Pumpkins!

All excited and ready to carve the pumpkins.

 Zack did a pretty good job cleaning out his pumpkins.

Levi's a pro at this!

 Jake is old enough to do his pumpkins all by himself:

 Zack with his "Z" pumpkin and Mickey Mouse pumpkin, both made by Michael.

 Levi with his "L" pumpkin and bat pumpkin. (With a little help from Mom)

 Jake and his spider pumpkin and jack o lantern pumpkin, made all by himself.

All those cute pumpkins!

My Little Artists

These are the cards that the boys made this year for a school fundraiser. They colored and painted them on a large sheet of paper and then the cards were printed by a professional company. The quality is like any hallmark card.

I think they both turned out so great! I'm so proud of our little artists!

All my family and friends out there, if you would like to purchase a package of cards to support the boys' school please email me (anbollman@hotmail.com) and I will put in the order for you. Thanks!

8 cards - $16.00

12 - $24.00

24 - $42.00

36 - $60.00

Zack's Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Zack's 3rd birthday this past Sunday. He requested a giraffe themed party this year. I tried my best to decorate with as much giraffe stuff as I could and 

Zack loved it!

Our big boy!

Happy Birthday!!

 Zack was the most excited about the giraffe pinata. He couldn't wait to get the candy out of it. His face is priceless on this picture:

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for October - Part 3

Today's project is this little treat bag I made for my brother for his birthday. I used a Gusseted Cellophane bag filled with one of his favorite candies.

Using the Friendship Preserves stamp set I added a "Happy Birthday" to the top where the "Homemade" was. Then cut out several sizes of cardstock with the Big Shot and the Window Frames Collection Framelits and just like that I had a cute little treat to go along with his birthday card!

Stamps: Friendship Preserves, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Gumball Green, Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Gumball Green, Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler & Whisper White cardstock
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Window Frames Collection Framelits, Paper Piercing Tool, Festive Paper Piercing pack, Gumball Green Satin Stitched Ribbon, Gusseted Cellophane bag

Thanks again and don't forget to join us next Friday when we do the Artisan Design Team Facebook blog hop!

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for October - Part 2

The first project I'm sharing with you today is a My Digital Studio scrapbook page. The Wonderfall Digital kit has so many cute papers and I wanted to use them all! 

This page was super easy to do and it only took me about 15 minutes once I had the layout figured out. 

MDS Digital Downloads:
Background:
     Designer Series Paper -Wonderfall - 4
Embellishments:
    Baker's Twine - Early Espresso
    Buttons Pack In Color - Lucky Limeade - button 2 (re-colored to Pumpkin Pie)
    Chocolate Chip Button Latte - button2
    Baker's Twine - Early Espresso knot
Stamps:
    Ink Splatter 3
    Ink Splatter 4Punches:
Tools:
1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper - Wonderfall 1, Wonderfall 8, 
Wonderfall 2, Wonderfall 6, Wonderfall 7, Wonderfall 12, Wonderfall 5
Wonderfall - Leaf 2, Leaf 1, Maple Leaf

My second project today is a birthday card. I have a lot of boys/men in my life, so I thought leaves would be perfect for a masculine card! 

I started with Basic Grey cardstock (its my favorite neutral), added another layer of Basic Grey that was embossed with the Woodgrain folder. I ran the ink pad across it to make the texture stand out a bit. The leaves were cut out with the Autumn Accents die and then sponged with bleach to give them a natural look. I then added a Brushed Bronze Button and some Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding. It's hard to tell, but the leaves are also spritzed with the Silver Foil Smooch Spritz.

Stamps: Made for You

Ink: Basic Grey

Paper: Basic Grey, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White Cardstock

Tools & Accessories: Brushed Bronze Designer Buttons, Woodgrain Textured Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler 1/2 Seam Binding Ribbon, Ticket Duo Builder Punch, 2 1/2 Circle Punch, Big Shot, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, Stamping Sponge

Other: Bleach

Thanks again for checking out my projects for October! Be sure to stop by tomorrow for one last project.

 

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for October - Part 1

This months Artisan Design Team box had all sorts of fall goodies inside. I love the new Bigz Die "Autumn Accents" and the "Woodgrain" embossing folder! 

This project was inspired by an old wood barn. I cut 2 inch by 6 inch strips of the Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock and embossed them with the Wood grain textured embossing folder. I then sanded the top until the lighter color came through and sponged the edges with Early Espresso to give it more depth. Each piece was "nailed" down with 2 metallic brads on each end. 

The leaves are all cut out with the Bigz die Autumn Accents. Each leaf has a different texture or stamp added to it. I finished off the page with a few Brushed Bronze designer buttons, linen thread and Champagne Glass Glitter. This page was quite a bit of work :) but I really love the finished look!

