Sick, sick, sick.

EVERYONE in my household is sick.  Sick, sick, sick.  Except for me and I don't know how I am hanging on. Maybe it would just be cruel if I were sick too so I have been spared.  Molly has an ear infection, a nose that's running like a faucet, and Connor just 11 weeks old, is headed to the doctor today because he's pulling at his ear.  I want the CDC to come disinfect my house.   Since that's not likely, I am just walking around with a can of Lysol and tons of antibacterial lotion.   My parents (especially my mother) are usually my heros about right now coming to my rescue but they're off enjoying themselves at the Olympics in London.  So jealous right now.

I wish for brighter days!  This great card was done by Kelley Eubanks and uses Hello Kitty from Hello Kitty Garden club.   I love the simplicity of the card - Kelley is never one to be shy of a white background.  The blue and white twine from The Twinery really pops here and the little cheery gem Kelley adhered to the card makes me smile.

This too shall pass.  And it really could be a lot worse so I'll quit complaining.   Have a great Tuesday everyone!

DIY Flash Cards

I am a huge advocate of flash cards for babies and toddlers.  Starting at 6 months, I regularly sat with Molly and showed her pictures of farm animals, nature scenes, fruits and vegetables, clothing, every day items, colors and numbers.  This is just one stack of our flash cards that we still use regularly.  

Of course every parent thinks that their child is smart and I am no exception.   Molly was talking early – she said her first words at 7 months, and she was doing “flash cards” here at 17 months.  Check out this video.  http://youtu.be/v9-g7FjpiA8

I know.  You are amazed.  

I asked Mae Armstrong to come up with an educational kids activity and she responded with DIY Flash Cards.  I knew I loved this girl!  What she came up with is a flash card system that teaches counting.  And its better than anything I have purchased.  Check it out.  She created animal silhouettes and grouped them by numbers. Here's the template you can use so you can create your very own flash cards. Click the images and print away – she used cardstock to print so they’d be nice a sturdy for her twin boys. 

After printing. Trim along the guides.

Mae stamped the corresponding numbers inside the circle tags using PSA Essentials stamp set.  She also added a patterned star burst paper behind the stamped tag. Glue and assemble.

She organized the set before gluing everything. 

 Here they are ready to be enjoyed.

Mae’s boys had a great time with this project and she’ll be packing this for her next trip – it’s such a great travel activity that doesn't take a lot of room.    How cute are these boys?!

Beachside Dinner & Entertaining

I tried out a great summer menu of shrimp ceviche, red cabbage slaw, and grilled corn on Sunday night for Molly and Mike.   It’s the perfect combination of fresh flavors for a hot summer evening and is ideal for a dinner party since everything is made in advance except for the corn.   Molly and I spent Saturday afternoon chopping cabbage (obviously I was the one with the knife – she mostly watched), squeezing lemons, limes and oranges (a good job for her), peeling shrimp and mixing everything up.   Here she is.. working hard!

On Sunday, we just pulled everything out of the fridge to eat after a long day of swimming at the pool.   Easy, beautiful AND delicious!  

To go along with this menu for a dinner party, you might want a fun table set up – like this one by Angie Holden.  She created a napkin ring holder using the beach chair/umbrella stamp from PSA Life’s A Beach. 

She stamped onto a circular piece of fabric with her PSA Stamper loaded with Turquoise Blue ink and set it with hairspray.   Check out the place setting complete with a shell – isn’t it perfect?  Your guests are sure to enjoy this meal and also feel welcome with this setting. 

 I love summer entertaining!  Now I just have to find the time… Or my guests have to be brave enough to be around my 3 year old and 10 week old…What are you cooking up this summer?  

Deer Art

There are a few projects that our designers do that I get really excited about blogging about.   This is one of them.  Perhaps it’s because I love art – I am a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Art and Design, and I desperately miss painting and creating works of art.   Or perhaps it’s because I love seeing someone following a trend but making it their own.  Or maybe a small part of me likes this piece of artwork because Angie Holden has used the delta stamps from our Greek line, and I am a Delta Delta Delta.   Today I am sharing Angie Holden’s Deer Art.    It’s graphic, eye catching and FABULOUS. 

Love this set in the context of a little boys’ room.    This is a funky accent and bold statement.    

Tutorial coming tomorrow, since I know you will want to recreate this!   Here's the line of stamps she used. 

It's a Boy Layout

On my to do list:  Connor's scrapbook.

Not sure when I am going to get time to do it, but it remains on my list.   Kim Schofield has created a layout for a friend's baby, Cooper.  I am loving the clean and simple look and also the use of "It's A Boy" stamp from PSA Carriage.   The yellow and natural colors, combined with the baby blue is right up my alley.

Here are some recent pictures of Connor that I would like to incorporate into my layout... He's such an incredibly HAPPY baby.   We are so lucky.

We had a photoshoot with photographer Dayle Thomas, of Smarty Pants Photography.  If you are local in Hilton Head or Bluffton, I highly recommend her.  She's fabulous!  Here's a few that she captured of Connor.







Great pictures, huh? Now all I have to do is find time to do some layouts...

Hello!

Happy Monday!  Here's a little "hello" card this morning by Vera Yates.  She's used the Hello Kitty from PSA Hello Kitty On The Go and colored her up to make her come to life (always a good idea on your cards and layouts!)  Send this bright and cheery card to a friend you haven't spoken to in awhile or when you want to make someone's day even better.   Getting a card in the mail amongst your bills and junk mail is always a great surprise.  For me, there's nothing better than a card from a friend in my mailbox.

I love the orange, too!  What do you think? 

Craft Coupons

I've been hunting for coupons lately, here's what I have found for you.  Hurry!  These Michael's ones end on Sunday.   There's a selection of coupons for punches & trimmers, artist markers and pencils, Martha Stewart crafts, SMASH, and my favorite - a 50% off coupon of any one item that is regularly priced.

Here's a great in-store coupon and a great on-line coupon for JoAnn's. 

And of course, here's the best deal on PSA Essentials right now at Paper Clique.  Now through September, we are suggesting that our retailers sell our personalized stamps at $30.  The Paper Clique has slashed prices  even further and is selling for $26.50!   If you've been waiting, now is the time!  http://www.thepaperclique.com/stamps.html