I have been a busy bee!

Good morning! I meant to do this post yesterday, but it ended up being the day from HELL. I waited for a call on a job interview (because why not add a fourth job to my list of jobs, right?) that never came; I got an email from Andraia's social studies teacher that she had received a detention but skipped out on it; the girls called me on their walk home from school from a friend's house to ask if they could hang out there (NO); I almost completely forgot about Andraia's eye doctor appointment, and when I remembered, we were stuck in traffic due to road construction, making us super late; Patryk decided to have an accident right in the middle of the eye doctor's office, and then proceeded to have meltdown after meltdown, forcing me to take him in and out of the waiting room, five times in all, to spare the folks there from his screams and whining; we didn't return home until after 6:30, making dinner a bit late and bedtimes delayed. Needless to say it was early to bed for me, as I felt like I had been hit by a truck when the day was over.

So...I've been in the craft area a couple of days this week (and plan to be there again today, maybe it can bring me to a happy place!) and made a bunch of good stuff. I got the best of it on camera, and thought you'd like to see what I've been up to. I decided it was time to use up this great paper I have in a box, my great hoarded stash...when I receive my next Scraptastic kit next month, the box is going to burst!

For this layout of the girls who are...actually...displaying...affection...*gasp*...I pulled out some old Fancy Pants Love Birds. After misting the background with Dragonfruit Maya Mist, I went to town adding paper scraps and embellies from the collection.

 Prima flower misted with yellow Glimmer Mist. Scenic route "sisterly", Studio Calico Addy "love." Liquid Pearls on the dots of the patterned paper.

 Some blue Stickles to finish off the cute border stickers at the top!

 This layout features Lily Bee's Happily Lost papers and embellies, natural MME Be Happy twine, AC glitter tape, Doodlebug Jade Candy Dots, OLD OLD OLD Magic Mesh (what is today called Punchinella, sold back in the late '90's as Magic Mesh. So great, with adhesive on the back. I've had this stuff for a while, but hadn't had it visible...now it is, get used to seeing it!), and a fun camera charm from Etsy, one of my NECTAR teammates, Calliope's Attic. Check this shop out for your charm needs, she has so much great stuff! the journal spot features some great MME Be Happy twine as well. The title is done with Simple Stories Fabulous alpha.

 See that awesome Magic Mesh?

 Simple, quick layout (not normal for me, I know), but I figured I would showcase this awesome paper I bought ages ago that I forgot I even had! It is MME Lush, and that big ol' damask pattern is flocked, cut from the MME Lush brown damask paper. LOVE! MM glitter alpha along with BG tiny alpha.

 I made a couple of Christmas cards as well. I won a Sizzix Big Shot machine (my girls want it because it is the Hello Kitty version...um, no...but they can use it!) from an Oh My Crafts! contest, and this is my first attempt at embossing using the machine. It is actually a Cuttlebug embossing folder, but they all work together. I had received a bunch of Cuttlebug dies and folders from a neighbor cleaning out her crafty stash, so it was nice to finally put one to use! 3 Bugs in a Rug sentiment, Bo Bunny Blitzen die cuts, and Maya Road ribbon. Simple and cute!

 This is an old Bo Bunny Father Christmas kit I have had for a little over a year or so, every element but the cardstock.

 And then...I SMASH*ed. This pic is already in my wedding album, but for some reason, I have this extra kicking around. Almost all elements come from the Scraptastic Barn Door kit except for crochet trim.

 This is a mish-mash of stuff...a true SMASH* page...that explains how much of a people pleaser I am, and how I need to STOP. I say yes to virtually everything, just to make people happy, often at the expense of my own time and happiness, and I need to just worry about ME.

Studio Calico chevron mask with yellow Glimmer Mist. A Crafter's Companion Stamp It! Australia - Overlapped Text stamp (which I LOVE). Random die cuts and a journal card from my stash. MME Lime Twist alpha. Quote is from an SEI die cut collection. Random overlay with Scenic Route alpha underneath. Tree cut from a Cricut cart owned by a friend (can't remember which one.) Mix of MME washi tape and SMASH* tape.

