Back to school fashion

I'm sharing another GCD Studios project today. :)

My color inspiration layout for this month came from this beautiful outdoor place setting.

I thought it was a fresh mix of colors and not a combination I would have chosen naturally.  But as luck would have it, it turned out to be the perfect color combination for my daughter's back to school photo this year.

To create the page, I began pulling out all my GCD Studios papers and embellishments that were in the color palette and fit the theme of my page. After that, the page just came together rather quickly.

As I often do, I created a portion of my title on a little chipboard plaque.  I like how it keeps the title from floating on the page. I just love all the different styles of plaques by GCD Studios. I really could find a use for them on every page I make.

I try to keep the colors fairly evenly dispersed around the page to create a sense of balance. The metal rimmed glass brads are perfect for spreading that perfect little hint of color.  Love them!

Here's another look.

Supplies: 
Patterned Papers: GCD Studios Soul Food, GCD Studios Animal Crackers for Girls, Studio Calico
Embellishments: GCD Studios Soul Food border strips, chipboard word plaques, metal rimmed glass brads, metal rimmed clips, inspiration card.
Transparency: Hambly; Letters: American Crafts and Basic Grey

One last thing, be sure to enter the Giveaway for this month's kit!! You can find the entry post here.

I'm looking forward to creating some layouts with this kit this month!! :)

Fall frames

The air is getting cooler here in Missouri and I'm thinking fall is coming! I created this table scape featuring frames and ceramic pumpkins to great my friends and family when they enter our home.

This is a fun and easy project featuring products and papers from GCD Studios and ordinary table top frames. Like most scrapbookers and avid photographers I have an abundance of frames, so I thought it would be fun to use them to help me spell out "fall" in a textural way.

I started by assembling my GCD Studios papers with fall colors, grabbed varying sizes of chipboard letters and got busy gluing.

I used Mod Podge for gluing each element to the chipboard letter.  It takes a while longer to dry, but no burned fingers or stringy leftovers, like from a glue gun.

Here are close ups of each letter frame.  For the "f" I used little bits from a fall foliage branch.

For the "A" I used leaves ripped from a faux leaf branch. I found that the cheaper, less glossy leaves accepted the glue best and would lay flat on the chipboard

For the first "L", I used twigs I gathered from my friend's backyard and trimmed them to fit the chipboard.

For the last letter, I wrapped jute around the chipboard.  This one was probably the most challenging.  The jute needed to be secured on both sides and I felt like I needed an extra hand. Where are those extra hands when we need them?

Here's another look at all of them together on my entry table. It's a great way to welcome fall as friends enter our home. I've also added pumpkins to the bottom of the table too.

Happy Fall!  I like this idea so much I'll likely create another set for the Christmas Holidays.  Maybe spell out "noel"?

I've shared this with Inspired Room's Fall Nesting Party.  Loads more great ideas if you want to join the party!

sought after

So today I'm happy to reveal the buffet that was the reason behind me stepping into my first auction house.

My dear friend and co-redecorator/enabler, Dana, recommended this site to get information about finding auctions in my area.

Low and behold, I discovered that in a few days this beauty was going to be auctioned off at a nearby auction house.

I loved the lines and the size, knowing it would be perfect in my very empty dinning room.

It was just a little shabby, but I later found once I got it home, that it is a Thomasville piece from the 70's.  Needless to say it is extremely heavy and very solid.  Definitely worth the effort of making it beautiful again.

I decided try my hand at stripping the top.  I figured if it didn't work out I could always paint it.  It took lots and lots of patience, especially in the details under the top but I got it stripped. (I ended up using steel wool to get in the edges.)

I don't know what kind of wood it was, but even after 3 coats of dark walnut stain, the top still wasn't as dark as I would have liked.  I ended up putting 2 coats or Annie Sloan dark wax to give it the rich color I was after.


The body was painted Annie Sloan Chalk paint in Duck Egg Blue. I did just one coat and followed with the Clear Wax.

Given the size and placement in the room it's awfully hard to get a good photograph.

