Turning 40

It's that dreaded "next phase", over the hill, fourth decade, 40. You know, the number that sounded so stinking old when you were a kid! I remember my mom despising it, too, telling my dad he best listen and not do a surprise party! Fast forward to the here and now, and I am freaking out (*just a wee little bit) that it is coming fast!

This phases of the moon paper perfectly goes with my sentiment of life change and "the next phase" of life.

I love the "let me count the ways"scripted on the paper.

The top corner is labeled young moon.

It shows the old moon at the lower corner. Love the way the paper works for the story!

So that's me, relishing in the last few days of 39, yet, ready to rock out a new decade! 

Two

A grid page to tackle several Instagram square photos. I used a mini roller stamp from Glitz Design to add movement to the center of the page.

Lots of numbers are always a good idea for a birthday page! This goes perfect with Paper Issues current link party.

Top 13 @13

Having a teenager in the house was big news in January. It was fun to show him things we love about him right now!

The Chickaniddy numbers 1-12 were actually for a page with the Twelve Days of Christmas, so I punched them out and stitched them  in place. I used their labels for Jolly Good to journal his bright qualities and strengths! 

I loved the look of Amy Tangerine's Stitched Thickers, so I used the "Today" to create my title word "Top". Just a flip of the d to a p!  The jumbo sized 13 was easy to cut electronically and I just may use the negative piece to scrap his birthday photos.

This fits the number theme link up at Paper Issues.  Painting By Numbers

Oh You 2!

This page documents our 15th Anniversary and my trying on my wedding dress again. I journaled around the circles. It blends in with the background, but it's there! 

To create this:

I used a paper tube to stamp Heidi Swapp Magic Medium in a grid on the background. 

I used a circle punch to cut several different papers from MME. I created several fabric dyed flowers that I twisted into spirals and glued. I placed three of them as a visual triangle and to create movement on the page. I layered the doily along with a few Kelly Purkey label stickers. The Dear Lizzy bow and Studio Calico wood veneers with Elle's Studio alpha/number stickers finish it up!

Hello, Family

The triangle cut file is free from Paper Issues. Our family picture worked well to cut into a triangle. I love the Heidi Swapp September Skies rainbow paper to bring out the Citron color from the older paper from Basic Grey inside some of the triangles. The small colored triangles are from Kelly Purkey's Second City line by Basic Grey. The Stitched scripty words paper has sentiments that worked well with a family photo. I popped some triangles up to add depth. 

Positive and Negative Cut Files

This layout uses the positive woodgrain heart cut file from The Cut Shoppe etsy store.

This layout shows how I used the negative space left by the heart to create a layout using a Studio Calico printable.

Have fun using up both parts of your paper next time!

Grow, Bloom, & Thrive

Love these pocket scrapbook cut files by Lisa Dickinson that I purchased on Two Peas last summer before they closed. 

I backed two of the squares with Maggie Holmes paper. Two of the die cuts I watercolored. I added an Elle's Studio stamp, little woodgrain sequins, and enamel dots. Loved the beautiful roses from my friend's yard. The photo layered with a doily finished the center. The top and bottom were stitched scallop paper strips from Studio Calico's Kit.

You Are...

To celebrate this guy's third birthday today, here's a flashback to 8 months!

The cut file is free in the Paper Issues store. I love doing ABC pages or mini books for my kids to celebrate all the goodness that they are!

I used lots of Amy Tangerine Stitched papers. The striped paper is by Hello Forever Paper Co. for Studio Calico. It matched perfect with the Stitched papers.

I loved using lots of enamel dots from My Mind's Eye and from the Stitched collection.

I love the new roller stamp with the Dear Lizzy Serendipity collection. You are... and I love you because...  are stamped around a few letters.

I sewed around my son's initials RMD and around the L for his nickname, Littles! The photos of him were only placed in those letters! Thanks for looking! Sorry the photos are not bright, it's snowing here!

You Fill My Heart

I love these heart pie chart cut files from The Cut Shoppe called Pie Hearts . 

The bold polka dot paper is from the Beautiful Chic from Webster's Pages and the stripes are from the We R Memory Keepers line called Love Notes.

The alphabet stickers are from American Crafts Amy Tangerine Plus One. I sprinkled mist dots in pink, sea foam, and white. I also had a crafty fail (huge mess) with the pink mist. *see below

I added the yellow vellum behind the photo to make it stand out in the bold background. The colors and textures are loud and fun, just like my four children! 

Behind the scenes:

Here's the mess as I tipped over the pink, kind of Pepto looking!

Modern art via my kitchen floor canvas!

All Star Football

Here's another layout from my Crafter's Spotlight on the Chickaniddy blog on March 1st. See it here.

The free cut file link can be found on Lisa Dickinson's blog Gettin' By  Get it here: Star Grid cut file. She has amazing page inspiration for using it, as well!   I loved layering the star grid file over the Scrumptious Nutmeg star paper. The Chickaniddy enamel stars also add shine and interest to the All Star team feel!

Chickaniddy Projects

Today, March 1st, I am the Spotlight Crafter on Chickaniddy Crafts blog. Check it out here. 

Hello Family

See this layout using The Cut Shoppe words negative space.  Get the cut file here: Word Art  This worked to incorporate several photos of our kids and a family picture.  I added the watercolor splatters to match the background paper Autumn Haze from Chickaniddy.  These photos were from 2012 after Ryan was born and were taken by Kate Becker Photography from the Minneapolis, MN area.

I have also done additional pages using their products that I am highlighting today.  Here's our oldest as he celebrated a recent birthday.  It was fun to document the day with things we love about him.  These photos of Ethan were captured by Photography by Monique located in Centerville, MN.

Top 13 @13 uses Jolly Good numbers from the Twelve Days of Christmas that I punched out and the label stickers from the Jolly Good Collection. The Chickaniddy enamel stars along with Jillibean Soup stars worked well to add interest to the numbers and special qualities of our son at age 13! I used the Amy Tangerine Stitched Thickers to create the word Top (Today) cut apart with the d flipped as a p!

Away in a Manger uses cut files from The Cut Shoppe Gift Tags and You've been Punc'd. The Chickaniddy papers are Caroling and the stars from Scrumptious Nutmeg paper side B. The label stickers are from Jolly Good.  Ethan sang this as a solo on Christmas Eve so this was perfect for this page.

Oh Christmas Tree    Loved this Holly Jolly paper for documenting the Christmas tree and Christmas Eve with our daughter. The pocket style card was fun to stitch and brought out the triangle paper strips in the background. The enamel stars worked well with The Cut Shoppe tree.