{discovering} life

For You Card

Hi everyone,

Just a quick share today of a card I made for Kristina's 'A Year in Cards' class at Two Peas. I thought the sketch with the circle and text strip at the bottom was cute and made this card so easy to do. I've been wanting to play with this cute set, Great Friend, from Stampin' Up! for awhile now...it's so cute and versatile. So, I gave it a shot. The leaf die-cut and butterfly are both Sizzix dies from Stampin' Up!. You can always purchase or check out Stampin' Up! products by going to my online site and store here.

Tonight, I'm so excited cause I'm placing a Stampin' Up! order and my new catalog (that will be live and we can order from on July 1st) will be shipped to me with my order. I'm soooo excited! I love new catalog time - it's the best! New In Colors, new stamps, new accessories - it's all so inspiring! Love that! Watch for a post tomorrow with the retiring stamps and accessories list - you'll want to order those retiring accessories as soon as you can if there are some that you want. Cause once they are out of stock - they are gone. And they tend to go fast. I'll post the lists here asap.

Also tonight, a new Garden will go up at Two Peas. I really love the layouts that I did for this release - be sure to go here to check out all the awesome work from all the Garden Girls. The theme is really cool - we've had awesome theme's this year to work with - so fun! I'll share my layouts tomorrow too - they are special ones to me - and were so fun to create too! :) :)

We've been super busy around here - the kids are done with school and summer has officially begun. I'm trying to get back into the groove of taking more photos - I kinda got sick of the camera for awhile there! LOL! I know I've said it plenty before - but I'm hoping to be get back on this blog a lot more. With school out and summer here - hopefully I'll have more time to share lots of fun things! :) More coming tomorrow. Have a great Sunday! :)

'A Year of You' Class for May

On the 20th of May, another class went up at Two Peas for my free year-long class, 'A Year of You.' This month's class is a fun one...come and check it out at Two Peas by going here. You can download the PDF with step-by-step instructions and photos so you can work on it on your own time throughout the month. If you have any questions about the class or layout, you can ask here in the comments section, email me or come and chat with me on the Education board about the class here.

It was hard to get the colors right in the scan and photos...but hopefully you get the idea! :) I hope that you'll come and join me this month! Create a layout about your month of May!

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How about all those season finale's on TV the past few weeks? I've loved all the good tv...I always have the tv on when I'm scrapbooking...watching all the yummy shows that I've recorded. What were your favs? Surprises? Disappointments? Some of mine...

Brothers & Sisters: I LOVE this show but the finale wasn't anything too exciting! I'll always watch it though.
Desperate Housewives: Our power went out for half the show so I need to watch the rest online still! :)
Grey's Anatomy: LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! I've watched it 4 times already and I can't get it out of my head. I cried and cried - I just have loved this season. Excellent finale!!! I want to go watch it again! I loved it when *** was crying to the Chief about her husband and saying how having cancer is hard, etc. and that 'this' wasn't hard...he was just weak! Amazing! I told my hubby about it - we can get through anything - it's not that 'hard' in comparison to so many other things. Love that show!
Dancing with the Stars: I didn't watch this show all the time but I was really hoping for Melissa to win...or Gilles. I couldn't believe that he scored like 15 more judges points than the others and he didn't win. Just didn't seem right. I was super disappointed that Shawn and ** won! Was that a shock to anyone else? Or just me???
Gossip Girl: Good girlie gossip show as always! :)
Lost: Love this show too! Great finale and can't wait to see what happens next season...although I was super sad to hear that it will be their last season...I didn't know that. So sad!
24: My family loves this show and I've never watched it. I wanted to watch all the DVD's of the previous seasons, but I never got to it. I started watching it this season and I love it! Awesome finale too - such a great show!
American Idol: I really liked Chris all along - I know some people don't. Adam was just to theatrical for me and to over the top - talented?? - very - but not my style. I'm glad Chris won but I was super shocked! I laughed at myself cause my mouth just dropped for a few seconds while I watched. Anyone else totally surprised?

Things I'm excited about:
So You Think You Can Dance: YAHOOOOO! I love this show and I'm so thrilled that it is back on! Love love love it! I'm watching my recorded show from the other night right now - I always have to pause and come back with the kiddos - but I eventually get through them while I work. Love this show and it will be a fun one for the summer.
The Bachelorette: I think it will be interesting! She got some real weirdos it seemed like that first night - there are a few that I think are yummy! :) Why do I always love to watch shows like this? :) :)

What other shows are coming on this summer? Anything I can't miss? Let me know! I love to watch them while I'm working away in my room! Hope you have a great holiday weekend! I'm excited to spend some good, quality time with the family. Swimming, the Zoo...we'll see. Hudson had his last day of preschool on Thursday - crazy that Summer is officially here. Madi is done next week - I will have my hands full for sure! Hugs!

