More projects that I’ve done over that past year and haven’t shared…

Izabelle’s 12th Birthday party. I posted about all the goodies and fun handmade aprons HERE.

This layout was from our trip to Utah/Nevada for Parker’s 15th Birthday. We explored through Red Rock Canyon on our drive home from Las Vegas.

In the summertime we spend every moment we can at the Crabtree Family Cabin in Island Park, Idaho.

It’s so beautiful in Island Park. Now that the weather is changing it’s growing closer to the time of year we can visit again.

Here’s a bit of home decor…I was inspired by something I saw in a local craft store and had to try to emulated it.

Some two-page layouts.

I really, really, really have a hard time creating two-pagers.

Sometimes I just must.

My mother and I did a lot of canning last Autumn. It was a bit of hard work but so much fun!

It’s growing harder and harder to capture photos of my two children together. This day I went out with the sole purpose of accomplishing said task.

I’m not so happy with the way the layout turned out but I just love photos of my kids together.

Christmas! What a crazy-crafty time of the year! These are some of the projects that I created:

A simple Christmas banner…because…I’m obsessed with creating banners.

Banners are SO hard to photograph.

Like, really hard.

A couple of handmade ornaments.

I was inspired by the ornaments created at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique. Those are some crafty ladies, I’m tellin’ ya!

I loaded up on Christmas paper when I visited California last December. I don’t think I will ever have enough Christmas paper.

I mean, I have enough…but I’ll never have enough.

Ah, you know what I mean, right?

Speaking of California, when I traveled there, my baby sister tagged along. We had so much fun together! Our last couple days we spent in San Francisco.

We only had camera phones and the sun was behind us, so taking a good photo was pretty much impossible. It’s a really happy memory, so I had to scrapbook the photo anyway.

It’s not a visit to San Francisco without dinner at Scoma’s and dessert at Ghirardelli Square.

It’s weird how a trip to “The City” used to be so quick. When I lived in Northern California we would drive to San Francisco for the day and be home by midnight (or a few hours after). It was so fun to stay the night and explore a little more of the city.

Emilee and I had such a good time, I want to get away with her again…like…tomorrow.

Here’s dreaming!

OK. I think my share factor has increased by about 85%, hopefully I will be able to keep up.

We’ll see.

Maybe.

I’ll try my best.

Thanks for hanging in there with this LONG post! I really appreciate you taking the time to visit my little bit of space in the ginormous world wide web. Have a beautiful day!

XOXO, Christie

My Mom and Dad recently returned from a trip that lasted over 3 weeks.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some of their amazing vacation photos to scrapbook (this photo was taken in Amsterdam).

I couldn’t resist loading up with Prima Flowers while at my recent crop at PSB.

I {heart} Prima.

I also made some handmade lollies using the Antique Book Paper from Bazzill…

I have lots of projects to share…if I could just find the time to be on my computer for more than 10 minutes.

Just have to get back into the swing of things after catching the cold from Hades, getting better, then traveling for a week directly afterwards. Do I mention the sinus infection I picked up from the allergies I was accosted with in California? Wait. I guess I just did.

Good news: I’m almost feeling like myself again.

I hope that you had a wonderful Mother’s Day. I enjoyed some extra time goofing off with my children, we always have fun together.

xoxo, Christie

I just can’t get enough.

I am so in love with this little guy.

Meeting my sweet nephew, Jack was worth every second of every minute of every hour it took to drive from Idaho to California.

Now, I’m enjoying all the seconds, minutes and hours I have with Jack while I’m still here.

xoxo, Christie

P.S. I promise to catch up and all of your lovely happenings when I get home. I miss you!

California.

Loving every minute.

xoxo, Christie

Where does your creative inspiration come from?

I LOVE to browse scrapbooking blogs, magazines, Pinterst…but I always feel inspired when I can see texture and color in person.

Like last weekend. I traveled with my mom, sister and daughter to visit my grandmother in Utah…a girls weekend.

I love these little getaways; our outings always provide lots of creative stimulation.

During this particular trip, we stopped at Thanksgiving Point, they have the most beautiful shops.

I’m probably not supposed to…but I pulled out my camera phone and snapped some photos.

I love the fringe on the blanket in the photo above, the crushed yo-yo’s on the quilt, and of course the pillow. But I was thinking more along the lines of scrapbooking and paper crafting. How fun would it be to line a layout with fringed-style trims? I also loved the paper chandelier (pictured below); I invision papers pinned up along a scrapbook layout.

