design. wash. rinse. repeat.

fussy cutting

Maybe it's the graphic designer in me, but I've got mad skills when it comes to the xacto knife! The girls at Paper Crafts Magazine tease me about my "fussy cutting" on a regular basis, and I seriously purchase blades by the box full. So imagine my excitement to see the super fun challenge at Method Playground this week! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. The examples they've shown are totaly inspiring, and if you participate you could win a pcLayers gift certificate! And yes, call me crazy, but I hand cut that My Mind's Eye brocade pattern in the Birthday card pictured above! (& layered it over a BasicGrey paper from the LilyKate collection that I designed.) The card was just featured in a special issue from Paper Crafts Magazine titled Paper Crafts 101 which has hundreds of unique ideas. It was fun to be a part of the process, especially doing some hybrid cards (The baby card pictured uses paper from the Blossom kit, available at pcLayers, and the frame around the photo is a digital freebie from this blog!). Now get out those xactos!

all that glitters

First it was Martha, and now Natalie is the one contributing to my glitter addiction. She's created fantastic digital glitter in an assortment of glorious colors and it is so much fun to use! and super easy. I could spend all my money in Natalie's new Shop. The glitter can be added to text, shapes, frames, brushes... the possibilities are really endless. The best part is you can get 8 different colors for a measly 4.99! and unlike "real" glitter you'll never run out. love it!

the week in photos

It's hard to be a Valentine's hater when I have such a great husband, friends and family. Among the highlights, T sent me a lovely arrangement from my favorite local florist (Artichokes & Co.), Sue dropped by with some sugar cookies so delicious they didn't last long enough for a photo, and Chrissy made this adorable valentine package filled with hot cocoa mix, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. She dropped the little heart packages on the porch atop a white doilie and red felt heart. such a beautiful surprise! (see photo above)

This week our fantastic Peruvian nanny, Melany, left us to be a school teacher in Park City. We are excited for her new career to begin, but she will be greatly missed. Those are some lucky students!

Baby Ev has some serious hair issues... not much i can do but embrace the faux-hawk!

It's Christmas in February as Paper Crafts Magazine has been keeping me busy creating project ideas for their Holiday issue. Unfortunately just as I had finally weaned LilyKate from singing Christmas music nonstop I found myself leading her in a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells. curses!

With the Oscars coming up T and I have been frantically trying to catch the oscar noms that we missed this year. Since Once (my happy pick!), and 3:10 to Yummy... i mean Yuma (my hot actor pick) weren't nominated for Best Picture, i'm cheering for the Coen Brother's dark and depressing thriller No Country for Old Men. Javier Bardem was incredible and left me thinking about his performance for days. "what's the most you ever lost in a coin toss?"


Last but not least LilyKate cracked me up today when she absolutely insisted on wearing her Kimono (a gift from her cousins in Japan!). She then proceeded to pair it with Polka Dot leg warmers and sparkly pink Mary-Janes and there was no arguing whether or not it was an appropriate outfit for a chilly february day let alone if the ensemble matched. Needless to say she provided endless amusement for passers by when we went out for lunch. 2 year olds are a daily adventure.

so cupcake

My spectacularly talented and adorably cute little sis (Monica, aka Nica! graduate of the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design) did the above fabulous watercolor illustrations for a new cupcake shop in town. Aren't they just sassy and fun? Someone get this girl a shop on Etsy!! I've made my plea but she's dragging her feet... maybe it's time for a petition. Anyway, in case you haven't noticed I'm a sucker for cupcakes, so my sisters and I packed up the littles and set off for "So Cupcake" on opening weekend. yummmmmm. I highly recommend the "So Cozy Cinnamon & Sugar" and the "Hanky Panky Red Velvet", but I think baby Zeke is partial to the "Coco Delight" and LilyKate gave "Starry Starry Night Vanilla" a thumbs up. Besides the tasty treats the atmosphere is girlie and fun, with chandelier lighting and lots of pink. They've even framed and placed Nica's watercolors throughout, and if i weren't afraid of getting arrested i would steal them right off the walls. they look that fantastic.