first stab at a canvas.

and i actually had fun with it!

picked up a few of these 12x12 canvases at Michael's during their Turkey Sale...and since they were so reasonable, i figured i wouldn't feel terrible if they flopped, lol. but i actually like how this one turned out...i think. :) i used Making Memories paint as a base for the whole thing...the color is called 'Shopping Bag'. while it was drying, i went and sifted through my gigantic stash of vintage ledger papers, old books, etc. and just set aside ones i liked. then i grabbed my big circle punch and punched the 5 circles that are along the side. i edged each one with paint and adhered them to the canvas with matte Mod Podge. i understand that Claudine Hellmuth's gel medium works really well for this, but i don't have a bottle of that yet...it's on my list though.

after i had the papers stuck down, i grabbed a few of my fave Studio Calico stamps...the little girl, little boy and the frame from the Story Time set. i used THE BEST BLACK INK EVER INVENTED (haha)...VersaFine Onyx Black, and stamped right ontop of the canvas. now, because of the wood frame that the canvas is stretched on, it's tough to get a perfect image. but i wasn't exactly going for perfect, so i love how it turned out. i tore the edge off of one of the 7gypsies flash cards, edged that with paint and stuck it to the canvas just next to the stamped images. made a flower/rosette out of a piece of FabRips, a la Joy...added a brad for the center and threw in a stick pin.

now, i am not normally one to use hearts on a layout at all...but i have to say, i am loving this Heidi Swapp heart mask that April sent me. i used Making Memories paint in 'Cranberry' to add a bit of color and called it a day. finish with a light coat of more matte Mod Podge and voila!!

i know it isn't fancy by any means...or perfect.

but then again, neither am i.

:)

total mama moment.

*sigh*

i know i shouldn't complain...and i'm not, really. but i just can't believe how excited she has been to wear this dress... it is her 'Grandparent's Day (today at school)/band concert/reading of The Grinch at the old folks' home where her Girl Scout troop meets' dress...we picked it up a few weeks ago and she has been dying to wear it ever since we walked out of the store with it. (well, actually she has worn it a few times...in her room, spinning around until i caught her and made her take it off and hang it back up, lol). best deal EVER...and the gal at the mall even placed it in a garment bag, so you can imagine how fancy she felt as we walked around after that.

but more than anything, i guess i'm kind of struck by how excited she is about it because of her recent boost of 'maturity'. shopping for tween stuff has been a wake-up call, but also a pleasant transition away from pink, lol. so to see her so over the moon about a frilly dress is comforting...in that it that reminds me she is still just a girl, kwim?

but this one...

this one chokes me up.

my gosh...where is my baby?
where is the girl that still has us tuck her in at night?
the girl who still tells me she loves me, every chance she gets...and holds my hand in the parking lot?
true, she still does those things while in between bouts of , shall we say, 'independent moments'??

but she does them nonetheless.
i can't quite put my finger on it either.
not sure if it's the tilt of her head...or the swipe of gloss on her lips...or just the way she carries herself now.

or maybe i'm just emotional, lol.
who knows.

but i'm staring at this photo, and bits and pieces of her past are flying around in my head.

*sigh*

total mama moment.

'Orchestra'ting a Sneak.

teehee.

been working with the December Studio Calico kit, Orchestra...and the add-ons, all of which i 'needed' this month. so here we go!

this first one uses pieces from the Strings add-on...and i had a bit of fun with my sewing machine. the project kit...Woodwinds. i am in love with this printer's tray, and decided to use the papers/embellies from the Percussion add-on to make a Christmas treat i can bring out year after year.

everything here, other than that polka dot tape, is from the Main kit...had fun misting, sewing, stamping etc.

and lastly...another view of the first layout.

i'm thinking i have one more layout in me...if this headache would just go away.

have a great weekend!!

:)

recap.

major mayhem around here lately...just trying to catch up!

• Mike had his knee scoped again...baseball paid for college, now his bod is paying for baseball, lol.
• had to find a dress for Miss A to wear to 1. her band concert, 2. Grandparent's Day at school and 3. her Girl Scouts troop's presentation of 'Scrooge' at the nursing home where they meet every week. she keeps twirling it around, is in love with it and i got a great deal...SCORE.
• 356023 scrappy things to get done. i think i have 4 crossed off the list, lol.
• had to go to Target and the mall to encourage Miss A to make a Christmas list...the big gift is the Ipod Nano (blue or green, of course), but we had no idea otherwise. how nice of her to whip out a full sized spiral notebook and start jotting down SKU numbers, right? i nearly laughed myself out of the store.
• jury duty. it's for 3 weeks around here, just have to check in every day. i've yet to be needed, but only have 1 week down, 2 to go.
• vacation...woohoo! i'm off all of next week, and am looking forward to getting some holiday spirit put up around the house.
• work is insanely busy. enough said.
• looking forward to Black Friday next week...yes, i am crazy.
• bought this Elf costume for Miss Lola...and she was kind enough to let me snap a few pics. is she the best, or what?

ok...off to scrap.

