We’re too big a family for a single sofa – but we’ve been living with one nice sofa (we got it when we were first married, it is close to our hearts) and one pretty crappy little love seat (it was a hand-me-down of a hand-me-down) in our living room for years and years now.  I’ve made the best, and suffered through having a slipcover… “slip” off that love seat over and over and over…

It’s been a secret thorn in my side, but I’ve been making it through… In the end replacing just because with the boys, and 4 boys at that, made spending the money to get a new couch sort of pointless.  Mainly because 1) couches are expensive and 2) boys ruin expensive things…

So, yes, we’ve been suffering through, long video gaming sessions spent sitting in the middle of the floor.  Saturday morning cartoons interrupted by brother spats about who was sitting where first.  I’ve been tugging and tucking at that slip cover wistfully dreaming of the day when I could justify replacing that love seat, getting more chairs, something, anything!

Well a few weeks ago, I opened up the curtains at the start of a Friday morning, and what to I see but a garage sale directly across the culdesac from us.  And what do I see but a BIG and nice looking sectional couch!  The neighbors took forty dollars for it and even came over and helped g squeeze it in through the front door.  It really is in very good condition (only a few years old) aside from the smokey smell it retained from our neighbors nasty little habit.

I spent a FULL day cleaning it thoroughly with my carpet cleaner, and the cushions have been sunbathed and febreeze-d a few times, and we ALMOST have rid ourselves of the smokey smell.  It was a really cheap find, but it did cost a little extra TLC. Now that it is sitting proudly in the livingroom, I’m patting myself on the back a little.  It looks great in the room, totally not a slip cover and TOTALLY worth the work.  Plus it is something I never could have convinced myself to buy new, well at least not while the little natives are still uncivilized!

Still, this is number one reason I’m proud of my hard (sectional) work:

4 Clingerman boys + 1 best buddy = Plenty of Room to Spare.  YAY!

Happy Saturday everyone!  I’m in busy mode today, so this is gonna be nice and short and sweet. I’m so happy to post my newest kit for you!

I am so happy with it! I love that it is soft and girlie, but not in your average soft pinks or pastels   You can see all about it and a list of elements in the store here, AND as always on Saturday only you can save 20% off!

So yes, thats all for today! Back to to our regularly scheduled Saturday activities.

<3 Shawna

Yay! So Friday is here again and with that comes a little peek of the kit I’ve been working on this week:

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I hope everyone will like this one as much as i do, because I’ve really been “feeling it” and so every step of this kit was more thoughtful than usual… it made me take for EVER – but now that it is done it makes me happy to look at.

So, yeppers, there it is!  If you wanna have a chance to win this puppy leave a comment – same as always!  I’ll pick a lucky someone to win

Enjoy your Friday and I’ll be back soon with the full preview and a winner!

So I was all planning on posting this on Saturday morning like a good little Sweet Shoppe Designer, BUT my sweet sweet friend Ruth surprised me by whisking me away on a mini getaway to Bend, OR to celebrate my 30th birthday! We shopped and wine tasted and danced and slept till noon!  It was total bliss, and a really really refreshing time for me.  I’ve been feeling the weight of domesticity this past week, so it was soo good for my soul to get away from responsibility and just relax!! Now I’m home again and feeling rejuvenated, ready to take on another week!

So this week I have two new collaborative kits in my Shoppe.  The first one is a perfect pair I made with my darling creative team member Jennifer Barrette!  Let me tell you, this girl is talented!  I absolutely love what we came up with together:

I love this kit because I think it is really truly a unisex kit, I love kits that will really work for boys and girls and that can truly compliment both girl and boy pics.  Also, there is enough non-theme specific stuff in here to make it useful beyond just back to school.  I’m so happy with the way this came out, and even more In love with Jennifer Barrette’s designs after working with her!

I may have have an extra soft spot for this kit too, because it heralds the end of the summer and the promise of getting back into normal life with our regular routines, and some quiet time around the house while the boys are back in school.  (although, just between you and me, it is a little bittersweet… in a lot of ways i’ve gotten used to having the boys around this summer, and I think the full days together have been really bonding for us – seriously though, that can be our little secret, I wouldn’t want it to get out, and school to get canceled or something LOL!!!  It’s not THAT bittersweet!)

My next collaboration this week is one I worked on with my dear Lauren.  “Shauren” kits are addictive, and we couldn’t resist putting out something together this week again!

I absolutely LOVE the feel of this one, it is so different and interesting, and yet totally simple and versatile.  Another kit that is on “my must scrap with soon” list!  I have to say, La and I rock together!

So onward to the winners!  I picked two winners today with random.org, and here they are:

First, the winner of “Learning Curve” is:

Congrats sugirox!  I’ll be sending you your free kit shortly!!!

And the winner of the Shauren beauty is:

Congrats Megan dear!! Keep an eye out from an email from me as well!

Well that’s all for now, gotta tackle the rest of my Monday head on!!!!  Hope you like the new kits!  You can just head on over to my shoppe to see them up close and and pick them up!

Hope your everyone’s week is fabulous!

It’s that time again!  But before I share our peekie, let me show off the beautiful “Shauren” creation from last week:

I’ve been having so much fun with la, we are both thrilled with how this turned out, I’m crossing my fingers that I can find some time to squeeze some scrapping in this weekend so i can play with it!

I picked a winner from last week’s Fix post and Rebecca! It’s your lucky day!  Send me an email if you don’t hear from me first!

And, here are a few element packs I snuck in there too:

(you can click on any of the previews to see it in the shoppe!)

So this week, staying in the collaborative mode I’m going to have 2 new kits for you.  The first one is a perfect pair with another one of my amazing creative team members, and the second is, you guessed it, a Shauren Scoop!

It’s a double peek! How cute is that!?!

So, you know the drill, I’ll be back sometime soon to announce the winner so keep your eye peeled! Now go ahead and comment away!

(ps, if you really love me keep reading, I posted something non-designer related yesterday)