Custom Invitations!

Hi friends! I got to make A LOT (see above!) of invitations for an upcoming bridal shower my MIL is throwing. I love how they turned out. I'm always up for custom assignments- if you need invitations for an upcoming party, let me know! :)

Word of the day: SIMPLE!

Whenever Laura and I hang out, we do a "word of the day" as a joke. But this, my friends, is no joke. :)

After being inspired by a card by a famous card company which makes nothing but beautiful cards, I came up with a very similar design that I could make at home. I made this card in probably...15 minutes. Cards usually take me a looooong time and I'm typically not happy with the outcome AFTER that looooong time.

Here was the process that took 15 minutes:

1) Cut all paper to size.

2) Print sentiments on cardstock.

3) Adhere all paper together (the only thing I would change next time would be NOT using this glitter paper OR using a stronger adhesive - which I didn't have available!)

4) Stamp using 2 colors of ink over sentiment.

5) Add stickles (very thin puffy paint) wherever you please.

When I showed Scott this card he said, "that looks so professional that it looks like you bought it." What a compliment! Scott's mom, when we gave it to her, said "Did you MAKE this? It's so professional!" All of the above...made my day!

Without further ado, here is the card :)

Promises, promises.

I had a wonderful scrap session with Laura today! Her work is a-mazing. Unfortunately, I got a little hung up on certain details (which is EXACTLY my personality! :)), and so I didn't get much done at all. I was on a mad quest for red letter stickers, every kind that I have (and every store within a 30 mile radius had) didn't work, but a lot of my time was filled with that little adventure.

I brought my pages home to work on them more, feeling ok about that lack of red stickers. Then I realized, halfway through, of course, that I was out of pop dots. So only half the title is done on my Christmas Surp(rise) page. :) At that point, I felt d.o.n.e. This page is very much NOT finished, but I promised to try to post, so I'm doing it. Hopefully I'll have the finished project completed in the near future, and then I'll post that, too.

The other page is even MORE undone, the picture isn't even adhered to the page at this point. But again, I wanted to show you what I got done...even if that amount is teeny tiny. The fun is in the process!

Thanks Laura, for spending the day with me and being a constant inspiration!

FINALLY.

I got my camera to upload this morning. I only have one layout to show you, but, that's a start. I'm off to have a mini-craft day with Laura, so I'll show you my final products when I get home :)

Here's a layout I finished...umm....2 weeks (+) ago...

MORE TO COME! I promise. At least, I try to promise!

I want to show you pictures.

I really, really do. But just when I actually try uploading the photos, my computer won't do it. I don't know what's going on, I'll have to have my trusty husband take a look later.

In other news, I've been miserably sick all weekend, and am finally (thankfully!) starting to feel better. I feel like I missed out on, what could've been, such a fun weekend. The weather was perfect, there were lots of fun things going on and I was stuck at home in the bed or on the couch. But alas, some weekends we must slow down and let nature run its course.

I've come across some beautiful blogs and websites over the last few weeks that I'll share with you now. For a ridiculous dose of inspiration, go here:

http://creativetherapy.wordpress.com/
http://retrospection.typepad.com/
http://lialuvsblythes.blogspot.com/

I hope they inspire you like they've inspired me. I can't wait til the next time I get to spend creating. Today is not going to be that day, I feel my first nap coming on...

Neglect...

I've neglected you, friends o'mine. I've still been creating but I just haven't taken pictures of those creations. So, for now, you'll just have my words and they'll be brief.

Reasons I've been neglecting you...

*Finishing our taxes (is it just me or is there ALWAYS one more piece to enter. SERIOUSLY!)

*Working outside in my garden on sunny days.

*Catching up on favorite shows (there are so many these days! Some of our new favorites include: The New Adventures of Old Christine, Martin & In Living Color).

*Enjoying the start of baseball season. Go Reds!

*Trying to lose weight. Putting forth effort to do so, slowly but surely.

*Budgeting the best we can during this yucky economic time in our lives.

*Flipping through lots of magazines that are suddenly heading my way (I didn't order them, except one, Scott's mom ordered the rest. I'm ok with that!): Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens, The Nest, Memory Makers, Etc :)

*Lovin' on our girlsies.

*Enjoying extra time with my husband while he's out of work. Always trying to get home as early as I can to be with him!

*Spending mindless time on facebook.

*Catching up and then falling right behind on laundry.

*Supporting Scott as he remodels our bathroom (aka saying "Oh, that looks nice" or "Yeah, those tiles don't match). That's a supportive wife for you!

So, that's where I am. What's new with you?

Inspired by Laura!

My bff is so amazingly inspiring. On her blog today, she has a happy list. I'm totally stealing this idea for a post because I've neglected you. So, here it is- things that make me happy this very minute:

* The fact that I get to go (& just found this out!!!) to Yellowstone in May with Laura's family. This is made even more fabulous by the fact that I have plenty of vacation time to spend, and that my wonderful husband (more on him in a minute) is ok about me leaving for a week (even though I'll miss him x a million- we've never been apart that long...ahhh!) But all that being said, I'm SO EXCITED about this- I've always wanted to go and now was a GREAT time for such a fun pick-me-up!

*That it's almost the season for glittery flip flops.

*Daffodils are blooming (not in our yard yet, but in the 'hood!), and my irises that I thought I murdered are back!

*(Soon to be) being published in a fuuuuuun magazine!

*That I have friends share a passion for creating things.

*My husband who is so supportive of my creative endeavors, makes me feel like I can accomplish anything and helps out in any way he can (translation: carrying my scrapbooking things to the car ;)

*Two wet-nosed cuddly doggies that we could give a warm home to where they would get lots of attention

*Being able to pay our mortage & all the other bills. Scott's loss of income has definetely affected our mode of living, but we are making it.

*Sunshiny days that make me feel like even more sunshiny days are ahead.

*Tackling what feels like the un-tackle-able at work on a regular basis.

*Futures, plans, goals, dreams.

*Our future children's names which are soooo already picked out even though we aren't heading down that road quite yet.

*Ikea.

*Target.

*Coffee with vanilla carmel creamer and 2 sweet & lows. Mmmm..

*Grilled steak. ANYTHING on the grill, really. & the smell of the grill.

*All things sweats (ie hoodies and pants) and Scott making me feel beautiful even in the previously-mentioned attire.

*Cleanliness.

*Friends that know everything about me & have laughed with me & cried with me.

*My Dad (good one, Laura). One amazing man. The fact that our relationship has evolved so much since my Mom died. The fact that he owns a business now and that he loves being his own boss, (Even if it stresses me out, LOTS).

*Orange. Earth colors. Very unnatural colors. Colors.

*Extrabuttery toast.

*So much tv that it's sick really. Laura, we will be watching TV in Yellowstone, right?

*Photography.

*Giving people things I make and seeing their reaction.

*Little kid birthday parties & softball practices :)

*Lyrics by Adam Duritz (Counting Crows)

*A well-filled scrapbook.

*Cuddling with Scott even though he says he hates cuddling.

That's a good list for now. Pictures later tonight :)