A great big shoutout and a few layouts!

Yesterday was a VERY BIG day for my niece! She and her softball team won the Pony National Championship. They are the national champions in the 14U girls division. They won all 10 games they played in the tournament...and she pitched in every one of their qualifying games! I couldn't be prouder of her... WTG Sammy Girl!



I wanted to share a layout with you that I created for GCD Studios. Scrapbooking and Beyond magazine has the complete set of directions on their website.



Here is a few details...



My favorite pictures to scrap are always beach and pool photos...I have always loved the water. I just got these new AC papers and had to play. The kids have spent a ton of time playing in the pool this year so I have tons of pictures to use for them.



A few details...



I cut out some waves and then added some vintage glitter...I just love how it looks, so shimmery.



Well, gotta run! Off to bed! Thanks so much for popping by!

Making flowers with what you have!

I love making my own flowers. I have been doing it for years and I am now seeing all these fun dies to help make them. I decided to challenge myself to make a new flower...without buying new dies or product...using what I had in my stash!



I pulled out this gorgeous petite floral paper from the Artsy Urban collection to make the flower with. I also pulled out an oval punch, Diamond Dust, and Stickles.



I cut out 3 circles and punched 8 ovals. I added a little adhesive to each oval and glued them down around one of the circles. I bent the edges around a paintbrush. I layered the circles on top of this and added a brad for dimension. On each petal of the flower I added a little Stickles and dusted them with the crushed glass.

Here is the finished flower!



I added it to my layout and loved that I made it using the "goodies" I had!



Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a great one!

Yes, I am still alive, update and RAK winner!

Summer has been so much fun this year...the kids have been good...mostly! We had lots of family time and we have just been enjoying it. I have hardly scrapped except for my deadlines and I am starting to really miss it and want to dig in especially since I have 2 boxes of new CHA releases on its way to me!

We have spent time at St.Peter's Village jumping the rocks. I did this as a kid and now I love that I can share it with my kids and their friends.



Jack and I spent a couple days away at Seven Springs Resort. We had a great time going down the Alpine slide...it is a 1,980 foot slide down a ski mountain! We also bowled, mini golfed, and chilled out. It was really nice to spend that one on one time with him.





Nick and I went to Kitchen Kettle Village and wandered around the charming shoppes. We picked up some yummy snacks at the Jam and Relish Kitchen...pickles and jams...Nick was in foodie heaven and we even did some birthday shopping for his Pop-Pop.



We had a great time raspberry and blueberry picking with my brother and his family. They live about 1 1/2 hours away but between our 5 kids schedules and activities we don't get to see them enough. We have made it a point this year to get together more...



With soccer never ending for Nick...we spent a weekend in Lancaster for a tournament with his new team. Not only did they come out with a good showing they won the tournament! Pretty great for a group of boys who have never played a game together before!



Of course there has been lots of swimming. So much swimming in fact Nick developed swimmer's ear for the first time, ouch! Jack is quite the little fish and will spend endless hours in the pool.



In between all that has been Art Camp, Reading Camp, Horseback Riding Camp, Soccer Camp and following the World Cup. We are just 2 weeks away from our trip to the beach...we are going with friends this year and can't wait! That is a quick update on why I have been a MIA blogger and scrapper this summer!

Drumroll...my ribbon Blog RAK winner is Jocelyn! Congrats girl! Send me your addy and I will be sending you all this ribbon as well as a few other goodies!



I do have a few scrappy projects to share with you!

I created this layout using the new Pretty as a Picture Digital Kit by Marks Paper Company available only at 2Peas! Don't you love those colors?



I made this altered recipe box using Pebbles Tree House line. This week on the blog is Lift Yourself week so check that out as well. Don't forget about the DT call too! Details are also on the blog!



I did this layout as a challenge by one of my fellow DTer's at Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker. I just love this line!



A few details...



Over at Bella Blvd they are doing sneak peaks all week of the new releases...you have to see them! LOVE THEM! I mean seriously...what is not to love in this sneak...



Last but not least I did this little write up for the blog at GCD Studios.

There are those days where I just want to sit down in my scrap room and play...digging out the paints, ink and mixed media products and coming up with lots of artistic techniques. Then there are the days I don't want to get caught up in the mess of creating and just want to make a fun layout that tells a story I don't want to forget...this layout is for one of those days.



Heidi challenges us this month to make a birthday layout...I decided to share the story of when my son received a box of money as part of his gift. Little did I know that a box of 20 $1 bills could create such a brilliant smile!

I decided to dig into these adorable Sticky Note Journaling Cards...they work just like Post-its but are so much cuter.



I simply stuck them down on my cardstock just enough to create a border around the edge of my photo. This is what it looked like before I attached my photo over it.



