Thoughts from Thursday...

I am running a bit late today and I have a feeling that this is going to be a long-winded post so hopefully, I have time to get it all on here before my guys show up and pull me away from the computer.

Today is the final day of the LOAD (layout a day) challenge. I am so excited to be able to say that I was successful with this. 31 layouts in 31 days (+ 15 cards and 5 altered projects.) It's been an incredible challenge and it has definitely pushed me to do some layouts and find the time to create when I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

So on to the layouts. This is yesterday's layout. Photos of me and my parents. Last night when I was working on this, I got DH involved trying to figure out a title for it. It is hard to do a layout from your life where it's about you, but not necessarily your memories (since obviously, I don't have any recollection of this time.) I am sure that my mom wouldn't have had any issue naming it. So Ben and I sat around playing with fun names for this layout last night. Some of the suggested titles included: My Baby Parents (they were really young when they had me and look even younger than they actually were in that photo), the 3 of Us, and It's All About Me.

As you can see from the layout, the title that won was Life Before Brothers. This means absolutely nothing bad against my younger, twin brothers. They are actually both great guys. The title just seemed to work that's all. No, really I mean it. :D I love you, guys!!!

Are you wondering where those gorgeous papers came from? That is the new Chelsea's Place line from Making Memories that you can find at Michael's. Isn't it lush?!? I have a feeling that you are going to be seeing quite a few projects made with it around here. BTW, that dandelion tag was made using one of my gorgeous new stamps from Unity Stamp Co. That one is from the Just Wish stamp set. It is stamped in brown onto a shipping tag which has been sprayed with Glimmer Mist in Vintage Pink and Candy Apple Red.

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This is today's layout and this layout tells a bit about why today is much more special than the fact that it's the last day of the LOAD project. Today is extra-special because it is Ben's last day as a squadron commander. Officially, he is not off the hook as the commander until the squadron goes away (part of BRAC) while he is in Iraq, but today is his actual last day on the job. Being a squadron commander is EXTREMELY stressful and most officers only do it once, maybe twice. This is Ben's third squadron. He has been a squadron commander for 1,697 days, since June 10, 2003. It's been hard and there have been days when neither one of us thought he would make it, but he has and I am so proud of him.

smiles,

Christi

Please Help!!!

This is going to be a slight detour from what I normally post on my blog.
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There is a beautiful little girl in England named Belle (actually it's Ellie, but I know her as Belle through her mum, Kirsty) that needs your help. Belle is about the same age as my Jacob, but something is wrong with her. In England they have a National Healthcare System and while it is wonderful in many ways, it seems to have let Belle down because they simply cannot figure out what is wrong with her. There is a video on Kirsty's blog of Belle explaining what she needs, but she has been given an incredible opportunity to come to the States and see some specialists and needs your help to get here.
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I have known (in the online/message board sense) Kirsty for several years and one of the things that has always struck me is what an amazing mother she is (on top of being a super-talented paper artist.) I urge you to go back through the archives of her blog and read about her relationship with Ellie...they are incredible, both in spirit and their love for each other. Belle's story has always touched me and I hope that it will touch you too and that you can help them in some small way.

smiles,
christi

Wednesday Warblings...

Good Wednesday Morning! I meant to blog all day yesterday and then, as usually is the case, the day got away from me. Kat goes to bed at 6:00 {I know, I am very lucky} so I always feel like I will get so much done after that timeframe and it just never seems to be as long as it should be.

This week for my LOAD (layout a day) challenge, I have been playing with some old family photos. A while back, I had been sorting through my picture files and found a whole bunch of photos that I had scanned from my mom. While I had them found, I printed up most of them and since then, they have been sitting in my pile of pictures to scrap. When I did that printing, I printed them all random sizes (I really don't know why they are the sizes that they are), but they are printed that way so I plan to use them that way.

This first layout is from Monday and I need some family help on this one. I have twin brothers (I bet that you could tell that from the photo couldn't you? :P ) and I am not sure which is which in this photo....Mom, Dan, Dave, Ali, Kara? (you can click on the layout to see it bigger.) Anybody want to help? I *think* that it is David on the left and Daniel on the right, but I am not sure...

Layout details: this layout is based on Pencil Lines sketch#63 which was perfect for this little photo (again I have no idea why I printed it so small...LOL!)

