it was classy. very classy.

first- i want to share the winner of may's go hybrid class!

Here are your random numbers:

102

102

FrancineC said...

What a great giveaway! I've started dipping my toes in the hybrid pool, so this class will be a huge help!

way to go fran! i'm sending your info to may.

now, moving on...

I cannot describe the level of classiness at the party this weekend..

Teased hair. Tight t-shirts. Tight Jeans. High heels. Major Howell sporting an earring.
WHAAA???

Okay. Make that a stick-on rhinestone from my scrapbooking room.

But don't tell anyone.

 

It took a LOT of hairspray to do this:

 

 

 

who would have thought that i could make jersey shore themed t-shirts

using supplies from hobby lobby? see? being crafty pays off

(see aforementioned faux earring).

 

oh my.

a whole new look for us.

ha!

see? like i said. classy.

wrong. just wrong.

i'm WAY too preppy for this.

one more thing today...i've had a really cool offer to teach an online class. i'm thinking about it, and wondering what i would teach.

is there something you would like to see me teach?

you guys are the best, and i'm hoping you'll share your thoughts with me.

(that is if you are still reading after those *vom* inducing photos above. HEEE!)

i'll be back tomorrow to introduce  my march sponsors.

happy monday!! xoxo

 

Comments

[Stephanie Eaken]

Wow-looks like you all had loads of fun!
Can't wait to hear more about the online class!!!! What exciting news for a Monday!

[CarySkelton]

Hi, Stephanie! These photos just crack me up! I can't get over seeing a Major in a Jersey Shore theme! That had to be so much fun.

As for teaching an online class, I feel like you have a number of options. For me, kind of an amatuar photography hobbyist, I'd love your teaching in photography. You have serious skill! (Also, I've been turning off my flash and telling everyone to stay very still for me...and the pictures look a million times better!)

Have a great Monday, Howell family!
xoxo
-Cary

[angela ezzell]

I don't care what you teach, I'm taking it!! The thing I learn most from you is how to put unexpected items and colors together.

[Jill Sprott]

I almost swallowed my tongue laughing. Classy is the word. Uh huh. ;)

[Colleen S]

I adore those photos! What fun!!! As for a class from you... I'd love anything! I love your layouts and how you put different papers etc together. But really anything! Can't wait to see what you do! I say go for it!!

[Jessica]

My ideas for your online class would be journaling tips.What to journal about, ways to incorporate journaling into your layouts, tips about journaling from your heart, etc...

[Steph H]

oh em gee! I just about died looking at those pics. And I think it's so cool that J played along.

As far as the class goes, I think you'd rock something journaling related, speaking from the heart, etc. or maybe something on combining colors/textures/patterns with an extra tutorial on how to tie a bow like you do so well :)

[Avital]

I would love to learn pattern + color picking from you as well as candid journaling 101 :)

[pidgen]

A Class!!! Whoohoo. I'd love to know more about how you decide what to stick on your layouts. Of course, you've always said that you go with what "feels" right. Which of course is a TON of help to the rest of us ... LOL! I really like how random your layouts look and yet so coordinated. I'm either one of the other. So anything you teach -- I'm taking!

[Maria S]

I am CRACKING up at Harper's photo, she's posed so perfectly. Love it.

[Kimber-Leigh]

oh my goodness. the girl's faces and hair kills me. looks like the howell family had a fun time :)

[Jenni Hufford]

the pic of you and the girls-- CLASSIC!!!!! I am SO glad you are taking a class- anything you teach, even if it's how to use a bump it- i am taking! HA! Seriously though, your journaling is amazing. You say so much more than "the girls at the park" etc. I have already learned SO Much from you through your journaling and what you really SEE when you look at a picture, rather than what you DID. (although those are good to- you know what i mean:) Also i believe you would do a great job teaching on how to choose embellishments & papers that make your photo/story stand out.

[Jenni Hufford]

sorry meant teaching class not taking... thinking faster than i type. ha! xo

[C. Rayevich]

HAHAHAHAHAAA!! those pics are awesome! can't wait to see what kind of lo you do for them heehee.
xo

[dana]

omg, those pics are soooo funny! your girls sure know how to perfect the look:)

what about teaching about your style and how you go about a layout? idk, you always seem to be able to mix and match paper w/o it looking bad and your journaling is always great, b/c its from the heart and doesn't sound cheesy like when i try it, lol! i am sure that didn't help you much but hope you can get some ideas.

