It's time for my annual two week vacation from the blog. I try to focus on family and fun during Christmas vacation. This break also helps me leisurely prep for the next year. I'll see everyone in 2016 with some great new projects!
Arthur's 2nd Birthday
This post is going to be a long one! Last week was Arthur's 2nd birthday party! Being the crafty person that I am, I couldn't buy store decor and cards. So I buckled down about a month ago, and started creating...
Favor Bags: I chose to go simple with white paper bags as a base. I stamped some dino footprints in random directions. From there I added a starburst tag in a variety of patterns. For the actual party, I put the kids' names on the bags and clothes pinned the tag to the bag.
Matching Games: I made 2x2 squares featuring stamped dinosaurs on one side and some patterned paper on the other. Each set includes 18 different pairs to match. I thought about adding leaves and such, but decided that the simple dinosaur silhouette in different colors looked just right. These are matching games for toddlers.
Cupcake Toppers: I used up my scrap paper from the favor tags to create these simple circle cupcake toppers. I stamped skeleton on each side completed the tag. These looked perfect in the cupcakes!
Thank You Cards: Simple, but cute! I made a variation of colors and patterns using some old patterned paper.
Party Pics:
Supplies:
- SU No Bones About It stamp set
- SU old DSP
- SU Pool Party, Gumball Green (retired), Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, and Tempting Turquoise ink
- SU Starburst framelits (retired)
- White paper
- White Paper bags
- Toothpicks
- Labels framelits
Currently...
Watching: Catching up on some of the backlogged Vlog Brothers videos. Love Hank and John Green!
Reading: A friend game me Interest by Kevin Gaughen to read this week. Starting it today. Hope it's good.
Listening: Arthur's huge into talking right now, but I still only understand about 40% of what he's saying.
Making: After almost of week of other activities, I'm getting back into making cards for the design team. First up: kid birthday card featuring Stampin' Up's No Bones About It stamp set.
Feeling: This weekend was crazy busy with the craft garage sale and Thirty-One party, but it was energized me for the coming week. I'm ready to get moving on some of my other goals this week.
Planning: Speaking of the coming week, I'm getting our schedule set with some fun excursions and the usual chores.
Loving: I made lemon poppyseed muffins for yesterday's Thirty-One party and thankfully there were a few leftover for me! Yum yum!
Project Life Delay
Usually I highlight my previous month's Project Life pages the last two Fridays of the month. With all the crazy of guests and travels, I completely forgot to edit and print my photos. By the time I remembered and ordered them, the prints won't be arriving at home until next week. So my pages will be delayed at least a week. I'm hoping to dive in as soon as they arrive and get June knocked out of the park. And I need to do another catch-up with Arthur's pages and finish the twins' summer pages. Next week is going to be busy!
Currently...
Watching: J and I are finally on the last season of Newsroom. We'll probably finish it this week.
Reading: This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Not expecting it to be as amazing as The Great Gatsby but hoping it's a good read.
Listening: Brandi Carlile's newest album The Firewatcher's Daughter has been on repeat. Love her voice!
Making: I'm right in the middle of the Find Your Voice 6 week course. Along with contemplating the weekly questions, I'm completing a traditional scrapbook page with thoughts, actions, and reflections. I'll be sharing the first half of my pages this week on the craft blog.
Feeling: The twins and my mom left on Sunday. It's been very quiet in the house the past few days.
Planning: I'm trying to wrap my brain around all the big projects I want to accomplish in the second half of 2015. I'm thinking a brain dump day may be in order to get all the random thoughts and ideas down on paper.
Loving: Arthur woke up vomiting on Sunday. It was not a good day. I think he was/has a sinus infection as most of the throw up was mucus. Monday he's doing a lot better, but we're not out of the woods yet. Overall, sick toddlers are miserable. Glad he's feeling better quickly.
OLW Catch-up
Let's take a look at what I did the past few months for my OLW. This year's focus is HOME. I got a bit behind and needed to catch-up and focus again.
My monthly intentions:
1. Twins' Room (May) -- I finished putting their room together before they arrived in early June. Done!
2. Twins' Scrapbooks (May) -- I started tackling their scrapbooks in late May and completely caught them up by the end of June. Such a huge task and it's now finished!
3. Summer Bucket List (May) -- Completed and things have been checked off already.
4. Library (June) -- My goal was to update my physical library both physically and digitally. I took a bag of books to HPB and started another one. I also made a spreadsheet of all my in progress and owned series complete with notations as to which volumes I need, which ones have been read, and other info. There's not a ton of picture proof, but I finished a few tasks from my list.
