Here I am!

Well hey there!

I know I haven't been around much the last few weeks, but I'm not quitting yet! 

{Every time I get behind on things I think of this.  Good advice}

 I've just been lost in a little bit of everything lately...

lost in "creative" messes,

at Christmas parties,

enjoying birthdays and baking, 

making Christmas crafts, 

more baking,

making Christmas gifts,
(seriously...why sometimes do the pictures load sideways?!  Weird.)

enjoying Christmas plays,

savoring family time, 

enjoying more family time, 

heading to Macy's to mail last minute letters to Santa, 

making fun and festive food.

This has been life the last few weeks, and that's where I've been.  I've been focusing on enjoying the little moments and less time documenting life in scrapbooks and the blog. 

 Which means I am now waaaaay behind on December Daily and Project Life as well.  The blog has been on the back burner, too.  I've also taken on some extra commitments in life that have taken up a bit of time.  I'm trying to get back on track and find balance again.  Bear with me please :-)

The Craft Catwalk link up will be back up and running as usual on Sunday night.

In the meantime I've just updated the shop with Valentine goodies!  

mini jotters

Valentine Clothespins

Valentine Kit

 

Penny Art (and other randomness)

Well hello there!

I really have not been posting many projects lately.  

Sometimes lots of little things in life just get you busy or just plain distracted.  

That's how it's been for me these last weeks anyway.  

I need to get my creative mojo back.

Anyhoo, the little guy is potty training this weekend.  So I thought I'd share a couple of things that I think are super cool for potty training.  We use The Potty Training Boot Camp book.  It worked well for the ladybug so I'm hoping it works for the little guy too.  We use The Potty Watch, which is also pretty cool.  We set it to go off every 30 minutes so he knows when it's "potty time." 

 Do you have something that worked well for you?  Would love to hear your thoughts...

I'm also working like crazy on some things for an upcoming craft show and for my shop.  In the next week I'll be adding Thanksgiving tags, Christmas tags, more mini albums, and chalkboard labels to the shop.  

I'll keep you updated.

Now, on to the project... :-)

Years and years ago, before she passed away, my Grandma gave me her wheat penny collection.  Even after giving sets to my cousins, there were still lots of these pennies left.  They've been sitting in a box...until now. 

 

I hot glued some of them (there's still tons left for more projects!) into a frame matted to 5x7 size.  I like that this piece of wall art is kind of meaningful to me.  I remember finding wheat pennies when I was young and bringing them over to my Grandma's house for her. 

I felt like I was bringing her treasure...silly kid.

The last penny in the bottom right is a steel wartime wheat penny.  I think that's pretty cool. 

I am slooowly getting pictures and art together for a gallery wall in our stairway.  

This piece of penny art will be in that collection for sure.

See that pile of frames waiting to be hung?  

They're all for the gallery that will be on that chocolate colored wall. 

The Singing  Butler picture will come down and I'll find another place for it.  

Here are some other crazy cool things I've seen people make with pennies.  

Remember seeing this penny floor?

source

Penny counter top...

source

Enjoy your weekend!  

Linking up with THESE parties

Fall Inspiration (and a few words mixed in too)

Source:  Delia Creates via Pinterest

Pretty Autumn Wreath...I'd love this on my door.

source: myldstemple on Etsy via Pinterest

For those days when you wonder if you could have handled something a little better or a little different.  

.

Aren't these lanterns pretty?

Source: Martha Stewart via pinterest

My little guy loves Despicable Me, so this makes me smile.

source: ThinkGeek via pinterest

These are just stinking adorable.

source: Belinda's Great Ideas via pinterest

Cute little pumpkin pom pom

source: In Between the Laundry via pinterest

source: pinterest

I've learned that sometimes you have to cut the negative from your life and move on.

source: theParchmentPlace on Etsy via pinterest

This is my plan for today :-)

5 Random Things I'm Loving Right Now

#1 Mini Albums

I love mini albums full of mixed media.  It's one of my favorite ways to scrapbook.  

I have my own basket full of mini's I've made for holidays and milestones. 

I'm working on a Fall mini album kit for my shop and should have them completed and listed in the next couple of weeks.

{The Pink Couch}

#2 Paper Straws

Pixie striped straws make any drink cuter.  This is one of the best deals I've found on them yet.  144 straws for $5.95. 

I just got mine in the mail and I'm saving them for some Christmas projects.

Sur La Table

#3 Fall Crafts

With Fall right around the corner I've been pinning cute Fall crafts like crazy on Pinterest.  Fall is my favorite season so I'm so much more inspired and crafty in those months.  

The colors are just beautiful, and I am so ready for that crisp Fall air. 

I am so over these 90 degree days!

{Simply Vintage Girl}

#4 Kraft Magazine

Love this magazine.   I make at least 2 Kraft recipes every week. 

They're easy, inexpensive, usually kid friendly, and almost always actually turn out looking like the picture.    

I love it when a recipe actually turns out looking like the picture.  Just sayin'.

Food & Family

#5 Memory Keepers

These Memory Keepers from Paper Coterie are awesome!  

I ordered one for the ladybug's kindergarten papers and it turned out really nice.  What I love even more is they give you a $40 discount for the month of August with the code beginanywhere.

Paper Coterie

There you have it. 

5 random things that I'm loving at this moment.  

What are you loving now?

Heard of SMASH?

Have you heard about the SMASH books?  

For months I've been waiting for these "unscrapbooks" to finally be available for purchase!

Finally, they are available for preorder! {yay!}

If you haven't seen these before check out this video.  

It has a catchy little tune that I could listen to all day - just saying.

(I am not being paid or compensated for this...I'm just sharing because I love the concept!)

Find the blog HERE

Keeping busy

The hubs and I just got over a nasty stomach bug.  Not fun.  Glad that's over!  Now I can get back to all the little things on my agenda. 

For starters, the pantry.  It drives me nuts.  Because of the wire shelves we have, everything falls over.  We took a trip to the Home Depot and have a cheap fix in the works.  More on that another day...

Do you do project life?  I love it.  I think I've finally found a system that helps me "keep up" with my scrapbooking.

 I'm making more tins for my shop.  I hope to have new ones in the shop by the weekend.  I think they'd make cute Easter baskets.

 I am so grateful for all the post office runs I've had to do!  It's a good day when I need a tote to bring the orders to the post office.  {insert huge amounts of gratitude here}

 And last...I'm trying to decide on colors for the little guy's room and our master bedroom.  So many color choices!

What are you working on?