Amber Packer

2nd Birthday Blog Hop

Welcome to the 2nd Year Blog Birthday My Mind’s Eye blog hop! My name is Amber Packer and this is your FIRST "hop"!

As I am sitting her typing, the boys are asleep, my husband is with the youth in our Stake (church) on a Pioneer Trek and I hear something wonderful… silence!  I haven’t heard that (silence) for a while.  It feels good.  I am extremely blessed and have been busy with CHA and other MME projects, baseball, swimming lessons, house showings, other obligations and even a short family vacation.

Through it all has been the question of the house situation.  We have pulled out of the house we were going to get in Daybreak and thought we were going to pull our home off the market, but before we could pull if off the market, we had two more showings and they have certainly picked up.

So, our home is still for sale, but I’m so confused.  We DO feel that we need to live close to our parents so that when the time comes that they need it (in the far distant future), we are available to assist them.  That’s why we pulled out of the Daybreak house.  My DREAM is that we will be live in the right home for our family.  The home that will provide the best experiences and friends for our boys.  Whether that is our current home or another home near by, I’m not sure.  What I do know is that we are happy here, that WE make the house our home and we will be happy wherever we are. 

I guess I’m just starting to get impatient with not knowing.  I need to hold on to the dream a little longer and trust that what is in store is exactly what we need. 

That being said, I’d like to share a layout I created for the My Mind’s Eye catalog encouraging Neal to DREAM big…

Featured Collection: Lost & Found 2 – Breeze; Photo Credit: Haylee Bean Photography

Don’t’ forget my secret word: Dream

 

Your next "hop" will be to the fabulous

Anam Stubbington’s blog.

I hope you will take the time to comment on each blog you visit on your way through the blog hop.  Remember to leave a comment on the My Mind’s Eye blog and email all the secret words to amber@mymindseye.com (that’s me) to be eligible for the biggest prize of the entire year from My Mind’s Eye!

If you came to visit me (thank you!) and haven’t been participating in the hop... take a minute and hop over to the My Mind’s Eye blog so you can play with us!

I hope you enjoyed your stop here.  Look around.  I hope you'll find value in what I have written.

p.s. Tell anyone you know who is looking for a cute, affordable house in a great part of Sandy!

Also, I have not heard from the winners of the Creative Spaces giveaway.  Please email me if you are the winner.

Landmark Birthday Gift–GTU–MME

One of the best parts of being the Design Team Lead at My Mind’s Eye is giving our designers their CHA assignments.  Seriously!  Which amazing new collection do you get to design with?  It’s like I’m Santa Claus.

My cute nephew has a landmark birthday coming up and I was asked to create an album for him celebrating how much he has grown and changed in the past 8 years.  The new Six by Six collection with all 12 different color and design schemes makes creating an album SO easy.  So, I  assigned myself to change to play with it.

Since this is for a special occasion, I wanted the album to be a little more formal with soft colors that highlight the pictures.  I chose to use the Paris & Co. pad mixed with Lost & Found 2 – Breeze embellishments.  By keeping the design fairly simple and using TWO Paris & Co. pads, this album came together in an afternoon – a record for me!

I’ve included instructions to make it easy to recreate this album for your loved one.  No matter what special birthday is coming up for your loved one, this idea is for you!

Download 2011_07_20_MME_Album

I hope you enjoy today’s segment.  The album was made more entertaining by the revelation of my sons about who causes every fight in our home (Please don’t watch if you thought there was no fighting in our home.  I don’t want to ruin the illusion).

Happy 4th of July!

I wanted to hop on here quickly to tell you some fun news and wish you all a very HAPPY 4th of July (and a belated Canada Day for my friends up north!) when to my surprise I realized exactly how long it has been since I posted.  AND… I never announced the winner of the Creative Spaces bookazine.  Ugh!  I am so sorry!

So… here is some good news.  Since I am a space cadet and have neglected my blog, we (CK) is allowing me to give away TWO copies of Creative Spaces.  That’s right – TWO!!! 

Drum roll, please…. the two winners are:

Bhavana Patel!

Wow, fantastic room, would love to have one!!! Very hard to get Creating Keepsakes here in the UK, so would love to win one!! Thanks!!

Posted by: Bhavana Patel | May 10, 2011 at 01:09 AM

AND

Melinda Wilson

Woohoo! Congrats on your space being featured in the "I REALLY WANT THIS" Issue!

Posted by: Melinda Wilson | May 14, 2011 at 11:42 AM

Ladies, please email me at bloominmemories@yahoo.com with your mailing address and CK will get your prize on the way to you!

 

Want to hear my FUN news?  I was invited to be the Creating Keepsakes guest blogger for today!  I created a layout using My Mind’s Eye American Made and Lush 1 & 2.  MME is giving away a collection to CK blog readers.  Check it out!

