{experience life wisely}

night time is for...

2012-01-27T05:52:00.000-08:00

*playing zen mode of plants vs. zombies. i do wish stinky the snail woundn't go to sleep so quickly. or maybe i wish i could go to sleep as quickly and often as stinky...

in a perfect world, i would be this mouse RIGHT NOW:

*sorting and working on orders for CHA for The Sampler. Since i can't be there, i can at least be hyper organized. we'll see what good that actually does for us.

*worrying when this baby is going to come out. with the boy, our OB poked him out before i really got a chance to panic about him showing up on his own. this time, we're playing the waiting game.

as for baby update, i could have sworn i was going to have her a couple days ago. horrible stomach ache, back pains, a general feeling of weirdness, and even some good punches in the cervix. but nothing intense enough to call labor&delivery or just hop in the car. eh. today we had an OB appt. baby is measuring roughly 7lbs, 12oz. roughly, right... her parts are all matured (i.e. lungs are working and such) and i'm about 3cm dilated with membranes intact. so. no baby. not today.

*making pans of lasagna and enchiladas for the freezer. at least we can eat once baby does show up...

*working on a few challenges:

with all the late nights and issues that go along with, my creativity hasn't been at its peak, so i've adjusted and really gotten into some challenges. this layout is one of the many small moments i wanted to capture from 2011 and just never had an idea for it. Over at twopeas, they have memory keeping monday and i really dug the video and ideas that the host shared. quite pleased with the layout and creating this layout gave my mojo a good kick in the butt to finish up some other projects i've been working on...

It kinda feels like cheating making a layout this way, BUT it was fun none the less. not to mention, i got to use some scraps from the feb2012 kit from The Sampler along with some other goodies i've been hording for idk why! (i.e. mister huey's mist in white, those lovely thickers, and a very small bit from my ever growing washi tape stash)

this layout i love! again, memories from 2011 that were printed but never actually documented. one of my favorite bloggers is doing a weekly sketch challenge on her blog. I adore sketches more than one person should and this sketch was no exception. a very simple sketch, but that made adding the little details even easier. well, that and the Jan2012 kit from The Sampler made it really easy too!

as for this layout, it does have a story to share... i'm not really one to make a big deal out of little man's strengths and weaknesses. we encourage him and support him, but nothing over the top. he knows we're proud. however, this little lego he assembled shocked me. husband and i had been helping him build "real" legos from just before his 4th birthday. those duplos just weren't cutting it. then, one day, he found this lego in my bag (i keep a stash for long waits at restaurants and such) and he built it. alone. it caught me unexpectedly (hey, the bag said it was ages 6-8!) and made me proud that he could create something like this with his little hands already!

*watching countless hours of Stargate: SG-1. thank you netflix for your xbox interface. much better than the one the bluray player was using.

**NO matter what ANYONE tells you.... night time is certainly not for sleeping ....not even a little...

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler's Jan2012 Sketch Challenge!!!

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

things are scooting along here swimmingly. i am in full on nesting mode right now. everything MUST find a home or the donation bin or the trash before baby shows up. The only real crafting i have been able to get done lately even reflects that...

This month's sketch from The Sampler is even fairly clean if i do say so myself.

...and my take on the challenge using the The Sampler's Jan2012 Kit. I cannot believe that this shade of blue/teal has remained so appealing. I love how the layering of the same tone but different pattern looks here.

yup. so lots of cleaning and organizing around these parts. today i'm even spending some time at my crafts desk in hopes of getting things finally sorted from the holidays in hopes of easily accessible crafting once baby makes her appearance. who knows how this will end....

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler Jan2012 Kit: READY, SET, GO!

2012-01-06T22:21:00.000-08:00

i'm crushing hard over this month's kit from The Sampler! I started working on project life for 2012 like everyone else and their mom... and this kit is PERFECT to get me inspired and on my way to documenting this amazing year as it unfolds! I HIGHLY recommend picking up this kit! Check out The Sampler's blog for more details!

what i learned today....

2012-01-06T22:11:00.000-08:00

dear internet,

after watching 4 youtube videos, searching for 2 cutting plates that i do not aleady own (and finding they are impossible to get now) and trying approximately 1271624t7549493272 different plate combinations from the cutting plates i already do own, i have found that you can cut quickutz dies in a sizzix vagabond (or BigShot) machine by simply using the a, b, & c plates from the provo craft cuttlebug... i'm sure i'm late to the party on this one but thats not really surprising either.

regardless, i hope this post saves someone else a headache later on...

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

ps. LOOK AT THE AWESOMENESS I CUT!!!

time

2012-01-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

last night husband and i were watching an episode of through the wormhole with morgan freeman and some super-smartiepants-man tried to tell us that TIME really did not exist. instead everything is just a series of snapshots that all exist at the same *cough* time (although he avoided using the T-word as much as possible) ...so basically i gathered that he was telling me that our lives are like flip books.

flip book or not, time effing flies. i have no idea where the past four weeks have gone. a complete whirlwind of teaching classes and packing and shopping and traveling and eating and shopping and eating and eating and eating... now we've been home a whopping two days and i'm chipping away at a mile long todo list. BUT i'm starting to get to the good parts. today i got to play with some baby things. (they're so little and tiny!) tomorrow is for crafting and work of that nature. right now.... right now is for naps. and by naps i mean the kind that last 6-8 hours.

oh, and btw...

i'm pretty sure that 2012 is going to be pretty awesome.
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

December Daily Coaster Winner!

2011-12-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

I know I said I would post yesterday, but yesterday was INSANE. So its WINDY around here. or was. (not so bad right now) ...but when i say windy i mean WINDY. trees falling and power outages. not as bad as some places but kinda scary none the less... for it just being WIND. So the little town we live in was a complete zoo. gas stations and grocery stores were closed and people we're just jerks in general. so the boy and i wandered off, did our errands and were gone the whole day. Time flies when you're avoiding whack-OS apparently. ANYWHO.... on to the main event...

The boy picked comment number FOUR!

(Shoot me your mailing info and I will get those coasters out asap so you can use them!)

I love seeing the comments and project that are showing up for the december daily albums. i'm hoping to get my day 1 posted tonight. but another busy day is upon us. the boy is about to head to school, i have a lunch date with the MIL, then a few hours to kill (i.e. craft and do laundry) then head our for husband's holiday party for work. its alaways at the same boci ball place and there is always good food and drinks. while i wont be drinking this year, it will be nice to see some of his co-workers whom i have grown attached to over the past couple years.

happy friday everyone and hope to see yall later on with some eye candy!

sunshine&bunnies,

holly*

2012 December Daily (post:1)

2011-11-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the official start to a project dubbed "December Daily". I hope to share the progress of my album daily if not close to that. So how about the cover?

For those of you who are unaware of what a "December Daily" refers to, its a daily journal that is semi made prior to the month of December so a person can capture all those little moments as they go by in a beautiful album with relatively little effort/pressure.

The holy grail of these journals is Ali Edwards and her journals. She leads the movement and has beautiful style.

As for the bits and pieces for this album...
*i ordered the Studio Calico December Daily add-on. I know. I have enough STUFF, but I thought it would be a nice treat.
*a few items from Cavallini. new "paper" tapes and an alpha stamp set will be great to throw in as i go, yet remain simple and travel well.
*in addition to the kit i ordered, i have some of my stash set asside. LOADS of Hambly, Teresa Collins and a little Basic Grey. Vintage doilies and lace.Paint Dabbers in neutral colors.
**Last but not least i stockpiled Fujifilm INSTAX MINI film, obtained new memory cards for my little lumix (a faster and larger card finally) and phone (the old one seemed to have corrupted whatnots) and a new printer.

{All I can say is YAY! for Amazon's FRUSTRATION FREE packaging options!}

Of course i have a pile of holiday goodies pulled from my stash AND the most amazing holiday kit from The Sampler to add in goodies as the month goes. The foundation pages (innards of the album) are mostly assembled, but i figured i would share those as i go. Kinda a before and after.I love the idea that this album could be considered DONE and allows to just record the memories as they happen... but at the same time, i can still go nuts and get crafty in it if the bug bites.

I do have to admit I am a little concerned at how FAT this album is already. Whoops. Eh, the album and I have this in common. We're both filled to the brim with love... (/end cheesey)

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

its the most BUSIEST time of the year...

2011-11-28T22:16:00.000-08:00

I am looking forward to this coming month so very much. parties, crafting, traveling, eating, enjoying! December is FULL!

Speaking of full, I happen to know for a fact that the Dec2011 kit from The Sampler is beyond FULL! I even have a teeny sneak peak to share! check out The Sampler's blog for a pre-release GIVEaway!

