CHA winter

Just got back from 2 days at CHA (Craft and Hobby Association Tradeshow) in LA where we released a ton of new products (lucky for me and my pregnant body, I didn't have to stay for the entire 4 days of the show). The new dies are great versatile basics you can use for all types of projects. And, we launched 2 paper lines with dies that coordinate - a new product category for us. I've got a few projects I've been creating with the new products that I'll post soon.

At the show, I spent most of my time demoing the L Letterpress and walking the tradeshow floor. It's always fun to talk about and introduce the product to new people.

party favor sneak peek

Elle and I have started making one of the party favors for her Valentine party....sequin heart hair clips for the girls. I came across this post at Grosgrain Fabulous and loved the idea.

things i love

Do you find yourself looking for blog posts when you google something you're interested in? I definitely do. I like seeing real people's thoughts and reviews on a product or idea. For some reason, they just seem more trustworthy.

Today I've been thinking about a particular cleaning product I love and use all the time.

Pledge Multi-Surface Spray

I use this on everything in every room of my house: granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, sinks, cabinets, mirrors, faucets, glass, furniture... Not only does it work really well, but I love that I just need one product to clean so many different things.

And while on the topic of cleaning...a quick tip for cleaning glass and mirrors I just tried and loved. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time getting the spray spots from hair products etc. completely cleaned off my mirrors. And our glass shower doors never seem to be completely spotless. I've tried a ton of different products trying to superclean the shower with only ok results...until I tried rubbing alcohol and a straight razor blade. The spots, soap scum, residue just scraped away...cleanest I've seen our shower in years. :)

these girls make me laugh

Eating lunch together.

Waiting for Dad to get home.

Liv and her accessories...when I left her on the couch upstairs she was fully dressed no accessories. Next thing I know she's coming downstairs to find me - no pants and princess crown. For Liv, she's not fully dressed until she has a necklace, hat, crown, glasses, bracelet...

valentine card links

For Elle's Valentine party, we're planning a valentine exchange. We haven't decided what valentines we're going to make yet, but here are two cute ideas...

Scratch and Win

Ah-choose You

Lifestyle Crafts - Love Release

Here is the latest die release from Lifestyle Crafts...everything you need for the perfect Valentine's Day! It's a great collection of all things hearts and love. Elle and I are planning a Valentine's Day party and using several of the dies for invitations, decor and party favors...I love that she loves to plan, throw parties and craft!

If you think die cuts and die-cutting machines are just for scrapbooking, thing again...my continuous push at Lifestyle Crafts is creating products that are great for all types of creative projects.

bijou market

Introducing RedRoko Kids debuting at the Bijou Market in Provo today and tomorrow!

Featuring our fun Play Crates in 5 different themes....

Mr. and Mrs.

Weatherman

Superhero

Baker

ABC Toss

- 26 bean bags with felt uppercase and lowercase letters

Come check us out and watch for RedRoko at the Beehive Bazaar December 2nd, 3rd and 4th!

halloween costumes

For this Halloween, we were on a trip to Tennessee and Kentucky to watch my sister Lauren play volleyball, and my brothers, Matt and Sam, play football. Elle and Liv dressed up as Auburn cheerleaders and my nephew Case was Aubbie the tiger - the Auburn mascot - complete with jersey signed by Cam Newton. Unfortunately, Liv fell asleep at the beginning of the match significantly reducing our photo opportunities of the three of them together. Why does it always seem that whenever you want photos - they just don't seem to cooperate. :)

Lucky for me, I went home to my parent's house in Washington a few weeks before the trip so my mom helped sew the costumes. I'm sure it would have taken me much longer if she hadn't stepped in. Go Auburn!

hmmm...i've seen this before.

Almost exactly 2 years ago, the exact same thing happened...I stopped posting on my blog. While work, kids, life, projects are all partly to blame, I really think it's due to...

...a baby. We're expecting baby no. 3 at the end of April.

It seems that the blue balloons and numbers subconsciously got featured more than pink -maybe a sign that a boy is on the way???

