Get it. 20% off at Two Peas in a Bucket.

This weekend only, Two Peas in a Bucket has a 20% off store wide sale. I'm so excited.

I haven't purchased any new scrappy products in a long while, but I did see some really cute stuff that wouldn't mind finding a home in my scrap space. *wink, wink - Mr. Watson!

Products that I want are:
#Summer 12x12 paper pad - American Crafts

Cloud 9 wood veneers - Chic Tags

Cloud 9 flair buttons - Chic Tags
Wanderlust 12x12 paper pad - Studio Calico
Blue & Aqua 4x6 alphas - Studio Calico
Not to mention this
Autumn Crisp 12x12 paper pad - American Crafts
Autumn Crisp bits - American Crafts


and this

Shamrock Thickers - American Crafts
Close Knit 6x6 paper pad - Crate Paper
I also have a discounted shipping code that I don't mind sharing if you would like it. Feel free to send me a little message: tinyscrapper at yahoo dot com.

I love 6x6 pads because they are just perfect for little projects like my Mother's Day album, cards and project life. Also, I'm seriously a 12x12 paper addict, and well you can never have enough in my opinion. That #summer line from American Crafts, is so stinking cute! I can't wait to get my hands on it and get to scrapping this summer's adventures.

Have a wonderful weekend, and take advantage of this sale while you can. They are few and far between.  The Watson family and I will be spending time in our yard, spending time with friends and family, and hopefully setting up a new (to us) swing set in the backyard for the kids.

Feeling so blessed.








**This post contains affiliate links. I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking one of my links.

A fun Mother's Day weekend.

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the women of the world who are moms, grandmothers, caretakers, and others that fill in for mom now and again. 

My Mother's day weekend was quite wonderful!

Friday, my husband and kids took me shopping and out to eat. I picked up a fabulous new bag for VERY cheap. It is so classic, chic, and ME. It goes with everything. If you're looking for a bag like mine, see below for links to similar bags at Amazon and ModCloth. I've been searching for such a bag: one that can hold everything and still be trendy with long straps and a groovy nautical stripe for a while now.
Mother's Day gifts (Tommy Hilfiger $30 @ Ross)
 Saturday, we spent time outside repainting the frame of our storm door as well as digging up the old, dying hedges that didn't make it through our SEVERAL major freezes last year. We have big plans to spruce up the yard and really create some curb appeal. Saturday night, I stayed up late scrapbooking. Although I didn't start my stash bust challenge, I did use papers and products from my stash to create mini-albums for  the mother's in my life. I really love giving  meaningful gifts; a mini-album makes such a wonderful way to share pictures with the grandparents and other families in your life.
Top - Done for the weekend Bottom L-R - Storm door taped off, Dead Asian Jasmine is now an eagle's nest, Gavin working hard on those ugly old shrubs
Mother's Day gift album - Papers from Studio Calico and American Crafts @Twopeasinabucket.com

Sunday evening, we joined my family for dinner a local restaurant then went swimming. It was the first swim of the season. By the time we got to the pool the sun was setting, and there was a cool breeze. The water was frigid. My poor little guy was shivering during his swim. When he got out of the water, he was still cold, so we bundled him up like a bake potato, minus the foil.
A Sawyer potato - 5/11/14
These are the similar bags that I found on Amazon and ModCloth. Love these stores, and I buy from them often, especially when I find a great deal!


Vonfon Striped Bag, Blue  - $22 @ Amazon

Navy Retro Stripe Motorcycle Bag  - $25 @ Amazon



Tommy Hilfiger  Tommy Club Shopper - $89 @ Amazon
 
Tommy Hilfiger TH Signature Print - $72 @ Amazon

Test Prep Satchel from ModCloth  
Test Prep Satchel - $65 @ ModCloth


This week we have so much going on. I got a steal on some mini-blinds from my local Walmart this weekend. They were on sale for only $10 each. That's right, super cheap for my HUGE windows. I bought them all. Seriously. Now my husband and I have an indoor project for rainy, chilly days like the last couple have been.

