Everyday Life

All comments in the month of May will automatically be entered to win a Lisa Leonard Necklace!  I love mine!

I featured one of Malia’s tutorials on the post I did for Skip to My Lou.  And yes it was Yesterday on Tuesday…  Cindy’s readers LOVED it!  So I figured YOU would too.  Malia is also an active member in my Blog Frog Community/forum.

I just LOVE her photos. She takes THE best photos.  I want to know what lens she’s using. 

Here’s the tutorial I featured.  A 4th of July Banner!  It’s not too early to start decorating for the 4th you know.  When you visit her site, you can get a better look…..or you can head over to Skip to My Lou too. You know you’re creative when you color a few strands of fabric to make some flowers…….and then……..You see beauty is the piece of cardboard you used to paint them on.  She just couldn’t throw it away…….look at those colors…….. She just knew she could create something with it………Can you believe it?  I think that takes the cake on being resourceful.  Don’t you? Being resourceful is a habit of hers.  She finally talked her friend into a tutorial on how to make Duct Tape Flowers.  DUCT TAPE! More details on her site.  A lot more details on her site.And you know I have to show you these……I just love the idea of making melted crayon shapes.    Alright…….you know what to do…….leave me a comment, then go surprise her about her feature.  I just love it when all you great readers leave tons of comments for the featured bloggers.  You really do make their day….not me.

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Simply Amazing

You can read my Part 2 installment of Bloggy Boot Camp on my personal blog.

 

Stephanie…….ahh sweet Stephanie.  I met Stephanie in her car…..at Bloggy Boot Camp.  It was a dinner deal going down and we were being highjacked by Jyl to head to dinner.  I was thrown in a car with 3 women, and I only knew one of them, Jyl……for only the last 8 hours.  Stephanie was the driver.  We were then seated next to each other during dinner….it was fate.  Loved getting to know her.  Loved chatting it up and loved that we even matched.  What I really loved was that she actually knew my blog.  She was a creative person….There were many gals that didn’t know my blog, because they just weren’t the crafty kind…..can you imagine?

Somewhat Simple

Stephanie lives in Arizona with her kiddos and hubs.  She creates a creative life with all kinds of fun stuff.  Her blog is gorgeous.  So easy to navigate.  I love it. 

She was telling me about a project she did for a White Elephant gift….she thought it was funny, the recipient of the gift thought it was funny.  I thought it was funny. I love a good Mormon girl with a sense of humor.  She told me that she was trashed in a message board somewhere…..no no no…….not trashed like that…….she’s a good Mormon girl…..trash talked…..there were people who were trash talking this project and just had to tell her.  This is when she needed me……because…… I’m not a good Mormon girl and…….I could have taken care of those trash talkers once and for good. 

She’s good at the vinyl word stuff.  This Mommy’s Mood board would be pretty helpful out there for all Mommy’s.  What a cute idea. 

Just when you thought you’ve seen all silhouette ideas…….she comes along and does it with glitter.  I’ve never seen that done, have you?  Michaels…..you better stock up.  Ladies, she shows you a full tutorial if you’re interested in the details. TUTORIAL!!!! Lately, I’ve noticed bits of jewelry popping up made from ribbon and pearls.  I had seen some pieces at a Stella & Dot party I went to……Well Lil’ Miss Steph and her friend decided they could save a ton of money and just make their own.  Isn’t that cute?  She also will show you how they made that too.She has several tutorials on her site.  I know you all love banners, but I also know there may be a couple of you out there that need a “how to make a banner” tutorial.  She does a fabulous job.  Step by step…..gotta love that.  Hold my hand please.Mothers day is coming up…..Sunday!  Can you believe it?  Don’t panic…….if you still need something for your mother inlaw……no worries.  Steph has you covered.  Covered in Mod Podge that is…….She’ll show you exactly how to create photo blocks.  Great gift for anyone you would give a photo too.Because she has 3 kids and runs her house with an iron fist…….well maybe not……but she keeps them in line with this behavior button clippy thing.  Each day they start out in the middle.  Poor behavior moves the clip down…..good behavior or deeds move the clip up.  Nice visual…..and it looks cute too. I’m afraid I would have used the clip to pinch my son during a tantrum…..probably not what she had intended.    Hey…..don’t judge…..there is nothing wrong with a little squeeze or small pinch on the arm to get your child’s attention. Not one that bruises, people……simmer down……..when I meet you someday, I’ll show you want I mean…. It works great in public when you can’t raise your voice.  Besides I learned it from my sister…..and she’s a good Mormon girl……Being cute is easy for this little girl.  She only gets cuter when her mommy makes her cute head bands.  Yep…….there is a tutorial.

