Friday, April 30, 2010

Zva Blog Hop Sketch Challenge Winners!


Our winners of Zva Creative product are below and the value amount of their prize is noted:

Michelle Woerner - $50.

Jules the blog princess - $50.
Karen Motz - $30.

Rbarakat - $30.

Scrappininak - $15.

Please send an e-mail to kimhughes22@aol.com and share your address.

We appreciate you playing along with us so very much!

If you are looking for a shop to buy Zva products at, Ellen Hutson has a gorgeous selection of all my favorite styles!

Tomorrow is National Scrapbooking Day, how will you be spending it? I am fortunate to have a few of my wonderful friends joining me at my house (bad babies and all!) for an afternoon of scrap happiness. I hope that you find a way to celebrate the joy of memory making!!

B-

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Eleven Inches Later


What an adventure today was!

It was such a thrill to make this decision and then follow through with it. I have had long hair for about ten years, and so growing that extra few inches to get it to the proper length for donation made sense.

The piggies don't look that long in the pics, but tip to tail they are 11" long! Of course that didn't leave much that was still attached, but the stylist that cut my hair made it work!

We started our time in the salon measuring and discussing what kind of look I would want for my style when we were done with the donation cut.
























Billy Luttmer was the stylist who took my long crazy mane and tamed it into a sleek, elegant do.
Thanks so much to Billy and McCarty Salon (801.581.9911) for taking the time to make this a wonderful experience!
























And this is what I am what I am left with! I was able to share this event with a few other fabulous women, and will tell you more about that tomorrow ;o)
























Getting used to the new me...

B-

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

She is My Reason

I wrote this post 4 years, 1 month and two days ago. So much time has passed but my feelings of loss and hurt have not. Hardly a day goes by where I don't miss her and think of her husband and children living their lives without her in them.





Had a really rotten day yesterday, and I am still trying to digest why I think it is about me, because it simply is not.
One of my very dear friends the amazing Wendy has cancer.
She had breast cancer 4 years ago, did everything right, and went into remission. She then did many preventative measures to avoid cancer in her future as well. She had a remission of about 9 months and then went in for a body scan and spots were found in her lungs and her liver. That was about 16 months ago.
Her husband called me yesterday and told me that she was in the hospital and that it was close to the end of her fight. We sobbed and then he had to go home to his children and explain to his 4, 6 and 7 year old children that mom was going to go home to Heavenly Father. It is just so wrong in so many ways. Why her, she is the most amazing person, she has the purest heart and the strongest mind. Her faith that she would beat it never faltered.
The tragedy is just so inexplicable. I am so heartbroken for her husband Rick her parents John and Alice and for her children Dallas, McKell and Halle. I also feel heartbroken in a very selfish way for myself. I am going to miss her in so many ways, she is always the voice of love and reason and I need her.
The hardest part is that she lives in So. Cal. and I am in Utah. I feel utterly helpless. I want to be there to do something for someone. To keep the kids so her parents can be with her, to clean her house so Rick can come home and just love the kids without frustration. I can't, it isn't what is needed, and it is so hard to deal with that. All I am doing is sitting and waiting for that horrible phone call and crying randomly.
Wendy, I love you. Thanks for everything you have been, I wish I could have been there more and taken a part of your burden somehow. We were only separated by miles, you were always in my thoughts and I prayed for you often. I wish that it could have been enough, but you are needed elsewhere, and I hope to be worthy to be near you again. You were an amazing angel on earth, I can only begin to imagine how incredible you will be with no boundaries or limitations.

B-

So tomorrow I will donate a small piece of myself to a charity who understands and tries to mitigate the pain that cancer creates in the lives of those who are afflicted and those who have to watch. It is a small and insignificant thing to do, but it is all I have. If what I have to give can make one person happy or more comfortable for one second then it is completely worth it. I know this act won't fill the hole in the hearts of those who miss her, but Wendy is my reason for feeling compassion and hope for those who battle today. And maybe this will inspire someone else to find some way to donate what they can as well. Little actions do matter, whether it is a 5k run, taking in a meal to a friend or neighbor or having your hair cut.

Love and miss you Wendy.

B-

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Don't Forget!


The Zva Creative sketch challenge is still on until Thursday at midnight, check out this post for details.

I thought it would be fun to make another project with the sketch I had, I didn't use the color scheme, but instead used October Afternoon papers with my Zva pearls and tiny flowers. Chloe is such a little sass bucket sometimes, and this picture tells the whole story! The color combination is so bright and happy, and the swirls of pearls convey the whimsy that she operates from when she is in a "mood"

Just a day and a half more and then my hair is getting chopped! I have decided to let the hair dresser do what ever they want! I feel so brave saying that now, I hope that whoever it is can think of something that won't be to crazy or high maintenance! I have to admit that I am getting a bit nervous to make a change. Not that I am afraid of short hair, just looking in the mirror and seeing someone I won't recognize at first glance will be weird, LOL!
Anyway, it was a sluggy day for me so after enjoying an evening of watching "Glee" and "V" with my family I am calling it a day. Hopefully tomorrow will bring some energy and motivation with it!

