15 years later...

This little bundle of joy entered our lives 15 years ago this weekend.

We love to tell the story of how the nurses had to beat on his back to get him to cry after he was born. (He was breech so I had a c-section.  The nurses wanted him to cry to get the fluid off his lungs.)  He was just always so content, sweet and just a joy to be around.

His sweet little smiles never really changed. 

I miss the sillies that entertained us through his childhood...

Now, as a teenager, he just cracks his jokes and quips and chuckles quietly. We're still laughing, but oh how things have changed. He is still a joy to be around in a much more mature and quiet way.

Time goes by way too fast.  We are keenly aware that the time we have left with him in the house is dwindling rapidly. 

Thank you for 15 wonderful years, Miles!! We love you dearly and are so proud of you.

Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow with updates with what's been going on around here.  Got a project due tomorrow so need to get to it!

GCD Studios give away today!

You could win a pack of clear butterfly stickers... Love these and the tip Emeline shared!


Go to the GCD Studios blog to check it out!

You Color our World.

I don't know how the weather is in your part of the world, but here it's been rainy and quite dreary for the last few days.  So it makes me extremely happy to share my layout for the theme this month at GCD Studios- Blends of color.

I was totally smitten by the ruffly blended shower curtain and wanted to create a background similar for a photo of my daugher featuring lots of color...color on her face, color on her hands, color on her legs.  (Is she not the cutest?)

Similar to my technique post last week, using mists, I created this blend with Maya Mists and Distress Inks by Ranger and a craft matt. (I use the Non-Stick Craft Sheet also by Ranger.)  I simply rub, or I like to kind of tap, the ink onto the slick surface of the matt and spray with water, then smoothed my cardstock onto the matt.  I started with the blues and greens, let that set a minute and then moved into the yellow and pinks. Here's a closer image.

Tim Holtz, the ink master has a fabulous video demonstrating this technique here.
 
Here’s the exact formula for the blend I created:
Starting from the bottom, Turquoise Metallic Mist, Peeling Paint Ink (green), Spiced Marmalade Ink(orange) and Worn Lipstick Ink (pink) at the top.  Once I had the inks on and sprayed with water I placed a white piece of cardstock on top and pressed it down.  I used a heat gun to dry. I wasn’t brave enough to do this all at one time, so I did it in two steps.

I also carefully added Turquoise and Lemon Maya Mist to the edges.  I use a very large (like 35” x 24” piece) of blank newsprint) on the floor of my studio, so I can spray totally off the page and just hit the edges of my layout. 

Because I love the look of machine stitching and the cardstock was not as flat as I would like when I was done, I decided to adhere it to another piece of cardstock and sew down the edges. Worked like a charm!

Here's one more close up.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: GCD Studios Cosette Collection, GCD Artsy Urban Collection by Melody Ross
Stamps:  Studio Calico {Frame and journaling lines}, Creating Keepsakes {date}
Paper Borders: Homespun Border Die Cut from GCD Studios
Embellishments: Melody Ross Artsy Urban Clear Sticker butterflies
Chipboard Letters: Thickers by American Crafts
Punches: Ek Success {borders}, Fiskars {border & corner}, Martha Stewart {butterflies}
Ribbon: Making Memories
Inks: Distress Inks by Ranger; Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint
Mists: Maya Mists {Lemon Metallic, Turquoise Metallic}
Paper Tape: 7 Gypsies
Adhesive: Mini Pop Dots, Zip Dry and Scrapbook Adhesives

Resisting Ink- Technique for GCD Studios

I just can’t get enough of mists right now.  I must admit I was a unusually slow at adopting this technique, but I’m having so much fun now that I have.  Not sure why I resisted so. ;)

Many of the papers in the lines of GCD Studios have a foil or a lacquer finish that is just really beautiful. They add a bit of texture and “glam” that I love. I guessed these paper treatments would also be perfect for resisting inks of all kinds. With that in mind, here’s what I created.

Once I decided to use the Flutter butterfly paper in the Ava line, I cut out the lacquered butterflies and started to experiment.  Using my non-stick craft sheet (by Ranger) I smeared Peeled Paint Distress ink on the sheet and sprayed with water.

Then I simply dipped the butterfly into the Peeled Paint Distress ink and dabbed off the excess with a paper towel.  The lacquer finish resisted the ink perfectly. I then added a little Distress ink around the edges to add more depth.

I repeated this with a smaller butterfly and dipped it into Worn Lipstick ink. (The last butterfly didn’t have a finish on it, but the scale was right, so I colored in the white parts with a colored pencil.)

With my embellishments ready, I decided I’d like to highlight the pattern on the Droopy Vines pattern by coating the white leaves and branches with Liquid Glass (I used one by Close to My Heart, but any dimensional clear adhesive will work.)  These glues take a while to dry, but create a great resisting, glossy finish.

Once it was dry, I sprayed it with Lemon Metallic Maya Mist, rolled over it with a paper towel and further wiped the glossy spots with Q-tip.  (Tip: do not just rub a paper towel over it, the mist will just smear.)

To add more color I used a blending foam tool to add Worn Lipstick Distress ink around the edges.

Here are a few more close-up images.

 

The scallop border under the ribbon, that was created by cutting semi-circles from the lovely Sunny Pinnwheels paper in the Ava Line that already has a striking, yet subtle shimmer to it.

