(diva)logues

Dimensional embellishments...

Happy Monday!  I thought I'd start the week with a little tutorial on how to make 3-dimensional embellishments for your pages, cards and projects.   They are really easy to make and once you try it, I think you'll be hooked on them like I am! 

I’ve started with some left-over products from my past HIP 2B SQUARE kits plus a flower punch...

 

I punched 4 flowers from my “Circa 1934” paper.  I like using a double-sided patterned paper for this project, to add more visual interest... 

 

After I punch my flowers, I stack them on top of each other perfectly matching all sides.  Then I gently adhere them all together just in the center, so it doesn’t move when I machine-stitch over my stack. I also want to be able to peel up the sides when I’m finished, so I don’t want to use too much adhesive or I may rip my paper...

 

After I machine stitch down the exact center of my flower, I can peel up both sides of it creating a 3-dimensional effect.  I use my sewing machine for these, but hand-stitching would work too!

 

 

Now I’m ready to use my flower on my card, so I can build the rest of my design.  I used my Martha Stewart lace border punch along both sides of my cardstock to create more visual interest to my card.  I also grabbed some clear SRM "Faith" stickers for the outside & inside of my card...

 

 

As you know, I've used this idea with other punches… circles, snowflakes, etc… to create a similar effect.  The ideas are endless! 

Have fun putting NEW use to old punches!  And if you decide to try this out, let me know... I'd love to see what you create! 

Have a great week!

... and some HIP cards from February...

On Wednesday I posted the pages I made using the February HIP 2B SQUARE kit.  If you missed the post, you can see it here!  Today it's the cards!

This first card was made using the packaging from the Jillibean Soup corrugated frames as my background.  I cut the rest of the card around it, to make it flower-shaped...

 

And another card using Echo Park...

 

... and Studio Calico...

 

For more information on the HIP 2B SQUARE kit club go here!

As I announced the other day, I made the decision to make this my last month designing for HIP 2B SQUARE.  It's been a FUN 2 years with them, but the time feels right to move forward... especially since I have more going on with Nikki Sivils these days.  Very excited about that!!!  Anyway, thank you, thank you, thank you to Kimberly for the opportunity to be part of your team these last 2 years!  It's been much appreciated!   

And thank you, everyone, for always being so kind & having such positive comments!  It really means a lot to me!  Big hugs to you all!  

Have a great weekend!

FEBRUARY IS TRES HIP...

The HIP 2B SQUARE kit for February was filled with lots of fun new product... mostly from Echo Park, Studio Calico, Lily Bee & Jillibean Soup.  I managed to make 5 new pages & 3 cards before leaving town, but still have plenty of product left for when I return! 

The first 2 pages were made almost entirely with the new For The Record line from Echo Park (minus the letter stickers).  For once I decided to create without mixing lines... LOL! Speaking of the letter stickers, they are really cute, but I think I was a bit cross-eyed trying to find the letters I wanted to use! Heehee!  And yes, Bryn is picking me up on this first page.  It's an oddity, I know.  She's been doing that for almost 2 years now & I finally decided we really should get a photo of it... 

 

Just paper-pieced some buildings using paper, word strips & journaling blocks on the next one...

 

Almost all Studio Calico on the next page about my finger.  As a side-note, I'm feeling like I'm moving toward recovery.  I was finally able to run that finger under water & soap without yelling on Sunday.  Bonus!  Still have major tenderness & a bit of throbbing, but all in all... less grief.    

 

Just a couple more pages that are pretty basic in design, but in the end... photos + journaling =  a very happy me! 

 

 

Go here for more information on this month and all the HIP 2B SQUARE kits!  You will not be disappointed! 

I'll be back tomorrow with the cards I made using this month's kit! 

Sweet endings...

 

Somehow I managed to finish up my HIP 2B SQUARE kit for February before boarding the plane.  It was 2 days of creative madness with paper + product everywhere.  I even managed to keep all fingers intact!  Hopefully my travel wardrobe doesn't suffer for it though, or we'll be doing some shopping!  Not that shopping woud be a bad thing, mind you... ;-) 

Also... after a lot of thought, I've made the decision to make this my last month designing for HIP 2B SQUARE after 2 years with them.  It's been a lot of fun with great kits and I've been very thankful for the opportunity, but it feels like the right time for me to change gears.  I'm looking forward to what the future brings... even if that just means having a little more time to finish up projects that have been put on hold!

