A Few Cards to Share

After I finished my layout for the "Mum's the Word" issue over at Paper Issues, I decided to create a few cards. It is definitely a goal I had for this year. Make a card or two with the scraps leftover from a layout.
I will not lie, and I am pretty sure I have said it before. I am a super simple card maker.

I use this three in a row design a lot. Like here...

 

and here...

 

and here...

 

It is my go to card design, that is for sure!

Here is the second card I did using my Doodlebug goodies...

 

Also really simple...one piece of polka dot patterned paper, one piece of white cardstock with distressed edges and inked in orange, one pop up flower sticker and a few letter stickers. Easy, right?
I like easy cards.
And here is a random card I made with a few other scraps I didn't feel like filing away...

Two pieces of patterned paper, a die cut tag and a stamped sentiment...done!

As for National Scrapbooking Day, I did not scrapbook at all. Just no time. Saturdays or so busy here!
And unless I specifically go away for a crop or scrapbook weekend, it will not happen. That's ok though. I am more of a weekday scrapper.

But here are two things that happened this weekend that I know some of you may already have seen on Facebook and Instagram...

 

Erin no longer has training wheels on her bike and she is riding like a pro with no help or assistance at all! She spent a lot of time on her bike this weekend with dad and the whole neighborhood cheering her on. :)

But we also spent some time relaxing...

in our hammock in the backyard. :) We had beautiful weather this weekend and I was so grateful for it after the long winter!

I hope you had a great weekend! Did you get any scrapbook time in on NSD?

Hi!

So yesterday I had two blog posts elsewhere.
One over at Craft Your Nest where I talk a little bit more regarding my thought process and techniques on this layout...

a just for fun layout. :)

Then it was my day to post over at Paper Issues where I featured a layout Mary Pat linked up for the current issue "Mum's The Word." You can see that post *Here."

I feel as if I am really ready to start scrapbooking regularly again!

My workspace is 90% clean and organized! I just have one pile to put away. So my office feels nice and welcoming. Not messy and overwhelming. :) As I was cleaning it out, I found the photos and paper I wanted to use for the above layout in a giant zip loc which inspired me to just get a page done. Which I had a lot of fun doing! But more about that on the Craft Your Nest post. ;)

And now I can cross another item off my closet project, and move on to the final steps!

I have also come to the conclusion that life is just busy. That is just how it is. (I mean wow, it's May already!) And if I sit around and wait for things to slow down before tackling projects, finding time to scrapbook or meeting up with friends and family, it's just not going to happen. So I am embracing it!
Just in the past week, we went to a Cardinals ballgame with several extended family members to see my niece sing the National Anthem.

Definitely had fun! In the past, I might have said that we had too much to do on a Saturday, but then I realized that time with family is just as important.
On Monday, I went to lunch with a good friend that we had been trying to schedule for ages. We finally just picked a date and said let's do it! So glad I did because we were able to talk, relax and catch up. Even if it was just for an hour.
And despite having so much to do after the kids get home from school, I have been making the time to take Erin out once sometimes twice in the afternoon to practice riding her bike without training wheels. (photos and possible video to come soon) She is doing great and is so excited!
I am discovering that it is ok to say no to things that seem important (dishes) and say YES to the people who are more important!

And I know it's been a while since I have posted a "List With Friends" list. I think the last one was my list about The National that I posted almost a month ago. Thankfully, there are no rules to the list project, but I do have one planned for next Thursday. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Paper Issues: Mum's the Word

Our new issue over at Paper Issues is "Mum's the Word."
Several design team members were lucky to get a fun little package of Doodlebug to create with and here is my page.

I decided to use Mother's Day as the subject of my layout. I loved the polka dot vellum squares I received and right away knew I wanted to layer them under my photos.

This was another item I received which I thought would be perfect for creating and embellished, horizontal block beneath my photos. Everything you see on this page (washi tape, sequins, stickers, borders, small alphabet and numbers, vellum, patterned paper, and enamel dots) are from Doodlebug except the wood veneer hearts stamped with gold and the pink Thicker foam alphabet stickers.
The sequin strip on my journaling block was created with double sided tape.

Since Doodlebug Designs is our sponsor, the prize is a Doodlebug goodie bag!

So be sure to come see what the other design team members created and link up your projects on this post *Here!*
Some ideas to fit the theme are Mom's, Mother's Day, flowers, gardening, spring, put the focus on a big word or journaling, are you good at keeping secrets/my lips are sealed, One Little Word projects, use lips as an embellishment, someone who is like a mother to you, or just use Doodlebug products on your project!
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

A Little Peek...

at my upcoming layout for Paper Issues.

