{ my secret heart }

2013: something good

I was never more ready to close the book on 2012. Here's to something good in 2013:  new beginnings, renewed creativy, more blogging + much more.

 

Confessions

Yes, I occassionally become obsessed with reality television. My interest, however, is short lived and when I'm done with a show, I'm done.

My current obsession: The Voice. It seems better than ever this season and who doesn't love a little Adam Levine twice a week? Although I wonder what was going on with his hair during the battle rounds.

While the contestants I like don't ever seem to win these shows, I'm still pulling for "indie sensation" (said in my best Carson Daly voice) Melanie Martinez this season. 

If you want an entertaining recap of what has happened on The Voice to date, check out this blog on The Huffington Post (don't deny it, you read the Huffington Post too).

M

Dusting off the blog

This is me, clearing off the dust bunnies. Obviously I have not blogged in quite some time. There's really no valid excuse other than I just wasn't feeling it.

But, something I have done (like everyone else) is become slightly obsessed with Pinterest. Do you ever notice which of your pins get repinned? I find it fascinating to say the least, so I thought I'd share a couple of my most random pins that frequently get repinned.

Champagne Jell-O Shots:  Apparently everyone loves a party and the grown-up, slightly classier version of this college favorite. I haven't made these, but am very tempted.

Anthropolgie dress:  I pinned this about a year ago and it may have even been the first thing I pinned. It was sold out when I pinned it, but that apparently hasn't stopped anyone else from obsessing over this dress either. *Sigh*

If you want to get inside my head and analyze my personal choices, you can check out my Pinterest boards here.

I think I'll leave my adventures in cooking with Pinteresting recipes for another day of blogging. In the near future, I may even blog about something crafty.

Have a great weekend,

M

On repeat

I can't stop listening to this song.

What do you have on repeat right now?

Enjoy your weekend!

Mindy

May Studio AE from Technique Tuesday Blog Hop

Welcome to the May Studio AE from Technique Tuesday blog hop! It's a wonderful day to do some hopping!

I'm having a great time creating with the Simply Joy stamp set and again, am so honored to the the guest designer this month. To show the versatility of these great stamps, I've created a holiday layout inspired by the design of Pinterest (because all of the Christmas cookies and treats were from recipes found via Pinterest).

SUPPLIES:  Cardstock: Bazzill, American Crafts; Patterned paper: October Afternoon, Cosmo Cricket; Tags: Elle's Studio; Ink: StazOn; Alpha stickers: Sassafras; Punch: Marvel, Martha Stewart; Tape: 7Gypsies; Jewel: Bo Bunny; Button: American Crafts; Twine: TheTwinery; Other: vintage typewriter, Silhouette

I primarily use stamps as embellishments and this set is no different. I've taken sentiments from the set and added them to tags and tape on this layout to create a few special touches.

To see more creative ideas for using the May Studio AE stamp set, hop on over and visit these great ladies:

Daniela

Nichol

Sharyn

Tanis

Teri

Laura

Ali

Plus, there's a prize! Technique Tuesday is giving away one random prize – a $20 gift certificate to TechniqueTuesday.com– to someone who comments during the hop. The winner will be announced on the TT blog May 13.

And, don't forget...it's a good time to join Studio AE. That's because TT just reduced the shipping and handling for Studio AE membership by 45% to 60%. You can find out the details about the shipping and handling rate reduction for Studio AE members here.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Mindy

Guesting for Technique Tuesday

Hello! I'm very excited to be Technique Tuesday's guest designer during the month of May. I have been a long time fan of TT stamps and am so honored to have this opportunity.

The May Studio AE stamp set prompted me to think about scrapping the everyday. The set contains a variety of sentiments that are the perfect compliment to journaling or a title.

I put the stamps to work on this layout which features a snapshot of my iPhone and the craziness of my life.

