I love Challenges

Challenges really get my mojo going. They are tons of fun and I love doing them! So here are a few that I've done recently:

YAY! I made it to the next round of the 'So You Think You Can Scrap' contest over at Itty Bitty Scrap Shack. The challenge was to use: 4 photos, rubons, bling, 3 pieces of PP and ribbon in a creative way (the ribbon is the cut scallops framing the sides of the main pic). Here is my entry this week! Hope I make it to the next round!

This card was done for a sketch challenge over at Memory Book Inspirations. There is a new card sketch posted every Friday - here is my take on this week's sketch:
This Layout is for the Telephone Scraplift Challenge at ScrapGoods. Our names are put on a list and the first person is emailed a layout, they lift it and mail to the next, and so on. Its neat to see how the layouts evolve from the original. Here is my entry for February:
Isn't this painting ADORABLE!!! I love it, it was the inspiration for the Ad/Art Challenge over at From Here 2 Scrapternity.
I loved the painting so much that I basically copied the owl and branch for my layout. Everything is paper pieced together (took me forever!) Pics are of me about 1990-92 being crazy:
This layout is for another Ad/Art Challenge at FH2S. It was a Gymboree (I think) Ad that I took my inspiration from. This is Karis at Halloween - note the candy stash in the bottom left corner of the picture. Title reads Every little girl is a PRINCESS at least one day a year.
This layout is the cover page of my BOM. This was done for the January Contest over at FH2S. What's in a name... yep - that ME!

Layouts using Making Memories Products

Easter Card and Jelly Bean Box

Just wanted to show you all the class I have planned over at Memory Book Inspirations. We will be making a coordinating card for Easter and Jelly Bean Box. The class will be held Saturday, March 15th, just in time to get a few of these made for your Easter Bunnies! Please join us over there next month. Registering is easy and FREE!

SYTYCS Round 1

Round One over at Itty Bitty Scrap Shack is closing Thursday Feb 14 at 8pm PST. The challenge was to use the following items - and NOTHING ELSE!!! It really was challenging, but I'm happy with what I came up with.

1 piece of cardstock
2 pieces of patterned paper
Any alphabet letters
buttons
handwritten journaling

yep, that's it, no ink, paint, doodling, etc! Jeez!!! Here is my entry:

How To: Heat Emboss Tutorial

YAY! My first tutorial is up over at MBI University! There was a lot of interest in learning how to Heat Emboss and other Heat Embossing techniques. I posted a basic tutorial and then I will be holding 'Embossing Parties' every month focusing on new embossing techniques! So head on over to Memory Book Inspirations and sign up for the forum to join us in the fun!! Here are some of the examples I posted.

TOOT!! and a Tag

Okay, so I am totally PSYCHED!!! on becoming a part of the 'Mod Squad' over at Memory Book Inspirations. Salina and Jennifer have asked me to moderate the MBI University forum over there!! I will be showcasing new techniques and how to classes. I have tons of ideas and fun things planned - can't wait! And they have monthly challenges and contests as well. So sign up on their forum and join me over there for some fun!

Oh, and Andrea tagged me!
al
FAVORITE SITES

I'm a message board addict! My favorites are linked in the sidebar ;-)

I'm also addicted to stamps... besides the obvious, here are a few of my favs:
Wildflower Stamps
Sideshow Stamps
Stampin Bella


CHALLENGE FAVES

{Caardvarks}
Gettin Sketchy


GUILTY PLEASURES

Sleeping in until my kids have dragged me out of bed (9:30-10 sometimes)

Pecan Cinnabons


CREATIVE FAVS

oh wow... I have TONS of blogs on my blog reader list

CLOTHING FAVS

jeans and t-shirts... although jamas are might comfortable too!


Now I will tag...
Tara
Marinka
Betsie

Valentine's Schmalentines!

