The PaperLife

Internal Dilema

You know the old cartoon bit,

devil on one shoulder,

angel on the other,

Well, the first thing I am learning about WISHES is it brings that bit out in me BIG TIME!

I wanna keep it,

I should take it to the shop,

I wanna keep it,

I should take it to the shop,

(Echo reports the same issue BTW)

Here is the latest culprit:

We are working on a Spring re-vamp of the shop that will take place tomorrow and I made this table centerpiece this morning and 

DANG!!

I want to KEEP HER!!!

I am not going to though I promise, she will be there at WISHES and available after tomorrow.

I will probably have to make another for me though.  And, I want to share some of her details and why she works so well:

close up on the metal vase I painted and distressed.  And that is a vintage rhinestone button in the center, very blingy.

Ok, fake leaves are not my thing, they get plucked from almost everything I do, just an FYI if you feel like you are not quite able to get that romantic vintage "look" you are wanting.  Next notice what I replaced them with for "fill"  Vintage book pages, I LOVE!!  Going to be doing this a lot I think.

Design tip from Wishes:

when you are working with a pale soft palette, it is all about the textures, MORE IS MORE!

and here is a paperlife tip, I usually only buy creme toned flowers and to give them subtle color I use my spray mists, like tattered angels, it gives it that little "hint" of color and a little sparkle to the flowers and I love that.  I used a peachy tint here and love how it turned out.  Echo and I are using sort of peach and apple green color hints for Spring this season.  Wishes is all about keeping a beautiful blank canvas all the time in your home and then being allowed to add in hints of color or seasons when you want a little fun change, I have decorated the main part of my home like this for years and LOVE it, but, much more on that as time goes on.

This detail photo is a piece of how my paperlife completely fits into Wishes.  I hardly make anything that doesnt have a piece of it in it.  I have been all about butterflies right now, I was never really into them before but, I told you my story about Gram and I swear she sends one to me here and there all the time now, so they are very incorporated into my spring decor.  This is the new My Minds Eye, Miss Caroline collection, Echo and I are using it for our burst of spring color in the shop it has a lot of that perfect peach and apple green we were wanting.  I punched the butterflies out with my coveted martha stewart punch, and they are all adhered on with Ranger glossy accents.

I just love this, it is exactly what I was going for!

One last Wishes Design tip that I feel gets overlooked so much when I visit peoples homes, and that is Height.

This arrangement's main criteria was height, and I think I achieved it.  Look around your house, do you have a few tall pieces to fill that layer of your house, or are you all bottom heavy?  It can make a HUGE difference in the feel of your decor, trust me.

Well, Echo is busy today too, she is working on a fabulous antique piece we are bringing in as well.  I will take pictures of our re-vamp progress tomorrow and get a final shot to you when we are done, I can't wait to see what we come up with!!!

Best Wishes and a Beautiful Paperlife,

Amy 

WISHES Do Come True.......

.....and I finally get to tell you about mine.

Have you always known you wanted to do something but, didnt really foster it because for some reason or another you have always told yourself it was just a dream, or a big wish?

Well, I, with the help of my long time friend Echo, got in one of those who cares, you only live once, throw caution to the wind moods, and did just that.  Made a wish, with Echo's help come true for myself.

So, here's the story:

First, Echo has been in my crazy life for a long long time.  She was my bridesmaid and read at Jason and I's wedding, she was there when I got engaged, and I when her son Grant was born, life then took us in 2 different directions and we kept up with each other but, on a more Christmas card, occasional running into basis.  You know how that goes.  Well, this summer, out of the blue and not knowing Echo and her family moved around the corner from us.  Wow, talk about fate and instant back on track with our friendship and now even our kids friendships.  We pretty much see each other or talk everyday now and share in so much friend/family time together.  So it was one of those days this winter when Echo and I were in the car coming home from one of our cherished "junquing road trips"  that we stopped in real quick to our local fave boutique and noticed they had a space open for a vendor.  I looked at Echo and said should we ask about it and knowing full well my longtime dream of owning a little boutique, she said sure and she would love to do it with me.  Long story short the owner was in, we agreed on a rent, and 

WISHES

was born.  Echo and I are over the top excited!  Our physical location is an adorable little booth at Country Junction in Clinton, IL.  We have had so much fun designing and pulling our boutique booth and brand all together.  If you are ever anywhere close stop in to Country Junction you will love all they have to offer for your Creative life and home.

