It's hard to believe that summer is over. School starts for Scott on Wednesday and this is the last year my little girl will be home with me. My heart drops at the thought of that but I know that she needs to grow but I won't take any of the time we have left for granted. Our cuddle sessions and trips to the park are times well spent.
Scott also begins his journey as a 8th grader. He has changed so much this summer and is very much a teenager now. I love his funny personality and laugh. I am sure this year will be full of many fun things including his first school dance.
This summer brought us so much fun! I thought it would be cool to recap some of our adventures!

We kicked off the summer with a visit from our friends Sam and Elise and a day at the beach!

Then Nana and Papa made their vacation plans to come visit us. Mom and I spent their first day in CA at the CK Convention in Riverside



We took Teri's class and a bonus was meeting the super sweet Kelly Marie from Lawn Fawn




Teri was sweet enough to take this pic of Mom and I




Then we all enjoyed Lily's first trip to the Magic Kingdom for Father's Day



She even got a cute button too!

We also had a first visit to the Aquarium in Long Beach

She was fascinated by the fish



We celebrated birthdays....Lily July 18th




Scott August 2nd



We played at the park near our house...alot



Had more trips to the beach (the boys are in the background with their Boogy boards



I went to Chicago for the first time to work at CHA and hang out at the Imaginisce booth. A highlight was teaching a make and take with my fellow design team member Pinky



We swam with friends...



And we had FUN!

That's life in the big city...and a summer full of great times and memories. I wouldn't have it any other way! I hope your summer was a full as mine was. I am so thankful for a loving husband and wonderful children.
Life couldn't be better! Simple as that...

Girl time is good

Hope your weekend is going good so far. We've been relaxing at home. It gets kinda crazy around our house during holidays with all the out of towners coming to the west side to beat the heat in the valley.
The beaches get totally crowded and are not fun to hang out at when it takes a long time to find a place to park and then you've got to walk around trying to find an open spot on the sand. I know I sound like a total party pooper but it's the truth. So we're happy to hang out and relax in our little town.
Yesterday I got a little girl time in with one of my besties Tami. We caught up at Rock Brews in El Segundo.

I actually enjoyed a glass of their St Louis Framboise and how cute it has a coordinating glass

As soon as we saw these on the menu we had to have one. The horse radish mustard was a bit much for me. Super Spicey!

Tami checkin her phone. No texting during girl time!

It was nice to catch up and have a little adult time. These days my companion is my toddler who keeps me quite busy.
Oh and a nice highlight to my weekend was waking up to an email from Cards magazine yesterday for a Submission request! My first ever and I am over the moon excited about a card I created being in February 2011 issue!

Hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend so far!

Friends with Flair and other fun creations

Hello friends and thanks for stopping by today! Did you know Unity just released 3 new Scrapbook Sets! Oh yes they sure did and you can check them out over here at the Unity Stamp Blog.
Now for today's FWF post here's a peek at a couple cards I created for submissions that didn't make the cut. Now worries tho there is a new call open already and I'm busy creating for that one too! I have the mindset that I am just gonna keep on tryin!
One truth in life...nothing really means as much when it's given to you. It means so very much more when you work for it.
I really had fun creating with negative images left from using my Slice and working with fabric. It was something I had never tried before and I am pleased with the result.

Supplies: misc linen fabric, sentiment is Donna Downey for Unity Stamp Co from Create Today, Dragonfly & Wheat Fields Glimmer Mist, Patterned Paper is Imaginisce. I love love love this wood grain paper!

Here's another take on this Donna Downey set sentiment with some Pasta Fagioli from Jillibean Soup!

I hope you enjoy all the Friends with Flait eye candy today and have a fantastic weekend Unity Peeps!

Now for some more stampy fun...

Here's this week's sketch challenge #126 at Taylored Expressions


Supplies: Taylored Expressions Wings of Joy set, patterned paper: Cottage Christmas card stack from Imaginisce

Hip Hop and a new KOTM!!

