Hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend and relaxing. I think I ate too much cheesecake and lost my scrappy mojo. I had all this free time to scrap and I've only made a couple of holiday gifts so far. Sorry no peeking til Christmas Mom.

I am really excited to share with you that I had the honor of creating a layout from one of Becky's awesome Page Maps! I received an email from her in late October after submitting a request to be part of her guest designers. Of course I was really excited to be picked. Becky's sketches are reguarly featured in Making Memories magazine. You can click here to see all of the December Page Maps she created. I did an 8 1/2 X 11 layout which is something I have never done before. It was really fun and challenging. So much so that at the last minute I changed my mind and made a whole new one to submit. The Aries in me, I know. So here is my first take, it's called The Apple of My Eye

I just felt the last picture was too close up and the layout didn't flow for me.

Here is my submission. I felt this one just worked although you have no idea what I went through to get it finished. My printer was running out of ink and I had no replacement ink left at home and I order them from online. Thankfully I was able to print these few pics and get it finished and submitted on time. A huge thanks to Beck Fleck for giving me this opportunity!!

***BLog Candy***

Last Day to win the 1 a day Blog Candy at Bootiful Stampz thanks for all the chances Sally!

Did you survive the shopping?

I didn't venture out yesterday to shop for black Friday but my Sister in Law did, crazy nut she is. She spent 4 hours at Best Buy alone. now that's what I call NUTZ! So I want to scrap a little today and work on a challenge for The Design Experiment and some Christmas gifts. I'll be posting more later but here's some more Blog Candy you might want to check out!*****
Kristin Hubick is giving away a huge set of eyelets on her blog
and I am still trying to win the one a day giveaway at Bootiful Stampz

Hip Hop Hangover and Thanksgiving pics...

Hey everybody! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!! Check out the deals Angela is giving out over at Unity Stamps! There are so many amazing deals to list but any order placed today will get 20 percent off. Hop on over to the blog for the coupon code. I've already placed my order, have you???I could resist that cute Spunky Princess for Taylor read her story by clicking the link on her name! So here are my cards from this week's Hip Hop.

This challenge I had to use cream, red and brown to create a card.

Unity's cup of coffee stamp that Angela generously gave us last week with our orders :) I won the challenge with this project! My first win on the Hip Hop...yipeeeee!

Always good times. Check out the hangover chat today.

Here's some photos for my family who couldn't be with us yesterday. I'm a decorator. I love to dress my house up for the holidays. Here's a few pics of what I did to my table for our guests my sister in law and her husband Warren and my Nephew Gavin. I really missed my son Scott yesterday but I am sure he had a great time with his dad.

Now some pics of the family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My nephew Gavin and his dad Warren

My Sister in law Melissa and her family

Our Lily, just being the most adorable little girl. She is starting to pose for me now when I take pictures.

Lily in her cute Thanksgiving dress my mom bought her when she came to visit.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am happy to say I am home relaxing today, you could not pay me enough to go out and stand in line all day on Black Friday.

*******BLOG CANDY BELOW********

I did however find some wonderful Blog Candy from these generous ladies...

Bev @ All the things I love just leave a link on your blog and add a comment. Ohhhh I hope I win!!!

Ila @ Artfully Ila To enter all you have to do is comment on this post....telling me what your favorite Christmas movie is or your favorite Christmas song.... by Wednesday night Dec 3rd.... If you would like to spread the word about this candy....that would be so Wonderful!.. ..but is not a requirement to enter to win this candy......Everyone is Welcome to enter! I will post the winners on the morning of Thursday Dec 4th.

Sally @ Bootiful Stampz just post a link to her blog on yours! Good Luck!