I hope you have a wonderful and safe day and night filled with family and friends!

Silhouette Art–GTU–MME

While window shopping trying to come up with a project for today’s Good Things Utah segment, I came across this amazing frame at Downeast Home in Sandy (I picked up another, similar frame, too – oh, the possibilities) and figured I’d better snag it up.  Having already picked up a little something for the segment, I had intended to save it for later. 

However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized the chippy frame would look amazing with the clean, bright colors of Lime Twist – Fly a Kite.

With the traditional silhouette making a comeback, I thought using Lime Twist – Fly a Kite would be the perfect way to add a modern, colorful twist on an old classic!

As usual, I have included instructions.  Click here to download: Download 2011_05_10_MME_Silhouette Art

I will add the video here when it is available.

I am loving the versatility of our Lime Twist collection – too much fun!

Are you trying to find a chippy white frame?  Check thrift stores, dollar stores, with relatives and your favorite craft store (preferably one that carries MME – wink).  Notice that gold showing through my frame?  All you have to do is paint white over a gold frame and you sand slightly.

 

P.S. Ready to WIN!?  Read and comment on the post below to be entered to win the new Creative Spaces 2011 bookazine (my room is featured in it).

P.P.S Want another chance to win?  Visit the My Mind’s Eye blog to enter the International Scrapbook Day giveaway.  Leave a comment on all seven blog posts last weekend by midnight, Thursday, May 12, 2011 and you’ll be entered to WIN!

Creating Keepsakes Creative Spaces 2011

Listen.. Do you want to know a secret?

I can FINALLY tell!  My scrapbook room has been featured in Creating Keepsakes Creative Spaces 2011!!!  It’s a special publication bookazine FULL of beautiful, creative spaces (and mine is one of them – I know, pinch me!)

I love my space – it’s my own personal Oasis and I feel peace when I walk in the door. There is so much history (furniture and doors from loved ones) and love (aka time and service) that has gone into my room.  It is a reflection of who I am and what is important to me. 

What a thrill to welcome Creating Keepsakes (and YOU) into my room!

It’s been so hard not to share the good news with you – especially as I put all the finishing touches on it.  With every shopping trip and fabulous find and late night organizing to my husband finding the perfect fabric to recover my bench, I had to remind myself that it wasn’t my secret to share… it was the fabulous Megan Hoeppner’s and it wasn’t fair to spoil it.

Well, guess what!?  The issue is shipping TOMORROW (May 10, 2011). 

Creative Spaces with Megan Hoeppner

Based on the popular Creating Keepsakes column of the same name, this new special issue showcases beautiful and practical scrap and craft spaces alike to inspire you.  But that's not all. We'll also show you how to get these inspiring looks with easy and inexpensive do-it-yourself approaches. Whether you have a little space or a lot, this special issue will help you make the most of your space in order to get the most from your scrapbooking.

Check out a sneak peek of the issue:

(do you recognize the room in the sneak peek?)

Megan and Creating Keepsakes have given me the opportunity to share all the creative spaces with one of my blog readers!  **International readers are eligible**

So, while you are here, take a chance to look around.  Leave a comment on any blog post between now and midnight, May 17, 2011.  I’ll randomly draw the winner on Wednesday, May 18, 2011.

Ready to order NOW!?  Use this coupon code: SPACESBB It’s good for free shipping in the US, expires 5/27/11.

Thank you for including my room in with this group of amazing scrapbookers and rooms!

FOR SALE!

I thought I would be more scared, but now that it is official, all I feel is peace.

11 1/2 years ago we bought our first home.  It was a real fixer-upper and we were ready for the challenge.  With the help of family and friends (parents especially) we spent 4 months remodeling our home before we moved in.

This is me sitting on top of the dumpster we filled on “demolition day”.  The dumpster is full of doors, moldings, carpet, carpet pad, toilet, tub, walls, tile, windows, floors and the kitchen sink!  We took it all out and started over.

Since we are project people, there is always something going on.  The faux tin tile backsplash Thanksgiving weekend, New custom moldings around the kitchen island the week after Christmas, replacing door knobs from brass to oil-rubbed bronze.  There is always something for us to do and if there isn’t we make it up

In mid-March we stumbled across a home.  I’ve seen cute houses before and never felt the need to move.  This house, this time, this neighborhood was different, we felt compelled to be there.  We have prayed and fasted and feel it is time.  There have been too many “coincidences” to have it really be coincidental.  There has been intervention to get us to this point.

Our home went on the market late this afternoon.  We’ll have a sign in our yard tomorrow and we have 2-3 weeks to sell it or we have to walk away from the other home and stay happy here.  It seems like a monumental task, but we know that if it is supposed to work out, it will.

