All Things Silhouette conference

Mom and I went to the first All Things Silhouette conference in Peachtree City, Georgia recently. It was such a hit, they're already planning 2 more conferences next year! We bought our Cameos 3 years ago and have enjoyed using them so far... but were ready to take classes and expand our knowledge beyond paper. I'm ready to buy some vinyl now!!

I read about a scrapbook store called Impressive Ideas outside of Atlanta. We pulled up and walked in, only to find that their grand opening wasn't happening until Saturday. They were kind enough to let us shop anyway!! This store has a ton of stamps and mixed media. Fun place! Once we were done shopping, we headed to the hotel. This was a two night trip (not sure what all we brought! lol)

We registered and were given fun little canvas tote bags.

We attended classes on Saturday and Sunday. Our teachers included Melissa from Silhouette School, Lori Whitlock, Jeana Goodwin from Felicity Jane, and a former Silhouette America employee and scrapbooker named Cindy. We learned SO MANY tips and tricks. Our classes covered topics like designing in Silhouette Studio, what to do when your machine isn't cutting out your projects very well, adhesive vinyl 101, scrapbooking with your Silhouette, and tracing tips. There were also classes on glass etching, heat transfer vinyl, rhinestone application, planning parties, and making cards.

There was a vendor hall, a Silhouette America hospitality room (where we got to see the Curio and Mint machines in action), as well as meals and snacks throughout both days.

We made our own photo booth props for the photo booth contest (we didn't win, but still had fun). Mom thought of the Flinstones and I quickly traced some cartoon images of Wilma and Betty.

I cut them out of cardstock and we fastened them to skewers so we could hold the pieces up. 

Our photo booth entry:

Do you use your Silhouette for vinyl or paper? Most people at the conference seemed to use one kind or the other - not both!

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String Art

I've had string art on my To Do list ever since I saw it on Pinterest... but have never got around to it. I had grand plans of making a pattern on my Silhouette Cameo and then nailing the pattern onto a piece of wood but let's get real - that hasn't happened! (Although i do think Joe would do that for me). I saw a little kit at Joann's for 30% off and knew immediately that the kit was mine!

I didn't want to use the white thread that came with the kit, so I picked a pretty turquoise color of DMC floss. I love how it turned out!

Have you ever made string art?

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Journey

I picked up 2 new washi tapes at Hobby Lobby and was inspired to make this layout. I love how it turned out!! I finished my yoga teacher training in August. The journaling here is about our graduation ceremony and how much I love these people!

The new washi tapes are the feather one and the geometric one (bottom tape). Gold accents and my favorite color palette - they were made for me! The rest of the washi tapes were from my stash. I ended up reapplying the top 2 or 3 strips because they needed to go further across the page when I was making the layout.

I found just a few embellishments for this page.

The feathers are my favorite! Look at those gold flecks *swoon*.

This is part of a Dear Lizzy gold doily vellum sheet - one of my all time favorite papers!

Have you ever made a background using washi tape? I'd love to see it!

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26 Books - October

I read quite a bit in October. I love reading on my lunch break at work. It's a much better use of my time than wasting time on my phone and it actually gives me a sense of escaping for a few minutes.

1. A book you own but haven't read

2 - a book that was made into a movie

3 - a book you pick solely because of the cover

4 - a book your friend loves

5 - a book published this year

6 - a book by an author you've never read before

7 - a book by an author you love

8 - a book at the bottom of your "to be read" pile

9 - a book with a color in the title

10 - a book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit

11 - a book you started but never finished

12 - a book with a lion, a witch, or a wardrobe

13 - a book with a female heroine

14 - a book set in the summer

15 - a book of poems

16 - a book you learned about because of this challenge

17 - a book that will make you smarter

18 - a book with a blue cover

19 - a book you were supposed to read in school. But didn't.

20 - a book "Everyone" has read but you

21 - a book with a great first line

22 - a book with pictures

23 - a book from the library

24 - a book you loved... read it again!

25 - a book that is more than 10 years old

26 - a book based on a true story 

First, I read A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. I'm using it for #9, a book with a color in the title. The books kind of rambles quite a bit but I liked it. I'll be looking at other books by this author for sure.

Next up was The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. I'm using it for #11 because I started reading it  while on a trip last year but didn't get very far before I got sidetracked. I enjoyed another book by this author back in June. This story also shocked me at the end! 

The third book was The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler. I'm using it for #22 because there are a few drawings in the book (of tarot cards). It's sort of a mysterious book like The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It's about a family with roots in the circus industry. So good! I seem to be really into magic books this year!

When do you make time for reading?

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July Project Life

At long last, here are July's Project Life pages! Ya know that feeling when you just aren't in the mood to craft anything? But then once you start, so much comes out?! That's what's been happening at my house in the last week or two!

Full spread: I used a lot of the Plus One Project Life kit and a couple from High Five.

Left side: walking at Rooster Front Park, my nails, a rainbow at work, my new credenza in my craft room (seriously I should do a whole post on this credenza, I love it so much!), and I visited with a sick friend in the hospital.

Right side: Fun Fest, my first yoga class at a friend's house, new landscaping, and the world's largest pineapple display (random find at our local grocery store).

This third page page is on the left and the 12x12 of Joe is on the right in my album. This page is about a camping trip to Pigeon Forge, flowers, and how Joe writes notes to me on my coffee cups when we're traveling.

Have a great weekend!

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Share Handmade Kindness Challenge 1

Last week, I received a sweet note in the mail from a friend... Instead of sending her a message back on Facebook to thank her, I thought about sending a card instead. Then I read Jennifer McGuire's blog post about her November "Share Handmade Kindess" challenge and I knew I should make that card!

I got out my fall scrapbook supplies and saw this little owl on a piece of Bella Blvd paper from last year I immediately thought it would match Basic Grey's Persimmon collection (my favorite fall collection ever!). It did!

Have you considered joining the Share Handmade Kindness challenge? You can find out more information here. You can share your creations on social media using #sharehandmadekindness or link up week one here.

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