Well, I am SO sad that this is my final assignment on the SRM Design Team! SRM products ROCK and I feel tremendously blessed to have been a part of two SRM teams. When Susan contacted me at the end of last year about participating on the dream team, I was shocked and thrilled! Susan is a gem to work with and I enjoy promoting her products through my projects. It's easy since the products are so fun and work seamlessly into my designs.

Thank you, Susan, for inviting me to be a part of your work. I don't want to take that cute cupcake logo off my blog ------->>>>>>

Today on the SRM Blog, there are several final projects by members of the SRM Design Dream Team. This is my layout featured on the blog. I love this photo of Merek! He was so proud to have climbed up on the milkbox all by himself, and gave me a big smile while I took the photo.




I used white sticker stitches to add some definition to the yellow blocks of paper, and underline the "love" on the yellow banner. Then I adhered the "I love you" sentiment to border the photo and again along the bottom of the colors.



One of my favorite ways to use the new glassine bags from SRM is to hold my journaling on layouts. I trimmed the top off a bag and slid the journaling box inside.

Again, so thrilled and blessed to have been a part of this team! I'm looking forward to the crazy-talent of the new team and all of the inspiration they have to offer :)

Glassine Bag
Stitcker Stitches #58006 Valentine
Stickers By The Dozen #62004 Valentines

Today I have a project featured on the SRM Blog HERE. The SRM DT members were asked to choose some of their favorite new products to use on a project. I'm always in love with the calendar stickers so decided to go that route.

I am a piano teacher and am constantly needing to look at the calendar for dates. Having a year-at-a-glance is perfect for rescheduling lessons, figuring out tuition, determining performances dates, etc.

Putting the 2014 Mini Calendar stickers on a clipboard that I can keep with me during my lessons for easy reference of dates came to my mind. This will be so handy to have!

A few of the SRM Design Team members were sent Bazzill's new Lucy Crab Shack Collection to use with our SRM Stickers and products.


I put together these projects:




For the birthday card, the sticker stitches made another appearance :), along with the Labels by the Dozen and Birthday Stickers By the Dozen.

Using one of SRM's new pillowboxes, I put together a little treat of caramels, wrapped with Bazzill paper and some twine from The Twinery.

It was fun creating this ensemble of projects. Be sure to check out the Bazzill Blog HERE and SRM blog HERE today. Not only will you see these projects, but there are big giveaways!

Express Yourself #42030 Explore
Labels by the Dozen #63005 Bright blank
Sticker stitches #58003 Black
We've Got Your Border #57004 Thank You
Year of Memories #48003 2011
Stickers by the Dozen #62001 Birthday
Lemondrop Twine
Large pillowbox
Pink Sorbet twine

in my 30's. (Deep breath). I'm not really lamenting that I will be 40. More reflective and thankful to be at this point in my life. Focusing on my blessings and ways that I can make the next 40 years worthwhile and fulfilling.

These bring happiness to my heart:

This beautiful young lady amazes me every day. She has a light within her that constantly radiates happiness.

Merek loves to write letters and draw. He was so excited to show me his person and name on the white board.

Bird performed at his violin recital on Saturday. He played Haydn Melodies (Surprise Symphony). Love his musical talent.

The boys posed for me yesterday as I tried to capture some images for a photography class I'm taking online. Trying to get three boys in focus on manual is something I need to work on. Krish really wanted me to take a photo of just him with Merek. This is the best I could get. I think it's pretty cute.

Looking forward to this weekend when I'll get to be with ALL 3 of my sisters and my parents. It will be fantastic!

Banners are a favorite project of mine to make. :) Here is one I put together using SRM Stickers 4th of July stickers and The Twinery twine. It is featured on the SRM Blog today.







To add extra dimension to the banner, I placed the flag stickers (Stickers By The Dozen) on punched circles and tied them between the pennants. Maraschino and Midnight blue twine from The Twinery tie it all together.


