Mother's Day Mini

This mini is more functional than fun, though its fun too. I made this for my mom who is an avid card maker. I saw this stamp set on tshernjpan YouTube video and knew immediately I had to have it. The set is Papertrey Ink's Desktop File. I used the left over scraps from my mother-in-law's mini (see previous blog). I glued all the strips down and then cut the paper to size. I inked the edges with Black Soot Distress ink and the images are stamped with Stampin' Up black ink. The pages are index cards and I used an entire package. You can see the mini in its entirety HERE.

I was thinking that I might check into the PTI's Angel Policy and see about offering this book in my Zibbet shop. What do you think? I know a couple of crafting friends who will be receiving one for their special day but I thought it would be fun for others to have excess if you can't get the stamp set yourself. Let me know what you think about that idea.

Thanks so much for your time! See you soon. (Oh, and I'm on FaceBook now, Happy Chick Designs LLC)

"Lovely" Mini Album

I created this mini for my mother-in-law, Trisha, for Mother's Day. Trisha gave me these papers, My Mind's Eye Lost and Found 3 Ruby collection, for Christmas. I have been struggling with my creative mojo and just getting this 6x6 paper pad started the juices flowing. I thought it only fitting that I create something for her using the papers.

  

I used Lisa's coin envelope tutorial. It was very easy to follow and a quick mini to get finished. I like minis like this because all the pages are the same, making all the measurements the same. :)

I cut the tags and word "Lovely" from my Lovely Floral Cricut cartridge. The large shipping tags are cut from Tim Holtz's Sizzix die Tag and Bookplates.

I am really happy with how it turned out. And I really think that Trisha will like it! If you would like to see the mini album in its entirety, check out the video HERE.

New Year's Resolutions 2013

Well, here it is the 15th of January (Already???) and I'm already behind on my first resolution; at least one blog post a week. I promise that I'm ready now. My second resolution took over for the first couple weeks.

And that resolution was...to run a half marathon, which I completed on Sunday the 13th. It was raining and 43 degrees but I did it! I did not walk at all and I finished in 2 hours and 43 minutes. I felt great about it and will be doing it again! Anyone is welcome to join me. :)

As for an update on my life...since we last talked, the baby started weaning and with that came full-blown PPD (postpartum depression). I have been struggling to find my happy place though it's not nearly as bad as it was the first time. I saw it coming this time. Anyhoo, I am just starting to feel like crafting again. I knew this when I visited a Hobby Lobby and found myself walking the paper aisle and wanting to buy for the first time in over a year. Super excited (and nervous) to get started again. I really miss it.

I have been doing crafty things. I decorated my children's bedrooms and will be posting about that soon. Not quite done with the projects in the girls' room but it will be fun to take pictures so you can see the transformation. I am also planning a remodel of our master bath.

Thanks so much for sticking with me. I've been in weeds since my third was born and I appreciate the support and encouragement. :) I'm back!!

Oh, and totally random...my "Unconventional Valentine's Mini" kit has been featured on the Zibbet Blog HERE. :)

Posing a Question...

Do you ever wonder that there will be no "original" ideas with Pinterest being so hot? I wonder, with every project I find and complete, if the person I am giving it to (I.E. teachers) are getting 21 of the same thing? Just something I've been thinking about.

Not that I'm complaining. I still think it's awesome that those crafty geniuses out there are sharing their work and letting the rest of us in on the how-to. Still it makes me wonder. :)

Rainbow Birthday Party!!!

So after having to reschedule because of fever and then having to schedule it two weeks later because of Spring Break, we finally got to enjoy all the prep that has been put into this RAINBOW party. I feel like I have been working on this for weeks and, well, I have. I found many of my ideas on Pinterest. Most of these projects were super easy but much more time-consuming than I thought they would be. Needless to say, I was grateful for the two extra weeks but would have stayed up all night to get it done for the original party. :)

I was adamant that this party be special and we go all out because, as the second child and being a big sister for only four months, P is having a harder time adjusting than the rest of us. I wanted to make her feel like the princess she should feel like on her birthday. I think she did...

Here are some of the decorations I made:

We had little activity stations that were available if the kidlets wanted to play; a dot-to-dot art station and a Pin the Gold on the Pot (at the end of the rainbow) but there were no good pictures. And we didn't even play the game. :)

And of course, the food!

I think a good time was had by all. If anyone disagreed, they didn't bring it up with me. I had the best time planning this party and for the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to planning the next one.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! We love you so very much!

Spring Break!

So we got to spend a few days in Dallas with the "Aunties" and their kidlets. As I was pretty much a single mommy during that time, I didn't get to stay as long as I would have liked.

We did get to go to the Dallas Arboretum, which has never disappointed us. They always have the most amazing displays of flowers (even in the fall).

We got to enjoy some shopping at the mall. And I couldn't resist getting the girls something sparkly.

Yes, that's Flat Stanley. I have been looking forward to this project forever as I have friends overseas but we were only given the week of Spring Break to complete the project so he came to Dallas with us. :)

We had a great time with friends and enjoyed the rest of the week quietly (yeah, right!) at home.

Hope this finds you happy and healthy!!

Thanks Pinterest!

OK. So I know that this site has been around for awhile but I just joined the masses and fell in love. Thank goodness for crock pot meals or my family would never eat. :)

I wanted to share a couple of projects I made for Valentine's using ideas I found on Pinterest (the card is mine but I'm sure not an original idea). I am so excited that people are so willing to share their wonderful ideas with all of us. And maybe even one day someone will pin something of mine. :)

Here's Kevin's Valentine's gift from the kids (we don't exchange gifts, the two of us):

$4 Target frame and $1.80 worth of pictures from Walgreens

Here are the girls' Valentine's to their classmates:

And here are the cards I made teachers and grandparents (not Pinterest):

To all those wonderful couples in our lives that show us what it means to truly love and be loved, THANK YOU!! And Happy Valentine's Day!

*If you would like me to enable you, I'll be happy to send you an invite to join Pinterest. Just don't say I didn't warn you.