The PaperLife

Adios August

If I didn't see it right here at the top of my computer screen, I would never believe that today is the last day of August.  But alas, it is and tomorrow starts September which means fall cleaning and decorating at our house.  My halloween and fall pinterest board have been getting a real workout as of late!  But, before we close the book on this summer's chapter, we are frantically doing this before the first leaves fall.

I think that I have mentioned before our house and the backyard are steps away from the woods.  And those woods are threatening to take over.  But, not if Mr Coon has anything to say about it.  For the last few days, he has been working and cleaning and I must say, minus the mountainous limb piles to be burned, it is shaping up real nice back there.

and when I say steps from the woods, I mean literally steps, this is the view from my backdoor.  Once we get everything burned (yes you can do that around these parts, don't judge) and raked, I will show you some more views.  I just love our house and where it is.  Its like the fairytale cottage in the woods I always dreamed about.

Anywho, enjoy the last day of August.  We will miss summer around here but, love the fall as well so, go ahead, BRING IT!!

ch-ch-ch-Changing

I could just feel this was going to happen, just didn't know it would be quite the overhaul all at once.  I have told you I relinquished my title of stay at home mommy with a little one in tow everyday, to stay at home business-mommy with the little ones all in school, in the last week or so.  Well, let me tell you what I can't stop overhauling my life to fit that new image.  Let me share a little with you.

First, I am working out like a fein.  Never in my life have I looked forward to the pain and the sweat but, I am addicted to the adrenaline it produces.  Had my farthest run ever this morning and NO SHIN SPLINTS!!!!  I hope I have got myself to a place where I am over those nasty things.

Then, and this one is stupid but, makes me happy, I have officially quit biting my nails I think.  A nasty nervous and boredom habit of mine.  I am in love with shellac nails and have these beautiful long nails now.  I am loving it I just stare at how cool they look when I type and the clicking noise they make on the keyboard.  Total dork I know but, I love them and highly recommend.

Then, I had this freak opportunity, long story, to switch vehicles.  Out of the blue, the dealership called and said someone was looking for my exact SUV and wanted to know if I would trade up.  It was a deal I could not pass up but, I made a huge leap and went to a sporty little CAR!  YIKES!  Everyone tried to talk me out of it, including my family, and my BF TC, they were so worried I would not like the size, sitting lower to the ground, and just overall difference of going from an SUV to a car with the kiddos.  And while I understand, I have those same concerns, I LOVE my cute car, and I feel so much more like me in it than the standard mommy SUV.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, I loved my SUV, and a car that works is the best car there is, I know I am blessed beyond measure to have had just that.  I just needed to take hold of this opportunity placed in my lap for change and throw caution to the wind a little bit.

One other thing that was so hard for me to change but, has proven to make me over the moon happy is, I cleared out my blog reader.  YES, my trusty reader that I go to every morning to start my day was wiped clean.  I started a whole new role titled "FResh Inspiration" and it is the best thing I could have done for myself.  I feel fresh and clean now.  I spent some time yesterday googling key phrases that fit my style, like dreamy, whimsical, vintage, fresh, shabby, etc and the word blog and found so many amazing, not just scrapbooking blogs, to inspire and motivate my new change.  I had to tell you about it, because I feel like it is going to change my paperlife and if you are in need of a change in your paperlife it is a great place to start.  I am going to do a recommend of some that I found after I spend a week or 2 with them so be looking for that.  Until then, go make a beautiful mess of your paperlife!

Hugs, Amy

p.s. photo courtesy of Kylee from a shoot I did with her earlier this summer, isn't she a hoot and a doll!  Love her personality!

Forgot to share a CK Blog post I did this week......

.....and its not to shabby if I do say so myself.  It is about back to the basics for your photography.  Go check it out here and leave me some love there!!!

Sorry about that, it completely slipped my mind this week but, I hope it helps.

 

I Kit....Therefore I am???

