journeys in parenting, crafting, and keeping up with the laundry...

terrarium love: beach escape

I have problems. A terrarium day dreaming addiction.

White sand, river rocks, seashells, white and aqua seaglass and an airplant.  This terrarium sits on my coffee table and people comment all the time how nice it is to look at.  Word.

Project Life; Week 1- 3

Okay, I was a little behind starting this, but I'm ready to go with my Project Life album for 2012. Here's weeks 1-3, I can't believe how much has already happened in 3 weeks, agh, I'm exhausted...

week one  (front first, then below back) ) (I used the 3 long sheet insert )

week 2

 

week 3

 

and close- ups of week 3, I copied my friend Vee with her liftable sleeves ( thanks Vee!)

I've already started week 4, so I'm finally ahead of the game... I've seen some awesome PL albums out there, but I'd love to look at yours, too, let me know if you're doing one!

she sells seashells by the seashore

We went for a little picnic on the beach today in Naples.  Dave had to fly to London for work, feeling rather bummed we couldn't go with him this time, we decided a beach day was in need. On the way down we drove through Alligator Alley and I'm not joking that we easily saw 100 alligators on the side of the road in a canal and on the shores. Crazy!! Then we were star-stuck by wild dolphins swimming along the shore at the beach, it was lovely!





It was a good day.

some warmer pages

From my winter Christmas mini album to warmer weather layouts, I finally scrapbooked some of the dolphin swimming pictures from our day in the Keys a few months ago.  

Same design, just different pictures, one for little sis, one for big sis.  And below, my three favorite people!

I don't know about you, but I am having a hard time keeping up with blogging. Sometimes I think I should just go on a blog vacation.  Do you ever feel like that?
Well, I ordered my Project Life album, I'm getting things together to start it hopefully this week.  Anyone else doing one?

and the rest of it...

I took the pictures of the rest of the album yesterday.  I don't know why, but I feel like the last month has been SO hectic! Anyhoo, here's the rest;

So that's all of it!  Even though it feels like December flew by, looking over these pages makes me feel so happy for having such a wonderful family and group of friends.  I hope you had a good holiday as well, and a awesome start to the new year!

is this too late???

I know, so bad. Here's my 2011 December album. I'll do a a few pages today and a few another, a few another. I bought this rad mini kit from Marcy Penner who I adore.

okay, more next time! Stop by Marcy's, she has a sweet store with some pretty cool products!

Happy new year!

Hello all and happy new year! I hope you had a smashing time ringing in the new year! 2012 is going to be a great year!  It's the year of the dragon in Chinese astrology (starting January 23), which means it will be a year full luck, passion, excitement and new accomplishments.  What are your hopes for 2012? I am hoping for many things; exercise more, eat healthier, learn to bake better, get better at photography (like take some classes and get the right photo editing software), make more dates with my hubby, keep traveling, keep practicing my Spanish before I loose it. And there's more, but that's just the first layer...

Here's my The Creative Type layout for January, all about what else, resolutions. I wanted to have a picture of the stockpile of fireworks we bought for our New Years's Eve party.  Everyone wrote down a resolution, wish or goal for 2012, then I taped them each to a huge firecracker my hubby purchased at the Indian reservation ( like, totally scary and unsafe... but a great way to usher in 2012!) It was so cool to see each person's firecracker explode in the sky, sending that wish out into the new year!

We have the amazing Revlie as our guest designer, she is one of my favorites! She is also donating a pdf of one of her lovely classes as the prize this month, soooo, check it out!!!!

old man christmas

Wishing you all a lovely holiday!

santa's on his way...

The girls are loving being on winter break and doing all this holiday-ish. We've been baking, sending out cards and drawings, watching movies with snowmen and miracles, listening to our favorite Xmas tunes and wrapping lots of presents. We had a small Xmas Cheer party, with gingerbread decorating and snow-globe making and cupcake eating ( oh, my Xmas jammies are getting tight.) ( I need to start my New Year's resolution of more exercise sooner rather than later.) ( oh, and I have been working on my December Daily album, but I am way behind, all mixed up and will take pics hopefully in the next couple days.) 

sugar addict.

cookies packages for friends and neighbors

this is little sis' snow-globe...she glued 2 little critters together kissing while another guy hides behind the tree watching....I don't know, I don't know.... ( we still need to add snow and water at this point here)

finished gingerbread houses


Lil' Siszilla strikes again!!!

