Our Bridesmaid Example Bouquet, and some horsie photos!

So today, on my way home I swung through the flower stand (roadside!) and talked to the owner about doing our wedding flowers, we discussed away and this is what our bridesmaid bouquets will look similar to.

I love the country look of wildflowers. Since it will be a barn wedding, out in the country- I wanted the bouquets to look like they were freshly picked from the property or surrounding area. Turns out, they actually ARE! The owner of the shop, is doing our whole wedding for less than $50 bucks! Amazing, and they actually came straight from her garden. For the fillers, she actually uses fresh mint, along with other greens and it makes them smell oh-so-good after being handled.

These are some photos I took a few weeks ago of the horses, and hadn't really gotten to share yet.

This is Cooper (above) is he got great movement and just always loves the camera.

(above) this is Latte, our dun mustang mare (12 yr old) enjoying her day. Just before I had my camera in hand, Jett was laying next to her and they were nuzzling and looked all cozy and cuddled up in the sunshine, of course by the time I got my camera, led another set of horses out and got around to taking the photos he had moved.



(above) this is Spirit.
(above) this is Cutter, can you tell I LOVE black and white?

Above here is Mikey, the most beautiful Fresian in all the land! He has the personality of a little boy, who is so curious and friendly! Just love that guy!

Above here is old man Major. Clearly, since he got a new mommy- he is in his prime and LOVING being able to retire in the tummy ticklin' grass!

Fireflies in a Jar Card Tutorial Video using the Stretch Your Imagination Cartridge and I need your vote!

**Before I start---I also need your help to win over at the Papercraft Stars New Challenge Blog- I've got my application in to be a potential designer, and also entered a bunch of projects into their system for voting. The winner will get some goodies, but I think it's more for testing. Vote for any of my projects, show some love, I only have until tomorrow! :-) thank you!**

ONTO THE SHOW!

That's right ladies and gents (ha, like there are ANY men watching?! I'm laughing because I even bothered to type that!) -- it's another video. I'm still not 100% on the video thing, and since I forgot to charge it, and being as naive as I am, I wanted to try to shoot it on the low battery because I *thought* it would be quick!

It is a short video, at only about 6 minutes for both little clippies, but I guess thats just too much work for my little old camera.

Being that I was born and raised in Washington State, we don't have fireflies. Even in most of my travels, I'd never been anywhere to see them. I hadn't ever seen them in real life, heard about them much (other than my mom's stories about growing up in the midwest) or really cared about them until I was a teenager and had the chance to go to Lincoln, NE. For those of you who don't know- that is where the Huskers (the football team) are at, and basically I was shocked at the amount of open, flat space, cornfields and the deliciousness of the steaks. I also was amazed one evening during a bar-b-que that fireflies are REAL. The little kids, probably 6-8 year olds (true nebraskins (sp?!) that they were, caught them and were smearing them on their skin to make their skin glow. Gross, I know but pretty cool when the only way I knew how to do that would be with a highlighter and a blacklight. We can say, that from then on I've always thought they were some of the coolest bugs, and hope I get to travel around and see more of them. Adam is pretty familiar with them, apparently the also reside in Swartz Creek, MI where he grew up. My story is so silly to him, and the fact that I am mesmerized by even the thought of something living and glowing floating around.



I'm not sure if I mentioned it in the video, but everything was made at a 6" cut. I will also post the recipe at the bottom, under the stills of the card. I really enjoyed making the video, and I feel like I need to be a little more upbeat, or happy because I'm just thinking so hard to try and not mess up since I can't edit yet!

I mentioned the fireflies as flies, bugs and buggies (thats what Zoe calls anything smaller than a thumbnail, alive or not). So, there is no confusion- they are all the same thing!

Recipe:

Gray, Blue, Black & Yellow Cardstock

Metallic Pen (if you want a shiny lid)

1 brad of your choice

Cricut Machine

Stretch Your Imagination Cartridge

Computer & Printer (or you can just handwrite!)

I got the font I printed from Fonts for Peas- and they are totally free, you download them, unzip the file, install the new font and you go! I love being able to type up notes that look like they are handwritten, especially setiments that I don't have a stamp for!

I also need your help to win over at the Papercraft Stars New Challenge Blog- I've got my application in to be a potential designer, and also entered a bunch of projects into their system for voting.

http://papercraftstar.blogspot.com/2010/05/help-us-test-our-voting-system-for.html

vote for any of my projects, show some love, I only have until tomorrow! :-) thank you!

