just for fun.

I stayed up LATE last night scrapbooking. Well.. I scrapbooked until about 12:30am, when I got on a Creative Escape conf. call for a couple of hours, and then I was too excited to sleep! We have ALL NEW SURPRISES in store. So those of you who think you know what happens at CE… well, you don’t! (wink). It’s going to be fab… and it’s going to be here before we know it.. . and that is freaking me out.  but just seeing all the projects, and talking about the secrets, is EXCITING. So, I am operating on about an hour of sleep today and feeling a bit sluggish. I think I’ll have to sleep when Capri sleeps today, for sure.
So, I completed 4 layouts…there is no rhyme or reason, just wanting to get my creativity flowing. I just needed to PLAY! I have SO many fun, memorable photos from the last 4-5 months… so I need to just do some pleasure-scrapbooking! Eric got on his bike ‘rollers’… man, I should have taken a photo. I will next time. He just got them-he used to just ride on a ‘trainer’ that you mount your bike on, and it just turns it to a stationary bike. Well ‘rollers’ is kinda like a treadmill for bikers, but you have to keep pedaling, and keep your balance. It was looking like a lot of work! So we were watching that 24 movie- ‘Redemption’, so now forever when I see these pages I will be traumatized by my memories of that movie! LOL.

I started with this cute photo of the boys playing monopoly. I love this photo-the bird’s eye view… and what I wanted to remember was just them hanging around playing a game together. (well, that is what I want THEM to remember).
I used paper from the Street Smarts collection- it’s perfect for the boys. Then I decided to make my own embellishments, and I stole a $50, $20 and $10 from the game. I SHOULD have just photo copied them, but I was LAZY. I inked them w/ distress to get the color to pop, and used glossy accents to adhere Tim’s fragments over the parts of the money that I liked. Who doesn’t love and connect w/ monopoly money! I then pulled from some of the old-standby’s… cut a definition out of my old dictionary, and typed on my Dymo.
For the finishing touches, I used some of Tim’s spinners, and my Street Smarts glossy accents, ghost wings, and mini-ghost crown that I sanded to make a little less transparent. The black and white letters have been resurrected, and will be available very soon! Yay!


The 2nd page I did…was about our Thanksgiving. We celebrated with a bunch of families here in our branch, and it was a highlight of my time in Beijing. The  photo is just a ‘feel’ photo, I didn’t get a big group photo, which I am KICKING myself for STILL! But this photo captures, and jogs my memory of what I was feeling that day. SO the goal for this page was journaling my memory-capturing that feel. I used this SUPER cute Karen Russell paper layered over a piece from the World Traveller line. I just love this brown and black hounds. Very versatile. I mounted the photo using a few cream photo corners (I didn’t have enough for them to all be the same size, so there is one small one… just pretend I MEANT to do that!) –mounted on a piece from the Street Smarts collection-good, subtle. Then wrapped it with soft ribbons- silks and printed seambinding. I added a couple felt leaves from Chatterbox, and you can probably spot the chandelier crystal and bling. I just stiched the chandelier crystal on while I was sewing buttons on. (funny side note.. Emily Waters just HATES it when I attach buttons w/ nothing in the holes…it’s her biggest pet peeve… so now forever more, I can’t just glue on a button, has to be sewn on! Thanks em)…… I am on a bit of a button kick, and this set from Chatterbox (artsy.licious 'splendid treasures)  totally has done me right. I bought it when I was with the house of 3 girls in Provo… and I have almost used every last one.  That is what I used at the top of this journaling strip. The ‘gratitude’ and ‘thankful for’ elements are from that hybrid book that I posted on my blog in Dec. I have used those a lot! I added a couple stamps- the ‘thanksgiving’ is one of those huge Provo Craft alphabet turning stamps; and my very favorite stamp set: Cavallini Papers &Co Birds & Nests. (the bird)
I couldn’t resist using some of my new papers… they should start to be available here any time! so look for them! The ‘Summer Sun’ collection is perfect for my cruise photos… These are both from Grand Cayman… perfect to really mix bright colors and patterns! Some of my new papers have the printed elements die-cut for you so they are like ‘built in embellishments’.. SO fab. That is what you see here.. the border sheet also has a flap, that has the little turquoise flowers that layer on the white ones and it all looks dimensional and so easy to do! once I positioned my photos, and journaling spot, I layered a hambly overlay on top. And I used my favorite MM product.. love these little glitter letters. Dang cute.  but the lime green flower gets center stage!


