Ta Da!! XOXO * Amended*

Hey hey new layout today with papers from Ta Da Creative Studios! I am so anxiously waiting (OK stalking) my mail peeps for the new lines and they haven't come yet so I scrapped with the these beautiful papers. I love orange and this paper has a very cool effect that starts pink and goes into orange!!

Here is a close up of the journaling and a little yellow flower I sprayed with Shimmerz! You can see some of the shimmerz on the paper too.

Some grungeboard, Prima...

I am thinking this is a good time to do a giveaway...I will be back later to amend this post with a giveaway - right now I have to go get the kids! Stay tuned!!!

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Update!!!!

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So lets make this simple I will run this from now until Sept 10th!!!

*If you are a follower you get an entry.

*If you leave me a comment on my posts between now and then, you get an entry for each post.

*If you become a follower you get an entry.

*If you refer my giveaway you get an entry (don't forget to leave me a link!)

hmmm now what to give away???

Well, I will be doing a reveal each day of what I will add to the prize pack!!!

Today we will start with the basics - after all everybody needs cardstock right?

This is a 12x12 paper pack from Momenta. 

I am on a few really cool teams so this is going to be good!

Stay tuned and thanks for stopping by!!! 

                                                     

A quick post!!!

A quick post for the Blog Guidebook! This is very cool, like a yellow pages for blogggers! 

A place to find all the blogs you could ever imagine...and then some...in ONE place.

          I just signed up - you should check it out! maybe you want to sign up too!

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If you are looking for the Clear Scraps blog hop look below!

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And may I just say welcome to my new friends and followers!
:)

                                                    

Clear Scraps blog hop! Stamps version!

Today is BloG HoP dAy!  So if you came here from Pinky's blog you are in the right place!
This past year, Clear Scraps  had an awesome opportunity to team up with Unity Stamps and we'd love to show you some of the projects we were able to create pairing a crisp, clean rubber stamp image and the acrylic and chipboard products from Clear Scraps.

To PArticPaTe:
START at Clear Scraps blog! Follow the list of designers blogs. Comment on everyone's blog and then go back to the Clear Scraps blog and let us know that you did. Everyone who completes this blog hop will be entered for a really nice prize package from Clear Scraps.

The stamps I used from Unity was from the Lovely Bits & Baubles kit. I also used Clear Scraps arcylic sheet! I cut the sheet to size for my card and stamped it Versamark and embossing powder (Moon Glow). Did you know that you could emboss on Acrylic? Just keep it on a flat surface and don't over do it!
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Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to go to Hildes blog next !!! Good luck and come back soon I am feeling a giveaway coming! ;)

This Christmas Aug 25

Christmas??? in August - I know weird but thats all my baby girl talks about lately! Well, since her big sis (pictured in the lo! A long time ago) left for college. You see, baby girl knows that Christmas is the next time she will see her big sis and she misses her very much - in spite of the daily phone calls! lol!

 So I guess it isn't so weird that I would post a Christmas lo in August..right?

This is a close up of the journaling...

These are my oldest kids, who are now 18 and 16!

 It's amazing how quickly they grow!

The papers are Ta Da Creative Studios . The shape of the paper and Acrylic overlay is my favorite shape at Clear Scraps It is called  the XL Deco and it comes in a two pack. This pic is really old so I wanted to protect it, the acrylic covers the base paper and the picture - the embellishments and title lay on top. 

 

Here you can see the envelope closed with some quilling...speaking of which, has anybody seen my tool?
I  haven't seen it in weeks and it is driving me crazy because I really like quilling!
The bling is Prima, the stamps Ta Da Creative, the chipboard is We Are Memory Keepers.

The ink is Dew Drops. If you are trying to figure out how to attach acrylic try Glue Dots. I just put them in random places that I know I will be covering later (with flowers or whatever); they work great!

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Also news from Ta Da...

While at CHA  Ta Da Creative Studios had a chance to participate in The Great Crafters’ Paper Cut. The folks at When Creativity Knocks stopped by and taped a segment about The Big Top Collection, and TaDa’s product line. In the special webisode you can view product segments from 9 different companies, and vote for your favorite. One lucky voter will win a prize package including all of the papers featured in the Paper Cut! Go to When Creativity Knocks to watch and vote!

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And on Friday 8/27

be sure to stop by for a Clear Scraps blog hop!!!

Start at the Clear Scraps blog and follow the list of designers blogs. Comment on everyone's blog and then come back to the Clear Scraps blog and let us know that you did. Everyone who completes this blog hop will be entered for a really nice prize package from Clear Scraps.

                                                                   Happy Wednesday!

                                                    

No Training Wheels!

Hello! Ok I know this isn't my normal style but every once in a while I need to shake it up a bit!

So baby girl 4 in these pics is riding her bike with NO TRAINING WHEELS! You know that is a day that has to be documented!!! Here is the journaling...

It was inspired by these photos at GCD Studios ...

Isn't this fun!?!

I took 2 papers from the Artsy Urban Collection and one from the Zippety collection, turned them into ballons! After all no training wheels is something to celebrate! I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder to make polka dots!

Measuring Up & Friday Antics!