I love that I now have a layout I love, that tells a story...and there is no mess to clean up...at least for today!LOL

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope your having a great summer!

GCD Studios Newsletter is Up with a Giveaway!

This week, we have one BIG give away for our FUN News Letter!

Heidi and Heather in house just finished our July issue and it's ready to email! We are so excited about it, because it's our best issue yet! (Yours truly might have a layout featured.)

Here's how it works:
1)Sign up for the news letter here.... Inthestudio@gcdstudois.com
2)Then Leave a comment here over at GCD Studios Blog. (look for the post that says GIVE AWAY+ HAPPY 4th)

In the News letter you'll see the prize :)
Then on July 12th... Heidi will pick the winner!

GCD Summer Layout Challenge!!!!

Well my hopes were dashed for a USA World Cup win...I still raise my flag with pride! WTG Guys! Be sure to comment on this post for a chance at a RAK I am offering.

These gorgeous photos were the DT's inspirations this month...they definitely make me think of the perfect summer!

Well there is nothing like baseball to make me think of summer! This layout is of my son and nephew. We went to see one of my nephews T-balls games. As soon as the game was over he ran over to my son and gave him the best hug and a great big smile...it became "one of those moments" I won't soon forget!

I mixed and matched several blue and white pattern papers here. I also used a few of the fun Die Cut Borders. These make scrapping so darn easy!

I love these Bling Embellishments. This is such a simple way to add a little pizazz to your layout.

I hope you are having a great summer and that this layout inspires you to pull out some summer photos and play! Have a good one!

USA Wins Group...Let's celebrate with a RAK!!!

Woo Hoo!!!! We are super excited in this house and can not wait for the game tomorrow! You would not believe the jumping up and down, hugs and celebrating that went on when Donovan kicked that goal in during the game against Algeria!!!



I am feeling hopeful and decided I needed to do a RAK to celebrate!



I just bought this gorgeous American Crafts ribbon and I want to share it. I am offering up a yard of each ribbon...all you have to do it leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered.

The new Philadelphia Union Soccer team was in town this week and played our hometown team the Reading United. We had a great time at the game!



Next month we will be going to see the Philadelphia Union play Manchester United. Can't wait!

I do have a few scrappy projects to share... I know I have said this before but I love the Dan The Record Man line by Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker. I seem to pull it out over and over...

I started off making this layout of my niece Samantha. She is an amazing softball player and I love seeing her play. I am always taking lots of pictures of her pitching and playing. This year she was a freshman in high school and not only did she make the varsity squad, she pitched all the teams big games and even had a NO HITTER...WOO HOO Sammy. I am a very proud aunt and decided to show her off in this layout! She was in the paper today because she was chosen as an Honorable Mention for the County Athlete Awards.


Check out the Burlap Buttons and Cool Cord Brads.



Now I don't know about your house but mine has been hit hard by the Silly Bands Craze...actually the kids are driving me nuts with all the trading. I was finding them all over the house so I decided to make my boys altered boxes to keep them in.



I simply added pattern paper and ribbon to the edge of the box. Around the lid I used a liquid adhesive and sprinkled micro-beads over it.



Now these little bands have a home and it is much cuter than the Ziploc bags they lived in before. LOL!

On the Pebbles blog we have been celebrating summer. Don't forget to check it out for some great summer idea projects. Here is a layout I made.



I will be back in just a few days with a new GCD Studios layout to share. Thanks so much for stopping by!

GCD Studios Technique, a Giveaway, The World Cup, and a Layout!

This month Heidi challenged us to create a layout with these fabulous pictures as inspiration. I love all the different patterns of paper GCD Studios has with beautiful blues in them... these colors also work perfectly with Father's Day in June.



This is one of my favorite photos of my husband. I used this layout as a way to show him what a great Dad I think he is to our boys.



I also added a fun technique using the Chip Art Collection. Each time I use it I love it more.



For this letter D... I first used the Chip Art tools to stamp the image. Then I painted it with metallic blue paint. I love the shimmer it adds. I finally added just a dot of liquid adhesive to the center of each stamped image and sprinkled micro beans onto it. It has a great polka dot effect, not to mention lots of fun detail.

Check out the GCD Studios Blog they are doing a giveaway using the chipboard letters I used!

I sat down to scrap for the first time last night and scrapped for me...I had just bought some fun goodies and I wanted to play away. I created this layout just for fun...



Here are a few details...



I don't know if everyone knows this but being a BIG soccer family the next 6 weeks will be all about the World Cup!!!! We will be cheering on TEAM USA in a very big way! Today is their first game against England...GO TEAM USA!



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