$50 Give-a-way from Tiny Prints Holiday Cards

 In case you missed the Shutterfly give-a-way, I have another great give-a-way for you today from one of my favorite companies- Tiny Prints! I ordered my baby's announcements from this company last year, and I loved them! Looking through their Holiday Photo Cards, there are so many fun, fresh, and original designs, I don't know how I could pick just one! Here are a few of my favorites:

  Tiny Prints has a wonderful collection this year from traditional colors and embellishments to merry and bright colors that take on a modern feel. You can also find feature religious/scripture based cards (including Hanukkah) and cards to showcase your pets.  There is something for everyone!

Tiny Prints often has special offers, so you can always find a fantastic deal on your order!

So would you like $50 to use towards your Tiny Prints order? Go take a look at their
Holiday Photo Cards , let me know which ones you love, by leaving a comment!

To connect with Tiny Prints:
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
BLOG
Google +

Give-a-way ends on Thursday, November 8th, at 10 p.m. P.S.T.
Winner will receive a code good for $50 off their purchase from Tiny Prints- (does not include shipping). Good luck! Thanks for reading!

This is a sponsored post from Tiny Prints, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Shutterfly Holiday Cards {Give-a-way!}

I'm teaming up with my good friends from Shutterfly to bring you a great give-a-way!
One Little Gems Reader will receive-$50 off total order from Shutterfly!  (does not include shipping & cannot be combined with any other promos)


It's never too early to think about your Holiday Cards! I've been thinking about them a lot lately- what my boys will wear, where we will take the photo, and most importantly what kind of card design I would like. Shutterfly has an amazing amount of choices-from traditional, to merry and bright colors, to cards that feel very modern. They even have cards that are religous or scripture based. There is something for everyone at Shutterfly! Seriously, their cards are so stinkin' cute, I almost want to get more than one! Here are just a few that I really like this year:

As most of you know, I  am a huge Shutterfly fan! I use their site for photo books, calendars, address labels, and cards. In fact, I just did a few little presentations and shared their great photo books with women in my church.  They always have the best special offers too! There is always  a deal going at Shutterfly. {If you sign up for their emails, you will informed about all of their great deals and offers!}

So would you like to win $50 to use at Shutterfly this year?
Here is what you need to do:
Take a look at the wonderfulHoliday Cards! Tell me which one or ones you like in a comment and make sure I have a way to contact you! Shutterfly will send you the code directly, so you must make sure I have a valid email address, or link to one!

Give-a-way ends on Friday, October 26th, at 10:00 p.m. P.S.T. Good luck!

{this is a sponsored post by Shutterfly, but all opinions are 100% mine.}
You can connect with Shutterfly at:
Pinterest
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Google+


Thanks for reading! Happy Holiday Card Season!

1/2 Bath Powder Room Make-over

We finally got around to finishing {almost} our 1/2 bath/powder room.  This was the standard builder's bathroom- nothing fancy, white walls. Basically functional, but very boring.

We bought the paint over 6 months ago and finally got it up on the walls in January.  The paint color is called Ocean Breeze from Sherwin Williams. (I'll have to find the paint can and double check but I think that was the name of it.)

Using things I already had, I did a little "beach" themed decorating. Since it is a really small bathroom, I'll show you wall by wall what I added. 

Wall 1: This is my favorite. I put photos on canvas from our recent a (and first) trip to the beach this past fall. I made these 11 by 14. I have ordered photos on canvas from about 4 different companies. So far, I am the most pleased with Costco. The wrap the photos using thick edges- probably 1 1/2 to 2 inches, and do not charge extra for it. You can also add effects to your photo at no extra cost. Right now they have a coupon for $10 off each canvas (limit 2) that you order. You can do the entire thing online, and pick it up at the store- so no shipping charges. They have pretty good prices too.

 Wall 2: This is one of those things I already had. I just changed the photos to my favorite family beach photos. I used scrapbook paper for the other frames.  This wall could probably use something else, but it is behind the door, so you don't see it much. I do plan to add a small hand towel rack to the wall by the counter.

 Wall 3: The curtain was made from fabric in my stash.  The little thing below the window is old- from forever ago Target find- it was black and we spray painted it white.

And the last wall...White Ruffle Towels are from Target- on clearance. My husband hates them. He thinks they are too "girly". So I told him, I'm adding ruffles to every towel in our house. ha ha ha....hey- I am the only female in this house. :)

The frame above- had forever- just added a coat of white spray paint to make it look fresher. The BEACH sign is from forever ago too- a Home Goods find.

