scrapologie

Handpainted Clay Buttons

Had a wonderful weekend with family but it ended in the flu, unfortunately. I am sick and battling the flu but I did have this project I had completed over the weekend and wanted to share. This was featured as my final wrap-up tutorial for artsymama's Year of Color Blog and if you are a subscriber, you can check out today's blog post that has a step by step tutorial with a supplies list and full color photos. Thanks to Kari for the honor of being an invited guest designer - it was great fun and Kari continues to offer incredible inspiration through the blog. I baked up a bunch of clay buttons and adhered them to handmade button cards for gift giving.

Enjoy, and I will check in later when I am feeling better!

 

A lesson from the little one

We had a perfect sun-filled weekend. It was so nice yesterday that I managed to tear my little one away from her little girlfriends in the neighborhood for some wonderful one-on-one time. We packed a picnic lunch and headed to a nearby park to spend the morning. She was so excited to get on the monkey bars. She made it across three rungs and then dropped to the ground. She then told me - Mommy, I am going to keep doing this until I get all the way across. I replied, "Well honey - keep practicing, we may not be able to get all the way across today - but if you keep practicing you will, eventually." Undaunted, she kept trying and twenty minutes later -- she made it all the way across. I delightedly gave her plenty of hugs and smooches. On the way home in the car, she said "Mommy - next time you should believe in me." Touche. Wise words from the mouths of a babe.

Completed a few more cards over the weekend. This one is a combination of Making Memories & Melissa Frances paper, Bazzill cardstock. The accents are Marcella by K (Target). The ribbon is from May Arts.

Then I had to do a couple of baby cards. I love Melissa Frances stickers - they're so vintage and shabby and soft. The first one uses new Attic Treasures paper, Fesh Twist paper, Making Memories Spring Fling paper, Melissa Frances stickers and rubons, Bazzill Cardstock. The button is from Autumn Leaves. The paperbag card is courtesy of World Win Papers. Danielle also created some GORGEOUS cards with this paperbag card --- check out her creations here.

Finally, for this baby card, I used another World Win card base (kraft tag card), an Autumn leaves button, coral colored twine and mint seam binding, mint lace from Prima, the ribbon pull on the side of the card is from trim by Autumn Leaves, Melissa Frances rubons,  Melissa Frances patterned paper, Melissa Frances sticker, glitter brads from Doodlebug and the little charm is from K & Co. The leafy stick pin is from Maya Road (Thanks Caroline!)

That's it for today. A busy week lies ahead. My mom and Dad are coming in for a nice two week stay to visit with us, my sister and her little boy arrive Wednesday. I have Thursday and Friday off since Alekha is on spring break this week. Looking forward to some time with family and my little one!

A much better day.

Thank you for all those comments, I really appreciate your advice and encouragement. It's good to know that I am not alone! Jan was right on with her comment - this, too, shall pass, and I need to retain that as my credo. Today was a much better day. Bob said he shudders to think what will happen when Alekha arrives at the point of womanhood, where she and I are both PMSing at the same time, lol. He may have to get out of the house, for a few days.

I have another card to share today - featuring more terrific new Melissa Frances product, and three vintage easter images to make up for the past few weeks when I've missed out on posting due to the crazy pace at work.

This card is actually a birthday card for a dear friend. To create this, I used Bazzill embossed dotted cardstock, some paper from the Fresh Twist Collection, Tim Holtz ink in vintage photo, eyelet lace, a Fresh Twist Label Die Cut (the scalloped circle containing the paper dolls), Martha Stewart clear glitter, rubons from Melissa Frances, a sticker and diecut from Melissa Frances, Maya Road mega ric rac, a yellow button and twine. The paper doll stickers are also a Melissa Frances product. The kraft card background is from World Win Papers.

This one is an older project - I can't remember if I ever posted it here or not - again, all Melissa Frances product with the exception of the papier mache box and base.

Here are some lovely Easter images, enjoy and have a great weekend!

A couple more cards...

Mornings are tough. I am constantly playing the role of cheerleader, policewoman, logistics coordinator, comforter, life coach, psychologist, and cook all in one. Alekha has been prone to lots of tears these days -- about anything and everything. This morning it was the fact that we wouldn't permit her to watch tv while eating breakfast, a practice I am ashamed to say I had allowed on prior occasions and then we'd all be dashing madly to get out of the house when 8 am rolled around. Then it was the fact that we wouldn't let her take a shower in the morning (I had popped her in the shower the night before versus the usual bath and she found it to be a great novelty which naturally, she expected we'd let her repeat at 7:45 am). When I got her to calm herself finally, the tears began because "everyone else's Mommies pick them up early and I always have to be picked up late" (not true - but trying to rationalize with her at 7:50 am in a calm manner was a huge challenge!) This, followed by the fact that I wouldn't take the time to find the jacket she wanted to wear instead of the one she had on. By the time I finally got her and Bobby out of the door, my nerves were a frazzled mess but I can honestly say I got through the morning rush without hollering, which I hate doing. I really, really, hate raising my voice to her.

I have been reading a book on parenting called Parking Lot Rules: 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children by Tom Sturges, and though I have found some really wonderful insights and advice, I noted the author has two boys - and I can't help but think that boys are completely different, aren't they? Correct me if it's not true, but I just haven't seen the boys I know (my sisters' kids) launch into the bouts of long crying that my baby girl does. Sigh. I am praying for patience. Lots more of it. Nonetheless, I recommend the book. It has some great ideas - like whispering - instead of yelling, to get your child's attention. Getting close to their face and telling them in a whisper that their behavior disappointed you, instead of hollering at the top of your lungs. (Tried that one, and it worked!)

