this is the year of | expand.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

k this month.

 
This month I... 

  • focused on my one little word, and I immersed myself
  • enjoyed my family
  • was constantly busy, one thing after another
  • got two new shirts that I love
  • started drinking more water thanks to our new filter
  • tried a lot of new recipes
  • created 16 new layouts
  • began to read The Help, can't wait to continue it
  • went out to the movies with my mom
  • made some big decisions
  • started getting more organized
  • daydreamed... a LOT
Here's to February! Can't wait to see what she has in store! :) 
xoxo - Kasey 

P.S. I'm thinking about making this a monthly post on the blog. What do you think?

Monday, January 30, 2012

100% crazy.

My brother and my cousin are two crazy boys and when they get together... it's 100% craziness. ha! But, we love them. :) 
I decided to document this crazy picture of them from over Thanksgiving and I knew that the wood background base would be perfect for a masculine page! Really happy with how this came together! 

studio calico white mist | american crafts white Zing! | versamark glue pad | american crafts .03 precision pen
 
Anyways, I had a lot of fun grouping things together and doing some mist splatters. And, I'm not typically one to scrap using masculine products, but this was fun to create! 
 
Thanks for looking! 
 
xoxo - Kasey  

Sunday, January 29, 2012

studio calico CHA-ganza layouts.

I've been playing along with the Studio Calico CHA-ganza challenges. I managed to combine all ten challenges into three layouts. Which was good because I didn't have much time this weekend and I know I won't have any time this week to work on them. So, I definitely wanted to get done in the time I had. :) 

Here's my three layouts... 

 studio calico lunch tray mist | fiskars star punch | ms circle punch

 studio calico dewey mist | ms royal butterfly punch | ac .03 precision pen

studio calico cameo mist | jbs brown sugar ink | studio calico doily stamps | studio calico number border stamp | ms royal butterfly punch | ek success large circle border punch | ms circle punch | fiskars star punch | ac .03 precision pen
 
I used bits from Lawn Party & Field Guide for each of these. And, then miscellaneous things from my stash (inks, stamps, mists, and punches). 

If you'd like to see a master list of the challenges, click here

Thanks for looking! 

xoxo - Kasey

Thursday, January 26, 2012

berry sweet.

Hey y'all! One quick layout share today. I haven't blogged in a week and I wanted to get something up because I'm trying to keep up with my "blog more" goal! 
So, just a layout today! :) 

studio calico mr. huey custard | studio calico jetsetter stamp set | jbs fountain pen ink | 
jbs stick candy ink | american crafts .03 precision pen

This was a super simple layout, but I love all of the white space! Glad to have this memory with my cousins documented, too. 

That's all for today! Have a great night! 

xoxo - Kasey


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

currents {1/18}

time: 5:42 pm
location: the couch.
weather: cold, but not unbearably so.
eating: nothing, yet.
drinking: root beer.
loving: pastel colors.
wondering: how to keep up with everything.
noticing: the fact that it's beginning to stay lighter out longer.
accomplishing: keeping up with my "blog more" resolution.
thinking: about lots of things, but mostly that I can't wait until Friday!

Happy Wednesday! 

xoxo - Kasey

wordless wednesday {lunch}


Monday, January 16, 2012

'A' team. that's what we call 'em.

So, here's the deal. Our neighbor has been getting work done on his yard for the past, oh, six or so months. Yes, SIX months. And, the job he hired these guys for should've taken maybe a month. All they had to do was build a retaining wall for Pete's sake! Instead, they've done a whole yard overhaul and they are the slowest workers I've ever seen. In the beginning they'd stop by for two hours a day at most. And, majority of those two hours were spent pacing back and forth while talking on a cell phone. Recently, their arrival has dropped to about a half hour, if that, every day. And, over Christmas/New Year's they took a nice long month break. And, we honestly thought they had left for good. Then, miraculously, they reappeared one day last week. 
And, so, since this has been our form of entertainment for the past six months... I decided that it needed to be documented good and well on paper and in photos. 
I sneakily snapped a picture of them out of one of the upstairs windows so I could scrapbook it. 

