Studio Pebbles

July Guest Designer for Chic Tags

Peeps! Look out your window for Flying Pigs! I done made some scrapbook pages! 

How lucky am I? My girl Veronica from Chic Tags sent me some of her AWESOME Road Trip line of products and asked me to be the Guest Designer this month for the Chic Tags blog! Of course I jumped right on that. Anyone who talked to me at CHA in January heard all about my love for her new line of products...and I can't help but cheer on a fellow Mommy and small business owner. Chic Tags, if you aren't aware, is run by Veronica Milan and her Graphic Designer hubby Albert, and they are truly a "Mom + Pop Shop" from California. She started selling her paper tags on Etsy, and now is wholesaling to craft shops and even Hobby Lobby! WTG!! I "met" Veronica here on my blog, waaaaaay back in the day, when I posted about "not enough booze in my Applebee's Sangria." Let's just say, she's a girl after my own heart. ;D

I really loved getting to sit down and play with paper and glue again...so Thanks V! 

 

I love that last picture of Maggie using her potty seat on our trip home from Hood Canal. Both the trip to and from we were dealing with something...mostly Drake barking his head off because he finally decided that since Maggie isn't a baby anymore, he should get to sit next to her in the backseat, rather than being confined behind the dog gate. We made up our own words to "Yellow Submarine" and just had an all around silly time on what normally is a pretty uneventful drive. I love times like these. 

If you want to get your hands on some Road Trip from Chic Tags, you can grab it and many other wonderful goodies in their online shop!

xoxoxo

-JP

I Made This Scrapbook Page

I KNOW!!!.....

You are not having a stroke. The images you are seeing are real. I did it... I actually made a scrapbook page. 

It was a Perler Bead kind of Friday night. Maggie was sitting at her favorite spot at my table, working on letters and numbers and carefully arranging the tiny little beads onto the templates...she looked so happy and so cute, I picked up my DSLR and started taking some pictures. 

And wouldn't you know it, one thing lead to another, and BOOM!! 

I made a scrapbook page for the first time in years.

Y  E  A  R  S. 

and I still love it...and can't wait to make more. 

That's all.

I just wanted to share.

I hope you like it!! 

Aside from the "Friday" snippet that I cut out of some cute Amy Tangerine Paper from American Crafts, and the divided page inserts from Simple Stories, the embellishments are all oldies from years ago and mixed in with some of my own stuff...like the Days of the Week printables and the Vintage Alphabet Game pieces which will be in my Etsy shop soon. 

Some friends on Instagram were asking why all our Perler beads were separated into colors? For Christmas, Santa brought Maggie these awesome kits by EK Success, so snatch some up! They are so fun to play with, I even made a bunch of hearts to use on my pages. 

Well, that's all...just excited to share my page. 
It feels pretty good to dust off the cobwebs.

xoxoxo
-JP 

EK Success Perler Neutral Colors

EK Success Perler Fun Colors

EK Success Perler ABC123 Pegboard

InLinkz.com

Nice To Meet You

I know you are waiting for me to tell you all about my trip to NYC- I can't wait to share...it was NUTS!! I still can't believe it actually happened. While I am in the process of working on that post though, I thought I would show you what I brought with me to NYC to introduce myself to the rest of the Target Inner Circle team. 

I will fully admit that I am right smack dab in the middle of a rather major identity crisis, especially when it comes to blogging and work in general, but I knew right away that I wanted to include a little something along with my basic contact information that would give the recipient a glimpse of my personality and taste of what they can find on my blog.

Being a long time crafter and "tech-geek," I fortunately had most of the supplies on hand to make these. It's amazing how the years of hoarding supplies can come in handy from time-to-time. :D The only thing I had to order was a couple packages of these print-your-own Silhouette Temporary Tattoo sheets!  I read reviews on a few different versions of this product, and while it was a bit more pricey, reviewers stated that it was worth the price, because they worked great! And now, after completing my own set, I can agree! 

