still me

ready for halloween!?!

check this out ... now THIS is a FRIDAY NIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA!!

huge thanks to Canvas Corp, and BAZZILL for this amazing project... it's a countdown to Halloween!! and you know how i LOVE halloween! i was totally so excited about this!! Friday Night we like to have a fun project to do, but people are TIRED! so... we only did a few parts of this bad boy... and we kicked it off with a little Halloween inspiration! 

are you on Pinterest? i am an addict... and really, there are only 2 kinds of people-

1. people who don't KNOW about Pinterest

2. people who are addicted to Pinterest!

right??

what is Pinterest, you ask? (you are a #1?)... well... holy cow, you have to go and check it out! it's this totally amazing, mind blowing universe of creative ideas, inspiration and SHARING! so... it's social media driven... so you follow people, and find friends etc etc...  when you get an account, you start your own boards and start 'pinning' things you love- then other people see what you pin, and if they like it, they may pin it toO!! and you can 'like' it -- here's the magic: when you pin something, the pin will link you right back to where the image was originally posted! so, you can always have access when you need it! i mean, there has never been a place to organize and catalog all your creative ideas, and inspirations until this! it's sooo awesome!

ok, anyway- so i was talking about halloween and finding halloween inspriation on Pinterest... and i gathered up a bunch of ideas! now.. these are the images i showed off on Friday night...now, i am just sharing the images- if you would like to find out more about the HOW-TO's on these... go to Pinterest, and search my name! you will be able to find my boards (and you can follow them) and you can see ALL My halloween inspirations!

as i mentioned on Friday Night, the reason that i LOVE Halloween SO MUCH is that you aren't judged on your cooking skills! (i am just not a great cook!)

this is a great thing to get started right at the beginning of the month!! how cute... surely these are made from Bazzill Cardstock!

ok, i loooove these candles- if you have seen my candle heat transfer ideas... these are so awesome! and so easy to make.

i am in love with this idea! i love anything 'on a stick!'

lacy hose anyone?

talk about EASY and fuN!... kids would love to play along fiding stuff to hang on the branches


are you having a party?! why not! so much fun!!! people LOVE a REASON to dress up!!

ok, here is a good 'short cut'  for the pumpkin decorating!

alright... i saw a kit for this a michaels... just sayin:

so cute and EASY!

i can't resist these stunning little mini bags

tulle wreath looks super easy, cheap and festive!

and these little hershey's bats are SO cute and SO clever! great use of the googly eyes!

doesn't this look heavenly!? might try it out.


so... here is a quick shot of me in my awesome witch costume!! honestly- take a wig, glue a feather boa to a $5 witch hat. add some sparkly stuff from the 1$ bin at michaels...put on some black boots and splurge on some silly socks! i LOVE to dress up! and it kinda freaks people out, catches them off guard!  i like it to be kinda scary, but pick a theme and have fun! anything goes for halloweeN! i love it.

ok, my camera had a glitch yesterday when i was trying to photograph all my CE goodies! sooo, i need to pick it up today, and hopefully can post the fun stuff i came home with tomorrow!

projects

every year, i have loved the projects! i feel like i have learned so much every single year- but the thing that i love the most (personally) is getting the chance to take classes from such inspiring and passionate women- who are FUN and i consider my friends! when i first started dreaming up the idea of "Creative Escape" one of the things that i really wanted was a way for all the teachers to take each other's classes- in the past, when i attended events, i felt like as instructors there was no 'sharing' -- seemed like you kept your class projects top secret, and it felt more like a competition... i remember that i was invited to teach at an event in S. Africa, and they spent the night before letting each one of the teachers give the group of teachers and volunteers a little 'taste' of their class- i felt like even in that smallest look into their teaching style and personality i learned so much, and personally benefitted by being exposed to other ways of teaching... i haven't taken many classes- you know, start to finish- so this would be a little 'dream' of mine.

Our answer to this, is that each year we have what we call "Preview Day" a few months before the actual event. We get together: teachers, staff, volunteers and take each and every class! work out the bugs, and figure out the kits, etc.  it's been a hightlight for me- a much more 'relaxed' and social time to get to know the volunteers and teachers alike. anyway... this year was no exception! loved Preview day!  we had a blast.

here's a look at the projects...

fantastic projects! i loved them all! and these teachers- what an amazing group of womeN! they were all so different and unique ... just like their projects! 

