Smashbook style Yearly Album

Lately I have been tackling those projects left for *another day* ... you know, the ones that you had great intentions to finish but never actually did. 

To start: My craft room has seen a lot of sewing lately, but almost NO papercrafting. It's really taken a backseat to my sewing, which is totally fun but the albums are looking bare and I promised myself I would realistically use them, thus justifying my purchase. Plus, I do enjoy looking back at them. 

I just don't need shelves and shelves of them. 

Plus, storing things is not something I enjoy doing. 

I could never be a hoarder, I purge whenever I feel like clutter is creeping in on me. 

So I got back on it this afternoon as the kids slept. 

July Card Kit from Simon Says Stamp

Hello, happy hump day from Iowa. 

As I may have mentioned before, I have a lot of events happening this month (ooh the wedding reception i'm attending in a week will yield the most amazing photos, i'll be sure to post!) ... &all of this has kept my crafting on high gear. 

This afternoon while my biggest little monster napped rolled around in her bed, I created a few cards! After an hour she tip toed out of her room stating she had "thought she heard someone saying her name... oh- no? well.. what are you doing??" &so i agreed to let her quietly craft with me while littlest monster slept. 

It's GO time

YIKES! 

This time of year is so crazy for my family. The Iowa State Fair starts today & while it doesn't seem to be a game changer, it is when your hubby works at the fairgrounds. His work schedule gets insane during this time- working 7 days a week& for the last two days he's worked 13 hours + each day. Ick for him& lots to do for me. I'm trying to keep him fed, the kids& house in order, & we have events up the wazooo that I'll be attending for the rest of August. 

Well, that was my rant, er kind of. Point being, is that I have been creating quite a few cards for all these lovely occasions. Yesterday I received a new package from Simon Says Stamp. 

I purchased a few new paper packs, the SSS July Card Kit, Lawn Fawn Stamp Set, Brads, MFT Doily Pack... oh the happy dance i did when i got it. :) 

CCL "Take Me Away" Blog Hop with*Blog Candy

Hey all! Hope you are maneuvering through the blog hop with ease! 

For my :vacation themed: project I chose to create a mini album for a our first family vacation since the new baby has arrived. We'll be heading off to Colorado & California to visit family members in September. I wanted this album to be photo ready. 

I also chose not to bind the album until photos were put inside. It makes layering & any sewing much easier. 

Memory Book- paper bag album

Memory Book 

New Baby Card

Hello all, I hope I'm catching you on a wonderful day! Here at my house we were up kind of early ... my day varies on when children wake up... today it was 630am, but other days I get a little more sleep& get up at 7:15am. I'm very lucky to have children who occasionally sleep in. <3 

Yesterday during my craft time aka naptime, I was messing with this banner that was leftover from a Fathers Day Frame made by my sister. She had been using the piece of scrap paper to test out mists, but it looked really cool. I decided to take it and make a new baby card... which is a type of card I rarely ever make. (not sure why... lack of stamps?) well, I had picked up two mini stamp sets at hobby lobby & thought I should show them some love. This one is a sentiment of congrats& had the little whale on it. Very simple but fun for baby. 

Fathers Day& Photo Frames

Hi everyone! What a gloomy quiet Saturday we are having here in Iowa. I'm updating with a few recent projects, first up is the Fathers Day t-shirt I helped the kids make dad this year. 

I love love love using freezer paper to make my own screenprints. If you haven't heard of this technique, you need to check it out. I also made Archer boy a onsie of pictures that Lily drew for him:: an idea I picked up from Delia Creates Blog. Lovely blog she has over there! 

You will need:

Freezer paper

an Xacto knife

Permanent Acrylic Paint 

Foam Brushes

Iron/Ironing Board

You are so thoughtful.. Card

MORNiNG!  

I'm here today with a simple but oh so sweet card that I made up earlier this week based off of a card I pinned that looked like this ... 

SUNSHINE = SUMMER card

Hello! I'm here today with a card that I made earlier this week during a card-a-palooza session. All that really means is that I had a few hours of free time & got down to business on some cards lol. 

CPS #269

Afternoon!! You know, when I'm at home with the kids running here and there & stopping to look at my blog... there are some days when NO ONE is posting. Out of the numerous blogs I follow, everyone will be silent for some few hours& of course I'm multitasking it up here at home going

"DANG! Where is everyone?!" 

So, I go up to my craft room during my next little break (usually nap time) & create. Then, I come back down, take a snapshot& upload so all of you yelling the same thing at your computer have something to look at. lol 

Today, I made a cute card for CPS... I've just loved their inspiration cards this time around & had to get going on my own!!

Just to Say Hello Card

Afternoon everyone! This has been such a slow posting week for me, partly because family is in town & also because I'm home with the children full time now! It takes a bit of getting use to and later I will have some updates on curriculum I've created for my 4yr. old while homeschooling. I've got about ... oh 4 weeks? worth of lesson plans to blog about including some great pictures and activities.. I think I will make a week out of those posts! 

BUUUT... back to the card. 

**Smashbook** UPDATE

Before we went to Vegas (woot woot // I'll smash that later!), I ordered a bunch of instagram pictures. I really looove how they turn out from postalpix. 

Polaroid WEEK!!!

Hello hello hello. 

Polaroid WEEK !!

Hi all! Hope that this week has been as good to you as it has to me <3. I am getting ready to take the kiddo's on a walk so we can enjoy this lovely weather we are having. On thursday evening, my husband and I will be taking our first trip since the baby was born. We have a wedding in Las Vegas to attend and will be there until Sunday. WOOHOO! Although, I am super nervous about missing my little ones, though I am also very much looking forward to a vacation. 

Polaroid WEEK!

I've created a few of these polaroid cards lately since I am just LOVING this Lawn Fawn stamp set that I got from Simon Says Stamp& therefore this week I am calling Polaroid Week :) ...

Graduation Card

I was checking our calendar today (the only way I can stay organized: writing things down!) ... only to realize that early next month my husbands cousin is graduating from high school. We are planning to attend the graduation party& I thought I should create her a card to be prepared. On their invitation it mentioned that the class color was purple; so I created a fun card using purple elements. 

FINISHED Mothers Day Album

WHEW. This project has been a true work in progress. Started at the end of last year, I feel like it made a big transition! 

CPS Card Challenge Post

Hi! I'm back this week with another CPS weekly challenge card. This week's challenge is looking to be super fun and I had a good time creating my card while my daughter was running about making a card for a nice vendor who consistently gives her free food at our local farmers market. I love that by watching me she's learned to show appreciation with a homemade card, thats my girl! 

So, here's the sketch. I love that it's a longer card, even though I didn't use the style for my entry. I will probably end up going back and making another using this size. Who doesn't need a few pre-made cards to stick some money into for say... graduation etc? 

HB2U Card

In all my sewing excitement I realized that I hadn't done more than a few projects with my new stamps/paper/accessories from simon says stamp. 

SO, I took nap time today to work on a mother's day project that has been going since last october (i believe? ) ... i mean seriously running slow on it ! & I also made this card. I didn't have anyone particular in mind but I really enjoyed using a scrap piece of ribbon from lily's May Day Dress. 

I used paper from the kissing booth & hello luscious
stamp is from ali edwards [i believe??]

SIMON SAYS STAMP package has finally arrived!

I was so stoked to get my package from Simon Says Stamp today. I was so low on paper pads and they had some really awesome stamps that I had on my wish list...(&there are still plenty more!). I love that they give you the option to make a wish list. Otherwise I'd completely forget about some of the things I had seen previously and fallen in lust for. 

The lot of it including my go-to's : coffee/iphone/macbook/notebook&pen