Supplies used:

*KI Memories Lace paper

*Tres Jolie plaid paper

*MM yellow paper (under lace)

*MME borders

*Kelly Panachi stickers

*Scenic Route alpha stickers

Yesterday's layout featured some more vintage photos, but photos of my parent's and their families as kids. I wanted to put more family tree information on this for Kat and Jacob and their kids so that they could (hopefully) figure out the way that we all came together. I just drew a quick family tree for my side of the family on my base paper and then explained who was in the photos in the journaling block. Hopefully the kids will be able to understand who all these people are long after I am gone. I don't do enough of these heritage kind of layouts and they are so important.

There is a lot going on in this layout that you just don't see from the thumbnail. Click on it and you will see it bigger.

Supplies used:

*Crate Paper Crush papers

*Front Porch papers

*MME journaling square

*Heidi Swapp family and clock stamps

*Stampin Up Tab punch

*Scenic Route alpha stamps

*Zig Writer

And now just a couple of cards to share. This first one is one that I created for a magazine call that I then never got submitted. That is the one resolution that I made this year that I am really slacking on...I have to work on that! The call was for Monochromatic cards:

Supplies used:

*Collage Press papers
*Heidi Swapp Journaling spot

*Fairy stamp is from a UK company (I can look this up if anyone wants it)

*PaperTrey Ink (sentiment)

*bling

Finally, this was just a fun play card. This is one of my new Rubber Romance stamps so I wanted to get it inky. For the layout on this I used a CPS sketch (#2...I think).

Supplies Used:

*Rubber Romance stamp

*Collage Press papers

*Heidi Swapp Chipboard alpha

*buttons

*black ink

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In other news, DH got his plane tickets yesterday. He leaves for Iraq on the 12th which is good because Jacob's 13th birthday is the 11th and we didn't think that he would be here for that. It's a bit more real now...

Happy Wednesday!

smiles,

Christi

Monday Meanderings

How is Monday already almost over? I have not gotten a thing done today, but I have been busy all day. I guess I have just pretty much played with Kat all day, which is okay. Some days, we both just need that. She is pulling up on everything or at least working at pulling up on everything. Sometimes she is successful...alot of the time she is not which means that she is starting to get covered in bruises. I hate this stage where they are constantly banging their heads. :(

Here are my LOAD challenge layouts from the weekend.

This first one was inspired by Creative Prompt #25. It's basically just random photos from our time in Texas last year. I think that it makes for a really fun layout.

And this is yesterday's layout. I had a new friend come over and we played with paper all afternoon. I love days like that! These are those fun new Rusty Pickle Chocolate Kisses paper that I posted about here. They are so much fun to platy with! This layout is titled The Snort and this is what the journaling says: "It's hard to tell it in this photo, but at around 8 months, Kat started communicating with us by snorting. She'd wrinkle up her nose and blow a breath of air at everyone around her. It was very cute."

And finally for today, I want to pass on some information about a fun giveaway. Catherine Matthews-Scanlon has a new book, Art from the Heart, out and she is giving away two copies on her blog.

I haven't seen this in person, but if you will recall this post here and here, she was the wonderfully talented creator of that HHS class. I just love her collage style and if I don't win the book, this is definitely one that I will be ordering from the bookstore. I am sure that I will be sharing more about it after I receive it either way!

smiles,

christi

Saturday Salutations...

Good morning! Well, the guys have left for the day so it is just Kat and me hanging out today. I got the house pretty much cleaned yesterday so today is a play at my scrap-table day. Love those!!

But first, I will blog. This is my layout from yesterday...

I used the Marvy Uchida scalloped square punch and punched a whole bunch of squares from this fun Collage Press line...there are a few Scenic Route squares thrown in there too (the graph paper.) Those flowers came from my mom for Christmas...they are so cool...they're metal. I just layered the three flowers and attached them randomly with a brad. The "love ya" is a Kim Hughes/CHF stamp. The alpha stickers are Doodlebug. The tag is a shipping tag that I sprayed with Glimmer mist (although you can't tell that here.) It has several tidbits of advice from me for Kat:

*elegance NEVER goes out of style.

*don't compromise who you are to please someone else.

*respect is the key to making any relationship work.

