Made using SC Oct. Kit, Field Guide + American Crafts NightFall

Happy Halloween!
I want to wish my father-in-law a Happy Birthday as well. (What a fun birthday to have!)

Zoe is dressed and off to her school Halloween carnival.
Games, prizes, singing her Halloween songs, it will be a fun filled day for sure.

I made this layout showcasing a couple of our pictures from cookie decorating last week. I used almost entirely the American Crafts NightFall line. I just adore this line from them, It's been on my "to buy" list ever since it debuted in July. It's so versatile for Halloween and general Fall pictures!

Maybe it's just me, but it feels like as soon as Halloween is over, the Christmas season is knocking at the door. We've scheduled our family pictures, with the fabulous Aly Willis in hopes of actually getting Christmas cards out this year (if I actually make it, it will be the first year since we've been married) I've started Christmas shopping too, trying to space it out a bit.

But in effort to not let the Thanksgiving holiday pass by without notice, I'm going to be keeping a thankful journal, (Inspired by Melissa Priest) which I'll be sharing a little later this week.

Stop by tomorrow for a new Paper Issues theme, sponsored by Pink Paislee and their new Snow Day collection!

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

Sunday Loves is back, sorry I had to take a little break from that, life got busy, but it's back!

First, I want to share my new coat! I've been eyeing this for awhile, and finally broke down and bought it. It's fleece, so it's super soft, but it's tailored, so it's not as bulky as a sweatshirt. The best of both worlds.

Next, yesterday, I finally got some picture of Zoe in the leaves! She also happened to be sporting her new hat. These pictures are for an upcoming project for Paper Issues.

And last, but not least, my new favorite show. The awkwardness is absolutely perfect. I love it. Zooey Deschanel is a wonderful actress (and musician) Plus, I like her name. :)

I'm excited for tonight, we're have some dear friends over for dinner. It's been way too long sine we've gotten both the families together. I'm making pot roast and mashed potatoes...mmm, I can smell it already!

Back tomorrow with a Halloween layout to share!

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

For so many reasons, but mostly because I feel like I actually get things done on Fridays.
Why Friday and not Monday, I'm not sure.

After being in a creative slump for a few weeks, I'm finally over it! Yeah! Bring on the paper and glue!

Supplies : Studio Calico October Kit, Field Guide

I adore these pictures of Zoe, except for the fact that she looks like she's 6 instead of 3. She is growing up so fast, it's driving me crazy. The title is an inside family joke, intended to make my sisters smile, but it still applies. She is a pretty pretty princess.

I commented to Ryan that she is 50% tom boy + 50% girly girl, and not like a nice medium in-between, but in that she switches from wanting to play in the mud and collect rocks, to putting on a pretty dress and painting her nails, in a matter of minutes.

On another note, Pinterest has done it again, and delivered a hit recipe for me to share.
























Red Velvet Woopie Pies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yes, they are rich, but oh so good!
You can find the recipe HERE.

You can follow me on Pinterest HERE.

Have a fabulous weekend! Stay safe and warm!

XOXO,
Holly & Co

Yeah! A layout to share. I've had this layout for a few days, but finally got around to uploading it.
These pictures are from our apple picking adventure at my Grandparent's house a few weeks ago.
With those apples, I've made apple pies, apple butter, apple crisp, I'm about all apple-ed out.

Do you have a favorite apple recipe? I would love to hear it!

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

Ok not really freaky, but this little decor piece I made is a little more "spooky" than most of the Halloween stuff I have done.

I got a great deal on the Thespian add-on from Studio Calico, which was full of Halloween goodies. I knew I wanted to use it for some decor, so I picked up this little MDF 6x6 tile at my local craft store and got to work. No real pre-planning, but I like the way it turned out. I also got to use my distress inks (of which mostly just sit in a pile on my window sill)

On the non-craft side of life, I tried this tip from Pinterest, and Oh MY goodness it works well!

Lately, my days have been going in a roller coaster, good, better, great, no so great, could've done without, bad, you know the drill... But after a not so great couple of days, today turned out to be a winner, literally.

I won a kit from my favorite place, that I get to share with my new scrappy friend.
My new assignment at work is turning out to be wonderful!
I completed a scrapbook layout for the first time in a week.
It was cloudy, sweatshirt weather today - my favorite.
I discovered some ice cream in the freezer I had forgotten about.

Seriously, it seems like small things, but it's made my day.

Here's the layout I made. Another plus, I used lots of my mists on this page. I find that now that my mists are on the shelf right in my eye line, I use them more.


































