They're a pickin...

...and I'm a grinning'...(Hee Haw, remember?)
Here in Northeast Ohio, it is that time of year--strawberry picking!! I took our three kids to Fitch's Farm--an annual tradition for us. Made sure to say hello to Mrs. Fitch, my freshman Home Ec teacher and owner of this fine establishment...

We headed out, baskets in tow...in search of the perfect strawberry.

Note: This is a perfect shot of why you should not shoot in bright sunlight. Harsh shadows, squinty eyes, you get the idea. But hey, it was a cool 72 degrees (cool for strawberry picking anyway), so I can't complain...

This was Griffin's idea of the perfect berry.

And this was Evan's. Note that he uses his shirt as a napkin all day long. The best part about strawberry picking is sampling the goods, right? Wonder if the cashier noted that when we checked out. Oh, and he's totally into the faux hawk and doing his hair himself, too. Gotta love 7 year old boys...

Once in a while I capture a shot of my daughter that reminds me of myself at her age. This one does for sure. My mom agreed. I love that her hair is in her face--so her.

Proof that he was a hard worker. Are there child labor laws for strawberry picking? And is anyone else's children obsessed with the silly band bracelets, or just mine? Random...

I love this one. Something about it just makes me want to grab a spoon and eat him right up.

She'd be mad if I didn't add her picture of her top pick.

And here's the fakey-fake cheeseball smiles on our brood, along with the fruits of our labor. (Their mom is a cheeseball, too.)

Wherever you are, I sure hope you get to do fun things like this that mark your summer. Document them--bad lighting, dirty clothes, with cheesy smiles and all!!

Because You Can Can Can

A good friend was leaving my area of work, and I needed to make a card of "farewell."  I know what I wanted as the focus of this card, I've had this stamp in my stash for almost a year now, and I thought it would be perfect for him.  I even know the sentiment I wanted to go with this stamp, as there was a little inside story, so inside, only I remembered :)  So I entertained one idea after another, trying to figure out this card... until the June WIP kit landed on my front porch.  And then I knew knew knew what to do do do. 

I'm sure there is a name for this stamping technique. Basically you stamp the image onto patterned paper and cut out the portion you want and piece it onto the main image.  Though copics markers have taken the stamping world by the storm, when it comes to coloring, I can't can't can't!  So this is what I did for the skirt of the dancer, very standard technique for those who are coloring-challenged like yours truly :) 

Fun projects

Thought I'd share a couple of projects I started working on since for us.... School is out!

Trish and I found these templates when we went to the Novi mega meet where we did a make and take at Darcie's booth.

with having less than a half hour before I had to leave I was able to put together this cute envelope and I can't wait to make more.

My other latest project began with one of the rolodex Sizzix dies and some shape dies.

Using my Canon Selphy printer, I printed off smaller sized pictures and created this fun mini....it makes me excited at the possibilities for gifts!

July 2010 WIP Kits

Here they are...
Surprised to see me a week ahead of time, huh? Well, like many of you, I'm heading out of town on vacation with the family, so I thought I'd get business taken care of with you before I leave. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. You are more than welcome to order a kit and pay for it on the 15th of the month (like usual), but it will not be shipped out until June 22nd. If you opt to order and pay for these kits now, they will ship out immediately (they're all ready to go!). So you do have options!

July Main Kit--$30



Contents of this kit include: 15 Patterned Papers (Echo Park, Jenni Bowlin, Making Memories and My Little Shoebox), Echo Park cardstock sticker sheet--Elements, Echo Park Cardstock Alpha and Trim sticker sheet, 4x12 teal corrugated chipboard, full set of Echo Park journaling labels, Jillibean Soup green alphas, burlap and fabric strips (set of 3), two large circular die cuts with matching 5 mini die cuts, three sun die cuts, and a set of 9 mini sandcastles (see project below).
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July Project Kit--$28 ETA--This kit is now SOLD OUT. Thank you!!


