{SOCIAL} Media Butterflies Blog Hop & Giveaway

Today I'm taking part in a new blog hop! Every month on the 29th, I'll share something I made, inspired by someone else on the blog hop list. It can be an Instagram pic, a quote they posted, something I saw on their blog, Studio Calico gallery, whatever I choose!

 This month I am being inspired by the lovely Amanda, of Something Sorta. After reading her blog, a quote that she had put onto a canvas really struck my heart.

 

My Layout

My Inspirational Piece from Amanda

The quote I was inspired by was 'let your faith be bigger than your fear". Now, I goofed and actually misquoted the quote (I said "..let your faith be stronger than your fear".) Ooopsies. I am constantly trying to instill in my boys of no fear...take chances and this layout is a perfect reminder to them of that!

Are you ready to see what else the Design Team has for you on their blogs? I happen to know that there are some awesome giveaways to be had, so be sure to start at Shay, and she will be give you the 'official' welcome and then make sure you check out all the links!

Shay http://sbookinshay29.blogspot.com/ sbookinshay29
  Trisha trishacakes instagram, trishacakes24 on Studio Calico
Margrethe http://onelifedocumented.com/ margrethe

Melissa http://www.melissapriest.com/  melissapriest <<<<<THIS IS ME!
  Amanda http://somethingsorta.blogspot.com/ mandadej
Caz http://www.cazhancock.com/ cazhancock
Erika http://erikabardo.wordpress.com/ erikabardo
Kristin http://rukristin.blogspot.com/ rukristin
Monica http://monicalifeasme.blogspot.com/ MonicaB
Angela http://kindlelover.blogspot.com/ akochmcelroy
Suz http://livealifeextraordinary.blogspot.com/ SuzMannecke

And yes, that's all of our Instagram usernames at the back of our blog URLs, unless stated otherwise.

Giveaway

Now, would you like to win a trio of Studio Calico Mister Hueys in Gold, Silver and Shine?? Oh course you do! To be eligible to win, make sure you follow my blog, and then leave me a comment of a favorite quote you have! Thats all! I will draw a winner on July 4th.

Paper Issue's Picnics & Patriots!

This week on the Paper Issues Blog the Design Team is working with a "Picnics and Patriots" theme. Seems fitting since we are now into Summer and the 4th of July is practicaly here!

I made this card using some of Canvas Corp Kraft Line of paper. Can I tell you how much I love this stuff? Oh, yes I do! LOL

GIVEAWAY

Now, would you like to win this awesome kit from Paper Issues?? Well, you can! All you have to do to be eligible is post a comment that you are a follower of my blog and then head over to the Paper Issues blog and leave a comment there! Easy peasy!

Have a great Sunday, friends! Alex and I spent the weekend in Colorado with our close friends. Lots of good music + friends. It was great sneaking away for a wild night! LOL

End of an Era

This last page that I've made makes me happy  sad. See, I the design and colors make me happy. The topic? That is what makes me sad. You see, when the last day of school for John rolled around so did the end of the days of having kiddos in Elementary School.

That's right. Both boys are now in Junior High.

Honestly, I never planned to be out of the 'Elementary Business' so soon. The plan was that Marcy would be behind John, and I would have a couple years of being room mom for just her (I've been a Room Mom for over 7 years - and sometimes, there were two classes that I was 'mom' to!). Mentally, I never really thought about this coming to an end. Obviously, I know Marcy is in Heaven, and I face that everyday - but it never occurred to me that this would be a big deal. Turns out, it was a very big deal to me!

Anywhoooo....this page doesn't well on the sad part of it - it just serves as a 'reminder' so later on, down the road, I can remember this stage.

I've been at home now, going on a second day, with a Summer Cold. Why are they always worse in Summer than in the Winter?? Hopefully, feeling better is just around the corner!



NYLT + a sketch

Happy Monday (gosh! Is it Monday? I've yet to go to bed from Sunday!!)

I have been on a scrapbooking roll this weekend.

And it all started with a sketch!

I found this sketch on the Boys Rule Scrapbook Kit website. Pretty awesome sketch...and you all know how I love a good sketch!

Now, on my layout I added a little from the sketch, too away some. Basically I made it mine. This photo isn't the best quality - its an Instagram photo of Ben while he was at Leadership Camp for Boy Scouts. To help bring in the colors of the photo, I added in some October Afternoon 9 to 5 papers. To help bring in some dimension, I added a few Studio Calico veneer stars...and a cute veneer boy. Add some stitching, and an older Making Memories Cork Alphabet and you're done!

Fun times.



Catching up!

Well, we are about to start the 3rd week of Summer. Seriously? Where did June go?

Well, at my house, June is looking alot like this:

(1, Ben at Great Wolf Lodge 2. The boys eating some Molten Chocolate Cake 3. The three of us on the boys first airplane ride 4. John has muscles 5. All the boy cousins at Great Wolf Lodge 6. John trying to looking inside the redbox machine 7. John at swim lessons 8. Ben at Boy Scout Leadership Camp 9. Both boys hanging out at Logans Steakhouse)

I am still creating. And cleaning up boy messes. And doing lots of laundry. Its been a good start of the summer so far!

This week is (should be, anyway!) a slow week at home. No camps. No swim lessons. Just a little puppy-sitting for a friend.

I have a layout to share + a Project Life update to come this week. I am about 4 weeks behind in PL, but I am still plugging along. How about you? Are you still with it?

Paper Issues + Canvas Corp

Crazy fun stuff is happening over on the Paper Issues Blog this week. The Design Team this week is working with Canvas Corp and rocking out their papers and embellishments. Let's just say you are going to LOVE all the goodness that has been made!

This layout was a blast to make...the chevron patterns? LOVE. I am not normally a bold-pattern-kinda girl, but these chevrons on a neutral background are just perfect! Throw in a photo of my youngest blowing out his birthday candles and well, my heart just skips a beat! LOL

Giveaway

Now, would you like a chance to win a awesome prize pack from Canvas Corp., featuring products from their 7 Gypsies, Tattered Angels and Canvas Corp lines? How about winning this awesome prize pack?!?

To be eligible to win, leave a comment on my blog (make sure you are following my blog as well!), then head over to the Paper Issues Blog and link up your own projects using Canvas Corp Products (7 Gypsies + Tattered Angels as well!) or a project using any canvas or burlap! 

Blog Hop

To help you find all the Design Team projects easily, we are hosting a little blog hop! Make sure you check out all of the awesome projects the Design Team has for you!

Susan Tutt

Thienly Azim

Melissa Priest >>>>that's me!

Diana Fisher

Izzy

Jodi Baune

Shellye

Tamara

(edited to add: Blogger is doing some crazy stuff today & I cannot get my blog post to post correctly! Sorry! As soon as Blogger straightens up, I will be able to fix my weird blog spacing!)