WINNER...Home Front shall be yours!!!

Alison Day said...
It all looks fab but I think I like the wood grain alphas the best. I love alphas!!
2:04 AM


Congrats Alison!!

please shoot me an email with your address...hope you love it!!
(you can contact me at brains32192ATaol.com)

{just replace the AT with @, lol}

Home Front Blog Hop.

hey everyone!!

if you read this blog, i'm sure you know that i'm pretty excited to talk about Studio Calico's debut manufacturing line, Home Front. we've had it in our hands for just over a week now, and the response has been HUUUUUUGE! so we're sponsoring a little blog hop...in other words, a chance for you to win the ENTIRE HOME FRONT LINE...just by visiting the Design Team's blogs and leaving a comment on each! more details below...

but first, April asked us each to share a little piece of something at home that makes us feel 'cozy'...and i immediately thought of our couch. it isn't fancy or grand by any means (Ikea is the godsend of affordable furniture that you don't mind if your kids flop on, lol), but it is comfy. it's the place where the 3 of us often meet up to watch Cake Boss, finish up homework or cheer on the Ohio State Buckeyes in their bid for the Rose Bowl. for some families it's the kitchen, but in our home...it's this sofa where we tend to hang together. so...that being said, here's the info on how you can win Home Front!!

Studio Calico is sharing part of their home with you by sponsoring a giveaway of their brand new line, Home Front. Imagine June Cleaver styled 1950s domestic bliss. Featuring optimistic colors and smooth vintage inspired patterns. You’ll find fresh stained wood grain, retro home décor, an exclusive SC cardstock alpha set, and much more. Home Front is versatile, colorful, and beautiful (can we say that?)….I think you’ll love it.

To win this collection, simply leave a comment on this post...tell me what your favorite part of the new line is!! and to increase your chances, visit the rest of the design team...everyone has been busy putting together a layout for the blog hop. the links to everyone are over there to the right...visit EVERY ONE!! you want to increase your chances to have this shipped to your door, courtesy of SC, right?!

I have also linked up the online stores that i know are carrying it right now...with direct links to the pages to purchase Home Front for yourself. i mean, you already know that you're going to need at least 2 of everything, right? teehee...those links are on the right also, just under the very first Home Front blinkie at the top.

and lastly...my Home Front layout for the hop.

this is one of the few pictures i have of the farm in Kite, Kentucky that my Dad grew up on...and when i look at it, i can tell you something special about every single room in that house. like the front bedroom that Brett & i fought over, because it had a cool view of the creek running in front of the property. and the mountain that started about 20 yards behind the house and went STRAIGHT UP to the sky, lol...which we named 'Thornsberry Mountain'. or that porch swing, which to us city kids was quite the novelty...we would swing on it every chance we could on those hot July days when we visited every summer.

i love to chop up the papers and make little clusters of goods...so these frames from the Odds & Ends paper were calling my name. and being a new lover of the Maya Mists, i used the Green one.

so that's it!

leave your comment...tell me which piece of Home Front YOU are most excited about!!

i think for me, it's the journaling cards. (those weren't quite ready to ship when we got our boxes...so i'll be patient, lol) or maybe it's the FabRips. then again...i am in love with the alphabet stickers.

*sigh*

oh, who am i kidding?

it's all fantastic!

introducing...Home Front.

BIG NEWS...BIG!!! that's right...Studio Calico is jumping into the manufacturing side of the scrapbook world with both feet. their first full line is called 'Home Front', and it is guaranteed to be a hit...they've taken the feedback they've received from aaaaalll of their paper releases this year and put together a line that can be used for just about anything.

BUT, it will not be available for direct purchase from their site for another 2 months...it will initially only be available at your favorite LOCAL SCRAPBOOK STORES and ONLINE SITES. that's right...they believe in supporting those stores (both brick & mortar and cyber) that sometimes feel the pinch when lines are released to everybody and their brother straight out of the box, lol. so for now, you have to ask your fave store or site to order this line...more details on that at the end of this post!

let's just see what we have...

