Lovey-dovey Card Inspiration!

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! Today I have some sweet and simple card inspiration to share with you using the "Truly Scrumptious" kit from Noel Mignon. I created these cards for the crop we had last week.

First, here are a couple whimsical cards...

And then a couple shabby chic cards...

We have spent the last week nursing a couple little girls back to good health (I hope). Another round of fevers and respiratory junk. Yuck! I was reading a friend's blog (she's also a mama to twins - little boys though) and she was listing all their illnesses they have had this winter. I laughed because I could have written her post. We have had SOMETHING, some type of bug every week for the last EIGHT WEEKS! Yes, my friends, 8 weeks! We have had influenza A, pneumonia, ear infections, the stomach flu, etc. I can't count on both my hands the number of times we have been to the doctor. I am so ready to be done with winter and with yucky sick germs! 

I've been feeling very weary lately. I'm so thankful my mom, dad and sister came to watch the girls Friday night so we could go to the couple's conference at our church. It was a much needed night out and a good time with friends and with each other. I've loved being able to snuggle with my girls and comforting them when they are sick but I miss being able to go ANYWHERE! :)

Anyway, just had to vent a little bit today. I'm thankful for a bright, sunny, warmer day! :)

Midnight Rooster February Kit!

Good morning, friends! It's that time of the month where I get to share what I created with the newest Midnight Rooster kit. It's a gorgeous kit this month...lots of sweet pink and cream. I still have a million baby photos to scrap so that's exactly what I did...all baby layouts!

My first layout is one for the girls' monthly album...I'm actually about up to date now. Just had these picts waiting for the perfect papers. I lined up these beautiful border stickers from The Girls' Paperie along the side of the layout. 

The number and alphabet stickers are also by The Girls' Paperie. 

The beautiful stick pin is a Midnight Rooster exclusive this month.

And then a couple of sweet brads added just a little something...

My next layout "Double the Happiness" has a couple of very special photos...from when the girls were still in the hospital. That was a really treasured time for us...I remember every moment from when we were able to visit. I layered a couple Girls' Paperie border stickers at the top and then made a large circle from the Modern Homemaker polka dot paper from October Afternoon. 

A technique I've been been enjoying is creating a tone-on-tone look with kraft cardstock, and I did that here with the tags and butterflies. (I spy another Midnight Rooster exclusive pin). 

Look at those sweet faces! :)

For this layout "Meeting You," I used photos of my extended family meeting the girls for the first time. I have a similar layout in mind that I want to do with photos of the girls with our friends that came to visit us. I used the Modern Homemaker paper from October Afternoon as a background. The alphabet for this one came from my stash but is also by The Girls' Paperie. 

I labeled each person's photo with one of the little Maya Road kraft tickets. 

And finally, in keeping up with the "baby girl" theme I have going this month, I created a sweet "Baby girl" card using patterned papers from October Afternoon, My Mind's Eye and Jenni Bowlin. And there's another Midnight Rooster pin. 

Thanks for looking this month! :)

American Crafts Guest Designer!

Okay, not going to lie! I am WAY excited about the projects I have to share with you today. I flipped out when I got an e-mail from Paige asking me to guest design this week for American Crafts. Ummm...YES! I worked with mostly the Love collection as well as bits and pieces of Dear Lizzy Christmas and Enchanted, City Park and The Classics. And since it's Valentine's week at American Crafts, all of my projects have a lovey, dovey spin. I'll share each project here, but you can go to the American Crafts blog for more details and specific supplies used. 

These photos of the girls are very recent...this winter was really the first time we were able to go out and play in the snow. (The girls got sleds from Santa this year.) And, in true "Nora and Lily" form, they responded to the snow in sync with their personalities. 

Here is "We Love(?) Snow"....

I made the banner by punching snowflakes (with a Martha Stewart punch) out of patterned paper and accenting them with buttons and twine. I used (and love) American Crafts dimensional stickers on the banner as well.

For my next layout, you're getting a peek at even more recent pictures of the girls and our recent photo shoot for Valentine's Day. For this layout, I wanted to keep it fresh and clean so I did a little tone-on-tone  with American Crafts' white cardstock. The patterned paper I used here was from City Park, The Classics and Dear Lizzy Enchanted.

I love this large punch by EK Success and backed each hole in the cardstock with patterned paper. 

And now some fun cards to share...I love the color combination of kraft, turquoise and red...YUM!

And with this card, I used the American Crafts delights as flowers. 

Finally, for my last project...I created this Love mobile. I picked up the mobile at Hobby Lobby a few years ago for around $3.00 and covered each heart with patterned paper. A little white paint shabbied them right up! I accented the large heart with felt flowers and accordion flowers, added some ribbon and tulle and THICKERS...and that was it!

