Christmas in July and more good news...

I have had a month of really good news and over the last few days I have had even more. Yippie!

I am so excited to be joining the design team at Pebbles, Inc.. Their new lines are way too cute and so much fun to work with. I am just loving the sneaks for the brand new lines, be sure to check them out.

Here is a layout using their Linnie Bell line.

Bella BLVD announced their brand new Guest Artistas and I am thrilled to be one of them. I just love their lines, so bright and colorful and am dying to see what they will be releasing at this CHA...fabulous I am sure it will be.

Here is the announcement!

It's a new week, and I am thrilled to tell you we have finalized the invitations to our brand new Guest Artistas. Thank you so much to everyone that sent in submissions. We had a blast checking out all your awesome work and learning a bit about each of you. It's always a shame that we cannot pick everyone. The creativity is astounding, and to get submissions from all over the world is so encouraging. We also want everyone to know that for future Artista calls, anyone and everyone is invited to submit, even if you were not chosen during this round, we would love for you to continue submitting to future calls. Thank you again for all the Bella love and support!

I am so happy to announce, in alphabetical order, the new Bella Guest Artistas for 2009:

Jessica Ball
Donna Creedon
Daniela Dobson
Sheri Feypel
Krista Hanna
Nancy Holley
Jenneke Knol
Mimi Leinbach
Brittny Lejeune
Tanisha Long
Janis Medina
Deanna Misner
Sue Mylde

Christina Taylor
Tricia Wilson

I have a few new Black River Designs Christmas in July projects to share. I just love working with Christine's papers, they are so fun and easy to play with.

And a card:

Dixie Pieces is having a great big summer contest. Check out the thread here for details. This is really gonna be fun and there will be lots of great prizes.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

A quick update...

It has been a busy week taxing the kids to camp and summer activities but I wanted to stop by quick and show you a few kits available.

Over at Dixie Pieces you will love this beautiful kit. Can you say Prima heaven? I loved it so much I even used the packaging in a card and LO...talk about recycling.

Check out this card I made from it.

Be sure to check out the gallery for lots more of the designers inspiration here.

This month at I AM A Scrapaholic the kit is complete fun.

Check out this fun LO I did of Jack.

Nick's team did not make it through to the next round of the National tourney but we did have a great weekend and here are a few of my favorite action shots.

A header:

I will be back on Monday with some new LO's using Black River Designs products, as well as a few other projects and some very good news!

Hope you all have a wonderful 4th and well wishes to our friends from the north for Canada day this past week!

DT Projects galore....

I have so many DT projects to share with you!!! My little guy is off at riding camp and it has been just Nick and I each day. Other than some friends visiting, swimming and soccer practice it has been a quiet week and we each had time to do our own thing. For me that meant fitting in some scrapping...

When I go my box of goodies from Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker I fell head over heals in love with these adorable papers. Here are a few layouts using her "My Sweet Cherry Pie" line.

And a detail shot:

I love these pictures of Jack and they worked perfectly for these papers.

Another detail shot:

I also dug out some Black River Designs papers and rub-ons. These papers just may be the easiest papers to work with ever. No matter what I am working on these projects just come together so easily, maybe it is just that I love them so...Keep and eye out in July because all the DT worked on Christmas in July projects. You will love them!
Here are a few from me...

I saved this cute little candy gift tag last Christmas off a gift I received...recycling and it worked perfectly here.

Christmas in July would not be complete without a Christmas Card.

On both these projects I used Plain Jenn's from Creative Chaos. These are my favorite journaling spots EVER and I use them on EVERYTHING! Jenn just announced a new DT Call so get your submissions in. I had so much fun working with Jenn's products and she is a total sweetheart and extremely funny to boot! Good Luck ladies you don't want to miss this chance.

The new English Garden Collection from Marks Paper Company is absolutely gorgeous. I love the colors, my favorites actually green and purple. I really can't get enough of them.

And a Father's Day Card too...

I altered a tin using the June kit from I AM A Scrapaholic. I have a growing collection of pins and thought that this kit was perfect to make a tin to hold them. Cute and functional, definitely my kind of project.