So, let me share some pictures of our initial set-up, I love it so much, I could live in our booth and excitingly, after this week she will don a whole new look I will be sure to share with you because spring is in the air over there:

First off let me say that Lady Claire-Renee (named after both our daughter's middle name's) has taken up permanent residence over there and will greet you at our door.

Wishes is a French Market Vintage theme boutique.

We have a mix of new, vintage, handcrafted, creative supplies, jewelry, and soon paper crafting and boutique clothing items to share. (and knowing us probably much much more) HAH!

Wishing Wands, little girls (and big) are loving these I can barely keep them in stock.  Look for new spring themed ones this week!

lots of handmade mini albums from my paperlife are in there.

as well as, my paperlife art.

my trash to treasure redo on an old lunch box, this was so cute I wanted to keep it!  Sadly, it was gone in a day though.  Don't worry I am on the lookout for more.

Lots of old books were given new life to bring this place together.

loads and loads of custom designed pillows.  It has been so much fun teaching Echo my craft secrets, I even taught her how to sew, she is so talented and a quick learner!

we have piles and piles of custom designed jewelry from our vintage trinket finds.

and oh so yummy fabric flower broaches and hair pieces.

So, this is Wishes.  We just love her and it has filled a need in both our lives that we cannot begin to express how thankful we are for.

She is constantly changing, growing, and very well loved.  We do have future plans for her as well.  You will first begin seeing some of our excess items available in the paperlife shop and beginning small but strong this summer, we will have a booth every 3rd Sunday in Bloomington, Il. starting May - Oct.  Some of you may have been wondering why I have the call outs for a vintage travel trailer here in the mid-west considering you couldn't pay me to camp.  Well, Wishes is why, that trailer will be transformed into our gypsy wagon "wishes on wheels" as soon as we find her or she finds us.

So come meet WISHES.  Right off route 51 between Decatur and Bloomington, IL in historic Clinton, Il.  Its inside the fabulous Country Junction.  A wonderful gift and home store in the big red building right off the road.

We do have a web address:

www.wishesdesigns.com

as for now it will link you right back to The Paperlife Shop but, we will soon have a sight of its own with lots of information about what WISHES is up too!

Thanks for letting me share a Wish come true with you, I hope you can find time to visit her and maybe even bring a piece of her home to live in your life!

Best WISHES and Paperlife Dreams,

Amy

 

 

Huntington Beach

Hi, the Superbowl is on and I am just popping in here to say hey and check in with a couple of things.

First, thank you all so much for the love and support you gave me both here and in person while I was away from everything in California.  There are not really any words to describe what my Gram meant to me and the relationship we had but, one thing she did give to me is a great sense of the importance of friendships.  Gram loved her social life and her friends and because of the example she showed me I had so many friends there to help me get through a rough couple of days.

Next, I want to say, I am working on some photos for a big reveal this week of something I am so excited to share with you in yet, another aspect of my paperlife.  And, guess what it is being done in collaboration with guess what, a great friend!  And maybe, if you look hard enough, you might find a sneak, sneak peak up online already, just sayin!

Last, I want to share some photo's from Cali that I just came across and love love love.  These are ironically from one of the last days of our trip but, why not start there?  I will have many more to show you but, on this chilly February night I thought a look at my loves on the beach might warm your heart.

this handsome fella turned 8 in Disneyland while we were out there!  Let me tell you it doesnt get much better than that, more on it later.

I just love her, she is truly one of a kind, she makes my heart smile.

and this one!  ummmmm, yum!  LOL he will die when he reads this but, I am the luckiest girl in the world and he is completely in love with me, hard to believe.  None of the princess in all of Disneyland have anything on me {wink}

Hope your making beautiful messes of your paperlife too!

