Some QUICK (like really quick!) Wedding Photos, and an update!

Hey Everyone! Life is busy (like crazy busy) around here. We have lots of families and friends in town still from Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon and otherwise for the wedding yesterday. I can say that everyone has made this one of the best days of my life. I am amazed at what can happen, all because two people can fall in love like this.

My husband, Adam is an amazing man. He is caring, loving, playful, friendly and open hearted. He is also out of clean clothes, since I've lacked the time to do laundry- which is why I must be quick here! lol. I've always loved photographing him, he's got a suave, James Dean side to him, and darn --- he's sexy!

Our families are all absolutely amazing. I didn't get to touch my own camera for more than 30 seconds yesterday, because my good friend; Karen was so happy to play photographer and make sure there wasn't a moment that wasn't caught. Also, in the morning- while us girls were having mimosas and hanging out, my older brother (who really needs to propose so we can have another wedding, and I love his girlfriend!) ran around taking pictures because there was so much going on I couldn't go see!

We did the traditional, staying apart the night before the wedding and I got to sleep over at Kim's house- Horse Head Quarters. Karen and Ann (my brother, Danny's girlfriend) stayed with me most of the night, and Ann and I swung up to my house to print the last minute itinerary and pick up stuff. Night before the wedding bedtime : roughly 2 am. Worth the exhaustion? Totally!

The day was amazing, wild, and crazy. It was the most FABULOUS day of my life-- and I have so many people to thank for this! Beth, over at her blog (here) has been way too busy to blog- because she's had Zoe for the last two days! She is AMAZING :: we all need to thank her great husband, Scott for taking care of her and the children last night, because she sure had fun last night, and by fun-- I mean LOTS of booze! :-)

I should be able to go over our photographer (real one!) in about two weeks.... http://www.kathleenphoto.com/

So, before my parade of photos---- I need to mention that unless otherwise stated:: I TOOK NONE OF THEM! They are all done by Karen King and/or Danny Cort.













By Karen:: Reception Eyes...
By Karen King:: reception boots.

My little girl and her daddyWedding dress & boots Above, my outfit AFTER the dress came off! Thank you Tracy- for picking an adorable cotton dress to go with my boots!

Above, Karen caught an awesome teary moment with my daddy. Girls, no matter their age always need their daddies.

Above, Adam & Momma Chris

Above :: Me and Daddy Don

I get THIS ^^^^ for the rest of my life! YAY!

Papercraft Star- Warmup Challenge!

Over at the new Papercraft Star Challenge Blog- it isn't officially kicked off yet, but there is a warm up challenge going on. The sketch looks like this:






I saw this morning, and decided that as soon as I got some of my Etsy listings up, I was going to do this one! I've been super into vintaging things, and using lots of twine, and embroidery thread instead of ribbon (who know's right? It's a phase!) and came up with this little gem. I really like how it turned out!

A real vintage flower... I sewed it to the Jute Twine I used.

I used my paper trimmer for the card base, and the base layer. I used Storybook for the blue layer, and the scalloped square as well. All of the colored paper is K&Co from their mega stack.

Etsy Shop

My Etsy Shop should be up, running and filled with good stuff by this evening.

There is a link ------------------------------------------------->


on the right hand side of the blog. You are invited to check it out!

The Day :: In Photos

Today was BUSY! Busy for everyone! Today I had planned to meet with my mom, stepdad, uncle and cousins for breakfast in Snohomish, and then head to the barn and get cracking on getting the field where I plan to marry the love of my life in seven days. We got SOOOO much done, it's more just waiting now to see the grass grow and cut it again at the end of the week.

Of course, I did some photos of the flowers in the garden (I was weeding at the same time, so technically still working!)


I LOVE peonys and this photo has NO extreme editing done, except adjusting the fill light, and adding my information. I just LOVE being out in the sunshine. I know it's a common thing to say that sunny and bright days make for harsh photos, but sometimes, I can't help but disagree!
Zoe spent the day over with our friends, Beth, James and Baby Maddy. James and Zoe are exactly 11 months, 3 weeks apart. His birthday is October 14th 2006-- she is October 7th 2007. Silly thing is, when she was one week old (to the day) we were over at the barn Beth was managing for James' first birthday party! Beth thought I was nuts, I thought I needed to get out! She and James had a BLAST! Beth is like the worlds craftiest, smartest and most resourceful person. To top it off, she has a heart of gold. She also has a blog. I'm sure she won't mind you peeking around. It's not updated all that often (with two little ones, a home farm and work to be done... do we blame her?! Not one bit!) but they are wonderful photos added and information when she gets a chance to!