*memories are made from events, not things.

*you will never be happy with anyone else unless you are happy with yourself.

*you choose to be happy.

This second project today is a book that I made. I am taking Tena Springer's bookmaking class over at BPS. This month we were learning a Japanese stab-binding technique.

The papers here are Urban Lily. I used a belt kit from JoAnn's for the closure and then just added some buttons for decoration on the binding.

I don't know what I am going to use my book for yet so I just slightly decorated the interior pages using various PaperTrey Ink stamps and coordinating inks.

smiles,

christi

Friday Felicitations...

Good Morning!! How are you doing on this cold Friday morning? I just put on my fingerless gloves because I am freezing!! I may just have to bake something today to warm up the house. ;) Do you ever do that? Baked potatoes are great because the oven has to be pretty hot for over an hour or so, but my favorite has to be cookies. Well, firstly because of the dough, but then you get to open the oven every 10 minutes and bask in it's warmth while you take the cookies in and out...hmmmm, it may seriously be a warm cookie day! So, how is your New Year's diet going?!? LOL!

I have a couple of projects to share this morning from the LOAD challenge. This first one is my layout from yesterday titled Poor Junior. This poor little kitty has definitely gotten the short end of the stick since the baby arrived in our household and this photo pretty much tells it all. But he actually is pretty good with her. Just this morning, he was sleeping on her changing table (it has a flannel cover so it's a warm place for him to sleep) and she was in her bed. The changing table is at the end of her bed so she can reach it now that she's pulling up. I knew they were both in there and she was supposed to be going to sleep, but I kept hearing the tag on his collar so I figured that I better go check it out. His collar was all that she could reach, but she was continually flicking it and he was just sitting there looking annoyed at her.

But back to the layout...This is a photo that I took one day when he was just trying to sit with me and I happened to be on the computer so he crawled inside my paper storage area. Is that not the most pathetic looking little kitty ever?

Supplies used:

*Creative Imaginations (base paper)

*Prima IOD papers

*Work In Progress kit swirls
*Unity Stamp Company Oh What a Beautiful Morning (leaf stamp)

*AC thickers alpha stickers

*Doodlebug Loopy Loo alpha stickers

*7 gypsies 97% stickers

*Tattered Angels Patina Glimmer Mist

*tag

And this is a layout from a couple days ago...Very Simple!! It is based off of this week's sketch (#41) off the Sketch This blog.

Supplies used:

*Scenic Route (and that is all!)

This photo was taken by my SIL, Kara, when we were home...I love that look on Jacob's face.

smiles,

Christi

Sharing some Heart in Hands...

I absolutely have the best neighbors!! I love you guys and love it when you drop by for coffee!!! :)

I have a really fun project to share with you guys today.

This is my second re-mix assignment this month for Heart In Hands Scraps. This is a remix of Roree's Pocket Purse class. This class rocks and at only $6, you simply cannot beat the price. I love that about HHS...so affordable, but great classes with super-thorough instructions and pictures.

One of the things that I have had issues with ever since Kat came into my life was the whole diaper bag vs. purse dilemna. My diaper bag is huge so most times I carry it, but it stays in the car so I need a purse to carry my essentials...money, id, keys, lipstick. The problem with that is trying to carry the baby, a purse, and diaper bag just to get to and from the car can be a bit much. This is my perfect solution! It is big enough to hold an id, money, and lipstick so it is perfect to use when you run into the store.

By making it a wristlet, it is hand's free so I am free to hold the baby, BUT it is still small enough that I can just throw it into the diaper bag when I need to carry it.

I added an additional D-ring too so that I can just hook my keys and toys on it when I need to...

Supplies used:

*flap pockets (off my maternity pants which I plan NEVER to use again...LOL!)

*MM ribbons

*felt flower

*Lil Davis belt kit

*buttons

And speaking of Heart in Hands Scraps, Tammy is doing some really fun stuff over there. This month she is sponsoring a really fun contest over at Caardvarks...you have until the end of the month to play so go check it out! And I just discovered that HHS has a blog. Tammy has been uploading all of the Creative Team re-mixes as well as the class samples. There is some fantastic inspiration there!!!

smiles,

christi

The Blogging Neighborhood...

