Hip Hop hello! Hope your weeks been a good one so far! We're sharing some fun products from Vintage Street Market for today's Hip Hop.

They were generous in donating a fabulous kit for us to create with. I received Dimestore Vogue and scrapped up some photos of Ang and I at CHA. Typically these camera shots turn out well...but this time...well you be the judge LOL

I used my Spellbinder flower dies from Donna Salizar and the Chocolate Brown crepe paper to make some fun flowers and the August KOTM images. The Aqua foil paper was really easy to punch with using my Martha Stewart punches.

Not a KOTM member yet? GASP! You really want to join! I love my KOTM because each image is unique and fun to create with!

Now I have a BIG sale to share with you today!

Now it's time for you to visit Stephanie!

She set a goal for herself

Hello friends! I feel like this week is already slipping by me and we're only on Tuesday. I had a busy weekend of crafting. My classes at Michaels were full and we had tons of fun Saturday afternoon. I love meeting new scrapbookers so eager to learn how they can get started. My Martha Stewart punch around the page class had 6 ladies and they all left happy with their beautiful creations. I really am crazy about Martha's products and can't wait for the new stuff we saw at CHA to roll out.

So I haven't had a chance to share a personal goal that I finally achieved a few months ago. I have wanted to be published for the past two years. I had seen all of my friends and mentor's work gracing the pages of my favorite publications and decided that I really wanted that for myself too. So I started studying Paper Crafts and the types of projects that were making it into each issue until I had an idea of what they were looking for and got crafty. I submitted my work and held my breath. Finally... one day I was very very excited to get some happy mail from Paper Crafts Magazine! This is my first ever pub with them! They picked up a card I create with Unity and Imaginisce paper for Card Creations Vol. 9

My card titled Tropical Love

I used one of my all time favorite stamps from Unity called Hearts of Old 

as well as paper and embellishments from Imaginisce's Garden Party collection and a kraft tag from Maya Road.

Shortly after this publication I started submitting to the Cricut magazine and they started saying YES too! Remember my post about this layout? Well here's a fun birthday banner, card and cupcake holder I made for my son's 13th Birthday last year and submitted. I like to decorate his bedroom door every year now that he's a bit too old for parties.

Both of these magazines photograph the work so beautifully and really make it shine! So those are the pubs I can show you right now. If you want to see more of my cards please take a peek into this issue available now!

I almost fell over when I saw one of my submission's chosen for Paper Crafts Online bonus projects here.

Thanks for celebrating with me today! If you've been thinking about submitting your work for publication I really want to encourage you to do so. It may take some time but only you can make your goals and dreams come true!

That's all I got for today. Have a fabulous day!!

She threw a Pirate's & Pixie's party for her little girl

It all started with Tinkerbell...I wanted a way to have a fun Birthday party for Lily and not make it So girly that we could not include the boys too. Since she is really into the Disney Princesses, {we started these themes with her 2nd Birthday} when she chose to be Belle...

and Arial last year {her 3rd birthday}

So when she chose Tinkerbell { for her 4th birthday} I knew it was perfect for a Pirates and Pixies theme.

I spent weeks searching images via Google and pinning them onto my Pinterest board for Lily's 4th birthday ideas. I really suggest you surf this awesome blog, Hostess with the Mostess that has tons of party ideas and amazing photos too for your next party theme!

I poured over ideas, spent several hours hunting for the supplies, made the girls tutu party favors and most of  the decor myself. So to my friends and family that were unable to attend, please enjoy this photo heavy recap of Lily's special day...

We served up some great treats

Toad stool pops {donut holes covered in red candy melts topped with white chocolate chips on marshmallows}

These were a big hit with the kids.

Mat enjoyed grilling up some kosher Hebrew National dogs for the kiddos.

Let me tell you, they enjoyed snacking them up too!

I never buy my kids birthday cakes because I really love baking their special treat myself. This year I baked Lily's favorite, yummy pixie chocolate cupcakes and colored the icing purple to match the flower baking cups.

The Tinkerbell cupcake decor was easy to create. Paste clear stickers {from Michaels} on acetate and cut them out. Use BBQ skewers and hot glue to add them to your cupcakes.