No matter where you are or what holiday you celebrate, I wish you lots of love and peace!

lots of white glitter snow + a dash of green and red

I'm feeling rather festive here in south Florida.  Minus the weirdness of December and it's 76 degrees, I am loving being back in the States for the holidays. The girls, Dave and I have gone looking at Xmas light  shows, gone to see Xmas movies and have made a couple batches of holiday cookies and treats.

I have more pictures and I'll post them later!  Are you decorating for your holidays?  I'd love to see pictures!

fa la la la la....

la la la laaaaaaa.....

a quick card...

a goodie.

I love this book that now sits so pretty upon my coffee table...

You should check it out...

( Sarah, you especially.)

the best gift...

We all can come up with things that we've gotten as gifts that mean a lot to us, and this month's prompt over at the Creative Type is to scrap it.  I searched my brain for what I could scrapbook; the trip to Europe, my favorite purse, a mom's day at the spa coupon, the toilet paper roll decorated so pretty with crate paper and macaroni...they all mean a lot to me.  But at the chance of sounding corny, really the best gift is time.  I cherish the time I get to spend with my friends and family, that's honestly the best gift.

So come play along with us!!  There's fun prizes, special guest designer, You Tube vids, come and see!

 

pockets full of thanks...

I made these little sewn pockets for gifts for my mom, sisters and MIL this Thanksgiving. I cut the paper and rounded the edges and then sewed them into pockets.  I then made 4-5 pages/tags (depending on the number of photos I was going to add) to slip inside. Each recipient had pictures specific to them, as well as handwritten notes of heart-felt sentiments. I added washi tape, old Spanish dictionary pages, doilies, and paint/mist to decorate. The front of the pocket is a copy of a vintage Thanksgiving postcard, along with feathers, jute twine, stickers, theatre ticket, etc., I tucked some small flowers in the top as a little somethin'-somethin'.   I would have loved to have received this gift, and you could certainly tailor it to any color scheme or holiday.

 Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!

late night craft.

Tall tree...

Last week we had to stop to climb this tree. The pictures do not do it just, it was a massive beast of a tree.  So many long strands of branches and willowy vines dangling down, it beckoned my girls to come up for an investigation...

I am so thankful for my girls!

thankful...

The other day I glittered some fallen twiggy branches to make a "thankful tree." We made one of these a few years ago when we lived in Philadelphia, and the girls loved it.  It's nice to have an activity that reminds us to remember what we're thankful for. I also wrapped a G (for Grateful or the first letter of our last name) in burlap and made a burlap flower with a nice yellow organza ribbon middle.  I hand cut some autumn-inspired felt feathers to go along with it.

And I decorated a bit for Thanksgiving...My Mayflower...

Do you have any family traditions?

scraplift yourself

2 Peas has a scraplift yourself challenge this last couple days and I haven't done a scraplift in a long time. I decided to do the all smiles layout I just completed as the design. I made my delight, big sis blowing bubbles with her friends.  The Delight layout is vertical where as the all smiles is a horizontal picture, but it's still pretty much the same design.

and all smiles,

I also wanted to point out Amy Tangerine is guest designing this month over at The Creative Type and is giving away a prize of a set of her washi tapes!!!  Better go over and play along!!!

 

fall memories

I used most of October's Studio Calico kit for these 2 layouts, and a little of American Crafts fall line, too.

and fall festival, a great day, sweet carnival games and hay rides...

I have more fall crafts and projects I'm working on, so hopefully I can get them done soon and share.  Are you working on any fall-related crafts?  I'd love to see them!

October Afternoon, sketch thursday

Another lovely sketch by October Afternoon, so I had to use it.  I had these 3 pictures laying around staring at me these last couple weeks, so I decided this sketch would be perfect! Oh, and almost all is October's Calico Studio kit, Field Guide, too.

and here's the sketch;

Hope you're having a great weekend!  Any plans?