the moments in between

dear may, it's been most.

may always surprises me. i'm not sure how, but it blindsides me every time. i should know better. we have a birthday, mother's day, national scrapbook day, baseball and end of school events - and none of these are a surprise. they're all there, every year. and i never remember just how crazy it gets until i'm in the middle of it.

on top of that, i think i've made more projects than i ever have in one month. just did a quick count. 12 pages. 3 cards. a mini (that really isn't so mini) album. 3 project life spreads. and a BIG project for something i have coming up. crazy. make. clean. repeat. it's been fun, but a little tiring. =)

and so, on to june. i have a new planner and a new set of watercolors. i have a schedule with a little breathing room. bring it on. =)

wordless wednesday : hello summer

studio calico so cal

studio calico's SO CAL is live! ever since we built this add-ons at cha last january, i've been waiting to have santa monica & venice beach in my hands. and they were ever bit as awesome as i remembered. =) the main's not so bad, either - love the yellows and oranges!

i LOVE this tim&beck paper as a background. this page came together so easily, it sort of felt like cheating. ;) i used the divisions within the design to place all of my elements. i used the yellow polka dot patterned paper and the map trim to create a base for my photo, then added butterflies, banners, hearts and a 3 across one of the lines on the paper. (funny + random tidbit - i scrapped last year's last day of school photo w/ the june 11 kit, paper moon. ;) i always love these pics of the three together and can't wait to scrap them) this page is my main only for the month. 

(SO CAL)

this photo is a little grainy - it was taken at dusk, when ben got home from his game - but i love it anyways. love the calm in his face, love how the focus is sharpest on his hands. it just captures the moment! i started this page by matting the photo w/ the woodgrain paper - i love how it looks with the black and white. once i'd added my title across the middle, i balanced the photo with a square of the hexagaon paper down at the bottom, and then added the banners and journaling. the background is misted with the plano mask + the mister huey's shine + the new buttercup.

(SO CAL + SANTA MONICA + MALIBU + VENICE BEACH)

this next one is my favorite this month. love the photo, love the sentiment, love how it all came together! i caught this photo one day while sam and i were walking up to meet alex & ben after school, and i thought it was perfect for the story.

i am in LOVE with the woodgrain paper from the main - so much that i immediately went and ordered the more woodgrain. such a gorgeous texture, and it's a really nice heavy weight. i used a combination of silhouette cuts and punches to make the banners on the paper along the left side - then layered the cloud vellum over the last row. i used a trio of stamped yellow images to help draw the eye through the page - it's the perfect color against the aqua and woodgrain. the big pinked circle under the stamps is one of the diecuts from the main - i flipped it over and misted with mister huey's shine.

(SO CAL + SANTA MONICA + MALIBU + VENICE BEACH)

ah, the nightly refrain. no one will go to bed until they've finished their dang page. ;) i've used hexagons as accents before, but never as major elements on my page - but with the awesome hex stamps in malibu, newport, i had to give it a try! i stamped the hexagon on the BG chevron paper and cut it out, then layered it over the woodgrain paper and cut that one slightly larger. i added a couple of hexes cut from the rhonna paper to accent, then added my photo and stamping. 

(SO CAL + SANTA MONICA + MALIBU + VENICE BEACH)

i couldn't call the kit done without using the  you are fabulous stamp. =) i stamped it on the bottom of one of the bananafish cards, then added the stamps from santa monica. a few strips of paper, a little washi, and a clip and i called it good.

(SO CAL + SANTA MONICA + NEWPORT + VENICE BEACH)

 

InLinkz.com

and just a reminder - registration for the washi workshop closes on 5.31 - that's this thursday. there were some sneaks on the studio calico blog last week, and another little peek went out in the SC newsletter yesterday : 

that page in the middle is mine (note the SO CAL arrow stamp, ahem) ;) and here's another little peek : 

i am definitely looking forward to this class...  anything that justifies my washi addiction has to be a good thing, right? ;)

and now, it's time for bed. see you tomorrow!!

 

studio calico so cal sneaks

(or alternate title : i'm in love with an arrow stamp)

my main only LO for the month. and yes. you'll see a LOT of those arrow stamps.

(SO CAL)

my favorite LO for this month. with what i think is my favorite stamp set of the month - the one in santa monica. while we were in CA, i told april and KP i'd love to see a set w/ a pinked circle and different things you could layer in the middle. and it's just as awesome as i thought it could be!

(SO CAL + SANTA MONICA + MALIBU + VENICE BEACH)

i used the word bubbles from venice beach a lot, too.

(SO CAL + SANTA MONICA + MALIBU + VENICE BEACH)

really, i did a lot of stamping this month. and the arrows made it onto all four LOs. i also made a card - and didn't use it. but i keep thinking i should add one on. ;)

(SO CAL + VENICE BEACH + SANTA MONICA)

InLinkz.com

happy friday! i'm starting the day by going in search of white thread. i got half way through finishing up one of my pages for the washi workshop and ran out. entirely. considering the stockpile i usually keep, i'm kind of shocked. 

project life 2012 // week 19 : may 5th-11th

this week, studio calico & basic grey teamed up for a fun collaboration - melanie bauer and i each used the same set of products (the SC 35mm kit (now sold out) + basic grey pb&j 6x6 pad, pins & tags and diecuts) and completed a week of project life. you can pop over to the basic grey blog to see mel's week - and you'll also want to stop by the SC blog, because there are fun giveaways both places. =) i also couldn't resist using the studio calico adventure and good stuff stamps on my weeks - they seen much ink and it was time to fix that!

