{stamping with gesso...

Sometimes, I just need to get messy with my scrap supplies. I need to go beyond my norm & just throw it out there...literally.
I pulled all of my past {The Story Matters} kits together and started playing.

First I added some gesso & pressed it with the star stamp from the July kit...



I used the blow dryer to dry it quicker cause I'm not one to wait, which made it crackle...love that.
Sprayed it with a good amount of mist...



And then wiped off the extra mist with a papertowel...



Layered a few more stamped gesso stars on top...





And started layering, glueing, & sewing...





This was such a fun layout to create. I encourage you to let your creative side loose & throw a bit of paint & gesso around!


journaling:
I don't often take a weekend away with the girls & I was feeling really guilty about leaving ella. But I'm so glad I tagged along to CHA Chicago.
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Are you up for a challenge?
Check out The Story Matters blog for a weekly challenge.
This week: Stamping!

{up and decorated...

...one country/lodge...





...and one vintage/retro...

{the day of "gratitude" all summed up...

Our Thanksgiving Day always starts with this...

{daddy taking the boys hunting}


While mommy makes these...
{they may just be the simple frig rolls, but the boys still love them after a cold morning hunt}


I made my traditional corn casserole...
{meant to take a finished pic before we ran out the door}


A quick few pics of the rugrats all ready to go...


{the boys always run away as soon as I snap the first pic, but this little one isn't so fast...yet}


I had full intentions of taking pics throughout the day. Lunch @ my parent's, dessert at his parents's, and the all night shopping trip with my sisters. Yes, we were some of the crazies out there. My sistas and I left Thursday night at 11:30pm & got home at 9:00am Friday. Boy were we tired, but we had so much fun & tons of laughs!

{grateful for...

...having a job that I get to bring this little goofball with me.

{holiday wish...

Join us this week over at The Story Matters for this weeks challenge with the amazing MandyK.





My {Holiday Wish} page was created with the November {choosing gratitude} kit.
I only have bits & pieces of this kit left. I loved it SO much!
But... wait until you see the December kit! Yum!!!

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This weekend was a big one for our family.
The first weekend of firearms deer season.
With many hours in the stand sitting quietly, I thought alot about the 30 days of gratitude challenge.

I'm grateful for...
sharing land with the 12+ deer, 3 coyotes, 2 pheasants, numerous squirrels, a bunny, & yes even the opposum {insert shiver here} that I was able to see this weekend.

I'm grateful for...
my blind that got me out of the rain...


...and kept my gun dry...


...and my little hunting buddy smiling...


I'm grateful for...
hunting together as a family...


I'm grateful for...
...this 6 year old who sits so quietly for 7 hours of the day and can sleep in the woods...


No meat was added to our freezer this weekend, but hopefully lots of moments the boys will remember forever.
{Ella had to sit this hunt out, she'll have lots of time in the woods in the near future I'm sure.}

{you grow girl...

A quick card for my preggers cousin...



Tags by ShabbyChicCrafts...pregnancy journaling tags & fall artisan tags.

{let the holiday season begin...

Back in 2008 I participated in a December daily challenge. I created a photo collage with journaling each day in photoshop so when I got around to them {2 years later}, I'd be able to create a quick page. Here is the original collage I created.



So, this year I printed that collage {minus the journaling} and I instantly had a group of mini photos ready for a page.



I love the two new GCD Studios Holiday lines & how well they work together.
{Christmas Sleigh collection: cranberry sauce & joy papers, Joyful Peace collection: fa la la la,Vintage Labels - Homespun Chic by Melody Ross, Word Stirps - Homespun Chic by Melody Ross, Vintage Brads - Artsy Urban by Melody Ross, and the back of one of these: Made For You Tags - Homespun Chic by Melody Ross.

I'm so glad I did this back then and I'm looking forward to taking the challenge again this year.
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Check out this awesome news!!!


Read more info HERE.

{my little rad girly...

more shabbychiccrafts love...

{proof found...

Have you checked out the new Christmas tags over at Shabby Chic Crafts? I can hardly wait to get my hands on the milk bottle caps!
In the meantime I've been playing with the amazing vintage series:







{fall artisan}, {vintage polkadot squares}, and the {vintage calendar cards}.

{countdown to christmas...

Yes... it's less than 6 weeks away!!!
And to get you in the holiday spirit, here's a little sneak of the December kit from The Story Matters...







I am so in love with this kit. It's Christmas without being completely Christmas.
Mark your calendars for the December 5th reveal. You're gonna love it!

Try The Story Matters out for just $19.99 (plus s&h).

Try us for the first time for just $19.99 ($5 off the regular rate)
OR pick up back up for $5 off!

Already subscribe-tell a friend, and you BOTH get $5 off!!

Just a little way we can show OUR Gratitude to you!

($5 will be refunded at time of payment via payment method via pay pal)

And don't forget-participating in the weekly challenges gives you a chance at $5 off also!

ALL this fabulousness, for just $19.99 (plus s&h when necessary).

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I have been really bad about keeping up with the {30 days of gratitude} challenge, but there are so many things I am grateful for.
Like today...spending time as a family...




{ella & I went with the boys on their pheasant hunt today. No birds...but great exercise & time spent together. I wish I would have gotten a pic of ella in her cute little camo hat sittin in her carrier. She love it!}

{pre-k grad...

{I really want/need to do some journaling on this one yet.}

The fun 2+2 card can be found HERE @ Shabby Chic Crafts...

{art journal...time...

I felt the need to do something quick... something creative. So, I ran down stairs and in about 15 minutes I made this little page for my art journal...



One thing I am striving to do with this journal is to use up my scraps and product packaging. This page is made with a basic grey package back.

And this mess, I wish I could keep it out forever! I just love grabbing and creating with what's infront of me.

friends & family challenge

This weeks challenge over @ The Story Matters is {friends & family}...

I created this layout of Penny & I being goofy in Chicago using the November {Choosing Gratitude} kit...



Be sure to check out the {TSM} blog for a new challenge each week!

{guest bloggin...

I am so honored to be guest blogging over at Imaginisce. I love their mix of products & their tools are amazing! {Hoping to play more with those in the near future.}

I used a mix of the {To love & cherish} & {b-day bash} collections for my layout. I love the simple black & white, but wanted to add a splash of color and the bday bash line was perfect for that.





I loved using these & outlined them with a black marker to make them "pop".


And every little girly layout needs some bling:


Be sure and check out all the great lines by Imaginisce. They're sure to have something that fits every scrappin style out there.