A mini assignment book

I love to make mini albums but I dont make them as often as Id like. I have lots of blank albums in a box just waiting for the creative itch to strike. Ive had this little maya road chipboard album for years. Its a cute little d-ring binder with chipboard pages. The moment I saw it I knew what I wanted to do.

Ive been looking to do a little notebook to keep track of design team assignments. Something to keep the lists of things to do and due dates and all that fun stuff. A d-ring is perfect!! I can refill the pages over and over and keep the book longer. Perfect.

I decided against painting the book because I liked the kraftiness of it. (plus it made the project faster) I used mod podge to adhere the papers and then embellished. Its all paper scraps of October Afternoon, Elle's Studio journaling card and Jenni Bowlin. The stamp is Bookish Tia from the NEW Some Odd Girl release.

Front Cover

Inside binder

Wouldnt it also be awesome for a little young lady going back to school? I bet my nieces would adore something like this. I can not wait to use it. I just need cut and punch some notebook paper to fill it Easy peasy :)

I also get to think up something to do with the cool chipboard pages I took out of it. Hopefully I'll have another fun project in the works soon

Lift it Up!

The newest challenge at Some Odd Girl is to LIFT an Odd Girl!  I scoured the other design team members blogs for hours. Such fantastic talent. It took me forever to choose a card I wanted to recreate. I ended up choosing THIS card from the lovely Zarah . I wanted to trade her soft and lovely colors with my bright and funky colors! I hope I did her justice.

 Papers are October Afternoon Modern homemaker (because I just cant get enough) The stamp I used is Tiny Baker Tia! She is one of the brand new CLEAR stamps that just hit the Some Odd Girl store on Tuesday

Im also entering her into the following challenges:
OSAAT (anything goes)
KB cute Monday (something cute)
Fresh Brewed (3s... I used 3 flowers and 3 patterned papers
Cupcake inspiration (rainbow cupcakes)
Catered crop (markers, cake, doodles)

Hello July!

July is here!!!! and Im very thankful June is over. June was a whirlwind of emotions both happy and sad.

My baby sister got married so there was the bachelorette party, the rehearsal, the wedding all in the same week . Fun but exhausting.

I ran/taught the crafts at a camp for children with cancer on 3 hours sleep the day after the wedding.. Camp is very fun and rewarding but it always makes me miss the kids that are no longer there.... and that was made worse by the lack of sleep.  I cried on the way home.

We started taking Aubrey to the pool (and she loves it) She also has fits when you take her out of it.

My husband's best friend was killed in a hit and run motorcycle accident. The funeral, the calling hours, time spent with his kids. He was only 46 and the nicest guy Ive ever met. Its was awful

My husband blew out his knee..... not once but twice. (its a old football injury from college) He had to walk with a crutch most of the month.  He cant really help much with Aubrey and he's on icky pain pills

Tensions are running high.... fights happen more often than normal.... everyone is emotional.... JUNE SUCKS

I swear I didnt mean to write a book.... I guess I just felt the need to get all that out...... and to try to get back to normal if I can.

Now to make the mood a little happier and to get Debbie Downer the hell out of dodge.... I present the FABULOUS Bright and Blinding challenge at Some Odd Girl! This challenge pretty much had Sarah written all over it.... afterall its all about BRIGHT COLORS.

Here is my card using Beachy Tia

 

Papers are from October Afternoon. Super cool plastic flowers were a garage sale find.

Im also entering her into the following challenges
Craft Us Crazy (summer)
Rudy's Rainbow (flowers)
Scrapbook Sisters (summer)
Bee Crafty (summers here!)
Bearly-Mine (summers here)
Wags 'n Whiskers (summertime)
Paper Shelter (anything goes)
Stamps R us (there was a little girl)
Stamp Something (digi day)

An ODD summer!

This week is summer sneak week at Some Odd Girll! Everyday this week on the ODD blog you can see a few of the NEW summer images .... and get a chance to WIN them.

Day 1 of the sneaks features the "Girls at the Beach"

I was quick to snag up Beachy Tia when I first saw her. She is by far my favorite from this release (but really the are all fabulous) Check her out with her bad self

Could she BE any cuter?? Papers are October Afternoon Modern Homemaker

Im entering her into the following challenges:
Pile it on (summer heaven)
Paper Play (summer citrus splash)
Sweet Stamping (summer fun)
Penny's Challenge (here comes summer)
Truly Scrumptious (summer sparkle)
Prarie fairy (summerfun)
bee crafty (summers here)
Crafter's companion (here comes summer)
Wordplay weekend (tails... ponytail)

Monday Monday

I woke up today with a case of the Mondays. I feel like Im stuck in some bad comic where a frazzled woman sits at her desk all squinty eyed holding a massive cup of coffee. I honestly didnt think that was possible to get the Mondays since I'm a stay at home mom and my kidlet is still in diapers. Hell there are many days where I swear I have to THINK about what day it actually is. .....

