still me

no webshow...

sorry for the late notice this afternoon... but there will be NO WEBSHOW TONIGHT! life got in the way this week! ack!! have a great night!

 

Ok, so from here on out, I am dedicating my Tuesdays to ‘technological tips’… in the effort to somehow stay one step ahead of my 13 yr-old (who am I kidding), and to get use my iphone to it’s fullest potential, and not just for passing back to my littles as I am driving in the car (although, that is huge!)  SO, if you have any thoughts, or favorite apps or anything ‘techy’ that you’d like to share, PLEASE email me!! It’s for the common good! So… I’ll kick off with what I am using RIGHT NOW… my 2 newest apps, and in the future I will probably only feature one thing at a time- but I guess this is a 2-for-1!!

1.   Lose it: I will preface this with saying that after a long and cold winter, last weekend I put on a swimsuit to swim at the indoor pool w/ my kids in St. George, and frankly, it was worse than I thought- TIME to swing into action! I have tried lots of different things- but the bottom line is that you just have to eat LESS calories! I was contemplating heading back to Weight Watchers, but truthfully, I know what I can and can’t eat… so this app is PERFECT because it tracks and calculates your calories for yoU! (and does the addition which is really hard to do when you are sugar-deprived)

    

The app is awesome cause it helps you set goals, you can add your own recipies and it figures out the calories and remembers them, and even figures out how many calories you burn (approx) if you have done any exercise. I LOVE putting in my food, and seeing exactly how many calories I have eaten, and how many more I can eat, and even… how many calories below my goal I am!! I love that it tracks what I eat each day, and remembers it, so if I can’t think of something to eat, then I can go back and get inspired by past meal ideas.  And if you want to watch your overall consumption, you can go back and look at your total fat, carb, protein of each day-

HELLO… it’s free!! Check it out!

 2. Get Running: this goes hand in hand with ‘Lose it’… this app is a personal running coach geared to get someone (me and eric) off the couch and up to a 5 or 10k race. As you may know if you have been a couch-potato (over the winter, or longer) it’s SO hard to get moving again! It hurts! I have gone out a few times, and tried to just start slow, but my knees hurt and then I push too hard and the next day I feel like I am going to DIE, so I was thinking that I really needed some support. OK, this app is so cool, cause it just gets you started running by guiding you on a really slow start-

A really nice sounding- aussie lady starts the first workout by warming you up for 5 minutes, and then takes you through a series of run/walks. 1 min run, then 1 ½ min walk- 8 times. She encourages you by telling you how many more seconds until you start or stop- and reminds you how great you are doing! Here’s the thing- it really is at your own pace (I don’t run as fast as Eric, but I can walk a lot faster than he can!) but that is not what matters, what you are doing is conditioning your body in a safe, healthy way to get moving- realistically… it tracks your days, so you can’t skip! It’s like running w/ a buddy! You can add music and listen over the voice- I am not sure if you can change the voice…

And if you’d like you can share your runs on twitter or facebook!

This one is pretty pricey at $1.99 (insert sarcasm tone)  but I think it’s worth it, and lots less than a personal trainer! ….so Get Running! I am loving it!

over the weekend

I am feeling really thankful for some much needed ‘family time’ that we got this weekend…Eric has been coaching the 7/8^th grade rugby team that Colton and Cory have been playing on – and we are in week 4 of actual games. Rugby is still relatively new around here, so a LARGE percentage of the boys are playing for the first time…but the program is really growing, and the boys LOVE It! and saying the Eric loves coaching them, would be an understatement!

This weekend, the boys were invited to a tournament in St. George (southern Utah), and that meant 4 games… we loaded our family up and headed south Friday evening, in hopes of warmer weather! No such luck..

It was rainy and cold, which left the field traditionally muddy- and within 5 minutes of the games starting, all the boys were covered in mud. Sadly, the boys lost all 4 of their games, but played great! As a mom, it’s a little like watching your kid in a rodeo- it just looks like they are getting slammed, squashed, stepped on and thrown.  How could they not be having a great time! happy to report no major injuries!
after a long day of cheering, and mud…we enjoyed some Mongolian BBQ which was delicious and we hunkered down to watch a movie. The great thing about being away, is that there is nothing else for me to do, but relax and enjoy- it made me realize that I just need to choose to relax and  enjoy a little more often. I am a busybody- always thinking of all the things left on my list. I could tell that my family appreciated my kicking back. it’s funny how hard it is for me to just chill. I need to work on that.