Best WISHES,

Amy


 

Goodbye and butterflies

Just a real quick post from California because I know my gram would want me to share especially with my family back home. I am in no shock, grandma waited and took all the pain of the wait until I was able to handle it. That was just my gram completely unselfish. You come to a point when you love someone so much you pray for them to go and have their pain taken away. I never thought I would be strong enough to let her go, but she unselfishly made sure I was. It still hurts but, she waited until I was ready to feel the joy for her to move on. She is with my grandpa and her daughter Shirley now both of whom I helped her grieve the losses of on a daily basis after everyone else had to go back to living. It was hard at such a young age but she needed me there everyday and after all she had done for me and meant to me I did not mind. We spent so much time together there was hardly a day growing up I was not with her. She would even come pick me up and take me back to college when I was feeling homesick and always tell me she missed me so much she would do it anytime. I will never forget the day I was married and gram came up to me and said how happy she was on that day "this feels like my day wedding too.". Or when she went with us to the courthouse to finalize Tucker's adoption and she told everyone in the room how much she had prayed for this little fella to come into our family. The day gram first had her stroke 6 years ago, the kids and I were staying on the farm with my parents and I had asked gram to come keep Jaycie Claire for me in the morning ,the night before so I could run to town and get diapers for 4 month old Jaycie. She was so excited to get some alone time with the baby in the morning she told me she probably wouldn't sleep. That morning it was 5 minutes past gram's arrival time. I just knew something was wrong I called and called and no answer so I called my mom who ran over from work to find her having had the stroke and called the ambulance. When I arrived to the hospital shortly after the ambulance driver was in the waiting room and asked "who was Amy? I said I was and he said your grandmother told me I had to get ahold of you and let you know she did not think she could watch Jaycie Claire this morning, he said that is all she talked about the whole ride to the hospital, her concern that you would have to find someone to watch Jaycie Claire! That sums up my grandma completely, the woman just had a major stroke and all she could worry about was me finding a sitter. Lol, love you gram! There are so many stories, worth telling about my gram, and I am sure they will be told here because, that is what I do I "write it out". But, this morning I just felt like I needed to let you know how special she really was. So, rewind to Tuesday, the last time I saw gram, I had her all to myself and I knew I needed to say goodbye. She was alert, I asked her if she knew who I was and she said, I'm not gonna lie I can't remember your name. I said it's Amy. And I swear her eyes lit up so big and she said "I have an Amy!". I said it me gram and she said your so grown up since I say you last I didn't recognize you. So sweet, I got to hold her had and tell her I would be ok if she was ready to go. She was in a lot of pain and I told her I was ready and would be ok she didn't need to suffer for me. And she said ok. And it was so peaceful, she smiled at me and said it would be really soon, and I said just take care of us from heaven and she said she always would. We sat and she thanked me for all the tome I spent with her so she never felt lonely, and I thank,Ed her for everything she did for me. It was an amazing gift she gave me once again. And then in true grandma style she wanted to know where her kids were, I said they were in the car with Jason did she want me to go get them? And she looked at me like I was crazy and said well yes! So, I even got to bring them in and they were able to see her one last time and put a smile on her face as well. Yet another gift from gram to me. And with that she and I were good, I knew when I kissed her goodbye and left that room it would be the last time I saw her on earth. I boarded a plane with my family to california knowing that and sure enough I got the call 2 days later she had passed. It hurts but, because of what my grandma did for me all the way to the end, it is peaceful and comforting at the same time. I have never lost someone so close to me that I loved enough to be ready to let go. It's an amazing way to feel. I am so happy for her right now knowing she is watching over us and up in heaven celebrating with all her friends, grandpa, and especially our beloved aunt shirley. This brings me to the butterflies. Right before I got the call grandma had passed a beautiful butterfly land right beside me at the park. So unique and special for a Midwest girl in January. I know it was a gift from grandma as she left. And yesterday yet again, I was deep in a childhood memory with my gram and what fluttered right by me? A butterfly. Thanks for those gram you couldn't have picked a more perfect gift to send me. I will miss you so much but, it is so comforting to know you are always with me still. Have fun in heaven till we all get there and keep sending the butterflies you could not have picked a more perfect gift as usual!

S.O.S. This Lady Needs a Name.

Just look at her.

Isn't she lovely?

She is a daydream believer and a homecoming queen.

But, she desperately needs a name.

You see she is the mascot of something big.

One of my biggest WISHES to be exact and she needs a fitting name.