For the background, I used some Studio Calico star stickers as masks, added 2 different colors of grey mist, let it dry and then peeled them off. It's one of my favorite way to use stickers.

I also used the technique on the letters from last week's Technique Thursday post.

Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.

In my October Polka Dot Whimsy Kit, we got these great quote bubbles by Shabby Chic Chafts. I knew as soon as I opened them up, what I wanted to use them for. Zoe is constantly making us laugh with her funny phrases and interesting conversations. I needed a place to compile them. I've made layouts before with her funny sayings and I love keeping that tradition up.

As you can see, this layout is unfinished, but I know it won't take long to fill in the rest of the bubbles.
My favorite one up there, is a conversation we had a few months ago.

Me: What does your puppy eat?
Zoe : Spaghetti.
Me: What else does your puppy eat?
Zoe: Salad..
(I love that she included a healthy option.)

I made a fun Halloween project last night, and a few more layouts. We're heading down to Utah in a few days to have some fall-tastic fun with my family, so you'll be seeing those projects in my absence :)

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

I found this quote on Pinterest, and it brought tears to my eyes.
 Zoe will always be my first baby, she is the one that made me a Mother.
When we were out taking pictures she asked to wear my locket, and this picture resulted from that.
We will always have that special connection, these first few years just us.

I know this layout is simple, but the words say more than any embellishment ever could.

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

This week I wanted to share a new layout, that while took my several days to complete, I really love.
I made this using my October Polka Dot Whimsy kit, that arrived this week, full of Crate Paper, Studio Calico, MME and Bella Blvd. I really love the green that is mixed in with the traditional fall colors, gives the page a pop!























I hand stitched around the leaves to bring a bit more texture to the page and used my ZIG embossing pen + AC Brown Sugar Zing, to create the movement lines.

Karli & I had a Scraperday (Scrapbooking + Saturday) yesterday, I was able to finish 3 layouts, using the pictures I took of Zoe last week. Look for more of those this week.

Our Sunday has actually been sunny, a nice, bright change from the snow earlier this week. I'm hoping it will stay a way just a bit longer. I've got some things to cross off my fall bucket list!

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

As I sit here typing, outside my window are big giant flakes of white falling from the sky. I'm not gonna lie, this makes today a GREAT day. The snow isn't thick enouogh to stay on the ground and I'm sure it will be gone by tomorrow, but I am enjoying it today.

Cold weather always makes me more productive. So far today, I've done 2 loads of laundry, baked 2 loaves of banana bread, gone grocery shopping, half-way done with dinner, made a bread starter and fixed my broken candlesticks. - Although all the cooking is making my house smell like an interesting mix of bananas and bacon....hmm....

Today, I've got a fun layout to share, along with a new technique.


































I adore these Amy Tan American Crafts thickers. I noticed the other day that the background for these was plain kraft cardstock, and therefore could be colored. I pulled out my blending foam pads and some mists and  played around.
I sprayed the mist on the pad so I could control the amount of color I rubbed onto the thicker. As you can see in the picture, the top of the amperstand is darker than the bottom. I applied a double coat to the top half to show you the difference.
Now I'm sure most of you know you could use mists to change the color of scrapbook items, but my favorite part about this is that you can see the criss-cross pattern that resists the mist! I'm going to e-mail American Crafts and request that they make more of this kind of thicker.

Here's a layout where I first used this technique.


































Thanks for stopping by.

XOXO,
Holly & CO.

I mentioned when I redid my blog that I would be adding some features, one of those being Sunday Loves. Sunday Loves meaning people/places/things that I'm lovin' on this week in particular.
This feature will not always be food, but in this case, all my loves today are food.
Good food.
REALLY good food.

Here are the links to the recipes:
Apple Butter
Pumpkin Scones
Shredded Beef Tacos

Just a quick note, we skipped the glaze on the scones but slathered them in the apple butter, and here are the reactions from our family...
Ryan - This might be the only bread I ever eat again.
Holly - I might eat this for breakfast every day
Zoe - MMM....(said with a mouthful of scone)

I only made a half batch of apple butter, but I will definitely be making lots more. Ryan was concerned that we only had 2.5 jars. He was relieved when I told him I would make more.

I'm definitely hitting the fall bake-something-every-day feeling.
I just wish it would get a *little* bit cooler, just a bit.

Enjoy your Sunday, and if you're in the area, stop by for some scones and apple butter.

XOXO,
Holly & CO.