Will post my completed HIP 2B SQUARE projects soon, so stay tuned!  

Well, isn't that special...

 

Just incase you were wondering what I was doing when I sliced the tip of my finger off, I was making this card.  It was going to be part of my post for the upcoming SRM Stickers + Cosmo Cricket blog hop, but I'll just post a couple other things instead since I have nothing else to post lately.  I have lots of completed projects & a few pages in progress, but it's work I've done in advance & can't post yet.  And by the way, there was no blood on the card so it's still totally usable.  LOL

My finger, 2 weeks + 1 day later... but who's counting, still hurts intemittantly so badly it's almost unbearable.  I saw the hand specialist on Tuesday.  I waited for almost an hour & 1/2 before he saw me.  Said he had to do an emergency amputation in the office & it made him late.  Told me not to look in that particular room when I was leaving, as it was still a bit bloody.  Ewww.  I have had thoughts of amputating my finger lately if it would mean the pain would go away forever though.  Hopefully it heals soon... getting impatient here.  Crazy how one little part of my finger can cause so much pain.   

So, let's see... trying to finish as much as I can of my new HIP 2B SQUARE kit before I leave for some fun in the SUN.  Also have not packed one item of clothing for anyone yet.  Not one.  Must get out of the craft room pronto.

 

Have a great weekend!  

What a dum dum...

 

It appears that the Tooth Fairy skipped our house last night.  What a dum dum...

It's "Early Release Day" from school today, so we're heading to the eye doctor.  It's been a year since Bryn's last visit when she got her glasses.  She seems to think her eyes are worse because things are blurry from a distance, so we'll see.  Planning to pick out a new pair of glasses though either way. 

Also hoping to find some time to work on my new HIP 2B SQUARE kit that just arrived yesterday.  It's a fun one... filled with new Echo Park & Studio Callico! 

HIP kits for February...

 

 

Photos have been posted for the February HIP 2B SQUARE kits!  Go here for more information!

A LOVEly little gift...

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  Since today is all about LOVE... I have a little LOVE mini album that I made using the Maya Road mini book included in the January HIP 2B SQUARE kit.  I just recently made one of these LOVE books for CHA using my new Nikki Sivils products (posted here),  so I thought I'd make this one for Bryn in lieu of a Valentine's card...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once I painted the base of the book, the rest of it came together pretty quickly.  It's not my most detailed mini book ever, but I really wanted the focus to be on the sentiments, and not necessarily the photos or embellishments.  And well... I was in a hurry to finish it before Valentine's Day!  Heehee! 

I have a ton of things to do today before our special dinner this evening, but I'm looking forward to celebrating with my 2 Valentines!  I hope you enjoy your day with those you love...   

Some HIP Valentines...

There's always a TON of product included in the HIP 2B SQUARE kits every month.  I was able to make 5 layouts (which I posted yesterday) all these cards plus a mini book using the main kit & the add-on kit!  There's still plenty left-over, so I may just make a few more Valentine's before all is said & done.    

My first card is based on this Card Maps sketch that was given to our team this month...

 

I used the ribbon in the kit to make a flower & then just added one of the My Mind's Eye buttons on top...

 

And just a few more Valentine's here...

The Pink Paislee flower rub-ons in the main kit look SO realistic!  I rubbed them onto white cardstock & then added a pop dot underneath each one to give them a bit of dimension...

 

The coordinating envelope for the next one was made using one of the Maya Road envelopes included in the add-on kit...

 

For this one I used the Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze Paint (the Flirty color) I received as a freebie from Northridge Publishing to cover my chipboard LOVE piece & then added some pink glitter on top.  I love that the Glimmer Glaze paint includes a little brush like nail polish has...

 

 

And just a little pillow box here for holding sweet treats...

