Author Archives: Mandi

For Starters | Meet Me Here

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PurdueAve_MeetMeHere_Paris_mm

The idea for the Meet Me Here kit [still a work in progress] came from an image similar to this that I added to my “things to do”  folder in my Microsoft Office Portfolio about three years ago. I’m just a little obsessed with the possibilities contained in that simple phrase. Meet me here. Someday [when we're both independently wealthy] I’m going to send this to Erin. We can wander the streets, shop, eat desserts, and basically do all the things our husbands wouldn’t want to do with us, all while we brainstorm ideas and call it a business meeting. A girl can dream, right?

PurdueAve_ForStarters_MeetMeHere_mm

arrows | color |  words | luggage |

Egg-cellent

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This year I really, really don’t want to dye Easter eggs. So we’re not going to. We’re going to decorate easter egg boxes. I made this lemon box last year for a friend and loved the possibilities. For this project I’ve simplified the process and put my handy-dandy cutter to use. I created a nesting box template and an egg shape for the top/bottom [think heart shaped boxes of chocolates]. Now, to all of those lacking in the electronic cutter department, please don’t tune me out quite yet. While it’s nice to have an electronic cutter for any project, it is, by no means, necessary for this one. The template is simple and straight forward, and the project is just as easily accomplished with the printed PDF template and a pair of scissors.

For the boxes I wanted a heavier material that would stand up to my kids, so I picked up some shirt boxes at Target. Unfortunately, the Silhouette doesn’t play well with such heavy materials. I fussed and tinkered and cursed before resigning myself to the fact that if I wanted the machine to do all of the cutting and scoring I would have to use standard cardstock. I shouldn’t whine about it. They turned out awesome anyway. If I do say so myself. Here’s how we did it…

Eggcellent Egg Box at Purdue Avenue

1.  Using the Egg-cellent Egg Box Template and heavy cardstock cut one each of the top + bottom and two of the egg shape. Also cut two egg shapes from your paper of choice for decorating. I liked using a second egg because it made the box feel more substantial. 

2.  Glue the cardstock and paper eggs wrong sides together for thickness but don’t attach them to the box quite yet.

PurdueAve_Egg-cellent1

PurdueAve_Egg-cellent43.  Decorate the eggs in any way you would like. We tried a few different things: watercolor, colored pencils, patterned paper, solid paper with patterned paper polka-dots/zig-zags/stripes. We like it all. Please note that if you are using any 3-D objects do not attach them yet. This step is for flat paper application only. We just used glue sticks, but mod-podge would work as well.

4.  Assemble the box by folding along the score lines and gluing the tabs to the inside of the box. I tried this with a permanent glue stick and it worked fine, but I did have to use paper clips to hold the sides while the glue dried. In the end I used my hot glue gun. I much prefer the hot glue gun. I did not try my tape runner.

PurdueAve_Egg-cellent3

PurdueAve_Egg-cellent2

5.  Mark the desired position of the box on the back of the eggs and attach the egg shaped tops and bottoms to the corresponding piece of the box.

Eggcellent Egg Box at Purdue Avenue

6.  Attach any 3-D objects [optional].

7.  Fill the box with whatever your heart desires. Me? I love Cadbury Mini Eggs. And I’ve just been introduced to Laffy-Taffy jelly beans and, though I’m really a chocolate girl, I think they’re pretty good as well.

So that’s it. Awesome, gift-able eggs that are fun, easy to make, and 100% customizable.

The template kit includes Egg-cellent Egg Box Template in PDF/SVG/ PNG formats. The finished size of the box portion is 3 x 5. However, the template can be enlarged or shrunken as desired. We did some 3 x 5 and some 2 x 3. If you choose to adjust the sizes just be sure to adjust all the pieces accordingly.

ps. This week only the template kit is free. Get it here. Happy Easter!

pps. For those using the Silhouette and really wanting to use the heavier shirt box, it will work with a few alterations. For whatever reason, the machine had problems with the score lines. To bypass this problem simply un-group the lines on the box templates and  remove the score lines. Set the blade to 10 and the thickness to 33. It’s possible I need a new blade, but I had to go over it four times. To do this, make a copy of the template by holding down ctrl and clicking [cmd+click on a mac] on the portion of the template you want to duplicate. This will make a copy directly over the original and will tell the machine to cut it twice. In the cut settings choose the double cut option to make two more cuts, bringing the overall total to four cuts. And, like I said, it’s possible I just need a new blade, so I would do a test cut first to see if just two cuts will work. After cutting the box shape, score the fold lines with a bone folder or whatever tool you prefer. I used the edge of a spool of thread because it was right here. Anything will work. Assemble as instructed above.

