If Things Couldn’t Be Busier
You’ll notice a little update on the blog and studio site. Specifically, check out the background pattern which will be printed in fabric (Coquette)in two color schemes (plum and moss) in 4 fabrics total (unfortuately not in the background color I have here). Pull the Internet browser out for a good look at this pretty [...]
When It’s A Birthday
With my fantastic silhouette machine from quickutz, I made these darling die cut happy birthday cards that you can pick up at 2peas. I made them originally for my two brothers-in-law that share a common birthday. These boy-happy papers are from my Bella Bella line. Super easy to make with the files in this folder! [...]
The Blog Hop
If you haven’t stopped by the blogs on this Project Mania blog hop, you’re missing out! And if you want to participate, you are definitely welcome to join us by sending me your link at info@carinagardner.com and you will added to the list. I recently got around to seeing what these ladies are up to, [...]
The Only Constant is Change
It is a season of change at our house. Our oldest daughter started Kindergarten, Josh started a new job a couple of months ago, I recently signed a fabric contract, and we are buying our very first home. It’s a wonderful time, but difficult to say the least. Labor Day Weekend and this week has [...]
Paper Flower Wreath: Free Pattern
I finally got around to this project! This little paper flower wreath was a big hit with my girls as they pranced around the house with them all day! I recently got a Silhouette from QuicKutz, which makes this little project a breeze! But if you don’t have a Silhouette, the flower shapes are simple [...]
Monthly Menu Planner- Free Download
It’s the offical “start” of Project Mania! And I thought I would start off with a free download! I’m hoping to inspire you to get organized this month or finish a project that hasn’t been finished. It’s appropriate that it is Project Mania month because September will be my busiest month yet! We just learned [...]
ABC Book Project-Early Project Mania
It’s the season of change. I’ve been feeling it more and more as my oldest child heads to kindergarten. It seems even more imperative to capture these fleeting moments, and what better way than with an ABC photo book of my little darlings. It seems appropriate considering the time of year. I like homemade ABC [...]
Working on a new Digi Book
I’ve been a digi designer for a year and a half now and I finally feel like it is time to buckle down and finish a full book! Because I like consistency, I’m working on a book that covers 2009 and I am only using Sproutlets, Sproutlets Album, Imprints, and PhotoCuts. It makes the book [...]
A Layout Today
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 [...]
Project Mania…An entire month of projects!
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 [...]
Side Bar Upgrade
I finally got around to upgrading my sidebar. I’ve been meaning to add these easy links for a while now, but just managed to squeeze in making the icons and putting it all up this morning! I still have to make some adjustments to the posts themselves (so some things can be downloaded directly from [...]
Making it Funky
I got two gorgeous old frames at Emily Jane a week ago and decided they needed to be “funkied” up. So I painted them pink and love them! Siri drew me two sketches so I can display her artwork. The sketches are sweet and just right for these frames. Right now they are in the [...]
Caterpillar Project
Siri and I made a caterpillar from our button jar yesterday and I thought I’d share it. It’s a fairly easy project although it tends to break in little hands (we had a “re-glue” situation a couple of times). Basically, you just need to make 5 sections of 7 buttons each. THe 5 buttons need [...]
My New ACMoore Paper Pads! Bella Bella and Paris and Co.
My new AC Moore paper pads have arrived! They are exclusively at ACMoore (I don’t think they have hit the stores yet). There are two pads: Bella Bella (which includes many of the original Bella Bella line papers) and Paris and Co. (also found digitally at 2peas). Here’s a card I made this afternoon using [...]
Hair Clips
Siri, Flissa, and I got in a craft mood this afternoon and made a bucnh of new hairclips. It’s easy and makes the girls look so cute. We are espeically into silk flower clips right now because we ALL end up wearing them:). We also made a bunch of button clips. Here is Siri posing [...]
Crocheting and Preschool Graduations
I’ve picked up the crochet needle this week. I usually start to crochet again out of sheer necessity: I can’t live without a crocheted wash cloth. Seriously, they are the BEST for washing dishes and our other one is seeing it’s final days (something that happens often since we don’t own a dishwasher). I’ve never [...]
New Studio Website!
You’ll notice a couple of changes around here:). While not all of the blog is finished (the links to my free downloads, tutorials, and new flickr groups are not up yet), the studio site is! I’m so excited to introduce this great new resource for those of you looking for my designwork. The Studio is [...]
White Chocolate Lollipops
My friend Carolyn sent me a picture of white chocolate lollipops she made from molds and I had to try it myself for Flissa’s family birthday party. (Carolyn says that she has a blog but hasn’t updated it for a while. I’m trying to convince her to put her gorgeous little girl bows up…if she [...]
Bella Bella Layout
Last week, something possessed me to take a second away from digital scrapbooking and to actually scrapbook the traditional way. I used my Bella Bella line from My Minds Eye. It’s nice to get off the computer sometimes and really get down and dirty! I think there is something about really feeling the paper in [...]
Easter Birdie Nests—Kid Edible Project
We made these edible easter nests that Siri is obsessed with it. I guarantee they’ll be a hit with your kids too! Plus they are easy! Add a peep birdie for extra sweetness! All you need is: Chow Mein Crunch Noodles Chocolate Chips (We like milk—it’s naughtier) Shredded Sweetened Coconut (optional…I like it, the kids don’t) jelly bean [...]
Photoshop Tutorial: Silhouettes
My first Photoshop tutorial! It is created using a fabulous program called Jing. This photoshop tutorial was created in a swf file , so hopefully you will be able to watch it…you may need to download the latest version of Flash to watch it. I sort of zoom through the tutorial because I only had [...]
Easy Cake Decorator
As part of Heather Bailey’s March of Tools, I am trying to remember tools in my life that I can’t live without…especially when I recently use them. While I spend most of my “tool time” with my computer and other technical gadgets (and will be posting more and tutorials on them soon;), I decided to [...]
Adding Color to My Life and Another Frame Project
As many of you know, I live in rental that we aren’t suppose to paint. So a lot of my tricks to decorating are things that are “movable.” Well, last week I got the okay to paint the living room and kitchen! What a dream! I’m not done accessorizing and I’ve pulled everything down from [...]
My Frame Project in Utah Baby Guide!
Check out my frame project as published in Utah Baby Guide! I also submitted it to Apartment Therapy’s February Jumpstart Contest (it didn’t win, but it was still fun to submit). Anyway, if you get chance, download the Utah Baby Guide