a little bit of me.

{Back 40 Revealed!}

Studio Calico's new kit - Back 40 - is now available!!! :)  yay.

missed out on the reveal last night (i passed out way before midnight after my crazy sleep deprived week) - but i did just enjoy a leisurely stroll through the designer gallery this morning...

here are my pages...!

...Noah at 2 months - which uses some of the Open Pasture patterned papers & brads, and was inspired by the CK september cover layout (each designer did a gallery page inspired by the cover!).  after another ck assignment page that i did this week (that you'll see next spring) and this page, i'm now completely 'up to date' (hehe) on noah's every month book. yay.

...quick pics - used the chipboard in the Free Range add on to frame little cutie pics of noah for this page.

...sweet boy - one of my hold the camera out and take a pic! pics.  ;)  that smile stamp is also in Free Range, and this is where i used the teal paint and glossy medium to top my maya road chip frame!

...THR33 - i looooved this basic grey alpha in the Free Range Addon, but had already used up all my "R's" and "E's" by the time i got to this layout, so my "R" here is really a P + I and I thought that the 3's worked nicely as a play on the E's!  ;)  Don't you just love the SC Paper this month, too!?  it's already sold out - but you can still snag a More Patterned Paper and get some extra SC Paper in it!  (i like the patterned paper in the main kit so much, that i did this!).

...Your 2nd Year - A page in review for Evan's book that i kinda love more than a friend.  (hehe - that is what eric and i say when we REALLY like something!).  as in i want to do this for each of the boy's years.  we'll see.  ;)

ETA: All photos are sized to 1.5x2 inches.  You can view my tutorial HERE on my process for resizing photos and adding a white border in PS Elements.  HTH! :)

so those were my five.  :)  i love that being a part of the Studio Calico team is adding so many just for me pages to my scrapbooks!

:)

{i admit...}

ETA - the winner is...

Posted by: Katie Tartt | August 29, 2010 at 08:27 AM

*Katie - email me your contact info and I'll send it over to Kristina!  :)

**************************

I admit...

...that im ready for this week to be over.  its been crazy-busy and more than a little exhausting.

...that i havent showered since tuesday.  (yikes!).

...that I'm desperately in need of an eyebrow wax.

...that *HE* has been insanely stinky-smelly-gassy at times this week, and it kills me that i can't figure out what i'm eating that's causing it...  (he's so cute though, right?!) ;)

...that i'm super excited for the Studio Calico september kit reveal tonight!  Here are 2 more last minute peeks from my pages...

...that my scrap-office looks like a disaster zone.  ;)

...that baby noah is STILL sleeping in our room - but i'm praying that we get him moved into his nursery this weekend.

...that I've watched Cars + Toy Story a combined 6 times this week with Ev ;)

...that this new punch may be my favorite ever.

...that I'd give anything to be able to fit into even just one pair of of my jeans right now.

...that diet pepsi saves my mornings.

...that THIS NEW ONLINE CLASS about blog design - from scrapbook designers Kristina Proffitt and Crystal Wilkerson - looks AMAZING!!!

...and that they generously gave me a SPOT IN THE CLASS TO GIVEAWAY!!!!  yay.  Just leave me a comment - admitting something (anything at all!) - and I'll choose a winner by Monday.  ;)

***************************

***Here is the class info for anyone who may be interested!!!***

Class description: 
Have you ever wanted to makeover your blog but weren't sure how? Well, now is your chance when you take this brand new class taught by Crystal Wilkerson & Kristina Proffitt of Blog Designs by Two Happy Mamas. We'll walk you step-by-step through the blog design process!  By the end of the class you'll have a super cute, updated blog that includes a customized background, banner, profile picture, signature, post divider and "happy art".  And the best part is you'll have the knowledge to change it whenever you like in the future!  