Ready for a big week ahead…

Here’s to a great Monday!

 

really quick...

ok, so being gone- means coming home and strugging with the catch up! and lucky for me.. all the things i didn't get to before i left, waited patiently for my return! laundry and bathrooms, bare cupboards and empty fridge...how many emails?? my heck- and i'll be honest, i have been granting myself a couple hours of un-plugged, sitting, resting and recouping. why do i feel so guilty for that? but alas, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!  however.. i did want to give a shout out to some of my friends in AZ that are having a "mama's market"... you can read more about it here... but tons of homemade goodness awaits! Liz Eaton, Emily Waters, Emily Falconbridge to name a few... if you have a few on sat, you will love stopping by and shopping for a little inspiration, as well as some cool items! for you, for friends... you can read more about it HERE... i am SO wishing i was there so i could hang out and talk, and laugh, and eat some mexican food! i miss my AZ friends so much! i would so be there if i could! i hope it's great girls !!! much lovexoxoxo

 

 

in 6 hours...

i have to be to HSN for my 'salon appointment'... yes! the big day is finally here... i will be appearing tomorrow morning on HSN to present 3 kits from House of 3/ Pink Paislee! i picked out this bright yellow sweater and ruffly top! i am excited and a little nervous! i am here in town with the adorable Rebecca Cross, the owner of Pink Paislee- and she will be presenting on air as well! we got here on thursday because on Friday we had our on-air-guest training, and all the stuido tours and pre-production meetings etc. whew! but that was awesome, because i really felt prepared, and had a chance even to practice in front of the cameras!

so, i am really excited that i get to be here with 2 of the NEWEST collections from House of 3!  first up at 7am (Florida time/EST) i will be presenting the Daily Junque kit... you can check it out HERE on the HSN.com site... or preview all the stuff that is included. it's an AWESOME kit- i LOVE the collection and have had soo much fun creating with it! when you see it, you will know what i mean!

so this is a peek at what is in the first kit... hello! it's fabulous.. and ALL BRAND NEW! you get 12 papers, stamps, wood alphas, bakers twine, felt flowers, labels, notes, and like tons of epherema... as well as the CD, which contains 3 sheets of bonus PDF content... it's SO cute!  here is a peek:  just look at all this stuff, that you can print and print and print! it's SO cute!

   ok... so right after the Daily Junque kit, i will be presenting the Parisian Anthology collection kit.. now here is the deal on this kit- we launched this collection last july, and it's been SO much fun to create with and teach with- it has this fabuous album with these really super cool sheet protectors inside- that are all different sizes... this really was the brain child of Janet Hopkins- i LOVE them... so along with all the papers, the element sheets, both the shapes and alphas of corrugated, stamp set, chiffon flowers, ruffles, stamps, the album... you can see the CD in there as well... want to see what's on the CD?

so this CD has 5 printable BONUS PDF pages... take a look:

so you have all the elements that 'go' with the papers-you have the 'typewriter' notes and quotes... and then you have a set of 2x3 pieces called "happy thoughts", which woudl be super cute inside the album- they fit right into the sheet protectors... so cute, so fuN! i hope you will love it!

the thing that you need to know is that this is the end of Parisian Anthology! when this kit is gone... these papers... are GONE! this album is GONE :( sad... but true!... so grab it while you can! i have some fun ideas to show that will make this one hard to resist!!

and the last kit..  and i love how gorgeous it looks! the colors are so fun and fresh! it's fabulous!! i will be on air with this kit at 4pm Eastern time (that is 2pm in SLC... )

this is just a must have HAPPY kit!  oh the stamps, twine, dangling crystals, jewel, pearl and tinsel topped sticks... flags, 12 papers and glittery dimensional stickers... and don't forget the BONUS content on the adorable CD:

those printable pages are just SO cute! and i love that whe you have the CD, you can print them out and use them as often as necessary!

tonight i got a chance to play around a little with the Butterfly Garden kit that Rebecca is presenting:

this is an amazing kit- i got to play with it a little tonight - i  created a minibook for the table- i used the stamps, and layered on the 'press ons' and collaged some of the die cuts on top- along w/ the butterfly with the acetate layer wings.. so gorgeous!

the lighting on this photo- is obviously horrible, but maybe you can kinda get a feel for how cool this collection is! it's soft, and vintage and delicate and there is no end to what you can do with all these bits and pieces! (there are 88 pieces in the Butterfly Garden epherema kit... holy cow!!)