Oh you should have seen her when I brought her home.  It was bad but, I could see her beauty.  (however, being the all or nothing girl that I am I didn't stop 2 seconds to get a before shot! DRATS!!  Oh well she said she would be embarassed for you to see it anyway)

So help a girl out.  What would you name her? Leave me a comment I would love to hear.

P.S. I have a coveted antique french dictionary that only gets its pages mod podged onto my most prized treasures and she made the cut!

Hugs,

Amy

Be Mine

*EEK ETA*  this sold minutes after I put it up and I am working on a couple of more variations of it so keep watching but, I wanted to go ahead and let it post so you could maybe be inspired.  I have some other mini's in the shop and will be adding more!

Just put this little cutey in the Paperlife shop yesterday for someone to give their sweetheart.  Used my over the top favorite material right now, burlap. And love the juxtaposition of it and the vintage glitter and velvet sprinkled throughout.  If you are interested in grabbing it, there is only one, head over to thepaperlife shoppe  and I will ship it out asap!

Next is one of my German Glass glitter clips, look for those to hit the shop in sets of 5 soon!

As for me, I am on the prowl today with my girl Echo!  We have been taking mini roadtrips all over to visit area antique and Junque shops, today is Decatur day!  Thinking about renting a few booths in some places, if you know of a good one in the central IL area we should check out please let me know!

Little Woman in Black

Ok so this is a Jaycie Claire post, it is the first week back to school for the new year and they are doing this cool thing to boost school spirit in the elementary.  They have themed all the days this week and are giving away special prizes to the kids and classrooms that participate.  (have I mentioned I love my kids school? I am lucky to have my kids in the best school in the land I am convinced)  Anyway, yesterday was "men in black" day, and the real kicker for my little fashionista was that if you wore all black you were given a secret mission!  Jaycie Claire is all into the secret spy thing since Car 2 was released, and that paired with her ability to put together an all black outfit, well, lets just say the angels were singing as far as she was concerned!  LOL!

So this is what she put together and I just thought it was so cool!  Very secret spy looking.  The girl just has a nak for fashion!

So, the secret mission was to get their classroom's symbol on all the hornet posters in the school.  Whichever class had the most, wins a prize!  Tuckers class, who ironically is not so into this whole thing, but did do all black yesterday, won!  He was so excited to get to school today and enjoy donuts in his classroom.

Here are some more pics i got of her before school.  I just love this girl!!!

Oh and today's theme is twins day, Jaycie class decided to to all dress in jeans and white t-shirts to be a room full of twins.  And Tucker, well, like I said, not so much!  LOL, he makes me laugh!

Now to get that stupid Men in Black song out of my head!  GAAAAAAAAH!

Off to the studio for the day, I am in a creative zone right now and tomorrow is roadtrip day to one of my fave Junque spots.  I will let you know what we find.

Pre-Travel, Travel Journal

OK so I wanted to do it right this time, you know have a completed album for our trip for once, within a decade of when it happened.  Sadly, not even kidding on that one.  Well, heres my story,  I have helped my friend Teresa while she taught many a travel album class, and have heard her say over and over "put the thing together and journal as you go".  But, did I listen?  Heck, no.  Oh I knew she was right, I just, well, ummm, was to lazy and "the put it off till I get home syndrome" always won over.  Well, not this time dang it, I am, in the words of spongebob, "ready, I'm ready, I'm ready"

So, you heard, Santa graced us with tickets for the whole family to go out to Cali with me this January complete with Disneyland, legoland, beachland, etc etc etc.  We wanted to do it last year but they changed locals on me for the show to downtown LA and well, I was to "sKeered."   I really shouldn't have been though, many lived to tell you I can maneuver a mean mini van anywhere downtown LA thank you very much!  Anywho, the whole crew is coming this time and I really want to make sure I document this.  So, here you go, again thanks to T. who put together this fabulous World Traveler kit, I have the "bones" of our California Disneyland trip ready set.

Now, this is perfect for my style, I am not a themey girl, and don't really go for the bright cartoony colors.  This album let me transform a more vintage color pallet to fit a Disney/Lego trip.  Now of course I will grab a few themed stickers and brochures, etcetera to throw in because I love "real pieces" of a trip.  But this allows me to do so in a much classier more me style.  I will most likely photoshop all of my pictures in a more vintage color action to tie it all together too.  Ok so, more on this awesome kit, that I truely believe you can customize to fit any trip.  I mean heck, I made Teresa Collins fit Disneyland didn't I?  LOL! (and she thought she was being all elegant with this one!  LOL! just kidding T.)

this is a shot of the tons of product I have left to incorporate after getting the "Bones" of the album together.

