knitting again...

I'm so excited to be knitting again and gonna try my hand at crocheting too. I want to make wool longies for this little dude coming soon into our arms and a friend shared on her Facebook page that the canvas tote you get for free from Joanns when you buy 5 skeins of Patons brand yarn was really cute and awesome... so after my awesome prenatal appt I made a quick stop at Joanns to check it out... she wasn't kidding it's an awesome tote and I picked up 5 skeins of wool to get started on these longies. I can't wait! Isn't this bag awesome!?!?!

I also picked up a star for our tree since they were 50% off and I've been wanting a star for our tree for years. I might have picked up some Christmas crafting supplies too :) which you'll see hopefully soon on my scrapping blog... Oh yeah, I don't remember if I mentioned that or not... I've started a new blog just for my scrapping stuff. I was thinking this blog was getting a little overloaded with the scrapping stuff and wanted it to get back to what I originally wanted this blog to be. You can find the new blog HERE if you still want to see all the scrapbooking and hybrid fun. I've become quite addicted to hybrid so many of the projects aren't just scrapbooking pages anymore but cards and home decor and other projects like that. Do you like the name? Mark thought it was perfect since I do seem to be really scrap happy and I brought over the hippie name from this blog. I've been kinda struggling with creating layouts lately because I've been so busy so lately I've been doing some hybrid projects hoping that will bring back my mojo. I've really really enjoyed creating home decor stuff and cards lately. It reminds me of the days when I was really into rubber stamping. I've been enjoying getting my hands dirty again... though now I have to clean everything up before naptime is over or before I go to bed, lol. I have some Christmasy projects going in my head and hope I'll be able to find some time between knitting and resting to get them done.

Make It Monday

I realize that it's been almost a month since I've last posted here... Ever since our trip to Nashville, I've been going through some time of getting back to being the person that God created me to be and it hasn't been an easy process but I'm starting to finally feel like myself again. Life has been super busy here and I can't believe how close we are to Thanksgiving, my most favorite holiday. I made this centerpiece and had to show it off. I seriously love it and have now become addicted to hybrid projects, lol. During my time off from this blog I've decided that I'm going to start a new blog for just scrapbooking stuff and this blog will get back to what it's titled to be which is my life as a modern day hippie. I know that scrapbooking is a part of my life but with so much scrapbooking, I've decided it's probably best to have it's own blog. Stay tuned for the details.

Here's the centerpiece that I'm so excited about!

Softly Falling by Dani Mogstad
Perfectly Square by Kelleigh Ratzlaff
Paper Roses by the Cutting Files
Autumn Leaves by Kelleigh Ratzlaff

Extras:
chipboard letters, glitter, mod podge, quill tool, glue dots

Make It Monday

OK, my blocks that I showed you last week are done... well, mostly done since I want to add a few more coats of Mod Podge to really seal them and so the kids can play with them.

Here they are!

the bottom pic is a name we are thinking of for our little dude due in January... shhhhh! LOL

credits:
Alphabet Soup for Boys by Zoe Pearn
Alphabet Soup for Girls by Zoe Pearn
Alphabet Soup for Boys: The Collection by Zoe Pearn
Alphabet Soup for Girls: The Collection by Zoe Pearn
DJB Skritch Skratch by Darcy Baldwin
School Days alpha by Zoe Pearn
kite template from Go Outside! by Penny Springmann
owl (recolored) and branch from Falling For Her by Traci Reed and Melissa Bennett
Paper Clips: Leila's Alpha templates by Libby Weifenbach

I've had several people ask me how I made them... well actually more like tell me they want a set, lol... but really they are super super easy. I wasn't planning on doing a tutorial but I'll just share some quick instructions, so there won't be in progress pics unfortunately. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions though.

OK, first I bought my supplies:
-the main kits I used were the first two listed above - Alphabet Soup for Boys and Alphabet Soup for Girls (there are some 2 x 2 tiles in there and I used all of them and then used one as a template to create the rest of the letters
-5 - 2" x 2" wooden blocks
-sand paper
-paint
-white cardstock
-Mod Podge (I used Matte, though you can use Glossy if you prefer)
-sponge brush

OK, here we go...
1) sand the edges of your blocks
2) paint all sides of your blocks... making sure the edges are well coated since that's the part that will show, let dry
3) create the tiles... I used one of the 2x2 tiles in the kit and then shrunk it down to 1.75"x1.75", and then I created a template and then used that as a guide and had to make 3 pages worth of tiles to complete the alpha and additional tiles to cover all sides of the blocks.
4) print at "high" quality on white cardstock (I use double sided matte presentation paper)
5) cut them out
6) paste using Mod Podge to the sides of the blocks (I wanted to make sure that I was able to spell each of the kids' names so I did those letters first and then randomly placed the rest of them)
7) let dry
8) coat all sides of the blocks with Mod Podge... you only have to do it once if you're using them for display, but since I don't mind my kids playing with them I plan of doing several more coats.

