A springtime scrapbook crop.....

Sounds nice, huh?!?  I can just imagine it.....sitting at a big craft table in a lovely house on the beach, surrounded by lots of happy scrapbook artists, eating yummy food, drinking a big glass of wine, working on my projects ALL day.....I am soooo going to be there!  And you will find all the lovely details HERE.

Designing this flyer for my friends over at the Pink Ninja Addicts, is just one of the things that has been keeping me busy as of late.....playing with Pumpkin is so much fuuunnnn : )

Hope to see you there!
<3 Carrie

A basket full of thank yous

Some Girl Scout Thank You cards I created for a friend : )

Fresh from visiting CHA where these rosette's were everywhere, I think I can say that it was a big part of my inspiration for these cards.  They are tiny cute little things at only 2.75 inches wide by 4 inches tall.....



I don't have a photo of it, but I printed a thank you in green on the inside with my printer before assembling them.....and there was just enough room under the printing for the little girl who was handing them out to write a sweet note too.

Today I am working away on Pumpkin.  Watching The Royal Tenentaums at the same time.  Hoping I have time for crafts tonight.  Drinking some hot vanilla almond cream tea.  Ignoring the fact that I need to eat.  Wondering when I should fit in cleaning.  Already decided to make time to hang out with Gloria if she's free later tonight.  Getting excited about a secret photoshoot scheduled with one of my girlfriends that's going to be epic.  Daydreaming about all the fun things I have planned during my visit to WA.  Trying not to think about how next week has already completely filled up, so I can keep my sanity.  Petting the doggies a lot as they relax next to me on the couch.  Feeling a little confused about plans for the future, but having faith that it will all work out.  Looking forward to another weekend with Ryan, and loving how extra supportive he's been lately.  Am grateful for this little blog and all you lovely people.  And thinking that it's time to create a new playlist for Spring.

And wish you a wonderful weekend : )
<3 Carrie

Your appointment with Friday

Hello Friday!  With you we welcome another fun photo prompt!!!  Gloria is taking a couple weeks off, but before her break she helped me come up with this cool prompt.....

Natural Framing

My understanding of natural framing in a photo is when the subject of your picture is framed by other elements in your photograph.  Like a photo of a person framed from sitting at a windowsill, or something at the end of a tunnel.  The idea is to give your photo depth, draw your attention to that subject, and give your subject's surroundings context.  Here is what I came up with.....

Ever since I took these photos, I have been daydreaming about all the fun shots I could do.....and looking for them everywhere I go.  For me this photo prompt was very addictive and fun!!!  And I absolutely LOVE the first photo of my sweet boys together!  They look like they are in a really peaceful place.....standing at the exit to outside.  What adventure is out there waiting for them?  It's been a while since I took any photos of Ponyo and he has grown soooo much.  The three of us had a lovely stroll that afternoon looking for places to take our photos.  It was a good day : )

And we are lucky enough to have Nely from the Pink Ninja Addicts and her personal blog Sweet Escape, play along with us this week (I love that she used the instagram app on her phone for this photo).....

I've been looking for the perfect opportunity to take a photograph like this!!  When I think of natural framing, a million ideas run through my brain!!  I loved the idea of placing a heart in front of something you love.  That guy you see behind the heart is my husband.  He owns a pretty big chunk of my heart!!  He was perfect for this shot!!!,,,

We hope you decide to play along this week.....this prompt really helps you see photography in a different way.  Have the best weekend!

Love, Carrie & Nely

Sunlit Winter Office Photos

Wednesday ~ Heart Flutter

( Digital Layout:  feathers from Kitschy Digitals, photo negatives from House of 3. )

My heart flutter for today is probably the cutest movie I've seen in a while.  I treated myself to Gnomeo & Juliet in 3D last week, and I LOVED it!  I had no idea you could make a love story so sweet between two animated characters.  It was adorable.  Plus I really enjoyed the art.  The texture of the gnomes was perfect, and the mixture of dimensional and flat backgrounds in some parts was very retro cool.....So, I decided to create another digital layout to print out and add to my 2011 album.  And honestly, now I wish that they made little Gnomeo and Juliet gnomes to adorn my craft table.  I think they would make that space even more cheerful : )

Happy Wednesday!
<3 Carrie

Project Monday

Happy Monday to you!  I know some of you have today off as a holiday :)  OK.  So, if you're looking for a fun project to do, Gloria and I decided to write love letters to that special *someone we love* from our last photo prompt.  Go HERE to see our last photo prompt and start your happy creative process.  And if you already have your photo taken, here is my love letter to Ryan.....I hope you find it inspiring.....