At the heart of everything is family

I found this picture in a scrapbook my Grandma Bonnie made for me a few years ago. I had decided awhile ago that I was going to start scrapping my old photos but I just haven't gotten around to it. I finally pulled this one out to scrap two nights ago. My DH said that my dad looks like Jerry Garcia. I really don't see it, I just think we all including me at 3, look goofy.
I hope your all having a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and friends. To me family is the most important thing we have in this world. I know I enjoy giving thanks for all I have but most important for my family. We all have different types of family, some are step parents, mother and father in laws, brothers and sisters. It doesn't matter what your situation is but more importantly the unconditional love that you share for each other. Sadly my mother and father split up when I was very small and my mom met her second husband pictured above with her and my grandmother. I was so lucky that he loved me like his own daughter. He's the only dad I have ever known and it was hard when my real father passed away when I was only 7 but I was even luckier to still have my dad Glenn there for me. When he and my mother divorced when I was 13 it was really hard on me. Over time tho we got stronger as a family and my dad remarried an amazing lady. She became my mom and loved me unconditionally. I grew to respect and love her just as I would my own mom. Sure it's a strange situation and not the traditional family most people have. Families situations change and it's the kids that can't change that, they just have to ride it out trusting that their parents are trying to do what's best for them. I know both my parents have always done what's best for me. My dad Glenn and my step mom Lori both love me unconditionally and it doesn't matter that neither of them are my biological parents. We are a family and that is what I am most thankful for today...

Guest Designer honor!

Good morning! I'm really excited to share with you that the girls over at Scrapping out Loud asked me to be a Guest Designer for this week's challenge! I could hardly believe it when Denise emailed me and was totally thrilled since I love hanging out over at Scrapping Out Loud! Come see my layout for this week's challenge Make it shine with Glitter! Join us in the fun and scrap a page and post a link to your page in the comments or your chance to win a scrappy prize with this month's RAK shown here.

I had a great time creating my layout. Thanks again ladies for the honor!
*****

**Blog Candy Alert**

Leave a comment and post a link to Sally's blog on your blog for a chance to win a great stamp from Bootiful Stamps

You still have time to win some candy over at sweet and sassy stamps.

Altering and Saving the Universe!

Now that I got your attention...Sorry I couldn't resist that title. So I am deeming myself Queen of Blog challenges... I always seem to be doing at least one a day so if the shoe fits... Last night I was visiting my long list of blogs and came across a great challenge over at Hero Stamps Blog http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/ Create a last minute holiday gift using a Hero Arts Stamp. I only have 2 stamps from them so this little penguin seemed to fit. First I have been saving all of Lily's little snack cans to alter for Christmas cookie gift holders. So I started with this:

I used a 6x12 sheet of patterned paper to wrap around the can and used glue dots and adhesive to adhere the paper to the can. Then I used the Martha Stewart snowflake punch I got last Christmas and punched out some white snowflakes and used a little bling in the center. The top was easy to decorate as I cut a circle piece of matching patterned paper and glued in the center. Then I used my Crop a Dial Big Bite to punch two holes in the center of the lid to tie ribbon thru. I created the tag using a stamp by Hero Arts called Warm Winter Wishes and my Nestabilities scallop and circle die cuts. I tied a plastic snowflake button on the tip with some waxy flax and added ribbon and fiber. Cheap and easy! Total time to create was less than 10 mins and Voila!

Cute little stamp huh! Check out the challenge here http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/ The prize is a 50.00 gift certificate for the store, Yipeeee!!! Good Luck if you submit an entr

Now I remember saying in a previous post that I am really bad about scrapping things in order. Case in point my next page I whipped up Sat and Sun in between Scott's soccer games. A Christmas layout from a photo of Scott and Lily last Christmas. I used CTMH card stock and Prima's Holiday Poinsettia. You've got to get some of these flowers! So glittery and purdy! Then I found these ornaments at Micheals and knew they'd look great on a layout.

Now check out this cute little award I got today not once but Twice! First from Jessica and then again from Denise. Wow ladies...you are so sweet! Thanks a million.

Check out Jessica's blog here http://jessicahagland.blogspot.com/ and Denise's herehttp://scrappingfrommysoul.blogspot.com/

