Rock Painting, Maggie's First Time on TV, & Painting Picnics in the Park

Painting rocks is a favorite springtime activity in our home. In years past, we’ve painted them to go in our flower bed. This year, we took things up a notch.

Instead of just painted a few rocks, we’ve painted a bucket full and counting. We’ve done this for three reasons…

1. It’s super fun!

This is a low maintenance craft. Especially if you use the Posca Paint Markers. You can simply sit down and dress up a rock in a matter of minutes. It’s a way to enjoy some creative time and have something lovely to show for it.

2. Studio 5

We were asked to share rock painting tips on one of our favorite shows, Studio 5.

As a first, I did the segment WITH Maggie, which was sweet enough. But she wasn’t my only guest. Brooke’s (the host’s) beautiful little girl joined us, as did a studio full of lovely moms and their very talented children.

I’ve been visiting Studio 5 for nearly nine years now, but this was a first. What a joy it was to share a hobby I enjoy not only with the viewers but with a live audience!

3. RAK Rocks
This hobby is a wonderful way to pay it forward with little Random Acts of Kindness (RAKS). Instead of filling our flower bed with rocks, we’ve hid them in spots around Utah.

You’ll find an assortment of fairy rocks placed throughout Gardner Village.

We’ve also left little notes of love for those visiting Primary Children’s Hospital today.

And we even put some indoors at Fashion Place Mall.

We’ll continue placing rocks as we make them. If you’re interested in following along with this fun hide-and-seek, I suggest you follow the FB group, 801 Rocks. Here, people leave news of their rock drops and also post when they’ve found hidden gems.

I Spy…

Speaking of finding rocks, if you happen to spot ours and feel like posting about it, we’re using the hashtag #MaggleRock. My clever husband came up with this one. I wanted something fun that captured our girls, Maggie and Lulu, as well as our rocks. #MaggleRock is perfect! Thanks, Cor!

You can simply post your pic of our rock on Insta or in the 801 Rocks FB page using the #MaggleRock tag so we can peek at who is giving our rocks new homes.

Tag, You’re It!

Of course, you don’t have to keep our rocks if you find them. You can also re hide them for someone else to find. It’s a fun way to keep the kindness in motion. Or you can paint your own!

Painting Rocks: The Supplies

You’ll need rocks, of course. I got mine at Home Depot. A neighbor child, upon learning this, said, “What, are you stupid?! You can find rocks for free everywhere!” True enough. LOL But I wanted rocks that were relatively smooth, and these river rocks were just the ticket. I simply had to rinse and dry them, and we were ready to, ahem, rock! ;)

Posca Markers are the bee’s knees. They’re quite opaque, which makes coloring and correcting mistakes a breeze.

Nail art tools make creating dots a lot of fun. You simply dip them in the paint and dot your rock.

Painting Rocks: A Picnic Event

Want in on this rockin' party? I'm hosting a rock painting picnic in the park. It’s a great way to enjoy a little creative outing while also meeting new friends. All ages are welcome. Every guest will paint two rocks—one to keep and one to hide in the park. Simply bring your sack lunch/dinner or snack, and I’ll provide the rest. You’ll find more info on this painting party here.

As Seen on TV

To see a bunch of rock stars in action, you can watch my today’s Studio 5 segment at 11:00 AM locally on channel 5. Otherwise, you can stream it live at 11 (Mountain Time) from the S5 website.

Rock on, my friends! <3

Shake Up Your Paper Crafting

Somebody pass the maracas. We're going to shake up our crafting. I had fun sharing shaker projects on my favorite TV show, Studio 5, this week, including projects I've done for Queen & Company and Jiliibean Soup.

Queen & Company

Queen & Company is the queen of the shaker. They release new kits every month that make shaking so fun.

This latest Candy Land kit is just one yummy example. With it, I made a Princess Poppy birthday card by turning the candy die cut element into a 6 crown. And, of course, using that cotton for some Troll hair.

You can see instructions for creating the rest of my Trolls trio on the Queen & Company blog.

Jillibean Soup

Jillibean Soup makes shaking SO easy. You simply fill a plastic container with any of their gorgeous bits (or your own bitty odds 'n' ends), peel back the sticker, and you have an interactive design to adore!