17 Days Later

17 days....seriously!! Is that the longest dry spell ever....geez! So sorry! Do you ever just feel like life just rolls you up in a little ball...and then plays catch with you? I've kinda felt that way lately - so much going on. So much to do...so much that I want to do that I can't sleep at night. I've got a million ideas running through my head...creativity can really get ya going when you want it to. It's a good feeling, but I'm sorry that I haven't been here posting. I want to post every day - so need to get in a groove!

First up - for those that asked...the shoes in my last post for the National Scrapbooking Day Inspiration Challenge at Two Peas (thanks for all of those that participated!!!) is a photo that I've had saved on my computer for probably 4 years as inspiration. So, unfortunetly, I don't know where they are from and I'm sure they aren't available anymore. Sorry! They are dang cute though huh! :)

There was a new Garden up at Twopeasinabucket.com on May 15th - have you checked it out yet? The Seasonal Layouts this month were to be on 'Spring'. I couldn't be happier to see the weather getting nicer here - my kids miss the warm weather and have had a hard time with the transition. So it's great!

Here is my Spring layout for this month:

c) Twopeasinabucket.com

You can see more details about the layout and supplies used by going here. Have you ever used the great labels that are printed on back of the fabulous Amy Butler papers (for K&Company)? I temporarily glued the yellow cardstock to the back of the label on this paper and cut it out. I then traced around the edges with a white pen...such a fun label! Lots of random photos, stitching, rubons, and paper...fun. The butterflies are the Stampin' Up! Sizzix die which I LOVE!!! Go here to purchase.

Speaking of Stampin' Up!, check out this darling new alphabet set that is on sale, 20% off, for a limited time (until May 31st). It will be in the upcoming new catalog - so check it out now and get it while it's on sale - what a great set.

Also, until May 31st, buy any 3 patterned paper packages and get the 4th for free! You can see all the current specials by going here. And the wonderful online shopping is here (click on the SHOP NOW tab in the upper right hand corner). There are lots of great videos and inspiration samples on my site as well.

I recently got one of these and I've had ideas of things I've been wanting to create with one of these for years! I've been wanting a Gocco machine for so long and never splurged and got one...but I'm so excited to use this. I'm going to pick up some more inks today and then I'll share - hopefully some videos of it too. Fun fun! Love new toys!

I've also been completly consumed with searching for photos from the Spring Quilt Market and also the National Stationary Show that is in New York right now. Arghhh...so wish I could be there! I have obsessions with stationary and letterpress and all that goodness. It makes me happy! :) Why do all things paper and fabric and all that fun stuff make me so happy? Funny!

Want a few fun links for today? A few things that are super cool...

I love this and this from Jenni Bowlin's new release...yum! Don't buy them all up before I can get some! :)

I love this line soooo much! I'm heartbroken that she isn't designing scrapbooking supplies anymore - seriously - sad!! She's amazing!

Have you seen these new embossing folders from Quickutz? LOVE THEM! There are 12" ones too!

Some cool pages: This and this from Lisa McGarvey...love her stuff always.
This from Nichol - again - love anything with butterflies! She used that Stampin' Up! Butterfly die that I linked too earlier...so cute!
Jen Johner always makes me smile - her work is so cool! Love this one.
I love Rhonda's stuff always!! Love this and this and this!
This from Shannon Tidwell is so cute!
Love how Erica laid out this layout and that title is awesome! 
Love how Jen did her title/journaling on this layout.
Awesome use of the new paper cards from Sassafras Lass - way cute!
And this is so cute from Jamie - love how she used that die-cut paper!

I just finished working on my layouts that will go up on June 1st and they were so fun! I also will have a Weekly Challenge layout in June. Lots of inspiring stuff in the Garden right now - love being inspired by everyone!

Ok, lots of links today. Hope it leaves you inspired! Off to take care of my 'mush kiddos' and get some stuff done! Have a great Monday! :)

GIveaway winner & National Scrapbook Day Fun

Hello everyone!
Thanks for your kind notes about my scrapbook room! It's a fun place to create in. I had a few questions...the apothecary cabinet on the back wall that holds all my chipboard letters is from Pottery Barn Bed & Bath a few years ago. I so wish they would bring something back like that cause it's so awesome!!