OCC Sketch Challenge -OCCSC18

Yay! Naptime was long enough for me to almost get this card done! She woke up, wandered around and by the time I had the last piece pop dotted on, she was fully awake-- but I made it in time! lol.

Over at the OCC Weekly Sketch Blog, they have weekly challenges, and today was the new challenge.

This week's challenge was OCCSC18. This is what the sketch looked like.

My entry turned out pretty cute! I must say I am rather impressed with myself this go round. I sometimes lose track of the original sketch and end up with a hack job at the end when I try to re-manipulate it to make it work. lol.

That's my little helper, Zoe in the back, pointing up to a birds nest where the little baby birds were squaking. She is a great helper! Especially when I get to catch her in some of the photos.
A closer shot of the card:

Recipe:

Lavendar Cardstock, cut to 8.5X5.5 (folded in half, and outer corners rounded)

Floral Patterned paper 4X4.5 (and scalloped on the bottom)

Blue Patterned Scrap 4X3 (layered under floral print paper)

6" ribbon/lace scrap (teal)

one greenish/yellow two holed button

a small piece of see through ribbon, threaded through the button and made the end into a bow.

Happy Birthday, printed on the computer and cut to size

matted on black cardstock

I used my Mini Monograms Cartridge to cut the scalloped circle at 3.5", and the circle at 3" also.

A cupcake stamped onto white paper, cut out and colored in, then pop dotted on.

Brown pigment ink around the edges also

My Creative Time, Throwback Thursday Entry!

Today, over at My Creative Time, Emma has done a challenge as a 'throwback' so that we can whip out our older cartridges, wipe off the dust and use them (even though we're all currently obsessed with Create a Critter and Once Upon A Princess).

The challenge was making something animal themed. I played off of Emma's example, and did an animal shaped card. I know she used her Gypsy to weld the two pieces together to form the card, but that ain't happenin' in this house, since I don't have one (or even Design Studio yet!).

So, I made my Hippo a little girl, with a flower and a brad and made the card sort of twist open, using the brad as the connection piece.

The recipe is:

Cricut Machine (I used my Expressions, but my Create would have been fine!)

Zooballoo Cartridge, each Hippo cut at 6"

Lavendar Cardstock

Purple Cardstock

Gray Cardstock

Black & White Gelly Roll Pens

1 Small Yellow Brad

Blue Stickles for the flower, and clear/white stickles for the hoof and tail (Do hippos even have hooves?)

I am hoping to get one more quick project done before naptime ends, and it's a card from a sketch over at OCC Weekly Sketch.

Enjoy this for now, and I'm hoping to have more posted later tonight!

Dawn

The Cat is IN the bag.

While over at my maid of honors house this morning, figuring out exactly how we want the centerpieces at the wedding to look like, I used a big burlap sack to carry in the branches and horseshoes. I tossed it onto the floor, and soon found Sesame, their cat playing in the bag with all the branches still in it. We made them out to look like this, and I really like how simple they are. The horseshoes are real, and actually from horses hooves, used and still covered in mud (that I REALLY need to scrape off before giving them as favors). A farrier friend from the barn, gave them to me to use as our 'barn wedding' favors. A few girlfriends who couldn't make it to my bridal shower took me out for dinner, drinks and dessert last night at the Casino, and we had a blast. Ginny made me a really cute card that actually triggered my card-lifting for the one I made this morning for Nicole.

I brought Nicole a card just to thank her for all the work she's put into my wedding. I doubt it would end up nearly as great without her. She has gone above and beyond making sure I stay on top of things, and making sure that we actually get flowers, food and drinks! She has been super helpful with the who clothing aspect, and what not and I finally got all of the men in the wedding (all 6 of them!) their shirts ordered from JCPenney's today. You can see them here. They are Concord Green, and Adam and my Dad will have shirts that are a similar style but some patterning on them.
I just love how this card turned out! I haven't ever really thought about doing paper piecing on cards, but I think I will be hooked! Also, the buttons, I sewed onto the flowers, which I cut ising the Accent Essentials Cartridge, and then pop dotted them on. I drew the 'stems' with a black gelly roll pen, and the paper is PTI & Abbey Road.

Enjoy! I may have some more posting to do tomorrow. I am thinking that I may order the My Pink Stamper Punny-licious stamp set in the next day or two. I have chosen to order from Hallmark Scrapbooks this time, I've ordered from Custom Crops a few times before and my stuff NEVER gets shipped faster than 7-10 days after I order, and then it has to get here! So, I'm hoping I'll have better luck with Hallmark.

Have a good night!