We tried something new this evening. I made a chart and told her that I would be watching and expecting her to make good choices, and that when she does err - she'll have a chance to rectify it, if she doesn't then we'll mark an X on the chart; after a certain number of X's, she will lose a privilege or have something she loves taken away for a while. The idea seemed to work because shortly after her bath this evening, she started crying about something and when I reminded her that if she was going to continue, I'd have to place an X on the chart, she stopped on her own volition, to my relief! The book actually says not to be so hasty to stop them from crying - and certainly, I think we all need a good cry now and then, but it doesn't say anything about constant crying, for (what I perceive to be) the most inconsequential things!

Anyway, thanks for listening to me pour my heart out - I love her so and want to be the best parent I can possibly be -- I am not always as patient as I should be -- and I constantly wish for the patience my mother has and had with us as children - she was always truly gentle and loving to us.

I had a chance to work on a few cards last night after bundling her into bed. These are all mostly new Melissa Frances product - from the Attic Treasures and Fresh Twist Collections. Love the new pink polka dotty diecut paper. I also used a new Fresh Twist sticker, a ticket from the Girl Stuff Ticket Book, This card is a Mother's Day Card and it would be neat I thought to use the front part as a pocket - you can tuck a gift card or a photo into the front pocket for Mom and then write a message on the inside of the card. The green polka dotty ribbon is from the Fresh Twist Page Kit. The rubons and chipboard star are also from MF.

 

This second one is a baby boy card, using again the Fresh Twist and Attic Treasures papers, plus Melissa Frances stickers. The mint green lace is from Prima. And check out the gorgeous gems on these cards - they are from Melissa's new Vintage Attic Treasures. I added some mint seam binding and a vintage button and crystal stick pin. And the diecut star is from the new Fresh Twist Label Diecuts. Thanks for stopping by, and hang in there, it's almost Friday!

Oh, and here are a few vintage images for you:

 

A few more projects and some cards

Sorry I am so behind on posts. Work remains at a hectic pace. Lots of things to share today. The first two projects were done with the Jenni Bowlin March project kit which included a lovely Kaisercraft frame. The frames can be layered together but I split them up to get two projects out of them. I did add some of the lovely new Marie Antoinette-inspired K&Company Madeline Collection to the first piece and some new Basic Grey to the second.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used new Based Grey papers for the background of this one. The paper medallion is from the Madeline Collection (K & Co. at Michael's)

 

 

These cards and the pillow box were created with Making Memories' new Easter/Spring themed collection. This is a really beautiful line. The butterfly paper is so pretty. The pillow box will hold Alekha's chocolate bunny and some jelly beans for Easter. I also used some spring themed rubons from Melissa Frances.

 

 

  

 

 

Odds and ends

Hope your Monday is going well so far. A few things I wanted to mention - Doris is teaching a fab new class beginning Tuesday. You can read all about it here. Make sure you go get signed up for it as she is such a talented scrapper and I know you will benefit so much from the class!

Saw Coraline over the weekend with Alekha. Definitely a creepy movie and I am surprised she wasn't as creeped out by it as I was - in retrospect I probably wouldn't take her to that now, having seen the movie but the visuals are fantastic - it's not just for kids. Also puts buttons in a rather creepy light, but all in all I enjoyed it. Neil Gaiman is a very talented author and I have read a few books of his - don't read them when you're home alone though!

I am headed to a dentist appointment this morning but I do have the day off, so maybe I'll be able to get back here and get some more vintage images uploaded. In the meantime, enjoy these:

 

Jenni Bowlin Studios March Kit Projects

The gallery is up over at JBS Studios - and you must go check out all the gorgeous work from the DT this month. The March kit was really lovely - very nature inspired and I adored creating with it; I have plenty left over, even after all the layouts and projects I did! Here are my layouts and cards; I'll post the altered projects tomorrow.

Here is my contribution this month:

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the road again.

Headed to Indianapolis for work, and won't be back until Wednesday night. I love that you all loved those postcards -- they are truly treasures! In the meantime, enjoy this sweet image:

 

and oh, I have been busy at work on my Jenni Bowlin Studios March kit - the design team gallery debuts Thursday evening, I think. Here are a few quick peeks at something I put together with the March project kit:

 

 

and some peeks at kit layouts:

 

If you haven't picked up this kit yet, hop on over to JBS Studio and get your hands on one, it's a gorgeous kit.

I'll be back here on Thursday, most likely... bye for now!

Postcards from Paris

 

Thanks so much for the kind get-well wishes, I am still sick, but atleast it's Friday (thank GOD) and I took a day off work - much needed.

On to more tea - before I die, I want to have tea in the tearoom at Laduree on the Champs Elysees. When I saw these postcards, they reminded me instantly of the Laduree palette, gorgeous pastels that bring spring weddings to mind. Take a look - first at the postcards, then at delicious inspiration from Laduree!

These would be gorgeous printed off, if you have some glass glitter and a fine tip glue pen, outline the sentiment in glue and sprinkle with glitter, affix to heavy cardstock, punch holes through the corners and tie with satiny ribbon for hanging. You could seriously do a bunch of these and sell them at a craft show!

 

   

 

 

 

And here is inspiration from la grandmere of all tearooms:

 

 

 

Sick, and tired.

I still have a few teatime images to add, but thought I would mix things up a bit for a day or two. Work continues to be stressful and to boot, Alekha gave me and Bobby her cold so I am battling that - and taking meds so I can keep my energy up. Too sick and tired to do an extended post this evening, so I am just sharing some images.... and now I am going to make myself a cup of hot tea to soothe my throat and clear my head. G'night!