Another birthday...

I told you this time of year was birthday madness in our family.  Here is another birthday card I created for my wonderful Dad's birthday.

All the supplies used are from Echo Park Paper Co. For The Record line.  I have used that one for SO much.  The crazy thing is, I still have a lot of stuff left in my original kit.  Echo Park does know how to load up their kits!

I have yet another important birthday coming up soon so I'll be busy creating another card that I'll share once the birthday passes.  Until then...be blessed!

1st Days Layout...

So I finally got my hands on the Lawn Fawn Say Cheese stamp set and couldn't wait to start playing with it.  Seriously...that Polaroid style stamp is so stinkin cute!   I had high hopes of doing a layout with the kids' pictures from the first day of school this year only to discover that I didn't have any clear pictures from that day.  Really...what setting did I have that darn camera on anyhow???  I'm thinking I'll be doing a re-enactment with the kids so I can get good pictures - I'm sure my teenager will love that (wink!).  Anyhow...I was set on doing a first day of school layout - it's hard to change my mind when it's set on something.  I had to go back into the picture archives to find some that I hadn't already scrapped which took me back to 2009...the first year all three boys were even in school.  This is what I came up with.

Supplies Used: Acrylic die cuts - The Paper Studio; Alphabet die cuts - Jillibean Soup; Brad - Recollections; Cardstock - Bazzill; Die Cuts - Basic Grey; Embroidery Floss - DMC; Ink - ColorBox, Memento & StazOn; Patterned paper - Core'dinations & Basic Grey; Pen - Pigma; Stamps - Lawn Fawn, Studio Ali Edwards by Technique Tuesday & Imaginesce; Sticker - Karen Foster Designs

I started receiving the Studio Ali Edwards stamps in July and I've been watching a lot of Nichol Magouirk's videos over at Two Peas in a Bucket for inspiration on how to use them on my layouts and I love how I can create my own custom embellishments.  Besides...I love Ali's handwriting.  Now if we could only convince Kristina Werner to make stamp sets with her beautiful handwriting!

In the Running at GCD...

A little while back I created this card for my niece's birthday. 

Since I incorporated a large amount of GCD Studios product I decided to send a copy to Heidi Sonboul over at GCD.  Much to my surprise, I received an emal from her that my card was chosen in the top 3 for the month and I was in the running to win the kit of the month.   I'd love your support in this.  All you have to do is head over to GCD Studios Blog and leave a comment that you'd like to vote for me (Catherine Oakley).  Thanks in advance for your support.

8 Years Old Already...

I know I've been quite sparse around here but hey, it's back-to-school season which also means it's back to my normal work schedule and in the late summer and early fall it's birthday season in our household so I've been really busy trying to regain some semblance of a routine (I haven't had much luck so far). 

Today we celebrate our middle son's 8th birthday.  Seriously EIGHT...how did we get here so fast???  Crazy thing is, it's my birthday too.  I couldn't have asked for a more amazing birthday gift than my sweet Zach.  

Supplies used: Cardstock - The Paper Co.; Chipboard heart - Jillibean Soup; Ink - Jenni Bowlin & Signo Uniball Gel; Patterned paper - Basic Grey & Echo Park Paper Co.; Punch - Fiskars & EK Success; Stamp - Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday; Stickers - Echo Park Paper Co. & Momenta

So every year we celebrate together with dinner and presents and yummy cake. Of course the kid steals the show most of the time - but tonight my wonderful hubby is taking me out after the kiddos are tucked into bed and the teenager is home from work to babysit. I can't wait - just me and him...celebrating!

Happy birthday Zach (my bestest present ever)!!!

6 Years Ago Today...

I had acupuncture to help get things going (even though contractions had started earlier that morning...I didn't want things to stop - I was READY!). 

I was walking around the neighborhood with my incredibly supportive husband in seriously HOT weather trying to keep things going.  I even resorted to the treadmill in our basement when it got too hot outside - seriously, my husband video taped it (not a pretty sight, let me tell you)

I was hurriedly walked from my OB's office to the labor and delivery wing of the attached hospital because things were GOING so fast they decided to not bother monitoring my labor in their office but to get me checked into my room ASAP.

With the help of my amazing husband, we welcomed our youngest son into the world and were incredibly blessed by this little boy.

Now he's not so little and he's turning SIX today.  He still blesses us every day with his sweet smile, silly antics and his snuggles.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SWEET BOY!!!



All supplies used are from Echo Park Paper Co. except: Buttons - Cosmo Cricket, Michael's & craft supplies and Ink - Ranger Industries



 

Happy Birthday to My Niece

Wishing a very special woman a very special day...

Supplies used: Alphabet stickers - Cloud 9 Design; Border strip - GCD Studios; Cardstock -The Paper Co.; Corrugated heart - Jillibean Soup; Embroidery floss - DMC; Embossing powder - Stampendous; Ink - Ranger Industries, Technique Tuesday & Versamark; Patterned paper - GCD Studios;  Sticker - Jillibean Soup

Welcome Baby Boy...

A sweet friend of mine recently gave birth to a precious baby boy.  I was blessed to be able to provide her family with a meal just days after sweet Dawson was born.  Which also meant that I got to hold this itty-bitty bundle of God's love for us.  I don't know about you but for me...holding a baby just brings me into a state of amazement and shows me how truly incredible my God is to create such perfection in such a small package.  Anyhoo...I couldn't bring dinner over to the family without a little something for Mr. Dawson too.  To top off my gift, I made a card.

Supplies used: Cardstock - Bazzill; Chipboard label - Heidi Grace Design; Embroidery floss- DMC; Embossing powder - Stampendous; Ink - Versamark & Versafine;  Patterned paper - Core'dinations & Heidi Grace Design; Ribbon - Cosmo Cricket; Stamps - Basic Grey & Hero Arts  

 Lots of bits and pieces of older papers that I've been hoarding saving for just such an occasion.