Contents of this kit include: 7 Papers (two cardstock--red, two Scenic Route Liberty, two Girls Paperie Noteworthy, and one Collage Press), Jenni Bowlin mini Playdate papers (6 4x4 papers in each kit), Doodlebug title cardstock sticker, Karen Foster mini Freedom license plate, mini Jenni Bowlin Bingo sheet, Jenni Bowlin ledger pennant cardstock stickers, flag die cut (freedom), Pink Paislee 4x8 Artisan Album with chipboard pages and binder inside, July rub on, Scenic Route Liberty Cardstock stickers, My Little Shoebox mini alphas in light blue, Doodlebug loopy lou cardstock stickers in blue, 8" red pom pom fringe, Jenni Bowlin tiny type navy on ivory stickers, and Pink Paislee Bayberry Cottage Ribbon Pleats--black and natural.
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July Add-On $20

Contents of this kit include: 5 Papers (2 Luxe Designs, 1 Making Memories, and two Bazzill shaped papers), 5 manila reinforced tags, two Bazzill 4" flowers in brown, 1 set of sticker gems, 1 Doodlebug Celebrate title cardstock sticker sheet, 1 Doodlebug Icon sticker sheet, American Crafts felt thickers in green, Jenni Bowlin cardstock butterflies, and Cosmo Cricket tiny alphas in brown.

Please email Trish at Turay413@gmail.com with your paypal address if you'd like to reserve your kit today! They're ready to ship now! :)

A Fun Treat in the July Kit...

Okay. So too much of a good thing is...FUN!!

When I saw the Echo Park papers for the first time, I couldn't wait to make another collage!! These 9 sandcastles are included in the July Main Kit--and are in two pieces.

First, I used pop-dots to give it dimension. Then...

After I added the flags, this is what it looked like. Now, you can go with this and frame it. I had to do it up a little different this time...

I added the "Summertime" title from the cardstock stickers, and voila! The 5x7 frame was purchased at none other than Michaels...

I love the way it turned out! That sand really adds a cool dimension--FUN!

Stay tuned--I'm posting the July kits here later on today!! If you are a subscriber, you should have received your email last night. Can't wait for the full reveal!!

Good Morning!

Hey there! It is my last full week of school - so big smiles everywhere - except when I realize that my little one is going to me a first grader - sigh when did that happen?

Well I just want to share my layouts that I completed with the Work in Progress June Kit -- I can't tell you how fabulous it was - and yes, I say was, because it is gone! Hehe - I used it all - love it when that happens - and I am positive that July's kit will not disappoint either - but that is a story for a later post:)

This page has to be one of my favorites. When I was gathering papers for this photo I loved the way the diecut paper looked - but the precut holes were distracting me AND the rainbow paper was calling my name. So I pleated the paper and adhered it. I loved the end result. And the title came together easily from a strip of paper by WRMK.

This page was a lucky fit. I had just made a shirt for my daughter for her country western day at school. The Martha Stewart pattern paper was the perfect fit/background. And I can't say enough about the Bingo sheets - I love them:)

This one I decided to use some burlap that I was previously using for a project. Again I used the bandana paper for the flowers.

And then I decided to do something fun for my dining table. For the stems I used green pencils that I found in the dollar section at michaels. They were perfect. To make the flowers different heights I just glued the pencils at different heights on the backs of the flowers.

That's it - it was a BLAST workign with this kit! Seriously loved every minute of it! Have a wonderful day!

My Latest Project & Garage Sale Info

I saw a skirt online a while ago (and can't find the link to save my life--sorry!) and it stuck with me. It was a simple pencil skirt with ric rac at the bottom. So when a friend shared her $2 vintage fabric with me, I had to make a skirt for my daughter (and her daughter...of course!)
You could do the same thing with a pillow case and a draw-string--these are simple straight stitches. I didn't have any elastic on hand, so I opted for a draw-string closure. Simple hem on the top and bottom, and top stitching of white ric rac (JoAnn's)...and I was finished in less than 30 minutes!!

I love how they turned out!! I'm a sucker for vintage fabric, and there is a ton leftover for another project...yeah!

This cute dress is on my list next.

Thanks for modeling, Rachel and Jami!

