this weekend.

(this was a layout from NSD weekend)

I was able to spend some more time in the studio working with the Pink Paislee Luxe Collection. I have seen some metallic papers here and there but never a whole collection dedicated to metallics. It was different but fun to work with. The quality of the papers was amazing and took mists and inks nicely with no warping.
Here is one I created for an upcoming Scrapbook.com newsletter featuring Pink Paislee.

I have quite a stash of old books, especially since I have been creating altered books for quite a few years now. I need to start using old book pages on my actual scrapbook pages more often. I love the look and how it seems to that little touch I always seem to be looking for.

Thanks for stopping by.
loves.
d.

another NSD day.

has come and gone. I hope y'all had fun spending your day on whatever site, store or friend's house you call your scrapbooking home. It's always a good time connecting with other scrapbookers.
This year Scrapbook.com made their challenges an all day event instead of "timed". This was much better for me. Sometimes, you still have to get one of your children dropped off somewhere and you miss one of the "timed" challenges. This year it didn't matter, you could come back and pick up where you left off and it still counted. Here are some of the layouts I put together for Scrapbook.com's NSD celebration.

This was for the pinwheel challenge. A lot of American Crafts, Studio Calico, right now I'm loving stamps and I just got some watercolors. I feel a change coming on.

This one was the 12 ways to washi challenge. I had some clothespins from Prima that were not really my style, so I turned them over and covered them with some Bella Blvd. washi tape. I also used the black and white washi to create a border. Some more stamping (loving the Ali Edwards stamps). I have been using a lot of her stamps in my Project Life and I need to remind myself to use them more on layouts too.

On my desk right now, a double page spread for Teresa Collins' new Summer Stories Collection. I think I can count on one hand the number of 2 page layouts I have ever done. :)

Hope your Monday is fabulous!
loves.
d.

we have.

come so far in the studio. I have been able to carve out some creative time every weekend so far. This is what it looked like when we moved in:

It was a storage area for boxes during the first couple of weeks in the new house. At night we would completely shut the doors and I it was weird. I felt "off", not myself. Looking back, I really do think it was because everything was in such disarray. During this time, I remember telling Jon on many occasions this is why some people don't move for 30 years or more.
Jon would always reply, "but it is going to be so worth it", and it is.
Jon had built and installed the "floating" entertainment center, we had Shelby's room figured out and a few other areas dealt with and then Jon said "we need spend the weekend on the studio".
We opened the doors and started pulling things out that Friday night.

Then Jon started measuring so the cabinets he built for the old house could be re.installed in the new house.

The power had to be moved up the wall so it could still be used and not remain behind the cabinets.

Base cabinets, upper shelves on both sides and under cabinet lighting was installed.

I was excited to get to this stage. At this point I started pulling out all of the boxes and started un.packing and re.decorating, setting up the new space.

I didn't want to take the final photos until the old doors were installed in place of the french doors that originally came with the house. So, I'll be back with those photos next. Jon installed the old doors the weekend before last.

and....here are some layouts I made right before I packed up the old house and didn't have a chance to share yet.

Hoping your Friday and your weekend is fabulous!
loves.
d.

almost one year....

later and I just finished a little minibook for Shelby's Sweet 16 that was last May. I find that sometimes I'm super motivated to get a project done and then other times it can sit in the studio for a year or more until I actually get it done.
Last year I had Shelby's friends write to her in a Smash book, thinking that I was going to use that to document her birthday. Well, then I changed my mind and I moved on from that idea. Then, I got stuck because I still wanted to keep the original notes from her friends but I didn't want to use the Smash book.
So, it sat. While I was unpacking the studio and finding all of the memorabilia I had kept I decided it was time to get it done (and the fact that she will be 17 in less than 30 days), yikes!

I tore each letter from her friends out of the Smash book, cut them down as much as I could and arranged them in a little folder envelope of sorts. The "16" flowers came off of her cake.

The thing I love about using envelopes is you can always tuck more photos, notes, etc. into it.
The Maggie Holmes clipboard album was perfect for making this a little more interactive.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you weekend is/was fabulous!
loves.
d.

hello love.

I say this phrase to my girls all the time and I would love believe that Debee Campos of Inspire Lovely was reading my mind when she made this fabulous stamp (even though I know that is simply not the case!)

it's been awhile, but I promise for good reason. Feeling good, feeling really good and grateful. So many things have been going on, it's almost to much to explain, but I'll give it a shot!
The end of January, actually the day after my last post here, we started packing up our old house while looking forward to the new one. We had lived in our old house for almost 7 years, so that was A LOT of going through things, purging, packing, debating but we got through it.
By mid-February we had signed papers on the new house and by March first, we were spending our first nights in the new house and were reminded why we had not moved sooner. We were in total disarray.

