Crafty Weekend Part 2

I'm back today to share more from my crafty weekend. See the other layouts from my successful scrapping weekend here.

My Peeps

I sat with this sketch for awhile before this page emerged. I had fun using the Classic Calico collection from Studio Calico. Tons of versatile patterns. I added pops of pink to add some contrast.

Easter Finery

This page came together very quickly. I took out Amy Tangerine's new Sketchbook collection and went to town. Isn't that background paper fun?! I added a few of the die cuts and embellishments and called it done.

I still have a handful of sketches to work on. I'm busy with family on Saturday, but maybe Sunday afternoon I can sneak in a few hours to scrap.

I hope you have a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by.

The 34 List

When I turned 34 last October, I didn't really feel like making a list of things I'd like to accomplish during that year, like I have in years past. I was still looking for a job, and quite frankly was in a sad place. Making a list was too hopeful when I feeling lost of hope. But then a couple of weeks ago, I changed my mind. These last few months have flown by, and I haven't been in the moment nearly enough. I haven't been happy with how I've spent my time. I've learned that I need to plan, and be deliberate about how I spend my time, or stuff won't happen. In comes the list.

I have a lot to cram into these few months, but I'm up for it. I cheated a little too and added a few things I've already done.

Let's roll.

1| Visit James J. Hill house
2| See plays at four new theaters (One down, 3 to go)
3| See five movies in the theater (One down, 4 to go)
4| Go on a girls weekend for my 35th birthday
5| Take a class (writing, fitness, Archiver's)
6| Have my nieces over for the weekend
7| Buy a queen mattress (Check)
8| Hire a professional photographer to take photos during Rick Fest
9| Dance all night (Check)
10| Try three new restaurants
11| Go to a Lynx game
12| Make three new dishes (One down, 2 to go)
13| Major blog overhaul
14| Write lots of letters
15| Hang B&W photos
16| Grow out my hair (Check)
17| Play lots of tennis
18| Volunteer somewhere new
19| Go to a Josh Ritter concert
20| Get a mani and a pedi
21| Buy new plants
22| Finish organizing/scanning old photos
23| Take day trips to St. Peter and Northfield
24| Read my growing pile of books
25| Be fierce (ala Kal Barteski)
26| Take a trip to the North Shore
27| Get healthy
28| Join a nonprofit board or committee
29| Get a new comforter
30| Make new connections. Nurture the old ones.
31| Advocate on Capitol Hill (Check)
32| Do more for others. Look outside myself.
33| Start a Twitter account
34| Document it all!

Ten on Tuesday

1| I made my favorite rice salad for the first time this year. It's a great spring/summer salad. Super easy too. Rice, chickpeas, feta, roasted red peppers, green onion, parsley and dill. With a lemon juice, garlic, olive oil dressing. Hmmm....good.

2| I finally bought a new mattress and boy, what a difference! I'm sleeping so well now.

3| My wish list is growing. I want to take Ali Edwards' new class. I want to buy Elise Blaha's new stamps. I want to buy all the washi tape at Freckled Fawn. I want the new Here and Now kit from Elle's Studio.

4| I had a big spring cleaning weekend. I purged old magazines, stuffed a couple of bags of clothes to donate, caught up on laundry, and even cleaned my car. Feels good to start the week off fresh. Now, only if it would all stay clean!

5| I talked with my niece on the phone for awhile the other day. She went on and on about how much fun she had at a swimming birthday party. It warmed my heart to hear her happiness radiating through the phone.

6| I bought these earrings. I'm wearing them all the time. Love.

7| May is almost here. How is this possible? Mother's Day is upon us and I'm contemplating gift ideas. What are you giving your Mom?

8| I ran out of tea this morning. Blerg. I was just at the store. I hate when that happens.

9| I changed my mind. I've decided to make a 34 list. Yeah, I'm 6 months behind, but that's ok. I'll make it work. I'll be sharing my list later this week.

10| I'll leave you with a quote, "I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it will be." -- Groucho Marx

Crafty Weekend

Hello Monday. You came too fast, but I was able to get a lot of scrapping in this weekend, so I'm happy about that. I almost got caught up in the Sketchbook 4 class with Kelly Purkey. She's had a bunch of great sketches that have really stretched my creativity.

Today Much Joy

Archiver's was having a sale on mists and masks, so I picked up the plano mask from Studio Calico and a couple new Mr. Huey colors. I used the plano mask on this page, and love how it turned out.

These pictures make me smile. I especially love the last one, where A is sneaking a look at her brother.

Hello Nine

I had fun using a bunch of scraps and stamping and mist splatters on this page, including some festive confetti. I'm liking all the white space too. It's definitely a sketch I'd like to come back to again.