I have big plans for the rest of the room and reveal that once I get the table painted and curtains made. :)

I've linked it to Miss Mustard's Furniture Feature Friday Link Party, if you want to check out more.

compelled to share my heart

So today I really didn't think I'd get to post anything on my blog. I had a busy day planned with lots of work to do and a run with a friend, but late last night my work computer crashed and a funky, scratchy throat surfaced, marking the lovely beginning of a cold. :(

So after a whine session with my best friend on the phone, I decided to take a nap instead of going for that run in the rain.  Once I got up, not really feeling much better, I decided I really couldn't put off repairing the computer any longer.

I made a phone call to Apple to find out my best options. (I was actually just a little surprised they willing to answer a few questions without charging me. Although, I will need to call them and pay for help to fix some lingering issues.)

While I was waiting for the computer to run diagnostics, I surfed the web on the iPad, visiting some blogs I hadn't had time to read in a while.  I read a wonderful post by one of my favorite "down to earth" scrapbookers, Cathy Z.  Her blog is always entertaining and I love her casual and "true to her story" style of journaling.

This particular post was about her daughter becoming a sophomore, like our son Miles, and it really struck a cord.  Please go read it here.

I left this comment, with tears streaming down my face.

Right then I decide I NEED to create a page capturing these feelings, and soon. But not really right then, I had an appointment to keep.

When I returned home, got back to the computer to find that although it's running it's really limping and will need some TLC. I ran some more repairs and surfed the web again.

This time it was the lovely, always honest, always showing her heart, blog challenge post by Stephanie H.  So I think I'm getting the message today in blogland.

I need to blog my heart and continue what I started with my comment to Cathy about Miles. So here goes.

It really does hurt my heart to look at Miles sometimes now. I've noticed recently, like since school started, he is looking so mature.  Not just big kid mature, but manly.  He's really enjoying his independence, driving himself to school and swim practice.  He seems really happy about that. I've adjusted.

We were asked at church a couple of Sundays ago to reflect on where were would be in the next 5 years and all I could think about was how I'd be trying to deal with Miles gone, off to college.  I don't know how parents do it. I really just can't even go there emotionally.

The only thing I can do right now is to tell him more often how much I loved him, even if I know that he knows and really doesn't want to hear it again.  I can hug him more, even if he has to bend down and it's slightly awkward, not just the mechanics, but because I know he's doing it for me. 

Oh, how I wish I could go back to the days he could crawl in my lap for a hug or even hug me around the middle.  Those days were so sweet and precious.

I need to make a conscious effort to engage him in conversations more often.  That is not something he does naturally, but he is getting better really. But it takes effort to get beyond the, "It was good." response to "How was your day?" And honestly, I don't always take the time to go beyond that because I'm busy or find myself feeling like I don't want to badger him.

But I know that I have to let go over these next two years.  I plan on doing it slowly. I have to rely on faith.  Faith that he knows we love him and faith in the Lord that he has big plans for him.  (That do not include living at home. lol)

I guess that's how people do it.  You just have to trust and seek the Lord. I have this verse at my desk and just glanced over at it.  Funny how over time or in a different circumstance, a verse becomes exactly what you need.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.   Jeremiah 29:11-13

Feeling so Blessed

Yes, I've been a very bad blogger.  But, life is good and very full.

Just a quick post of reasons why I'm feeling so very blessed these days.

1. Miles and Emily are happy in school and enjoying their sports.

2. I've been busy with some graphic design jobs and still more work lined up.

3. I won a fabulous prize at Miss Mustard Seed's blog.  Her "picker" became a new stockist for Annie Sloan Chalk paint and opened a store called, Stylish Patina.  I was the lucky winner of a Annie Sloan chalk paint kit and a gift card to Williams and Sonoma!  Oh, yeah!!

4. Running the trail regularly and loving it.

5.  Enjoying shopping for new jeans for the fall.  I recently lost 13 lbs and buying new skinny jeans was a great reward.

6. This weekend has provided a great time to relax and spend time with some friends.  We have all had a busy summer. It's been great to do some entertaining.  So much fun! We've also been blessed with lovely fall weather this weekend and have spent most evenings on the patio where we can enjoy  the landscaping we did this summer.

I'll try and be a better blogger this week. Hope you've had a great Labor Day Weekend. None of us are ready for it to end. :(