Make It Monday

I've gotta little tease for you. This is what I'm working on right now and I'm going to be finishing it up on Friday night at Archivers while hanging out with some of my scrapping/stamping/card making friends. We usually try to get together every few months and I just love the time together. Next Monday I'll post the finished project. Last night we went to Michaels and I picked up some of these.

This morning I sanded the edges and painted them with some of my leftover Behr samples. I really only needed to paint the edges since the rest of the blocks will be covered up. During naptimes and the evenings I'll be working on the rest and hopefully have them printed out and ready to go on Friday night.

And of course I had to share with you my little elves...

I also plan on doing some card making too if I have some time.

Scrappin' Saturday

Once again I took advantage of my mojo and had a blast working on some scrapbook pages for the portfolio challenges at Sweet Shoppe Designs and also for my creative teams and even tried my hand at "hybrid". I was a little nervous with the hybrid project but it was super easy and I can see myself doing more hybrid in the future.

I made bookmarks for each of us... this was so much fun and helped to use up some of the mini-kits in my unused kits folder.

bookmark tempates from Zoe Pearn's blog by Keely~B
1) Smart and Pretty by Jenn Barrette (2010 QA, vol 3)
Suzy Q alpha by CD Muckosky
2) My Way or the Highway by Misty Cato (retired, 2010 summer sampler)
3) This Little Piggy by Lliella Designs (2010 QA, vol 3)
4) It's a Guy Thing by Dani Mogstad and Shawna Clingerman
Extras:
M chipboard sticker
Color Box chalk inkpad
random ribbon from around the house

this next one was to only scrap in the corners of the pages

Memories by Sweet Shoppe Designs (Donna Downey blog freebie)
small and mighty alpha by Zoe Pearn (newsletter freebie)
guess whooo alpha by Shawna Clingerman (retired)
Hugantic Frames by Shawna Clingerman
Skritch Skratch by Darcy Baldwin and Zoe Pearn
boosters no.2 by Jaclyn Bernardo

this one was a Topsy Turvy Titlework and also was featured on the Gallery Standouts blog.

It's A Guy Thing by Dani Mogstad and Shawna Clingerman
template by Janet Phillips from 2010 quarterly assortment, vol 3
Tacky Caramel Alpha by Darcy Baldwin (retired)
Don't Leave Home Without It alpha by Lauren Grier
DJB Coffee Shoppe Buzzed by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman
My Date Is Bubbly by Lauren Grier

and this one was to be inspired by one of the prompts on the Sunday Scribblings blog, I chose "wait"

Take Out Tuesday template 9/7 from SSD blog by Libby Weifenbach
Brotherly Love by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and Meg Mullins
DJB Coffee Shoppe Espresso and Buzzed by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman

and well this one was to scrap a page about football... I was excited to finally scrap these pics of Mark and Moriah the year the Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl over the Chicago Bears.

MVP by Dani Mogstad (retired)
Worn Cluster - Take Out Tuesday from Sweet Shoppe Blog by Penny Springmann
DJB Coffee Shoppe Espresso by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman

this next challenge is to create 2 pages using the same template but to flip or spin the template for the second page...

Don't Rain On My Parade by Dani Mogstad and MandaBean (retired)
Boosters no.2 by Jaclyn Bernardo

and the second page uses Melissa's new release for today and a re-release from Darcy

Grins and Giggles by Melissa Bennett
DJB Rebecca Print by Darcy Baldwin
Boosters no.2 by Jac Bernardo

this one is probably my fave for the week and it was to scrap a page about a life lesson you've learned and uses a re-release from Darcy.

