this week's posts

{journal expressing my gratitude}

I had mentioned previously in one of my posts that I won't be maintaining this blog as actively with my projects - it has become a lot to manage to keep two sites going, and I feel that pulling things together at this point is a much better idea! I hope you'll join me over at bluebirdchic.com!

Here's a roundup of this week's posts!

{holiday papercrafts shop update}

{brilliant ideas notebook DIY}

{christmas cranberry sweet bread recipe}

Have a lovely weekend! ^_^

everyday life inspires me

Everyone loves a fat, chunky mini album, right? I'd say this one fits the bill!!

I'm so excited to share more about this upcoming workshop in Moline, IL!! I'll update with details as soon as possible. Here's a peek at a few of the inside pages...

This one came out a bit fuzzy. Blurg.

The pages are FILLED with personal touches to make this sweet, chunky mini all yours!! I can't wait to share more!

Happy Friday!!

~ Leah

Love instagram? So do I!

I have loved instagram since I first jumped on longer ago than I'd like to admit. If you're a big instagrammer, you can look for me under bluebirdchicllc {that's my biz name!}I'll most likely approve ya - unless you're weird. Cuz I do post pics of our kids there. LOL Then you can follow the everyday happenings around here, since I post straight from my phone...

All this to say, I shared one of my all time favorite projects the other day on the American Crafts blog - and I'm posting a bit about it here today! I have always LOVED Amy's designs, and  can't WAIT to get her Ready, Set, Go! collection!

I used her Sketchbook collection for this mini that showcases some of my love for instagram. Which reminds me - I have over a thousand photos on my phone, and NEED to get them off!

Here's a peek at a few of the inside pages:

I loved adding all the watercolor onto the book before adding the embellishments, like this blue under the flower...

And the pink and orange, here

To see more of this album, stop over to the American Crafts blog! It's filled with goodness, and makes me smile whenever I pick it up! And don't forget to check out all of the posts this week - I love what the other girls have made showcasing their instagrams, as well!!

Happy Thursday!

~ Leah

haunted mini with punky sprouts and pink paislee

Sharing my punky sprouts project today! I've never been a HUGE mini album person, until honestly, I gave the idea of creating the mini ahead of time a shot. I LOVE putting together the creative side, and then just printing and adding photos later.

I put this one together to share our pumpkin carving/pumpkin patch photos this year and I can't wait! We have so much fun with the whole thing, from hitting the pumpkin patch together, scooping them out, and carving fun facing! Did I mention that I also have an olive green satin witch's hat with black feathers that I always wear?

I used the teeny beanie punky sprouts album, and the phantom line from pink paislee, along with a few extra things from Jenni Bowlin, Maya Road {I used one of the envelopes to create an extra page with a pocket to add a journaling card}, Prima, and inks from American Crafts! The sheet music is vintage. I loved the idea of painting the pages with chalkboard paint, and stamping with the pigment inks!

The photo mats are cut to fit 2"x3" photos!

This is the front and back of the envelope page - created by stitching a strip of patterned paper to the envelope so that I had a good place to punch the holes!

Have a lovely Wednesday!! I'm so looking forward to our Halloween activities this weekend so that I can add those photos!

A couple things...

I had the privilege of being a guest designer for Ms. Jenni Bowlin this month! If you wanna check out what I did with her January kit, it's posted here {Click on the guest gallery. You'll also see my little scrap space under "studio inspirations." Hey, it's not much, but you have to admit, I'm keeping it real!! I had so much fun working with this soft, vintagey kit! I see she's got a little peek at what she's offering for her mid month release up - yummy stuff as always! :)

I also had sooo much fun playing with some American Crafts for ACBailey this month!




Yay for Wednesdays!! The week's half over! :)

Oh yeah...

Wha? In my previous post I mentioned that I didn't have anything to post that wasn't about Christmas - then I remembered that I had these. HeHe. they're my layouts and mini album I put together for ACBailey. :)

This is a book we're planning to sit down and fill on Thanksgiving morning...

And I'm thankful for...

And I'm remembering...


I'm thinking about the holidays - how about you? We did our shopping to fill our Operation Christmas Child box {a global outreach through Samaritan's Purse}. D chose the goodies to fill the box... I loved watching him choose things that another boy his age would love. He totally understood this year - and it rocked. E on the other hand, did not, and kept asking for the toys we bought. Ha!

I *adore* the November colab over at FPD. These are a couple of the layouts I did with it. ;)

With Corina's portion:

And this one's from the Evelyn kit by laura'skathi. Oh yeah... love this! My mom took this photo last winter...

Cleaning, Sweeping and Dreaming...

I've been updating around here a little the last few days - taking the time to clean up my sidebars, update things and organize some of the links a little better. It was getting a little out of hand! I still have some work to do, I'd like to combine a few more things. {It feels like I'm sweeping out the corners and tidying up - come to think of it, I've been doing that around the house too! What's up with that?! I think it's a Fall thing...}

Getting ready to make some pumpkin cookies some time this week. I've been feeling very fall-y. :D I love anything to do with pumpkin, and my mom always made these fabulous pumpkin cookies just *full* of chocolate chips. They kind of remind me of eating just the top off of a really yummy muffin. Huh. Don't they actually sell something like that now? I'll have to take some pictures of my cookies. :)

I made this yummy mini album for the Paper Niche a few weeks ago for a sample, thought I'd finally post it. I've just been trying to figure out the best way to post without overflowing the ol' blog, and finally got a chance to load it up to slide! :D Don't know why it's showing up fuzzy - I'll have to investigate that! If you click in for a better view, though, it'll get really clear. :)

It has been and uber busy week around here. I think I'm actually gonna head to bed a little early tonight! {Well, I *guess*! Ha! Only if you consider midnight early!}

Young at Art

{sigh} I love this place -

Took the boys today. We've had such rainy weather, and I'm pretty sure I'll be renewing our memebership. They've upgraded and redone a quite a few things and the boys had a blast!






Finally recovering after the little guy had a bout with the stomach flu over the weekend. Blech! At least no one else has gotten it! {yes, my fingers are crossed as I say that!}

And I know I haven't shared much for projects lately - I've finally updated my "This is me" acrylic album. It's a year long project I've been working on that involves taking a self-portrait every month...

Pick me ups, happy hair, and last night's dinner...

My mini album for the challenge. :) Whew! All done. So happy that I participated - it helped bring things back into perspective for me. :)




All together now, "Oooooo..." We had Curry chicken and steamed beets for dinner last night. So yummy. You will have to indulge my love of veggies - my parents were big gardeners, we had tons of fresh veggies all summer long growing up. Green beans, beets, butternut squash, sweet corn, potatoes, and fresh herbs, of course.


I was having such a happy hair day, I had to take a pic. On inspecting the results all I could see was the clutter in the background!! :P All my scrapping stuff is spread out from the projects I did in the last couple of days, and the laundry is waiting to be folded. {sigh} {shame} At least I know my house doesn't look like this all the time.


Off to clean up!!