Star Spangled Layout

Have you discovered wooden veneer products yet? Ok. Serious fun! Something about painting or distressing on a tiny surface is all kinds of awesome. For this week's Create Blog "Work It Out Wednesday" I share how to paint or ink wooden stars:

You can check out all the instructions and the supply list here!
Doing Better

Funny how just getting out and doing something a little different can lift one's spirits! I have the best Book Club. I live in an area where I am surrounded by AMAZING women and so any combination of them in any setting is uplifting and fun. And this week's meeting was no different. We're just like any other book club. About 1/8th of the time is spent discussing the book and the rest of the time is just gabbing and checking up on each other. They listen, they laugh with me, they cry with me. They are exactly what I needed after a crazy busy week of work, deadlines, and life events. I hope they know how much I love each one of them.

This is the book we read this week, and I will warn you that it contains disturbing parts--life on the frontier is not pleasant. I loved it (but again I do warn you there is some content that is not appropriate for all readers). I think I needed to be reminded that we women are tough, that life doesn't always go our way, and we can weather through any storm with faith and determination:


That is a message we can all relate to. What are you currently reading and how has it touched your life?
It's Going to be a Rough Day

Tell me I'm not the only person in the world who has the "Can't Say No" disease? Really. Please tell me. As of today I've worked several 10+ hour days, and that's not counting all the regular Mom and Church things I have going on right now. I'm exhausted. I am near to tears on a regular basis. I really hate feeling overwhelmed, and I hate even more knowing that I've done it to myself.

I always tell my husband that I can handle the balls I'm juggling. It's only when someone throws in their own ball that I start to freak out a little. And when balls start getting dropped, then I really feel stressed out.

It's ok. It's nothing I can't figure out. And I've had the disease long enough to recognize the signs of stress and the need for a time out. I can't take one yet, but I'm going to try and take some time off this weekend so I can do nothing for a change. If I don't, I think I'm going to crash (as in sleep the day away--or something just as glamorous).

Now that I've thoroughly whined and complained, I did want to show you one happy project created for my Guest Design Team Spot with Elle's Studio this month. Just a quick and easy card built from one of their very awesome journaling tags. Love how these tags already contain so much detail and layering. Makes designing easy:


Now I'm off to start something else before it all catches up with me. ;)
Happy 24th of July

If you don't live around these parts, you might not understand why I would celebrate some random day in July; but yesterday was our state holiday and we spent the day thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

If you could wish for PERFECT parade weather, it would be overcast and breezy (and that's in late July). And that's exactly what we got, which was fabulous as we were on the west side of the road and it would have been terribly hot otherwise. We all gathered on Main Street to watch our little town parade. This year they didn't throw candy (BOO!!!) so I came prepared with mini soda pops and candy of our own. This helped to cheer those chillens who feel parades are completely boring. (And I will be leaving that particular individual home next year so I can better enjoy the parade.)


After the parade, we gathered at my house for lunch. Lots of relaxing and playing in the pool. I'm so glad I bought this particular pool this year. It allows so many more kids in at once, which is always a good thing with a large extended family.


And finally, I have a share today, which is one of my Elle's Studio projects from my guest spot this month. You can find additional photos and LOTS of fun journaling tabs here on their website.

Feeling Crafty

Sometimes I just hit a wall. A big, beastly enormous wall of uncreative, tired, no motivation bricks. I hit that on Friday. And although I did have things I needed to create I couldn't do it. (I'm sure my messy office did not help with feeling motivated, but it was more than that.) Sometimes I need to let my brain take a break.

But on Saturday I was in the groove. Or at least I had to be. :) Either way, I was pumping out projects for a variety of assignments. Of course, that only made my office more messy--but hey. Sometimes I clean. Sometimes I create. And if one of you wants to volunteer as my personal assistant (ahem, "maid") then we can totally talk.

One of the assignments I had the opportunity of completing were two American Crafts projects. I really love how their products mesh so well together.

This first project is a layout using their "Margarita," "Campy," and "Hello, Sunshine" lines. They look like they were meant to be together and again, that's why I love AC so much! (You can find many of the supplies for completing this layout here.)



Keep reading for an additional project using American Crafts' products!


