Self discovery is an amazing thing. I am so fortunate to have made so many friends in the blogging and scrapping community that speak to me thru their work and blogs. Some peoples personal stories and struggles they share make me feel like I've been sleeping for a very long time and I am just getting started with my life and others have posts that hit me like I've been smacked in the back of the head with a rolled newspaper with someone yelling "Wake Up!" LOL

It's a true gift that we have this forum to communicate sucesses and failures and for self expression. If anyone from Blogger is out there reading my blog, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to make lasting friendships and be inspired on a daily basis here.

I decide to add a little something to my blog every Wednesday called "What I learned today" This week's lesson is one that is so close to my heart and a real life struggle for me. I came across Katie Squire's blog, my scrappy fellow Bad Girl from Canada and was completely inspired by her layout and journaling of a very personal struggle. After reading your words today Katie, you taught me to love myself today. I haven't felt that I was worthy of my own love in a long time. Thank you for scrapping such a beautiful and deeply personal page to remind those of us that have forgotten the greatest lesson on all. You have to love yourself first. You can see Katie's amazing story and personal layout here.

Now onto this week's Unity Addicts challenge...This week's challenge is an inspiration challenge from Amy. It's this beautiful floral arrangement

Looks yummy huh! Here's my take on the challenge. My card actually opens and the inside is the Love is Just a word stamped image. I could not get it to stay open to snap a pic but my Unity peeps know the stamp.

Next up is my card for the Unity Sketch Challenge this week. Here's the sketch,

Here is my take and I totally interpreted this sketch in a groovy way! Can you tell my new favorite stamp from Unity? I got happy mail yesterday from Unity. My Hip Hop purchases arrived in time for this week's Hip Hop. Oh the detail! Love Love Love this one!! Not only do I love it for cards, it's a great size for scrapbooking too! Heck I may scrap a page just like this card. How cute would that be?? It's called Patchwork Petals. You can check it out here at the Unity shopping site and the other new releases too!

Thanks for stopping by!

I've been Tagged and a new challenge at Scrapping Out Loud!

Julie tagged me a few days ago and I got sick over the weekend. I am finally fulfilling the instructions. So here the deets : just go to the place on your computer where you store your photos, then to the 6th folder, then the sixth photo. Take that photo, put it on you blog & tell it's story.

So here's mine, this photo was taken at Lily's first birthday party July 18th 2008. When I opened my pictures and saw the 6th file was Lily's first birthday I thought this would be great but then when this was the 6th photo I smiled. What could be better than a great photo of my lovely family! We had a great time with family and friends that day. Lily really cleaned up in toys too!

Now the following ladies have been tagged! Can't wait to see what you come up with.

1. Heidi

2. Louise

3. Katherine

4. Rochelle

5. Kristi

6. Kat

This week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud is... Lacey! - Use more than one kind of lace on your layout. Here's my take and I used my new Unity Hearts of Old stamp that Angela gave me at CHA on the large heart shaped card stock I cut out. isn't it FABULOUS! You can get it too if you click here

Come on over to Scrapping Out Loud here and scrap along with this week's challenge. Simply post a comment linking your layout on this week's thread to get a chance to win this month's RAK sponsored by Love is In the Details. You can check out their kit site here

Have a scrappy day and thanks for stopping by!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you have a super sweet one with your Sweetheart or Sweethearts! I was up late blog hopping and scrapping last night and came across a fun Card Sketch Blog called 2 Sketches 4 You. You can check it out here Here's my card for this week's challenge over there and a Pic of my Sweet Hearts for Eye Candy Challenge!

I used a stamp I won in my very first Blog Candy win from Nancy @ Inkcicles. She posted a giveaway and I instantly fell in love with this stamp Ernie the Elephant from Clear Dollar Stamps. I recently attended the Splitcoast Stampers Cupcake Social when I went to CHA and I could hardly believe my eyes when I recognized here there! How cool was that! She probably thought I was a nut since I get a bit excited when cool stuff like that happens. I had someone snap our pic. It was such a pleasure to meet her!

