i'm running late!

First off, Sorry!! I'm checking in quickly to say that my inbox is over-loaded with emails I haven't opened yet. So if you've emailed in the past week and a half, I'm not ignoring you!! We all have been sick with a virus, lots of trips to the doctors and a trip to the emergency room for Alaina, and I'm hoping to not have a repeat of that with Chase. He's the last one that needs to get over this and then, fingers crossed, no more illnesses! xo ~ Tara

twitter

So, now I have a twitter page too. :) We'll see how many different sites I can keep with. :)) I'm having a hard time trying to find people I know have profiles with them, I guess I'll have to play around over there until I get the hang of it.

http://twitter.com/thepinkcouch

I'm suppose to be getting a couple of scrapbook pages done today, but it seems as though I'm easily distracted! :) I'm also working on a new flower tutorial for next week. Be back soon with that! xoxo ~ Tara

most of my ideas,

start with a combination of colors that I like. I love color! When I was little I loved when Grandpa needed to go to Home Depot, because not only could I tag along with him, it also meant a stop by the paint sample counter. Don't all kids like those paint sample cards?

from this combination of colors:



to the actual products


Fast forward 20 years, and now I just make my own little color samples. I put together a new 'Color Idea' book over the weekend. It's an index card book, that I made a quick cover for (must love random stickers and left over rub-ons!!) and started adding little squares of paper. Combos that I want to remember next time I need a creative spark of inspiration. :) and it's only 3x5 inches, perfect fit for in my bag so I can take notes when I'm out and about.



a page from my color book


So, the next time you're at Target look for a little index book. I also made one for Sketches, I'll share the contents of that one later. Happy weekend!

thrifty finds,

I love to go to thrift stores! Didn't care too much for it as a child (old stuff that smelled funny) but I really do enjoy hunting for new/old treasures. I love finding things that I imagine one of my great-grandmothers would have owned or made. Once, while at my favorite second-hand store I found a very worn sewing kit, and inside were projects that were only half finished. Of course, I had to give the kit a home, and I finished one of the embroidered pillow cases. (I also cut it all up and then used it on a scrapbook page, but that's another story.)

I was so-so excited to find a large bag of vintage seam binding and lace during a recent treasure hunting expedition. After getting home and opening, or ripping the bag apart like a child on Christmas Day (either one works), I found 60 packages of seam binding and lace in the most perfect shades of pinks, greens, and yellows. I've tried to explain to my husband how truly monumental of a find this was, but he doesn't seem that awe-struck by it. and so, I dedicate a whole blog post to old sewing things that will be used on new scrappy projects.

Thanks for the great ideas!

So, I took everyone's advice and sorted through everything to make smaller ( & more manageable) little groups! I'll warn everyone now though, that my photos are less than stellar. I'm so use to having alot of time on my hands to arrange my photos and spend the time editing, well, with 2 little ones now, I don't have so much spare time anymore. I'm taking a 'good enough' approach to my photographs this time around.

I'm hoping for Saturday and Sunday to get everything into the store. I've made groups of buttons, stickers/rubons, Prima/Making Memories flowers, ribbon, a couple of smaller scrapbook kits and 1 big-huge one, Jolees, idea books and magazines, stamps, chipboard shapes, titles and journal tags, paper packs..... that might be everything. I love Spring cleaning!!





46 cards of vintage buttons. (I've been collecting these for a little while!) I love using whole cards of buttons for scrapbooking!!

a craft yard sale!

I've been spending a few weeks now reorganizing my studio. I've already went through and sold locally all of my paper, because there is nothing in the world that I hate to ship more than scrapbook paper. But now I have two huge boxes of embellishments and other crafty things to sell. But I need some advice!

What is the easiest way to sell everything?





**The last time I cleared out my studio I sold everything all at once in one very large, very heavy box. I'm thinking that would be the easiest thing for me to do. The thought of having to photograph every item is a little overwhelming. Any good ideas out there??

If life worked as a drive up window..

this is how my order would sound:

I'll take 3 cases of Bronchitis, (1 for me and each of the kids) 3 trips to the doctors and pharmacy, 4 boxes of tissues, and 2 breathing treatment machines.

will that complete your order?

No, actually can you add one large sinus infection for me too. Thanks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It does kind of make me laugh when I think about how bad this past week has been. It's been very eventful, both good and bad. I had lots of time to think while I was sick and suppose to be sleeping. (Thank the heavens above that my husband is as helpful as he is!! He's a good little nurse to us when we're all sick!) It seems though that we're slowly getting over it. Chase and Alaina are on meds and are doing breathing treatments every 4 hours. Two little kids sick at the same time has been quite the adventure..... one I'm hoping I won't be going back on any time soon!

I had time to complete a huge little mini book! (if that makes sense) I've been making these only as custom orders for almost 4 and 1/2 years now, and this one is the first non-custom book I've made. A first time for everything!! A few photos:





I added in a little blank notebook, because I know that I'm always looking for something to write on when I have an amazing idea (in my opinion of course). Color combos, scrapbook page sketches, ideas for embellishments.... my list could go on and on!




