She's On The Go!

Hi everyone! I have another layout to share today featuring the American Crafts My Girl collection. This one is all about Claire as she started to crawl. She started out slow, but it took no time at all for her to really take off.

The title was done on my Cricut Mini as were the paper hearts. The twine, Washi tape, and pearls are all by Queen and Company. The journaling reads: "Claire, you started crawling almost 2 months ago with a funny combination of an army crawl and an inch worm push forward. It was adorable, but it didn’t last long. Before we knew it you were zooming around on all fours and going practically anywhere you wanted! Now you are an expert and I think you are very leased with your ability to be mobile without any help from us! 4/30/2013"

Have a great Tuesday!

Just needed a little break

I'm so sorry to have disappeared for so long...I'm afraid that frequently happens around this time of year. It often starts (like this year) by getting sick and then having that sickness travel though the whole family. Then of course the craziness of the holidays (and we have a couple of birthdays in there as well), plus this year my computer completely blew up...complete with a smoking (and totally ruined) hard drive. (Back up your files friends--I was really glad I had 90% of my stuff backed up, including all of my family photos!) So recovering from all of that simply added up to taking a break from my bolg. 

Today however I'm back in the swing of things and I have a simple and fun Christmas project to share:

It's just a simple frame from Walmart that I added six stockings too, one for each of us. The stockings and holly leaves shapes are SVGs from Miss Kate Cuttables. The papers are some older ones I had in my stash from Chatterbox. The script along the bottom was cut on my Silhouette Portrait along with the "Lavanderia" font.  

I embossed my stockings with my Cuttlebug, and the "Dotted Swiss" and "Holly Ribbons" embossing folders. I used Queen and Company red pearls for my holly berries and Queen and Co. Red Washi tape to hang them across my frame. 

So thanks for coming back and stopping by my little blog again! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Being Your Mom is Sweet!

Some days I look down at Claire (all dressed in pink and playing at my feet with a doll) and say to Marc "I still can't believe we have a girl!" After a decade of being the only girl in the house it still throws me sometimes to think that there is a mini me running around here. Our blue, green and red world of trains, cars, dinosaurs, and hot wheels is so different now that there are pink and purple dolls, princesses, castles, and fairies in the mix. I wouldn't change it for anything, but I have to admit that it still surprises me sometimes when I'm doing the laundry and I see that flash of pink in with the rest of the boy colors! One area I have not had a hard time adjusting to is having the opportunity to do more with the wonderful "girly" scrapbook products out there. This is one of my recent favorites.

These adorable papers and stickers are by Caroloee's Creations by Adornit. The acrylic flowers, pearls, and red washi tape are by Queen and Company, grey washi tape and baker's twine by Doodlebug, buttons by Basic Grey, and the title was cut out on my Silhouette Portrait. 

The journaling read: "Claire, you have no idea how excited I was to find out that I was going to have a daughter! For many years I was certain that we were only going to have boys in our family, and I was just fine with that. I love your brothers more than I can express, yet, it was a very fun surprise to find that there would indeed be mommy/daughter activities, pink clothes, dolls, dresses, and a tiny “mini me” turning our rather male dominated lifestyle upside down. Thanks for adding this fun new “girly” dimension to our home! I love being your mom Claire, and I’m so happy you joined our family! --Jan 2013

Have a great weekend!

Rodeo Hoedown

So every year our elementary schools have a hoedown around the time of the big Houston rodeo. The kids learn and practice their dances during PE and then all the parents are invited to come and watch the kids perform. The kids wear their western gear to school and have a lot of fun doing their dances for and with the guests. It's one of my favorite school days of the year. These are the photos we took before school for the 2013 hoedown.

The papers here are from the Carta Bella Giddy Up Boy collection, the awesome cow print Washi tape and copper pearls are by Queen and Co., and the chevrons, title, and accents were cut with my Cricut and Silhouette Portrait machines. The title uses the Old West and the First Few Years cartridges. The horseshoe is from the Create A Critter cartridge and the wagon wheel is from Tiny Treasures. The hexagon punch is from Creative Memories and the Border punch is by EK Success. 

The journaling reads: "I loved going to the school for this year’s hoedown day, it is a great Texas tradition and one of the best days of the school year! It was really fun having all three of you boys participating, especially since it was Spencer’s first time as a kindergartener! Each of you boys looked great in your western wear and did a fabulous job with the dances you learned. I loved having the chance to dance a little bit with each of you too! Spring 2013"

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Over She Goes!

When Claire was around 1 month old she rolled over several times. I couldn't believe it the first time as none of the boys ever accomplished that so early. I figured it had something to do with her being still right around 6lbs. There just wasn't much weight to have to move! Not long afterwards she started growing and the rolling over stopped until the time these photos were taken about 5 months later. 

The papers, stickers, large embellishments, and tags on this layout are by American Crafts from their "My Girl" line. The Washi tape, pearls and epoxy dots are by Queen and Company, the title was done on my Silhouette Portrait machine with the KG Strawberry Lemonade font. 