 

I'll post the mini book I created with this month's kit on Monday!  Check out the HIP 2B SQUARE blog for more information on their monthly kit club!

Happy Friday!  I hope you have a FABULOUS weekend! 

It's not HIP to be snowed in, but this January kit makes it easier to deal with...

The HIP 2B SQUARE kit for January is fabulous!  I love the combination of products and the sweet Valentine-ish theme to the kit.  Even still, the kit is quite versatile & can be used for topics other than LOVE!

For this first page, I paper-pieced my own TV.  I also added a word bubble so I could quote the introduction that the host made on my recent TV appearance.  I hand-wrote & then cut my title letters using the brown cardstock in the kit.  I have decided it's the last time I'm going to do that myself, as I just ordered the Making Memories Slice + the "handwritten" cartridge to go along with it!  In fact, I may just go back & redo my title after I get it.  Yay... can't wait! 

 

 
Just a series of small photos  from our at-home pedicure session the other day during one of our no-school snow days on this next page.  The flower was just cut from my Basic Grey paper, hand-cut my own stem & then used my Martha Stewart fence border punch.  The "sweet" in my title was cut from the Pink Paislee packaging... 

 

 

Just a simple 8 1/2 x 11 page here with an old photo I found the other day while looking for a photo of Bob's dad for his funeral.  The page design is very similar to a Nikki Sivils page I made last summer...

 

I love when there's black + gold in a kit and I have Mizzou-related photos to scrap.  The photos taken on this night weren't of great quality (probably because I had the good camera with me that night & I wasn't there!), but one doesn't always have magazine worthy photos & even still the memory should be documented!

 

 

And finally... my 2-pager based on this Creating Keepsakes sketch that was given to the team this month...

 

 

My horse is just some clip art downloaded from the internet & then printed onto my paper that was included in the kit...

 

 

I also made a few cards + a mini book, which was included in the January add-on kit.  Stay tuned for those!  Check out HIP 2B SQUARE for more information on their monthly kit club!

A sneak peek at January...

Have you seen the sneak peeks of the January HIP 2B SQUARE kits?  I spy the new Hopscotch collection from Basic Grey, some Pink Paislee & some My Mind's Eye...

 

 

What do you think?  I say.... WAY CUTE!  Can't wait to get started with it!  Go here to find out how to get a kit of your own!

And... some HIP greetings...

Yesterday I posted all the pages I created using the December HIP 2B SQUARE kit.  Check it out here if you missed it.  And today... it's the cards!

My first card was created using the card sketch given to us this month.  My mom loves to cook, so I thought that OA paper would make the perfect background for a birthday card for her.  I'm just going to take a wild guess here & presume that she's not going to be happy about the fact that I put her age on there, but I did need to use those Sassafras numbers...  ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love that fun "Family" line from We Are Memory Keepers.  It's perfect for making some "new home" cards, among many other things!  Go here for more information on how to receive your own HIP 2B SQUARE kit!

And... we have MORE snow. 

Which means... another day home from school. 

Bryn home with me all day.... GOOD! 

At least 8 inches of snow on the ground, maybe closer to 10 inches... 2 thumbs DOWN.  This stinks.  :-(

But I'm going to Zumba this morning anyway.  Oh yes I am...

It's HIP to be retro...

The December HIP 2B SQUARE kit is full of retro-themed product... Circa 1934 + circa 1950's (aka. October Afternoon's Modern Homemaker line) + some We Are Memory Keepers Family line.  I had lots of fun creating with the OA and WAMK lines... both so fun, colorful & whimsical!  

My first page was based on the sketch provided for us this month.  The stickers in the Modern Homemaker line reminded me how much I dislike cleaning the house.  The word bubble says, "Cleaning the house really sucks..."  I cut out the kitchen items from the sheet of patterned paper & used some of my Glossy Accents on the 2 clocks.  For detailed images of all my pages, check out the blog (or you can always click on my images to see a larger view)...

 

The next page is just a simple design... photos + journaling + my concert ticket stub.  I always think it will be fun to look back at things like ticket prices & see how much things have changed.  I used Bryn's American Girl note punch again.  Love that little thing...