So I have been making tons of Valentines!!! Challenges, Contests, Crops - its the month of love and they all want Valentine cards. LOL! Um... I only have one Valentine - looks like he's getting cards for a week straight ;-)

First, this card was made for the {Caardvarks} XOXO Lovefest Challenge. Used Love, Elsie PP, rubons and sticker. Some doodling and Queen&Co felt ribbon cut up for flowers.
This lovely Valentine was made for the Valentine Card Contest over at Happy N Scrappin' She has awesome deals in her online store. Make sure you sign up for the newsletter email list to be eligible to vote in the contest if you enter. SU red cardstock, Polar Bear Press black PP, some Heidi Swapp flowers and a white button I made black with embossing powder. Be Mine K&Co icicle and misc. ribbon.

This one was just because. LOL! Actually, Jen over at Itty Bitty Scrap Shack inspired me with her card based on the PageMaps sketch here. Stamped white CS with an Autumn Leaves flourish... red PP is leftover from my christmas layout I did... it has some glitter in it too. 3 Bugs in a Rug sticker and heart cut from cuttlebug.

And these last three were done as part of the challenges over at All Moments Remembered for the online crop last night. I got three challenges done before I hit the sack.

This one was to make a card using black CS as a base, 4 hearts, ribbon, buttons, and pink and white paper. I only had my scrap box and a few other things because Dustin was sleeping in my scraproom (our bedroom).

Mini warmup for the AMR crop last night. 4x4 card using scraps and a heart stamp from my new Fancy Pants Garden set.
And last but not least, this challenge was to make your own PP. FINALLY! I could do an un-valentine! LOL! Paper is stamped with cherry blossom stamp from Fancy Pants Garden set and colored in with Twinkling H2Os. Sentiment is on foil paper - this card is really shimmery and gorgeous in real life, I promise!

Thank you so much for looking and I appreciate all your comments!!

Lots of Happenings this Weekend!!!

First off, I have to tease you all with the goodies I got in the mail yesterday!!! Dustin brought home my order from Stampin' Up and Memory Works! YUM! I'm going to have fun playing this weekend!




Next... the lovely enablers ladies over at From Here to Scrapternity showed me this today. Its going to be the QVC Special Value on Monday! Good thing Dustin just got paid! YUMMY!



Stacey over at All Moments Remembered has her very first monthly kit debut! The kit sold out the first day sight unseen!!! You can check her blog for the yummy sneak peaks and the reveal should be sometime today! I'm bummed I didn't get one (my credit card is not, however) but it looks too yummy! Their message board is also having a Kit Reveal Crop tonight 4pm- Midnight EST. So go sign up for the message board and join us for some fun!


And last but CERTAINLY not least...

The Itty Bitty Scrap Shack is holding a "So You Think You Can Scrap" contest. Open auditions start today and go through Feburary 7th!! Check out their message board and kits while you're over there!! And make sure you sign up. Every member of the MB will have one vote every week in the contest!

Want to win an Itty Bitty Kit??

The Itty Bitty Scrap Shack is hosting a "Get in the Mood for Love" Contest. Here are the details:

Create a layout (12x12 or 8 1/2 x 11) about the love(s) of your life. Maybe it's a person, maybe a place, animals, etc. Whatever you love, we want to see it! Send your entries to designteam@ittybittyscrapshack.com by February 1st. The winner will receive the February Itty Bitty Kit!

So head on over and check it out! GOOD LUCK!

Black and White Just Because

Did this card for a challenge over at Memory Book Inspirations. The challenge was to make a card only using the colors black and white. So here are the layers: black cardstock embossed with white EP, white cardstock, black stitched paper, white organza/satin ribbon, and white cardstock with a flower stamp embossed with black EP. Thanks for looking!

I've been tagged

by Kylie... I could just copy and paste her answers, we do have the same middle name... BWAHAHAHA!!!

Rules :
1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name).
3. After you are tagged, you need to update your blog with your middle name and your answers.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name.
(Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and that they need to read your blog for details.)

So, my middle name is Marie - which means I have to come up with five hopeless souls to tag

M - mommy
A - adorable
R - real
I - intelligent
E -enough

Okay, I played, even though I did't want too... but I have concluded the tag stops with me!