I swear I am an all or nothing girl.  Balance is so hard for me. I get so passionate about one thing for a while and I toss everything else out the door.  Any of you like that?  It is hard, I get bored easy, inspired easy, and passionate easy.  But, I have to constantly stop and check myself to make sure I am not neglecting anything else that I shouldnt.  That is a big part of what my art journals do for me.  That constant evaluating and checking myself in the journaling I do there.

Right now, I am all "no holds barred" into working out daily and designing, creating, kitting and teaching CLASSES!!!  I am loving it right now.  I swear my idea journal is going to overflow with inspiring class ideas that I get while I am running.  You see those two things, obviously for me, feed one another.  Who knew?

Anyway, I received a big box of Melissa Frances goodies yesterday and will spend the next foreseen future kitting for my Teresa Collins inspiration unlimited class in Las Vegas.  It is the coolest class I swear!!  I am in love with it, and can't stop adding stuff to it, so those coming be prepared to learn a ton!  And I do have a few spots left. Everyone is welcome, you DO NOT have to be attending IU to participate!!  You can get more information from the lovely coordinator Ginger at gingbugg@cs.com 

Here are the scenes from kitting central right now:

So, I am buried, but in broaches and glitter and yummy's so you won't here me complain.

Hope you are making a beautiful mess of your Paperlife too!!

Hugs, Amy

 

Paperlife Halloween Mini Class in Illinois.

Hi, I have finally ironed out all the details and can share this with you:

Thats right, I am teaching October 1st at the brand new
Scrapbooking Studio 

opening in a few weeks in Bloomington, IL.  It is going to be a yum-yummy store!!!  And they carry all of the Teresa Collins products.  As a matter of fact, they really are a destination store because they carry all of a lot of the amazing scrapbooking brands you love.  This is the second store for owner Amy, her first is in Moline, IL.  That store and an online store along with this new location, allows her to bring you entire collections and huge selections that you just can't seem to find these days.

So, plan a little fall afternoon with me or better yet make it a destination fall trip with your girls, you will love this Teresa Collins inspired Halloween mini.  I have put in some of my new tips and techniques.  I also want to say, as I do with all mini album classes, this is a perfect time to dabble in papercrafts and not feel like you have to become a "scrapbooker"  Come try it out and leave with a complete album just waiting to put your halloween memories in and then have it to pull out and help decorate each year for your spooktakular holiday.  You will begin to look forward to it every year.  I know I do with all of mine.

Hope to see you there just contact the store at:

1.309.736.7242 or online at www.thescrapbookingstudio.com

FYI class size is limited, to what the store will hold so make sure you don't delay, this is my home store so I have quite a few excited to come!

Can't Wait!!!

Friday Night Photo Editing

.....and I can't stand it I had to share a few.  The real back to school post will be next week but had to put these up.

Happy Weekend,

Amy

Meet Me in Las Vegas!

That's right, I have been given the honor of bringing a little art journaling to the Teresa Collin's Inspiration Unlimited event.  I will be teaching a themed art journal class with gorgeous Melissa Frances products and even some exclusive Paperlife Printables.

And, thats not all, I will also be teaching a fun mini album class using all those unloved but wonderful camera phone photos.  Designed also with Melissa Frances and paperlife printables by the fabulous papergirl Kim Garner.

But wait, theres more, so your thinking well big deal Amy I didn't get into IU this year so I can't come anyway.

WRONG!

This is a part of the new pre-IU event which is open to the public!!!

I KNOW!

Both of my classes are on Thursday, September 22nd at Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, NV.  If you want to come, hangout, and have fun getting creative with me,  Well what are you waiting for sign-up, I'd love to have you.

So, as long as there is space left you can join us.  Contact Ginger at gingbugg@cs.com she will get you all set up with information and registration.  Would love to have you.

Hugs and Vegas Dreams,

Amy

Well.....Now What?