I'm looking forward to using this month's kit in my december daily album that i've been working on. My foundation pages are just about done, but all of the goodies in the kit will be wonderful to toss in as the month goes on.

This week we get to not only start on those december daily albums, but also get to start working on Tim Holtz's 12 tags of Christmas (yes, there will be a "class" at Memories Live On to help recreate some of the spirit of the tags... and yes, i am fearful again this year of another 24+ hour class) AND we get to bust out the lego advent calendar! This year we have the Star Wars Advent Calendar. i can't wait to show the boy. he loved last year's!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

Who wants 'em?

2011-11-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

Ok, its been super quiet around here these days because I have been super busy. working on a ton of projects to share non-the-less... BUT today I'm working on DEstashing a little and I want to share! RIGHT NOW i'm staring at these coasters I got in the SC December Daily Kit and I have no clue what to do with them other than give them to one of yall. So... WHO WANTS 'EM?!?!

So leave a comment, and i will random a number on the 1st when we're starting those december dailies!
Hope everyone finds this weekend treating them well!
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

ps. The Sampler is hosting another GIVEaway as well! Be sure to check out the blog for more details! (its worth stopping by, trust me!)

The Sampler Nov2011 Kit: Seasonal Sweets! (read on for HUGELY AWESOME giveaway!)

2011-11-14T16:58:00.000-08:00

The Sampler's November Kit (Seasonal Sweets) and all its yumminess is on display over at ScrapbookingSuppliesRus! AND there is a HUGE giveaway over on The Sampler's Blog! I HIGHLY recommend!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler's 2012 Design Team Search!

2011-11-11T00:59:00.000-08:00

2012

Design Team Search!

We are on the hunt for new designers for the 2012 design team for The Sampler Kit Club! 2012 is going to be an amazing year, with amazing kits and an amazing team! Check out the call over at The Sampler's Blog and send in your application!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

back to diapering post #2

2011-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Well, they got here...

The gDiapers gBaby Bundle, Newborn Diapers made their way here. I also purchased 1 package of the gDiapers Cloth Diaper Inserts ... BUT, upon further research, I discovered that there are bundles that come with cloth inserts as opposed to the disposable ones which came with the bundle i originally purchased.You can find the bundle with the cloth inserts over at diapers.com.

What came in the bundle?
If you read pretty well any ordering information or even the box you will find that the newborn bundle includes 12 tiny gPants (i.e. newborn sized), 6 small gPants (up to 14lbs i think), 6 small gPouches, and 80 small disposable gRefills.

So those are inserts?

Yup. two kinds. cloth....

and the disposable/flush-able...

The cloth liner definitely looks/feels more comfortable but also puffier.they are both rather long for the newborn and small diapers. (photo: disposable liner over newborn diaper)

the disposable liner reminds me very much of the stiff feeling of a conventional disposable diaper. Not a huge shock. The disposable liner, however, can be flushed apparently. The instructions which came with the bundle informed me that a soiled disposable liner can be torn open on one end, shaken into a toilet, swished around a bit and flushed. Handy swish stick included in bundle with clever quote included...

so what about the diapers?
when looking at the gdiapers system, the diaper itself consists of anywhere from 2-4 layers. the gPant is the diaper cover basically. the newborn diapers are pretty well one piece. the small (and subsequently larger sizes) are two pieces: a diaper cover and a pouch.

the pouch is what holds the insert, so the newborn diaper is basically a pouch with the cloth cover already attached and the larger sizes have a pouch that snaps easily in and out of the diaper. i'm not really sure why...

in the next photo, the cloth liner has been folded in half to fit inside the pouches and fits lovely in both instances. without a proper baby to actually try these on, i am unsure if this will actually be the way we use the liners on baby.

apparently this example of layering is a just fine and complete way to diaper a baby, but most of the bits i have been reading about cloth diapering all recommend another layer when using cloth inserts, a liner. the liner helps contain & dispose of solid waste, prevents some stains and would sit directly on top of the diaper stack shown below. then insert baby, fasten diaper around said baby and off you go. easy huh? for the small and newborn sizes it is undeclared as if a liner is truly necessary. i plant to use them, but have not acquired said liners as of yet so no photos for you! (...yet)

more photos of the newborn sized diapers...

i think this is the back of the diaper...the velcro straps are quite elastic-y which i think will be perfect for a newborn tummy.

these snaps on the front of are a great feature to a mom who folded down conventional diapers with a first child. for those of you who haven't experienced "the first child" yet, often for the first few days to the first couple weeks you avoid the belly button/umbilical cord with pretty well everything so it can dry up, heal and fall off on its own. folding down the diaper and then attaching it to baby helps achieve this belly button avoidance. the gdiapers come equip to do this as well by using those snaps makes the front of the diaper an inch or so shorter. this should accommodate for belly button spacing.

ok, that was bundle number one and an overview of what i learned that 1st day with the gdiapers. no practical experience, but it certainly makes more sense to have at least this system in house and hands on. I feel more prepared to diaper a baby bum when the time comes...

Additional Items To Research & Purchase:
Diaper Liners
Diaper Laundry Products
Diaper Laundry Storage

who says Party Rock can't be pretty too?

2011-11-04T23:57:00.000-07:00

despite being 6 months pregnant along with many other things that one does not expect out of a party rocker, I AM A PARTY ROCKER! at heart at least... in truth, my back aches entirely too much to do Party Rock justice. The Party Rock Anthem video, however, does...

BUT, to get a little cheesiness out of the way, i am actually inspired by these guys. i mean really, these guys literally Party Rock for a living. so i made myself a little reminder...

ok, so what if everyday i'm LITERALLY shufflin. still, everyday i'm shufflin.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

Random Envelope Mini Album Fall Edition

2011-10-23T23:13:00.000-07:00

After seeing this post over at the Crate Paper blog i was inspire to make an album to stash all the Fall memories I've been gathering lately. On hand I had 6x6" envelopes which determined the size of the album along with canvas, burlap ribbon, chipboard, a few sheets from Jillibean Soup's "Apple Cheddar Soup" along with a hand full of pearls & other goodies!

Ok, i'm going to squeak a little and just say that I love how it shaped up! I left a lot of it very simple so i can add photos and other goodies as the months progress into winter. I also love that I can simply stuff more stuff like tags and memorabilia in the envelopes.

I can totally see cranking out more of these mini albums in all kinds of shapes and sizes and for different seasons/events/etc... Great tutorial over at the crate paper blog!

YAY!
Sunshine&Bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler: Oct2011 Sketch Challenge!

2011-10-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

There is a new sketch challenge up over at The Sampler's blog! Great sketch and always makes finishing a layout a touch easier for me!

sketch:

layout:

details:

i used the October2011 kit from The Sampler with a touch of ribbon from the September2011 kit! Speaking of the Oct2011 kit, as many of us do I love the products from the SMASH line and October's kit has some of the stickies! soooo... excited! thats where those bees come from! super cute!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

ps. if you havent already, be sure to join The Sampler's NEW Flickr Group!

back to diapering post #1

2011-10-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

ok so i am by no means PROmom. i have no parenting degree or even education other than what i've gained through parenting itself. i mess up. a lot. but, we live our life to the best of our abilities and take each situation as it comes, preparing as we can. i have experiences to share. while we each experience situations differently, i have found others who have shared their experiences (through personal stories on and offline) have helped me go through a similar situations.

ok, so now i want to share something with y'all, that was an issue with our 1st child and derail the crafting train. at least occasionally. diapering. you have a baby, you have to put something on it to contain the things that comes out of it. right?

how about some background?
with our 1st child (the boy, now five), we experienced some "minor" skin issues. we used conventional huggies from birth. at around 8 months we 1st noticed a few dry, red splotches on his diaper area, mostly his lower back/bum. they were very faint at first but then grew more intense as we entered summer and things heated up. no amount of diaper rash creams or sprays changed the rash. it started to seem that the rash was causing discomfort. it was time to take the boy to the pediatrician. he diagnosed a possible case of eczema and set him up with a steroid cream. the cream worked but i hated the idea of using a steroid cream on his little bum and, if we didn't use it constantly, then the rash returned promptly. so i started looking into what causes these kinds of skin issues and if there was anything i could do.

after reading and posting and reading and sharing, we started to gain some ground and started removing potential skin irritants. since the rashes were limited to his diaper area, obviously changing the diapering routines seem to be the best starting point. soooo... after a lot of trial and error we found a combination of products (Seventh Generation Diapers, chlorine/alcohol free wipes, and the occasional slathering of California Baby Calendula Cream) that improved our situation and the skin issues cleared up. neat huh?

i want to throw in here that i did try cloth with the boy around the time he was a year old and the rash was peaking with not so great results. looking back, it was the wrong time to attempt to transition to cloth. there was a heatwave, the boy's rash was at its peak and i was freaking frustrated already! never mind that i had ZERO prior knowledge of cloth diapering and, while over all fairly simple, there are a lot of options and that crap is effing confusing. srs.

