think fast

designer challenge and photo share

It's one of those posts "when it rains, it pours". Meaning I am sharing birthday party photos today as an add on from my Paper Crafts Connection post and the card I made as part of the Go-to Gal Challenge! Well, maybe this will make up for my lack of blogging lately. <grin>

First, the Designer Challenge. (My friends looking for Party Ensemble fun - scroll down and enjoy). This month the Go-to Gals are having a blast with the fun and cute sticker collection of SRM Stickers. Susan is always so generous with us and we love to give a little back in the form of inspiration.

I love using the SRM stickers - so quick and easy. The stickers on my card are part of Susan's new border collection. Love them.

Check out: Teri, Windy, Julie, Betsy and Jennifer for more SRM goodness.

Secondly, I've been kind of waiting to share more photos of Eloise's 4th birthday party. Okay, maybe I haven't actually edited all of them...but, what better day than when Paper Crafts Magazine is celebrating our new book - Party Ensembles! Whoo-hoo.

Over 1,000 projects in this yummilicious big fat book. It's definitely a must have!

I'm sharing a new project that goes along with one of my party sets in the book over at Paper Crafts Connection today (in case you are going rather than coming from there...does that make sense?).

In any case, here are some details from my daughter's recent 4th birthday party.

The theme was a Teddy Bear Picnic; we had the party in the pretty grass front yard. I stitched up bow ties for her favorite teddy bears (which we put in a doll crib that once belonged to another four year old in 1969 - yeah, me!).

I've collected bears for years, also. It was fun to pull them out of storage and get them some lovin'.

All primped and ready to go.

Eloise is setting up the tea party.

It didn't take long for chaos to arrive. Oh well, they had a ball.

On a calmer front, I used vintage sheets for tablecloths, simple daisies in a big jar and a thrifted ceramic piece for the table.

Milk and cookies were the order of the day. I made four kinds of cookies - they were delish. Even the parents enjoyed!

Here's a cute shot Jessica took of the cookies eating business. I hung a fabric banner in the elm tree and used crocheted afghans for blankets.

I made up treat bags for each guest. The tag says "thanks beary much for coming to my party - Eloise".

Inside we packed a little notebook, a bear treat container, some Teddy Grahams (of course) and some felt food. Oh, I added gummy bears after I took this photo, too.

Overall, a very happy group of sweet girls and one very tired birthday girl. She had so much fun! And, really? Mom did, too. Mom did, too!

Thanks for sharing a few minutes of your time. If you haven't already been there, check out the Paper Crafts blog - you just might win your own copy of Party Ensembles! Sweet.

Later.

 

craft week 2

Sharing another craft table idea today. And, yes, this was also found on one of my Pinterest boards. It is pinned from this gal: Juggling with Kids and it looks like she found something similiar from Family Fun magazine. Gotta love it.

This photo is from Pinterest since our little guys aren't 100% finished. The gals at Craft night made a bunch, then my kids and I made twenty more a few nights ago.

You can see that ours are a little different, we added more paper, some feathers, even a few buttons. Good times. I even spy one with a mustache. Hee.

Here are a couple of my favorites. Now picture them with the snack bag "wings". So cute. We'll add crackers, teddy grahams, etc. for the craft table. Not grapes. And not candy. Nice to offer something besides candy for a kid who is supposed to be sitting quietly at church services. Right.

Any ideas what else to put in the bags? It has to be small enough -would you do cereal at all? Still looking for filler ideas.

Later.

craft week

Feeling the urge to share some crafty things I've been up lately. Every year I have all kinds of ideas for things to make and sell at our annual craft table at church services (held every February)...and every year I am running around two weeks before making items like crazy. It's not like I don't know this is coming up, right? Procrastination much?

But, maybe the gathering of ideas is all part of the process. Let me tell you, Pinterest is making that task so fun and easy! Too many ideas, actually. A good problem.

These adorable things are directly from my "Crafting Inspiration" pinboard. Another gal from church pinned them first (Hi, Lindsay!)...wonder if she made any for the craft table? Well, we made a dozen and I'm sure they will sell fast! Here is the link for the original artist: Jess/Craftiness Is Not Optional. We followed her tutorial pretty much exactly - I just substituted colored elastic bands for white. Do you spy any scrapbooking product in those embellies? Hee.

I had craft night at my house last week - about eight ladies showed up! We got a lot accomplished. The twelve headbands were just the beginning. I will share more crafy ideas all week long, how's that?

Of course, I couldn't resist a little photo shoot with Miss Eloise. Aww.

Have a great Monday!
Later. 

happy 100 Arizona

I know it's Valentine's Day for 49 out of 50 states, but it's also Arizona's 100th birthday! How fun for my little state. When I was in school, I always got a kick out of the fact that Arizona got its statehood on February 14th. Pretty cool.

So, what do I love about Arizona?

1. Sure, it's hot in the summer, but you don't have to shovel sunshine, right?

2. Variety: you can golf one day and ski the next. We actually have (I'm pretty sure) around seven different climate zones in the state.

3,  Desert camping. Yes, we camp up north during the summer, but the camping trip pictured was New Year's Day weekend. Yes, that's January 1st. Camping and hiking in the desert is awesome.