My nephew plays the violin, so we made him a violin cake. Well, more accurately, my sister made him a violin cake. It turned out so cool. We used a guitar shaped cake pan, and altered it to make it look like a violin. We used black licorice as the strings and black frosting for the S holes and chin rest. We used a little piece of cake for the bridge.

I'll be sharing more pages from the class this week. This weekend was a good reminder that scrapbooking isn't just a hobby for me....it's good for my soul. I feel lighter. I feel better. I need to make more room for it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bubbles

Today, I'm sharing another layout using a sketch from Kelly Purkey's Sketchbook 4 class. It's all about circles. I don't often use circles on layouts, which is strange, because I really love circles. It's often only when I'm challenged with a sketch that circles make an appearance. Crazy, I know.

When I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to scrap these pictures of my niece playing with bubbles. St. Patty's day was beautiful, so she hauled out this huge container of bubbles and we played for a long time; chasing and blowing and popping. Good times.

It was fun to imitate the bubbles using a circle punch. I also enjoyed placing the title moving up the page, like a bubble. I used the Dots and Stripes collection from Echo Park. One of my favorite collections from them. I also used some Amy Tangerine and Elle's Studio.

The weather report for this weekend calls for rain. I don't mind. I really want to stay in and scrap!

What are you up to this weekend?

3rd Annual Day of Fun

I signed up for Kelly Purkey's Sketchbook 4 class through Studio Calico. I love her sketchbook classes! I finally found time to work with the first sketch.

I am not a big fan of buying more stuff for birthday gifts. I'd much rather buy an experience. Something that we'll both remember and cherish. The last several years, I've given my nieces a Day of Fun. They get to choose an activity, a book at Barnes and we share a meal, their choice of the restaurant.

This year, my niece chose to go The Hunger Games movie and we had dinner at Punch pizza. We had a really fun day. She turned 13 this year. I told her when she turned 13 that she could start to ride in the front seat with me. This outing was the first time. Very strange to have her sitting next to me. I'm not ready for her to be growing up so fast, but I'm so glad that she still wants to spend time with me!

Looking at it, I wish I had moved the journaling and title up a bit to line up with the paper. Ah, well. I used a few things from Amy Tan's new Sketchbook collection; the chevron brad and the Admit Two ticket. I can't wait to play with more of that collection. Fun stuff.

I'm back tomorrow sharing another layout from the class. See you then!

Ten on Tuesday

*A special Ten on Tuesday today. Ten things I want to remember about our Easter weekend celebration. A few weeks ago, we found out my brother and his family were able to come. Hooray! Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling all that well, but good times were still had. 

1| I want to remember taking these photos. The last few times we've gotten together, the kids have all gone off and played together, and we don't see them as much as I'd like. I loved these few moments being silly together.

2| I want to remember celebrating my nephew's birthday. We got a violin cake mold and made the strings with black licorice, and the chin rest with black frosting, and the bridge with an extra piece of cake. It turned out awesome. My nephew took time to read my card, and thanked me for it and the gift. He's so polite!

3| I want to remember the trip to the zoo. I wasn't feeling the best, but I enjoyed watching the groundhogs. They were hilarious little creatures, speaking to each other by "barking." The kids enjoyed the farm babies. They were pretty cute.

4| I want to remember the Easter trivia game we played. We made up questions tailored for each child, and with each answer, they got a prize. My Mom was the MC, my oldest niece passed out the prizes and I was the host. I think they had a lot of fun. I certainly did. D told me afterwards that she wished there were more questions and harder ones. Mental note for next year.

5| I want to remember S getting me past the level of Angry Birds that I've been stuck on. Now, I'm stuck on the next level!

6| I want to remember playing 500 and Be Mean to Your Neighbor. I love playing games. There was a lot of laughter and oohs and ughs when the certain cards made an appearance.

7| I want to remember the wonderful Easter feast; a roast beef dinner. It allowed for great leftovers the last few days too. Yum, yum.

8| I want to remember playing Battle Ships with D on Easter morning. She got it from the Easter bunny. She sunk all my ships! We put our largest ship in the same spot. Great minds....

9| I want to remember A playing the piano. She gave us several concerts with songs she made up. They were really fun. She sat on the bench and moved her entire body with the movement of her fingers. It was so cute. She gave us a great bow at the end too.

10| I want to remember how well the cousins played together. They were attached at the hip the entire weekend; playing a lot of school. I loved playing school at their age too. A especially loved being with D. They were so cute when they held hands at the zoo. They also all went to the park on their own. That's definitely a first. I love that they get along so well.