Wow. Catching up. Big Time. Meet Scout.

Well, hello out there!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! It has been brought to my attention (sometimes not so subtly ;)) that I haven't really posted about anything to this old blog except for work-related stuff and I know even that's been limited. That's been somewhat intentional, but as I got to thinking about it, I realized that I really do love looking back at past posts and seeing what had been happening in our lives at that moment. 

So in a *small* effort to fix that situation, let's start with one of the biggest things that happened to us this summer. 

Meet Scout! 

(Scout is very fitting name for this pup since all my boys are scouts and my husband is a Scout Master! I just can't get away from it!)

Scout is our (at the time) 11-month-old chocolate lab rescue pup. 

Isn't he the cutest?! The story of how he came to us is really very serendipitous (and long!) but I'll condense it by saying both our family AND Scout got really lucky when we found each other. Scout was adopted through the WAY HOME RESCUE ALLIANCE and they and his foster mom, Lori, were amazing. 

Ethan and Me on one of our first visits with Scout.

 He fit right in with the crew if you couldn't tell. In this photo he'd just been with us a few days and already owner & pup were starting to look alike! ;)

One of the first activities we did with Scout was canoeing. I think at this point we had only had him for a couple of weeks. We weren't sure how he'd do, but he was amazing - or at least he didn't roll the canoe which was all we could ask for! 

  I swear this photo should appear in an outdoor magazine which is really comical since I am so NOT an outdoorsy person! This is Dad, Turner and Scout as we first set out. I was in another canoe with Ethan and Carson and trying to take pictures. (Er, that didn't always work out so well.)

This was the day, though, that led to us realizing that we couldn't have gotten a more perfect dog for us. Not long after the photo above was taken, Scout decided he needed to use the restroom. The only place we could find that had a bank for him to get out on also had a giant rope swing. So while Scout did his business, the boys took turns jumping off the swing and into the water. It was great fun! At least the boys thought so. 
But Scout? He wasn't so happy. 
He was so anxious that his boys were in the water and the next thing we know, this happened:

The pup started jumping in the water and "rescuing" them from the river! He grabbed Carson by the shirt first and dragged him back to shore. Turner was next on his list. Just look at the determination in his eyes! Bless him. We stopped after this because we didn't want to give the pup pure fits, but I was so proud of him!

Now he's a true part of the family. The boys love him and he loves them. It's crazy. I guess it really is true that every boy needs a dog and every dog needs a boy...or three.

We celebrated his birthday complete with balloons (okay, so it was really the neighbor's birthday, but we took good advantage of the timing!) and belly rubs around. 

I'm sure you'll be seeing much more of him in future posts and pictures. And before anyone asks, yes, now I have FIVE boys - my boys, the husband and now the dog. sigh.  

It never ends!

xo, 

k.

Welcome to the BasicGrey Serenade Blog Hop **CONTEST NOW CLOSED**

****CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED AT BOTTOM OF THE POST****

Welcome to the BasicGrey Serenade Blog Hop!  You should have arrived here from the blog of the talented Shannon Tidwell and I know she had something amazing to share with you!

The Serenade Collection captures the refinement of bygone years, where tea was served with crumpets and your dinner guests retired to the parlor for sparkling conversation. Full of refined grace and delicate simplicity, you’ll love adorning your projects with Serenade’s layers of petticoats, bustled tea gowns and prim parasols.

Supplies: Serenade Patterned Paper, Mixed Brads, Petals, Element Stickers. Other: Pen, Adhesive, Mod Podge, Scalloped Heart Punch

Photo by Emilie Ahern. 

I made this super-fun project using the gorgeous SERENADE Collection and one of the BasicGrey unfinished 7x7 frames. As a side note I adore these frames anhd have several in both the 7x7 and 12x12 sizes! And while I'm not usually a home-decor type, I absolutely adore the colors in this line (that that they match my office/craft room is a double bonus!) and wanted to give something different a try. I created the rosette from the Petals package and clustered them with a few more Petals flowers for a totally feminine feel - See! VERY different for me! ;)

And I can't share a "coming soon" project without giving you a chance to win some of your own. So how about the chance to win a full Serenade collection pack  or 6x6 paper pad + embellishment of your choice if you prefer! Simply leave me a comment here in the comments section to be entered to win!

If the chance to win a collection pack is exciting, what about the chance to win one of each product in the Serenade collection?  We thought you might be interested!  Simply head over to the BasicGrey Facebook page and let us know your favorite product in the Serenade collection!  A winner will be selected at random from all comments received today.