After picking Zoe up, we headed over to J&S RC in Smokey Point/Marysville to watch daddy do some RC'ing.

Adorable girl I have! Beth and I joke that 'Zoe and James are betrothed' the next part of the joke is that we'll gladly pay for the wedding, if they pay for all the counseling their children will need. lol. (I guess you might have to know us, and our kids to get that one). Of course :: she ended up FILTHY & eating candy. Surprise, surprise- right?
It was a great day, and I can't wait to hit the hay! Right about now, Adam is in watching TV in bed, Sophie is asleep in her kennel and Zoe is in bed 'watching' her movie (also known as sleeping). I hope everyone had as amazing of a day as I did. I just got a few more thank you notes made and written out for wedding gifts that have arrived in the past few days. I am one sleepy girl!

These are what the cards I am sending out this batch look like::




And--- Goodnight!

I didn't win, and got 2nd... but to celebrate- I'll show a new card!

So, over on Papercraft Star, I didn't win- I got 2nd. I was beaten in the last few seconds by one vote! Congrats Caroline! Thanks to everyone who voted, I know I was probably really annoying bugging everyone and spreading with word to vote for me! I appreciate it!

As I was letting Adam use the computer tonight (on the condition that he would continue to pimp the site out to everyone he talked to (on his RC forums) he got lots of guys to check it out and vote. I was pleasantly surprised that the guys seemed to think we were all very talented! Good job ladies!


I made this card, for my 'almost' nephew, Keelan. His birthday party is on Sunday, and I am going to go out and get him a set of Legos also, because he said that was what he 'really, really' wanted. I had to pry and pry to get him to tell me what he actually wanted (and not having a little boy that age and only being around little girls makes it really hard to pick something out!)

A boy appropriate card should be easy enough, right? Instead of making it real manly- I went with something more whimsical. Which is what I am notorious for doing!

I didn't think he'd catch the pun, although I might be surprised and maybe catch a snicker out of him. (I believe he's turning 7-- I'm a horrid 'almost' aunt when I don't even know how old he is turning, I know).

I cut the Sparrow in blue @ 5" from my Indie Arts Cartridge. The blackout cut was made in white- and the shadow in gray.

For the base of the card, and sturdy bottom for the patterned paper, I used Kraft Color Cardstock, and a Uhu Glue stick (check out my previous video here about it) to adhere it to the cardstock.

I used a brad for the eye, and also as the piece to help spin the card front around, to see the inside. I made another card tonight as well. I'll get that one next.

Recipe:

Blue Cardstock (for main sparrow cut)

White Cardstock (for blackout cut, card top)

Gray Cardstock (for shadow cut, card top)

Kraft Cardstock (for shadow cut, card bottom)

Pattern Paper (to adhere over Kraft cardstock)

1 Brad (as the eye, and turning to open device)

white and black gelly roll pens for detailing

printer for sentiment

Cricut Machine

Indie Arts Solutions Cartridge

All cuts were made @ 5".

My next card, was actually made in the last few minutes of the Papercraft Star Voting, and I was thinking it would be a nice 'stick it up for the winner' card. I don't do any sort of digital papercrafting- so this was nicer!

I used my Old West Cartridge for the star, it is the 6 key, in icon mode, with the shift button on.

I am really liking the stitching with gelly pens right now, they def. add a little something to the cards. The orange string is from Making Memories, but I'm sure embroidery floss would do just fine also. Recipe:

Cricut

Old West Cartridge

Kraft Cardstock (for base)

Green Cardstock (from DCWV Spring Flower Shower 8X8 Solid & Glitter Stack)

Raspberry Cardstock (from DCWV Spring Flower Shower 8X8 Solid & Glitter Stack)

Patterned Paper (From the DCWV 12X12 Spring Flower Shower Patterned Paper Stack)

Brown ink for the aged look

Making Memories Scrapbook Stitches

Printer for Sentiment

Black and White Gelly Roll Pens

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