Happy - Instant Photo Mini Book

Hi and happy Thursday!

I'm up today on the Pink by Design blog - stop over to check out the details of this mini album for storing all your instant phone photos!

CHA-cago Highlights

Hi there! Not sure if I ever mentioned going, but just got back late Wednesday evening from a trip to Chicago for the summer CHA show. It was a really amazing time full of ideas, inspiration, and some really fabulous friends too. Mind if I just share some tons of photos today?

I drove the 350-some miles there, which really wasn't too bad except for those pesky toll booths. Not much to see from the Interstate, kinda like driving across Iowa.

My roomie Steph and I stayed at the Hyatt. Nicest hotel I've ever been in :)

Monday was for sightseeing and seminars. We saw the bean...

the Roy Lichtenstein installation at The Art Institute of Chicago...

along with American Gothic...

and had a tasty lunch at the Park and Grill in Millennium Park.

Tuesday was for networking - not sure if these hand-stamped business cards are very professional, but they are very me :)

putting names together with faces - (Kirsty from Some Odd Girl and Leah L'Orange)...

meeting scrappy celebs like Heidi Swapp...

and finding out even the most talented in the industry are super-duper sweet (with Teri Anderson).

Oh and there was Chicago-style deep dish pizza too!!

I met my mentor and friend Jennifer Priest (thank you so much for all the introductions and hold-holding!)

whose breathtakingly beautiful mixed media dress was chosen as Editor's Pick!!

A couple of my projects made it into the Clearsnap booth and I filmed an actual in-person technique video for them as well. It was like speech class all over again! Eeek!

Oh and let's not forget all the new products! But this is getting kinda lengthy, so I will save them for another post :)

Hope your week has been great! Hugs ♥

Insta-Weekend

Hello, hello. This last weekend was a very lazy one but we did finally get a decent amount of snow and the chance to play in it.

The kids sledded and built a little snowman,

then finally cried cold after about an hour and went back in the house.

The hubby and I dug out the snowboard and made a trail down the backyard bunny hill.

I never did perfect the stopping part. But am not giving up yet.

Yes, this is how I ended every single run. There's a few bruises on my legs today.

He was much better.

Not! He fell down just as much.

Hope your weekend was super fun too and wishing you a lovely and productive week! xox

The Wonder Of You

Hey there. Took a little break for Thanksgiving and am feeling so refreshed. In fact I spent all morning rearranging our bedroom. It drives the hubby crazy cause about every six months exactly, I have to change things up. When I was younger, I usually ended up moving to a new apartment every six months but now I just rearrange. Do you do this too?

Anyway.....the new issue went up Sunday at Paper Issues so if you have any Christmas related crafts that you want to share, be sure to stop by and link up. I hear American Crafts is doing a giveaway or 2 this month :) :) Annnnd the PI store is still honoring 20% off all purchases with the coupon code CHAP20 cause Cassie is so awesome like that!

Here is a layout I worked on last weekend. Just a random bunch of instagram pics of my little lady. This page is just about how amazing I think everything she does is and how her dad rolls his eyes everytime I start with, "Oh my gosh, guess what Rora just did?!" But I just can't help it - I adore everything about her (well maybe not that iron will but it'll serve her well some day so I at least appreciate it).

After several failed attempts to make my own transperancies by embossing on acrylic, I finally found the magic formula - chalk ink. It's the only ink (other than super spendy Versamark) that stamps on glossy/coated surfaces and dries without smudging. Hooray! It's still a bit slippery to stamp on but it works.

InLinkz.com

I think that's all for now. hugs!

Mums the Word

Last week we visited the Howell Pumpkin Patch for the very first time. It was beautiful and so much fun - sure to be a new tradition. (photo overload ahead)

Happy Times - Paper Issues Blog Hop!

Good morning! I'm so glad you could join us here for the 2nd annual Paper Issues Blog Hop! Did you come here from Leah's blog? If not, head back to the PI blog and get started for a chance to win some really awesome prizes from our fabulous design team.

So I'm part of the Altered Team and put together this interactive frame using the new Crate Random line, purchased right from the Paper Issues store - check it out cause Cassie is stocking some awesome deals!

 I must say that this is the most perfect paper collection of mismatched patterns I have ever laid eyes upon! Needless to say this project came together - from inspiration to planning to execution - within 1.5 hours of opening my goody box. Love it when that happens!

So the project is housed in a cheap-o Ikea frame and has layers on both the inside of the glass (actually plastic) and the outside. I wanted a place keep my favorite Instagr.am photos and since my fav changes so often, the clip is on the outside for easy change ups.

The paper is mounted on the inside of the plastic and has some paint splatters in white. The title and some other embellies are on the outside in both chipboard and cardstock.

And as you can see from this photo, heat embossing on plastic is not a good idea! It is melted and warbled but still looks kinda cool so I left it as is. I also inked up the title and Polaroid frame behind the photo and added glitter to the moths and Polaroid frame.

To top it off, I added some black trim to hang from. Colorful and fun and makes me smile!

Supplies

Ink: Colorbox Decades Dye Ink - Bon Voyage Blue, Colorbox Pigment Ink - Frost White, Smooch Spritz - Black Velvet

Patterned Paper, Stickers, Chipboard and Die-cuts - Crate Paper

Stamps - Autumn Leaves

Embossing Powder, Glitter - Clearsnap

Twine - The Twinery

Ribbon - umm, this bow fell off my undies but I like it better here ;)

And just for joining in on the hop, you have a chance to win a mini pad of the Crate Random collection! Did I mention I lovelovelovelovelove these papers? To qualify you must leave a comment on this post AND become a follower of this blog. I'll choose the winner on Monday morning, 9/19!

So that's all. Hop on over and check out the awesome project the fabulous Lowri McNabb has put together that is totally gonna put me to shame! Later lovers!