B. You Class: Heidi Kelley

I have to gush just a little bit about a new friendship that I've developed through Shimmerz: Heidi Kelley. If you haven't seen this girl's videos yet, you are in for a major treat. I'm seriously blown away by her creativity. In her last video, she used trash bags to make gorgeous art. Yeah, I know.

Anyway...Heidi is teaching a class at Stash to Treasure starting March 1st. It is called B. You: Putting a bit of YOU into your art journal by misting, masking, and adding personal details. Here are a few sneaky peeks for you.

Wow. That is about all I can say.

This class is divided into 5 lessons including at least 10 videos and 5 tutorials. Tons of info. Plus...the cost of the class is only $5.00. Yep, you read right, only $5.00! You can get more info right here.


I'm so taking this class! I hope that you'll join me! Can't wait until March 1st!

Utterly Engaged link

Oh how I wish someone I knew was getting married!

I just found this resource for weddings and I'm itching to decorate!

What I've Learned

As a younger mother, I watched misbehaving little boys and wondered what was wrong with their mother. Unfortunately, I used to be quite judgmental, in that way. That is until I had this sweet boy.

My little pistol.

My little guy has taught me that anything. And I mean anything that can be climbed will be climbed. And jumped off with sometimes disastrous results.

He's taught me that my sternest face that causes even flowers to wilt, means nothing. Absolutely nothing.

He's taught me that the pickle jar should never be located on the bottom shelf of the fridge.

He's taught me that the open Oreo package should be located up high. Very high. Outside, in the garage. Under lock and key.

He's taught me that anything that can be thrown will be thrown. Hard. Usually at someone.

He's taught me that anything that could possibly be used as a weapon will be. Probably against the dog or an older sister.

And yet, he's also taught me that when you fall off of the ladder at the playground. You cry. Get a hug and maybe a kiss. And get right back on that ladder. Just to prove it to the world that you can do it. Then you do it twice. Just to stick it to 'em.

He's also taught me that singing should be done at full throttle and at random.

He's also taught me that naps and baths are God's gift to mommas who have-had-it-up-to-here.

He's also taught me that sometimes you have two choices: to laugh or to cry. Laughing is a lot more fun.

He's also taught me that no matter how tough you are, how fearless you seem on tall playground equipment, you still need your momma. And no matter how tough your momma is, she still needs her little guy.

He's also taught me that the biggest hearts are found in mischievous little boys. Which is probably why they are so mischievous in the first place: their little bodies can't contain all that heart without bursting once in a while.

And my heart bursts just a little when I think about him.

Love my guy.

Sweetest Gift

Cam (5) came home from kindergarten with a gift that he had chosen specifically for me from the treasure box.

Before I go any further, I have to explain that the treasure box is one of the most sacred things in Cam's heart. I hear daily updates on whether or not the class achieved a certain disciplinary status worthy of visiting and choosing a trinket from the treasure box. I also hear daily updates on what types of trinkets are available: plastic animals and gold medals being at the top of the list, pencils and tiny erasers at the bottom. (Rightly so, I might add.)

The fact that he chose something for me makes my momma heart melt into a puddle of pudding.

How precious is that?

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope that your day was filled with time with loved ones.

 Mine was filled with a few temper tantrums (3) and even more kisses and hugs (too many to count).

 So all in all...it was a good day.

I'm so grateful that you visit me here! Thank you for all your comments and wonderful support.

xoxo
Bethany

New Video -- A Shimmering Mini-Album

Right after I have a baby, I kinda feel a little...well...tired and non-creative. It's like all my creative juices go into my newbie and there isn't much else left for anything else.

Luckily, I've experienced this phenomenon before so when Wyatt was born, I wasn't at all surprised or devastated by my lack of C.J. (Creative Juice). In fact, I planned for it. During the last weeks of my pregnancy, I worked furiously on a special project dedicated to my new man: a mini-album. This mini (made by Punky Sprouts) was destined to be an art journal/scrapbook of Wyatt's first few weeks on the outside.

I wanted it to hold all those special things like wrist identification bracelets, hospital tags and his little hospital hat.

I wanted it to document my feelings on his birth, my pregnancy and how the other children reacted when they met him. A pretty tall order for such a little book.