We are praying that what is best for our family will work out whether here or there.  It will be exciting to see what happens in the next few weeks.

If you know anyone looking for a good home, for a good price in Sandy, send them my way.  We welcome buyers with or without an agent (we can sell for less without a buying agent).

MLS listing: http://www.utahrealestate.com/1027377

This is a long post already, but I thought you might like to see some before and after pictures.

House front:     Before         and          Now

 

Kitchen/family room: Before      and       Now

   

main bath:    Before    and     Now

 

 

Master bedroom:     Before   and   Now

 

Half bath:     Before   and   Now

 

Second bedroom:    Before   and   Now

  

Third bedroom:   Before   and   Now

 

Living Room:    Before   and   Now

 

at Christmas:  

 

Hall:    Before   and   Now

 

Backyard:    Before   and    Now

 

Rooms we built in the basement: Bedroom 4 and Scrapbook Room/bedroom 5

 

Now you can see why it’s going to be hard to leave all this work behind.  This house literally has our blood, sweat and tears in the walls (and our family members, right Matt?). 

I know the best thing for our family will happen!

2nd MME Spring Blog Hop

Welcome to the second annual My Mind’s Eye spring blog hop! My name is Amber Packer and this is your next to last "hop"!  I am sure you have enjoyed the fabulous creations the other designers have shared with you.

I just LOVE spring. I love watching earth slowly wake up.  When I first knew that we were doing a blog hop I thought I would choose an “Easter”y word.  As this month has progressed, it became clear that my word had to be life-changing.

Our beautiful, comfortable house is going on the market today.  I will add another post about this decision today (click here to read).  It’s amazing how life-changing decisions can be so smooth, so natural, so clear.  Like the decision has been made for you and it was just waiting for you to figure it out.  The next house has been on the market for 2 1/2 years waiting for us.

I found this quote to use on my layout:

“..the rule seems to be that the bigger and more

life-changing the decision,

the less it will seem like a decision at all.”

Hugh Mackay

We are content to stay and content to move, but feel guided to the new house and next adventure for our family.  We are grateful that we have each other and our faith to see us through whatever is to come.

Because our brick has a little orange in it, I chose to use Stella & Rose – Mabel for my layout.  The papers feel comfortable, classic, nostalgic – just like my home.  My favorite thing in the entire collection is the crochet trim – YUMMY!!!

I hope you’ve had a great time visiting a few of my talented friend’s blogs.  Your last "hop" will be back to the

My Mind’s Eye blog. 

I hope you took the time to comment on each blog you visited on your way here.  Remember to leave a comment on the My Mind’s Eye blog and email each designer’s words to amber@mymindseye.com (that’s me).

If you just happened to hop in here from somewhere else ... take a minute and hop over to the My Mind’s Eye blog so you can play with us!

I hope you enjoyed your stop here.  Look around.  I hope you'll find value in what I have designed and written.

 

p.s. check back later to read (and see) more about my house (click here).

Wishing I had blogged more…

Last week I had a feeling that I needed to save all the photos we have on our external hard drive to our new, bigger internal hard drive and didn’t do it. 

On Friday, I couldn’t access the external hard drive.  I didn’t panic, it’s happened before because of a bad cord.  So, I bought a new cord and it didn’t help.  I did some deep breathing and tried not to panic.

On Monday, my dad took it to his computer guy and he said the hard drive is dead.  Our best case scenario is that we can get the info from it.  Great –that’s all I need!

On Tuesday, he couldn’t access the info and sent it to another guy who has had some luck getting information from hard drives.  I would give up many things for my pictures.  I am praying and hoping that a miracle will happen.

I have through 2008 backed up on discs, but got distracted and didn’t finish.

I have been thinking of my blog (and Facebook) and how many pictures are on here or, luckily, in my scrapbooks so that I can recover them in the event I have to.  I wish there were more.  I always talk about being more personal, but I am going to do it.  This is a journal, a back up for me and I hope you enjoy it.

Praying for my hard drive!

Hoppy Easter Yard Stake - GTU - MME

FINALLY!!! It seems like I have been waiting so long to create an Easter home décor project on Good Things Utah.   With Easter coming at the end of April, March was too early to start.  What a delightful day we had around here yesterday, it was warm and the sun was bright for most of the day.  It was a great way to come out of a week of snow storms.  (Alta Ski Resort had 43” of new snow just over the weekend!)

So, the promise of renewal that spring and Easter offer is that much more appreciated by me today.

I had seen some cute yard stakes in one of my favorite home décor magazines (Pottery Barn Kids) and thought were cute but, they needed to be “Amber-ized”.

