Mel-o-drama

Late night card games....

make for one tired Mama the next day.
Stayed up way too late making a few cards for some Very Important Peeps in our lives last night:)
Love that I finally found some creative mojo....
and have to say that creating them was worth every little bit of tired that is following me around today.

First....

Supplies used: Patterned Papers- Echo Park & October Afternoon/ Button- Jenni Bowlin Studios/ Twine- Martha Stewart/ Ribbon- Dollar Store/ Bling- Queen & Co/ Letter Stickers- My Little Shoebox, Crate, & Bella Blvd/ Polka Dotted Penant- Pebbles/ Other- Turquoise bead from my Daughters bead collection.
a closeup...

and a peek at the inside:) LOVE those little craft envies...they are perfect for holding a giftcard...which is exactly what this one will do:)


next....

Supplies used: Patterned Papers, Flower, & Letter stickers: American Crafts/ Fabric Paper- Amy Tangerine for American Crafts/ Green Paper- Imaginisce/ Stick Pin- Teresa Collins.
And finally a photo card....

Supplies used: Patterned Papers- American Crafts & October Afternoon/ Cardstock- Bazzill/ Embellishments- American Crafts Dear Lizzy & Pebbles Inc (brad)/Other- Ribbon

This is one of my new favorite techniques.  Adding the picture to the outside of the card is an easy...and might I add adorable...although I AM admittedly a bit biased....way to embellish!

Hope you are all having a great Monday!
Thanks for stopping by today:)

Worktable Wednesday....

Hi friends!
Happy Wednesday....
I've got a few Valentine projects to share with you on this fine day after....
 
I saw an idea similar to this online somewhere (truth be told it was most likely Pinterest) and of course I had to make my own version of it for my Mountain Dew lovin' man's Valentine treat:) He loved it.
Next....

I made this card for the little Miss. If you have been reading for awhile you know that a few weeks back Mars got her ears pierced. Well...the date for changing her earrings for the first time is only a couple of days away...I know this because I am reminded at least once daily....so a new pair of earrings seemed like the perfect Valentine's Day present. I wanted to "hide" them on the card and see if she noticed....she did....immediately. The 19th cannot get here fast enough!
Evan is like his Mama and not into the mushy mush of it all. He got some new gear for  camping/hiking...no card....just a present with a tag....just the way he likes it:)  He was all smiles.
I made a couple of other little Valentine's too but didn't photograph them.
I am never this "into" this holiday but this year I don't know what came over me.
It was scary for a few days. I was all about the mushy gushy stuff for a minute...BUT this morning true to form and before I could blog I had to clean up my kitchen.
It seriously looked like Cupid puked up his Pepto in here.
There was so much pink and red I couldn't stand it....
I packed it all up into Rubbermaid containers for another year. 
I feel better now. 
 
Anyway....I hope all of you that DO get into this day had a great one.
Thanks for visiting today!

Worktable Wednesday...on Thursday:)

It has been a crazy BUSY week.....and next week looks even crazier.
Not much scrapping going on here right now....but.....
I've got a couple of projects that I created using this months BEAUTIFUL Citrus Tree Studio Kit. I always make time for that:)

It is so pretty.
I dug way back in my stash for a picture.
My sweet little 3 year old ballerina....boy time REALLY does fly when you are having fun.
Cannot believe this was 6 years ago *sniffle*

See I told you this kit was pretty:) 
I made this little card too.....
 
I have more to share but will save it for another day...because ummm...yeah...that whole crazy busy thing....it's happening again today.
Hope you all have a super Thursday!
Thanks for visiting me.

Worktable Wednesday....

Happy Wednesday everyone!
Thanks for visiting today:)
I have one layout laying on my desk this week....
and of course I wanted to share it with you.
Not quite sure why it's looking so crooked though.
I promise it's straight IRL. 
That photographer....sometimes she's such an amateur.

