You Gnome Me So Well

I know a lot of folks are taking creative advantage of their extra time at home during this crazy quarantine. ME INCLUDED. It's actually shown me I have always had time if I made it and was just better about sticking to a schedule. I also forgot just how much JOY it brings me to create things with paper and not just 

CRAFTS or digital projects.  

So I played some more this weekend and created this fun GNOME card using the die cut cardstock pieces from the Tulla & Norbert Collection by Photo Play. I love the color combo on this card and I have a HUGE obsession with polka dots so no surprise here. I searched around online last week and found a couple more scrappy challenges to inspire the direction I took this card. 

The actual design of it was based off this week's sketch challenge over at My Favorite Things. I used their Cute Critters Clear Stamps set to make that sweet tree stump. And the paper is from their Birthday Blowout 6x6 paper pad which are both older products. The THEME of it however... was inspired by the KNOCK ON WOOD challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. I love that I got to incorporate the little Gnome from the April SCT Sampler kit too!! Lots of fun goodies in that every month if you're looking to get some current products to play with for only a few bucks a month! I purged EVERYTHING a couple years back so I feel like
I'm starting from scratch! 

This next card was one I created and submitted to Scrapbook & Cards Today's Summer Call but it didn't get picked up. I DID HOWEVER HAVE MY WHOLE WEEK MADE when I had a layout I created for the same issue get requested for publication and I am still happy dancing about it. It's literally been like 6+ years since I've submitted any of my work so you can imagine my excitement!
This card was created using PhotoPlay's line called Monterey Bay! I was looking at both of these cards today before coming here to share and realized you could sum my style up in ONE WORD.... LAYERS!!! Ha ha .... I LOVE DIMENSION.
That lends to BULKY cards but that's okay. I love it. It's fun and I'm pretty sure I can't make a card without it. LOL

The last thing I want to share before I go is my BEAUTIFUL SENIOR!!! I am, like all parents of Seniors in High School, sooooo sad about them losing the best part of their last year of High School! We are still working on her Graduation Announcements to mail out but I thought I would share this digital layout I made using some of her Senior Photos. She's an amazing girl and I love the young woman she has grown into! She is going to Northern Arizona University (NAU) in the fall and can't wait to see where life takes her! PROUD OF YOU CASSIDY!!! <3

HOME, WELCOME & GRACE

Wow.... so much has happened the last couple years. 

Back in 2018 I made the decision to get my Real Estate license and work on another stream of income for our family. It's been the BIGGEST blessing ever and I actually surprised myself with what I was able to accomplish even though it was HARD HARD HARD!!!! 

Within a few months of getting my license Shane and I bought our very first home together and we are SUPER proud of that having rented for the first 10 years of our marriage. 

I have REALLY ENJOYED making it feel like home. It would be close to impossible to catch up on all that has happened since I last posted here so I am not going to try. Just wanted to jump right in... share a few of my favorite home decor projects I've done and then HOPEFULLY find time to check in on a much more frequent basis!  

This HOME hanger was one of the first projects I made for our front door. I found the idea for it on Pinterest and then had a friend cut the word "HOME" out of 1/8" birch using her laser wood cutter. Super easy and fun! I have a thing for buffalo plaid so I hope it stays around for a while. 

This project was inspired by one of my crafty
 crushes..... Rebecca Propes!
Here's a link to hers so you can see it! I have this hanging on the wall outside our door in our entry way on the porch. I love the boho-chic vibe and the fun succulents!

This last project is a canvas I painted when I decided what my OLW (One Little Word) would be for 2020. Grace is something I constantly find myself NEEDING and also trying to extend as well.
I have this near my desk in my room so I am always
keeping GRACE in my heart.

 

Okay ..... I guess I will end with that. I have so much to share but want to focus on the future as well. Hopefully I can be better at posting all that's going on creatively and with my amazing family. 

The other INCREDIBLE thing that happened last year is that my 26 year old daughter who I placed for adoption so long ago FOUND ME because of the site 23 & Me and a family member who was on there as well. This is something that I have PRAYED FOR ALL MY LIFE. Shane, my girls, Brody and Chloe... everyone LOVES HER and she fits into our family perfectly and fills a whole in my heart that has been forever missing. I can barely type this without my eyes welling up with tears. I will have to share more about all of 

that in a future post. 

Life is blessed even in the middle of a CRAZY unprecedented quarantine and Pandemic with COVID-19. Praying things get back to normal soon! Until next time!