ohay! we're having a baby!
so we're expecting our 2nd addition now and i know i am dreading diapering again. so, i'm also expecting our 1st set of gdiapers to arrive. our plan is to use the chlorine free diapers from seventh generation along with cloth diapers (read below for my initial cloth diaper choice) in hopes of preventing or at least lessening the possibility of skin irritation from day one.

the "green" factor honestly is a smaller portion of this decision than it seems others have. there are disposable inserts(not planning on using these tbh) which have a waste factor and even washing the cloth inserts leave some kind of footprint in terms of detergents, waste water and energy consumed... while reducing and reusing is in my daily thought process and obviously to benefit our children, but baby and her comfort are numero uno in terms of this decision.

why gdiapers?
well, i am the kind of person that will bend over backwards to not burden others will my decisions. husband is pretty well able to go with the flow on some things and willing to learn especially when it comes to the benefit of our children. BUT, what about others involved with our children? Grandmas? Aunties? Friends? we hope to share our children with our friends and family and that occasionally involves changing a diaper...

when i first told my mom we would cloth diapering at least part time, she pretty much just told me she would have a stash of disposables on hand. OK, one pampers isn't going to ruin baby forever, BUT it does defeat the purpose of this investment. I'm sure i will get her set up with the chlorine free disposables, BUT why can't a cloth diaper be as easy as a disposable diaper?

after poking around the internet, i pretty well became smitten with the idea and look of the gdiapers. they seem less bulky than some of the others. they come in bundles to help get you started. i can obtain inserts and accessories at the grocery store (whole foods and places of the like). they have velcro and vaguely look like a fancy disposable diaper. and, with a little effort, i bet i can pre-load the diaper covers with the inserts and liners so guest diaper-ers can just pull out a fresh diaper when needed. it seemed like a good jumping off point.

ps. some of the colors are really cute and i bet they would make for a great "diaper butt" and husband and i have coined it. we're a little obsessed with diaper butt. ah! cuteness!

So, here we are.
I am waiting on our 1st shipment of gDiapers (the newborn bundle to be specific) so I can get back into practicing and see if i can gain a little confidence with this system. i do have plans to report back and share the experience. hopefully with photos. this post is dryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy....

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

a goodbye and a hello...

2011-10-04T00:16:00.000-07:00

so, while i wasn't paying attention very closely, the gals over at Sassy Little Sketches made the tough decision to refocus their creative energies and close their sketch sites. While its sad, they are having a huge send off and celebrating the whole month FULL of sketches and awesomeness.

I created a layout using their sketch #1 and I love how it turned out. I will miss SLS and the wonderful sketches! Best wishes to all those involved and their future ventures...

to end on an up note, we have a huge hello to the "Mrs. Weasley" kit from The Sampler! Its a very lovely kit and i can't seem to put it down. The layout above (yes that is our new addition at a startling 9weeks, development from cells to baby is nothing short of amazing) is using the october kit and i love it! the embellishments in this kit really do it for me!

check out the sampler's kit page for full details on the kit and the sampler's blog for all the inspiration in the world (literally) using this month's kit!

sunshine&bunnnies,
holly*

this weekend:

2011-10-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

pumpkin patch was visited

small sewing projects were created

pumpkins were transformed (pie filling and roasted seeds, NOM)

bacon, lettuce, avacado sammiches were made

brownies devoured

fellowship of the ring was watched

family time was well spent

noses were picked

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

sundays are for showers

2011-09-23T01:11:00.000-07:00

this past weekend we gathered in honor of my sister in law to celebrate her upcoming nuptials. it was a beautiful, warm day full of all sorts of awesome...

happy friday!
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

Christmas Memories

2011-09-22T00:36:00.000-07:00

I have a new favorite set. It's wonderful. The Christmas Memories set. Just wonderful vintage-y goodness. I haven't gotten quite in the swing of Christmas card making just yet, BUT I did find that this set was perfect for a layout!

Over all the layout is fairly plain and simple. But, the details turned out lovely... On the base of the layout, i stamped the starburst image in a similar color distress ink. i found the pine needles matched my cardstock the best.

On white cardstock, I stamped the ornaments and embossed them with gold powder then tying them up with a bit of red bakers twine. Little drops of glossy accents hold the curls in the bakers twine in place. the "Merry Christmas" was stamped in distress ink (pine needles) and cut out leaving a thick border. Tracing the letters in glossy accents really make the color pop.

I also stamped the large santa from the set on white cardstock in fired brick distress ink. After cutting out the santa leaving a thing boarder, i coated the santa with glossy accents. ok, so this takes pretty much forever to dry, but thats ok! the end result is so worth it. the glossy accents causes the ink to bleed a little bit, which totally adds to the vintage look/feel of the image. LOVE IT! i would LOVE to see this santa (or really the whole set) in mini versions!

The whole layout comes together with just a few layers of hambly screenprints under the photo and a bit of foam adhesive.

I find that i do not stamp much on layouts other than creating a textured background or maybe a phrase here and there. Using so many stamped imaged to create pretty well all the elements of this layout got me thinking. i should use stamps more. simple thought, but i think its worth thinking about.

do you use stamps often in your layouts?

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler: Everything is WONDERFUL!

2011-09-19T00:44:00.000-07:00

Another layout from the September kit from The Sampler! I find myself creating simpler layouts these days. The kit really helps me on this. Not having so many choices, which i have the whole crafting world to choose from it seems, really helps to get the job done.

Every year we head to a Christmas Tree Lot and pick out the tree that we will celebrate the season with. Oh i LOVE a fresh Christmas tree and i LOVE to document the finding and decorating and simple enjoyment as well. This past year the boy really got into it to. In fact, he picked out the tree and I have the photos to prove it! Now, I can finally get them into my scrapbook!

Using the "simple joys" patterned paper, I cut the lines apart and set aside the red and green ones. Along with those i also cut out little circles from the "forever" dotted paper. Easy and quick to assemble!

I did think the layout needed a bit more fussing up. So, I used the Gold Pearl Pen to dress the whole thing up by simply covering little dots at random with the Gold.

I know its early to be thinking about the Holidays, but, what can i say? its my favorite time of year!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler: A Lovely Day

2011-09-16T00:43:00.000-07:00

I know I have scrapped this series of photos of the boy and his bff but i just love them entirely too much to miss a single shot. A few pieces from the September kit from The Sampler and another layout to squeeze into my album!

hope everyone is having a great friday! I have a busy weekend/week ahead of me. my wonderful sister in law is finally taking the plunge and getting married. SO, this weekend we have a bridal shower to host and the wedding is next weekend! On top of that, my mom is coming in for the wedding which i'm super stoked about but there is just a lot to do! BUT, at the end of the day we will have many memories and a good deal of photos to share and create with!

happy weekending!
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

Thankful Silhouettes

2011-09-15T00:38:00.000-07:00

Last week, i used the Tim Holtz Thankful Silhouettes set for our DEstress Friday m&t at Memories Live On. I love his new silhouettes sets. They make perfect sense when it comes to layering his stamps and having a strong image to really stand out.

The make & take i did can be found on the Memories Live On Facebook Page but I just couldn't stop myself there. I quickly made two cards using a similar layout but a few different materials.

On a piece of woodgrain patterned paper (previous kit from The Sampler), I stamped the word background from Thankful Silhouettes with the Butterscotch Acrylic Paint Dabber. While that dried, I used a couple Distress Stains to stamp a couple of the leaves on kraft tags and cut them out. To pull the whole card together, wrap a piece of thick twine around the lower portion of the card, knot it, and settle the two leaves underneath.

This card was a little more adventurous and liberal in the use of ink. I started with a piece of white cardstock and stamped the word background from Thankful Silhouettes with the Butterscotch Acrylic Paint Dabber. Once the paint has dried, using a craft mat, I blended ink from Distress Stains to get the background colors. While that dried, I used a couple Distress Stains to stamp a couple of the leaves on kraft tags and cut them out. To pull the whole card together, I used a bit of brown twill ribbon and a couple pins (both from previous kits from The Sampler) to off set the card a bit and settled the leaves under the ribbon.

there you go. the same stamp. two totally different cards. love them both!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler: When did you get so big?

2011-09-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

If I've asked myself this question one time, I've asked it hundreds. And, I'm pretty sure, I will ask it countless more times. When did he get so big? There was no point in time that i hit the "big" button... I still call him a baby but heavens knows that is nothing near what he is...

