Inspire.Create.Share.-Stampin' Up! Convention 2014

That's my big sister, Laura, on the right.  We had an incredible time at Inspire.Create.Share.!  So many things to learn, so many people to meet and, oh, the free goodies we received!!  It was 3 solid days of FUN!  I am so grateful that my sister and I get to be involved with the same great company!  I'm just itching to play in my scrapbook room and with all my friends too!  I have an upcoming event this Saturday, August 2nd.  I'll post more when I have the details ironed out.  If you want to check out my Stampin' Up! website, here it is:  JustHatchinIdeas.stampinup.net  I hope this finds you making time to create.  It's good for the soul!  Here's a new favorite quote from one of my favorite people:

Happy Creating!

A Little Organization...

Recently, while perusing things on Pinterest, something caught my eye...an organizing website called IHeartOrganizing.  Jen is an enthusiastic lady who has a flair for organizing things in the most beautiful of ways.  I've been looking for ways to organize my home better and so I found some inspiration from her website.  Now, mind you, it's a very small project that I'm starting with, but I still loved the results.  Unfortunately (or fortunately for you), I did not take a before picture of my project---my middle scrapbook desk drawer---but once I got it emptied out, I did take a picture of the pretty scrapbook paper that I lined it with, before I started putting things back in.  Here is what it looks like.

I was thinking about something that she had said about trying to use things that you have around your house so I started looking around the house for things that weren't currently in use.  So I found some little ceramic loaf pans just sitting stacked in my storage closet.  Truth be told, I purchased them on clearance several years ago so I could put holiday treats for my neighbors in them and then kept forgetting to use them for said treats.  Go figure.  So, happy for me tho' that they were perfect for the depth of my drawer!

And then I decided that I needed to make the adorable little pink labels that you see I made with my Cricut!

I got rid of a LOT of stuff that was just plain junk that had been in that drawer.  Doing this project inspired me and so I've cleaned out another three drawers, including the kitchen junk drawer.  I know, no pictures, but trust me, things are looking up!  I think my next makeover is either the pantry or the kitchen cupboards.  Wish me luck!

Melonheadz Illustrating

I just found this great website called Melonheadz Illustrating and I am in love with all of her artwork.  She has fabulous sets for sale as well as some freebies here and there.  I've spent the better part of the day going through and looking at all of her amazing artwork.  I like her sweet style and attention to detail.  The best friends little illustration is one of the freebies.  Have fun!

Baby Calvin

Newest pic of our little Calvin, snuggled in a super soft blankie from his auntie.  I wish I could just snoodle him!  He looks so kissable!  Looks like being in Korea agrees with him!  August can't come soon enough for when we finally get to see him in person!

What a Convention!!

Yesterday I had a fabulous time with my friends at the CK Scrapbook Convention in Portland, Oregon!!  We drove from Tacoma first thing in the morning and then got to the parking garage (thanks to the GPS) right when the convention was opening.  The drive had been a bit over 2 hours but we were all so excited to see the new goodies that awaited us on the vendor floor.  At first we thought that it seemed a little bit small--not that many vendors--but oh how we were wrong!!  You know how when you go to the fair and there are fun booths and not so fun booths?  How you just kind of glance at some and others you really want to stop and get a closer look and ask tons of questions?  Well, this place had EVERY booth where you want to ask dozens of questions and look at every little thing!  We each had our things that we were wanting to look at and hoping that we'd be able to try them out.  One of them was the Sew Easy tool by We R Memory Keepers.  It's this clever little gadget that has interchangeable heads that you place a a foam mat underneath your paper and then roll over the paper with the Sew Easy device and it will pierce holes in your paper so then you can stitch where the holes are.  The heads each do a unique pattern.  I got the zig zag one, the kind of hem stitch one and the last one makes a series of holes that when you stitch, it makes big and little hearts.  Super cute!  I included those links to Amazon just so that you can see what they look like.  I might do a tutorial on them later if I get a chance.  The other big thing was the Freestyle Mouse Cutting System.  It did exactly what I wanted to do and as I was standing there watching the nice demo lady I piped up that I wanted one because I liked it and it was the last one and I had to make sure I got it!  Only $30!!  No tax, no shipping because it was in Oregon!  How sweet is that?!  The Freestyle Mouse will cut with 12 different interchangeable blades free form or, using the included ruler and mat, straight too!  I love that I have the choice of decorative edges with it!  Bye Bye Decorative Scissors!!!!  You know how you can never cut an even edge or anything like that with the scissors, with this it's easy!!  As you can see in the video, I got a LOT of stuff.  Originally, I made the video for my sister who lives in Massachusetts.  But then I decided that it would be fun for you to see all the great deals I got on the rest of the stuff!  This is my first video that I've ever put on YouTube, so please forgive my stumbling over my speech.  And please let me know if there's anything that you have questions on.  I can't wait to put all of my goodies away!  (Question:  Where will I put all of them?!!)  And most of all, play with them!  Hope you are having a great day!  P.S.  I got the most fabulous purse, as you will see at the end of the video.  I have to give a shout out to Adorn It where I got my purse!  It's been discontinued so I am I SO GLAD that I got it!

Portland, Here We Come!

I can hardly wait to go to the CK Scrapbook Convention this weekend in Portland, Oregon!  Early Saturday morning me and some of my peeps are heading down for a full day of scrapbooking fun!  Made my list and checking it twice.  Hopefully, we'll be able to do some of the neat make and takes there and I'll have a plethora of new ideas to share!  I'm bringing my camera and will take lots of pics of our big day out!  One of the things that I'm excited to try out is the ScrapMouse.  It's a handheld cutter that does freeform cutting.  Also has a jillion different blades to go with it.  I want to try it in person before committing to getting it online.  I'm already in love with it and haven't even seen it in person yet! 

A Star Is Born

This is our precious little grandson, Calvin Jude, born one week ago, 2/25/2012.  He's such a little angel.  Sadly, my son and his little family (Calvin is their 3rd son) are stationed in Korea right now so I only get to love on this little one through Skype.  Gotta love technology!  So we are looking forward to August when they return to the states and we can snuggle on this little guy.  Best Wishes to my son, Travis, his wife, Jessica and newly big brothers, Thomas and Felix.  Love you all!