Last but not least how about a little sneak preview of July's kit at Dixie Pieces. I love this kit and you will too! The designers are doing something fun this month - we are having a little blog sneak peak party! Yep-over the next 4 days you can see sneak peaks of the new kit and the design team creations! Every day a new designer will post their sneaks to their blogs! To make it even sweeter - when you leave a comment on the sneak peak posts - you qualify to win a RAK from Dixie Pieces!

So leave me a comment on this post and then check out the Dixie Pieces Forums to see where the blog hop takes us tomorrow! Follow the trail and leave comments as you go. The more comments you leave, the better your chances to wins the RAK!

Prize will be drawn on the 30th and announced on the site and the DT blogs on July 1st - Kit Reveal Day!

This is my beautiful Mom and niece Gabi.

And here is a sneak of 2 projects...

The National Cup soccer tournament is in Jersey this weekend and we will be off to cheer Nick and his team on. His team is undefeated this season and lets hope that streak holds through the weekend!!!! Go Rage!!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

A few new projects and Happy Father's Day Honey...

I know I am a day early but I just wanted to wish my hubby a very Happy Father's Day. Love you! This photo is from a recent Whitewater rafting trip.

And just a few quick projects...

I think these are my favorite pictures of Jack. I know he is my kiddo and I am quite biased but he really is the cutest kid ever, lol! Look at that sweet face.

I love my punches and am trying to find new ways to use them. I think the punched edges really dressed up this card. I love clean lines but it just adds a little "fancy" to a project!

I have had these pictures of my nieces forever and came up with this idea for a LO...what cuties!Here are a few details...

Check out the Plain Jenn from Creative Chaos Etsy. I am so addicted to them.

My mom is planning a trip with 2 of her friends so now I am all prepared with this card. I love working ahead.

With 6 nieces there is always a birthday on the horizon. I made this little altered tin and matching card for the next one. Perfect way to gift a little cash or a gift card (you know that is what the kids want) and still make it a personal gift. She can just slide off the punched wrap and flowers and use it to store earrings or other little trinkets.

I am loving yellow right now and here is a new card using my June DT kit from I AM A Scrapaholic. Mom-Mom will love it for sure.

Last but not least I want to welcome this new little family to our neighborhood. Mom and Dad are never far from the baby and I got to watch feeding time the other day...so sweet!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Two post in one week...amazing!

First a shout out to my son Nick who participated in a charity 5K this week and came in 25 out of 168 runners...most of whom are adults. His time was 22:11, so amazing for an 11 year old. He even got to meet his future junior high track coach who took 3rd that day. Here are the official results!

This photo will go on a LO called Determination. That is exactly what this picture says to me.

For those of you that visit regularly you know I must have good news that I want to share to warrant a second post in the same week. Guess what...I do have good news! I will be joining the design team for the new manufacturer Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker.

Check out this amazing team:
The Domestic Design Team:
(they are in no particular order)

1. Charity Hassel from FL
2. Nathalie Leonelli from CA
3. Julie Tucker-Woleck from AZ
4. Deana Boston from MO
5. Jennifer Matott from NY
6. Susan Dupre from TX
7. Jana Eubank from UT
8. Mimi Leinbach from PA
9. Michelle Lanning from CA
10. Laura Achilies form CO
11. Deanna Misner from TN
12. Abbie Torroll from OK

The International Design Team:
(they are in no particular order)

1. Hilde Janbroers from the Netherlands
2. Emeline Seet from Singapore
3. Nadhrah Maidin from Malaysia
4. Mette Kallander from Sweden
5. Kathleen Glossop from Australia
6. Anne Jo Lexander from Norway
7. Ria Mojica from the Phillippines
8. Mieke Nagtegaal from Holland
9. Malin Dahlstrom from Sweden
10. Claude Campeau from Canada
11. Jodi Wilton from Canada
12. Michele Beck from France

Here is a little peek of her first line!

How great is that! She will also have stamps and other goodies to go with her first 6 lines of paper to be debuted at Summer CHA 2009! Big Congrats Nikki!

Since I am blogging AGAIN...I thought I would share a few more projects.