With some scraps of wood I had in my basement (if you don’t have any, they are inexpensive at a lumber yard or home store), mod podge, My Mind’s Eye Stella & Rose – Gertie paper, ribbon, rhinestones, buttons and brads… this is what I came up with:

(p.s. that’s a Peep head!  I haven’t even eaten one Peep this Easter season – you’ll be so proud of me!)

You will be amazed at how simple this project really is!  I’ve even included instructions so it’s even easier!  It’s also easily adapted for any occasion.

Download 2011_04_12_Hoppy Easter Yard Stake (includes bunny pattern and bonus project)

I will add the video from the segment when it is available this afternoon.  There will also be pictures from a “bonus” Lime Twist project.

Bonus project:

Happy spring (or fall ~ depending upon which season it is where you are!)

Canvas Flower Bouquet–GTU–MME

It’s amazing what you can create when you take fabulous paper, like our Stella and Rose collection, five 6x9 canvases and creativity!

I LOVE the photo collages you see everywhere these days (ahhhh… Pottery Barn).

And photos printed on canvas are to die for!

I got to thinking that there had to be a creative way to use scrapbook paper to create a dimensional masterpiece using a collage format and canvases.

I am so very pleased with the way this turned out.  I just need to find the perfect place for it (my bedroom or the office – tough choice).

It’s super easy to create, I used different flower techniques for added texture and variety.  I have included a pattern for the “rose” flower along with instructions for the crochet and rolled flowers in this free instruction pdf: Download 2011_03_15_Canvas Flower Bouquet_Amber Packer

I hope you will create a flower bouquet for yourself to add some color to your life!  When you are done, be sure to show off your project by uploading your photo to the My Mind’s Eye Facebook page.

Have a happy Tuesday!

p.s. Have you signed up for my Expo class?  I would love to see you there!

Blue and Gold Banquet

What a fun idea my Son’s Den Leader had when we were coming up with a theme for the Blue and Gold banquet!

PIRATES!  Almost every boy loves pirates, right!?

And, you can walk the plank and go on a treasure hunt for games.  Well, this is what the crew came up with:

My friend made this amazing cupcake treasure map:

 

The Wolf Den created all the center pieces and eye patches:

 

The Bear Den designed a treasure map and invitations:

(Check out the Cricut Life’s A Party Cartridge for easy invitations)

I was in charge of the table and one day got the hair-brained idea that we could actually make a pirate ship about of an 8’ folding table.  And, guess what!?  We did!  Thanks to a father (and mother) of one of the boys who created the mast and sail.

 

  

These little pirates were such great helpers (we were there 2 hours early setting up) that we didn’t even make them walk the plank:

 

And, of course there were awards!  Our Committee Chair always had fun ways for the boys to receive their awards.

Riley and his friend received a candy bar for always helping,Neal received 2 silver arrows and the outdoor activity patch and Bryan received the On My Honor Adult Award:

  

And games galore, the boys shot the “canon”, walked the plank and followed a treasure map:

  

It was a fabulous Blue and Gold banquet – everyone worked so hard!  These ideas are great for a birthday party, too!

Spring Banner Expo Class

Is it REALLY almost time for the Spring Scrapbook USA Expo?  When I look out my window, it’s hard to believe it is just over two short weeks until the Expo.

Not working at a local scrapbook store, I don’t get the chance to teach much anymore.  I am excited to have the opportunity to teach and see many of you (I hope)!

I am teaching this fabulous “Spring” banner on Friday, March 25, 2011 from 12:30 – 2:00 pm at the Scrapbook USA Expo located in the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy, UT.

For only $25 you get a fantastic home décor item and a great time with your friends (and me)! I’m sure I’ll be able to finagle some fabulous prizes, too!

The gorgeous papers and embellishments I used are the Stella & Rose – Gertie collection from My Mind’s Eye.  I just can’t get enough of the gorgeousness! 

“Official” Class Description:

Have the winter blues got you down?

Amber Packer has the perfect solution! Join Amber for a fun-filled class while creating a gorgeous spring banner. You’ll love what you create when you combine Stella and Rose from My Mind’s Eye, adhesive rhinestones, chipboard alphas and more.

$25

Please bring: tape runner or liquid glue, pencil, scissors, brown ink pad, hole punch and pop dots.

For more detailed pictures, check out our blog www.apage4allseasons.blogspot.com

This class is being taught Friday, March 25, 2011 from 12:30-2:00.

To register for the class, you’ll need to follow this link (yes, that link) and complete the order through the Scrapbook USA website.

But…

Guess what!?  If you are unable to attend the class (sad face) for any reason – you can purchase a kit through A Page 4 All Seasons for the same great price as the class ($25).  The kit will be shipped direct to your door on, or before, the Monday after the Expo (March 28).

I hope you will join me!  Have a fabulous day!

Tuesday…

Was a packed and fun-filled day!

