A peek into my world... and a friends new blog!

Hey peeps! Nothing crafty to share with you today, BUT a friend of mine from WAAAAAAY back (i'm talking we went to school together from kindergarten thru 8th grade, and we still keep in touch!) started a new blog called CovetLiving. Its all about Coveting the Life you Live.

LOVE IT! The blog is just starting up but i love the design of it and both Steph (my friend) and Karrie (who i know, but not well) are both such fun and amazing women with fantastic energy, this blog is bound to be a good read! So if you are interested in such blogs.... check out

CovetLiving

Now one of the first entries is titled Goodwill Hunting... all about being a recessionista in these crazy times. Love that word! If you scroll down a bit in the post you'll read about finding mismatched frames. I love that picture of the frames behind the bed! I might have to do that too! Karrie did this as well in her recessionista version painting all of the frames black. I love the clean feeling it gives. Here's the thing for our house... it doesnt match our more rugged aesthetic. BUT i do have a slightly different version, leaving a lot of the frames mismatched. But i did do some modifcation to many of them... check out the wall we found boring recently in our living room...

My wall isnt very extreme with pictures... but thats because it's just begun!

My pictures are also mostly in color with a few black and whites. However my friend Jess in LA has her place completely done over in black and white and I love that look too!

There are truly 101 possibilities!

For the most part, our frames are all black. Either because thats the way we got them, or because I made them that way. Dont get a can of black spray paint near me, i go nuts!

There are just a few exceptions to add some color

Yes i know this picture is blurry, but my 4 year old has since "stolen" my camera from when i just took these pictures and is taking pictures of random things all over the house.

This picture is one of my favorites on the wall. It's from when i was pregnant with Gabe and Jack and I were hanging out on the bed during a belly photo session with Jen Rogers Photography. This frame was also a wedding gift and was sadly not in use, so put to use it went!

Here's another favorite. Now i do love that picture of the hubs and I but i LOVE this frame too!

This was a cheap pick up by my hubby from Big Lots.

Then there are the "modified" frames.

This was just one of those super cheapies from Ikea. Plain wood... nothing special. I just painted crackle paint on it and let that set for about 15 minutes (needs less time when you don't paint the first coat) and then painted black acrylic paint over it. Easy peasy! I actually did this to about 3 frames on the wall. You can also use a different color underneath before you paint the crackle if you want a different color popping thru.

And now to show some of the super fun frames! The more personality/meaning the better!

This frame i've had since no joke... the 8th grade! My BF since the womb (the one in the photos with me) put it together for me. And i've kept it. Now since not only it shows some pretty hilarious pictures and is a fun green color, it's actually meant to be a table top frame for it sticks out slightly from the wall. but i think it's fun that way!

This frame back did in school. Hence the not quite perfect paint job. The picture was taken in school as well and then it was wrapped and given to me as a present from jack. So cute huh!

It's definitely a one of a kind frame on the wall!

Last but notleast... is the artwork in the middle. It's a print by Brian Andreas. I LOVE this artist! I have given many of his prints as gifts. If you havent heard of him, check out www.storypeople.com.

He is an artist, writer and well you just have to check it out!

So thats a peek into my world. :D Have a wonderful day!

Read more...

OMG - one more post for today!

OMG... i know i already posted once today, but this post just came to my attention...

http://www.mastersinhealthcare.net/blog/2010/top-40-rubber-stamping-craft-blogs/

At first look, i'm like... wow, this is a great comprehensive list of some great crafting blogs and then..... WHAT?! I'm on the list! ME! My blog! NUMBER 12!

I'm honored, floored and very humbled. I dont know who posts on this blog... but they just made my day during a moment that i really needed my day made. :)

Thank you!

Ok, now scroll down to continue to read about a fun gift and the update to Sure Cuts A Lot. :)

Read more...

AWARDS!

I feel so honored! People have been awarding my blog left and right so now i get to award some people myself! Yes it's a little "chain mail - ish" but it spreads some good cheer and makes others feel good. Who doesnt like that! Here's the awards i've been given lately...


This one was given to me by my current Bella Sistah, Adele! She's fabulously talented and recently got asked to be a designer for Riley! Way to go to her! She's fantab! And ps girl, i just put in a little orderoooo and plan to split my loot with you. teeheee. :)

Here are the rules

1. Only 5 people allowed.
2. 4 have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. one has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. you must link back to whoever gave you the award.

So here are my gals...