WHEW! I am off to switch laundry over and get to work at the craft table. I need to keep my hands busy so I can stop worrying about this phone call that has yet to happen! Cross your fingers for me, I'd love this job! Until next time,

xoxoxo
Khristen

Hello, crafty strangers!

Good afternoon! I hope you are all enjoying this gorgeous fall day :)

So remember when I posted that I was super excited to have all the kids in school for the first time EVER, and I said things like "All that crafty time..." and "Whatever will I do with myself?" Well, I shouldn't have jinxed myself. I feel like I'm busier now than I was before school started and they were driving me nuts all summer long. With hubby's work schedule changing, I feel like I can't stop to catch my breath until after the kids all go to bed, and by then, I can barely even lift myself off of the couch to get crafty. Now that band practices have started for Rileigh and basketball is due to start up in a month, I know that I need to make it a priority to carve out a little "me" time each and every day, even if only for 30 minutes.

I started yesterday, after spending a little time on these babies the day before:

 They are all posted in the shop, as well as ready to be lugged to the fall craft fairs.

I pulled out the September Scraptastic Noted kit and add on for these two layouts I did yesterday afternoon. I should have been cleaning the bathroom, but I decided this would be more fun :)

 The only things not in the kit on this page are the MME twill, Liquid Pearls, and Boss Lady Mister Huey. I chose to keep it rather simple as I just swoon over the patterned paper. I ended up cutting a rectangle out to show off the wood grain pattern on the other side, covering up the cut edges with the twill.

 Another sheet of patterned paper I just couldn't cover up is featured in this next layout. Love this Studio Calico Heyday paper!Everything you see came in the kit, and the background paper does so much all on its own, I only added a few pieces of washi and journal cards to it.

 Love the flair included in the kit, and the washis are drool-worthy as well!

 See my doodling above the small alpha?

 And the cute little paper clips that come with it...love!

So there you have it, now it's time to carve out a glorious hour of craft time before I head out to begin the afternoon which will likely be spent in my minivan going all over town...Andraia gets back from a field trip after all the other kids get out, Rileigh has band practice, and I have to drop a friend's son off...I'd like to take this moment to thank my crock pot, otherwise we'd be eating grilled cheese (which I just don't feel like having tonight!)

xoxoxo

Khristen

CCCB September Challenge: Dots & Stripes

Good morning! A little late getting this post up, I know. It's been nuts around here! Funny how I thought the kids being in school would give me some time to breathe, but it somehow seemed to get busier!

This month, the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog wants to see your creations with dots and/or stripes, of course featuring a Crafter's Companion stamp, for your chance at winning a $30 gift certificate to spend at the Crafter's Companion site! Pretty awesome :)

I whipped this beauty up for a friend who's having a baby very soon. I love that little baby Humphrey! I used the Humphrey - Welcome Little One EZ Mount Stamp Set and Basic Grey PB&J papers.

 That sentiment...well, let's just say I'm not that great at free-handing a circle! However, I still love it! To attempt at disguising my poor cutting job, I inked the edges with some AC cranberry ink. Matches that red paper perfectly! The embellishment is from MM.

 Spectrum Noir to color Humphrey and that pretty flower in, as well as adding a sprinkle of subtle glitter to the center.

I hope to see your creation entered over at this post at the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog. Good luck, and have a great day!

xoxo
Khristen

Another quick layout share

So I'll admit, the pics of this one aren't what I'd like them to be, but I had to share nonetheless.

Made using the Scraptastic Barn Door kit...

 Awesome Studio Calico wood veneer hearts outlined with red Liquid Pearls.

 The light made the chevron print circles (punched from the SC papers) hard to see. Hand stitched.

Shimmerz all over the background paper.

Thanks for looking!