Time

Totally non-craft, non-food related post today.

Where is the time going?!

Payton lost her first tooth the other day, while eating lunch at school. She had some tears over that tooth - afraid it was going to hurt. But in the end $5 from the Tooth Fairy wasn't too shabby - said Tooth Fairy needs to remember to keep some singles on hand from now on! But it was her first tooth so...yeah.

Then kindergarten registration came this past Tuesday. I'm doing ok with the registering - its the actual first day I think I'll be upset about. The school supply list is long - seems like the school provided the things on this list back when I was in kinder? Budget cuts I suppose. It really seems like she was just starting PeeWees the other day!

Mom is on vacation seeing family, so we have the house to ourselves. I plan to cook with lots of mushrooms ;)

We have vacation planned for June - I can't wait to see family and friends in California. Bob hasn't been back since we got here so I think he is pretty stoked.

I have been doing a bunch of crafting for you all though! Pinky Promise! I just have to photograph it all and get all of the links for you lovely ladies. I am still reeling a little from being featured by Ms.Rhonna Farrer - not something I ever thought would happen from posting on instagram! OY! Talk to you soon

Mother's Day Class - Austin TX

Another Sneak Peek of what we'll be making at the Mother's Day Class coming up. Thanks Heidi Swapp for the inspiration on the acrylic flip album. What a cute idea!! I used the Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden Line (an oldie but a goody, one of my favorites) I adorned the front with a burlap rosette, ribbon, vintage lace and lots of texture and layers. Just add your photos and sweet sentiments.

Itty Bitty Mini Album x 2!

This little mini album, we'll be making 2 of. The colors and paper may vary slightly but, it's super cute and fits wallet sized photos perfectly!

A bit of inking around the edges and it's lovely in it's simplicity.

Email me at amybrianmccollum@msn.com to reserve your space for either class:

Thursday, April 19th from 6-9:30PM

OR

Saturday, April 28th from 1-4:30PM. I have 6 spaces available for each class.

Cost is $35.00 Per Person for 4 Gifts

Also, Check the previous post for The Cherish Album to see the other gift we'll be making. Just in time for Mother's Day! She'll LOVE it!!!

Smooches, Amy

Great Friends, Canton TX and a Rockstar!!!

As most of you know, I love my friend Laura from Willow Creek Gifts in New Mexico. We bonded when I had my store just down from hers several years ago. Then, when I found out that I was pregnant and the lease on the store was almost up, it was time for me to close. Laura offered a space in her store to rent so I could still sell my handmade goodies and not have to completely close. It was perfect!! I've gotten to know her pretty well over the years and I love our friendship!
BTW, her daughter Amber is expecting a boy soon too! YAY!!
So, Laura and I have talked about Canton TX many times and how fun it would be to go to the First Monday Market Days so, we planned it! I called my sister in Dallas and she so graciously opened her home and all of the spare bedrooms up to us so we could stay the weekend. Tami, Laura's best friend, drove up with her and we shopped til we dropped on Friday and then they shopped some more on Saturday!! What fun!!!
Here we are sitting at the hilltop at First Monday taking a little break and sippin' on some Sweet Tea - It's Texas people, gotta have some sweet tea :) The weather was hot and sticky but, we were thanking the good Lord that it was overcast. Oh the goodies that we found! It's HUGE!!!! We started just after 9: and didn't leave until after 4: and we still hadn't seen it all. Canton is a cross between an outdoor flea market, home decor market, vintage finds market and handmade and commercial goods of all kinds market. It has to be seen to be appreciated. Delightful!!!!

Chillin'!

These were the CUTEST little handpainted outdoor tables made out of kegs, i think. The painting was whimiscal and we just LOVED them!! Clever!!

Ah, Girls Gone Junkin' - LOVE!!!! Check out their blog!

I met a Rockstar!!! Not of the musical variety - even better, of the artistic variety!!!

