The Most Important Update Ever....For Now.

Yes, that is a baby! I am 9 weeks along, and this is my first ultrasound from last week. We've known for about 3 weeks now, but wanted to wait until I had my first appointment with the doctor to tell everyone. This is our first child, and we couldn't be more excited!

I was SO SICK during weeks 7 and 8. ALL DAY sickness. I was on a steady diet of crackers and toast for about a week straight. I seem to be getting better. I only feel a little yucky in first thing the morning until I eat, and I can actually eat normal food now. Let's just hope I get lucky.

Now I just can't wait until we find out what we're having so I can start shopping! I know I am going to drive myself crazy researching everything. I have ideas floating around in my head, and can't wait to get them out!

I DO actually have other stuff to update with, but this was the most exciting, important part, so I wanted to make sure I got this posted. More to come soon, and I'll have another ultrasound photo in 2 weeks!

Hooray for Polaroids.

I promised a polaroid post. I only have one thing to show, but hey...at least it's something, right?

I just have to say, the negatives are way cool. More so than the actual photos since I spent a whole pack of film just messing around and getting used to the camera. I'm ordering a bunch more film tomorrow, and will be prepared to take a massive amount of non-crap photos.

So, here is my front door, in all its glowy, scratchy, funky negative glory:


I love how it looks old. The negatives are wet for some time after you peel the photo off, and no matter how hard you try, something gets stuck to them, you touch them, or drop them. But it makes for great marks when you scan the image. And you get a built in grungy frame. 

I have actually been doing some *gasp* SCRAP-RELATED stuff. Valentine's cards, of course. A post on those coming sometime in the future when I actually sit down and upload the photos.And finish the cards. But I will try to make it soon.

Supermassive Update.

So....what have I been up to for the last month, you ask? Why, making things for my Etsy Shop, of course! I FINALLY had time to photograph, edit, and list everything today, and I didn't want to post it here before I got it all up in my shop. Because I'm secretive like that. Without further ado:

My latest thing is brooches. Wearing them and making them. I got really inspired right before Christmas, and I have been making them like a mad woman. Here are a couple I've made for friends, and one I made for myself (the red, black, and green one):

Here is my super cute packaging:

And here is what I've been doing with the satin flowers I make.

In other news, I now have a working Polaroid Super Shooter Land Camera that takes peel-apart polaroid film. I am so in love. The negatives are almost cooler than the photos. I've been using Fuji film to get myself used to it so I don't waste any precious Polaroid film. I had a Colorpack III, but unfortunately it didn't work. I found my "new" one for next to nothing. I have to scan everything and I want to play around with them in photoshop, so there will be a polaroid post coming up soon. Very soon. Promise. But don't hold your breath on the "very" part. Heh.

Blogging: Yule Edition

I have been remiss in updating my blog of late, but what better thing to update with than festive, Christmassy pictures?

This is from the lighting of the lighthouse a couple weeks ago.

Here are a few wrapped gifts....some of the ones that got sent off to family.

And lastly, our Christmas tree for this year. We decided not to get a big one since it's a quiet Christmas this year, but it turned out really cute.

I decided to go with the red and gold theme because of the lava lamp. It's one of the original ones. I think it was Chad's grandma's. Very cool.

If you hadn't already heard, Sara at SoML is changing the structure of the kits, and going to a quarterly release. She will still be selling in the SoML shop, and releasing her super cool stamps. You can read her announcement HERE.

I've also been hard at work on lots of stuff for my Etsy Shop. I'm FINALLY really excited about something I've made to add. I just need to get some little boxes and finish taking photos, then I will update.

Have a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays, everyone! I'm off to help finish up in the kitchen.

A New Layout.

Here is the first page I have finished with the December Story of My Life kit:

This page was a little sad to do. My Grandpa passed away a few years ago, and this is the first page I've done about him. He was one of my very favorite people. I love how it turned out, and I'm glad I was able to do one of my special pictures justice!

I have some ideas rolling around in my head, I just have to sit down and actually DO something about them. I have acquired a few new toys in the past week...a melting pot, UTEE, and a Cricut (along with the Indie Art cartridge I have been coveting since I first saw it!), so there should be all kinds of fun stuff coming out of my craft room soon.