Hip hop hello & thanks for stopping by today! It's September already and you know what that means! The new KOTM reveal! Check it!

I don't know about you but that Eiffel tower stamp has won my pick for a fav this month! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I get when I get the shipping email each month for my KOTM!

This kit will not be found in stores! It is a special kit offered for the Membership price of just $26.00 plus $5.00 Shipping (US & Canada). Click here for more info on how you can get yours!

I am really having fun creating with Unity's Scrapbook stamps. Here's a layout I scrapped up about our family nite. Every other Friday we take the kids out to our favorite resturaunts and have a family nite out. The kids really enjoy it but especially Scott since he no longer has to order off the kids menu...

Supplies: Patterned Paper Cosmo Cricut Material Girl line, Unity Stamp Scrapbooking stamps: sweet Loving & Living, love Always & Priceless Glee

**Don't forget we're Hip Hop chattin it up in the Unity forum at Splitcoast all day! There will be prizes so make sure you stop by!

Now your next stop is over to the lovely Brooke! Wonder what she has in store for you today??

New Sketch Challenge for September!

Hello friends! We have a new sketch for you this month at the Imaginisce blog. Our very own Aida has created this month's fab sketch!




To play along all you need to do is create a layout or card based on your interpretation of the sketch and link it up to the Imaginisce blog here.

Now if you decide to play along you get a chance at an awesome prize package!

Try out the sketch for yourself and you could win $75.00+ worth of product (tools and/or paper). Create a card or layout using 75% IMAGINSCE PRODUCTS and Aida's September Sketch for inspiration before SEPTEMBER 25th.

Design Team Tuesday

Hello friends! First I'd like to announce the winner of my blog candy from Hip Hop...I am SO sorry I forgot to post this Friday! Hello???

The winner is

jennifer mitten said...

Great layout and thanks for sharing your story - I stamp on all my layouts - they are just not complete with stamping:-)

August 26, 2010 3:55 AM

Jennifer email Eryn@unitystampco.com with you address so she can send out your prize! Make sure you tell her you won Shemaine's giveaway from Hip Hop!

Now I'm taking over the Unity blog today for Design Team Tuesday. I'd love it if you stop by and leave a comment. I shared a little about myself but if you have any other questions please feel free to post and I will answer them. Here's something scrappy I created for the post!



Supplies: Patterned paper, chipboard, epoxy buttons and border strip are all from the Fresh Print Clothesline. For my stamps I used Circa Journal, Love stamp from love Always and the border stamp from Sweet Loving and Living

Thanks for stoppin by today!

Unity Friends with Flair!

Hello Hello thanks for coming by today! It's been a busy week for me and I've had so many blessings this week I can't even begin to tell you! So very very thankful for everyone too!

So I actually have a few things I created with Unity to share with you today. They are all created with the September Paper Posies Kit that we revealed Weds at Paper Posies website here!

Let's start with my favorite! This picture...this girl...is such an inspiring woman! I scrapped my last CHA pic with Angela from Winter 2009 too. I was so new to Unity and they were so welcoming. It all started there...at Winter CHA here in Los Angeles. I met this woman and she changed my life...I can hear her now telling me "no You changed your life" she won't let me give her the credit for showing me that I could live my dreams. If it weren't for her I'd have never know all of you...all of this...and I would never have been inspired! I'll always have a special place in my heart for you Angela...always!

She inspires me

I used an image from Ippity's Now and Always

You and Me

Next up is a card with the heart stamp from Donna Downey's The Artist in You

My name is...

Next is this sweet layout titled Pretty with Unity's My name is...Scrapbook store collection stamp. And that's my flair today

Below are the rest of my Paper Posies designs if you care to stick around.

If you are arriving here first make sure you head over to the Unity blog for a complete list of Friends with Flair to show you today! And there's a prize!!! Go read all about it!!

Love this pic! Michele and Jesse are the owners of Paper Posies kit club and we were lucky to get to have a date night with them after the CHA trade show in January. It was a fun night!

