:: i want to remember ::

I want to remember Brycen's cooing and smiling.

I want to remember "I love you higher than a giant (that's a lot of pounds)."

I want to remember watching E.T. as a family and Bea calling him "Poor Little Guy".

Every. Time.

I want to remember the look C. gets on his face when B. says something funny (which is quite often lately).

I want to remember that B. turns everything into an art project.

I want to remember the UNO addiction.

..:: project life : week 1 ::..

Holy New Beginnings, Batman! Project life is So. Much. Fun.

As mentioned before, my plan is to have my weeks go from Wednesday-Tuesday, and I will share on my blog on Sundays.  Yay! It's Sunday!

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::This week's highlights:: WEATHER! Specifically the Polar Vortex! We missed 2 days of school due to the cold temperatures, which extended our already longer than normal Winter Break (I didn't complain)! The weather got it's own insert this week. I also started One Little Word this week, as well as another 365 attempt (both are reflected in this week's spread). We celebrated my MIL's birthday this week and I won a Silhouette Cameo from Studio Calico (Part of the 12 days of Christmas)!

::Supplies:: I used Design A page protectors for both sides.  For the insert, I used a Design G page protector, but I cut off the 2, 6x4 spots on the far right and stitched it up the side to hold the cards in. I mainly did it this way because I had the Design G on hand! :-) For this first week, I took a look through a few past Studio Calico Project Life (monthly) kits to complete the week (my January kit arrived just as I was finishing -- so I was able to add that lovely "start" badge!). Most of the cards are from December 2013, but there are a few others from past kits. I tried to stick with a red, grey, black & white color scheme. I used my Silhouette Cameo to create a see through element on my insert -- the cut was purchased from the Silhouette Store. I used stamps from several manufacturers including, Elise Blaha Cripe, Studio Calico and Pink Paislee.

::Techniques or Additions:: This week I decided to use a photo as my title card.  I don't know that I will do that all the time, but this time it just seemed to work out so I did.  I used some gelatos and a water brush to paint on a few of the cards. For example, the card was just black and white, and so was the circle stamp.

I also used Pinstripe Mister Huey's and a paint brush for the grey.  I used both the gelatos and Mister Huey's to splatter a bit of paint as well.

On the last card I have a photograph of a puzzle that my mom did.  I also included the actual newspaper behind the card.  It's not removable (I had thought I might do that, but then changed my mind). I used it like I might use patterned paper. The story is about how my mom saves newspapers for us (more on that in a different post) and how I often find the puzzles (specifically Sudoku) finished.  I love my mom and I love finding these reminders of her in my house (I don't see her as often as I wish I did)!

One last fun item I added this week.  I took some video of my daughter dancing to "I Love Rock 'n Roll" this week (she requested the song, of course). I took a screen shot of the movie to use as a photo, and I uploaded the video to You Tube.  Then I created a QR code and included that on the card, which will send you to the You Tube video to watch her dance!  Fun!  ((I will do that again, I think).

See the QR code on the bottom left?

My happy mail even made it in!  Hello Just Add Color!

Thanks for stopping by!  

:: new additions number 1, 2, 3, & 4 ::

In my last post I mentioned the fact that we have a few new additions to our family (that aren't human). :-)  Today I'm sharing 1, 2, 3 & 4.

1 & 2 | Canon 70D & a see through guitar | 

WOW!  I haven't had a chance to play with it much, but what little I have, I am in love. Under the Christmas tree, from Santa, was a very special gift for me -- a camera upgrade. It was a complete surprise! Santa also "surprised" my Soul Mate with a new (vintage) guitar. (It's see through.  He keeps saying he is going to play it naked, but I have yet to see that)!

The story : We promised not to get anything for each other.  My One True Love broke the promise and got me a camera and himself a guitar.  ;-)  Then wrapped them from Santa.  The fun part of the story -- he hid them, so I had no idea -- and when he pulled the guitar out from behind a few other presents, it was wrapped -- without the case -- so it looked like a guitar.  He said, "Wow!  I wonder what this is?" and B. said, "A SHOVEL!!!!"!!!  Love her.

3 & 4 | iPhone 5s | 

We were so over due (like a year) for new phones.  And then one of them was lost (we think in a parking lot), and so it forced the issue. The only thing holding us back, really, was a decision on a carrier (do we switch, do we stay the same).  We switched. It was a looooooong ordeal (that isn't quite over), and I'm hoping the switch is a good one. I could not be happier about my new iPhone 5S, though! Better camera, more memory, same apple love.

Welcome to the family 1, 2, 3 & 4.