I did my first 2 projects using Black River Designs. I am loving it...so darn EASY to use. Things just came together and I love the results.

And a cute Happy Birthday card!

And last but not least I have a new LO for Marks Paper Company. I still can't get enough of these papers!

Here is a detail shot, check out the jotters from Creative Chaos Etsy. I swear I use them on everything now.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Summer officially starts here in my house today at 12:30 when the kids are done school and I am super excited to see the end of homework even if it is only for a few month! Enjoy!

It has been a great scrappy month so far...and some pictures!

I have to give a big birthday shout out to my nephew...he just turned 4!
Happy Birthday Jake!

My son Jack is in the throws of horse show season and he is doing just terrific. Here he is at last weeks show. He came home with 4 more ribbons...great job buddy!

I am excited to share that I have 2 layouts in this months Scrapbook Trends. Be sure to check it out...it really is a terrific issue!

I have been in a very scrappy mood lately too. I have been busy with lots of DT projects but also sat down to just scrap for me. This month I love working with my Marks Paper Company products. Here is my first DT LO using the new English Garden Line.

I pulled out some pictures of my nieces and played away...This is my superstar niece playing softball. She is amazing on the mound. It is not unusual for her to throw 15-18 strikeouts a game.

Livi is so adorable and always puts a smile on for the camera...check out the jotters from Jenn Stevens Creative Chaos Etsy, oh how I love them so!

Over at Dixie Pieces the kit this month could not have been better for a mom of sport loving kids. Check it out:

Here are a few projects using it.



Be sure to check the gallery here for lots more inspiration.

The kit this month from I AM A Scrapaholic is literally FABULOUS. Check out all the Chatterbox loveliness. I am looking forward to really digging into this goodness.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Yippee!!!!!What a weekend!!!!

I have so much to share I don't even know where to begin. I will start with some really exciting news! I have been asked to join the design team for the manufacturer Black River Designs. It is a Canadian manufacturer started by Christine Campbell, she debuted her first 5 PP lines and 8 sets of rub-ons at CHA Winter 09. I really am thrilled to be part of this amazing team! Check out the other designers I get to work with!

Cari Locken

Virginia Wong

Stephanie Klauck

Lisanne Cote

Aly Dosdall

Lynn Ghahary

Jennifer Matott

My son also had a banner weekend with his soccer team winning the Whitewater Challenge Cup. Here is the team and the coach with their hard earned cup. They are now 13-0-0 and have only had 3 goals scored on them all season. Teams came from as far away as Canada so the competition was pretty stiff! Way to go boys!

And one of just my guy!

The weekend did not end there. On to a day of team bonding and whitewater rafting. It was my kids first experience whitewater rafting and they had a ball! Thanks goodness for wetsuits since the water was 55 degrees.


I want to let you know about a a fun scrapping challenge going on that is also for a great cause. Check out Jen Tapler's blog for information on the Stampin' out Alzheimer's Event she is hosting. This is a cause near and dear to my heart since my Dad suffered from Alzheimer's for several years before passing away.

Here is my dad in my favorite photo of him looking so handsome. It was taken sometime around WWII. Also a special Memorial Day THANK YOU to all the military and their family members who serve and sacrifice so much to keep our country free! You are true heroes!


Check out this month challenge at Marks Paper Company. It is a great one with an awesome prize so be sure to give it a try!

The Challenge:

Using 75% of Marks Paper Company’s products, create stitching on a scrapbook page, altered item, home décor item, mini album, you name it. How creative can you be? It is SEW Simple!

The winner will receive a set of Marks Paper Company new paper collection (English Garden), and a sponsored prize by Scrapfreak,

which is a $15.00 gift certificate to their on-line store. Total retail value for this prize package is $25.00. In addition, your winning project will be featured on the Marks Paper Company Blog and in our monthly newsletter!

When your project is complete, post a comment on our blog that includes a link to your blog or on-line gallery so we can view your project. Deadline for submissions is midnight (EST) May 29, 2009. Winners will be announced on May 31, 2009 on our blog.

Check out our website for more information. Please e-mail us with any questions. Good luck and we’re looking forward to seeing your work!

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!