Family Tree by Penny Springmann
DJB Jewel by Darcy Baldwin
Skritch Skratch by Darcy Baldwin and Zoe Pearn
Teeny Type Alpha by Zoe Pearn
Paper Stackers: Rounded by Jac Bernardo

Journaling reads:
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in life is that it’s really short. I never realized it until I had you kids and watching you grow up into bigger kids. It really seems like yesterday when you were born and that infant stage is just so short. I know it doesn’t exactly feel like it when we’re in the middle of each phase of life but that first year goes by too fast. I try to get as many cuddles in as I can because I know that one day you’ll want to be totally independent and won’t want me giving you kisses and hugs all the time, especially in public. I know there will be a day that you’ll be leaving the house on your own and becoming the grown up you’re supposed to be. For now I’m going to keep you close and love on you as much as you’ll let me. I also want you to be able to be a kid as long as possible. One day you will have to grow up and do adult things but for now you just enjoy being a kid, ok? If you could just let mama love on you for a few more years, that would make me really happy too, ok? XOXO

and this one was a prompt to scrap "Teacher"

At The Bus Stop by Lauren Grier
template by Cindy Schneider from 2010 Quarterly Assortment, vol 3
Layered Up In You: Frames 2 by Lauren Grier
Don't Leave Home Without It alpha by Lauren Grier
Skritch Skratch by Darcy Baldwin and Zoe Pearn

this one is Traci's new release which is a collab with MandaBean and it also fits the portfolio prompt to use a series of at least 3 pics

Conversations w/ kids by Traci Reed and MandaBean
Inspired by Lydia template by Darcy Baldwin
Bad Sewing Machine - Kinda Kleen by Traci Reed

and this one is another collab from Eva and Flergs, a seriously gorgeous fall kit and I used the portfolio prompt to use an apple in the layout.

Leaf It To Me by Eva Kipler and Flergs
Skritch Skratch by Darcy Baldwin and Zoe Pearn
Paper Stackers: Horizontal by Jac Bernardo

and last but certainly not least this is a gorgeous new kit from Penny...

True Beauty by Penny Springmann
DJB Brittany Script by Darcy Baldwin

Scrappin' Saturday

Well baby seems to have given me back my mojo... here are the pages I created this week.

First there were a couple new releases from Darcy and Jac.

Inspired by Lydia templates by Darcy Baldwin

Au Naturale by Traci Reed and Melissa Bennett
DJB Brittany Script by Darcy Baldwin

Punky Preppy Grab Bag by Jaclyn Bernardo and Sir Scrapalot

also on the 1st Sweet Shoppe Designs revealed the new portfolio challenges and I decided to get going on some of them because I'm sooooo in love with the prompts this month!
the first one I did was to create a 2 page layout
Lean On Me by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and Shawna Clingerman
Art and Soul: Neutrals alpha by Julie Billingsley
DJB Woke Up Late by Darcy Baldwin
template by Cindy Schneider (retired)

then the next one I worked on was the Digiscrap Rewind which was to re-create an old layout to make it better. I really liked when I did this orignally for CathyZ's Design your Life workshop but really wanted to turn it into one 12 x 12 page... I'm sooo in love with it now.
re-created my original layout

Still Crazy by Penny Springmann
Still Crazy add-on by Penny Springmann (from 2010 Quarterly Assortment, volume 2)
All Worn Out: Photograph and Paper Overlays 2 by Penny Springmann
All Worn Out: Photograph and Paper Overlays 4 by Penny Springmann
Bad Sewing Machine: Doodle Me Straight by Traci Reed
DJB Poppyseed by Darcy Baldwin
DJB Another Mandy by Darcy Baldwin

then yesterday came the blog bonus challenge which was to create a page using mostly ScrapKitchen Designs products and I used a new release from Jac.
Eco Chic by ScrapKitchen Designs (retired)
Word Jumbles: Moments by Penny Springmann
Sturdy Solids by Shawna Clingerman
Boosters no.2 by Jaclyn Bernardo

and then we've got the new releases from Traci and Eva... I'm loving these two kits that they collaborated on.
Celebrating Him by Traci Reed and Eva Kipler

Celebrating Him add-on by Traci Reed - part of the 2010 Quarterly Assortment, vol 3
DJB Tweenybopper by Darcy Baldwin

Lift of Cutie Pie by Laurie (LibbysMommy)
Celebrate Her by Eva Kipler and Traci Reed
Celebrate Her add-on by Eva Kipler - part of 2010 SSD Quarterly Assortment, vol 3
Skritch Skratch by Darcy Baldwin and Zoe Pearn

and Melissa's gorgeous new Fall Kit also using a new release from Jac
Autumn Glory by Melissa Bennett
Bliss by Lauren Reid
Boosters no.2 by Jaclyn Bernardo

and last but definitely not least, I'm excited to tell you that I have been invited to join the creative team of one of my many fave designers. She was the first designer I was introduced to almost a year ago and I'm just so excited and honored to be joining her team. Needless to say it was a great week being invited to 2 new teams, Darcy and Penny. I'm still in shock and delighted to join these teams that I would consider to be two of my dream teams.
Your Song by Penny Springmann
"it" alpha from Still Crazy by Penny Springmann
Inspired by Lydia templates by Darcy Baldwin
DJB Coffee Shoppe Espresso by Darcy Baldwin

Scrappin' Saturday

Here are my pages from this week and I'm so excited to have joined another creative team. I am now creating for Darcy Baldwin who creates the most awesome fonts and also some great templates. I'm so soo sooo excited, she totally made my week!