Above are just a few of the ready to go pages in the album.  Love that there are pocket and envelopes to tuck memorabilia in and make the album more interactive for the kids.

The above 2 are shots of punchout journaling, titling, and embellishments that are 3 hole punched and I placed in the back of the album to take along and add during the trip.  I am hoping to only need my journaling pen and adhesive while we are gone.

wanted to note a couple of cover details, the title letters are all included in the kit and there are a ton, but, to add dimension and texture to an album I always like to use pop dots to give a layered look.

The cover's background is a decoupage of some of the tags included in the kit.  Really like that eclectic feel it gives.  And you might also see my subtle, "Amy style" hint to Disney out of the TC blingage gems to look like the mouse.  I will be adding those here and there throughout the album.  May even put some real legos in for a nod to that part of the trip.

And, one more thing on this pre-trip album before I pack it, this all comes in a cool box that is perfect to store bits and pieces of your trip and the album and the supplies you will need while you travel.  Love that!

So, I will let you know how it goes, and I fully expect to get an "I told you so" from Teresa but, that's ok I might actually have a completed trip album in the end, so I don't mind!

Fingers crossed and Pixie Dust on this one!

Amy

 

 

Pre-Travel, Travel Journal

OK so I wanted to do it right this time, you know have a completed album for our trip for once, within a decade of when it happened.  Sadly, not even kidding on that one.  Well, heres my story,  I have helped my friend Teresa while she taught many a travel album class, and have heard her say over and over "put the thing together and journal as you go".  But, did I listen?  Heck, no.  Oh I knew she was right, I just, well, ummm, was to lazy and "the put it off till I get home syndrome" always won over.  Well, not this time dang it, I am, in the words of spongebob, "ready, I'm ready, I'm ready"

So, you heard, Santa graced us with tickets for the whole family to go out to Cali with me this January complete with Disneyland, legoland, beachland, etc etc etc.  We wanted to do it last year but they changed locals on me for the show to downtown LA and well, I was to "sKeered."   I really shouldn't have been though, many lived to tell you I can maneuver a mean mini van anywhere downtown LA thank you very much!  Anywho, the whole crew is coming this time and I really want to make sure I document this.  So, here you go, again thanks to T. who put together this fabulous World Traveler kit, I have the "bones" of our California Disneyland trip ready set.

Now, this is perfect for my style, I am not a themey girl, and don't really go for the bright cartoony colors.  This album let me transform a more vintage color pallet to fit a Disney/Lego trip.  Now of course I will grab a few themed stickers and brochures, etcetera to throw in because I love "real pieces" of a trip.  But this allows me to do so in a much classier more me style.  I will most likely photoshop all of my pictures in a more vintage color action to tie it all together too.  Ok so, more on this awesome kit, that I truely believe you can customize to fit any trip.  I mean heck, I made Teresa Collins fit Disneyland didn't I?  LOL! (and she thought she was being all elegant with this one!  LOL! just kidding T.)

this is a shot of the tons of product I have left to incorporate after getting the "Bones" of the album together.

Above are just a few of the ready to go pages in the album.  Love that there are pocket and envelopes to tuck memorabilia in and make the album more interactive for the kids.

The above 2 are shots of punchout journaling, titling, and embellishments that are 3 hole punched and I placed in the back of the album to take along and add during the trip.  I am hoping to only need my journaling pen and adhesive while we are gone.

wanted to note a couple of cover details, the title letters are all included in the kit and there are a ton, but, to add dimension and texture to an album I always like to use pop dots to give a layered look.

The cover's background is a decoupage of some of the tags included in the kit.  Really like that eclectic feel it gives.  And you might also see my subtle, "Amy style" hint to Disney out of the TC blingage gems to look like the mouse.  I will be adding those here and there throughout the album.  May even put some real legos in for a nod to that part of the trip.

And, one more thing on this pre-trip album before I pack it, this all comes in a cool box that is perfect to store bits and pieces of your trip and the album and the supplies you will need while you travel.  Love that!

