Tuesday, June 29, 2010

A Summer Banner

Hello there! Just popping to share a Summer banner I made with the July WIP kit - sold out! I used a Nikki Sivils chipboard book. It was a house but I cut off the chimney and used just the base. I was inspired by the summer beach huts that are always so colorful and well, cute. So here is my banner.
I used both sides of the Echo Park paper. I curled the edges to make it look like fabric being pulled back.

For the letterrs I used my Slice.

I used burlap to tie in betweeen the huts - I think it added to the beachy feel.

It looks really cute hanging above my door. I hope this inspired you to make a banner! Thanks for stopping in.


Monday, June 28, 2010

Travel Tips

Since this is one of the most traveled weeks in the year, I thought I'd post a few tips and links for those of you who are looking to hit the road...
* Pass the camera to someone else and have them take photos. You never know what you're going to get--but sometimes you end up with a shot you normally may not have taken yourself.

* Collect random objects along your adventure, and display them in a special place when you get home. This year we did objects we found on the beach in this star shaped dish from PB. Last year we saved all our receipts and put them in a shadowbox with photos--it turned out really cool!


* Meet Amy, our GPS. Now, if you don't own one--do yourself a favor and either borrow one or grab one before heading out. This gismo has completely changed the way our family travels, and we all swear by her. The best part is that you can detatch it from the car, put it in your backpack and still not get lost. We took her on our trip to NYC and she got us everywhere we needed to go. No arguments about wrong turns or which way we think we're headed--she's got it all. We love Amy!!


For fun family car games, check this and this out. We particularly love the license plate game and Slugbug, of course.


Be sure to pack lots of snacks that won't melt (especially if you're headed somewhere hot). We loaded up on fruit snacks, Cheez-Its, crackers and chips. We also took our water bottles and a cooler, which came in handy for our frequent trips to the beach.


If you live near a Costco, we invested in these and this this year. We tried them and would highly recommend both purchases!!


Here is a great article on packing for a trip.


Feel free to share any of your favorite tips, too!! Happy Trails!!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Playing with the July WIP Kits...

...and wanted to share a few of the ten I've completed so far. Fun kit...
I chose black cardstock to make the bright colors pop in this one. Also elected to do a bit of hybrid scrapping here, too. The words "Our Sunday Morning" are printed on the photo. The others are stickers I added to enhance the design.

The bright colors lent themselves to fun summer pages, and once I pulled the kit out, the ideas just flowed this month. I could easily do another 4-6 pages...and I just might!! Don't you just love Echo Park's quality? They're going to be a favorite of mine, I can feel it already...
On this one, I used the border paper with clouds to enhance the background paper on this layout by hand-cutting the clouds and bumping them up with pop-dots. I also used my punches to go through the corrugated teal chipboard--it worked without any problems!! Stay tuned for more of that cool textured stuff in upcoming kits...


I can't wait to show you what the DT has created with this kit. It just may be the best reveal of the year, I do believe!!
Enjoy your weekend...



Friday, June 25, 2010

Photofunia

I recently discovered this little fun site: Photofunia.

What do you think? I look good on a building in Taipei, no? I think I fit right in, hee hee.

Hmm... how did he get the blue from that orange pastel? LOL

Go check it out, so many fun choices!!! Go nuts!!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

wow.



The July Main Kit. Sold out already. Again. Can you believe it?!? Trish always puts together amazing kits but the past two months have been above and beyond amazing. I've heard little rumors about next month...if they are true...I predict another sellout. Don't wait to order that kit - or better yet, learn how to subscribe right here.

I can't wait to share my projects from this month's kit. I had so much fun creating with the new Echo Park papers. The bright cheery colors go so well with summer photos. I have made four pages and still have tons left to make more. You are going to want to use every last scrap of the delicious patterned papers.

Here is a little help to get you started. I have a Bazzill swatch book and found cardstock colors that match the Echo Park Sweet Summertime papers. I used the actual cardstock samples to choose, they may look different on your screen, so follow the color name and number.





Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Graduation time

This past weekend we celebrated my nephew's graduation and I thought I'd share some of the fun things my sister and I made/did for the party.

She had it decorated so nice with all his awards and pictures.
The graduation caps I made in the past. This year I made some changes, instead of using chocolate covered graham crackers I used hershey bars to make squares for the tops and I used Air Head Extremes for the tassel.
And I just loved how the favors came out! Deb came over and we made our first sample one by trying a few things and then Deb got everything cut and ready for us to make once we made the chocolate covered popcorn closer to the date of the party.

The photo cards I ordered at Moo cards with his graduation photo on them and included his name, class of 2010 and the quote " The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" on the back of the card.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Reflecting on our vacation...