4. Our dramatic sunsets. No lie - this photos is straight out of the camera. Sweet.

5. Wearing shorts and flip flops year round. Well, not so much on the shorts for me; but yes on the flips. Hee.

6. Location, location, location. You thought I was going to say "friends", right? Well that is certainly true, but unique to Arizona is how close we are to great destinations. Whether it's a quick shopping trip to Flagstaff (pictured), or six ladies jumping in the Suburban for a 6 hour ride to California. Love how close we are to LA and San Diego. Lucky.

7. You have probably picked up from reading my blog that we spend a LOT of time outdoors. From parties in the front yard, to bonfires in the back, outdoor life can't be underestimated. Year round beautiful weather and nary a bug to be seen. Love that.

8. Saguaros: love the majesty of these cacti. Only found in our state. Did I say that I loved them?

9. Great eats. We may not be "known" as a great food city, but we have many, many gems that just aren't found in other places. Authentic mexican food is just the beginning.

10. It might be Tristam's influence (he's an architect), but I love the Southwest's style. We have such great homes, resorts, and businesses here in Arizona. It would take a lifetime to see them all. Such fun.

So, there's my Arizona pitch. Any other Arizonans want to speak up? Or, if you have visited here, what did YOU love?

Happy Birthday, Arizona!
Later. 

CHA wrap up

Happy Friday, you all! Excited to be posting (again) over on the Moxie Fab World today picking some of my most fave products from CHA.

And here, I'm going to wax a little philosophical. I want to share one more trend I noticed at the show, but it takes a wee bit of explaining. I think part of this trend has to do with this.

The whole idea of "handmade". (Great Lawn Fawn stamp, btw). Some of you might be saying "Duh, all scrapbook/paper crafts are handmade." That is true, but this trend goes a little deeper.

Maybe I should call it the "Etsy Inspired Trend" - it's all about getting messy, trying new things, DIY embellishments, doodling, being free. (Chipboard is part of Fancy Pants BE YOU collection - so adorable).

Check out this canvas - quite a departure from Pink Paislee's classic collections, this was created with Christy Tomlinson's new She Art line. I'm not normally drawn to the mixed media message, but this I can "get". I can take a paper line and make my own art. It's almost like a kit type of idea. Do you know what I mean?

This is another line of products from EK Success/Dimension products that is kit based. All you have to do is add the hand stitching. Cool, right? In fact, I read an article in a magazine about the popularity of hand crafts and why people are so attracted to them, and to "kits" in particular. It's because they get satisfaction from creating something with their own hands. (It's certainly not to save money, right?)

Here are a couple of artsy styled layouts that might visually express my thoughts on this trend. Fun, a little messy, stitched, painted, awesomeness all the way around.

Another super cute line found in the Prima booth (see? I'm telling you, a little weird). Ruby Violet -very hand drawn/doodled in nature. And the Bits and Baubles by Ruby Violet? They make my heart swoon.

Vintage and fun and artsy all wrapped up together. I was so inspired, in fact, that I whipped up this card when I got home.

Just bits and pieces from my desktop. I didn't think too hard, just clustered those embellishments together and added a button/sticker for my sentiment. So fun.

Well - thanks for hanging in there while I chatted away. Can you help me name my trend? Are you feeling it? LOL! In any case, have a great weekend!

Later.

trendy watching

Hey there! Check out Moxie Fab World today - I'm posting about three of my top picks for trends from CHA.

Here's a little hint about my favorite one! (From Nancy and Betty Studio)

Later.

quick change artist

So I mentioned that CHA was a little different for me this time. Instead of only sporting a Media Badge (you need credentials to get into the show), I also wore an Exhibitor Badge for the first time in many a year.

Kim Hughes decided to take the plunge and exhibit her Paper Smooches stamps for the first ever at CHA. Awesome.

We were so excited to help Kim out - she did a fantastic job on her booth space making every square foot work for her.

Her are Karolyn, Kim and Carole stuffing the last few catalogs before the show opened. (Psst- check out the blogs these girls write, they are all three super talents).

And here are all four of us minutes before the crowd arrived. Kim had a fantastic show, I think partly because she was so detail oriented; even down to the adorable "kisses" she had for the shoppers.

She also had plenty of cute cards on display in the booth.

And of course, her faithful crew.

Acting silly about 90% of the time. Hee, hee. Overall, it was fun to be "behind the scenes" and I couldn't want more success for Kim and her new enterprise. Watch for Paper Smooches stamps to hit the shelves in your local store, If they don't, ask for them!

Lots more CHA stuff tomorrow!
Later. 

CHA week, day one

Betcha some of you have been wondering where I disappeared to? Yep, it's that time of year again - CHA! The Craft and Hobby Association Show comes around every January and I'm lucky enough to be able to attend. This year was a little bit different (more on that tomorrow) but once again it was a fantastic show.

I'm still sorting photos, but wanted to start a little peek today. This is a sampling of what the show has to offer.

Quite literally row after row after row of colorful, delicious crafty goodness. Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming. Stay tuned all this week here and over at the Moxie Fab World where the Go-to Gals will be posting their favorites and doing a little trend watching every day. (I will be posting there on Wednesday). I'm even diving into a few of the samples I brought home, so watch for cards up on the blog this week, too.

Speaking of cards -- I'm playing with the Jillibean gals over in the Card Kitchen all this week, too! How fun is that? Click HERE to see a few of my cards and watch while Kimber posts more throughout the week. Nothing like jumping back in with both feet! Hee, hee.

Take care.
Later.