JUNE AEI(heart)U

 It's a lovely summer day which calls for a lovely summer card.

The awesome Nina Yang debuted her new stamps and dies sets for Avery Elle and they are super cool.  She's so talented and the sweetest. This card features her Simply Tags:Everyday set.  The tags are layered with velum and Stamped the outline in "champagne" by Encore! (which doesn't sound like it, but is a gold color).  Also that lovely bold sentiment from her stamp set too.  Can you see the flower silhouettes?  It's more prominent in real life and are from the Petals and Stems set that also comes with dies now.

    Not to go all Nina Yang crazy on this post BUT the layout of this card is basted on her sketch for this months AEI<3u a="" challenge="">.  You know how much I love Avery Elle.

June Avery Elle challenge sketch

 Happy Summer!

Mixy-Matchy...I like it!

 I'm a total Paper Crafts Magazine lover.  Which means I'm also an avid reader of the publication.  Where am I going with this?  Will, to the May/June issue on page 65.  Flipped the page and my mind flipped too.  Cath Edvalson had an awesome feature with an AMAZING Betsy Veldman card (I wonder if she even makes un-amazing cards...doubt it!).  It was all Mixy-Matchy and awesome!

Had to give it a try so here is my version of making Mixy-Matchy work.

 

Here is why I think this card works

Kept a soft neutral color as the main color so it wouldn't be so busy.

Tried to stick to the primary colors when collecting scraps.

Added a bold sentiment so it didn't get loss on the card.

Linking this up to The Mixy-Matchy Style Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  

Got a mixed up idea?  Start in your scrap pile...I did!

 

It's no Betsy Veldman card, but I think it works.

The PaperCut (issue 06.2013)

Hello hello,

Today is June 12 and that means "It's my birthday" WooHoo!!!

That would be my actual birthday and not my blog's.

Just wanted to pop in with a huge dose of inspiration awesomeness.

The latest issue of GCD Studios' "The PaperCut" e-magazine is up and available  for your viewing pleasure.  As always, this issue is totally FREE.

(For a link to the issue click on the picture bellow)

Lots of fun features to be found in this issue including a "Geek-Chic"  section.  You know you love the geeky love trend.  GCD Studios does it right with all the awesome goodies you get in the "Special Delivery" collection by Heidi Sonboul.

Here's a little sneak of page 37 aka my geeky contribution to the magazine.

It's a set made up of a paper crafted Notebook, pen, and bookmark.

For a better look at this project and for more GCD Studios awesomeness,  click on over to the magazine HERE.  Don't forget it's FREE and amazing!

Pinspired Challenge #11

June and summer is in full bloom and the Pinheads are in full summer mode with challenge #11.

 Pinspired Challenge #11

The bright yellow and purple hues in this pin just screams "SUMMER TIME" and that makes me happy.

 Our sponsor this week is the delightful SP&Company.  

They have all kinds of scrapbooking goodies and also carry their own line of adorable stamps.

So who's feeling the summer love?

Hop on by the Pinspired Challenges blog and check out all the awesomeness from the design team and then be sure to link up.  We love to see how you are PINspired!

 PINspired Challenges

Turning pins into projects

June 9, 2013 Waimea Valley (Intro to "The non-photographer's photo journal")

 Hello my awesome blog followers.

Okay so, I had a bright idea and if you know me it's one of those... "I actually had this idea awhile ago but procrastination is a too dear friend of mines" SO I'm finally doing something about it.

...What am I talking about?  Let's start at the beginning...

Once our little tribe started growing and doing more and more amazing things together, we decided we needed a good camera to capture those memories.   I know I have no idea how to work this camera to it's full potential.  I don't know what an aperture is or does...what is good lighting or not...focus...angles...blah blah blah!  Then there's editing.  Let's just say me and computers speak different languages (well technique that's true but most people can decode it and I can't so....).  I don't use Photoshop simply because I can't afford it.  SO what I'm saying is I have a nice camera, my family does amazing stuff and I like to take pictures of it.  So here it is.  The start of a non-photographer's photo journal.

Waimea Valley

This weekend we took a trip to the North Shore.  After spending some time at Waimea Bay we made our way up to the valley.  They have a whole big botanical garden leading up to the waterfall.  It's really commercial which my family really doesn't do much of, but since we had guess we shelled out the money and took the walk up.  

The greenery, sunshine and cool breeze made for a lovely time.

 Any mother knows what those droopy eyes mean.  Factoring that he was riding in a stroller and the peacefulness of the valley, nap time wasn't far off.

 There were lot's of plants and they all had name plates which were cool.  Funny but we didn't pass by a lot of native plants.  Also on the walk were some falling rocks signs and lots of stairs.

 I spy my kids.  Can you?

 Yes I'm one of those parents that let my kids explore on their own.  Granted that it's safe, they stay together  and they don't go to far.  I have a big mouth so I'm also the parent who's calling out to my kids.

 I'm a sucker for moss and ferns.  Oddly enough mushrooms too but finding them are hard.

Thought the Lauae (fern) looked cool growing out from the roots of this tree.  Also thought the roots looked liked fingers...or is it just me?

 We made it to the falls.

The sun was still shinning and the air was sweet.

I guess there has been issues because now they make everyone going in the water wear a life vest.  No one climbs and jumps off the falls anymore either.

We had a nice time and the kids had fun too.  Is it worth the price?  I don't think so.

 This valley has so much history and struggles and there really wasn't any info on any of it.  Although they did have a native garden, it was off to the side and not to many native plants were visible and marked on your journey to the main attraction.

 One more photo to end our trip.

We spotted this peacock on our way out.  WARNING peacocks attack.  We learned that the hard way sometime ago at the zoo.