While I may not have the easiest time with him growing up, I did have the easiest time making this layout. I used bits from

The Sampler "SOAR" Mini Album 9/30/2011

2011-09-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

Come to class armed with your September’s kit from The Sampler and ink, staple and stitch your way to a wonderful mini album to hold your most precious memories for yourself or a friend!

For more details on this class, head over to Memories Live On class calendar!

Come Fly with Me.... and a winner!

2011-09-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

1st and foremost, our winner from my Sick Day Giveaway is Mandy! I am feeling much, much better and I feel like we have had an appropriate quarantine to ensure the safety of our lucky winner! Mandy, please email me your information asap!

In other news, its reveal day over at The Sampler! Here is september's kit, "Come Fly with Me"

I am loving this kit and the extra goodies it has! Go ahead, check it out!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

DEstress Friday Tutorial Up @ The Crop Spot!

2011-08-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

Hey all! If you've known me for any stretch of time, you know I put together a (mostly) weekly make & take at Memories Live On which we've dubbed "DEstress Fridays" where we execute a project featuring all things distress. Starting this week we're going to transfer many of these projects to an online tutorial as well over at The Crop Spot and today is my 1st post!

Be sure to check it out and leave me some feed back if there are any distressing questions you have or tutorials you would like to see!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

week mission accomplished? maybe next week...

2011-08-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

not for the boy, but me. seem i have caught some sort of stomach bug and i'm loosing my grip on this week, which i dubbed "week mission accomplished". I had such big plans of things to to while the little man was at school and i had a solid 3 hours of doing crap he typically doesn't make easy for me. husband drove the 45minutes into work today... then, 20min later, the 45minutes home again so he could take the boy to school. i do not feel very reliable today..

well, i am still doing my best to be productive. just being very still and trying to eat a steady diet of saltines & Gatorade while doing so. i have managed to go through photos again and found a few gems i missed on my 1st run through for printing. there was also another photo order placed to costco. cell phone photos. i love printing those! i am also watching an episode of Martha Stewart, "The Istanbul Show". beautiful place. ugh. lots of food. not into that right now.

in time i hope to get working on some bridal shower decoration ideas i have and tutorials to match. some of it is just folding and stamping so i'm hoping at the very least i can manage that. i also have a tutorial to finish which i'll be doing weekly over at The Crop Spot.

In the spirit of being productive even when not feeling top notch (AND in honor of yall reading my pathetic whining), i have a giveaway (sponsored by The Sampler of course).

There is a basket full of goodies sitting with in cell phone photo distance from me right now and, when i recover, i will pick a winner at random to receive a few yummies from my goodie basket.. just leave a comment and keep your fingers crossed for me to have a speedy recovery.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

things are changing...

2011-08-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

This morning husband and i dropped off the boy at his very first day of kindergarten. ugh.

while waiting, i took a billion photos and tried to absorb every detail i could. including the trees. the boy's school is located on a little hill, surrounded by beautiful trees. and they're changing. its going to be amazing in the fall, but i thought this little change on these little leaves meant a lot. at least today.

in other news...

i crafted a suck up card (to go with the suck up gift... i mean... erm... suck up...) for the boy's teacher. my gut instinct is good about the teacher. hoping to talk to him once the boy's 1st day is over.

and i also took a ton of photos of the boy around the school. he kinda humored me... i mostly got silly smiles and some avoidance.

oh that boy...

anywho, working on the upcoming kits for The Sampler, the blog and tons of projects. Its nice to not be in the store so much so i can really focus on The Sampler. I know the efforts will show and, with any luck, appreciated.

Hope all the kiddos out there had good days at school whether its the 1st, 2nd, or ??? I'm going to get back to some crafting in the time i have before we pick up or big little man.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

just a moment for some love

2011-08-05T03:17:00.000-07:00

oh look, another quick layout!

i had a lot of fun making this one. it started with a series of photos of a good friend of mine and her son at the San Mateo Maker Faire. This friend loves chevron so that made picking the background a snap. then, we were actually traveling at the time, so i had bare minimal supplies and tools. i.e. no paper trimmer and only a few pieces of cardstock. over all i love how it came out and i really do think it shows a little bit of my friend and her great love of her son.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

Oh Blogger.... why do you betray me!?!?

2011-08-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

I had a handful of posts scheduled for this past week and here we are with not a single post posted. booooooooooooooooo....

well, to catch up and make good on the time i was hoping to spend with the blog, i do have a SLS reveal for the 1st!

The sketch for this month was great! so simple and so easy to work with! i got this layout out in a matter of minutes!

Be sure to check out the August1st Sketch and the other Sassies' inspirtation over at Sassy Lil' Sketches!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

is it fall yet?

2011-07-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

about this time of year, i get ready for fall to show up. which is more than strange this year considering we've had a quite pleasant summer. i'm not rubbing it in or anything...

anywho, i got my hands on some of the new authentique halloween line. for fall, i definitely prefer fall/halloween lines with a less cutesy and more vintage feel to them so this is a great addition to my stash and albums...

since the boy was two, we've been going to near by uesugi farms every year when its time for pumpkins. each year i get a few great photos and loads of wonderful memories.

after working with this line from authentique, i gotta say i'm a little disappointed that the texture of the paper changed from their 1st release over the summer. but i'm not really all that excited about smooth paper that has a slight sheen as it is...

anywho, sunshine&bunnies
holly*

7/22/2011 DEstress Friday @ Memories Live On!

2011-07-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

Although I won't physically be at Memories Live On tonight, my spirit and craftiness will be! I designed tonight's DEstress Friday make & take thinking of Tim Holtz's inking grungeboard page from his Compendium of Curiosities and came up with this....

as always make&take is FREE and runs from 6-9pm! be sure to swing by if you're in the San Jose area!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

its the 21st already?!!?!?

2011-07-21T01:16:00.000-07:00

every month i am totally blindsided when it comes time to share a Sassy Little Sketches layout! This month was no different. between visiting and visitors and good news, my layout stayed packed in a suitcase for longer than any layout should stay packed! BUT there is a great sketch up over at SLS today so check it out! here is my take on the sketch...

This layout is pretty sentimental to me right now. tomorrow the boy turns FIVE. no lies when people told us it go by soooo fast. its one big blur of ups and downs and milestones and amazement. One thing is for sure though, little dude is awesome and i cant wait to see what kind of big dude he transforms into.

also, i have to throw in that i created this layout during my last trip to houston. where i had to paper trimmer or tape. i crafted there with only scissors and some zip dry. not too shabby huh? was kinda fun even to not have so much stuff... *looks around* ... i like my stuff too though. ;)

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

ohi

2011-07-20T15:17:00.002-07:00

i can't believe i didn't post this yet. We've been on the go pretty well for the past month and holy smokes i'm wiped out!

.... well... we did it now though... just when things were getting as "normal" as they ever could, we did this....

this image was taken a week ago at 9weeks. i think it looks like a baby with little t-rex arms... hey little baby! you have some t-rex arms in there?!

in other news, i have way too much crap to do. cleaning, crafting and wrapping up the details for our little man's 5th birthday weekend of wonder! i should get started on these things...

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

the holy nail

2011-07-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

lately i've been perusing blogs outside of my typical crafting realms and i am stuck on The Holy Nail. tons of great colors. y'all check out the eye candy while i roam the internet looking for new nail polishes... like the ones from nubar which happen to be formaldehyde, toluene, & phthalate free!

** all nail/photo credits can be found at the holy nail!**
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

daily doodles in july!

2011-07-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

idk if yall have visited paper sparrow before, but there are all kinds of adorableness over there, including a great animal doodle sheet for july! definitely something to check out if you are in need of a creative spark or two (or thrity one...) this month!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler's May Sketch Challenge WINNER!

2011-06-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

I loved seeing what everyone created this month with our sketch challenge! it always pains me to pick a winner so i let random.org do it for me...

which was this submission....

Congratulations Mieke! Your layout is completely fabulous and i love how you interpreted the sketch! email me your mailing information at holly{at}scrapbookingsuppliesrus{dot}com and i will get you a kit ASAP!

I also want to thank everyone else who checked out and participated in the challenge this month! we will be back soon with another challenge!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

happily uncomfortable

2011-06-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

my mom has been in town and keeping me busy. mostly with a lot of shopping, but thats an ok thing since NONE OF MY CLOTHES FIT! i'm going to go ahead and call bullshit because i'm pregnant, sure, BUT i'm NINE WEEKS PREGNANT! clothing should fit still.

well i guess not. even though there is a small being approx the size of only a grape inside of me, i am wearing maternity clothing which was terrible until i found the pea in the pod tops and pretty well everything from gap maternity. sure its all pretty well generic, BUT its so much more comfortable.

i plan to look something like this for the next 7 or so months.... except more huge...

well, thats about all i've had time for. cleaning, a bit of packing for an upcoming houston trip, playing with the boy and just trying to get comfortable. hopefully things settle in.....

