Those who say it can't be done...

So if this is posted it is because I am mia because my grandmother has passed away.

No, debbie downer here...just me & you....CeLebRaTing some life. I had an amazing relationship with my grandmother and I know my sister, Amber, did too and that is what matters. She has been battling dementia for two years now and after some long prayers and wondering why life takes it's certain twists and turns, she has closed her eyes.

I know she would agree with me on this one. And Henry, named after my grandpa...well...this just seems fitting.

Scrapdango Spice Kit

And it is SpIcEy!!!!!!

I love to say that word....Spicey..... She's spicey...it's spicey... ;)

First up are some projects from the Bo Bunny papers in this kit. I loooove them. BoBunny does plaid, strips and polkas like nobodies business. KWIS? {that is know what i'm saying? LOL}

This is henry's new buddy, Toby. They were best buds and become closer and closer every time we go to Amber's. Owen even calls him his buddy...it is sooooooo cute! i wish i got a close up but henry was so mad that he couldn't catch a fish (the water is 20 ft deep right off the dock and he is using a net, LOL) so I put a chippy fish in his net for him :) I like to call it mama bear-ism.

And a card for some fun....

I used my Gel-a-tins stamps on here for the "thanks"

And these are some of my favorite photos from Memorial Day weekend. AND I had to pair it with this CRAZY, flippin' awesome shark from these papers!!!!! I love Owen's face as Brian is looking at him. It's just one of those moments you catch on camera and think..wow...this is so awesome. And he is getting SO big. And you can see that in Brian's face, too. Owen would stay on this tube ALL DAY LONG if we let him. Well, if Uncle Greg did, LOL!!!!!!

Have a good one!!!

October Afternoon + Cards + lOvE

So, I definitely earned the bad blogger award for the last week!

Life has gotten in the way and summer has been crazy and been working so much that I neglected one one of my favorite past times...BloGGiNg!

So I got a RAK from Danni Reed and played around with some of the of the October Afternoon she sent me last week. Here are a few cards I played with and this first one was featured on their blog. Might be one of my fave cards ever.

Some yellow Core with black and white {sigh}

Just so happened there was an OA card sketch up! This is based on that sketch.

Sketch Inspirations

First up....MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

IT'S CROP TIME! :):):)

You know I looooove challenges and croppin' with the girls so you best get your scrappin' pants on and join me! AND IT'S 80's THEMED!!!! Like, WOOOT! ;)

Speaking of Scrapdango...we are sponsoring the Sketch Inspiration Site this month. Here is a layout I created with the May kit. Yes...I still have some left over :) I am saving all my bits and even have a few sheets that's how much paper you get. I love the Simple Stories line!

And if you haven't headed over to the Core blog in a bit, check out this tutorial from Lydia Jackson. I got my hammer out and went to town on this layout with my Tim Holtz embossing folders on the corners of the Chocolate Box cardstock.

It was so funny! Henry came into my room and asked me if I was mad at my paper, LOL!

Some close ups of these FUN Gel-a-tions stamps! I looove this set to pieces!

Okay...and check this out!!!

MAY ARTS!!! YIPEEEEEE!!

Gettin' Picky!

Brian's Uncle sent us some of their photos from our Phillies weekend and I instantly fell in love with this photo of owen and I at the fountain in Philly. It's the fountain with the LOVE piece of art work is that is famous around the world.

Owen would not put this Philly Phanatic down all weekend. He went everywhere with us, it was so cute. He even tucked him in his own part of the bed. It just melted my heart because I always wanted to be the Philly Phanatic when I was growing up. It's on my Bucket List ;)

So the challenge over at the Get Picky Challenge Blog was to use a this awesome quote from Diane Ackerman. As soon as I read it, I knew exactly what I wanted to do and that I was going to use this photo.

I was drawn to this quote because Brian and I have chosen to try and travel as much as we can with the boys. Less money spent on the house, redoing the floors...stuff like that...and want to take this time and take the boys to as many places we can as they are getting older now and learning to appreciate it. I know growing up, I can't remember projects my parents did or the cares we drove. I remember trips to the lake, to Germany, to Florida....and that is what we want for our boys, too.

Here is my take. I used Core'dinations Black Magic and Echo Park goodies. I also used the Cracked Glass Technique over at the Papertrey Ink blog this week on the chipboard hand.

Here is the scoring detail on the black magic Core! I LOVE this CARDSTOCK!

So I printed the quote right on the Echo Park journaling card. And hid it under the photo. I couldn't fit the credits on the front so that is on the back.

Here is a detail of the journaling card behind the photo and the cracked glass detail on the chipboard. I also use the leaf dies from Papertrey Ink under the vintage button in the upper right hand corner.

May Arts

I am so stoked! I am a May Arts Finalist and couldn't be more excited! If you have some time, check out the entries here. Mine is on this specific blog post so leave some love if you stop by ;)

I created a burlap covered wine bottle. We love to entertain and so do our friends so we are always brining wine and we always have a few bottles on hand. This is a quick and easy way to add pizazz to those gifts. And it is perfect for any occasion.

I used the wired burlap (on the bottle for the closure and flower) YES! I said WIRED BURLAP!!! {sigh, love}

And then for the accordion card, I used burlap string in natural and purple.

I used a big 1/2" Zap dot for the button. That sucker isn't going anywhere!!!

Click on image to make it larger....

Here is a close up of the card. It is a made of Core'dinations Cardstock and the stamps are from Gel-a-tins Home Sweet Home set. I LOVE how versatile this set is...

Have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):)