B-

Sunday, April 25, 2010

A Beautiful April Afternoon

It has been a really exhausting week, we have been sorting, organizing and cleaning the house and in particular my crafting stuff. My studio looks like bomb went off and the garage is filled with boxes of things that need to find new homes. We did have a garage sale on Saturday, and it went well enough, but it seems like it didn't even make a dent. So for the next few weeks we are going to have a few more specific events and advertise them that way so that people know what they are coming for. If you happen to live in the greater SLC area and want more information on great deals, leave me a comment and we can make some arrangements.

I also wanted to share another of the projects that I had made for the October Afternoon blog as the guest designer this month. I love this picture of Laurel, and the Thrift Shop line seemed to highlight the moment so perfectly for me. Anyway, I have so enjoyed the opportunity to share some projects using their product line, so grateful to Angie for that.

I am hoping to get a lot of sewing and crafting done this week as well. Also the big day for my Locks Of Love donation cut is on Thursday, more details to come later!

I hope everyone has a fantastic last week of April!!
B-

Thursday, April 22, 2010

On Trend with Doilies and Lace



Love, love, love the trend post that I wrote for the CLASS room this week!

I just adore the Hero Arts Circle Lace Doily stamp, it stamps so beautifully and the image is so trendy and vintage all in one fell swoop!

So if you have a few minutes maybe pop over and check it out, I think you will have a lovely time being enabled!!!

B-

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Chloe Looking FAB!!!

I love this picture of Chloe in her spring prom dress!
My mom is a fantastic seamstress, so the three of us spent an afternoon together shopping for lace, fabric and a pattern that would pull the whole look together. We had a blast spending time together and the resulting dress looks fabulous on my beautiful girl!
So grateful for a mom who is so talented and generous with her time and for a beautiful young woman who is willing to trust her grandma that the dress will turn out the way she has dreamed!

B-

Monday, April 19, 2010

April Card Group Meeting



April card group's theme was one of my favorites so far, it was based on the Lovely as a Tree article in the May/June Paper Crafts. The idea of anything goes as long as you have a tree makes me happy! I love trees and there are so many fantastic products that have been created with this trend in mind!
For my project I used the tree base from the Kim Hughes Winter Trees stamp set and embossed it with some Vintage Photo distress powder after it had been stamped in the same color. Then some Basic Grey Lemonade hearts were punched and the sentiment is from the Mona Lisa Moments Friend centers. Of course the sewing machine came in handy to zig zag stitch the grass and the straight stitch frame to pull the whole look together.

If you are interested in seeing what the rest of the cards looked like you should head over to the Paper Crafts Connection blog, where a complete set of all twelve cards from our group is being given away to one lucky comment leaver! I feel so blessed to have this time with these wonderfully talented and fun gals every month. Wouldn't trade this time each month with these special friends for anything. Hope that you are playing along with the Zva Creative sketch challenge, it is a great way to prep for applying for the design team call that they have right now if that is something that you are interested in doing.

B-

Sunday, April 18, 2010

A little October Afternoon Love


This was one of the layout that I created for October Afternoon as their guest designer for this month. It is one of my all time favorite projects, so I hope you don't mind that I give it a little face time here too...

B-

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Zva Creative April Blog Hop!!

We are all joining together today to share a project that we have created using some of our favorite Zva Creative products. I am hoping that you will take some time to join us for a TON of fun!

Each designer's blog will share a unique sketch that was created with paper...and there's a twist! It's a sketch that's designed with both scrapbooker's and card makers in mind. In addition to having the design laid out for you, each blog will have it's own color combo. The sketch can be turned and the color placement can be changed around. If you see a flower element on a sketch, please feel free to change it to something else if you like. Each sketch is a 6 x 6 page, but you can adapt the design to be horizontal, vertical or even a circle! The colors don't have to be exact, just stay within the color family that's provided (including using a lighter or darker shade). Adding neutrals like white, brown or black is ok...and "making it your own" is always fun to see!

The Blog Hop begins at Kim Hughes' blog. She is linking to one of the Zva designers and that designer is linking to the next and so on. There are 12 design team members, so be prepared to be inspired along the way.

We would LOVE to see how YOU create with ZVA CREATIVE products! Please use this sketch to create any type of project (card, layout, home decor etc.) Your project must include Zva products to be in the running for one of the prizes. Add a link to your project in the comments section under this blog post. (A permalink is best. but if you don't have that option, please list the post date of your project). You will have until midnight, Thursday, April 29th to play along.

Hidden on 5 of the blogs is a wonderful Zva Creative prize package...Woohooo! Those blogs will be randomly chosen after the hop is over, so it's important to participate on as many blogs as you can (but you do not need to use all 13 sketches). The 5 winners will be announced on Friday, April 30th. We will do our best to notify each winner, but it's best if you can pop in to all of the blogs once again on Friday...plus, you never know what kind of inspirational projects that you may find..