Now for my list of scrappy ladies that deserve this honor! My friend Cass who's card talents are endless and she's an amazing photographer on top of it all! hey girl I got my RAK and card today from you in the mail. your are SO sweet to think of me. Check out Cass's blog here http://thisnthatcass.blogspot.com , and Heather also from my Cafe Mom group Card Makin' Mama's. Heather is just the sweetest gal and really talented too plus she sends endless RAK's out to people and really stamps from her heart! Check out Heather's blog here http://joemamainks.blogspot.com/ make sure you scroll down and check out her house mouse card! Absolutely adorable! Next to get the award is Amber's Blog. I was blog hopping when I first started my own Blog and came across her blog. I now check it EVERYDAY!!! Talk about inspiration and talent. I could go on and on but you really need to see her amazing creations for yourself here http://somanycolorssolittletime.blogspot.com/ and finally the last two ladies are from the Unity Stamps Design Team. These ladies are super talented and part of my daily blog hop. I can't wait for Thurs Hip Hops just to see what they've created this week. Check out Jennifer's blog here http://www.thebuckstampshere.blogspot.com/ and Linsey's blog here http://linseyrickett.blogspot.com/ You ladies truly inspire me everyday with your awesome creations!!!

Now for some CANDY~

Yes, Sally is still giving away a Bootiful Stamps prize per day on her blog so make sure you hop on over and post a comment for your chance to win! http://bootifulstampz.blogspot.com/

Whew that was alot! Sorry for long post today. Make something pretty tonight!

Finished up some layouts and another day of Soccer

I was able to finish up 2 challenges I wanted to get to this weekend, the first over at my second home Scrapping Out Loud http://www.scrappingoutloud.blogspot.com/ This week's challenge was to use over sized letters on your layout. I ran out of ink in my printer after I did the Prima challenge last week so I started digging thru some old photos' yesterday and came across our first trip to Bear Bear when Scott was only 4. We went up there to visit Santa's Village only to discover Santa had already packed up and headed back to the North Pole. I was really proud of Scott because he wasn't sad he just wanted to get out and play in the snow. I can hardly believe after looking at these pictures that Scott has grown SO much.

Make sure you check out Scrapping our Loud's Design team call too! I think it woulds be loads of fun to be a part of such a fun group of ladies. They are always stopping by to leave me some love each time I participate in their challenges.

I also completed the challenge over at The Design Experiment for this week. http://thedesignx.blogspot.com/

There are so many things going on in our lives everyday...this week we just want you to take a second and ask yourself "Why?" Take it to whatever level you want..silly, serious, reflective..you choose!

Well I chose the Silly route after coming across this picture of my Beanie Babies. Yep! I know laugh out loud cause I got wrapped up in the craze. I was hopping from store to store looking for each bear and hoping I'd collect them all because some day I was gonna get a fortune for them...

Um, yea Right. They currently reside in my garage in plastic bags and thankfully for them I had a daughter so they now have hopes of occupying her bedroom shelves some day. Anyone else give in to this madness??? I'd love to hear your story too!

So the rest of my day sadly will not include scrapping until possibly tonight after all the Soccer festivities that are planned. Today is my son's last regular season game at 12:30 and then we are having the team party. We had two games yesterday and after these poor kids played their hearts out they sadly lost both games. The first game was so intense I could not sit down. There was a kid on the other team that was pushing and tripping and all kinds of craziness and the other moms and I were like "Hey" but you know the men...."let them work it out on the field" What I did notice is that the boys banded together as a team to support each other against this bully and protect their team mates. It was inspiring to see the team spirit. One particular boy tho took the loss especially hard and did not return for the second game. I was really sorry to see the parents allow this. I think that in team sports it's really important that the kids realize that whether you win or lose, you do so as a team. I hope to see him today as do the other boys.

Hip Hop Hangover...

I mentioned the Hip Hop over at Unity Stamps is every Thursday. Always lots of fun and challenges. You can join us here next Thursday http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380903 Here' are a few of the cards I made for yesterday's HOP.
First was the snowflake challenge. We had to use snow or snowflake on our cards.

Next was the square card challenge. I used the fanciful dots for the center of the flower

and finally this card was for the Weds Unity Addicts

You can still get in on FREE SHIPPING today til noon and as always Angela was VERY generous

with some serious discounts on totally cool RUBBAH! Click the link below to see some of Unity's new releases too! http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/

i didn't make it for the midnight showing of Twilight tho I know ALOT of fans in Los Angeles did! Living in the big city they had lots of showings. I am going to check it out Saturday afternoon by myself since none of my friends (thanks Dominique and Roxy) are interested. Why don't any of my friends like vampire stuff? They all tease me about True Blood too! There is only one episode left this season and it looks GOOD!