Stamps: Wonderfall, Fabulous Phrases, Distressed Dots, Timber 

Ink: More Mustard, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze & Garden Green

Paper: Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock, Very Vanilla, Garden Green, More Mustard & Cajun Craze card stock, First Edition Specialty Designer Series paper

Tools & Accessories: Linen Thread, 3/16 Metallic Brads, Vintage Trinkets, Brushed Bronze Designer Buttons, Champagne Glass Glitter, Sponge Dauber, Sanding Block, Big Shot, Bigz die Typeset Alphabet, Bigz die Autumn Accents, Wood grain textured embossing folder, Bitty Banners Framelits

My next project is a little pumpkin that I used as part of my fall decor this year. It was so easy to make! I spread the Multipurpose glue all over a little plastic pumpkin and then sprinkled the Champagne Glass Glitter on to it. Once it was dry I added the leaves, linen thread and "fall" tag.

 I love mixing rustic and something with a bit of bling!

Stamps: Wonderfall, Notable Alphabet
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke, More Mustard
Paper: Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke & More Mustard Card stock
Tools & Accessories: Linen Thread, Big Shot, Bigz die Autumn Accents, Sponge Dauber, Decorative Label Punch, 1/16 Circle Punch, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Champagne Glass Glitter

Thanks so much for stopping by. I'll have more for you tomorrow, so be sure to check back!

Happy 3rd Birthday Zack!!

Snow!

It snowed a bit here yesterday and the boys thought it was the greatest thing. It's supposed to be nice this weekend and following week, so its not going to last. 

Zack could not wait to get outside and play!

When Jake & Levi got home from school, the 3 boys went out to play. There was barely any snow to play with, but they managed to have a snowball fight!

Zack collected himself a bucket of snow and the other 2 made snowballs from the snow on the deck. 

Below, Levi is aiming to throw a snowball at me.

Picking Apples

Zack helping my grandparents pick apples and trim the apple trees.

Watching the neighbours get a new driveway. Lots of concrete trucks and tools to see.

Picking the last of the apples:

2012 Artisan Facebook Friday

Welcome to the Artisan Design Team's Blog Hop for the September Facebook projects!

You should have just arrived from Wendy's blog. If not, make sure you go back and check out her adorable project. I can not wait to recreate it and make a little counting book for my youngest!

For this months Facebook project I created a family picture scrapbook page. In our box of goodies this month we received all kinds of fun paper, embellishments and stamps. My favorite was the Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series paper. I love the orange chevron and the grey polka dot. Pairing it with Pool Party and Lucky Limeade gave me the colors I wanted to make this page with a summertime twist.

The pennant banner was made using the Petite Pennants punch builder and I layered the papers together to create a cute bunting. I stitched them together using Bakers Twine.

My Digital Studio again created my title! (I love MDS!)

 I added the Glimmer brads to various areas to add some round elements to an otherwise very straight design.

Thanks again for stopping by! 

Next on the blog hop is Cindy, she created the cutest apple themed project. Go check it out!!

Stamps: 

128927 (wood-mount) or 128930 (clear-mount): Border Banter Stamp Set
Ink: 
126982: Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

Paper: 

121044: Basic Gray Cardstock
119708: Subtles Collection Cardstock
101650: Very Vanilla Cardstock
122384: 2011-2013 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack
126906: Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper
126895: Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper
Accessories & Tools:
126879: Basic Gray 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
125572: Lucky Limeade Baker’s Twine
122975: Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon
121003: Basic Glimmer Brads
121006: Brights Glimmer Brads
119877: 1-3/8" Square Punch
126189: Paper-Piercing Tool
122361: Petite Pennants Builder Punch
113439: Big Shot
127003: Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies
129267: Bitty Banners Framelits Dies
125598: Labels Collection Framelits Dies

Corn Maze

We really enjoyed going to the corn maze as a family this past Saturday. 

Us five, my parents, Jordan, Kristy & Alex all had a great time winding and figuring our way through the maze.

This was our first time ever going to it and we will definitely be going again!

A few pictures of the boys after:

Once we were done at the corn maze, we went back to my parents place for a hot dog & marshmallow roast. We all had a fantastic day together as a family!!

Firetruck

Zack and I went to the grocery store the other day and there was a fire truck in the parking lot. Zack was very excited and wanted to take a picture with the fire truck. The fireman came out of the truck and talked to Zack and gave him a coloring book. Ever since then Zack has been very excited every time we see or hear a fire truck!!

 

Golf in the River Valley

Last week Michael and I went to a beautiful golf course in the River Valley with our good friends Josh & Amanda. 

The weather was amazing, the company was fantastic, we had a great day!!!

Amanda & I golfed 9 holes and then went home to make dinner for the 4 of us. The boys stayed and played 18 holes and then met us back at the house for a Mexican dinner! Amanda & I had so much fun together!