Carefree

After what seems like forever, I've finally played with a new blogger template. I hope you all like it! It's not something I usually do since for the most part I like to keep my blog simple and low maintainence and I really need to go through my links and gadgets to update them and such. But for right now, I at least switched up the template ;) As for the layout, I love the cooky smile Audrey's got going on in the middle photo and I wanted to pair that with something bright and fun. Using up these stickers makes me happy. They really seem to come to life on the pages. It's hilarious watching my girls play outside. Even now Caitlyn is still fascinated with watching ants or collecting rocks. I love it when I look outside and both of them are crouched down on the sidewalk peering intently at the little ant lines or peeking under rocks to try and find pill bugs. And I love it when they bring me flowers ;) Clusters of wilty dandelions. Enjoy the page and have a fab Friday!

Sweet Summertime Paper by Echo Park Paper Co.

Farm Fresh Paper by October Afternoon

Sweet Summertime Stickers by Echo Park Paper Co.

Apple Paper and Bird Feltie by Sassafras

Lemonade Mini Glazed Brads by Basic Grey

Treehouse Epoxy Brad by Pebbles

Die Cut Sun pre-cut by Pebbles

Journaling Lines stamp set and Dark Chocolate Ink by Papertrey Ink

3D Foam Squares

Apron Lace Border punch by Fiskars

Made With Love

. . . just for you! I wanted to make a companion layout for Caitlyn's pictures with her first doll like I did with Audrey's. Not necessarily to match the pages, but the stories. I wrote a little mini note to Audrey on the journaling in her layout and ended it with a *heart* Mom and I wanted to do the same on a page for Caitlyn. This one also uses those darling new papers I got but I paired it with some Scenic Route scraps I had. That black and white just adds so much pop and gives the papers such a different look! Much like the dolls when I made them. Audrey had very little girl colors, pale pink hair, a little red flower dress and stripey rainbow tights, much like Audrey herself who is a mild girly girl. But when I went to make Caitlyn's doll I knew it had to be bolder, brighter, and like a 'rocker girl' which is something she is still so into. Penny has hot pink hair, a bright purple dress, fashionable black polka dot tights with purple shoes to top it off ;) And she fit Caitlyn so perfectly with her bright, bubbly, and a little wild personality. Enjoy and thanks for popping by!

Sweet Summertime Papers by Echo Park Paper Co.

Black and White Papers by Scenic Route

Cardstock by American Crafts

Lazy Days, Pinwheel, and Happy Days stickers by Echo Park Paper Co.

Dear Lizzy Dimensional and Remarks Stickers (hearts) by American Crafts

Adobe Remarks Stickers (made with love) by American Crafts

Remarks Mini alphas and Thickers by American Crafts

Dear Lizzy Button Flair by American Crafts

Treehouse Epoxy Brad by Pebbles

Yellow Candy Dot by Pebbles

Ribbon from LSS cut by the yard

Fiskars Apron Lace Border Punch and pinking scissors

The Story of a Little Lemon

More of that Sweet Summertime set. Audrey can be such a little lemon. You may not believe so with all the cute photos I take of her but come spend a day with me and you'll see all the wonderful behind the scenes action I get ;) Seriously she spends as much time making scrunchie grouch faces and high pitched whining as she does being super sweet and smiley. She even has a grumpy Mii version of her on the Wii. It cracks all of us up especially when she goes 'look its grumpy me!' and makes a matching face, lol. We can't go a day without having a grumpy Audrey moment or 3 or 4. Though her little sour disposition is tiring at times I take solace in the fact that at least she is still adorable when she's a grumpy, grouchy, pouty, sour little stinker pot ;) This layout however is the very simple and sweet version. She's such a lemon all the time that I could squeeze her cheeks and make lemonade!

Sweet Summertime Paper by Echo Park Paper Co.

Journaling Tag by October Afternoon

Thickers Alpha Stickers by American Crafts

Dear Lizzy Dimensional Remarks Stickers by American Crafts

Dear Lizzy Rubons by American Crafts

Sweet Summertime Sticker Border by Echo Park Paper Co.