Scrap-Along

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Good morning everyone! Mandi here. I am just about ready to begin this Scrap-along! It will start in a few minutes at 11:30 am MDT. I’m going to go ahead get the little man climbing on my back situated with PBS kids and a snack… and cross my fingers that he’ll cooperate!.

This is where I’ll post the steps. They’ll be in color for distinction. If you need an intro on the how-to of a Scrap-Along you can see those below.

Let me know if you have any questions as we go along. I’ll be here, chatting and playing along with you.

Here is how a Scrap-Along goes:

* I will post a new instruction every 10 minutes for the next hour for a total of 7 different “rules” for you to follow in creating your layout. I will update this post with each of the instructions.

* At the end of the hour, when all instructions have been given, you will then have until next Wednesday to complete, save, and upload to gallery of your choice [or e-mail me a screenshot/copy and let me know in the comments so I'll know to watch for it... mandi_miles@hotmail.com].

Bubblegum Alley Meet Me Here kit teaser by Mandi Miles

* After you upload your layout to the gallery of your choice make sure to come back to this thread to let me know you’ve posted your layout with a direct link [ps. instructions on how to do that at end of post]… everyone who participates [determined by a finished layout linked up before next Wednesday] will receive a mini-kit courtesy of Bubblegum Alley Design Company [that's me, Mandi].

______________________________________________________

Are you ready? Today we’ll be dreaming of places to meet. Here we go!

1. Choose 2 photos. One of a person and one of where you’d like to meet them OR of something than represents the message you’d like to convey [ie. could be a photo of yourself]. If the meet place is a dream there are some great photos on Wiki Commons. Also, keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily need to be a physical place, the place that keeps coming to my mind is in the middle.

2. Choose one background paper and any coordinating papers you think you’d like to use. Add your chosen background to your layout canvas.

3. Add your photos to your layout with any frames and/or techniques you’d like.

4. Make a connection between the photos in some way… i.e. overlap them, have an arrow from one to the other, lines/dots.

5. Using a favorite font write the words: MEET ME HERE. Use your favorite technique to jazz them up… i.e. embossed, stroke + shadows to make a sticker look, shadows + warp to make a paper cut look, grunged for a stampy/painty look… you choose. 

6. Choose and add up to three decorative elements of your choice. 

7. Complete your layout with journaling or a favorite quote. 

______________________________________________________

So that’s it. Send me your links and I’ll send out your freebie. Thanks for playing along!

Here’s mine:

Mandi Miles | Meet Me Here

ps. How to post links in comments:

1. Copy + past the code below into the comments

2. Replace the yellow section with your link

3. Replace the bolded portion with your words to identify the link

<a href=”http://www.location of image to link“>Here’s mine! Or other words of your choice here</a>.

Meet Me Here

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Purdue Avenue Scrap-Along Invite 20MAR2013

 

Next week [Wednesday, March 20th] I’ll be here leading a scrap-along. What is a scrap-along? Well, I’m glad you asked. A scrap-along is my remake of the speed scrap concept. I think speed scraps are loads of fun. I love that there are parameters to keep me from over thinking a page. I also get a kick out of chatting it up in the forum and getting to know people. But I know that sometimes it’s hard to be available at the specified hour. And to finish in the allotted time limit.  Well, the scrap-along will encompass the best and leave the rest.

For those who can make it, I’ll be blogging the instructions or “rules” for a specified hour beginning at 11:30 am  MDT on Wednesday March 20th [1:30 pm EST/ 6:30 pm GMT... here's a handy-dandy time zone converter if the need arises]. I would love to have you join me. Blog comments will be used as a forum of sorts for questions and general gabbing/getting to know you stuff.