   Dont’ think for a minute that her talents run dry without adding in a bit of cooking and baking.  This looks amazing.  I want it NOW!  It makes me mad that she can eat stuff like this and stay so little.  Just wait til she’s over 40…….just wait.  I’d like to squeeze HER arm right now. OK, I must say she forgot who may read this when writing out her tutorial on this one….she says “just slice and braid”  or something like that.  Um…..I’m gonna need more hand holding than that.  I’m not a natural at this creative stuff……I have to work at it.  She’s just showing off.  But I’ll forgive her. Any girl that can wrestle raw meat and make some ribs……Dang……. She has the recipe and instructions on her site.  Smack smack smack.        I’m fully expecting her to sew up some cute napkins that say that…..smack smack smack…….  get on that will ya Steph?

 

Loved meeting her.  Thanks for making dinner enjoyable and thanks for driving so safely.  And thanks for matching my outfit.

Go surprise her. I didn’t tell her I was featuring her.  Hee hee hee…….go go go.

She’s got it goin on!

{Did you win Friday’s giveaway?  Have you checked yesterday’s post?}

I’m all over the place when it comes to getting inspired.  You never know where my simple little brain will take me. 

Since I spent a full weekend scrapbooking last weekend, I’ve been excited about paper crafting….again……….not to say I haven’t also been dreaming of a few decorating upgrades. 

Laura Vegas

What caught my eye about Laura’s site……besides her amazing paper craft talent……..was all the State Report / Country Report / Diorama content on her blog.  If you’re a reader of my personal blog….yea that one I rarely update…….that one….you know that it was State Report Hell in our house about 2 weeks ago.  And by the way………I got an “A”  He got an “A”.  It’s was actually very fun forcing upon teaching my child all my ideas.  But seriously, if we all posted these projects, it may make it easier on all of us. 

If you’re not there yet……..Report Hell….then you can’t appreciate the above photos and really just want me to get to the good stuff……….

OK enough already. 

How about some really cool cards.  I love how she took one simple design and used it over and over for different themes. Really…….why reinvent the wheel…………kinda like I was trying to say about the reports. 

Laura’s layouts are SO MY STYLE!  Colorful, pleasing to the eye and simple looking.  Not to be mistaken for simple to create.  You gotta have a vision.  Not too busy…….if your layouts are too busy, then your eye doesn’t know where to look.  (listen to me……I sound like I know what I’m talking about and really…….I don’t)But Laura obviously knows her craft.  She’s been published 14 million times, she’s on 14 million design teams…..but are you surprised?Just look at her stuff.

What I love about scrappers, is looking at their creative space.  I think scrapbookers have single handedly kept IKEA in business with this cubby shelve.  It’s so perfect. 

Her NEW studio…..Love the jars and the see thru baskets.  Because for me?  If I can’t see it…….it doesn’t exist. More of the new studio. Her old studio…..where she had more space.  I love that center table. Great ideas. And those jars again………Sigh.    Tell me…..are you a scrapbooker?  Remember……you guys can get out of the dog house by leaving her lots of comments.  I never let my featured bloggers know ahead of time, so it’s always a great surprise………well I think it’s great.  :)

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If you love linky parties…….you know mine is tomorrow, but Cindy with Skip to my Lou has Made by You Mondays.