FabRips...Studio Calico's signature adhesive fabric strips that can be used a jillion different ways. what i love most is that you can streeeeetch them to last longer, just snip the end of the pattern you want to use in the width you want and RIIIIIIP!!

i mean come on...are you kidding me? here's the specs on the alpha stickers: 199 characters, 2 different fonts, 2 sizes, upper AND lower case charcoal grey (which is impossible to find, but HUGE right now) and WOODGRAIN. say no more.

this may be my fave part of the release...i have long professed my love for label stickers, so here they are with SC's unique twist. AND they've included a few borders...SOMEBODY STOP ME!!

wait...did i say the label stickers were my fave part? i actually think it's a tie between the labels and these JOURNALING CARDS. THEY ARE DOUBLE SIDED...AND THE BACKS ARE LEDGER. i'm flipping out here, people.

now onto the paper...

this little gem has fun written all over it. well, technically i don't see the word 'fun', but you know what i mean lol. and...as i mentioned...CHARCOAL GREY on the reverse with little pops of color.

my girl Davinie nearly had a panic attack when she saw this paper...she is having heart palpitations over the B side. i mean, kraft-ish color with houses all over it? can't you think of 18732123 ways to use this?!

teal + muted orange/coral = nirvana. enough said.

the dress pattern paper has been revamped...i for one am digging the blue/green scheme, as Allie is pretty much in lust with that combo so i should be able to use it tons. note: ledger on B side alert.

but it just may be this pattern that is my fave of the bunch...they've updated one of their signature patterns, the scallops in rows...AND added a cool new twist to the B side.

now this one, this is truely unique. lots of woodgrain running around out there right now...but, as usual, SC has twisted it a bit. this one is patterned after an old farmhouse wooden floor...in the most heavenly shade of yellow i've seen in quite some time. note: floor plan on the B side is just happy happy.

so, that's it...Home Front.

want to get your hands on some?

here's what you need to do:

BEG YOUR FAVORITE STORE TO CARRY IT.

hahaha.

no, really.

have them shoot an email to info@studiocalico.com and they will hook them up with the Retailer area of the website so they can get specifics on pricing, etc. it's shipping SOON...as in, the next week or so...so they can have it to you quickfastandinahurry. SC will have a list compiled eventually to point you in the right direction if you can't get it near you, so stay tuned.

oh.

and did i mention my box of this delectable stuff is due to arrive TODAY?

AND, did i mention that we're planning on TONS OF CHANCES to WIN THE ENTIRE LINE via a little blog hopping?

stay tuned, people.

it's going to get crazy around here on the Home Front.

:)

winner...come on down!

hey everyone...thanks for all of the tricks of the mud-removal trade. the OxyClean/Shout spray + vigorous fingernail scratching seemed to do the trick, and her hersey looks brand spanking new!!

so, in honor of that blasted jersey...let's go with #23 (her soccer number) as our winner.

KERRI!!
I agree with Lisa and Jennie; I often use oxiclean on mud stains and it usually comes out fairly easily as long as you didn't dry it. I would also soak the clothes over night first though. Sounds like you guys had a great Halloween!! Thanks for the chance to win!!
12:24 PM

Kerri, please shoot me a note via Studio Calico HERE...in the contact member box, with your address!!
and thanks again to everyone!!!

:)

Halloween + Toxic Mud + RAK.

hey everyone.

it's been crazy again around here...still recovering (translation: doing laundry) from Halloween and our soccer tournament from this past weekend. here's a quick recap:

Halloween was a blast. her costume turned out pretty darn cool, and while initially the whole thing was built around those dang giant hoop earrings, she ended up flipping out over getting to wear the makeup i put on her. she made a darn fine gypsy fortune teller, if i may say so myself, lol. best news though? this costume will be worn again next year...as i think we may be at Disney for trick or treat time, and nobody there knows she wore it this year, lol. now...the soccer tournament.

let me preface my summary by showing this photo:

if that was as muddy as my shoes/pants had gotten this weekend, i would have been totally fine with it. even if our goalie had only gotten this muddy...we could have dealt with it.

but as it turns out, that was actually only the tip of mud-berg. (heehee)

by Saturday afternoon, the field we played on had not one blade of grass on it.

let me repeat that.

there was NO grass on that field.

it was solid mud.

it was a danger to the players is what it was...but our girls kept on playing.

and while we didn't fair all that well at the tournament, we made the best of it...having a potluck at our hotel with our families, the girls hanging together, trick or treating amongst our hotel rooms, etc.

and when it was all said and done, this was what happened on the ride home...

she was so pooped that she plopped that ball against the window and fell sound asleep...at 2pm.

and don't let the sparkly white appearance of her jersey fool you...the bottom is completely stained with that toxic mud that i can't seem to get out. UGH.

if anyone has remedies to remove mud, i'm all ears, lol!!

in fact...maybe i'll give out a little RAK in honor of the MudBowl.

YES!

here we go...

leave a comment about anything...tips for stain removal would be fab, but aren't necessary, lol.

i'll make up a nice box chock full of scrap supplies and ship it out to a random poster.

sounds like the best way to make something good come out of the Mud Pit, lol.

so post away...i need to clean out some space on my giveaway shelf!!

oh...and i think tomorrow i'll post about Studio Calico's newest line, just for fun.

woohoo!!