Next, it's time to hop over to our last blog for the day, the amazing Shari Carroll and see what she has in store. Remember, if you find a link that doesn't work, you can always hop back to the BasicGrey blog for a list of direct links to all of the blogs in the hop.

Have a wonderful day and good luck!

xoxo, 

k.

*****************************************************************
ETA: Congrats to the winner: 

Congratulations! Please email me (through the link at the sidebar) with your addy and we'll get your prize out to you!

*****************************************************************

Crop & Create: MARKHAM

Good morning!

I'm so excited to let you all know that the fantastic CROP & CREATE event is coming BACK to Markham in February! We had an absolutely fantastic time last year and are thrilled to be returning once more! Even more exciting is that besides having me and incredible ladies Becky Fleck and Vicki Boutin returning, we will also have the awesome Kelly Purkey and Carmi Cimicata as well as special guest Caroline Lau from Maya Road! 

Some of the event highlights include 24 hours of cropping time, a delicious dessert buffet, two gourmet soup/salad/sandwich lunches, AMAZING prizes, special make n’ takes, challenges and a goody bag you will be talking about for a while! Trust me, you will not want to miss it! Crop & Create Markham is going to be a very special and inspirational event where we celebrate papercrafting...together! 

Now for the full details:

REGISTRATION:  October 22, 2012 @ 8:00 p.m.  EST

with Crop & Create ALUMNAE getting the jump and being allowed to register at 8:00 p.m. EST TONIGHT, October 21st!

Event Date & Location:

February 9 & 10, 2013

Hilton Suites, Markham, ON

All this for only $149!

Classes 3 for $109, 6 for $199 or 1 for $45!

All Day Album Class** for $89!

** 3 or 6 class packs do not include the All Day Album Class 

(Please note you must be registered for the event to register for classes)

We can't wait to see you there! I promise it will make memories you'll keep for a lifetime! And as an added little incentive, here's just one small peek at one of the classes I'll be teaching - My Inspired Sketches class!

Don't forget to get full event and class information HERE! Have a great day!

xoxo, 

k

Little Yellow Bicycle, Friendship, Scrapbooking & Courtney Walsh

Good morning, all!

Today I have something very exciting (for me especially!) to share with you. I have had the honor of knowing and calling the talented Courtney Walsh a friend for a very long time. We met ages ago in the scrapbooking world and I even worked with her on one of her first books - The Busy Scrapper. I have always loved her writing style so when she took on her latest endeavor - novelist - I was one of the first in line to gobble each book up as they came out. I have to admit I would have read them anyway because they were Courtney's but because they were about friendship and scrapbooking, it was a no-brainer!

So the other day Courtney asked me if I would work with her and Little Yellow Bicycle (who's gorgeous new collection ACORN HOLLOW resembles the cover of Courtney's 2nd novel, A Sweethaven Homecoming) for a special promotion I jumped at the chance.

From Courtney---One thing that's always fascinated me is the female friendship. It's one of the most rewarding--yet challenging--relationships of all, and that's why I chose to focus on this theme when writing my Sweethaven series. I also wanted to pull in the idea of a beautiful old scrapbook bringing friends back together after too many years apart...In my mind, friendship and scrapbooking go hand-in-hand...after all, many of my favorite friends are those I've met because of this wonderful hobby.

I asked one of those friends, the wonderful Kelly Goree, to create a layout inspired by my books, more specifically, on the idea of friendship and she used a little Acorn Hollow to do just that. This layout is as fun as it is meaningful, and I'm sure both Kelly and her best friend will cherish the sentiments (and the layout) forever.

Scrapbooking is such an important part of my life--and such an important part of the whole Sweethaven series. I think (and hope) you'll be able to relate.

****************************************************************

And here is what I created. This is my best friend and me in some of our fun photo booth photos from the 90's (Yes, big hair and all!)

Journaling: "To say I was blessed the day you walked into my dorm room almost twenty-five years ago wouldn’t even begin to describe it. There was no way of knowing that you, my mid-term replacement roommate freshman year of college, would become my lifelong best friend. I know physically we’re as different as two people can be (and you got the good end of that deal!) but we were soul sisters from the very start. We complimented each other. I talked you into trying things you never had done before (including coloring your hair for the first time – sorry!) and you taught me what true friendship was all about. I am so grateful and humbled that you are my “person.”