SO... this will be my big 'premiere'...

7am Eastern Time: Daily Junque and Parisian Anthology

4pm Eastern Time: Soiree and Daily Junque...  ALL by House of 3.

wish me luck!!

 

looking forward to tonight's show!

tonight Daily Junque gets its own show! i can't wait to show you everything in the collection, as well as some really cool, fun- INSPIRING projects! i will be showing you how-to make a really cool little mini-book that is perfect for giving some love!  TONIGHT at 8pm (mountain time)

     so be sure to tune in tonight! super hands on class tonight!... you will want to get one of these...

Celebrating Little Black Dress!

I am so happy for my friends at “Little Black Dress” kit club… this month they are celebrating their 1 YEAR anniversary of providing fabulous, beautiful, versatile kits… that feature delicious combos of papers, along with hand-picked unique elements: buttons, trims, game pieces, ephemera and creative possibilities!In celebration of their anniversary, they sent me their “Black Tie Love Affair”, and invited me to create something with a cool tool that they could give away!

On the same day I got the kit, I also got a box that contained the new iBond cordless glue gun, as well as a pedal roller from Imaginise! So I was so excited to play with those cool toys! So I designed a really cool book that I used the iBond to put together… this is a really cool tool- it’s so great to have that ease and functionality of a hot glue gun right at your fingertips, and not 3 feet from an outlet!  So... hang on, and i'll tell you how you can WIN a Glue GUN and petal roller to a lucky winner!

Ok

But before I show you the big tutorial for this cute little book.. can I show you a quick layout that I made using some darling photos I snapped yesterday-

This week.. maybe you will be thinking about who you are lucky to have in your life!
I love that the Little Black Dress people just included a little touch of green in this kit! Just enough so it won’t get pinched!

 

When I opened the kit, of course I was immediately drawn to this beautiful big glittery “LOVE” paper… and I started thinking of how I could make a cute mini-book with this on the cover!  We had been making these cute interactive (fold out) cards in the Mouse, Paper, Scissors class that I have been teaching w/ Jessica  Sprague- and I was feeling so inspired by the card, that it made me start thinking how I could incorporate that into the minibook…so I wanted to make pages that opened up : 1. A top fold 2. A bottom folding up 3. A side fold and 4. A side pull-out.   When I am creating a new type of book, I have to be thinking about the size and shape, the binding and in this case.. the inside page dynamics!  This is such a fun book!

 So, first, I cut, scored, folded and prepped the inside pages. The book is 6” tall and 8” wide.  Here are some little sketches of how I planned each page.

1. top fold- the crease is along the top of the page- and the flap folds up

2. Side fold- the crease is on the right edge of the page, and the flap opens to the right

3. Pull out- this one is pretty tricky for me to explain, but it’s like a ‘Z’ fold- and I LOVE how it works…

4. Bottom fold- this is really fun, and different… the flap opens down. I love it.

To bind the book, I made a score line ¾” in from the left edge (using the Martha Stewart score board) on the cover and each inside page… then- this was so easy- I used the hot glue between each page to hold the pages together. To finish it off, I wrapped a piece around the outside of the spine and adhered it with the hot glue as well! Makes it QUICK!

here is a 'bottom fold' page. notice the score line on the left:

this is a 'top fold' page... again- you can see the score line-

to attach the pages together- i simply layered the pages on top of each other- and glued in the 3/4" from the left side- those score lines need to be really folded, and defined!
Just look at how cute the inside pages are… I am not totally done w/ this book, but I love it so far!

the very first page i used one of my FAVORITE photos of my little guy!  it's a side open page:

onto page 2... this is a bottom fold style page, and it's perfect for this photo too!

this is the hard one to really show- there are 3 score lines... and when you pull this open:

 ok... it's tricky to see, but i love how it works!  this book is so much fuN! i hope that i am conveying how it works!!

so by now, you have seen just a snippit of the GORGEOUS pieces to this kit!  you can click HERE to buy this kit... but as i mentioned, LBD is giving away an iBOND and a Petal Roller... i used it to make these little gold buds:

here's what you have to do to enter to win!!:

1. Go to the Little Black Dress facebook page and "LIKE" them...

2. Leave them a happy little comment, and wish them a happy birthday... and tell them they are fab!!

3. in 72 hours from Monday midnight.. they will randomly pick a winner! 

i hope you will go and give them a cyber hug! they are awesome!!

