{digital happiness}

Welcome to Stop #13…

June 24, 2011 39 Comments

and I’m elated to have you join me. Welcome on your journey – from the lovely, crafty Antonia’s blog.

{Link no longer available. It has been disabled because the blog hop is now done. 🙂 You can still purchase the mini kits in Jessica Sprague’s store. Bags made with the designer’s 4ever bloghop kits: label from Carina’s mini kit, polaroid frame, banner and rick-rack heart from mini kit by Splendid Fiins, glitter splats from JS admin team and Heidi Swapp mini kit, star story stick made with 4ever mini kit by the Queen of Quirk. Paper strips on prizes below from above kits, as well as In the Making mini kit and Live Design’s mini kit.}

The labels can be used in digital or hybrid scrapping. A very 4th of July one and another for other occasions as well.

We love the 4th of July around here – here’s the blog post from last year if you would like to see what our small-town celebration looks like. We love having popcorn on the 4th – sometimes buttery – sometimes carmely, sometimes in the afternoon – sometimes during fireworks. I like it all. I thought it would be a great deal of fun to dress the popcorn bags up this year and put in prizes a la Cracker Jack. I hope you enjoy them too!

Here’s a close-up of the popcorn bags:

The labels can be printed directly onto paper bags – a little tricky, but I found great directions here, or they can be printed as labels and adhered to the paper bags.

And a photo of the prizes that can be found inside:

The prizes are packaged with the adorable papers included in the bloghop from the JS designers. A cute idea I got from sugarbsupplies where I bought the glassine envelopes. I used them partly because glassine is resistant to water and grease. Also because in my research I found out glassine is used to package fireworks. Perfect! And Zotz are included in my prize packages – a fun, fizzy candy that screams fireworks and fun to me. 😉

Here’s the story stick “prize” {craft} included in the download:

These can be made ahead of time and slipped into the bags, or the supplies can be included and each person make their own (that’s my plan). I used colored pencils for the base. I glued the sharp point into the star part, but if you’re feeling brave (or have older celebrants) it would be neat to have the stick be writeable as well. 🙂

Here’s info about the story sticks (also included in the download):

Feel free to visit as long as you’d like, and when you’re ready –head on over to the beautiful, effervescent Brenda’s blog, stop #14. 🙂

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {holidays and celebrations}, {Jessica Sprague}, {tickles and smiles}

PaRt-ay pRep…

June 23, 2011 Leave a Comment

For part of JessicaSprague.com’s birthday there is a 47-stop blog hop full of birthday gifts… for you. Definitely party time! 🙂 All details below:

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {holidays and celebrations}, {Jessica Sprague}

More eats…

April 20, 2011 Leave a Comment

To help with filling my specials board in a timely manner I present pretty-fluffy-girly menu planner:

I adore the hot air balloon graphic by Crystal. Just in case I want to switch it up I have made a banner/pinwheel version as well:

It just screams summertime to me – evenings full of fruit salads, breadsticks and fresh lemonade.

{Credits: all products by Creativity by Crystal: Printable Daily Schedule & Meal Planner, {Sweet Summertime} Elements, {The Room Collection} Element Pack}

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {Jessica Sprague}, {one little word}

Special! {It’s what’s for dinner}

April 20, 2011 2 Comments

Introducing my retro diner specials board:

It has a permanent place on our piano in an easy-to-read spot. Too often I am asked what is for dinner and I answer with “hmm, good question”. This is to help me along and honestly, who would not want to eat the special of the day every single day. 😉 (I can hope, right?)

The specials board is made with a document frame – the glass is so easy to write on with a dry erase marker, erase and do it all over again. Kinda like meals and dishes, but more fun. Someday I might even turn the responsibility of writing the menu over to one of the children.

This board would also work lovely as a spontaneous menu for a frolic-y picnic in the backyard.

{Credits: Half Way Cafe Elements by Cosmo Cricket, pancakes and salad by me. ;)}

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {Jessica Sprague}, {one little word}

Peek-a-boo Parcel

April 14, 2011 Leave a Comment

I posted a fun tutorial over on the Mouse, Paper, Lovely blog last month. A whole post on how to use clear packaging to show off fun, simple gifts.

