Holiday Lovliness.

Yah! It been a while since my last post. This ole' blog is looking mighty dusty! I think a little bit of holiday cheer will liven it up a bit. Well. We've been busily decorating our house! There are still some things we need to do, but the bulk of it is done. That feels really good. :)




Now on to the really important stuff. Here's our pretty December kit, "Gumdrop Forest." Um. I like this kit a lot. Like a reallyreallyreally lot! :)


We have two add-on kits that will be unveiled with the rest of the site on December 3rd at 8 PM MST.



$28.50

Kinda vintage looking, but it plays off the main kit in a really fun way! Those Prima flowers are AMAZING! I wish I could use them on everything! And check out the tree stamp. It's like the cute baby sister to our tree from last year. :)




$36.75

Well. What's not to love abt this pretty? That Maya Road album is so super (see my sample below) and the vintage book page and those trims...::sigh::





$47.00

This banner will take your breath away in person! There is so much sparkle and texture on this piece! I know it'll become a total fav! And the stamp that comes with it is so versatile...you can use it to make it's own banner or to make ornaments! Fun stuff! Oh, and there's enough stuff to make 2 different banners. BTW: these are really limited. :)


AND! Here's a little sample of inspiration from the DT.

Heather Burch:

(This is that album I mentioned above! It's going to be my catch-all for all of our holiday memories this year; decor, parties, gifts, giving, charity stuff, recipes, receipts....even without all the bits inside it's so thick and yummy!)

Kelly Noel:

Kelly McCaleb:


Heather Thompson:



Dina Wakely:


Doris Sander:


Celeste Smith:
Sally Davidson:



AND! Like I promised. A little January peekie. The kit is called, "Love Birds," and it's packed with pinks, oranges, and browns. I've totally fallen for all of the colors and textures. I hope you will too! :)
Later, friends! :)

Feeling Fallish.

So. The October kit, "This Tiny House." This kit just has me written all over it. I LOVE the fall colors mixed with the funky bits. And how cool is it that scrappy companies are coming out with fabulous crocheted flowers? Really cool. My mother thanks them, because way back in February she was a crazy lady trying to crochet all of those little pretties. So many great manufacturers in this kit; Making Memories, Love Elsie, Imaginisce, Poppy Ink, 7Gypsies, Heidi Swapp, Queen & Co., Basic Grey, Jenni Bowlin. Um. That's a lot of greatness for one kit. :)
Is it October yet?

And the boy. Last year in the fallish leaves.
I really do adore this time of year. Bring on the corn mazes and apple cider.


Besides the autumn poets sing,
A few prosaic days
A little this side of the snow
And that side of the haze.
~Emily Dickinson

Later.

Giveaway #3

Hiya.

Okay. This photo is not so great. BUT the goodies really are. It's missing the tags from Every Jot and Tittle, and that owlie wristlet is like *CUTE* in person. I promise.

To win this little prize head on over to the Poppy Ink MB and participate in challenge #3. I'll see ya' there! :)

Giveaway #2

Here's the pic of giveaway #2. I'm headed over to the Poppy Ink MB right now to post the challenge! Yippee! My big sis tried to steal that blue vinyl bag, but I totally caught her.
I do what I can for my Poppy Ink peeps. :)

Giveaway #1

Yum! I had such a fun time putting the giveaways together. This will be the first one, and this is how it'll work. Tomorrow at 6 PM MST I'm going to post a challenge in the Poppy Talk forum. You'll have 24 hours to create a layout (based on the challenge) and post it in the giveaway gallery. The cut off time will be Tuesday at 6 PM MST. I'll put everyones name in a hat and Gibb will pick the winner. The winner will be posted that evening. Fun, right? New challenges will be posted on Wednesday and Friday...the giveaways for those will be just as super! :) Yea! I'm so very excited for this!





AND! Here's a little peekie for the October kit, "This Tiny House." Aren't they cute? ::sigh:: I think I love them. ;)

See ya' tomorrow!

The goods.

Here is the September kit: Cherry St. Um. I love it. It's a little bit fall and a little bit back to school, with some super funky bits thrown in! The buttons are gorgeous and those bling cherrries are AMAZING in person. Lots o' loveliness in this one, friends. :)

This add-on is called Prep School. The 4-piece stamp acrylic set in this one is a must have! There are so many cool possibilities with that little pretty! The price will be 38.50.

Be still my heart. The add-on, Ive League, is GORGEOUS! The fleece birdies and the fall leaves and the sweeeeet rubs. I totally love it. Don't even get me started on the stamp set is this one. Those frames are beyond versatile and the woodgrain in the second one is like the best thing ever. This add-on is 49.80.

We're also going to have a paper pack add-on, Prep School Too, with pretty papers and card stock. It'll also come with the die-cut arrows and labels from Scenic Route. Those are AMAZING!

Since we don't have a Poppy Project this month. I planned two really fun projects that you can make using the kits. This pencil bouquet is one of them. I think it would be a great teacher gift or an accent in a play room.

