friday

Only 2 full days left until this little guy starts Kindergarten . . .



I can't believe it has been 5 1/2 years since this kiddo entered my world :)  It seems like just yesterday :)  What will it be like without this little man by my side every day???????????????  I can't even imagine it . Ryan is super excited to begin his new school & learn all kinds of new stuff but I know there is a little bit of worry too - although he is not saying it.   We attended his orientation just the other day and although he was a bit nervous at first, he left so happy :)  I'm not going to lie, mommy is a bit fearful over here.  Just hoping I can hold back the tears to after I've dropped him off :)

Of course I'll still be busy at home with this little guy . . .



He is just growing, growing, growing.  But, still not quite walking on his own completely.  Yes he is 19 mths & yes that is late, very late.  But he does love to walk, just only if he is holding your hand.  We had our first session the other day with a physical therapist to help get him where he should be with the walking and low & behold he took 20 steps at once all by himself!!!  That little sneak, hiding his walking abilities :)  Since the he has been surprising us with his new found abilities here & there.  It is so funny to actually see him walking on his own.  But he only does a bit & then fusses for mommy to hold his hand :)  And I'm not gonna lie, usually I'm a sucker for the tears :)

And me, well tired as usual, but I think that is just all mommies, right???  I have been doing some scrapping, both for assignments & just for my own fun :)  We had a fun week of scraplifting members over at Noel Mignon a few weeks ago.  Here is a layout I created lifting a page by Teresa Gillman using the Noel Mignon August West Coast kit.



These adorable kraft butterflies were actually little butterfly pennants but I flattened them out & created this little butterfly banner :)



Loved this gorgeous pink doily in the kit . . .



Oh & a close-up of the "pull-out" journaling card.  I have wanted to tell this story for a while now & the West Coast kit had just the right ingredients . . .



 

Okay now I know a lot of my readers like sketches so guess what I have . . .  a sketch for the August Sketch Challenge over at Noel Mignon!!!  We have a few entries so far but I'd love to see even more!!! You don't have to use a kit to participate & one lucky participant will win a $10 gift certificate to the store :)  You can find all the details HERE.  Check it out the sketch . . .



Here's what I came up with using the gorgeous West Coast kit, love this pic of my dad with the kids . . .



Creating this last layout was just pure fun for me :)  I say that because I just played around and really didn't think every little detail through.  Abnormal for me :)  Anyways, my little guy is in LOVE with Legos these days & he is so good with them.  It just amazes me . . .



The teal polka-dotted ruffle is really a Studio Calico Fabrip from the West Coast kit.  I actually folded it back and forth, sticking it down as I went on a small strip of cardstock.  This made it easier for me to work with it :)


I loved using these Heidi Swapp polaroid frames for both my pics and text :)



The NEW September Noel Mignon kit, "Evening Stroll" will be up for sale tomorrow HERE  & it is awesome (as they always are) . . .



If you haven't tried Noel's kits you must!!!  I know I am a DT member but I bought her kits for years before I started working with her.  They are jam-packed with so many fabulous papers & goodies.  Many kit clubs have add-ons each month but her kit's are so full you don't need to add in anything more.  I love that there is always such a great mix of alphas and paper lines.  And SO MANY little bits & pieces to add on your pages - which I LOVE!!!!

Be back sooner than later (fingers crossed)!!!

monday

I know I have said this before but I don't know how people blog regularly.  I mean I know there was a time when I did - like years ago :)  But for some reason finding my way to the keyboard & not getting distracted by pinterest, Facebook, blog reading, or some other crafty/social internet temptation seems like an impossible feat these days.  Not to mention the kiddos are keeping me busy.  I am hoping to get myself in gear once school starts & I have some time all to myself in the afternoons.  Right now Nicholas takes a good 2 1/2 - 3 hour nap - yes, I'm spoiled - I know.  But I feel totally deserving of this as Ryan gave up all naps before he was even two!!!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed Nicholas stays a good napper - we'll see :)

Have I been scrapping - why yes I have :)  I have been setting aside every Tuesday night to work on my Wednesday post for Noel Mignon.  This one was my post for last week - full of all sorts of goodies from the August West Coast kit!!!



Here is a close-up of the journaling.  The pic was just one of those random ones you snap, not really knowing what you are capturing until you really look at it.  These two saying goodbye after a fun-filled day at the beach.  I love it - they just look so happy with one another & like they are really having a hard time saying goodbye - tugs at the heartstrings people!!!



I recently have been trying out wash tape - there is a neat one in the kit that is sheer but has a pattern running through it. I loved the subtle hint of red it added amidst the blues :)  Of course I stitched over it - because I love to throw some stitches in hear & there :)



I also missed posting from the week before that :(  Behind, behind, behind!!!  This layout features the Summer Wind kit.  I was really excited about the arrow border on this one.  The design team was asked to incorporate the current trends of chevron & arrows into our project.  I broke out my Cuttlebug & die-cut a bunch of little arrows, lined them up on some hand-drawn borders & voila - cool custom made border!!!



I love creating titles (I think I've mentioned this one before - ha!!) .  There was this great tag in the kit & I added that adorable dimensional "sweet" sticker from MME, some twine, and Thickers.



Here is a close-up of the border.  I think this would be really fun with all different sorts of die-cut shapes.  I will have to start going through my dies & cartridges and see what I can come up with.  You might also notice that folded grey paper border behind the chevron.  In real life it adds some fun dimension to the page, although it is hard to see here.



Hope all is well out there!!!  Be back soon :)