Kids Kingdom

We love it when Kid's Kingdom Traveling Jubilee comes to town!! It's a wonderful event that offers live (interactive) entertainment, displays, crafts, music, games, inflatable rides, a petting zoo, etc. It's provides so much fun and is relatively inexpensive!! There's no admission fee, just $1 per inflatable ride and the cost of food/snacks.

The boys and I went this past Saturday; I take them whenever KKTJ comes to a park near us. They never get tired of Bubblemania or the Lego station. This year, the reptile station caught their eye...especially the lady standing out front holding a boa constrictor!

The Wrecking Ball is one of the new inflatable rides...of course Mr. Donovan HAD to try it!

(click on each photo for a larger view)

I love capturing moments like this. Donovan is only 7, but has grown so much (physically and mentally) in the past year. He stands taller than most 9 year olds, he's becoming more and more independent each day and doesn't allow me (or anyone else) to kiss him, but moments like this remind me that he is STILL my little boy.

It takes a lot of concentration and skill to juggle and walk on stilts.

Of course Sir Xander had to get in on the action. He's such an independent little guy and has no problem making his presence known. Love that about him!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a little peek into my life!

Bella Blvd Sneak Peeks

CHA is right around the corner. Scrapbooking manufacturers are busy prepping new products for display and scrapbookers are busy with the really fun part...creating projects!!

I had the pleasure of creating 4 layouts, a card, and a mini album using some of Bella Blvd's super cute newly released products. If you're heading to the convention, stop by the booth to see the wonderful display of talent and to say hello to Stephanie and the rest of the crew. Bella Blvd ALWAYS has such a popular booth!!

Here are sneaks of the projects that I created.






You'll have to stop by later this week to see everything in full!!

More From Cheery Lynn Designs

Happy Monday blog readers!! Today, I am sharing a card for a precious new baby and a colorful layout featuring my younger son.

I have to admit, I'm mostly a scrapbooker, but I've noticed that more and more cards have made their way into my creation zone and my Cheery Lynn Designs dies are right there to serve as the perfect accents for them!!

For this "Sweet New Baby" card, I mixed some older releases with the new to create an adorable card for a boy or girl. I added lots of texture to the background by embossing with the XL Burlap plate and then used the Border Carnivale, French Pastry Doily, and the Scalloped and Classic Nesting Circles to complete the card.


Here's a close-up of the details


I created a cheery layout about my colorful character, Xander. He's so spunky and I wanted this layout to have that same feel. I started by framing the photo using the largest of the French Flair Nesting Dies and the Grass Border.


I added a couple of fun borders at the bottom using the Scalloped Diamonds border and by connecting die cuts from the smallest of the Little Nested Coved Rectangle Stackers dies to form a ticker border. I love how versatile the dies are. Just by simply connecting die cuts together, you can form a totally different look!

I finished off my title by using the adorable Varsity font set.


Detail shots:

NOTE: the easiest way to adhere the grass border without a big mess is to use a spray adhesive.



Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Cooling Off

Is there anything better than watching 2 little boys have a water gun fight? The expressions on Donovan's and Xander's faces are absolutely priceless!!






Say 'hello' to my little friend...



(C) Tanisha R. Long photos taken 5.29.11

Interactive V-Day Card

Well, I guess I can say that I gave it the old college try! Paper Craft Magazine issued a new submission call for V-day cards, one of my favorite holidays to create cards for. I really wanted to make a bunch of cards to submit, but alas, I only created one. I've been so busy creating projects for CHA that I just didn't have the time. Sadly, that one wasn't picked up, but it was so fun to make.

I used Pink Paislee Daily Junque to create this interactive "Sending You Hugs and Kisses" card.


I decorated the envelope for a more authentic feel and then adhered a string of Xs and Os inside.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Cars 2 Giveaway

Happy July 4th blog readers!!! I am thrilled to bring you another Disney giveaway.

Rev your engines as your favorite characters from Cars are back with Cars 2 racing into theatres everywhere on June 24th! Here is a brief synopsis of Pixar’s follow-up film to the Academy Award Winning Toy Story 3:

When star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix, Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage!



ITEMS FOR GIVEAWAY:

- CARS 2 t-shirt in youth sizes of S, M, L, XL

- CARS 2 set of 3 bumper tickets

- CARS 2 temporary tattoo sheet (2 per winner)

- CARS 2 puzzle





One winner will be chosen to win an item for a total of four randomly chosen winners!!! All you have to do is post a comment here by 11:59 pm EST on July 7th. Winners will be posted on July 8th.

Open to US residents only!!

As always, there are additional chances to win. Help spread word of this giveaway-- tweet about it on Twitter, post it on Facebook, or Blog about it and then post the links here and get an extra entry for each!! You can also get an additional entry by becoming a fan of this blog.

Have a great week and if you haven't seen it already, Cars 2 is in theaters now...check it out, we loved it!!

52 Week Project - June Photos

OK, so I'll be the first to admit that I slacked off a little this month with taking my self portraits for the 52 Week Project. It's all good though, I'll get back on track this month.

Week 23/52 taken 6.4.11 This is my new favorite dress

Note to self: make sure strange piece of paper is not in the background before taking photo!

Week 24/52 taken 6.19.11 (late, but I got it in) Guest blogger challenge: capture a self portrait with a message.

Week 25/52 (photo not taken) Challenge: Self portrait with dad or something that reminds you of him.

I need more time for this one--I'll do it at some point.


Week 26/52 taken 6.28.11 I'll post it as soon as I can figure out how to get it off of my cell phone!

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!!

For The Birds

Good day Blog readers!! Today, I have a gorgeous (if I must say so myself) altered project created using Cheery Lynn Designs dies. I purchased this unfinished wood birdhouse quite some time ago from AC Moore. I was cleaning out my scrap room the other day when I "rediscovered" it. Don't you love when that happens? I decided to give it an overhaul using Creative Imaginations luminarte paints, IOD Devotion collection and several CLD dies and an embossing plate.

After painting the edges of the birdhouse with playful peony twinklings H2Os, I cut panels to fit the 4 sides. Before adhering them, I embossed each using the Bricks and Stones embossing plate to give the walls of the birdhouse a textured look. Next, I cut the Border Carnivale several times and then layered the trimmed strips to the roof to form the shingles.

I cut the Victorian Picket Fence from chipboard and cardstock, layered the 2 for sturdiness, painted with oyster twinkling H2Os, and then adhered to the back of the birdhouse. I embellished the fence with the Grass Border and Exotic Mini Butterflies.


Here's a close-up of the one of the sides. You can really see the layered effect that I created using the border carnivale die.

I added a little shimmer to the edges of the shingles by painting each with luminarte twinkling H2Os paint in oyster. I used a heat gun to dry the paint and curl the edges of the paper.




Here's a close-up of one of the mini butterflies. I really like this size because you can add several of them and still have room on your projects for other embellishments.

I spritzed the "Believe" banner with lime luminarte shimmering mist to match the paper.

Here's a close-up of the grass border and victorian fence. These 2 are an amazing pair!!

I added strips of glittered dome pearls to the bottom of my project to finish it off.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope this post has given you a few ideas for ways to incorporate CLD dies and luminarte paints on your projects!!