Falling For Her by Traci Reed and Melissa Bennett

Bad Sewing Machine XXIV - Small N Round by Traci Reed
DJB Woke Up Late by Darcy Baldwin
Teeny Type Alpha by Zoe Pearn

My Way by Eva Kipler

Inspired by Sasha templates by Darcy Baldwin
DJB Coffee Shoppe Buzzed by Darcy Baldwin
Alphanator 1 by Lauren Grier
paper clipped to alphanator alpha is from Anything You Can Do by Eva Kipler

The Heart Of Home by Eva Kipler and MandaBean

DJB Woke Up Late by Darcy Baldwin
Background Stacks 2 by Jaclyn Bernardo

DJB Woke Up Late by Darcy Baldwin

TOT 8/24 template by Dana from Sweet Shoppe Designs blog
Never Forget Mini by Heather Roselli (retired)
Sleep To Dream by Lauren Grier (retired)
Sweet Nothings by Shawna Clingerman (retired)
Alphanator 1 by Lauren Grier
paper used for alphanator alpha from Sturdy Solids by Shawna Clingerman
Teeny Type Alpha by Zoe Pearn

Make It Monday

Well, we were on our last summer vacation over the weekend so I wasn't able to share my layouts from last week on Saturday so hopefully this will be the last Make It Monday of scrapbook layouts and am hoping that Make It Monday will be other crafts or maybe even some hybrid scrapbooking stuff since over the weekend I ordered a new printer and am totally excited to finally have a printer where I can buy the ink everywhere instead of searching online for at least one person who has the ink I need for our old machine, lol. Over the weekend we spent a morning at Hobby Lobby and was totally inspired to start knitting and sewing again and also excited to do some paper crafts again.

Anyways, my creative team designers totally blew me away again this week with how amazing they are. Here are my pages with their new releases.

First is a stunning collab by Traci Reed and Kristin Cronin-Barrow and using a new template by Jac Bernardo

Delightful by Traci Reed and Kristin Cronin-Barrow
Bad Sewing Machine - Kinda Kleen by Traci Reed
Boosters No. 1 by Jac Bernardo

Next is a solo kit by Traci Reed... I'm so in love with the color scheme!

At Summer's End by Traci Reed - coming to SSD 8/21
Bad Sewing Machine - Kinda Kleen and Doodle Me Straight by Traci Reed
Cardboard Construction Mega Alpha by Traci Reed
DJB Constance Beauregard by Darcy Baldwin
Inspired by Sasha template by Darcy Baldwin

and Eva Kipler also did a stunning collab with ScrapKitchen designs

Savannah Flea Market by Eva Kipler and ScrapKitchen
DJB All The Cool Chicks by Darcy Baldwin

and a super fun kit by Melissa... the license plates are totally customizable and I also used a new template from Jac with this layout too!

Boy Oh Boy by Melissa Bennett
Bad Sewing Machine - Messy Lil Bits by Traci Reed
DJB Poppyseed by Darcy Baldwin
Boosters v. 1 by Jaclyn Bernardo
Free Spirit Alpha by CD Muckosky

Make It Monday

It's been a week since I last updated the blog... I really want to get back into blogging so that means I'm hoping to start make this a part of my daily routine now. I'm kind of hoping that this Make It Monday will be the last one with me posting scrapbook pages because I want to get back into sewing and knitting again, especially with the little one coming. My goal this week is to clean up the family room and get my sewing machine set up down there so that I can work on some things during naptime and then I'm looking for some great knitting patterns and hoping to use up some of my yarn stash to make some things for the little one on the way. I've found some really cute patterns on Etsy, and will be browsing Ravelry soon. Those are things I can do in the evening when the kids are in bed. I'll still be doing scrapbook pages because well, that's my biggest love, but I've been kind of missing my other loves too. Scrappin' Saturday will be when I post those pages.

Here are the pages from this week. Enjoy!