Baby Quilt and Blankie

Here is the finished quilt for our new niece! I had so much fun piecing this particular quilt because it's all repurposed fabric from my girls' room when they had it garden themed. It's always fun to watch how one project turns into another, and it renews the fabrics. They look so cute together as a quilt!
This was my first time machine quilting. It was stressful, frustrating, and very rewarding, hehe. Next time I'll be trying it on a smaller project so that I don't feel as overwhelmed.

The backing and binding is made from some darling flower/ladybug print fabric that I got clearance for $1/yard 4 years ago. I had original bought it to make a bedskirt for Caitlyn's big girl bed and ended up buying one that went on clearance instead. I wish I knew how to sew this well when my girls were babies. Ah well, there is still plenty of other things I can sew for them ;) The quilt is huge instead of baby sized which is usually about 36x45. I didn't think about measuring and just started piecing together squares willy nilly!

So to go with the quilt I made a mini 30x30 fleecy blanket for the car or whatever. I've never done a little applique like this. Seems there were a few new things I played with on these projects ;) I pretty much made it up as I went along and I think it turned out darling! The ribbon antennae is stitched under the head as well as the seam around for extra security and it's folded over and tied so that their won't be any frayed ends. The eyes and mouth I drew on first with a disappearing fabric marker and then embroidered. My embroidery totally needs work but the fleece was very forgiving and made it look alright. I added a backing, the same material as the quilt. The added bonus was that the only thing I had to buy was batting for the quilt, everything else I had onhand ;) Thanks for letting me share!

Come Away With Me

A layout of Paul and I! These are rare indeed ;) Not that we don't want pictures of us. It's just hard to get any since we usually don't think about taking pictures of us instead of our kids. And the times that I do think about getting 'us' pictures I feel weird about asking someone else to snap some. Maybe it's just me being so used to always being the one behind the camera, hehe. Last summer Paul's sister did us the favor of getting a few pictures. The hot air balloon reminded me of two songs - Come Away with Me by Nora Jones and Hot Air Balloon by Owl City. While the paper, colors, and feeling of the layout are very Owl City, I loved the idea of using the other song as the title. So I got my balloon on there and used those cute alpha stickers, plus another ticket! I love the little scene the layout makes with the grass, flowers, and little bike going by on the bottom then the clouds and balloon above ;) I hope you enjoy it and thanks for visiting!

Sweet Summertime Paper by Echo Park Paper Co.

Dear Lizzy Paper by American Crafts

Farm Fresh Paper by October Afternoon

Alpha Stickers, Hot Air Ballon, Pinwheel, and Flowers Border Sweet Summertime by Echo Park Paper Co.

Token of Affection Ticket Quite Contrary by My Minds Eye

Rubons Be Mine and Dear Lizzy by American Crafts

Button Flair by American Crafts

I love... tag by October Afternoon

Made With 100% Pure Love

These pics are from last year when I first made their dolls. I miss putting up Audrey's hair like that ;) She still loves her dolly. All three of them and now they all have names. This one is Lily. Her other two are Jet and Katara. Anyway, here's a layout using some of those new goodies! I got to use that darling pendant banner sticker I loved as well as one of those sweet tickets. I have a hard time using those types of embellishments though I really like them. Just like the title on this. I have a bunch of these Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon cards that I adore but have a tough time getting on layouts. I'm so excited I managed to get two on this one ;) Enjoy and thanks for popping by!

Sweet Summertime Paper by Echo Park Paper Co.
Pendant Banner, Border, and Flower Sticker Sweet Summertime by Echo Park Paper Co.
Stripe Rainbow Paper by October Afternoon
Cardstock by American Crafts
Title and Journaling Tag Early Bird by Cosmo Cricket
Pendant Banner and Dress Rubons by Dear Lizzy for American Crafts
Chipboard Dress and Remarks Dimensional Sticker by Dear Lizzy for American Crafts
Token of Affection Ticket Quite Contrary by My Minds Eye
Pink thread and sewing machine