There aren't any incredibly difficult instructions for printing and making the tattoos...you just need to mirror your designs before you hit print. For a detailed tutorial on making tattoos, check out this is a great one here. I didn't use my Silhouette machine to cut these out as individual tattoos...I just made a little group of them, and then cut them into squares with my paper cutter.

I have to tell you, I love 'em! As one of the only people from the Seattle area who made through the consecutive time period of the grunge 90's and my 20's without permanent body ink, it gives me a chance to cash-in on the street cred without the commitment fears! And with Halloween fast approaching, I am sure there are all kinds of uses for these sheets; you can even make them full-color!  I just chose all black because I'm edgy. ;P

-----------------------------------------

Aside from the Tattoos, I also included a 4"x 4"mini-print, which I printed using my Epson PictureMate 4x6 photo printer, and also a "stacked circles" business card set, that included a photo of me, my Pinterest user name, and my Studio Pebbles blog info. I printed these on letter size cardstock, using my inkjet printer, and used a variety of circle punches (ranging from 2.5" to 1.5") to cut them out. They were lovingly assembled by my indentured servant mother, using tiny multi-color American Craft brads. I think the envelopes are from Clear Bags, and then I just closed them up with washi tape strips in different patterns (as you can see from the photo above, I have a few to choose from). 

Have you made something like this to introduce people to your blog or business? Have you seen other marketing sets like this that inspire you? Next time you have an event to attend, even if you have to make something the day before (...coughcough.) try digging through your supplies and tools and see what you have. You might surprise yourself with what a little last minute motivation can produce. 

KI Memories Challenge: Scrap a "Placeholder"

via kimemories.typepad.com

OMGee can you believe it? What is this, like 2 pages in less than a week? I can't believe it either!! :D 

Here is my page for the weekly challenge on the KI Memories Blog: Scrap a Placeholder. You can read more about it here, and it would be awesome if you wanted to play along and share your version! 

KI Memories Focus On: Silhouette Shapes

via kimemories.typepad.com

I think this page I made for the KI Memories blog might be my most fave ever...

I fired up my dusty ol' Silhouette!! For Christmas, I asked Santa to bring me new blades and new carrier sheets, and once I downloaded the new software onto my desktop computer, it was up and running and good as new! Then of course, I have made another Santa wish list for all the new goodies they have: sketch pens, interfacing for fabric, adhesive cardstock, and a tote bag to DIE FOR!...lots of fun stuff to try out if you have a Silhouette and haven't been to their store lately. If you didn't already know, KI Memories has all kinds of cute shapes you can get for your Silhouette, on this page I used one of their butterflies. You can read those details here.

The photo is of Maggie in Pig Tails because her hair has been getting in her eyes, but I don't want to cut it. Today it's in a single Pony on top of her head and she looks ADORBS!

Today appears to be a rare sunny day in grey and dreary North Bend, so we may have to venture out when Daddy gets home! I hope you have a great weekend!! (((hugs)))

Maggie's Room + KI Project

I posted a project on the KI Memories blog about a week or so ago, and took pictures of Maggie's room, but I forgot to come here and post them for everyone to see! Aside from the living room area, and my office (mostly) this is the only other area of the house I can say is done...

Here is a close up of the Hot Air Balloon project, you can read more here on the KI Blog:

And here are the rest of the pictures...

Poor Maggie, here we move into a bigger house, and she still sleeps in a closet like Harry Potter! :D 

I joke, it's actually great! The room is perfect for her, she just sleeps here and maybe will read a book or two in the morning when I am making the bed or brushing my teeth in the bathroom...I like having her close, but still have that privacy. When we first moved, we took the door off, so it was open right to our room...but as she got older and had some repeated sleepless nights with teething, we knew that we needed to put the door back on sooner than later...so now the door is back on, but we leave it cracked open and she always has a fan to circulate the air inside. The added quiet and darkness really helps with her sleep, and she is back to being baby sleep champion of the world! (KNOCK ON WOOD- don't want to jinx anything!!)

