Acknowledge and Move On

Another year older...

Last weekend I celebrated another birthday..bringing me closer and closer to the big 4-0 (which I am looking forward to!).  It was a great day that started with a family trip out to breakfast, then I was off to the beach with my oldest daughter and the day finished with a great family dinner.  One of the gifts I received was registration for Tim Holtz online class "Chemistry 101" which is a two week online course all about the chemistry of inks and a variety of techniques.  Registration is still open and once you have registered, the information is available forever and can be referenced at any time.  Today we learned three different techniques and here is my take on it:

here they are individually:

Blended Spritz and Flick Technique

 

Wrinkle Free Distress Technique

Brushless Watercolor Technique

I am so excited to see what the rest of the class brings and to use some of these techniques on future projects!

In like a Lion....or not...

March is a crazy busy month for me and while the weather has been AMAZING and not like a lion at all here in Florida I have not had any time to enjoy it.  I have been very busy with Lacrosse games now that my daughter is on the team and the season is in full swing.  We have 2 or 3 games a week and practice every other day and since she is not yet old enough to drive, that leaves me to play taxi driver.  While I haven't blogged much lately, I have been able to Scrap....

I am IN LOVE with the new line from Graphic 45 called "Olde Curiosity Shoppe" and was so excited that we got it in at Scrappy Boutique.  I am looking forward to using more of it for sure...especially the "When Pigs Fly" Paper...

We also go in the new Prima "Songbird" line and I immediately knew that I had to have some of the line for these pictures from our last day in Hawaii.  The soft pinks, blues, browns are BEAUTIFUL and the embellishments are fantastic as well..wood buttons and tickets, several chipboard pieces to choose from and of course the flowers (it is a Prima line after all ).

I have a birthday coming up and every year my husband asks "what do you want for your birthday" and every year I say "nothing, I have everything I need..."   Well this year when he asked, I had a different answer..."I would like to enroll in an online class being led by Tim Holtz" and I think my husband was stunned that I had a different answer than he expected...but being the wonderful husband that he is, he registered me for the class..I am looking forward to taking"Creative Chemistry 101" and can't wait to get my hands dirty!

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a great weekend...I participated in a Rugged Maniac 5K this past weekend and it was A BLAST!! I did skip some of the obstacles though, and I got a pretty good Sunburn, but I did it and had a great time. 

I was not able to get much Scrapbooking done this weekend though, but I DO have scrapbooking news...One of my layouts is featured on the Little Yellow Bicycle's Blog!!!  Go check it out..and I will leave you with another layout that I have done recently...

This is the new Echo Park "This and That: Charming" Paper line. 

Living in A Blur

Well, as mentioned in my last post, February is a short month..and seems to FLY BY...I have been able to be crafty this month, I just haven't had much time to share.  I have been busy with the girls and school, Lacrosse has started for my oldest, and work is crazy for my husband (well not crazy, we are still getting used to the new schedule!).  The First ScrapBook Expo is this weekend and I am just a little bit sad that I am not there...just a little.  I am LOVING being home.  I am also loving the fact that I get to work part time at the local Scrapbook store, Scrappy Boutique.  I have been lucky enough to play with some WONDERFUL NEW Scrapbooking supplies...

New Authentique "Genuine" Line

New "Miss Caroline" Line from My Mind's Eye

and one more for today...

Little Yellow Bicycle's New line "Saturdays"

 

I hope you have a crafty weekend!  I will be back soon to share more!

 

 

February Goals

Good Morning from Sunny California! I have spent the last few days here at the CHA Trade Show looking for new crafty must haves and visiting with friends.  I am ready to head back home today and take advantage of all the inspiration I have received while here, it has been truly amazing.  While I did not see anything that I was completely blown away by, I did see lots of papers and embellishments that I liked and of course, when you watch the Ranger Artists you cannot help but be inpsired (They make it look SO EASY!)

I am one of those kinds of people that tend to reflect on many things when one month ends and another begins.  February is a short month (although this year we get an extra day, yeah!) and a busy one for me with family and work obligations.  I am going to try and do something crafty every weekend in February and by that I mean try something new every weekend.  I also would like to update the blog a little more frequently and share the projects that I am able to work on.  I WANT to get messy and create.

 

***

Happy Wednesday!  The last line that we (the design team) are working with is One Fine Day and it is One Fine Paper Line!  I really like the soft feel of these papers and the line makes me think of Spring which is rapidly approaching (although probably not quick enough for some of you!).  When I first saw this line and all the pieces, I IMMEDIATELY knew that I wanted to use the small Vellum Silhouette, "because the little things are the big things after all" and found the perfect picture to go along with the saying.  The picture is over 5 years old and I have been holding onto it because it is truly one of my favorite pictures of my two girls. 

To help embellish the photo, I used the Heart Circles Nestabilities set from Spellbinders along with the Donna Salazar Creative Page Tabs Die set.  The small hearts that are all around the page, are the hearts that were left behind when I cut the large Heart Circle.  I added some light blue brads and light blue Thickers that have been in my stash.  I also used the Brand new Lemonade Powder Puff Ink Pad on this page to ink around the edges of the circles and the zig-zag border along the top of the page.  This is a GREAT Color and I am so looking forward to using the other two new colors that are coming as well, Baja Blue and Biscotti!  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check back tomorrow for another project using One Fine Day.

