This is Awesome

I'm sure you're thinking.... more trains?

Yeah, me too.  My son is obsessed.  I've tried to minimize the trains in his life because they're all he thinks about.  At this point, there is no denying his love of them.

If you can't beat them, join 'em?

All supplies for this one were in a Cocoa Daisy kit from a few months ago.  I used a Tim Holtz distress ink with the rolling camera stamp from Glitz Designs.  Some of my favorite items are used on this layout:

FLAIR (Evalicious)
TWINE
ENAMEL DOTS

** Photo idea is from Pinterest.  I used trains where the original one used toy cars. **

Being a Kid

One more easy one with some {flair}.

This one is more pictures than product.  I dusted off the Silhouette too.

Working with {flair}

That job.  Oh man, that job.  Its killing me.  Not really.  I mean, it *is* and it isn't.  I thrive on getting something organized and cleaned (unless its my own home) and this place needs a little TLC.  Okay, a *lot* of TLC.  The last manager kind of let it go and well, I've embraced it even though it wasn't what I wanted.  The District Manager hand picked me to go in and clean house.

And I've spent the last 3 weeks doing just that.

Me and the craft room?  Our relationship has been a bit rocky.  When I get home at night I am exhausted.  Physically and mentally.  I have to admit I've been getting the best sleep at night - except for the nights where I have something heavy weighing on my mind.

I did get a little boost last week when I had to create something for the DCWV and A {flair} for Buttons blog hop last Saturday.  I created two pages for the hop and then it just flowed.  I stayed up well past 2 am making stuff.  Is it my best?  No.  Is it my favorite?  Not really.  But I got it documented and I got to play with some old and new stuff in my room.

Like the new Simple Stories Say Cheese line.  I've been dying to get my hands on this line.

 How perfect is that shutter {flair} for the center of the camera?

This was created with an older Studio Calico kit.  Circa 2012?  I've got kits coming out my ears these days and I can't even keep track of them!  The flair is from the kit.

Another Studio Calico kit.  I added in some star clips from 2 Peas.  Love those things and I bought 2 packs in each of my favorite colors.  I may go back and get more in colors I don't normally use just because I love them.  But then again, I'm cleaning this space out so maybe that isn't the best idea?

Those hearts are the wood veneers from one of the Studio Calico releases this year.  I glued them down into a row with that yellow button and string.

And in my quest to officially kill this SC kit, I came up with this one.  The roller coaster at Legoland.  My sons first roller coaster.  Now I can't keep him off them and he's devastated if he can't go on one.  I'm talking the 6 year old, flop to the ground, get my way tantrum.  The 'I'm 6 years old! I'm old enough to ride!' tantrum.  Never mind the fact that he's just 1/4 inch to short to go on it and that ride operator is just not going to budge.  I even had one ride operator at the fair this summer ask me to have him remove his shoes.  With them, he was at least an inch above the minimum.  Without them?  Just under.  She wouldn't let him on.  And this was a tame ride.  Compared to the others he'd been on just moments before that had us defying gravity.

Anyway, I found this picture in my stack of amusement park photos and the look on his face as he rode that ride with Grandma just slayed me.  That 'Bucket List' flair was laying in a pile on my desk at the time and for some reason, it worked.  Since riding this, he's had his dad look up roller coasters on Youtube and he watches the videos.  He vows to ride every one of them some day.  His Roller Coaster Bucket List.

We'll see if this recent creative spark continues.  I hope it does.  In the mean time, I'm also cleaning this room getting ready to move.  I've already listed some punches for sale.  There will be more.  Lots more.  Stay tuned to this little space.

Authentique Kit

I designed this mini using the new Carta Bella Beach Boardwalk line.

The base for this book is a manilla file folder.  Its the perfect mini.  Kit includes instructions on how to fold and cover each section.  You have plenty of paper left over for several layouts, cards etc.

You can call the store to inquire about buying the kit.  Rachel will ship if you are out of town.  OR, if you're local to So Cal, you can participate in the So Cal Shop Hop and visit the store to purchase your kit!

 The cover.  Twine.  Flair.  Veneer and paper clips.  Oh, and Glossy Accents.

 These are awesome Jillibean Soup Sticker letters with Glossy Accents.

 And one of my favorite flair buttons right now.

 Inside of folder.  The bottom third is folded in to create pockets.  I stitched using DMC floss to create the pockets.

 First panel.  And yes, those are mini's within the mini.  More on those later.

 Panel 2.  Another mini in a mini.

 Panel 3.

 Panel 4 and a mini in a mini.

 Back side.

 Now, for those 'mini's in a mini'.  I used the journaling card page to make these.  I cut out 1-2 cards depending on what I was trying to do.  The first one is two cards.  I found two together that I liked and cut them out but left one side attached.

 Then I cut a 3x12 inch strip from white cardstock and folded it accordian to fit inside the folded cards.  So when you open the folded cards, an accordian books falls out.  I used this to store extra pictures.  You can also used those pockets to just stick extra photos in as well.  I just liked the active element.

 You can see how it folds up.

 And the back card.

 This is another mini.  I used a single card this time and fussy cut around the sign.  I cut another 3x12 strip of cardstock and folded it slightly different.  I wanted the paper to fit up under the cut so it was a paperclip.

 When you pull the end you get another accordian mini.

 Its the perfect place for more photos, business cards etc.

 And the last mini is another single card.  I covered it up with our train tickets and an arrow paperclip. My new obsession.  Then I clipped it to the pocket.