The journaling reads: "Just a month or so after you were born Claire you were able to roll over a couple of times. I was stunned that you could do it so early! I decided it must be because you were so small and tiny so it didn’t take much muscle. Sure enough once you passed 7lbs you couldn’t do it again until recently. It took you quite a bit of effort at first but after a week or so you got very good at it! Now you use rolling over as a means of transporting yourself all over. You have a pretty solid 8 ft radius and nothing within that radius is safe anymore! January 2013"

Thanks for visiting today!

Rodeo Clown

Because we live in Texas I was super excited when Carta Bella came out with their Giddy Up Boy and Girl lines! They are just perfect for some of the events and activities we do around here! Particularly our trips to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

I haven't had a chance to play with the girl line yet, however, here is one of the layouts I made with the boy version.

Other than the Carta Bella papers and stickers I also used some copper colored pearls by Queen and Company as well as my Cricut for the title and star accents. The title was done using fonts from the "Old West" and "The First few Years" cartridges. The stars are from the "County Fair" Cartridge.

The journaling reads: "Going to the Houston Rodeo is always a great day. One of the highlights this time was meeting a rodeo clown and posing for these photos with him. Later that night we got to watch him as he distracted angry bulls away from the cowboys. You boys thought it was great! March 16th 2011"

Have a great Thursday!

So Much To See

One of my favorite stages of a new baby in when thy get old enough to look at and study everything around them. Claire seemed extra observant from the very start, but after a couple of months she became even more studious. These photos capture her straining to move her head so she could see her new toys from every angle possible. 

More of the fabulous My Mind's Eye "My Girl" collection here along with more Queen and Company Washi tape, baker's twine, and pearls, American Crafts Letters, and my K and Co. date stamp.

The journaling says: "Claire, you recently have begun to really study the world around you! You love to look at brightly colored objects and at people. You seem to always have a look of extreme fascination as you start to decipher your world! Looking at these toys above your car seat seems to be one of your recent favorite things to do!"

Thanks for visiting today!

Quick Card Post Today

I'm running out of time to write up a post today so I'm just going to quickly showcase a card I made several months back. I made it for a brand new niece of mine! Several little girls have come into the family --on both sides-- in the past year or two. I'm super excited for all these girl cousins to be able to grow up and play together soon!

This card uses my all time favorite Pebbles line "Happy-Go-Lucky." It's an older line but still adorable. The embossing folder is by Lifestyle Crafts and the giraffe is a cut from the Stork's Delivery Cricut cartridge.Pearls and baker's twine by Queen and Company. 

Have a good Tuesday everyone!

Brand Spankin' New

I love the "moment of meeting" when the nurse places your baby into your arms for the very first time! I feel so lucky to live in an age where we have the ability to have photos of these moments! For my mother, grandmother's, great-grandmother's, etc. they only have these moments etched on their hearts, thankfully I have that as well as video and photographs, and even a scrapbook layout. These are Claire's first moments in our arms.

The journaling reads: "These are the very first photos we have of you Claire! We took them just moments after you were born while we each got a chance to hold you. I loved seeing you with your eyes open! You were so alert, and you seemed just as interested in meeting us as we were to meet you! Welcome to our family Claire!"

The Echo Park Bundle of Joy collection was perfect for these photos! I used my Silhouette Portrait to cut out my title and journaling spot. (I created the journaling spot in my Creative Memories' StoryBook Creator software).

 I also added Queen and Co. Baker's twine and pearls, and some stamping with some American Crafts and K and Co. stamps. Thanks for visiting today!

You Belong To Us

Hospital bracelets make such a powerful statement. They are the first way a baby and their parents are documented (in earthly ways) as belonging to each other.  I personally love watching them be prepared by the nurses as the time for delivery is eminent. Knowing that in just moments they will be wrapped around my baby and we will be linked together in yet another way is somehow comforting and exciting. Because of this I have always enjoyed taking photos of them and scrapbooking them. 

I too these photos of Claire while we were still in the hospital. I love that you can still see her newborn wrinkles!

The title was cut on my Silhouette Portrait using a combo of fonts and Echo Park elements. The papers and stickers are also by Echo Park from their Bundle of Joy Girl line. Date Stamp by K and Company.

There are also some Queen and Co. pearls, Washi Tape, and Baker's Twine.

The journaling reads: "There is something special and sweet to me about hospital bracelets. They are that first earthly connection that reinforces the heavenly ones and says “You belong to us.” I’m so glad you do Claire!"

Thanks for visiting today!

He is her Number 1 Fan

I have one of the kindest and sweetest 11 years old there ever was. He is a tender hearted soul with with a maturity and love for others that you just don't see much at his age. He especially adores his little sister, and she adores him right back. This began long before she was born. Ty was so unbelievable excited when he found out that we were having a surprise baby. Despite being at the age where boys are normally rather anti- girl, he wanted the baby to be a girl from the beginning. When we found out it was indeed a girl he was again super excited and he started saving up his money to buy her a doll.