Isn't she beautiful! Check out her beautiful creations at her blog here

I didn't have a picture of just my husband so I am posting this one taken by Ken Posney in Kauai this past summer. If you ever visit Kauai and need a fantastic photographer he's your guy. Simply amazing huh! Check out his site and more beautiful images here

My husband is my Sweetheart, I love him so. He's my best friend and biggest supporter. He never asks me how much I spend on my obsessive hobby nor does he mind the many nights I stay up in the wee hours creating my art. Happy Valentine's day Babe, you are the World's Greatest Husband!

Hip Hop Hangover on Friday the 13th!!

HIP HOP HANGOVER BABY!!!!!!!Like my Unity Flair? I do!

Check out Unity's New Releases here they are fun, funky and affordable! Is that wasn't enough for every $10.00 you spend, you'll get a free stamp but wait there's more...spend 25.00 and get these sets for only $3.00. Yea I said SETS!!! I totally grabbed up the be "Owl" mine set. I was having a tough time deciding which one I wanted and chose the other Valentine set. Good choice cause I saved some Moolah! Now this sale won't last long, 12 noon central time to be exact so ACT NOW!!!

Are you superstitious? I'm not and I am a horror flick fan. They've revamped the Friday the 13th series and brought it back for 2009. There was even a midnight showing...SPOOKY! Of course I won't be seeing it in the theatre but my sweet husband and I recently watched Friday the 13th part 3 in 3D. It was fun! Get spooked and then tell me how it was.

I was a card making machine this week! I had no idea I made so many cards this week but it was fun. Here are my challenge cards for Splitcoast Stampers this week and some Challenge cards from the Hip Hop.

I missed my friend Danielle during the Hop yesterday. She wasn't feeling well. I hope you are feeling better today girlfriend! I'll be calling to check on you when I wake up today :)

We had some great challenges this week! Here's what I made :)

Unity Love Challenge

Unity Takes Flight Challenge, when you hold the card flat you can see the Sentiment thru the vellum paper. It was hard to photograph.

Splitcoast Sketch Challenge

Splitcoast Color Challenge

Splitcoast Cut it out Challenge

Unity Addicts Challenge

Unity Sketch Challenge

Sketch Challenge for So Cal Scraps

Well that's it, enough huh! Thanks for sticking it out for all these cards. I always appreciate you stopping by my blog. Have a great weekend!

Hip Hop Thursday and the new Making Memories flower Patch Collection

Ohhhh I got mail yesterday, I really Got mail!! My order came from Two Peas and I had gotten a $20.00 credit to the store for uploading 20 projects and I used that credit well! So many goodies, I was in sensory overload!!!

Have you seen Making Memories new line flower Patch??? Ohhhh it's beautiful! Much more so when it's in your hands. Here's some peeks

Are you in love now too??? That butterfly cardstock is glitter so you can cut those purdy's out and have a blast!!!

Now look what I made last night with this line...

Fun stuff!!! Speaking of Fun, it's Thursday! You know what that means, HIP HOP! Angela is releasing 100 new stamps and I am totally excited to see the new RUBBAH!! Visit her site here and see them for yourself! Then come join us for games, giveaways and chat in the Unity Splitcoast Forum here

Happy Stamping!!!

I {heart} my Mom!!!

Happy Wednesday everyone! We got happy mail today! My mom is so thoughtful, she used to send me care packages when I was a single gal livin in San Diego and I loved getting them! Today we got a Valentine care package loaded with goodies! My mom made me a hat and scarf set and I sadly lost the hat on an evening walk with Lily some time ago and when I opened the package today right on top was another hat and a matching set for Lily! SO cute!!! Here we are posing for Nana!

My mom also makes cards and they are really cute but she hasn't really figured out how to post them so here are a few of the cards she made for us. I loved the Valentine one!! So clever Mom!!