Gotta Get Away by Penny Springmann
template by Lynette - TOT 5/25/10
DJB Coffee Shoppe Espresso by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman

You Give Me Butterflies by Lauren Grier and Shawna Clingerman
Layered Up In You - Page Templates 4 by Lauren Grier
DJB Gimme Space by Darcy Baldwin and Lauren Reid
DJB Coffee Shoppe Espresso by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman

Pop! by Dani Mogstad
Teeny Type Alpha by Zoe Pearn
Paper Clips - Leila's Alpha templates by Libby Weifenbach
DJB All The Cool Chicks by Darcy Baldwin
template from Dani's Blog for August Challenge

Lifted: She... by Gumpgirl
Birthday Shenanigans by Melissa Bennett
DJB Constance Beauregard by Darcy Baldwin

Anything You Can Do by Eva Kipler
puddle alpha from Little Big Man by Eva Kipler
Stitch Me: Basic Neutrals by Eva Kipler
Inspired by Sasha template by Darcy Baldwin
DJB Coffee Shoppe Espresso by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman

Sturdy Solids by Shawna Clingerman
Tattered Cardstock by Libby Weifenbach
More Than Words: Family by Darcy Baldwin and Jenny Hutson
I'm Torn Frames by Libby Weifenbach
Round The Corner Templates by Janet Philips
Scribble Alpha by Lauren Grier
Bad Sewing Machine - Doodle Me Straight by Traci Reed
ribbon from Tuff N Stuff by Traci Reed
Metal Bits by Shawna Clingerman

Tuff N Stuff by Traci Reed
Teeny Type Alpha by Zoe Pearn
DJB Coffee Shoppe Espresso by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman

Cozy Blue Jeans by Shawna Clingerman
DJB Coffee Shoppe Espresso by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman
Typewriter Alpha freebie by Kristin Cronin-Barrow

Make It Monday

One of the fun portfolio challenges on Sweet Shoppe Designs this month is to be inspired by titles from Elvis Presley songs. There are soooo many songs that he sang that it made it easy to find a title to match a page. Here's the list of Elvis titles and here are the 3 pages I did.

Live For Every Moment by Lauren Grier and Shawna Clingerman
Layered Up In You Waves 3 by Lauren Grier
DJB Constance Beauregard by Darcy Baldwin
August Grab Bag - wave cluster by Susan Robinson

Foooore! by Traci Reed
DJB Coffee Shoppe Espresso by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman
Teeny Type Alpha by Zoe Pearn
Dream It Alpha by Lauren Grier
My Teensy Little Alpha by Shawna Clingerman
All Split Up by Jaclyn Bernardo

I Keep Believing by Lauren Grier
Dream It Alpha by Lauren Grier
DJB All the Cool Chicks by Darcy Baldwin
La's August Blog Challenge template
CK Cursive

Journaling reads:
When we were trying to get pregnant we had a hard time. We finally went through some testing and the Dr. told us that it would be a miracle if we ever got pregnant. I told her that I believe in miracles and the next month we were pregnant with Moriah. I believe that God through the use of medicine allowed us to become pregnant. 2 years later after several miscarriages I believe that God through the use of IVF allowed us to be pregnant with Isaac. This pregnancy has been the biggest surprise of all. God has shown us that he can still do miracles even without the use of modern day medicine. God has seriously blown me away with this pregnancy! He knew I really wanted a third child and he has answered my prayers in a way I never thought possible. I’m so thankful that he’s a God of miracles and has blessed us with this child!

Scrappin' Saturday

I have a few pages today that I created this week for my creative teams. Once again there are some great new releases at Sweet Shoppe Designs!

I had fun scrapping some of my pics from vacation and also created a few more pages that I'll share on Monday. Here's an awesome new kit from Traci and the photos are from when we went on our really tough hike at Shannon Lake.

I Love You More by Traci Reed

Bad Sewing Machine - LooptyLoo by Traci Reed
DJB Constance Beauregard

and here's Eva's new beach kit which was perfect for this pic of Moriah from WI.

Beach Bound by Eva Kipler
Clip Me! Waves by Eva Kipler
DJB All the Cool Chicks by Darcy Baldwin
CK Cursive

and this adorable back to school kit from Melissa! We haven't started school yet here but thought it was perfect for my pics of my little book lover.

Hall Pass by Melissa Bennett

DJB Coffee Shoppe Buzzed by Darcy Baldwin and Shawna Clingerman

Will be back Monday with some more pages from this week. Have a wonderful weekend!