Back to School Wee Memories Challenge!

Hello all!  Happy last weekend of August!  How sad is that?  Sigh so dreading the end of summer!  Although we have been blessed with such a hot and dry summer!  And no mosquitoes when usually they are so bad here!  This past week has been so hot that the kiddies and me have spent 4 out of 5 days at a pool!  Yes a bit much but always with friends which makes it even funner plus the end of summer is almost here, I am trying to soak in this heat as much as I can!

I am here with a new Wee Memories Scrappy Saturday challenge!  This week our sponsor is the Canadian stamp company (love Canadian like me!) Your Next stamp!  

Our challenge this week is VERY fitting for this time of year, it's Back to School!

This card has been removed for publication!

So 12 days left until my princess my sweetheart my only little girl goes to grade 1.  I had been handling it quite well.  Until the other day.  I have been tying not think about it because I cried almost all day when she went to kindergarten!  Now she will be in school fulltime!  I have been trying to think of it as mornings of just Carter and me, lunch than his nap and my time!  Than he wakes up and she comes home to my arms!  :>  But I will miss her terribly.  I think what makes it easier is that she was apprehensive of kindergarten but she really wants to go to grade 1.  And I know that she can handle it.  But I will admit I am sad I so should not have written about this as I will admit I am crying right now!  Kids grow up too fast!

I hope that you will join us this week for our challenge!  And make sure you check out the rest of the DT's wonderful cards, they really outdid themselves this week!  For more info please check out the Wee Memories blog!

Carter's Robot Birthday!

Yesterday we celebrated Carter's 3rd Birthday with family and friends!  We had a bbq party at the park and even though not all of our family and friends could come we did have over 50 kids and parents!  I thought it would be fun to do a robot party for Carter as he often walks around the house saying "I am a Robot!" in a robot voice and robot like actions.  I have no idea where in the world he learned this but I find it hilarious!  Plus I have the Robot Trio stamp set by Hero Arts so I was equipped!  I only started to stamp and get crafty for his party on Wednesday.  What can I say? I still had enough time...

Looking online you can see a lot of really creative perfect looking kids parties.  I had visions of Carter's party being just that.  But I am thinking real life isn't like that.  I so should have set up a mock party table in the backyard when Carter was napping or something but alas I didn't realize.  So forgive my not perfect photos.  I will blame the fact that it was windy and there were lots of kids there, oh and that I didn't buy rectangle tablecloths!  But who really cares everyone loved it and thought it was fun.  And the birthday boy Carter really loved it so that's what's really important!

The snacks:

Aren't the snack names cute? So works well with the robot them! 

Thirsty anyone?

Chad's parents own a water company that bottles natural spring water and they give us water!  I made the labels myself.  I decided to not do the whole juice for kids because I actually try not to give my kids juice since it's so bad for there teeth.  Plus I had made all the labels and put them on the bottles before I even thought about juice!  I was a little worried some kids wouldn't be pleased but no one complained, but the kids loved it!

I stamped the robots with wild honey, barn door, and shabby shutters TH distress inks.  I made with words with my typewriter letters set by HA.  The striped paper is from BO Bunny.  I really enjoyed stamping the cupcake toppers, the water bottle labels, and the signs!  I may have laughed to myself too!  I went simple which was easiest as there was a lot to do!  I was so excited for Carter and everyone else to see it!  Here are some pictures of the party itself:

A few of the kids:

Time to Eat:

I love the look on Carter's face here (Chad and I laughed when we saw this) this was taken while he was opening presents.  This year was the first birthday that he got the whole present thing!  He kept grabbing presents and trying to open them!

And there you are!  I am really happy with Carter's birthday party!  And he loved it!  He has so been enjoying playing with his new toys!  Thank you for all his birthday wishes!  :>

Happy 3rd Birthday Carter!

Today is my baby's 3rd Birthday!  Oh boy!  It's hard to believe that my youngest is 3 already!  I can still remember when he was born and it really does feel like yesterday!  Happy Birthday Carter you've been such a blessing to our family!  And really added a lot of color to our life!  Your full of energy and are all boy and do we ever love you for it!  I can't believe how much you've grown!  Here are some of my favorite photos of him from this past year:

He looks so little here in his motorcycle jacket:

Gotta love this one:

 

Having fun in the snow:

Fun at the park:

 

Carter loves sports:

I love this one:

Happy Birthday to my handsome boy!  Can't wait to see what next year brings!  I will be back soon with his birthday party.  I am so excited as I got quite crafty for it!

