no time like the present

I'm here to share some sneaks as well as some belly photos.


This layout was made using a Pinterest pin as my inspiration, just something fun all the designers are doing this month. I pin so much and so do the SC members, that we felt it was time to put some of that awesome inspiration to use! I used the Atlas add-on only on this layout.

This layout was made using the Narrative and Atlas add-ons. I was really at a loss on this one and stepped back several times before finally settling on this design. So glad I took breaks along the way because I do like the end result.

And, finally my favorite layout this month made with the main kit only - STORY HOUR. The pinwheel was a decoration I made for our gender-reveal party.

Kits go on sale at noon EST on the 27th for subscribers and midnight for everyone else. Happy shopping!

This was my 20-week belly with Claire and some of my thoughts at the time.

A couple things to note...

• There is no way i could fit into that hexagon shirt today.
• I already had a name picked out....and right now we got nuttin' for these boys.

Below, my current pics of my 20-week belly.

I think I'm at a 14lb weight gain. I didn't document it at this point in Claire's pregnancy, but I'm definitely bigger in the belly area this time around.

I have come to terms with the fact we're adding boys to our family. I have some ideas brewing for their room, but first on the list is moving Claire to the smaller room since the boys will share.

We had another appointment and ultrasound today. Everything looks great and the boys are progressing well. Thanks for all the well-wishes on my last post.

CHA Summer 2011

Back home from the CHA Summer Show and have barely had a second to catch my breath. By far, it's been our best CHA yet. The releases were well-received (personally, they're my favorite ever as well), the show floor was hopping, it's just been a crazy few weeks. Okay, it's been a crazy few months.

I had the chance to create lots of items for the booth, some of which are here and more will pop up later, didn't want to overwhelm anyone. I had my modest list of items to create, but I kept going and going with more projects that I hoped would showcase all our new items.

I will have a mini-tutorial on the SC blog soon to explain the confetti effect. It's super easy and I'm obsessed with confetti now, so I figured out a quick, easy way without hand-placing all those tiny dots.

(photo taken by Angela Crutcher)

The end result of this tag, I'm excited about. I created it for the Hero Arts booth & catalog and I had no idea what a talented stamper I was....kidding. This was really simple. I used the white Zing embossing powder with the cloud stamps, then used several ink colors with the ink-blending tool. That really made the clouds pop off the tag.

This layout uses the same stamp set as the tag above. Photo courtesy of Kelly Noel.

And, last but not least, my favorite layout. This one incorporates lots of techniques, but my favorite is the "&" mask in conjunction with the new Calico Shine Mister Huey. It's a really subtle effect, that you'd just have to see in person, which is why I'm giving away one to a commenter on this post. I'll post a winner on Sunday, so just make a comment here.

Be sure to stop by the Studio Calico blog for a list of other designers who will be participating in the blog blitz - you won't want to miss seeing some of the other fabulous projects that were in the CHA booth!

onwards and upwards

Today, I watch those busy hands scaling the side of the coffee table.



Today, I'm fascinated watching Claire discover the world around her.


Today, I love that my baby looks over her shoulder to gain my approval.


Today, I see her smile at the sound of my voice.

Today, I'm amazed by how quickly a child can learn.

Most of my day is spent with daily and necessary activities: folding clothes, washing diapers, unloading the dishwasher, working on the computer, answering emails, conference calls, washing diapers, making the bed (sometimes), feeding Claire, did I mention washing diapers?

But, for a brief moment each day, I try to soak in the moment Claire is in knowing that it is so temporary. Whatever she's accomplishing today is old news tomorrow.

I try to take in all her smiles, coos, activities, all while teaching her about the world in which she lives. Teaching her there is a time to play, there's a time to sit, a time to eat, a time to read, a time to sleep. Boy, is there at time to sleep!

There's no shining trophy or certificate to tell you, you're doing a good job as a mom. But, there is the happiness you see in your child's eyes, the obedience they begin to show, and willingness to please you that's so priceless.







Yep, that's my girl.

And, seeing these photos makes me want to go wake her up from her nap so I can give her a squeeze. almost.

6 months + a winner

Claire, how did you get to be 6 months old so quickly?

You've changed so much in the last month.


You've just barely figured out forward motion.
(I know this photo is out of focus, but I love it anyway....well, I suppose it's in focus if you want to see her neckline.)

You can get your hiney up a tad bit and pull yourself forward. So fun to watch!
To do it, sometimes it requires sticking your tongue out.

Lots of talking going on here.And feeling her 1st tooth with her tongue.
Mostly, this is the face I see: the classic sucking on your bottom lip.

And this one I just threw in for the cuteness factor.
This for the humor.

You're such a good baby. You occupy yourself playing with just about anything I put in front of you. I've been careful not to over-do it with toys, not to give you too much to play with that you don't know how to play.