Dawn

Walk N Rock At Safeco Field

While I've been busy working away at the barn , playing with Zoe, papercrafting and procrastinating with wedding planning (yea, that's right it IS in two weeks!) The Walk N Rock snuck up on me!

Team Knox is the team we set up in memory of our little guy, to help the TEARS Foundation to raise more funds to help other families in need. Knox's story can be read here. Also, there was a story done about the TEARS Foundation in which King 5 News & Sarah Slack, the founder asked us to be a part of. The clip can be watched here-- about halfway down the post.

With the Walk N Rock coming up June 26th, we will be there raising money and supporting the TEARS Foundation during the walk. Knox's photos are going to be up on the wall, as well as on the big screen!

If you are local, and free that day, I would LOVE for you to join our team, and come walk with us. For the $10 registration fee you will recieve a tee shirt that will say you are part of 'Team Knox'. Go ahead and click this link - and you can put in your information to sign up!

If you can't walk with us, I would love it if any of you could make even a tiny (or big if you can!) donation to our team. I set our goal amount a little way little higher than I thought we could, and intend to bug the hell out of everyone to get as close as possible.

Your donation is 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE! Please remember this, and ---- FORWARD THIS ON TO ANYONE WHO HAS HAD CHILDREN OR YOU THINK WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOX'S STORY OR WEBSITE!!

Thanks everyone, and can't wait to hear from you, and see lots of you in the next few weeks!

Dawn, Adam & Zoe

Donations can be made here:- www.firstgiving.com/teamknox

MPS Father's Day Challenge & Expressions Giveaway!

Over at My Pink Stamper, there is a challenge going on, with a give-a-away for a Cricut Expressions! I don't really need another machine, since I have two already. I have my original Christmas 2009 gift- a Cricut Create, and my January 2010 Gift to Self, my Expressions. I am in love with them both, and really love having two. Anyone who wants to play with me when they come over, CAN! :-) But, I have a few beautiful (and crafty!) 'almost' sister-in-laws, both of whom I'm sure would LOVE an Expressions as a wedding gift instead of a toaster or towels!

Anywhoo! Onto my entry!

This is the interior view, it reads 'i luv you a TON!'

For the MPS Father's Day Challenge, I went ahead and made a card for my Dad. He is the best father in the world, and always gives me answers that surprise me! He is the most loving, kind hearted and generous person on this earth, and never fails to surprise how well he knows me. (for example: he insisted on a shower radio as a christmas present. My step mom thought it was a little 'silly' as did everyone else when I opened it, BUT that was my most prized and favorite christmas present that year! I use it every single shower and laugh when I think about the things he just sort of 'knows')

Recipe:

Tanzanite Gemstones Core'dinations Cardstock

Sapphire Gemstones Core'dinations Cardstock

Striped Cardstock from my 'stash'

Plain Black, Brown, White & Cream Cardstock

Fibers from my 'stash'

D'vine Swirl Embossing Folder

Zooballoo Cartridge

Sakura Gelly Roll Pens - white & black

Pumice Stone Distress Ink & Inkssentials Blending Tool

Pop Dot Scraps, cut to fit behind the letters.

Enjoy!

Dawn

Peachy Keen Stamps- Challenge #29

Over at Peachy Keen Stamp's Challenge Blog, their next challenge is to show off your favorite summertime recipe, and highlight the use of some Peachy Keen Stamps!

I wandered across Peachy Keen for my first time over on Emma's My Creative Time - and have been in love ever since! Being as frugal as I must to continue my hobby/passion I saved my pennies for their Everyday Character Face Assortment PK-490.

I just got them, my first set of face stamps about a week ago, and feel like I'm making up for lost time now, I use them so often! Everything needs a face, and now I can give them their faces back!

My printer is out of ink, and has been for the last month or so because I just keep spacing whenever I leave the house to take it with me and get a new one, or at least this one refilled. Anywhoo, my handwriting isn't gorgeous or anything, but you can read the recipe okay, so it'll do!

I used:

Peachy Keen Stamps, Everyday Character Face Assortment, PK-490
Cricut Expressions
Indie Art Cartridge, the strawberry cut, in various sizes
Once Upon A Princess, for the whipped blob- actually the top of 'cupcake 2' just cut off.
Red Dye based ink (for inking the pink paper I cut the strawberries on)
Black Pigment ink (for the faces)
Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder (for the strawberry bodies)
D'vine Swirls Cuttlebug Folder (for the Whip Blob body)

For the stitching around the edges and whites of the eyes I used my White Jelly Roll Pen, also ordered from Peachy Keen Stamps.

Enjoy!

Dawn

Goodness Gracious, Batman!

