on the easel

hiya! so as promised I am back with my october layouts for studio calico. I loved, loved,loVed this kit, I know I say this every month but the colors are so fun and be used with a variety of pictures, this kit is not just for fall...trust me!
I purchased two add-ons again this month: watercolor (which is sold out, sorry guys) and en plein air (which is still available and has the awesome chevron stamp in it, i love this stamp! You can see as I used it in my dare 169 mini too!!

I used only the main kit (on the easel) with this layout. I also used mr. huey in the color sunshine on the background. I love the pictures of Synai that I took of her back in November. I had a unique freelance opportunity to work with a really great company to help design some items  for the launch of own network, the part of did has been cut but it was still an extremely amazing opportunity for my family and me, which I felt really blessed to be apart of creatively. One day soon I will share our entire experience, which really still seems surreal.

This layout of Aiden is a compilation of all of the stamps from each of the kits in the main and add-ons that I purchased. I love the polka dot stamp in watercolor! You know I about died when I saw the polaroid stamp in the main kit, get used to seeing it because it will be getting a serious workout here shortly! :)

For this layout about Synai graduating from K this year, I used the add-on  en plein air only. I did a lot of distressing,misting, layering, tearing and stamping on this layout to go with the distress feel of the sassafras paper. It seems like yesterday (i know it was only june but still) that this happened now she is in 1st grade and loving it.

+ I have a great coupon code to share, enter FF321 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. Promo code must be entered at checkout as no refunds will be issued. Feel free to share with your friends too!

dare 169

finally able to scrap the latest dare! jed sent us the best goodies to play with and of course I had to turn the goods into a mini.

1. motto, never throw out the things you really love, wear it always because you define your style. 2. always over accessorizing, more the better for me 3. into wearing patterns lately...stripes and leopard

4. glitter on my nails has become my new favorite thing.

5. everything big...watches, rings, heels

New kit is up at Studio Calico, it is a winner winner for sure! I will be back later to share my layouts for the gallery.

i am grateful

 for a job that impacts so may hearts and has the support of many.

the reason for my lack of post lately. a huge event to produce that was a great success.

crafty posts to ensue shortly.

xo 

the weekends

totally made awesome by finally marking off a diy involving nails of course!

seriously made my weekend mixed with getting to hold and fuss over my friend's newborn baby, 3-0 wildcats and awesome family time. and did I mention awesome nails?! yes, will be rocking the gold glitter tips for the rest of the month.

if you want some too, here is how....

ps. i used sally's girl gold glitter polish (only .99 at sally beauty supply store) instead of arts/craft glitter and the trick is to dab it on not spread it=perfect glitter application! synai has the matching manicure as well. werd!

who else is loving katy perry's teenage dream, home, work, car....repeat!

xo 

deux*

first of ALL, y'all are just the sweetest, THANK you for your sweet words and for understanding. I really do love this community and getting to know each of you!  It really meant a lot so thank you!
I love blogging, creating and sharing so thank you for taking the time to come here each day and to check on my daily (not so daily lately) bits and rambles.

We are in full football and cheer season! Saadiq's team is 2-0, he (#35) is over the moon about it! I love football so the games are so much fun! Synai is over it once she is done cheering, she is a trip!


I have a quick scrappy share today - my oct. sneaks of with studio calico's october main kit:on the easel and #4 add-on: en plein air. My goal for this kit was to make four layouts, this is a sneak at two of them. I love the color combinations of this kit, my go to colors for me: orange, yellow, green...i was in heaven!
This one is made with only products from the 4th add-on, en plein air. But seriously all of the add--ons are out of this world! The second sneak is from the main kit-on the easel. A lot of layers on both but my second sneak is my favorite layout so far.
xo

goodbye sheriff

Some of you may know from FB or twitter but our little guy passed away on Saturday at 5pm. We miss him so much, his cuddles, twirls, bark and how he would stand guard (he did this so much B started calling him sheriff). As a family we are devastated and spent most of the weekend in tears. I know it may seem silly but we have lost a sweet spark in our family. There will not be another like Aiden. :(  I made this layout this morning as a form of therapy and for my neutral challenge for the studio calico blog. When I was done with it I couldn't help but to cry but realized that we are truly grateful that he was in our lives and he is in a better place now. It felt to scrap it out. Thank you to ALL of my friends who have sent such lovely words of endearment and support, they have meant the world to us!
xo

its the little things...

some of the things that are making me happy and eXcited for fall! I haven't done this in a while, so in the celebration of FRIDAY and another weekend (with near perfect weather!)....
xo

finally one is opening up in the DMV and by my office no less!

1. Figgy Goodness ♥, 2. Untitled, 3. <3, 4. Polaroids And Coffee In June, 5. i always want to be the last one standing., 6. Spring Cleaning ♥

these photos are what is up right now, especially number 2...love sun flares and old cameras!

blinksoflife

truly believing and living this quote right now
sad and happy to see the finale of True blood on Sunday, love this show the most for sure! 

back in the day

(all products from the studio calico documentary line)

as i become older i have become very reflective-certain memories will pop into my mind at the strangest times...you too? I thought dare 168 was perfect to sum up my childhood memories. We used to love watching the Wonder Years, where are you now Fred Savage?! :) I loved the music on the show, so nostalgic! As with life you take the good with the bad but in the end it is the memories and family that means the most! I love old photos and these are even more special because they survived after our home caught fire (my father perished in the fire) in 2004. Our house was rebuilt but you always become more sentimental with the little things and when a life is lost. okay, I didn't mean to write all of this but just plain and simple, photos taking and documenting should mean a lot and I think we think that what we do sometimes is just a hobby, it is way more than that.

In these pictures are my father's sister, mother (they remind me of him so much), my sister when she was baby ( so so cute and reminds me of Synai in this picture) and a childhood friend who we loved (even though she was a teenager here she would always come to our birthday parties...that is me in the corner!)
xo

*by the way i am in love with the mister huey spray inks, have a new favorite color to mist with: SCHOOLHOUSE (red), who would have thunk it right?!

the no work day giveaway

Happy Labor Day!! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate a day off than
to host a giveaway!! I have a project in Scrapbook Trends newest
idea book and have an extra copy (which is an idea book packed with amazing ideas)to give away. okay, here are the rules: follow me on twitter and retweet my tweet about the contest!It's that easy! Happy Monday!
I will post and tweet the winner, tomorrow!
xo

reWIND

HAPPY FRIDAY!!So happy it is a long weekend, can't wait to just chill! It has been a crazy week getting adjusted to school and practice again but we made it thru...yay!!

I know I say this every year but I can't believe how much they are growing before my eyes. I see glimpses of their growth at different times like at bed time, when Saadiq is walking up the stars to their room and he is at my eye level or Synai wanting her nails painted for the first day of school. They really are the twinkling light in life. I know I said I would post a pic of s2, this photo was taken today...which puts into prospective what I am about to share! OLD SCRAPBOOK LAYOUTS since they are the reason I jumped feet first into this hobby I love so much! The quality of the pics are not so nice (taken with an old digital camera back in the day) but you can see how s2 used to look as babies!



As you can see I used to love my pattern paper and layering. I still love to layer but just in a different way. Even though these pages are 5+ years old, they are still some of my favorite to look at not because of the product (but do i ever love some vintage KI) or techniwues but for the words and photos.
Have a wonderful and safe labor day weekend!
xo