Friday, July 03, 2009

the spirit of independence.

wow.

i know this pic is oooooooooolddd...like, circa 2001 old, lol. but while i was flipping though some oldies looking for one of my brother and i, i found it.

and it reminded me of the simple things about being a kid in the summertime.

like skin missing off of your knee.
like pigtails and popsicles.
like not noticing the heat.
like trying to catch the most fireflies.
like running through a sprinkler.
like putting an 'X' on a mosquito bite to make it stop itching.
like bbq's and fireworks.

ahhhh...fireworks.
which inevitably brings us back to the 4th of July.

and i remember trying to explain to her what Independence Day means to us in this country.
that to some people, all it means is bbq's, fireworks and an extra day off from work.
but to others, it means a day to think about what people have done for our country as a whole...for it's people.

because anybody can wave a flag and claim to be patriotic, right?
but the people that take it a step further than that...they are the ones to think about on the 4th.

and in this day and age, our independence should mean more than ever.
so from my Dad, who served in the Army way back in the 60s...to my sister-in-law, stationed in Iraq for another 6 months...it's a time to say thank you to them.

because this holiday is so much more than a parade in your hometown.
it's the reason we are who we are today.
so remember to be proud of who we are as a country...
it didn't come easy then.
and it's still not always easy now.
celebrate your independence...
and be thankful for those who fought, and those who continue to fight for us.
but not just on the 4th of July...

every.
single.
day.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Documentary.

Studio Calico's July kit.

maybe it's just me, but the title of this kit kind of sums up what i feel like my scrapbooking has been all about lately. and i'll openly admit...i had a hard time with this kit. i feel like i kept reaching for the same papers/products over and over, lol...but in the end i ended up with a few pages that i really love.

that's what counts, right?

case in point...this one here. while we were at Put-in-Bay for the day a few weeks ago, we ventured up to the top of the Perry Monument to see the view from 300+ feet high and catch a quick history lesson (Mike being the history freak that he is, lol). we were wandering around the balcony looking around at the other nearby islands and i turned around to look for Allie and found her just like this...perched on the edge, deep in thought about who knows what. when i printed it out, she just looked so contemplative...and it for some reason made me think about a conversation we had had with her recently about decision making and choices. LOVE these big metal numbers from Making Memories...love them! this one is about the journaling as well...i apologize for what seems like a theme...i scrapbook alot lately about talks/words/thoughts i have with/about her and her behavior/attitude/demeanor. but it's what is happening right now with us, and kind of where we're at today. tween life is pretty dang awesome most of the time...but it's also given me more grey hairs than i care to admit, lol.

since i'm going the honest route...i had NO idea what to do with this frame stamp when it showed up. i mean, zero. so i just framed Allie's smiley face with it here...i like how it turned out, but (as usual) after seeing how the rest of the design team used it seven gajillion different ways i am now inspired! this page makes me happy though...i used that darn ledger paper to the bits, lol.

just a very simple one that came about while i was flipping through some old pics of Mike & i...i noticed that we both had that crazy toddler scream on our faces in more than one photo from when we were kids and set them aside for some reason. then it clicked...i knew Allie had done the same exact thing while we were on vacation years ago, lol. i know we didn't tell her to scream like that...it had to be genetics, right?!


this one was that one layout you have that just kind of falls together on it's own, if that makes sense. i started with this old photo of my family and i on vacation back in 1978, and just started adding tidbits here and there. i traced around one of those big Making Memories metal numbers with a slick writer just to do something different, and ended up really liking how it turned out. thank you to whoever the stranger from the boardwalk was that my Dad handed the camera over to...i love that you left me room to see the ocean, the lifeguard stand AND still have room for my title, lol.

now.
i haven't done a 2-pager since probably 2006. i always like when others do them...i do. and originally i started with WAY more photos from our day on the island, and i had intended to line them all up in a nice neat row across both pages...but that didn't look right. and while i am embarassed to admit to anyone how long this page took to reach completion, suffice it to say that part of that delay was waiting for the chest pain to go away. (haha...didn't really have chest pain, but i was indeed stressed.) most of us accepted the challenge to do a 2-pager in honor of SC's 2nd birthday...so i couldn't back out, lol. in the end, i like how it turned out...but am still seriously relieved that i am done with it.