 

This month we were asked to make a New Year/resolutions-themed page, so I used what Bryn had made about a month ago.  I loved how much color she used in writing her list (also thought it was cute that she misspelled "resolutions")... 

 

And finally, one of my typical house + tree "scenes" I like to create, using this fun stitched "family" paper by WAMK.  Nothing new here.  I was just inspired to make another one after seeing Kim Watson's page in the new CK.  And that photo is 6 years old... taken when we met Bob for dinner after a day of golf in Scottsdale.  We all look so young...

 

I'll be back tomorrow with all the cards I created with this kit!  Check out the blog for more information on the HIP 2B SQUARE kit club!  You will love creating with these kits! 

Happy MLK Day...

First, I want to say thank you for all of your kind & encouraging words about my Creating Keepsakes publication.  Each comment was so sweet & they all made me smile.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

I finished up my December HIP 2B SQUARE kit over the weekend.  Will post all my projects as soon as they go live on the HIP blog.  Had lots of fun creating with this kit...

 

Happy Martin Luther King Day!  I told Bryn that MLK didn't stand for Martin Luther King, it stood for Mamma Loves Kisses Day.  She just rolled her eyes. 

We're off to the Y for my Spin class this morning & I'm happy to be spending the rest of my day with Bryn...hopefully snagging a few extra kisses.  ;-)

A few Decemberish things...

There's some fun things happening on the Nikki Sivils' blog.  A new challenge was posted last week... create a new holiday-themed page, card or project using any of Nikki's products for the chance to win a Nikki Sivils' prize package!  

I used the new Happy Holly-Days line to make my page & also added some paper for my journaling spot from last year's North Pole Nights line...

 

Did you know that Nikki started a new monthly newsletter in December?  Find the link to sign up for her free newsletter on the left sidebar of her blog.  Each month you'll find project ideas, sneak peeks of her new lines and she'll be highlighting someone from her design team too.  I was up first & if you look closely you'll see one of the new pages I made with the brand new Summer line on there...

 

Also... have you been watching Nikki's blog lately?  With Winter CHA drawing near, she's been posting sneak peeks of the new lines that are going to debut in a few weeks.  Here are the new badges that will give you a glimpse of things to come.  We're talking major cuteness here...

 

 

  

Post one on your blog for the chance to win one of the new lines before they hit the retail stores! 

And speaking of sneak peeks... here's a peek at the new December HIP 2B SQUARE kits that will be shipping soon...

 

 

I saw those October Afternoon stickers, included in the add-on kit, at CHA last summer and thought they were so cute.  While preplanning my projects with this kit, I was reminded how much I'm so NOT the little homemaker.  Pretty sure I wouldn't have fared well in that era.  Dresses & high heels... yes, of course.  I'm no June Cleaver though.  I can think of a million things I'd rather do in my high heels & dresses than clean house.  Let's just say I grew up with a mom who marched at the capitol in Jefferson City for women's rights back in the 70's.  And I'll let that visual speak for itself...

HIP 2B SQUARE for November...

Yesterday I had Basic Grey on the brain, probably because there's LOTS of it included in the November HIP 2B SQUARE kit... the "Jovial" line to be exact.  This month is full of holiday colors & patterns, and I was able to use the kit for most of our recent holiday memories.

On this first page, I sprayed the Maya Mist (included in the add-on kit) on the chipboard Maya Road flag banner.  Love the metallic sheen to it.  I also used some white paint on the scalloped triangles that I layered underneath and then laced the brown twine through each one... 

 

Kimberly likes for us to stitch all of our buttons that we use in our projects.  So on the next page, I had quite a few buttons that I put on my "tree" for "ornaments."  Had this not been a page I made for HIP 2B SQUARE, I would've stopped right there with no stitching.  So... I'll admit right now that I bribed Bryn to stitch my buttons to the tree.  I told her I'd agree to buy the more pricey tennis shoes she wanted.  It was worth every single penny too, as I was able to finish up the rest of the page while she was stitching away.  I know you're all wishing you had a little assistant now, aren't you?  She doesn't come cheap...   