[Kirsten]

Girl, if you could only teach me how to be as brave as you, in life and art. Maybe something about color...I struggle so much with color. And I have to tell you: about 3 years ago, we had just moved to this area, and my daughter was in Brownies. DH took her to this father/daughter dance with a dress-up theme of "pirates". So we were scurrying around trying to drum up a costume, and I was digging through my grandma's jewelry tin, thinking there must be a hoop we could put on Daddy's ear. Found this silly little fake diamond hoop, and that was just okay. So anyway, he went to this pre-dance dinner with our new neighbors, ate, was nervous meeting all these new people. Went to the dance, they put their "costumes" on in the car...and he couldn't find the earring. Ummmm...it was ON HIS EAR!! He was so mortified...he met these guys, ate dinner, all with my grandma's earring screwed onto his ear. And nobody said anything. We still laugh until we cry at that.

[Julie L]

I'd love to take a class that you teach. Maybe you could teach about how you layer things on your layouts- text, photos, papers, embellishments. What comes first? or Altering embellishments. I was looking at the pics of your recent layouts and I love how you use paint and glitter, it's so subtle but very effective.

[Lynn]

Great photos! Love the pose with you & the girls :)

I'd really like to take a journaling class taught by you. You always have really interesting ideas for placement of your journaling and it's always so heartfelt.

[mary t]

wow cool did you guys look?????

ANY class would be fine with me!! boring answer I know, but true!!

[tracy]

The teased toddler hair is way too, over the top, funny!

[Dawn R. (Rn4jchrist)]

AHHH so COOL I LOVE IT!!! you guys ROCKED IT!!!
soo cute those GTL girls too!!!

[Patricia]

You are the queen of journaling! I always get stuck with the title and the journaling, I would love a class about that!

Have a beautiful week!
xoxo

[Lisa]

Ok, you're giving Snooki a run for her money! But the earring is the BEST!

Classes - how about makeing a LO in 30 minutes? It always amazes me that 30 minutes is your average time! Or you could do one takeing great snapshots. I like how your photos are truly a snapshot of what is going on at the moment. Not some set up walk in the field and lean against an old tractor. Altough I LOVE those types of shots and I love how unordinary they are, they are not real life snapshots.

Ok, that's my 2 cents. Thanks for asking!

[jen]

Holy cow your pictures CRACK me up!

I'm definitely interested in a class by you ... not only page kits, but maybe a lesson on mixing/matching various papers?! You tend to do it well!!

[Valerie]

Loved the photos and the great poses of you and the girls.

I would love for you to teach a class on how you come up with the great titles you always have on your pages. Mine are usually so lame and I think and think and can never come up with clever titles like you do. I also would like you to teach how you put a page together from start to finish. I am very impressed with how speedy you are.

[kelly]

I don't know how you would teach it but some sort of prompts for journaling or "moment" scrapbooking would be lovely. I love your pages so much because your journaling always sounds like you are using your real voice and that your words come right from your heart. I always sound like a cheesy hallmark card and I just can't get it right. I've tried multiple approaches and nothing ever works.

[Debbie O'Neal]

ROFL ! Those pics are awesome and so well, Jersey ! LOL And you deserve major props for getting your girls to sit still long enough to do that to their hair ...OR wait, I have this imagine of you hoping around behind one of the chickies trying to comb their hair, spray it and put it up as they twirl around the room ! Am I close ?

When you teach a class it should definitely be on your process to scrap in 30 minutes...I know you have a lot of "products/kits" you get each month for the various DT's you are on...do you think having a prepackaged stash help you pull your layouts together quicker...do you pic a photo first or pick a product for inspiration and then a photo..etc. Your work is so awesome...we ALL want to get inside there and figure out "How You Do That?"...mmmm,maybe that could be the name of your class.

Whatever class you teach I will definitely be signing up!

[Janet]

Teach us DESIGN...like all the beautiful layering you do in your layouts, and how you capture such emotion in a single photo. Which by the way, you add stuff too, and it looks FABULOUS. Teach us that, pleeeeeease!!!!