I started off Tuesday by driving carpool.  Love the kids in my car.  We have 5 darling kids (my 2 boys and 3 friends).  It’s so much fun because they are all different grades: Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade and 5th Grade.  It’s so much fun to hear them talk.  They help each other, the older ones give advice to the younger ones.  It’s always an adventure and something I truly enjoy.

When I got home, I went quickly to work finishing the March My Mind’s Eye newsletter.  It features Lush2 – LOVE the flocking and colors. 

Creating the layout for the newsletter was really good for me because it gave me the opportunity to create the layout about Neal.  He has been struggling with a cherished friend lately and doesn’t understand what he has done wrong (if anything) or how to fix it.  He loves his friend and just wants to be able to play with him.  (They worked it out later Tuesday – so cute)

As a mother, I just want to somehow “force” him to see himself the way that I do.  (nice Star Wars reference, huh!?)  He has such a quiet strength about him.  It’s amazing how people watch him and will follow his example.

All his life others, somehow, expect him to know more, be more mature than someone of his age should act.  It’s hard, but goes to show the great potential he has.

That’s one of the greatest things about scrapbooking – the ability to put on paper the greatness you see in others.

I’ll share the rest of the day (Blue and Gold banquet) in the next post.

 

 

p.s. Did you HEAR about the new giveaway My Mind’s Eye has in the March newsletter?  It’s BIG!!  They are giving away another Cricut Expression machine.  All you have to do to enter to win is sign up to receive the monthly newsletter.

30 Days of Memories - GTU- MME

For the first time since I started going on Good Things Utah, I had a creative block. I was stumped – what to do? Since today is the day after Valentine’s, the next holiday is St. Patrick’s Day and I didn’t feel like creating a project for that. And, Easter is not until the end of April so I’ll have to save an Easter project for later.

AND, I’m sort of feeling the winter dull-drums and wanted a project that could help get me out of it.

A few months ago, my friend, Carey sent me a picture of a fun advent calendar and said that I should add it to my “idea” bank. Well, as I was pondering on what to do, I remembered this idea and that advent calendar evolved into: “30 days of Memories”.

And, I owe my friend a BIG “thank you”!

30 days of fun, simple, easy to implement ways to create memories. Because have children, my ideas are centered on fun things to do with kids. If you are single or are a couple without children, switch up some of my suggestions – this project is for everyone!

Today’s project featured embellishments from one of My Mind’s Eye’s newest collections: Lush 2. Lush 2 features four fantastic colors: Navy, Turquoise, Orange and Fuchsia. Each color has a beautiful journaling notebook, decorative brads, rhinestones, rhinestone brads, buttons and trims.

The boys in my house wouldn’t want to do a fun thing that was written on a Fuchsia paper (silly, I know) so I didn’t use the Fuchsia, but it would be beautiful added in!

Here are a few ideas:

• Backwards day
• Pirate day
• Indoor picnic (we did this a lot growing up)
• Breakfast for dinner
• Eat under the table
• Dance like crazy to music
• Make cookies and share them
• Drink hot chocolate with dinner
• Give everyone crazy hair styles
• Write a thank you note to someone
• Ask the question: if you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go and why?
• Cowboy day
• Space explorer day
• Princess day
• Brave knight day
• Do the dishes together
• Paint everyone’s toenails
• Star gazing
• Backyard games
• Read a story
• Fancy dress for dinner
• Watch a movie (on the weekend)
• Go get ice cream
• Take a bike ride
• Fly a kite
• Play catch
• Take public transit somewhere
• Go for a walk together
• Play board games
• Have an indoor scavenger hunt
• Take a drive to the mountains
• Work on a puzzle
• Play with clay
• Do a puppet show (or act out a play)
• Camp out in the TV room (or backyard0
• Make an indoor tent for the kids
• Sing songs
• Write a letter to grandparents
• Make your own pizza
• Look through scrapbooks
• Start a family journal
• Do a kind deed in secret together
• Draw names and do nice thing all day for the person whose name you pulled.

As always, I have included instructions with the color photos shown here and the printable title: Download 2011_02_15_MME

30 Days of Memories–Good Things Utah February 15, 2011

I hope you will join me (and my family) in creating YOUR own 30 days of Memories. Remember that memories do not need to cost a lot of money - the best memories are created when time is spent together. I’d love to hear your ideas of fun things to experiences.

Hugs,

 

P.S. Do you want to win a Cricut Expression or Cuttlebug? Register to receive the My Mind’s Eye newsletter (click here).

Beaten…

but not broken (luckily!).  At the end of the game Neal had hit the floor hard 6 times, hit his head twice and was red all over.  He had to deal with taunts from the opposing team and their parents. 

There was no help from the ref (he’s a kid, I know, but he took his frustrations out on our players by not protecting them).

