rolling over

My little Bella rolled herself over today!! And yes, got caught up on the activity mat. Oops.. wasn't expecting that!

Just wanted to share. Gosh, you guys are going to get sick of hearing all about these two. But I just can't help myself!

Off to catch up on laundry!

What's New? LOTS!

I've been adding a ton of new items to the shop so if you haven't visited in a while, check in. Ribbons, new mini albums, new shapes and glittered words perfect for your cardmaking or altered projects. They're also the perfect size to use with our banner pennants.

If you place an order today through the weekend, we have a FREE gift for you too. Who doesn't like free?!

This little ladybug is available as shown or with holes cut out.

There are so many amazing blogs and sites out there and I love it when you all send me links. I just wanted to thank our friend Kimmarie for posting photos of the mini album she created using our Bracket Album kit. The kit is sold out but I just listed some Bracket Albums (without kits) on the site. There's a PINK one and a WHITE one. Keep as is, or paint to match your papers. I loove these! I kept one for myself to play with. :)

Anyway, check out Creativity {unbound}.

scallops!

Hope you don't mind. I'm sharing more nursery photos. I had so many ideas about what I wanted to do when we first found out we were pregnant. But 3 months of bedrest sort of changed some of those. I'm happy to say the room is now starting to come together. I still have an entire wall empty above Steven's crib. I wanted to do a huge 8 foot tree in there but didn't get a chance to do that. I've hung something else where I was going to do that - one of those magnetic memory boards. I love it because you can change out the pictures easily. Anyway.. the first project I did for the nursery were these scalloped squares and monograms. I chose the Chocolate lettering style because it's one of my faves! I'm at this changing table A LOT! :)

And thought I'd share new pix of my little guys.

8 years ago today

Eight years ago today was not my wedding. It was however, the day that Steven proposed to me on a rainy day down by the lake where I lived in the summer as a child. I asked him yesterday if he remembered what today was and he said it was the day I made him the happiest man in the world. Is that sweet or what?! Must have caught him on a good day. :) Just Kidding Honey!! We had a beautiful winter wedding surrounded by everyone we love. Time sure flies.

nursery photos

Did you have a nice weekend? I sure did. Most days tend to just run into the next around here. :) However, we did have such a nice time visiting with Laurie and a few other friends and their families. Nice lunch, good conversation, doesn't get any better than that!

I've been taking pictures of the nursery lately. I guess I'm feeling like I need to document everthing these days. I don't get much spare time to scrapbook yet so I've been trying to blog and write things on the calendar to remember.

I just love the nursery room. It's so bright and cheery and gets tons of natural light coming in the windows. We really didn't want to go with any specific theme in there but I knew I wanted to use our shapes and letters :) so we've finished a few projects that I thought I'd share one of them.

This is a 24 inch '2' that I covered with a roll of 4x8 foot corkboard - found it pretty cheap online and used two layers. I was going to x-acto around the number but I ended up just tracing the number onto the corkboard and cut it with a good pair of scissors. I ended up ripping it in a few spots but it doesn't seem to matter much since I covered it with fabric. I wanted to quilt some fabric together but I just decided to get one piece and be done with it. We just hung it up a couple days ago. I used our cute little heart topped pins to hang things. :) I really love how it came out.

sum-sum-summertime!

OK, so both babies are sleeping and I'm trying to get ready for our roadtrip today. I wanted to bathe them and then shower but that just ain't happening! So I decided to hop on the ole computer. When you want them to sleep they don't and when you don't want them to, they do. You just can't win. :)

We've had several requests for a seashell shape, so here she is! Enjoy!! I can totally see this all collaged up with beachy things or even some real shells from a recent trip to the beach. We also added several new ribbons, chipboard pieces that you can order a bunch of or just a little. And the Noteworthy Notebook with scallops and bracket pages is back in stock and only $5 bucks.

I've been doing some shopping of papers and things. Coming in is Scenic Route the new Sonoma line which I am in LOVE with! A new Glitzy Christmas line - pretty foils and fun colors. I'm also checking into Graphic 45 and Jenni Bowlin, two very shabby lines. And some others too.


