greenbeanbaby art

baby contest... join the fun!!!

alrightee.... everyone knows baby isabella is due very soon... so i thought it would be fun if fellow blog readers played a li'l game.... it's simple and of course, free to join... all you have to do is email me your guess to this new email address (please don't send it to my greenbeanbaby address) by april 2nd, 2007... i will give you a few facts so you can make a better guess... whoever is the closest will win a wee prize from me... if by chance, we have several people with the same and exact/right answers, there will be a random drawing...

facts:
1. i went to the hospital earlier this week because of contractions... as you can see, i am still pregnant (but i am still having contractions)

2. diego was born 9 days before his due date

3. diego was 6lbs 13oz and 18 inches long

4. my due date is april 15th, 2007

now to guess:
1. what day will isabella be born?

2.how much will she weigh? (pounds and ounces, please)

3. how tall will she be? (in inches, please)

remember, email answers only to this account.... and be sure to get the guesses in by april 2nd, 2007!!!! i am putting this under the sweetpea swap info... i even made a teeny button for anyone who wants to snag it!

best wishes everyone!!!!!

paper art, eye candy

 
i finally finished amy's book for the paperbag swag project.... the first photo is of the page spread... UNDER the flowers, is the illustration of amy's balancing life... and inside the pocket of the elephant, are 5 elephant tags to be used....

 
and here is all the swag.... there is paper for her to use... alphabet magnets (inside the pocket with the lil girl having tea)... there are a few floral embellishments too with a baby carriage on the top.... even though she won't get her book til july, i hope she can use them!!!! and there are a few more odds and ends in the envelope but i shouldn't spoil ALL the surprise, eh?! the book is fat, fat, fat!! of course, cathy contributed too, with all her lovely swag and art... you can see more of her paperbag photos here... the group is made up of so many talented artists!!!!!


and the invitations are done!!!! the printing job was pretty good and i plan on going back to get more stuff... i want to have generic invitations for the etsy shop (did i tell you that already?!) anyhow, just so you get a sneak peek of what i will be offering eventually, here ya go:

and yep, a boy version will be available too!!!!!

okay, enough showing the items... i have soooooo many ideas, really!!! i just wish i had two days non-stop of energy and time to work on art for may.... ah, the brain keeps working, even as i lay down to rest or sleep... even as the heartburn burns my throat, i am still thinking of new products.... ever happen to you???!!!

now, to watch lost and pack up some items to ship out... oh, i best get started on my birth announcements too, eh?!

many pix, few words...

i'm 37wks now!!!! i am VERY ready to have this kid!!!!! but when will she come?! i feel like i am gonna pop any moment and the belly is sore from contractions and all her moving... of course, i wanna meet this lil girl too, ya know?! ah, the waiting process ...


so in the meantime, i work on amy's book for the paperbag swag project... if you click on the pic, you can see a better closeup of it all... amy is due in april too and her theme for her book is balance... a wonderful theme, wouldn't you say?! so thus the reason for the illustration... it folds up in the middle... i still have more to do to the book itself, such as all the swag!!! but i WILL make the deadline!

 
and while i wait for isabella to come, i keep buying paper... it's an addiction, we know that... but lately, if ramel says to treat myself, i am NOT arguing!! after all, i really do deserve it and bills are getting paid... without swapping though, i NEED to get my fix for paper :) the first photo is paper from robyn that i forgot to show off.... you can see more papers i bought here and here.... (psst! i bought a few more teeny packs since then too....)

now that the pregnancy is near its end, i can't help but be exhausted.... poor diego is forced to watch tv with me as i rest because i have such little energy to chase him or go for walks... i feel bad... but he gets to go to daycare and boy, he is QUICK to say "bye mumma"... so here he is in his gear.....

and lastly, this is diego, after my niece's birthday party... he was definitely tuckered out in the car.... my cute diego is gonna be a big brother soon!!!!

how's that for a fast summary?!

back orders...

   
as stated before, there were a few projects still on the table in need of completion... these are two custom ordered greeting cards made for a friend... the envelopes are handmade to match and the inside of both cards has a matching paper and ribbon bow... my favorite has to be the garden girl... i really love the background paper since it came half illustrated already... and i am also a big fan of the fruit paper used for her apron and boots... that sheet of paper has to be a 6"X6" piece and i have managed to stretch it out for several projects... i will be sad when it's all done- hehe... the boy card is cute too! ramel picked out a big stack of paper for me (300pcs) at the craft store so this was the first item made with some of that paper...

this paper is for the 25-30 invitations i am making for a friend who is graduating nursing school... the front of the paper is the blue floral pattern, while the back of the paper is a pink dotty pattern.... it's also a shiny thick paper so it's perfect!!! the invitations will be made in the same fashion as these ones....