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

DEstress Friday @ MLO this week!

2011-06-08T23:40:00.000-07:00

This friday I will be doing the 2nd technique from the Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities which is scribble stain distressing along with stamping featuring one of the more manly new Tim Holtz sets and grungeblock techniques to make the perfect father's day card just in time to celebrate all the amazing fathers in our lives!

if you're in the area, head over to MLO between 6&9pm this friday (6-10-2011) for this free make & take! all ages welcome, appropriate adult supervision/assistance required... even for the "grown-ups"....

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

finding some me time...

2011-06-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

i've been trying to get my scrapbooks back in order. i do so many projects that dont go straight into my albums i'm constantly loosing track of where i am and what i have or havent done. so i organized my photos and then felt super inspired to make something. so i did!

sketchy thursday's always has fabulous sketches and inspiration. something i check often. a couple of the most recent sketches they have up (including one hosted by The Sampler!) really caught my eye!

i didnt really play along, but i did make a layout using the 6.2 sketch. it was fun to finally break into my stash and use a few things i've been saving for what feels like forever!

sketchy thursdays also seems to be looking for guest designers for july and i loved how they not only had a sketch but also inspiration prompts so i just had to make something...

i've been really into the red, white and blue combination lately, but not the traditional. more like pink, teal and cream/grey. so i hopped on that along with those cherries! the colors are beautiful which inspired me to use the prima vine. not an embellishment i normally use, but i love it! i added extra yellow and rose shaped buttons to round out the look from the cherries.

over all, some quality time spent working on my scrapbooks. a good night for sure!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

make & take @ Memories Live On TOMORROW!

2011-06-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

tomorrow we're going to make a mini pizza box (inspired by a great tutorial over at split coast stampers)and flowers using hand-dyed paper! if you're in the area, swing by Memories Live On in Cupertino, CA from 6-9pm!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler June2011 Kit Reveal!!

2011-06-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

I'm still playing with this month's kit because it just has soooo much awesomeness in it! be sure to check out the full kit contents over at ScrapbookingSuppliesRus.com!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

ps. i want cake.

i love you to the moon...

2011-05-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

a phrase i've seen a lot lately. ever since october afternoon came out with their new rocket age collection, crafters have been using the phrase with the collection. all super cute projects. so i made one too....

this week i have a lot of things on my list. i have a few sketches to work on for sassy little sketches. the sampler is going to have its june reveal on the 1st. finish registering the boy for kindergarten. start organizing his room so we can paint soon. and more, but its late. i cant remember. time to catch up on some dvr'd shows and call it a night. hope everyone had a lovely long weekend! i know we did.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

quick cards for good times...

2011-05-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

rhis coming weekend is my BIL's birthday so i made him a card. with him, things are complicated so i couldnt think of a better line to use than Sunshine Broadcast from Sassafras. I thought this line was lovely when i saw it online, BUT OMG its completely fabulous in person. The colors are beautiful.

aside from birthday celebrations, i have my normal DE-stress friday over at Memories Live On tonight and i made this quick and easy card to help all those kids we know who are about out of school and ready to let the good times roll! i have more graduation invitations than i can shake stick at right now. time to get a wad of twenty dollar bills (most of them are 8th grade and younger graduations, so i'm not ready to get the check book out yet...) and hop on those graduation cards. or maybe i will just make a bunch of these cards tonight!

if you're in the cupertino area this evening between 6&9, come say hello!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

2011-05-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went to the Maker Faire in San Mateo. It was a good time and the boys had a blast (so did the mommies and daddies) but i have to say overall its not what it used to be. alas, few things are. even bazaar bizarre. there were some amazing jewelry makers, and a few printers & woodworkers that were stunning. but not much. and definitely not what it used to be. oh wells.

one thing i did enjoy (a couple times) were huge cups of sierra nevada's summerfest.

looking onwards, i have a few classes coming up and samples ready!

for a little bit of a messy project, i'm doing this pocket watch canvas using studio 490 art parts, tim holtz kraft stash & idea-ology line, and loads of ranger inks and paints. everyone will have the chance to create their very own custom canvas.

for a little sneak peak of the June2011 kit from The Sampler, I have created a mini album using the kit to build an amazing inspiration journal. Imagine building this amazing mini album and having a place to stash your m&t's or clippings that jut inspire you!

i'm super excited about these classes but particularly the pocket watch canvas because my mom will be in town and attending the class! so excited to have her come up and its even more amusing when she takes my classes...

anywho, more information will be up soon on the Memories Live On calendar!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

CONGRATULATIONS COLLEEN!

2011-05-24T12:32:00.001-07:00

A HUGE congrats to Colleen! Not only will her layout be featured in The Sampler's Newsletter, but she will also receive an ENTIRE APRIL2011 KIT! Congrats again to Colleen!

Don't forget The Sampler has a new sketch challenge up for May that is still going on! Be sure to check it out!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

SaSSy Little Sketches May 21st Sketch Reveal!

2011-05-21T00:43:00.000-07:00

Today is the reveal for the May 21st sketch over at Sassy Little Sketches! With out further ado, here is another rockin sketch!

Here is my take on the sketch...

Using the Rocket Age Collection (best boy/outerspace line ever!) i put down some poloroids of the boy.

head over to Sassy Little Sketches to play along this month! Don't forget the card sketches too! So much inspiration and so simple!

The Sampler's May2011 Sketch Challenge!

2011-05-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are again! The Sampler is hosting a sketch challenge again this month with another fabulous prize! I am really loving sketches these days! Its so easy to take a sketch and just run with it and make it your own. they can be adapted for any collection and any memory you want to scrap! PERFECT for a kit coming from The Sampler!

May's Sketch:

My Take on May's Sketch:

Check out some of the other DT's takes on this sketch too!
Diana
Monique
Jules
Amber
Rochelle
Sarah

This month's winner will receive an entire kit from The Sampler! a MAY KIT! THAT'S HUGE! To enter this challenge, just leave a comment with a link directly to your blog or gallery where you posted your take on this challenge! You have until 10pm(central) on June 20th, 2011 to leave your comment to be eligible to win the May2011 kit from The Sampler!

Want to know more about The Sampler? Check out our homepage over at ScrapbookingSupplieRus for more details and feel free to email me if you have any questions at holly(at)scrapbookingsuppliesrus(dot)com!

**This challenge IS open internationally!**

i am not a zombie...

2011-05-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

i'm just pale and have a cold. the worst cold i've had in a very long time infact. i feel like i'm on the road to recovery, but it has taken its toll.

with that being said, i feel like i can get back to work today. my main goal is to get my crafts back to my craft desk. they're literally everywhere atm. the kitchen table, the living room, the car, even the bedroom! its absurd.

in other news, i wanted to share a link to Elle's Studio's giveaway for Fujimax Intax Camera!!! i have one of these little guys and its so awesome! since i already have one of these yummies, yall should go and enter to win!

anywho, have a neat monday!
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

what is going on in here?

2011-05-06T21:19:00.001-07:00

i resorted to using my actual desk again. i'm making a huge mess. its pretty much awesometacular. what am i making you ask? well....

i just finished up a simple and quick mini album using tons of sizzix, hambly, sassafras and paint dabbers. packing up my bag for tomorrow's national scrapbook day round one at memories live on. then, i believe i will work on some layouts. print some photos. good times.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

Congrats to Just Jingle & Babe O'Mara!

2011-05-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

the random number generator selected comment no9 and #1 for my last little giveaway! Thanks for all the comments and the confirmation that these little beauties are just fabulous. email me shipping info at holly{at}scrapbookingsuppliesrus{dot}com.

The Sampler's May kit can now be seen at Scrapbooking Supplies R Us and its full of wonderfulness!!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

little things...

2011-05-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

this week was full of little things for us... little bits of happiness... little bits of sadness.

unexpressable (yes, i know that's not a word) happiness comes from this littlest thing. not thing. person. our niece was born this past week and brought hope and happiness to our family. i look so forward to watching her grow and change. she is so tiny and already so amazing.

this week we also hatched butterflies from one of those grow your own butterfly kits and it was time to feed them. i made them a little bouquet of little flowers and it made for a little bit of happy.

little things...

with the news this week & news tonight, its clear things are changing. the world is changing. we are changing. i personally want to embrace each change and make the world a better place... for the little things...

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

a little sneak peak from the sampler (GIVEAWAY!)