When I first started out thinking about writing a love letter and making it into a project, I thought of a couple different ways I could incorporate it into a layout, but ended up really liking the idea that a love letter to my sweetie was tucked away inside a decorated pouch (you can see the letter sticking out of the top in the photo above).  The letter is folded into a smallish square and wrapped in yellow and white baker's twine.  It fits nicely inside the 6x6 pocket.....And there was even room for Ryan's Valentine card too!

Of course, if you want to play along you don't have to make your love letter into a project.  It just so happens that I wanted my photo of Ryan connected to it in that way.....If that makes sense!?!?

And I used more yummy product from the Color Me Miki Shop in my project this week.  The yellow and white baker's twine, the Hambly overlay, and the Pink Paislee green artisan tape were the perfect additions!  I was also really excited to use these cool stickers of the hand-drawn looking animals.  They are from a little shop I came across in Port Townsend, WA and I have been dying to use them in a project!!!  I think they're pretty special pieces of art.

Have a lovely day.  And if you decide to play along, I know you will enjoy the whole process and create something heartfelt and rewarding <3

Love, Carrie

More February love.....

( My sister Amber and her boyfriend Waylon with a Valentine's dinner performance of Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and In Spite of Ourselves by John Prine. )

Makes me so happy to watch this video.....it is beautiful, organic and soooo sweet for February!  Enjoy!!!

<3 Carrie

Your appointment with Friday

Hello lovely blog readers!  Gloria and I came up with a brand new photo prompt for you today.  In honor of hearts and love and little cupids and all things cute and fun for February, this week take a photo of.....

Someone you love.

Ryan is my love.  Of course there are lots of other people I love too, but I rarely get a chance to take photos of him in-particular (usually he's not too fond of it), so I thought this was the perfect opportunity.  And we just made it work.  Instax mini.  Check.  Sunset.  Check.  Green grass covered park.  Check.  And we had such a great time with this mini photoshoot.  Ryan kept making funny faces, and I was just snapping away, so I have some of the silliest photos of him ever.  I remember holding one in particular, waiting for the film to develop, and feeling that twinkle in my eye as I start to smile and see his cross eyed face appear.  I couldn't help it and giggled out loud.  He immediately smiled and looked over my shoulder.  His voice chuckled and cracked as he spoke and then we bantered back and forth in between laughing and taking more silly photos.  Eventually we got these two pictured above that he considered suitable for sharing.  Of course, if it were up to me, I'd share the silliest ones ; )  What a fun evening.  Something simple.  A special memory.  Perfect.

I hope you get a chance to take a photo of someone you love this week.  I bet it will end up being more fun than you realize <3

And here's Gloria's photos.....

When we talked about love letters, two people came to mind.....Isabella because she is having her first surgery Wed. and that has lead me to many thoughts that are scary, I hope everything goes OK.  I hope she does not experience any pain.  I thought about how much completion she has brought into my life and how much I love her.....And then I thought about my best friend Carrie.  Do I have to choose?  Nope.  I am doing two love letters to two people adore, who are patient with me and whom I have a lot to say too.  Do you have a lot to say to someone.....

Love, Gloria and Carrie

My mind is on printed art today.....

This is the Valentine card I found for Ryan.  I just adore the art work.  It's from Hello! Lucky, but I came across it while walking around the Paper Source.  One of the things I love about Ryan is that he likes this style of art too.....it reminds me of Samurai Jack, and specifically this episode.  It's soooo sweet!  And my mind is spinning with all the different ways I can add his card to my 2011 album, but I still haven't decided which one to use for sure.....Any ideas?