this is how the inside of the invitation will look.... front and back.... they have been sent off to the printer today and hopefully will get them by monday....

   
lastly, here was another custom order for a friend... it is another pregnant lady journal but added is the yarn and knitting needles as well as a shih tzu dog in a purse.... originally, the lady  had brown hair but had to fix it to blonde... i am glad that i didn't choose a yellow background, or else the book woulda not turned out well at all....

ah, now, to just finish two birthday presents and the beginning of the birth announcements, and i will be done!!!!!!

the 36th week mark....

it's almost the end... and nearly the beginning... with contractions and heartburn and a very active baby, i am excited to end the pregnancy and meet isabella... not that pregnancy isn't a joy- but you know, i am glad it's only 9 months.... i feel overstretched and quite full.... not to mention, there is a curiosity of knowing who this wee child is, that has been kicking the mess outta my belly and ribs... so anywhere from next week to mid april, it will be safe for isabella to be born.... we are rooting for the first of april :)

diego has been quite the happy camper... here he is with a BACKPACK... he wears it as a cape, insisting on doing so, without any help to fix it.... in fact, he now wears my black apron over his head (we can thank ramel for giving him that idea) so he has TWO capes.... such a silly boy!!! the bag was made by sweet robyn, as part of a swap...  you can see a better photo of the bag, here... diego won't let me take a good photo.... he is busy running around...

here are more goodies robyn sent this way.... baby clothes for isabella... an adorable shirt for diego... chocolates for me :) a beautiful bag for me too (i have to take another photo of it because the image came out too dark)... and oh, several dvds for diego too! so now, he carries the 1940's superman cartoon case EVERYWHERE... and the justice league case... ah, you remember he has that obsession, eh?! so i've already watched those dvds 50x over and doubt that will be the end of it....

here are some onesies robyn appliqued for miss isabella... now, robyn took this photo and i hadda snag it :) i was in too much of a rush to take photos so i could eat the candy but in doing so, didn't do a good job... she also sent me a starbucks card that has been utilized partially already... nearly lost it, along with every other card in my wallet but thank goodness, everything was found.... starbucks, here i come!! thank you so much robyn for the wonderful treats for the family!!!

oh, and lastly i must show off this print by magpie skinny.... i had to get it with its superhero frog!!! i think its just a darling image that would look perfect in the kids' room.... and there it hangs too! meg also sent some greeting cards too... she does very beautiful work!!!! just had to share all the loveliness in my life...

now, to make some gnocchi and steamed veggies...

ps. i updated the blogs on the side... if i forgot anyone, don't be offended- i am losing track of all the blogs i like to visit so please understand...

mistaken identity...

i asked diego, "what's your name?"

he says, "ummmm, superman!"

"no, your name isn't superman"

"oh, ummmm, batman?!"

so much for getting the kid to tell me his name, eh?! as if he doesn't know it.... whenever i call him, he goes "what?" i guess he is being a silly boy....

so aside from resting with diego and making him lay down with me alot, i still have a few art projects left to do... the first is another cupcake notebook for someone.... eventually, this will be available in the shop, after my li'l maternity leave....

in the meantime, more gifts for isabella keep coming... my mom gave me this li'l fisher-price tea set for when isabella turns two... yep, my mom thinks ahead :)

isn't it just cute?!


ah, my mom always finds wonderful wrapping paper... my dad too.... the last time i went to her house, she sent me home with a ton of cute, retro paper.... i wish you could see them close up, however, once i get into cardmaking again, you may get to see them better... i have so many ideas rolling in my noggin, but in time, right?

by next week, i should have some more artwork all completed (so much for a complete break from art... hehe)

a maternity leave....

with 5wks left and still artwork left to be made, i must take a short maternity leave from future orders and the etsy shop.... the store will be  open, and i will still blog and flickr, however, i will not be taking any more orders until may 14th.... this also means a new sweetpea swap set up around that time too.... there is no way of  me knowing how much time i will have prior to may, with a new baby around.... don't worry, it will also give me time (perhaps) to get some new designs prepared for the shop...

i have to say thank you all for your kind comments and support... it's been hard getting over to other people's blogs and commenting- please forgive me.... i am not trying to ignore anyone, however, my emailbox has been filling up and everytime i want to sit down, diego comes ready to play.... after being in daycare, he really loves playing games with me and who can resist a cute and happy toddler?! (yes, i am utterly tired in this photo- hehe)

and again, a few more goodies in the mail... some gorgeous earrings and a beautiful pin from jo of singapore.... i got to wear them when we went to see the movie, 300... wasn't that so thoughtful of her?! just what is needed to make a worn out pregnant mom, feel pretty....