Garage Sale Info

Our annual Waterbury Community Garage Sale is this Wednesday night, and Thursday & Friday. For locals, we are located in North Ridgeville, Ohio, off of Chestnut Ridge Road. This is our 7th year for this event, and each year seems to top the previous year. I will be participating on Wednesday night (5-9pm) and Thursday (8-2) only, and am located on the main street of our development (9291 Victoria Lane). I usually sell out of my $1 grab bags on Wednesday evening--so I recommend you come early if you are looking for those! There are over 100 participants this year, so find a spot to park and walk from house to house--it is that simple. Feel free to email me with any questions at Turay413@gmail.com. I hope to see you there!

July Sneak Peek...

...Stay Tuned!! These gems will be available for purchase next week (a bit earlier than usual this month due to a scheduling conflict. More to come!)

I think I really need...

Cartridge Caddy - Provo, why the heck you didn't think of this yourself???


I don't buy too many cartridges anymore...but I think this one has me. Can't you see Trish making the cutest Halloween projects with this one?!!

I want to line my scrapbook shelves with these beautiful babies from Romanoff

Tim Holtz Embossing folders. Finally in stores!!!

New Jenni Bowlin stickers. Lovely.

Websters Pages Ribbons. Even more lovely.

Heidi Swapp's Electric Blue. Can you say "Hello Summer!"

I had to sit out for the June kit - and of course it was one of Trish's best ever. Way too many end of the school year activities and the Disney vacation really cut into my scrap time. I am SO excited to jump back in with the team and scrap the millions of fun photos I have taken over the past month. Just wait until you see what Trish has planned for July. Sweet is definitely a good description. :)

How About a Nice Cuppa?

I've always considered myself more of a coffee drinker than a tea fancier, but when I got snowed in for a week this winter, I discovered a whole new world of tea!

My mom had given me a box of fancy tea for Christmas, and on that first snowy day, I opened up the box. And proceeded to drink up the whole box in just two days. The tea was packaged in these lovely silk pyramid shaped teabags and the flavors were so smooth and delicious. When I ran out, I went online in search of some more Tea Forte. In my search, I stumbled upon a site called Steepster. I never knew there was a whole community people so obsessed with tea. People at Steepster chat about tea in forums, write tasting notes, and log what's in their tea cupboard.

I discovered a site called 52 Teas where they invent new and intriguing flavors every week, like Buttered Cinnamon Raisin Toast, Heath Bar Chocolate Toffee, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake. I proceeded to put seven different flavors in my cart, and they were delivered to my doorstep a few days later. I documented my new addiction on a layout I made when I was guest designing for WIP in March.

I've spent a small fortune in search of the perfect tea, and I think I've found it: White Coconut Crème by Art of Tea. Their teas are so smooth and creamy and delicious!

Here are my favorite teas I've discovered so far:

Art of Tea - White Coconut Crème tastes just like the coconut custard pies I remember from childhood. Mandarin Silk and Caramelized pear are close runners-up.

SpecialTeas - I adore the Lemon Chiffon Rooibos, Almond Cookie, and Strawberry Cream with Pieces, and their Earl Grey de la Creme is to die for! Genmaicha Japan 655 is an unusual tea with popcorn pieces and toasted rice--I was intrigued by the tasting notes written about this tea on Steepster, so I bought a sample, and I wish I had ordered a bigger pouch!

Teavana - I recommend the Toasted Nut Brulee Oolong and Apricot Caramel Torte. If you visit their stores, they'll open these giant canisters and wave the top over the tea so you can smell the heavenly flavors to help you decide what to buy.

Teas Etc. - Yumminess can be found in Golden Monkey Organic and Coconut Custard.

Tea Forte - I swear the Coco Truffle tastes just like hot cocoa, minus the calories. And the Iced White Ginger Pear is the most perfect iced tea I've ever tasted!

The weather here in Maryland has been in the 90's the past couple of weeks, but I still look forward to coming home every evening to brew my cups of tea. With a little Splenda and a splash of Silk Light soy milk, these teas are a delicious, practically calorie-free indulgence!