PL 2015 Week 1

click on images to enlarge them


hi! thank you for stopping by today!  i'm taking 2 fun classes over at Big Picture Classes right now. The first one, Project Life KickOff- is helpling me jump start one of my goals for the new year- i want to finally get on track & stick with project life!  i'm also taking Heidi Swapp's awesome planner class called Capture 30- so i can try to keep on top of our family's hectic schedules & not lose sight of my personal goals this year (& make myself a pretty planner while i'm at it= so LOVE LOVE! :)

Above, please see my PL spread for week 1 of this year! WooHoo! feels so good just typing it! i created it in Photoshop, it's clean, super simple & best of all DONE- am i right?! My sweet hubs is printing it out for me at work so I can just slide them into generic page protectors & pop them into the binder. i just ordered a project life kit sub from studio calico so i'll  have tons of options for creating & embellishing hybrid spreads in the future-i have tons of stamps & dies that i can use too.

My layout features the full digital Midnight core kit (swoon). i love digi- you can alter things & print out as many as you like and you never use them up ;)

As i'm sure you can tell from the pics- we had such a wonderful winter break camping up in the Redwood trees of northern California- at Grizzly Creek State Park-it's one of our very favorite places. it was really cold- low 30's overnight and 40's during the day. we had to put on layers & layers to go outside. Even inside the RV we snuggled in under a sleeping bag while we played scrabble or watched a movie. it was cozy. the hiking is incredible- you can easily find a nice walking stick (always a favorite souvenir) and you're mesmerized by trees so gigantic you can't even stretch your arms out to halfway around them, and the sword leaf ferns grow almost as tall as a 10 yr old. Lots of praying, meditating and reconnecting with nature on the trails and in the groves with these ancient trees- so so good for me- so good for everyone. Campfires under the stars are always a favorite of mine- i'll sit until the fire goes out- i just love it & there's just something about fresh hot coffee/cocoa while you're camping- everything tastes better outside!
 We saw a few fishermen (the salmon were spawning in the Van Duzen river which runs right through Grizzly Creek) and there were another couple of trailer campers this year. but that was pretty much it!
the campground hosts were a lovely couple from Phoenix, AZ & we got to meet their awesome dog Gracie- a greyhound rescue! Like all good getaways. it ended way too soon. We had one short day at home before school, work, and bill paying recommenced, but we're sure looking forward to the next break!

be back soon with more!
sending you all my best wishes for health & happiness in the new year!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
 -g
^o^

a birthday card and some halloween fun!

hi everyone! hope you're having a great weekend! it's been a super busy week and i'm just getting around to  blogging a Halloween post! oh well- better late than never right?

my sweet sister in-law's birthday falls right before Halloween on the 28th-i think she's so lucky! i would've loved having a birthday/Halloween party every year!! This is the card i made for her.  i just love this sweet digital set drawn by Christy Croll at TiddlyInks. I use my inkjet printer and print directly onto a sheet of XPress It blending card- it works great for digis and coloring with copics!
I used happy colors and papers and my new MFT Circle Stax Sets 1 & 2 for the panel & the mat- LOVE!! I used a BG10 copic marker around the edges of her wings, then added stickles right on top for pretty sparkle! I popped up the focal and accent heart with boosters and i used a touch of felt and some hemp cord too!

here's a peek at the inside- i repeated the papers and hearts & stamped a simple message. 
and a look at the dimension the front:

 

deets:
stamps: I used digital images from the set  Happy Bugg and Extras  by Christy Croll/TiddlyInks, the inside sentiment was created using MFT's By the Numbers stamp and dienamics set.
ink: memento tux black
paper: XPress It copic blending card, MFT cardstock in Razzle Berry, cream scalloped A2 note card (my stash), My Mind's Eye patterned paper (from Lime twist Life of the party 6x6 pad, sweet cupcake)
accessories: MFT dienamics (Circle Stax Set 1, Circle Stax Set 2, Hearts-a-plenty) copic markers, stickles, MFT whip cream felt, MFT hemp cord, a button from my stash, jody's awesome boosters

& here's some Halloween fun pics to catch you up a bit! As room parent of my daughter's 2nd grade class we had a huge class party. we also attended a private halloween party last week too! the kids loved their lollipop treats i shared with you in this post and i had fun making a 'puking' pumpkin (ranch dip for the veggies) and roasting sesame seeds. Mimi and i were zombies this year- so FUN!

 

thanks for looking!
see you soon!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
^o^