And finally here is a look at the front of this month's altered project! I wanted to scrap up a little book of pics with my friends I got to see in Chicago and this year's CHA trade show. I had so much fun. Oh my the cab ride into the city was the most memorable!
Well that's it for today friends....thank you for taking the time to stop by, it means so much that you visit me.
Have a great weekend!

Hip Hop Hello!!!

Somebody pinch me please!!! Words can not express how excited I am to share with you that I'm now part of Unity Stamp Company's Scrapbook Design Team. I am so honored to be designing with all of these super talented women and very thankful to Angela for this amazing opportunity. Congrats also to the other Unity newbies Leslie Langdon and Pamela Young!!!

So as you can guess I wasted no time at all getting my scrap on with Unity's Scrapbook sets! Since this is my first week I decided to scrap up a layout about myself.

Supplies: Paper and embellishments My Little Yellow Bicycle Fresh Print Clothesline, Prima Rose, stamped images from the Brave Girl set by Melody Ross for Unity Stamp Co and One Precious Life set. Adhesive: Love My Tapes


I love, love, love the Brave Girl set from Melody Ross! We are all brave girls. In life we go through things that make us stronger, life experiences that make us Brave. I didn't know how Brave I was until I had to be in 2005 when I was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric bone cancer in my left arm. I'll never forget the feeling of my head spinning when my Dr. was preparing me for what I might have to endure. Upper arm amputation, chemotherapy, radiation...my only thought was my son. I had to be Brave for him. Now I'm cancer free and have a beautiful daughter and wonderful husband who was Brave as well. I'm still learning to be Brave in other areas on my life even now.
Scrapbooking these emotions helps the healing of one's soul and teaches us all to be Brave. Brave enough to talk about the things that shape who we are. It's this reason that I scrapbook.

I look forward to creating many more projects with Unity's amazing Scrapbook sets and I hope I've inspired you to get out your fabulous Unity rubber and scrap a layout today!

So wanna hear the best part of my day besides sharing this happy news with you??? I get to give this away:

Quiet Essence

Isn't it beautiful! I love this set because I am so crazy for flower images! So if you'd like to win leave a comment on this post telling me if you've ever used stamped images on your scrapbook layouts.

Don't forget to come by and chat with us today all day starting at 10:00 am Central time in the Unity Splitcoast forum. As always there is lots of chatting, prizes and fun! See you there!

Now hop on over to the beautiful and oh so sweet Brooke's blog to see what she has for you today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Another busy busy week...

Hello friends! We've been keeping busy with park play dates and lots of summer fun so far. I know Scott is realizing that it's all coming to an end soon. I've had my share of projects keeping me busy and so many ideas and not enough time to execute them. I know you all can relate. Last week I made 24 cards for a special project I can't wait to share with you all very soon. This week I've been asked to create another 24 and I am so excited.
I was able to connect with my friend Heidi on Thursday for a quick photo shoot. I needed to update my head shot for another announcement I can't wait to share with you later this week! I had Lily with me so I asked her to get a few pics of us girls.

Love this one

My sweet girl did not want to look at the camera. Oh she was being tough! Heidi was telling me I look so different without my glasses on. I feel weird without them since I have worn them now for the past 10 years but the glare is tough for photos.




I snapped this one of her playing with my make-up brushes before we left the house. Her hair is so long and I still have not taken her for 1st haircut yet. Just a little longer I think.

So I've also been doing Cricut Demo's for extra cash at Best Buy on the weekends and let me tell you friends, if you've been thinking about the Cricut and the Gypsy run to Best Buy this month because they have an amazing bundle being offered. You get the original Cricut, Gypsy and 4 cartridges for only 299.99! The Gypsy alone is 249.99!



Here's a pic of my demo table and designs. Notice all my Imaginsce paper {wink

And in between it all I've been working on my Paper Posies designs for the Sept Kit. You are going to love it! (I know I say that every month) Here's my sneaks



Come join the fun and sign up for the Paper Posies Ning group here. You don't have to subscribe to sign up! We'll be revealing the kit next week!