OK, gotta run. The little guy is up and it's tubby time! Have a fun weekend!

this n that + Fancy Monograms

Have I told you how addicted I am to THIS site?? Celebrity Baby Blog.. I don't care so much about the parent's but I can't get enough of the babies. :) I don't really get any time to read it now but when I was pregnant I couldn't resist! And some major news in our house is that BOTH babies slept through the night last night. I'm sure it won't happen tonight but I can hope!

OK, so yesterday I dressed them in these outfits. When I found the second, almost matching outfit I thought it might be "girlie" enough for Bella but once I saw her in it she looks WAY too much like a boy.

One of the things I love is when you all send us photos of your work. Love this!! Kimmarie sent me photos of her fancy monogram. I really love the paper she chose. She went with MAMBI papers with stickles. I'm addicted to stickles (well I was when I actually had time to get my craft on!) Thanks Kimmarie for the inspiration. Go visit her blog for more inspiring projects.

Tomorrow I'm off to visit my bestest friend with the babies. I can't wait!!

Design Team :: Colleen Schaan

Check out Colleen's projects. I just love what she did with the banner pennants. She's is just so "outside the box" I love it!! I'm going to list it in her words since firstly, she's a great writer and secondly, she's freakin' hilarious! Enjoy!

The key... I was going to paper it up with this gorgeous vintage paperand add lots of antique embellishments... but then I started thinking"outside the box" ... I like to make my stuff... usable... so Idecided to add little hooks and make it a key holder for the wall...but then I decided it wasn't too original. I was on the phone with myfriend (who is a grade school teacher) when the idea hit! I made hera "bathroom key" for her classroom! She is always wanting somethingBIG they can take with them and hang on the door... so it is prettysimple... but she loved the photos I sent... (I'm packaging it uptomorrow to send out!)

Now... the banner pennants... I was planning on doing a BIG flower with each one as a part of the petals... but that just didn't work out...so then I started painting them up and decided I was going to make door hangers. Another friend has 5 children and they all have their own "space" so I thought I would do one with each child's name on it on one side and a Keep Out on the other... and they could hang it on their door... well, that morphed into these "family fun" holders... I was going through my photos to see if I had one of each child and I didn't...but I saw these of my in-laws and the idea just sort of took off from there. I like the way I can place them on the mantle in any configuration I want. I love them!

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Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown

Crafting with Kids

Are you looking for something to do with the kids? Is it rainy? Are they bored? These are great kits we put together for the kiddos. I wish we had more but there are really only a VERY limited amount we have that are left over from a show we did. Thought I'd just list them to see if anyone's interested. There's a FROG kit and a BUG kit. (The BUG kit is my nephew Luke's favorite!) :) There's really lots of papers and embellishments to do more than one shape so just let me know if you want to add another shape to the order. I won't add any more shipping so just e-mail me directly - deb[at]sayitwithletters[dot]com. Below are pictures from one of our customers who bought them. They're a fun project to do indoors or even outside on a nice day.

More DT projects coming soon! Enjoy!!

Oh, and Swedish Fish ARE included. Mmmm!

Design Team :: Laurie Star Griggs

It's a good day. I have two sleeping babies.. this rarely happens! My little guy was running a marathon in his bouncy seat about 10 minutes ago and now he's crashed! However, I'll keep this brief since I have tons of laundry to catch up on - little and big laundry. I do love the little laundry better. :)

On to design team projects! I simply ADORE what Laurie did with her banner pennants. I really like how she used wire to hang it. And the little buttons - I'm such a sucker for those. Is this sweet or what?!

Her next project was the KEY shape. Really sweet as a key holder. And the little house dangling from the hook is super cute! I love the colors and papers she chose as the background. Thanks Miss Star for all the inspiration!

OK, Miss Bella is up so I need to run! Laundry will have to wait. Hope you're enjoying your day.

Giveaway Winner + Vintage Poppy-licious Kit

Thanks for all the great feedback. It's way too much fun drooling at all the new stuff! Our Ice Cream Giveaway winner is Bethany! Bethany said she hasn't scrapbooked in about 2 years - well get going girl! :) She has such a sweet blog and the cutest kids! Bethany, e-mail me your snail mail and I'll get it out next week!

I'll be posting the rest of our design team projects next week so you definitely want to check in.


