Fun, Festive, Friends, Challenges, Changes and Giveaways...

I have lots of cool stuff to share. I have had a busy, but fun, past few days. Saturday morning I had the best time taking a Tim Holtz class with my BASB sista Anne . The class was amazing and spending time with Anne was icing on the cake. This was Anne's first class with Tim and my 5th (can you say stalker?) He really is the best!

Tim is actually here for the whole weekend, so Anne is taking more classes. I hope she has fun! This is the project we made. It is an acrylic / transparency Christmas book. I Loved it and can not wait to add pictures to it

I am a huge 'grungeboard junkie' , so I had to share this with Tim:

Last night I put the finishing touches on my BIA project. For those of you that do not know, Greta put up a Bind it All challenge up over at Studio Calico. There is still time to get in and win some cool prizes (even a BIA). So go check it out now! Here is my entry. Everyone knows I love the amazing Teresa Collins. I put together this little calendar using the 'Bind it All' and some of her paper lines (old & new). I have to say this will look good in my new office. Yes, I said new. Some changes going on at work. It is all good.

I also wanted to share some happy mail I recieved this week too. I won these awesome paint / puffy pens from my BASB sista LaVerne. These are so COOL girl! Can not wait to play with these! Thanks so much, I LOVE them!!

Teresa Collins has been doing tons of giveaways on her blog. I just recieved some of her dome rings. I can not wait to play & decorate these. They are so fun! Thanks girl!!

Well, it is rainy and muggy here. I think I am just going to sit on the couch and catch up on my reading and just enjoy. It is the perfect day for it. :-)

A Tribute

Here is my addition to a book or 2 or 3 that Judi is putting together for Aleida's family. For Brandon, Josh and Bella I hope these tributes and memories help comfort you all. Take comfort in knowing that she loved you very much. She has many friends that are sad at the loss of a great friend, but happy that she was part of our lives, if only for a short time. They say certain people come into our lives for a reason. I think Aleida made us better people just for knowing her. She is loved and she will be missed. Rest in Peace my friend, untill we meet again. I will always love you girl.

A Few more from Got Sketch 102

I wanted to share a few more LO's that I had been working on. Loving the Got Sketch 102 class, but I have gotten so far behind and this is the last week. I have a couple more 2 page LO's and a one pager to do. They will get done eventually. I LOVE a good sketch, whether it be mine or someone elses. Here are some fun ones that I have completed. So happy to be using my stash. I keep re-discovering stuff! Like the gorgeous Basic Grey paper I used, that was perfect for this 'dirty' LO:


Also, this pretty Bo Bunny paper that I made work for a boy page:

And I got to use some of my scraps up for this one and a fun new embelishment tip from Janna Wilson . Cool right?

Well...TFL!! Have a wonderful evening!!! I am off to catch Survivor and CSI...

Happiness

Happiness. We all want it. We all need it. Just think about all the things that make you happy. Even the smallest thing that makes you smile and you have this book. I had the opportunity to take an online class recently over at SIS TV , by the fabulous Gretchen McElveen called 'Happiness Is'. Here is a peek at her cover. So CUTE!

I found Gretchen through her design team work at Junkitz and got to meet her this past Summer at CHA. She is so talented and sweet (and a Nascar fan to boot!) Love it!

Here is my completed book from beginning to end. I used one of my past Studio Calico kits ( Sherwood Forrest). Love these colors. Here is my take on the cover:

Loved the pockets with little tags and happy quotes:

All kinds of lists of things that make me smile:

Love this pic of Bryant:

So much fun with the KI lace paper:

The 'centerfold' of the album:

More happiness and a quick pic of my office:

Can't forget my love for Tony (even when he is being a PITA!) LOL!

A pic of Steve and I at our favorite place...the Nascar track:

And I have to say, this pic was taken 'just for kicks' at first, but I love how fun it is and how happy I look:

For signing up for the class, we got this 'bonus kit' to decorate a composition book:

Here is Gretchen's take. Love it:

and here is mine. This is going to make a great sketch pad for me:

I really had a lot of fun with class and realized that it truly is the simple things in life that make me happy!!!

****One more thing...last, but not least..."Happy Birthday Stacy!!!" I did not forget! I know it was yesterday, but we lost power last night and I could not post until today. I hope it was wonderful and we will talk soon!****

Apple and Oranges

I have been working on a ton of scrappy projects lately! I have not been able to share due to current computer issues and the very sad news lately that has consumed my heart. I wanted to start getting back on track and share them with you. The new kit from Paper Jam Studio is called Apples and Oranges. If you click on the link, there is a list of all the goodies that are in the kit. Lots of good stuff, Pink Paislee, SEI, Basic Grey and Dream Street papers, thickers and Adorn-it chipboard, bling and ribbon and lots of other goodies. I really loved the colors and just had the best time designing with this kit. The First LO below is some fun pics of Bryant and his love for Wall-E. He loved the movie and got to see it twice! Once with grammy and once with us. We as parents wanted to see it too! LOL!!