We’ll have to see what I come up with using these photos as inspiration.

Where do you find your crafty inspiration?

xoxo,

Christie

While in Salt Lake last November, Izabelle and I took a nighttime stroll of the Salt Lake Temple grounds.

It is so beautiful, I love the way the Temple looks at night…all lit up.

It’s amazing to think that nowadays structures are built with the help of amazing machines…forklifts, tractors, dump trucks, even nail guns. Yet this glorious Temple was built before any amazing machinery came into existence. Pretty miraculous, if I do say so myself…a part of American history that is close to my heart. And so, so beautiful.

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo,

Christie

My friend, Peggy asked me to create a little album as a gift for her sister.

Peggy, her husband and sister visited Park City, Utah last Fall.

The leaves on the album cover are real leaves that Peggy picked up during their hikes.

A few of the album details…

I love all the beautiful Autumn photos they took…gorgeous!

Peggy saved airline info and tickets from their trip, I added them to the album.

It was fun to make this little album, although, I’m always nervous working with photos that belong to other people.

So.

Are you ready for Christmas?

I sure am. I can’t wait! The kids make it so much fun.

Merry Christmas my dear friend!

xoxo, Christie

Happy 5th Anniversary Paradise Scrapbook Boutique!

PSB is my FAVORITE!

I often visit my hometown in California. When I do, I try make sure I schedule my trip around on of PSB’s crops.

This trip I was able to attend PSB’s BIG 5th Anniversary Crop, and they went ALL OUT!

It was so fun to see all the goodies (food, paper, embellies, etc.) and even better to see so many good friends all in one place!

To keep with the Party theme, PSB brought in the Pink Paislee line, Soiree.

Perfect for party business.

While there, I played with the Soiree paper and created this little “Party” banner for the PSB display.

They always have the most amazing displays, so fun and creative!

That is my banner hanging on a gate! A gate! Too cute.

And if the Paradise Scrapbook Boutique crop wasn’t fun enough, the absolute BEST part of visiting California was visiting my brother and his family. Playing with my sweet little nieces brings me so much joy. Coming next April, there will be a new little addition to my brother’s family. Another niece or nephew to adore!

Sweet Addie:

And my darling Kayla:

My brother’s family went along with me to the local Farmer’s Market…

Gosh, they have the most amazing Farmer’s Market there.

It’s HUGE, especially compared to what I’ve grown used to in Idaho.

A feast for the senses.

It was a really short visit, a little too short for such a loooooong drive.

I did not get to visit everyone that I wanted to…but I was able find a minute here and there to visit with good friends and I am so grateful.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I hope you have a wonderful day!

xoxo, Christie

Dear friends,

Thank you for the comments you left, I love hearing about the wonderful places you wish to travel.

As for me, I dream of traveling to New Zealand.

I’m sorry that I’m posting the contest winner a little late…Dan, the kids and I decided to stay an extra day in Utah.

The Final Summer Stash Giveaway Winner is:

Congratulations Kate!

Please email your mailing address to: christie@prettypaperbook.com

Thanks to all who entered! Be on the lookout for another giveaway coming up…it has a “Halloween” theme.

Here’s a glance at our weekend in Utah; we were lucky enough to have cousins join us:

Have a beautiful week!

xoxo, Christie

WARNING: This is a photo heavy post.

In June May Arts Ribbon sponsored Scrap n’ Art magazine and I received a box packed full of GORGEOUS May Arts trims. I was more than ecstatic, I was over the moon!

Here are some layouts that I created using May Arts Ribbon.

“The Little Things”

I used May Arts ribbon and lace along with My Minds Eye paper.

“The Face of an Angel”

Using May Arts ribbon and Pink Paislee paper.

“Baking Bread”

Using May Arts ribbon and lace, Echo Park paper and I tried to hand bead on cardstock.

My family and I spent some of our 4th of July weekend in Island Park at the Crabtree Family Cabin, it’s such a beautiful place.

There were piggy back rides.

Playing in the gorgeous green grass.

Riding on the back of Uncle Larry’s golf cart.

I spy a butterfly…

A game of horseshoes.

Some mild kayaking.

And some canoeing…

And a lot of Aunt Christie following Cooper around.

Cooper = cute photos.

Cooper with his pregnant mommy. Nephew #2 on the way…

We had an eventful weekend, we even attended a Rodeo (my first) it was nuts!

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a wonderful week!

xoxo, Christie