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Courage layout

The story of this layout would have to center around the alpha stamp set that ibises for the title. I have had my Studio Calico alphabet stamp set for years. In fact, I emailed them about this prtucular set due to it being unavailable outside of kits that were sold out. I wanted them SO BAD. And let me just say, their customer service is so awesome and I'm fact mailed me the set shortly after. So why has it taken me years to use the set??? Have you ever bought something you love so much you don't want to use it??? I hope your saying yes to that right now. LOL! But that was the case for me. I just like to look at the set and admire it's beauty in all the possibilities the stamps had. 

Turned out the alpha set was just too perfect for this layout. So I dusted them off and bit the bullet so to speak and had a lot of fun using them!  

Coping through tragedy

I have come to learn that papercrafting is not just a hobby for me to make pretty things. It has also served as a coping mechanism for me.

Making a keepsake book to document this experience. Including thoughts and feelings we've all had has really helped me work through the grief of losing our unborn baby. Unfortunately I cannot share all the journaling pages. They are just too personal, but I can share a few of the other pages that I put together to preserve the memory of the pregnancy. 

It was a very happy time on our lives. We had been trying to extend our family for months and finally we were expecting our second child. Excitement and happiness are understatements for what we were all feeling. 

We also had our first Disneyland vacation planned. It was the day before we were suppose to leave for the first part of the vacation when we got the news. We had lost our unborn baby at 12 weeks. It was the single most devastating experience I have ever been through. The overwhelming sadness was ready to consume me.  On top of it all, we had a huge trip planned. 

We were faced with multiple hard decisions and one of them being whether to go forward with the trip. We managed to find the strength to go. Mostly for our little girl. It was a decision we did not regret. The vacation was good for us and gave us more strength to face what was ahead when we returned home. 

Although this post is extremely personal. It is also a step for me to work through the pain of this loss. 

~Emily 

Back at it...I think

Every few years I go through a creative block. Recently I have been inspired by our recent family vacation to Disneyland. I am excited to document all the fun we had as a family. Just the three of us making memories together. 

These are two new layouts of our daughter Maci enjoying her day at the pool. 

I was definitely in the mood to use my gelatins that I've been hoarding for the last three years. 

Fall spelling project

Maci is in kindergarten now and learning so much!! She especially loves learning about letters. We picked out a project at target and got around to getting it started today. 

The purpose was for her to spell out SPOOKY on the Halloween banner. We'll add spiders to each end later. 

I did the spray painting of course. I LOOOVVEE spray painting. 

~Emily

Simple pink

After making a TON of Seahawk necklaces. I had to take a break. But once I got these beads I couldn't resist playing with the variations!! 

Oh for the love of January

I can't get enough pictures of her! And the lighting in this spot...need I say more 😉

For the love of Fall

Fall photos are my favorite to capture. The colors and overall feeling of the holidays around the corner are the best! We have had an amazing Fall season for the Pacific Northwest. 

I am so thankful for this little sweetie! 

We didn't have to tell her to pose she's a natural. 

Please excuse the mess...

You have to make a bigger mess to clean the mess...right?? Well that's what I have to do. Pull everything out if it's spot and go through it all. And give it a new spot. So please excuse the mess for now! 

SEAHAWKS Accessories!!!

Round 3 of these beauties. These have been a very popular item this week!! But can't you see why?! I mean come in these are adorable!! 

Here are some new listings. The top one is made for adults. Can't you see yourself sporting this on game day?!!

I am loving the football rhinestone pendant. It makes the necklace so sparkly and fun! 

If you want to pick up one of the necklaces visit:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/197701570/adult-seahawks-inspired-chunky-necklace?ref=cat_gallery_1&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

See you next time! 

~Emily

This is the beginning if something beautiful

I'm so excited to start these fun long awaited DIY projects. These are so fun and look gorgeous in the house or for a wedding or party decor. 

Here are a few pictures of my process. 

Hobby Lobby had a sale on mason jars and spray paint. So DUH? Had to take that offer up. Only wish I had bought MORE!! 

I ended up switching to a plastic lid from a storage bin we weren't using. It was MUCH easier than the news paper. 

Love how they turned out. I just need to distress them and add flowers. 

See you next time

~Emily 

Vacation mini

Its that time of year again...Lake Chelan bound and so excited!!!!!!! It's the simple things that make me feel so blessed and also relaxed in vacation. One of them is bringing along a little paper crafting project. Last year and this year I am using an Amy Tangerine mini album. I love these because I can pack it easily and take it right down to the beach and work on it. That's what I call a vacation!! Scraping on the beach haha! 

The one on the left is 2013 album. Which I need to finish. And the right is this year. 

As much as I'd love to pack my entire scraproom, I manage to squeeze the essentials into this plastic storage bin from Michael's. I leave a little room to add stuff that I get at the local craft store that is in town. 

I usually do some fussy cutting in the car on the way. 

Here is where I did most if my crafting. During Maci's nap time of take a break and work on the journaling. I like to journal about each day and the fun things we did during our trip. 

Here is a sneak peak of one part that is finished! I can't wait to get the album done. Check back soon to see the entire mini! 

Hope to inspire you! 

~Emily 

New necklaces.

Some of my newest styles of chunky necklaces. My favorite is the Americana inspired Minnie Mouse. It is so sparkly and pretty! The photo doesn't do it justice. 

All the girls are going crazy for anything Frozen these days. This is a new favorite also!

I started making bows again. Love how this one turned out! It was also free with the purchase of this necklace. 

Hope to inspire you! 

Emily 

Project life photo organization

I know I'm not the only one who can get behind on project life. Okay...really behind. 

Thankfully my iPhone helps me track the dates of my photos and I admit I do have tons of random post it notes and scratch pieces with some random things I don't want to forget all over my craft studio. 

But the system I found to be most helpful for being able to catch up quickly is, semi planning and printing the photos I want to include for my weeks. 

I'm not inspired by the "planning" piece of crafting. When I plan too much it really takes away from my creative process. And we can't have that happening (wink wink) 

I use my Canon Selphie to print my photos straight from my phone. This printer + my iPhone is a LIFE saver when it comes to staying current on PL. Or in my case catching up. 

Then if I do multiple weeks at a time. Like shown above. I write on the back of each photo and separate them into the most current week that I am working on. 

This seems like a no brainer kind of way. But my desk can get a bit crazy. On top of that I hoard photographs and print doubles and mix them up, mix them up and just plain forget the when's and where's.  So this is my best method to the madness. 

~emily

Instagram album project share

Here is the link to my video showing the inside if my Instagram mini. http://youtu.be/z72j9Fi5s7k

This album was so much fun, I have already started working on another! Just as I say in my video they are so sturdy and hold the photos and embelishments well...and lots of them! So in my new album shown below I made an elastic band to keep it together. This is not really needed because the album holds up well. But it was a quick fun and easy idea I had sour if the moment. I plan on making more of these wraps for my smash books and other mini's in the future. Stay tuned for updates on the next instagr mini! 

Thanks for checking it out. 

~emily

http://youtu.be/z72j9Fi5s7k

Seahawk chunky necklace

I'm so excited about how this gorgeous necklace turned out. I can't wait to make more!! The possibilities are endless!! 

You can see more styles here: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OhSewSweetShoppe?section_id=all

Instagram mini album

I didn't think I'd love the We R Memory Keepers 4x4 Instagram album as much as I do. But I want them ALL now!!! These albums are SO much fun. They are cute and easy too! Here are a few inages of some pages that are complete. 

I will post a video of the full album once it is complete. 

~be inspired

Emily