Supplies used: Patterned Papers- Amy Tangerine for American Crafts, Crate, October Afternoon, & Pebbles/ Flower-Etsy/ Polka dotted Brad- Memory Makers/ Flair-American Crafts/ Bling- Queen & Co.
and a closeup of the journaling....

well...that's all I've got for today.
I've got 4 hungry little ones who are about to get off of the bus.
Better go and make some grub on my other worktable.....
HEY how come the kitchen worktable is not nearly as fun as the crafty table?
NO Fair!
Hope you have a good night friends!

Five fun Friday finds....Camper edition:)

Some of you have asked for an update on our camper...Ella.
Camperella to be exact.
Well....

She is currently sitting in our lawn...
under a light blanket of snow....
taking a long winter's nap.
Although I do have to say....
she is occasionally called to duty as a wintertime fort for these 2 little snowbirds.
We have all spent a weekend or two working on her even though the weather is FAR from ideal.
Ok...ok...mostly Hubby because for reals I hate the cold...
BUT I did paint her on the last warm day we were blessed with:)
A pale blue for those inquiring minds out there.
Anyway...I am waaaay better at the decorating part.
Lucky for Ella I can shop for accessories in any type of weather:)
Afterall...a girl's got to have accessories right?
I thought I would make today's five fun friday finds post all about some of the fun things that we have found for Ella....so far.

Etsy has been my go to place for this little undertaking of ours....
I think you all know how I feel about buying handmade and supporting artists...
and Ella? She feels the EXACT same way.
Here are a couple of peeks at items we have already purchased...

you can find him right here:) Pssst....he comes in blue too;)


we are now the proud owners of a couple of these...

and one of these....

AND....what prints will grace her adorable walls you ask?



Well...we've purchased this one so far....and.....ahem.....only have about 10 others added to our favorites list...but ya know Camperella isn't very big so we have to be a bit selective:)

Oh and I warned you about how Ella likes her accessories.


So naturally when she saw this little keychain she was all..."I refuse to even consider hauling your sh*t stuff down the road unless I have that adorable little number dangling from my keys a.s.a.p.....gosh she can be such a diva sometimes. *eyeroll*

Anyway...there is also a big giant pile of fabric in my closet...just waiting for me to customize it to Ella's specific needs...and I promise it ties the whole crazy color scheme above together....but....I will share that in another post...because....well....that's 5 fun finds....and I have some more accessory shopping to do first.
Here I come Etsy!!
Happy Friday Friends!!
I hope you all have an amazing weekend:)

Never underestimate the power of a card....

I've got a quick and easy Valentine's Day card to share with you today:)


Supplies used: Patterned Paper- Echo Park/ Embellishments- American Crafts Flair & Pebbles flags/ Letter stickers- Nikki Sivils, Bella Blvd, Crate, American Crafts, & October Afternoon.

I picked up a 6 pack of those cute little heart-shaped mazes at the dollar store and decided they would be fun to include on a Valentine:)
I still love to play with those things.

Since I only really have this card to share today.....
I thought I'd share a little story about cards that has been sitting in my drafts folder since Christmas....

