I decorated this Maya Road mailbox with some very pretty Webster’s Pages Sweet Cherry Pie paper. I loved the Vintage Americana feel these papers had!

It opens and can hold little surprises. This one will be going to my husband’s grandmother filled with photos.

I decoupaged some of the vintage label elements of the paper on in various spots to add to the charm.

I also used Jenni Bowlin Milk Cap Buttons, Stampin’ Up Postcard Stamps, Making Memories eyelet ribbon and vintage buttons.

Have a Happy Independence Day and God Bless Our Troops, wherever they are serving today!

I miss this. I miss the new baby. I adore the 4 month old silly baby with the smiles and the giggles, but there is something so precious in those first few days, and you never get that back. I am so grateful that I spent so much time just sitting and holding and being right in that moment this time around.

I used Making Memories paper, punches from Fiskars (border) and Martha Stewart (Butterflies), pins from Maya Road, letters from American Crafts (yes, I roughed them up and sprayed a little glimmer mist on before I used them), ribbon from Cosmo Cricket.

And then I remembered, and I felt. I’m so glad I make stuff that helps me to remember. I feel like I would lose so much more if I didn’t.

(Cosmo Cricket layout, created June 2008)

It has been a year since I tried out for the Cosmo Cricket design team, and what a year! I had such a blast designing for them and being a part of their truly wonderful company! Come July 1st, my contract is up, and it is time for something new, so I hope all of you talented scrapbookers out their will apply for their new call.

Since the official Cosmo announcement earlier this week, I have received several e-mails asking me what I was going to do next. While I do have a few pending projects, for now, I am just going to relax and let what comes come! Since this door is closed, I throw my windows wide open and invite the sunshine in. I’m ok with a break, I’m ok with opportunity. I’m just going to be and enjoy the ride. Don’t worry, readers, there will still be plenty of scrap happening on this blog, and more of my goofy stories and rambling thoughts.

On the 18th Jonas turned 7, Maggie turned 4.5 and Gabe hit the 4 month mark. This summer they are equally driving me crazy and being absolutely fabulous. They are so busy being creative and so intent on learning. I am truly impressed with their innate desire to grow. I think many of us lose that as we age and complacency sets in. Jonas has been flying through workbooks and is jumping reading levels, and it is wonderful to watch. Maggie is practicing writing her letters and making new connections daily. Gabe is grabbing stuff and doing his darnedest to cram said stuff into his mouth. All little steps, all such good examples.

I followed their example and have spent much of my week devouring books: The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox, The Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri. I am partway through the bestselling biography FDR right now, and it is fascinating. It is good to be learning, good to be doing. Work is such a blessing, and a life’s work should be filled with opportunities for learning in small ways and big. Read a book, learn a skill, make a relationship and learn about another person. Keep on growing, keep on serving, and use up your time and talent finding as much joy as you can. It is how you keep life good.

These are a set of small enclosure cards that I created using some leftover bits of Cosmo Cricket Early Bird chipboard.

These are very simple to make, fold a card to measure 2.5x3, ink the edges, adhere 1strip of cute patterned paper and then add your chipboard and write a sentiment. If you have character-y chipboard like these, you can have them talk, or you can just write a general message. I inked the edges of everything.

I also made a teacher thank you card using the same Cosmo Cricket line and this nifty school die from Quickutz. Just punch your pieces from the Early Bird, assemble ( I like to use a Xyron to adhere the pieces), cut yourself some fringe as grass, and add a sentiment.

Cosmo Paper, Quickutz number/letter dies. Very simple, grab your Early Bird Scraps, layer 3 of them vertically, plop 3 pics on one side, journal up the other and add some embellished numbers in between. I added bling to the numbers and wrote a few smaller bits of info around them. You could use this format for different counted things; favorite things, years old, freckles on your face, etc.

Now if I could just get this baby to slow down a bit. I am astounded at how quickly he went from newborn to baby. He turned four months this week. I blinked. I almost missed it all.

Cosmo Cricket paper, Quickutz dies.

A Little Lilybee paper with some super cute new Quickutz! I love this number set and the label!

This little galvanized tin got a good sprucing up with the Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Line! It was so easy to make! I wrapped the tin with black cardstock and then red polka dots. Then I added chipboard flowers, layering extra blossoms above and below the main stem for a little extra depth. I also added some very small pen marks to add a little extra detail. Then I tied this pretty ribbon around the bottom, and added some ribbon scraps to the handle as well, and some letters.

It opens like so and holds a little note, a gift card or some small photos depending on what you want to put inside. It was a great little end of school year teacher appreciation gift for us. Cute containers with a little plastic inside are always well received!