Anyway.... here I am... in the Monday zone. My kid is cranky. I am cranky. Im crampy. Im dressed.... but that just involved getting out of my pretty nightie and into yoga pants and a tank top so it almost doesnt count. Aubrey is wearing pants and no shirt (she has taken it off 4 times and I have finally given up trying to put it back on) All she wants to do is nurse nurse nurse. I just want to go crawl back into bed and sleep til tuesday..... but i cant... too much to do. The most I can hope for is Aubrey taking a long nap so i can have some peace and play with paper.

Is it nap time yet?
Is it nap time yet?
Is it nap time yet?

Ugh!

At least I was able to get my crop on this weekend. Thanks to the lovely Zarah I checked out a My Scrapbook Nook. They had a wild crop going on this past weekend and I was able to create 5 layouts and a card for challenges! Here are a few of them

For the random placement challenge.... where you glue and you go and no moving stuffs. I used Webster's Pages Lullaby Lane

For the doodling challenge...  for this I used Sassafras AppleJack

for the sketch challenge using October Afternoon Modern Homemaker

Obviously I had a thing for pink and kraft this weekend :)

Hopefully my Mondays will go away soon. Im sure a little crafty time (and perhaps a Vicodin for the cramps) will make it all better. I hope you are having a better Monday than me.

Happy Monday!

This past weekend we took Aubrey to her 1st movie in the theater! I was a little nervous because she is so little, but she did great! We took her travel Booster Seat and buckled her in, gave her some snacks and she was ready for the show. We went to see Tangled since it was showing at the dollar theater and I figured if she freaked out and had to leave we were only out $2.50. It was SUCH a cute movie... and she loved it! She loved seeing all the kids at the theater too. She kept waving hi and trying to talk to everyone. She also kept petting my hair since Rapunzel had such long hair. Ive always loved going to see movies at the theater and it was so fun sharing that experience with my baby girl

Afterwards we drove out to one of the local farms to buy apples, cider, and cheese. Ohhh so good! I cant wait til summer when farmer's markets are in full swing.

I also had some crafty fun this weekend! I finished my survivor week 6 layout, tons of cards with the new some odd girl acrylic stamps and then broke out my April tidbitz in time kit for seconds. I so needed to get crafty.... good for the soul

I made this little teeny card for Aubrey since she is in love with the GIIIRRRRRLLLLLLL (aka my oddie girl stamps) I give her images all the time to colors, but she always wants to pretty colored ones. Now she has a girl of her own she can play with and she will keep her mitts off my stash.

I used BEE TIA for this baby card for my baby

Im entering my lil bee into the following challenges:
Pile it On (cutie patootie)
Totally Papercrafts (cute and cuddly)
Stamping Vacation (no fancy borders)
Digital Tuesday (button up)
StampInSanity (punch it out)
PaperPlay (anything goes)
PaperSundaes (photo inspiration)

I scrapped this picture because I was in the mood for some warm weather. Im so anxious for spring to be in full effect! I also seem to be in love with yellow lately............

That's all from me today. Happy Monday all! :)

Patterns & Pearls

I was excited from the moment I received the November kit from Tidbitz in Time. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this kit. It was love from the moment I ripped it out of the box. Its filled with so much vintage yumminess!!  Here it is.... Patterns & Pearls

To begin its filled with October Afternoon (which is one of my all time favorites) The sought after Thrift Shop line (papers, stickers, journal blocks) is paired with the coolest new Jenni Bowlin buttons & pretty chipboard butterflies. It also boasts a Donna Salazar calender page, a tube of Ranger liquid pearls (like stickles only pearly), grungeboard  and some lovely ZVA Creative embellishments. There are 2 alphabets and 4 trims!

I created 8 projects this month. I couldnt help myself. I finished my 4 but just kept going back in for more.Here's what I came up with:

 

Run.... dont walk to get this kit!!

and if you love Tidbitz in Time..... make sure you check out Scrap that Baby on Monday!! A little bird told me something about an october kit up for grabs

Holy Peeps!

 Holy peeps Easter is almost here! I cant believe how quickly time is going. My baby girl with be 6 months old in about a week. It's hard to fathom that she has been here that long already. It's also hard to fathom my life without her.