Ok friends, thanks for sticking with me til the end and as always thanks for stopping by!

Lawn Fawn Hearts Cards for Kids Blog Hop!

Hello friends and new visitors! Welcome to the Lawn Fawn Hearts Cards for Kids Blog Hop! You should be arriving here from Lynn's blog.

We have all come together today to make cards for a wonderful cause, Cards for Kids! We hope to encourage you to also make cards for this great cause and have fun along the way, too! So please hop along with us, and make sure to leave comments as there will be prizes for commenters and participants! So let's get going!

Life is Good!

I made this card with the newest collection from Jillibean Soup, Monster Stew. It's so fun, you just can't stop yourself from putting googly eyes on these little monsters! I also used Hero Arts stamped sentiment and misc ribbon.
I have been sending in cards for kids for some time and I also subscribe to many of these kids Care Pages. I have a special place in my heart for them and their families. Since I am a cancer survivor, I know how important it is to be strong and still find joy everyday. I would like to encourage you to create a card for one of the children or their family members today. The smallest kindness can leave a lasting impression.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Now hop on over to Latisha's blog next

Also, if you are lost in the hop, you can always start at the beginning at the Lawn Fawn blog or click on any of the participating blogs here.

Lawn Fawn http://lawnfawn.blogspot.com/
Meredith www.papercanteen.com
Tiffany http://tiffguam.com
Mandy www.limelightpapercrafts.blogspot.com
Nichol www.nicholmagouirk.typepad.com
Ayana http://www.ayanaposadas.typepad.com/
Brit http://artismysunshine.blogspot.com
Christiana www.penciledwhimsies.blogspot.com
Banu http://stampingwithpassion.blogspot.com/
Vera www.lingshappyplace.blogspot.com
Lisa http://sideoatsandscribbles.wumple.com/
Laurel www.laurelbeard.wordpress.com
Kelly http://kellybertram.blogspot.com/
Jennifer http://hydrangeahippo.blogspot.com
Scrapbook Royalty http://scrapbookroyalty.blogspot.com
Tina www.travelingmama.net
Beth www.stinkinsweetscrappin.blogspot.com
Mary Dawn http://mypinkmexico.blogspot.com
AnitaRex http://craftygrldesigns.blogspot.com/
Lucy http://hedgehogsandladybirds.blogspot.com/
Brenda www.sweetpapertreats.com
Anthonette http://chavezdesigns.blogspot.com/
Tanis www.scrapcardsbytanis.blogspot.com
Jessica www.canyoupixelthis.com
Sudie www.unKit.com
Bonnie Rose http://alifeunrehearsed2.blogspot.com
Sarah Martina http://sarahmartina.com/blog
Michelle http://pagemasterdesignsonline.blogspot.com/
Jennie www.jenniekader.blogspot.com
Jennifer http://jennifersland.blogspot.com/
Carly http://carlyrobertson.typepad.com/paper-in-bloom/
Joy http://dustypenny.blogspot.com/
Latrice www.latricemurphy.blogspot.com
Lai-Yoke www.walchowDesign.blogspot.com
Dana www.relivingtomorrow.blogspot.com
Kazan nunutoolies.blogspot.com
Jana http://www.janamillen.typepad.com
Dawn http://dawnscrafts.blogspot.com
Kristie www.thekristiesessions.blogspot.com
Rhonda bluepoohbear753.blogspot.com
Donna www.3umbrellas.blogspot.com
Jess basicjess.blogspot.com
Marilyn littlethingmemoryartist.blogspot.com
Shawnte http://shawnteparks.blogspot.com/
Mary Pat http://www.siehledwithakiss.blogspot.com/
Lynsey http://www.lynseyreadswritescreates.blogspot.com
Ashley http://hearthugsdesigns.blogspot.com/
Libby http://stampinlibby.blogspot.com
Sherri http://www.sherrithompson.blogspot.com/
Tami http://journeyoflifetamijo.blogspot.com
Linda http://elendae.wordpress.com/
Lynnette http://nettersnotables.blogspot.com/
Kathy http://thedailymarker.blogspot.com/
Cindy http://cre8ivecindy.blogspot.com/
Deneen www.simplydeneen.typepad.com
Heather http://www.scrapbookbakery.blogspot.com/
Jenn doublendesigns.blogspot.com
Tenia http://jazzypaper.blogspot.com
Lori http://inkingaloud.blogspot.com
Deb http://sideshowdeb.blogspot.com
Angela http://makingmayhem.blogspot.com
Stephanie http://stephaniecastrodesigns.blogspot.com
Lynn www.themangoboysandme.blogspot.com
Shemaine www.scraptasticdesigns.blogspot.com
Latisha http://crafteebee.blogspot.com/
Deedee http://stampingsunshine.blogspot.com/
Kristina http://kristinaisonehappymama.blogspot.com/
Nicky http://craftcoffeecat-nicky.blogspot.com/
Leigh Ann www.stampingwithannieb.blogspot.com
Gretchen http://gscrapbooks.blogspot.com
Erin http://www.homemadecardsbyerin.blogspot.com
Laurie www.soapboxcreations.blogspot.com
Beth http://www.runswithscraps.blogspot.com
Michelle www.hotwheelsandglueguns.blogspot.com
Jessica www.Itsallaboutglitznglam.blogspot.com
Clare http://bearydocardsinc.blogspot.com/
Carol http://www.lifecreativewithcarol.blogspot.com
Grace http://gracehester.typepad.com
Clouds http://cloudscolorgarden.blogspot.com/
Hannah http://sherbetblossom.blogspot.com/
Laurie http://lalybi.blogspot.com
Terri http://terriearley.blogspot.com/
Jennifer jennifermcguireink.com
Lawn Fawn http://lawnfawn.blogspot.com/