I'm already planning the next book I want to make for myself. I need to reorganize the studio and then I will disappear for a week and reemerge with a brand new book! I'm also trying to talk the husband into taking a day trip somewhere sort of close by. I have a bit of cabin fever being stuck inside so much. I would love to drive up to Sedona or even Prescott, but I think we shall wait until Spring when the forests are green again! Maybe just a quick trip to the lake this weekend. :))

I am..

sick.......again. How does one catch 2 colds in 2 months? Luck I suppose, mixed with a little talent. I've traded catching up on emails for sleep. Chase is also sick, it makes for a very long and tiring day. If you're waiting on an email, it's coming, hopefully this weekend. (Sunday & Monday) I'm off to make some more peppermint tea and start a pot of chicken noodle soup.

have you....

ever had one of those weeks? Where you look at your inbox, expecting to see 'Bill Notification' and instead are greeted with an email subject line that makes you look twice? I have! This past week has been so unexpected and out of the ordinary but exciting and busy all at the same time!

The store and one of my scrapbook pages are being published!! Yay for handmade!! and drumroll please............... I'm now designing for Danielle Thompson with Kitschy Digitals!! I've been a fan of hers for so long, well since I got into scrapbooking about 4 years ago! I'm so overjoyed at the opportunity to be working alongside some incredible talent! I don't think I could ever fully commit to only digital layouts, I love paper and glue too much, but hybrid layouts are right up my alley, and so I'm very fortunate to be designing with such gorgeous digital kits. It truly makes scrapbooking easy when you love the products you work with.

With that said, here is the newest page I made yesterday morning, the whole page took about an hour! I really wanted the focus and the color to only be Danielle's products so I started this page by taping the edges with some scotch tape, then took 2 pieces of lace and placed them over the paper and spray painted with black to give the pattern of the lace. (I wanted more of the teal to show through and less of the actual lace.) All of those packages of Basic Grey rub-ons I've been collecting over the years came in handy! I added the rub-ons over the spray painted areas. I printed the feathers and flowers/leaves onto textured cardstock, and then cut each out and layered everything together, add in some real feathers and voilà! It is finished!! A super simple and quick layout, with a little punch of color!




* I used the Feather kit and the Olivia kit from Kitschy digitals. *

and just like that....

I'm back! I'm not sure how I feel about Blogger, I log out only to be greeted with an error message, time after time, when trying to log back in. It's what lead to the demise of my first blog..... I will play around with the idea of switching over to Typepad as so many have before.

As for my little Giveaway! Jennifer who left a comment here on the blog, was so lucky to be picked by Alaina who said that she liked her name! :) I'm so excited to be back on a workable routine, and have so much exciting news and photos to share! We're on our way out tonight to celebrate. Be back shortly for more updates and new photos!

xoxo~ Tara

a celebration ~

We celebrated Alaina's 4th birthday yesterday! Where does the time go? I think now that she's getting to be older, and understands different holidays and celebrations, it's even more fun to share in her excitement. Before bed last night, she told us that 'today was the best day of my life!" I love-love that little girl!

While I was working on a project, she came over to ask if I could make her a chocolate cake with pink icing and sprinkles, that she could hang in her little play kitchen. (Alaina truly believes her mom can make anything out of paper!) So we headed into the studio to gather up supplies, and I made a little birthday-cake wall hanging for her. She was so excited, she absolutely loves chocolate cake and sprinkles right now!

It has a very 'Charlie and Lola'-ish feel, one of our favorite tv cartoons! I'm so in love with that show~ the music and the hand drawn characters!! I'm always inspired to make something every time we're able to watch an episode! I'd love to know what shows/movies inspire you to create!

one more photo ~ of a little gift adorned with girly flowers and a sparkly butterfly~ I have entirely too much fun gift wrapping!

Happy Friday!

Since the month of September is all about celebrating (birthdays and a new baby!) I though it was a perfect time to start something new for my blog! My first monthly-kit giveaway!!



Each month, I'll be giving away a kit, filled with colorful little products from my Etsy shop. I have the most wonderful and loyal customers that I thought it would be fun to do a little something extra! There will be 2 ways you can enter, for each product sold on Etsy your name will be entered into the drawing, or just leave your name below in the comments. (This way all of my Flickr friends are invited as well!) I'll be picking a name (or my daughter, rather, will be choosing) on the 25th of Sept. ~Good Luck!!~

Summer Blueberries

Blueberries, or rather all berries really, bring back summer memories at Grandma's house! Warm summer evenings are the perfect setting for serving berry-desserts, and who doesn't love sweet berry-muffins! Blueberry muffins are always a hit in my home, and with a simple recipe, these muffins will surely impress your family!




Blue Berry Muffins
will make 11 to 12 muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries

Crumb topping:
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.

2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil, the egg and milk into a separate bowl and stir to incorporate ingredients. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture. (I always pat down the crumb topping slightly, and then a little more.)

3. To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done. Remove muffins to a wire rack, and let cool just a bit before serving.

Enjoy!

Something New!

Why a pink couch? Who doesn't love the feeling of a big comfy couch to settle into and daydream about all of those creative projects waiting to be started?!! I really hope to create a warm & cozy 'living room couch' feel for this blog. A place to drop in and find some crafty inspiration and maybe even a few tips and tricks for the inner domestic-goddess in us all!