 

When I got home, I was so upset I was shaking. 

The boys are with Bryan watching our favorite college team play.  They are there without me so I can create a fun project for My Mind’s Eye. 

However, because I am frustrated, I am not feeling very creative.  I need to vent.  This hobby is therapeutic, right?  I hope you will bear with me.  I’m not exactly sure how to put into words how I am feeling. 

One thing is for sure, I feel proud.  Yes, proud – of Neal – of Bryan (for defending the kids and not swearing) – of our little team who kept working and fighting and never gave up.  Proud that my boy with tears in his eyes dribbled up the court and fought until the game was over.  Proud that our team scored.

Grateful for an uncle who came to his defense and picked him up when as a mother I couldn’t for fear of making him look like a wimp.  Grateful for grandparents who were there to support…

Happy… that when the adults were heckling Neal and Bryan was telling him to ignore them, I yelled to him (I was sitting next to “said” parents): “Yes, Neal, ignore the adults that are picking on a 4th grader”.  And, happy, that they actually stopped after that.

And happy that they scored so that it wasn’t umpteen million to 0.

Basketball at this age is not about winning or losing, it is about teaching the fundamentals of basketball.  It is about teaching these kids how to follow rules.  It is about teaching the kids how to be good sports, win or lose. 

And, I am proud that our kids were good sports.

Thank you for listening to me!

GTU - Hearts-A-Flutter Mantel Decor

 

 

Featured Collection: State of the Heart 

I’ve been having such a fun time decorating my fireplace mantel lately.  It’s an area in my house I only switched up at Christmas.  Well, I had such a fun time creating the Halloween Mantel Decor, that I have been hooked ever since.

While brainstorming ideas for today’s project, I knew I wanted to use the banner shapes, but didn’t want to actually create a banner (it could be that I am creating a spring banner to teach at the Expo). 

Then I started thinking of fabric draped over (cascading) over the mantel and thought I might be able to use paper and the banner shapes to create that feeling.  I’m calling this the “Hearts-A-Flutter” decor because when you hold the heart garland, it looks like butterflies fluttering their wings.

Don’t you just love the mix of pinks and reds in the State of the Heart collection?  It was a fun mix for my project.

As always, I have included the instructions which are available to download here: Download 2011_01_18_Hearts a flutter decor

We’ll be uploading the video in the left column as soon as Good Things Utah has it uploaded to their website.

I hope you are having a wonderful week!

Proud Mama part 2

We also had the opportunity to listen to Neal sing in his school choir.  The kids went early M/W/F for a 5 weeks to prepare for the concert.  Most of the kids in his group of friends decided to do it together.  They also get to have a pizza party.  It was fun to see Neal – he really enjoyed it. 

 

Have I told you that Neal is on the Student Council?  I don’t think I have.  I wanted to shout it from the rooftops when I learned that he had made it – until I went to the school volunteer meeting right after and spoke with a mom whose child was devastated they didn’t make it.  Then I was hesitant to shout.

Well, he made it AND he loves it.  They had to write a paragraph saying why they wanted to be on SC and then were chosen by the teachers.  I’ll have to share it – it was pretty sweet.

The Student Council had all the kids in the school bring their parent’s spare change for a week.  They raised enough that they were able to help 17 kids (I need to double check this) have Christmas!  Pretty cool, huh!?  Since Neal is on SC, he was able to go shopping for the kids. 

These three boys (and a little brother who looks like Napoleon Dynamite) did such a good job keeping track of the money they had spent.  They were given a list of needs and a dollar amount they could spend.  They kept great track of the money they had spent and when there was a little left over, they bought each child a blanket to keep them warm at night (break my heart). 

I’m so proud of both my boys and am grateful for the opportunities they have received.

Scrapbook page winner!

Just wanted to say the photography for your album is great! Wondering what font you used on page for Neal? Very cute!

Posted by: Sheri Brady | December 23, 2010 at 04:06 PM

 

Sheri, will you email me your mailing information to bloominmemories@yahoo.com?  I’ll get your prize right out to you!

Let it Snow Banner - GTU – MME

Yesterday, I was slowly coming out of the holiday haze and getting ready to enjoy a week with only two “work” things to do.  We watched my two nieces and nephew and had a “lazy” morning. 

We were getting ready for another trip to Lowe’s for yet another project (I’m so excited to share it – when it’s done!) when the phone rang.  It was the Good Things Utah producer, she wanted to know what I was doing today. 

I told her, “Cutting wood and painting it”.  She said, “Do you want to come on the show?”  Well, the honest truth is not really.  However, they are my friends and are so good to me, they were in a bind, I had a banner that was done and I’d be home by 12:00 to get started on the newest home project… so, I said I would love to and I am truly grateful that I can!