The one using Doodlebug Designs :)
Looking forward to sharing it with you on Monday.

The current issue "Pitch Perfect" is running until this Sunday, so you still have time to link up your projects *Here*!
Lots of fun projects have been linked up already. It's always so fun to see how different crafters interpret the challenge.

Also, would love for you to stop by the Craft Your Nest blog if you have time. I shared some great sketch blogs for my post yesterday which you can see *Here*

I spent a lot of time yesterday cleaning and organizing my scrap space. My goal now is to start finishing up the two scrap projects I have going on - my Florida album and Summer Project Life. Plus, I found a summer mini I had started and not finished from 2011!
I also have a travel album I am going to make for my parents, and I also want to scrapbook our photos from Mexico and Washington D.C. last year. I'm seeing a theme here. :)
Here's to a clean, organized space so I can finally get to work!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Lately

1. love to watch this movie...

and listen to the soundtrack a lot.

2. Still listening to...

 

The National...a lot.

3.  Enjoying...

our beautiful Magnolia tree in our backyard. It's so pretty to look at, but it really makes a mess of the backyard. Fortunately the weather has been gorgeous the past few days making all the raking and bagging of flower petals a little more bearable. And the kids have really enjoyed being able to play outside as well!

4. Excited about...

 

Stanley Cup playoff hockey! My boys in blue are 2-0 up on the Chicago Blackhawks right now. Let's hope the momentum continues! I have been waiting a long time for the St. Louis Blues to win a Stanley Cup. Hoping this year won't be another disappointment.

5. Celebrating...

Easter. We kept things small this year as far as baskets and treats go. And yes, they each got a fancy toothbrush in their basket. :)

Had fun celebrating with my family on Saturday night. My brother and his wife are in town which made it extra special. Plus, it's my dad's birthday today, so we had a cookie cake and presents for him.

Today, we went to my mother-in-law's for a lovely breakfast. 

It really was a beautiful, joyful day.

6. And last, but not least...

getting to work with some great product by Doodlebug design right now for an upcoming Paper Issues assignment being revealed next Monday.
So I am definitely going to have a page to share soon!

That's what is going on here.
What's going on with you?

 

This Post...

is going to kind of be all over the place today. :)

1. I have a blog post that went up yesterday over at Craft Your Nest

for Workspace Wednesday with a fun storage find at Target. If you are interested, please go by and check it out!

2. I spend a lot of time up at Evan and Erin's school throughout the week. I know being mostly a Stay at Home mom (doing a little part time work subbing and tutoring) makes it easier for me to volunteer and help when needed. On Tuesday, I tutored, helped in Erin's Kindergarten classroom and then I assisted with art class in her room as well.

That morning, we walked over to the Dragon Grove which is their school community garden. It really is a wonderful resource for the children. This is a picture of the flowers on one of their pear trees. They have two pear, two peach and two apple trees planted. Plus a myriad of vegetables and herbs.
I feel very fortunate to be so involved in what is happening at their school. I get to see first hand what their days are like. I am getting to know the staff and students well and I feel very comfortable knowing they are happy there.

3. I have to say though that just because I am a "Stay at Home Mom", it doesn't mean I am not busy. On the contrary, I feel extremely busy and it seems like the days are flying by. I mistakenly thought when Evan and Erin were both in school full time, I would get tons done at home. Maybe I am just overly ambitious in my to do lists some days though.

For example, back on February 10th (and I have the blog post to prove it *Here*) I began
"The Closet Project". You know that closet in Erin's room I have talking about off and on. The place where everything that didn't have a place to go was dumped. Well, I am STILL working on it!

but I am oh so close to being finished. Here is my "punch" list for getting the final steps done. I needed to Focus and just take on one thing at a time for the most part. The closet was actually all cleaned out and now I putting things back inside. Number six on the list is actually kind of separate because my scrap office is another room entirely. But it is also kind of related since there was a lot of scrap stuff in that closet. They go hand in hand almost.
As you can see, two items have been crossed off.
The circled items are the ones I am currently working on. When I am tired of sorting and boxing up photos, I work in my office for a little bit. Which is how my storage post on Craft Your Nest came about. :)
Next I will do #4 and am saving #5 for last. Dreading #5. That is going to be tedious and involve some serious paper shredding.

So I do get things done. But tasks such as cleaning the house, paying bills, grocery shopping, laundry, exercise, necessary phone calls, doctor's appointments etc...I like to get it done while the kids are at school. With their dad traveling so much for work, I feel it is important for me to be able to focus on them from 4-8. This is our homework, dinner, bed time routine, and just hanging out together time.