After she was born he started calling her "Precious Claire," and he still calls her that now. He loves to carry her around and give her rides up on his shoulders. He can always make her laugh and smile--even when she won't do it for me. The closeness of their connection must have started before this life, it's the only way I can explain the sweet and tender connection they seem to share.

Anyhow, this layout is about the first time Ty held her. My parents brought all of the boys up to the hospital to meet Claire after she was born and I was able to take this photo of him smiling down at her. It was sweet brotherly love at first sight!

The journaling reads: "Ty, I picked you to be the first of your brothers to hold Claire. I picked you not because you are the oldest but because you were the most excited about Claire before she was born. You were super excited from the very beginning! Then when we found out the baby was going to be a girl you were “over the moon” with happiness! You have never once been anxious, worried, or jealous like I thought you might be. You have always been full of enthusiasm and joy for this moment, when you first got to see and hold your new sister. I just know you are going to be a wonderful big brother to her!"

Again, this is the Bundle of Joy Girl line from Echo Park. I mixed in a couple of older chipboard pieces from Pebbles, some Queen and Co baker's twine and pearls, and more stamping with my rotary phrase stamps from American crafts and K and Co. The title was done with my Silhouette Portrait.

These larger Chevrons running down the side were made using my EK Success corner punch. If you look close you can see this is just a whole bunch of corner punches stacked together.

I added a few accordion flowers for interest plus some smaller "chevrons" made with my Zig-Zag Border punch by Fiskars.

Thanks for vising and have a great weekend!

Your Watermelon Dress

If you have ever been to my house then you may have seen that my powder bath is decorated with watermelon trinkets that I've collected from all over. I'm not sure why they appeal to me so much but they are a favorite thing of mine to collect. This love of mine has recently rolled over to Claire's outfits. Before she was born my mom and I went shopping together and we found some really cute clothes. One of my favorites was this little watermelon dress.  I wish I had better photos of the watermelons along the bottom of the dress part, but you can kind of see them in the bottom right photo.

I used the Echo Park Sweet Girl collection for this layout. The title was cut with my Silhouette Portrait, and the Watermelons were cut with my Cricut and the Doodlecharms cartridge. The Pearls are by Queen and Company. I used my K and Company SMASH date stamp again along with some older stamps by Cornish Heritage Farms. 

  The journaling reads "Right after we found out that you would be a girl Claire, grandma and I went shopping for girl clothes. We had a great time together looking at so many cute choices for you! One of my favorite things we bought that trip was this little watermelon onesie. Once you came you looked so sweet in it. I had you wear it again and again because I loved it so much! Summer 2012"

Thanks for coming by!

Sweet Sleep Smiles

Those first few smiles when a new baby is asleep are so precious and wonderful! They are like tiny little rewards for all the lost sleep and hard work of the first month of two with a newborn. They keep you going as you work towards the wonderful moment when you get that first "real" smile aimed truly at you! These smiles always make me wonder what babies dream about. It must be something special because Claire frequently smiled and even laughed (many weeks before she did it awake) during her sleep. Here are a few of the "sleep smiles" I captured on camera during Claire first few months.

The papers, tags, and small letter stickers used here are by October afternoon from their 9-5 line. The washi tape and pearls are by Queen and Company.

I cut the title with my Silhouette Portrait and the Simply Glamours font. Simply Glamours is one of my favorite fonts to cut out. It is thin, scripty, and beautiful. It makes a great combo with simpler fonts for titles.

I put my cloud punches (by Fiskars) to work again on this layout. They are still some of my favorite punches. I also added some white paint to an empty spray bottle, mixed in a little water and made my own white "mist."

The journaling reads: "Frequently during your first few months of life you would smile in your sleep Claire. You did this even before you would smile while awake. I loved it every time and it often made me wonder if you were dreaming of heaven and all the wonderful people you left behind there!"

Thanks for visiting today!

3 Months

So I guess I'm adding these to my blog out of order, but here is Claire's 3 month layout. It uses the same wonderful My Girl collection from My Mind's Eye as her 4 month layout I showed last week. 

For the title I covered white cardstock with some Queen and Company yellow and pink washi tape and then ran it through my Cricut using the font on the Birthday Bash Cartridge to cut the letters. 

There is also lots of  Queen and Company pearls, buttons, and twine on this layout

The journaling reads: "You have been growing and now weigh nearly 10 lbs. We can now wear some 0-3 month sized clothes! We have been able to switch back to nursing full time as you are now a much better eater. You smile at everyone all the time and sometimes laugh. You laugh at your brothers most of all. One time Ty zoomed past us in the kitchen and you thought it was the funniest thing! You gave one great big laugh when he did it but refused to repeat it when he tried to zoom by again. You still sleep pretty well at night and frequently sleep for 6-7 hours at a time. You have started hating driving in the car at night. You still love the swing and take lots of naps in it. You have a little bald spot on the back of your head where the hair has all rubbed off. You recently started to love to look at your mobile above your swing. It can entertain you for quite awhile! You really don’t care for the pacifier and we have pretty much given up on using it with you."

Thanks for stopping by today!