Photo of first night in the new house.

Then we took a look at our long list of things we wanted to do in order to make the house have a certain look and feel. Jon and I have always been big on a welcoming vibe. Anyone who dared to come over or knock on our door, would have a "come in, sit and stay awhile" feeling.
So, the work began. The entire house (even the ceilings were painted), furniture was built, cabinets were cut down and installed. Motorized shades, lighting control, it really has been an insane adventure but we are coming along at a steady pace. When we got the keys we walked into this blank canvas looking in from the foyer:

Looking from the kitchen into the studio....Oh, that light fixture had to go.....

This was our first night and I was thinking.....ummmm, I was too tired to think...but the whole house was painted and that lighting fixture was gone...

We did get my studio up and running, that was an entire weekend itself, minus the old doors we hung this past weekend. I'll be sharing that soon. With all of the new, revamped spaces we have been working on I decided this little blog space needed a face lift too. Hoping you like it as much as I do. As a mom, who works full time, has two very busy kids, trying to balance everything, I'm so grateful that you stop by. I know your time is so valuable and there are 1 billion other blogs that you could read. So, thank you for sticking around.
I have had a couple of weekends to get busy in my new space. Here is my latest Project Life spread using the new Teresa Collins Summer Stories Collection (which is super fun!)

The set of washi tape in this collection is to die for.
This weekend we are taking a little hiatus from working on the house. There is still so much more to share. I will be here a lot more frequently. pinky promise!
Thanks for stopping by.
loves.
d.

texas book.

Last summer we went to Texas. I had not seen my Nannie (Grandma) in quite a few years. It's an 18 hour drive from our front door to hers. Jon had never been to the part of Texas I'm from. It only took 13 years but we finally planned it and took eleven days to spend there.
I was born in Dallas and lived in many of the surrounding cities. I spent some weekends and most of the summer at my Nannie's in Gun Barrel City on Cedar Creek Lake learning to ski and burning my feet on the black top roads. It was a sentimental trip for me for sure.

When we were packing for the trip I carried some basic supplies and a mini 3 ring binder so I could journal every night and have a place to keep all of the memorabilia I collected. Now, the minibook is complete and I love how it turned out. I used the new Teresa Collins He Said, She Said collection.

For the cover I used an old ceiling tin and wrapped it in a stitched garland with most of the circles topped with an enamel dot or a rhinestone. The base of patterned papers were cut at angles and stitched together. Prima's metal flowers gave the cover a more "rustic" feel. 

Each page represents each day we were gone and what we did that day. 

Day 1.

The first day was just driving. An 18 hour road trip for us as a family. We all woke up early and hit the road. As we made it to the other side of El Paso Jon, Shelby and I had our iphones out and were listening to all kinds of music on each others phones. It wasn't long before we came across "Bennie and the Jets". It reminded Shelby of the movie 27 Dresses and how we all thought we knew the words to the song, when in reality none of us did.

That led us to looking up the words and singing it correctly, including Ellie. In the end we were all singing this song at the top of our lungs. It really was memorable. Shelby still talks about it now. We arrived in Gun Barrel City at 1:40am and as Jon was parking the truck I noticed something on the grill. We noticed it was a bat and decided to take a look in the morning. 

Day 2.

The next morning we wanted to check out the grill of the truck and we found a large bat. Even Jon couldn't believe how big this guy was. The girls were checking him out and in the photo I caught Ellie's face in the reflection of the truck grill. After Jon removed the poor guy we got some flowers and donuts for Nannie and headed over to see her. We spent the day talking and catching up. Good times.

Day 3.

This morning we had waffles that were the shape of Texas, Jon and Shelby thought that was pretty cool. They tasted amazing. Nannie made 3 bean salad which Jon also loved (we now have the recipe for it). He and Nannie ate most of it themselves. I was not a fan of it growing up. We ended up swimming and looking at the lake I learned to water ski on.

Day 4.

We said goodbye to Nannie and as we headed out of town a truck was in front of us and lost the trailer he was towing. It turned out the guy's tow hitch was not properly attched to the trailer. What made it difficult for the guy was the boat that was on the trailer. When we pulled up no one was helping this guy and he was struggling to even get the trailer to move. So Jon jumped out and starting helping this guy. After a few minuted others joined in to help. Shelby made the comment "this is great, seeing others help each other". 

