Today is my wedding anniversary. John and I have been married for four years and together for fourteen years, almost half our lives. The photo above is from the first Thanksgiving that John (right) came home with me. I was 19 and he was 20. That's my younger brother lying in my lap. It has been quite a journey -- nothing that I expected, higher highs and lower lows. I know that I have grown, he has grown, and we have grown together as a couple. I can't wait to see what's next for us! --- P.S. Someone asked about... Read more →

I know I've said it before, but I will say it again: I love getting comments!! I read them all and they make me smile and laugh and think. And I do visit the blog of every single person who takes the time to leave me a comment (and leaves their blog url, of course). So here's a round up of some of the fun places I've wandered recently! Naomis Space: That is a screen shot from a virtual crop. Webcams blazing and the chat going too. I think that's the coolest way I've ever heard of getting together with... Read more →

Eeek! 30 minutes is clearly not enough time for me to endlessly fiddle with stuff and paint everything in sight. But I love a good challenge! Diane (dpayne) over at Studio Calico challenged us all to create a layout in 30 minutes or less. (You can see the rest of the participants' layouts here.) I printed my photo and then set the timer on my cell phone. I spent the first five minutes or so trying to get a basic design together. In the end I chose the design second from the bottom on the left. And after 30 minutes... Read more →

Would you like to win the Halloween tags that I made for Monday night's Live with Prima? Minus the canvas, of course. The tags will come in a neat little stack. If you'd like to win, just leave a comment letting me know a crafty technique or idea you'd like to learn about! I'll pick a winner on Thursday at 11:59pm. Read more →

Here is this week's Pencil Lines sketch: And here is my interpretation of it: The sentiment is inspired by one of my favorite quotes (from e.e. cummings): "To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." The background is paint on white cardstock. And then I hand cut the letters for the title and added my photo. I don't know why, but while I was making this layout I thought. "Wait! Am... Read more →

Who says you have to buy Halloween supplies to make Halloween crafts?! Join me today at 8pm EST and learn how to transform ordinary every day Prima supplies into spooky Halloween embellishments! These eight gorgeous tags are quick and easy to whip up. You can display them all together on a canvas (as pictured), attach them to treat bags, turn them into card fronts, create a banner out of them, or simply use them to embellish a spooky scrapbook page! And of course class will be full of awesome tips and tricks for getting the most out of your supplies!... Read more →

I have had pretty much the same exact blog design since I started my blog and I decided that it was time to spice things up. And by spice things up I mean make it look more like "me." I have limited web design skills, so it was a week of cutting and pasting html and experimenting. I don't totally have the skills to make it exactly what I want, but it's super close. You'll recall the old design: And now you can see the new one: So what do you think? Read more →

Dress forms were everywhere at CHA! And when I got home I decided that I wanted to make one of my own. I drew out the background stripes with a pencil and then cut strips that looked like they would fit. I eyeballed it, but for the most part it really works. I was sure to wrap the ends of papers all the way around the canvas for a finished edge. You can see in the side view that I rubbed grey Distress Stickles into the cracks between papers to add a sparkly grout. But nothing too thick and bold!... Read more →