If you want to purchase this kit, please call the store.

New String and Ribbon

I got a chance to run through the CHA Summer show - and I mean run!  I had  one day, 8 hours to see everything.  My first stop was the ribbon booth!

Want to see whats coming to the shop soon?

 New colors of the striped twill.  This ribbon is great for mini album covers, home decor etc.

 MORE NEW COLORS of the popular burlap string.  We can't keep these rolls in stock.  Jennie is the master at using this stuff on her cards and layouts.

 The new thicker burlap twine in new colors.  Look at that orange, teal and yellow together!  Eek!

 New chevron ribbons.  A little thinner than our popular chevron twill.

Striped canvas ribbon.  I love the subtle 'kraft' look of these.

And these fun new rolls.  I see grey!  I've been asking them for more grey options for a while now and they listened!

We may have a few more things up our sleeve so keep an eye on our shop and Facebook for more updates!

For now, stock up on everything else we have in stock like the new solid Bakers Twine colors or even our sale ribbon.

The Color Run

*Scroll down to see the layout or check out the story below.*

I think I posted a while back about me participating in the Color Run - Orange County.  I signed up for it with about 5 weeks to train.  I had the best of intentions of actually training for this.  I never did.  Between the kid, life, work and everything else under the sun, carving out 30 minutes a day to run/walk never happened.

As the day approached I kept thinking to myself 'I walk a lot.  All the time.  I can do this.'

What I didn't account for was the walk from the parking lot.  There was a looooong strip of parking that we didn't realize went down as far as it did.  So we parked where everyone else was parking.  It was about a mile walk.  Eh, no problem.  Except that it was blazing hot.  The sun was blaring off the blacktop of the old Marine airstrip.

I can do this.  I chugged water as we walked. that. mile.

I got to the starting line about 15 minutes late.  They do rolling starts and release heats of about 150-200 people so I was good.  I kissed my husband and kid goodbye like it was the last time I'd see them and set off for the starting line.  Men were wearing tutu's and other random outfits - there was even a bride and groom wearing some over the top white satin tuxedo and lacy dress.

My adrenaline kicked in and I knew I could do this.  I've always been bad at math so the 3 miles (5k) didn't seem that bad to me.  Each 1k was marked with a color station - a huge arched balloon with color stained people throwing powder at you.  Here is where I wish I'd brought an old camera or my phone in a baggie.  I missed out on some of the fun stuff they have along the way.  The encouraging signs, the views of the valley, the enthusiastic color throwers.  Next time I will take my camera.

As I neared the first color beacon, I was feeling pretty good.  But in reality, I'd only traveled a little less than 2 miles.  Then the math started to make sense.  I still had a long ways to go AND there was that mile long walk back to the car.

But I can do this.  I cranked up my special running playlist and kept going.

And then I reached the second beacon.  Starting to feel the pain. Maybe I should have trained a little.  

Third beacon.  Halfway there right?

This is when I started to drag.  I moved from the fast lane to the slow lane.  My legs hurt.  My feet felt great because of my new running shoes.  I was sticky, died three different colors and had powder in my nose.  

The fourth beacon seemed like it was lightyears away and as I made  my way towards it, it laughed at me.  I swear it did.  It was mean, laughing at me and backing away as I tried to run after it.  The heat and colored powder were starting to make me crazy.

As I ran through I knew I had one more to go and then I could collapse at the finish line and let my husband drag me to the car.  It was about this time I was thinking it might have been a good idea to time myself.  I really have no idea how long it took me except that I didn't listen to more than 49 minutes of music on my ipod.  So we're going with a time of 49 minutes.  And then there was my 5 year old.  Probably not a good idea to bring him.  Cranky little boy.  I thought there would be more for him to do/watch but there really wasn't.  He wanted to get his hands on color packets so I told my husband to take him to the finish line where he could be part of the final color throw.  

As I neared the finish line and 5th beacon I saw them.  They'd come to meet me.  They both looked as miserable as I did but with less color.

I should be embarrassed to share these pictures but I'm not.  I just ran/walked a 5k without any training and I was feeling pretty darn good.  I also want to post a shout out to Van Halen and their hit 'Jump' for getting me through that last section of the track.  I was pretty beaten up at this point and when the opening chords of that song came on I sprang into action.  I also think I pulled a groin muscle but thats neither here nor there.

So, those embarrassing photos.....

 On the way to the race.  The traffic was horrendous.  My kid stole my sweatband.

 Before.

 Walking across the finish line.  My kid joined me.

After.

Take a good look at this one.  Each racer got a packet of color to release at the finish line celebration.  My son wanted that packet so badly.  So we told him he could have it if he threw it up in the air.  He threw it at me.  My kid, the little athlete has got a good arm on him and deadly aim.  He tossed that packet right at me and hit me in the face!  My husband got the split second before it hit me.  I was bracing for impact.

I literally got a face full of green powder.  I couldn't see anything through my glasses.  Its a good thing I had them on.

Its a good thing I brought wipes and wet towels with me.  I was able to wash my face but you can see how much was left on me after I was 'blown off' as we exited.

Oh and don't forget I still had that mile walk back to the car.  At this point, I couldn't feel my legs.  Mothers Day was the next day and I spent the day not being able to move.  But it was all for something cool.  I would do it all over again - with a closer parking space.

I got my latest Cocoa Daisy kit that week and it contained the best paper.  I printed out these photos and popped this layout out last night.

 Sequins!

 Some {flair} and String.

And this paper I would NEVER use was perfect for this.