Just a reminder: The September reveal will be on Monday at 12 AM MST. All of the add-ons may be purchased then, and we do have subscriptions for the main kit available. You are not going to want to miss out on the coming months! I promise. :)

Oh, and all of the little monkey-motif shirts that Gibb has been wearing are from oliebollen
The brand is called Small Paul. I've like really become addicted to their clothes. They're cute without being cutesy and they're funky without being over the top. Make sure you check out the socks and undies, too!

Thank you for all the well-wishes abt my uncle. I really appreciate it. I'll see you on Monday.

A beginning. An ending.

The ending part.

My Uncle Lynn passed away yesterday. I'm still reeling from the shock of it all. It just seemed to happen so quickly. As a kid, I spent a lot of time with him. We owned a little trailer next to my aunt and uncle's in Duschene. We spent so many summers there...riding the four-wheelers, finding horny-toads, taking long walks, boating, sitting around the fire. He was a tall man with a big personality and after hearing abt his condition, right before he passed--it doesn't sound like the same man I knew. I remember being 6 or 7 and I was on the 4-wheeler with him. He started going up a steep hill and the front of the 4-wheeler started tipping up. I fell backwards into the dirt and he caught himself with one arm before he fell on me. With the other arm he pushed the 4-wheeler off of us. I'll never forget that. The smell of gasoline and the ringing in my ears. And the look on his face. The concern and the fear. I remember holding onto him very tightly as we drove back to the trailer and the apology he gave my mother for putting me in danger. He was a good man.
There is a very large part of me that is relieved that he is at peace, but he will be so very missed.

"Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality." ~Emily Dickinson


The beginning part.


Gibb started Preschool on Monday. Lots of mixed feelings...for the both of us, I think. We decided to go with a Montessori school, and I'm so happy that we made that decision. I was wary at first with the whole idea of self-directed learning, but I think it'll be so good for him. Gibson is loving the birds in the classroom and the teachers tell me he's doing great with all of the independent activities. I worry abt the social aspect. Most of the kids were together last year and already know each other and the format. He says that the girls stare at him and won't talk to him. Robbie told him to get used to that. HA! And then there's the humus. They give them humus at snack time. We're not humus people. Anyway. I think I'm over-thinking this whole thing. He's three. And he's perfect. And one of his favorite things to do at school is water the sunflowers. :)

Catch ya' later!

Such goodness. :)

SO. Here's the little teaser peekie for the September kit, Cherry St. I'm LOVING how this kit is turning out and I can't wait to show this pretty is all its glory! Weeeeeee! :)


And really quick. Here are two of my current favorite things:


Martha Stewart's Halloween goodness is out at Micheal's. Say what you want abt her. Her products are really super, and she totally knows how to get down on Halloween. I'm really loving the banners and the skull picks and that owlie stamp. I need to figure out how to make him look less angry so I can use him on other crafts.


Be still me heart. This is not the most healthy salad, but it is the most delicious. I took this ready-to-assemble beauty to my sister's yesterday and we ate it all and then wanted to lick the bowl. You can find the recipe here. I substituted the walnuts for sugar-crusted almonds. Delicious.

Catch ya' later!

Hello, Hello

Firstly, I wanted to say a little thank you to all the ladies who've decided to send cards and sweet sentiments to the Barnes family (read below post). I appreciate it so very much and I know they will too. There's still time to send one, if you send me an e-mail I can send you my addy. Make sure you include your return address so I can send you a thank you goodie.

From that to this...

Here's the little peekie of the August Poppy Project. I really do love this album. There's something really silly abt it, and I just adore that.

AND. We just got back from a family vacation on the Oregon Coast. It's so amazingly gorgeous there. Robb's mama owns a house that overlooks the ocean and the view from the balcony takes my breath away. Gibson loved it and he was so psyched that there was a train that went between Garibaldi and Rockaway. The boy is way into trains. I've never seen anything like it. My big sis lives in Washington so we took a quick day trip to see her and her little ones. We went to the children's museum at the Space Needle and Gibby had the best time painting in the mini-art studio. He's been very into painting train tracks. And he should be. He pretty much rocks at it. :) ::sigh:: He's so great.



Well. Here's to a great week, friends. :)

A fallen soldier.

I need your help.

Robb and I stayed the night at my mom's house the night before we flew out to CHA. As we pulled into her neighborhood we were overcome by the flag-lined street. There were 400 flags leading up to the Barnes home. Across their house was a huge banner that read, "Sergent Nathan Barnes: Returning with Honor." I was so very happy. Their soldier had returned home. The next morning, we drove to the airport and I heard the news. Nathan had been killed in Iraq. He was exiting a helicopter that was under fire and he was shot. I was just so overcome. The Barnes family are the loveliest people. They are kind and generous and I just could not believe what had happened--my heart just ached.
I went to my mother's this weekend and I saw Brother and Sister Barnes in sacrament meeting. I didn't know what to say, so I didn't say anything. But I knew that I wanted to do something. And I need YOUR help. I want to put together a box of cards to give to the Barnes family. I'm asking for anyone and everyone to make a card dedicated to this lost son/ brother/ uncle, so I can send them to his family. Through the feelings of loss and sadness I feel this overwhelming gratefulness. Nathan gave his life for this country and now his family must survive that loss.
If you are willing to help, please e-mail me at papertangos@yahoo.com and I'll send you my address. If you are a Poppy Ink member, you can send your card to the return address on your boxes. Please send the cards to me by August 20th. If you can, please spread the word. I want this family to know that their son will not be forgotten and that amazing people from all over the country know abt his story.
You can read more abt him here.