Our shutters should arrive soon from Home Depot. We purchased them online while they were on sale. I think I paid $38/pair; I bought three pairs. Yeah, that's right. When I said we were working on our curb appeal, I meant it. We are going all out. New shutters, new flora, our newly painted GREEN front door. It's the bomb, really. AND hopefully some porch rockers in black. I would REALLY love that, but that's getting too expensive for me. We are also going to hang all the new blinds, can't wait and get brand new insulation all by the end of May. We're crazy; we know, but we have to get these projects done before the fall semester starts.
Brown front door no more @ Chateau Watson

Happy Hump Day folks, and enjoy the rest of your week. I'll be blogging later about the scrapbook grand dragon. I haven't forgotten about that and hopefully get started on my stash bust challenge, can't wait!!



 









**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Scrapbooking: a seasonally lost and forgotten tradition.

As you know I am an avid scrapbooker, but each semester my creativity dwindles as does the time I can devote to my favorite hobby (or craft, as in magic spells and all that, just kidding). I'm also really money conscious, so I don't allow myself to buy paper, tools, ribbons, ink, cardstock, cut files...anything, except for a couple of times per year, and I have a very strict budget (that I mostly stick too).

For Great American Scrapbook Convention, I bring $60 cash, and I dare myself to use it all up. I only attend one day (Saturday), and I usually volunteer to help teachers with their classes. Last year I got to help Donna Downey, yes of Donna Downey Studios.  Squee, I know; it was awesomesauce! I love meeting scrapbook celebrities. AND, I usually bring about $25-40 cash when I attend scrapbook retreats 1-2 times per year. My favorite place to stay is Memory Lane Inn at Tyler or McKinney, TX.

Gone are the days when I splurged on $40 of scrapbook goodies each month.  I stopped buying when I realized that I wasn't creating.  I didn't feel a surge of creativity or zest for it, and I felt guilty for not getting Sawyer's baby book done like I did for his big sister, Harper. I blame graduate school, seasonal depression (that is, the season of school), lack of creative motivation, exhaustion, and not enough hours in the day.

Now that it's finally humid season (and school is out), I am ready to be creative.  To get my juices flowing, while cutting the clutter, I am going to participate in a swell Use It or Lose It Paper Stash Challenge; it's a crazy, cute idea from my blog friend Monica. Monica is wonderful; I've know her since the days of Scrap Freak (an online scrapbook shop and community). A  Texas native, now living in Colorado, she has a delightful blog and sells very cool candles and housewares. Check out her Etsy: Once Upon a Hive.

Now I've done stash buster challenges before, as well as given away stuff in big boxes, sold some at garage sales, and I've even sold some online; now that my stash is paired down, I would like to get to scrapping. Join me in this challenge if I can. I'm going to reorganize all my papers by manufacturer, take pictures, then draw a name to work with, and take more pictures, then scrapbook.

What a stinking, awesome idea, right?! See below for pictures of Monica's first paper stash challenge:
Monica : Once Upon a Hive
Monica : Once Upon a Hive
Monica : Once Upon a Hive
Monica : Once Upon a Hive
Monica : Once Upon a Hive

Wonderful, just wonderful, and I am REALLY looking forward to it. Next week, I have plans to tell you about the Scrapbook Grand Dragon (as Gavin) refers to it. It should be an interesting tale and a small bit of gossip, as well as show you pictures of my first stash bust. Oh, I simply cannot wait!

Hugs!

Welcome to the new me.

Now that this semester is finally over, I can spend a little more time being creative! I am so, so looking forward to spending time blogging (at least on a weekly basis, pretty sure I can keep that much up), scrapbooking, playing with the kids, reading for pleasure, cooking and eating, and well taking some pictures and finishing up some edits.

This semester was a busy one. I'll go into more details later, but for now, just enjoy the BRAND, SPANKING new blog design from Minty Fox Designs. She has such a simple, colorful style, and well, I love it. I especially love that I have 'pages' now, like for my Smug Mug photo gallery, and I have social media icons! I feel so cool now, yippee.

 BIG thanks to Chrissy!

As always...

With Love,
Gabi