Here, you are looking at your great-uncle Jody's old shape-sorter. Anyone remember these?


And this swimming motion gets the most comments from your friends.

You're a joy to be with, we couldn't love you any more than we do at this very moment.

Happy half-Birthday Claire!


And SURPRISE!

Vanessa, you're the winner of the Creative Spaces book. Please email me at april@studiocalico.com to claim your prize.
Vanessa said...

Oh yay! I'll have to pick up a copy! Can't wait to see your space :)

May 9, 2011 3:31 PM

chew chew chew gnaw and chew some more

If it's not her fingers....

It's one of her favorite teethers.

Sophie the Giraffe. Yes, she's pricey, but it's less expensive if you add up all the $3-5 teethers that you're not going to buy because your baby doesn't care a thing about them and only wants this one.

Marina the Mermaid. This is her favorite toy OF.ALL.TIME. If you have a girl, you need this toy. It has seriously kept her occupied for about 90% of her awake time since she was about 2 weeks old. Now, she loves chewing on her tail and the green piece is a seahorse shape that doubles as a teether.


And, now just some random photos that make me happy.


This is Claire's best angle.
Yes, even at a young age, you need to know your angle and how to catch the light. Just ask Tyra.


awww...a cute chubby hand.

Something to remember: Messy hair that hasn't been washed in about 3 days photographs just fine.

Headband by littletownboutique. I love this shop and the owner is so nice. Proud to say I found it before seeing her on the front page of etsy the other day.

has it really been 3 months already?

You have changed sooooooooooo much since you were born.

Mainly in the cheek area.

I love how you've filled out and have such squishy cheeks and have kept those gorgeous blue eyes. Today, you weighed in at 12 lbs and measured 23.75". I had asked the doctor at your last appointment if you were gaining weight too fast. He said you were at a good weight, you just needed to double your birth weigh by 6 months.

Gulp.

I said, "Well she's almost there now!"

He assuaged my worries by telling me you were small at birth so it's just fine that you've gained what you have. Whew!


You have your daddy's long eyelashes and your mommy's funky eyebrows.

I'm sorry. Didn't mean to pass that along, but I'm afraid I have.
I'll purchase a good pair of tweezers for you tomorrow.

We still can't find socks that fit your feet AND stay on.

Attention Entrepreneurs: There is a market for cute socks that stay on infants' wiggly feet.

You are obsessed with your hands. They stay near your mouth most of the time (so hand-kissers, stay away from Claire please!). You study them and lick them.

You are obsessed with your mermaid toy and have become so much more verbal towards toys and people. When you're awake, you can be heard cooing and gooing almost constantly. I love hearing your sweet voice.

I can't believe how quickly these 3 months have passed and like Stephanie, I'm trying to enjoy "it" and soak everything in.

Also, I'm trying not to buy every cute hairband I find. THAT's the difficult part of having a girl for sure!

1st stop

eta: And the winner of the new label stickers is.................

Robin said...

love the cowlick title and those little cows all over--cute!

January 24, 2011 11:56 AM

Robin, please send me an email april@studiocalico.com to claim your prize.

Welcome to the first stop along the Studio Calico CHA Winter 2011 Blog Hop. We're going in alphabetical order from one designer to the next and I happen to be first. In school, I was April Alexander and was always second behind my sister, Amber until Neely Abell came along and bumped me to third place. That name always put me in the front of the class in assigned seating, the front of the line to the bathroom, and first to the cafeteria. Served me well for lots of years.

Too long of a story for this blog hop. One of my favorite products in our release is these label stickers. Yes, they're simple, but versatile and I get to give away a set of all 3 colors to one lucky winner. Just read through this post and comment at the end and go to the next person on the hop for a chance to win another product. Fun, huh?

I used the cream and blue version of these stickers on the Cowlick layout below.

I also used several papers from the Countryside release, a border punch (which is back in stock!) a white gel pen, black pen, and some of the More Color from January's kit. The colors just worked so well with this release.

On my next layout, I used one of my favorite papers from Countryside (that red gingham) along with the State Fair papers.

I was so happy with the way this SUPER CLAIRE layout turned out. Don't you love it when an idea in your head works out on paper?

The journaling reads:
Fighting frowns and general crankiness one grin at a time. Super Claire comes equipped with goos, coos, and winks to combat the worst of scenarios. Warning: spit-up has been known to accompany some crime-fighting situations and poo occurs almost hourly so a change in super-suit is almost always needed. No batteries necessary. Stays charged all night.
Now on to the next stop, my friend in France: Celine Navarro.

If you lose your place along the way, you can always go back to the Studio Calico blog and click on the designers' links in the side bar.

Don't forget to leave a comment here. Say anything you'd like for a chance to win those label stickers. Comments will be closed on Wednesday 12:00am EST and a winner announced shortly thereafter.