It's been a busy week here for us here in the Smith house. Last Sunday our beautiful daughter turned 3 and I did my best to make her birthday memorable with a Little Mermaid themed party. She looked so beautiful and so grown up in her Ariel costume from the Disney Store.

Our Little Princess

Yummy homemade cupcakes buy Mommy

I spelled her name on the cupcake toppers

Mommy and the birthday girl

The kids and I had a couple of fun days in between me creating samples for CHA and blinging out my Imaginisce Apron. Here's some pics of what are week was like.



I love mornings with Lily, she loves to curl up in Dad's chair and eat her cereal while watching toons.



We went out to the valley to swim with friends on Monday in their refreshing pool and Lily wanted brother to hold her in the deep part.

Wednesday I took the kids and a friend of Scott's to Toes Beach in Playa Del Rey. The boys wanted to Boogie Board but the waves were pretty intimidating so they ended up building sand castles

Lily loves the beach. She won't sit still and relax. It's dig dig or run run...but we had a nice time.

As I get ready to leave for Chicago I realize how much I will miss my kids while I am gone. They are so much fun to take places and do things together as a family.

I won't have a computer in Chiacago so I'll tell you all about it when I return Saturday. Have a fantastic week! I know I will!

Banner-rif-ic!

Hello friends! I'm wrapping up our Cottage Christmas reveal with a super fun and easy Banner created with Imaginisce packaging and my Cricut Expression.

Most banners are made with chipboard but a good strong cardboard can work too.
I have long been a fan of reuse and recycle and Imaginisce makes it really easy to reuse their packaging because they pint the same patterns of their collection right on the packaging so you can reuse the packaging for other projects! Bet ya didn't know that huh {wink}

So the packaging for these Holly Jolly Sticker Stackers is perfect to create a fun banner in a matter of minutes

So here's how we get started....

Trim the packaging and lay it across your Cricut mat since it will cut in landscape mode. If you have the original Cricut change the cutting direction to portrait. Your cut size will be 4 1/2 and I always set the pressure at high and speed at high.

For this banner I used my Celebrations cartridge but you can use any other cartridge that has a triangle banner. I would suggest cutting scrap paper first to make sure the size is the same.

When you place the packaging on the Cricut mat be sure and line it up with the 2nd notch show, I know this pic I had it further down and it did not cut perfect as you will see in the left side of the picture below.

You'll get two banners out of one packaging strip if you pick up the paper and re position the other side and cut like this.

Now all you do is embellish! If you'd like to make those pinwheels with paper like I did you'll find tutorials on YouTube. I learn so much from that site and really appreciate the ladies that do the video tutorials.
I am getting packed and finishing projects for CHA today. I leave Monday at 7a.m. which means I have to be there at 5a.m. YIKES! I am really excited to see friends and meet new ones and hang out with the Imaginisce crew! I've also got my press pass arranged so it will be fun to check out the press kits with all the new products.
Have a fantastic weekend!

More Christmas in July

Hey friends! It's Christmas in July and Imaginisce is posting fresh projects all week long with their newest collection...

And to win some samples from this adorable collection all you have to do is leave a comment on the Imaginisce blog here! Don't forget to check back to see if you've won!

I scrapped this layout with a few different patterned papers and embellishments from the new collection.

I love the Imaginisce rub-ons, so easy to use and the results are always beautiful. I added a little bling with the Imaginisce I-rock tool to the rub-on. Supah easy! You've really got to get this little tool. You'll be blingin up anything and everything.

I can't believe I leave for Chicago Monday! So excited to meet some of the girls on the Imaginisce Design Team and work in the booth at the show! I'll be teaching the Make & Take on Thursday morning and the rest of the show you can find me in the Love My Tapes Booth! Please come by and say hi if you are going to be there! I'd love to meet you!

I'm wrapping up my Cottage Christmas projects tomorrow with a little something special I've created recycling our Imaginisce pacaging. Be sure and come back to check it out!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Christmas in July

I love Christmas, I love the music, the cooking and especially the shopping! I love making things for people and especially seeing their reaction when they open my gifts. One thing I would love to be better at is my holiday cards. I can never get them out on time. I spend weeks, days and hours creating them and then I run out of time to mail them out in time. I know it's silly huh. So today I've turned a new leaf and decided that I'll start celebrating Christmas in July by kicking off my card making well ahead of Christmas.

And what better time to start since this week at Imaginisce we are celebrating the release of Cottage Christmas! Here's my first Christmas card of 2010!

Supplies: Gingerbread Village, Holiday Wishes chipboard Stickers, I-rock tool and crystals and misc twine.


Aren't those Santa's adorable! He looks like a little knome. I love that Imaginisce made him into a Snag Em stamp. Is this image adorable or what!



Stay tuned for more Cottage Christmas artwork to come! I hope you'll celebrate Christmas in July too and be encouraged to start your holiday cards early! Be sure and link them up so I can stop by and see them!
Thanks for stopping by today!

Introducing Cottage Christmas!

Hello friends! It looks like it's Christmas in July!! Today we are excited to introduce you to Imaginisce's newest collection, Cottage Christmas! The collection features plenty of fabulous Cottage Christmas variety like 6 new double sided pattern papers in this collection, stickers, chipboard, ribbon and stamps! Here's a peek...

Christmas Countdown 12x12 patterned paper

Snowflake Crystals (my absolute favorite embellie)

And a new addition to the collection, 6x6 paper pads for card makers!!

Be sure and stop by the Imaginisce blog for your chance to win some of this fabulous collection! They are so generous that they are giving away samples of the new collection all week!!

Be sure and stop by my blog all week as I'll be featuring some designs with this fun collection starting tomorrow!

