Halloween Printable Cards :)

Yeah, yeah, I know... It's probably too late for you to use these cards :(  I made them last week and just never had the time to post them.  That's just how life is these days!   But hey, maybe they will work for someone who is doing things last minute like me!  ... or you can pin them and use them next year :)

Anyway, I hope they make you smile... my daughters helped me design them.  They told me what costumes the animals should have... :)

These cards are 4.25"x 5.5" when folded... they fit standard sized envelopes (A2 or 5 1/2 Bar)

DOWNLOAD FULL FILE HERE

*As always...File and finished product are not for resale or profit of any kind.  Please contact me if  you have any questions about usage.

Blessings,

An Announcement... that probably won't surprise you.

That's right... we are expecting baby #5! 

Our family just got back from KS, where we made the announcement to all of our folks/grandparents.

Oddly enough...even though we had told everyone that we were done with #4... no one was really surprised by our announcement!  Everyone figured we'd have more... (shaking my head)...  apparently they know us better than we know ourselves!  ...kind of annoying... but it made me smile :)

Speaking of assumptions and number of kiddos...  While Jeremy and I were in Kansas we went to a Homecoming dinner for our old Alma Mater.  We sat next to an older couple and made pleasant conversation with them throughout the dinner.  When we were about to leave, the lady asked us if we happen to have any kids.  We told her that we had 4 and were actually expecting our 5th.  She gasped and blatantly looked me up and down.  Then she declared that I was too young to have that many kids.  She then turned to her older couple friends and told them her discovery.  They too examined me and shook their heads.  awkward!  Then the lady stepped forward and asked me one more question,  "Do you homeschool?"   I told her that I did. Then she stuck her pointer finger triumphantly in the air and exclaimed, "I knew it!"

Oh, you have gotta love stereotyping of large families and homeschooling :)
That too made me smile. 

So here we go down another crazy road of life!  I told my mother-in-law yesterday before we headed for home: "I've never experienced a more exhausting time of life... but it's so so rich."

We've never been happier :)

Here is the announcement I made from the photo to give our families....

 

Blessings to you all,

Bingo Birthday Card

Hello Friends! 
I have a quick and easy, yet clever Birthday card idea for  you... 

Find an old Bingo card with the right number for how old the person is turning....  circle it with a Sharpie, and attach the corresponding marker with hot glue to a string.  I wrote a message on the back and enclosed it with my gift....like I said, EASY!

Blessings,

A Printable for You... it's about time!

Hello Friends!

Did you think I'd forgotten about making printables?  I kinda did :)  I've just been movin' and groovin' at the speed of life these days... and haven't done much recreational designing.

But we started school this week.. and I got inspired by the happy/cheery/ school kids/ playful atmosphere going on in our house.  It made me think of THIS.... 

So I decided to make some cheery notes that you can pass along to someone who needs some cheer!  Maybe a co-worker needs a note of encouragement or a lunch box needs some love...  I'm sure you'll think of something to do with them!  I hope they make you smile :)
 

DOWNLOAD HERE

*As always...File and finished product are not for resale or profit of any kind.  Please contact me if  you have any questions about usage.

Blessings,

The Kiddos

So I'm very pleased with myself (for finally doing it)... and pleased to be able to show you a few pics of my kiddos... all together!!  I don't think I've had a good picture of them all together since V was a newborn.  There is something very satisfying and wonderful about seeing them all lined up :)  oh, joy :)

Alice is turning 8 next month, Elsie is 5 1/2, Sadie is 3 1/2, and V is 18mo.  They are growing like weeds... and once again I find myself without a baby  :(  Oh, how time flies. 

Blessings,

A HAPPY THING from Raising Up Rubies

I received the most impressively beautiful and creative gift last week.... 

Well, let me back up.  Last Spring I came to know the lovely and creative Jaime...  but back then,  the first thing I recognized about her was her love for Christ.   It wasn't until I started doing some design work for her that I realized how much else we had in common!  A friendship formed based on creative whimsy,  pretty patterns, vintage flair, and our Lord :) 

Well, after I finished her blog header, she continued to amaze me as she began to post on her blog!  You must check our her blog... take a look at her craft room... and then you have to see her newly launched Etsy store.  This girl is awesome. 

Anyway... back to the gift.  Like I said, she just opened an Etsy store and she sent me some of the goodies that she's planning on selling there...  take a look :)

 

Every last detail was perfect... adorable tags on everything, strips of vintage sheets here and there, glassine bags, kraft paper, little hearts everywhere...  made me swoon :)

RAISING UP RUBIES BLOG

A LITTLE SUGAR 'N SPICE STORE

The box is still on my desk...spilling over with all the happy goodies... It makes me smile every time I look at it... it's most definitely a Happy Thing :)

Thanks again, Jaime!   love you!

Blessings,

HOME SWEET HOME TOUR... The Playroom

Oh, my... I've been meaning to take pics of this room for so long now!  Several months ago, maybe early Spring, hubs and I repainted and totally redecorated this room.   I wish I had before pics... but I wasn't that on the ball :(  It had light brown walls....which when  paired with the dark wood just made the room seem dark and gloomy.  We had an old couch in there and a gigantic old TV... we ditched both and opted for a daybed and no TV instead.

Now it's cheery and bright!  I wanted creamy white walls to reflect all the light from the windows, but I still needed my turquoise/teal color somewhere... so we painted the ceiling!  We put many of the toys away (in tubbies in cupboards elsewhere)... making it easier to keep clean.  My girls don't want to play in crowded messy rooms!  This has helped.  It's such a happy room now!

Anyway... just wanted to share one of my fav rooms in the house!  Enjoy the tour :) 

Hubs said he would make me a base for the daybed like on Pottery Barn... you know with the cubbies to put baskets in... but for lack of time and funds :)  we utilized some old box springs and wrapped them in old chenille blankets.  Works for now... and didn't cost me a dime!

 I am so addicted to vintage books... especially children's books.  I love the look of them.  They have such cheery colors and beautiful illustrations!

When we started redecorating this room, I went on a hunt for cheap, yet charming containers to store little toys in...  I found this set of vintage kitchen tins on Etsy for a wonderfully cheap price!  They were still in good shape, yet not so perfect that I would have a hard time letting my kiddos play with them.  They have been the ideal thing for storing little food items, small plastic animals, etc.

I knew I wanted an area to display the girls' artwork, and immediately thought of clipboards... like you see everywhere :)  But I wanted to spruce them up a bit and make them more "Amy Style".  So I used those old Montgomery Ward catalogs...AGAIN...and pulled out pages that had toys or kid items on them.  I used Mod Podge to adhere and seal them to the clipboards.  I love how they turned out.  It adds just enough charm without looking too busy.

Well that's it, friends!

Hope you enjoyed the tour :)  If you'd like to see more of the house click on the HOME SWEET HOME TOUR button on the side...

Blessings,