Sunday, May 31, 2015

Paper Camellia June Scrapbook Kit: Sneaks

Hey! I have some June project sneak peeks.. come back tomorrow for the full layouts!





Friday, May 29, 2015

I SELL STRING ART!

Holy exciting! Did I tell you guys that I officially sell string art now?! I didn't? WHYY not?! Remember back when I wrote this post about how art makes me happy and I need to get back into making and selling it regularly?! Well....

I made this custom piece for Paige Evans and it seriously rocked my world. I can't believe how great it looks in her space.... 


Here are some close ups. It looks super cool when the light hits the bright colors at different times of day. I loved it so much I almost didn't want to part with it!



If you're looking at this and you're thinking... I WANT ONE! Contact me! I will make one for you with whatever words/fonts/colors/size/shape your little string-lovin' heart desires! Seriously! I can do anything! Just email me at elizgardner@me.com and I'll get to work!

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Project Life: April 2015 (Part One)

It's Project Life sharing time, ya'll. Get with it! Here is two of the four spreads from April. I am posting them over two different days so I don't bore you out of your gourds... and also as an incentive for myself to remember to get my heinie over here to post again soon... and incentive for you to come back soon? We'll see how that goes...

So here are a whole bunch of photos of my personal project that you probably don't care about!..






Spring break week..


Just realized I wrote "may" on the tag instead of April. whoops. It's been quite a May, ya'll.




Ready for part two? I'll be back soon!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Artist

Hi! Hello! How ya doin'? Busy busy over here, as usual. Today I want to share a quick page I made about my life's passion. I don't get to create art as much as I'd like to, but when I do, boy does it feel amazing. Messy hands make me happy. Being creative feeds my soul. So here ya go...




Friday, May 8, 2015

Love This

April Project Life is on my desk this week and it reminded me of something. Sometimes while flipping through my stack of cards I have this urge to pull some out and use them for other things. Sometimes it's for the background of a page. Like so...




I have ideas of using PL cards for a mini album or framed wall piece, among other things. We'll see what happens!

Quick update on the big kid.. he made it to Colorado in one piece and he's visiting family there for a bit before continuing the trek... so, life goes on.. for all of us. deep breaths everybody. Update on me.. I have a BUSY roller derby weekend ahead... so I'm pulling things together for that and trying not to think about Mom guilt or how my calendar for the rest of the month is just. plain. cray cray. I'll keep you posted! Have a GREAT mothers day weekend! Treat yo self... ain't nobody else gonna do it.. unless you have hinted very strongly!

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

I suck at goodbyes

I'm terrible. The worst. I avoid them whenever possible. I'm that friend that just ghosts out of a party. If someone catches me I'll throw up a wave or awkwardly dole out an obligatory hug and quickly be on my way. So that made yesterday tough.

Yesterday our oldest left the nest. At 19 & a year out of high school we knew this day was inevitable. He's been working, hanging w friends, & he just decided... "I was never really going to end up in Ohio." (Which I understand whole heartedly.)(Not putting down Ohio.. just never expected to live here myself!) 

He has lots of family in California and spent almost all of his years there. So it really shouldn't be a surprise. But that didn't make it any easier. 

He came to the decision rather quickly & then all of the sudden he's going from talking about packing his car, "you know, next week, maybe." To actually packing it. 

He said he feels kinda bummed that his entire life fits into a standard car. I assured him that this is a thrilling stage of life. On the cusp of deciding what & where you want to be. No strings. Very little obligation. Time to carve out the life you want. An adventure. The beginning. He smiled & agreed & asked if he could take the desk.

So let me get to the part where I suck. (It always leads there, amiright?) Before leaving for practice last night (& then bawling to myself all the way there) I brought Aidan in for a hug. I told him he was "a really good kid... Person... Adult... Whatever." I pleaded with him to be safe on the drive and keep us up to date with his progress.... But for Gods sake not to text and drive! I told him to "make good choices & take care of yourself." Then I scurried out the door so he wouldn't see more than a couple of tears.

Here's what I would have done if I was a normal human being good at goodbyes...

I would have said, "I love you. More than you will even know." I would have told him that I'm proud of him & the man he's becoming. I would have said that he has so many bright things ahead of him and all of the talent and makings of a terrificly full, happy, well-lived life. I would have explained that he will probably make some mistakes along the way but that's just life and it's all about learning & recovering from those. I would have (very motherly) said to not do anything that could drastically change his future. (Ie: drugs. Drinking & driving. Committing a felony.) I would have told him to decide what he wants out of life and to go for it full force. To not waste time. To work hard and stay respectful. I would have said that we are all going to miss him terribly... I can't even state that enough. That he is an important piece of our family and although we want him to move forward & flourish... We will always be missing him & wishing he was here. (& somehow I would have said that part without making him feel bad for leaving.)

I would have said that being a Stepmom is one of the most challenging but rewarding things I've ever done in life... And that I'm honored to have had a part in raising him and shaping him into this dynamic person. He is really incredible & the world is truly at his finger tips.... 

& I would have told him that instead of running out to bawl. I would have stood there and cried openly in front of him.. Or maybe sobbed into his embrace like the awkward lunatic that I am. 

But that's life, right? This whole thing is life. Kids grow up. They leave. They take their own paths & all you can do as a parent is hold on to your partner & ask, "did we do enough?

& if you're lucky your partner will hug you back and say, without hesitation, "yes. Yes we did." 

Friday, May 1, 2015

Paper Camellia May Kit Reveal Day

Today is a very special day! May day. Evareaux's 6th birthday. but most importantly, reveal day! ;)

Here's is the fabulous May Main Scrapbook kit..


and the Everyday Life kit...



and here are four pages I made for this month...





I will be stopping by the Paper Camellia blog a couple of times over the next month. I'll share detail shots and discuss how they came together. Until then, PC is having a National Scrapbook Day sale! Check it out while supplies last!