The next one is of a medal that Bryant won at the YMCA in a Foosball tournament. He was so proud and excited to be the winner AND to recieve a medal. It was very cool. We were so proud too!
This last one came up by luck. While I have been working on all my projects, Bryant had free reign on my scrap supplies and suprised me with this cool sign. Of course I had to get a picture and I HAD to scrap it! So, that picture became this LO:

You may have noticed I also changed my blog header above. These are a few cards that I created from the kit also. Lots of cool colors, lots of fun projects and still lots left to create with. Check out the kit if you get the chance.

I do have lots of other projects too. LO's from Got Sketch 102 , I took an online class at SIS TV from the fabulous Gretchen M and I also have a beautiful new CJ in my hands that I really need to get 'crack-a-lackin' on. Lots of projects to keep me busy. I also went to the Fall Nascar race at NH and had a blast! I will share more soon. Right now I need to clean my house. Bleck!! Happy Saturday!!!

Aleida

Today I lost a great friend. I am so sad, I can barely put it into words. Aleida you have made me a better person just for knowing you. So for you my friend, just know that I LOVE you and I MISS you terribly. You mean the world to me. I will never forget you.

***Loved this beautiful picture she took of herself, just last week***

Weekend Fun

Still busy scrapping and actually getting so much accomplished, thanks to the help of Got Sketch 102 . I love how everyone has a different take on a sketch. The same sketch, yet all totally different LO's. Here are my LO's from the first weeks sketches. This first one is Bryant and his cousin Benjamin having fun in my parents jacuzzi tub:

The next one is Bryant's first day of school. I actually got it scrapped right away. Yay me! Day 1 Take 3-First day of 3rd grade:

These pics are from last Summer. Bryant and Benjamin with their new bug catchers from Grammy. Look at all the pink on a boy page-ha!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. It has been very rainy here. Remnants of the storm. So, since we have been cooped up, we decided to go to the movies. Finally saw Wall-E! I think we may have been the last ones. Glad it was still playing. Movies are so quick to go to DVD. I also picked up this cute Wall-E toy. It is so CUTE! How could I say no?

Aren't they CUTE??!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Monday comes so quick, doesn't it?

Still Scrappin' Away..

I told you all that I have been scrappin' like a crazy woman lately and I wasn't kidding! I have all kinds of projects going, in different stages, all over my kitchen and coffee tables. I wanted to share a few projects that I really enjoyed working on and have FINALLY finished. Remember a while back my friend Judi sent me all these beautiful goodies:

Well, look what I made so far. This first LO is my entry into this weeks Scrapping the Music challenge. The song is 'It's My Life' by Bon Jovi. I LOVE this song! It is so FUN and upbeat. This is just a fun, happy, pic of me in the moment:

I found this old photo of me as a baby with my parents. The journaling is behind the photo. I have a kind of running (inside) joke with my son. Let me explain. I have one sister (Debbie) that is 3 years younger than me. When ever I show my son a picture of me as a baby or toddler, I tell him it is bad (B.A.D.) before Aunt Debbie. Haha...

Anyways, I really liked how this came out with such a vintage look, using the Prima Crystals and the Hambly Transparency:

This last one is of a 'beach day' I took with my son recently and we had a blast! Fun times! I loved the ocean colors and the Prima crystals reminded me of waves:

I have been trying to catch up on my blog reading lately. I have been getting a little behind. I came across the award below given to me by my friend Liz. Thanks for the Love Liz! Now I get to nominate some of the blogs that I enjoy.

The rules for the award are - (1) The winner can put the logo on their blog. (2) Link the person you received your award from. (3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs. (4) Put links of those on yours. (5) Leave a message on the blogs of the girls or boys you’ve nominated.
Now I get to nominate 7 people:

Jonelle

Tami R

Kathy T

Nancy V

Janna W

Debbie H

Nicole H

Well, TGIF everyone! The weekend is finally here. We are expecting rain all weekend, which is fine with me. More time to scrap. LOL!

A Little More Birthday Love

I continue to happily celebrate my Birthday with some of my greatest scrappin' friends. Yesterday I was really feeling under the weather, so I took a sick day. Late in the day a package of 'Happy Mail' arrived for me from my friend Janna Wilson . Look what was inside. This sweet cupcake-almost good enough to eat! It made me smile right away, because I remember it from her 'Adventures in Crafting with Janna' online class. This was her first project and I LOVED it! This was so sweet of her to send! I absolutely LOVE it and will definately treasure it. Thanks for thinking of me and making me smile my friend. You made my day! :-)

Scrappin' Like Crazy

I have been a scrappin' like a crazy woman. Oh yes I have. Wanted to share a couple of projects that I did for some great challenges over at Studio Calico. The first one was the Back to School Challenge. I really needed a good "kick in the butt" to get last years 1st day photos scrapped. Now I am happy to say mission accomplished:

This next one is Bab's Mini Album Challenge. It started with a list of 10 random questions about ourselves, right now. Had a lot of fun with this. You can see the rest of the album here.

Also, the first challenge sketch for Got Sketch 102 went up today. I am so excited! I LOVE me some sketches! I will post that LO soon, along with a beach page (from the pics below). I told ya I was busy. I hope everyone had a great weekend, back to the grind tomorrow...