So, I will let you know how it goes, and I fully expect to get an "I told you so" from Teresa but, that's ok I might actually have a completed trip album in the end, so I don't mind!

Fingers crossed and Pixie Dust on this one!

Amy

 

 

Well Hey There 2012

Hi, and happy new year!  2012, wow, I am kind of excited, are you?  I have some plans for this year and cannot wait to get them going.  I will share with you here first so be sure to stay tuned.  Lots going on at our house, Santa brought a trip to Disneyland on his sleigh at the end of this month, along with preparing for CHA Anaheim.  So excited to see what is in store in the paper world for 2012 too.  I will share with you what I find here and on facebook/twitter (amycoon11) so be sure to watch those for updates.  I have seen a few things already, and let me just say eeeeeeeeeeeek! you are going to love them.

So, the Coonkids are finally back to school today and I got some Christmas morning photos edited and wanted to share:

This is how we know every Christmas morning Santa has been in the house, he leaves special north pole snow off his boots all over the house.

This is the note and countdown chain left for the Coonkids letting them know they were headed to Disneyland and to help them countdown the days.  Hmmmmmmm, Santa's handwriting looks awful familiar........wink.

Just love these kids, and their joy for life, look at the faces, priceless.

Sidenote: see the orange in Jaycie Claire's stocking.  Cannot believe santa found that!  Do you watch those cheesy homemade youtube videos with the fruit and veges?  Well, Jaycie Claire loves them and between those and her Miss Teresa's videos she is always on the ipad or apple tv watching youtube.  She has taken that orange everywhere all break and it was hooked to her backpack when she went to school today.  So funny!

Big New Year Hug to you all!

Lets get this party started!

Go make a beautiful mess of your paperlife starting today in 2012!!

Amy

Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Wishing you:

EXCITEMENT

JOY:

but, most of all

LOVE:

this Christmas Day!

and everyday of the year!

Hugs, 

The Coons

Jason, Amy, Tucker, and Jaycie Claire

So Much Goes on in the "Off-Season"

And this is just one of a million things my girl TC has had going on this fall.  If I told you everything you wouldn't believe me anyway but, just know she is constantly creating things for you and your paperlife.  I am so proud of her, I cannot tell you how much time, heart, and creativity went in to what you will be able to get in January.  Even down to her beautiful cover picture she gave it her everything for all of you.  Get ready to be inspired beyond belief with this new venture between Teresa and some other amazing industry stars and North Ridge in January!

Here is the official press release:

(ps T, I love you and am so proud to call you my friend)

Northridge Publishing announces new publication “Signature Series”

(OREM, Utah) Northridge Publishing is pleased to announce their newest publication, Signature Series, featuring top designers in the industry. The crafting world’s favorite designers have teamed with Northridge Publishing to show off their latest projects in books that are uniquely theirs, each with stunning photographs, step-by-step instructions, and personal tips. These crafting icons will provide readers with fun, doable, eye-catching projects that represent their signature style. The first issue, Signature Series: Teresa Collins, will be available January 2012. A summary of this year’s features is as follows:

January/February – Teresa Collins – Learn how to bring out your inner diva and make life even more beautiful with a little bit of vintage glam and a whole lot of sparkle and shine.

March/April – Kristine McKay – Enjoy projects that will help you find quick and easy ways to beautify your home, preserve your memories with a vintage touch, and share your creative powers. 

May/June – Heidi Swapp – Heidi is famous for her classy and chic eye for design; come see what has been inspiring Heidi and you’re sure to come away with a new zest for creative living! 

July/August – Elizabeth Kartchner – Elizabeth’s scrapbooks document joy-filled days and everyday adventures. Get up close and personal with Elizabeth’s innovative and trend-setting style. 

September/October – Donna Downey – When Donna is crafting, count on an exciting explosion of fabric, paper, glue, paint, and ink. Find out what fabulous things Donna has been making lately and get tons of ideas for your next projects. 

November/December – Kelly Purkey – Kelly’s scrapbooking style is full of innovative techniques and amazing, out-of-the-ordinary ideas; this book will help you take your own scrapbooking to the next level. 

