Decorating the House!

A few weeks I had a miracle happen. It may not seem miraculous to everyone, but for our family, it was one of the greatest gifts we have been given. My parents came out to Utah for a visit. And while that in itself is a small miracle, the greatest part is that they came out to help us settle in our "new" home. We have been here for almost a year and while I have gone through everything once since we have been here, I was overwhelmed about what to do with all the stuff. It just didn't feel like home. I didn't know how to decorate it with the things I had and didn't want to buy a bunch of new things. Enter Super Ruthie and her one-man crew of my Dad. I wish I had taken "before" photos, but trust me, they worked a major miracle in the three days they were here. We still have quite a bit of work to do, but now I know what needs to be done and it's manageable.

to do:
paint ceilings white (possibly add crown molding)
hang new picture over the entertainment center (it's gorgeous and will get an entire post of it's own one day)
replace candles with white or tan fat taper candles

to do:
find a spice rack that I like
figure out where to put the knife rack
make curtains (I have the fabric now)

to do (family room):
hang new photos frames & print pictures

to do (playroom):
hang pictures
paint
hang tutus
get rid of half the toys (don't tell the girls)

to do:
flower arrangements for ainsley's room
hang curtains in ainsley's room
hang photos in ainsley's room
refresh paint on ainsley's headboard
paint red dresser in ainsley's room
make displays for hair bows
hang hooks for coats & backpacks
pack up winter clothes (yeah!)
move mirrors out of the bathroom to my room
find & hang decorative towels
paint & decorate my room (no photos until that's done)
to do:
sew summer skirts for the girls
ahhhh! this room is completely done and it is my own personal heaven. I love it!

I do still have to organize my storage room and go through about seven or eight bins of paper & old photos. Sounds like I need to find a new TV series to rent and watch while I go through things for a week! :)

I love my little house and I finally feel at home here. I am not suffocating in piles of stuff and it is so much easier to keep the house clean when it feels nice. I actually enjoy mopping my kitchen floor every day and vacuuming my floors isn't dangerous anymore (the day before my parents came, a bed frame that was propped in a corner almost fell on my head while I was vacuuming). I always used to say that my house was clean under the clutter. Now the clutter is mostly gone, too, and it's just clean! I love it! I am not sure that Thomas and the kids love that I have reverted to my completely OCD ways.
"Don't put your shoes by the door. I don't care that they have snow on them. Dry them off and put them away."
"Don't leave that cup on my counter."
"Fold that blanket when you are done using it."

And now that the really hard-muscle work is done, I can concentrate on some of the more fun projects. Well, except painting the ceilings. Who wants to come help me with that one? :)

Some new scrapbook pages

These are some scrapbook pages I have finished this week. It felt great to actually scrapbook again.

These photos are from last week when my parents took the girls to Chuck E Cheese. They had so much fun with Grandma & Poppa.
credits:
Urban Kids by Misty Cato @ SSD
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These pictures are from Hannah's first day of school last year. She is so grown up and it's hard to believe that she is even more grown up now! She can read and write and tell time and count.
credits:
Blending Masks by Misty Cato @ SSD (coming tomorrow)
Metal Hanger from Hang It All by Misty Cato
With Gratitude by Misty Cato, Lauren Redi, Dani Mogstad @ SSD
Alpha from Spring Arrives by Misty Cato at SSD
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This is just a cute picture of Ainsley from last fall. She, too, is really growing up and it makes me sad that my baby is almost three!
credits:
Artesia by Krystal Hartley & Amy Stoffel @ SSD (coming tomorrow!)
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This is another picture of Ainsley from last fall at the cabin. The mountain photo blended into the background is one I took up there.
credits:
Artesia by Krystal Hartley & Amy Stoffel @ SSD (coming tomorrow!)
Blending Masks by Misty Cato @ SSD (coming tomorrow)
***

This is a photo of Ainsley, almost exactly a year ago. Even though she has gotten so much bigger and older, she still loves Dora!
credits:
Artesia by Krystal Hartley & Amy Stoffel @ SSD (coming tomorrow!)
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These are more cabin photos from two years ago. We took Ashley, Dylan & Zoe up to the cabin for a weekend getaway.
credits:

Fresh Linen Dig-Ette-al Collection by The Ettes
Templ-Ette Collection 9 by The Ettes
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These are from a year ago, one weekend when Ainsley was sick. Poor little girl. I still get sad when I see these photos. She was so sick.
credits:
Fresh Linen Dig-Ette-al Collection by The Ettes
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more cabin photos from last year
credits:
Fresh Linen Dig-Ette-al Collection by The Ettes
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This is a picture of Hannah and one of her cousins at the family Easter Egg Hunt this spring. She loves her cousin and gives her a hug every time she sees her.
credits:

Favorite Faces Digital Collection by The Ettes
Templ-Ette Collection 9 by The Ettes
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These are the only pictures I got from our sisters' weekend a few weeks ago. We all had glitter toes put on. It was so much fun! Mine came off a week ago, but they were fun while they lasted.
credits:
Favorite Faces Collection by The Ettes
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A visit from Poppa & some fun projects!

I am such a Daddy's girl. I was so excited when my mom told me that my Dad was going to be in Salt Lake on business. Unfortunately, he couldn't stay long, but we did get to see him for about three hours one evening. These are not great photos, but oh well! This is what I have. :)

(terrible, terrible picture of me)

Hannah was so excited to see Poppa! She just wanted to hold on to him all night. She sat by him at dinner and just held on to his arm when we went back to his hotel room.

