Guess what came in the mail today?

Rainbows and sunshine! I'm giddy about this. I can't wait to sit down and look at every single "recipe." This thing is next to impossible to come by right now as it is sold out everywhere...I was lucky enough to find a new one on ebay for $20 which is excellent!

Let the drooling begin.

Momma's Got a Brand New Name

I changed the name of my Etsy shop to match my new banner. Isn't that just so typical of me? I found the most darling banner (after weeks of looking for one that "speaks" to me) and felt the need to soften the name of my fairly stagnant shop. So "Lovely Distractions" it is. And check it out - I figured out how to add a little Etsy section to my blog. Look how tech savvy I'm becoming. Growth....it's a good thing. Anyway - go on over and take a look at the new banner.

Thank you, Netflix

I'm a TV watcher. Once the kids and my early-to-bed husband are asleep, I like to watch shows that I've Tivo'd while I putz around, folding laundry and doing other super exciting things. I don't have a TV in my scrap room....and this sort of sucks. I used to just put my ipod in the sound dock and listened to music while working in there....and sometimes I still do.......but it just isn't the same as the comforting glow of mindless crap playing on a screen in front of me. I finally realized about 6 months ago, that I could plug in our travel DVD player, set it up on my little tool station on my scrap table and watch movies while I work! YAY! So I joined Netflix and have been a happy little crafting hermit ever since. This weekend I watched the last two seasons of Weeds (loved it) and got lots done! So thank you Netflix.....for being the crutch that keeps me crafting well into the night. Two new pages and a collage for my Mom's birthday. Her birthday isn't until Wednesday, but I think it's safe to post the picture anyway as she still needs tech support to find my blogs. Love you Mom.

Weekend Round-up

Some new frames for the shop.
I love making these. They are a bit time consuming, but still fun to make. On the left we have "The Sweet Family" frame, and on the right - "The Once Upon A Time" frame. I ordered this newly released SEI paper ("Dilly") with these in mind. I love the colors!





I've been trying to catch up on scrapbooking - as usual. I've been going to some crops with friends and have gotten some pages done at those. For the most part, the pages I do away from home are just so-so. I don't have the ability to walk away, and come back later. I don't have ALL of my stuff with me.....so they usually end of being pretty boring. And sometimes that's totally okay! My gosh, they can't ALL be winners. Sometimes, it really is just about "getting it in the book " - even for a scrapbooking control freak like me. Here are a couple of new pages that I really like though. I would love to finish scrapping Christmas this week. Nothing like Christmas in July!

The Free Love Photo Album

I LOVE this paper by Tinkering Ink. I've been wanting to use it for something, and remembered that I had this never used, plain covered photo album. Perfect. I used a craft knife to cut out the floral design and then MP'd (modge podge'd) it on. I used a Lil' Davis embellishment ("memories") on the front and adhesive ribbon for the binding. Gorgeous, gorgeous paper. Hmmm...I'm seeing an issue with the ribbon. I'll have to go smooth that out a bit......

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

Who is the owliest one of all?

This turned out pretty cute, I must say. I'll be giving the owls a rest now!

You know, I often buy scrapbook paper because I love it and have to have it. Then what happens is, it doesn't get used, because it's too girly for all of my boyish pages - and I'm not the type to make scrapbook pages about myself.

Making things other than pages has been a great way to use the girly parts of my scrapbooking stash! I like hanging out with flowers and things that are pink. Don't get me wrong - I'm a big fan of green, red, navy blue, and stripes. But it's nice to go into my scrap room and work with things that are soft and lovely.....even if there is a farting contest happening right outside the door.

Happy Father's Day!

Two hands and a foot. It would have been nice to get three hands, but the baby wasn't having it. I put that paint on his chubby little hand, and he wouldn't hold it still for anything! Oh well - the only thing cuter than a little baby hand, is a little baby foot. This was a fun and simple project....thanks for the heads up to my friend Jodie and Redenvelope.com! They were selling a kit for $40 I think....I did this for under $20. I was looking for the perfect ribbon to hide the canvas staples and when I couldn't find one - I used this "measuring tape" ribbon which I think looks pretty cute. I toyed with embellishing them more, but decided to keep them really simple so that they wouldn't have to compete with one another. It's hard to embellish three separate pieces and hang them on the wall next to one another, without "junking up" the overall look. Anyway, they are now hanging in my hallway and look super cute. Easy, meaningful Father's Day Present! I'm sure my husband was much more pleased with these than he would have been with say a gift card for Home Depot. Right?..........right? :) Oh well. I like 'em.

It's been so crazy with the end of the school year, end of baseball season, Father's Day, etc. I have so many projects in my head and I can't wait to finally get back to "work!" The big boys have VBC camp this week so my mornings will be free if the baby naps. I'm hoping to make at least a couple of new things for my shop this week. My frames all sold....to say that I'm pleasantly surprised is an understatement!