These projects come together so quickly, and even the kiddos can get in on the action. As clever Brooke, the host of Studio 5, mentions in my segment, this would be so much fun to do at a child's birthday party, setting up a shaker bar. I LOVE that idea and see some shaker action in my future. :)

Crop Because You Care

For the past few years, I've loved being a part of Crop Because You Care. This amazing charity is based right here in Utah and combines two fab things--helping and crafting! This Saturday, February 24, come out for a fun, full day of scrapbooking and games and prizes and classes. All money spent goes to an amazing cause. Learn more at cropbecauseyoucare.org.

Charity Raffle

If you're attending Crop Because You Care, make sure you bring a handmade thank-you card for the care givers at Primary Children's hospital. In exchange for your card (or cards, if you want to go to town), you will receive a raffle ticket and be entered to win an awesome prize I've put together, including some of the shaker items shown in my segment, a brand new Heidi Swapp planner, and many other crafting must-haves!

That's all for now. I hope you have fun shake, shake, shaking up your crafting, senoras and senors!

Cheers!

Hero Arts Blog Hop (And $50 Shopping Spree Giveaway!)

Hello, hoppers! Megan Hoeppner here. Fun fact: Hoeppner (pronounced Hep-ner) actually means “maker of hops.” Though, I doubt this means blog hops. Still, this maker is certainly happy to hop with you today in celebration of the 2018 Hero Arts catalog release. Let’s use new Hero Arts products to create a few spreads in a bullet/creative journal.

Spread 1: Home Goals

Each year, I like to make some sort of home spread in my bullet journal. It helps me track our projects and feel some sense of accomplishment at seeing what we've done. With a project as big as an entire house, it can sometimes feel like I'm standing still. :-/ I'm glad I have this page to see what work this is to do and also what work gets done.

I folded a page in my journal in half to create the pocket, and I used the new House Nesting Dies from Hero to dress the pocket up a bit. The bitty front door even opens. Isn't that cute!?

Hero Arts Supplies Used: Nesting House Infinity Dies; Crystal Clear Lacquer Pen; DIY Calendar Mini Kit

I will use the pocket to contain home-expense receipts and other related items. I hope this helps me stick to a budget. #goals

Spread #2: Wishes

I may be a grown woman, but I still pause to toss a coin in a water fountain from time to time. So I couldn't resist the new Wishing Well stamp set. I combined it with the awesome new Liquid Watercolor paint to create this wishing page--a space to capture my current hopes and dreams.

Shhhh... Since wishes aren't meant to be shared, I made this a flip-up page so I have a space undercover to jot my thoughts.

Spread #3: Reading List

I have so many books I want to read this year. Enough with my dang phone already. I want to take it back to good old paper pages and the comfort of a book. So you bet the new Bookcase stamp jumped right off the catalog page when I saw it.

Inspired by books, I created this page to flip open like a book and added some lined paper inside for me to track the books I'm reading.

Spread #4: Mood Tracker Mandala

I’ve been struggling with the winter blues lately. I can’t shake the funk and thought it might be wise to track my moods. Maybe I’ll even identify triggers that are making me sad. Even though I’m only on my first week of using a Mood Mandala, I’m already learning quite a bit about myself and what lifts me up, as well as what brings me down.

Make a Mood Mandala

I played with the new 6x6 Floral Mandala Background Cling Stamp and the yummy new Liquid Watercolor.

Bullet journal pages can be thin. For more structure, cut 4x8 panels from watercolor paper or cardstock and use them as your page base.

Stamp the background image on mixed media or watercolor paper.

Mark where you’re going to cut using a pen. This background pattern, while awesome, can be tricky to follow without markings of some sort.

With your lines marked, cut the stamped image out.

Repeat these steps until you have several stamped mandala pieces. Fold the mandalas in the center, stack the folded pieces, and stitch them together in the center. Now you can pack more than one mood tracker on a page, which is an awesome way to conserve space in your bullet journal!

For the background paper, think of the moods you’re likely to experience, and jot those down using the fab new Hero Arts Liquid Watercolor Paint.

Think long and hard about the moods you might want to include, going with the ones you experience the most on any given day. For example, I wish I had included “tired.” I know I'm feeling that one a lot.