Ainsley was getting into everything (as usual) so Thomas sat her on the top of the fridge. Ainsley doesn't like to be up that high.

We had a great time visiting with Dad and the only two things could have made it better... if Momma had come, too and if they could have stayed longer! Thanks, Daddy!
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Our internet was acting up on Saturday and it was just frustrating me so much that I decided to unplug and do something non-digital. I can hear the gasps of surprise all over the world as I type this! :) I have been wanting to do some sewing and some paper and paint crafting and this seemed like a perfect time!

First, I have this adorable little ruffled skirt that I made for Hannah. The pattern came from my Aunt Sara's blog. I altered it a bit for Hannah. I have the pieces cut for Ainsley's skirt, but haven't gotten as far as actually putting it together.

*My alterations:
Ruffles: I used the same lengths as the 2T pattern because I wanted a knee-length skirt she could wear with leggings. For the ruffles, I used the full width of the fabric and cut out two widths for each ruffle. So, each ruffle was 88" wide before I sewed it together and gathered it. (LOVE your tip for gathering, Sara!) Also, instead of doing the waistband and Ruffle A out of the same fabric, I alternated the fabrics.

I used corduroy fabric and I LOVE how it turned out. Hannah picked the patterns and colors. I just love the solid feel to the skirt. And ironing the seams literally saved the project! I can't even tell you what a big difference it made on the hem.

Next, up, these funky little pumpkins! Is it fall yet? I got the idea for these pumpkins from this blog. I made mine much more rustic. And yes, that's on purpose! :) We are doing Thanksgiving at our cabin this year, so the more rustic, the better they will fit in with the decor! I ended up filling the top of the pumpkins with poly-fill and the bottoms with pinto beans! Beans aren't cheap. I was surprised that the filler cost more than the fabric! I made my pumpkins in a big variety of sizes and fabric types. I have some quilted fabric, some patchworked pumpkins and some metallic pumpkins, too! I mostly used leftover fabrics I had in my stash, but I did pick up a couple of remnant fabrics from Wal-Mart.

The top set of pumpkins is for Hannah & Ainsley's bedroom. They wanted some pumpkins for their room and the thought of a real pumpkin in there is WAY too frightening for me. Ainsley likes to throw things when she doesn't want to go to sleep.

These pumpkins were so much fun to make! I forsee my pumpkin colony multiplying!

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And just some random cuteness from my girls yesterday! We had to leave sacrament early because Ainsley was in desperate need of a nap. But Ainsley is a messy napper, so I had to get a few photos of that adorable outfit before she made a big ol' mess of herself!

Ainsley did NOT want her photo taken.

Hannah was more than happy to pose for the camera. Thanks, Hannah Baby! :) Yes, her hair looked better than that before church. She insisted on a headband and every mother of a five year old girl knows how long headbands stay on their heads... about five minutes!

NewEgg delivered my printer ink to my old address so you don't get to see my latest and greatest hybrid projects for another week or so. Hannah has fall break coming up this weekend. I have no idea what I am going to do to keep these two both entertained all day. Probably bake a lot of treats. Speaking of treats... I baked these today. YUM! And those adorable little pumpkin pies will be making an appearance at an event near me in the near future. I must find a mini muffin pan. :)

some new layouts

this is a photo of hannah & i the other day. isn't she a cutie???
supply list:
libby weifenbach's
detention kit
flower from java jitters (ssd QA)
painted chippy alpha
all at SSD
ck love note
pea sarah lynne

these photos are from friday. angie & tom & maddy came to visit us and we played at our little park next door! sorry the house was such a mess guys! i love the kit i used for this page, but i don't love how the page turned out...
supply list:
Paper2Digi #27
scraplift of ~Anita~'s Carefree layout at 2Peas
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1333198
Twist Collection by SugarPlum Paperie at TheDigiChick
DJB Sqirly Q by Darcy Baldwin & SaraAmarie at SSD

this is a picture of ainlsey from earlier this week! she absolutely cracks me up! i learned a new photoshop post-processing technique to make my photos sharper & clearer... the defog technique! LOVE it!
supply list:
sara amarie's island life kit
amanda rockwell's commercial use kraft papers

New layout with Krystal Hartley's designs

these are my favorite of the hundreds of photos we attempted to take of the five girls in their matching dresses when we were in chicago. this is for the spin-a-lift 7/27 challenge at ssd
supply list:
krystal hartley's the sky is falling kit at fpd, pieces recolored
frame, pink paper: Ooh-La-La collab kit by Krystal Hartley & Amy Sumrall
font: Pea SEAN

Some Scrapbook Pages

supply list:
SaraAmarie's Live Out Loud Kit at SSD

supply list:
MMullens Cookie Template #41
Misty Cato's Going Places: The Collection

supply list:
Scraplift of Juliet's Laughter Layout at SSD
Eva Kipler's Life is a Journey Kit at SSD

layout with Eva Kipler's products

this picture is from a couple of weeks ago at my momma's house! isn't ainslers adorable?! eva's kit perfectly shows off this photo! Love it!
supply list:
missy strand's cookie template #39
eva kipler's chalking the way kit at sweet shoppe designs
misty cato's acrylic style file