SUPPLIES:  May Technique Tuesday Studio AE stamps; Ink: StazOn; Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: October Afternoon, Cosmo Cricket; Alpha stickers: Jillibean; Tape: Sweet Bella; Brad: American Crafts; Circle punches: Fiskars, Martha Stewart; Tools: Silhouette, vintage typewriter; Other: AE Everyday Life Prompts digital file

I cut the title for this page with the Silhouette by tracing an Ali Edwards digital image. I love how it looks with the Studio AE stamp as a embellished subtitle.

I'll be back with more TT projects throughout the month. In the meantime, I hope you check out the new Studio AE set! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Mindy

Back to blogging

Hello? Is anyone out there? No, this isn't an April Fool's joke...I am actually blogging again.

First up, check out the new Aprill kits from Jenni Bowlin Mercantile. To say that they are fantastic is an understatement. They are full of Crate Paper's Storyteller line plus fabulous products from American Crafts, Pink Paislee and so much more. 

This layout combines the main and artisan kits and pulls together the bright colors from the kits. I'm always a fan of mixing alphas, but the aqua AC Thickers from the main kit and the smaller navy Jillibean alpha from the artisan kit are an instant favorite.

And how about the exclusive stamp in the main kit! Chevron pattern -- need I say more? I used it to create the patterned paper behind the yellow AC frame below.

If you have time today, check out the design team gallery and see how everyone has put these kits to work.

Mindy

Ah, March...

Thank goodness March is finally here. March makes me happy. 

Basketball. St. Patrick's Day. Shamrock Shakes. And new kits from Jenni Bowlin Mercantile. 

What's not to like about this month?

This new layout uses the March main and antiquarian kits from Jenni Bowlin Mercantile. The main kit is filled with new JBS and Dear Lizzy Neopolitan. And the antiquarian kit is one of my favorites ever. Fabric yo-yos, the delicious blue ledger paper I used on this layout, and so much more goodness. 

I haven't quite decided where to add the journaling on this layout yet, but it is going to tell the crazy story of how I almost missed out on Shamrock Shakes last year. Gasp! I know...what a tragedy that would have been.

I am continually shocked to find out how many people do not know the goodenss of a Shamrock Shake. Seriously, get yourself down to McDonald's before they run out. I waited until St. Patrick's Day last year to get one and had to call all the stores in town until I found one that still had some left. Then I drove like a crazy person to get it and they were all gone. But, alas, I found the illusive Shamrock Shake at the one McDonald's that hadn't answered their phone. That is what you call commitment. :) 

OK, enough about my case of crazy. Come chat with us at JBS tonight. 

We would love for you to come chat with our special guest, Karen Grunberg, and the JBS team. And while you're there, don't forget to check out the updated JBS DT gallery and March kits.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mindy

Let the good times roll!

Happy Fat Tuesday! Want to bring Mardi Gras home this year? Check out my festive cupcake topper tutorial at Fiskars.

Have a great day!

Mindy

Happy weekend!

It is a bright sunshine-y day here and I am reminded that spring is just around the corner. Thank goodness! It has been an incredibly mild Kansas winter this year and I'm not complaining, but I am tired of grey days.

So, how about a card for a spring occassion?

I was bound and determined to use this circle frame stamp. The stamp is from a Studio Calico kit and, while I loved it from day one, it had never been used. 

So, my idea was to stamp the frames on kraft cardstock, cut out the center and fill them with patterned paper designs. I used Basic Grey, Crate Paper and a bit of new paper from October Afternoon's 9 to 5 line to fill the frames.

In fact, I didn't set out to create a Mother's Day card. Bella Boulevard, however, was kind enough to recently share some of their colorful and fresh products with the Fiskars DT and the Mother's Day sentiment sticker was the perfect addition to my card.

I felt like my frames were a little empty, so I embellished a bit more with a Technique Tuesday stamp, a resin flower from Pebbles, and an adorable hot pink button from a Crate Paper set.

And, of course, I added a couple of butterflies punched from kraft paper with the Fiskars/Jenni Bowlin punch. Butterflies are a trend that never seem to get old.

I hope you have a crafty weekend!

Mindy