See where I get my creativity from! Finally I am posting a cute pic I shot of my Lily being the sweetest feeding Cayden some cereal snacks this morning. He was crying because he had just been woken up by Lily and she came over with a cereal bite to console him. Of course the shot was blurry and I could not get them to repeat the same pose Darn! But you get the idea.

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day and create something!

Rainbow Connection & a new challenge is up today at Scrapping out Loud!

Ok I know I am a sap but I loved the Muppets as a kid and rainbows. I snapped this pic from my bathroom window Saturday afternoon. I really do get excited over rainbows, they are God's way of reminding us that there is real beauty in the world.

Scrapping Out Loud Challenge reveal day!!!

For this week's challenge Baby I am Amazed By You, Scrap your most amazing life's moment at Scrapping Out Loud I used this Page Maps sketch.

The Paper is Pink Paislee from my December kit at Paper Posies. I embossed the chipboard and used the back of the Prima felt border along with some bling and flowers. Having this photo taken of my children and I sitting in the spot where my husband and I were married in Kauai this summer is definately one of my most amazing life's moments.

Come join the fun over at Scrapping Out Loud and post a link to your layout for a chance to win this Month's awesome RAK sponsored by Love is In the Details! Click here to visit their awesome site!

Happy Scrapping!

Scrappy Challenge Weekend!

Hope you had a great weekend, we sure did! There was no football watching HOORAY!!! My sweet hubby and I were just "happy together" We went out to a nice breakfast Sat and followed that with a trip to Toys r Us to spoil our little girl a bit with some educational toys. I wanted to get her the Elmo kitchen but apparently it's only avail online so we got her some blocks because she's really into stacking things and a nice board puzzle to teach her shapes. Oh and we finally got her a little chair just for her that she loves. Here's a few pics of her playing with her new things.

After Toy's R Us I went off to Michaels for glue dots and a white pen and of course I got more than I went for and then some. Mat and I spent the rest of the weekend just hanging out together and it was so fun. Saturday evening we watched Friday the 13th in 3D. He picked it up at Best Buy while I was at Micheals and I was cracking up at him with 3D glasses on. He just looked SO kooky!

Sunday was a day for Scrappin and lazin around the house. I got more projects than I expected done. I am really bad at waiting til the last day to complete challenges and often end up missing the deadlines to compete.

Here's a couple of projects I did get completed on time for this week's Hero Arts challenge Birthday Week. Of course I had to finish them after I lost the natural light so forgive the pics.

It was Birthday week and we had to create a birthday card, layout or project with one hero Arts Stamp. For my birthday card I cut a hole in the front and then cut a green piece of card stock with my Nestibilities scallop shaped die and then cut a circle in the center to layer. I used pop dots behind the circle to add dimension but you can't really tell from the photo. The owl and the flower stem are part of my new stamps.

I also submitted a layout for this challenge with some pics from Lily's 1st birthday. I feel awful that I am just now getting around to scrapping them. I used some paper from the All Kinds of Happy collection from Imaginisce. I also used a few different stamps by Hero Arts and the Birthday sentiment is Unity.

For this layout I used the paper from my October kit I purchased when I joined Paper Posies. I knew I wanted to cut out this owl when I saw it on the card stock.

Stay tuned for Scrapping Out Loud's Tuesday challenge. We've got another awesome RAK up for grabs so come play along with us!

Happy Mail and a Fun evening meeting new friends!!!

Yesterday was HAPPY MAIL day!! Oh boy did I get some good stuff! I got my prize from the 12 days of Christmas contest...a CROP A DIAL!!! I have the big bite but I had been wishing I got the Crop A Dial because it just seemed more versitile. It came in the case too with a ton of eyelets, thanks Scrapbooking and Cards Today!

Next I got my order from Hero Arts I placed from winning the 50.00 shopping spree for the fresh face winner taht I won. I can't wait to play with these stamps and there's another contest up that's due tmr eve. If you're interested get the deets here and come play along for some really great products. Hero was really generous and threw in a few extra stamps.

