forever us

I wasn't sure how I was going to use this Fancy Pants Splendid from Allyscraps since I don't scrap girlie pages. But I just LOVE how this page turned out! This is truly a versatile collection, and soooo pretty! I used my Pazzles Inspiration to cut the "forever" and the mat behind it with the cut-out hearts.

The sketch for this page is the current sketch challenge on the Allyscraps forum - be sure to check it out! Complete a page before the deadline and earn an entry into the March drawing for a gift certificate to the store. And if you're new to the site, be sure to check out the membership drive for the easiest-ever $10 gift certificate!

Journaling:
Just us, being silly and goofy. Sometimes your silliness cracks me up and at other times it’s just annoying, which I know makes it even more fun for you. But that’s ok, because it’s part of what makes us fit together so well. So we’ll just keep on being goofy together… being forever us.

Allyscraps is having a Membership Drive!

This just might be the easiest gift certificate you could ever win! We are having a membership drive at the Allyscraps Forum! Just come register on the forum, and then sign in on the Membership Drive check-in thread. That is all you have to do to get started. Post 50 posts on the message board ("real" posts with some substance, of course) over the next 4 weeks, and we'll send you a $10 AllyScraps gift certificate as a big HELLO! Now of course we are hoping you like us and want to hang out all the time, but if not, the gift certificate is still yours!

The counting starts now, but you can join any time between now and March 23. So, to sum things up, you will meet a great group of ladies, who will enable you with your addiction, and never make you feel guilty. Be both challanged and inspired. Play games, chat, and maybe make a new friend or two, and we are going to pay you to do it! What are you waiting for? We can't wait to meet you... come on over and have some fun!

never out of season

Love this My Mind's Eye Snowed In - it's not just for Christmas, worked great for these winter pictures too! The sketch for this page is also available in the Allyscraps sketch forum!

Journaling:
When we built the playset, we expected it to get lots os use in the warm weather months. Little did we know that it would provide year-round fun! The boys love it just as much in the middle of winter! 2.12.08

baby how I love your smile

This was Tyler's first ever dental visit, and I'm so glad I took my camera! It was really funny how he walked right in, took off his shoes and climbed up into the chair. LOL! I thought this Fancy Pants Daily Grind was great for this.

Journaling:
It was your first time at the dentist and you made yourself comfortable - even taking off your shoes! You did great, only getting a little bit upset at the end, when you had to pick just one new toothbrush. You wanted to take all 3 of them home!

a fun gift card holder!

Well, this was just such a fun little project and a great way to give a gift card!

If you check out this post on the Allyscraps Blog, I give the complete instructions and templates for making this.

a tree to climb

I LOVE this October Afternoon Weathervane! What a great, rich, fallish line! Wonderful for boy pages, but certainly versatile enough for lots of other things too! These fun pictures of Tyler climbing a tree are from our Thanksgiving trip to my dad's place in IL. And how cute is that little Maya Road chipboard tree??

Journaling:
What could be more perfect than a beautiful fall day and a tree that was made for climbing? Tyler went at it like a natural. It must be a boy thing!

You can also find my sketch for this page at the Allyscraps forum, and submit a page by February 12th to be eligible for the February prize drawing!

I can share some news!

Well, I'm just SO STINKIN' EXCITED to announce that I was one of the lucky designers selected to the next team of Bella Artistas for Bella Blvd! This is my first time on a manufacturer Design Team, and I couldn't be more thrilled and honored. I'm in the company of some incredibly talented ladies, including my fellow Allyscraps DT member, Morag!

Bella Blvd. has some great new products, and you can check out their full line at their website, here! I can't wait to get started! Thanks for letting me share!

happy birthday star card

Here is another Pazzles project! This card was also for Morag's "Seeing Stars" challenge on Allyscraps. I created the files for the star circle, the background paper, and the lettering in my Pazzles software and cut them out. I'm still having fun! :) Also managed to use some older papers in my stash that I love - Fancy Pants and Prima.

happy birthday card - made with my new toy!

After waffling and pondering and researching for about the past 2 years or so, I finally took the plunge on an electronic die-cutter! I ordered a Pazzles and it arrived a couple of days ago. I'm still just playing and experimenting, but here is my first completely Pazzle-ized project! I created all the cutting files myself (for the card base, the background paper, all the letters, etc). I had to re-cut the "birthday" and mat, because I didn't like how the papers I chose originally looked... but I'm pretty pleased with it now.

I can't wait to play some more and create more of my own cutting files! Whhhheeeeee!!

I'm the new Sketch Team Coordinator at Scrapbook News & Review!

I was waiting for the first issue with my sketches in it to go live - which it did last night! I was invited to join the staff of the e-zine Scrapbook News & Review as their new Sketch Team Coordinator! My first batch of five sketches is now available in the January '09 issue. Each month, I will create 5 sketches exclusively for the magazine. There is so much great content in this e-zine, you should really check it out!

Reminder about the Allyscraps Design Team call!

I have been so lucky to work with some awesome gals on the Allyscraps Design Team, and I'm really getting excited about seeing who the new people coming on board will be! There is still time to get an application in (until Friday, January 23) and you can find all the details here. Come join us on the forum and introduce yourself and see what a great site it is!

'twas the night before

I love this Making Memories Fa La La line - perfect for Christmas photos, but not overly themey. I used a Photoshop technique on the focal point photo to turn it all to black & white except for the book. I also used imaging software to create the date and lines for my journaling block, then printed them on the patterned paper and added a contrasting pattern at the end.

Journaling:
Dec. 24, 2008: Bedtime on Christmas Eve, and Daddy has the boys' undivided attention for the traditional reading of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". Sleep tight & pleasant dreams, my loves!

taking a spin

This October Afternoon Night Light from Allyscraps is so bright and fun! The colors worked great for these pics of the boys together on a tire swing at a local park. I love that it's double sided!

This is also my sample page for a fun Scrappy Bingo challenge that I posted on the Allyscraps forum! Come and check it out! (And while you're there, don't forget that we currently have a Design Team call going on!)

Journaling:
I love the look of pure joy on your faces as you twirl together on the tire swing at White Oak Park.
Date: 10/24/08

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! We were the house of sickness here over most of the Christmas break, but finally we all seem to be on the mend. The boys went back to school this morning and Mark is back to work, but I have one more week before classes start... woohoo!

My sweet blogger-friend Chris Hertel was kind enough to issue this fun award for my blog:



Thanks so much, Chris! Check out her blog when you have a chance, she does awesome work (AND she just recently acquired a new butt-kicking camera, LOL)!

And for even more fun, I get to pass it on. Here are the rules:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Provide links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

Here are the blogs I'm going to nominate, every one of them filled with great inspiration and loads of eye candy!

1. Stacey Michaud
2. Kary Lewis
3. Morag Cutts
4. Keely Yowler
5. Raechelle Bellus

check it out - Allyscraps is looking for some new Design Team members!

It's time for an Allyscraps Design Team call! I kid you not, this is THE best DT gig out there! I love being a part of this team - Cathy is just awesome to work with, Dana does a fabulous job of keeping us all organized and (mostly) in line (LOL!), and I have gotten to work alongside some amazingly talented and inspiring ladies! The kits are fabulous, and we always have a lot of input into picking our own, very "personalized" kit. If you are interested in trying out for a design team and haven't checked out the site, I really encourage you to look into this call. You can find all the info and details here! See you on the board!