Getting down to business

Business cards designed and ordered...I'm so excited!

the gift that keeps on giving

Give them once, and you'll be frowned upon if you don't give them every subsequent year...
That's right, it's calendar-making time for me (three completely separate versions for in-laws, grandparents, and myself).

etsy

Well folks...I'm not sure exactly how many of you are out there, but here's my self-promotion plug.  I love messing around in photoshop, and I love being able to mimic cool things I find online and then make and give them as gifts.  I'm branching out and hoping to sell some of my crafties, so I finally took the plunge and opened an Etsy shop!  (Clicking on the banner below will take you to my page.)

I am (ever so) slowly adding items for sale.  So please take a look around, suggest projects for me to add, spread the word, and/or buy something if you feel so inclined!  Thanks!

the happs

You know it's been too long between posts when your husband notices you haven't put anything new up in a while.  The truth is, most of my posts include pictures of my kids, and with increasing cell phone camera technology, I am doing terrible at pulling out my real camera to take any pictures.  I leave all the picture-taking up to my husband with his iPhone.  It seems like the best pictures make it onto his instagram.  Luckily, we have iCloud with photo stream, so I can steal some of his shots and share them with you on here.

Jeremy's birthday present from me...his very own corn hole set (which he chose to make himself rather than buy online).  We painted it all patriotic-like for our 4th of July festivities.

Lincoln fell asleep one day in the fading afternoon sun while swinging. 

 Our super hero obsessed 3-year-old with his Captain America mask and felt shield made by Greema.

Mr. Smith goes to Washington!  Jeremy just returned from Washington D.C. yesterday from his orientation/training for his fancy new job at Booz Allen Hamilton.  We are beyond blessed and excited for this new chapter, and for seeing all his hard work come to fruition even in this challenged economy.

 Husband visiting the Lincoln Memorial.  We named our Lincoln after him because he is actually a great^3 (or something like that) uncle on my mom's side.

Looking for a unique present?

I have made my own version of a family tree display inspired by one seen on pinterest.  The 11x14 print by the online company is sold for $65 (no frame included), and is only sold in two color schemes.  If you are looking for something special for a parent, sibling, etc. for Christmas and have 4 generation family group sheets for both sides of the family, I'll be selling these lovelies for $20!  What you'll get:

- a family tree with your choice of child's name OR family name and established date in the center
- customized color scheme of your choosing (need ideas?  try this site out to easily show me what you're looking for... http://www.design-seeds.com/p/palette-search.html)
- I will send you the completed 11x14 JPG file that you can take anywhere to be printed OR for $30 I will have it printed and mailed to you.

If interested, email me at ...ashleysbyu {at} yahoo [dot] com... for more information on placing an order!
(Orders must be placed before December 1st to guarantee completion in time for Christmas.)


Examples:

The Latest...

in my never-ending craft/decor projects.

I updated my kitchen jar labels because they needed a little something more.

Saw a cute family tree that this company sells, and created my own in photoshop.  I love it!

it's a jungle in here

Beckett's new jungle room...complete with tunnel bed, a play cave with curtains, and leaves!

He loves it!!

carseat shmarseat

When I chose my infant carseat for Beckett, as well as with his stroller, the determining factor was, "is this the lightest one on the market?"  Needless to say, looks were not as important to me as how heavy the carseat was to carry.  With this baby on the way I decided to give the seat a little makeover with some help from my mom.  Ta-daaa!

initials

I finally finished my initial shelf!

crafting and such

Things I've started on/plan to start soon!

1. Make a new spice rack with spices I actually use and put it above my stove with the ikea shelf I already own.

ispiration from casasugar.com

2. I've just ordered a large "S" and our other three initials for a wall to look like this.  Now I just need a large shelf, a few more frames, and fabric for behind the letters.

inspired by and ordered from studio6fresno on etsy

3. Make new kitchen towels!  I've had the same two hanging on my oven handle since we got married.  They are just a tad grungy and begging to be replaced.

ispiration from realphotography.com

The Happs...

Some of the crafty things I've been up to again.

Here's a quilted pillow my mom helped me make (the cute one in the background was my b-day present from Air & Abby).

 back (made with grey fabric also from Air)

Labels for my kitchen jars!

And finally, a fun custom vinyl project I designed and cut for Chrissy of "Imagine That".

You just slap these babies on the glass of a picture frame with whatever desired patterned paper inside it, use a dry-erase marker to write on your meals for each day, and now you have a fashionable display for meal planning in your kitchen!

                                            

Here's the inspiration...

(from: make and takes)

Crafty things

We spent this last week in Arizona for a wedding...pictures to come.  But in case you've been wondering what I've been up to otherwise, here are a few of the projects I've been working on and finally completed.

An announcement/picture holder for my entry wall.

A baby name picture frame for my friend's baby on the way.

A girl quilt in colors I would want on the off chance we get a girl next time we try for a child.  

(Stippling done by my mother-in-law's friend in Ramona, sewn and bound by me!)

New additions

I decided we needed some shelving in our lives, so off to Ikea we went.  Beckett also loves his chair swing from Auntie Allie that now hangs in his room!

To do:

I figure that if I write this list down I might actually get to it all someday. 
Things I want to make/do:
Make a much bigger dent into Jeremy's mission scrapbook, I'm currently here...

Finish Beckett's new quilt / paint and decorate room (pictures to come)
Finish painting our kitchen table and chairs
Sew a new Tie skirt like my old one, but better quality...

Make a photo collage on the wall of my family's white pictures.  A new one is coming this December...
Make a photo collage of all the Latter-day prophets including quotes from each

scrappin and cards

Arica suggested that I put up some pictures of my new hobby, scrapbooking/card making. I started a mission scrapbook for Jeremy this summer, but card making has taken over the last few weeks. Here are some of my favorite cards and scrapbook pages.