[Janet]

Teach us DESIGN...like all the beautiful layering you do in your layouts, and how you capture such emotion in a single photo. Which by the way, you add stuff too, and it looks FABULOUS. Teach us that, pleeeeeease!!!!

[Mary Ann]

Janet took the words right out of my mouth...

"Teach us DESIGN, like all the beautiful layering you do in your layouts, and how you capture such emotion in a single photo. Which by the way, you add stuff too, and it looks FABULOUS. Teach us that, pleeeeeease!!!!"

oh heck, I would love to just take one of your classes. anything will do!

[Keshet]

Love these photos! I agree with the journaling focus--I'd love to see a class like that! Also maybe one documenting your process...

[Laura Solomon]

The.Look.On.Sadies.Face.Is.CLASSIC.
KMN.

[Dawn]

OMG...HYSTERICAL!!! All 4 of you look unbelievable!! I can't get over the teased hair. It takes me back 20 years!! Hope you had fun!! Would love you to teach an online class...maybe one with a kit to go along?!?!? Would love that!!

[amy]

I'd love to see you teach a class on making layouts! I love all your layering and photo choice. Your girls pictures cracked me up!

[dre]

These pictures make me smile! Love them!

[cassi]

i second the idea about a class showing how to do 30 minute layouts. another thought is a class on those questions there are no definitive answer for like:
1. figuring out how to know when a layout is finished,
2. choosing the right photo(s), knowing when to make a collage, knowing when to make the photo oversized or b&w, etc.
3. journaling -- what's the right amount, how do you balance it with your lo. is the lo journal driven?
4. how not to get stuck in a rut
5. changing it up, stretching outside your comfort zone

[Mustangkayla]

How fun! Great pictures! I'll have to think about the classes thing. I'd like extra help with journaling and titles. I always seem to struggle with titles.

[Beth]

OMG...What great photographs.. you all our so hip in your Jersey Shore attire and ....ummm...THAT HAIR...too too much. I laughed ... so fun... and well, isn't that what life is really all about! As for classes... whatever you teach... I am interested.... 'fo 'sho. :-) Thanks for all you do... and all you share...

[Vanessa M Santamaria]

Great photos! So fun!!! :) My cousin is a commander (or maybe higher?) in the US Army so I got a kick out of this! She's stationed in TN now.

As far as a class from you, I'd LOVE to be your student since I stalk your blog practically every day and I always learn something new :) I'd love to branch out and learn how to mix unexpected colors and textures on my layouts... you make it look so easy! I love the layering, too!

[Vanessa M Santamaria]

oh, and I want to learn how to create a photo collage for my layouts like the one you made for Sadie's b-day layout :) Thx

[Jacqueline]

these pictures are priceless! i think you would be great at teaching anything...it will be exciting to sign up.

[Elizabeth Rosemond]

This is SO classic! I see some fantastic scrappy projects coming our way.
I would absolutely love to take a class from you, regardless of what you teach. I think I feel the same as some of the other ladies: journaling, layering, combining elements would be great.
xo

[Account Deleted]

Stephanie, I would love to see you teach a class on (a) journalling and (b) combining colours, patterns etc. You have such a wonderful gift for both of these things. And seriously, I have never taken an online scrapbooking class before...but if you taught it, I totally would.

[Veera]

An online class from you... Count me in!!!!!!!
Really, i would LOOOVE to hear about your hole process: about pictures, how you choose your papers and embellishments, and most of all how you make your pages so awesome, every single time, in just 30 minutes????

And i also love your scrapping philosophy; you just make things that give you joy and have have fun with and that you don't worry too much about your end result... It's brilliant!

[Avital]

these photos, of your 2 little princesses with the big-hair-sprayed-hair are priceless. I am looking forward to the FABULOUS layout that always, without fail, follows the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious photos :)

[I don't know about you, but in my world Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is a valid and beloved word]

[PJ]

I would love to learn how you create such girly layouts, with the embellishments :D

[Jonnelle]

You did a FAB job outfitting the family! Great bumps - H is SO representin in that picture, she might have a future as a Guidette!