Challenge Wednesdays

Hello friends! I am finally getting my groove on organizing my time better so I can work on some challenges I have missed playing along with my favorite challenge blogs each week.

First up is the Moxie Fab's Signs of Peace Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

For my card I used some Fabulous Animal Print Fabric Sheet from Love My Tapes. Next I did not have any Peace sign stamped images or paper so thank goodness for free clip art online. I copied the Peace sign into Photo shop and colored it red {for love of course} then I typed my sentiment and printed it out on my go to white card stock by PaperTrey Ink. Finally to add some Moxie to my creation by blinging out my peace sign with my i-rock tool and clear rhinestones from Imaginisce!

I'd like to encourage you to get your craft on and join the fun! Here's the deets:

• Create a project (card, gift bag, tag, layout, home decor item, mini-book cover, etc.) that incorporates a peace sign in an innovative way.
• Upload it to your blog, click on your blog's title, copy the URL, and add it to Mr. Linky below.
• Tell your readers that you've created your project for the Signs of Peace Challenge in the Moxie Fab World and link it back to this post to encourage your readers to play along as well.
  
• If you don't have a blog, upload your project to this flickr gallery, copy the URL to your project, and add it to Mr. Linky below. Make sure you set the security on your photo so that I can copy it. If I can't copy the image, I wo n't be able to offer it as a winning entry.
  
• Upload your projects by midnight MDT on Monday, August 16.
• The winning entries will be shown on this blog on Wednesday, August 18 and will receive an "I'm Moxie Fab" challenge winner button as well as a moxie fab prize.

Next up is the latest sketch challenge from Taylored E xpressions:

Here's my take

Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned paper from the Pasta Fagioli line, Love My Tapes solid fabric Tape (punch), Unity Stamped Images, Martha Stewart punch, Spellbinder Die and misc button and star bling.

And finally the latest 2Sketches4You Challenge



Here's my take

Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned paper from Pasta Fagioli line, Stamped Images Unity stamp Co, Fabric Tape from Love My Tapes, Glimmer Mist, Stampin Up border punch, Imaginisce i-rock tool and clear bling,