-08:00

I've started to post to this like fifty times now. OK. So it's more like 5, but still I always end up getting pulled away by the kids or by James.

I'm hoping that I can get back to my own blog, and what makes me tick at the moment. Our family blog ends up being more just for the kids and updating family & friends far away which is good, but I feel werid sharing me the same way there.

The thing I've been working on this past week was stuff for the Multiples Club outing. Dinner out with the husbands, so I altered 23 picture frames - the same way, thankfully. I made the table decor (didn't get a photo though :() and made the name badges.

Here is the before & after of the frames;
before:

after:

I'm planning the redo of my scrapbooking room and gradually picking up new things for it, organization and little trinkets to display. It'll be likely summer before I get really going on it though as James is going to make me desks and hang the shelves, ect. There isn't really anywhere to go with the things I have in the room now until the Spring Clean-up when we can put the furniture to the curb.

I need to add to the side the things I'm working on....