Jennifer – Page 177

Curious George Birthday – Invitations

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Jennifer

This year for Jessica’s 2nd birthday party, I decided to go with a Curious George theme. Curious George was the first show I let her watch on TV and she would point to the TV and say George. I’ve since added in a few other shows that I will let her watch, but she is still a big fan of George.

I started working on the birthday invitations at the end of July, thinking that would allow me enough time. I started with a free coloring sheet of George decorating a birthday cake. I turned it in to a png image with a transparent background, which required quite a bit of work and way more time than I thought since I was erasing white pixel by pixel around George.

Curious George Decorating a Cake

Then I colored the image, which took even more time.

Curious George Decorated a Cake - Colored

I am definitely not a graphic designer by any means. I feel that all my work shouldn’t be limited to just Jessica’s birthday, so feel free to right click on the images and save for your personal use.

Once I had George colored to my satisfaction, I used my digital scrapbooking software to create the two-part invitations. The first part, I had printed as 4×6 photos at Costco. The second part I printed on white cardstock on my laser printer at home and cut to 4×6. This allowed me to send the first part to some family members, like James’ grandparents who don’t travel anymore and wouldn’t need the full invitation.

Jessica's 2nd Birthday Invitation Part 1

Jessica's 2nd Birthday Invitation Part 2

Digikit: Summer Driggs – Flipflop-sicles
Fonts Used: Kids

Stay tuned for more posts regarding Jessica’s party. I can’t wait to share the birthday outfit I made her as well as the cute party favors I made for all the kiddos and of course photos from the actual party.

Lonestar Shoebox Swap

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Jennifer

Today, my friend Lori and I are headed to Georgetown for the Lonestar Shoebox Swap. It is an all-day affair where we get to make 30 cards. This is the card I designed and prepped kits for people to make. It uses some of my most recent stamp purchases. I like how this sentiment could be used for a birthday card or as a more generic card. I was inspired by a recent Mojo Monday Sketch, #208, but it is not a square card.

Hope Your Day is a Gusher Card

Stamps: Deadbeat Designs Gusher (sentiment) and Pumpjack
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Basic Black, Wild Wasabi
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Embellishments: AMuse stitched grosgrain ribbon, black brads
Tools: Stampin’ Up square lattice textured impressions embossing folder

I’m taking my camera to the swap, so hopefully I’ll have a photo of Lori and I to share soon.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Autumn Dream

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Jennifer

Today is the release day for the new kit by Amy’s Designs. It is called Autumn Dream and can be purchased at Scraps-N-Pieces. It’s on sale right now as part of the grand opening festivities of store.

The pictures I decided to use to showcase this digikit are from my 2008 trip to Vermont. I blogged about that trip here.

The first layout uses pictures of the bed and breakfast where we stayed.

Vermont Layout 1: Hill Farm Inn

Digikit: Amy’s Designs – Autumn Dream
Font Used: Sandscript BTN

I was so pleased with how the first layout turned out, I made a second one using a similar blocking style. Journaling reads: “Friday morning, the weather was a little drizzly. Mom, Sarah and baby Cameron stayed inside, while the rest of us hiked the trail around the inn near the river. Then all of us drove to eat lunch at Maxwell’s Flat Road Grill where we had some tasty buffalo burgers. Afterward, we browsed some shops in Manchester.”

Vermont Layout 2: Around the Inn

Digikit: Amy’s Designs – Autumn Dream
Font Used: Sandscript BTN

This next layout has some fabulous fall photos. It is a scraplift of this layout. Journaling reads: “Our vehicle arrived at The Cheese House first, so I organized a little photo shoot by the creek behind the store while we waited for the rest of the family to arrive. Arlington, Vermont”

Vermont Layout 3: Fall Photos

Digikit: Amy’s Designs – Autumn Dream
Font Used: Boomerang

And the last layout I’m sharing today is of Chiselville, the covered bridge near the inn. Journaling reads: “Built in 1870, Chiselville is a 117-foot long covered bridge spanning Roaring Branch on Sunderland Hill Road.”

Vermont Layout 4: Chiselville

Digikit: Amy’s Designs – Autumn Dream
Fonts Used: Apple Boy BTN (title), Times New Roman (journaling)

The rest of the creative team came up with some fabulous layouts as well. They really showcase the versatility of the kit. Lisa scrapped two Easter layouts here and here. Stacy scrapped some Halloween photos here and here. Ann did a layout of her daughter. Kristal also scrapped her daughter. Amy did a wedding layout. Our fearless designer Amy did a layout with her daughter and one about herself.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day.

Sibling Class

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Jennifer

Seton Southwest, the fabulous hospital where Jessica was born and where JAM4 will be born, offers a free sibling class the last Wednesday of every month, so last week we took Jessica. The majority of the class was held in the waiting area on the second floor. There were a total of seven kids, with Jessica probably being the youngest, but one other little girl was fairly close to her in age. The oldest was probably about six years old.

They spread a blanket on the floor picnic style and started off with the kids getting a snack while listening to story. Jessica didn’t really pay attention to the story, but she enjoyed the snack, sucking down the juice as soon as she got it.

Jessica Enjoying the Snack

Then a pillowcase was passed around and each child got to pull something out of the pillowcase that the nurses and other hospital staff use with the babies. They were then asked what they thought the item was used for. Jessica pulled out the hair brush and she knew just what to do with it.

Jessica Brushing Daddy's Hair

Then all the kids got to practice diapering the doll/stuffed animal they brought with them. Jessica did receive a little help from Daddy, but even so she knew just what to do. The newborn diapers they passed out work much better than the size 4 diaper that kitty normally wears when Jessica is in a diapering animal mood.

Jessica Diapering Kitty

Swaddling was then discussed and again they got to practice on their dolls/stuffed animals.

Jessica Swaddling Kitty

Cutie Pie

After that, they got to color a big sister/brother coloring page while the nurse talked to the adults. I think the little boy next to Jessica influenced her, because she has never laid down to color before.

Jessica Coloring

Finally, we toured outside the nursery and in a maternity room so the kids could see where the baby and Mommy would be.

I’m still not completely sure she understands that she will have a little sibling soon. Yesterday, I asked her if she wanted a little brother or a little sister. She said “sister.” Although I’m not sure if that is because she wants a sister or we’ve talked a lot about her being a big sister and have never really mentioned the word brother before. The two big sister books we read to her both don’t mention the sex of the baby. Either way, I have a feeling she is going to enjoy “helping” diaper and swaddle the baby.

Ten days until Jessica is two years old and six weeks until JAM4’s due date.

A Few Pictures From Midland

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Jennifer

While we were in Midland helping out as James’ Mom recovered from knee surgery, I didn’t take a whole lot of pictures. I meant to, but alas I did not.

These first four pictures were taken on Sunday, September 25th.

Here’s Jessica trying out Mommy’s shoes.