More SoML to come, too!

Better late than never.

Okay, so I know I said I'd update on Thursdays. My family was in town, and we went to see Twilight Friday night! It was AMAZING. All I have to say is that Robert Pattinson is now officially one of the sexiest men on the planet. He is an awesome Edward.

I have a weird schedule at work this week because of Thanksgiving. So, being off today, here is everything I had to catch up on.

First...my gorgeous new Brighton purse. I am in love. Working in a place that has cool stuff has its advantages....not to mention my bosses and everyone I work with are awesome. We also sell Vera Bradley, and I am going to get a Puccini wallet to go with it.

Here are the other two layouts I did with the November SoML kit. I think I am definitely getting my groove back and breaking out of my shell of similar-looking layouts. I just love how these turned out. 

And, last but not least, my layout for the latest challenge at Inspired by Amelie. This one was fun and different. Again...loving how this one turned out. Challenge 9 is up now. It's a little late this month because everyone has been so busy, but be sure to check it out and join us!

That's it for now. More is on the way. I have the December Story of my Life kit sitting here on my desk, and it is to die for. It has a bit of a Christmas theme, but also leaves tons of room to do other stuff. It's up there on my list of favorites. You can see peekies on Sara's blog here and here. Definitely check it out on the 1st!

I probably won't get the chance to post Thursday, so I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! Is you don't celebrate it....then have a happy Thursday!

Just one thing to share.

I have finished one SoML layout so far with the November kit, and another is almost finished here on my desk. It's tough not having two days in a row off anymore...and especially after getting used to not working for three months and having unlimited time to get stuff done! Here is the one I have finished so far. I just love this picture of Chad:

Is anyone else excited for the Twilight movie? Just a little over a week, now! A group of us already have our tickets. I really hope after all the hype it's as good as it looks. I'm still a little (let's be honest A LOT) bummed that Harry Potter got bumped back, but Nobel Son is supposed to FINALLY be released to theatres in December, so that makes up for it. Just a bit. If you know me at all, it will be blatantly obvious why I am excited about it.

More SoML stuff up next!

I FINALLY stopped being lazy.

I know it's been just about forever since I have posted a proper update. Working full time at a job that doesn't have me in front of a computer all day provides little time to stay on top of my blog. I am going to TRY to update at least once a week. It'll PROBABLY be on Thursdays.

So, on to the new stuff. I added a few new things to the shop. A new style of larger crochet flowers from my mom, a new tag style I came up with, and the first of the awl/paper piercers made by my dad.

I made this card about a month ago for the Card Sketch a Day blog. It's a great blog if you're a card maker. Be sure to check it out!

Last month's Inspired by Amelie challenge...silly things you wonder about. You think this was silly enough? I think about odd things like this all the time. The new challenge should be up any time now! 

The final item from the October Story of My Life kit. A cute little haunted house mini. Of course, I haven't decorated the inside, but what else is new? I NEVER finish mini albums, but I sure do love making the outside part.

November SoML stuff and my newest Inspired by Amelie layout to come in a few days!

I promise....

....I will update soon! I have been back at work for a few weeks, so that has been taking up my time. I do have a few things to share, I just need to sit down and write out a post.

I am giving out candy to all the kids at the Halloween Walk tomorrow, so hopefully someone will get pictures. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Tool Sneaky Peeky!

Here are a few examples of the handmade tools that will be available at Nelo Paperie at the end of the month! My mom sent me this picture of the awls that my dad has completed (I'm pretty sure he made the cup, too). Aren't they gorgeous? They can be used as paper piercers, but are strong enough to punch leather and chipboard, too. The black one has a hand-hammered copper cap on it. I'm definitely keeping one. I hope he is able to make some embellishments, too...he makes some really cool stuff, so I know whatever he comes up with would be amazing!

My latest creations...

First up, the latest from Story of My Life. The October kit was really fun to work with. It has a vintage Halloween theme, and has tons of the amazing Basic Grey Ambrosia papers. I made one of my big flowers with the sheet music that came in the kit for the first layout:

I still have to finish my project with this kit, so that will be coming in the next few days.