#62006 SBTD Patriotic
#57010 WGYB Patriotic
#68001 Maraschino Twine
#68014 Midnight Blue Twine

I am spoiled. They wouldn't let me get out of bed until 9:30. They made me breakfast

We played some games together then got ready for church. DH tried to take some photos before church but none of them turned out well. So he tried again afterwards and this is the best we got:

Be sure to check out the Creating Keepsakes Blog today. Susan, the owner of SRM Stickers, is the guest blogger today. She featured my pillow-box crayon idea.



SRM has several cute containers available now that work seemlessly with their stickers. Such great ideas for gifts and storage and parties. Susan will be at the Stationary Show in New York City this coming weekend. Oh, how I'd love to go! And especially because it would mean a chance to see my sister, Michelle, who lives there.

And just a random thought, one more week in my 30's. I cannot believe I will be 40. Really??

As the school year winds down, teacher thank you's are on my mind.  I put together this card and small gift using SRM stickers, pillow box, and twine. It is featured on the SRM Blog today HERE.



What fun ideas do you have for teacher gifts? I'd love to see/hear them :)

This card puts a smile on my face. Maybe it's the yellow. Maybe it's the button with twine. Or the script "hello". Maybe just the whole thing :)

With Mother's Day approaching this Sunday, I thought I would share this layout made with the May Paper Posies kit. 


I'm loving Elle's Studio tags and papers! They have always been a favorite of mine. So happy they are making their way into the Paper Posies kits.

I used the Jillibean Soup "today" sticker to finish off the "Cherish" sentiment that is on the ES paper.

My kids are asking me what I want for Mother's Day. Hmmm . . . I have no idea! How about some more sunshine, a chore schedule for the next month, no whining, and lots of hugs & kisses :)

Diligently, I've been keeping up with my calendar. It was included in the January Paper Posies kit. Each month I've been using the current kit to decorate the page. This is what I came up with using the May kit:

I'd been holding onto these pictures from Bird's violin recital last spring. When the May Paper Posies kit arrived, I decided it was the kit to use with the pics.




The journaling tag is tucked inside of another SRM glassine bag. I tied off the tag with twine.

Bird's next recital is in two weeks--he has such a good ear for music. I hope it is something he continues to practice for many years.

Miranda and some of her good friends had these pictures taken last summer. They are such beautiful girls. I thought the April Paper Posies kit would work well to document the photos.

 I love all the little sticker blocks to layer and add color to the page.
For a fun journaling block, I placed some of the patterned paper inside of an SRM glassine bag and then journaled on top of the bag with a Slick Writer from America Crafts.

These girls have been friends since 2nd grade. I cannot believe they will be in high school this fall!

Does your hair define you? Do you feel that it contribute to who you are?

For most of my life, I have had long blonde hair. The majority of compliments I receive are about my hair.

When I was five year old, my mom was going on an extended tour trip. My dad did not want to have to worry about our hair so we all got pixie cuts. My hair is thick and course. This hairstyle did not bode well for me. Hair stuck out every which way and did not lie down nicely. So, from that point on I kept my hair long.

After having a couple of my babies, I cut my hair short but not super short. And I liked it short, but always hated the inbetween style of growing it back out.

All that being said, I've secretly always wanted to cut it super short again. It seems fun. It seems less stressful. It seems freeing.

But should I? I'm not sure that I'm brave enough. What do you think?

Each month Paper Posies kits come with an alterable project. The January kit included this 6x6 calendar. I am using each month's kit to make the page for that month. Here is my April page using the April Paper Posies kit:

Today is our 18th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Brad! :)

A few months ago, I put this layout together and it's fitting to share today.


I punched out hearts of different sizes, layered them, and then stitched them together in columns. I added in some SRM stickers for extra sentiment.
The title and journaling come from a quote I read in Real Simple magazine a few months ago.

It said, "When someone loves you, you never wonder if he does."

So thankful for the growth and perspective our relationship has given me.

Love you, Brad. Always.

For Easter this year, our niece, Allison, stayed with us. My parents had called a few days before and invited us over for dinner on Easter. It's is a two-hour drive but we couldn't think of a better way to spend Easter than with family.

