Digital Scrapbooking

So I've taken a few moments here and there the last two nights to do a little digital scrapbooking. And here's the result.




I did another one too, but I made it to submit to a magazine call, so I won't share that one. A fun mix up from the regular scrapbooking I do. And since I am quickly running out of supplies (since I don't get kits from Scraptivity every month anymore) so I needed to play with some "new" stuff. So I made some digi stuff instead. Some of these elements are my own and some are from free kits online.

I've been in a bit of a scrapbooking lull. Haven't been at it the same as I was in the past. Seems other crafts have crept their way into my time. And my lack of sleep due to Eli's lack of sleep lately has interfered in my creativity in the scrapping department. Between that and the no new stuff it's a lull. But I am okay with that. I know I will get back into it soon. It's just the ebb and flow of creativity. So I'll ride it and sew or create other things until I am itching to get back to the paper and glue. And perhaps I'll make a few digi pages in between!

Spiritual Sundays

One of my favorite Primary songs with such a good message we all should be thinking about!

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I often kneel to pray?
Would I listen to the Spirit's voice, and hasten to obey?
Would I count my many blessings? Would I praise Him gratefully
If I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I comfort those in need?
Would I try to show the Savior's love in every word and deed?
Would I give to those who hunger? Would I serve more willingly
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

FOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!

Yesterday's treat


Crystal asked if I had ever thought of opening a bakery.
Not really.

My Grandma Stasiuk (mom's mom) operated a bakery out of her home for years and did catering and weddings cakes and all kind of FOOD things for years and years and years. I am pretty sure she even would do about 5 dozen buns a week and a store would sell them (i'd be up for something like that... but how does one even START doing that?? who knows!)

My mom had a restaurant for a while and I used to help out after school which was fun but lots of work.

I have always wanted to try catering something, but there are so many other things that occupy my time. If I was going to be at a wedding I'd rather be taking pictures at it that cooking all the food. So it couldn't be a wedding. I have done a few church dinners in past wards, which I LOVED and would love to do more in the future :) And there is always Ukrainian Christmas. And that's why I like to invite people over to eat lots. I haven't done a homemade Chinese Food night in a while.... hmmm maybe soon.

Regan would like it if I got rid of a lot more of the baking I do I am sure (he says I am making him fat lately.... he's not fat at ALL). I think I'm more of a donate baking kind of girl. Which speaking of that, I volunteered to make donuts for the Scout fundraiser they are having in our ward. So I got up early two Saturdays back and made 5 dozen donuts and 3 dozen long johns (and I had made a wedding cake a few days before) and called to ask someone if they could put the whipped cream on the top of the long johns and she told me it was the WRONG SATURDAY. And I had a wedding to shoot that afternoon. All that on the wrong day. So silly. So I took all the donuts to the wedding and they served them at the reception. I am so silly. hahahahahaha :)

Sunshine Award

Well my new friend Kristin gave me an award, called the sunshine award :)
Kristin blogs at Pea Pod Creations, so go check out her cute blog!

(I can't get the cute little button thing to work here so just pretend it's here....)

The rules of this award are as follows:

Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
Pass the award to 12 bloggers.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Here are some of the blogs I love to look at or read that are not my family... (and really most of them are a big deal and I'm probably not going to comment and tell them cause they get like 1000+ hits a day.....)

Kristin at Pea Pod Creations, (yep I'm putting her on the list cause I love reading her blog :)

Gayle at Mom and Camera

Brooke at Brooke Snow

Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy

Cristy Cross at Cristy Cross

Rebekah at Rebekah Westover

Dana at Dana Made it

Kristi at Visible Voice

Susie at Susie Harris

Jill at Homemade by Jill

Laura at Just Laura

Jennifer at The Little Things

Elizabeth at Dear Lizzy

Little Gavin

One of the things I love about taking pictures is being able to do it for my family. (I hope that they like it and they don't feel like I am making them let me do it.) I love seeing my SIL's with their new little ones and seeing motherhood come to them, for the first time or for the second or third (or more).

This is little baby Gavin. First child born to Regan's littlest sister Brooke and her hubby Brett. I am so happy for them. Happy they have such an easy going baby. And happy that they now know about parental love.




And my favorite.....

(Brooke, here's a few to get started....I have lots more to edit but I've got some weddings to finish first!)