If you aren't comfortable painting directly on your page, practice a bit first on scrap paper to get a feel for how the paint flows. (It flows beautifully, BTW!)

Once the two pages of your bullet journal spread are complete, stitch them to the journal pages and let the tracking begin!

Using a Mood Tracker

The idea is simple. Whether you use a petal of the mandala for each day or use an entire mandala per day, breaking the petals up into hours, you'll paint the space in the colors that reflect your moods throughout the time defined. I went with a petal per day. It's easy to see where things were going on and what was triggering my mood. Take a look at the center of my mandala. This is where my days start, and they're all blue. If you look at the background page, blue = sad. I know it's silly to start the day on a sad note, but I can't help it. It's when my sweetheart heads off to work, and I'm always bummed to see him go. :( I love this visual representation of how I'm feeling. I hope it will help me kick these darned winter blues and recognize my triggers. Perhaps I can think of a happy habit first thing in the AM that will counter the blue feeling of seeing Cory go.

Hop On & A Giveaway!

Time to move it, groove it. This Maker o' Hops sure appreciates your visit today. To celebrate the 2018 release, Hero Arts is giving away $50 shopping sprees to three lucky commenters. Winners will randomly be selected from the comments across all of the blogs in the hop, so make sure you leave a comment at each hop stop for the most chances to win!  Please leave your comments by 11:59PM PT on February 22, 2018! Have fun checking out the rest of the hopping Hero happiness!

Cheers!
Megan

HERO ARTS BLOG HOP
* Hero Arts Blog
* Jennifer McGuire Ink
* Kristina Werner
* Jessica Frost-Ballas
* Yana Smakula
* Cathy Zielske
* May Sukyong Park
* Nichol Spohr
* Michelle Short
* Wanda Guess
* Amy Tsuruta
* Lydia Fiedler
* Heather Ruwer
* Laurie Willison
* Clare Prezzia
* Iliana Myska
* Emily Midgett
* Janette Kausen
* Jenn Shurkus
* Sean Fetterman
* Simon Hurley
* Joan Bardee
* Megan Hoeppner (You are here!)
* Lisa Stein
* Ilina Crouse
* Amy Kolling
* Rubeena Lanigro
* Kelly Latevola
* LIbby Hickson
* Lucy Abrams

A Roundup of Free & Fab Calendar Downloads... You know, REALLY free ones!

There's nothing like seeing a pin on Pinterest, celebrating a gorgeous free download, only to follow the bread crumbs to a request for your email, or a requirement to download install software (always makes me nervous), or, worst of all, a dollar sign. I've followed many trails to find several fab pins that truly are free. I'm sharing the downloads and projects you can make with them on Studio 5 this morning at 11:00.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All calendars are intended for personal use only. I do not own the rights to these images. I am simply compiling a list of my favs. Enjoy!

FREEBIE #1: Striking Succulents by Wonder and Wildness

This one prints beautifully on regular printer paper. It's simple yet on trend and elegant, just right for adding some fresh green to these gray winter days.

FREEBIE #2: Natural Beauty by Hanna Nilsson Design

This is a two-for-one deal. You can choose from the feather or the lovely florals.

FREEBIE #3: Glamping Happiness by The Cottage Market

You know me and glampers--I can't get enough. This is a year at a glance, making it an ideal option to print and frame.

FREEBIE #4: Mermaid Magic by The Cottage Market

Confession: I grabbed this one with my five-year-old in mind, but it ended up being one of my favs. Think my daughter will notice if I snag it for my room? I had fun printing this one and stitching it to art paper, which I sprayed using Prima's awesome Color Bloom spray ink. I then used the beautiful new Make Waves mermaid line by Close to My Heart to dress the artwork up further. It didn't take long before I had a calendar that makes quite the splash!

FREEBIE #5: Classically Clean by Paper Trail Design

I love this one because it offers a blank slate. It's clean and graphic and works awesome as is or opens up a world of easy embellishing ideas.

FREEBIE #6: Planner/Calendar Inserts by Eliza Ellis

If you want to add calendar inserts to your day planner, this source is a wealth of awesome options. It includes download choices for various planner sizes, as well as different color choices.