Brian Kunz, founder and president of Northridge Publishing, states, “We are delighted to team with these incredibly talented designers to provide our readers with the best scrapbooking and crafting inspiration available.”

How exciting is this year gonna be?

I will get you an official link shortly!

On another note I need to send out a "get ready alert" to the mall Santa as after school the Coonkids are armed with their lists and ready to let you have it!

Ho Ho Ho.

An idea for the hard to buy for.

Hi blogiverse!

We are BUSY! around here, I bet you are too though, isn't just about everybody but the grinch and scrooge this time of year.  We are excited Grandma and Grandpa are coming tonight for the Coonkids Christmas program debut at school.  I cannot wait to show you Jaycie Claire's Christmas dress.  I got it on etsy, where I have been doing a lot of shopping for her and I lately.  It is a red, white, and black dress with this chic french high ruffle neck cut and print.  I will snap a few tonight for you since I am not shooting the official 2011 picture until Saturday morning.  Please send positive vibes out to Tucker though, singing, stage, and a collared shirt are not his strong suit.  Please don't pull a Home Alone 2 move Tucker, please don't pull a Home Alone 2 move Tucker.......... maybe if I say it enough it won't happen.  I will let you know.

Ok another reason for this post is to let you know I have a gift idea I am sharing with you.  I did double of each of the gift albums I am giving to special people this year and have them available on www.thepaperlife.com shop one of each, completely put together and ready to give, just add you photos.  These are the ultimate give to absolutely anyone gift.  Whether it is your, father-in-law with no hobbies and who can buy themselves anything, to your Gram in the nursing home, to a neighbor next door, heck even your boss.  You know those that you just cannot for the life of you think of what to get and even for those that you have a million ideas for but, you want something extra special.  So here they are, one of each:

this is made with vintage Teresa Collins Noel holiday line that I over the top love and hoard but, I decided in the spirit of the season to share.

this is a little cutie album made with my fave glimmer mist color apple as the foundation and yummy My Mind's Eye

and last, is this over the top Yummy piece of art with the highly coveted MME Lost and Found Christmas.  Its just a book loaded with glittery holiday yumminess.

Like I said 1 of each of these are at the shop www.thepaperlife.com

under new and notable, along with interior photos and other details.

Oh and, unless you live is some remote island off the coast of alaska or at the tip of a tall tall mountain, these should get to you in plenty of time to give for Christmas as they are ready to go and I will ship out the next day.

Hope you enjoy giving a piece of The Paperlife this season or even better, put an album or 2 together from your paperlife to give.

Ho Ho Ho and beautiful holiday messes,

Amy

These Kids are..................

Christmas Crazy!

Are yours yet?

Seriously I don't know if they are gonna make it.

And, OMGosh do we have a bomb.com present for them this year!!!

I can't wait either.

Ho Ho Ho.

PS put something new for sale at the Paperlife shop tonight that is Christmas Crazy to, go check that out.

Wasn't it Halloween just yesterday?

Just kidding well.......kind of, I mean where did November go?  I sound like my Gram I know but, seriously it was November 1st and then I turned around and it's December!  It was a super fun November at our house though, so many fun things happening in our family and I am savoring every minute.  

Actually, how I realized it had turned December without my knowing it, was when I went to clear pictures off my camera to get ready for a photoshoot tomorrow and guess what was on there that I never downloaded, Halloween.  So, if you don't mind I would like to share The Coonkids in costume before we bombard you with Christmas shots over the rest of the season.

Here is her royal highness the Spider Queen:

and Stick'em up for the "under arrester":

What a pair, and boy are they excited for Christmas this year, well, minus the school Christmas program for Tucker!  HAH!  singing and a collar shirt on the same night is not his idea of a good time. LOL

Come Hang Out with Me.....

this saturday for my festive Teresa Collins Holiday album class.

I am really in love with this one and it would make an amazing special gift for someone or keep it and have a holiday album already made for this season to just add photo's to as you go.

Here is a direct link to sign up for the class online at www.thescrapbookingstudio.com in Bloomington IL at 2pm.

http://www.thescrapbookingstudio.com/index.php/holiday-home-christmas-mini-album.html

The list for what you will need is all right there and we still have space so do some early holiday shopping Saturday and then come relax and create with us.