I'll leave you with our newest cardmaking kit and I have to say it's my absolute favorite so far! Gorgeous colors and lots of vintage touches!
Vintage jewelry, vintage seam binding and the cutest little bottle of Vintage glass glitter. You can find the kit HERE and HERE. Oh, and if you order this weekend, I'll throw in a free gift!!

Enjoy your weekend!!

CHA + Another Giveaway + a Yummy Recipe!

Hey Gals! It's Friday and time for another giveaway!! With CHA happening this weekend we're just drooling over all the new product! I want to know what you're MOST excited about!! Any hot new paper line you're dying to play with? I'm going to be ordering some fun stuff for the shop and want to know what you'd like to see. My personal favorite is Maya Road. They've got some adorable mini albums they're coming out with. I also love their trinkets, beads and beaded pins.

Oh, and tomorrow I'll pick a random name to win one of our Ice Cream Cone shapes!! Yup! So post away. And you can enter our Summer Contest with it! :) Click HERE for all the details!

And because it's summer and I was visiting the Mary Engelbreit website last night I came across this yummy cocktail recipe so thought I'd share. It's called the Island Getaway Cocktail. The name already does it for me. Here ya go...

2 ounces pineapple vodka (see recipe that follows)
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 teaspoon sugar
Club soda as needed

Pineapple Vodka
1 ripe pineapple, peeled, cored, and sliced into rings
1 liter bottle good-quality vodka


Happy Weekend!!


"It's five o'clock somewhere." Jimmy Buffett

Design Team :: Carrie Ostreko

Ok, I told you we challenged the Design Team this month and they really outdid themselves. Look at this fan design that Carrie created for her daughter's room with our banner pennants. I really love the colors she chose and those rub ons are a perfect touch!!



She also made this inspirational piece with the key shape. The KEY to success! I just love it Carrie! I know it would make me smile each time I looked at it!









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"Let us realize that the privelege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is a success." David O. Mickay

Guest Designer :: How to Alter Letters

OK, our latest Guest Designer is the talented Vicki Chrisman. Here's a little info on Vicki.

Hi , my name is Vicki Chrisman. I live in Nebraska with my husband and our two pups. We have two grown sons that also live here in Nebraska. I have been a paper crafter for as long as I can remember. I love scrapbooking , but it’s more than that.. it’s a love of paper crafting of ever kind. I also love home décor, so the fact that the paper crafting and scrapbooking industry has jumped into home décor with both feet, thrills me to know end.

I am happy to design for Fancy Pants Designs, Crafty Secrets, PageFrames, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, AccuCut, and Tattered Angels.

You can see more of my work on my blog “This ART that makes me Happy” at http://vickichrisman.blogspot.com/



I have always loved this FAMILY letter set - just a very simple lettering style. Classic. And I adore the papers Vicki chose for these. She also created a FAB how to. I know most of you probably already know how to alter these but I find it helpful to see if maybe someone has a better way or just new tips for altering. And, we get lots of newbies here and you all know that once you start altering.. you just can't stop!! So, yes, I'm trying to alter-enable!!

Here goes...

1). Lay your letter or shape down onto the back side of your paper with the front side of the letter or shape facing down. Using a pencil, trace around the letter or shape, as close to it as possible














2). Cut the traced shape out.











3). Using a glue stick, mod podge or zip dry, cover your letter or shape with adhesive. (making sure you get right to the edges is very important)










4). Using a small scissors, trim any excess paper from around the edges of the letter.










5). Using a sanding block or (a large coarse emery board) , sand edges smoothly , all the way around. It works best to do it ,always working in a “downward” motion, as not to pull the paper up along the edges.









6). I use a coarse emery board, but a number of different companies make sanding tools . Different sizes and shapes to get into tight areas. I didnt really need these for this project , my regular emery board worked just fine.









7. )I repeated this process with each letter, picking a different patterned paper for each one.














See, I've never tried using a glue stick. I usually use Mod Podge or I've heard people like zip dry because it dries so quickly! Thanks Vicki for the inspiration and for the awesome step by step!

If you're interested in being one of our guest designers or know someone who should, please e-mail us with information deb[at]sayitwithletters[dot]com.




"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family"