Valentines...

In years past I have made my kids Valentines to be passed out at school...however this year Logan has requested store bought Valentines...BOOOO! Jeff said I need to come up with a cool Star Wars, Transformers, or Bakugan type Valentine that he would like. Can I whip something up before his class party on Monday? We shall see...

But thankfully Frank and Claire have not yet out grown my Valentines. Here are some pictures of the ones they picked...

I used the same design that I used for the thank you notes that I donated to my sister in law's goodie basket...but instead of "thank you" I stamped the saying that came with each stamp in the set. Also, I embossed the front of the card with hearts...because you can't have too many hearts on Valentine's Day!

Frank and Claire loved how they turned out and are super excited to hand them out at their class parties today!

Well, that's all for now...

Poof...a new family room!

Last year we bought a new kitchen table due to our ever growing family. Well...that one purchase snowballed. After the table came the new paint in the kitchen and the family room, new light fixtures, a new counter top, and a new back splash. When all was said and done our kitchen had a new look that I wasn't even sure how it all happened...but I'm not complaining! I love the way it all turned out...and after looking back at some old pictures of the kitchen...I realized that it was desperately in need of a make over!

Well, the same thing just happened again recently. We decided to do away with our big sectional couch in our family room to open up the area between our kitchen and our family room and we bought a new couch and chair. When the furniture arrived we discussed where the TV should now go, the toy box, etc. From those few conversations a project was hatched. I can't really explain it as well as a picture can show it. So, here is a before picture of our family room...

And here is the after...

My husband and my brother in law Ken (who owns his own construction business) began talking about what we could do in our family room and the next thing I know we are under construction and our family room is getting a make over. I absolutely love the end result! Again, it was one of those things that snow balled...and then POOF...we have a new family room! My brother in law does some pretty amazing work! Thanks Ken!

I also have to thank my friend Sarah and her sister Stephanie who bought the decorations for the entire room. I had no idea where to begin...especially what to put on the shelves...but I knew that Sarah and Stephanie have the knack for projects like this. Sarah keeps telling me that I have to play it off like I did it myself...but really...I never would have come up with what they did in a million years. So, thank you Sarah and Stephanie!

Well, that's all for now...

Invitations and thank you notes...

Although I've been MIA for awhile...I still have plenty to share. My goal is to share each day this week a little bit that has been going on in my life.

Since the weather here has kept us inside a lot lately...I've had a little time to be creative. My sister in law Jackie is the room mother for her son's kindergarten class. Each class was responsible for putting together a basket of goodies to be raffled off at a school wide event. The theme for their basket was "Birthday Party". Jackie asked if I would make some invitations and thank you notes to donate to their basket. Here is what I came up with...

I wanted to keep the cards simplistic so that they might be able to work for a party for a girl or boy. Jackie liked the finished product...so I hope the lucky winner of their baskets likes them too:)

Well, that's all for today...I'll be back tomorrow with a little bit more to share.

Baby shower invitations...

My good friend Julie (aka Shanulie...if you watch Glee you might get that:) asked if I would make baby shower invitations for her friend Lani's shower. Of course I said yes, and here they are...

I really tried to come up with something that didn't use my favorite onesie stamp...but as you can see the onsie won out again. It's just such a great stamp to use on patterned paper and it's not the typical rattle or baby bottle that you usually see on invitations. Julie liked the finished product, and hopefully Lani will too.

I liked how all of the colors came together. Apparently these are the colors that Lani will be using when decorating her little boy's room. I like breaking away from the baby blue that everyone associates with having a boy.

Well, that's all for now...

Great kids...

Although I do have a post I'm wanting to do about the holidays...I had to share this story that made me smile yesterday morning.

As I was in the shower getting myself ready for the day Logan, Frank, Claire, and Mary Kate emerged from their rooms. They all stopped by our bathroom to say good morning then headed downstairs.

After I was all ready I headed downstairs to the kitchen to make sure Logan was eating and to begin making his lunch. When I walked into the kitchen all 4 of the kids were seated around the table eating their breakfast...but the biggest surprise was that Mary Kate was locked and loaded into her chair, with her bib on, eating breakfast...all things which she (at 22 months) cannot do on her own.

I asked Logan, Frank, and Claire how Mary Kate got in her chair and Claire explained...Logan lifted Mary Kate into the seat, she (Claire) got the tray and the bib so that Logan could put them on Mary Kate, and Frank got her a Pop Tart. Logan then said, "Well, I heard her belly growling so we fed her." Nothing could have been sweeter...

New Year Resolutions...

With 2011 quickly approaching I've thought a lot about what I'd like to accomplish in the new year. I want to put my goals out there because too many resolutions are made like they are birthday wishes..."I can't tell anyone or they won't come try"...but the reality of it is, if I don't tell anyone I can't be held accountable if I don't follow through. Like my friend John said to me one time, "Shane, I'm tired of you telling me what you might do...just do it!" So, with that said...here they are:

1.) I'm going to run the Flying Pig again this year. I ran it once (before kids) in 2002...and I really miss that feeling of training for something big...the checking off the miles on your training schedule, and then the actual race! Since Jeff is on a quest to run a marathon in every state I think it's contagious...not the every state part, but the running:)

2.) I'm going to get my website up and running in hopes that my passion for making cards might make a little money. This idea started brewing this summer, but with the upcoming arrival of a new baby, my mind (and time) was elsewhere. I have friends and family that have the know how to help me make this happen...I have to "Just do it!"

3.) I'm going to get (at least) one of my creations published in a magazine! Well...I'm going to get a little bit more serious about it and hopefully something will get noticed. In the past I would submit something here or there...but I think one of the the keys to getting published is to put more out there...let your name and work be seen more often.

So, there they are...short and sweet! As the year progresses I'll be sure to post updates on how things are going...but also, I want to be asked how they are going...that's the whole point of putting it out there. Wish me luck!

Monogram note cards as gifts...

If you are like me as the years progress your list is growing longer and longer with the need for those little random gifts for classroom teachers, dance teachers, Sunday school teachers, bus drivers, the mailman, the sitters, neighbors, etc.

When my list first started to grow (Logan's first year of preschool) I wanted to get something for these wonderful people that was thoughtful, as well as useful, yet didn't cost a fortune because I already had a long list of gifts I needed to buy for immediate family and friends. Well...that's when I started making monogrammed note cards for these special people in our lives. It was something that was useful (who doesn't need a random note card at some point...and you feel like the large yellow post-it isn't fancy enough...haha:) and the fact that I was personalizing it with their initial and making the myself...well, I thought that covered thoughtful.

Last year I branched out and offered to make these note cards for friends and family members in need. So, with that all said...that is what I'm doing again this year. If you need a quick personalized gift, with a quick turn around time, I can help you out. Here is what I have to offer..

6 ~ (4"x5.5" ) silver and white folded note cards with white envelopes, silver embossed initial and embellishments, packaged in a clear box, tied with a red ribbon and festive tag ~ $8.00

(gold and cream can be substituted for silver and white)

6 ~ (5"x7") lavender, brown, and white flat note cards with lavender envelopes, brown stamped initial, brown satin and sheer ribbon, packaged in a clear bag, tied with a red ribbon and festive tag ~ $10.00

(sage green and light blue can be substituted for lavender)

I know I'm a little late in putting this offer out there, but with each set only taking 20-30 mins. to complete, I am confident that I can get things done. So, please let me know if you are interested in any note cards for those special people that made your list this year:)

PS - Also, please know that if there is something custom you would like done...I aim to please:)