Paradise Awaits....

Less than one week left to my last class of the month!! I'll be teaching this Paradise Canvas class at Scrapbook Blvd!! See the schedule to the left for details.


Don't miss out! We'll be playing with stamps, distress inks, gems, and the ultra fun Tim Holtz Crackle Paint! The sun has been out, it's been shorts weather--get in the summer mood with this canvas class, perfect for your house or for a gift! Call Scrapbook Blvd to sign up at 760-948-5700.

"You Made My Day" Award!

Look what I got today------------>My very first award!! I made Kristin's day at (http://kristinhayne.blogspot.com/) --so cool!! I love checking out her blog--she has the most innovative ideas and brings new life to old ones. Plus she is really really nice in addition to being so talented! Thanks so much Kristin!!

I've got to pay it forward so here are my "You Make My Day" Award Recipients:

PJ -- So much fun--lots of design inspiration.
Trisha -- She is doing some amazing stuff with clear albums--so inspiring!
Tara -- Always something inspiring--love her bright freestyle designs!
Tina - Love her! She posts something fun almost every day!
Tracey -- Gorgeous Gorgeous work!! And she is super sweet too!

Thanks for always making my day!!

Now, here's what you have to do....
*Write a post with links to 5 blogs you find of interest and that inspire you.
*Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
*Display the logo "You Make My Day".
*Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.

So much fun!!

"I told you so"

My new fave tool right now is the Fiskars Shape Xpress Tool. I don't have any of the templates---I've been using it for free-hand cutting of patterns, flowers, and flourishes from patterned paper. It works so easy once you get the hang of it. Using a craft knife, my hands are usually on fire or totally numb from my carpal tunnel within minutes. With the Fiskars tool I don't have any of those issues.

Tonight I was using the Shape Xpress on a class sample I am designing and Xaver says, " I told you you would like that thing." It took a few attempts but about a year ago I caved and finally bought it. I had seen it in action at CHA Winter 2007 as the lovely Cheryl of Fiskars demonstrated it. Several times Xaver had told me to buy it and each time I had looked at it and then put it back on the shelf. I had forgotten I had it until I went to that Fiskars training Amyre did last week. I dusted off the cobwebs and have already used it on several projects!! Woohoo! I'm loving this tool. Sometimes I guess it just takes someone else showing you what to do to get your creative juices flowing.

Here's a pic of a sample I did for a class at Collective Journey (Berry Sweet mini book class in May):


A closeup of some of the flourishes I cut using the Shape Xpress tool:

Too Busy for Bloggin'

And that's saying alot because I like to post every day! LOL This weekend it was cookies cookies and more cookies! We had 3 booths all of which I had some hand in working. On Sat we were at Stater Bros ( a supermarket) from 12pm-4pm and then at Walmart across town from 4pm-8pm. Moving the booth so there was no time lost at either site took some serious coordination! LOL

Xaver left to take Matt home (poor guy had been with us at the booth all day). I hear on the news that it has started snowing in the Cajon Pass--which is between Walmart and my house. My dad calls me and says it is coming down like crazy. So I leave the booth in my very capable co-leaders' hands and head up the hill--we got alot of snow! Katie made a huge snow-mud-grass ball that is still in the front yard--it won't melt. And Matt got to play in the snow for the first time! Xaver got pics but I have yet to upload them.

On Sunday we went out and did more house hunting. Then we ran down the hill to go to another cookie booth. Came back and looked at more houses, then ran back down the hill to pick up Katie. Dashed over to my parents' house with Katie's clothes--she went out of town with them for the week! Matt knew something was wrong when we left their house without her.

So today Matt was having obvious Katie withdrawals, acting really really bad. I picked up the nephews, who we have for the night, and he started feeling better. Now the 3 of them are playing like crazy. We had to go to the girl scout meeting even though Katie is not here because it is cookie time and I had money to collect, new girls to sign up, and other business to take care of. We are down to 150 boxes of cookies left. I have canceled all the booths occurring after Friday--never thought I'd be throwing in the towel this early but our troop reached our goal and Katie has decided she doesn't care about reaching 1000 boxes sold again this year so why not stop? Katie's main concern is that she makes it to camp this year--if I had only known I could have spent $300 on camp instead of cookies! LOL I am really looking forward to these next two weeks!! Gonna get my scrap on!! LOL

Here are a couple more pages I worked on over the last week or so:


I used Scenic Route stuff on this one and some American Crafts vinyl letters. I was not so crazy about the vinyl thing but liked this font so i bought them--but once I started using them I realized they were pretty cool! I used liquid glass in the rub-on letters to make them shiny like the vinyl. I also have been trying to play with white space.


I used these really fun Creative Imaginations glitter letters I got from the Lounge. And more KI Memories lace paper since I am hosting a challenge to use it on Scrapbook.com this month. as well as for the color challenge (to use primary colors only on a LO). Yes, that is Matt and Xaver, sleeping on the couch together! LOL Paper is American Crafts and KI, brads are Bo Bunny, Stars are MME.

Off to take care of more Girl Scout business!! Hopefully I'll get some scrap time in today. Also, tonight we are putting in an offer on another house--this one has everything on our list:

• 3 Car Garage
• 3 Bedrooms
• Scrap Room
• Gas Fireplace
• Large Yard (already has a patio and everything!)
• No neighbors behind us (we even have sort of a view)
• Laundry room not in the kitchen
• Built-in appliances in the kitchen
• LOTS of cabinet and closet space
• Walk-in Pantry

Not much to improve on--it is pretty much exactly what we want. Just needs a little paint and carpet. Hopefully we get it--oh yeah, the best part is the price is right too!

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