The Polka Dotted Upholstered Chair is from Pottery Barn Teen. Here is a link. The brown dot is sold out it looks like - but they still have it in pink and green. You'll need the slipcover and the chair. This chair came out after I got mine and it looks like a WONDERFUL office chair. Much cheaper and they have it in chocolate - I may have to get one to go on the other side of my desk! :)

If you have any other questions - please ask on this post and I'll get to them. They may of gotten lost...sorry!

Ok...so the winner of the yummy package of goodies goes to:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

70

Timestamp: 2009-05-01 17:06:52 UTC

which is....

You are so organized!! LOVE your space! Thanks for the inspiration!

Posted by: Brianna T. | Monday, April 27, 2009 at 07:52 AM

Congrats Brianna! Please click on the 'email' link by my picture and email me your address. I'll get it out on Monday to ya! ENJOY!! And thanks everyone for saying hello on my blog - I loved hearing from each of you. So thank you!!!

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Today, is May 1 and a new Garden went up at Two Peas. I LOVE the theme this month (we've had some great themes this year!!) and this month...it is all about die-cutting! :) Bliss!! I've been hooked to die-cutting for the past few years - it's kinda like stamping - it can make your layouts so unique cause you can cut any shape in any color and any design you want! Love the possibilities! Next week, I'll talk about all the machines that I have (I have lots) and the pros/cons of each.

Here are my two layouts for the 1st of May (all copywrite Twopeasinabucket.com):

This one is my fav...tons of diecutting! Houndstooth silver paper, pink label, orange flourish, pink number strip...all done with my Silhouette. The 'M' is a Quickutz alphabet done with my Cuttlebug. The circles are Cuttlebug dies. The butterflies are my favorite die from Sizzix done for Stampin' Up!. The photo corners are Quickutz dies. You can read more details about everything by going here.

I struggled with this one so it is what it is. I die cut the pink paper with a design from the Silhouette and only punched out some of the design. I backed some of the squares with the linen paper from Sassafras. All the flower die-cuts are Sassafras. You can check out photos of the products used and more info about the project here.

They are both really cheesy, sentimental layouts about Madisyn. I feel like she has really grown this year and is not my baby girl anymore. It's hard for me to face. She's probably going to be my only girl and it's hard seeing her grow up so quickly. I know many more wonderful things are too come...but I wish she would just slow down a little bit. So - it's been on my mind lately. Lots of layouts about her.

Be sure to check out the Garden as soon as you can....you will be  blown away with inspiration! It is amazing! Plus, to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day tomororw, the Garden Girls did a special User Inspiration Garden as well. So, there is TONS to see!!!

You can check out my User inspiration layout by going here. I challenged myself to do something that is not like my regular style. I turned to the Digital Gallery at 2Peas for inspiration and dang was I inspired. Those digital girls are AMAZING!!! I stumbled upon the gallery of SOM and was blown away. The white space, the typography, the photos, the simplicity...I was diggin' it. So, I created a layout around some of her pages in her gallery. You can read more info about all of that by going here. Thanks for the inspiration Som!

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This is a long post...I know. But, I also wanted to share that there are a TON of challenges at Two Peas for this weekend! You can go to the Garden Girl Blog and see all the challenges posted by the Garden Girls and go to MellyPea's blog to see all of the other challenges. There is a ton to be inspired by and to do this weekend at Two Peas. Whether it is lifting a layout from the new Garden, or doing a challenge from the blogs or working on my free class at Two Peas (and all the other amazing free classes)...I'm sure you'll have a fabulous weekend!

My challenge for you this weeked (on the Garden Girl blog) is to be inspired by these darling shoes!! I love the color scheme here - so create a project using this photo as inspiration. The colors, the flowers, the was they are stacked...whatever inspires you. Upload your project to the gallery at Two Peas and be sure to check the box for the 'Be Inspired by Fashion" challenge to be entered into the drawing to win a prize package from Two Peas. I'll draw a winner on Monday! So have fun!!!

Ok, I think that's it! :) I'm working hard on some assignments today and then tomorrow, I'm taking off with my friend Amy to show and scrapbook all day! Hopefully I'll have some fun things to share next week! Have a wonderful National Scrapbook Day! Talk to you Monday!! :)