Believe it or not, I've had today's images tucked away in a folder the last week or so as this was my first opportunity to finally come back and update all of you since my Crate's Blog Hop post. Can I just tell you how much I miss this place and all of you whom visit me?! Just let me tell you how vastly different my life is now compared to it some three month's ago. The transition has been quite stellar, I tell ya. I feel like a whole new person these days!! College has been supremely good for me! Even with it's endless and all-encompassing challenges, being in an academic-based atmosphere has brought an abundance of healthy qualities back into my life. It's given me the focus and drive to get me back on life's beaten' path and to fulfill a future I hadn't foreseen prior to the start of school. I feel empowered and want immensely to be successful as both a student and solo mom..and now that I'm almost done with my first semester, I can totally see things working out for us!! Finally, a sense of peace and sustainability is in sight. It feels tremendously wonderful you guys!! I just know that Eric would be sooo proud of me in having come this far. I really love where I'm at right now...can you tell?!
Now imagine waking up to this snowy mess last weekend? Ahh, Minnesota can't escape the blistering cold and blizzard-like snow that finds us each and every November. I don't think we've gone a year without at least a few inches of snow on the ground before Thanksgiving. How about you? I bet it's dry at your local' and I'm guessing there are still leaves hanging from the trees? Well, not here..not anymore anyway. Laugh. The snow has subsided some, but not entirely. It'll be all of twenty-thirty degrees here upon Thanksgiving's arrival. The upside in all of this is that I'm already feelen'festive and wanting to put up the Christmas tree. We're going "real" this year - no more scrapes and cuts from hours of fighting with the fake 'fir downstairs. I'm not putting up that monster tree! No Way!! Small and tidy is where it's at...plus, lots of green Christmas ornaments w/Gold sparkling lights to go with it. Can hardly wait...
I'm attempting to fit in some Crate Paper projects this month as I'm trying to make use of Summer's releases before the upcoming mega-hit show, CHA Winter 2011!! Can you believe it, we have another CHA just around the corner and we all know what that means - new stuff!! Like you need it, right?! Well, I love adding to my already growing stash of scrapbook goodies. I'm as crazy about the product as I am about the hobby itself. That's just the way it goes! And from what I've been able to gather about CP, it's going to be a spectacular release!! I won't say anything beyond that though..just be forewarned and ready! There's lots to come...
This is another 8" x 8" layout...it's probably going to be my last for a little while as I'm working on a traditional 12"x 12" at this very moment. Quite honestly, I can't wait for you to peek at the 12"x 12"..it's insanely beautiful and oddly enough, the color palette is exceptionally unique. It was inspired by a recent home decor magazine article I found in the cheap and trendy "Better Home and Garden's" magazine. Even though this magazine has more advertisements than any other magazine in the world, I still on occasion find something inside of it to put on my inspiration board. I often borrow my mom's "Home and Garden" pub..recycle and save money!
Shribbled up ribbon matched with irregular sewing makes for a really cute border or accent on a project! Now getting it to stay on the project is another story - I had to glue the ribbon down with at least three different kinds of adhesives to keep it from moving. Talk about an adhesive nightmare! Not even glue-dots remedied the problem. I'm guessing it had something to do with the bulk of the ribbon and the ribbon's texture, but who really knows?! Still love how it turned out...
Bold Red flowers are always the cure for Grass Green embellishments like the ribbon used on this layout. The two play so well together..I matched the Prima defined rose with a Gold/Brown chipboard flower from Crate Paper's most beloved collection, Cottage. This is one of my all time favorite Crate Paper collections! It's intricate designs matched by it's unusual color palette makes it one of their most versatile collections to date..along with Providence too! Can't ever go wrong with black and white!
And now to show you something that landed in my inbox this week..what do you think of this calendar? Wouldn't this be a great pick-me-up while at work in the cube? Just had to point it out...to be had at Little Dreamers.
Have you been to Ann Taylor Loft's website lately? They recently sent me a promotion's flyer and in it was an array of fresh, inspiring ideas for applying on paper, including tufted ribbon flowers, lace-like fabric layers, and rich color combinations. I'm especially fond of the black/white feathered floral found on this page (scan down!). I'm also really into the tule fabric flower defining their Chiffon Flower Hat. I so want to make some just like it!
One last share before I go..this is my little guy making headway into the snow!! He's taken a keen interest in kicking it around and tailoring snowballs out of it to throw at his mom! I seriously can't keep up with this kid...
The image above would be a snow ball he threw at our car - it seemed an innocent enough location to throw snowballs without the risk of harming anyone. :)
Well blog visitors, that about does it for today! Just maybe I'll have something brand new for you following Thanksgiving or just prior to before then. If not, I wish all of you a safe and festive holiday weekend! Happy Turkey Day you guys! :))