Thank you so much to American Crafts for the opportunity to guest design! I really love working with your products!

Have a great day! :)

Noel Mignon Challenge: Sketch Inspiration

I have a lot of projects to share with you the next few days...a FUN surprise I'm excited about for tomorrow, my February work for Midnight Rooster and some more work with the February "Truly Scrumptious" kit from Noel Mignon (sold out!). The next challenge is up at Noel Mignon and this week we partnered with Sketch Inspiration. Noel is giving away a jam-packed "Bedford Falls" kit to one lucky winner of the sketch challenge.

And here is my take on the sketch using the Truly Scrumptious kit and my two little cuties at Valentine's Day last year. (I've already been scrapping photos for Valentine's Day this year and I love the comparison between the photos...they have changed so much!) The patterned paper is Fancy Pants, My Mind's Eye and We R Memory Keepers.

The red alphabet is Sassafras Lass and the Pink Paislee chipboard alphabet came from my stash.

I layered a heart doily, Sassafras Lass sticker, My Mind's Eye sticker and Maya Road pin. 

I love the journaling block by We R Memory Keepers and used a date card from Shabby Chic Crafts, sticker and rhinestones by My Mind's Eye and a pin by Maya Road. 

One more thing...we're cropping all week over at Noel Mignon. Head over to the message board for daily challenges and inspiration!

So, I'll be back tomorrow with more...can't wait to share! :)

October Afternoon Guest Designer Projects!

The rest of my projects for January are up on the October Afternoon blog so I have the okay to share them with you here! I really enjoyed working the "Campfire" collection...we're not a camping family but I love that October Afternoon products are so versatile that I was able to come up with a variety of projects to highlight the collection. 

First, this layout "Mountain Honeymoon" highlights my favorite photos from our honeymoon to Colorado in 2003. 

I did something a little different from my usual style and placed the title in the center of the layout and built my photos around the perimeter. I used foam adhesive under several photos for added dimension.

I thought the "scenic sights" sticker was fitting for a vacation layout. 

And here's another peek at some of the photos I used...

Next, I have a little card to share. I LOVE the stripe, text and star patterned paper so much! The bright colors are so fun!

And, then for my altered project I came up with a camping gift set that I thought could work for a camping family or even a non-camping family who might have an indoor "pretend" campout. I made wraps and tags for each element that then added to a basket.

 Gotta' have s'more necessities: graham crackers, Hershey bars and marshmallows!

 And trail mix (love that "happy trails" sticker) and a deck of cards...

And who could forget a roll of toilet paper...(you never know when you might need it!) HA! This particular item was inspired by the "Back to Nature" sticker. :)

And that's the rest of my projects! Thank you so much to October Afternoon for having me guest design! 

I'll be back Monday!

Midnight Rooster February Sneak Peeks!

Happy Friday! Today I have sneak peeks to share with you of the February Midnight Rooster kit. This kit is very pink and girly so all of my layouts are baby layouts this month! Take a peek....

Pretty, huh? The full reveal of the February kit will be on the 9th so be sure to check back then to see all my work this month. I really LOVED this kit!

We have been recovering from a nasty stomach bug at my house this week. I think we're all on the mend now and I spent yesterday disinfecting everything and washing load after load of laundry. I refuse to get sick again this winter....yuck! We've had it all! 

Anyway, enjoy your weekend...stay warm and healthy! :)

Pretty Little Studio and More!

I am so excited to be joining the design team at Pretty Little Studio! Check out the full announcement here: Pretty Little Studio Blog. Pretty Little Studio has beautiful vintage, whimsical patterned papers, flashcards, tags and labels, calendars, diecuts and bunting flags! Here's a sampling of some brand new product:

1" Little Princess Vintage Tags

8 x 8 Love Notes Patterned Paper Collection

Valentine Paper Ribbons

2" Be My Valentine Word Tags

Super cute, huh? There's something for everyone! I am very excited to be working with Pretty Little Studio products. Our first design team reveal will be on March 5th but look for sneak peeks in the meantime.

Let's see...I have been busy playing with my new toy...a brand new photo printer that my friend, Leah, helped me purchase! I LOVE it so much...so convenient to print photos as I need them. It took a little bit to figure it out but I think I have it calibrated now. 

Other than that, apparently we are gearing up for the "storm of the century" around here. Supposed to be historic...okay, we'll see! :) I've been nursing a sick little one and hoping that number two doesn't get it as well. I'll have some more fun news to share next week...yay! :)

Have a great day! :)