Where's all the Love (artwork)?

Wow, I fully expected to come home to a ton of comments on my Blog Candy post. I know people are creating beautiful artwork with a love theme, I've seen it on your blogs. Just leave a comment on the Blog Candy post--click here-- to be entered for a chance to win a fun prize package.

Did ya miss me?

I'm back and trying to play catch up around here. Vegas was a blast! CTMH always spoils us when we go to their events! We got 5 new stamps sets and created TONS of projects--4 cards, 4 2 page layouts, 1 single page layout and a mini album. So fun. Then my sis took us to see Danny Gans--he was fabulous! Great music, fun jokes and just thoroughly enjoyable.

Now I'm back and trying to get ready for everything going on this week. We have my sis, her boyfriend and my mom and stepdad all coming in on Thursday. Then on Saturday the whole family will be here for Austin's birthday, so busy, busy! I will try and get some new artwork up soon. If nothing else, at least some of the projects we made in Vegas.

Here's a card for you. This one was for one of the swaps in Vegas. Good Times paper and Make It Count and Delight in Everything stamps.

I DID IT!

31 layouts in 31 days! I am so proud of myself :) Here is Day 31's layout:

It was a quickie--I'll probably add some embellishments later. I figured as long as I was scrapping Vegas pics, I might as well scrap these too. THey were from the same trip as the last Vegas layout I posted. They were taken at Red Rock Canyon.

Want to see what 31 layouts really look like?

I feel such an acheivement looking at this. Now I need to get them into their proper albums--LOL.

I'm off to Vegas in a few hours. I still need to make dinner, pack my scrap stuff, finish 16 more swap cards (they're stamped and cut, but not assembled), and try and clean up the house a little for Mike. I am so excited though! Two days of scrapping and classes with no kidddos--yippee! I won't be posting this weekend, so have a good one everyone!

Spread some JOY today!

Lynda, a lady I "know" from the CTMH Bulletin Boards has a special request today. Before I go on, I have to say, that this woman is a hero to me. She has had so many obstacles thrown her way in the last 6 monts. Things I can't even imagine dealing with. Through it all Lynda has shown such amazing strength and faith. She has the best attitude. Last month, she lost her 8-year old daughter, Micayla. She has shared her journey through this difficult time and her strength and attitude moves me to tears. I feel blessed just reading her words. Everytime I do, I take a moment to count my blessings and hug my kids. I got this message from her last night:

Tomorrow is the one-month anniversary of Micayla's journey on this earth coming to an end.

Instead of being sad. Do something extraordinary for someone tomorrow to bring them JOY!!

Please join me today in honoring Micayla (and Lynda) and send a little joy out there into the world. And to Lynda, thank you for sharing your journey--I'm sending lots of virtual (((hugs))) your way!

BLOG CANDY TIME!!

WOW--I can't believe I hit over 5,000 on my counter--thanks for visiting everyone! I want to do something special, so I'm giving away some blog candy. How can you enter for your chance to win? In honor of Valentine's Day, I want to see your LOVE artwork. It can be cards, layouts, whatever. It can be something new or an old favorite. Simply send me the link as a comment to THIS POST. I will draw a name on my birthday, Wednesday, February 6th. Seems fitting to give away stuff on my special day :)

Here's some of my cards. Only the first one is new. Haven't had too much time for Valentine cards, yet.

My FAVORITE new layout

I've been working on this one for the last couple days. I was originally inspired by Pammie. On the CTMH board she posted one of her famous OOYB (Out of Your Box) challenges to use this quote:

Far away there in the SUNSHINE,

are my highest asprirations. I may not REACH them,

but I can look up and see their beauty, BELIEVE in them,

and try to FOLLOW where they lead.

~Louisa May ALcott

When I read it, I immediately thought of this picture I took over the summer. Then I wanted to title it "Dream Big". When I did that, I thought of the song by Ryan Shupe and changed the journaling to that. This one is going to hang in my scrap room. I am planning on painting the room the lighter blue in the layout. I played with the photo in photoshop to blur it and fade the color. THen I printed it on cardstock to give it a nice texture feel.

A Proud Moment, a NOT so Proud Moment and Las Vegas

Ok, proud Mommy moment (someone--maybe Dr. Phil said to always start with the positive when talking about your kids). Austin came home with a note from his teacher that said he had finished the entire kindergarten word list, so she was sending home the 1st and 2nd grade lists--go Austin!

That happened AFTER I got this phone call from the school: "You need to come pick Austin, he has something stuck on his finger. We've tried ice, cold water, and soap, but it isn't coming off". So I rush over to find this:


When I got the call, I had visions of a hospital trip, but I thought I'd try myself first. So after a moment's debate, I used my scissors to crack each size and squeezed. The plastic shattered and out came the finger.



I drove him back to school for the rest of the day. Gotta love the thought pattern of a boy

"Why?"
"I don't know--there was a hole in the middle"
Hmmm...a hole means you must stick your finger in it. Nothing else you could possibly do.


Must be because I'm headed there this weekend, but I just keep scrapping Vegas pictures. These are from 3 years ago when I was Preggo with Brendan.

Somewhere I have Vegas embellishments, but I was too lazy to dig through everything, so I used CTMH's now retired Rowdy papers. The old me would have hoarded them forever since they are no longer available. However the new me, with the goal of using my stash, used them anyway! My new motto--if I use them in the scrapbook, I can ENJOY them forever--can't do that if they're stashed in the cabinet!