My First Day of School layout was picked as the Layout of the Day on 2Peas on Monday! Wow. It made my day.

I made some new goodies for my shop. I am loving felt right now. I put it on almost all my layouts, so I thought my shop could use some more felt, too. These come in a pack of two of the same color, and are about 2 1/2" across. They're versatile, too. They can be used for scrapping, attached to a gift, pinned to a hat, or worn as a brooch.

I also did a reshoot of most of my products. The white background wasn't working for me, and I wanted something that popped a bit more. Besides, woodgrain = awesome.

My Mom told me that my Dad is working away on some handmade tools for the shop, and POSSIBLY some handmade metal embellishments! They are coming down to visit at the end of the month, and he'll bring them down to me then, so keep your eye out for some extra cool stuff.

More to come soon! I have lots of things rolling around in my head, just waiting to get out.

Layout, photo, stuff....

My first day of Kindergarten. I was SO cute! I FINALLY finished this layout...I started it last weekend, and FINALLY got around to finishing it this weekend. All the other stuff I worked on was for the October SoML kit. You'll see those on Wednesday, but I will say that you will get to see a variation of my big paper flowers in action. I want to put those things on every layout.

Also, my new favorite photo. I have to say, we have some AMAZING clouds here, and the sky is always so blue. Well, except for the past couple days.

This is our range tower....and also one of the photos that will be sold in the Lighthouse Museum! I'm so excited about having some of my local photos there... it will be great exposure. Now I just need to work on an "About the Artist" page...I've never included those before. 

Off to finish with my SoML kit. More layouts and fun goodies for the store coming soon!

New in my Etsy Shop

I just love these guys. I've been on a big felt kick lately, so they combine all my favorites: felt, scallops, buttons, and blue and red together. When I was making them, I thought they'd be super cute on favor boxes or something like that, but they are also great on cards and layouts. A friend of mine in my scrap group used on on a card, and it looked awesome! They come as a set of 4, and can be found here in my shop.

I've been working with our Park's support organization putting together a blog, You Tube and Flickr accounts, adn all that good stuff for our Lighthouse and Museum. It's fun...I'm learning all kinds of stuff about the light and Boca Grande in general. You can see the blog here. I made the header, too. It was fun to break out the distress inks...I haven't walked around with inky fingers for ages!

I'm off to a 2pm-Midnight Scrap Pink crop today, so hopefully I'll get all kinds of stuff done. Have a great day, everyone!

It's open!

Finally! Nelo Paperie is now open for business! I don't have TOO much in there, yet, but there is definitely more to come. Here are a couple things you can find there so far:

I'm really happy with how it's looking. I have a lot more up my sleeve, it's just a matter of getting it done! I love for everyone to at least stop by...nelopaperie.etsy.com. And spread the word if you like what you see!

In scrapping news, Little Miss Poopy Pants is really getting around! It was featured on the Sassafras Lass blog a few days ago. I didn't even know until I got a comment on SIS TV telling me about it! Pretty cool.

I've taken up playing the Fife again. I also play the flute and piccolo, but hadn't picked up ANY of them in about 3 years. We are having a Halloween candlelight ghost tour here at the Lighthouse. I'll be in 1890 period dress and playing the Fife in the background. I was a Civil War reenactor for several years after high school. I'm looking forward to getting back to my roots a bit, even if it is 26 years later than I'm used to.

Bobble head puppy.

Here's a layout I made for this challenge over on the Challenge U 2 blog. This blog is run by my scrappy, bloggy, email friend Jen, and it's great if you need a quick idea to get you started.

I am convinced I have the cutest, squishy-face puppy ever. After I finished this, I realized the design is just like the the other stuff I've done in the past week. Oh well...who cares if all my stuff looks the same? And this one got some Bam Pop love. I love Bam Pop. And felt. And straight pins. And apparently stars, because I've had at least one on all of my past 6 projects.

There's still a week to join in on challenge 7 at Inspired by Amelie. One lucky scrapper will get a fabulous Red Velvet kit!