2011-04-27T13:43:00.001-07:00

its almost that time again and i've been playing and playing with the May kit from the sampler and i just cannot hold back anymore, so how about a sneak peak and a giveaway!?

we have some spare baubles from prima that will be included in may's kit and i'm going to give them to a couple lucky winners. leave a comment below and a winner will be picked randomly. comments open through May 1st!

also, dont forget to check out The Sampler's current sketch challenge which is up HERE!

getting back to "normal"

2011-04-23T23:59:00.000-07:00

we're back home. i am so tired its all i can think about. there is just so much to do between getting back to normal and prepping for a holiday and husband's grandma's 90th (!!!) birthday and even more... oh well, for now, i just wanted to say hello and wish everyone a happy easter! have a lovely weekend!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

SLS: April21st Edition

2011-04-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

A new sketch is up over at Sassy Little Sketches!

For my take on the sketch, I wanted to use some photos i already had printed from my SIL's baby shower and the darling 5&dime from October Afternoon!

i've also been trying to get more use from my Sizzix dies. they're great for classes and make&takes and even the occasional mini album. BUT, i want to use them even more.

so, i dont know if you can tell but i used two different dies on this layout. I used the Tim Holtz On The Edge "Scallop" Die for one of the "ruffles" at the bottom and the "Tattered Banners" for another. I really like how they combined with the ribbons. I cut them from pieces of cardstock from the ephemera pack from 5&dime as well.

Head over to Sassy Little Sketches to play along this week! Also, don't forget to check out Sassy Little CARD Sketches as well for some quick and tasty card making inspiration as well!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler's April2011 Sketch!

2011-04-20T18:34:00.001-07:00

The Sampler is hosting a sketch challenge this month, but we are still working on the challenge page over at SBSRUS sooooo its still a challenge, just not how we typically host.

Instead, we're going to use this post to enter the challenge! So lets get busy! Here is April's sketch:

i loved using the pieces from The Sampler's April kit to piece projects together including my take on this sketch! Loads of bright, bold colors, but not too intense for spring.

To enter this challenge, just leave a comment with a link directly to your blog or gallery where you posted your take on this challenge! You have until 10pm(central) on May 20th, 2011 to leave your comment to be eligible to win an April kit from The Sampler!

can't wait to see what everyone creates!
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

SMASH!

2011-04-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

ok, we're in houston...

it was a little last minute. but, with things under control at the store, i snuck off... i snuck off alright with no crafting supplies with the exception of this:

the SMASH book freebie i got back at CHA that fortunately landed in my bag and a couple gelly roll pens that i would die with out! now i'm flipping through magazines and shreading most anything i get my hands on. i looked into ordering a full sized smashbook after i watched the adorable youtube...

and they're not any where on their listen vendors yet! coming spring i know. but its spring... or is it? it is! well, idk that i will get one since its really just a semi fancy pants journal that i could make myself and use some of the boatload of goodies i already have... boooooooooooo

1st thing in the morning i'm calling mort back at the store to ship me a box. i cant handle no crafting. just unacceptable. period.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

pizza anyone

2011-04-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

not my crafty bit, but i had to share! hey! jen renee made herself a scarf, but not just any scarf. its a pepperoni pizza scarf!

love not only her craftiness, but the sense of humor in a piece like this just makes me smile!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

moving along...

2011-04-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been torn between bursts of productivity and a general feeling of sloth. I did just finish watching Hot Tub Time Machine (will not recommend, but i cannot say that there were not highly amusing parts. and some boobies...)

but alas, here i sit. listening to hair bands. drinking my coffee. piles of product for classes and giveaways. laundry is at least going. and, in my defense, during the spurts i've had i've done some deep cleaning from floors and ceilings. literally. now i need to just get a burst of energy in the boy's bedroom.

in other news, my family back home seems to be doing well and moving along. the funeral is over, but there is still lots of ends to tie up. thank you for all the thoughts and comments through facebook and here on my blog. it means a lot to know there are people out there who still have such amazing hearts within them.

in my crafty spectrum i've been coloring! its so very therapeutic. i've always been intimidated by copic markers, but very talented Diana recently posted a simple coloring she created and framed. i was completely inspired. That and a few Memory Box spring greetings stamps I had around made this:

quick and simple and i'm imagining a few gifts in the works from this idea.

i've also been rocking to the sketches lately. i just finished my take on the latest sketch over at Sketchy Thursdays.

Here is the sketch:

and here is my take:

I seldom use a sketch as it is. I always flip it or move something or who knows. BUT, not this time. Every detail was in just the right place! The outer space line i was playing with in this layout has to be in my top 5 favorite "boy" lines. but, tbh, i'm really ready for the october afternoon "boy" line to ship! ok, enough words. i'm hoping for another burst to happen here and i should be ready for it.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

In spite of it all...

2011-04-01T14:40:00.001-07:00

a happy 5 year anniversary from and to husband. I never thought I could feel this way about another person whom I didn't give birth to.

heart pains and joys

2011-04-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

Its hard to feel all party time right now despite how much i do love the new lines from Pink Paislee. This morning I got the call from my grandmother than my step dad passed away this morning after a relatively short battle with pancreatic cancer. Its not a complete shock that this is the outcome, BUT we just thought we had more time. while i feel loosing Sheldon hurts and i do wish i had the chance to know him better, i feel incredibly bad for my mother and his family. his children. my mom cant seem to catch a break in living a happy life. every time she gets on the right path, life happens in big and bad ways. she has been amazingly strong through the past month of knowing what the inevitable would be. now she has the struggle of getting back to normal. life goes on even when we wish it wouldnt...

since i had these planned to post today no matter, i have a couple layouts i did using the new Soiree Collection from Pink Paislee's House of Three. the bold colors really lift me up even when things are down. and i cant begin to tell you how much i adore the new goodies from prima. the perfect vivid colors to match this line and tons of the other releases out there!

if you get a chance to day, make a few phone calls and give a few extra hugs today. just to let people know you care.
<3, holly*

Upcoming Classes! (The Sampler April SNEAK PEEK!)

2011-03-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

I've been working on classes lately again! Definitely re-prioritizing more and getting back to what i love doing! One of those things are classes! I still do the mostly weekly m&t every friday night at memories live on, but there are just some things that you cannot accomplish in those 15min increments which i get to see some of my favorite customers! When i teach a class, i love to sit down with my fellow crafters and make something with them. Really it feels, to me, more like crafting with friends at the end of the day and at a more relaxing pace than a m&t.

well, with out further ado, my upcoming classes are as follows:

"Hometown Summer" Layout and Card Class
this class features this adorable line from Pink Paislee and a few simple details. in two hours or under we're going to finish not only a layout, but four cards will be ready to send out as well!

ok, now how about a little sneak peek?

"Life is a Circus" Mini Album featuring The Sampler Kit Club's April Kit
i made this mini revolving around the April kit from the sampler with the addition of this great canvas album from maya road. add in a few spray and media techniques and you have a super cute album ready for the making!

**if you're interested in either class, check out Memories Live On for all the details and to sign up!**

hopelessly behind

2011-03-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

Well, i did finally get my laptop back but now i have so many photos to upload, back up and edit i dont even know where to start! Actually, thats not true. i'm going to start right here and upload my take on the March 21st Sassy Little Sketch!

The sketch is still up and the site is rockin as always! Check it out!

Speaking of things to check out i got two more for you! I got to play with the Beatrice line from Nikki Sivils on this sketch! She has some adorable prints and i just love the stickers! I highly recommend picking up a few pieces from her when you get the chance! And while you're at SLS, be sure to check out the card sketches too! I'm not much of a card maker typically, BUT those sketches totally get my mojo going!

There's an app for that....

2011-03-21T13:38:00.001-07:00

Blogging that is. Neat since I still don't have my laptop. It will be home soon though. Good news.

In other news the sampler girls are posting march's sketch and giveaways to match! Since I can't copy/paste links for y'all, click the sampler link, check out the fab march kit, then check out the dt link to scope out the blogs!

Well I'm going to leave this short and sweet!

Sunshine&Bunnies, holly*

i miss you blog...

2011-03-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

i've been thinking about this place a lot lately. mainly because its practically impossible for me to visit and post regularly. The laptop has given up yet again and needs to visit its homeland for repairs. exciting times. so i've been using my phone to keep in touch (yay facebook!) and stealing one of husband's machine to play games and such. i should find a card reader so i can upload photos soon. i have loads of projects to share.

in other news! to Katrina and Nancy, yall want to split that bag of ribbon?! email me (hollystar.at.gmail.dot.com) with your addresses (nancy i might have yours already... i will look)

signing off into the unknown...
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

enabler alert: the mother of all ribbon purges.

2011-02-28T17:09:00.000-08:00

for me at least. we all try to keep our stashes under control and many of us goof that up, i am one of those...

i did however make two lovely piles one of which will remain here with me in a lovely glass jar and the other is fated to go in a box and shipped to one of you ladies. leave me a comment about anything and i will draw a name randomly on friday night!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

a little of this...