And...I got my winning stamps from the Hip Hop a few weeks ago and a few extra goodies from Angela who is just the sweetest girl ever!!! She has totally made now want to vacation in Minnesota just to see her and Eryn! I also got that cute tree stamp in the Unity block from my sweet friend Jacquie! She won it in the Hip Hop and already had it so she had Eryn throw it in my stash of goodies. Thanks SO much Jacquie girl! I can't wait to use that Harlaquin background stamp!

Last night I got to meet Daiseyfreak from the Hip Hop Unity friends I've made since finding them in the Splitcoast forum. She was visiting her long time friend Cori who lives about 30 mins from me. They invited me to meet them for dinner at the Road House Steakhouse in Long Beach. That's the lovely Cori on the left and the very talented Joy in the middle and moi. She made the most amazing card with Unity's Love is Toxic set. Please go check it out on here blog here. Both of them were super sweet! Joy's husband was there too and I felt so bad for him because all we talked about was scrapping an stamping! LOL It was really great meeting them since I don't have any scrappy friends here on the West side.

Finally here at the cards I didn't get a chance to post yesterday from the Hip Hop Challenges by Jeanne this week. I got to meet Jeanne at CHA and she is really sweet and super talented. Check out her blog here. She totally amazes me every week with her creations!

This card was the gel-tastic challenge to use gel pens. Um, mine are about 10 years old and pretty dried out but here's my card

And finally my Get Tilted with Unity challenge card. For this challenge we had to create a card and tilt the main image.

So I am off the breakfast with my family and Mathew will be gone this evening to do a little male bonding with his buddy so I'll be scrappin it up in my studio. Have a fantastic weekend whatever you are doin!

Hip Hop hangover artwork

Hey readers! Good Morning!!! So my DH set the alarm wrong and instead of getting up at 6 like I usually do I was up at 5. I didn't realize the time til I sat down at the computer to read mail after showering. Boy am I gonna need a nap later because my daughter woke at 12:45 and kept me up til 2 am. What was that about? We put her in bed with us hoping to get her to sleep but she just wiggled and put her feet in my back. Then she did laps around her crib while I was in and out of sleep. At one point I was hit in the head with her glow Seahorse and Monkey. Ahh the joys of parenthood...

So folks ( I love that word) here's your UNITY DEETS for this week!

Be sure to check out Angela's Rewind specials for Hip Hop over here. Unity has new stamps and awesome new packaging!!! Don't have Unity Rubbah yet? GET SOME!!!!

So here's a few things I made with Unity this week!

this challenge was to make a Valentine card with a non Valentine stamp

this week's sketch challenge at Splitcoast why is this image so small??? I am too tired to fix it grrrr

A card I made for my CTMH Cafe Mom group with the All My Love set

And a sneak peek of a Unity altered project I am working on with Basic Grey and Prima flowers. I have two more cards but I had no lighting to photograph them well so I'll be posting more later today.

Have a great weekend!

Scrapping Out Loud Challenge Tuesday!

It's time for another challenge and the winner of January's Rak is revealed! Hop on over to read all the deets here and see the amazing artwork created by our talented team! This week's challenge is to scrap your stash! Make way for the new products coming out after CHA by using stuff from your stash that's at least 6 months old. Here's my layout for this week's challenge,

On another note I am pleased to post that I had a few birthday cards and an altered project featured in the Jan?Feb issue of Ready, Set Create! It's an online scrapbooking magazine ran by the sweet and lovely Jennifer Blackwell. You can purchase a copy here

I also scrapped a two page layout for my monthly kit club Paper Posies. I am not a fan of two page layouts and they are a challenge for me but I needed two pages to tell this story. I had seen an article about scrapping the year in review in one of my scappy mags and wanted to give it a try. I used paper by Basic Grey and Paper Crate as well as American Crafts letters and Prima flowers and bling.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day!