Calendar Printing Pointers

1. Feel free to adjust the percentage at which it prints to customize the size to fit your needs. For example, for a full-size calendar, print at 100%. For a smaller desktop size, try resizing to 50-70%. Typically, you can adjust the percentage in the print preview screen before you hit print.

2. Give your home-printed calendar more oomph by printing on cardstock or simply adhering your printer paper version to cardstock using glue.

Thanks

A giant thanks to the talented folks who designed these pretty calendars and offered them up as TRUE freebies. No strings attached; just lovely artwork for us to enjoy. SO nice!

Happy 2018, friends!

Paper Crafting with Patches

"Sew it, stick it, do somethin' with it." That's the tagline on the packaging of one of the patches. Isn't it perfect?! There is so much you can do with these little textured treats. Whether you sew it on or use it as a sticker, you're sure enjoy working with this up and coming crafting trend. Think beyond clothing and backpacks to paper crafting. Patches are a quick and easy way to add texture without adding bulk. Use them on albums, scrapbook pages, cards, gift wrap, and home decor. 

About the Patch

Many are sticky-backed, some are iron-ons, and others are meant to be stitched on. 

Like the enamel pins, patches seem to be a throwback to the '80s. They're back in a big way! Of course, you can use them on your clothing. In fact, many clothes are currently designed with patch designs already in place, like this cute Cat & Jack pack that I picked up at Target (which Maggie promptly claimed as her own).

Where Are They?

Patches are available locally at stores such as Target, Michaels, and Hot Topic. You can also find them online. There are so many to choose from. You'll find something for everybody. Try searching "iron-on patches" or "embroidered patches." I have a Pinterest board with a few fun possibilities. Prepare to be '80s inspired! ;)

Paper Craft Using Patches

Pair patches with fabric bags to create fun gift wrap or even add them directly to the fabric liner of your planner. Both are fun iron-on options. The peel-and-stick variety stick very well, so proceed with caution but also know they'll stay put, even on textured surfaces like this awesome Jillibean Soup frame.

Of course, patches are a natural partner to pair with paper projects. They're flat, so they work well on scrapbook pages.

Maggie loved making a quick card and gift bag. You might say these are stickers with pizazz, making they quite kid friendly.

Some are small enough to make awesome planner extras. Taco Tuesday anyone?

As Seen On TV

I'll share even more ideas today at 11:00 AM on Studio 5 (Utah channel 5 if you're in the 'hood, otherwise, you can watch live streaming here).

Thanks to My Production Assistant

I have to give a special shoutout to my help. She made going to the show more fun (which I didn't know could be possible). Thanks, Mags!

Upcoming Classes

I'm so excited to have four local classes coming up. I'd love to see you at any or all of them. Space is extremely limited, but I'd be happy to give you dibs. To receive an e-mail when class sign-ups are posted, please email me at meghoeppner@gmail.com and I'll add you to my mailing list. I hope to see you there! :) The classes are:

1. Wreath Making

2. Creative Planning (November and December classes)

3. Creative Journaling Using a Bullet Journal

Cheers!

Class Kits for Sale (+free shipping and bonus "blind packs")

I had the TREMENDOUS pleasure of teaching at Designer Day for She Loves Color this past weekend. What a wonderful experience that was! Thanks to that entire team for all of their hard work and for including me. It was a game changer and one I will never forget. <3

LEFTOVER CLASS KITS FOR SALE

I wasn't sure how many class kits to prepare ahead of time, and I prepared a few too many. D'oh! If you're interested in purchasing any, they're $50 and I'm offering free shipping now through the end of October for US residents. If you're outside of the US, I'll cover up to $10 on your shipping to help with the damages. ;) Simply email me at meghoeppner@gmail.com and I'll get you hooked up. I'm afraid I only have limited quantities left at this point, but one is yours if you want it.

Free Bonus Goodies!

SURPRISE! I love those kids' blind packs. Do you know what I mean? The toys where you don't know what you get until you open them? I can't get enough of the stinkin' little things. What can I say, I'm sucked in by the mystery of it all. ;) So I thought it would be fun to include a blind pack of my own with each order. I'll toss in some fun extra surprise with each kit purchased. Purchase three kits, get three packs. SURPRISE!  

