My First Love

I have no delusions of having a large audience on this little blog of mine...none. However, I know that many of you know that I'm an avid reader. Or that at least, I'd like to be. At the start of the year, I made a pledge to read 70 books which was a bit of a joke. I lowered the number to 50 within the first several weeks of the calendar year. And then, I pretty much gave up the ghost. At the end of May, I had read six books. Six. But something else amazing had happened...

My creative self had blossomed. I was making layouts again. I was being creative, playing with products in new ways, embracing my new role as auntie to Mr. Kai. I started to feel okay about the fact that I hadn't done a lot of reading. Still - reading is a part of who I am. I honestly can't remember a time I couldn't read - which should absolutely be chalked up to a bad memory not an early aptitude for word decoding.

Despite bloom being my word for the year, I yearned for balance. During the school year, it is very difficult to stay focused and self-care is a huge part of my profession - an area I'm working on. But no books get read at the end of the year...and very few layouts get made. The focus is on closing out the year and allowing my body enough rest and relaxation to get it done - period. It's the nature of the beast - at least for now.

So after the school year ended and I flew to visit my sister, I was confronted with a unique idea - a way of reframing this goal for my year. Reading is definitely part of my past - a huge part really. Scrapbooking and memory keeping is part of my present. They both are really. My life feels better when I'm in flow with these activities. It's utterly ridiculous to have these two really lovely parts of my life working as forces against one another. So a new pledge was born - the number is still 50. However, my plan is to add my crafty and reading accomplishments together and have them total the number 50 for the year.

I'm doing well from that point of view and am super excited to have this fresh outlook. Eventually I might want to add blog posts or journal entries to my number - but for now I'm keeping it super simple. I'm already close to the number 30 and am satisfied with this new, improved plan. Who said you can't have both. So that's it for now - just a few random musings on reading, crafting, and pledges. Hoping this day is finding you well. Until then...

BTW: For the source image, click the picture above or here.

Friday Fill-Ins

Here we go...

1. I remember holding my nephew for the first time and being filled with joy and love. I never could have imagined he would turn into this cool little thrill seeker - crawling, standing, and desperately trying to take his first steps.

2. Cold rain is showering down in New Jersey

3. Queensland is a place I most want to visit.

4. NCIS will mostly likely be on my television this week.

5. I was inspired by the beautiful decor and cupcakes at Molly's Cupcake's in the West Village. I loved the Kahlua, Cake Batter, and Cookie Monster cupcakes. This place has definitely went to the top of my favorite cupcake bakeries list!

6. My iPad, Fiona (yes I name them), is the perfect traveling companion!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with my sister, brother in-law, nephew, and parents; tomorrow my plans include spending time with my baby K's (Kayla, Kyle, and Kai); and Sunday, I want to enjoy the blessing of my sweet nephew, Kai.

P.S. I've been wanting to do this for a while. Unfortunately the Friday Fill-ins blog appears to have stopped. However, I did find a list on the wonderful Roben-Marie Smith's blog. I have decided to take her lead. I hope you are having a great day and staying dry, warm, and safe. Until then...

Product Love

I know I've been down and out for a bit - but I have not forgotten this place. I've flown the coop so to speak and am in babyland. Babies are precious, wonderful, tiring, and throw a huge kink in my daily flow. It is quite lovely (and I mean that with the utmost sincerity and sarcasm). So back to the "regular" programming, as if there's been such a thing. I bring you product love...

I love these folders and little bits. I can't imagine for the life of me what I would do with them - but I'm going to give it the good old college try once I have a chance. I'm sure there is a perfect project they can be used for...or I can just enjoy looking at them. Either way, it's a win on both counts. These beauties are from Alison Kreft for Webster Pages. I got the original source for the image here.

Alison Kreft is amazingly talented and I've admired her work for years. I'm glad she's doing work with other companies. So that's it for today. It happens to be rainy where I'm at today. After a few blistering hot days, it is a nice reprieve. I hope everything is well where you are at today. Until then...

Challenge Love: Sunday Sketch

Now that I'm part of the Studio Calico club - I decided to go on over to the Sunday Sketch challenge and see if anything there piqued my interest.  When I found this sketch I was initially a little befuddled.

