Pretty Paper Blog

Mondays…

Christie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:38:10 +0000

I love Mondays. You probably don’t hear that from many people, right?

Monday is the one day of the week that I have set aside specifically for crafting. I don’t have to work on Mondays, the kids are in school and the house is quiet.

Weekends tend to be filled with family time and household chores. I rarely find a moment to myself when I am surrounded by the ones I love.

But today, today will be filled with hearts and flowers. I can’t wait to dive in and get started!

Making Memories {Love Struck}

Christie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:03:31 +0000

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!

Heart Shaped Doilies

Christie — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:51:20 +0000

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 Feel Like Spreading the Love…

Christie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:58:19 +0000

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.

CHA 2010 {Day 3}

Christie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:52:57 +0000

Some photos from today…

My beloved Graphic 45

I felt so honored to spend the evening with my Graphic 45 friends tonight. Diane Shultz and her daughters Aimee and Sharee are such fabulous women. I am so blown away and in awe of all of them. I feel so blessed to be on their design team and play a part (however small) in their amazing company.

I was also lucky enough to meet some of the other amazingly talented women on the Graphic 45 design team, Candy Rosenburg, Nancy Burke, Stacy Cohen, and Susan Dupre. Wow, what an evening! I was so blown away at how special each and every one of these women are. What an amazing company and an amazing design team!

Crafty Secrets

I met Vicki Chrisman today at the Crafty Secrets booth. What an creative and fun woman! Vicki was so, so sweet and TALENTED! She designs for Crafty Secrets and Tattered Angels (among others) AND she designed a new die-cut for the AccuCut Machine (the lovely project she is holding).

Some beautiful Heidi Swapp Tags:

Speaking of Heidi Swapp…I saw her yesterday. My mom noticed the totally cute necklace she was wearing. We thought it might have been designed by Miss Ruby Sue. Heidi caught me staring at her [necklace] - she smiled and said, “Hi”. I swear I wasn’t staring at you Heidi, it was your necklace. But you are really darn cute too!

One of my all time fav’s, Teresa Collins:

Teresa was another designer that I embarrassed myself while meeting. I totally gushed over her and told her that I read her blog and love her product…and think she’s a great mom…and love how she loves her family…and she’s so pretty….and (you get the picture).

Mr. Tim Holtz:

I must say this: Tim Holtz is the most patient man I have ever met. I watched as he shook hands, taught make and takes and posed for photos with hundreds of adoring “Tim Holtz” fans. Wow. Double wow. Poor guy didn’t get a moments peace and kept smiling the whole time.

I was too chicken to ask to take his photo…so I just snuck one in:

Yep, I’m that kind of fan…

…the shy kind.

CHA 2010 {Day Two}

Christie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:00:35 +0000

Overwhelmed with beauty…today was another super-fun-can’t-get-enough-must-see-more day! CHA is a total sensory overload (in a good way). My head is spinning and my creativity tank is reading “FULL” again.

There is just SO much to share…but here a few of my favorite photos from today:

7 Gypsies:

Vintaj:

Teresa Collins:

G.C.D. Studios:

The Girls’ Paperie:

Tim Holtz:

…just a hint of the inspiration that I felt today.

xoxo, Christie

CHA 2010 {Day One}

Christie — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:01:59 +0000

Finally, I can share a bit of what I made for CHA!

I created this little mini album using the new Le Romantiqu e Line for Graphic 45:

And I also created this mini album for Graphic 45 using the new On The Boardwalk Line:

Here’s a look at at the albums inside the Graphic 45 Booth at CHA 2010:

Pretty fun! I still have to pinch myself!

Walking around the CHA booths yesterday was like entering into craft heaven! My mom and I tagged along with the lovely ladies from Paradise Scrapbook Boutique (Karen & Deb), we had a blast!

There are so many talented scrapbookers! I left feeling SO INSPIRED and I have another 2 FULL DAYS of inspiration ahead.

Now, for Just a few of the photos I took yesterday while browsing around the different booths.

Crafty Secrets:

Melissa Francis:

Basic Grey:

Adorn It:

Pink Paisley:

Sizzix:

Tim Holtz:

Prima:

Cosmo Cricket:

Making Memories:

Maya Road:

How could you walk away from CHA 2010 and not feel inspired?

Headed to CHA!

Christie — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:58:04 +0000

I’m packing my bags and heading to CHA in Orange County with the PSB gals. This time I’m dragging my Mom along to get her fill on inspiration too. I can’t wait! I am SO EXCITED!

I’ll be posting some CHA photos on the road…and definitely share some of the projects I’ve been working on for Graphic 45 (a couple of mini albums using their new lines)!

I designed a layout for Paradise Scrapbook Boutique using the new Bo Bunny Line: A Gift of Love

I can’t share the whole layout yet…for now, I’ll leave you with a little sneak peek:

Happy crafting,

Christie B.

Keepin’ It Real…Really.

Christie — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:41:18 +0000

This is what my desk looks like right now.

I have projects galore that I really, really want to share…but alas, they are for CHA and I have to wait.

My Little Sister’s Wedding Photos (Part One)

Christie — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:33:28 +0000

ALL PHOTOS IN THIS POST BY JACLYN DAVIS

I know that some of you have been waiting patiently to see photos from my baby sister, Emilee’s wedding.

Jackie, Emilee’s photographer emailed me several photos. Jackie is an amazing photographer and I can’t wait to see the whole lot (hundreds) of photos!

Jackie also promised to send me some photos of the little tags, banners and little paper crafts that I made for Emilee’s wedding. I promise I’ll post those too when I get them.

Be sure to check out Jackie’s BLOG. She is truly amazing.

Emilee’s hairpiece was made by: Miss Ruby Sue