Perfectly Content

My dogs are so cute, everyday I find them snuggled up, perfectly happy and just content being together. I love this photo that I took of Lilo and Kona snuggled up together one morning. I loved this photo so much that I decided to do a layout about them. Actually, I have used this photo before, and will probably use it again, that's how much I love it. And on mornings when I am not feeling well - you can find these two snuggled up beside me.
I went shopping on NSD at my lss and found a couple of great finds that I just could not resist. The first find was this wonderful circle lace doily stamp and white dye ink from Hero Arts and my second great find was the PB&J collection from Basic Grey. I had seen it before online, but it wasn't until I saw it in person that I completely fell in love with it. So fun!
and here is a layout that I made bringing it all together:

Content layout:

ummm, can I just say that I love the bright colors and patterns in this line. I couldn't resist their stickpins and flags too :)
Here is a close up:

Can I just say again, that I love these girls and they bring so much joy to my life!

Thanks for stopping by!

supplies:
Basic Grey: papers, letter stickers, stickpin, flag (PB&J collection)
flair: from Alifehandmade.com
Hero Arts: circle lace doily stamp, white dye ink
Dear Lizzy: date stamp
Making Memories (Slice)
Pink Paislee: muslin banner
Hambly: washi tape
Studio Calico: paper flower

I can finally share...

I am so excited about this, now that it is May I can finally share my 3 layouts that were published in the April 2012 issue of Scrapbook Trends. April was the very first issue of Scrapbook Trends that I was ever published in and they picked up 3! I was over the moon excited when I got the happy emails from them. Now, that I understand what they are looking for I have been having pretty good luck with them - so be looking for some more published layouts on here as soon as I am allowed to share. And here they are...

(all papers, chipboard pieces and felt icons are from Ruby Rock-it's Paper Doll collection)

(I had so much fun getting creative with Hambly and washi tape on this one!)

(Did you notice the Epiphany on this one? I used Epiphany Crafts round 25 shape studio tool to create the bubblecaps at the bottom)
and I also have 1 in the April issue of Cards magazine

(And for this last one I used papers from Authentique's Gathering collection)
thanks for letting me share!

vintage luggage love and some fun news!

Hi friends,
I hope that your Friday is starting off well. I have a couple more layouts that I would like to share with you and some fun news. So lets get started.
I recently discovered a company called Ormolu. I love their flair buttons and tags. Here is a layout that I completed this weekend using one of their buttons.

Vintage Luggage love:


and a close up. I used a flair button from Ormolu, new Hambly paper (airplanes) and Echo Park paper (tickets). I just love how this page came together.


And now for some fun news.....
I have been asked back for a second term at Epiphany Crafts. I am super excited about this because they are an amazing company to work for and I love their products.
Here is a recent layout that I made using Simple Stories paper and Epiphany Crafts star shape studio tool.



Thanks for letting me share my fun news. You can view the announcement about the new EC team here.

Laugh so much

Hi friends,
I would like to share a couple of layouts that I created this weekend while the fabulous Suzy West was visiting me. Every time that we get together the creativity gets flowing and we have so much fun together. I also noticed that I emboss a lot more on my pages when she is with me (hmmn, maybe it is because she is the US Marketing coordinator of an amazing company called WOW embossing powders?) Or maybe it is because she threatens to cut me if she doesn't like my work? Totally kidding. See my post yesterday, we like to joke that Suzy created my injury last weekend, but really, it was just a silly blonde moment where I picked up my rotary trimmer the wrong way. Ouch!

Here are a couple of layouts that I had fun embossing kind of sporadically on.

My quirks:
This page is appropriately titled my quirks because I have a lot of them, including being clumsy. I embossed on this page using a template from Crafter's Workshop and WOW blueberry powder.

I got to use some new Hambly special edition paper on this (love)and Dear Lizzy thickers (so fun)

Future Photographers:

a fun layout that I did about my daughter and her cousins learning how to use SLR cameras and wanting to become photographers.

I embossed on this page using WOW Opaque bright white (title), and WOW Opaque primary Azure regular (love this color). The glitter paint is Tattered Angels and the papers are from Echo Park (This & That boys collection) and new special edition Hambly (chevron)

and one more layout that I would like to share with you. This is for my friend Ashley N. Newell who went with us to Green Tangerines last Saturday. Ashley is a cardmaker, and whenever we are together we are always trying to get her to make a layout. So, we took a photo (together at the store)and challenged her to use it on a layout.
Here is what I made using our photo:
Laugh so much layout:

I embossed on this page using WOW Opaque bright white and a template from Pink Paislee.
I stitched an overlay on top (Hambly), I just love how it came out.


Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my work with you today. Ashley and Suzy, I am still waiting to see your pages that you made for the challenge girls, and I am going to hold you to it! lol.
Take care everyone.

back from a fun 3 day weekend with friends

and I have a scrappy injury to show for it. This past weekend my Good friend Suzy West came out to stay with me and we took a girls trip on Saturday up to Green Tangerines in Rocklin for a get together with friends.


with friends Suzy West and Ashley N. Newell

with Deirdre, Suzy and Ashley.
While we were in Rocklin we got cupcakes to celebrate Suzy and Deirdre's birthday.


I don't remember the name of the cupcake shop but if I am ever in that area again, I have to stop by because these were delicious.

We had a fun time creating together and I got a lot of layouts done. 8 total for the weekend. That was huge for me. We came back to my house and Suzy and I continued working on projects throughout the weekend. Then my big clumsy fingers got into a fight with my rotary trimmer and I wound up at the ER really late on Sunday night.


yep, it wasn't pretty under the bandage, I got stitches and a tetnaus shot and a pretty good lesson on being more careful when picking up my trimmer.