Playing Along

I was thrilled when my friend and fellow designer/writer Melanie Bauer invited me to play along as the July Guest Designer for Elle's Studio. Elle's Studio creates the most amazing journaling spots and tags, and I was giddy when I opened the package of goodies I received! Throughout this month, I get to share my creations.

The first project I created was this layout called "LIFE." For this layout, I cut the journaling tags from this set and hung them from twine to create my title.  I also stamped words onto the journaling tag from this set to create my journaling. All of the items that I used from Elle's Studio were easily stamped upon with Memento Black ink. LOVE that!


You can find more of my work here in the Design Team gallery! And keep watching for additional posts using Elle's Studio products!
I Can Hear the Cricut's Chirping!

Do you own a Cricut Machine? Do you enjoy creating cards, layouts, and altered projects with your Cricut Machine (or even yummy treats with the Cricut Cake)? Then I seriously want to encourage you to submit your work to our Cricut Magazine and Cricut Idea Books. Having a personal die cutting machine has made paper art so much more enjoyable. As I've been working as the Creative Editor for these two publications, I've been inspired by the new and different way our readers use these machines.

Here's a layout I created for the Cricut Magazine using the "Country Life" cartridge, which is a cartridge I've come to love for its iconic farm life images and vintage shapes:


Want to learn more about submitting your own work? Be sure to check out our issues here and read all of our submission calls on this page here!

I would love to see your work in print and share your ideas with our readers! It's all about being inspired!
A Little Sparkle In My Life

Don't you feel that way about your kids and your nieces and nephews? (Well, at least on the days when they are on their best behavior.) I am crazy in love with all the kidlings in my family and extended family. I had no idea that being an Aunt would be so much fun. Recently my nephew stayed with us. He gets after me all the time for getting him snacks and buying him things, but I LOVE it. And I told him he just has to put up with it because he's lived away from me for SEVEN years. That's a lot of spoiling to make up for.

I wanted to share this layout about one of my other extended family members, my niece, Amelia. Don't you love those chubby cheeks?!! She's two now and has the most gorgeous white-blonde hair. Miss that little head!


In the June 2011 issue of Scrapbook Trends Magazine, I focused on "bling" for my "How To" article. Gems and sparkle come in lots of different products and on this particular layout, I wanted to show how much fun adding sequins to a project can be. To hold them in place, I ran them through my sewing machine. It really wasn't that hard, and you can find a tutorial for making this sequin border in the same issue.

I know many of my blog readers are scrapbookers. Are you submitting to Scrapbook Trends? How about to my "How To" article? I would love to see your work in print! Simply check out our submission calls page here. Then photograph and send in your best work. You just might end up in the pages of one of our fabulous magazines, and I would LOVE to see that happen! Who doesn't need a little sparkle in their lives?
July "Stretch Your Sketch" FREE Class

Each month I host a free class at www.twopeasinabucket.com focusing on a sketch. This month's sketch is a 12x12" sketch, but I created an 8 1/2 X 11" layout from the sketch. Be sure to watch the video and download the helpful pdf here on how you can also make this sketch STRETCH for you!



You can find the complete supply list for completing this class here. If you join in on the class and create a layout, simply upload it to the gallery making sure to check the correct challenge box "July Stretch Your Sketch" class. One participant will be selected to win a 2Peas Gift Certificate just for playing along at the end of this month's class. Can't wait to see some new faces in the class!
CHA--Showin' the Love

Ok. So I had to post some of my fav's from the CHA show this year. Let's start with some Echo Park. Ok. I'm not into a lot of retro things, but I seriously love this fun "Happy Days" line from EP:


And this is the most DARLING Christmas line. So whimsical and seriously in love with the colors from "Holly Jolly" also by Echo Park:


Keep reading for some of my other fav's!


A Little Creak In My Bones

Aaah. Aging. It's awesome. No one warns you how quickly it can creep up on you. No one warns you of all the little nuances and treasures of getting old. In this layout here I've attempted to document some of my more favorite things about getting older. Really it's fabulous to be old:


Here is a details shot of the journaling strips:


You can find the supplies for creating this layout and additional photos here at www.twopeasinabucket.com.

What are some of your favorite things about getting older?
Remember the One About the Pinewood Derby?

