Well it's Friday and I'm excited. I'm finishing up my project for the Unity World Famous Blog Hop tomorrow!!! Be sure and stop by to see my post and enjoy the amazing Artwork that each of the girls will have in store for you. We're all passionate about this company and it's owner and her amazing generosity and kindness. Unity Stamp Co. has amazing stamps and cutting edge stamping blocks. Check them out if you haven't yet here

Yesterday was the fun filled Hip Hop and I created this card for the Unity Thinks Spring challenge.

I also created this card for the Splitcoast color challenge this week.

And here's some more Hero Arts window challenge cards...

This card is 75 percent recycled products. I love the re use and recycle and Making Memories has been using some fun packaging that can be recycled for card stock.

And a baby girl card with this cute little baby stamp from Hero Arts.

Lastly I'd like to share another adorable moment with my daughter. I always know something is going on when she gets very quiet. This is what I found her doing yesterday

Hmmm what do you think? Future scrapper? Oh I really hope so! Have a fantastic weekend and see you tmr for the HOP!

My Guest Designer debut!

I've been a member of Paper Posies kit club since November and was asked to Guest Design for them in April. I was so totally honored to have been asked to be a part of the creativity goin on over there!
I am SO not good at keeping secrets {hello Aries here} and when I got the April kit with my March kit I was totally blown away!!! I wanted to show you all SO bad what I had been creating the last 2 weeks with this beautiful kit but couldn't!
Well, now I can!!!!
Check out this amazing kit!!!!


Paper Posie's owner, Michelle has an eye for getting amazing goodies that not only compliment the cardstock and embellies but continue to go with the next month's kit and the next! Now for a frugal scrapper like me, that's my kinda kit club!
So check this out, the 6 month sub is 34.00 per month and shipping is only 7.50. That's really a great value for all this amazing scrappy stuff!
I also want to share with you one of the things that drew me to Michelle's kit is every month she includes a mini project. Notice the Maya Road teacup chipboard album above? That's the mini kit for April and stay tuned for more pics of my project I did with this fun little album.
Ok , so I know you're gonna want to sign up so here's the link for all that info here. If you do decide to sign up for the 6 month sub be sure and mention that I sent ya and Michelle can let me know. I will pay the first month's shipping costs for the first person that signs up from my blog.

The idea gallery is loaded with artwork that's amazing! Come on over here and check out my projects with the April kit and sign up for the newsletter! You don't have to purchase a kit to sign up for the forum and newsletter. I've got more artwork that will be featured so it will be fun to have it delivered to your in box!
Also we're having the 4th annivesary in May and there are gonna be games and giveaways so stay tuned!

Woohoo! I got a make over!!!

Check out my new DO! I love my new look courtesy of House Of 3! Super Easy and totally fun although I did panic when I saw they suggested you use Photoshop to edit your banner. I was thinkin "Oh man!"

I can't afford to buy Photoshop right now and then I put on my thinking cap and went to Photobucket. I was able to figure out how to customize my banner with the tools there and VOILA!

So whadda ya think? Well worth the 3 bucks I think! Totally me and totally fun!

Here's some cards I made for this week's Hero Arts windows challenge

Scrapping Out Loud New Challenge and Reveal!

Hey everybody! It's Tuesday and time for a new Scrapping Out Loud Challenge. This week's challenge is a Color Wheel challenge! - Use only 3 colors on your layout that are complimentary. Here's my take on this week's challenge :

You can get the link to the color wheel and get the colors split by visiting us at Scrapping Out Loud here. And remember when you participate in the weekly challenges you get an entry for each week into our drawing for an amazing RAK of scrappy goodies.

Here's a small peak at this month's RAK



Look's like lots of scrappy goodness! So come on over and join the fun!

**************** IT"S COMING SATURDAY

Stay Tuned:

Happy Monday!

Thank you all SO much for all the birthday wishes! I had a really great day with my family and got to go out on a date with my husband which is rare so we really enjoyed the evening! i couldn't believe all the activity on my Facebook account and my super talented friend Kelly posted a little shout out for me on the Hero Arts Flickr group.

I have made some amazing friends thru blogging and challenge groups that I am really thankful for. I am humbled by your amazing praises for my work and creations. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every comment left on my blog and artwork.

I normally don't read my Horoscope except on my actual birthday so here's yesterdays message

"Your Optimism is mostly founded in fact this year, and when it isn't, you believe anyway and it comes true."

Hmmm that's a pretty huge affirmation for me because lately I have been putting myself out there only to fail in some things that mean a great deal to me but I take the failure with a grain of salt and not a blow to my self esteem or beliefs in my abilitites. I leave the experience with a smile and move on knowing that the rewards I seek will come and eventually with greater meaning. It's wonderful to know I am on the correct path with my attitude :)

then it goes onto say "your good deeds in April will change a life in April. Wow...I am excited to see what unfolds with that one.

"Higher learning allows you to go for a new position before the end of the summer." I am really happy to hear this since I have been debating returning to school for a Graphic Arts degree.

and finally "romantic notions lead you to showcase your talent in September and November, Pisces and Taurus adore you"

Well all in all sounds like good stuff. I am jazzed up about this year and enjoying the last of my 30's. I'm not even phased about being 40 next year, I have a long life full of love and family ahead of me and for that I am deeply thankful.

I scrapped up this layout for Hero Arts spring challenge, I used the stamp I got from them in a recent order to create my own pattern on the yellow card stock and embellish the layout at the top. I also played with my gel pens my mom gave me in my scrappy birthday loot. Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you had a great Monday! And a special Happy Birthday to my SIL Melissa who's 38 today! Happy Birthday Sissy! Thanks so much for all you do for us, we love you!

Happy Birthday to Me...

It's my Birthday today, another year older and not necessarily wiser. I really can't believe that next year is the big 40!

It's going to be a pretty mellow birthday for me. We're meeting my MIL for brunch along with my SIL and Nephew. Her birthday is tomorrow the 23rd and my MIL's is the first week of April so lots of birthdays to celebrate.

I went shopping for a few scrappy goodies today and got one of the Sassafras paper pads with my 50 percent off coupon. I was thrilled to see the Slice is now at Michaels. I really want one and Mat said that he'd get me one next week :)

Scott, Lily and I went for pre-birthday ice cream at Ben & Jerry's Saturday evening. They had this amazing new flavor Coconut Seven layer Bar. YUM! Here's a few pics I snapped of Scott with the goods all over his face.

I love this kid! He's such a fun boy and he loves to giggle which makes me laugh because his voice is changing and it sounds funny when he does.

Miss Lily was only interested in the waffle cone, no ice cream.

Last but not least the winner of the Frugal scrapper contest was announced on the Prima blog Friday. It wasn't me but I was flattered that they featured one of my entries on the blog. The winner created a truly original project you can see here.

Have a great Sunday and little ice cream today in honor of my birthday. I have a special friend who takes hers with a bit of Magic Shell on top...you should try it, it's fabulous!!!

My class with Donna

Wow! Thursday already! What a day I've had. My computer keeps turning off and I can't seem to figure out what is going wrong. Sure I can tell you how to get stains out of clothes you never thought you could and I'm really talented with paper and glue {wink} but for the life of me I can not seem to unravel this technical stuff!

I finally gave up and got into a mini album I am working on that I got this weekend at the Royal Slumber Crop. One of the things that drew me to the event was the class with Donna Salazar. She had a really cute mini album class using cardboard for the cover. I love to rip, tear and distress and I am also starting to play with paint! So it was just the right fit for me and where I'm at right now. The class was an hour and what I loved about it is we got the supplies and basic instruction and then she let us run with it. I love that! I've gone to past classes where the instructor wanted you to create the project exactly as she had designed it. One actually frowned at me when she saw I had distressed my card stock...lol When I had my workshops I loved it when the girls would put their own spin on the project and make it their own.

So here's my cover. I love that worn a rugged look but what to the longest was using liquid glass to embellish every little cherries on this paper which by the way I totally {heart}. I've been wanting to do a little mini book about Mat and I when we were dating. I have so many photos I haven't done anything with so it seemed perfect to title the book All about Us.

Stay tuned for more pics of this cute little book! I hope to work on some more tonight!

Recently I was asked on a message board how do I take such great pics of my artwork. I have to thank Blogger land for the tips I picked up from other artists. I found a blog awhile ago explaining how natural light is the best light for photographing projects. I also learned that taping your project to the wall at eye level and turning off your flash was a great way to get great shots! I have a Fuji FinePix 6.3 that I think takes decent pics for a no fuss digital camera but I am still dreaming of the Nikon D60. I think my hubby is getting the message loud and clear since my birthday is coming up Sunday. I saw him getting our tax stuff together. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

So I'll leave you with a sneak of the layout drying as we speak on my table...I mentioned I was playing with paint these days. This pic was taken after I lost the natural light for today. See what I mean about the difference

Have a great night!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day & SOL Reveal Tuesday!

"Top O' the Mornin to Ya!" It's St. Patrick's Day! The holiday you love to hate because in grade school no matter if you wore green, someone always pinched ya!

In Honor of St. Patrick's Day I scrapped a layout of my daughter's 1st St. Patrick's Day. This photo was taken last year when I was still buying those silly onesies. This one said Kiss Me I'm Irish! We are Irish from my mother's side of the family but you won't be smelling Corn beef and Cabbage in my house. I never like that dish.

I used the current sketch @ 52 Sketches for this layout titled My Lucky Charm

I also have another green project to share with you. I altered my sketch book with the left over letters from the Tattered Angels class I took last week. This is the book I write all of my challenges down and things I want to get done. I also used some Glimmer Mist and some of the masks I bought.

Now over at Scrapping Out Loud this week our challenge for this week is to use a line or phrase from the song "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick anywhere on your layout... (click on the title for the complete lyrics). Here's my take using some Hero Arts stamps and Prima flowers.

So that's it for today, I'll have some pics to share from the Royal Slumber Crop later in the week.
Enjoy your day and may you find your own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

1 more day...Updated

I leave for the Royal Slumber Crop tomorrow morning and I am really excited! I'm so looking forward to meeting a lot of the Who Gives A Scrap girls as well as Heather, my Unity pal from the Hip Hop! I am taking all 4 classes and I'm really looking forward to Leah and Donna's classes.

I haven't even packed my scrappy stuff yet because I am still working on projects. I did make some cards yesterday for Unity's Hip Hop in between cleaning my son's room {ick!} Hope you enjoy and I'll be back later to post my Tattered Angels banner from the class I took last night.

Update: Here's my banner

what was really fun is that she had us design our own background paper with overlays to go behind the letters.


The class was only an hour long and no one finished their projects on time and she had a second class scheduled right after so I need to finish it this morning. Wendy was super sweet and so passionate about her product. I learned so great tips and got a few goodies thanks to Sonja's generous coupon that came with the class.

I got this little kitty in my Unity mixed stamps a few weeks ago. Isn't he cute!

This card was inspired by Jennifer McGuire's card in my latest issue of Creating Keepsakes. In the tools & techniques article she gave some great tips for cards.

I used the laser cut paper from my Paper Posies kit to create this fun and fresh card, I love this owl journaling stamp from Unity and I've been finding fun non-journaling ways to use it!

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend whatever you are up to!

Put a Smile On Your Face...

Catchy title huh! Hmmm I think I've seen a commercial on TV with the same jingle...

It's Thursday and the week is flying by! This afternoon I'm heading over to Sonja's Scrap Spot to take a Tattered Angels class and I am just thrilled! I've seen the Glimmer Mist and had the opportunity to stop by their booth at CHA. They had an awesome make and take, these adorable pins out of the chipboard shapes with letters in the center sprayed with glimmer mist and blinged! I really enjoyed making mine. We'll be creating a banner that says CREATE. I can't wait!

Here's a few shots I snapped of their booth








Pretty awesome stuff huh! I'll be posting my finished project for sure!


So on the scrappy front here's a layout I created with my March Paper Posies kit today. I love how it turned out but most of I love my little girl. She gives me so much joy! Scroll down after my layout for a funny pic I took of her.


So I notice it's gotten really quiet in the living room while reading my email this morning and lean over to make sure everything is OK...



I see she's dumped out all her toys...

and nestled herself in the toy box to watch some Oswald and the cat's in on it too...

and is happy she's entertained me...Hmmm I think I might just have to scrap this.
Have a great day!

Wednesday happenings

It's Wednesday and my hubby is halfway done with his trip. Poor guy has to share a room with a co-worker who snores as loud as he does. Hee Hee, now he knows how I feel. Lucky for him I grew up with a snoring dad and am pretty used to it. I only have to nudge him once in awhile when he really starts getting loud.


So I'm working on some things with my kit for March from Paper Posies today. I'll be sharing some artwork later when I have good light to photograph but I wanted to mention coming in May is Paper Posies 4th Anniversary Party. They'll be games and PRIZES!!! So fun, so come on over and sign up today for a sub! Each month's kit is loaded with scrappy sensations plus a mini project! Here's a look at this month's kit

I just have to say that those chipboard shapes that come in the "chips" bag are the most adorable embellies I have seen yet!

Next Tuesday is St. Patty's Day and I plan on posting a themed project. I'm curious if other bloggers will too. We'll just have to see. Leave me a comment if you'll be sharing something green :)

I'm late, I'm late!!

SO sorry for my late posting this morning! I scheduled my blog last night but apparently it didn't work out. So here we go...

This week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud is to scrap a page using black and one other color. I never scrap black and white together so I chose that combo for this weeks layout.

Check out the Design team's takes on this week's challenge here and come on over and submit your take on the challenge for an awesome RAK this month loaded with scrappy goodies!!!!

Here's a few other things I've been up to this week. A couple of layouts using GCD paper.

Lily loves her toys but she's got her favorites!

Cayden is the little boy I babysit with my daughter and he is growing So fast! He loves to share his binkine with you!

And here are some cards featuring stamps by Hero Arts

Thanks again for stopping by! Have a great Tuesday whatever you do!

With a little help from my friends...

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Have you checked out Craft Critique lately? Head on over to see what it's all about here

***************************
I am reaching out to my friends for a great cause. This weekend March 14 & 15 I am attending the Scrapbook Royalty Slumber Crop in San Marcos. As a requirement of attending I need to raise some money for the charities they are supporting. The San Marcos Cancer Coping Center and the San Marcos Boys & Girls Club, Many of the beautiful cards I have been displaying on my blog are up for grabs for only 1.00!!! All proceeds go to the charities above. I haven't had much luck and I'm hoping some of you might be interested in purchasing them. Below is the link to my gallery and if the card says Charity it's avail for purchase. Simple email me with your requests at Shemainesmith@yahoo.com and I will email you with my address. I need to receive the money before Friday the 13th of March. If paying by check make it payable to Scrapbook Royalty pls. Thank you for your support!!!

I'd also like to thank my friend Roxanne and her Mother for their generous donation of 50.00!!!

Gallery link here to view the cards I have available

I'll be back later with a few cards I made for Hero Art's little things challenge

A little love for my parents

Hey there! It's Weds already, this week is really flying by! My hubby is leaving Sun for New York. He's going for training not a vacation but he's been twice in six months now and I am just dying to go for a first time.

I scrapped this layout for my parents with some more of my February Paper Posies kit.

I just love this picture that Ken captured during our vacation last summer to Kauai. It's been hard since my parents moved to Arkansas and I miss them so much. Thank goodness my Mom has unlimited long distance cause I can't even imagine what the bill would be if she didn't. Some days I feel I need to talk to her everyday and it's nice that I can.

I am in the mood to make cards today so I am off to see what the Unity Addicts challenge has in store for us this week at the Splitcoast forum. I'll be back later to post my creations. Have a great day!

Scrapping Out Loud New Challenge and RAK winner for Feb!!!!

Happy Tuesday everyone! It's time again for a new challenge and a new RAK from Scrapping Out Loud!! This week's challenge is... Me, Right Now! - scrap a layout about yourself, where and who you are right now at this age!
Well I'm holding on tightly to 38 because in 19 more days I am one year away from FORTY! OMG!!!! Did I just say the F Word???? Nah seriously I don't really care about age. I still feel 20 for cryin out loud so what is age anyway? Just a number in my world and I know I don't look a year away from FORTY so there!
Here's my layout for this week's challenge using my Paper Posies Feb kit. I've been experimenting with a little "clean" scrapping lately. I still love all my bling and flowers but it's also fun to try something new. {thnx Heidi}

Journaling reads: I'm an easy person to get to know. It doesn't take much to get to make me laugh and at 38 I've got big time smile lines. So right now I'd say 5 facts you'd like to know about me are...1. I'm finally learning to be comfortable in my own shoes 2. I'm really into Hero Arts and Unity Stamps 3. I am thankful for the little things 4. I'm completely addicted to blog hopping 5. I'm a fan of Sprinkles cupcakes thanks to my pal Roxy. Hope I get some for my 39th birthday!

Now run on over to Scrapping Out Loud to see March's RAK and find out (if you've been playing along with last month's challenges) if you won February's RAK!!!

A bit of weekend scrapping and Monday gloom

Good morning, it's gloomy outside in Southern California today. I don't like the overcast but the weird thing is that when it is gloomy I seem to hear the planes at the airport taking off more. I've been sitting her listening to them while finishing my coffee and reading emails. The sound always makes me wish it was me that was flying away to some tropical destination say, Kauai. Oh how I wish we were going this year but with the economy and such we're not taking a vacation this year.

I got a couple of layouts done with my kit that arrived last week from Paper Posies. I loooooved

everything about FEB's kit! Visit their site at the link about to see past kits and sign up for a sub if you're interested. There are still FEB kits available and if you sign up for a sub you can purchase any past kit still avail for only 16.00 and no additional shipping. that's alot of scrappy goodies for that price!

Here's a few layouts I made with the kit

I had SO much fun with this one and then the March reveal was posted and I can't wait to get my hands on this kit!!! What I love about the kits the most is that Michelle always puts together the cutest papers and there is always a mini project and 2 sets of letters each month. I just wanted to share how much I love this kit club!

Finally, I scrapped a page with the new GCD line called Paris Nights. I love the look of this paper and it has some velvet flocked sheets too! So gorgeous! I chose to revisit some of our wedding photos for this page. I have scrapped an entire album yet but I am getting a few pages scrapped every so often.

Have a great Monday and stay tuned for a new challenge tomorrow at Scrapping Out Loud and the winner of this month's RAK!!!!