We kept the decorations in here pretty simple. I am always looking for a cute rug, but everything I like it too expensive for my non-existent budget...so until I find one on clearance somewhere or learn how to make something on the cheap, we've skipped it. And...one of these days I will get around to swapping out the ceiling light fixture for something fun...it's just the standard rental light right now. 

So that's that! She likes it, I like it...so what more do we need!! 

I have another project to post on the KI Blog tomorrow, so I hope you will come back and check it out! I SCRAPPED a page...can you believe it? Pigs must be flying somewhere. Booyah! 

Maggie's Animal Parade 1st Birthday

 

On Saturday, we had a big party to celebrate Maggie's 1st Birthday! Of course, since this is the first time I have had a chance to throw a party for my child, and also since I have been on a party hiatus all these years of living in the shoe, I went a little crazy.

First, I claim minimal orginality in anything I did. I borrowed just about every idea from the internet, a blog or something I pinned on Pinterest. I am totally unashamed of this. I found it quite liberating, in fact.

The entire event was a huge labor of love. It took longer, and was more painful to put together than both a.) giving birth to Maggie and b.) her entire first year of life. In the spirit of blogging camaraderie, I am now going to share with you the full details of how I put it together, links and all.

(Click Here  to keep reading...)

Pencil Lines Guest

I am so honored to have been asked to be the guest this past week on the Pencil Lines Sketches Blog! I hope if you have some time this weekend, you will stop by and check it out and participate in the challenge. 

I hope everyone had a very happy holiday season! Believe it or not, I am STILL working on my December Daily album...I refuse to give up on this project and only have 2 pages to print out and then I need to do the journaling and embellishing. I am hoping to finish this weekend. I am DETERMINED. 

A new year always brings me some introspection, this year is no different...I have been thinking a lot about a lot. I would say the main thing is trying to find a way to live the life I want...I am a very well intentioned person, but intentions aren't enough, so action is a must. I need to make sure I fit the things and relationships I am passionate about into my day. I picked a word for 2011...that word is "TODAY." I chose it because I feel like it's an action word, a word that to me should be followed with a list of accomplishments...and that is what I need. I am working on making each today something to be proud of. 

Like, "I will be so proud when I finish that album!!" So, back to work it is... :D

Have a happy weekend!!

December Daily

Howdy Strangers!!!

Welllll, it's been just over a month or so since our big move east to North Bend, the lovely town at the foot of Snoqualmie Pass. Our new house is gooood...not great...moving sucks, as I am sure you know. One of the first realized downfalls of our home is that it is really lacking closet/storage on the main floor. I don't have a place to put the vacuum or the mops, etc. and we don't have a place for coats and shoes either. There is one on the bottom floor, but when wrangling an infant, it is easier to get all ready to go on the main floor, and then just walk downstairs and out the door. Other than that, it's coming together, albeit slowly. I will share photos soon!

Today, however, I am posting to my blog because I decided to join the big group of people completing a December Daily photo album. I thought this would be a good jump back into scrapbooking and also a wonderful way to capture the memories of Maggie's first Christmas.

 

 It took me about a week to finally pull the trigger on a cover and foundation for the book, but I am finally "done" with that part and am now making the pages and filling the book. My layouts are half the size of a standard letter paper: 8.5"x 5.5", the cover is just a smidge larger. I made the cover out of scrap cardboard, covered both sides with pattern paper and punched two holes with my Crop-a-Dile for binder rings. I made the "Maggie's First Christmas" text block in Illustrator and added a KI Memories Softie, a glittery bird an a sprig of holly, also a KI softie.

 

This is the dedication page, with a photo I took of Maggie and I on December 1st. This is what it says:

This book is dedicated to my sweet daughter Maggie. It is a celebration of my love for you and the love I have for my life as your mother, and a glimpse into the memories of our first Christmas together. December 2010.