 

I used the negative space of the chipboard packaging on the next page to frame my photo, journaling & some of the embellishments...

 

This next page was based on the Pencillines sketch #216 that Melanie gave the team to use this month.  If you recall, it's the Christmas photo shoot gone awry & the story definitely needed to be on paper...
 

 

And finally, just a simple masculine page with a funny title & no journaling.  It's not my typical style to have a page without journaling, but this was just for grins... 

 

I also made a card, some gift tags & a gift bag...

 

 

 

Go here for more information the HIP 2B SQUARE kits!  They are PACKED full of great products every single month!

Meeting deadlines...

Winter CHA is just around the corner & I have a box full of the 6 brand new Nikki Sivils' lines that will debut next month.  I've already told Nikki that this is my FAVORITE CHA debut yet!  And I also predicted that all 6 lines would be sell-outs!  Love, love, love them all!  Can't say enough GREAT things about them.  Anyway... she needs projects completed ASAP for her catalog & booth, so I'm working to meet deadlines.  Christmas gifts can wait!  

Also, just finished up my November HIP 2B SQUARE kit!  Here's a sneak peek...

 

Will post everything as soon as it goes live on the HIP blog!

Off to run & then back to work!  I need an assistant.  If only she didn't have to go to school...

November HIP sneaks...

Sneaks have been posted of the November HIP 2B SQUARE kit...

 

 

Go here for more information on how you can get one for yourself.  It could also make a great Christmas gift, too! 

Also... you still have time to leave a comment here for my giveaway.  I'll be picking 2 winners tonight at 9pm central time.  Hope you're enjoying your weekend! 

More HIPness from October...

Yesterday I posted all the layouts I made using the October HIP 2B SQUARE kit.  You can see them here if you missed it.  Today it's a few more things I created with kit! 

Here's a couple more little treat boxes I made using Carole's tutorial.  Will definitely be making lots of these!  I just gave one of the Halloween treat boxes I made a couple weeks ago, to Bryn's teacher.  It was filled with candy corn + a Starbucks gift card.  If you missed those, you can find them here, along with a link to Carole's tutorial.

 

... and a couple cards...

 

Did a little more machine-stitched paper pleating on this one...

 

I made a couple more cards with this month's kit for other assignments.  Will be posting those soon!  Go here for more information on this month's kit or to find out how to join the HIP 2B SQUARE kit club!

Just returned from a quick weekend in Scottsdale.  Bryn had a 1/2 day of school on Thursday + no school on Friday, so we flew out right after school on Wednesday.  Just did a few of our favorite things while there & we were also able to see my friends, Sally & family and Julie & family...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a GREAT time!  It could've been a longer trip, but there's always next time... 

Fall is a HIP time of year...

The October HIP 2B SQUARE kit has hit the streets.  It's full of beautiful fall colors & patterns, with plenty of Halloween-themed products! 

One of our challenges this month, was to pick one of the designer's tutorials that have been posted on the HIP blog & incorporate it into a layout.  I chose Bethany's paper pleating tutorial for my "grass."  While it's not a new technique for me, I do love the way it can add texture & interest to your page, and especially love how fast & easy it is!  My horse is just some clip art downloaded from the internet & printed onto my Pink Paislee paper.  I used a horse because my niece was horseback riding with her grandma when she had to call 911 after her grandma was thrown from her horse.  This is a design I have used more than once, but it's one that works well when there's lots of journaling & lots of photos that I want to use... 

 

This next one is a few photos from Halloween.  I used picnik to edit my photos & make them look a little scarier... 

 

While the colors in my Balloon Glow photos aren't exactly fall colors, I wanted to figure out a way to make them work with this month's kit.  I chose a dark, nonpatterned background, so the colors in my photos would pop a bit more.  I paper-pieced my hot air balloons using paper, bakers twine & round stickers from the kit and then just made my own clouds.  I also hand-wrote/cut my "glow" title letters... 

 

My 2-pager is based on the sketch that Melanie created for us.  I knew as soon as I saw it, that I was going to make a page using random photos from October.  By doing so, I don't feel the need to scrap each individual event.  Might make life a little easier anyway.  LOL

I paper-pieced my pumpkin, then just added rub-ons & stickers to further embellish...

