10 Things on Thursday

1. Life has felt a little out of control this past week. Battling colds, trying to find the balance between home, work and hobbies and just not quite myself.

2. I opened my Etsy business last week. http://www.kariann96.com/ I am making fabric Kindle/Ipad/Nook covers with a pocket. Plus some other fun things along the way. Nick designed my business card for me.

3. I have alot of items in stock but can put together a custom combination as well.

4. Last weekend Nick and I had a Torchwood: Children of Earth marathon. Stayed up into the wee hours watching 4 of the 5 episodes but it was worth it. Love this series!
5. I love fall but the days are already getting shorter.
6. Bennet has started making her own cold lunch to take to school. She's so proud and I am appreciative!
7. Scout hates holding butterflies. Lucy came out of her cocoon this week and she was NOT a fan!

8. Ellie is really starting to make noise. She is talking, babbling, screeching or generally making noise when she is awake. Simultaneously adorable and slightly exhausting.
9. Finally making progress on getting our new roof. Ugh.
10. Hoping for a rejuvenating weekend. I need it!

Pinterest Inspiration

I love Pinterest. Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard. Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. A couple of months ago I came across this RED inspired mood board so I pinned it to my Pinterest account. Unfortunately it was before they had the original source linked up so I can't give credit to the original artist. 

It was the inspiration for my Sweetheart layout. I grabbed my stack of red and pink scraps along with a homeless Joker playing card. I had spotted a layout that used twine as a title so I wanted to try that as well.

TITLE: Sweetheart

Journaling:  You are a spit fire, but also a loving girl with a sweetheart. ywca feb. 2011

10 Things on Tuesday

1. It's been almost a week since I've had a blog post. That's a long time for me.
2. I have been sewing up a storm. Nearly every free moment in fact, because
3. I am working on opening an Etsy shop to sell fabric ereader/Kindle/Nook/ipad cases. I am hoping to open this week.
4. Last weekend the family walked in the United Way parade with the YWCA. Ellie fell asleep in her stroller like this

5. I finished the "Great Seasonal Clothing Swap" for all 3 kids. Tank tops and shorts have been put away and replaced with sweaters and long pants.
6. My dvr is working overtime with all the NEW TV this week. I am a tv junkie through and through.
7. I am sneaking some time to read this:

8. I had one of my 10-minute layouts (of Ellie from last Halloween) published in the October issue of Creating Keepsakes. It's the first time I've been published there and I'm still giddy about it. It's on the last page.

9. Now that the weather is turning colder I am craving Butternup Squash soup. A trip to the Farmer's Market is in order.

10. I am grateful to Nick who has been helping me get my Etsy shop (kariann96) in order. From business cards to words of encouragement- thank you!



On a Roll

I did this layout awhile back but I don't think I ever posted it. These photos are from the spring of 2010. They just make me smile because they are such a perfect example of Scout.  Just a complete mess with her hair in her face, one flip flop and her fancy polka dot dress yet insisting on riding her trike up and down the sidewalk. I love that kid.

Lucy the Caterpillar

The second weekend in September is the Festival of Art in Wausau. Last year the girls and I went to the displays at Marathon Park and stumbled upon the Marathon Monarch booth. We purchased a caterpillar for $5, the girls named it Tulip JoJo and watched it go from caterpillar to butterfly.

This past weekend we made the trip again and purchased Lucy. Bennet likes to call her Lucy Loose Toothy. Right now she's in the J position ready to form her chrysalis. It's such a fun thing to do with the kids that it's become an annual tradition.

This layout features our 2010 caterpillar- Tulip JoJo.

10 Things on Friday

1. We had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend at the cabin. It was cold and rainy but it didn't stop the girls from fishing. I was so impressed with Bennet. She cut the crawler, baited her own hook, cast, caught and took the fish off all by herself. That's my girl!

2. Nick and I are watching alot of Torchwood. We're on the second season and I'm totally sucked in.
3. Took Scout to the dentist for the 1st time this week. She did great! Clean report.

4. She wore this skirt I made for her along with her birthday present pick: silver ballet shoes.

5. Last weekend I started and finished The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen. It was a very light and quick (3 hours) read but I really enjoyed it.
6. Started reading A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff.

7. I am sneaking out for some scrap time tomorrow at my friend Casie's house along with Jess and Kim. Really looking forward to it.
8. Ellie has been pretty cranky this week. I'm hoping she's just getting a tooth.
9. It has been perfect sleep-with-the-windows-open kind of weather this week.
10. I have been surprisingly emotional when I think about the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. I've just been reflecting on all my feelings surrounding the memories I have of that day.

SuperGirl

For those of you who don't know my husband Nick, he is a talented artist who once had aspirations of being a comic book writer/artist. He loves comic books and comic book heroes. My girls have seen all the superhero movies so it shouldn't come as any surprise that all of our girls love them as well.

Scout is currently in a Spiderman phase. Everything spidey. Sheets, toothbrush, backpack, umbrella. . . you get the picture.

Last year Bennet wanted to go as Superman for Halloween until she learned that there was a SuperGirl. I sewed this costume for her last year. I love this photo even though it's out of focus. I love the sun shining on her. I love the fact that her feet are barely touching the ground. I love everything about it.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband Nick! The last 8 years have been full of adventure. Here's to another 8. 

I don't make many cards, but when the occassion calls for it. . . Our wedding colors were red and yellow so I made those dominant. I made the patterned paper on the bottom out of important words/memories from our relationship.

Happy 4th Birthday Scout!

Happy 4th Birthday to our wonderfully unique Scout!

It's hard to believe how quickly she's growing up. Her vocabulary and preferences changing almost daily. I did this layout as part of an assignment for the "Getting The Story Straight" class at the Scrapbook Nook. I was able to caputure all the things she loves RIGHT NOW while highlighting a favorite photo at the same time.

Found You

Apparently I was into flag banners the last couple of weeks. I have been starting each layout by going to my newly organized scrap paper pile so that probably has something to do with it. What's the saying- if it's not broke don't fix it? Another layout from a trip to the cabin from earlier this summer.  Ellie took the Fat Tire hat off my head and claimed it as her own.

I hope everyone has a great Labor Day Weekend.

This layout was inspired by a Shannon Zickel layout.

10 Things on the First Day of School

1. School started today. Bennet is in Kindergarten at John Marshall and Scout is in 4K at the YWCA Wausau.

2. I am particapating in a journaling class, "Getting the Story Straight" at the Scrapbook Nook. I love journaling on scrapbook layouts and am always looking for new ideas!
3. I have been craving pasta all week. I need to treat myself to a lunch out.
4. My favorite show right now is Torchwood on Starz. It's so good. I like it so much that we checked out the BBC version from the library.
5. I finished Bennet and Scout's back-to-school skirts but they decided on other apparel for today. Scout picked out Robot fabric and Bennet wanted a patterned courdoy.

6. I had extra fabric so I made one for Ellie too.
7. Finished reading "The Girl Who Fell From The Sky". It was good, but not great. The author wrote each chapter from a different characters perspective and while I normally like that, it wasn't working for me this time.

8. Starting 'The Peach Keeper" next.
9. We had Despicable Me themed birthday party for Scout last weekend. It was so much fun. The minion cupcakes (inspired by the incredibly talented Emilie at PluckyMomo) were a huge hit! The moon pinata was another success!

10. We are off to the cabin to soak up the 3day weekend, celebrate Scout's 4th birthday and officially say goodbye to summer!