I threw my back out this morning. Dont ask me how. I think it happened when I was sleeping. All I know if I cant stand up straight without dying. I havent had back problems like this in over a year.... and the pain pills Im actually allowed to take while breastfeeding just arent cutting it. Plus its hard to lug around a 19lb baby when you cant walk without looking like a caveman.

I spent most of the evening on my couch with the baby next to me playing. Since I was bored I started looking at Easter crafts and fun things I can create..... and then I found the PEEP crafts!! Check out these seriously COOL peepie sites!

 Peep Show contests----- seriously cool!
How to make Peepshi = sushi peeps
Kick ass Peep Dioramas
Peep science experiments
Peep pie recipe
Peep tours
Peep hut's peep recipes
Kid'scraft: peep neaklaces

I swear I found everything from peep crafts to peep surgery. It really made me want some peeps. I know I will probably get some Sunday. My mommy still makes me an Easter basket...... YES I said it Im 31 yrs old and I get an Easter basket!!

I only ever eat STALE peeps so it will be several days before I can dig in to the marshmellowy goodness.  mmmmmmmmm.

and now...... a few layouts

March Madness

Its insane how much more Im enjoying the March Madness games now that I quit working at the sports bar. Its only taken 8 months, but I think I can actually stomach SportsCenter again. Hooray for quitting the annoying job I got stuck in when I got laid off  years ago. I know the money was good (so good I couldnt make myself leave)... but I was miserable there.... and it showed. Im thankful I have an awesome husband who works his butt off so I can be a stay at home mom for the time being. I do have to sacrifice my shopping (scrap and clothes addictions!) cut back of my love of going to movies and restaurants and work a wicked budget for groceries, but I wouldnt have it any other way. Heck Im even making my own bagels. And yes I own an apron. :)

Im so looking forward to taking the baby down to my rec/scrap room and craft while watching basketball (after the cleaning etc is done of course) I plan on getting everything done tomorrow so Im ready for games come Thursday! Hopefully Aubrey will cooperate and play in her exersaucer. My meal plan for the week is done so I dont have to obsess about dinner. I can just be free to play.

Here is my latest layout of Miss Aubrey.  Sorry for the wonky scan. The homemade flower is made of patterned paper so its a little bulky and cause it not to scan straight. Had it been a design team project I would have photographed it when I did the closeup, but I was just too tired and it was too dark outside.

I love making these flowers! I made several the other day and they are cuuute! So so easy too! I'll get a tutorial up soon!

If you are into tutorials you can check out the one I posted yesterday at Scrap That Baby! about making your own Epoxy embellishments using scraps and stamps. They cost only a few pennies each!

Happy New Year!!

Happy NEW year! I cant believe its 2009. I was always told the older you get, the faster time goes. Im starting to believe they were right. Time flies when you are having fun I guess.

I started out 2009 with a bang. Sick as a dog. I stayed out til 7am NYE singing bad kareoke and dancing myself silly. I didnt drink a ton, but I did drink. Definately not enough to be a hangover like that. I think it was some mutant flu that turned into a bad cold. Im just now starting to feel human thanks to ClearGuard and the fact that I have been sleeping ALOT. Because of this my house is a WRECK and I cant stand it. Im one of those chicks who HATES to clean, but HATES mess even more so I need to clean something

So today I have decided to be PRODUCTIVE! I will make a LIST and do at LEAST half of it today. (everytime I make a list it reminds me of my grandma) Im stuck at the house so I might as well feel good about today. (I always feel better when I get things done) If I start feeling crappy Im going to work Fly Lady style... 15 minutes at a time.... til Im done. Im off to a good start. My sheets are in the washer, my caardvarks card is done, dinner is defrosting and the tree is NAKED! I just need to get vacuuming so I can reward myself with some scrapping. *fingers crossed* my tally design team kit gets here today so I can play.

Yesterday during the cybercrop at Tally I managed to finish up my Guttergirlz layout. Here is a sneaky peeky at the awesome challenge that will go up January 15th. If you havent finished Prompt 14 yet you still have time to get your ART in the GUTTER and win the prize. Need some inspiration?? Check out the amazing layouts, atcs and other projects in the Guttergirlz Flickr pool

IF you LOVE challenge blogs amd telling your story..... remember there are only a FEW days left to apply as a storyteller for Category Stories. The info the design team call can be found HERE We are looking for a few new girls to help us jumpstart 2009! Its a one layout a month commitment. Check it OUT!

Now Im off to clean :) Have a happy Monday!