My niece, Addie looks ADORABLE in her Ladybug Girl Halloween costume. I love that she even has the rubber boots! So sweet!

If you have a little girl, the Ladybug Girl books are so much fun, my nieces LOVE them!

I hope that you’re having a wonderful week, it’s been a busy one for me…and it’s not over yet. I still have dinner guests coming over tomorrow (I always worry more about cleaning my house than the meal…cooking is easy). And on Friday, Izabelle is having five of her friends over to make cupcakes, watch movies and…scrapbook. It’s going to be fun!

xoxo, Christie

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As seen in the December 2011 issue of Scrap n’ Art. Posted with prior permission from SNA.

There are so many ways to use Crepe Paper, I love to make flowers.

The following is a Thanksgiving centerpiece that I created for Scrap n’ Arts magazine.

Do you ever create using crepe paper? What have you made with it?

I enjoyed my girls weekend in Utah, I hope that you had a wonderful weekend also.

xoxo, Christie

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As seen in the November 2011 issue of Scrap n’ Art. Posted with prior permission from SNA.

One title for two projects.

The kids thoroughly enjoyed trying on different Halloween Costumes last October.

And I had fun taking photos of them. We love Halloween at our house, it’s always fun to decorate and dress up…oh, and eat LOTS of candy.

I can’t believe we’re already half way through January.  SLOW DOWN January!

I’m finally getting over my cold (mostly) so it’s back to business as usual…It’s been hard enough to get back in the swing of things after the holidays. Now, if I could just get motivated to get some work done.

It would probably help if my husband wasn’t watching Pushing Daisies on DVD. Love that show…it’s making it really hard to get up off the couch.

Have a wonderful day!

Love your couch potato friend,

Christie

xoxo

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As seen in the November 2011 issue of Scrap n’ Art. Posted with prior permission from SNA.

Reflecting on 2011, I can’t help but feel overwhelming gratitude.

I feel like I’ve learned so much, loved so much, overcome obstacles, felt so much support, been given so much…I feel so blessed.

2011 was a wonderful year, I thank you for being part of it.

xoxo, Christie

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As seen in the November 2011 issue of Scrap n’ Art. Posted with prior permission from SNA.

I snapped this photo of my nephew, Cooper at the Crabtree Cabin last Summer.

At the time, Cooper was just learning to walk. I loved to watch him discover the feel of rocks and grass under his feet. As he walked back and forth he became braver and walked a little faster. So, so sweet.

I used Pan Pastels on both of these layouts. I need to experiment with Pan Pastels more…one of my goals this year is to get more comfortable using different mediums. I might try a bit of water color too. My mom and I are thinking of taking the Junelle Jacobson workshop (Scarlet Lime), it looks so fun:

The Art of Wild Abandonment

These photos were taken two years ago…Dan with his parents.

I hope that your new year is off to a great start (I’m finally getting Christmas put away).

Love the fresh start that comes with a new year.

Take care,

Christie

xoxo

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As seen in the November 2011 issue of Scrap n’ Art. Posted with prior permission from SNA.

I have always admired my little sister, she’s naturally a cowgirl. Born that way. I love horses myself but I enjoy petting them more than riding them.

My dad and Emilee often ride together, they’ve got a kind of ‘horse-bond’…for lack of a better word. They connect on a different level…a horse level?

Anyhoo…

Emilee has always been good to let Izabelle ride her horses. In the layout below Izabelle and her friends, Marianne and Alisha (The Three Musketeers) are riding Emilee’s horse, Buddy.

Buddy was Emilee’s very first horse.

The girls definitely felt like cowgirls, for sure.

I’ve got another busy weekend ahead…be sure to check back for my final Summer Stash Giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

xoxo, Christie

It’s gonna be a bright, sunshiny day!

My niece, Addie is SO much fun! So sweet, energetic and just darn adorable.

I created this layout using American Crafts Carstock and Thickers for the July issue of  Scrap-n-Art Magazine.

My kiddos had a great first few days of school…so far, so good. It was difficult for me when the kids started school this year, I thought I would be a little more excited about the extra ‘free time’ on my days off work but the house has been so quiet now that the kids are gone most of the day. I’ve been spending more time at the gym, going into work early, cleaning…I even went and picked up my nephew, Cooper and played with him for awhile. I’m sure that I’ll be back to the normal happy-to-have-free-time person again soon, not to worry.

This weekend…

I’m visiting my grandmother in Utah, it’s always wonderful to spend time with her.

I hope you have something special planned this weekend too!

xoxo, Christie

Girls love crowns. They really do.

Last September, we spent Labor Day weekend at my aunt Dixie’s house. Dixie hosted a Wolfe Family “Cousin” Reunion. It was so wonderful to see family that I had not had a chance to visit with in years.

My mom and I brought along an arts & crafts box to help occupy the little ones…the crowns were a hit!

Girls love crowns. They also love decorating crowns.

And sometimes boys do too…

On another note…

The kids started school today, here’s a shot of them as they left the house:

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day!

xoxo, Christie

I {heart} Cosmo Cricket, especially their Circa 1934 line.

I love the muted blues and yellows mixed with red and black.

Do you know what else I love?

My family.

It’s so hard to get photos of the four of us together. Usually, it’s the kids and I in a photo or Dan and the kids…or just the kids.

…or just Dan and I.

Recently, on one of our many trips to Island Park this Summer, I handed my camera over a few times trying to get a decent family photo.

Every single photo that was taken is hilarious.

One of us is either making some sort of goofy face (the kids do this on purpose, Dan and I…not so much) or is blinking and has fly away hair. Ridiculous.

I think I may have to bite the bullet and get some professional family photos taken.

My little family may not make it into many photos together but at least we’re bound together in love.

…and in this little mini album.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

xoxo, Christie

Izabelle was so excited to get her braces on last June. She’s not as excited these days…brushing, rubber bands, tightening, etc.

But from my point of view, her braces are AMAZING! Izabelle has only had her braces on for a little over a month and her smile has already changed!

I love this girl! I was born to be her mom. Izabelle is such a unique, spunky, creative, witty and beautiful girl.

Lately, Izabelle has been my little shadow. She walks with me, cooks with me, crafts with me…best of all: she talks to me…I mean really talks to me. She tells me about her everyday comings and goings, about what’s annoying her at the moment, she shares her ideas and she tells me about her dreams.

It is my wish that her and I stay close.

I know the day will come when she won’t want to spend so much time with me…when silly best friends and teenage boys enter the picture…but for now, I am loving every minute spent with her.

xoxo, Christie