week 19 // may 5th - 11th : ben's birthday! gardening. oreo moon phases. swinging. guitar practice.

i used the same format that i used for alex's birthday - i devoted most of this page to the event. BIG photo, bit of wrapping paper, and other photos and stories from the day. some of these will make it on to their own LOs, but i love having it all together in one place in my PL album.

diecuts and tags, baby. they're my favorite. so is this photo of ben. i cut the "nine" using the bebas font. and the little bag from 35mm was a perfect place to add more journaling. the pb&j die cuts are actually embossed - hard to tell in the pics, but oh so cool in person!

i just collaged some of the baseball pics from the week - they add up so quickly! trying to keep this project life, not project baseball. ;)

happy thursday! we just got back from school - i had some pto business for next year to take care of. the boys are a SMIDGE bit grumpy about having to come with. now i'm contemplating groceries. we have no bread, no apples, no carrots. i forgot how quickly we go through food w/ everyone home!

(project life is a system created by becky higgins to take the stress of of scrapbooking. for me, its a reminder to pick up my camera and capture the everyday. you can learn more about how i use project life here, and you can find all of my project life updates here. if you want tips + tricks to use the supplies you already have in your stash in your PL album, check out my 2012 : captured class at 2peas.)

wordless wednesday : game ball

(he got to pitch for the first time a couple weeks ago, and struck out the other team's best hitter. it was dusk when he got home, not the best light, but i had to get a pic.)

take me out....

friday night was little league night at the ballfield - it seemed like an awesome way to kick off summer vacation. perfect weather, overpriced food, the creighton bluejays vs the witchita state shockers...

and with these four in tow, a ball game is always fun. =)

truth be told, the game was BORING. 6 scoreless innings of boring. i amused myself by taking photos of the sky.

we met up w/ friends, so the boys were entertained. and there were snowcones.

the night ended w/ fireworks.. and a loss for the blue jays. 0-2. ah well. still a good way to spend an evening. =)

happy tuesday! we're being lazy this morning. the first week of summer vaca always seems to turn into a bit of a free for all.... a little overindulgent downtime is a good way to start the season. ;) we'll start thinking about getting into some kind of routine next week.

maggie holmes design - photography workshop blog blitz

good morning! i've got something BIG today... a giveaway for one of maggie holmes' fabulous workshops - PLUS a special early bird discount. not a bad way to start the week, right?

i adore maggie's bright and happy photos - she has such a knack for capturing relationships, and i love that. her workshops share the tips and tricks she's picked up in 7 years as a professional photographer - you can read some testimonials from past students here. i've got her advanced workshop on my "someday" list - just waiting for a time when i can devote the attention to soaking all the info in!

maggie has just opened registration for her last two workshops for 2012 - class size is limited, so it's best to register now! plus, she's got a special offer if you sign up before may 31st : 

Photography 101: July 9th - August 18th, 2012
Advanced Photography: August 20th - September 29th, 2012

so. maggie will be giving away a spot in each workshop over on her blog - so head over there to enter. BUT. she'll also be doing a random drawing for a spot in the photography 101 class from every comment made on the entire blog hop. she'll post winners on wednesday, april 23rd. so make sure you hit every stop out there! from here, your next stops are mou saha & piradee talvana. **if you've already purchased a spot in the class, your registration fee will be refunded. does not apply for past workshops**

happy monday! my bigs are totally ready to kick off summer vacation today..  and sam is annoyed that he has another day of school. ah, the injustice. ;) here's to lazy mornings ahead!

last day

and just like that, another school year comes to a close. crazy.

(first day, last day)

this one got honor roll all 4 quarters.

this one passed all of his timed math tests and got a giant kit kat.

and this one has his end of preschool picnic next week and we're hoping it doesn't end like last year (which involved a trip to the ER and staples in the back of his head).

we do teacher gifts at the start of the year and at christmas, but i can't end the year without a little thank you. thank you, washi tape, for being cute enough that i can make a tag in under a minute, and then have them write a note on the back. 

izze bottles + tulips + tags = done.

happy friday! i'm off to enjoy the silence while i can. ;) there's not a whole lot of that when all three are around!

 

washi workshop

hey everyone! we're doing a little blog hop today in honor of the upcoming washi workshop at studio calico. this class is taught by the fabulous megan hoeppner of creating keepsakes, and i'm one of eight contributors joining in on the fun. =)

washi is one of my favorite products right know. i love the colors, i love the texture, i love how dang easy it is to use. 

i love washi on presents.

i love washi for project life.

i love washi on my pages.

and i'll admit it, i even like just looking at it. it's so pretty, all lined up.

i've got a super fun washi technique that i'll be sharing in this class - and i can't wait to see what megan and all of the other contributors do as well! if YOU want to see that technique, you'll need to sign up for a spot in the workshop.

OR you could win one right here. sound good? to enter, just leave a comment here telling me your favorite roll of washi, and i'll draw a winner on wednesday, may 23rd. if you can't pick a favorite, that's okay too. i just tried and couldn't. =) to maximize your washi workshop chances, check out all of the blogs on the hop - the next two stops are nicole samuels & amy tan - but if you get lost along the way, you can check out  the creating keepsakes blog & the studio calico blog & they'll get you back on track.

happy thursday! hope there's a little washi in your life today. =)