 

I'll be back tomorrow with my cards & other projects!  Find more information at  HIP 2B SQUARE to order this fabulous kit for yourself!

Perfection is SO overrated...

 

THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Monday, November 8, 2010

Getting it perfect
+++++++++++++++++++

There is often great beauty to be found in imperfection. No
tree is perfectly straight, no mountain peak perfectly
symmetrical, and yet the world is filled with beautiful
mountains, trees and other magnificently imperfect things.

When a friend is hurting, you don't have to put together the
perfect combination of words to let that person know you
care. All you must do is speak from the heart.

When there is a challenge facing you, it's not necessary to
come up with a perfect solution. Effective, focused,
appropriate action will do just as well.

It's fine for perfection to be your goal. Just don't let the
lack of perfection be an excuse for doing nothing.

There are countless good and valuable things in life that
are far short of perfect. In fact, if everything were always
perfect, life would not be nearly so interesting.

Certainly you always want to do your best. Just make sure
that getting it done takes priority over getting it perfect.

Ralph Marston

{Stay tuned for my October HIP 2B SQUARE projects!  Have a GREAT week!}

A new toy & a kit...

 

Bob surprised me with an iPad a few nights ago.  Actually it was on Friday now that I think about it, because he left it sitting by my laptop with a note that read "TGIF!"  It wasn't anything I asked for, nor was it even anything I thought I wanted.  But I have to say, I think I'm loving it.  And it's going to be great for travel!  I love that boy... ;-)

One more thing.  Sneaks have been posted of the October HIP 2B SQUARE kit...

 

 

Check out the blog for more information on this kit and to see images of the other add-on kits that are available! 

I can see the forest for the trees...

There's a new challenge posted today at These Are A Few of My Favorite Things.  This time it's all about your favorite ANIMAL or PET.  I picked a monkey... what can I say except I think they're cute.  Especially in the stamped form...

 

I also love using SRM Stickers + my Marvy Uchida border punch cartridge system for my grass!  And since I loved making this tree with so much dimension to it, I made it again for this page about Bryn's drama club performance last school year.  Granted, once I put it into the scrapbook, there will be no more dimension to my tree, but for now it's cute... 

  

The wagon & the tree were essentially the only props on stage for the performance, so I wanted to highlight that in my design.  I mostly used my leftovers from my September HIP 2B SQUARE kit.  My wagon was clip art that I downloaded from the internet...

 

I'm excited to say that I have another layout published in the October issue of Scrapbook Trends.  It's a Halloween page I made with lots of Nikki Sivils Bootiful line.  You can see the layout on Nikki's blog.  She told me it's her first pub in that magazine.  Yay for Nikki!

 

TGIF!  I'm looking forward to hosting lunch today with girlfriends!  I'm also looking forward to an overnight "date night" tomorrow night!  ;-)  It's another action-packed weekend!

Hope YOUR weekend is GREAT! 

Some HIP extras...

Yesterday I posted the layouts I created with the September HIP 2B SQUARE kit.  If you missed it, you can see it here!  Today... it's the cards I made, along with a little fold-out mini book.

For the first card, I used some green mist on the Sassafras paper before adding the embellishments on top.  The peach-colored card is the packaging from the Sassafras flowers, which I used on my "tree"...

 

... and another school-themed card (can never have too many of those when you have kids!)...

 

We were asked to make a travel-themed project.  I went with a fold-out mini pocket book to add to my Austria album (assuming I ever get started on it, that is!)...

 

I machine-stitched the 2 pockets & have added little extra things from our trip, like receipts & tickets.  My favorite little "extra" is a diary-style note Bryn wrote on a bus ride detailing our day.   She has such cute hand-writing... 

 

Head over here for more information on the amazing HIP 2B SQUARE kits!

One last thing!  Just incase you missed Martha Stewart on Oprah yesterday, there's a 50% off any one Martha item at Michaels COUPON on Oprah's website.  You can find it HERE!  Make note, though, that the coupon will only be posted on the website for 24 hours from the airing of yesterday's show.   So HURRY & print it TODAY!  Happy shopping!  ;-)

I must've been hit in the head because I was seeing a lot of stars with this month's HIP kit...