In Just 18 Days

I will be on my way to CHA!! I am so excited for this trip to see not only the new products and be inspired by all the projects but also to see lots of friends that I have made over the years and can usually only see during the tradeshows (due to busy schedules, geography etc).  The sneak peeks of new products have definitely started and you can see lots of projects made with new papers from Quick Quotes at the Quick Quotes Blog.  There are three new paper lines being released: Dreamscape, Summer Samba and One Fine Day.  Here is a card I made using the Dreamscape Paper line

and because I cannot just make one, here is another card

I am excited to see the new products from several companies, including My Mind's Eye (Which I have seen online and LOVE), Graphic 45, Basic Grey, Echo Park, Crate Paper, American Crafts and Sizzix (There are MANY MANY more of course!).  What are you looking forward to seeing from CHA???

 

I love a challenge

ESPECIALLY when it deals with Scrapbooking.  I do a lot of lurking on scrapbook websites and sometimes I will post (not very often though!).  I have not been able to be very active over the last month because of the holiday and other things going on so it feels good to get back into it.  At Scrapbook.com there are a TON of challenges that anyone can participate in.  I have decided to participate in the January Lyric Challenge which was to use Katie Perry Lyrics on a layout

The title I used is a small portion of lyrics from a Katie Perry song "I think I am ready" and was perfect for this picture of my daughter and her boyfriend, since he brings her flowers regularly for no reason (so sweet!).  I used the new line from Basic Grey "Kissing Booth" which you can get here.    I am also planning to participate in a few other challenges as well, it is a great way to get your mojo back and creative juices flowing!

WELCOME 2012!

What a great day to start a new year!  I have been enjoying the last few weeks with the holidays, the kids out of school and lots of time to reflect on the last year.  2011 was for the most part a great year for my family and one that I will remember fondly.  In 2011 we experineced many things, I bought a "new to me" car, we made it through our first season as parents of a High School Lacrosse player (and a boyfriend I might add), there was of course lots of travel on my part (both for work and personal vacation!) during the year and for that I am very thankful.  My husband started a new role at Disney in October (which has taken a lot of getting used to for the rest of us!), Our youngest daughter started her last year of elementary school.

There are a few changes on the horizon for 2012.  I will continue to work from home in the Scrapbooking Industry as the administrator for ScrapAce, however I will no longer be traveling as an instructor for Quick Quotes.  I have been blessed these last six years to work for Quick Quotes (A GREAT COMPANY) traveling and teaching the wonderful projects designed by Patsy at events all around the country.  It has been an amazing experience, meeting people all around the United States who share my passion for Scrapbooking and being able to share with them the many things I have learned along the way.  Who knows though, I may show up at a location or two, but as of right now there are no confirmed dates.  As mentioned in a previous post, I have also taken on a part time role at my local scrapbook store, Scrappy Boutique.  I will actually teach my first class there on January 13th (If you are local or ever in the area, please be sure to stop by and say hi!) and I have already been able to play with some great new product at the store...

I am looking forward to having more time to play with my scrapbooking supplies and maybe even take a class or two myself!

I have also chosen my "One Little Word" for 2012.  I have chosen Mindful.  A few weeks ago, my daughter and a group of kids from her high school, spent their Saturday morning volunteering for a local organization that helps less fortunate home owners with home repairs, cleaning and anything else that they may need help with.  Before going to the actual homes, the volunteers were given a few simple guidelines.  One of them, was to be mindful of their words while working on somebody's "Home" and it really struck a cord with me.  I have decided to make "Mindful" my word of the year as there are many things that it can relate to, be mindful of words, mindful of finances, mindful of others, mindful of how I nourish (or don't nourish) my body, and it goes on and on.  Each month I am going to focus on one thing.  For January, the focus will be on finances and organization.  I have already started on this effort with the cleaning of my scrap space (which is still in progress) and setting up a budget. 

I am going to try and be a more faithful blogger.  I love coming to the world wide web and reading other blogs, seeing projects, taking a peek into lives of others...and I like to share as well.  I wish each of you a happy, healthy and blessed 2012.

Worst Mother of the Year Award

Scratch that..Worst Mother of the Decade award..I (along with my husband's help) Lost my child at Disney World...it was the LONGEST 2 minutes of my life..She did exactly what she was supposed to however and found a cast member and said "My family left me behind" without shedding a tear..UNTIL she saw us that is.  I left to use the restroom and told her to go to her father, he left the shop thinking she was with me.  It truly was only two minutes, but felt like forever and was the worst feeling in the whole world.  She eventually recovered, but held it over our heads for the rest of the evening.  Overall, we had a great day spending part of it at Hollywood Studios where we were able to see the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights and then finishing the night at Epcot watching Illuminations.  I love going to the parks when they are all decorated for the holidays, it always makes me feel very festive.

I recently was able to play with a new paper line from Echo Park "Yours Truly" which is being sold at my local scrapbook store, Scrappy Boutique.

Oh, and I don't think I have mentioned yet that I am also working there part time...WOOHOO.  I am loving being a part of the Scrappy B team and if you are ever in Orlando, be sure to stop by the store as it is WONDERFUL! (and if you don't ever make it to Orlando, we do have online shopping!)