It is not to bad though, Suzy and I got a good laugh out of it and I am getting out of chores for a few days. The kids are taking turns washing the dishes, etc.
I have a few projects that I created this past weekend that I would like to share with you.

Check this out:

close up:

I love the bright vivid colors on this. I used new Hambly special edition papers (honeycomb), and Authentique (genuine collection). I embossed the edges with some WOW powder (blueberry) and added some machine stitching and Epiphany.

Another fun layout that I created this weekend using brand new Hambly:

and some fun sequins and wood embellishments:


well that's it for now. I am going to give my big bandaged finger a break from typing. I will be back tomorrow to show you the rest of my new projects :)

What Veterans day means to me.

In November 2009 my family taped a news special with our local tv station News 10 to help raise awareness about PTSD in the military. For those of you that don't know our story. Frank is in the National Guard. He was sent to a heavy combat zone in Afghanistan in 2005 and did not return until 2007. When he returned home, we went through a honeymoon period where everything seemed fine. But as time went on the psychological effects of war began to take a toll on him and as a result effected the whole family. (I have a link to the video, but it is not letting me upload it here. So it can be found on my FB page).

My husband took the time to seek out help for his disorder and did not let his pride get in the way. We worked together to find the right combination of doctors, counselors and meds, so that we could get the help that he needed. I am proud to say that 2 years later Frank is doing great and we are getting ready to celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary on Monday.

We know first hand what it feels like to be without him and we consider ourselves one of the lucky families to have him back.

Kalee took this photo with Daddy's army boots last night. She always gets sentimental about Veteran's day.


I recently created this layout about his deployment using papers from GCD studios and washi tapes and overlays from Hambly.


Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to take the time to hug a Vet today :)

Finished a new Punky Sprouts book today...

just in time for my Valentine to come home, so that I can share it with him. The book is called 'True Love travels on a gravel road'
and it features new and old photos of us over the years (12 years to be exact). Wow, I can't believe it has been that long. Where does the time go?

I used the Bella Blvd. Lovey Dovey collection by Stephanie Hunt and Punky Sprouts album (rebel sprout). I have long been a punky sprouts fan, but this was my first time ever using this particular album. The book comes with jump rings and gives you the freedom to put it together yourself. It was so cool being able to decide where the pages go! Another feature that was so fun about this book is that I used several shape studio and button studio tools from Epiphany crafts to customize my pages. (Click on each picture for an upclose view of each page.)

front cover

I had a lot of fun with the front cover. I made the heart out of pink felt.

pages 1 & 2

I got creative on this page by making my own custom epoxies with the new 1 inch shape studio tools. I also had fun painting a circular metal grid that I found in the garage to add flair to my canvas page.

upclose picture of a flower I created using cupcake wrappers and an epiphany crafts epoxy



pages 3 & 4

I had fun making a cute little pocket for my picture using Hambly screenprints paper. I topped it off with a flower I made with Tim Holtz paper rosette die and a custom Epiphany epoxy heart.

pages 5 & 6

The corrugated strip at the bottom is a Starbucks coffee sleeve that I recycled and punched with an EK Success border punch. So fun!

pages 7 & 8


pages 9 & 10

Journaling reads"12 years 2 deployments 2 houses 2 kids 2 dogs 2 many good memories to name Here is to the next 12 years+"
I had fun making the banner (on the last page) out of chipboard and Epiphany crafts 1/2 inch epoxies.

view of the whole book and all the fun embellies I used to make it.


I absolutely loved making this album and I am going to enjoy even more, sharing it with my honey tonight as we snuggle up and reminisce about the years past. Happy Valentines Day!

Crazy for Epiphany

Did you hear the news? Ephiphany Crafts is having a design team call. I am so excited about this call. Have you tried out their tools yet? With Epiphany crafts you can make your own custom epoxies and acyrlic buttons at home using your existing scraps. I recently got the chance to play with their new 1 inch shape studio round epoxy tool. This tool is a dream! It is the perfect size to make your own bottle cap jewelry at home, and great for making larger embellishments as well. Here is an example that I made recently using the new 1 inch round studio epoxy tool (lollipop center).
And the 14 mm (1/2 inch) round epoxy tool (small photo in the lollipop center).
I punched my photos to make these awesome epoxy embellishments to match my page. I just love how it turned out!



So, what do you think? Have you decided to try out for their team yet? Don't walk, run to their blog. Owners of Epiphany Crafts Tricia and Brian are very generous, and amazing to work with. I had the opportunity to help out Epiphany Crafts at the Sacramento Expo last year and it was an awesome experience. I am happy to say that I have been asked back to work the Bay area Expo in Pleasanton in March.
Since I had the chance to try out my very first Epiphany tool, I was hooked. I now use them on virtually every project I am making. They are that versatile! So, have you decided to try out yet? I know I have!

Spooktacular event at Hambly

Last week I had the opportunity to work at Hambly screenprints studios in Santa Clara, Ca. I was there representing Canon with Canon's fabulous cameras and printers so that guests that came to the event could have their photo taken and printed for free.


fun paper chain decorations using Hambly paper


There was a makeup artist at the event

Mrs. Hambly really enjoyed the Selphy line of printers.


A shot of the Canon table. I dressed up for the event as Canon girl.


Customers printing their pictures at the Canon table


Mr. Hambly - owner of Hambly screenprints was so nice. He gave everyone a tour of the warehouse and took the time to take pictures with the guests.

I had to get a picture with friends Suzy West (facebook costume) & Sarah DeGuzman (ladybug costume)


Another shot of me as 'Canon girl' at the Canon table


Employee Chris (cowboy) assisting a shopper in the store

Employee Rose with customers shopping in the store


Mr. Hambly assisting guests with shopping.

Did I mention that I came home with tons of Hambly goodies that night? :)