SO, to my friends at Little Black Dress... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

 

 

a BIG bow!

i totally neglected to show HOW i made this BIG BOW card on the webshow... so HERE is a big step by step tutorial! Janet mentioned that this is a 'texas sized' bow... i LOVE it... as you can see, i just can't get enough of these bows! i love bows of every kind!

ok, here goes!
you will start with a 8x12 paper, and fold it in a 'gate fold'.  i folded mine in 3" on the right side, and 3 1/4" on the left. the overall size of the folded card is 8" tall x 5 3/4 wide. (when i folded this paper, i lined up the dots)

next, cut 3 -  2 1/4"  strips from the floral paper 7", 10" and 12"

the 7 x 2 1/4 strip is first, and acts as the back of the bow... cut a little 'v' out of each end, and adhere it in the middle of the card on the LEFT side only

alright, take the 12" x 2 1/4" strip, and create a loop (overlap at the ends like 1/2"). you can do the same thing with the 10" strip so you will have 2 circle loop things, one of the loops will be smaller!

ok, the smaller loop will layer on top of the larger loop, and then you will pinch them down!

then just do a quick staple there to hold...

cut a piece of the green trellis paper that is  6" x 1 1/4", and we'll wrap it around the middle of the two loops! i sanded the edges and suff just a little!

then you just glue that bad boy right on top of the 7" ... man, isn't that just so cute! i used a glue gun- (that cute pink one from imaginise the ibond) but any glue will do (that rhymes)

this is what i did on the inside.. and i love how cute it is!! i used the sunny backgrounds from House of 3, and the envelope template kit- i used the 4x6, but it really came out a 3x5... and just stuck it right inside- perfect for a note or gift card or invite etc... i LOVE it! this is a good 'hand delievery' only type of card.

i whipped this one up too for someone that i really appreciate... and i love how it turned out. stamped the background w/ the Soiree stamps, and some yellow ink... and just added a flag and some twine to one of the Soiree sticks... and that thankyou banner, i used a quilling tool to roll the edges... it's super dimensional and so i used the glue gun again to adhere everything. SO CUTE!

i will tell you a quick secret... and i want to play w/ it more, but i tied the little bow (can you tell i am obsessed with bows...???) using the new soiree twine- and then i modpodged the bow so that it would dry in that cute shape-it's like a stiff little bow, and it's amazingly cute. i just want to eat it! sigh. cute cute.

i made a couple little notebook covers:

this one is so cute, it opens like a book and has a 5x8 mini-legal pad inside

here is another good reason to get the fringe scissors...

this whole collection just makes me so happy! it's so bright and beautifuL!

 

 

out of energy!

Man, I am so tired out! My household is full of SICK-Os and I am hoping that my lethargy tonight is not an indication of any illness that I might be picking up on; but maybe just a little needed ‘down time’… I guess I just feel like I can’t take any down time! too much to do… anyway- I am just putting it out there- that I will be posting a ‘BIG BOW’ tutorial tomorrow! But I think I am going to go to bed early and get a full night’s sleep tonight…i am just going to unplug. tomorrow will be a new, fabulously productive day!

bright is better!

i really think that working with these bright and bold colors all day made me happier! i needed the energy from these happy hues! i will take more photos in the daylight, but i will just give you a couple highlights...i just really love Janet's samples. these are so awesome! you can see more on her blog by clicking here...  and she was not even feeling well, and these babys still came out!

this is actually a minibook that is a hinge in the top center! how cute! and just look at all the lucious stamping! she topped it off w/ the glittery dimensional stickers. gorgeous, and so simple!

i love the simplicity of this card... yum! cute peeka boo flowers...

and wow those ruffles are just pure joy!!

i showed a party invitation i was making- (hand delivered!)

i showed a fun way to add a message to a bunch of flowers w/ a curly banner

and i gave i think 3 or 4 more reasons to buy the MS fringe scissors!!

if you missed the show, and you need a little infusion of bright and beautiful, check out tonights'  show recording here.

hoping to add up some more youtubes in the next few days! feeling so tired- gonna sleep good tonight!