{Jessica Sprague}

Ca-hootenanny!, pt.2

May 25, 2011 3 Comments

I also made blank “Wanted posters”, with a twist.

Each person selects a dream (big or small) and write/draws all about it. Pick a reward to finish it off.

Here’s my digital version. A small(er) dream that I would love to have come true over and over.

I think this would be a fantastical date or fun girls’ time too.

{credits:Kamari Beach Paper by The Queen of Quirk
Sidewalk Chalk Elements by Echo Park
Kawaii Cute Fruits & Jewel-Toned Butterfliesby Kitschy Digitals
cupcakes from Sweet Cupcake by Dani Mogstad
fonts: Albemarle Swash, Rosewood Std, Clementine Sketch, DJB Poppyseed}

I visited my sister earlier this month and did the Wanted posters – and more – activities with them. I’ll be posting more photos soon. 🙂

Filed Under: {happy times}, {Jessica Sprague}, {reading reverie}

Ca-hootenanny!

May 25, 2011 Leave a Comment

Remember this poster?

For part of Spring Break we had a Pony Express extravaganza, a ca-hootenanny if you will. We read stories, painted, sang songs, ate cowboy grub and just enjoyed learning.

We learned about the pledge the pony riders took before they were allowed to ride:

“I do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors & Waddell, that I will, under no circumstances, use profane language; that I will drink no intoxicating liquors; that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers. So help me God.”

I wouldn’t mind at all if my children lived by that.

I printed out reminder cards of each for them. With all the rough and tumble of playing cowboys it sure is nice to remember this part of the cowboy spirit. I was also able to use the cards when I taught my Bear Scouts about the Pony Express.

{card credits: Cosmo Cricket Wanted Collection}

Another good source of cowboy values is Roy Rogers Riders Rules:
Be neat and clean.
Be courteous and polite.
Always obey your parents.
Protect the weak and help them.
Be brave, but never take chances.
Study hard and learn all you can.
Be kind to animals and care for them.
Eat all your food and never waste any.
Love God and go to Sunday School regularly.
Always respect our flag and our country.

I love that keeping the rules was part of being in Roy Rogers Riders Club and that he wrote a prayer to be read at the beginning of each meeting:

“Lord, I reckon I’m not much just by myself,
I fail to do a lot of things I ought to do.
But Lord, when trails are steep and passes high,
Help me ride it straight the whole way through.

And when in the falling dusk I get that final call,
I do not care how many flowers they send,
Above all else, the happiest trail would be,
For You to say to me, ‘Let’s ride, My Friend.’
Amen”

Makes me want to start up a Riders Club right under my roof.

Filed Under: {happy times}, {Jessica Sprague}, {reading reverie}

Mondays in May :)

May 2, 2011 2 Comments

Over at Jessica Sprague.com. “Every Monday in May you will have the opportunity to purchase an item from a designer and receive an item of equal or lesser value from that same designer for FREE! No coupon codes needed. Just fill your cart up with goodies and watch the magic happen! Keep in mind that you will not be able to use coupons or gift certificates during this special, so hold on to them until Tuesday. You can, however, use a coupon or gift certificate if you are just purchasing a class as classes are not included in this special. You can also use a coupon or gift certificate if you are purchasing only one item per designer. This special will end at midnight eastern time.

So, for example, if you want to purchase the new “Paper Garden” set from Kitschy Digitals (which I know you’re gonna want to), you can choose another one of the Kitschy Digital products that is $2.99 or less, add it to your cart, and that price will be deducted from your total! Woo hoo!”

**I took this wording directly from Mandi‘s site because she took it directly from Jessica’s site and like her, I feel that they explain it much better than I would have. 🙂 Oh, but I did change the product featured, because I think Danielle‘s paper flower set made with Sasha from The Gilded Bee is simply beautiful. And May Day Bogey should definitely be celebrated with flowers. 🙂 You will be seeing those flowers on the blog here in the near future. ;)**

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

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.