    

I actually did this project for the quarterly Hobby Lobby magazine (I do all the MME projects for this magazine).  I think Portobello Road is to die for as a SNOW line.  The soft blues, silvers and glitter give off the peaceful feeling of watching giant snowflakes fall on a cold winter’s night.  (Watch for more in the My Mind’s Eye newsletter)

This project really is simple, quick and gorgeous!  It’s Lost and Found glittered paper, silver frames, rhinestones and a wooden snowflake cut out.  That’s it – easy peasy!

If you’d like to make your own, feel free to download the instructions here: Download 2010_12_28_MME_Let_It_Snow_Banner page1

and

Download 2010_12_28_MME_Let_It_Snow_Banner page2

For those of you who missed the segment today, I’ll be adding the video to the side bar as soon as it’s available

The My Mind’s Eye blog hop is still in full swing!  See two posts below for my part of the hop.  If you haven’t been participating in the blog hop, I invite you to join in the fun!

Have a great day!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is a time when we can all learn from a child's gratitude and love for Jesus Christ. See the meaning and the story of Christmas through the eyes of children.

I thought you might enjoy this wonderful message of Christmas through the eyes of children.  (It doesn’t hurt that my Riley is in it, either.  Watch for him from 2:12 – 2:18)

My favorite comment (My only reason for adding this is so that I will remember it):

2:12 - 2:18 ... be still my heart! the purity of this young boy's message is exemplary and commendable :)

“If we look for the good, we can see this time of year with new eyes—perhaps even with the eyes of a child.”

—President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Merry Christmas!

MME 12 Designers of Christmas Blog Hop!

Welcome to the My Mind’s Eye 12 Designers of Christmas blog hop bash! My name is Amber Packer and if you came to my blog from Suzanne’s blog then you are on the right track.  If you came to visit me (thank you!) and haven’t been participating in the hop... take a minute and hop over to the My Mind’s Eye blog so you can play with us!

My contribution to the secret phrase is: days

When you are lucky enough to do something you love for work like I do, it is hard to narrow down one favorite project.  So, I think I’ll share more than one.  My husband and sons are the three most important people in my life.  I am glad that I am able to consistently reflect upon their significance to me.  So, my favorite projects are about my appreciation for each of them:

Featured Collection: Breaking Free and So Sophie 

From my blog, you will now visit Tiffani’s blog. 

I hope you take the time to comment on each blog you visited on your way here.  Remember to leave a comment on the My Mind’s Eye blog and email the secret phrase to amber@mymindseye.com (that’s me). 

 

I think I need to have a special Christmas giveaway from me to you!  I'm going to giveaway this two-page layout designed by me for one of my Autoship clubs!  My drawing will end when the MME blog hop does, midnight, December 29.  Good luck!

I hope you enjoyed your stop here.  Look around.  I hope you'll find value in what I have written.  Happy Holidays!

p.s. I'm the guest blogger on the Creating Keepsakes blog today!  I'm sharing a new layout using Holly Jolly.  AND, My Mind's Eye has a special giveaway for the CK readers.  You may want to visit that blog when you are done today

Proud Mama part 1

If you read my post on the PaperLife this week, you saw these pictures showing my mischievous boys in action:

I love them!  I love the joy they find in the little things.  But sometimes that joyful spirit gets them in trouble.  About a month ago while picking up Riley from school, his teacher said to me: “Riley is the best drummer in the grade.  I would really like to let Riley do this, but the drummer is THE focal point of the entire program and I can’t let a boy who disrupts the other kids play the drum.  He has one more chance.”

YEAH – oh, dear!

Well, I agreed with her – he shouldn’t be rewarded for bad behavior.  But one more chance!  There is an entire MONTH until the program.  Can he do it!?  If he wants to – he can do anything.

After much talking, hugging, talking and hugging we decided that Riley needed to start new and the best way to do that was to apologize to the kids.  So, Riley and I went to the store and bought treats and decided he was going to apologize to the entire class.  The next day after school I asked him if the kids liked the treats – they did.  Did you apologize to the class?  No. Why not? I didn’t disrupt them all.  I apologized to the ones I did (fair enough).  Did you apologize to your teacher?  No.  He went right then and spoke with his teacher.

Fast forward one month to Wednesday, and… he still has his one chance!  Look at my darling little (much better behaved) drummer boy:

His teacher says we owe her a new drum because he beat this one to death!

 

 

  

What a fun day.  He loves to sing and sang his heart out! 

On a side note, I would also like to thank his teacher for conveniently placing him directly beneath a spotlight.  It made getting good pictures fairly easy.