2011-02-23T12:34:00.000-08:00

i FINALLY found my camera after it being MIA for like two weeks. whoops. now i just have to find the battery charger... AGAIN... oh well, its just in time to snap some photos of a few new layouts with some of the new goodies at Memories Live On. YUM YUM!

Lately, i've been trying to work out how to spend more time making and less time managing. Of course, it takes some careful planning, BUT i think the rearranging of priorities and responsibilities is going to be well worth it.

speaking of creating, look what i had time to do:

a few years back i started a tradition of taking husband to a local(ish) winery for a picnic lunch and tasting. pretty low key/low budget but totally up his alley. when the Sweetly Smitten Collection came into the store i knew husband was going to get a layout with this line. the images of the line are clearly feminine but the colors are rather neutral. i know there are a lot of scrappers out there who adore all of the flowers out there, BUT are blessed with all boys to scrap about. it can be done...

I was sooooooooooooooo excited for them to come in but i am even more excited to play with these paper foldies from Sassafras. They are so amazingly lovely. i went a little nuts with the glossy accents here but it just picks up so much of the detail of these little guys.

i also put together a little something using Three Bugs. They have the cutest papers which is so far from my style its rediculous, BUT it completely reminds me of husband's grandmother. I love seeing our grandmothers with the boy. Its amazing that these women are so strong still and we still get to share our loves with them. Grandma Joan is a big reader and the journeys she takes with the boy through books is priceless.

The few details I put onto this page really make the photo stand out for me. a couple brads from American crafts and everyone's favorite squashed spiral paper flower seal the deal. ok, and i have to swoon a little over the Thickers. KRAFT THICKERS omg i am in love! nevermind the biggest detail of all, the background is cardstock. embossed core'dinations. so simple and so very perfect.

anywho, it feels awesome to share again. will have to go on a mission to find my charger and get back to crafting. oh, and throw in a load of laundry too!
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

It's the 21st so how about a Sassy Little Sketch?

2011-02-20T22:14:00.000-08:00

this week SLS put up a great sketch for the 21st this month! be sure to check out the sketch and play along! here is my take!

happy valentine's day!

2011-02-14T01:59:00.000-08:00

i hope everyone has a lovely day filled with love and affection!
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

**project from the ranger booth at CHA-W! i didnt snap a photo of the artist name! dangit!**

2/11/11 De-Stress Friday M&T at MLO!

2011-02-10T10:38:00.000-08:00

Making this super sweet tag just in time to give to a super sweet valentine at Memories Live On! Come play with me between 6 and 9pm tomorrow night! As always, the make & take is fabulous, fun and FREE!

side note, LOVING that white on red doily from hambly studios! mmmmm... cant wait to share a few sneak peaks of The Sampler for march! all i can say is: hambly. limited. edition. its so yumtacular!

sunshine&bunnies, holly*

we had some fun....

2011-02-07T22:16:00.000-08:00

WE FOUND THE SNOW!

Now we know where it is and will have to go back super soon. the boy had an amazing time. i mean really? getting to throw snow and your mom? doesnt get any better than that! ok. cutting it short. husband finally returns tomorrow so i'm too excited to focus on ANYTHING. ugh. silly me. have a super tuesday! i know we will!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

mmm...

2011-02-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

ok, its very clear that the tim holtz dies are what got me started and hooked on dies in general. well... now... its just getting silly. i love soooo many of the dies sizzix released this year. and their samples were beautiful.

they released letterpress folders this year. want...

ok. enough with the drooling. must haves are coming soon! in the meantime i must get some projects done with the goodies i already have surrounding me! hope you have something crafty to do today!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

oldies but goodies...

2011-02-03T04:29:00.000-08:00

so last week before i headed out to CHA i was pawing through some older albums and i found some layouts that i kinda forgot about. i should really go through my albums more often. it was really heartwarming to see all the old photos and really inspiring to see all the older product actually used on a layout instead of being coveted in my stash. definitely reminded my WHY i scrap!

anywho, a couple pages that really stood out for me were these two!

i love all the wallet sized photos and the piles of goodies. i should do this again! actually this excites me. i can totally email photos from my phone and then (when i get home) i can sit on the sofa and print them all out! i can't tell you how much easier printing is with my new printer. yay technology.

a couple years ago i did this layout for the boy's birthday party. i stamped that background with an ink called "black lightening" (i think) and completely forgot how pretty it is. and then the fussy cutting! i remember this is one of the 1st layouts i took the time to cut out paper elements.

speaking of paper elements... have yall seen the new foldies from sassafras!?!? seeing them at CHA i realized they were HUGE and WONDERFUL! cant wait for these to come in.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

never thought i would be so addicted to this stuff...

2011-02-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

Tim Holtz goodies were everywhere! Including in the Sizzix booth where our rep knew to keep me a while... ended up ordering it all so i can make some of these for myself... i mean for store samples...

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

melissa frances inspiration!

2011-01-31T11:19:00.000-08:00

CHA is always such a frenzy of friends and new products and ordering and OMG IDEAS & INSPIRATION! One booth i ALWAYS look forward to is Melissa Frances's booth. She always makes the best samples with her products and is just flat out one of the nicest people ever!

This year was no exception. Her booth and products were stunning! Check it out!

one thing i really love but seldom use is her crepe paper. color wise, her pastels are just too pastel for me. this year she shared a new trick for staining them with plain ol' coffee and omg i'm excited.

yum yum!
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

shy guy...

2011-01-28T16:30:00.000-08:00

i've been terrible at posting projects lately. so how about a drive by projecting...

i couldn't resist these photos of one of the boy's buddies at the 4th birthday party. and the echo park little boy line had some GREAT colors and graphics. a definite little boy scrappy must!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

off again...

2011-01-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

we got a short visit from dad this weekend. it was nice to recharge our batteries but never fun to say goodbye. with any luck, he will be home in a short time and all will be back to normal.

in other news anxiety is starting to set in regarding leaving for CHA later this week. Husband will obviously not be home, so the boy will be spending a few days with a grandma. its a weird feeling to leave him with someone other than my husband while i go off and "play". i'm sure i'm worrying about nothing and i am truly excited about CHA shenanigans but still...

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

its here!

2011-01-23T11:24:00.000-08:00

ok, i'm a little behind, but have you seen the January issue of CARDS magazine!?!?!

well i have and I'M IN IT!

not the most amazing card i've ever made, i must admit. BUT, it does feel nice to see my name in that glossy print!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

leftovers

2011-01-22T23:22:00.000-08:00

tyler gets ahold of my camera and sometimes takes the most amazing pictures for a user with no know how. love this one!

Found: Lost Pictures of New York Blizzard

2011-01-21T22:43:00.000-08:00

idk if this guy got the film to its owners....

but i enjoyed the video he put together...

one fine day...

2011-01-20T11:11:00.000-08:00

lately i've been drawn to "autumn" colors. not sure why, but cannot resits oranges and yellows. never mind this great snap shot i got of the boy and his buddy. the leaves are amazing!

anywho, with that in mind i busted out my January kit from The Sampler and the had some help putting this layout together using The Sampler's January sketch challenge which you can find here! (definitely want to check it out! winner of this month's challenge gets a whole kit! $45 retail value crammed packed goodie bag of awesomeness!)

the colors were just right and so were the embellishments! the rust color cardstock has a great rub-on from pink paislee to dress it up and i love it!

i wanted to keep this layout a bit light since all the lines were so harsh and my colors so serious. In the kit there is a great pack of pom poms from Glitz and it was just perfect. i love how fluid the "ribbon" looks in contrast to the rest of the layout.

be sure to swing by the other DT members blogs and check out their takes on the sketch as well!

Rochelle Spears
Sandy Tanaka
Sarah Swann
Diana Fisher
Diana Gonzolas
Amber Goble
Letty Lucero
Jules Dix
Monique Liedtke

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

currently 1.12.11

2011-01-12T13:42:00.000-08:00

this is husband's car this morning whilst he is in upstate NY. it snowed. both of our reaction to this image was a laugh, but, then, it was "oh crap! how do you get that much snow off a car?!" apparently you wear gloves and use a tool larger than a plastic ice scraper. learn something new everyday.

listening: star trek the next generation marathon
eating: thinking about a chobani yogurt. tummy has been way upset lately.
drinking: water
reading: As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto
wearing: tank top, hoodie, and my favorite lucy yoga pants
feeling: a little bleh, but over all ok. maybe a little worried.
weather: clear skies. what is weather?
wanting: to run a costco errand and be back home
needing: to get some crafting done tonight!
thinking: the boy is a cutie patootie as he gets mad at his pants button
enjoying: the down throw on the sofa. very cozy.
wondering: why the boy never gets a pair of matching socks out of the drawer

where have i been and what have i been doing...

