Life Is Good Today

Several months ago, I subscribed to a monthly scrapbook kit club.  After much browsing and contemplation, I decided to go with Little Red Scrapbook.  I have yet to be disappointed with the coordinated goodies that arrive on my doorstep each month.  It's been especially fun getting a sampling of many latest and greatest products, of which I do not have access to in my neck of the woods.

This weekend, I broke into April's kit and produced several projects.  Here's a layout of a kiddo I care for deeply.  He's such a handsome young man, with the greatest sense of humor and the biggest dimples I've ever seen!  Enjoy!!

~ Jessica in Kansas

It has been awhile!!

I'm welcoming myself back, as I see it's been over a year since I've found time to blog!! Here's why: in May of 2010, we unexpectedly gained two foster kiddos...family members who needed a loving and stable home. The oldest was a boy, who is now 14 years old; the girl is now 11. Unfortunately, she's the only one who managed to function well in our home, but she's still thriving! We are in the process of adopting her. Needless to say, the past year has been one of challenges and triumphs, and my hubby and I learned to be parents...on two older children with many struggles. Three of us survived it, though!

Other news: after years of trying to conceive, we learned that we're expecting our first child!!! Our little guy is due to be born around February 6th! We couldn't be more excited or feel more blessed! The first 4 months of pregnancy were rough, but I'm feeling good now.

I've done a little scrapping over the past year, but not nearly enough!! I did accomplish several projects this weekend, though, so I'll plan to post a few this week. As I looked back at my previous blog posts, I was amazed at how my style has evolved over the past year!!

I hope this message finds you all doing well. Here's to jumping back on the blog-wagon!!

~ Jessica in Kansas

Pop-Out Frame Card - It's a Baseball Birthday

~ How cool is this Pop-Out Frame Card?? I had a blast working with the cutting file, designed by Jan Bryson of Sam & Hailey Designs! Surprisingly, it was so much easier to create than I ever would have imagined. The baseball & glove used to embellish the card were also cut from my KNK.
The 13-year old recipient of this card thought it was pretty cool, too! Score!!!

Sweet summertime...
Jessica in Kansas

Grilled Chicken Taco Salad

~ Here's another recipe page creation, designed for my Iron Chef swap. I had several challenges to meet and was able to fit most into this one design. The tag is topped with a tab punch (stamp and punch by Stampin' Up!) and embellished with a flower cut from Sam & Hailey Designs' Itty Bitty Flower Garden file.
Yum, yum!!
Jessica in Kansas

Make a Wish

~ Check out this cute Flip Flop Card I made for my sister-in-law's birthday this week! The card was cut using my Klic-N-Kut and a file by Sam & Hailey Designs. It's embellished with a Birthday Clip (file designed by Carrie's Creations) and an Itty Bitty Birthday gift (file also courtesy of Sam & Hailey Designs). The coordinating cardstock and patterned papers are from various sources. I used a little inking and some Stickles to add a few touches. "Make a Wish" is a simple title I developed and was cut with my KNK, as well.
I just love dimensional cards!!

Enjoy!!
Jessica in Kansas

Congrats to all Grads!!

~ It's so hard to believe, but my first classroom of kiddos are graduating this spring. One special (not so little anymore) guy made the point to invite me to his ceremony this past weekend, so I needed a masculine card to take with me. Here's what I came up with:


For this card, I used a card sketch from Sketches! {by Tamara}. The pre-cut card base is from JoAnn Crafts. The patterned papers are Earthy Milestones from Creative Memories, and I added a little texture to them using the Cuttlebug and some sanding. The chipboard on which the sentiment was placed is by Heidi Grace; I just used Tim Holtz Tea Dye distressing ink to make it match better. The stickers, metal "graduate" embellishment, and ribbon are from unknown sources. All in all, I'm pleased with this masculine effort...one that usually creates a challenge for me!

Happy graduation,
Jessica in Kansas

Ballerina Beauty

~ A sweet little ballerina I know turns 4 this weekend, so I was in dire need of the perfect birthday card for her themed party. This is what I came up with using Sam & Hailey Designs' Itty Bitty Ballerina cutting file. I put a clear stamp by Studio G to use for the subtle "dance" addition. I also used some fun ribbon on the metal embellishment and around the slippers. A border stamp by Stampin' Up and a decorative corner punch by Fiskars added a little pizazz, as did some Brilliance & Color Box pink ink. Of course, few of my projects are complete without a little Stickles bling! I hope you think it's as fun as I do!!!

A perfect combination of sweet and girly...
Jessica in Kansas

Sweet Boy

~ Here's another simple baby layout featuring pictures of my mom (1st-time grandma) and brother doing the hand-off of Landon in the hospital. I want to share this one with you because I'm proud of the paper-pieced Standing Baby Bear. I cut the pieces from a file designed by myscrapchick.com, and then worked with inks, chalks, a fine black pen, a white gel pen, and some punches to bring it to life. At first I was quite unsatisfied with how it turned out, but after putting it away for a few weeks, I'm excited about how cute he is!!!

The layout also features some patterned pieces by Creative Memories and various alphabet stickers by CM and K&Company.
~ Babies = Joy,
Jessica in Kansas

NEW WHEELS!!!

~ This layout features my precious nephew and his "new wheels"!! Does it get any cuter than an adventurous 1 year-old trying to reach the pedals on his new Radio Flyer tricycle??!!

The New Wheels title and trike were cut from a file designed by Chris Durnan of Visual Designs by Chris. I embellished them some with my favorite staple: Stickles.

The epitome of cute, huh?!?!
Jessica in Kansas

Tri-Shutter Graduation Card

~ How cool is this?!?! It's a tri-shutter card, and it was super-simple to make using cutting files designed by none other than Jan Bryson of Sam & Hailey Designs. I'm so excited about the different ways I can use this file!
I chose to work ahead a bit and create a graduation card for my cousin who will "walk" in a few weeks! The sentiment and embellishments were cut from Jan's Itty Bitty Graduation file, which is full of cute little pieces to cut and use. All of the patterned paper is My Mind's Eye, and the solid cardstock is by PaperStudio.

It's that time of year...
Jessica in Kansas