For those who won’t be able to make the time slot, the instructions will be available indefinitely and you can play along at your convenience.

For those who love a prize, I’ll be offering up Copy Cat Template #1 [that's the preview there on the left side of the invite] + a handful of digital items [scribble, confetti sprinkles, word art, textured paper].

The freebie will be available for one week to those who complete and share their completed scrap-along layouts [via e-mail or a link in the comments to the gallery of their choice or blog post].

So mark your calendar and join me. Won’t you?

ps. The Copy Cat Templates are exactly what the name implies, templates made from images I’ve seen. I would love to link to the image, but I can’t seem to find it. I could have sworn it was in my Pinterest. Or Amy Tangerine’s Pinterest. Or Molly Irwin’s. I’ve looked for over an hour [longer than I would like, but I really think it's only proper to give credit where credit is due], but alas, no luck. I will link it up when it turns up. As it most certainly will. Now that I’ve given up the search.

pps. Here’s the quick info:

Who? Everybody

What? Scrap-Along

Where? PurdueAvenue.com

When? Wednesday March 20, 2013 | 11:30 am MDT

Why? Because it’s fun. And there’s free stuff.

 

Currently

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Thinking about how long it’s been since I showed up around here.

Feeling a little chagrinned about dropping the ball [yet again] on a year long project. Or at least the sharing part. I’ve got my list and I keep on working through it. One day I’ll need to catch you all up. Maybe. Yes.

Committing to a blog post about the 52 week project & catching up with the past 5 weeks. Yes, it’s really been five. Though I currently have no concept of the passing of time.

Wishing I could get past this compulsive need I feel to keep little Molly away from everyone and everything. Including her siblings.

Filling in the details means that I should probably share that Molly ended up getting RSV and was in the hospital for a couple of days a few weeks ago because she couldn’t maintain a good oxygen saturation level. She’s fine. She’s strong. She’s huge [15 lbs give or take]. We’re so grateful to have her in our family. She’s the reason I’ve turned into a germ -o- phobe. She never gets to go out. Also, in the nature of full disclosure, her name isn’t really Molly. It’s her screen name.

Researching science fair project ideas for the boy who cannot come up with anything better than, “something to do with chemistry, but not the standard vinegar + baking soda volcano.”

Thinking he should really come up with something better than that.

Listening to Millie cough on the couch. The little man telling me about chocolates while he inspects the chocolate chip bag that I may or may not have emptied with a spoonful of peanut butter while browsing Pinterest last night. Primary music in the background. This playlist on the computer. I wanted to see if I liked it. I’m still on the fence. It started strong.

Loving the simplicity and colors of the Sometimes Sweet blog [where the playlist came from].

Putting in a really big effort to train that oldest boy of mine to be a conscientious cleaner. He’s doing really well. He is saving his money for a iPod touch.

Wishing the second boy would find something to motivate him so we could work the system with him as well without a huge fight.

Ignoring the complaints that he never helps. Or does his jobs. Or his homework.

Thinking I’m sounding like a really fantastic mom right about now.

Wearing workout clothes. Not because I actually work out, but because they fit and are comfortable. Also I don’t care if the get baby spit on them. Or poop for that matter. It’s been known to happen.

Considering ways to keep myself involved in the online community without going overboard.

Wondering if people would be interested in some type of scrap-along here on the blog. Something like a speed scrap without the time limit. Curious.

Plotting different digital scrapbook kits I have in the works + how to promote them.

Gloating in the discovery of these fantastic desktop calendars on clearance at Target and how they make the best project planners for scrapbooking [I tried to find a link, but they're not on Target's site and they're not on the Greenroom site either - worrying that I may not be able to find more. I got the last one at my Target].

Relishing the fact that I’ve finished + submitted the taxes and have sorted out all the doctor/insurance issues and paid the bills due.

Singing the praises of my little man who, when told that we needed to save the last diaper on the shelf for bedtime and that he would have to potty in the toilet from now on, actually did just that.

Wishing we could go back to the quiet that was 20 minutes ago.

Imagining the photos that would be included in this post if I actually took photos these days. Imagine along with me, won’t you?