and sweet raesha sent me a beautiful card and some papers to make a card too!!! how fun is that?! it's for a challenge called "calculated acts of kindness"- what a good idea, eh?! i have MANY thank you cards to make and send out to people, most likely after isabella comes around... but i still have time to start some now.... the papers and card helped make the rough weekend, more pleasant...

now, i am off to email, flickr, and sleep.... i think i will sleep first :)

who loves my green bean babies?!

it's been an amazing couple weeks when mail is concerned... toss out the bills and forget about worrying for the moment.... there has been so much love shared to my family recently, i am so happy and blessed... my friend from canada sent me a slew of baby girl clothes for isabella.... the above dresses are only a portion of what was in the box.... cute shoes, cute dresses, wonderful pjs, and oodles of love.... she is a dear friend of several years who knows how to make me smile....


and joyce of slateblu sent some items for both isabella and diego.... a book called "little pea" for diego, which i read several times, despite diego's lack of presence... he still won't sit down for me to read to him but he does like looking at books these days... in time... and then, there is this wonderful lil outfit with tons of intricate embroidery on the sleeves... another sweet gift from a wonderful blogging friend...


today, there was a package in the mail from li li of singapore! there was a bear bib with a cute onesie to go with... the onesie has the cutest design on it but sadly, you can't really tell by the photo (sorry)... and she sent some stationary for me... wasn't that so sweet of her?! she is another one who sends me goodies on a whim.... i know i may never actually meet her but i am glad we have a friendship online anyhow :)

and can you believe your eyes????? this is paper with the names of my two green bean babies!!!!!! mandi of great dane addict sent this lovely surprise!!! can ya make a mom's eyes water any more?! i never seen paper like this and it's almost too sweet to use... but one day, i will make an illustration of my two babies (or perhaps begin that scrapbook i planned for years?!) and these papers will be used... mandi was so sweet and kind to find and send these...


lastly, we can't forget about my first baby, diego.... he is such a ham and growing up so well.... normally, if i bring up isabella and the fact he is going to be a big brother, he walks away from me... but lately, he has been saying "hi bella! how are you?" he will be a great sibling, but of course with some adjustments for us all.... he will be a wonderful helper as well... he loves throwing clothes in the hamper and stuff in the garbage... a few times, i've had to dig clean clothes out the hamper and dirty dishes out of the garbage-but you can't discourage a helper, eh?!
 

going to daycare has been a great help too.... not only has he learned to share in general, he comes home so energized, despite his lack of napping... he eats better around other kids, gets more cookies, plays games more, and is getting smarter by the moment... at one point i felt bad, because i tried teaching and reading to him but it was at daycare that it all kicked in.... i tried singing him songs but with daycare, he has learned and seems more interested than here... diego is also in the 3-4yr old age group- so he is the youngest but handling it very well... all the kids like him, teachers too, and it makes me smile.... i musta did something right to have such a happy kid, eh?!

now, to do it all over again....
 

short but sweet...

remember i told you about the paperbag swag book project?! well, round two was to be finished and sent off by the end of february... however, i was late... if this was school, the teacher woulda put a big fat "F" on my desk.... but thankfully, there are no grades and some understanding people in the group.... all these images are for cathy's book... her theme was inspiration and she loves keys and richard scarry so i did an alice in wonderland sorta thing....

 
it took 2 or 3 tries to get this baby down and glued.... the first times were pure frustration and probably hormones mixed with lack of real sleep.... but with encouragement from both the group and my husband (who got more than an earful of my woes), i kept trekkin' at it and it turned out fairly well... the door took soooo long because it's been ages since i've attempted pop-up elements... i need to bust out all the books from college for the next round... also, my main concern was avoiding the crease in the book... i didn't want the illustration to have to get folded and eventually ruined from all the bending...

each book has 5 spreads, but somehow i managed to add an extra spread in cathy's book... how? well, i didn't want the left side of the "girl with key" illustration to be glued down in the book... so it was left floating but that meant, there was still the left part of the book to illustrate as well as the other side of the illustration... so to deal with the added dilemma, i made a pocket on the left side... this  has the illustration of the girl and the flower... then i filled the pocket with paper- its stuffed to the brim but it didn't help that the pocket was made too tight... then on the right side, i added a tree with another pocket, stuffed with a couple handmade notecards....

lastly, there are pockets between the pages too- part of the paperbag book design... well, by this time i was out of energy and definitely time... so i made another pocket from retro wallpaper and filled it with buttons, embellishments, and who knows what else?! it was 3:30am as i finished the last of it.... needless to say, the book is very fat now, and hard to close.... i might have went overboard... oh well... so now, to work on the next book that came my way.... amy's....