[Lonely Scrapbooker]

I wish I knew what "GTI" meant so I could understand all of this. I know, I must be clueless... .
Anyway, I came to tell you I used your "my cup runneth over" phrase on a layout--more than "used" it--it inspired me to do a page using it, kwim?
http://wickysticket.blogspot.com/2010/02/load-day-28-i-made-it.html

[Jody]

Um...I would like you to teach me how to perfect a Snooki-"poof" in my hair. Looks like you got that down pat. lol
Hysterical pics :)

[Stephanie Howell]

Its just a silly show on MTV called Jersey Shore. ;) The boys on the show have a saying GTL. it means gym, tanning, laundry. Those are all the things they do before they go out on the town. I linked it in the post below.

Off to see your page! Love that title. I used it for a page about Sadies  birth. :)
xxo

[Gioconda]

these photos are awesome! Love that your family knows how to have fun.

I remember you mentioned that you never take more than 30 minutes to complete a page. I would love for you to teach 30 minute page class. I know that it can take me hours to finish something and it rarely feels finished. I would love to be more productive when I sit down to scrap because I don't have much time with three kids. Your style is fresh, free and always looks finished.

[Holly S]

AKKKK!!!!! You got the Snookie poof down pat! Love that!! I found a jersey shore nickname generator and your name would be: The Ashley Simpson of Cape May...too funny! Mine is: Tanny (no tan here!)

I'd love to see you teach a class... Maybe your approach to making a layout or mini album...or a writing course...your titles and journaling amazes me...of using not so good photos on your layouts...whatever you do, please keep it simple, real things we can do and would want to use on our layouts and affordable so we all can take the class. For a lot of us spending $60 on a class is just not possible right now with budgets so tight...I think you'd be a wonderful teacher and don't doubt yourself...you can do it!! Happy Tuesday:)

[Account Deleted]

Love those photos - you are one cool family! LOL!

Regarding teaching a class - you could do do many with your amazing talents. Maybe a class on using vintage findings and bright colors together. Or one dedicated to colorful layouts!

[veronica]

You already know what I think ;) lol

BUT anything Jounaling would be awesome! OH,and I'm your journaling girl!!! helllllo!

[Jingle]

Oh, my goodness, you are all just too adorable! It's amazing how well Harper does that pose! LOL!

[Kellie Dugan]

OMG! I have been laughing so hard, I am crying. (I think my husband thinks I am crazy sometimes.) I know DH was mortified at the time, but that is a good one to tell the grandchildren one day. LOVE IT! Thanks for the laugh.

[Kellie Dugan]

You are in trouble Stephanie. Harper's got it at what 4??? That pose is something else. Yall have too much fun. Naaaa, there is no such thing as too much fun.
I would love to learn how you do the collages. Teach anything! Go ahead, give us all your secrets.

[Michelle Whitlow]

hehe, great pics!!!

[erika]

I am dying over here.. so hilarious!

[Jacque]

These photos are fab!! Just adorable!

[lauren]

harper in that first solo photo....OH MY GOD!!! hahahahha! LOVE IT!! :)
*

[Janna]

AAAGHH!!! YOU!? A class? YES PLEASE!! Love how you scrap. LOVE! Anything, I don't know. Just on your process. How you slap it all together and make it look stunning everytime:) I'm taking Kelly P's class right now. First time I've ever taken one. But for 15$ I simply couldn't pass up the chance. I've never taken a class before because they are always a little steep it feels like.

[Nikki M]

Looks like too much fun was had by all. Nice that it was a family event. Love how most of your fun is with family events. It warms my heart.

I don't care what you teach, I would take it. Seriously. I love the breath of fresh air that you have brought to the way that I approach my scrapbooking. I know that doesn't help in planning but...

Actually, you mentioned that you use some photoshop actions...I have heard of them but I kind of shut down and crawl into a corner when I think about attempting to use them. Sad, but true. Have a great week!

[Angela W]

Those pics are just awesome and hilarious! It's great that you guys are able to let lose like that! Something to remember that's for sure! It's wonderful that you were asked to teach a class! Congrats! Your journaling is awesome, that would be a good one!

[Stacy Doolittle]

Oh my gosh Stephanie! I had just taken a dring and almost sprayed water all over my monitor when I saw the picture of Harper! The poofy hair with the long straight piece, the pose, the expression- all too stinkin' funny! Love it!

[jenney]

LOL Awesome! Love the pics {and the girls' hair!}

I think you need to teach a class on using embellishments and/or journaling. You rock at that!!

[amy lapi]

omg. could you please open a GTL etsy shop? ha. love these photos.