 

I hope you've been inspired to play with inks and mist to create irresistible pages!! The lacquer and foil finish on GCD Studios papers are perfect for this technique.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: GCD Studios Rose Colored Glasses Collection, GCD Studios Ava Collection by Melody Ross, GCD Studios
Stamps:  Autumn Leaves {journaling circle}, Making Memories {date}
Embellishments: Prima {flowers}, Lush by My Mind’s Eye {gems}
Chipboard Letters: Thickers by American Crafts
Punches: Fiskars {scalloped circle}, Making Memories Slice {Large scalloped circle}
Ribbon: silk, unknown
Inks: Distress Inks by Ranger; Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint
Mists: Maya Road {Lemon Metallic}
Adhesive: Mini Pop Dots, Zip Dry and Scrapbook Adhesives

Bringing it together

I finished up the photography part of the week in the life yesterday.  While I'm pretty happy with what I got, I wish I have taken more photos. Saturday is really slim.  I will have to dig around for some ephemera to go on that page.

I decided to create a hybrid album using Cathy Zielske's templates found at Designer Digitals.  And while these templates are meant to be used for monthly layouts, I went with these because it was on sale and I liked the varying sizes of photos. (Sales are always good, right?)

I've put together a few days and I am really happy how it's coming out.   I considered just creating my own layouts, but working with a template is so much faster. At this point, faster is better if I want to actually finish this year. Did I mention, I took photos and never did the album last year?  My intention is to go back and make an album for last year too. I would like figure out how I can create my own templates for that one, maybe.

Here are Monday's digital parts with out paper embellishments.

 Here are a few more of my favorite photos from the week.

This one was taken for Mother's Day presents for our mom's.

Miles enjoying the spring weather.

I wanted a family shot for an opening page.  They were happy I didn't make them change clothes, brush their hair, etc.  I just said, "Let's go outside and take a photo just the way you are."

Those of you who have done this project, know how mindful you have to be with what you are doing and photographing it.  I would recommend downloading your photos every nite to get a feel for what you got.  I used 3 different cameras, my Rebel, my point and shoot and my iPhone, so it was hard to remember what I had taken and where. 

To some degree, I think it would be easier with little kids who are less inhibited by mom taking photographs in odd places.  Because of this, I'll have to focus more on my journaling I guess, which is my least favorite part of the whole process.  In my case though, I think it's imparative to the story I want to tell of our lives right now.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my post for GCD Studios.  It's my technique post and I'm really happy with it and hope you'll like it. :)

Week in the Life update

My family is tolerating my week in the life photography. That is probably the best way to put it.  I wish I was taking more photos, but there's only so many I want to take of me and the dog. :)  But I think I'm getting enough to represent us and our life.

Yesterday, after my run, my friend Nancy and I went for what will probably be our last girls day out shopping trip since the end of school is fast approaching. She humored me with some Hipstamatic iPhone photos too.  It was a good break and we always seem to have fun shopping together.  Although, our tastes are a little too similar. We often come home with the same things and then have to coordinate when we wear what we bought. :)

 Lunch looked as good as tasted, so a photo was in order for that too!

I finished this layout yesterday.  He truly is our sunshine boy and still is for the most part. But oh how I miss this little boy.

I'm ready

I've decided this week I am ready to do the Week in the Life project.  It's a busy week, but actually that's pretty normal for the month of May.  School is winding down and lots of volunteering and activities going on.

I've already started with my photographing daily activities, although I forgot to take any of Emily getting off to school.  That's okay though, there's always tomorrow. :)

We had a good weekend.  Saturday morning Tucker (our goldendoodle) woke us all up because the neighbor was having a garage sale, actually it was the annual neighborhood garage sale.  Miles, Emily, Tucker and I went hunting for bargains after breakfast.  I must admit I was just a little surprised they wanted to come, but we had good time combing the neighborhood, looking at people's junk. We did purchase a much needed cordless phone with answering machine, a dog coat and a necklace for me.  I certainly would have purchased something for them, but most of the "kid" stuff was for babies.

After a run on the trail I came home and got busy scrapbooking in honor of National Scrapbooking Day. I had a project already on my table that I finished and then I did a layout filling 7 of the challenges at Studio Calico.  I know I've said before how much I LOVE challenges, but I really do!! They totally get my creative juices flowing. I finally broke into April's Studio Calico kit, Joyland, to work on this page.

One of the challenges in this layout, was to use a photo from your phone.  I took these with my new most favorite app the Hipstamatic.  (This challenge was issued from Lisa Trusdell, who totally enabled my Hipstamaitc purchase.)  I just love the vintage quality of these photos.  And I spent 15 minutes snapping all kinds of photos as soon as I got it.  Way too fun!!

Here's the other layout I finished this weekend too.  My grandmother used to make the best Red Velvet Cake.  (She's not strong enough to stand for long periods to make it anymore.)  And I'm so glad I asked her for the recipe years ago, because her memory is failing her now too.  I'll be attaching her hand written original recipe to the back of the layout in a pocket for safe keeping.  I love the image of the lady on the GCD Studio's papers. I think she actually kind of resembles photos I've seen of grandmother from long ago.

 All patterned papers from the GCD Studios Homespun Collection.  Finally got to use some old 7 Gypsies stickers too!

Today I found out I'll be taking on a new position at GCD Studios. I've been moved up to the Design Team. :) Being a member of the Facebook Team has been pretty cool and will be there through May,  but be sure to look for my posts on the GCD Studios Blog in June!!

Oh and do visit the GCD Studios blog today, to see the layout featured from our Guest Designer for May Jen Jockisch. with the Lydia Collection.  Way too cute!!