I have decided that blogging is like a neighborhood. You have those friends that stop by all the time. They see you at your best, they see you at your worst. They know what you look like those mornings when you woke up late and go to the bus-stop in your pj's.

Then there are the neighbors who always look perfect...you only see them every once in a while but when you do, their hair looks fabulous...their house is immaculate, etc. Murphy's Law is...those are the neighbors that drop by when the dirty laundry was accidentally forgotten by the front door when the phone rang and you ran to go get it.

Lately I have had a few of the perfect neighbors drop by (you know those ones that have such gorgeous works of art always posted on their blogs) and immediately cringe and wonder what is on the post that they commented on. Because let's face it, the LOAD challenge hasn't exactly brought out the best in my art (that may be because I have been throwing some of these layouts together in 30 minutes or less...way late at night!) So today I am trying to make up for that and I actually started today's layout while it was still daylight out and put some time into the design of it.

I love this photo so I really wanted the layout to be fun.

Supplies used:

*MM Noteworthy paper

*MM Noteworthy journaling spot

*MM Anthology paper

*Anna Griffin paper

*Limited Edition stamp (YouNique)

*Hero Arts stamp (Style is Eternal)

*Doodlebug alpha stickers

*buttons

My second layout to share today is my LOAD from yesterday. It is another one of those that I did late at night just trying to get it done. Overall, I like the layout, but it needs more...more of what, I am not sure at this point, but I may be re-visiting this layout sometime this week to see if I can make it more "finished."

Supplies used:

*Collage Press Grayson

*Karen Foster Ruled paper

*Lil Davis swirl stamp

In other news, Kat started pulling up on things today and has finally mastered the hands/knees crawl. I have a feeling life is about to get very interesting around here as I try to stay a step ahead of her to keep her out of trouble. LOL!!!

smiles,

christi

Weekend Projects...

I had such big plans for getting things created over the weekend, but once again, it just didn't happen the way that I hoped. But I am still keeping up with the Layout a Day challenge over at BPS...only 10 more days to go!

This was Saturday's layout. It is based upon one of the PageMaps sketches from Jan. 08.

Supplies used:

*Fancy Pants paper

*7 gypsies paper

*Rhonna Farrer paper

*Prima flowers

*buttons

*Heidi Swapp chipboard alpha

Yesterday's layout was based upon a Pencil Lines sketch #67 .

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Company Worn Polkadot Alpha

*Collage Press Fresh papers

*Bazzill

*buttons

*MM ribbon

I also finished up one of Creative Team projects for Heart In Hands scrapping. This was a re-mix of Cami's ribbon box class. For my version, I used a shoe box and grommets (stuff that I already had on hand.)

Supplies used:

*Basic Grey paper (sides)

*Anna Griffin paper (top)

*May Arts velvet rickrack

*grommets

*Making Memories brown paint

*Fancy Pants Scroll chipboard

*Therm-O-Web SuperTape

smiles,

Christi

A Quick Share...

This should be just a quick post this morning. This is my layout from yesterday's Layout a day challenge...yes, so far, I am keeping up with that! Yippee, I am so excited.

The color on the photo of this layout is off...we have been seriously overcast here for the last few days and while it does horrendous things for my picture-taking, I am not going to complain because we need the moisture. They are even saying that we might get snow later today which is awesome because we NEVER get snow in this part of North Carolina. The only bad part is that today is Saturday which means that there is NO chance of school cancellations for the kids...bummer! My 12 yo totally hates that! LOL!

But back to the layout. For this layout, I decided to work with the colors in the photos which makes for another interesting color combo...I have had several of those lately haven't I? The papers are Daisy D's (purple), Collage Press (the orange), and the stamps in the background are Basic Grey. The buttons are a mix of Basic Grey and Autumn Leaves. The layout is inspired by Creative Prompt #22.

I hope that you all have fun plans for this holiday weekend and that they include a bit of crafting!

smiles,

christi

Unity Stamp Company WILL change the way that you stamp...

Unity Stamp Company

WILL change the way that you stamp...

...Angela has been telling us this and hinting at this brilliant mounting system that would work for both wood mounted and acrylic mounted. To be quite honest with you, I was sure that what she had designed was wonderful, but I wasn't too sure that it would be as out-of-this-world as she said.