OPTION 1: PLANNER CLASS KIT

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Includes: Stampin' Up! planner kit, stickers from Heidi Swapp and Jillibean Soup, decorative clips from Freckled Fawn, journaling cards from Jillibean Soup, and a sweet felt bow by Bella Blvd.

OPTION 2: BULLET JOURNALING KIT

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Includes: Leather traveler's notebook and two inserts (bright white and grid), wood veneer doily, alpha stickers, foam word stickers, journaling cards, and emoji badges, all by Freckled Fawn; felt bow by Bella Blvd; and an awesome pen by Sakura of America.

OPTION 3: WATERCOLOR KIT

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Includes: Awesome watercolor tag booklet by Prima Marketing; waterbrush and stamp by Close to My Heart; heart transparency by Bella Blvd; die cut shapes by Illustrated Faith; acrylic "joy" word by Freckled Fawn; and watercolor paints, of course! ;)

SHE LOVES COLOR

If you have yet to attend this event, I highly encourage you to do so. It's a special, memorable experience that you'll be happy to have experienced. If you have any questions about it, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm more than happy to discuss my experience with you. XOXO

Cheers!

Craftin' with Candy (boxes, that is)

Take a minute and think “Halloween.” What are the first three things that come to mind? Odds are, candy is on that list. If not, it will be now. Here are several ways to craft with candy boxes that are sure to make your October even sweeter.

CANDY WREATH
I was delighted to share this one on BHG.com (Better Homes and Gardens). You can read the details here.

CHOCOLATE WREATH
Inspired by my big wreath, I wanted to make a bitty candy wreath. This time, the candy is still in place (the boxes on the big wreath are empty, I’m sorry to say). To begin, I tied ribbon around a flat chipboard(ish) wreath base.

I then used hot glue to add a base layer of candy.

When it comes to chocolate, I’m all for a second serving. Glue on bitty candy bars and peanut butter cups. This would be a fun treat to take to someone at work, school, church… anywhere, really. After all, who doesn’t love chocolate?

OUR PATCH KIDS ALBUM
Cover the S in Sour Patch Kids, and what do you have? Our Patch Kids! Seems the perfect foundation for a mini album about your pumpkin patch adventures.

To alter the box, I simply added some decorative tape and covered the S with a pumpkin pin and a wood veneer pumpkin, both from Target.

I created a page for each year of our pumpkin patch fun since having kids. This is a super simple way to document a theme. Plus, the sturdy candy box keeps the pages protected, just as an album would.

TIP: Opt for a box that contains wrapped candies. The Sour Patch Kids come bagged, so it’s a clean container for my album.

MORE ON STUDIO 5
To see more ways to craft with candy, check out my Studio 5 segment. I had a special helper today. Maggie tagged along to "the TV." It was fun having her there. :) 

You can catch my segment tomorrow (Sept. 26) at 11AM on channel 5 (if you live here in Utah). Otherwise, you can watch live streaming or view it on their site later. Thanks for your interest!

Here’s to a sweet fall, friends!

Cheers!

Lights, Camera, Action: A little fair flair!

Our state fair is a great state fair; it’s the greatest state fair in the state!…

Growing up, my mom would sing these lyrics every September. It’s a catchy little ditty. Funny thing is, I don’t even know what it’s from (a musical, I imagine), but these lyrics have stayed with me over the years. It must be because I LOVE me some State Fair. So when Stephanie, one of the rad producers at Studio 5, suggested I do a segment on the look of award ribbons, I was all for adding a little fair flair to my crafting.

The idea is simple, really. Just think of those beautiful prize ribbons you see pinned on gorgeous jars of jelly and plumped up piggies (well, maybe not ON piggies, but you get the gist). These pretty prizes have a round center, lots of layering, and some terrific tails. Have fun thinking of different ways to create such a combo. Here are a few possibilities to get you started:

DREAM BIG KIDS DECOR
Round Element: Embroidery hoop
Layered Bit: Fabric and stickers
Tail: Fabric strips, lace, felt (feather), yarn (handmade pom), and silk trim
Fair Flair: Make a unique 3D wall hanging to add to any gallery wall.

