Lego Love

Boy #2 and boy #3 are slightly obsessed with Legos.  They love to build projects and then have their pictures taken with said project.  I particularly like these photos of boy #2 and his monster truck creation.  He was so proud of what he had done that I couldn't resist.

Supplies used: Alphas – Cosmo Cricket (Licorice); Ink – ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink (Charcoal) and ColorBox Pigment Ink (Royal Blue); Journaling cards – Echo Park Paper Co. and Studio Calico; Patterned paper – Crate Paper, Echo Park Paper Co., October Afternoon and Sassafras; Stickers – Cosmo Cricket, Crate Paper, Jillibean Soup, My Mind’s Eye, October Afternoon and Sassafras; Wood veneers – Studio Calico

 

This layout is a real mix of some VERY old product (the Sassafras paper and banner stickers) as well as some brand new product (the Echo Park Scoot paper and stickers).  When I can pull products together like this I can justify why I don't get rid of stuff and my scrap supplies just seem to grow and grow (wink). Or maybe it's just that I can't resist all the pretty new stuff they come out with at each CHA.  Either way...it all inspires me to create.
 

Walk With Me Daddy

I love seeing my husband walking with our boys...especially when they reach up and grab a hold of his hand.  It reminds me of how dependant they still are on us and what a huge responsibility we have as their parents.

When boy #2 was born, I found this framed poem that I gave to my husband after our he was born.  I chose to use that poem for my journaling.  I just love, love, love the message it imparts.  A gentle reminder that we have much to do as parents to these wonderful boys.

Supplies used: Alpha stickers – Basic Grey and Lilly Bee Design; Border sticker – Crate Paper; Brads – Sassafras; Cardstock – The Paper Co.; Die cut – Silhouette Cameo; Font – My Own Topher; Frame – craft supplies; Ink – Distress Ink (Frayed Burlap & Antique Linen); Jute cord – Horizon Group; Journaling tag – Recollections; Patterned paper – Basic Grey, My Mind’s Eye, Pink Paislee and Simple Stories; Sprinklers – October Afternoon ( Buttermilk & Art Box); Stamps – Lawn Fawn and Studio AE by Technique Tuesday; Tag – Basic Grey and October Afternoon; Thread – carpet thread by American Thread Co.; Wood veneer – Studio Calico

I stamped directly onto the wood veneer banners using Studio AE stamp sets - the veneers were just too plain by themselves but I didn't want to fill them in with color.  I like the subtle affect it gives.  I used my distress inks to "age" most of the products on the page and like how it softens the edges.

 

 

We had a snow day yesterday - yes, you read that right, a snow day in April!  April is actually the 2nd snowiest month here in Colorado.  But the schools called the snow day the night before the storm actually hit and we didn't end up getting nearly the amount of snow they had predicted.  Only 3.5 inches or so compared to the 11.5 inches they had predicted.  In the district's defense, it was bitter cold (like it never got above 20 degrees cold - and that was at the warmest point in the day) Brrr! 

 

The kids were happy to stay inside where it was warm and cozy but we did have to venture out at one point for my hair appointment.  They were troopers and sat patiently where I got my hair done.  Once we were back home, they were busy firing Nerf guns all around the house and playing Minecraft which left me some time to play in my craft room.

 

Supplies used: Alpha stickers – The Paper Studio; Brads – My Mind’s Eye; Cardstock – Bazzill; Ink – October Afternoon sprinklers (Brown Bag) and Smooch Spritz (Emerald & Spun Sugar); Journaling card – My Mind’s Eye; Patterned paper – Simple Stories; Pen – ZigWriter (Chocolate); Stickers – October Afternoon; Tag – Converse clothing tag; Washi tape – My Mind’s Eye

The kids are off to school this morning despite the 2.5 degree temps on the thermometer.  I'm hoping my daffodils that are already blooming can survive until things warm up later this week.  Stay warm!

4Ever Friend

Boy #2 has a friend that he's known since he was 2 1/2 years old.  His mom and I are also besties...works out quite nicely I'd say.  They are so funny and have such a good time when they are together and I wanted to make sure to capture that feeling on my layout so I chose pictures of them at their finest - adventuring up a tree and giggling at an ice cream parlor.  I love the masculine feel of this layout including the cool chipboard man.

 

Supplies used: Alphabets – Echo Park Paper Co. and Jillibean Soup; Chipboard – Maya Road; Distress Stickles – Ranger (Fired Brick); Ink – ColorBox Chalk Ink (Charcoal), StazOn (Jet Black) and Versafine (Onyx Black); Journaling Card – Crate Paper; Label sticker – Echo Park Paper Co. and Jenni Bowlin Studio; Patterned paper – Bazzill Basics, Echo Park Paper Co., Glitz Designs, Jillibean Soup and My Mind’s Eye; Pen – ZigWriter (Pure Black); Stamps – Hero Arts Clings, Lawn Fawn and Studio AE by Technique Tuesday; Stickers – Cosmo Cricket and Karen Foster Design; Tags – Crate Paper, Echo Park Paper Co. and Shabby Chic Crafts

 

I wanted to incorporate the chipboard man figure from a Maya Road mini album but it was too stark as plain chipboard.  I added the Hero Arts Watch Gears stamp and rotated the stamp so that one of the hearts was in the right location.  I then added the red Distress Stickles to that heart so it would stand out.  I also added “the blessing of” and “friends” stamps to the Shabby Chic tag to create a custom embellishment that matched the theme of my layout. 



Strike a Pose



This layout was inspired by this post and sketch by Shimelle over at Shimelle.com.  I didn't set out to make this layout when I pulled out my photos but I had read this blog post by Shimelle's earlier that day and it must have hit a chord because when I started to line up my page, this is exactly what happened.

Supplies used: Alpha stickers – Silhouette Cameo (Aria font) and Thickers (Rocketeer); Die cuts – Jillibean Soup and My Mind’s Eye; Eyelets – Making Memories; Ink – ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink (Charcoal) and October Afternoon Sprinklers (Tin Type); Patterned paper – Crate Paper, Echo Park Paper Co. and My Mind’s Eye; Stickers – Echo Park Paper Co.; Tools – Making Memories eyelet setter and Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher; Twine – Divine Twine and Michael’s; Washi tape – My Mind’s Eye

 

I wasn't even sure I still had eyelets in my supplies anymore but lo and behold I not only had eyelets but I had eyelets in the color palette I had chosen!  It was meant to be I guess.  And can I tell you how much I love this yellow patterned paper by Crate??? Oh my goodness, it is the "B" side to one of their Valentine's papers that I originally bought to cut up and use the "A" side of.  Thinking I'll have to hunt down another sheet since I only bought the one.