Also, if you’re a scrapper……do you have a fancy pants camera?  If so, Priddy Creations has some original ways to carry that gorgeous thing around. I’m loving my bag. 

Gettng Inspired

Oh boy I had a great time at the scrapbooking retreat. I scrapped 27 layouts! I usually only get about 15 done, but I have simplified my style ……or just don’t care as much…….I mean really…,.. as long as I make it somewhat pleasing to the eye, get the journaling down…….isn’t that what really matters?

Well if I was as talented as my featured blogger……..I would feel a little more pressure…….or would I? Because I’m sure it’s NO pressure for her to come up with all this gorgeous stuff. I’m pretty sure it comes second nature to a girl like Rhonna Farrer. Her name should be Rhonna Inspiration boom boom Farrer. She’s cute too.

If you’re a scrapbooker, or a digi scrapbooker……you’d have to be dead if you didn’t know who Rhonna was.

She is one of the most talented designers out there. I first fell in love with her whimsical romantic style a few years ago. Then she really got into the digi scene and that’s when I just sat back and watched. Even though she has some fabulous tutorials on her sites….I was still too mesmerized to follow along. Recently, she joined forces with a couple of other big scrapbook names and started House Of 3. Great stuff. Many directions to keep you inspired and most of all……….learning. She also joined forces with one of my favs……Margie “kiss kiss” Romney for Spark. A small and intimate Inspiration conference.

Rhonna is everywhere……….then when I’m feeling like just another blog out there, SHE posted something on my Get Your Craft On. She even said she LOVES my blog on Twitter. ME! Now I have made it. :)

Because Rhonna is so much more than scrapbooking…….and is really good at the whole digi thing…….she has a few blog designs. I even bought a blog banner digi set from her and used it on my personal blog for awhile. She even shows you what to do. She also shows you how to create and use wonderful elements for digital creations. Still way over my head………but someday.

But one thing I could figure out is this free tutorial and download for address wraps. I could have used something like this for our neighborhood Christmas gifts.

Or how about dressing up your canned goods? I can’t remember, but I think you can download this label too.She’s giving weekly updates on what’s going on at House of 3. It’s truly your destination for inspiration……….well after you stop at my blog of course.I know this is Christmas stuff……..but it’s so cool. So unique. She has a full tutorial on how to make these mason jar snow globes…….but don’t shake them. Speaking of Unique…..she saw a necklace online and decided to make one herself……..she even shared it with us with a full tutorial. This came from her Summer Projects DIY. So fun!She’s a girl after my own heart…….she loves spray paint too.

Head on over and let her know I featured her. Just think how cool I’ll look then. :) I know you’ll fall in love her.

This cool post is brought to you by the coolest camera bag and accessories girl out there. Priddy Creations.

It’s good to be queen

I’m heading to a scrapbook retreat this weekend.  I wonder if I’ll remember how to do it?  To get ready, I started looking around my FFF for some scrapbook inspiration. 

I found Kat a while ago. I was instantly drawn to her warm face.  Look at her…..doesn’t she look like a girlfriend you’d meet for coffee and giggle until you’re sick?

Queen Kat……as she prefers to be called, but can’t seem to get everyone else on board with that……..she is a fun fun scrapbooker.  She’s been published and everything. 

I love all the layering and patterns she’s used in this beautiful layout below.  I need to study this style a bit more so I can look like I know what I’m doing this weekend.  Circles…….oh, I love me a circle.  I can do circles.   Great color choices here too.  Mmm, I really like this one.  Give me a neutral background, lots of blank space some nice patterns and I am in Scrap heaven.

Because she’s scrap obsessed, she took a Jenni Bowlin class and came up with this beauty.  Scrapbooking……..it’s not just for albums anymore.

Kat has lots of passion…..a mother of a special needs child and an avid sports fan….You can bet she’s full of spunk.  It’s obvious in her work.

I’m going to miss her at my retreat……….I bet she’d be fun to sit across from. And just think of all the ideas I could give her.  :)