The September HIP 2B SQUARE kit is SO MUCH FUN!  I was loving all the new Crate Paper & Pink Paislee school-themed products that were included! 

 

 

For some reason, I felt the need to include stars on almost all of my layouts.  Please excuse that... I can tend to get repetitive.  No surprise to you there, right?

For this first layout, I was inpsired by the Score Card paper & knew I had to make a page using our Mizzou football game photos.  The gold cardstock in this month's kit was perfect for the black & gold school colors.  I also included the little 2010 season schedule card they passed out to everyone at the entrance of the game...   

 

For this next layout, I used a scalloped edge Nikki Sivils paper to trace around to create my circular shaped lined paper.  With this photo design that I used, there was no way I was going to attempt to get my journaling printed on there correctly from Word, so I just hand-wrote it all.  Love that Basic Grey Wander line...

 

These photos were edited using Picnik.  My journaling "card" was from the Pink Paislee packaging.  Love reusable packaging!  The "score" at the top was just to add a little humor.  I'm all about getting a laugh.  Getting tired of seeing stars yet? 

 

This next layout wasn't even on my radar screen for possible page ideas.  But after reading an article the other day about kids bullying kids who have food allergies, I was inspired.  The photo of the desk was downloaded from the internet.  I have joined Bryn for lunch, usually several times a year, but have never taken a photo of her sitting by herself in the lunchroom.  I figure the girl has enough to handle sitting there, without me coming in with a camera to make an even bigger spectacle.  Plus, I really wanted the impact of the empty desk, since this is the first year she's not sitting there...

 

Next is my 2-page layout based on this sketch created by Melanie...

 

The photos I used were from last weekend's performance at the Cardinals pre-game festivities.  I was so not happy when I fed my journaling card through the printer & it printed crooked.  Since I had already embellished the card prior to printing, it was staying as-is.  Don't I always say that perfection is so overrated?  That journaling spot was Pink Paislee packaging again.  And what do you know... more stars...

  

I'll be back tomorrow with the cards & a little travel pocket mini that I created using this kit!

You can find more information on the always-fabulous HIP 2B SQUARE kits here! 

The evolution of my HIP kits...

Every month when the new sneaks are posted for the next HIP 2B SQUARE kit, I print them out so I can start getting ideas.  I use my page to write down possible photos/events to scrap & sketch out possible layout designs.  I take this with me everywhere (the treadmill, parent pick-up line, etc) until the kit actually arrives, just incase inspiration strikes & I need to write down another idea... 

Not all of my ideas are used, but I'll sometimes hold onto my idea sheets for the following month.  As for my creative process when the kit arrives... I'll spread everything out on the floor of my craft room so I can get a visual of the color/product combos.  Sometimes my pages start with the photos, sometimes they start with the paper & then I have to find photos that work with it. 

This month's 2-page sketch left me in turmoil for 3 days.  It's a really cute sketch, I just approach it the wrong way.  Once again, I spent as much time on the 2-pager as I did for everything else I created with the kit.  Every month I ask myself the same 2 questions:  Why do struggle so much with these sketches AND why do I put off the 2-pager until last, leaving me without the right paper left-over?  Aaaack! 

But, I'm happy to say the 2-pager is finished, as is the rest of my kit (5 layouts, 2 cards & a little travel project)... 

 

It's a FUN package of goodies!  And even though I drive myself nuts sometimes, I enjoyed creating with it!  And Bryn, who is usually my go-to girl for design advice wrote me the sweetest love note when I finished it up...

"Hi Mommy, how are you doing?  You should run now so when daddy gets home I can go to Walmart and Crazy Bowls with him and when we get back you will be done and ready to dig in (and give me your rice) he he he!!!  Your 2-pager looks better than I thought it would be.  Your a great scrapper you know that?  I think you know that already though.  I can't wait until you are in Creating Keepsakes!!!!!  We are going to Walmart because Daddy needs some things and I need soap and shampoo.  I looooovvvvvveeee toooo beeeeee wiiiithhhhh yooooooooouuuuuu!  Love you!"

