If I had influence with the good fairy,
I would ask that her gift to each child
be a sense of wonder so indestructible
that it would last throughout life.
-Rachel Carlson
So I love quotes, I mean L-O-V-E them - and finding just the right one when you need it is just the best ever. I ventured into this little store the other day called The Paper Source. It is like an adorable little paper boutique (although it is a chain), with stationary, cards, calendars, & crafting supplies. Don't get me wrong, I love my local scrapbook store & the online stores I frequent - but this was a totally different experience :) I found a few things but what I was most excited about was a book of quotes called Love Life. I highly recommend it for yourself or for a gift :)
I have been working very hard at getting my scrapbook from reorganized. It really had become quite a disaster & it was impossible to find anything. I still have a few more things to put away & I need to label all my drawers so in a few weeks I'll have lots of pics to share & some organizational ideas :) While cleaning I realized I never shared my last assignments for SEI - oops!!! So here they are . . .
First up, a fall layout featuring their Homestead collection. Love the rich autumn colors in this line & such gorgeous patterns!!!
Check out these awesome die-cut leaves - I stitched over the embossed veins to add some fun texture to the layout :)
I also used this versatile collection along with last year's Spooks collection to create this fun Halloween layout . . .
The scallops peeking out are actually border strips from the Spooks line :)
And how cute are those pumpkins??? The Spooks collection is actually on sale for 30% at the Sei store - check it out HERE.
My final layout features the gorgeous Silver Lake collection. I loved the mix of greys, maroon, and kraft together :) (That's my younger brother with Ryan!!!)
Check out these cute vintage style die-cuts from the collection . . .
I had these Maya Road wood snowflakes just itching to be put on a layout. The chipboard circles were cut from a Sizzix die & backed with an assortment of SEI patterned paper.
Oh & my sketch for October . . . simple in design but great to showcase a 4 x 6 or even 5 x 7 photo :)
Thanks so much for reading!!!
ttyl - julie :)
All I can say is sick, sick, sick . . . first it began with Nicholas, then Ryan, then Justin, then Ryan got better, then Nicholas got worse (double ear infection), then Justin got better, then mommy got sick :( Everyone is better but mommy :( I am tired, exhausted, but surviving. Unfortunately Justin just had surgery (nothing serious) but he is unable to lift anything & is pretty much bedridden right now so he can't really help with the kiddos so no sick day(s) for mommy. Just plugging through the runny nose, coughs, sore throat. I have a mess of pics to share from the past few weeks - unfortunately I really struggled with my Halloween pics. I just couldn't get any night shots - so many blurry pics. Even though I took the class last month, I really need to review through everything & take some serious time to practice - oh to find the time . . . anyways - captions are below pics - enjoy :)
It looks like a crawl . . . just kidding Nicholas is still doing the army crawl - this is just for show :)
Yes, we are in the upright position - only on knees though :)
Side by side, my two little men :)
Seriously - could you ever resist this face :)
Spooky cookie graveyard making & spooky faces :)
Snow in October - say what???
First time exploring the inside of a pumpkin :) And yes, he tried really hard to eat the seeds but mommy said no :)
Our pumpkin collection - I did the "Boo" one :)
Pre-trick-or-treating snuggles :)
Nicholas investigating his cousin :)
Is it bedtime yet???
Batman - ready for action :)
The only decent pic of my "little bat" - the quality, not so good, cuteness factor, fabulous :)
In all fairness this is not my husband's costume - it's mine :) I stayed up until 3 am the night/morning before Halloween to make my flower costume. A wood ring, cardboard, and some Jillibean Soup patterned paper along with a lime green sweatshirt for the stem/leaves. I didn't get a pic of me but my husband did try it out so I snapped one of him :)
Ryan got this adorable monster hat from his Aunt & Uncle for Halloween - just had to catch some shots of him in it. He was doing a "monster" pose, but it looks more like John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever.
Now, on to the scrappy front :) I was asked to create a sketch and sample for a special challenge over at Citrus Tree Studio. This is my second year doing this for them - the owner Cindy is super sweet & I was given an adorable kit full of papers & embellishments from the Three Bugs in A Rug Collection Deck the Halls to work with. Here is the sketch I created . . .
And the layout I came up with using the fabulous November CTS kit . . .
And a card using the kit as well . . .
Interested in playing along???? Here are the details . . .
Contest runs from November 1st through November 30th at Midnight (Eastern). Each participant (registered member) should create a layout and card using the contest sketch and upload both to the "Sketch Contest" area of the CTS Gallery for a chance to win the Crate Paper 12 x 12 "Peppermint" Collection. A separate (new) set of creations may also be entered for the Sketch Contest being held on the CTS Facebook page for a chance at January 2012's guest designer spot!!
Please note: One entry per participant for each Sketch Contest and the same creation cannot be used for both contests.
For more information head on over HERE!!! Hope to see some of you play along!!!!
ttyl - julie :)