AND, each year, all the amazing projects... in steped out photos, and step by step instructions...is compiled into an AMAZING idea book! this year was the first time it was bound on the side- making it a landscape oriented book- which was super cool!  i think you can order it on Scrapbook.com (or you will be able to...) i will update with a link as soon as i know! there is lots of fun tips and cool ideas in there in addition to the project info! --

this is the last page... love it! Doug Jones is so awesome! he is always game for all the crazy stuff, and is such an amazing supporter of the Scrapbooking industry. He has just as much passion and love for scrapbooking as any of us, and i really admire him so much as a leader, a business man, a husband and father- and ESPECIALLY grandfather... he is SO great w/ all those little kiddos!

i want to let the teachers know how greatly i appreciate all the effort and energy they each put into Creative Escape! from the Trunk Shows, to their fabulous "Power Point" presentations, 2 LOOONG days of teaching and of course their amazing creations! my love to all of you! thank you so much for giving SO much of yourselves to this year's events!

ok, tune in tomorrow for some CE swag!

take a peek inside!

ok, not sure if i can really re-cap this year's Creative Escape.  first of all... i had every intention of getting great photo, and being able to really document this year's happenings because this would be my first time not teaching all day friday and sat.  and yet STILL, as i have every other year- i am totally underwhelmed with myself and my ability to take any photos. and quite frankly, the photos i did take... not great.  but i did grab a few and despite the fact that they are less than stellar, here you go! they will still help me share some of my thoughts!

this year's theme was "Worth Remebering", and i do want to thank all the teachers for really jumping in on the theme, and i love how they all tied right into it with their projects!  So, to go along with the theme; we wanted to capture a little of the nostalgia from Doug's era (wink)... there were a number of attendees that were dressed up SOO cute in poodle skirts, high pony tails, and even wing tip shoes.. the perfect addition to the feel of the decor, Mr. Bazzill happily volunteered his newly restored 'T-bird'... it's GOREGEOUS! you should have seen the group that was getting the car right into the lobby of the ballroom in the hotel! shining that baby up for all the photo opps! incredible!  and there was a juke box playing out in the hallway the whole time w/ music from the 50's... every time i walked down the hall- without fail- there were people dancing, and even just kinda bopping as they walked through the lobby area. 

we mixed things up quite a bit the first day- thurs- so it was totally different than ever before- this year a "Bazaar" took the place of Technique Boutique, and we invited several manufacturers to come and show off their cool stuff- do make n takes, give tutorials and ideas etc. everyone seemed to really enjoy it! during those hours, the teachers were also holding a 'trunk show' which is when they set up a table to share their cool stuff that they have made over the years. it's always one of my very favorite parts of the whole event. you can visit- no pressure- and i just LOVE seeing people's creatings in REAL life, and not just on the computer. this was the first year that i didn't have to show at the trunk show, so that was a relief! while they were showing off, and people were floating through the tables and displays in the Bazzaar, i was teaching my 'yudu' workshop.   everyone had a scheduled time to cycle through my class- where we made a flower pin thanks to Imaginesce, and screen print on aprons compliments of JessicaSprague.com. i am A HUGE yudu (Provo Craft's screen printing machine), and so i was SO delighted that they would sponsor my class. we had to make some adjustments to the logistics of how the class was working, to allow for a bit more 'dry time' . but it all worked, and i loved sharing my LOVE of the YUDU with everyone! it was so much fun!! and so great to get some low-pressure face time with everyone on the first day!

anyway... really, deep-deep down, i wanted to do a 'GLITTER' screen printing project, but truth be told, that there were just too many people to do the glitter with (we did glitter the first year! remember that?); SOO, i just wanted to make a display, and that is what the t-shirts were for. they were SOO cute! and i love mine!

NOTE: if you came home with one of those t-shirts, or you were a lucky winner of a Yudu, just so you know, be sure that you iron for 3 minutes before any washing. and the washing should be inside out, and hung to dry!

ok, i am too tired, and bordering on delerious at the moment, so i will continue tomorrow!!

 

pretty funny...

here is a snipit from the our 'opening exercises' as doug calls it... kicking things off!!

home safe...

the only word that i can think of to describe the LAST  Creative Escape is... AMAZING!

i will need to dedicate several blog posts to adequately sharing little pieces of the magic...it was SO wonderfuL! it's late Sunday night, and i have been driving all day today with my kids and emily to get home at a reasonable hour for the boys to have their FIRST day of school in the morning.  after the final goodbye last night, i packed up all my belongings, and bits and pieces of CE and stayed the night at my MIL's with my kids. We got up and loaded this morning... it's about a 12 hour drive, and with the exception of a one hour stop in Page at the Sonic (that was incredibly S L O W), we drove straight through.  i feel exhausted.

bags are unpacked, laundry is started, backpacks are loaded, and clothes laid out.

i need some sleep.

but, know that i promise to fill you in, and spill all my favorite parts!

i have to share the classes, my presentations, my yudu classes and creations...highlights, details, gifts, funnies... memories, and even a little about what i talked about for my 'keynote' and final words.