The ‘let’s ride’ was the last one of the night/morning. This was the hightlight of my cruise! My folks and I rented scooters and cruised the island. As you can imagine they were dog-scooters, but they did the trick. Again, this is new paper from my CHA 09 release.. the big circle journaling element is on the border sheet, and is a ‘die cut’ element. I coupled it with OLD heidi stuff.. chipboard tags, and chipboard letters.. I absolutely LOVE the mixed print letters.. and they were perfect for these… get this, they are on sale on my website for .99$ (the stripes and dots).. I also used orange, lime and that little hot pink apostrophe. (it’s so cute!) the orange arrow journaling spots are .99$ too! notice the glitter stickers, the dymo tape and of course orange bling…anything goes with island photos! You gotta love that.

Hey- just a couple things in regard to my last post about the blog backgrounds…

Guess what: we have decided to offer a FREE House of 3 background for you to TRY OUT! now… here is the deal. If you add this to your blog, and send us a link… you’ll be in the running to win the ULTIMATE House Warming Package… that is a WHOLE bunch of stuff that we have been working on for this special event! And you will get access to it EARLY, so you get a sneak peek! You can post in here in my comments… you can email me, or Rhonna or Janet… we’ll be collaborating, and picking a winner on Friday morning. (27th). You’ll be notified and gifted!  Most of all, we just want you to TRY it!... check the tutorial section of the House of 3 site if you have questions… that might help!
ALSO, I have learned a cool trick (this is for you typepad folks again)… notice how here on my blog, right behind the text you see the yellow houndstooth? There is no color for my template background… so (excuse the technical addition here).
Inside the DESIGN tab, where you post your blog banner… there is also a place there for background. if you select that button, and you see ‘background color’- type in “NONE”. That will make it transparent!!

There is still time to win a banner of your choice, customized by me!! whatever you want it to say…your wish is my command! 
take some time to scrapbook! it's FUN!
can't wait for american idol tonight. -the simple pleasures!

Comments

[angel]

got it linked...at
www.lifeccc.blogspot.com
Thanks for being so helpful in explaining these cool tricks! The tutorials are so easy to follow also !

[Tammy Eberhard]

Check out my blog couture! I sure am loving all that H 0f 3 has to offer, especially all of the tutorials & support. Looking forward to the weekend event. Have a good rest of your week!

[Jessica B]

I just can't get enough of these new banners and backgrounds. This is the second time I have changed mine this week.

[Shelley Smith]

So cute! Thanks for the freebie!
Shelley

[Shelley Smith]

Sorry, here's the link. I actually used it as a header on my own blog, and added some things.
thx again.
casonshelley.blogspot.com

[Heather R.]

OK, too much fun. Seriously. In fact, I don't really know what happened to the last 3 hours of my life because I was perusing, and thinking and otherwise being inspired! Thank you girls for being born, magnifying your talents and helping us yahoo's along the way..........

www.heatherroms.blogspot.com

[cher]

Hi..no blog but I luv reading your info and following along...your blog is great..so pretty..as are your peers...would love to win something one day...maybe when I learn more I will start a blog..but right now Ima wannabee! ty Cher
[email protected]

[Dede]

I have the plainest blog..could use something bright on black. Nice new digi things you are doing! Glad you are feeling better. Your adventures in China are so interesting. :)

[Jaime Benavides]

I've revamped my blog using H of 3 Blog Couture...I'm really lovin' it! Not to mention the color combo;) Thanks a bunch!