Thanks for all your sweet comments about my daughter's birthday! It was a really fun day for our family. I'll be posting pics later this week!

Been busy getting ready for a birthday

I've had to put some projects on hold this week since Sunday is Lily's birthday and this mom has been working hard getting all of the decorations ready for her backyard party with our family. Even though we aren't throwing a big party I wanted to make sure that it's a memorable birthday for her and us.
When my Mom and Dad were here we went to Disneyland for her first trip and while we were there we just happened to catch the Princess Story Time with Ariel. Lily loved seeing Ariel and has been talking about the princess for the past few weeks. She had only recently begun showing interest in the Disney princesses and Ariel was her Princess of choice. So I guess it seemed the natural theme for her 3rd birthday be Princess Ariel.
Right away I had some ideas and I started getting them together this week. We went to Michaels yesterday and I got a great deal on a 3 tier cupcake/cake display and we picked up a few supplies but I found that I had a lot of things in my stash at home.
I started my vision with these wood starfish I got for 25 cents for 2 of them, some paint and Martha Stewart micro beads.

First I painted them

Then I covered them in Tombow Mono liquid adhesive and coated them with the clear micro beads and let them dry.

While I was waiting for those to dry I started working on the cupcake toppers. I used my Cricut Expression and the Sweet Treats cart to cut these flowers and 3's out.

Next I made some tissue paper pom poms from the instructions at Martha Stewart.com here

Then I was ready to decorate the cupcake display. With my paper supplies, some purple tulle and my micro bead starfish and some ribbon and some clear Ariel stickers I mounted on acetate from Grafix. Here's the finished project ready for cupcakes!

Here's a close up of the top.

I must admit this project turned out much better than I had imagined and I wanted to cry when my daughter woke up from her nap and exclaimed "Mommy, pretty Ariel. It's so cute!"
I almost have everything ready for her party and just have a few last minute things to pick up before Sunday.

Now onto an Imaginisce note...
We've been featuring some great designs over at the Imaginisce blog with the newest collection

If you've been stopping by and leaving comments then you'll see Imaginisce is awarding some great prize packs of the new collection. Be sure and visit today's post to get your chance to win!!!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Altering with Apple Cider

Hello friends! This week's release of Imaginisce's Apple Cider has me painting and using my favorite Martha Stewart product (besides the punches) Micro beads!!!

Here's a look at a quick altered birdhouse I created with the new line



I got the birdhouse at Joann's, painted the fence and roof with brown paint and used Cinnimon sticks patterned paper from the Apple Cider line as well as chipboard stickers and the little bird is from the coordinating denim stickers.

Here's a closer look at the little friends

And of course the clear micro beads I used to cover the roof of my house. Yep I see that paper did not adhere all the way...darn it! I'll fix that later {wink}

This project was quick and easy to create and makes a great fall home accent. I hope you'll give this project a try and pls come back and leave a link for me to check it out. I love to blog hop!

Now would you like to win some of this yummy collection? Make sure you stop by the Imaginisce blog each day this week here!
And our very own Design team Coordinator Lori rocked out some fab cards with the Cricut Home Decor and More cart. Head over here cause the word is she has a giveaway!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Introducing Apple Cider!!

Hello friends! I've been really busy with some projects I've been working on but I wanted to share some images of Imaginisce's newest release

I love this fall themed collection! The colors are great for fall photos, trips to the apple farm and other Fall family activities. Here's a few images I'd like to share with you...

Apple Crisp patterned paper (looks good enough to eat!)

Fall in Love- Double sided patterned paper (love the polka dots!)

Snag Em Apple Stamp

Snag Em Pumpkin Stamp

Denim Stickers (how cute are these!)

Like what you see so far?? Well guess what...you can win some of this collection by stopping by the Imaginisce blog and leaving comments on each post then just go back the next day to see if you've won. BUT...even better than that check out this post and find out how you can win a Cricut Expression from Imaginisce...yep you heard me correctly!! What are you waiting for...GO!!!

My finshed apron and a winner

Hello friends! I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far. I have an Open House at Joann's today and I am hoping to sign up some students for my Scrapbook Design & You class. I was really excited to see a full page ad for classes in the recent issue of Scrapbooks Etc. I can't begin to tell you how much you will learn taking this class. You can go to the SDU website and search for a class near you.
I finally found time to work on the apron I showed you last week. Here's the before
pic.

I washed mine to make the fabric softer but it did wrinkle a bit. I tried to steam it and most of the wrinkles came out but not all. I'm not wearing it to a wedding or anything so I figured I'm good.

Here's the after with 2 colors of Glimmer Mist, some Webster's trim and Sparklers and of course Prima felt vines and flowers. It was easy to spray the mist and I used the techniques that Donna explains in her video here.

Here's a closer look

After I photographed it, I thought it still looked unfinished and in Donna's tutorial she uses a canvas word, laugh. I didn't have any so I used American CraftsThickers to spell out my quote. I glued the words dream and do on with fabric glue. I also covered the letters in glossy accents to seal the glitter and prevent tearing when I wear my apron.

Here's a closer look. My writing is a bit crooked but it makes my finished apron definitely look "artsy". I used a Sharpe marker to go over the penciled quote I wrote. This apron took me about an hour to make. Not bad and super fun. I hope you'll try one and come back and leave me a link to see it!

Now for the winner of the Birthday Bash prize....

Kelly Massman said...

Love your LO! I'm a new follower to you! Yay! And I follow I on FB!
Thanks for a chance to win!

Congratulations Kelly!! Email me your address at shemainesmith@yahoo.com and I'll send your prize out Monday!!

Thanks for stopping by today!