Pretty Paper Blog

A Quick Post…

Christie — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:20:59 +0000

Just sharing some projects…

A a couple layouts and a card that I created using the new line from Prima Marketing, Lyric.

My nephew, Jackson, eating his first ice cream cone on his first birthday.

My daughter, Izabelle, playing her cello.

A layout using DIY Shop by Crate Paper:

A layout using Urban Traveler by Simple Stories:

My sweet boy turned SIXTEEN last month! Crazy!

I honestly don’t remember what paper I used for this layout. I was scrapbooking at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique for National Scrapbook Day. I didn’t have my camera with me so I took some photos of the layouts that I created with my cell phone. Sorry the photo quality isn’t very good.

My little nephew, Cooper.

This layout was created using Sweet Shop by Lily Bee Design:

Another layout using Urban Traveler:

Sorry that I’ve been away so long. I’ve been traveling a lot and it’s not going to slow down anytime soon. I have a packed-full-of-fun Summer planned. My project posts will most likely be few and far between.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your time.

XOXO, Christie

Handmade Cards

Christie — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:26:18 +0000

I love handmade cards, I wish that I had time to make a handmade card for all card-giving occasions.

My grandmother is one of the few people that receives my handmade cards on a regular basis, probably because she appreciates them so much. Grandma loves to send notes in the mail so I made her some handmade cards to send out, she loved them so much that she kept them instead of mailing them out. Sweet, right? I just love her!

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope that you have a marvelous day!

XOXO, Christie

Pens – For More Than Just Paper

Christie — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:54:01 +0000

While dying Easter Eggs this year, we grabbed some pens and started coloring.

We could create a neat watercolor effect if we used a paintbrush while the ink was still wet.

Izabelle, Breanna and I spent more than 3 hours coloring eggs. I think it’s the most fun I’ve ever had while dying eggs.

Speaking of pens…I used the fun Spectrum Noir pens on these layouts:

Pretty simple layouts but it was fun to let the pens do their magic.

Thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,

Christie

Take a Gander, if You Like…

Christie — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 03:18:18 +0000

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

Handmade Cards

Christie — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:08:49 +0000

I created all of the above cards for SNA in 2012. Guess it’s time I shared them, right?

Have a happy day!

xoxo, Christie

Ready for Color

Christie — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:41:47 +0000

As much as I love watching the seasons change…and as beautiful as the snow is, I’m officially ready for Spring.

I love it when the world turns from white to green. I’m crossing my fingers it’s soon.

March is going to be a fun-packed month! First we get to celebrate “green” day with St. Patty’s around the corner. Can anyone say corned beef and cabbage? Yum!

Then, Easter is upon us. I love Easter! To watch the flowers bloom is such a beautiful thing. The baby chicks hatch, the tree’s bud and wake up form their Winter sleep, everything is new and wonderfully gorgeous again.

But mostly I love Easter because I am reminded of how truly blessed I am. I am so truly grateful for my Savior and the sacrifice He made. I so grateful for the celebration of His resurrection and the beautiful Plan of Salvation.

XOXO, Christie

This One’s For The Boys

Christie — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:39:50 +0000

Baby Jack in a San Fransisco Giants hat. I believe Jack is the cutest little Giant’s fan alive.

My brother and his wife are die-hard fans. They don’t watch very much television but when the Giant’s are playing ball, all bets are off and the television is on.

I have been blessed to marry into a family filled with amazing men. Every single one of them is kind, respectful and best of all: they each have a unique sense of humor. I am always laughing when spending time with my hubby’s family.

Then there is this guy. Parker, Parker, Parker. He is so much fun right now. Almost 16, learning to drive, funny (like his dad and uncles), smart, and most definitely quirky. Like the layout title says, Parker is anything but typical.

Although there are many more boys in my life than are not pictured in this post, I am so grateful for each one of them. Boys are so much fun!

XOXO, Christie

Stamping on Canvas

Christie — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:16:38 +0000

It’s been awhile since I’ve sat down at my sewing machine. For some reason it feels therapeutic. The sound of a sewing machine always brings back memories of my grandmother. I would lay at her feet while she would create something beautiful.

My mother and I recently visited a shop that had a few handmade pillows scattered amongst other home decor. One of them had a stamped canvas background. It was so unique and beautiful, I had to try it myself.

I painted the canvas with Gesso first, then let it dry. Using black VersaFine ink, I went a little crazy with my stamps. When the stamps dried, I painted the canvas again with Martha Stewart Glitter Finish.

I also had a little fun making my own ruffled trim and vintage-style bow. What do you think? Do you like the look of stamped canvas?

xoxo, Christie

Free Kisses

Christie — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:11:58 +0000

As my children prepared to leave for school today, Izabelle grabbed a bag of Valentine colored Hershey Kisses and declared that she would be giving away “free kisses” to her friends. Parker followed suit and grabbed his own heart-shaped tin box of Hershey Kisses to give away. Their sweet spirits touched my heart, I love days like this.

Valentine’s Day has always been such a fun holiday. Even as a young child I enjoyed “love” day. One of my favorite Valentine memories is the year my mother made heart-shaped pink pancakes for breakfast before school.

Yesterday I enjoyed time with my mother and sister baking up sweet treats for our families. It feels nice to “spread the love”.

I hope that YOU have a wonderful Valentine’s Day! Go spread the love…try giving away some free kisses.

XX, Christie

A Valentine

Christie — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:34:43 +0000

I love Valentine’s Day. Love is a beautiful thing, why not have a special day each year to celebrate it?

I am a woman who is lucky in love. I am blessed with a very romantic husband. Dan consistently expresses his deep and enduring love for me…like on a daily basis.

Until I met Dan, I never actually knew that I was the kind of woman who needed to hear a profession of love on a daily basis. And now that I know how wonderful it is, I cannot live without it.

I wake up in the morning feeling gross and groggy and Dan will tell me how beautiful I am. He treats me like a queen and makes me want to treat him like a king…and I do.

Dan has always been supportive of my creative side. He has purchased a beautiful camera for me; let me drive off on trips to visit scrapbooking friends and attend scrapbooking retreats in far away places. He has surprised me with photo editing software and crafty supplies. Dan has been so supportive of my crafty adventures and never complained when I’m buckling down spending late nights crafting before design team deadlines or spending loads of time creating handmade presents. And oddly enough he has a really good eye if I need that little “extra something” on a layout or project. He’s been known to say things like: “That photo needs to be popped up,” or “This layout needs a button right here,” and “maybe you should use that yellow ribbon on this one…”

I am grateful for Dan’s input and the way he pushes me to be my best. He is the perfect man for me. After almost 17 years of marriage, I am still so very much in love with him, my sweet, handsome Valentine.

It is my sincere hope that you have someone equally as special to spend your Valentine’s Day with.

XOXO, Christie