[Tanya]

Haaaaaaay! I just can't stay away from this place! LOVE LOVE LOVE all the new ideas and digi products! I'm really diggin' the blog couture!

http://itanya.blogspot.com/

[MichelleG]

Yippee!! Thank you! The blog couture from HO3 is my new favorite addiction! You've made it so, so easy to have a cool looking blog...even for the HTML challenged like me. :) Here's the link to my blog: http://michellegauthier.blogspot.com/

Rhonna was kind enough to tell me how to customize the text on my header and that's my project for this weekend.

Thank you for the freebie!

[Jill Bushart]

Having more FUN and LOVE all your new ideas from House of 3! I wonder where the time goes after playing with everything. I confess I am another Ima Wannabee when it comes to a blog, but you are making it so tempting! Would love a personalized banner designed by you!

[Kelly Mills]

Boy oh Boy will I be glad when I can figure out this whole HTML stuff for getting your great backgrounds on my blog... I'm just missing something. But you have great help and I'm waiting now to get a response back for help for the "help desk" sort of speak! Thanks again Heidi for the great goodies over at Hof3 I'm loving it!

[Danielle]

I did it I can't believe I did it! I'm technologically challenged and I often tell the husband the reason we are married is so that he can care for all my tech needs :) But this morning I was determined to add a header and background to my blog and I did! http://dani-adayinthelifeofacoffeeaddict.blogspot.com/

[Sheila Miller]

You girls are like a fresh cup of coffee every morning. You all have such a positive attitude and it spills over to the rest of us! Thanks for making our days full of sunshine and creativity. Oh, and yes, I would love to win a banner.

[Debi Clark]

Heidi,
Looked all through the web site for Creative Escape and couldn't find out when the lottery drawing is. I was thinking it was the first part of March. Could you clue me in?

[Terri in the UK]

Hi Heidi, Great to see you've got your courage back about opening up the comments section again!
Am LOVING all the House of 3 stuff, even if I am figuring it all out as I go along!
I'm so excited about your ultimate giveaway that I'd fake another win to get it! AKA CE grand prize.
Have a great day.

[Sara Amuso]

I guess the site is down, I'm not able to get to the house of 3 page, I'll keep trying!

Sara

[Theresa]

Thanks for the awesome freebie! Love your pages.

[rae]

Just got done 'pimpin' my blog, thanks to this fabulous couture set from HO3 ..... I think I'm addicted... I...need....MORE!! ;)
http://simplyrae.blogspot.com/

[corinne braun]

Thanks for making it so easy to be stylish with the blog coutre! love it! here in Canada where it's still cold (-20C) and snowing, the bright colors sure do bring a smile to the face and the hope for Spring. Thanks!
www.braunc13.blogspot.com

[Wendy Antenucci]

Okay, I actually managed to get the header on my blog (it only took the whole afternoon)! If I can do it then anyone can get your beautiful products to work for them! Thanks for the trial, I didn't want to spend money on something I didn't think I could do! Now I can really shop. Here is the link to my blog. http://antenucci.blogspot.com/

[Jen Goodwin]

Okay, I was a slacker and stopped blogging on my personal blog for a while. But you've inspired me to start blogging again!

I didn't know how to do the blog backgrounds, but thanks to your tutorials, my blog is look sweet.

Thanks for the freebie AND the inspiration :)

[johanna (from sweden)]

yes - i can leave a comment on your blogg... i love your blogg... and you give me sooooooo many inspiration... i did a birthday-book for my friend, i gott the idea by your valentine-book.
My english is not so good, i'm sorry, and my enlish is like my computer-knowless...
and thanks for showing the LO's they are very nice. What are you doing with all your LO's???
thanks for all inspiration.
johanna

[Danielle]

heidi,
i just tried the free background and header-love, love, love it!! it makes my blog look so cheerful and springy!

danielle

http://www.danielleandmikeblissful.blogspot.com