so there you have it.
i can't believe that Studio Calico is 2 years old already.
they have come so far...and have really only just begun.
and in those 2 years, i have been lucky enough to make some amazing friends and be a part of a community that continues to be the best place to hang around, talk shop and wax poetic about this crazy hobby that brings us all together.
thanks April & Scarlet for providing us with a place to call home.
:)





Thursday, June 25, 2009

more sneaks + love for Sweet Shoppe

a few more sneaks for Studio Calico's July kit...


totally versatile kit...and don't forget, Subscribers will now have the opportunity to purchase the add-ons starting at noon EST this SATURDAY!! the main kit will go up for sale later that night at midnight EST, and we'll be chatting for awhile before that...so don't forget to stop by if your Saturday night will be spent at home!


here's a layout i made for Collage Press...used the Sweet Shoppe line for just about all of it. i am in love with the die-cut circles...and of course the label die-cuts as well. make sure to stop by the Collage Press BLOG for a fun way to win the entire KNAVE OF HEARTS collection!! after much whining, summer has finally hit here.
90+ degrees.
humidity that makes my hair stand on end.
and the smell of sunscreen on every piece of clothing we own.
ahhhh...summer.
:)



Saturday, June 20, 2009

i got that sneak, sneak POW...

(sorry...i canNOT get that Black Eyed Peas song out of my head, lol...)

lots of fun things happening in the July Studio Calico kit and add-ons...and with the new 'Subscribers have Dibs' program, they're sure to be a hit!! here are a few sneaks of what i've done so far...





cool stamps?
check.
cool thngs to outline?
check.
cool colors?
double check.
what's not to love??!!



Monday, June 15, 2009

if you love Collage Press and you know it...

clap your hands!! (sing along with me...you know the tune!!) this is my layout for today's DT gallery post at Collage Press...Miriam challenged us to use the die-cut papers and rings...and the prompt was 'if you could do things differently as a child, what would you change?' perfect timing since i JUST found these old photo booth pics of me at the tender age of 9 over at my mom's house, lol. (i saved the one with what i shall call the 'classic' Nik expression, lol...watch for it in the future as it's sure to be a good laugh)

anywho...

the real reason i'm posting about this is to offer you a chance to win some of their newest 2 lines, Knave of Hearts and Sweet Shoppe!! just head over to the blog and leave a comment...SOMEONE has to win, wouldn't it be awesome if it were YOU?!!

keeping my fingers crossed for everyone!!
=)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

tough times.


it's natural, right?

to have days/weeks where nothing seems to go your way and every time you turn around, you're faced with another rough patch?

please say yes...even if it's just to make me feel better, lol.

just a few things lately that have stressed me to the max...you know when you go from your heart beating out of your chest to calm in 10 seconds flat?

and then you repeat that same sequence?

yep.
that's where i'm at.
i think Lola is doing a pretty good job of summing up my feelings in this photo.
ugh.
i crave calm right about now, lol.

Friday, June 12, 2009

good news for Studio Calico subscribers EVERYWHERE!!!


Studio Calico subscribers will now get an advanced opportunity to purchase new add-on kits each month. Beginning with July's kit, subscribers will be able to purchase their add-ons and shop items 12 hours in advance of reveal (12:00 noon on the 27th). Some add-ons will also be held in reserve and posted for sale at 12:00am for the traditional reveal.
Not a subscriber? Email waitinglist@studiocalico.com now to preorder your subscription!
exciting news indeed!
i know how tough it is for our East Coast members...let alone those of you across the globe! hopefully, this should alleviate having to hold your eyelids open with toothpicks, lol. you have to love this place...YOU ASK, THEY ACCOMMODATE!!
sneak peeks tomorrow night at MIDNIGHT EST...hope to chat with everyone then!!