Black and White & a Freebie!

Featuring all black and white products this week!!! My daughter loves the riddle: what's black and white and read all over (a newspaper, or a sunburnt zebra!) My daughter loves the idea of a sunburnt zebra!

The top image (black and white) is the freebie this week and I hope you enjoy!! Download Here

I hope you enjoy and are inspired by the black and white!! Remember, send me an image of a layout using TGP product and I'll send you a 20% off coupon code!!

This is one of my favorites: The doodled frames!!!

This is the Manhattan Paper pack! A popular pick, and there's a second set!

Next is the Black Tie Affair Paper Pack. There's more where that came from, just hop on over to the site to check them out.

Stuff I Made

So last Christmas (2010) I got a sewing machine from my husband. It is a fantastic old all metal sewing from probably about the 1970s. I had never sewn anything before and was terrified, but since I had been wanting to learn I set out on a mission!

I didn't know how to thread it, fill the bobbin or anything else, so I had to keep asking my husband to come help me (his mother is an avid quilter and he knows how to operate a sewing machine. Yes I do feel a little sheepish about this now that I have learned how easy it is!)

So I went to my mom and she handed me some fabric she purchased to make a baby quilt and basically said, here, make it. So I did!! It was a simple snowball pattern and is shown here below under this adorable little baby!!

That sparked a fire!! After that I made a quilt for my little guy (I haven't photographed it yet) Then started to design my own patterns and made a quilt for my mom for Christmas (also not yet photographed). Then I wanted to branch out!! So I made a stuffed lion (not photographed yet either...goodness I need to take a lot of pictures!!!) and a tote bag for my sister. Last week I made these skirts for my little girls. I got the idea here. Super easy and my little 2 yr old wears hers every day and sometimes to bed!!

Then I made this little owl for a friend of mine who was having her first little girl. I got the pattern at my local quilt store, but there is a site here where you can find the patterns, or their creator.

I am so loving sewing. It's an amazing new outlet for creativity that allows me to work with my hands but still create and finish something. Love it! Why didn't I start this earlier!!! Hopefully I'll get better at taking pics of my future projects!

A day for a freebie

So something you need to know about my family. We are all pretty clumsy. At least one of us trips, falls, or runs into something daily.

Well tonight, after all the kids were in bed, I was walking into my bedroom and saw that the broom had fallen over and was looking like a prime tripping spot. You would think that the next thing I would do would be to go and pick it up. But I didn't. I thought to myself, "hmmmm I bet Kenny (my sweet husband) trips over that." Then I came and got on my computer.

Not 5 minutes later, I hear him grunt in there and then he calls for me to come and see what he tripped over. No need! So I just shout to him, "Did you trip over the broom?" Then, all shocked, he thinks that I put it there on purpose! Come on. I would never do that (well maybe not never). Funny though! I had a good laugh! I couldn't believe that he actually tripped on it! I guess I know him better than I thought!

On to the business side of things! A FREEBIE!!!

I have added a new freebie today! I also added a few new products for St. Patrick's day!

perseverance

Goals are tough business. I had my third baby in September and am finding it to be at least 3 times harder to lose my baby weight than with the first. Frustrating because I have been trying really hard to eat well and to exercise right, and still...nope. I still have about 20 lbs to lose.

Then I got really excited and thought I would try subdividing my goal into smaller goals that were more attainable. So I would say I needed to lose 2 lbs by a certain date. Mentally that worked beautifully!! I was eating even better and staying on top of my goal, and was really proud of myself until I stepped on the scale. You guessed it. My hard work equalled a 2 lb weight GAIN. So I celebrated with a trip to my baking cupboard for about a pound of milk chocolate chips. Phew that felt better. I started beating myself up mentally and telling myself that it wasn't worth it. That it didn't matter how much I tried I would fail.

Then today after I went to the gym (because going to the gym is sanity for me and I'll never stop doing that) I weighed myself and was down 3 pounds!! Small victory, but lesson teaching. I am generally a stress case. I worry a lot about how I'm doing in different areas of my life and am consistently evaluating how I should be better.

I like to see pretty quick results on things. When I don't I usually don't get discouraged, unless it's more than one thing. Like right now. I have 3 things going on right now. None of which I feel particularly satisfied with, on results anyway. SO I've been feeling a little discouraged. Then I found the quote I posted above. Then I think about the countless blessings I have been given and I know there is no reason to be discouraged. I need to celebrate my small victories and keep working and pushing for more. At least I am trying.

Time for a new freebie

I thought I would do another quick page. This one was going to be a valentine's day page, but ended up being an "I love my baby and he is the cutest thing on the planet" page instead. I think it could cross over between the two. But come on, who can deny that my little boy isn't the cutest! I mean, I'm not biased at all!!

I hope some of you can get some use out of it though!! All you have to do is add your own picture and type in some little lines of journaling, and presto!

I also recently added a bunch of Valentine's Day products to the store. I added some printable drink labels. They are designed to fit on a glass bottle, but if you would like them to fit on soda bottle then post a comment to let me know, and I'll resize them for that!

New Year, New Start

What I'm hoping for the new year...is a lot!!

This last year has been full of a lot of roller coasters. A major car accident, a move, a new baby, and more. I haven't been working consistently since July, and honestly didn't really miss it. Until recently. I've started to feel that creative bug and desire to create again, and it feels good.

But I haven't known which direction to take my creating. I have found a great new love for quilting. It is amazing how therapeutic it can be to do something with your hands and being able to create something that will be loved and snuggled. Since about June I have spent a lot of my free time doing that. It was great to take a break and explore different ways of being creative and artistic. That has equated a long break in any real designing for scrapbooking.

We will see where the new year takes me...I have a few ideas in mind. Now to make them realities!!!