Heidi challenged the GCD Studios DT to do a layout about our hometown. Love this great collage she inspired us with...



I decided to focus on some of the things I love about our hometown and the area we live in. Wallet sized photos worked great for this challenge since I wanted to add several photos to the layout. I focused on our home, the local parks, and nature areas. I also talked a bit about our proximity to big events even though we live in "The Burbs" and the fact that we enjoy all four season here in Pennsylvania.



I numbered each photo and wrote a corresponding journaling box for each one with details about why that is important to me. Here are a few details...



I had never done a layout with this theme and am now so glad I did...so go ahead and show off your town in a layout!

Thanks for popping by!

Bella Blvd new newsletter!

Bella Blvd released their new newsletter today...be sure to see it here if you didn't already. I was so excited to be the Spotlight Designer this issue.

I worked with 2 of the latest releases Midterm and Sunny Happy Skies. They are shipping now so snag them before it is too late...your won't regret it.

As much as I hate to think about it, school is right around the corner so a back to school page was on the agenda...ugh! I wish summer could last all year. This entire layout is made with Bella's Midterm line. You will love these great pattern papers...they just pop!



A few details...



For this layout I used pictures from a day of fun with my niece's, the boys, and their friends. Nothing like a day of swimming and freeze pops!



I used 11 of the cardstock stickers plus an alphabet for this layout...what an easy way to embellish!



We just got back from another trip to the beach. It was gorgeous weather and it was great to get in a few extra days on the fly. I have been up most of the night, Nick has his Junior High orientation this morning and I am all worked up...I can't believe I will have a Junior High kid. How did I get so old, lol! Tomorrow we are off to Hershey Park with friends for the day and then this weekend both the boys have soccer tournaments. And so it all begins...

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Nikki has hit another home run this CHA with all her new releases. I have had so much fun playing with her new lines that I just could not stop myself and have lots to share with you.

I was blown away by her line Something for Everyone. I just loved these colors and designs...she actually name some of the papers after her design team and I am so honored to have used the For Mimi paper as the background on my first layout! Thank you Nikki!

This first layout will soon be available on the Scrapbooking and Beyond website. Check it out for a detailed tutorial!


I also used this line for this layout of my boys...


I am just in love with Nikki's new Cardstock Alpha Stickers!


Yep, as you can tell I couldn't get enough of this line. Here is another...the blue and black Burlap Buttons match this line perfectly.

Well...now for a layout using Blueberry Hill. Every year we go blueberry picking with my brother's family. My favorite way to use them is to bake blueberry zucchini bread. It is one of my family's favorite treats and I wanted to show that in this layout.


Don't you just love the pop of red in this line...so unexpected!

I also dove into the Tree Love line. I love this adorable tree and hand cut it as the perfect embellishment for this simple layout.


Thanks so much for stopping by all...hope you are enjoying your summer!

Want2Scrap and Bella Blvd Sunny Happy Skies!

I thought I would bring two of my favorite companies together today! I used Want2Scrap bling, acrylic, and a mesh butterfly as well as Bella Blvd's new release Sunny Happy Skies.



I think this is a great idea for a room decor project. I simply used some of my favorite summer photos, added a quote...and poured on some color with pattern paper and cardstock stickers by Bella Blvd.



These colors are the perfect compliment to the clean, clear acrylic sheets offered at Want2Scrap.



You have to love the bling and pearls too. They are such an easy way to embellish! Remember to sign up for the Bella Blvd Newsletter here. The next one will be published on August 15th...just a few days away! Keep a close eye on the Want2Scrap blog, rumor has it there will be a DT call very soon...this is definitely a great team to be a part of. Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Pebbles Toot, Bella Sneaks, a GCD Contest, and more...

It was a happy day in my house... Pebbles Inc. announced their new design team and I will be staying on! Woo Hoo! I also had another layout requested by Creating Keepsakes. What a great scrappy day!

Congrats to all these lucky ladies! It is an amazing group of talent and I can not wait to get to know them all!

Domestic Team
Christa Paustenbaugh from Manassas, VA
Deena Wuest from Goessel, KS
Ginger Williams from Tomball, TX
Guiseppa Gubler from Wellsville, UT
Jennifer Yates from Flower Mound, TX
Kim Kesti from Phoenix, AZ
Kristen Swain from Elkton, MD
Kryssi Ng from Flushing, NY
Laura Vegas from Manteca, CA
Lynn Ghahary (DT Coordinator) from Randolph, NJ
Mimi Leinbach from Reading, PA
Natalie Dever from Sheboygan Falls, WI
Samantha Sibbet from El Cajon, CA
Suzanne Sergi from Dove Canyon, CA
Wendy Sue Anderson from Heber City, UT


International Team
Anna Sigga from Reykjavik, Iceland
Eva Pizarro from Venaria Reale, Italy
Lady Grace Belarmino from Manila, Philippines
Lisa Kisch from Toronto, Canada
Melinda Spinks from North East Victoria, Australia
Ria Mojica from Manila, Philippines
Sarah Webb from Ontario, Canada
Savitri Wilder from Suffolk, United Kingdom
Stephanie Baxter from Epsom, Surrey, United Kingdom
Zoe Nemburt from Nova Scotia, Canada

I also have been having a ball playing with Bella Blvd. new releases till my heart was content. I can not show you my Artista projects just yet but let me give you just a sneak of some of the goodness that arrived in a great big box on my front porch...



and this...



Be sure to sign up here for the newsletter. It is loaded with tons of inspiration...I guarantee is will send you running to your scrap haven to create!

Now GCD Studios is offering a HUGE PRIZE! Check out the details below...you will not want to miss out on this opportunity!

OKAY LADIES... Lets talk CONTEST!

It's been a while when we last did a BIG give away, so this month we are doing a

BIG O'l Chipart tool Give away/contest.

Here is how you enter:

1. Simple Make a layout about your home/town (this theme is inspired by our DT's theme this month)
2. Send it to HSonboul@gcdstudios.com by Aug 29th no later then 12PM PST
3. You must use at least 20% GCD Studios, Which means 1 or two papers or a few embellies :)

Then I will pick the top 5 layouts and post a pull here on our blog. The person with the most votes will win this:

The Chipart Tool, metal stamps, cute chipboard, paint brushes and much more

(as seen in photo)

This prize is worth more than $150.00

Be sure to get all the details on the blog here.

Now that I got the business out of the way this is what I have been doing. Manchester United was in the States to play four exhibition games...luckily enough one happened to be in Philly and we scored tickets for it.





They took on our new hometown team, The Philadelphia Union. Of course Man U won but we had a great time anyway!

We also had our beach vaca...no summer is complete without a trip to the Jersey Shore. Nick boogie boarded so much he got a terrible rash all over his belly...didn't stop him though.


Jack was all over the skim board this year!



This year we went with our BFF's! Check out all our boys on the beach...there was no way to get them all looking at me at the same time!



The boys were so excited to have their friends with them. I mean seriously what could be better than having sleepovers in hotels, lol!

Last but not least I got a fabulous box of goodies from Scrapbook Trends. It had a ton of Tattered Angels goodies in it so I decided to play a little.



This is the first layout I have ever done with a vintage photo of myself.



I better run. I hear the garage door going up...the boys are back from a Phillies game. Time to hustle them off to bed! Thanks so much for stopping by!

I will be back later this week with post for Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker, GCD Studios, and Want2Scrap.