And it's exhausting sometimes. Being alone most of the week without Mike. Especially when I am up at 11:30 on a Wednesday night trying to unclog the toilet, which I was successful at I must say. But it's a job that Mike used to do when he was home full time. And I am sure I took it for granted at the time. Not anymore. :)

4. And now that you have had that fun little peek into my life, I want to end by giving Paper Issues a little plug. There is a ton of new product in the store right now from companies like Echo Park, Pink Paislee, Simple Stories, Webster's Pages and Fancy Pants. You can see the "All New" section *Here*.
And you can use my code MARYJO to get 20% off your orders any time! I do get a little discount when people use my code which is a nice benefit of being part of the team.

Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you have a great weekend!

Paper Issues: Pitch Perfect!

Ok - just wanted to start off by saying "thank you!" for all the comments, tips and photo app suggestions on my last post. It is so nice to have a place to vent when something is frustrating me, but then come away with constructive ideas that help. :)

Now on to scrapbooking! A new "issue" is up over at Paper Issues called "Pitch Perfect".
The first thing that comes to mind is this movie...

I finally saw it for the first time two months ago when I was sick and all I could do was lay around and watch tv. It was pretty good, but I am not into vomit humor and there was quite a bit of that. (yuck)

Anyway, over at Paper Issues, we would love for you to link up projects to go with our theme. They could be about singing, instruments, baseball, perfect/perfection, song lyrics, music concerts, pitch a fit (tantrums), camping (pitch a tent), favorite commercials (sales pitch), anything using the words perfect or pitch. And also any project using Lawn Fawn products since they are our sponsor this time around.
So really there are lots of options. Or come up with one of your own.

One lucky linker will win this cute stamp set...

adorable, right?

Here are a few projects I will be linking up...

Not a great photo of it, but an older layout. She always loves to come to me for hugs and snuggles even in the middle of temper tantrums. I think it reassures her that I still love her :)

This photo is from a U2 concert a few years back. I had to do a layout about the stage. It was pretty incredible.

And this one is a favorite of mine, plus it uses the word "perfect" in the title. Perfect, right? :)

I am thinking about creating a new page for this issue. There is a quote I would love to use on a page "There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one." - Jill Churchill
 I think it's time to finally use it!

If you would like to link up a project using the "Pitch Perfect" theme, check out this post on the Paper Issues blog *Here*.
I am looking for someone to feature on the Paper Issues blog this Friday. It could be you!

As for my weekend, we were so busy! My parents came over with my niece to decorate Easter eggs on Friday night. I took a few photos but most of them are still on the DSLR. But I do have this one I added to Instagram...

Evan doesn't like to dye eggs. He likes to draw on them. This is his clone trooper egg. :)

Then on Saturday, the kids and I drove down to Joplin to see Mike. He was unable to come home this weekend due to work and we just didn't want to wait until next weekend to see him. We only stayed one night and came back late Sunday afternoon, but it was worth it! And I know he appreciated it.
So like I said, a busy, but fun weekend.
Looking forward to more of the same this week!
Hope you have a Happy Monday.

It's Thursday

If you want a pure scrapbooking post, I have a layout up on the Craft Your Nest blog today.
It's for the "Pocket Full of Sunshine" theme at Paper Issues. I am also going to link it up on the Stashbuster's Thread over at Two Peas in a Bucket. It definitely fits challenge #1 which is to use yellow on a page or card.

Today I want to talk a little about my iphone camera. It's so convenient. So easy to use.
I love it so much better than my old android one. Especially out in the sunlight for photos like this...

which was a really, really cold day a month or two ago when I was volunteering for Erin's class. Photos outside usually turn out fine.
But truthfully, I am tired of missing out on getting good indoor photos.
Erin went to a birthday party at a rock climbing place and most of my photos turned out like this...

just all blurry and not good quality. I know it's indoors and I hate using a flash. So I guess this is what I will get. But I am kind of missing my point and shoot for this type of event.
Tired of being disappointed that most of my photos from 2014 so far are just terrible.
Maybe I just need to work on taking better photos with my camera. Or maybe it wouldn't hurt to start carrying the point and shoot in my purse again.

Any iphone users out there have good tips or suggestions that could help me take better photos?
Because I really would have liked a better photo from our date night at the movies.

I am just one big blur. :)
Oh well. Maybe I just need to suck it up and use that flash.

Although nothing can take the place of our DSLR. This is still one of my favorite pictures of Erin :)

Anyway, April is kind of flying by here. I can't believe one week from today is already the start of the Easter holiday. I just need things to slow down a bit because the kids will be done with school in less than two months!
Where is 2014 going and why does it have to move so fast?
Hope you have a great weekend!