whirlwind

TOMORROW i am leaving for CREATIVE ESCAPE!  i can hardly even belive that it's here already! it's almost here! i have had the MOST busy and crazy last few days, and have had so many things going on... don't you hate it how everything seems to come down at the same time!... i knew that it was going to be nuts, so Em came to help make it all happen- i mean, what would i do without her!! we got right to work- as you can see below! and while to some, it may look like we were hanging out at the beach-- but for us, it was really a super productive planning meeting as we listed everything that needed to get done over the next 4 days, made a priority list, and strategized on how we were going to takle it all!!

first order of business... was a little 'inspiration' shopping which inevitablly landed us at Dear Lizzy, as we shared a mint brownie! fabulously inspiring!

with CE right around the corner, i was working on my display for my Yudu workshop on Thursday! and now my house has a light coating of glitter!  i love it!

my sweet little niece turned 1, and you know- you have to just really enjoy those perfect little one-year-old birthday parties! they are the best! my sister-in-law let me help with the decor, and it was just the cutest thing...
about 18 months ago, when LaRane learned that she was having a little girl, Katie and i were so excited that we went right out and bought her the most beautiful, girlie dress we could find... and guess what... she was FINALLY able to wear it! HOW PERFECT is that... she wore it for her 1-yr party!... just had to share this lovely instagram from the party!  here are a couple more shots:

my brother even got a new pink striped shirt... (anything for his little girl!, he said he wouldn't want to 'clash')

even though it was a 'no-presents' party...but who can resist buying little shoes, little baby dolls, and anything pinK! so cute.

larane had all the favorites... RKT, mini-brownies, cupcakes, choc chip cookies, choc cookies... and the big hit pumpkin pie! Eric was thrilled cause it's his favorite.  and she got these really super yummy 'nibs' licorice ropes- they were so good! (from target)  and tootsie pops in pink! fab...

then- today was my first filming date at 'My Craft Channel'... i prepared 6 segments, and spent the day there today getting them filmed. it was a blast... i can't wait to see how it all turns out! 

it's been a whirlwind for sure~! thanks to my mom for helping me out w/ the kiddos, and glad that the boys can keep themselves entertained!  we have all the 'back-to-school' clothes, paper, scissors, crayons, colored pencils, notebooks, hand sanitzers ETC... we have met teachers, we have the schedules...even Connor is all set for his new pre-school only a couple blocks away (YAY!)   School starts for Capri, Colton and Cory on the 29th, so this is their last week to LIVE IT UP! 

now all that is left to do here is PACK it up. this year, i have all my little presentations ALMOST ready to go, and my goal is to be loaded in the car BRIGHT and earlY!  soooooooooo... wish us luck! i can't forget ANYTHING... need to get some laundry done, and hopefully leave a clean house!

next time you hear from me, it will be from CREATIVE ESCAPE!!

reality check

you know how you just go along, and life is crazy, busy- and your day in and day out feels like a bit of a treadmil... the laundry is never ending, the dishes are dirty just as soon as they are clean! the kids are eating food as fast as i can buy it, and the minute i get home from taking a kid one place, someone else needs to go somewhere else! and then you have those moments that you realize - holy cow, life HAS changed. kids HAVE grown.

the boys have been telling me that they are 'gaining' on me (height wise). both of their feet are larger than mine, and both of them are rocking 'middle school' this year. hard to believe! buying deodorant and cologne... pants and shorts in the MENS department ...... it's amazing to watch these boys transform into young men, literally right before my eyes. 

BTW: just for the RECORD> Cory is officially taller than Colton. there: documented. 

NOTE: after this photo was taken, Colton has eaten his vegtables every night. 

another garden update!

i can't WAIT until these are ready... just turned this red overnight... been enjoying the zucchini!

too soon?

have you seen the 'phantom' collection that Pink Paislee released in July? it's the House of 3 Halloween stuff, and i LOVE IT!  as you may know, i am a HUGE halloween fan!  i have been preparing for the episodes i will be filming for My Craft Channel, and i will be featuring the Phantom collection as well as this really fun, i mean SPOOKY, box-album.

these papers are GORGEOUS...and i love how it all turned out! but i have to tell you that my FAVORITE part of the whole collection is the stamp set. it's AMAZING. there are so many pieces- all the 'House of 3" stamp sets for Pink Paislee, the intention really has been to combine and collage the stamps to build them into something unique everytime!  well, to me, this stamp set is the ULTIMATE for building, but each stamp can also hold it's own! ...so...'stay tuned!'

thank yous...

capri has been on cloud 9 since her birthday! she is loving all her gifts...carrying things around, and laying out her new outfits... she knew that she needed to write up thank you notes, and so we discussed some ideas...and this is what we came up with!

we wanted to put a cute little envelope in there- like a fairy-sized envelope...so she needed to write "thank you" on a really small card, which she did great- i used the 'nantucket' line of paper from Pink Paislee- which i love!

i sewed these little hearts and hot glued them to the front of the mini cards. they are about 2"...so just little.