DONUT FEEL GOOD GIFT TAGS
Round Element: Paper-pieced donut (made from Queen & Co. paper)
Layered Bit: Two punched circles with a hole punched in the middle of them and a layer of dimensional glaze*
Tail: Layered paper, notched at the end—a great place to write your “To” and “From”
Fair Flair: Make gift giving more fun with a donut award. Have fun with the prize-ribbon concept and think outside of the… circle when coming up with motifs.

Dimensional glaze is a clear liquid that can be used as an adhesive or a top coat. It dries clear and glossy, making my paper look more like, well, a glazed donut! You can get such glaze here.

QUEEN PIN
Round Element: Doily
Layered Bit: Washi tape for the pleating, a punched-out paper circle, and a pretty chipboard 2 from Felicity Jane
Tail: Washi-covered cardstock
Fair Flair: Use this to award the birthday girl, add it to a scrapbook page, or simply send it to someone special to tell them they rock!

HAPPY DAY
Round Element: Cutout circle from cardstock (I traced a large jar lid)
Layered Bit: Pleated crepe paper, rolled paper strips, and adorable stickers
Tail: Crepe paper, lace trim, and accordion-folded paper strips
Fair Flair: I’m going to use this as a decor piece at my daughter’s birthday party and then hang it on the wall in her room. You can personalize the center of a such a piece in any way that’s relevant to your needs and surroundings. Put your address or “est. on” date in the center and add it to a gallery wall; write “happy birthday” and hang it on the birthday girl or boys bedroom door… Have fun. That’s the real prize, after all!

AWARD WINNING FOOD
Round Element: Punched paper sandwiched around a toothpick using strong adhesive to hold it all in place
Layered Bit: Pleated washi tape from Queen & Co., punched paper, and a sassy chipboard sticker from Crate Paper
Tail: Super simple: two slim strips of cardstock. TIP: Run the cardstock between your thumbnail and pointer finger to curl up the edges of the paper strips. (Think curling ribbon.)
Fair Flair: Bitty ribbons are the perfect finishing touch to any cupcake. This is an affordable way to up your party game using just paper scraps and minimal supplies you likely have on hand.

SHAKER RIBBON
Round Element: Isn’t round at all—it’s a heart! A heart shaker sticker from Jillibean Soup, to be exact.
Layered Bit: Fill the plastic heart cup with sequins and glitter and layer it over a chipboard heart sticker for a quick ribbon with some interactive action going on. The shaker cup is adhered to cardstock and then framed with pleated washi tape from My Mind’s Eye.
Tail: Two different paper strips—who says you have to be matchy-matchy?
Fair Flair: Shake things up and make this your awards season. Little paper crafts like this would brighten anyone’s day, whether you attach this to a card or simply send it as is. This would also make a happy scrapbook page accent.

BRING ON THE BANNER
Round Element: Cupcake liners that have been flattened and trimmed
Layered Bit: Two cupcake liners, topped with a darling photo.
Tail: Various trims, ribbon, and paper
Fair Flair: There’s nothing like a good banner to make decor delightful. My baby girl just turned two, so I filled this one with pics of her throughout her two years. I adore the personalized touch this adds to our home in celebration of her! Do this with pics of your entire family this fall and a fresh way to count those blessings and focus on what truly matters!

TIP: Use strong adhesive (cupcake liners are meant to be no-stick, after all) and adhere your liners to a punched cardstock circle for added structure. Before adhering, add a string between the liner and the paper to turn the accent into a banner element.

Boom! There you have it. State Fair-inspired flair and a regular crafting affair. (Sorry. I can’t help myself.) I hope at least one of these ideas is a prized one that will make your upcoming projects blue-ribbon (or pink!) good!

AS SEEN ON TV: Upcoming Crafting Classes in Lehi, UT!
I briefly mentioned in today’s Studio 5 TV segment that I have an upcoming class in Lehi. We took a break for the summer but are back at it now. My first Planner Play Workshop of the new season is on Sept. 22. at Paper Crush. The class kit rocks, and this three-hour crafting session with the kit is just $50!!! Everyone leaves with door prizes, decorative pages in their day planners, and happier having just had a good time with friends. I sure hope you’ll join us for the play. You’ll find more info here.