WINNERS!!!! and some other random things.... :)

Winner of the Camera Strap:
"The Lowry's"

Email me your address at steedr at gmail dot com pretty please and I'll get it off to you!
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I updated my 365 photo blog FINALLY. :) One of my favorites that I put up there....


heehee. Didn't that just make you smile??? :)

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Thought I'd give an update on my MSBH Challenge:

83. Cornmeal Drop Biscuits
84. Cream Cheese and Chive Biscuits
85. Brown Sugar Pound Cake
86. Oat and Dried Apricot Scones
87. Carmel Nut Bars
88. Palmiers
89. Old Fashioned Berry Layer Cake
90. Apple Spice Layer Cake
91. Caramelized Lady Apples
92. Creamy Goat Cheese Frosting
93. Blackberry Roulade
94. Mocha-Pistachio Wedding Cake (i made it chocolate instead of Mocha
95. Chocolate Buttercream
96. Chocolate Pastry Cream
97. Simple Syrup
98. Torta Della Nonna
99. Past Frolla
100. Pistachio Tartlets with Creme Frache and Berries
101. Pistachio Tart Dough
102. Potato and Onion Tartes Tatin
103. Sausage and Feta Hand pies
104. Easter Pie
105. Easter pie Dough
106. Sour Cherry Lattice Cobbler

(that means I'm over half done!! :) )
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AND i was thinking that I'd do a little Q&A so.... if you've got a question that you asked and I didn't answer it or one that's been burning in your mind, now's the time to ask it :)


hmmmmmmmm kind of a boring post eh? :)

Spiritual Sundays

Bedroom upDate (well partially)

Our red wall in our bedroom. Already this color when we moved in. It perfectly matched my bedspread :) And can you see the great painting the reflection of the mirror?? My MIL (Bea) gave it to me and my SIL's (Whitney) mom (Carol Robinson) painted it. (got that straight??) And the headboard my SIL Val gave to me. Looks like I am all about people giving me stuff hey??


I am painting the headboard. So that's gone.... still haven't made my bed though.... I actually painted the little bedside tables too. They used to be kids dressers but they are WAY to small to actually hold clothes. For a baby they are fine but Alden can fit like 2 pairs of pants in the drawer. So I repurposed them to be bedside tables. And did my favorite thing - painted them white :)


Then I added a whole bunch of white frames. And made my bed. Busy day. hahahahaha

I'm having troubles with my headboard. The paint was seeping thru so my white looked pink. SO I have to do a primer coat first. I think it will look great once I get the headboard up too. Then all I need is lamps the same color (and shades on both) :) and to print out some pictures for the frames.

What do ya think?
And HOPPY Easter! :)

In the last two weeks Eli has.....

* colored the carpet downstairs with a marker
* tried to eat Tylenol and a whole bottle of vitamins (instead of swallowing he licks them and then throws them onto the floor where they stick)
* dumped toothpaste and tooth brushes into the running washing machine
* tried to dump soapy water and a whole bottle of vanilla into the wedding cake batter I was making (it was like SERIOUSLY close!!)
* dumped cereal all over the living room carpet
* dug his hands into the flour container and smeared it all over the kitchen cabinets
* learned to open the front door leading him to walk outside (twice while I was using the bathroom)
* stood or sat on the computer keyboard multiple times
* thrown multiple items of food onto the floor from his high chair
* learned to push chairs up to the knives drawer and pull them all out
* picked multiple things out of the garbage and tried to eat or use them
* tried to stuff a plastic rod into the pilot light of the furnace
* either been up for 2-2/5 hours in the night OR been up at at least 630am
* drawn on his high chair, the table and the floor
* dumped goldfish on the floor and then stomped on them to make crumbs on purpose
* phoned people on my cell phone
* pulled out a LOT of wipes and "wiped" his nose or sucked the "juice" off them

Seriously people, CAN you SEE my gray hair yet???? Cause this child is giving them to me!!!! And we aren't even into the terrible twos yet? YIKES. WHAT a ball of TROUBLE he is!!!

In the Craft Room: a Fancy Camera Strap (aka Camera Dress) & one to Giveaway!

This is a SUPER easy craft! Seriously just straight sewing (or relatively close to straight!) :)

You need two strips of fabric long enough to cover your camera strap. Mine are 35" long and 6" wide.


Fold over both ends of each fabric twice and iron them flat.


Sew down the ends with two rows of stiching


Place good sides together


Sew down both sides, adding a zig zag to finish off the edges.


Turn it inside out


And voila :)


Slip it onto your camera and shoot away!!!


I have one looking for a loving home.
Anyone want it???

WINNERS!!!!

So well I was GOING to post on Friday but it was CRAZY. SO I didn't. Phew. Now that that's off my chest...

I did a draw on random.org for the apron and the winner is ...

#61 - which is SUZ!! Congrats!!!

Let me know your address and I'll drop it off for you!


I did a draw on random.org for the bloggy header and the winners are ...

#7 - Misty
and
#10 ScrapwordsMom
and
#19 Sandy
and
#21 Crystal
and
#22 Christal

:)
So email me at steedr at gmail dot com and tell me your blog name, the colors you hate (to avoid), if you want any pictures - email those too (small size at 72dpi) and if you know the size of your header (and my SIL's you could just email me all that too and I would OF COURSE do it for you! silly girls)

CONGRATS guys!! And thanks for playing along everyone!!!
Tomorrow - I have a new tutorial and a giveaway again (I was supposed to do it last week but I didn't get it done!)