A long time ago....
in a galaxy far far away....
also known as...before I had children of my own...
I taught preschool in Pennsylvania:)
It was hands down one of the greatest times in my life.
As you can imagine...it prepared me for nearly every aspect of Motherhood...except late night feedings...but really who is ever prepared for that?
I know as a teacher you aren't supposed to have favorites...but shhh...I sort of did;)
I loved all of the kids in my classes very much...but...
there was one little girl who I just bonded instantly with....
I think it helped that I also instantly bonded with her Mama....
whom I REALLY looked up to for advice and guidance being that I was fresh out of college and she was a seasoned 2nd grade teacher...oh and also just about the sweetest person ever:) I taught at the school for about 3 years and she was a major part of my days long after her daughter had moved up to the next age group. Her advice to me about all things was invaluable.
Fast forward to nearly 13 years later>>>>>I still correspond with Miss M and her Mom every year at Christmas time. We send cards, photos, and letters about what has happened in each others lives during that particular year. To say that I wholeheartedly get giddy with excitement right smack-dab in the middle of the Post Office when I open up the mailbox and see their return address up in the left-hand corner of a pretty envelope is the understatement of the century. With each passing year I tear the envelope open with more fervor...with each passing year I am more amazed at how much she has grown and changed AND with each passing year I feel more and more blessed to have had the pleasure of meeting these fine ladies so long ago. I am also amazed at how if I squint and look hard enough I can still see that same 2 year old face that I grew to love so long ago. In those moments of bewilderment and daydreaming following the tearing of the envelope....I am instantly transported right back to that playground in Pennsylvania...pushing Miss M on the swing while chatting with her Mom at the end of a long day. Life is funny like that sometimes isn't it? Sometimes the best relationships are with those people who only really crossed our paths but for a brief second of our whole big picture...but somehow they stick out from everyone else who has ever crossed our path...they shape us in ways unknown to us at the time....and they stay with us in our hearts forever.
I am blessed to have met this family. Throughout the years I have watched the Christmas cards change...I've watched Miss M's smile get bigger through the birth of first one brother...and then a few years later another...through ballet and tap pictures... and through academic and soccer accomplishments....and I have every card sitting in a special box because they are a timeline and a connection to this wonderful family that I love. They are so important to me and I have soooo looked forward to their arrival each year. I am so proud of the young lady that Miss M has become....and fully aware that both she and her Mom are a big part of the Mommy/woman that I am today.

Another He post:)

He is an amazing Daddy.
He is the reason for my constant smile:)
He is patient and kind.
He is super funny. 
He is THE HARDEST working man I know.
He is a goofball.
He gives his all for his family every single day.
He is 12 times 3 today.

HE....

He loves to pester his sister.
He is brilliant...and witty....and wise beyond his years.
He makes us laugh out loud at least once every single day.
He rarely lets me snap a REAL picture.  

He loves salsa.
He loves to read.
He can write a story like nobody's business.
He is all about practical jokes.
He is the king of funny faces.

He wants to get published...this year.
He is so much fun to be around.
He is super confident...and yet...
He is a worrier.
He is easygoing.
He is constantly thinking about his next big goal.
He is a master cartoonist.
He is our pride and joy in every sense of that phrase.
He is a hard worker.
He catches every joke that is intended to go over his head.
He is harder on himself than his Dad and I ever thought of being.
He sees things in black and white.
He is all about what is right.
He loves science.
He loves his family with a passion and pride that is unmatched.
He can be stubborn...but...
He always apologizes on his own without prompting.
He doesn't like crowds.
He is completely and totally captivating.
He....is twelve today.  

Five Fun Friday Finds....

Yup...gotta have it:)

Oh...you too? Well you can get yours right here:)

Also thinking we might need a set of these...

since we always celebrate The Chinese New Year at our house. 

LOVE this tote bag...

This little piggy (ipod speaker) ....totally steals squeals my heart:)

AND...the final fun friday find is for all of my crafty peeps who love them some glitter....


Who knew?

I hope you all have a fun weekend!!
Thanks for visiting:)

p.s. that last image was found via Pinterest.

Worktable Wednesday...

I've got a couple of things on my worktable today.
I have been busy playing with the January Citrus Tree Studio Kit!!
It is called Forever Mine Valentine and it's pretty fantastic.


all supplies used can be found in the kit. Blue and green button and ribbon from my stash.

I'm not usually a pink sort of girl but this kit makes pink appealing and easy to work with...even for me:)
Here is a closeup shot of the journaling....

Next I have a simple card.....

and another LO!

I just love photobooths don't you?
I keep telling the Mister that I am going to buy one for our living room.
Wouldn't that be fun?

Well...that's all I have to share from my worktable today.
Hope you all have a great Wednesday!
Thanks for visiting me:)