Here’s a peek at the unwrapping:

and the first project inside:

For the rest, you’ll have to flit and fly on over. There is always so much inspiration to be found there. I love the magnetic bookmarks featured earlier this week. Just love.

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes on the photoshoot for the above parcel.

A big ol’ pot and a fun-lovin’, colorful Usborne book: Drawing, Doodling and Coloring held up the package. The pink polka-dot material and green shag come from my grandma’s house. She cleared out boxes of yummy material and sent them to my sister’s place. One family reunion we got to pick out our favorites. I love my cardboard box of moose-printed, white puffy heart, bright colored fabric. I have some big plans for that material. In the meantime it makes a fabulous back drop for my photos. 🙂

The pink polka-dot fabric is actually a dress:

And the tag reads size 11.

What? They certainly do not make them like they used to. 😉

{Credits: Crystal’s Artisan Label Templates No. 3 and Sweet Summertime Papers HERE, HERE, and HERE, and a little glitter for the butterfly bodies. Also used Crystal’s 5×7 Template Set #2 and Set #1 for the layouts above and Earth Love recycling sticker by Cosmo Cricket .}

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {Jessica Sprague}, {one little word}, {tickles and smiles}, {Usborne}

peeling…

April 9, 2011 Leave a Comment

Flashcards made with Nisa’s Feelings Signs Album. Her album is pure genius, I tell you. I love all the words and sign descriptions ready to use and so much that can be customized too. It makes a sweet book, but I went with a variation. One side of the flashcards shows the sign and the other side is multiple photos of our children hamming it up.

Above are four of the eight signs included in the album pack. I glued the sides of the prints together, punched holes and tied ribbons and buttons on. I think Caleb was equally intrigued by the photos and the buttons.

He even dressed up in his nice tux jammies for the photoshoot. Caleb tried to figure out what those cards were all about:

Then finally sat back and enjoyed:

Then just that fast…

Autumn also enjoyed the flashcards… and being silly.

{Title of this post comes from one of our family’s favorite books, How Are You Peeling?. It shows real veggies and fruits in various states of emotion. Adorable.}

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {Jessica Sprague}

Tending Wildflowers

March 10, 2011 2 Comments

A set of cards about growing wildflowers… and love. Each has a homemade paper–wildflower seed infused piece that can be planted.

{Tutorial for homemade paper here at Family Fun’s website. Instead of drying it as a sheet I put the pulp into cookie cutters and then popped out and dried that way. A little messy and a lot of fun!}

Quotes:
Left card–
“A single wildflower,
Given with love
Is better than
A dozen perfect roses
Given with indifference.”
– Anonymous

Right: “Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett

This is one of my favorite quotes of all time, from “The Secret Garden”. I first came across it, over a decade ago, in Seminary. Each morning we wrote in a notebook. There was always a quote or scripture on the board and we would write our thoughts about it first thing while everyone was gathering. The Secret Garden quote is one that stuck with me. It doesn’t hurt that it was easy to memorize. 🙂 This inspirational quote is true in all aspects of my live. If I can learn to tend a rose – in my thoughts, actions and words, then a thistle cannot grow in the same place. Love that principle. The constant tending is where I need to focus. A drowning every week or month doesn’t work the same as constant watering and love. And those little weeds? So much easier to get rid of than after they have had time to take root.

Jim Bob and I put the quote on our wedding invitation (hidden behind the main photo as a bonus. 😉 ) to remind us that a marriage is worth tending:

The wildflower cards above are wonderful as anniversary or everyday giving. I’m thankful for the reminder to refocus, recommit, and continue on in love.

{Credits: All by Cosmo Cricket: Earth love papers, elements and candy candy, Early Bird paper pack, Mr. Campy paper pack}

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {holidays and celebrations}, {Jessica Sprague}, {one little word}, {reflections and deep thoughts}

peeksy…

March 8, 2011 Leave a Comment

I have so, so, so many posts sitting in draft mode. Some waiting on photos, some waiting on words. There’s a sleep update and a President’s Day to never forget among others.