Has anyone seen the trailer for Star Trek??? OH WOW!!! Spock is played by Zachary Quinto (total hunk) who plays Sylar on Heroes. I love J.J. Abrams, he's amazing and I was HUGE fan of Alias so the trailer was amazing. Check it out here http://www.startrekmovie.com/

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

If you love Prima and Blog Candy read on...

I've got a couple of fun things to let you in on that I discovered while Blog hopping today. Prima Marketing's blog has a monthly Build a page challenge and you could win a set of their paper. Click the link for details http://prima.typepad.com/prima/2008/10/build-a-page-no.html

Here's my layout...my printer ran out of ink and I order thru the net so I decided to go with black and white photos so I could still scrap. I have been wanting to try the black and yellow color combination so here's my take on the sketch.

I've also been trying to dip into my scrap bin to create a card per day so maybe that pile will decrease (I doubt it) I cut the butterflies out of the card stock and used my XOXO Unity stamp I received for free when I placed my 1st order. Don't forget tomorrow is Hip Hop!!! Check it out here! http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/

I'm pretty excited to tell you that next Tuesday I am the Guest Designer over at Scrapping out Loud. I was so honored that the ladies asked me and I loved the challenge they gave me. Check out this weeks challenge and play along with us for a chance to win this month's RAK!! This week's challenge is to use an over sized letter or letters on your layout. See what the Design team came up with meet Pat, the Scrappin' Nana and this weeks Guest Designer! http://www.scrappingoutloud.blogspot.com/

Now for the candy...Sally is giving away blog candy every day this week but you better hurry and hop on over here right away!!!http://bootifulstampz.blogspot.com/

You've still got time to post a comment at Lara's birthday blog candy giveaway. I posted about it earlier this week click here to see what she's offering up in honor of her special day http://youwantthecookie.blogspot.com/2008/11/they-say-its-my-birthday-month-so-how.html\

Chrissy is giving away blog candy here http://chrissyd723.blogspot.com/2008/11/another-chance-for-blog-candy.html you have until the 22nd of Nov to get your comment in for your chance.

Jessica has a chance for you to win the Pirate's Life stamp set, totally cute. Head on over to see it

http://stampandcreate.blogspot.com/2008/11/pirates-life-and-blog-candy.html

Have fun hoppin!! Good luck, if you're a winner make sure you come back and tell me!

Lunch Date with Daddy

Lily and I had a fun afternoon today. The little boy I babysit did not come today so Lily and I were able to venture out to the park for a picnic lunch date with daddy! We had a nice lunch and played in the little time we were there. Luckily the air wasn't bad due to all the fires in the areas around us. Another benefit to living close to the ocean :) Here's some cute pics I took today.

Playing on the slide

Daddy and Lily playing on the dolphin

She's just so darn cute!

There are two milestones that I could not wait to reach when Scott was a baby and I'm now anticipating with my Lily. The first was when he would learn to hug me back and the second was when he would say "I love you Mommy" Lily has finally reached the first. When I get her out of the crib every morning since last week she wraps her arms around my neck and gives me a big hug. It's cute cause after the squeeze comes the shoulder pat. I love being a mom so much and I am so thankful for my children and their loving ways that brighten my day.

And now for something crafty. I was browsing the Unity gallery on Splitcoast Stampers and came across a cute Shaker Card created by one the Unity Design Members Jimmi. I loved the simple design of the card. You can check it out plus many more of her awesome creations here
on her blog

http://thestampingshopper.blogspot.com/

Here's my take on the card using Unity's Birds of a Feather set. Thanks for the inspiration Jimmi!

The Insomniac Scrapper

Yes it's 1:59 am and I just finished my layout for this week's challenge over at Scrapping Out Loud http://www.scrappingoutloud.blogspot.com/ This week's theme was to scrap someones zodiac sign. I chose this pic of my 11 year old son Scott because it really shows his personality! The title is he's a Leo. The journaling is a few of the positive personality traits of the Leo sign. I used Basic Grey's Archaic collection card stock and elements stickers, thickers and chipboard.