Coming tomorrow… Proud Mama part 2

Cookies For Santa Tray – GTU - MME

 

I cannot believe that another month has gone by and it’s time for me to go on Good Things Utah again.  I just LOVE going on the show.  I know it seems weird to enjoy going on TV.  I love it because they like me to create home decor projects.  It’s a fabulously wonderful challenge for me.  I’ve been appearing on the show regularly for 5 years now so this is my 6th Christmas.  So, I guess I’ll keep appearing until I run out of ideas – which I hope is never!

I need to share a little background on the picture I used.  This tray with this picture is my little inside joke to myself and I giggle outwardly when I think of it.  The picture was taken by Haylee from Haylee Bean Photography.  She was trying to loosen up the boys and get them a little silly so she asked Neal to pretend to hit Riley, which he did (as shown).  What I don’t have a picture of is Riley actually hitting him back, thinking he was doing what Haylee asked.  So the “Dear Santa, I can explain” is an actual description of the events in this picture.  After that, the boys were loosened up.  *SMILE*  It’s a good thing I love my boys. 

I have had this plain tray for a while.  I can’t remember where I got it from, but I have purchased a couple of similar, and bigger, trays from Target.  I bet the thrift stores might have something similar.  If the tray is unpainted or the wrong color but a good price, remember that you can always paint it!  (off white)

I have typed up an instruction pdf that is available to download (just below).  Please keep in mind that the sizes are for my tray.  You may need to adjust them for the tray size you have.  If you do not have a Plexiglas tray (this is in the instructions), remember to add a coat of mod podge to protect the photo and papers.  OR, put cookies in a dessert cup for Santa as I did.

Download 2010_12_07_MME_Santa Tray

When the segment video is uploaded to the Good Things Utah website, we will add it to our blog in the left column.

This project is fun, simple and quick.  Your children (nieces, nephews or adults who are young-at-heart) will love using a tray with their own picture to share treats with Santa.

Leave a comment on the My Mind’s Eye blog post and you could WIN:

A Holly Jolly paper and Accessories pack along with a Lost & Found Union Square trim package and Red Lush Ribbon (just because it goes beautifully with these papers)!

Some Christmas FUN!

Visit the My Mind’s Eye blog everyday from December 1 to December 24 to celebrate the:

Are you ready for the 12 Designers of Christmas?

Trisha Ladouceur, Anam Stubbington, Suzanne Sergi, Amber Packer

Tamara Jensen, Tiffani Smith, Jana Eubank, Karen Grunberg

Vicki Boutin, Sonia Thomason, Gretchen McElveen and Bethany Kartchner!

12 days of ideas, 12 giveaways

AND a blog hop at the end with a GRAND prize

Around here, December is going to be crazy - in a good way!

_________________________________________________

You need to check this out:

Teresa Collins is doing the 25 COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS on her blog each day. 

She will be giving away a PRIZE every single day.

Today Teresa is giving away is Union Square from My Mind’s Eye.  Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win:

 http://mymindseye.typepad.com/blog/2010/12/kick-off-the-season-the-right-way/

You know I love Teresa’s products!

A Thanksgiving project.

I have the ability of always being able to find something to do.  I am never bored.  I’m always knee-deep in a project or two.  SO… on Thanksgiving Day when I was getting ready to go to dinner, a stroke of brilliance hit me:  What if instead of putting up our Christmas decorations we installed a faux tin tile backsplash in the kitchen?

Truth be told, when I come up with BRILLIANT plans like this and propose them to Bryan, he will usually roll his eyes and remind me that it’s the day after Thanksgiving and our children would prefer to have decorations. 

I was prepared with a game plan that even included the secret play:  “It can be my Christmas present” – Seriously, how could he refuse an offer like that.  (We’ll ignore the fact the Bryan and I don’t usually buy gifts for each other.  That’s minor detail, anyway)

Well, guess what!?  I was met with no opposition!  Instead He said, “What time should we go to Lowe’s?”

Here are a few before pictures:

(I left the banana on the counter and stuff on the fridge for my friend who said to me the other day, “Why is is that everyone’s house is always perfect and there are NO cords in any pictures?”)

And some AFTER pictures:

  

It’s amazing what 3 hours can do.  I even designed three layouts and watched a football game with my parents.

On the way to watch a football game with my parents, we stopped at Target and picked up an new paper towel holder (no more apples).  When we first got married, forest green was “IN” and our kitchen was decorated in apples, sun flowers and a bunch of forest green.  I’m so glad that styles are more streamlined now.  I find I am constantly purging my decor looking for peace.  Maybe it’s because my life is chaotic?

Then it was off to Wal-Mart (the evil store) to pick up three new canisters.  They are smaller than the ones at Target or what I had – and clear!  I like how they take up less room on the counter.  And, seriously, who needs 10 lbs of flour ready at all time to make rolls?

I love how the backsplash turned out!  Now I need to find some new salt & pepper shakers.  Has anyone seen a cool set?