I have so not been around this weekend! I was sooooo stinkin' busy all weekend, and this month and next are going to be insane around these parts. My bridal shower was the weekend before last, then I threw one for my soon to be sister-in-law at her house about an hour and a half from mine last weekend. Sunday, we were trying to make it to the Seattle Mariner's baseball game, but it wasn't flying with the schedule so my little brother got the tickets instead. 5 (yes, FIVE) rows off of first base. Am I jealous, yes- but am I a happy camper to not hear complaint about how boring baseball is? yes.

This weekend for my sister in law's shower, I've been working on a little something something for them, that I'm not ready to show yet, because I know she reads this on occasion. But- I did make her a set of her own thank you cards, all ready to go for her shower gifts, so she could be prompt and easily get them out!

I used the Sweet Treats Cartridge for the cupcake, Old West for the brown layer, and my Peachy Keen Stamps and Purple Cow Freestyle Papercutter along ith some basic cardstocks.

I knew for the shower, since they are having a wedding in Maui (Gettin' Maui'd, how cute??! right?) and a reception here with an 80's theme I wanted to make favors with candy, mostly candy thats been around. So they ended up looking like this:

I used my wedding solutions cartridge for the pillow boxes, which are cut at 10.25". I then used the little end pieces of the patterned papers for wraps, and then tied some ribbon on them to help keep them closed.

The adorable little white favor boxes Jessica provided, and filled with bubbles and chocolate! Yum!

We had a good ole' time! I will be totally catching up on my crafting in the next day or two, since I'll be home and will post some more updates. I did a layout last night using all My Mind's Eye Products, and have a review for that along with some photos. I can say- I am in love.

Enjoy!

Dawn

Wedding Update & Bridal Shower Card for my SIL

I FINALLY decided what those stinkin' boys or groomsmen if you will, are going to wear! My beautiful bridesmaids have had their dresses ($19.50 @ Old Navy) picked out for weeks! The boys tops are from Old Navy as well, they get their choice of Khakis, and the shoes are Target (so are the girls!).
Of course, you can see the bigger photo if you click it.

I think those will be perfect for our summertime country/barn wedding.

My intentions for the floral arrangements I'm hoping will look something like this, I'm actually going to just buy a butt load of flowers from a local roadside shop, and have a good friend assemble them for me. I'm also growing some massive sunflowers at the moment, so I'm hoping they will wait until June 9th or so to mature, so I can add them also!

A while back my brother's girlfriend sent me a clip of her trying it all on, and although her boots are a little different than the target boots, I like them a lot more, but apparently they were a little bit of a splurge for her also! Well, apparently I erased it from my phone, so I'll add it later! So cute though!

Anywhoo--- this weekend, is my soon to be Sister in Law's bridal shower that I am throwing for her. I wanted to make her a different card than the one I made to give them in Hawaii during the wedding. You can see that card here.

The recipe for this card is: 1 12X12 sheet of any patterned paper you'd like. (I used a heavier stock, that had a circular green pattern on it, and then cut it to 5.5"X 12". Scored it at 2" & 4".

With the other half of the card stock, I made one piece 5.5" X 6". I also 'sponged' or distressed the paper with brown ink which sort of hides the pattern, at least in the photo. I used my Once Upon A Princess Cartridge to cut the phrase 'if the crown fits' and the princess. I used my Peachy Keen Stamps for the face. The princess is cut at 4", along with all her accessories and the phrase is cut at 1.25".

There are much better directions over at Canadian Nickle Scrap'n

Enjoy!

Our First Blog Candy Give-a-way!

As I try and think of more ways to share my blog, I thought I'd get some help... that is by bribing my currents readers into sharing my blog by offering up some blog candy!


There are actually quite a few goodies, and I MAY add more towards the ending of the drawing period. 1) 8X8 Album9) sheets of stickers, words, letters, horses, flowers and epoxy buttons. Of course, some ribbon too- I like the color, and thought it would work for layouts or cards, whichever you specialize in making!

There are a few rules to entering into the drawing for this blog candy.

1. You need to 'follow' my blog.

2. Add my Blog Candy or Normal Blinkie to your blog. (you can find these over on the right hand side bar!)

2. You need to post a comment and tell me which items you guys would like to see as future blog candies, with a link to your blog!

Since all of this stuff was paid for out of my own pocket, it is ALL brand new, and from my stash, I know that the actual monetary value is not sky high, but I'm hoping with more viewers, I can get to the point of buying cool stuff (Peachy Keen Stamps, Cricut Cartridges and accessories)

This will end May 30th, 2010- and the winner will be drawn through Random.org.