My mom left this morning to go back to Arkansas and I am really missing her. While she was here I would blog while she read on her air mattress on the floor of my son's bedroom. I could look over and see her and now there is an empty space on the floor. I miss my mom so much but I am so very thankful for the time we were able to spend together and all her help while she was here.

Guess I better get to bed, the baby gets up early!

Blog candy alerts!!!
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is giving away anniversary blog candy here http://sweetnsassystamps.blogspot.com/2008/11/anniversary-blog-candy.html
be sure to stop by a few of the design team memebers blogs for a chance at more candy!!!

Hop Hop Hop....

On over to Unity Stamps http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/ it's HIP HOP Thursday so come join the fun!!!! Here's my first challengefor today Treasure Hunt Challenge. Casing Designer AJ's card on her blog here http://thewillowgarden.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-am-less-is-more-kind-of-gal.html
I flipped mine and changed the rectangle image to a circle and layered my papers using the Unity stamp Fleeting Dragonfly I got for $2 bucks! Yep that's right! An adorable stamp for only two bucks! Stay tuned for more card creations!

Here's challenge # 2 Watch the video tutorial from the very talented Heather with the Unity Design Team on emboss resist and create your own! Here's mine

Challenge #3 "Oh just cut it out!" Make a card using a Unity Stamp that is cut out and raised by a pop dot or foam. Ok I see a trend in my cards today...lol here's my take. Now remember I only own 4 Unity stamps so far

3-D view, aren't those corduroy brads adorable!

Here's the last challenge for today's Hip Hop. Clearly Unity. You had to use a clear button or pebble on your card. I used my favorite product my Close To My Heart, Window Charms. Yes i was being paper concious today and using all the same papers. I am trying to do that instead of having a huge scraps in my bin. Once again I had a fantastic time participating in Unity's Hip Hop!

Halloween this year scrapped and finished!

I can't believe I scrapped my Halloween pictures for this year, THIS YEAR! YAY!!!!! I spent Tues and Weds at my kitchen table with mom to my left creating cards and chatting it up. I am so sad that the week is coming to an end and she'll be heading back home Saturday morning. I am trying to enjoy the rest of the time we have and not think about goodbyes yet.

So here's my Halloween creations with the Imaginisce Hallowwhimsy Halloween Line. I also used Prima flowers and Prima Say It In Crystals. Thanks for looking!

This one is title A Bunch Of Spooks

A Very Scarey Ghoul

Trick or Treat

And finally a tribute to the Mini Mansion and their free Hot Dog, Fries and Drink Snacks handed out on Halloween.

A few challenge cards

So today was about challenges and Hero Arts has some great stamps and I love visiting their blog http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/for great ideas and inspiration. This week they are demonstrating different stamping techniques all week long. I have been wanting to try the resist technique for some time and purchased a VersaMark pad about two months ago. So watch the video and give it a try! Here's my take with a stamp set by Close To My Heart my mom bought me recently.

Next I made a card for Card Makin Mama's, a Cafe Mom group I love to hang out at. These ladies are lots of fun and Cass is a great owner. Check out her blog http://thisnthatcass.blogspot.com/ to see her beautiful photography and cards she creates. She's one talented lady! For this week's challenge we had to used ribbon in an unusual way. This is what I created with another Close To My Heart set.

These next to cards we for me. I love Dragonflies with a passion and I had picked up this great designer paper by Chatterbox a few months back and rediscovered it when I cleaned up my scrap space today. Yes, I finally cleaned up the hallway honey!

And finally here are a few cards I made with some new Basic Grey stamps that I did not get to post the other day in my blog. I know silly me but times gets away from me and I sometimes title things as I am working away. I won't be doing that style of bloggin anymore.

And finally a silly pic of my daughter who's Dora the Explorer Ball Pen sadly popped today but with Nana's quick thinking we took the balls and placed them in a laundry basket for now. Except that my daughter decided to climb into the basket too! Can you say BALL-BBLE BATH!