Spiritual Sundays

"“And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

“The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” (D&C 122:7–8).

God has given us more than enough help to banish fear and give us courage, whatever we may face in life. As we reach out for His help, He can lift us toward that eternal life we seek." - President Henry B. Eyring First Counselor in the First Presidency

22 Things I've Learned as a Mother

Stacy Julian suggested making a list like this.
And since I've had a busy day and wasn't able to make my last giveaway item, I thought I'd play along.

1. You can make breakfast food for supper and it's okay.
2. Nothing combines pain, love and power more than the birth process.
3. Potty training is crappy
4. There aren't many things a good snuggle won't help
5. Sometimes crying IS the only thing you can do
6. It's easy to make new friends. Just go introduce yourself
7. Everybody feels better with a good nights sleep
8. Some times it just doesn't matter
9. The perfect ending to a day is a bath and a good book before bed
10. Trust those you love
11. The meal always tastes better when it's a picnic
12. Nature is amazing
13. Art is part of everyday life
14. Because I said so is NOT a satisfying answer
15. Blowing bubbles in your milk is fun
16. Having friends over makes the day better
17. It doesn't matter how good your voice is, just sing along
18. God loves us more than we realize
19. Boys think farts and poo are funny. No matter their age.
20. Never say your kids won't do this or that cause they probably will
21. Spanking doesn't make anyone feel good
22. Love never divides, it only multiples

Wanna play along??
AND welcome to all the new followers :) Lots of pressure now for good posts eh??? :)

Giveaway #2: A Bloggy Header!

So fun to see all the comments yesterday!! I'll be making the draw for all the giveaways I have planned on Friday.

Today I wanted to have a little giveaway of a blogger header.

Here are a few different ones I've made.





You can tell me what colors and and ideas you have and then I'll make a few for you to choose from! You could have a button of two if you'd like too! (Like my photo one on the side over there -------------------------------------------------------->

Same rules as yesterdays giveaway!
And if you haven't seen yesterdays giveaway, then scroll down! :)

In the Craft Room: The Ruffly Apron and a GIVEAWAY!

Since making the ruffly apron for Lucy's friend Amy's birthday,


I decided to make an adult version. And I am going to try and explain how to make it. And then I'm going to open it up as a giveaway. So if you aren't going to make one and you just want to skip to that, then scroll down :)

First you need two pieces of plain material for the back and the backing to the ruffles. I used plain muslin that I had around. I cut out two of these shapes.

(for a little girl one I made it 8" wide at the top with 20" wide at the bottom and 20" long.)

Then cut out seven 8" wide strips that are at least 6" longer than the width of the apron. This drawing should explain that more.

So the gray shows the strips and how their lengths that should overlap. You also need one piece to cover the top of the apron like the top gray square.


Then you are going to start sewing your ruffles. Finish the bottom edges by folding them over twice and sewing them.

I used the quick method of making a ruffle by turning up my tension and my stitch size and high as possible. It practically ruffles it for you. And i love it :)


Sew your top bodice piece on your backing fabrics first. Then start sewing your ruffles on from the bottom up. Layering them.

The bottom ruffle needs to hang OVER the bottom of the backing muslin. The top ruffle should leave a gap from the top bodice piece.


Put the good side of your extra muslin (that you first cut out) onto the good side of your ruffly apron. And sew down the sides and the top but NOT the bottom. Leave it completely open. You will be sewing down your ruffles, so make sure they are pinned in place!!

Then turn your apron top inside out. And carefully sew the bottom closed sewing ONLY the two pieces of muslin together and leaving your ruffle alone. It's a little awkward but I think you can figure it out ;)

Then using bias tape start at the bottom corner and sew the edges of the apron, sewing up and around to make a strap for the neck, making sure you start at the bottom edge of the bottom ruffle. You can make your own bias tape which is what I did (there are LOTS of tutorials online to show you how to do that) or just buy some that matches.


Last thing you need is a waist strap!! Cut another two 8" wide strap that will be long enough to go around you. Sew them together good sides together and turn them inside out. Sew them right on top of the apron.

And viola. You are done!!


Regan took these pictures last night. And well, they are blurry (he said his heart just wasn't into it :) ) but he did tell me I had to pose so you could see it in action. So this is me pretending to put something into the oven at 1030 at night. hahahahaha


I'm linking it up to a Soft Place to Land and Sew Cute Tuesday and Today's Creative Blog

So here is the deal.
One entry for a comment.
Another one for being a follower.
And another for blogging about the giveaway. Good luck!
I'll leave this giveaway until Friday!