This is a self-paced course so you can take it on your own time and can refer back to it whenever you'd like.  You'll have access to it forever!  You'll also have access to our class forum if you have any questions. Included with the class are SIX new blog designs! :-D

***Note: This class is geared towards Blogger accounts.  You can sign up for a free account at www.blogger.com. 

Registration Begins: August 30th
Class Starts: September 13th
Cost: $35

CLASS DETAILS:

Course Type: Self-Paced
Format: Video, Online
Length: 12 Lessons 
Subject: Basic Blog Design for BLOGGER 
Instructors: Crystal Wilkerson & Kristina Proffitt

Works for: Photoshop Elements 6, 7, 8 & Photoshop CS3, CS4, CS5 
Mac or PC?: Both!

CLASS OUTLINE:

Part 1: Blogger Basics

Lesson 1 - Setting Up a Blogger Account 
Lesson 2 - Creating a Blog
Lesson 3 - Posting 
Lesson 4 - Settings

Part 2: Design Basics

Lesson 1 - Background 
Lesson 2 - Banner 
Lesson 3 - Photo Frame 
Lesson 4 - Happy Art 
Lesson 5 - Signature 
Lesson 6 - Post Divider

Part 3: Putting It Together

Lesson 1 - Photobucket 
Lesson 2 - The Design Tab

You can register for the class at www.jessicasprague.com starting on Monday, August 30th.

Click HERE to see the first sample blog for the class and from there you can click on the five other brand new blog designs! :-D

{Studio Calico Sneak Time!}

Popping in super-quick tonight to share a couple of sneak peek images from the new Studio Calico September kit...  BACK 40 - along with two of its add-on friends: Open Pasture (#2) & Free Range (#3)!

In between back to school & end of summer activities, I somehow managed to make 5 layouts with this kit - once i started, i couldn't stop ;)

...have to say that i adored the overall color scheme of this kit.  Loved all the shades of yellow and green and blue.

...the red-orange motif patterned paper in this sneak is one of the Studio Calico exclusive papers in Back 40.  YUM.  ;)

...The butterfly stamp in the sneak above is as pretty IRL as you would think it is!!!  It perfectly fits this punch, which i used here along with the tumbled glass distress ink.  The butterfly stamps (there are 6 in the set) are part of add on #1 - Fresh Cut (I didn't get this add on, but I was lucky enough to snag a set!) - & its definitely a new favorite.

...Also had fun with the 'smile' stamp (above) from the Free Range add on - and used Crushed Olive Distress ink here - a PERFECT ink match for this kit...  along with Classic Teal Paint and Multi Medium Glossy Top Coat to cover the chipboard frame.  I have to say that I really love the added gloss coat on top of painted chipboard - it adds such a polished & finished look to your chipboard embellie!  There's also a bit of this favorite mist of mine in there for a little shimmer ;)

that's all i have time for tonight - but I'll try to post some more before reveal day/night on friday!

:)

{Day One}

its 12:15 am right now, but this is the type of stuff that i really, REALLY love to have logged on the blog.  the kind of thing that i love looking back at.  oh & plus, we have no ac at the moment >> our air condition is currently broken - again - so i figured i might as well just add these photos and this day into the blog right now.  ;)

Today was officially "Day One" of preschool.

Evan did an ELP - early learning program - 2 days a week last "year", which was awesome.  It got him used to the whole concept of school.  So today wasn't really hard on either of us.  In fact, we were BOTH excited about it.  ;)  And noah, too.  I'm quite sure that noah loved the one on one noah + momma time today ;)

And so -- We woke up WAY earlier than the 9ish we've grown accustomed to all summer, ate breakfast, left the house with a brand new "race car" backpack and toy story lunch tote, drove down the beach to school, pulled into the car line (which i love btw), and after a quick high-five from the front seat, dropped evan off. 

Where he told me (later on) that he played "knock the blocks" & mr potato head, did art and "made a rainbow", read a clifford book, ate chicken (cluck cluck) banana pretzels chocolate chippy cookie and juice box, and made friends with "the yellow girl" (i'm thinking she must have been wearing a yellow shirt/dress?).