On a creative note...I love the parchment paper cupcake wrappers. I didn't have any on hand so I creased parchment paper around a glass and inserted it into a muffin tin. It worked great, and I love the result. Balloon numbers were made with adhesive vinyl and placed on the already blown up balloons. Cupcake picks are diecut numbers from cardstock with a strip of metal wire glued in between.

baby projects

I love these two tutorials. I don't think you can ever have enough diaper covers (thanks for the link Cissy!) and these tights seem like they'd actually last more than 1 wear.

encyclopedia of sewing and fabric crafts

Loving this book.

speaking of DIY popsicles...

Have you seen this - the Zoku Quick Pop Maker? It freezes popsicles in 10 minutes.

Definitely think it would be interesting to try. I love the patterns and designs you can create. I've been wondering what the next big food thing will be after cupcakes...maybe this summer it'll be "gourmet" popsicles?!?

freezer pop molds

I've been looking for a healthier alternative to Otter Pops and found these molds. I think they look perfect. Has anyone tried them???

I also think these ring pop molds are fun...maybe for a summer party!

iPad

This is what Adam gave me for my birthday. It came yesterday and I don't think it's been put down since...I'm even writing this post on it. Now to find a stylish case that doesn't cost a fortune....maybe I'll make one. I've seen some cool DIY cases for the iPhone I'm sure I could modify.

twine and tape

Check out my guest post on Sweet Symphanie where I talk about some of my favorite twine and tape finds.

liv's 1st birthday

Liv turned 1 the day I got back from New York so we stuck a candle in a frozen Otis Spunkmeyer cookie to celebrate. She loved it, but I still wanted to do a little more for her birthday celebration at Sunday dinner. I didn't have much time and was way too lazy to even go to the grocery store (thanks Rachel for supplying more eggs Sunday morning when I ran out!). There are definitely a lot of things I'd like to do better or try in the future. Fortunately, we always celebrate with a porcupine theme for 1st birthdays (it all started with my first birthday and my parents made a chocolate cake with a cupcake head and decorated it with 6-month-old candy corns).

CAKE and CUPCAKES: Chocolate with pink marshmallow frosting. Small individual porcupine cake for Liv; cupcakes for everyone else.

PARTY FAVORS: I had resigned myself to the reality that I just didn't have time or energy to do much for this party. But when I woke up Sunday morning, I once again couldn't stop myself and decided to try making some party favors. I had to come up with something that used supplies I already had at home so I thought of no-bake chocolate cookies turned into little porcupines. In theory, I think the idea could still work - my execution this time around not so much. Next time, I'll buy chocolate kisses to use as the head - chocolate chips were too small so I tried using melting chocolate wafers. I wrapped each chocolate porcupine in a clear bag and attached a die cut pink paper porcupine printed with birthday text.

APPAREL: Pink porcupine shirt for Liv.

THE PARTY: After dinner we sang to Liv. As you can see from the photos she wasn't so sure about the whole thing. Papa pulled her hand away from the cake after she tried to grab it which resulted in lots of tears (no nap that day didn't help either!). Elle stepped in to help blow out the candle and then Liv got to eat the cake all by herself.

We love you Liv. Happy 1st Birthday!

What the L is That?

(image from Envelopments blog)

I've been back from the Stationery Show in NYC for a little over a week and a half now. I think the show went really well, and the product and L brand got a lot of attention and support. There are so many fun products and ideas I want to share with you on the blog.

At the show we were lucky enough to be right across from Envelopments. Envelopments is a great company with fantastic products and even better people (both of my sisters used their products for their wedding invitations). Mark, one of the owners at Envelopments, has been a long time supporter of QuicKutz and the products we create. I've had several opportunities to meet with him and collaborate on new ideas and concepts. He wrote a really nice post about the letterpress on his blog. Check it out and visit their website to see their product line. You'll definitely want to incorporate their products into your next invitation, announcement or event!

busy...

I've been crazy busy getting ready for this. Lifestyle Crafts will be at booth #2558, and I'll be doing one of the show's Daily Demos on Sunday at 2:30. If you're going, be sure to come to the Daily Demo and stop by the booth. I think the National Stationery Show is one of the coolest tradeshows out there. Not only is it held in NYC each year (which I love any chance I get to go back and visit), but it is full of such fun, creative, inspiring products and people. Other than the fact that I've still got a lot to do before the show, I can't wait!