And since it was a Pirate themed party too, the boys loved their Pirate party favors from Oriental Trading.

The girls favors were handmade tutu's with Gerber daisy's hot glued with ribbon. They all  looked darling in the tutu's.

The Pirate booty table was a hit with the boys. I found all of this at Oriental Trading as well.

And the Pixie table was garnished with flowers and metal tins I purchased at Michaels. I hung a wicker wreath embellished with flowers and ribbon from the tree and it looked great over the cupcake tier. I also used chipboard and my Cricut machine to create the coordinating Happy 4th Birthday banner for Lily. These decorations really didn't take much time to whip up.

Yes there were a few mishaps with the wind and thank goodness for packing tape holding my table cloths from blowing away. Who would have figured there would be that much wind on a July afternoon?

Oh and at one point the jumper deflated with the kids inside.  Scott {aka big brother} had it under control and got all the kids all out safely while Mat got it going again.

Lily's friends posed for a group photo to remember her day (from the left: Sophia, Annabelle, Kristiana, Zalie (baby) Lily, Lily's cousin Gavin, Karen, Bradley, Calvin and hiding in the back is Riley.

So many beautiful little Pixies and Swashbuckling Pirates! Arrggg!!!!

Our little Tinkerbell really shined on her special day.

I found her outfit on Ebay, a Disneyland exclusive for a fabulous price!

I'm saving it in hopes that someday her daughter will wear it.

We had so much fun with all our friends. Lily has known Kristiana since they were 2 1/2.

I was so thankful my sweet friend Tami showed up early to help me set up.

 

I love my family and celebrating these special moments together really is a gift.

Mombo {Mat;s mom} was a big help and made sure no one was thristy. We love you Mombo!

Lily has been talking about her party for over a week now so I know I made an impression with all my planning to make her party fun for her. I have to admit I'm glad next year we're heading to Disneyland for her 5th. I think I need an extra year to recover...lol

But with all the planning, baking, creating banners, tutu's, decor and setting up...none of it would be worth it without the photos. I can never thank my friends Heidi and Monica enough for capturing Lily's special day through their eyes so I could have such beautiful photos to remember it all.

All of these beautiful photos posted today were taken by these ladies {I so puffy heart both of you for these photos} Here's Heidi and I. This girl has the most beautiful heart and an amazing eye for photography.

You give me so much more than just your friendship Heidi. Thank you for sharing your family with ours on Lily's special day. I sure love those boys!

Thanks for stopping by today...I think that's a wrap on my photo heavy party post. 

With a Hip Hop...bippity bop...don't stop rockin to the beat ...OH yeah!

It's my first Hip Hop since CHA and I am ready to get back into my studio after a week long break from crafting. I'm really happy to be able to share some of my creations with Unity's new releases I created for the Unity booth.

First up is some new stamps from the Unity Co-Brand with Authentique and their new Blissful collection.

The tag is Unity's Share your Smile Authentique Itty Bitty and the card is Unity's Direction of Happy Authentique Itty Bitty.

Next is a tag I created with Unity's Beauty in all Things Itty Bitty. I really love this stamp.

I had so much fun at the show this summer. Seeing friends I only get to chat with online is always an extra special treat.

I love these girlies! Maren Me and Brooke!

I just love this special lady! Oh and for the record I am super bummed I did not get to stay for the Super Show to see Jimmi!!! I {heart} you miss J!

Now something fabulous to share just for you!

Is running a sale starting today thru the weekend! 40% off all Unity Stamps! Click here to see what's on Sale friends. This is a SUPER FAB deal!

Now hop on over to see what Stephanie has created today!

P.S. A BIG thank you cyber HUG to Angela for inspiring me to live my dreams. I love that I am the one making them come true one by one. It has not been easy, my husband didn't get it at first and then the opportunities started coming in and he knew I was on the right path. People have always tried to hold me back in every career path I chose but I did not settle and I kept believing in me. There have been some No's but far more Yes's!! Keep believing in YOU friends!

Have a great day!