Monday, February 28, 2011

Sunday Inspiration

IMG_4265_freshColor

Sunday-Self Portrait for Picture Inspiration taken on the way to have Starbucks with my sweetheart. 

(Pioneer Woman Fresh Color used on the photo).

IMG_4275

Starbucks!

IMG_4278

Hanging out with this guy, talking and drinking coffee.  Skinny Carmel Macchiato for me and something with extra espresso shots for Daddy.

IMG_4290

Taking photos of anything that inspires me along the way.  Love this little creek next to the railroad track (we were waiting for a train for nearly 5 minutes…)

IMG_4288

And love this!  It is amazing what you see when you are looking for it.

IMG_4310

And then a trip to Menards later in the afternoon for supplies for Science Club!

Happy Monday!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

One Little Word-Simplify-Feb 2011

IMG_9054

I have been thinking a lot about my one little word and how to make it work in my life.  Thinking about things that I want to learn and ways that I want to incorporate my word into my life (And new opportunities just keep popping up!)

  I guess the universe is playing along with the One Little Word class this year too Smile .

Simplifying to me means a lot of things. 

Like enjoying a simple sunrise. 

IMG_9058

Getting back to basics and using these to create (for Alisa Burke’s Sketchbook Delight class). 

IMG_9013

Sketching and adding color using simple watercolors, pencils, and pens (with one of the barn photos that I posted earlier this month for inspiration).

IMG_9074

Using yarn and a hook to create something wonderful, soft, and warm. 

IMG_8975

Planning a simple garden for the summer.  Just flowers and tomatoes.  

It drives my husband absolutely nuts that I leave my flowers to dry out in the yard over the winter-but then I wouldn’t have anything to take photos of when we have a rare 60 degree day in the middle of February. 

How are you doing with your one little word? 

(And happy Friday!)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Prom Dress Shopping

IMG_0154

On Sunday, Elizabeth and I went Prom Dress Shopping. I was worried before we left, but she chose well.

IMG00097-20110220-1305

I am not allowed to post photos of her wearing the dress, so here are some of the choices Smile 

img258

We stopped in a photo booth-well-we thought it was an actual photo booth, but really it was just some creepy booth with a paper printout of an “artist” rendering.  Luckily, while we were waiting for Rembrandt to finish our picture, we got bored and Elizabeth had her camera with her, so we took a real photo (the one at the beginning of the post, which is sooo much better than this one.)

Hope everyone is having a happy engineer’s week! 

Happy Wednesday!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Finding my Muse

IMG_4233

For homework in Sketchbook Delight, we were supposed to go out and find inspiration. 

IMG_4234

So I brought my husband with me to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. 

IMG_4232

I found some “pattern” inspiration before I even walked into the building!

I didn’t take my camera or my phone into the building with me-just a sketch pad and a pencil.  We really enjoyed walking around and looking at all of the exhibits.  I found that I really loved paintings of houses. 

But my real pattern inspiration came from some embroidered doilies that were originally in the Czech and Slovak museum before it was flooded in 2008.  I sketched this at the museum, just to get the pattern onto paper and make some notes. 

IMG_9008

When I was going back over my notes this morning, I realized that I didn’t write out anything about the colors, so I jotted down what I remembered.  Then I did a sketch and added some watercolors. 

IMG_9030

And while my painting and sketching don’t really do justice to the gorgeous doilies made by the Czech women, I did get a LOT of the design down on paper.  I am planning to keep working on the patterns and the colors. I am not completely comfortable with sketching, so this is totally new for me.  I am trying to do something everyday-and Alisa’s videos are awesome.  New lesson Monday! 

IMG_4238

I found some more “pattern” inspiration in the brick at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church just up the street. 

IMG_4237

Wow-I love how they laid the brick-beautiful!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! 

Happy Engineer’s Week-it’s going to be a busy one!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

My Sweet Valentine

IMG_8985

This is what I spent most of my time stressing about over the weekend.  Finishing this book for Daddy.  I don’t know why the procrastination thing.  I had the book pages painted and complete a month before Valentine’s Day!  Anyway-I will spare you the really mushy pages and show you a few of the other ones.

IMG_8987

I love my husband so much that I gave up a Sunday of watching the Bears to watch Buffalo play at the Metrodome in Minnesota.  (THAT IS LOVE!)

IMG_8996

I love Christmas shopping with him-he sings Christmas carols nearly nonstop.  It used to bother me, but not anymore.  I love it!

IMG_8998

Time together.

IMG_9002

And finally-stamps from Tim Holtz!  Anyway-I thought I would share a peak at the book. 

IMG_8925

Love this candle that belonged to Grandma.  I remember when she got it.  I thought it was so cool when the candle was burning inside. 

 

IMG_8937

Elizabeth and the Bunny that her and Matt made for Valentine’s Day at Build-A-Bear.

IMG_8915

Making a Caribbean Martini…dare I say it…Shaken…not stirred… 

IMG_8932

Printing sticker photos from my Blackberry with the new POGO printer – SWEET!  More on the printer in the future. 

IMG_8918

My Valentine Red heart

Hope everyone had a great week!

Happy Friday!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Celebrating Sunday

IMG_8850

On Sunday, William and Bryan got super cute haircuts. 

IMG_8845

Check out these muscles!

IMG_8854

I also gave out candy and cards…with XBOX points tucked inside. 

IMG_8859

A devil bear for William..for obvious reasons.

IMG_8858

And a cute sweater bear for Bryan. 

 

IMG_8875

I didn’t get Elizabeth a bear because I had a feeling she would get one from Matt.  More on that tomorrow.

IMG_8890

Then I made French toast and cut it into heart shapes.  Elizabeth took photos for me!

IMG_8904

True love Red heart.

IMG_8909_edit_crop

Elizabeth made me a Valentine.  I’m going to put it in a 12x12 page protector and pop it into my Project Life Album.

IMG_8896

Elizabeth enjoying her French toast. 

Happy Thursday!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Wrestling and Band

IMG_8953

Bryan got to wrestle in his first 2 matches today.  We missed the first match, but we got to see this one.  

IMG_8954

I know nothing about wrestling.  So I watched and took pictures and asked questions. 

IMG_8959

A couple hours after the wrestling meet, Bryan had his Winter Band Concert. 

IMG_8964_crop

Here he is playing the Hogan’s Heroes Theme song.  Woot-go Bryan!

I am way behind in my blogging this week-and I’ve been taking tons of photos and I have so much to post!  

Happy Wednesday! 

Saturday, February 12, 2011

I Love This Guy-Updated

LoveYou_Daddy_2011_edited-2

I fell in love with this template (Love You Template No 2) by Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals this week.  All I needed to do was add a photo and a sheet of digital cardstock (Michelle Martin Studios-Peace, Love, and Happiness Solids available here).  And the best thing about digital cardstock is that you never run out!  

 

LovetheseGuys_2011_edited-1

I also added some photos to this Designer Digital Chat Freebie on Saturday afternoon (I used the same cardstock as the top layout).  TONS of freebie goodness during the chats that I want to work on soon.  I haven’t done any digital scrapping since I worked on my December Daily in December, so it was good to jump in with some simple templates. 

Hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday!