WOW! This month has flown by! I can hardly believe we've reached the end of July and my last Hip Hop as Unity's Scrapbooking Guest Designer. I've had so much fun being part of the Unity crew all month long. A super big hug to AJ & Angela for giving me this fabulous opportunity! I have enjoyed every single week and thanks to the DT for making me feel so welcome!! You ladies really inspire me every single day!

So we're revealing some of the August KOTM today. Let me just say "OH SNAP! I luv it!" make sure you start your Hip Hop off at the Unity blog so you don't miss any of the fabulous creations we have for you today and your chance to win some Unity rubber love at the end of the Hop.
Here's my layout I created using a few images from the kit



I blinged out my little tree and tryed some free hand stitching. No template!

Now don't forget that Friday is the last day to sign up as a KOTM member and get this bonus stamp set Stylin Stars for free!


To sign up click here for all the deets! Just do it! You'll be SO happy you did! Now I want to share the love of Unity with you! I want to show my appreciation for all the sweet comments I've gotten week after week during my Guest Designer month at Unity so I've made a slide show of all my layouts in the post below. Just tell me which one you liked best and I'll all randomly draw a name from all the comments and the winner gets to win Love is Everything
Now hop on over to my friend Heather B's blog to see what she's created for you today! Don't forget to join us in the Unity forum for fun, chit chat and GIVEAWAYS!!!!!

Unity Guest Designer Artwork

Hangin out in our backyard

I love that my husband is pretty much up to whatever I come up with for us to do as a family. When he came home from work we had planned to go out for a walk and tonight I suggested we head down to the beach.

I love Manhattan Beach. It's really beautiful on the boardwalk. I love the warm sun and the breeze blowing on my face.

Since I've become a stay at home mom and began really scrapbooking on a daily basis, I see the world so differently now. I find so much beauty in such simple things. I see an expression on my daughter's face and I want to hold onto that moment forever. I want to scrap a layout of Scott being silly before he has to act "cool" all the time when he becomes a teenager. I want to tell the story of our family's lives in the kids scrapbooks. I want them not just to appreciate the holidays and birthdays but the ordinary days too. You know what I'm talking about...

Here's some shots I toook of our evening walk at the beach

We park at the top and walk down to the boardwalk

this lady's dog kept stopping cause his legs were getting tired from running. he kept looking up at her and barking as if to say "Keep going? Are you kidding me?"

I love the way these dance in the ocean breeze

I'd love to sit on that balcony and watch the sunset

A view of the pier from the boardwalk


A view of the boardwalk from the pier

I took this shot from the pier. I wish the rays from the sun hitting the water were more visable but it's still a beautiful shot.

After an hour walk we headed to Rocky Cola for dinner. It's a 50's style diner place that we like in Hermosa Beach.


The have jukeboxes at the table that cost a quarter a song. We put a quarter in so Lily could hear it play but ours was broken.

Mommy ~ Daughter close up

Hope you had a great evening with your family too! See you tmr for the Hip Hop!

New Challenge & Product Feature at JBelle!!

Good Morning! It's really gloomy here in So Cal this morning but the gloom doesn't bother me. I'm having a Scraptastic Day and we JBelle Rockstar Design Team Girls have got a challenge for you.
This week the challenge is to make a card or project using either Pink Paislee or October Afternoon products. We would love for you to play along with us. If you do, please leave a link to your creation in the comments section of this post and use keyword JBE064 when uploading to PCP or SCS.
Here's my card using Pink Paislee's Captivating line and Stamped Sentiment from Unity and Martha Stewart Butterfly punch.

For more Pink Paislee/October Afternoon inspiration, check out the rest of the Jacksonbelle Rockstars:
Kristine Breach ~ Ink Something
Tobi Crawford ~ Tobi’s Place
Stephanie Hargis ~ Steph’s Stampin’ Stuff
Mitzi Koons ~ Stamps Jubilee
Loretta Lock ~ Love to Create
Jimmi Mayo ~ Stamping & Shopping
Bethany Paull ~ It’s Not All Black & White
Michelle Philippi ~ Inside My Own Private Idaho
Carly Robertson ~ Paper in Bloom
Lynda Benden: Stamp Act
Melissa Bove: Keepsakes By Melissa
Jennifer Buck: The Buck Stamps Here
Jill Dunn: Ink Genious
AJ Otto: The Willow Garden
Lindsey Botkin: Embellished
Trudee Sauer: Follow Your Bliss
Heather Lee-Reppen: The Best in Life

This week's product feature is Provocraft Cuttlebug folders & dies be sure and visit the blog all week for featured artwork by our Design Team with these products!

****Make sure you stop by Melissa's blog she's having an awesome Blogaversary giveaway and you don't want to miss out!!****

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Monday Challenge at Paper Posies

Hope you had a fantastic weekend! Nothing better than starting off the week with a challenge. Every Monday the DT will be posting a new challenge for you to use your kit or past kits to play along for an entry into a monthly prize drawing.

Today's challenge is a multiple photo challenge. Scrap a layout using at least 8 or more photos using any Paper Posies kit. If you don't have a Paper Posies kit sign up today! Augusts kit is loaded with Lemonade by Basic Grey or shop for past kits here. Here's my layout.

I scrapped a page about my daughter's first party gown for her second birthday. We had a really fun day as a family heading out the the South Bay Galleria for lunch at Red Robin and then a trip upstairs to the Disney Store. It was Lily's first time in the store and she wanted to touch everything!

I hope you'll play along with this fun challenge at Paper Posies.com. Thanks for stopping by!

Frugal storage tip for Unity RuB-Ah!

So I've been busy the past few weeks trying to go thru my scrap stash and get rid things I just don't use and get organized. My stamps are a big issue as far as storing them so I've been following some storage suggestions on Splitcoast for Unity Rubber Cling stamps. After reading some info on prices of the 3 little monkeys I noticed that the stamped clinged well to simple 8 1/2 X 11 page protectors so I purchased three 2' binders for 3.50 at Walmart as well as some hard plastic page dividers for 2.39 and here's what I came up with.


Here they are on the page protecter. I filled the sheet protector with some heavy white cardstock so when I turn the pages it won't flimsy.

And on top of each set I have the heavy plastic page divider ( I originally thought these would work but they aren't smooth and the stamps would not cling)

And on the backs of the sheets I cut out the Unity stamp image off the packaging for reference.


Here is a top view, the 2' binder easily holds 8 full sheets of stamps (there are 7 here I added another later and fit perfect) I was rough with the binders when I flipped them right side up and none of the stamps came off the page protectors.

And finally I cut out the Unity logo of the packaging and used a glue dot and some hemp string to secure the tags on the binder and then used Doodlebug Designs glitter stickers to label them.

Total cost for this project was under 20 bucks with plenty of page protectors left over.
Now for my wood mounted stamps I really like the Snap-Lock Storage cases that I purchased from Unity. They are 12.50 for 4 and work perfectly!
That's it, now that my space is cleaned up it's time to scrap a layout!
Thanks for stopping by!

Paper Posies August kit reveal!!

On a hot summer day there's nothing better than a nice serving of Lemonade! Basic Grey Lemonade that is!! This month's kit at Paper Posies is loaded with Basic Grey goodies from the Lemonade line! This kit is cheerful and bright! Get yours today at Paper Posies!!!

Here's an altered project I did with this month's kit and a Unity sentiment.

I'll be back tmr with a post about organization and my rubber cling stamps. Have a great day!

Hip Hop Hangover Friday

Happy Friday!!!! Congrats to Jan Farnworth! She won the Boo Crew Blog Candy on my blog yesterday. Head on over to her blog and congratulate her!!!

I'd like to show you my challenge cards for yesterday. Jeanne comes up with the funnest challenges! She's a real fun gal too! I met her at CHA this year in Anaheim as well as many of the Unity crew and they are all wonderful peeps! Wish I was going to Florida but maybe next year.
So here's my card for the Unity is all about shapes. I used the new release Hauntingly Sweet to create this card and of course the fabulous gingham ribbon...love it!



Next I combined Mitzi's card challenge on her blog and Jeanne's Stamp and Go challenge. Check out Mitzi's 1st ever card challenge on her blog here. Her take on the challenge is AMAZING!!!
If you decide to play along be sure and tag your card GCC001 wherever you post it and leave a comment with a link to your card. Here's my take on both challenges...


I am having fun using rub ons on clear elements. This is a Tim Holtz clear embellie that I rubbed Live Laugh Love on for the sentiment. You can also use rub ons on clear buttons. Fun stuff.

So it's the weekend! What are your plans? We're goin shoppin for stuff at Target tonight and I got a list an mile long. OY!! I can't get out of that place for under 100 bucks.

My Guest Design month at Unity is coming to an end next Friday...It's been SO much fun!! Be sure and stay tuned I'm gonna have something special for my last Hip Hop next Thursday.
Have a great weekend and don't forget to get scrappy!

Hip Hop Halloween!!!

Today we're showcasing the new release Hauntingly Sweet at Unity. This fun stamp created by Lisa Hetrick features Jack-O-Lanterns and candy corn hanging from it's branches and 3 sentiments.

You can check out all the fabulous artwork with this new release by the Unity Design Team by starting at the Unity Blog here.

When you're done check the Unity blog for the second post to find out Angela's "SPOOKTACULAR" specials!!

Here's my layout featuring some Spooks from last Halloween.

Some scrapbookers may not agree but I love using the Dress It Up buttons on layouts and cards. They are fun embellies that are easy to incorporate in any project. I used a Halloween mix of candy corn and a fun witch hat wearin Jack-O-Lantern on this layout.

I love these spiders from the Unlucky 13 set. I added some silver bling to their eyes for fun.

I also created this layout using the incentive kit this month Stylin' Stars. I snapped these pics of Scott and my Dad working on my Mom's craft room while we were visiting them in Arkansas. I used the new Breaking Free line from My Mind's Eye.

You can get your hands on this fun set by signing up as a KOTM member. I know you may be on the fence about signing up but let me tell you from a KOTM member too you'll love it! Click here to get the details so you can get this great bonus set too.

Well I hope you enjoyed the Hip Hop today cause you've made it to the end! You know what that means...Yep! A Giveaway!!!

Since it's a Spook-tac-ular Hip Hop I have the adorable BOO CREW to give away!

Simply leave a comment and I'll draw a name and announce the winner at 9 pm Central time and post in the Unity Winners thread.

More Unity fun and a garage sale!

I can't believe my Guest Designer month at Unity is almost over. It's been SO much fun! Thank you Angela!!
Today's is Unity's Garage Sale Wedsday and there are some fabulous stamps at super prices.
Check the sale out here at the Unity Blog
**BONUS**
Shipping only $2.00 on Wednesdays for ALL ORDERS OVER $10.00(USA Only!)
COUPON CODE: WOW
Not to be combined with any other offer.
May not be used with any other Discount Code!

I had a chance to do a few of the fantastic challenges this week at SCS with Unity! Here's my cards for CAS24 (Clean & Simple Challenge)using Unity's July KOTM

Next up is my take on CC228 (Color Challenge) and this week's sketch at the Card Patterns blog using the Unity kit Hodge Podge of Happiness

And my take on SC238 (Sketch Challenge)using the cute little bee from the June KOTM

Whew! I love making cards as much as I love scrapbooking and Unity images make me smile!

Stay tuned for tmr's Hip Hop! I'll have something very special for you that you won't want to miss so be sure to stop by!

Have a scrappy day!!

Jbelle Sketch Tuesday!

It's Tuesday and time for a new sketch challenge and a new feature product at the JBelle Blog! This week's feature product is Inkadinkado stamps and this week they're 25% off. Jacksonbelle Embellishments has a great supply of Inkadinkado wood mounted and acrylic stamps in the store in many themes and styles. Our Rock Star design team will be bringing you artwork all week on the blog using these fun stamps so be sure and visit us often this week!
There's also another sketch challenge posted today on the Jacksonbelle blog. I love sketches, they are a great way to get cards made quickly.
Here's this week's sketch

Here's my take on the sketch using this cute Wag My Tail Acrylic Inkadinkadoo stamp. The great thing about acrylic stamps is that you can manipulate them on your acrylic blocks to stamp at different angles like I did with this sentiment. And don't forget this cute lil guy is 25 % off this week!

Supplies:

Inkadinkado clear set Wag my Tail

Cosmo Cricket 8x8 Cogsmo Patterned paper pad

Basic Grey button

Misc hemp string

Basic Grey brads

We'd love to see you creations with this week's sketch so upload them to SCS or PCP and tag them JB063

Check out the other Rockstar Design Team member's blogs for more sketch challenge inspiration!

Kristine Breach ~ Ink Something
Tobi Crawford ~ Tobi’s Place
Stephanie Hargis ~ Steph’s Stampin’ Stuff
Mitzi Koons ~ Stamps Jubilee
Loretta Lock ~ Love to Create
Jimmi Mayo ~ Stamping & Shopping
Bethany Paull ~ It’s Not All Black & White
Michelle Philippi ~ Inside My Own Private Idaho
Carly Robertson ~ Paper in Bloom
Lynda Benden: Stamp Act
Melissa Bove: Keepsakes By Melissa
Jennifer Buck: The Buck Stamps Here
Jill Dunn: Ink Genious
AJ Otto: The Willow Garden
Lindsey Botkin: Embellished
Trudee Sauer: Follow Your Bliss

Hope you have a scrappy Tuesday and thanks for stopping by!!

Coldplay!

What a show!!! Last night it was finally time for the concert! I got to see my totally favorite band for my Anniversary a gift from hubby. I must admit he totally suprised me. I usually know what I'm getting for gifts from him but this one really was a super cool suprise.

Here's us being cheesy with our tickets as we're heading out the door to drive down to Irvine.

A shot before the show of the VIVA balloon and the crowd at Irvine Meadows.

Woo Hoo band comes on finally at 9pm to Lovers in Japan! We got there are 6:00. the opening acts weren't that great but Coldplay was worth the wait.

A shower of butterfly shaped confetti for VIVA LA VIDA

The very entertaining Chris Martin. He was really funny during the concert

The band trekked all the way up to the cheap seats to play a few sets for us. I found this extremely classy!

It was a great night out with my hubby!

This week at Jacksonbelle we're showcasing Inkadinkadoo products and they're 25% off! Check back tmr for the Tuesday Sketch challenge on the JBelle blog!

Thanks for stopping by!

I almost forgot...

With so much going on this week for Lily's Birthday I completely forgot to post my 2 Sketches 4 You challenge cards! I think I missed the deadline since I'm on the West Coast but here they are...

Here's Laura's sketch

And my take using the new Calypso line from my LRS kit

and the bonus sketch by Kim

I used GCD paper and a Hambly screen print for the center of the window.

I am soooo tired from all the birthday festivities I'm heading to bed for the night! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Lily Eve...

Happy Birthday! My little girl is 2 today! I can hardly believe that it's been two years since we were blessed with a daughter. Where does the time go?

I've been running crazy trying to finish last minute things for her party and just finished making her Marshmallow Lasagna at 12am! Yep you heard right, Wubzy's favorite party dish! We celebrating Lily's 2nd with a Wow Wow Wubzy themed party. She loves this show on Noggin and Mat and I admit we do too!
My wonderful friend Heidi came over to help me make the most fantastic cake for Lily! I {heart} you Heidi! You are such a great friend to come over and help me even tho you weren't feeling all that great. I bet you're dying to see pics of the cake huh? Well I promise I'll be posting them soon!

I wanted to post some pics of my little sweetie to show how much she's grown.

Here's my momma holding my precious baby girl just a few hours after she was born. It was a beautiful July afternoon and a totally smooth delivery. I asked my doc when she walked in "she's right there isn't she?" because I was feeling a lot of pressure on my left side. I remembered she smiled at me and said "time to meet your daughter"

It was one of the happiest days of my life. A very long time dream of mine came true and I now had two beautiful children.

And my dad, man he is one proud grandpa! Lily started talking in Arkansas and called my dad "Pa Pa" it was SOOOO cute! It's really hard not having my parents here to celebrate today but I know that they are celebrating this special day as much as we are. We are a close family and a few states aren't going to come between the love we have as a family ever! I love you both so much Mom & Dad!

Here she is 4 days old

and 11 mos old already into my scrappy stuff

4th of July 2008

Her 1st birthday

And a few weeks ago at my dear friend Roxanne's daughters 6th birthday. She has grown so much and I'm so thankful for her and my son Scott. My kids are my life and I love it everyday.

Our daughters are the most precious of our treasures, the dearest possessions of our homes and the objects of our most watchful love.-- Margaret E. Sangster