Cheers!

Upcoming Planner Class

I'm so excited to introduce my next planner course. It's Friday, Sept. 22 at 6:30 at Paper Crush--the cutest little shop in Lehi, Utah! I sure hope to see you there. Here's where you sign up.

Also, in honor of some awesome new goodies coming out this fall and the segment I did on Studio 5 today, I have a giveaway happening over on my Instagram account. Woot! You can win delights from American Crafts, Simple Stories/Carpe Diem, Fancy Pants Designs, Freckled Fawn, and Jillibean Soup.

Cheers!

A 'Mingo Mixer and a Scrapbook Page Documenting Our Flamingo Fun!

A 'mingo what now? I type that and autocorrect swaps it to "mango." SO annoying but also understandable in this case. What the heck is a "'mingo" anyway? It's my cute Maggie's way of saying "flamingo." One rarely able to resist a good alliteration, you know I had to go with Maggie's 'Mingo Mixer for her 5th birthday bash. 

Okay. Confession. I actually bought my 'mingo mixer makings a year ago, thinking it would be the makings of Lulu's pretty pink 1st birthday. Instead, she got... bupkis! :((( That's right, she was without a first birthday party beyond the one we held at home. But that's okay, the pink purchases were not a total loss. I had a 'Mingo Mixer to plan!

This is where I insert a HUGE thanks to my talented, patient, caring, selfless parents. They made the mixer possible. Pop, with his extreme makeover help in my backyard...

And Schmom, with her loving care of my babies for days on end so I could work. They're saints, I tell ya! 

The Mixer was a huge hit. We had cute kiddos here, splish splashing around, and Maggie had a ball! 

WAIT! WHAT?!

To be honest, I can't believe i just wrote that last "paragraph." You see, following the party, I was super blue instead of tickled pink. This is hard to describe, but I'm told I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I don't think this is said as a compliment. I sure don't see it that way. I see the downsides of such a mental state. For one, I can't shake the "should be" picture in my head of the way anything I'm planning or working on should look like. For another, I spend waaaayyyy too long planning and concepting. My events and projects die in details that nobody knows about or cares about, quite frankly. So when I spend days and days and days planning, only to then run out of production time and get to execute on about 1/4 of what I planned for (admittedly over planned for) while also running my SWEET helpers ragged, I feel CRUSHED. I feel like I've failed. Please tell me I'm not alone in this mental disorder of mine. Sometimes it sure feels like I am. At least in my intimate surroundings. I drive my loved ones crazy. Often. :( 

At any rate, my heart hurt following Maggie's party. I went on and on to poor Cor about where I failed and what my shortcomings were. ISN'T THAT STUPID?!? It's okay; you can say it is. I agree. But it's the honest truth. I was deflated and sad. I later threw myself a private pity party as I cried in the bathroom. 

Sooooo... the fact that I now sit down to recall these events from a week ago by saying it was a "huge hit" is, in fact, HUGE! I'm so glad time has healed all self-inflicted wounds. Thank you, Father T, for sending your sunshine. 

Okay, bring this derailed train back on the track. I was merely going to blog about the shindig and the scrapbook page that followed, not have a tell-all on my e-leather couch. Sorry about that!

So, pretending all is as it should be, let's awkwardly transition to scrapbooking. Here's a page I made using the Pretty Presents Kit from Queen & Co. As a new design team member there, I was asked to make a layout for June. Party pics to the rescue! (I wish I were that on top of my memory keeping by nature!)

To see all of my step-out shots and how-tos for this page, I invite you to check out the Queen & Co. blog. Here, I'll leave you with a few of those close-ups.

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2+4='mingo! Draw a 2 for the head and a 4 for the legs. Make the fluffy body by punching (or cutting) three ovals from patterned paper and securing them in the center. Flock yeah! 

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The "leftover" that remain following a die cutting session can be put to use in other fun ways. These circles from the presents I cut made quick and cute balloons on the page. I outlined them with pen and added some detail to complete the look. Including those dang cute Queen & Co. bows! 

Thanks for taking a pink peek. You bet your bottom dollar I'm glad you followed the flock to this here post. ;)

Cheers!