Well, she has just unveiled the first pics on the Unity Stamp Company blog of her system and OMG! She was right...this system totally ROCKS!!! I am so excited...it is perfect! I was excited just when we were getting to see all of the fantastic stamp designs, but now this...I am so lucky to be working with this company!!! :D Go check it out!!!
smiles,
christi

Rusty Pickle Chocolate Kisses = Yummy Goodies!

Yesterday, I had a VERY FUN mail day thanks to Rusty Pickle!! Look at what was in my mailbox...

The attached card said this:

RAK's Rule

...and so do you.

You're someone special,

this RAK is for you.

It's an act of Kindness

of the random sort

To thank you for

your love and support.

A Rusty Pickle Chef

thinks that you're great.

So dig into your goodies.

Go forth and create.

How awesome is that??!?! I am pretty sure that I have the ever-talented Rusty Pickle chef Amanda Oates to thank for the fun....So THANK YOU SO MUCH, Amanda and Rusty Pickle!!!

Unfortunately, the box arrived just after I finished this layout. This photo would have been perfect with those papers, but I didn't have the fun Chocolate Kisses paper yet, so I just had to make the Basic Grey Two Scoops work (hmmmm, I am noticing a sweet tooth theme with the papers lately...LOL!) This layout was inspired by Creative Prompt #23. And this also features another quick little sneak peek from Unity Stamp Company...that title is part of the baby set that I borrowed from Lisa Thayer.

And of course, while I have that fun little baby set in my hot little hands, you know I am going to create some other things with it so here is a baby card that I made last night using the bib stamp...

I hope that everything is going well in your little corner of the world. I spent a little bit of time catching up on blogs this morning...I don't know what happened to my week as I was seriously behind on most of your blogs. I know that I still have a few more to hit so hopefully, I will get that done within the next day or so...

smiles,

christi

Scrapbooking as therapy...

Yesterday was rough so I decided to do a bit of scrapbooking therapy...

The journaling says, "Today I broke your heart. Your 8 months bloodwork to check your thyroid levels. 4 sticks before the nurse found a vein. A whole hour of you screaming while I held you down and kept you still. It took 3 hours at home before you were breathing calmly and normally again. I am so sorry that you have to go through this little one. I know that it doesn't make you feel any better at all, but just know that it totally broke my heart too."

More Unity Stamp Company Sneak Peeks!!!

Good morning! Just a few more little projects to share with you today...

This was a layout that I did yesterday for the BPS Layout a Day challenge. The photo is of Jacob and Mia that I took when we were home in July...I think that it is so sweet!

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Company Worn Polkadot Alpha

*Collage Press Margot collection

*Scenic Route lined paper

*EK Success Inspirables stickers

*Heidi Swapp Chipboard butterflies

*Robin's Nest pebbles

*ultra-fine glitter

*green inkpad

*MM paperclip

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Here, I was trying to use this wish sentiment on a purple color scheme and found this Foofala in my stash that had purple in it, but it is just an odd mix of colors here...The wish area is covered entirely in ultra-fine glitter so it really sparkles and I am not sure that you can see that in this photo.

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Company Just Wish Kit
*Foofala papers
*Bazzill cardstock
*7gypsies A La Card stickers
*buttons
*purple inkpad
*velvet ribbon
*extra-fine glitter
*Xyron

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I received this really fun little Christmas set. Although I am normally not into cutesy styles, I love every piece of this set...it's just designed really well and is really to work with and color.

*Unity Stamp Company Holiday Cheer Kit
*Melissa Frances Christmas sticker
*Bazzill cardstock
*eyelet trim
*brads
*Derwent Watercolour Pencils
*Sandylion Kelly Panacchi papers

*****

*Unity Stamp Company Holiday Cheer Kit
*white cardstock
*black ink
*Zig writers
*Urban Lily Oh So Merry Collection- Holly
*The Paper Company Robin's Egg stripe
*velvet ribbon
*buttons

*****

*Unity Stamp Company Holiday Cheer Kit
*Collage Press Sugar Plum Series paper kit
*black inkpad
*Zig Writers
*extra-fine glitter
*JudiKins Diamond Glaze
*white cardstock

*****

I think that I have finished all the samples for my first batch of stamps. Angela is sending some more and I am hoping that they come in today or tomorrow. I have no idea what I am getting...so it's just like Christmas. Yippee!

