So the big news is that I actually got around to a layout today!  This layout took me just a few minutes to put together because I used simple brushes from my Imprints collection and a paper I am always reaching for from my Simply Solid Collection.

This photo is of my daughter Siri and my niece Caroline…who decided to dress up like twins! I even did their hair the same.

Jen came into town so the 2pes peeps came out to play. This was my first 2peas sighting and man, it was a doozy. I’ll need another one soon ladies to remember people’s names!!! It really was a blast and my only regret is that the table was long and I didn’t really get to talk to people on either end very well.

Important things I learned tonight: The NSBR Board can be brutal, Nephi the waiter is a patient person, that much cheese fries + ice cream doesn’t kill you on the spot, and Aunt Skiddy never comments on 2peas but always READS everything…so beware! Oh, and possibly I see a 2peas Karoake Party going down at my place (that would be after I buy a house, which I HOPE happens in the next 3 months). Be warned!

Thanks for the fun night ladies!

I hardly ever have sales…it probably happens twice a year now. So take advantage of this one if you have been eyeing a product over $10 at my 2peas store! Starting tomorrow, all of my products that are $10 and up will be 10% off for a week! Have fun!

We’re getting started a bit early here (Project Mania officially starts on September 1st!), but I wanted to make sure that everyone has a chance to participate! I’m giving everyone a head start here so that if you have any big projects that need starting or need to clear out your schedule to make way for some great projects in September, you have the time to!

This is a BLOG HOP! Here on my blog, I’ll be posting a plethora of new projects, tutorials, and free downloads to help inspire you. If YOU have been working on some things and want to share OR if you’ve needed a kick start, this is it! Time to get your hands dirty and get going! We all want to see what you’ve done! Whether it is scrapbooking related, sewing, home decor, home organization, crafts…if you’ve been meaning to do it, let’s get it done this September and post it on our blogs! You’ll definitely see plenty from me on these fronts all September.

So you think you want to share what you’re going to be doing September 2009? We’re starting a list right here! First thing you need to do is grab this html code and the little banner to put on your blog. It will relocate you back to this post for the most up-to-date list on blogs/websites participating in Project Mania.

<a href=”http://www.carinagardner.com/2009/08/06/project-mania/” target=”_blank”><img class=”alignnone” src=”http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/diginirvana/projectmania1.jpg” alt=”" width=”200″ height=”150″ /></a>

Next, you need to send me the name of your blog and the link you want it to go to so that we can all drop by and see what kinds of things you are getting into! Send it to carina@diginirvana.com.

Here’s the list of everyone participating! Go visit and see what these Project Maniacs are up to!

Carina Gardner Studio (Me)

The Project Girl

Mean Mom Digital Productions

Brought to You By The Letter B

live laugh LOVE scrapbook

Life’s Little Moments

Naomi’s Space

Sophia’s World

My Creative Space

It’s Tuesday and my small Antique Jar collection hit the store today. To give you a preview of the new collection hitting next week and the week after (I think you’ll like it!) is iMPRiNT! It’s a lot of yummy stamps and brushes!

I also thought I’d give you the heads up…I’ve declared SEPTEMBER to be Project Mania Month here at the CG Studio! I’ve already gotten started and I’m excited to bring you a whole month of blog posts that are project oriented! Get ready for some great downloadables, holiday projects, organization tips and more! I’m pretty excited about as it will get me in gear to really finish some half-way finished projects and get a head start on the holiday season.

I’m sure that if you are like me, October through December is booked! So I’m hoping by having a Project Mania month in September, you and I both will feel inspired to get a headstart.

…the chat last night was so much fun! Super crazy, but a blast! My kids decided to get up for it, my power went out and my computer had to restart, so I spent the entire hour completely behind! lol. Thank you for attending and we hope you liked the free kit we gave out! We also did a fun questionnaire about Jen and myself. If you want to see the questionnaire (answers are in the post), want to relive the madness, or see what it was all about go here.

And because of the chat along with my three day interlude between vacations, I haven’t had a chance to even mention the kits that came out yesterday! The first one, Petal Patch, is a super-yummy, vintagey-modern digital kit! (Think 1950s kitchen apron). This kit is SUPER sweet…completely sugar-coated…lol. You’ll have to go to the dentist afterwards!

The second, I must admit, I created really for myself. I love the Sproutlets kit…I mean, really, really love it and am planning on doing a few different books with it. So I started the first 10 page album set, which you can now buy at 2peas. Not all the previews are shown unless you go and look in the shop, but here’s my first page with it:

Clean and distressed all at once! Siri is pretty adorable in these photographs too. lol.Once I get these pages into a book, I’ll be sure and photograph it and post it (of course, what else?).

Here’s a look at what my cool collection’s team has done with the Petal Patch kit (eye candy!).

From the Collections Team , from top-left: Jenny, Katherine, Katherine, Lori, Susan, and Yam. Beautiful work ladies!

As a fun gift to everyone who joins the chat, Jen and I have put together this darling little freebie! You will need to post in the chat tonight and we’ll send you a peamail with the link which will only be downloadable during the chat. Be sure and drop by and get it! Visit us in the CHA Summer Forum at 10pm CST.

CHA is in Florida and I won’t be going. In fact, I’ll be headed the opposite direction in a couple of days for a vacation with my family. So, to celebrate CHA, Jen and I are doing a little chat on 2peas today. Come join us in the CHA Summer Forum at 2peas for scoops on what Jen and I are up to, giveaways, and more! Meet us over there 8pm 10pm CST.

BTW, just added a new header to the studio front page and I’ll hopefully have a chance in the next couple of weeks to get together some great halloween projects with my new line The Spider’s Web.

See you at the chat!

It’s just another Monday and my family is still recovering from a weekend at Bear Lake. We’re also recovering from a lingering virus that managed to take captive the last two members of our family this weekend (Felicity and myself). I managed to get over my fever and aches after a day, but Felicity has had a raging fever for several days. I just took her to the doctor today and the virus has managed to give her a double ear infection. Great. And just 3 days away from our vacation to Disneyland.

Well, the good part is that there is amoxicillian running through her now. And I’ll have her sucking on her pacifier on the airplane to help with the pressure.

A quick report on Bear Lake: my very cool mother-in-law brought all sorts of goodies and games for the kids (the parents were all very grateful). One thing she did was leave a little note on the door for the kids to treasure hunt for some frogs. Fantastic idea, huh? The kids had a blast looking for them.

Be sure and join Jen and me for our Chat tomorrow at 2peas. 8pm CST in the Digital Scrapbooking Forum CHA Summer Forum! Be sure and drop by as Jen and I will be giving away some of our newest stuff.

Yes, this is it. The big news! I recently signed a fabric deal and you will be able to find my designs in fabric in early 2010! Unfortunately, I have to be very vague about the release because we haven’t even begun first rounds of strike-offs (I will be sure to keep you updated!)! It’s been my busiest summer yet with putting together my first fabric collection and lots of new scrapbooking stuff coming out from My Minds Eye! Next week is CHA and you’ll get to see my Spider’s Web Line which is a sophisticated take on Halloween! I can’t wait to show you how I use them for halloween decorating projects and more!

I also wanted to give you a heads up that Jen and I will be hosting a chat in the 2peas forums (in the digital scrapbooking forum) on Tuesday, July 28th at 8pm CST. It will lots of fun! You are welcome to quiz us about digital scrapbooking or paper scrapbooking (and anything else you may like:). Jen and I are also both doing giveaways throughout the chat! It will be fun that you don’t want to miss!