Source Image

First, I don't do double page layouts.  Next, I've never been good at rocking the grid - although I might give it a try the next time I have 3X3's in the house.  Third, for some reason the left side of the sketch read like a card to me.  This is most likely due to my inherent need to layer things.  Finally, the example layout superimposed both sketches and I just couldn't wrap my head around it - despite the fact it was friggin' cool.  Then I scrapped four layouts and posted them on the blog.  A few hours later, my mind was still going and I was ready.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: American Crafts, Crate Paper, My Mind's Eye; Ink: Heidi Swapp, October Afternoon; Washi Tape: Target

I decided to stay with the basic foundation I used all day on Sunday.  I sprayed the Heidi Swapp Mint Green Color Shine Mist and really liked the results - finally a positive departure from the splatters (that I love by the way).  Then I went to work.  I decided to do the left side of the layout combined with the bottom third of the right-hand side of the sketch.  I thought I'd just set down the pieces and move on to something else - but the crafty bug had hit me...and I didn't stop until I was finished.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: American Crafts, Crate Paper, My Mind's Eye; Washi Tape: Target; Stickers: American Crafts, October Afternoon; Chipboard: Heidi Swapp; Ink: Heidi Swapp, October Afternoon; Pen: Sharpie; Other: Buttons

A few notes - the top line of journaling was added last - which should explain the weirdo spacing.  I just had to have that sentence there.  I know odd numbers rule the world of design, however, there are 8 buttons to represent the months this boy has been in our lives.  I used three stickers from the Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm Line.  There are three hearts - counting the one in the middle of the square sticker. That first sentence is driving me crazy.  I digress.

So that's it for this week (for now).  I hope everyone is having a great Wednesday.  Until then...

Product Love: Kit Club

Source Image

For the past few years, I've flirted with the idea of joining a kit club.  Last September, I took the plunge and joined the Cocoa Daisy kit club and really enjoyed it.  After the winter CHA products started arriving in stores, I canceled my membership.  My scrapbooking expenses were going way up as all of those wonderful goodies became available.  I recognized this wasn't a problem after the summer show because those products tend to be heavily holiday focused - and I'm definitely an everyday moments kind of scrapper.  I don't enjoy scrapping events or holidays.  After I had exhausted my spending opportunities at the local stores, I decided to give another kit club a try - Studio Calico.  I really enjoyed Cocoa Daisy.  I just wanted to see what another kit club had to offer.  I got my first kit this week - Planetarium and scrapbooked all weekend.  I loved it.  So I thought I'd devote this post to kit clubs and why they are so wonderful.

• I get access to one of a kind products.
• I get an opportunity to try out products I would never buy in a store - which can be surprisingly wonderful.
• It takes the guess work out of matching products.
• It opens me up to new color combinations.
• It feeds the need for new crafty things in my house.
• It provides an online community and access to oodles of inspiration, challenges, and overall informational goodness.  
• They do not push holiday products.
• They give me one more way to tell my story - and be motivated to do so.

I have a few other kits short listed to try out in the future.  If I keep on scrapping regularly, I might consider adding a second kit (if it's in my budget - yes, i said it).  I'll keep everyone posted.  I hope everyone's having a lovely Monday.  It might be time for me to start a count down to the day I get to see my nephew.  Love him so much.  Anyhoo...it's about that time, so....Until then...

NSD '13: Lucky Number Seven!

This layout is big.  It's overworked.  It's a little crooked.   It's something!  It's the final layout in a long day of crafting ending in my seventh layout!  I met my goal - even if it wasn't a layout a day!  It also marks a pretty big milestone for this little guy.  He's cutting teeth like a champ - FIVE AT ONE TIME - and still smiling.  Love him so much.

The end of my NSD '13 celebrations is marked with this challenge by Shimelle.  I've had a great week and I can feel my bones starting to say 'what the hell is this girl thinking?'  It's about that time.  I hope everyone has a great Sunday.  Happy Mother's Day to all of you momma's out there.  Until then...

NSD '13: Use American Crafts Papers

Supplies: Pattered Paper: American Crafts, Elle's Studio; Chipboard: Heidi Swap; Stickers: American Crafts, Basic Grey; My Mind's Eye; Ink: Heidi Swapp, October Afternoon; Other: Sequins

I'm absolutely in love with both of these papers from American Crafts and Elle's Studio.  I'm in love with this little baby too.  This was actually the first layout today and it gave me a lot of steam.  I think I wouldn't have been so productive if the mixed-media layout would have been first.  I really loved the finished product.  I could go on and on - I don't know if it's the layout or the boy - either way- I'm happy.

BTW: Another layout for a Shimelle challenge!

NSD '13: Scrapbooking Smaller Photos

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Studio Calico, Crate Paper; Stickers: American Crafts, Basic Grey; Punch: Martha Stewart Crafts; Ink; Studio Calico, October Afternoon, Heidi Swapp; Other: Buttons

Hi All!  I completed this page for Shimelle's challenge: Scrapbook Smaller Photos.  I really love the finished layout.  Not much to say here.  One more challenge down.