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Monday, April 29, 2013

NEW Memories...NEW Project...NEW Series!!

It's time for another round of NEW-ness here at The Creative Life!!

NEW MEMORIES!

This past Saturday I did something NEW...I ran my first 10k!

 I started running back in August with the app Count-to-5K for 2 reasons: (1) I wanted to be an example of a healthy lifestyle to my kids and (2) I had my SILs and some great friends who had started running and I was totally inspired by the confidence it had been giving them.

So I just...started running. The Couch-to-5k (and eventually the 5k-to-10k app) really helped hold my hand through the process. Being someone who's never been "sporty" I had no clue where to start.

I had a lot of cheerleaders like my SILs Kelly and Leslie, my sister Leslie, and my friends Kristen and Kelly, but my biggest was this girl right here!

My friend Deana has already run a half-marathon and a full-marathon and was my go-to person for all my questions, my "OMG...what am I doing?" moments and my confidence builder when I was injured a few weeks ago and wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to run at all.

We ran the 10K together and even though she finished about 10 minutes ahead of me, she made her way back on the course after she had crossed the finish line to run the last 1/4 mile with me. 

Here is my first metal:


And here is where my family and I went for my "victory" breakfast afterwards!!!

So what next? Well...this race was my "practice" race for a half-marathon I am scheduled to run in just 2 weeks. Since my injury put me behind on my training schedule (I had to take 2 weeks off), I am a little more nervous now than I was when I ran 10 miles 4 weeks ago, but I'm not going to give up!

NEW PROJECT...NEW SERIES!!!

Heidi Swapp's Color Pop is one of my FAVORITE new things out there in the paper-crafting world. I've always loved the "resist" products, but where as all other products resist white, Heidi has taken it up a notch and made her resists BRIGHT Colors and Fun, Bold Patterns.

In her Color Pop Collection, she has her trademark Memory Files in all sorts of yumminess like Teal Chevron, Pink Polk-Dot and Black Diagonal Stripes, shown here in front, which is what I used to make MY first ever Memory File!


I decided I wanted to do a fun Yellow and Black color scheme, so I used Tattered Angels' Jingle Bells Glimmer Mist on my folder.

I wanted my Memory File to be all about my hottie hubby and me, so I had this really cute picture my SIL had given me of us from a few years ago. From there it was just all about adding fun. I popped a lot of it up to give it a lot of depth and allow me to "tuck" embellishments here and there. (See below for a complete supply list!)

So fun, right? 

You can join me over the next few months in my NEW SERIES as I add to my File and join me in building more memories!

Until then my friends...enjoy YOUR Creative Life...where ever it may lead you.

Complete Supply list of today: Memory File: Heidi Swapp; Patterned Paper: Echo Park, Glitz Design and My Mind's Eye; Chipboard Arrows: Pink Paislee; Washi Tape: Sandy Lion and Recollections; Enamel Dots: Teresa Collins; Lace: May Arts; Title Card: Glitz Design; Stamps: Fiskars; Glitter Dots: Mark Richardson; Button: Teresa Collins; Gem: Paper Studio;  Paint: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Jingle Bell; Misc: Harlequin Felt (had it so long....no idea who made it! LOL!)

Monday, April 22, 2013

Getting Crafty with Echo Park and 7Gypsies

I LOVE doing shadow boxes! There's just something about building something in 3-D that is just sssoo much fun!

On my retreat last week, I had the chance to make this adorable shadowbox from a 7Gypsies Solo Tray and Echo Park's Everyday Eclectic. I've loved this line since I saw it at Summer CHA last year. The colors are fun and the added wooden images and ssoo popular chevron was right up my alley. :)



I loved using LOTS of 3-D Pop Dots to add lots of depth and levels.



The flowers are my take on this Rose Tutorial by Helmar Adhesive's Design Team Member Vicky Alberto.

Click Here for Vicky's Step by Step Tutorial!!
Vicky used punches for her flower, giving her rose petals a more rounded shape. I used Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals Bigz Die from Sizzix, so mine have sharper edges.

complete supply list: Tray: 7Gypsies; Paper and Stickers: Echo Park Paper; Cork: Canvas Corp; Wooden Speech Bubble: Studio Calico; Adhesive: Canvas Corp and EK Sucess

I hope you enjoyed my little project.

Check back next week for my FIRST featured project on the Scrapbook News and Review Blog!!

Until next time...get caught being creative!!

Monday, April 15, 2013

A week of NEW...Scary New...Fun New...and Awesome New.

New....

Those of you who have been following along on my creative journey know that my One Little Word for 2013 is NEW and this week...well it was just been full of NEWness! :)

First there was SCARY New.

I put in my notice at my job! May 12th will be my last day being the Creative Coordinator at my LSS. Through prayer and consideration, I've decided it's time for me to have more time for my two favorite things: my family and my craft. For anyone who's ever left a job without an actual "plan" you know what I am feeling right now...BUT I know it's the right thing for me and my family, so here goes nothing!

Next there was FUN New!!

 This past weekend was my annual scrapbook retreat with my family and girlfriends. Eleven of us rent out a bed and breakfast in Rogersville, MO for 4 days and 3 nights of girl time, creativity and AMAZING food! (It was sad this year because at the last minute my sister's husband's grandfather passed away so she wasn't able to attend, so actually there was only 10 this time.)

This is the adorable sign that greats you!!
The house has 5 rooms and the whole basement is one large room and an AMAZING kitchen that would make any cook totally jealous.

Isn't it cute!? It's decorated in a warm country feel with quilts and antiques everywhere!
Our innkeepers, Mark and Dixie Dawson, are the sweetest people you will ever meet in your life! And they remember EVERYTHING about our group, like who's from Arkansas and who's from Missouri...who doesn't like eggs or corn (that's me!) and all sorts of other tidbits that they use to personalize our stay.

Mark and Dixie went out for a night on the town at a local school fundraiser while we were there.
In case I haven't mentioned it...the food is UH-MAZING!!!
Here are my favorite dinner and breakfast (and yes...every meal is this big and yummy!!)

FAVORITE DINNER:

Pesto Chicken Over Angel Hair Pasta with Tomatoes, Nutty Broccoli with Swiss,
Stuffed Peppers and Croissants. 
FAVORITE BREAKFAST: 
Scrambled Eggs with Chives, Hickory Smoked Bacon, French Toast Casserole
with Maple Syrup and Mango Smoothie
Want to see all the fun? 
Because yes...we did actually scrapbook and not just eat! LOL

As usual, by breakfast on Sunday morning we all bemoaned how fast the weekend went and already booked our 2014 trip.

I love these girls. They are amazing, supportive, inspirational, a little crazy (especially the later the night gets!) and love me just the way I am, but more importantly...love me enough to help me not stay that way.

New AWESOME!!!

This week was a first for me...it was my FIRST appearance in the magazine Scrapbook News and Review!!

This is the cover:


I have 4 layouts, 3 tutorials and a product review!


One layout is on the front page slide show...it's called "7 Things about Me."

So...that is what is NEW in my world.

I hope your world is full of amazing and NEW things each day.

Until next time...enjoy your Creative Life...I know I am.