Sweet Threads Your Specail

Hello!  Happy Wednesday!  Hope your having a great week!  We are still very much enjoying summer over here!  Today I have a card that I made for the former owner of my LSS.  She sold her business (to a really nice girl I may add) and is retiring.  They are having an open house this upcoming Saturday and I will be having Carter's birthday than so I won't be able to go.  I did want to give her a card though and I am proud that I made one, and actually got it there before!  And I also enjoyed shopping!

Keeping with my personal challenge of using stamps and papers that I have yet or hardly used today my card is using Sweet Threads stamps by Hero Arts and the matching 6 by 6 pad by Basic Grey.  This is my second time using them.

I thought that the your special sentiment was a nice one to use. I embossed with brown zing powder both the flower and the leaves.  I used my favorite papers from the stack for this card! 

Yesterday I went out with two friends to see:

Yes I am a gleek and I love glee!  How can I not?  I love to sing and performed when I was young.  The concert movie was amazing!  It really was like being at a concert but with better seats!  I've actually seen A LOT of movies lately on our anniversary night out Chad and I ended up seeing two movies after dinner!  The kids were gone for the night so we really took advantage!  We saw:

Which we really enjoyed.  A really good love messy story.  And good acting!  We also saw a comedy:

So funny!  Very much my hubby's kind of movie!  I enjoyed the actors in it too and the story and of course all the comedy!  It was nice to see two very different from each other movies in one night.

Well I am off!  It's time to put my kiddies to bed, why is it that they always play the best right when it's time to put them to bed?

Wee Memories August Blog Hop!

Hello!  Happy Saturday!  It's our first Wee Memories Challenge of August which means that we have our blog hop!  What makes it even better is that it's our new designers first challenge!  I am so excited about our new girls that we have joining us!  What an amazing talented bunch!  You should have arrived here from Amy's blog!  If not we would love for you to hop with us, check out the Wee Memories blog!

Our sponsor this week is Graphic 45!  Our challenge is Masculine creations!   

I pulled out a few background stamps and the going set by Hero Arts and came up with this:

I like this fun and clean design!  I am so loving the pennants lately!  :>  And what's more masculine than a truck?

I want to share some exciting news.  Last Saturday I received an email that one of my cards was picked up for publication in Cards magazine January 2012 issue!  I can't tell you how happy I was when I saw the email!  I literally screamed out loud and ran outside to tell my husband and Father who were building my fence, lol!  Than I called a few of my friends who are also crafty!  I cannot believe the response I have received from my friends and family.  I was so excited how could I not have posted it as my facebook status!  The comments and likes on it was so kind!  And since I've had a lot of them when I see them or message me and tell me congrats, and this is people who aren't crafty and I wouldn't think "got it"  a lot of I am going to buy it and you can sign it for me!  LOL!!!  I am so happy I finally took the time and courage to submit!  I was so scared of rejection.  I finally told my husband you know what I am going to do it and it's okay if it doesn't go anywhere this is my hobby and I do it because I love it!  I want to encourage you to try too!

Your next stop on the hop is Brandi! I hope that you will join us this week.  Don't forget that with summer our challenge is two weeks long (giving you enough time to play!!)  And our challenge runs until Friday August 26th 11:59 PST.   I hope that you are enjoying the hop!

Birthday Blog Hop for Jenny!

Hello!  I am here with a surprise birthday blog hop for Jenny Suchins!   A bunch of us have gotten together to celebrate her birthday with a blog hop!  Jenny Happy Birthday!  I hope you feel special today because you are!  You really are a sweet kind person!  And I am so thankful to be able to call you my friend!  I am wishing you a wonderful year!  I hope your carfty career continues to grow because you are so talented!  I pray that your health only gets better!  Wishing you love and happiness in your personal life to with your family!

For my card for Jenny I wanted to do a cute fun card like she likes to create to!  I am on a personal challenge to ink some not used stamps and create with my patterned paper packs that I have hardly or not used!  

I played with the stamp set Laurdale by Hero Arts.  I embossed in aqua (Zing) pink and citron (Recollections) onto various pattered paper from the Lime Twist by Mind's Eye.  I also used one of my favorite stamps by HA the graph background.  :>

I am the start of the hop and your next stop is LAUREL! 