While Noah and I came home, did laundry, did dishes, picked up the house, went grocery shopping, played on his gym mat, and photo'd all my studio calico layouts with the new (yummy!) september kit, ate lunch, then packed up and went back to pick Ev up from school.

When he got in the car, i asked him if he liked it (school) or loved it - he said he loved it.

and i love that.

(ps - i can't help but think how crazy different this picture will love on his last day of school with noah next to him!)

:)

{Wordless Wednesday: How We (now) Grocery Shop...}

(baby no-waaaaah is back there somewhere between the hamburger buns & frozen veggies ;)

:)

{ja-mommas.}

a couple of weeks ago, evan started telling us "no jamommas, no jamommas" one evening as we were getting ready to clean up toys and wrap up the evening festivities.

it took us through bath-time and into his bedroom, and him repeating "jamommas" a few more times,

to realize that he was talking about...

PAJAMAS!

:)

(but really, i think jamommas is a much better name for 'em!)

ps - these are his "buzz" jamommas from aunt kristi ;)

{tips & tricks winner}

...by random draw is...

SARAH!!!

would this book teach me to not be scared of mist? count me in! thanks for the chance :)

Posted by: sarah | August 03, 2010 at 10:06 PM

send me your address sarah, and i will pass it on to CK so that they can send you your copy of the new tips and tricks!

**************
this week has been nutty.noah has been refusing to nap in the afternoon while evan is asleep.and so i end up doing things like making him wear crazy hats and socks and outfit combos and snapping pics to amuse us both. 

& just to add to the fun, right now we've got a wonky DVR that keeps acting out against me, a FUSSY baby who is all of a sudden stubbornly refusing a nightly bottle, and broken dishwasher going on in our house...

so real life prevails, even though all i really want to do is play with my September Studio Calico kit!  (sneak night is tomorrow - Friday - night, don't forget!!!) >> and psssst - there are a FEW of August's Summer Camp kits still available too...

hopefully i will be back tomorrow with a funny post. >> (as in im going to try to blog it tonight to post tomorrow - ha.  that is pretty much the only way im getting posts done these days!)

:)

{Wordless Wednesday: Hanging out on Momma.}

(i love this time.)

:)

{at 2 months...}

winding down the week, and finally posting Noah's 2 month update...

(he is getting SO expressive!)

And so, at 2 months, Noah...

...is sporting another onesie (still in the 0-3 months size!) - have a feeling he'll be in 0-3 past 3 months.  ;)

...weighs in at 10 lbs 12 ounces (25th percentile), and measures 22 inches (10th percentile).

...seems to save ALL of his smiles for the first 10 minutes after eating.  Seriously don't expect any smiles beyond that time frame.  :)  Which makes me want to capture them *that much more*.

...still sleeps alot.  we like that around here.  :)  has about an hour of awake time in the morning, afternoon, and then maybe a couple at night.  oh and in the early morning too.  after he eats around 4-5am-ish he isnt too excited to go right back to sleep unfortunately ;)

...LOVES the swing.  logs quite a few hours of 'swing time'.  still really likes the bouncy seat, too.  tolerates a couple of minutes on the playmat (in the morning).

...will sleep through just about any morning outing we take.  He's such a good sleeper in his infant car seat.

...has been LOVING his mobile.  I love it too.  (its one of the tiny love symphony in motion mobiles)  the music and clicking of the beads on it brings back so many memories of evan's nursery.

...is still sleeping in our room.  because im just lazy like that.  but *may* move out this week.  we'll see.

...has just recently started what i call 'baby dancing' > aka laying on a quilt on the floor and punching his arms around and kicking his legs everywhere.  :)  and i love it.

...rubs his head side-to-side & over-and-over on me when he's sleepy.

...can projectile spit his paci across the room.  (its pretty cool to watch)

...is still holding on to his CUTE, CUTE little dimple (not sure if it will disappear with time?!).

...and has been making the most adorable baby coo's.  love those!

xoxoxo, tiny baby.

 

{Wordless Wednesday: woot woot.} ;)

  

(photo from earlier in the week, official '2 months' post soon!)