And, here's that layout... 

jbs brown sugar ink | studio calico 'time flies' stamp set | fiskars star punch
 
I used the Studio Calico County Fair kit for the bulk of this. There are bits of other kits and my stash thrown in here an there, though. ;) 
 
And, I have another layout to share today, too. I made it so I could get some thoughts down on paper about my Grammie.
 
oa 'strawberry creme' mist | martha stewart 'royal butterfly' punch | ac .03 precision pen | jbs malted milk ink | studio calico mini bird stamp
 
I love the picture of her, especially because she is wearing a cardinal sweater. She loves the Cardinal bird! 

Thanks for looking! 

xoxo - Kasey

Sunday, January 15, 2012

share it sunday {1/15}

I've been tucked away in my scrap room this weekend. Considering it's a long weekend... I wanted to take the opportunity to crank out some layouts! Who knows how long it will be before I have this much time again. 
So, I have a layout to share today... how appropriate, it's also Sunday which means Share it Sunday time! :)
The layout... 

studio calico journaling stamp | jbs brown sugar ink | studio calico flower stamp | versamark ink | ac Zing! white | ac .03 precision pen

I used the Studio Calico County Fair kit for majority of this layout. There are a few bits of items from other kits, though. I used the studio calico 'flower' stamp because it reminded me of poinsettias and since the layout is Christmas-y... I thought it would be appropriate. :) 

Thanks for taking a look! 

xoxo -Kasey  

Thursday, January 12, 2012

puppy fix.

Thought I'd share some cute (alright, I'm biased. haha.) puppy pictures! All of these were taken using the Instagram app for my Ipod Touch. :) 

"Maybe if I look sweet she'll offer me a belly rub."

"I'm getting ready for a belly rub!"

"Please, will you rub my belly?"

"Why am I all alone up here?"
Goodness, I love that puppy so much! 

I hope you all are having a lovely night! 

xoxo - Kasey

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

peanut sniffer.

I made this layout to showcase a funny photo of my dog (a peanut treats lover), sniffing my dad's can of peanuts on Christmas morning. I have no idea why, but this pictures makes me laugh every time. It's just so her... she's in love with peanut butteriness! 

Here's my layout... 

studio calico white mr. huey | studio calico county fair kit | cutterbee scissors
 
As you can see from the product list, basically everything came from the Studio Calico County Fair kit. This was a fairly simple layout. I'm loving the "ribbon" trend that I've been noticing. It's so fun to play around with the different sizes. 
 
Thanks for looking! Have a wonderful Wednesday night! 
 
xoxo - Kasey  

Sunday, January 8, 2012

share it sunday {1/8}

First installment of Share it Sunday in 2012. Wooo! :) 

This is a layout I did back in December using Studio Calico's Brooklyn Flea kit. I already shared this in the gallery, so you may have seen it there. But, I'll share it here now, too! 

The pile of gifts was for a little girl, who I never met. I just hope that she had a lovely Christmas and that she was happy when she opened the gifts! 

This layout is really simple, definitely fits my style. I rarely do extremely intricate pages (unless I'm feeling crazy. ha!). But, I love it... Sure, it does have the traditional Christmas colors and all that. But, it tells a story that I want to remember. A story that makes me feel warm & fuzzy inside! 

mr. huey overdue | studio calico date stamp | printable
So, there you have it! Have a fabulous Sunday! 

xoxo - Kasey


Friday, January 6, 2012

2012 tag along book.

I've seen posts all over about Project Life. I think it's such a neat idea and while I wish I could join in... I just don't have the funds to support a project of that magnitude this year. So, I've decided to do what I like to call, a "Tag Along" book... my own little version of Project Life. The book I'm using this year is called the Custom Unfussy Stitched Journal from Handmade:Modern. I got it for Christmas and I think it's the perfect size and everything to do a 2012 documentation of our life! I may end up needing to buy a second book..., but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I can't tell you how excited I am to start this project! I think it's going to be a great little book to look back through in years to come! 

Here are a few peeks inside. I have yet to put anything in it, but I will posting updates every so often to show you my progress! 

*Everything in the following pictures was made by Elizabeth of Handmade:Modern. I did not make any of this. 

Adorable cover with my initial on it! :) Love the lace tie!

How great is that yellow stripe fabric? And, the cute elephant overlay!

Love that there's an envelope... will be great for storing!

Just had to include this... that HI is so fun!

This is actually vellum over a gray pattern... LOVE!