Have a lovely afternoon : )
<3 Carrie

Sunlit Winter Office Photos

TV On The Radio

I think this is my favorite song right now.....makes me happy every time I hear it : )

<3 Carrie

Happy Heart Day!

My new Project Monday is up over at Bubblegum Life if you want to see more hearts tonight : )

Today I have mostly just been working on projects, running errands, and tomorrow I have a fun mini date planned for myself.....I think it's important to have special things to look forward to.  Ryan and I spent yesterday having a blast together (we laughed a lot), and tonight my poor boy had some major dental work done, so he's recuperating on the couch.  I see lots of snuggling in my future.

I hope you feel loved today, I think you are pretty lovely!
<3 Carrie

Project Monday

Happy Valentine's Day beautiful!  Here are some hearts for you today.....

For my Project Monday today I used more product from the fun Color Me Miki shop.....the black and white houndstooth tape, and the purple and white bakers twine.  And honestly, all the product I used today I just love!  I have really been trying to do this more.....only use my favorite product in my projects.  I think it makes them feel more special : )

And I really enjoyed stitching the embroidery with the baker's twine!  Not to mention all the hearts!!!  I am a year round heart kinda girl, so since it's Valentine's I went all out and used lots!

I hope you had the best day <3

Love, Carrie

A sunlit winter weekend.....

Gloria and I have some fun inspirational photos up over at Bubblegum Life if you haven't seen them yet.....And our new photo prompt is now up, if are looking for some Valentine's Day love  : )

My weekend is swamped with a long list of stuff I absolutely cannot put off any longer.  So after this post I am off to get more stuff done.  But sometime this weekend I hope to fit in this at the movie theater.....



What are you looking forward to this weekend?

<3 Carrie

Your appointment with Friday

Happy weekend before Valentine's Day!  The prompt for this week is to find something in the shape of a heart to photograph : )

I (Carrie) was outside taking a walk when the shadow of some pretty ivy caught my eye (pictured above).  There it was, the shape of a heart.  How cool.....I love how the texture of the wall beneath the shadow shows through.  Can you see it?  I snapped my photo with a smile.  For some reason taking photographs of shadows feels special to me.  Well, anyways, I continued to walk along the tall wall of green until I saw this.....

 A lovely bright greenish yellow leaf.  The sun was shining so bright it gave the heart a bit of a glow.  I love how I can just take a walk by my house and find little things like a heart shaped leaf, and feel like it's just for me because right now only I can see it.....a heart aglow.  I get to capture the moment with a photograph, and then later use it to make something artistic to symbolize it's beauty.  Another reason I love the idea of capturing this year with photos, ticket stubs, notes, letters, cards and finding how it all fits together inside a scrapbook album.  I love art <3

Have fun this weekend, and keep a look out for your heart.....sometimes you find them in the oddest of places ; )

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And here's Gloria's photo.....

This week Carrie and I chose a heart picture because its Valentines Day on Monday.....Yeah the month of love.  So on that note I can honestly tell you I have been on the look out for hearts.  Last week I posted a heart on my blog that I saw while running.  It is a treetrunk that was cut in half and is now often used as a sitting place by surfers.  I loved the whole idea of what it stood for to me and what it represented.  That's how I chose this picture.  What it means me to.  This is a broken heart that has mended itself.  It represents stenth and tenacity.  I look at this tree trunk and see hope.  It's beautiful to me.  Its never going to die because it these strong roots and they hold it in place.  A perfect broken but stronger than ever heart.....That's what I see.  I hope you have fun dong this prompt as there should be many many hearts roaming around you this month.  Happy heart hunting.....

Love, Gloria and Carrie

Wednesday ~ Heart Flutter

My current heart flutter (but really more of an obsession) is a weekly indulgence of plum sake filled to the brim in these lovely glasses, served with fresh california rolls from my favorite sushi house!  The BEST combo right now!!!