Before the big day, I gathered all my supplies (My Mind's Eye papers, Crafty Secrets' images, Shimmerz paints and sprays, paperclay pieces, colored pencils) and I created all the backgrounds. I created the front cover faces and glued them down.

When Wyatt was born, I had a project waiting for me. It was perfect. It allowed me to create without pressure. It allowed me to revel in the happiness of holding a new baby again and record my precious, blessed thoughts.

In other words, it was a wonderful experience and I'd highly recommend it.

Of course, I wanted to share the fruits of this joyful experience with you (meaning the making of the album). So I created this video in which I discuss my thought process on mini-making as well as quite a few techniques; including a step-by-step on how to create the beautiful watercolor backgrounds using Shimmerz paints and mists.

Grab a cup of hot chocolate. Take a few sips for me because I'm currently banned from my favorite drink (little sob) and enjoy!



xoxo
Bethany

Cute Hat, Crabby Face

Just after Thanksgiving 2010, little Wyatt was blessed at church. (LDS families do not baptize their children as infants, instead they are given a blessing.) It is a beautiful ceremony during which the child's father (or another male relative) holds the baby and blesses him (or her, of course!) with all the things that he wishes for his child. Like health, a strong faith, a good relationship with his parents, an active mind, etc.

You can image that this is a special moment for a new momma.

It has become a tradition for each of the grandmas to make a quilt for my babies and to give them their quilt on their blessing day. I always take pictures of my newbie in his/her blessing outfit (each girl has worn the same outfit and each boy has worn another one) with the quilts. Because I wanted each child to have something personal to wear, I've given them each a special hat to wear on the occasion. Perhaps you'll remember this project that I completed with Quinn's bonnet. (Unfortunately, I haven't quite completed the other 5 shadow boxes. Where does the time go?)

Anyway, while I was preggo with little Wy, I searched high and low for a cute baby boy hat pattern. It wasn't easy, but I finally found the most adorable newsboy hat. I was more than excited to make it for him.

It turned out really well, if I do say so myself.

However, the boy wearing it simply would not cooperate with a semi-smile or even a somewhat happy-ish look. Nope. Not at all. And the more pictures I took, the sadder the situation.

It started off badly with my mom's quilt. Grumpy little man.

Here he is with Okie-Dokie Grandma's quilt. (Todd's mom.)

And then, I just had to push the situation. Dreadful. Just dreadful.

Yeah, it was a cute hat, though.

I Told Them to Wash the Dog

Believe it or not, I'm having trouble getting everything done. I know, I know. You absolutely cannot believe it. I know.

Anyway, the dogs were in dire need of a bath. I think the last time they were cleansed from claw to ear was...(sheepish cough)...6 months ago? With a newbie always in my arms, I just wasn't getting to it. So I decided to let go a bit (aka accept some imperfections) and delegate this wet chore to the small people living in our house.

I gave them a bottle of shampoo, offered a few pointers, helped them tie up the dogs (we have a mud lover), turned on the hose and left them to their own devices. After about 47 minutes, I had a fed baby, a new blog post, 2 clean dogs and this wild bunch of mooligans. (The oldest and youngest girl had long since returned to the safety of the home.)

Notice which child is holding the hose? Yep, that would be the 2 year old, Quinn. You probably can't really tell, but the child in blue (Cam) is holding a fistful of mud. Seconds after this picture was taken (before they realized that I was now observing their crazy-pants behavior) he chucked that mud at Miss Zoey.

Also, notice the muddy legs and shorts. They had been jumping. Yes, jumping in the garden soil.

Sandy made it quite clear that she not only did not appreciate her bath, but she was not in support of the backyard crew's activities.

Casey was just plain ashamed by the goings-on.

So that's how we roll around here.

Good Looking Peeps

Yes, I'll admit, I'm slightly biased, but I must say...These peeps are some of the cutest things I've ever seen. Try not to kiss the screen when you see the following pics. (Especially the last littlest peep pic.)

In order of birth appearance...

Danika (9)

Zoey (7)

 Cameron (5)

Elyssa (4)

 Quinn (2)

Wyatt (3 months)

Good Heavens I love these small people!