This is the sketch that I worked with, hope you find it as fun to play with as I did!!!



And this is the layout that I created from this sketch:




Please hop on over to see:

Lisa Johnson

Thank you SO MUCH for joining us!!!

B-

Green at Heart


Just a quick little linky, I wanted to share the layout that I made for the Basic Grey April newsletter with the sketch that Kelly Goree designed. It was a lot of fun to create this project, and I just adore the Green at Heart line, it has beautiful colors, great textures and whimsical images that give you a big smile and loads of inspiration!

B-

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Coming Up For Air



I have been a crazy, crafting fool getting projects done for the CLASS room and for the In Touch Newsletter, along with other things that needed done as well. I have few short minutes to come up for a little air before I dive back in for my card group projects and a few other deadlines that are around the corner. I just love the challenge that all these different types of projects gives me, and I am so grateful that I have to opportunity to work from home creating these fun things!

Last Saturday I had so much fun getting together with a few of my favorite girls, and we snacked giggled and even crafted a little! It was a few hours away from all of the crazy of life and filled with fun!
Natalie was our hostess with the mostess! Isn't she adorable? She is sporting a few of the super cute little flower clips that Erin showed us how to make. Natalie's little girl Penny joined us for a few snacks and gave us a tour of the darling house that she shares with her talented parents. No pics of that because I got to hold for that part!!!


After the snacking and the tour we settled into our excuse for getting together, the crafting. April had brought a very cute tissue paper flower kit and put those together.
Erin and Celeste made a really cute scalloped fabric banner that Natalie had designed, Natalie worked on a camera strap and I made a little headband that matches the apron I had made with my mom and Laurel a few months ago. A very successful afternoon if you consider making fond memories worthwhile ;o)




Evidence that crafting occurred, Celeste and Natalie are ironing their little beauties!!




I have been trying really hard to cut back on my junk food consumption, but this buffet of beautiful snackage convinced me to take the afternoon off, relax and enjoy myself! There were gourmet malt balls in dark chocolate, chocolate covered potato chips, animal crackers, homemade brownies, homemade strawberry jam, cupcakes, and beautiful pastries! I tried a little of each and was actually pretty good given that it was all so delish!





Doesn't this table look like fun was had by all?





We all can't wait to do it again, and have other projects we want to try in mind. Maybe an apron and jam day or some stamping and paper crafting. I don't care what we do as long as we get to spend some time together and have snacks!

B-

Friday, April 09, 2010

Just Saying Hello!





















It is finally a gorgeous spring day today! So I thought a sweet little spring day card would be perfect to help celebrate the moment! The stamps are Hero Arts, paper is Webster's Pages, the cute little bird is Maya Road, crackle paint is Ranger, ribbon is May Arts and the button is Jenni Bowlin. Ellen Hutson has a fab deal on all Hero Arts product this weekend, 15% off!! Use the code HeroHues15 when you check out, and she just got a huge shipment of their latest and greatest designs!!! I know I need some of them, how about you?

I have a fun weekend ahead, tonight is a date with the hubbers, tomorrow is some crafting for deadlines and then the afternoon is going to be spent with a few of my favorite crafty chicas, can't wait!! Will have to bring the camera for that for sure! Then Sunday is a little more crafting and hanging with the super cute kids in my primary class at church. They always make me smile and keep perspective on the things that really matter, so grateful for their sweet spirits in my life!

I hope all of you have a wonderful spring weekend!!!
B-

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Sew Much Fun!


I wrote a trend post over at the CLASS room that is about the trend of sewing and the products that have been created along this trend line, sew much fun!!!

I love sewing and the projects were very fun to create for this post, so if you have a minute I hope you can pop over to check it out!

B-

Saturday, April 03, 2010

Happy Easter!



Just a quick little post to wish everyone a very happy Easter!! The Kioshi line from Basic Grey is so beautiful and love how it is double sided, makes for fun projects!
I have a pinwheel tutorial over in the CLASS room if you are interested in making these, and the Zva bling on the card can be found in here shop, good stuff!!

Hope everyone has a very blessed and beautiful weekend.

B-

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Look, it's Me, October Afternoon Guest Designer for April!
























I am so excited!!! This is something that has been up my sleeve for quite a while, and it was a hard secret to keep! I just adore October Afternoon's products and Angie Hagist is one of my favorite people, so when I had the chance to work with both, I did a very happy dance! They have a give away on their blog right now if you leave a comment on this post. Boxes from October Afternoon are a super fun thing, so after you are done reading here, head over and leave a comment, you never know!!!




I had so much fun with the stuff that was sent, I seriously have almost no paper left!! I made so many projects I am sure that Angie felt flooded. But a card doesn't take much paper, so using fun little bits from the Fly a Kite collection I made a birthday card that is a little kitschy.


I hope you are enjoying your first day of April, ours here in Utah looks like the depth of winter, everything is covered in six inches of fluffy white snow and it is still falling. Mother Nature is sure giving us an April Fool's day to remember!

B-