Retro Sun Hats--I want one!

Do you think they come in Grown-Up sizes? I could totally rock this look!

link HERE for the article where I first saw them and HERE for the maker's etsy shop.

Guest Blogging for Ali Edwards today

You can read my post HERE. What fun!

Let the Handmade Christmas begin!

It's DECEMBER! Time for the Handmade Christmas ideas! Yay!

First--if you haven't been following the Sew, Mama, Sew Handmade Holidays III--go NOW and check it out! (then come back for more ideas and links) Click on their blog for the list of goodies. You won't be disappointed!

Second good thing about today: Tim Holtz is starting his "12 Tags of Christmas" (double yay!) This is the third year he has done this (archives on his blog) and if you craft, if you've thought about crafting, if you're curious, if you want to see how to use cool products you never thought existed but now absolutely MUST have, if you're breathing today--go and check it out!

My last Homemade Christmas suggestion comes to you by way of a wedding planner blog. LOVED this idea, and thought it could easily be adapted as giveaways this holiday season. I have a friend who makes her own marshmallow--that would be a super addition to this goodie. Even if you go "old school" and buy your marshmallows, it's still a great idea. You could even experiment with microwave directions! Go HERE to see what all the fuss is about!

What are YOU making for the holidays? Leave a comment and share with us! Also, it's my goal to have some GIVEAWAYS this month--to enter the giveaways, you need to comment! I have card sets, paper sets, creativity kits--all kinds of good yummy things to share with my blog readers. Pass it on!

Cathy Zielske is Impossibly Cool

Remember my post on "No Ordinary Stories?" Well, it looks like Cathy Zielske is doing a similar kind of class for Big Picture Scrapbooking. I'm entranced and intrigued. The teaser video promo is super cool! I can't wait for the rest! Go check it out!

Let me Sum Up

Seussical was very, very good! We saw it twice--I saw a dress rehearsal (where these pics are from--same day that son H walked over from his school to see it) and Joel went by himself with J opening night. They had a very good production, and J had a lot of fun. We are ALL singing songs from Seussical in our heads--for me, it's the "Notice Me Horton!" song Gertrude sings to Hortong. Super-tricky lighting situations though! I didn't even try to take video or more pictures the second time I saw it.

Next for us is Spring Break. I'm hoping to get a family photo shoot in, so I'm bringing the tripod. I still have to work, so I'm keeping my expectations low. That way, we'll all be more relaxed and have more fun.

On the crafty front, I just taught a class about flag books. Did you know the first flag book was created by Hedi Kyle in 1979? This is a book-making form that is used more by book artists and later adapted by papercrafters. So many neat things to be done with this style of book making! If you want to know more, there is a FANTASTIC online pdf of an old Bonefolder magazine with some great step-by-step instructions on how to make them. (Karen Hamner is the featured artist with the great how-tos there). And if you want to see MANY fantastic examples of this art form, check out THIS link. After I take pics of mine, I'll share. Prepping for this class made me want to make more flag books of the "books as art" variety. Go check out those links--you'll like what you see! I hope you are inspired!

Kelly Rae Roberts--Taking Flight

I've just started working my way through this book--and I LOVE it! I am really resonating with a lot of the things she talks about--especially listening to your own whispers. I can wholeheartedly recommend it. It is a worthwhile addition to the crafty bookshelf--or maybe even the self-improvement, self-love bookshelf! Check it out today!

More links: Kelly Rae Roberts herself;
More on her book HERE

Have you tried Pandora.com yet?

gratuitous picture of February in Oregon--blue skies and sculptural tree branches. Taken with camera phone.

I am IN LOVE with internet radio through Pandora.com! It's fantastic! You just type in what artists you like, and it creates a radio station based on what you "told" it you like. Fabulous! Right now, I have three stations: Adele radio (based on my new favorite singer Adele--kind of a funky folk/pop sound), Sugarland radio, (sometimes you need a little country!) and one with church music for Sundays. Go check this out! And don't forget to click on the ads there when you do--that was something I learned from Seth Godin--if you like a website that is paid for with ads, click on the ads! I would be completely disappointed if this website folded like my favorite magazines recently did (Wondertime, Domino and Simple Scrapbooks), so I try to click on three or four each time I am listening. Still--it's worth a Go-See!

Go-See! Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas

If you've ever wanted a step-by-step tutorial for some great and grungy collage looks, head to Tim Holtz's blog for his repeat of his 12 tags of Christmas. LOTS of great ideas and techniques for his products, plus a daily giveaway!

While you're there, you can check out LAST year's tags, and get other technique ideas as well.

You won't regret it!

Go-See! Halloween Miniature!

I am IN LOOOVVVE with this super-cute Halloween Minature. Makes me want to run to JoAnn's and get a fake pumpkin. If you scroll down a bit, her fall tree paintings (a project you can do with your kids) is pretty awesome as well. Heck, the whole thing is bursting with interesting, kid-friendly, fall crafty projects. Take a look around while you are there; I know I'll be hovering for a bit.

Go-See! Home Decor Canvas Project

Heather Nichols, of the PaperTrey Ink Design Team (among other talents) has the sweetest project on her blog right now! I want to rush out to buy a canvas and make one myself! Go check it out--you'll want to make one too!

Canvas Home Decor Wall Art

Go spend some time looking around her blog---I've long been impressed by her creativity and her work.

Enjoy!

A new Go-See for you!

I was following some blog links and ended up on Poppytalk this morning. Scrolled through the site until I found the "something special" article tag for the artist Cathy Nichols. I really fell in love with her work---and loved it even more when I recognized my favorite paper line in her work--Basic Grey! Cathy has a blog, and an etsy shop, as well as her main website. You should look at everything!

Really such lovely work. Go See and be inspired!

We pause to bring you this special announcement...

Kathy Mack, at Pink Chalk Studio does the most AMAZING art with fabric! You really should go-see this RIGHT NOW!

I'm talking about this: Joy Ride Album.

Oh man! She does good work!

Back from Yellowstone!

I have A LOT to share--what a wonderful week! Aside from lovely visits with the Nelson Family in Utah, (where I literally ran into Creating Keepsake's Scrapbooker of the Year Elizabeth Kartchner) and seeing the beauties of Mt. Timpanogos and having fun at Seven Peaks Water Park.

Yellowstone was AMAZING! We saw a pack of wolves, several bears, many, many bison and elk, a pack of coyotes, two wolves fighting with a grizzly over a bison carcass, a pair of nesting bald eagles, walked around MANY geysers, got sprayed by Old Faithful (it was windy) twice (saw it blow 4 times), and generally fell in love with the whole experience. Although I'm probably never going to tent camp there. I just don't want to be THAT close to my wildlife!

All my pics are on the lap top, so I'll be posting later. Just wanted you to know that we made it home in one piece!

You've Got to See This!

I was taking just a quick minute to scroll through my Inbox when I saw this post from Nichole Heady's blog. If you haven't "met" Nichole Heady yet, you are in for a treat! She's the owner/designer/papercrafter extraordinnaire of Papertrey Ink (a place I could easily spend hundreds of dollars a month); most recently she was on the staff of Papercrafts magazine. She launches new stamps sets mid-month; she gives sneak peeks on her blog of the new sets and highlights projects you can do with those sets. She has a VERY talented design team! You have to go and see what they did with one of this months sets:

GO SEE THE MAGIC HERE!

(you won't be sorry!)