stumped on a creative title tonight

so the christmas holiday and new years are over. it was a lovely time. just being together as a family. kind of hard to get back to reality. lots of things to post but no time to dedicate to it. so i'll do a bit here and a bit there for the next couple of days to get caught up.

first, my studio calico layouts featuring the january kit: whodunit, which unfortunately, along with the two addons colonel mustard and in the billiard room, are sold out, but you can still get the add on with the candlestick.
i just had to use the tree paper, but was out of time, so i threw together this cute little card. i love the birdie stamp, like really really love it.

my dad went back to teaching middle school english after years in the corporate world. i know it keeps him really busy, but i do believe he's very happy. and those kids he teaches are very, very lucky. he hates it that i don't capitalize my letters when i type. it drives him crazy, but that's not why i do it. it's pure, unadulterated lazy.

i think this was my favorite this month. my brother got engaged a few months ago to his perfect match. i could not be happier for them. the MME paper was gorgeous, but didn't really fit the theme of the layout, so i covered most of it up :) aren't i clever? i'd used a strip of it in another layout, so it worked pretty well. the wood letters are from harmonie out of canada and they are delicious. i hope we get more in the shop (hint, hint). i sprayed them with turquoise maya mist, but you could use any color that strikes your fancy. the SC papers are recycled from another layout gone awry.

this is the one that went awry. i ended up cutting it in half and loved it much better this way. funny how that happens sometimes. i love this look, it just makes me smile.

the star stamps are another favorite this month, sooooo dang fun to use! i love how this layout came together, it started with the AC paper, it was the perfect wavy look, then i just started adding more and more. i accidently knocked the page and it all tilted and made me happy. i used the mustard seed distress ink from ranger, it's the perfect yellow for this kit (and goes smashingly well with the home front line by studio calico as well...).

i truly appreciate it when a layout finally comes together. i moved things around on this one far too much, i misted and ruined 3 other sheets of paper, i had to resize a picture, but it finally all worked out perfectly. i'd cut the heart mask and misted with red maya mist. the birds are stamped with peeled paint distress ink. the tag from MME was so cute, i used the red baker's twine and did some candlewicking on each bulletin point, turned out exactly how i'd hoped it would.

and finally, a birthday card for my nephew. it's now late. i'm really bad at sending out cards, but i want to change that this year. he's still 5, i'm sure he'll still enjoy it :) especially if i add a little goodie for him...

i loved this kit. i wish i'd had more time. but i had another commitment, to be discussed tomorrow.

i love to blog, i dread the time it takes, but once i'm sitting down and chatting, it's so much fun. i really should try to do it every day...