Spent a week in South Carolina and Georgia with the family, with tons of uninterrupted family time. There will be lots of layouts to come, I promise. But for now, these two photos...
This would be our son, Griffin, on the car ride home. Eleven hours is a long time to hang in there, especially with two older siblings who were so eager to show you the awesome possibilities of washable markers. For fear that their father would yell, the older two handed him open markers and told him where to draw an hour before we made it home. Nice, eh? No, he doesn't have a bloody nose. That would be red marker that fit into his nostrils perfectly. We had to laugh. They could not stop giggling--and I know they will remember it forever. Yes, it wiped right off with a washcloth. Yes, he asked to do it again today. Mean Mama told him to save it for a special occasion...
And I swear, I want to own a red VW bug more than anything...
I'm real behind on emails, but I'm going to do my very best to get them all addressed by the end of the day today. Have a good one!!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Showing some Etsy love...

It has been a while, so I thought I'd share a few Etsy finds. I know you crafty people out there are resourceful, so someone, for the love of all things holy...PLEASE tell me who makes this adorable must-have punch...
Anyone? I'd seriously love you forever.
Moving on...
I'm so lifting this idea for the next girl's craft day...



I'm coveting this necklace in a crazy-bad way...


These calendar tags are simply delish...
And these Coffee or Tea bags are too cute...
Have a splendid Monday!!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Summer Cards

Thinking of you and Thank you cards for summer...

Fresh from my garden. Just right click on the image, save it to your computer as a picture, and print (or upload it somewhere to have it printed). Cut them up up and add them to white cardstock for a simple summer card. Enjoy!


Friday, June 18, 2010

Another Fun Photo Collage Website

Last week, I was invited to visit a new website by the site's owner, Maurice. He thought I would like it...and he was right...




He created a website with free digi collage templates that you can use for your pictures. I played a little and can't wait to print these!! It is quick and easy to use--just follow the commands and it will walk you through the process. Go ahead and play--and sign up for their newsletter!!
Photovisi.com--go ahead and play!!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

60+ fun days of summer

go to a water park
better yet, host a water gun fight in the back yard
make sno-cones
have a picnic
make fun picnic ware
start a nature journal
visit the zoo
make homemade ice cream
(create a new summer flavor)
throw a block party
make sidewalk chalk art
learn how to hula-hoop
hike a new trail
create root beer floats
find a park you have never visited
have a neighborhood scavenger hunt
go geo-caching
build a fire pit of an evening
have a tea party with friends and tell stories
visit your local botanical garden
create a watermelon basket
go for a bike ride
concoct your own homemade smoothies
create a mixed media summer poster
go on a boat ride
smore's over a campfire
watch a fire works display
volunteer to help a neighbor
visit a local historic site
grill breakfast
throw a block party
make festive patio decorations
visit a water fall
plant pumpkins for the fall
create an ice cream sundae bar and have a summer party
play croquet
make a banner
dance in the sprinklers
eat outdoors as often as possible
make homemade lemonade
make a years worth of birthday cards and file them away by month
go fly a kite
watch an outdoor movie
play in the rain

make a list of local places you have yet to visit, and visit them
read
create a list of books to read
create a list for books you HAVE read this summer
join a library or book store reading program
try a new recipe on the grill
go swimming
take an evening walk with a flashlight
camp out in the backyard
make a fresh strawberry pie
scrapbook a road trip
organize papers and art projects into a scrapbook from the school year
paint festive t-shirts
make up carnival games and have a backyard carnival
journal the summer
create a diorama of your vacation
freeze juice pops for a fruity, icy treat
check out martha's 60 summer ideas for kids
and lastly...
make up your own list of things to do this summer.

wip siggy

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

An Easy, Delicious Summertime Recipe

When it comes to cooking, I'm all about easy. Last summer I stumbled on this recipe when I was looking for something to make with the few ingredients I had in my fridge.

It can be made any season, but summertime is ideal because that's when the tomatoes and corn are best. An added bonus: I'm on Weight Watchers, and this is definitely Weight Watchers-friendly.


photo by Susie Cushner from kaboodle.com


Sauteed Shrimp with Corn, Basil, and Tomato

Makes 6 servings (200 cal., 6.5 g fat, 3 g. fiber = 4 points per serving)

INGREDIENTS:
4 t. olive oil
1 T unsalted butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 lb. frozen corn, thawed and drained
1-3/4 cup grape tomatoes, halved (about 1 pint)
1 lb. large srhimp, shelled and deveined (thawed, if frozen)
1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 T fresh lime juice
salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat 2 t. oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion, corn, and tomatoes; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.

2. Trransfer to a serving bowl.

3. Rinse shrimp and pat very dry.

4. Heat remaining 2 tsp. oil in skillet over moderately high heat. Add shrimp and cook, turning once, until golden brown and opaque, about 3 minutes.

5. Transfer to bowl with vegetables. Add basil and lime jice; salt and pepper to taste. Toss until combined well.

MY NOTES:
  • I used cherry tomatoes (because I like them better than grape tomatoes).
  • I used a whole lime--may use more than one next time (I really love lime).
  • I used frozen, fully cooked shrimp that I thawed with cold water, so I didn't cook the shrimp that long--just enough to heat.
  • I used two whole packs of basil (mainly because that's what Farzad bought.
  • I would probably use less oil next time (to save calories), and I think it would be okay.
  • The whole dinner was done, from prep to cooked, in less than 15 minutes.
Note to self: Plant some basil so I can make this a LOT this summer. :)