The kids found their Easter baskets when they woke up. They ate chocolate and hard-boiled eggs (after some egg wars) for breakfast. They each received some new books in their Easter baskets, too.

Then we got ready for church and attended service at St. Michaels.



Miranda worked in the nursery. Afterwards, there was an egg hunt out on the lawn. We went back home to eat some lunch before heading over the mountains to Grandma and Grandpa's. The drive was beautiful. It was a warm, sunny spring day. A perfect Easter.

My sister, Tonya, and her family were there as well. Glorious cousin time! The dads and older cousins hid more eggs out in the lawn and the kids were thrilled to have another hunt.

We really enjoyed the day. It was a wonderful way to celebrate together :)

Today I have another project to share with you. This card was made with the April Paper Posies kit.

I loved that cute owl sticker. And the floral print beneath it is a printed wood veneer from American Crafts. Isn't it pretty? I wasn't quite sure how to use it at first but I think this worked out well.

We are heading into Spring Break for the kids. I love time off with them. Hoping to visit some family and get some much needed sunshine :)

Have you ever read Frog & Toad books? There is one story where Frog comes to wake up Toad because it is spring. But Toad doesn't want to get out of bed yet. His calendar still says it November from when he started hibernating for winter. I'm feeling a little like Toad . . . not quite ready to wake up to Spring.

But Little League has started and I need to get moving. I need a Frog to come and change my calendar to May to show me that it really is spring.

The girls' games began this week. So much fun to watch softball in the pouring rain . . .

Really though, I do enjoy this season. I still need to work on getting our dinners figured out for game nights--especially once the boys' games start and we have 8 games each week. And I need to come up with fun entertainment for Merek. He does not enjoy sitting to watch the games. Fields with playgrounds are a plus.

How are you? How is YOUR spring going?

The April Paper Posies is a perfect reflection on springtime. And the owner, Michele, recently had a baby girl (after three boys), so it's fun to see what she is putting together with a little girl in the house :)



The pink in the kit reminded me of these photos from Lina's walkathon last fall. Her class's theme was "Have a Heart". They all wore pink or red.


The white mist was a last-minute addition to the layout. At first, I just sprinkled it on but felt like it needed more. So I used the wand to doodle some hearts.

I have more projects to share but will spread them out over a couple of blog posts since I don't seem to be keeping up with blogging too well . . .  :)

Hooray, it's Friday!! :)

Today I have a graduation card to share with you. It is featured on SRM Stickers blog today. Please feel free to leave me a comment there ;)

I used SRM's  Graduation Stickers by the Dozen for the sentiments and fun hat icon. The circular image stickers work perfectly with a 1-1/4" circle punch, and are easy to then mat with a 1-1/2" circle. I added small gems to highlight the sentiment and add detail to the hat. The small-font sentiments on the sheet of stickers add an extra finishing touch to the card.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Last year my friend, Mindi, was married. Always such a joyous occasion:)

This photo of her dad giving her a kiss on her wedding day really touched my heart.


My layout is featured on the SRM blog today. I used several of SRM's stickers to add details to the page.
Mini Calendar #48006 2012 Decorative
LBTD #63005 Bright Blank
SBTD #62008 Wedding
WGYB #57011 Wedding
WGYS #53008 Forever

Enjoy your day!

Lina was reading stories to Bird before bedtime. Seeing my kids read together brings lots of love to my heart. So happy to have this :)

Hello! Since we are into March I guess it's time to share my Paper Posies projects for this month.

The March Kit is full of primary colors--perfect for bringing me out of the winter doldrums :)

Taglines are so common on patterned papers now. I love to find ways to use them on my projects. These "Love You More" words were printed on one. I cut it apart and placed them inside of the envelope for a fun message.


Two-page layouts will always be my favorites. This was a fun one to put together of Merek's special week in preschool.

I made the pennants from different sheets of patterned paper in the kit. I just hand-cut them.

Another tagline strip was used to connect the two pages together, running along the top of the photos. The weekdays are also a tagline. I love the Elle's Studio tags included in the kit, too.
There is one more layout I created. It will be posted tomorrow :)