I hope you'll hop over to the LYB blog and then on to Courtney's for the chance to win some Acorn Hollow and Sweethaven magic of your very own! I promise they are two things you won't want to miss! And stay tuned in the weeks to come for even more from me, Courtney, Little Yellow Bicyle and Acorn Hollow!

Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo, 

k.

Love is in the Air: Introducing BasicGrey's TRUE LOVE Collection

Good morning, all!

Check out what went up on the BasicGrey blog today!! That's right, the 2013 Valentine's line is making it's debut! Introducing TRUE LOVE (and as you'll see - it's not just for the girls!)

**********************************************************

Look out, crafters! Cupid’s arrow is about to strike creative hearts everywhere with BasicGrey’s True Love collection, releasing in December 2012. It’s a classic tale of romance, but rather than boy meets girl, vintage meets geometric in this patterned paper love story. On the vintage side, prints include soft florals, lovely lace, and romantic roses, while its geometric companion offers diagonal stripes, colorful herringbone, and lined-up ledger.

Of course, BasicGrey doesn’t stop at patterned paper. True Love offers a full symphony of crafting supplies to make the creative heart sing. New to the embellishment line-up are the absolutely adorable Mini Bottle Cap Epoxy Stickers—a sweet treat for any project.

Additional adoring accents include:

Wax Seals: No heat required to seal this conversational deal, QTpie!

Chipboard: With letters and shapes now packaged separately, crafters can choose just what they want.

Alphabet Stickers: An impressive assortment of three fonts, colors, and sizes makes it easy to spell out all of those sweet nothings.

Die-cuts and Transparencies: See through all the facades and go straight to the heart with this impressive assortment.

Element Stickers: From trendy tabs to bitty banners, this 12” x 12” sheet of sentimental stickers will add charm to any love note.

Layered Stickers: These dimensional designs will add deep and adoring statements to every project.

Snippets: Back by popular demand, this bundle includes 24 versatile scraps in an easy-to-store 4” x 6” pad.

Mini Envelopes: Send micro messages in bitty envelopes that are sure to make a big impact.

Stitched Brads: When it comes to stand-out projects, texture is the trick, and these brads are just the ticket.

Title Stickers: Whether it’s a sentiment on a Valentine or a loving statement on a scrapbook page, this sheet has everything needed to write the book of love.

Woven Labels: In this case, being labeled is a very good thing!

Garland: Don’t let the smaller (6” x 12”), more convenient package fool you; this giddy garland assortment still includes six double-sided designs to adore.

And what True Love story would be complete without a great big hug and kiss? BasicGrey is tickled to add its XOXO Chipboard Monogram Kit to this heartfelt collection, which includes everything crafters need to make a heartfelt, handmade statement in the home. (This is one of my pet projects! You will definitely want one of your own!)

See what I mean? This line is SO versatile. This is my sweet Turner making out his Valentines in kindergarten. Have you ever seen cuter cheeks?!

And my little monkey man - They made these mailboxes in pre-school and he loved it. He was all about the mail and the Valentines!

Of course you wnt a chance to win some True Love of your own! Simply hop over to the BasicGrey blog and find out how to get entered!

Have a wonderful day!

xoxo, k.

Introducing BasicGrey's FACT & FICTION (and a Winner!)

Hello, all!!

I'm so excited to show you these brand new lines from BasicGrey that will be available exclusively at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Meet Fact & Fiction.  These two collections were set in select stores today and are NOW available!

Seriously - are you dying yet? If not, here's more (but I don't see how you're not!)....keep looking!

I'm swooning with those mini envies!!

And here are a few projects I created with these collections:

I hope these projects inspire you to take a trip to your nearest Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store to see the entire collections.  Click here to see if a Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store location will be carrying those lines. If you don’t see your local store? Request it through JoAnn’s online contact form. International customers, please don’t fret! These lines are being carried in select markets worldwide through our international distributors.

And of COURSE you want a chance to win some Fact & Fiction of your very own!  BasicGrey has TWO prize packages ready to send out to two lucky BasicGrey fans, simply see the giveaway HERE for your chance to win!

And finally, Congratulations to HEATHER - 

 Heather (goldiecar) said...

I actually made this one this morning!! And blogged it from my phone. LOVE apps!

http://goldiecar.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-card-making-day-happy-birthday-to.html

10/06/2012 10:54 PM

Heather was the first to link her WCMD card to my blog so the prize package is going to her! Heather, please buzz me your mailing address so I can get that out to you!

Have a wonderful Friday!
xoxo, 
k.