Waving goodbye.

5/52: High Five

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Does anyone else feel like they’re constantly picking up the same things, over and over again?

My life in a nutshell.

Throw that big revelation on top of the fact that when I look around my house these days I’m more than a little overwhelmed and you will find me here, in week five of project 52.

I need a smaller project this week. Something that feels doable and doesn’t have to be handed off to the super-duper husband.

So, every time I think of decluttering, feel guilty about the mess, or just find myself wandering the house aimlessly, I will pick up five things that have made a home in a bad area and find them a new, more permanent and acceptable home. First up… the extra large bottles of rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide on my kitchen counter.

We all know that’s not where those go.

Sheesh.

4/52: Junk in the Trunk

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Or bin…

Or box…

Or drawer…

It doesn’t really matter where the junk is stashed, it needs to be dealt with. I’m going with bins. Clothes bins to be exact.

I may or may not be letting my Super Duper Husband handle this one.

And he may or may not have been the one to actually create a clearing last week, though I did put in a good effort.

While I’m really good at letting him know what’s on my nerves these days, he’s really good and diving in and tackling things when momma’s not happy overwhelmed.

Love that him.

3/52: Create a Clearing

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Pick a surface.

Any surface.

Clear it off.

I’m doing my hutch.

It’s buried.

I don’t know what to do with any of the stuff on there.

Thus the reason it’s buried.

A lot of it is paper clutter… EOBs, bills, junk mail that came while I was in the hospital…

This article on dealing with paper clutter mentioned a method I use… Divide the papers into piles.

To file

To shred

To trash/recycle

To pay [or handle in whatever way is necessary]

I actually keep the trash and the shredder at hand so I’m not actually making piles for those ones. And I try to deal with the handle and file ones as soon as I’m done with the clearing. Having a file system is a whole other ballgame. I’m not sure I’m going to go into that. Unless someone really wants me to. I’m willing to negotiate. :)

Good luck!

Good Golly

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Image

Say hello to Miss Molly.

She is very large.

10 lbs 12 oz to be exact.

+ 22.25 inches long.

I apologize to all who have been anxiously awaiting this news. My inability to handle decent pain meds have made the surgery recovery a bit harder to handle this time around. Not so young as I once was I guess. Worth it though. She is 100% worth it. And I’m doing much better. We’re home and we’re good. We’ve had lots of wonderful help.

ps. I’ll be sure to take more photos soon.

2/52: Recipe Management

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The reason: I have one go-to recipe book. When I find a recipe I’d like to try, I copy it down on which ever piece of paper is handy [think power bill, label sheet, no-longer-sticky sticky notes]. Last week  I wanted to make a breakfast strata and when I grabbed the book all of the random papers fell out. Just like they do every single time I pick up the book. It happens to that super fantastic guy I call my husband as well. He doesn’t like it so much. Project found.

The plan: Put all of the recipes in my random recipe stack onto cards [4x6] that will actually fit in the 4-Up photo album I got to use for my favorite found recipes.

Bonus: Because I’m stuck in the hospital for a few days I made these recipe cards for anyone who would like them. Personal use only please. And because I can’t leave well enough alone, and I like options, I’ve made a few [um... four] different color sets.

PurdueAve_BreakfastStrata_recipe

Here are the color stories I used. The three with the seeds logo are from Design Seeds and the Yellow & Seafoam is from Oh, Hello Friend.

PurdueAve_ColorOptions

Click the link of your choice below for your recipe card printable…

Eye for Color

Yarn

Yellow & Seafoam

Sprinkled

ps. If you’re interested in the Breakfast Strata recipe it’s nice to know that this can be made however you’d like. I didn’t have tomato or green onion or bacon on hand last week, but I also didn’t have milk to make something else. So I mixed up the egg base [eggs + sour cream], added 1/2 the cheese, salt to taste [I like salt, so for me it's just a little over 1/2 teaspoon for 12 eggs], threw in maybe 1/2 tsp crushed dried chives, and cooked it up. We put salsa on it and the kids added more sour cream. It’s a really versatile recipe.

pps. If you use bacon [especially turkey bacon] there is no need to add salt.

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