STILL TO DO: Frame the mirror, and add hardware to the cabinets, new light fixture, and crown molding. I don't think I'll be doing any of that fancy ceiling stenciling you are seeing everywhere. Love it, but can't do a stencil...reminds me of when I stenciled my room in 9th grade. :)

So now, I have a little reminder of the beach in my house. :) OK so it is a beach bathroom. I still can't feel that ocean breeze, and sometimes it stinks and is covered in sticky kid fingerprints.

 At least, it is a more pleasant experience to clean this bathroom. :)

Hope you had a fun Valentine's Day! Thanks for reading! oxoxoxo

Quilting with Paper

I saw this idea on Joy's Hope. I loved it so much, I couldn't wait to try it as I love using canvas and pretty paper to decorate. ☻ It was much easier and quicker to do than it looked. She shares a tutorial on how do to this at the link above. Here is a little bit about how I did mine. ☻

First pick some coordinating papers. I used DCWV papers, since they had the color combinations I was looking for. You need a paper cutter to cut the paper, and some modge podge to attach the paper to the canvas. I also painted my canvas first, to get the sides/edges, and I also did a light coat of paint over the entire thing (in case any canvas showed through in places) before applying the paper with modge podge.

Since my canvas was 16 inches by 20 inches, I cut my paper in 4 inch lengths, but all different widths-from one inch to 3 inches- I didn't really measure exactly, just cut. It really doesn't take that much paper, so it goes quickly. Then I place my paper around the edge -no paticular order or pattern- but I wanted it to sort of look like a frame-so I went around the edge and then filled in the middle. I laid it all out first, and then applied the modge podge and attached it after.

I added a few vinyl letters...not sure how I like it, but it comes off easily if I change my mind.

The great thing about modge podge, is that if I get sick of this design, I can just modge podge something else over the top. ☻I also hot glued some white wooden clothespins to hold the photo in place...but I may change that later too. (see top photo)

I used this black and white paper to make one for my room too. I may put a photo on it, and I may not...we'll see.

It just adds something to an otherwise very plain wall. I'm thinking I need to make a few more like this and hang them all together to really make a statement on a wall. Quilting with paper is really fun- and anyone can do it. And since I love stuff like this but hate a whole wall of the same thing (sorry, I know wall paper is coming back but I still don't like it), this is perfect for me. Let me know if you try this! ☻ I'd love to see your version of this easy craft!

baby sweetness...

I did not take this photo (I helped but it was taken by someone else

Isn't he sweet?

HE is the reason I am sick and congested...

HE is the reason I never sleep...

HE is the reason the sink is full of dishes and laundry is left undone...

HE is the reason my life is on hold...

HE is the reason I nurse..... and sit for hours in a chair watching t.v....

HE is the reason my body is looking pretty shabby and rather large...

HE is the reason I don't leave the house...

HE is the reason there are toys covering the floor ( we have 3 - HE's)....

HE is the reason there are no moments of peace and quiet...

HE is the reason we find moments of JoY...

HE is the reason I understand love and sacrifice more than before...

HE is the reason we have done this 3 times now...AND.... no matter how hard it is, no matter what we have to give up, no matter how much it changes our lives.....

In the end, it only makes our lives better, it is all worth it!☻

I love my children :) even though they take everything out of me :)

How does that lady with 18 kids do it?

one week old

so this blog is not going to be photos of my kids- i have a few things in my brain that i just need to get made=-and i am excited and wish i had the energy to make them now- but i will- - as soon as i recover...but until then enjoy this sweetness :) i really love being a mommy!

Photographing Newborns and Kids- Very Beginner Tips

Please do not copy any of these photos :) thanks!

I am no pro at photography. I have had a few people ask me how they can get some good photos of their children and infants. I am still learning-- and have a lot to learn. However...here are my VERY BEGINNER PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS ☻

1. PRACTICE- take lots and lots of photos!

2. You don't have to have a fancy camera- I sure don't- but LEARN to use the camera you have. Read the manual and practice using the different settings.

3. WORK with natural lighting. Turn off your flash. Use a good window. North facing windows are best, but South facing windows are good too. If you think there is too much direct sunlight, play with the blinds or diffuse the light by hanging up some sheer fabric or a sheet over the window. Using natural light takes practice too.