Well, here's the completed layout in all its glory. I cannot tell you how proud this boy was that night. Mostly because the vision he had in his head came to pass in this car. Way to go, Daddy! I still have no idea how they had the patience and the fortitude to work on it an ENTIRE day, but hey, at least they spent some quality time together.


(You can find more details and photos and the complete supply list of this layout here at www.twopeasinabucket.com.)
Dear Nieces and Nephews,

I should have forewarned you (although I did with your parents) that any time I'm missing your cute faces that they would end up on a layout. This one is dedicated to Miss Amelia, a beautiful two year old who wormed her way into my family's heart. We miss her funny sense of humor, her creativity, her sweet demeanor, and the way she's willing to adopt and love anyone (including a very ugly mannequin head who she dubbed "Honey").


I can't wait until we get to visit her and her family again. (You can find the details about this layout and the complete supply list here at www.twopeasinabucket.com.)
Having a Mind of His Own

It's funny. We raise our kids to be independent thinkers and responsible adults, but then we regret it the moment their opinion or will goes against our own. We're having a LOT of independent thinking from this one this summer. I recognize he needs to test the limits, but the whining and wheedling can border on the annoying at times. Trying to teach a child to express themselves in a productive manner can be exhausting. We'll figure it out, though.

Like this day for instance. If the sun is shining it's apparently warm enough for water activities, but if lips are turning blue and the goosebumps are as large as water droplets then perhaps we ought to wait until it warms a little. Oh well. It think kids' body temperature runs differently than mine. I was freezing just thinking about getting in the water. I don't know how he does it. Thankfully we are reaching mid 90 temperatures now, which is perfect weather for swmming (and also why I waited until now to start swimming lessons).

To learn how to create this layout and use paper bags as an embellishment on your layout, be sure to visit the Create blog post "WOW" here!
A Little Dose of Reality

Marriage is no fairytale. There. I said it. Marriage can be the most amazing, crazy wonderful thing. But sometimes it's just hard. Two people coming together (in my case--two very opposite people) makes for some interesting dynamics.

That's not to say I don't love my husband. It just means that sometimes we don't get along, don't see eye-to-eye. Sometimes we're not perfect and we struggle. And sometimes we're in complete harmony and work in sync.
I am grateful for staying power. I'm so happy that somehow we've both decided deep within us that no matter what we stick it out. That way when things are challenging or even really difficult we can see beyond the moment. Losing Joey was a test of our metal. I was pleased to see that in the darkest days we were more respectful and caring of one another. It would have been really easy to be selfish and think only of our own pain and our own desires for how Joey would be cared for, but somehow we knew that in order to put Joey first we had to put our needs second. The years after losing Joey have been rough. How could they not be? But we manage to push through on those most painful days.
And in other things we muddle through.
Does that sound unromantic? It might if I didn't believe that we're in it for the long haul and that if things are hard today (or maybe lots of todays) that things might be equally good for that long as well.

I'm not giving marriage advice. Good grief. That would be ridiculous and I'm obviously no expert.

But I will say that I love and respect my husband and want to be with him forever.

Do we have things to work on? Oh, heavens, yes!

But here's to "muddling through" and "fairytale moments" and "figuring it out" for 18 years. Who would have thought?
(Detail and supplies for creating this layout may be found here at www.twopeasinabucket.com)
Sum, Sum, Summertime!

We're knee deep into summer, and while it hasn't gone exactly as I planned when the kids start becoming uninterested in getting out and doing things they're either the most boring children on the planet or I've filled them up with enough to do. I sincerely hope it's the later!

Currently we have my nephew, Dylan, staying with us. I don't think I was ever such a responsible, kind teenager. Every first Sunday in our ward (congregation), we have a special meeting where members are invited to share their testimonies. No one is asked. It's completely on a volunteer basis based on whether you feel the prompting to get up and share your feelings or not. Kate often stands and goes to the front to do so. But Sunday, both Dylan and her egged each other on and then Dylan closely followed her to share his. What teenagers have a mutual desire to do good things and tease each other about getting it done? I'm amazed and completely impressed. I think the next generation of kids in our family is better than mine certainly was. Love that!

Today I have a quick and fairly easy tutorial on the Create blog using a belt buckle on a layout. I can hardly believe we've done 100 tutorial posts, but I love it! I hope you join in on the fun here:

You can find the supply list and complete instructions by reading through the post.
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