This class is special in that I will be teaching you both a cover rosette adornment and my new "mountain back" binding technique.

Hope to see you there to make a beautiful holiday mess of your paperlife!

Hugs, Amy

Liz Kartchner will be in the house tomorrow

Thats right my good friend Elizabeth Kartchner joins me tomorrow as my guest on Your Paperlife with AMy Coon.

Liz brought by some adorable projects to do with fabric in your paperlife.  Be sure to join us tomorrow (10/13/11)  When the show goes live on 

www.mycraftchannel.com

Here is a little blurb from tomorrows show

Fabric Techniques

Amy hosts the talented Elizabeth Kartchner. Once awarded "Scrapbooker of the Year" and designer of American Craft's Dear Lizzy Collection. Elizabeth teaches us her flower making tips in today's episode.

See ya there!

Hugs, Amy

Fall is my Favorite!

My birthday is is the fall, I was married in the fall (10 years last week to be exact!) and I am a farmer's daughter so fall was always a time of joy, happiness and reaping the rewards of a summer of hard work.  So when it roles around each year I dive right in and savor every moment.  A big part of the Coonkids fall in the local pumpkin patch.  And it is just the coolest.  Jaycie Claire visited las friday for a school field trip and I tagged along.

back on the haywagon with pumpkins and friends.

decorating her scarecrows face that got to ride back home on the bus with them and stay in their classroom.

stuffing him with hay.

down the mountain shoot.

off the hay shoot.

and the best part of every kids day, jumping on the giant pillow.

So much fun! And I get to do it all over again next week with Tucker's class. Yay me!

Also, for those of you who may not have heard, my show Your Paperlife debuted on My Craft Channel!!!

It is my episode with southern california photographer Tammy Mitchell and it is very informative, check it out!

Episode 2 will release later this week.  How it works is, once the episode has released you can watch it anytime.  You might want to sign up to be a member of the site as well because they have some rocking daily deals for everyone too!!

Hope your making beautiful fall messes of your paperlife!!

Hugs, Amy

Celebrating 10 Years Today

******note: our anniversary is the 6th but I can't stay up any longer to publish this thing on the right date, so just go with it!******

Albeit not in the same house, or town, or state for that matter.  But, thats nothing to phase us.  We are still celebrating 10 great years of wedded life, Cooner and I.  And I know many of you reading this probably thought it would never happen with everything we have been given to overcome but, what can I say he makes up for my short comings and I for his, perfectly and it works, we works.

I don't think many guys could put up with me, and I recognize and accept this.  You have to be a strong man to deal with my passionate way of living life, my colorful life in general, my all or nothingness, and non-stop brain full of ideas!  hee hee.  I am pretty strong willed and determined, and really lack skills in the patience area but, Jason is the exact opposite, he can sit back and let me "freak out," go all or nothing on one of my crazy ideas, and because of the qualities that attracted me to him first, his strength and confidence, he is totally ok with it all, even actually enjoys it I think, gives him more to tease me about.  We hardly never waste time arguing, can't remember the last time we even did, and have had only a handful of fights and when we do, he always lets me win, so that works out great! HAH!

Thank you for putting up with ten years of that Jace!  What we have first and foremost is a strong friendship, the same strange sense of humor, and the ability to just "be" with each other and be ok with that.  I have been stranded in a hotel room for a month, hundreds of miles from anyone we knew, about to do the most amazingly terrifying thing I have ever done in my life, with him and we both came out alive.  We have overcome so much in these 10 years that was not always the perfect life thrown at us, and we did it together, with very little help of anyone else because, no one we knew could ever know what it felt like to be in our shoes.

And 10 years later look what we have, a marriage that survives the miles time and time again, the 2 most amazing kids on the planet, and just over all a blessed and fun life.

Happy 10'er Cooner Love You!

OK really really quick note.....

My Craft Channel is officially LIVE!!!

Go here to check it out:

www.mycraftchannel.com

my show "Your Paperlife"  will debut on Friday and my first show guest is Tammy Mitchell and amazing southern California photographer with excellent tips on how to get your everyday snapshots to tell the story!

EEEEEEEEE!!!

So excited but first, must clean the house before we all forget where our front door is located!  HAH!

Keep making beautiful messes of your paperlives!!

Hugs, Amy