Mini Road Trip

Got back from a mini trip up the central coast to Soledad to visit my Grandma. I grew up on the Central Coast in Atascadero and lived in Templeton and Paso Robles as well. It's a nice place to live but I really am a city girl at heart. I just love being 20 mins from a Dodger game or a Kings game or concert at the Staples Center. I also love being 10 mins from relaxing or walking the beaches here in So Cal. Since my flew down to stay with us while Mat is away she asked if we could take a drive up the coast to see her mom. I feel bad that Mom doesn't get to see her mom now that they moved to Arkansas and I know how much she misses her because I miss my mom so much. We drove up Friday afternoon, just us girls since Scott was at his dads for the weekend. We spent the night in Paso Robles at the Holiday Inn Express after picking up my mom's nephew Pauly. I snapped these pics of Lily before we checked out Sat am.

Ok is this not totally funny! Seriously tho my daughter sucks her fingers and puts her index finger up her nose. I found out that my sister in law also did the same thing so apparently it runs in the family LOL...

So...we left Paso Robles and headed to my mom's Uncle Clarence's place where grandma is staying in Soledad while she looks for her own place. Every year he gets these huge pumpkins and Lily thought they were pretty big too.

Soledad uis a really small town just north of King City so there were only 2 motels in town and neither we that spiffy but we managed. I tell you tho being without the internet for the weekend was tough. I never realized how addicted to Blog surfing I have become. Lily was able to amuse herself by climbing in the drawers of the dresser in our room. It was pretty funny, she open and close them all and then climb in. She really is our little monkey.

We spent Sat night there and had breakfast with grandma Sunday morning and headed back to Paso Robles. It's all farm land out there in Soledad and the colors are so beautiful I snapped this pic as we were driving down Hwy 101.

We took Paulie home to Paso Robles after spending Fri thru Sunday with us and then decided to take Hwy 101 home. We hadn't driven along the beach back to Los Angeles for a long time. On the way we decided to stop by our old house in Templeton. We moved here after my dad married my step mom when I was in High School. I was so thankful they didn't that my dad make me change schools when we moved into this house. My step mom whom I call mom and is the same mom that is visiting me, drove me every morning to school in Atascadero. We lived on Oak Knoll so I snapped a pic of our street sign. We were pretty suprised to see the place we once called home this shabby. My dad would be so bummed if he saw the lawn and landscaping that messy but it was great to drive by. I remember walking up that walkway so many nights after a date and my mom being in the kitchen window so we couldn't steal a goodnite kiss LOL. My grandparents are buried in the cemetary up the street from here. They used to own a trailer house in the Senior park down the street from us. it was nice having them close by and we'd spend summers swimming in the pool there. Fun times!

I used to play in this park with my younger brother and sister. It was nice to see it still maintained well unlike our old home.

The drive to San Luis was beautiful and I got a couple pics of the rolling hills and trees from the car.

As we passed thru Atascadero I wanted to drive by my old High School since I was unbable to make my 20 year reunion in July. It was the same weekend as my daughter's first birthday. Here's a shot taken at the front entrance. Not much had really changed to be honest tho the front lawn is now concrete.

We took our time and stopped to eat and let Lily stretch her little legs. It was a nice trip but I must admit I am glad to be back with all the comforts of home. When we were leaving Solvang I took this picture of the sunset. It was so beautiful!

So I spent Monday recouping from being in the car most of yesterday and I am soooo ready to scrap. I have a couple of projects on my list if to do's so tmr I'll be posting artwork.

Of course when I got home I started blog hopping as usual and came across some AWESOME blog candy over at Bootiful Stampz http://bootifulstampz.blogspot.com/. I was really impressed with this blog and so happy i found my way there by way of Katie at Paper makeup http://papermakeup.blogspot.com/ . Katie's cards are super cute just like her so check out her blog too! And a few more treats I came across...

http://youwantthecookie.blogspot.com/ head over there and wish Lara Happy Birthday! What a classy gal to be giving on her birthday!

Another great blog I discover is giving away some goodies here http://www.iheartpapers.com/

And finally for tonight check out the blog candy over here, I love the penguins!!http://creativeantics.blogspot.com/2008/11/christmas-candy.html

If you notice, all the pictures of my beautiful daughter I posted here are for my husband who is still in New York on business. We miss him so much and he checks my blog for pics of his little girl whom he misses very much. I love you babe and can't wait to see you Friday!