Miss Jennifer Hayslip from Sweet Eye Candy Creations was in Girls Gone Junkin. I just HAD to meet her!!! Altaira and I became fans of hers when we saw the article on her in Where Women Create. Jennifer created this amazing event called Petticoats and Parasols and En el Jardin!! It's AMAZE!!! I felt like such a goofball asking if I could have my picture taken with her - I just remember saying ' I promise I'm not a crazy stalker!' 'I just love you!' {{OY!!!}} I was sweating and fumbling because well, it was hot and sticky and I'm like 8 months pregnant and had been walking for hours. Anyway, she's fabulous!! She was there for the Beauty in Blue Art Retreat. I follow her sisters blog too, Scrappy Jessi. I found Jessi through The Gilded Girls blog AND Kim Caldwell's blog.
Okay, so MAYBE I blog stalk but, it's all for the LOVE of art and creativity!!
Anyway, I gave Jennifer our card and am crossing my fingers that she will stop by our sweet creative blog and realize that I'm really not crazy, just a fan!! Hahaha!! I really do admire the events that these ladies put together and we're both super inspired by them!!! One day, Altaira and I will attend at least one of their fabulous events. Cheers! Here's wishing on that star! Smooches, Amy

"fiNd youR wiNgs aNd fLy"

I have a confession to make - I'm obsessed. Obsessed with Rhonna's new Spring Circus line. I'm using it to decorate my creative space/the kids' play room. The colors are bright and festive for the kiddos - and I love them - and the designs are all the patterns I'm looking for: chevron, quatrefoil, & floral

Today I'm going to share my latest piece of artwork. It's a framed piece that hangs next to the dream catcher I made earlier last week. I have just a few more pieces to finish for the gallery wall and then I'll share the finished product - for now you get the individual pieces wink.

I printed 2 of the balloons from the Tattoo kit, fussy cut one and then cut the other into all of the individual sections. I gently rounded key pieces, wrapping them around an exacto knife, and layering them in place with foam adhesive.

For the background, I printed various images from the Tags kit and layered them all together - with some doily pieces thrown in for good measure. Then I printed and cut out the pennant banner from the Borders kit. 

The background is under the glass but I used 3 layers of foam adhesive to adhere the balloon on top of the glass. The pennant banner is glue dotted to the rim of the frame. 

I love how this piece turned out and how it works to bring all of the pieces around the room together. Tomorrow I'll be sharing some garlands I made using that same paper line and a carousel to match that holds Instax pictures of our girls.

They say it's your birthday.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!

Altaira's Creative Space

As promised, I have some pictures of my creative space to share with you today - although I have already moved it around again.

My two shelving units are now side by side, so as to make more wall space available for the beautiful dream catcher (and another gorgeous piece I'll share with you another day) I created.

In the forefront of the last picture you can see my girls' kitchen - it's strategically placed there to keep little hands out of mommy's tools and to hold the baby wall in place since that's where it cuts across in front of the fireplace.

As I said in my last post about storage, I have some more ideas and upcycles to share with you - such as those tan boxes on the almost top shelf.

I have been busy Spring-ifying (new word folks) the room. Banners, garlands, new artwork for the walls - that appeals to both the kids and I.

I sent a BIG OL' box of goodies to Amy - all in the name of making room for new goodies - which arrived from A Cherry on Top the other day! Like Christmas in April, a big crafting order is my tax time treat - see taxes aren't all bad.

If you follow me on Facebook, you know I have some really exciting news to share. Hopefully in the next few days I'll be able to!

Ms. Amy has been at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, TX this weekend. She got to meet Jenn from Sweet Eye Candy Creations, the powerhouse behind such amazing events as Petticoats & Parasols, and Once upon a Dream. a wee bit jealous


Hope you likes the semi-tour of my creative space. I can't wait to share the rest with you, including what it looks like now that things have been moved (here's hoping I'll find some fabric this week to hang behind my shelving so I can be done!)