*****

In the meantime, one of the other gal's on the design team, Lisa Thayer, lives here locally. I was completely shocked when we discovered that we were both here. She had to go work at CKU Houston for the weekend (if any of you go by SEI, tell her "hi") and let me borrow her stamps while she is gone. She has a baby girl set that you all are going to fall in love with!!! So that is what I am playing with today!

smiles,

christi

Where to start...

I have been so busy creating with my fabulous new stamps from Unity Stamp Company that I haven't had a chance to blog and now I am so far behind on my blogging, that I don't even know where to begin to show you...

So I will just go to my picture files and start randomly choosing some of the projects...

Normally, for me, cardmaking comes much easier than scrapbooking esp. when it comes to stamps, but there is just something about these stamps that make them so perfect for scrapbooking. I am thinking that it has something to do with the size of them...they are REALLY big!

Beautiful Morning Fishing

*Unity Stamp Company Oh What a Beautiful Morning Kit
*Scenic Route Ashville papers
*black inkpad
*Zig Writers
*shipping tags
*Tattered Angels Lily Pad Glimmer Mist

Moose Love

*Unity Stamp Company Worn Polka Dot Alphabet Kit
*DCWV Far East paper
*Bazzill scalloped cardstock
*white cardstock
*black inkpad
*7gypsies 97% Complete stickers
*Prima flowers
*button

Tri-fold Monogram Card

*Unity Stamp Company Worn Polka Dot Alpha Kit
*Anna Griffin paper

*Marvy Uchida oval punches

*polka dot ribbon

*small circle punch (to create corners)

*Fiskars scallop scissors

Simply Beautiful card

*Unity Stamp Company Oh What a Beautiful Morning Kit
*K-Ology papers
*cream, brown, and peach cardstock
*brown inkpad
*Fiskars scallop scissors
*button
*small circle punch

I hope that you are seeing the possibilities with these stamps. I seriously could play forever with just these few sets. Angela (the owner) has put together such amazing images...I cannot wait until they are available to buy because I already know some other sets that I am going to HAVE to get!! I'll share more tomorrow!

Today's gratitude: fun, new stamping friends!

smiles,

christi

A little piece of art for you--- more Unity Stamp Company sneak peeks!!!

I am having so much fun playing with my fun new stamps from Unity Stamp Company. Quite honestly, I can't create fast enough for all the ideas that I have!! I LOVE that!!

I have 5 projects done that I haven't shown you yet, but I really love this one so I think that it deserves it's own post!

This is an 8x10 piece mounted in a shadow box. I took a regular shipping tag, sprayed it with the Tattered Angels Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist (have you played with any of this yet? so cool! it makes things look a lot like Bazzill bling but with a more vintage, shabby look...LOVE it!) I then stamped it with that gorgeous dandelion stamp from the Just Wish stamp set from Unity Stamp Co. There are two of those little pebbles (what are those things called?) from the Robin's Nest in the center of the dandelions.

supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Just Wish stamp set

*Foofala papers

*Tattered Angels Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist

*tag

*misc. trims

*buttons

*flower punch

*Fiskars border punch

*Robin's Nest pebbles

ETA: I kept looking at this all morning thinking that it looked washed out in that natural frame, so I switched out the frame to a black one. I am not sure if it translates on-screen, but I think that it looks better.

smiles,

Christi

Are you ready for some Sneak Peeks...Unity Stamp Co???

Are you ready to see some sneak peeks from Unity Stamp Co??? I thought that you might be...

I love that photo of my mom with both Mia and Kat looking at her....

This layout features the stamp kit called, Oh' What a Beautiful morning and includes 6 stamps, the sentiment, the bird, the strip of polka dot ovals, and three different branches (two of which are shown here--one under the bird and the other is used on the title frame.)

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Oh' What a Beautiful Morning stamp kit

*Crate Paper Twirl paper collection

*Heidi Swapp white flower

*Marvy Uchida Mega Scalloped Circle punch

*brown Zig Writer

*Judikins Diamond Glaze

*Derwent Watercolor Pencils

*brown inkpad

This layout features a photo of Mia that Kara took.