Thank you.

And we're off.

Um. Hi. :D

We are leaving tomorrow on our CHA journey. Yippy! And then not-so-yippy. I have like a mega-load of work to do...think positive, Heather, think positive... :P

We don't fly out until early Thursday morning, but we're staying the night at my mom's so we can be a bit closer to the airport. I'm thinking that this whole thing is going to be pretty overwhelming, but I'm like totally excited! And my little man. I'm going to miss him. The little man, however, keeps talking abt all the things he'll be doing with his munga fuss (grandma) while we are away. Is it weird that I want him to miss me? At least a little. I wrapped up a little gift for everyday that we're away, and I tied a photo of Robb and I to each one. It would be impossible for him to forget abt us in six days, right?

Here's some pics of our latest little lake trip. We head out when things get stressful and the bickering starts. I think it really helps us unwind and be more productive, and Gibby LOVES being there. I love being able to sit one my pretty beach blanket with my shades and a bag-full of magazines and just veg. Really it's the best thing ever. :)


AND. Robbie has been too busy to post the sneaky-peek of the August add-ons so I'm posting it here. There'll be two, and they're darling! I can't wait to show off everything. :)





Well. I really must finish up with the wash and get packing! :)

See you in Chicago!

It's a cake.

Okay. So I know it's not the greatest cake decorating job, or anything. BUT Gibb loved it! And I think Robb did too. I really wanted to go all out this Father's day, so I totally cooked three meals. And dessert! Yes. I realize how pathetic that must sound to most mama's. Cooking three meals is something I should be doing every day. I sooooo don't.
Before the big cake reveal, we went on a picnic. I pulled out the metal lunch boxes from Gibb's birthday and filled them with sandwiches and potato salad and raspberries and delish Jones Soda. It was so great to relax. Robb found the best spot under these big shady trees and a stream bubbled in front of us. We just sat there and chowed with grins on our faces. After dipping our toes in the freezing water, we headed out for a little fishing. I'm not into fishing. At all. But since it was father's day, I decided to pretend like I loved fishing. Oh yes. Fishing is super-awesome. ;-)

On Saturday we went to Summerfest! Lots of fun and painterly things going on. Here's my fav pic of Gibson. Just look at that color composition. ::sigh:: He's so very talented!

OH! I've been meaning to point out my newest Etsy find! Check out Andrew Daniel! I bought some of his prints and they are amazing. The color and movement is just sublime!

In other news: Gibb has become obsessed with getting a puppy and a little sister. The puppy I can handle, but the little sister? I'm not so sure abt that...

Catch ya' later!

Hello.

Holy tamale. The blogging train has fallen off the track. BUT here's a sneaky-peek of the Funny Face Poppy Project. It's scrumptious! If you were quick enough to get one, you won't be sorry. :)
And a little pic of the boy. This is our unfinished living room. The color on the walls is blue gossamer and it makes me happy. I walk into that room and I feel so very content. The house is still not done. Nothing has been done for the last two weeks. Blah, Blah, right? When we walk into it, and it's all ours, this'll all be worth it. For sure. :)


And since I'm a little down-in-the-dumps here's a sweet quote:

Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there in in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world.

OH! I'm totally going to silverbella with my mom and two sisters. I can't wait. If you're going, let me know!

Later.

Mama Day.

I'll never ever forget the day he was born and I became a mama. It was the best day ever. And the hardest. He is such a blessing and I'm so very grateful that I have the opportunity to raise him. Mamahood is so much more wonderful and so much more heart-wrenching than I ever imagined.
Here's a silly story. I have these huge house dresses that I bought when I was pregnant with Gibson. I still wear them sometimes, and every time I walk down the stairs wearing one of those brightly adorned tents my Gibb exclaims, "You look so pretty. You look sooooo pretty." That's the only time he tells me that. ::sigh:: He's the best.

This is what I made for my mama this year. I realized two days ago, when I was in the midst of kit-packing, that I hadn't made her anything...and then my JB kit showed up. I found a few hours yesterday morning to put these together for her. What she really wanted was a steam cleaner (which my sisters and I got for her, too) but I don't think a mother's day has passed that I didn't make something for her. The front of the card says, "This I know for sure..." and then I listed all the things I love abt her.

Anyway. I best be off. My sweeties are making me steak alfredo with ceasar salad and raspberry lemonade. I can't wait. :)
Ta-ta!