2011-01-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

well, this has been my view for the past couple weeks. gross i know, but ugh. piles and piles of tissues. but, its getting better. i think. i hope...

in other news, finally got some crafty goodies back out and poked around for a bit. i was playing with the Adirondack color washes from ranger and couldn't resist a make&take for DEstress friday this week at memories live on. i really liked how bold the colors are on their own and how they can be manipulated with just water. i can see lots of fun things coming from these little bottles!

not slowing down from here...

2011-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

A cold completely wiped out the end of my 2010, but that's not holding me back in 2011! No sir! I have exciting news to share now and through out 2011!

For starters, guess who is a new Sassy over at Sassy Little Sketches?!

ME! That's right! I am joining their team for this term and couldn't be more thrilled. Between amazing sketches and designers, Sassy Little Sketches has also managed to put together a great community! I HIGHLY recommend you check out not only their sketch challenges but also their forums which are quite cozy!

Next for 2011 I want to share The Sampler's January 2011 Kit reveal!

This month's kit is named "A Bright New Year" and it really is the truth! This kit has totally inspired me to clean off my craft desk, set up my new printer and get ready to scrap my heart out!

today was just one of those great days.

2010-12-28T00:39:00.000-08:00

Today was just one of those epic days that come along when you're least suspecting it and it just happens. Husband had today off and we just up'd and made the short trip with the boy down to the monterrey bay aquarium to spend the afternoon. Since i'm not normally one to blog about our days, how about some photos of the fam.

Oh and after the aquarium, we hit a restaurant we hadn't tried yet. Cannery Row Brewing Company. It was literally on the way to the parking structure and perfect. Even i must say they had an impressive selection of on tap craft brews (stone, speakeasy, and dogfish head to name a few) and even more hard to finds in bottles (think Belgians) not to mention decent prices. i recommend.

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

happy holidays to you and yours!

2010-12-24T18:38:00.000-08:00

xo, holly*, husband, the boy and mister

The Sampler's December Sketch Challenge

2010-12-19T23:03:00.000-08:00

these days just get more and more busy! BUT, i did manage to slow down a bit and participate in The Sampler's december sketch challenge!

This month's kit is full of bright and fun goodies which made it so easy to use the december sketch and a photo of a haircut i've been holding onto for a good while now!

you can check out the challenge here!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

on the 14th 15th day of christmas... wait a minute here...

2010-12-16T18:39:00.000-08:00

the legos keep on coming! yesterday and the day before we got another little lady and a table and chairs set. super cute.

tonight we're off to check out some christmas lights and what not. with any luck i will get some good photos of the boy, BUT heavens knows when i will get to scrap them. Between general holiday stuff and a 12 tags of christmas class i'm currently kitting for, my scrappy stuff is totally neglected. once i finally get this class kitted (aiming for late tonight) i hope i can package up those crayons i shared last week and get those ready to go!

speaking of, i need to make a to do list so i can quit forgetting things like that i said i would bring lasagna to the boy's holiday party... hum... i'll remember later, no?

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

The Sampler's 2011 Design Team!

2010-12-14T23:54:00.000-08:00

A HUGELY GIGANTIC CONGRATS to the returning and new members of The Sampler's Design Team!

I look forward to another wonderful year of creating with fabulous people and fabulous kits!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

Preschool Gifting

2010-12-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

i now face the potential brain buster of mothers of small children everywhere. gifting. gifting to 20+ small children. I do believe in practical gifts. Things that wont just get tossed once they walk through the door. if they make it even that far.

Well, i've been stashing broken crayons since the dawn of time and i've had this project in mind for many moons, but this year's christmas gifties for tyler's little buddies are remolded crayons.

While searching for an ideal oven melting temp (i ended up using doing about 250F for 15ish minutes per batch) i found this link with all kinds of super cool ideas for those stray crayons. The simplicity of this project was perfect. I picked up a bunch of little holiday notepads (6 for 2 bucks) and i'm going to stash that with a few crayons in a little baggie IF i can ever leave the house.

Today is one of the days i'm in the store @ Memories Live On and i typically will run some errands, grocery shopping, etc on my way home. well, this morning husband got on the road before me (we leave about the same time but i drop the boy off at school) and he was stopped before he started. Apparently a car had overturned recently not far up the road. I just dont get it. Our commutes take us over a very squirrely road. its about 15miles of going up and down and around a "hill" (read: mountain if from texas). Not that this was the case for this particular accident, but people drive like jerks over that hill and it makes no sense. AND it's raining. not a lot. but everything is super slick. idk. there are more than a few accidents on that road. I hope no one was hurt. sucky way to start a tuesday....

Anywho, this means i can do some work from home on misc projects i have goin. i'm going to attempt some photos of projects despite the poor lighting. with any luck, i will return with the 14th day of lego christmas and some project updates!

merry tuesday!
sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

on the 13th day of christmas...

2010-12-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

our lego calendar brought to use... an adorable lego toy fire truck!

Last night we took a break from tree trimming and organizing to hitch a ride on the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train with our favorite Kristina & Parker! The boys had loads of fun acting like complete maniacs and the mamas definitely enjoyed each others companies!

even bah humbug husband had a good time or two!

and look who showed up! SANTA! i wish tyler understood the concept of the naughty or nice list s bit more. oh well, next year...

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

lego dailies...

2010-12-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

after the busy spell and the bit of sickness, we opened day 8 through 12...

tyler is having a great time with this calendar. definitely making the passage of this christmas super fast and quite noticeable. ah well, such is life.

anywho, time for some errands and some tree trimming. very fun day!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

too sick for dailies...

2010-12-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

Not me, but the little man. We were actually just behind for a few days thanks to being busy... but... today...

today the little man developed a fever and has been super cuddlie and un-interested. hopefully tomorrow. because mama has a big weekend planned!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

seriously! today's lego window had ME in it!

2010-12-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

well, a lego that looked like me...

and a kitty. not sure what's up with that but its super cute!

in other news, tomorrow night i will be making these super cute treat bags at Hambly Screen Prints along with Sarah and others! it is destined to be a night full of merriment! Until then, i will be waiting for the next tag and CATACLYSM!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

drummer boy

2010-12-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

super cute. now tyler is running around our upstairs drumming everything.

and how sweet is this? i came home yesterday after an action packed morning and afternoon of make & takes to find this little bundle. its from my husband's company of all people and i love that they showed even the smallest amount of appreciation for what families do to support the company even if it is indirectly. plus it livens up my desk so so so much!

today i'm working on christmas gifties. hint, hint. tonight i would like to do some more wrapping so i can get my holiday shipments out. BUT, i need more frames. inorite? so round 2 to costco today and target run whilst i'm at it. i think i will spare husband this trip. BUT, this gets me so close to 100% complete. a couple people popped up on our shopping lit that i was not expecting, but thats ok. They will get crossed off too and we can enjoy the rest of the season with holiday fun times!

ya'll have a good sunday now...

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

december daily: day 4

2010-12-04T23:57:00.000-08:00

today we got some lego parts....

we think they're a leaf blower. idk....

in other news... our fridge is full of spirit currently. including a few bottles of stone's vertical epic 10.10.10. can't wait until this one is ready to crack open!

we also did wrapping tonight. tyler helped! he was quite pro at cutting and taping AND even wrote names on packages! such a big boy!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

skatin' through day 3 of our daily december!

2010-12-03T16:26:00.000-08:00

Tyler is still way into this whole count down to Christmas thing. I'm shamefully surprised when he has more than a 1/2 second attention span. so.... today's door revealed....

...skateboard accessories for of duel wielding lego man from yesterday! tyler, very thoughtfully, said to me, "mom, we shouldnt skateboard with swords. its a bad idea." i agreed. the end.

so, i'm smitten by Tim Holtz's 12 tags of Christmas for another year! BUT, this year, i'm making duplicates for Memories Live On so their customers can check them out in person! So far, i have to say i've gotten them pretty close. i have been enjoying the creation of these tags immensely!

anywho, off to DEstress fridays at Memories Live On! Have a super friday night!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

a man! with a cap! and TWO swords!

2010-12-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

this evening we opened up day two on the advent calendar. the boy was stoked. he knew exactly how to put the little man together and wanted no assistance... shoot. i like legos too...

this shot was directed by tyler. the snowman is apparently melting already...

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*

my december daily...

2010-12-01T12:41:00.000-08:00

this year i got my hands on a lego advent calendar and the boy has been chomping at the bit for december 1st to roll around so we could start opening doors! well, guess what, it's december 1st and we got to open the 1st door today!

we built a super cute little snow man. now i need to print photos so i can work on my journal. then hit costco. then i have a super cute mini album class to teach a memories live on. busy day all of the sudden. oh my!

sunshine&bunnies,
holly*