Happy LOVE day!

I’m traveling back to Idaho today with mixed feelings.  I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again, a home-cooked meal, my sweet nephew (among other amazing family) but I sure am going to miss my friends and family here in California.  It’s always so wonderful to visit.

While I was here I attended a Valentine Crop at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique (a little bit of Heaven).

Yes, those are BLOSSOMS! Blossoms in FEBRUARY! Can you believe it? I still have six feet of snow in my front yard!

Beautiful, pink, lovely blossoms.

Look at the amazing goodies we received at the PSB Valentine Crop:

Karen always spoils us.  What an amazing woman!

I spent the whole day with good friends, a much-needed visit.  It was an added bonus to spend the day with my bloggie friend Char (who is fabulous)! We met in person for the first time at the PSB Crop. Check out Char’s Blog.  This woman is tal-en-ted!

And I got to visit with Devanie, I haven’t seen her in SO long. It was fun to catch  up.

In honor of Valentines day, I’ll share the simple Valentines I made while cropping (also shown above)…

This one is made with the candy cups:

Making Memories + K&Company =

This one has some sewn polka-dot ric-rac that I purchase while at Material Girls in Utah:

I used Pink Paislee rub-ons on this one. Quick and simple:

I hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day, as for me…I’ll be stuck in the car for 14 hours with my loved ones (hopefully we’ll still love each other when we reach our destination).

Feel the love!

xoxo, Christie

Valentines Day is always so fun to celebrate!  A day filled with love…

I usually start decorating my house about now…so creating this “Be Mine” Banner got me in the Valentine-decorating mood.

My daughter, Izabelle has been itching to make some Valentines (pictures coming soon)

This Banner was fun to make – my glue gun came in handy.

I hung some crystal beads from the bottom of each triangle.  Love the extra sparkle.

Spread the love!

xoxo, Christie

I can’t wait to really dive into this new Making Memories line, Je t’adore (this layout is just the beginning).  The Je t’adore line is so fun…all the papers…embellishments…lovelies…it’s all so fun to work with.

I put this little layout together (really quick) for a crafty day with my mom and sisters. We try to get together at least once a month.

Next month will involve foam balls and fabric – can’t wait!

I’m almost done with my Design Team Projects for Graphic 45 – I’ll be taking photos and then shipping them off tomorrow morning.  I hope they’re well received (we’ll see). Can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on here…it’s only…what?  A week away?

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo, Christie

A little while ago I shared the above photo as a sneak peek.

I created a “Nuts About You” Layout for Paradise Scrapbook Boutique.

Now that the class is over and done with, I feel that it’s alright to share the layout here on my blog:

I hope that you all had a fun Valentines Day and were able to share the day with someone special.

xoxo, Christie

I used the new Making Memories line, “Love Struck” to create this simple layout in no time at all.

Between the Matching Making Memories Love Struck embellishments and new Design Shop Embellishments, I’ve never put a layout together so quickly (and usually people call me a fast-scrapper anyway – so I’m telling you, this layout came together fast).

I love that Making Memories always makes the cutest little embellishments (and TONS of them) to go along with their paper lines.

Have I mentioned before how much I love embellishments?  I know, I know…all the time, right? Well, I do.

My sweet friend, Karen (Paradise Scrapbook Boutique) lugged a package full of Making Memories “Love Struck” product on the plane to CHA for me (my mom and I met up with Karen and her lovely sister there).  I couldn’t wait to play with all the fun Valentine paper and embellishments.  Karen knows how much I love, love, LOVE embellishments!

I whipped up this quick little project:

I’ve been so busy…I want to create a layout or two with this product.  It’s so, so fun to use. My goal is to actually create a couple Valentines Layouts before Valentines day.  We’ll see if it happens.

Between work, kids homework, meals and laundry…I’m lucky that my head is staying above water. For now, I’m satisfied with completing this little Valentine project.

Each of the three little sections are only 3×3 inches.  I love creating anything “mini”.

Do you have any fun projects or plans for Valentines Day?  Do you do something special with your family or sweetheart?  Please share…I need ideas!

My kids and I took a trip to the Dollar Store.  They LOVE the dollar store. I basically have to drag myself there.

Don’t get me wrong, I always find something.  For instance, these heart shaped paper doilies:

I strung them together and made a quick garland using curling ribbon.  Simple and fast.  My husband helped me hang it an the wall…

I also tied a doily to one of my apothecary jars and filled it with Valentines candy.

Instant Valentine’s Day decorations.

The kids and I are having fun decorating the house for Valentines Day.  Izabelle thought of some more ideas for the doilies.  She wants to hang some little ones from the ceiling and chandelier with some curling ribbon…I think we’re going to have to get Dan and Parker on a ladder for the ceiling decorations.

Right now Izabelle is making pancakes (while wearing her little chef hat) the house smells fantastic! I’m watching the snow fall through my windows, it’s so peaceful.  I’m feeling very grateful for all the love and beauty in my life.

I FINALLY feel like getting ready for Valentines Day.  Decorating my house, baking cookies and making valentines with my kids.

I work during the day and sometimes I feel pretty darn exhausted by the time I get home.  On occasion, my kids get to witness a mother that is less-than-enthusiastic-about-the-upcoming-holiday.

I enjoy my children so much and I really do try to make the most of our mornings, nights and long weekends together. So naturally, I feel a bit guilty if I don’t have fun projects planned and get sidetracked by piles of laundry and dishes that need to be done. I’m feeling a little like I need to “make it up to them” for being so busy and distracted lately.

I like to decorate my home for the holidays throughout the year.  Although, I don’t always feel like decorating.  I have to wait until the inspiration hits, then, I take joy in it.  I often wait until I have a morning off work and the house is quiet. The kids are usually in school, or out on a errand with their dad (what a sweet hubby I have).

Today, when I felt inspired to decorate the house for Valentines Day…to make our home a place of joy and fun.  I really wanted to let the kids help, even though it might not look “perfect”.  I want them to be a part of the joy that I am trying to create.

Valentines day.  A holiday specifically set aside to concentrate wholeheartedly on telling those we love just how much we love them.  What a great opportunity for me to help my children feel how special they are to me. I want them to know, really know, that no matter how much I work, how tired I am, how many craft projects are due or how much laundry I have waiting, that they are so very important to me.  That they are special. That they are loved. That their opinion matters. And that I appreciate their help.

Remember those paper mache heart boxes that I blogged about HERE?

I decorated a Valentine Heart for my husband.  On the lid it says, “I love you because…”

And on the inside I wrote sentiments on little pink hearts. I also added some Hershey Kisses for good measure.

My niece, Kayla came over to play a few days ago and the kids decorated their heart boxes together.  I didn’t get very many photos because while helping them, my hands became covered in Mod Podge.

I did get a couple photos:

Today we’ll be baking Valentine Sugar Cookies, a family tradition that my mother started.  Mom already made her’s, if you want to see photos of her delectable treats CLICK HERE.

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day and that you get to share it with someone special.

XOXO, Christie

I’ve caught the bug…the LOVE bug.

I have become a little excited about VALENTINES day!  Mabye it’s because of my children, they just love the Holidays and they can’t wait until the house is decorated for what ever holiday it might be at the time.  This time it’s about LOVE.

I purchased these sweet paper mache hearts at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique for the kids to decorate.  I’ll be sure to post photos when they’re done.

Do you have any fun plans for Valentines day?