1. Beth of Rose Bush Designs. Beth is actually one of my closest friends in RL. And has recently introduced herself to the blogging world. But she is very faithful to my blog and I to hers, so i still think we can count as blogging buddies. hehe.
2. Lisa of This n That. I met Lisa thru splitcoast and she is just such a delightful gal! She posts some great bella cards on her blog and is always happy to share her loot on the RAK boards. :)
3. Kim of Crafts by Kim - another loyal commenter of mine. But check out her blog too - she posts so much more crafty things than just cards. She has some GREAT ideas!
4. Bere of Berry B**ch Princess is one punky chick who always makes me laugh but she ALWAYS has a kind thing to say and she is so thoughtful. She once sent me 1 stamped image of EVERY SINGLE BELLA. SERIOUSLY! every single one of them. Sheesh. What a nice gal! :)
5. Andrea of Karten Freak (card freak). A great blog to visit! She posts some fabulous blog candy of her own and of others she finds online. Be ready to read german though if you're going to visit this one! Luckily for me i can read german, i just cant speak or type it anymore! haha.

and onto the next...

RULES:
I have to pick 7 of my favorite blogs and…
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog
2. Link the person you received your award from
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls or boys you’ve nominated.

Ok - now i read a lot of blogs! But i will put 7 of my all time favorites on the list... but there are just so many more! Luckily i have more awards to give out as well because i seriously love all the blogs i'm listing with all 3 awards... But i've decided in my own head - to qualify for the I Love This Blog award... you have to be a regular blogger that i read every day (or at least close to... teehee, we all do have lives!)

1. Lauren Meader of My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence I do think that Lauren's blog might qualify as my all time favorite blog. I just cant get enough of it or her ideas. They are just flying out her wazooooooooo and sometimes she posts 3 - 4 times a day. I just cant keep up! She also has an amazing life story. She's mind boggling to me. Check her out for sure.
2. Christi of The Story of a Girl Christi is a friend of mine thru my bellaholicsanonymous group. She easily could have qualified for the first award, but i love love her blog and she has some great ideas so she's being moved to here.
3. Dawn of Amusing Musings & Things. Another one that could have been listed under the faithful followers of my own blog - but you cant beat her coloring technique. I go to her blog all the time for some inspiration and know how so she's being listed here as well.
4. Katharina of Katharina's Creative Place is also the creator of the new Whiff of Joy stamps. Keep your eye out for these lovelies! They are awesome! Plus, even though they come from switzerland... i ordered and had mine in less than a week. Thats faster than some places i order from in the states!
5. Kimmie of Kraftin's Kimmie's Korner - ok - this chick... outstanding! Her cards are some of the most beautimus cards i've ever seen! Seriously... you HAVE to check her blog out. Stunning work i tell ya! STUNNING!
6. Lynn of The Queen's Scene - Lynn's in my bella group as well, but was the first blog i ever subscribed to. Her work is FANTAB!
7. Kirsten of Confessions of a Naptime Stamper - even her blog nap is crafty! haha. Kirsten is a designer for many companies i enjoy and posts some GREAT creations. I think her blog was the 2nd blog i ever subscribed to. hehe.

And then last but not least...



The rules for this award are..

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you've nominated.

These blogs are pretty much just more of my favorites and favorite people... They just either dont post every day or dont leave comments on my blog as much. haha.

1. Em with Stamping Bellaa - ok, so this blog is mostly about whats going on at Stamping Bella but i would be lying if i didnt say it was a place i visited regularly! :) I will never be able to get enough of my Bellas!
2. Rachel of Henahan Happenings - One of my BFF's but a fantastic crafter. She doesnt post nearly as many of her creations as she makes. I mean this chick is always craftin'! Still - when she does post... it's bound to be a good one!
3. Kel of Organized Chaos maybe she'll prove me wrong on the not posting as much business. Hehe. Kel, another close friend IRL but has been a card crafting goddess for something crazy like 10 years! She creates cards for lots of people, but not so good at taking pictures and posting them for the world to see! But you should see this lady's craft room! I could get lost in it for days and days. She has some great ideas too and if you have a question about a product, or where to get it, she knows.
4. Kim of Impress Yourself - one of my favorite people of all time... Kim was my Bella Sistah awhile back but we've remained buds. She's fantastic!
5. The Scrappy Chick is another daily visit for me. She has some great sketches that remind me why i love to scrapbook! But dont be fooled.... she has some fantastic cards as well!
6. Debbie from Thinking Inking Stunning work! Her style is very different from mine but is gloriously wonderful at the same time. I like going here for some for vintagie inspiration!
7. Wendy of Wickedly Wonderful Creations is one of my latest blog subscriptions. More stunning work of course or i never would have subscribed! She does a lot more than just cards. And she'll give you some great sneakie peekies! Check her out too!

Whew - and now all of you who read my blog can understand how sometimes i say i get lost in the blogging world. With all of these amazing blogs to browse everyday.... wouldnt you!?!?!?!?

Read more...