This layout features the stamp kit called Just Wish. It includes 4 stamps, the dandelions, the wavy grass, the wish sentiment and a polka dot background that you can catch a glimpse of if you look at the purple strips.

Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Just Wish stamp kit

*Noteworthy ledger paper

*7 gypsies Manhattan paper (the green polka dot)

*The Paper Company Elegant Leaf- Mediterranean

*Bazzill Paper Bag cardstock

*purple cardstock

*purple flat back gems

*brown and teal inkpads

*Marvy Uchida Mega Oval Punch

*Fiskars large scallop scissors

*corner rounder

And you all have seen this photo before, but when one of the stamp kits that I received was a Christmas theme, I couldn't resist.

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co Holiday Cheer stamp kit

*Unity Stamp Co. Worn Polkadot alpha stamp kit

*Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist-Vintage Pink

*Fiskars border punch

*MME Kiss & Tell paper kit

*buttons

*MM brad and ribbon

And, finally, I have missed posting my last several days' gratitudes so here are the missing ones:

gratitude for the 9th: fun new products to play with that you didn't have to pay for. :D

gratitude for the 10th: leisurely talking to my mom in the mornings

I haven't been awake long enough today to have a gratitude yet. ;)

I was extremely lucky yesterday in that I was awarded two awards out there in blogland:

The first was posted by arlsmom aka Lynda:

It's a You Made My Day Award...here is how it works:"Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland! Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on. Beware! You may get the award several times!"

The second was posted by Alison Gibbs and is a Spread the Love award (no one spreads the love like Alison---she is absolutely the best commenter!!!)

These are both very similar awards so I am going to award them to some of my fellow bloggers who happen to be incredibly supportive and sweet in all of their comments and visits. Thank you girls for blessing me with your visits...

Alison

Nancy

Jayne

Rita

Theresa

Dianna

Amy

Carolyn

MaryJo

smiles,

christi

Good morning!!

I am sorry that I missed posting yesterday!! My stamps from Unity Stamp Company arrived yesterday so I was elbow deep in papers and feeling completely overwhelmed!! I was so excited that I was shaking! I LOVE the stamps that I received, but immediately started to panic. This is a brand-new company and there is a lot of pressure to create just the right projects so that everyone will be as completely blown away by this company as I am. Angela (the owner) is amazing and has such an incredible vision for her company. She has beautiful images and I just want to create projects that make everyone sit up and say, "Hey, I need that!" *whew* ...no pressure...eeeekk!

So, while I did create a layout yesterday, I am not too sure if I can share it yet as it uses some of my gorgeous new stamps. So instead, I will show you the layout that I was talking about that I did on my dad's birthday. I couldn't show you it til now because it used today's creative prompt.

Supplies Used:

*Creative Imagination Narratives Chipboard stickers

*DCWV Far East papers

*Stampin Up Cherry blossom stamp

*corner stamp

It's fairly simple, but I like it because the focus is all about the photo of my dad with the kids. BTW, that photo was taken in July and I swear that Jacob looks at least 2-3 years older now rather than just 6 mos. older!?!

Sorry for the short post today, but I have a TON of work to get done! :D

smiles,

christi

Happy Birthday to My Dad!!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy! I hope that you have had a wonderful day!!!

Supplies used:

*Collage Press Grayson Hall

*PaperTrey Ink Limitless Labels

*large brad "painted" black with a sharpie pen :)

I did create a layout with my dad in it today for his birthday, but unfortunately, I can't share it yet. I promise that it will be posted sometime within the next week though...

So far, I have done 2 layouts today (I am trying to get ahead since I know that I will have several days here where I am going to have to concentrate on Unity Stamp Company projects for CHA....ooooh, I saw another quick sneak today....you all are going to LOVE what this company is coming out with!!!) But I am quickly digressing. Here is the other layout that I have done so far today. David has a new photo blog and earlier in the week, he posted the most gorgeous sunset photo. He inspired me to pull out these photos I took a couple of weeks ago and scrapbook them.

Supplies used:

*DCWV Far East Stack (that my guys got me for Christmas...LOVE THAT!)

*alpha stamps from Inque Boutique

*butterfly stamp from PaperTrey Ink

*tags

Today's gratitude: warm cookies straight from the oven with an ice cold glass of milk. YUM!

smiles,

christi