The Paustenbaughs

Come On Over

I've moved my blog address so come on over!

You can now find me at

http://christapaustenbaugh.com/wordpress

 

See you there!

52 Fridays: Patterns

This week at The Bloom Forum our theme for the week is patterns.  I was a little late to the game, so I'm not technically in the circle, but still wanted to participate with my photo.

This photo has a couple of different pattern meanings to me. 

I love the pattern on this headband because it can go with so many different things.  I bought it just before we moved and it's my go to headband now!  The pattern really reminds me of a 70's afghan, hence the retro feel of the photo!

The other pattern meaning is the constant wear this headband gets now that we are living in a subtropical, EXTREMELY humid climate.  Even this straight haired girl is having hair issues and I end up with this headband by the end of the day!

Now head on over to Erin Dahl who was late to the party with me!!

Whipping Up Cards

I completely forgot that I had some cards up on the Pebbles blog last week and I haven't shared them here yet.  I adore the new mid season release Sunnyside and it is perfect for cards.

I have realized that I need about 1000 pieces of this sheet of paper:

And several more of the 6 X 6 paper pads!  I made both of these cards using pretty much those 2 things, plus a couple of embellishments.  Easy peasy and really brilliant colors too!

I'm trying and trying to re-do and move the blog to a personal domain so bear with me if it all gets a bit weird around here over the next couple of weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Real Housewives of Montclair

So I've never been quiet about my love for all things Bravo TV, especially the Real Housewives shows.  Yes, they are ridiculous nonsense and portray women in the worst light ever.  I still love to watch the ridiculousness of it all each week. Their "reality" takes me away from mine for a few minutes.  The End.

My amazing friends threw me an awesome going away party before our move, and thanks to the Studio Calico Sunday Sketch I have now put it down on pretty paper:

This layout is based on this sketch from Nicole Samuels' flower girl layout:

I was beyond thrilled when Lisa asked if I would take part in this week's sketch.  There are lots of talented ladies to pick from over at Studio Calico and never expected an email, but so happy I was asked!

And even happier I documented this crazy fun night already while it's still fresh in my mind!  Miss these ladies so, so much!

 

52 Fridays: Framed

This week on The Bloom Forum we have 7 photographers taking part in the 52 Fridays weekly circle.  This week's theme is Framed.

As I looked through my photos from the past couple of weeks (just now I might add-a little late!), I wasn't quite sure what take I wanted on this week's theme.  My mind kept going towards the photography sense of the word, as in framing your subject with the surroundings that you're in, making a frame around that person. 

Then I stumbled on this one I snapped at the beach last week as I walked around taking photos and I knew it was perfect for me:

I would love to get some photos of the girls in front of this abandoned yellow building some time!

Now head on over to Emily Remmick's blog to see what she came up with this week!

They are 1 in a Million

As someone who moves every 2-3 years you would think that packing up and moving our lives, including moving away from friends, would be old hat by now.  Very much not so.

I miss my friends.  The friends that know me. The ones that don't care that I'm inappropriate, have the sense of humor of a 14 year old and enjoy brainless tv on occasion.  Those friends.

Sure, I'm meeting some incredible ladies here that will also go in this category, but it always takes me a few months to "feel people out" so to speak and figure out who I gel with.  I'll get there; I know I will. 

In the meantime though, it gets lonely.

Creating has always been therapeutic for me, but especially so during moves.  I find myself reaching for photos of family and friends and laughing while I cut paper!

Oh how I miss them all and for different reasons!  So happy to have these photos and to have this creative outlet to look back at the fun times we had!

I never know what to do with vellum so I decided to wing it and stitch a little envelope for my journaling tag because I knew I wanted more than just a few words for this layout.  I needed more than a few words and I'm so happy with how it turned out. 

Here's to making more amazing friends that will shed tears with me when moving time comes around once again in 2 years!

Opportunity on Repeat

I am so, so, so excited!!  I thought for sure this would be the year that Pebbles would kick me to the curb after being on their team for 3 years.  Nope, not the case though!! I was ecstatic when I got the email from Elizabeth that I had been asked back for another year!!!

And I'm just as excited as that first email back in 2009 and feel honored that they still feel I'm a valued member to continue on. I plan on growing old with my husband and Pebbles!  And it is another great team this year:

Domestic
Christa Paustenbaugh from Manassas, VA (actually Okinawa, Japan :)
Donna Jannuzzi from San Diego, CA
Emily Spahn from Oak Lawn, IL
Jaclyn Rench from Maineville, OH
Kathy Martin from Raleigh, NC
Kim Kesti from Phoneix, AZ
Lynn Ghahary (DT Coordinator) from Randolph, NJ
Mandie Pierce from Vacaville, CA
Patricia Kumfer from Orlando, FL
Renee Zwirek from Aurora, IL
Shawna Webster from Ewa Beach, HI
Tiffany Hood from Syracuse, UT
Vivian Masket from Denver, CO
Wendy Sue Anderson from Heber City, UT

 International
Amelie Mordret from France
Eva Pizarro from Italy
Kim Jeffress from Australia
Laura Craigie from Canada
Laurel Seabrook from Canada
Nicole Nowosad from Canada

I'm also very, very excited about their new releases coming up. Have you seen them?!  These are some of my favorites:

Seen and Noted is hands down my absolute favorite.  All of it. The colors. The embellishments. I cannot wait to get my hands on this one!

I get images of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the warm colors of this take me back to watching Little House on the Prairie, with the Walnut Grove line.

I'm a sucker for tiny alphas and these are perfect!  I have loved the ones Pebbles has come out with before and I know these will be excellent too!

Pebbles did a Halloween line way back in the day, but now it's new and improved and fun collection of goodies!

So what is your favorite from the new Pebbles releases?!

52 Fridays: Up High

This week from The Bloom Forum we have 8 photographers taking part in our circle.  This week's theme is Up High. 

I knew exactly what I wanted to do for this week and luckily time cooperated with me.  Here on Okinawa there are lots of rolling hills (not good for running!) and points that you can see over the buildings and out to the ocean from an easy vantage point.  Just up from our house is a giant hill that leads to no where, but once you get to the top you can turn around and see this:

I love that you can see out over the small town and nearly to the ocean!  Beautiful!  Of course there are other more beautiful hilltop areas, but this is like our own little oasis behind our house.

Now head on over to Faye Kingston and see what she has captured for this week!

Just 5 Products

This month's theme at Write.Click.Scrapbook is using just 5 products on a page.  Now, I'm not the most complicated scrapper, but I do love me some bits and pieces on my pages and my supply lists usually grow pretty quickly!  So this was more difficult than usual, but I digress...

So I may or may not have "cheated" a bit by lumping things together in themes.  Patterned paper counted as one, letter stickers, etc. I had some trouble people. Lots of trouble.

But I adore this photo, so I still love this layout.  Ella has always been a Grandpa's girl since she was born. She ADORES them. She loves her grandmas too, but has a very special place in her heart for the men in her life!

52 Fridays: Red, White and Blue

This week at The Bloom Forum we have 10 photographers taking part in our weekly circle.  This week we are celebrating all that is red, white and blue.

Of course being a military family, we are surrounded by red, white and blue.  This last month we have had several ceremonies to go to for our family and the red, white and blue pride was shining through.  I love the hoopla of military ceremonies and every single time the color guard makes my heart swell with pride for my husband, for the military and for our country.

Now head over to Liza Hall to see what she has in store!