I took a challenge...

I created it myself - it took weeks - it was so far outside my box...

I found this daring little layout on twopeasinabucket.com by "delusional1" (http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/userprofile.asp?user_id=303018)

I REALLY wish I could just put a name/word on my blog and have it automatically link to where I want it to go, but I havent mastered it yet.  Anyway, I digress - be sure to check out "delusional1"'s work - she is truly inspiring.

So I sketched this layout and placed it on a clipboard on my scrap table - and I stared at it for a LONG time!  and then I got started - adding things here and there over a two week period - remember I'm a "get 'er done" kind a girl - so this was WAY unusual...  But her's my finished product.  I think very similar to the one above - but in no way do I mean to insult the one above :)  Of course hers is MUCH better - but I had fun creating this layout - thanks "delusional1" - you are saved in my favorites now and I'll be checking back often!

Let me know what you think!  Should I try to teach a class on something like this?

It's hard being a kid...

especially with me as a mom!  I got avery's clothes out today - a little pink shirt, blue pants and a pink jacket - shocking that it even matched - somewhat...

as we walk into school, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to notice the sea of green... as soon as we walk into avery's classroom what do we hear???  "avery doesn't have green on... avery doesn't have green on" - please read this in a sing songy annoying way...

my baby's face just drops and I tell her - it's OK - you have a green barette in (it's hardly noticeable and it's lime green)... she looks okay as I leave, but of course, I could just run myself into the wall!

and then, just then, I remembered my funny client Cheryl who gave me a huge bag of goodies for the girls for St. Patrick's day (she's in the parade).  The bag was still in the car.  I race back into the classroom with a long green bead with a fleur de lis on the end and avery instantly becomes the hit of the class.

She looks me straight in the eye and says, "I love you mommy".  So now I will take some extra meds and put on my to do list "be a better mom"

magic takes years...

At least scrapbooking the Magic Kingdom does...

But these are the last few layouts from our trip in January 2009. What makes me nostalgic are those precious little baby faces. How do they change so much in one year?

I was reminded by Ms. Stephanie yesterday that I hadn't posted any inspiration in a while... So Ms. Stephanie... these are for you... but remember I do not have a traditional Disney album...

I made the last layout in Jessica Colby's class at Scrapbook and Co. She is amazing. Who goes to the Dollar Tree - sees a puzzle and thinks - ooh - lets turn the pieces over, paint them and use them as embellishments - OH, that would be Jessica - and that's why I love her!!!

If you were at the Scrapbook and Co. All Day Crop in February, you might remember my little tulle, flower, and corsage pin combo... Well, here's how I dressed up the $3 mailbox from Project Green in NOLA

and here's how it looks on the wall of my scrapbook room... which one day... will be finished...

whoever said "less is more" had probably never had quite enough "more"...

the Anne Taintor quotes never get old!

So I might never have enough of this new magic formula...

1 + 2 = absolute wonderful magicness... let me explain...

I took Teri Davis' Perfect Pearls class yesterday at Scrapbook and Co. after convincing myself that I needed a break from tax returns, and I would be a much more focused effective CPA on Monday if I took this little break...

With that settled... I showed up for class and learned amazing things, but the MOST amazing thing was the aforementioned "formula"... To be more specific...



+ =

So maybe there is one more little thing...


So here goes.... One drop of Distress Ink (comes in all of the colors of the Distress ink pads - you use them to re-ink your inks pads AND....) plus a "brush full" of Perfect Pearls into a Mini Mister - add water to 3/4... close, shake and spray...


Magically... you have made your very own "Pearl Mist" - for lack of a better term...


Now, imagine the possibilities, 36 Distress Ink colors matched with 24 Perfect Pearls colors (since I can't remember if that's a permutation or a combination, but I think it needs a factorial, let's just agree thats it's A LOT!).


The beautiful color above was made with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls.

Teri Davis was kind enough to leave her "recipe book" with some of her favorite combos. Since I have conquered this combo, I'm going to Scrapbook and Co. to buy the ingredients for some new colors!!! My motto... "more is more"!!!!!

hmmm....what can I buy today?

another great title from Anne Taintor...

This weekend, I was at my quasi-sis Jen's house and I saw the most AWESOME bowl. Apparently she has been hiding said bowl because she KNEW I would want it...

drumroll please....



According to my mom, every newlywed in the 70's got a set of these. Unfortunately, she sold hers at a garage sale...

Thanks to the magic of ebay... I will now have a set of my very own...

because I'm the mother... that's why...

If only that worked....

Recent conversations with the very inquisitve 5 year old Avery:

Night One
Avery: "Mom, Was God the first person ever?"
Me: "Ummm, yes, God created everything around us, but he was here first"
Avery: "How was he born without a Mommy and Daddy? All babies come from a Mommy and a Daddy."
Me: "Ummmmmmmmmmmm. Avery, I'm going to have to thing about that, I'm not quite sure"

Next Night
Avery: "Mommy, I'm going to ask you a question, but I already know the answer... Why doesn't God have parents? Same as last night... You still don't know...."

Another Night
Avery: "Mommy, you always say that we live in heaven after we die. Do we live in a house?"
Me: "Oh, I think so. And I 'm going to have a big scrapbook room in my house."
Avery: "Mom, houses are heavy, how do they stay up in the sky?"
Me: "I think there are REALLY strong clouds in heaven"

No, no, we're no finished...

Avery: "Mommy, how does God know when someone dies?"
Me: "Well, he watches over all of us"
Avery: "Mom - he CAN'T watch everybody!!!"
Me: (pretty clever if I may say so myself) "Just like Santa has the elves to help him, God has the angels, and the angels help him watch over everyone"
Avery: "oh, well that's good"

So, if you have ANY suggestions for the "where are God's parents questions - PLEASE leave a comment! 12 years of Catholic school didn't prepare me for some of these....