LOOKEE WHAT I'VE GOT COMING!!!

Okay, I know I'm addicted... but my mom is an SU demo and needed some help with her quotas - YEA!

Here are the stamps I have on their way to my house right now. Really loving the All Scallops and Trimtastic... and how cute is A Tree for all Seasons! YUM!! Oh, and since it was a party order I got a hostess set too! I know, I know, I'm addicted to stamps! I have more stuff coming and already making my list for Sale-a-Bration!

8.5 x 11 Layouts

Here are some 8.5 x 11 Landscape Layouts. This first one is the title page for our Book of Us (BOU) It's like a Book of Me, but I'm doing me on the left page, and Dustin on the right.

Another BOU layout. I love this picture! Dustin's not smiling, but hey, I look good! :D All items are from the ScrapBook Takeout January kit. Journal spot from Elle's Studio.

I have a Christmas album that is 8.5 x 11 and I do one two-page layout a year hitting the highlights. Pretty neat to look back on past Christmases and see what the HOT toy was or the girl's reaction to Santa. This is 2007's layout.

Before and After

I am posting before and after pictures of my scrap area. I have resolved to keep my space clean and straighten up at the end of every day. So far so good! Now if I can just get Sierra to put all her Cuttlekids stuff away and pick up all the cuts of paper!

BEFORE

My desk and random catch all of empty boxes and other trash!

Trash Can, sewing stuff... more boxes

Way too much stuff in this room!!

AFTER
I had to move everything into the master bedroom and Karis now has her own room! These Ikea shelves were given to us for free! Can't beat that! They now hold ribbon, buttons, brads, all my inks and paints, underneath has all my chipboard and some other random stuff stashed.

My shelf with stamps, file cabinet with non-scrappy stuf in there but my SG kits on top! And the large sterilite container is how I sort all my patterned paper. They are mostly in large ziplocks by brand and line with matching accessories in it.

My desk with my Clip it Up on it! I had to buy two extra packs of clips and I still don't have all my stuff up there! Behind it is a tool bit sorter I got in the hardware section. I keep eyelets and odds and ends in there.

Here is my desk with my sizzix and cuttlebug and Sierra's cuttlekids on it. I moved my cricut by the computer in the other room so I had room to leave my sewing machine out. I've actually used it quite a few times just in the last few weeks!

And for all you organized perfectionists out there... this is as good as its gonna get!!

Thank You!

Here is the Thank You card I did for the current challenge over at {Caardvarks}. I used BG Infuse collection and my cuttlebug scalloped flowers nesting die. CTMH doodle alphabet stamps too. Thanks for looking!

Bling and Alcohol Ink!

So I have these bling swirls by Me and My Big Ideas that were clear. I say 'were' because I COLORED THEM PINK!!! I was working on a LO for a contest and one of the requirements was to use bling. I wanted to use these swirls, but they were clear, and I wanted them pink. This is when I got my ingenious idea! I got out my alcohol ink out and started playing. IT WORKED!!! I am now able to color bling in about 10 different colors! LOL!

I placed a drop of alcohol ink on a piece of felt and dabbed it on my bling - VOILA! colored bling. However, I didn't have a light pink ink, and I wanted light pink bling. So I added a couple drops of rubbing alcohol to the felt and dabbed it over the bling. Some more dabbing and rubbing alcohol and I got the lovely light pink bling swirls pictured below.

So have fun! I need more colors of alcohol ink!!! And more bling!!

Christmas and Pumpkins!

Did this LO for SG's December Scraplift Challenge. Everything is from SG December kit, save for the red glitter glue on the chipboard. Pictures are from Christmas long long ago... I think around 1989. This is me opening my prized possessions (at that age) - My porcelain dolls!Sierra carved her pumpkin, and then decided she wanted to paint it!

Our Pink Meow Meow

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and RAK winner

Congratulations Barbara (ladynurse4)!!! I will get your album off after the New Year as we are going to Paris!