Day 5.

Our first day in San Antonio visiting Michael, Kelly and Sophie. It's also Father's Day. Since planning the trip I thought it would be fun to have Jon and his brother share Father's Day together with their families. We were all together, giving the guys thier handmade gifts. The girls and I gave Jon hand drawn coffee mugs and cards. We spent the day hanging out and around 1 am we were sitting out in the backyard at the guys decided to do some BB gun shooting toward the shed. Good "brother" time. 

Day 6.

What an amazing day. We went to Kelly's doctor appointment and I was chosen to go in with Michael and Kelly to find out if they were having a girl or a boy. It was very emotional and joyful. I realized that until my children have children I may not experience this again. We found out that we were going to have a nephew. We ended the day doing some more possum shooting in the backyard during the wee hours of the morning. 

Day 7.

We had breakfast at the Magnolia Pancake House. Ummm, these people have perfected the breakfast menu. Hands down the best. After breakfast Jon, the girls and I headed to Gruene. This is the home of the oldest dance hall in Texas. This is were legends like George Strait got their start. The floors, dance hall, well the entire building is original. I stood on the dance floor next to a license plate from the year I was born and took a pitcure. when my mom saw the photo she informed me that her and my dad took dance lessons on the very floor before I was born. I had no idea. So grateful for the stories that come out of no where.

Day 8.

We went to the Pearl District for lunch. The restaurant we ate at had little coat hangers that sat next to the tables. I thought it was funny because you couldn't put coats on them and it is June in Texas, warm weather. So I asked the waiter what they were for and he told me that when ladies put their purses on the floor the spirits take things out of them through the floor. He told me the whole story about spirits and how I needed to hang my purse from the coat rack stand that was next to the table. 

Very interesting.

I also got a "four" tattoo on my wrist. Something of great significance that I had been planning to do on this trip. I'll have to record the story behind that and share later.

Day 9.

Michael and Kelly take us to an unforgettable restaurant called dough. The wait was well worth it. They are known for the most amazing pizza known to man. I have to agree, it was like nothing I had tasted before. If we lived in San Antonio it would be on our date night list of places to go.

Day 10.

We spent together as a family visting the Alamo and taking a ride down the riverwalk. The girls had a blast visiting a learning about the rich history that surrounded the area. 

Day 11.

We headed home. On the way back it was only a 14 hour drive. We ran into some weather in Benson Arizona. Soon after the clouds started to clear. I have to say the skies in the desert right after a storm are beautiful. Glad to be home. 

Such a great trip as a family. 

Now, we have major and exciting changes on our horizon. I will be sharing more of that adventure soon. Hope your Friday is fabulous!

d.

we said goodbye....

to 2012 and hello to 2013.

Mid-December in our house most of the time turns into complete chaos, this year was no exception. Ellie officially made it to double digits. The big 10.

This year was the best, typically we head out to California the day after Christmas to spend time with Jon's family. Last year we headed to Pacific Grove and the year before that we went to the cabin in Lake Tahoe. This past year Jon's parents bought and built a new house and they were all moved in by summer. So, this year they came here and stayed for 2 full weeks. With both sets of our parents here, we celebrated Christmas Eve at our house as we do every year, dinner with movies, hot chocolates, reindeer food, cookies, milk and a written letter to Santa.
Then we also hosted Christmas dinner for 16 people, which included three sets of our parents, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, a friend of the family and our girls. It was a packed house.
I'm not sure why but the table settings and centerpieces where really important to me this year. I wanted to make it feel extra special.
The table settings started out like this:

This was our last Christmas in this house. We had it built and we were moved in by July 2006. Ellie was four and this is really the only house she remembers. With everyone in the house we really became aware of how thankful we will be next year with a new and more spacious floor plan.

My mother in law asked what my vision was for the table as I was gathering all of the essentials from one room and bringing them into the other. She helped me put everything in place, and is was PERFECT!
I kept thanking her for all of her help days after. Jon Sr. said that everything was beautiful and wanted to officially pass the torch over to us. Oh no, don't know if that's a good thing or bad, but Jon and I are already looking forward to next Christmas in the new house. We have already been talking about our vision for the occasion and we really want a "winter forest feel". We will see how it turns out next year!

I also put a close on Project Life 2012 (it took two 12x12 binders)...and started 2013, sort of....

CHA samples were in full swing this weekend. I can't believe Friday is travel for us, with it being 2 weeks ahead of time, it seems kind of crazy!

Hope your holidays with family and friends was amazing, bring 2013 on!

xoxo

d.