Feel Better...

Ugh... I have the "summer time blues..." my kids are driving me into the nut house. I don't think my ears or nerves will ever get use to the ear piercing scream of a 3 and 5 year old.

This week, I am playing along with the Get Sketchy challenge. I liked this one a lot! No twisting or turning, just went with it!
The sketch:

And my take:
No, I didn't make this card for myself, but I am having a hard time to sending it off... it looks pretty on my desk! ;)

Have a good one...

Summer Colors!

I love the colors of summer... pinks, greens, blues... they are so fresh and fun! Today, The Shabby Tea Room posted their challenge: "Popsicles & Pinwheels" meaning to use the picture as inspiration and the colors pink, green and turquoise. So, this is what I came up with:
A fresh, summer time birthday card! Punches are from Fiskars and Martha Stewart, stamp is Papertrey Ink. Easy, breezy... summer time!

On a side note... sorry I have been MIA lately, I have been a painting fool! Rooms, walls and furniture, oh my! Time flies when your having fun!

Get Well Wishes

I have recently received news of several people in need of prayers and get well wishes. So, here's a simple card appropriate for those people in need of some "spirit lifting". I have been busy painting... I finished Elan's big boy room over the weekend and he loves it! Now on to painting furniture, doors, and a living room. I'm loving the colors that are coming together in the house!
I have also been purging... something I do often. I have a local charity picking up 3 huge bags of toys and clothes and also a car seat. Elan's crib was hauled off to next door for that family to use and I thought I would be sad... getting rid of baby clothes, toys, crib, blankets, etc., but it actually feels good. I don't feel so cluttered or overwhelmed with "stuff." It was time. I was ready. And most importantly, Elan loves his new room and the kids don't miss any of the toys we gave away. That's accomplishment enough for me!

Happy Father's Day! I know five of the best dads out there... my dad, my husband, and my 3 brothers! Hope you all have a great Father's Day... you all are so good to your kids! Love you!

*********************************

Stephen had never held a baby until he had his own. In the hospital, when Mac was born, he was a natural, like he had been saving up his paternal instincts for 35 years to use on that very day. He cuddled, swaddled, cooed and even changed his diaper in the hospital. When we came home, he was the soothing, relaxed one and I was a messy ball of nerves! He has been a wonderful daddy since day one.
Then, he got a girl... Anna stole his heart the instant she was born. Announcing, "Honey! It's a GIRL! I got a girl... Anna Reinhard!" With a big sweet tear on his cheek. He was so proud and still is one proud daddy of all three of his children. Stephen became more sensitive, protective, emotional and attentive after each of his children were born.


Finally, we got another boy, the third, the baby. Stephen named Elan all himself- it's a strong name, meaning "friendly" and believe me, Elan has lived up to his name. Elan is going to be Stephen's athlete, he wants to know and learn everything he knows about sports. He is always saying how he wants to be big and strong, just like his daddy! Stephen eats it up! :)



I am blessed... I have a wonderful husband that adores our children, and our children completely adore him right back! He is an unbelievable role model and he is teaching our children to be grateful, independent and caring adults. All the while we are laughing and playing together... life is so good!

Happy Father's Day, darling!

Favorite Toy

The challenge over at These Are A Few of My Favorite Things is "Favorite Toy." Hands down, my favorite toy is my camera, a Cannon DSLR. I urge you to visit the site (click on the link above) just to get inspired by all the awesome layouts the DT created! There are some super crafty girls over there!

Now, go out and play with your favorite toy!

Get Sketchy!

Hey everybody! I'm back from a lovely week at the beach and finally starting to recover! Let the summer time blogging begin! Woo-hoo!
This is a card for the Get Sketchy weekly challenge. I flipped the sketch clockwise to get this:

And this was the sketch that I twisted in a creative sort of way... after all, a sketch is a mere starting point to get your creative juices flowing! :)

I hope to upload some vacation pictures tomorrow and possibly get some scrappin' in too! Hope you all are surviving the high heat, we are eating lots of popsicles and sitting in cool water!

For the love of Cosmo!

Hello! Happy summer... I'm thrilled to be a guest designer today at Die Cuts R Us! The line I chose to work with for my projects was Joyride by Cosmo Cricket. I don't know many people who don't LOVE Cosmo Cricket! Their papers and chipboard are happy and fun and I can always use the collections in a project. The Joyride line is super great for vacations, road trips, days filled with fun and guy themed projects... like Father's Day... wink, wink! So, enough blabbering and on with the good stuff!


This is a layout I made... it's pretty silly, but a very funny, good memory for me. And hey, isn't that what scrappin' is all about? We were making the long 12 hour drive back from the beach and my mom took these pictures. She thought I was driving too fast and put on Anna's bicycle helmet. We laughed until we were crying!



Next up, a Father's Day card for my dear, old Dad. I told you this is a great collection for guy themed projects! :) I used some ancient foam stamps to ink "dad" and used the same mist as above.
TIP: rather than spraying your mist, unscrew the cap and tap the ink off the tube. That way, you get a more concentrated inked area.


Lastly, an easy "Hi" card that you could whip out in 10 minutes to send to an old friend. The inside message is "It's been too long..." A sentiment stamp from Papertrey Ink.

See?! I told you the Joyride Collection was awesome! It's so versatile and fun! I hope these projects inspire you to make something crafty today!

I'm beach bound today! My whole family is making the trip to Hilton Head, SC for a week. We go this time every year and we absolutely love it! So, this is probably my last post for the week. Have a good one!

Let's get sketchy, shall we?

I haven't played along with the Get Sketchy challenge in a while, and well, it's high time I get to it! I saw this week's sketch and knew exactly what I was going to do- which is quite rare. However, I have a little friend who is going through a rough time and wanted to send her something.
Here is my (her) card:
I used papers from Cosmo Cricket, sentiment stamp from Papertrey Ink and the cricket card is from Starbucks- inside is an inspirational quote. Finished off with a vintage button and twine.

This was the sketch:

You still have time, if you want to play along! Toodles!

It's My Mom's Birthday...

And she looks better than ever! She has aged gracefully (and beautifully) and continues with all her hobbies, talents and activities. Mom is never bored, nor does she have enough hours in the day to complete all she wants to! I always joke (but not really) that she has more dates and things to do than I.

We are fabulous, aren't we? This was at my cousins wedding in February, 2009, and we had a ball!

Mom is a person that a stranger could meet, and five minutes later they will be best friends. She is welcoming, open, helpful, giving, positive and has a heart of gold. She loves her children and grandchildren (all 11 and a half of them!) more than anything in the world... and it shows. She has already been assigned a fabulous spot in heaven!

The entire crew: my 3 brothers and their families, and mine, including the big Wrig, gathered around mom and dad this past Sunday.

All the grandchildren with Mimi and Pops.

Mom is my best friend. I would rather hang out with her than anyone. She is a rock, so strong, spiritual and wise. She guides me and gives great advice. She gives me breaks with the kiddos and, well, she sews. She makes me the most divine clothing you will ever see... but not in a store! Mom is so super creative! She keeps up a phenomenal garden, and has even taken up oil painting in the last year- and she's really good!

Mom, happy birthday! You are so wonderful! I want to be just like YOU when I grow up!

Love you so much always,

XOXO