Welcome to my little slice of Heaven!

Today my little scrap space is being featured on Bella Blvd.'s blog. I thought I would share my space here with you also. Let the tour begin...

My scrap room is my absolute favorite room in the house, being in there just makes me feel good. I try to surround myself with things that inspire me creatively. I love vintage findings, so they are scattered around the room among newer things.

My scrap table was a birthday gift last year from my husband. It has great storage space in the column bases where I keep some of my cardstock, baskets with embellishments as well as a few photo boxes. I store the items that I reach for the most on top of my desk for easy access.

I have a little collection of apothecary style jars where I store buttons, ribbons, vintage jewelry and other miscellaneous findings.

Keeping things in see through containers allows me to see what supplies I have and reminds me to use them up.

The closet to the left of my table is where I store my larger tools and other scrapping supplies. I use an over the door shoe organizer to store my punches. Stamps and paints are stored in clear plastic containters and kits and other supplies in baskets.


To the right of my table is my wall of inspiration. In the frames I display things that I find interesting and that help keep me inspired creatively.



Finally, here is my final project for Bella.

I curled the paper to mimic my daughter's naturally curly hair and placed the "Blooms a Bella" on the photo to appear as though it was in her hair.


Thank you so much Bella for having me as a guest designer!

Day two at Bella Blvd.

If you haven't seen this post over at Bella Blvd. you have got to check it out! Today was when my "designer's challenge" was featured. The challenge was to use 10 stickers on a 12 x 12 layout. Hop on over to Bella's blog for a description from about about my creative process.




Thanks for stopping by!

A preview and a reveal!

Today is sneak peek day over at Citrus Tree Studio for September's kit, "Indigo Sunset". Here is a little preview for you.

Photo courtesy of Tricia Wilson


Photo courtesy of Tammy Wilson
Photo courtesy of Nicole Stark

Are you intrigued? I hope so! This kit is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to show you the whole thing on the 5th!


Something else that has me super excited is being a "Bella Artista" over at Bella Blvd.! Yesterday was the first day that I was featured on their blog along with a layout I did using Bella's newest releases called "Super Stud". It was such a fun line to work with. The stars and circles in the line really represent energy and motion to me, the colors are striking and the robots are just plain fun! I couldn't help but do a layout about one of my favorite guys (my hubby) when he was a little guy.


This saying couldn't be any more perfect for him if he had thought of it himself!

I will be over at Bella again on Wednesday and Friday so keep checking back. I will be sharing more layouts and a peek at my craft area.
See ya soon!

From the bottom of my heart

Today my youngest child turned 9 years old. It is hard for me to believe that I am even old enough to be his mother, much less the mother of an 11 year old! Like most mothers I think my kids are incredible human beings. They are kind and generous and my love for them permeates my soul. I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to parent them and am so proud of their progress thus far in life. Here are a few words that express some of my hopes and desires for my son as he continues on his journey to manhood.


If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
—Rudyard Kipling
I am so proud of this boy and I know that him becoming a
good man is not a question of if, but when.

First day of school, again

Thursday marked the first day of the new school year for my kids. They are excited about the new experiences and adventures that await them this school year. They both really like their teachers and have made some new friends so things are off to a really great start! As is tradition I snapped some photos from their first day of school, but instead of sharing several of those I thought I would show you a photographic anthology of first day of school photos. :0)

2005~Kindergarten & 2nd grade


2006~ 1st & 3rd grade


2007~2nd and 4th grade

2008~3rd & 5th grade

2009~4th and 6th grade
Yes, they are growing up WAY too fast for my liking, but I am proud of who they are growing up to be.

Citrus Tree Studio Reveal!

Take a peek at what Cindy cooked up for Citrus Tree Studio's August kit! It is a beautiful combination of GCD Studios "Chic Bebe" and Jenni Bowlin's "Front Porch" collections. The kit also includes some goodies from Glitz, Making Memories, American Crafts, Maya Road and Basic Grey.
Here is a banner I made using the kit. I love the bright color combination's!

I used my Slice to cut out the shaped tags & letters from the patterned paper. I love the way it all coordinates together so nicely!
Here's a layout about my hubby. I recently got some old photos from my MIL and couldn't wait to use some of them on some layouts.
This one is about my nephew who recently moved out on his own. I can't believe he is all grown up. Can you see the cute little photo of him as a little boy to the right? hehe


Thanks for dropping by!

New Bella Blvd.

Have you seen these two fun new collections from Bella Blvd. yet? They are a couple of their new releases from CHA summer.
This collection is called Super Stud and is absolutely perfect for a "boy" layout, don't cha think?








This collection is called Plastino. I love the bright, happy colors of this one, it reminds me of Spring.










And these are called "Blooms a Bella", they are multi layered cotton blossoms. So delicious!

If you'd like to see the rest of Bella's newest releases check out their products page on their website.
Thanks for visiting.