4. VIEW photos you like. There is a lot of wonderful talent out there. View other's work and see what kind of style you like. Study photos- chances are you can create some of your own that are similar.

5. READ UP- read books about photography. There are lots of tutorials online too. Many talented photographers are willing to share their tips and tricks. Read and practice and learn from them.

6. GET IN CLOSE- Make your subject the focus of the photo. Look at the composition when taking the photo. Is there anything distracting in the background? Try different positions to get the photo you want.

7. LEARN how to use some Photo Editing Software- in the end, you can't always get the best photos- but you can fix them with Photo shop and the other editing software out there.

HERE and HERE and HERE are a few simple YouTube videos with some good beginner tips too. AND HERE are some more tips from a pro- with some beautiful photos to view too.

I ♥ Faces- Laughter

The photo above is my son, in Utah, at my grandparents home. The background is Logan Canyon and the Logan River. I have lots of photos of him smiling and laughing, but I really like this one :) I'm sure it could use some editing, to brighten up his face a bit.... and maybe some cropping....ahhhh maybe next time :)

So I haven't done I ♥ Faces for several weeks, but I decided to share this week. Please note, that I don't ever do this to win-- just look at the talent by clicking HERE for this week's entries, and you will see what I mean :) It is amazing!! I haven't taken many photos lately, and still don't have the "skills" or the camera to go with it-but I LOVE photography-and love to join in the fun! I ♥ Faces is a great little site for learning, sharing, and seeing the amazing talent that is out there! Take a look :)

Photo Learning Book and Song : Opposites

YEAH... I know I haven't blogged regularly here. Please forgive me. I've got a ton of things to post, just haven't had the drive to do it, being this pregnant and tired, attending to the house and children, with no husband home, has been a bit overwhelming....I know... excuses... ☻
We actually made this little book of opposites back in February--and I'm finally posting it! It is based on the song, Opposites, by Janeen Brady, -from the Show a Little Love CD. It is a song I loved as a kid, and sang often. I could not find the lyrics anywhere online, so I will post them below. We took photos of things familiar to us, and of the kids doing different things (see above). I did not limit the book to only the words in the song. We put the song lyrics in the front of the book and then had the photos follow after. This is a fun thing you could do with your kids, and super easy to make. You can buy a little plastic 4 by 6 photo book at Target or Wal-mart (I found mine at Target for 70 cents-dollar section clearance.) Then you just add your photos, words, and cover. This was great, because the next month, my son was learning about opposites in pre-school, so he brought this to share, and he already a solid understanding of what opposites were, from doing this little book :) I think it is fun to do your own photos, of things your child is familiar with. I am happy to share my cover and generic photos-just leave me a comment- and I can email them to you if you like :) The song is super cute too- and I could not find a recording of it online...but you can go HERE to see many of her products and HERE is the CD that has this song on it. I think it is a great CD for kids- we love all the songs on it!

Most things Have an Opposite
By Janeen Brady

When things aren’t going
Exactly my way,
When I have feeling of
Total Dismay,
I ponder the reason
That this has to be,
And as I consider,
I can clearly see:
Most things have an
Opposite.
Most things come
In pairs.
And many times I
Can Benefit if
I do not dispair….


Hot has Cold
Black has White
Up has Down,
Day has Night,
Life has Death,
Good has Bad,
Young has Old,
And Happy Has Sad.

If I didn’t know about
Bad and about cold,
Something of death, and
The sad and the old,
Then I wouldn’t know about
Wrong and Right, and I
Wouldn’t know the
Joy of Good and Light.


Most things have an
Opposite.
Most things come In pairs.
And many times I
Can Benefit if
I do not dispair….


Hot has Cold
Black has White
Up has Down,
Day has Night,
Life has Death,
Good has Bad,
Young has Old,

And Happy Has Sad.

Enjoying this

Blogging absence due to last minute trip for a family emergency...and we also enjoyed

Easter Sunday with family and cousins

Seeing lots of these from the freeway

this is the Logan Temple in Utah

Doing some of this

Enjoying the sweetness of these

Seeing the beauty of these

Doing THIS- my boys throwing rocks in the river

Lots of THESE

Viewing MY FAVORITE MTN....TIMP while driving lots of miles

I have climbed numerous times in the past and just love this mountain

And of course we enjoyed EASTER and FAMILY. Next time we hope we have time to enjoy our friends also and more family :)

more little gems to come soon ....