Aww. :)

 

Each page spread looks like this: Pattern paper on the left side, a vellum overlay with the number of the day (I hand embossed/traced the numbers from my big Massimo Vignelli calendar onto the vellum and went over it with a glitter Sakura pen. Very subtle, doesn't show up well in these photos.) and then the photos and journaling panel is printed onto cardstock on the left side.

 

I made these little journal/photo templates in Illustrator and Photoshop, very simple. I still need to add the actual journaling and any additional embellishments I might want to throw on there...I am journaling quick notes for each day in a little notebook so I don't forget what to write.

Here are the rest of the pages (through Dec. 5th):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Um...yeah.

That last picture set... That would be where we document Maggie's first big Owie. She is really into pulling herself up to standing, on just about anything she can use, including John's chest hair. :D Well, that day she decided to grab a TV tray table that my Mom was using. Quick as a flash, it came crashing down on top of her face and split her lip. It was a very scary moment for us new parents, especially when John picked her up and blood came bubbling out of her mouth. eeeeee. Of course, she was fine, we double and triple checked to make sure she didn't have any other bumps or bruises, and by that night she was ready to bundle up and go to see the tree lighting and watch a live Jazz band at a local restaurant! TROOPER!!! :D

Making this book is the best ever! I am really happy I decided to do it, even though it has been a lot to chew so far, I am hoping now that I am caught up, it will be faster moving forward! I will for sure keep sharing the pages as I finish them, especially when I have the journaling and embellishments.

The next page will be Maggie's first photo with SANTA!

 

LOL!

I told my Mom that she could buy an outfit for "her" Santa photo, and that John and I would take Maggie for our own picture later this month... A bright red corduroy jumper with applique is not something I would have ever picked, but it was her choice...so, there you have it. :D Doesn't Mags looked thrilled? ;)

And speaking of outfits and photos...I am sadly reporting that despite my very best intentions, I am not going to continue with the monthly photo series! I AM SAD but...I missed two months with the move and at that point, there isn't really a place to catch up. But I did get to 6 months, which is great! Small victories!! :D A few people did comment on liking the idea, so I might put the numbers up for download if I get some time one of these days...(famous last words.)

Alrighty, I think that's enough of my blabbering for one night, I hope you like what I have so far for the December Daily, and that you'll come back and check out the progress as I go. :D

Happy NSD + Free Download

 

Happy National Scrapbooking Day Everybody!!

KI Memories is giving away a Silhouette for NSD, make a layout using at least 50% KI Memories products and upload it to thier Flickr gallery (each layout gives you an entry to the giveaway), and leave a comment here on the KI Blog, and you could be the lucky winner!!

I love my Silhouette, and I love KI Memories, I already downloaded some of the new KI designs from the Silhouette store and can't wait to use them. I don't know if I will have much of a chance to scrapbook today, but am hoping to get some pages done tomorrow, if John will have some QT with baby. 

I did get a chance to make a few pages over the past couple of weeks, the one above is from Easter, and is part of the Round Robin the KI Memories DT did for NSD (you can see it here), and this one I made just because :D

 

All the stuff is new KI from the Confetti Collection, and I used my Silhouette to make the "love you" title.

Since it's NSD and I am feeling warm and fuzzy and full of hugs, I made this for you to download for free for use with your Silhouette and a .png file for you Digi Peeps:D

 

Enjoy!!

And, because I love to share photos of the Magsters, here is a few of our most recent favorties: We call this, "When a well intentioned baby gift goes wrong"...this hat was a gift and unfortunately was both too small and too big for Maggie, but provided at least 10 minutes of quality belly laughs and these precious photos:

It was so tight, she had little ridges in her forehead when we took it off :D

and here's another favorite: John said if all clothes made her look like a snuggly stuffed animal, I would have his permission to buy as many outfits as I wanted. (Don't tell him, but I do anyway :D )

 

Hope this added a little bit of extra cute to your day!! Hope you have a great one and get to enjoy NSD and good luck if you enter the KI Memories + Silhouette giveaway!! 

xoxo