500 Posts

Well it looks like this is my 500th post.
And for this week I've got some fun things planned.
Two giveaways.
I was going to have one done for tomorrow but Regan was finally home after being gone a bit and well it was good to just spend time with him and the kiddos.
SO
instead I was going to do a look back.
Are ya pumped?
hahahahaha

My very first post here was written on Tuesday, November 15, 2005. That's a long time ago eh???

I like blogging for a few reasons.
1. I like documenting what is happening in our lives. Like the funny things my kids say or do. (like this and this) or my photography (like my first wedding I did here)

2. I like the contact with other people. On those days when I haven't really talked to another adult (we've had a few the past two weeks) it's an outlet to PEOPLE. (hello out there!!! I'm waving, you just can't see it)

3. I like the contact with friends that I don't get to see but still miss (like the majority of my list down the side. And meeting new friends (like Kristin)

4. And I think it's fun to get some feedback on things. Like recipes or photos or whatever.

Some of my very favorite posts I've done. For different reasons:
Grief is like a Wave
Our Getting together
3X Photography

So tomorrow I'll be showing you a tutorial on something to make that I am giving away. Two hints about it.
1. It is blue and ruffly.
2. It's big enough to fit me.
To get a chance to win it you have to be a follower or blog about it or comment on tommorrow's post.

So tell me how long you've been reading my blog, if you don't mind, AND if you have a post (or type of post) that you really enjoy.

Happy 500!
And to end it off two of my favorite pictures from this wedding I just posted in my photo blog.

Spiritual Sundays

"The Gospel of Work is a very important teaching of the Church. If we learn to work early in life we will be better individuals, better members of families, better neighbors and better disciples of Jesus Christ, who Himself learned to work as a carpenter." - Neal A Maxwell.

Memories of Food

Is there a food that reminds you of someone? Or something? Or a time in your life?
Making bread reminds me of being a small girl. Of standing at the counter with my hands in the dough, my mom placing a bit of dough in front of me for just me to figure out how to form it.


Making donuts reminds me of being lined up in the kitchen with my siblings. Each one of us with a job. Someone to cover them in glaze, one to put them on the racks to dry.


Pie reminds me of my friend Dyane and my sister Kelly. One day Kelly was in visiting our house (which was common place) and I got a call asking me how to make pie. So I explained over the phone and told them the recipe. Then a short while later I went home to find Dyane and Kelly mixing the dough with a mixer. Now if you don't know anything about making pie that won't seem funny to you. But I almost peed my pants laughing. Seriously. They told me I didn't say HOW to combine the ingredients. Something I thought people just KNEW.

Chocolate chip cookies remind me of my grandma H. She was constantly cooking cookies that had tofu in them and trying to trick us into eating them. So I started never accepting cookies from her :) Tofu in cookies goes against all the things I love about cookies :) hahahahaha


I have lots of other memories tied to food.
It's one of the reasons I love food!
Do YOU have any?

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So I am coming up to my 500th post. And to commemorate that I'm going to have a giveaway. Of something I've made. Well I haven't actually made it yet, but I will this week. :) And I'd bet you'd like it. So keep your eyes peeled!

Schtufffffffff

I did some freezer paper stencils to make St. Patty's Day shirts for Lucy and Alden. I'll take a picture and show you tomorrow or maybe I'll just slide in a picture here some time today, we'll see. (of perhaps I'll skip both since I've been getting a bit of flack lately - not at home but from other sources. anywho we'll see!) On any note, Happy St. Patty's Day!! My kids made leprechaun traps all by themselves and Alden even asked for money to put in them. (He dug a "deep pit" and then rigged a box with a trap door over top. This kid is made to build things!)

And on another note...
I'm editing lots right now. And this is one of the images I knew when I was taking it that I'd be one of my favorites from the day. And it is.

In the Craft Room: Alden's Church Bag

Lots of you loved Lucy's church bag (as seen here). (Thanks!)

Well this guy has been bugging me for a few weeks for his own church bag.
(isn't he so handsome!)

So I came up with this! I've had it half started for like 2 weeks but I needed a fabric belt for the strap and I finally went to Thrift Village and got one!! I followed a tutorial on the great blog Create Studio called the Mr Postman Mail Bag and I just made some alterations.



I added pockets on the inside for the crayons.

Added a big A on the front. (that would have been a lot easier had I had wonder under.... but whatever it worked out!)

And instead of using the strips of fabric down the sides, I just cheated and used my belt the whole way down.

I actually made it a bit wider too since I know he will be filling it with papers for church since that's what it's for ;) One day I really should buy some thread that matches things too since I normally only have pink, white and black (and the white's almost gone!) and then you wouldn't seen my bad sewing so much. But oh well - it's HOMEMADE hahahahahaha :)

(thanks to Regan for the picture of the two of us!!)
Ah how I love him and I hope he loves his bag!!!

I Linked it up!


And at Amy Lou Who