Here’s a peek into part of our Valentine’s Day:

Joshua had big plans for his valentine box – a science experiment. His dad helped him build a pump-inspired “experiment” with two colors of liquid passing through a tube. Very exciting – and it made it through an afternoon of lots of little hands – impressive! 🙂 It was loved by all. Especially Joshua, and that was the point. 🙂

p.s. Although the whole area around Joshua’s mouth is the same color of the liquid, it is in fact Fun-Dip residue and not unsugared Kool-Aid (that is what is in the containers). You know – for future reference. For posterity wanting to make the same impressiveness. (And psst… the containers are a Tupperware salt shaker with the shaker part cut out and a Kool-Aid Burst bottle that’s been throughly emptied. I have no worries about Tupperware being around generations from now. Kool-Aid Bursts? – we’ll have to see 🙂 , Squeeze-It’s are gone after all. 🙁 )

The day in photos is soon to follow… but I couldn’t wait any longer to share. 🙂

{Credits:
Template by Mandi Miles, available on her blog. Love! Love her template AND her! 🙂
Daisy Jane paper, v.3, Little Uniform & Affectionate word art by Carina Gardner,
Love: Me paper pack and accent pack by The Queen of Quirk
Love Yoo frame by Splendid Fiins
paint from Digital Distressing kit by Nancie Rowe Janitz, included in the Brush*abilities class by Jessica Sprague.}

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {holidays and celebrations}, {Jessica Sprague}

Happy Day?

February 22, 2011 7 Comments

Here’s a fancy take on the classic “check yes or no” note. A “choose your own greetings” card, but backwards because the giver gets to pick the sentiments and even the punctuation. 🙂

Who doesn’t love to be told they look dapper? Or wished a day full of scrumptious shenanigans? {I might have had a lot of fun with the wording.}

This card is based on a Nintendo ad at Christmas time.

But more girly and yummy. And promoting friendship instead of a DS. 🙂

Card made using Think Spring papers and journaling cards by Splendid Fiins, added to the Jessica Sprague store yesterday.

A special thank you to the fine folks at Skittles, for coming out with a new bag of flavors. Just in time for my photoshoot with the happy rainbow-y card.

And the packaging in my color of the year? How thoughtful, thank you!

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {Jessica Sprague}

Photobooth Phun

February 7, 2011 2 Comments

Years ago I saw a photobooth album on Elsie Flannigan’s site and thought the idea was sooo fun-loving. I have a few photo strips I’ve collected over the years – the one above is from the mall in Twin Falls, Idaho where I used to shop growing up. The photobooth was not there back in the day, but it was when we visited in 2007. I have one from Chicago with Jim Bob, and one with my sister at a KMart years ago. And there are so many more that can be created digitally. 😉

When I saw Linda’s Hybrid Friday Project I knew it could be adapted easily. What a suh-weet tutorial too. So well done! I loved learning not only how to bind a book, but the terminology as well. Signatures? Stations? I feel smarter already.

Little Book of Favourites – Hybrid Project Friday, by In the Making Design

I was a little intimidated at first because I didn’t own all the materials. So, I’m gonna let you in on a few hacks. The cover is a cheerio box. Covered of course, but not fancy or expensive. And that nice waxed linen thread? Not sure where to find that, but waxed dental floss works well in a pinch. See?

And it’s minty fresh. Now, I can’t guarantee the lasting quality of the “thread”. It did help me learn the technique though. A technique I will definitely be revisiting.

Especially in the future when we have fun with this app, Pocketbooth:

And this review is helpful, to get an idea of all the features:

I love all the possibilities for backgrounds with the “photobooth” being so portable. Yes, there might be a whole series of these books.

And for fun, here’s a little peek at the inside back cover of the album above:

I love this patterned paper. Makes me happy for when the weather is a little warmer. There is nothing I love more than hanging clothes on the line, with the sun on my back. mmmmm.

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {Jessica Sprague}, {tickles and smiles}