I hope that you will join us for our birthday hop for Jenny!  We really have some great cards to share!  Here is the list:

Anita Recksiedler    http://craftygrldesigns.blogspot.com/
Laurel Seabrook    http://www.want2scrap.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hjulberg     http://lisahjulberg.blogspot.com/
Vera Yates   http://lingshappyplace.blogspot.com/
Ashley Nguyen Newell    http://www.hearthugsdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lindsay Amrhein   http://lindsayamrhein.blogspot.com/
Jessica Fick    http://iembellish.blogspot.com/
Alice-Lihsuan Wertz  http://aliceslittlewonderland.blogspot.com/
Wendy Elliot http://wendyelliot.blogspot.com/
Linn Miller   http://www.millers-ink.net/
Laurel Beard    http://laurelbeard.wordpress.com/

Have a fantastic day!

Happy 9th Anniversary!

Hello!  Today is Chad and my 9th Anniversary!  It's hard to believe that it's 9 years that we have been married already!  I really have loved being married to Chad and enjoy our life together.  I really feel that we are a good match for each other and compliment each other!  These past 9 years have been amazing as we went from a newlywed couple to parents!  I have loved building a life together!  I love having Chad as my partner and fellow parent.  I love that he is the father to my kids.  And oh how I adore the kids we have made, they really turned out so cute!  

Last year I shared a bit about how Chad and I met and our wedding day and some photos.  You can check it out here if you would like to.  Chad was my first and only boyfriend and my first kiss.  We met while I was in university.  :>  With my younger brother engaged now (so excited) and planning his wedding I find myself thinking about my wedding day.  It's so fun to think about and remember!

I also wanted to share something very exciting and today really is the perfect day.  I have mentioned that I have been taking a course.  I am currently studying to become a real estate agent!  Chad is one and has been working already for over 10 years!  We plan on working together.  Today on our anniversary thinking of what our future holds as a couple who plan to work together really is exciting.  Last week I was thrilled when I (finally took a month in the mail) received the results of my first course, 87% I only got 7 questions wrong. 2 more courses left to go!  I love being a stay at home mom and going into real estate where you work for yourself and work your own hours is a great career choice.  I can still be home and work around my schedule and all that.:>

I did make Chad a card for our anniversary.  I kept with my current challenge of using crafty items that I have hardly or not used!  So I worked with my Sweet Threads Stamp set and the matching papers (I used the papers once and hardly!)  

Well I am off for a fun day with my husband!  My inlaws took the kids for 2 nights to the cabin so we could have some time together.  :>  Enjoyed sleeping till 9 this am, hopefully of a sleepin tomorrow!  Looking forward to a date and some shopping (maybe a LSS?) and Chad does have to show a house so I will go with!  quite exciting!  :>

Be sure to come back tomorrow for something fun!  Hint hint...

Robot Birthday Card

Happy Monday!  Can you tell it's not a typical Monday over here?  It's a long weekend Monday!  Ater a super fun weekend in the sun we stayed home today and enjoyed a home day!  I've been able to get quite creative!  Not something I've done during the day in forever with summer and busy kids, I usually craft at night!  With hubby home it's been easy to craft!  And do laundry!  Yesterday the kids and I went to the beach with my parents.  We went to a pretty far beach an hour drive but so worth it, Grand Beach has been voted as one of the top 10 beaches in the world, it's the white sand!  Super hot what a day for the beach!  Chad stayed home as he had enough of the sun the day before.  It was nice to come home from the beach to a clean house!  YAY!

I've decided to challenge myself to play with new stamps and other crafty things that I haven't even taken out of the package yet!  And when I saw that part of this month's Hero Arts contest is cards for kids I knew I wanted to play with my Robot Trio set.  I can't believe I haven't yet!  I also want to try to use more patterned paper, as I keep buying them and not really using them!  I love My Mind's Eye Lime Twist pack but have hardly used it, and I think of it as a summery set! 

I colored the robot with pencils and added some glossy accents on the balloon and stickles on the cupcake!  I stamped the robot first and than masked it with a post it note and than stamped it with the graph background by HA.  By the way whenever I type the word Robot, I am always typing roboto!  I wonder what 80's song is in my head? 

Apparently today (August 1st) is National girlfriends day!  I didn't know it before when I planned it but tonight I went out with a bunch of my girlfriends.  We went out for some Thai and it was sooooo good!  I think Thai is my new favorite cuisine!  The flavor!  We shared a bunch of dishes so it was the best experience, so much yummy food!  Than we went out to the best gelati place in the city and I had chcolatorra (really good) and pinapple!  As good as the food was the conversation and being with my friends really was the best part!

All in all this long weekend really was a great long weekend.  I am glad we stayed in the city and had fun!  An I am off.  Chad and I have been watching the Mentalist and really enjoying catching up with that show!  :>