5. Catch Up PL Albums (June) -- I caught up all of our albums in June, but of course now we're not all done. That's okay, I've printed my pictures for June and am planning on finishing those pages next week.
6. Revisit Craft Area (July) -- This goal is next on my list for July. I especially need to organize the kids' crafts cabinet, paper cabinet, and random office supplies cabinet.
7. Closets (July) -- I tackled the black hole of a downstairs hall closet. I guess it's the coat closet, but considering we live in California, we don't use it for that. It's become a giant catch-all place that was out of control. I pulled everything out, filled an entire trash bag for garbage and one for Goodwill, and placed the things were were keeping back. And I even found space for my large Thirty-One box that holds all my party supplies. I call that a success!
Extras:
— I fed my creative side and joined a Design Team in July. Plus, I've been challenging myself with new card techniques, layouts, color combos, and designs. I've really gotten back into my card making this season. So excited!
My OLW Pages:
May - The prompt was "I Am." I chose to explain who I am in nine cards. Pretty simple prompt, but it was still fairly difficult. For the art element, I wanted to make my cards colorful. I inked up my brayer and covered the cards in a variety of ink colors. I added some washi tape as a little embellishment. I had fun making my "I am" cards. They helped to focus me for the coming months.
June - The prompt included a variety of questions. It was sort of a check-in with my word. It took me longer to fill out than I thought it would. The questions helped me recenter my intentions for the second half of the year. I definitely have things to work on...
July - The prompt was focused on music. I adore music and always find that songs speak to me. For this month, I combed through my iTunes library (and a bit of Spotify) to pinpoint nine songs that speak to my work of "Home." I added a small tag and some washi tape to compliment the song lyrics. This prompt was the most fun one yet. Loved it!
Currently...
Watching: J and I ventured out last night and saw Avengers: Age of Ultron. J and the twins had both seen it, but I hadn't. I was going to take the twins to see Jurassic World last night, but apparently they have made a plan with my mom to see it. So they didn't want to go. Instead, we put the baby to bed, and let the twins and the baby at home and went and saw Avengers. So good! I'm glad I actually got to see it in the theater.
Reading: The Lost Soul by Gabriella Pierce. I felt the need to finish this slightly ridiculous series.
Listening: It's garbage day which means listening to three trucks: composting truck, trash truck, and recycling truck. It's very noisy on Monday mornings around here.
Making: So many lists! I've got a list for everything and I love it.
Feeling: Last week was rough. I'm trying to keep a more optimistic mindset with the start of the week. Already I feel less stressed. Hope this feeling continues.
Planning: The twins have swim lessons Mon-Thurs, but only for an hour each day. We're hoping to fit in the library, lunch at Sonic, Golfland, and maybe some other activity this week.
Loving: Coffee! So yummy!
Currently...
Watching: We've introduced the twins to Video Game High School this week and they are hooked! We've flown through Season 1 and half of Season 2 already.
Reading: I'm rereading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks for book club next weekend. Really enjoying it again.
Listening: The Daily Show is playing in the background as I blog, clean, and craft today.
Making: Finally finished the last remaining pages in the twins' traditional scrapbook album. I'm moving on to switching them to Project Life style scrapbooking. Really excite to get this started.
Feeling: It's been really warm here lately. Mostly it's just the sunshine. I've even gotten a bit of sunburn because of spending so much time in the sun.
Planning: I'm looking toward July's classes, activities, and upcoming events. Getting very excited for some new crafting projects. Hello retreat surprises!
Loving: Arthur's new trick is giving actual kisses. So adorable!
Pic of the Week #7
Water play at the children's museum. Always a favorite.
5 on 5
Not a lot of crafting done this week. You'll see why with the pictures...
1. Check out that look Arthur is giving Nick! He didn't quite know what to think of the big boys in his house.
2. My Thirty-One box was delivered this week. I took advantage of the 12 weeks of summer hostess specials and scored a Canvas Crew Tote (in back), rope strap for Canvas Crew Tote, Zipper Pouch, Double Duty Caddy, Fresh Market Thermal (so big!), a Wristlet strap for my All About the Benjamins wallet, and a couple of key fobs. I've already been using the key fobs and zipper pouch. Looking forward to using my new Fresh Market Thermal for picnics. Check out the site for great products and make sure to use me as your consultant.
3. I started my summer capsule wardrobe this week. So far, so good. The above picture is a preview of my outfits. I'm taking daily pictures to compare when I do my first update.
4. For some reason, Arthur thought laying on the kitchen floor was a very comfortable place. Silly little boy!
5. This morning's adventures included mini golf. Fun times fun times.