It is days like today, that I realize this little blog space of mine is really for me and although I invite and welcome you all here to follow along, I need this space for me.  Dropped the kids off minutes ago for the first day of a new school year, watched my baby go over the top excited into kindergarten, went back out to the car and thought, so now what?  I have been looking forward to having time to myself for 7 years but, really?  What do you do?  I guess find Amy the person again for a few hours a day instead of Amy the mommy 24/7.  But, I loved being Amy the mommy.  Kind of sad and tired.  Please lord do not let me fall into the trap of trying to catch up on 7 years of sleep all day!  Cause I could easily see that happening.  LOL!  

Oh trust me, I have plans, big big plans, I am just feeling an identity crisis at the moment I guess.  Jason will be home in 8 days, for a long break so, I guess we can stare at each other from across the room for part of the day, with that glazed over, "what the heck are we supposed to do now" look in our eyes but, until then, how do you "find yourself" again for part of the day?

We shall see I guess.

Here are the Coonkids (sorry so small I will have the real ones up shortly), overjoyed and excited to get back to school.  They both love it!  Mostly for the social aspect, but thats ok.  I guess I did my job right, huh?  Two happy, excited, healthy, adventurous kids that I can take a little bit of claim for!

Good Luck Coonkids!!

I love you.

Remember the evenings and weekends are still MOMMY'S!!!

Photography Week

This is one crazy season of life, that is all I have to say.  For the last 7 years I have been saying I cannot wait for this season but, last night at Kindergarten preview reality slapped me in the face that I will officially have a terrible case of daytime empty nest syndrome starting tomorrow.  Thats right all the chicks are flying the nest starting tomorrow and...well...its hard.  Especially, knowing my baby, Jaycie Claire, is really growing up.  I will miss my little morning assistant in the studio.  And being so caught up in a project we are working on that we almost miss her bus for the 5th time in a row.  Ugg. Feeling sad today.

In other news, I have been if full force fall photographer as of late and need to share what I have done so far.

Fall is my favorite time to shoot.  I love the colors, the golden lazy light, the cute stylizing you can do.  So, to kick of one of many this is little Levi.

I have done this little guys photos since birth and these are the 6 month shots.  We did these on my family farm down south this weekend.  And shot everything on our back pond on a wooden bridge that leads to what we call "tractor island."  I love shooting on the farm. So many amazing places to work and I have studied the light and know it well there!  With a cute subject like Levi, totally an easy breezy shoot.  Be prepared, these photos cause major baby fever!

That's Levi.  Happiest baby I have ever known!  So fun to shoot you Levi!

Hugs, Amy

 

Back 2 School Paperlife Style

It's that time!

My Coonkids have their last blast summer weekend starting tomorrow ( more on that then) and BAM! Back 2 School.

They are ready.

Me.

Cue the Angels.

I have the whole day to myself now as both of them are full time.  Don't get me wrong I will miss them, but, thinking my mental health score will go way up as a result. LOL!

Anyway, in honor of my excitement.  I did what I do best and created a little something. A back to school home decor piece:

I took the new Cash Register tab letters we launched yesterday on the paperlife. Here they are printed at 8.5x11 and 4x6 so you can see the variety you get with printables:

this project used the 8.5x11 sheet. I cut out the letters and number I needed.  pulled out my dish of vintage glitter, complete with a vintage spoon for scooping.  Cause thats how I role in my paperlife.  Outlined the cut out letter with glossy accents and sprinkled each with glitter:

Here they are all lined up and pretty:

Put them all in the seven gypsies ticker holder, they fit perfectly and I love that little thing.  

Stuck on one of my crepe paper roses and blingage, put it on the mantle, but thinking about giving it to our school secretary for her desk, errrrrr or at least making her another one.

Anyway, off to enjoy our last blast weekend.  And remember my past mentions of my dad being a little eccentric....well.....our last blast weekend is at the farm and wait till I show you what he is having delivered.  

Never a dull moment.

Now go make a back 2 school beautiful mess of your paperlife!

Hug, Amy