And, the fantastic binding!
I most definitely encourage you to stop by Handmade:Modern and pick one of these up for yourself! It's fabulous! And, thanks to Stephanie for sharing Handmade:Modern on her blog... I'm so glad she did because now I have this fabulous book! :D 

So, yep, that's my plan for keeping track of 2012! 

xoxo, y'all! - Kasey

Thursday, January 5, 2012

monday.

I whipped this page up really quick!
I just love how easily everything came together!
And, I love that it captures a picture that I love right now!

Here's the layout...


 studio calico mr. huey dewey | american crafts aqua Zing! | jbs spice tin ink | studio calico camera stamp | martha stewart border punch | martha stewart circle punch

Nearly everything came from Studio Calico's Brooklyn Flea & Metropolitan kits. And, some items from my stash.

I had a lot of fun with the layering on this one. I tend to struggle with that aspect of scrapbooking.
But, I stepped out of my little box and tried my hand at it!
Happy with the results!
 

Have a fabulous Thursday!

xoxo - Kasey

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

wordless wednesday {scrapbooks etc.}

[Breaking the "rules" a little bit here. But, I'm absolutely devouring this issue! LOVE all the ideas!]

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

new year's letter.

Davinie is hosting a neat challenge over at the Studio Calico blog. 
It's all about New Year's resolutions. 
You can read about it here

I decided to play along because I thought it would be neat to open it at the end of this year and see what was on my mind at this point. 
I decided to just put mine in an envelope and gussy it up a bit. 

jbs stick candy ink | ac .03 precision pen black | studio calico state fair alpha |
ek success swiss cheese border punch | martha stewart glue pen
I decided to give 'confetti' a try because it seems to be gaining popularity in the scrap world. 
Mine's not fabulous, but I like the end result! And, that swiss cheese border punch sure makes
punching 'confetti' a heck of a lot easier! 
 
Thanks for looking! 
xoxo - Kasey




Monday, January 2, 2012

2012 for us.

I saw this neat idea, by Ursula, for a layout. 
So, I decided to recreate it for my own family. I'm trying to get my family more involved in my projects this year! 

Here's my take on it... 

studio calico veneer stars | studio calico mr. huey pumpkin spice | studio calico yellow labels

I used the Studio Calico Brooklyn Flea kit. I rarely use patterned paper as a background, but I loved the small scale of the pattern on this one. And, I wasn't a huge fan of the reverse pattern. I decided to use it as the background. It also helped line everything up nice and straight since it was a grid! 

Thanks for looking! 

xoxo - Kasey


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Hello January, Hello New Year!


Another year gone. Where on earth does the time go? 
I still remember ringing in the New Year with family LAST year! 
Happy 2012, everyone! 

January, I welcome you with open arms. And, 2012, I do the same for you! 
I have big plans for this year. 
I have a substantially greater amount of travel planned for this year than any previous year.
I have more blogging planned for this year. That is my goal... more blogging! 
I have new projects planned and more documentation. 
I'm preparing myself for more capturing. 
I want to try new recipes and plan meals to save money. 
I want to enjoy my family and have fun on the vacations I take with them.
I want to be more motivated in general, for everything. 
But, most importantly... I want to invite my OLW into my life every day. I want to immerse myself in everything.

2012 is going to be an awesome year! I'm looking forward to all of the opportunities and adventures it will bring. 

Happy New Year, y'all! I hope it's a great one filled with happiness and healthiness for you and your families. 

xoxo - Kasey








december daily {days 22 - 31}

This is it! This is the wrap up of December Daily 2011! 
I'm so proud of myself (not to toot my own horn! ha!). I did not think I was going to stick with it. This is the first year that I plowed the whole way through. And, I know this will be a treasured album in our home! 
It feels so awesome to be finished! 
And, it also feels awesome to know that I can now move onto other projects and more documenting in 2012! 

Here's the remainder of my December Daily. You can see the preceding posts here, here, and here

My little puppy inside of her stocking! :)

Christmas cookie decorating & what I wore to Christmas Eve Mass.

Christmas morning & a gift that my brother was really excited about!

A favorite decoration of mine & my new journal.

Filling out 2012 calendars & dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise.

And, the back of my DD album... I thought it would be fun to have a 'play' on the ending!
I had an amazing time working on this project! My sewing machine got a major workout on this round! haha! 
I feel accomplished, but at the same time... ready to just move on to new projects!

So, that's it... that's the end of our December journey. Until next December...

xoxo -Kasey