Oh man, it is soooo good!!!  I have tried a few different plum sake's and this one I think is the best.  And honestly, it just wouldn't be the same if they weren't served it these pretty glasses.  Nely gave me a set for Christmas, and I bought a few more with a gift card.....honestly the best purchase I've made in a while : )  They remind me of the exotic feel of The Darjeeling Limited.  I love that movie.  Just another small pleasure that makes life a little sweeter.

Well, I'm off to go grocery shopping and then meet a friend for some window shopping and maybe a bite to eat.  Then, back to work on, and check things off my list.  Happy Wednesday!

<3 Carrie

Sunlit Winter Office Photos

Love, Gloria and Carrie

Pink loves Orange

This is the view from my window today.  I have been working on Pumpkin (my laptop) all day.  To make my space happy and add just the right amount of sparkle, I decided to turn on my pink and orange lights.....



They are soooo cheerful!  And I've got a lot done so far.....so I think they've helped : )

But honestly I am also really inspired today by the Red Velvet February Lookbook:

If you haven't seen it yet, take a look.....I think it's pretty.

Sweet dreams tonight!
<3 Carrie

Today I love Mondays!

Partially because my Project Monday over at Bubblegum Life has lots of hearts, but also because today was just the right amount of productive.....not too much, not too little.....And I also totally enjoyed my weekend, so I think I'm still on a little bit of a high :)  Now, most of my craft goodies are organized, and my craft table is clean which means that my sewing machine and typewriter have a home.  I think they are as happy as I am about it.

Tonight I even see myself printing out my calendar for February, which is something new I am trying.  Did the whole list in notebook thing.  Did the list in my phone thing.  And they are helpful, but now I want to try this too.

I hope you had a great day today!  See ya!!!
<3 Carrie

Project Monday

Hi beauties, and welcome to another Project Monday!!!  Today we're going to start off with our lovely February guest, Kristine.  Here is her awesome project and some sweet thoughts.....

Hello there Bubblegum Life readers and happy Monday!  I am so excited to see everyone's projects.  For my "Time to Love Yourself" project I created a scrapbook layout.  I love scrapbooking, I think it is a wonderfully personal way to preserve cherished memories.  I'm a big fan of scrapping the little things too.  The things you won't typically remember about yourself and your loved ones in five years when your crack open the photo album.....

 I decided I wanted my layout to have an instructional approach.  So I created numbered steps to go along with each of my photos.  I printed my photos really tiny so I could fit them all on the page with out being too cluttered.  I am a mis-matched eclectic kind of girl, and I think my pages reflect that.  Can't wait to see your projects!

-XO. K.

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And here's Gloria's project.....

This layout ended up feeling a little bit like a love letter.....I know there is not a lot of words but if you ever felt completely passionate about something, and if you felt your love for it in your inner being and then it turned out to be good for you too.....that's what my loving myself passion ended up being.  My way of loving myself has to do with my love for running.  You don't need much, just a pair of tennis shoes and socks and go.

I did a Valentine to running layout.  A picture of a heart drawn in the sand and my running shoes next to it.  Then I added clouds because I can honestly say my head is in the clouds when I run.  Polka-dot ribbon because its happy, and then glimmer mist because it has sparkles.  Sounds perfect.  Do you have something you tried this week to love and honor yourself?  Please share....and if you didn't, try a quick walk or run.  I am telling you its a mood lifter.....

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And here's what I ended up making for my project.....

This week I printed out my photos, sat back and thought about what scrapbook products I love right now.  Here is what I came up with.....

I knew I wanted to use an ATC page protector as the basis for my project.  I think it's because right now I like the idea of having an entire album from 2011 that documents my year.  With layouts, ATCs, movie tickets, plane tickets, etc.....I ended up leaving the last row empty and either plan on cutting it off or adding my actual plane ticket or whatever from my flight.  Next, I looked trough my stash of Color Me Miki product and picked out the green and white bakers twine, this super cute fabric, the Hambly white graph overlay and bright red alphas.  Last I just picked out more papers to layer, and then used my favorite butterflies and hearts to make my "Time to Love Yourself" project one that I currently adore : )

Love, Kristine, Gloria and Carrie