And yes, my 2-pager looked SO bad for 3 days, that even Bryn was shocked that I finally made something of it.  I tackled her & hugged her after I read it.  She said, "Well.  I wasn't expecting THAT response!"  Heehee!

Time to switch gears & start on my next SRM Stickers project that's due!  And speaking of SRM Stickers... did you get the chance to check out their blog yesterday?  They posted cards every hour from 8am-5pm yesterday in celebration of World Card Making Day.  You still have time to comment on each post for the chance to win SRM STICKERS!  Winners will be announced on Tuesday, so check it out now! 

A HIP way to use your ribbon scraps...

Yesterday, I had a tutorial posted on the HIP 2B SQUARE blog involving this card.  You can check it out here!

 

Last Friday night, while I was out with the girls, Bob took Bryn to the annual Hot Air Balloon Glow.  It happens every year on the night before the Hot Air Balloon Race!  The "Glow" is when all the balloons ignite their fires (causing a glow) after dark.  Bob & Bryn both said it was really cool.  They also said there were SO many people there, which meant a VERY long walk from where they finally parked the car.  I only wish they would've had my camera with them... only Bob's work camera.  But I'll use these... oh yes I will!

 

 

Even though I had a great time with the girls... I SO wish I could've joined those two!

Lots of school-related HIPness...

Images of the September HIP 2B SQUARE kits have been posted!  Here's the main kit & the add-on kit...

There are lots of options including kits that include only patterned paper!  Check out all the details here!  Looks like LOTS OF FUN to me!  Can't wait to create!

I'm looking forward to this afternoon!  Our school district has implemented something new this year... early release days.  There will be 8 of those days this year & today is the first one with the students released at 1:30pm.  I'm planning to pick up Bryn from school & we're going right to a nail salon.  She's getting her first (professional) manicure & I'm getting a pedicure (for the first time in ages... usually just do it myself).  We'll probably do a little shopping before heading back home.  Then after dinner tonight... volleyball practice!   

Tomorrow night is Girls Night!  We'll be celebrating a friend's birthday from Zumba class.  The theme is jeans & bling.  I'll be wearing these...

It's just a little bit of bling.  ;-)  

And speaking of Zumba... I'm headed there now!  

I'm a poet and didn't know it, but my feet show it, they're long fellows...

 

I don't think I have a favorite poem.  I do like a lot of children's poems though... probably from reading them to Bryn over & over again since she was very little.  For time sake though... I kept it simple for this one.  I have too much going on lately & waited until the last minute to tackle this.  So... I used some leftover stash from my August Hip 2B Square kit, some of the new brown SRM Sticker sentiments, AND my new Marvy Uchida Quick Borders punch! 

Head over to These Are A Few of My Favorite Things to tell us your FAVORITE POEM for the chance to win a $20 gift certificate to Borders, generously donated by Julie!  There's always such great prizes up for grabs! 

Some HIP greetings...

Yesterday I posted all the layouts I made using the August HIP 2B SQUARE kit.  If you missed the post, you can see it here!  As for today... it's all about the cards!

For our card requirement this month, Melanie asked us to make a card for a grandparent.  I made one for Grandparent's Day, which is coming up soon.  Love that word bubble punch... 

For the next 2 cards, I used my new Marvy Uchida Quick Borders cartridge System.  I love, love, love it!  Takes all the possibility for error out of making borders...

 
For this one I used the Ribbon Stitch cartridge...

And for this one I used the Scalloped Shell.  As for the apple, I just hand-cut my own design & added some of the green ribbon from the kit for the stem/leaf...

My old beloved lace punch for this one + the packaging from the Dear Lizzy buttons (the green polka dotted square)...

And finally a little thank you note.  I hand-stitched my own little flower using a piece of ribbon, then layered it on top of 2 of the chipboard flowers & added a button.  Obviously, I used a border punch on this one as well.  I'm hooked on punches...

 

Go here for more information on this and every other amazing HIP 2B SQUARE kit!  I can't wait to see what September brings!