Growing...way too fast

I took this picture last summer after my dear husband finished building the kids a playground.  Holden could hardly stand to wait and even "helped".  He was so excited to climb all over it I think he wore himself out in less that 30 mins.  Since it was pretty hot day he took a seat on the bench under one of the sections.  I snapped this shot of his rosey checks not really thinking much of it until it was time to take it off the camera.  What I saw made my heart skip a beat.  My little boy was looking no so little anymore.  How did this happen and how did I not notice? 

I hung on to this picture until I could find the right paper.  I used Echo Park's A boy's life, some grey grid washi tape, my smash date stamp, cord and metal ribbon from Websters, AC Thickers and Echo Park's lime twist mini alphas. 

weekly sketch challenge from pretty little stuido

 

Over @ Pretty Little Studio they have their weekly sketch challenge going on so I thought I would have some fun with some of my stash that I didn't really know what to do with.  Here is my version of their sketch shown above. 

I used mostly October Afternoon's Holiday Style because it's one of my top 3 favorite new Holiday collections.  I used two different Studio Calico's Mister Huey sprays to splatter paint on the white paper.  I used three different color rhinestones but you can't really see it in the picture :(  As for that bow - I found it off of Heidi's site vanlaardesigns.blogspot.com.  She designed it and it rocks!  Go check her out :)  I also tossed in Jillibean Soup and Echo Park.  Enjoy! 

Brooklyn Flea SC kit

Hi,
After a few months of drooling over the monthly kit club @ Studio Calico I decided it was time to add my name to the ever growing list of subscribers.  My first month (November) was the Brooklyn Flea kit and I just loved the back side of this Pebbles paper plus the 12x12 Bee's Knee's from Echo Park's Country Drive.  I had the 6x6 paper pack so I grabbed two photos of my little Zoe who had just turned one and created this. 

This (I think) is one of my best layouts I've ever done but I'm also one of those paper crafts that the magazines for some reason just don't dig.  it's OK though - when she's older she's going to love it!  and really that's all that matters. 

Major Back Log....

I had such a great schedule planned for Dec.  Yeah...the execution was something to be desired.  I put a little too much on my plate this year (can't blame a girl for trying) so I took a little longer than I wanted to getting my "JOY" decoration done.  I finally finished it last night.    I even like it better than my boo :)

This is what I started with.  I was going to do "JOY" in all the same letters but when I got to the craft store they were all out of  O's.  So I had to get even more creative than I was planning to.  I grabbed this big one and decided I would figure out something.  I grabbed some white paint and started my project. 

 

I love the new Nordic collection from Basic Grey and at a stamp convention back in Sept I picked up one of Darcies ornament kits and some twill.  I added some distress inks to the fun and this is what I ended up with.  Enjoy! :)   

I also got day 2 done in Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas.  I've been following his awesome tags but not copying them.  Unfortunately I only got to day 2 - this was the one I had to defer to 2012.  My DD has really just taken over everything and I'm totally OK with it, happy even.  I'm having a blast with my DD and PL so it's all good :)  

Here is day 2:

I used Cosmo Cricket silver rub-ons, broken china and iced spruce for the back ground color, a little water, clear snowflakes from Imaginisce and Echo Park paper snow flake brad. 

Check back later for more DD pages.  I hope to "catch up" in the next day or two.  :)

A few more cards from Saturdays WCMD

**If you are hoping from OWH or Paper Crafts, please scroll down to see the two Christmas cards that are part of these hops**

Amazing paper by Simple Stories, all stamps are by A Muse Studio, corner punch and gems are from EK Success 

Paper and I love you sticker by Echo Park, stamp is by Unity, gems by EK Success

  

Paper is by Basic Grey, tea pot stamp is by too much fun, kitty stamp - unknown, colored with copic and embellished with stickles.  Sentiment by Lawn Fawn. 

Today's cards so far

**If you are hoping from OWH or Paper Crafts, please scroll down to see the two Christmas cards that are part of these hops**

Wow - this has been a crazy day.  My first blog hop and not only World Card Making Day but all my favorite vendors doing huge contests.  How can you not play?  I was hoping to post these earlier today but all those fun activities made that day turn into night...

Here are 3 (so far)

I had a heck of a time getting a good pic of this one.  My flash wanted to drown out the very light colors in this awesome Melissa Frances line.  Now that I'm looking at it - you can't even see the deal in the cookies and milk Lawn Fawn stamps I did with my copics.  Sentiment is from A Muse Studio. 

Love Doodlebug and poking around on the OWH site they need Birthday, Miss you, Love you and Thank you cards so I used DB's birthday line to make this card.  The sentiment is from A Muse Studio and you can't really see it but on each side of the sentiment there is a gem. 

Using my Paper Smooches I made this silly little guy.  I love google eyes - they make me giggle.  Sentiment is also PS.  All but the teal is Echo Park's little girl line.  The polka dot teal card stock is Bazzill.  

Big Picture Classes - Big Idea Festival pages

For those who have yet to check out Big Picture Classes @ www.bigpictureclasses.com I highly recommend them.  I ran into BPC by taking one of their live classes at GASC (Great American Scrapbooking Convention) earlier this year and loved it.  The girls were super fun and easy going.  BPC offers a ton of classes for all styles and budgets.  Some of their classes are even FREE! 

I signed up for one of those free classes called Big Idea Festival.  It ran for 2 weeks and while it wasn’t the best timing since I was trying to get ready for my submission to Doodlebug I didn’t want to pass it up either.  There was a different teacher and a different word each day and as of right now I only have the title page and 2 pages done but I’m going to finish off my mini album so that I can check it off my list.  See my three in total below J

Title Page:

I used the 6x6 Echo Park Country Drive paper pack and one small oval resin frame from Melissa Frances.    

Less:

I used the same EP paper pad with a doodlebug chunky blue brad and orange flower from the ladybug garden collection.  I know “they” tell you to never go back but I might “go back” anyway and hand write on the actual paper instead of that huge white square I’ve got going on.

Share: I used watercolor paint to make this layout because I couldn’t find a picture I liked and the ones I took just didn't capture what I was trying to say.  I have gotten a surprising amount of wonderful feedback - everyone seems to love it.  Apparently I need to paint more! 

It's funny how the layouts you're like whatever it's done on people gravitate towards. 

I also wanted to give a BIG thank you to BPC and everyone from teachers to members.  I just love a community that isn't afraid to tell someone they do a great job!  :)