Today we left our firstborn daughter in another state to go to college. It seems like yesterday she was little like baby girl. As a mother I wonder if I taught her all she needs to know, if she is truly prepared to deal with the world. Did we, as parents, do our job?

We spent hours in the car talking, about life; Basically spending time reviewing life lessons and choices. We have raised our children to be smart, independent, self reliant and respectful. She believes in God, love and family. She makes good choices and I know that she will continue to do so. We are extremely proud of her and what she has planned for her future.

But my job is not over - not for her or my other kids. We will continue to feed them with love and encouragement, like in this layout. I made this a while back but had not posted it.(Papers are GCD Studios)

Here are some pics I took this morning, today was really hard.

Here she is with three of four sibs and here with her daddy.

While I was gone I had a lot of emails, one of them was this from Brave Girls Club

"Dear Beautiful Girl,

It is important to remember that no one has the right or the power to

take away your choices, your thoughts or the essence of who you are.

Lots of things in life can be taken from us, but most of the things that are

most valuable can not. The things that matter most can not be seen, and really

CAN be protected fiercely by our own selves so that they are not violated or

crushed in any way. No person and no situation can make us feel bad or small

or stuck unless we allow it to. It is our choice.

Be careful with your dreams, be kind to them. Protect your choices and your

ability to make them. Make good choices so that you are not chained by the

consequences of poor ones. Watch your thoughts and make sure that what you

want most is what you are thinking most. Stand up for what you believe in

and don't settle for anything else.

We can decide what kind of life we want to have, and we are the ONLY ones

who can decide. We can't wait around for things to happen, we must take

action to make them happen. No more excuses, baby.......let's do this.

You are phenomenal, courageous and wonderful....

xoxo"

This is for my dd and for you my friends.
Wise words.
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Friday Antics!

This night owl gave our firstborn a really hard time. He hid her keys numerous times in the past two days, he refused to talk to her or look at her. They are very close and he has been given her such a hard time! We all know it's because she is leaving and he is not happy about that! Finally she got him to take a picture with her and as she was driving away he told her he loved her and that he would miss her. She was driving and so she did not hear it, so I am posting it here for her to see.

Meanwhile before she left she was looking all over the house for her favorite blanket to take with her. She finally gave up and asked me to send it when I find it...Guess who is sleeping with that blanket tonight???
Have a great weekend...

Hellos Divas!

Hey, hey bloggers! I am so excited to share this new Clears Scraps album (This is new for CHA!!!) And I am sure you recognize the GCD Studios Artsy Urban line I used to fill it up! I am so excited about this Mini album, it’s called…..Diva! LOL! It is so cute perfect for all you divas to carry!

Now, I don’t have any pictures in this because I made it especially for CHA and I just got it so I didn’t have a lot of time but I was thinking what a cute gift this would make and they could fill it with their pictures, or journaling , maybe a graduate gift …

When working with acrylic it is important to use a really good adhesive – I use Zip Dry, it sticks quickly and doesn’t fall off. For the cover I used a little in the middle of the butterflies and they look great! (The little frame is from Melissa Frances and the words are from Jenni Bowlin)

This page is actually clear so I put the mat for journaling or a picture. The butterfly really pops, you know I love bling! The back of the butterfly looks good too because it is solid silver. The black lace you see is actually another page I made out of a Hambly Screen Prints.

I love red, white and black together, classic. Prima bling…Did I mention I love bling?

Do you see the two scrolls on each side? Those are glued to the acrylic and when you lift the acrylic page the pattern paper and card is on the next page.

Can you see what that says? It says “be kind to your dreams”. Good advice. Isn’t that girl cute? I have wanted to use her for something! One layer of flowers is on the acrylic, the cute girl flowers and sign are on the next page.

I am thinking more and more this would be a good album for my dd who is headed off to college in THREE DAYS! :(
“Dare to fly” is a good motto for her now.

The last page has the pattern paper and the chipboard on a chipboard page. The black frame is another Hambly Screen print cut to size.

And there it is! TFL!

Friday Antics...

OK this happened on Wed but I thought it would make a funny post so here it is!

On Wed my 8 year old decided he was moving out! So we let him pack a bag and walk around for about an hour- followed him in the car. It was pretty funny watching him know on neighbors doors asking them if he could live there. Lucky they all know him and said no, very nicely and sent him on his way. The only reason he came back after an hour of dragging that suitcase around is that it started raining - hard!!!lol! He was soaked but he came home! He had a little lunch - he was very hungry and is finally over himself! I did manage to sneak some photos! I think it will make a fun lo - sick huh?

(Oh and to clarify he made sure that we all understood he was not "running away"

 just "moving out" because he might want to visit us sometimes!)

Then the rain came down....

This is really funny - while I am snapping all these pics my beautiful boy says

"Aren't you going to help me with this bag?" Too funny!!!

Birthday Celebrations!!!

oooh don't you just love birthdays? Well we probably celebrate birthdays a lot differently than other people - not that exciting but meaningful and necessary. We don't do big parties, or tons of presents, there is not even wrapping paper. Our kids are different and react differently to those typical birthday celebrations. However we must find ways to celebrate the birth of our little blessings so we simply keep it low key. Yes they do get presents - a few, no more than five and they are not wrapped. I don't know why but wrapping paper seems to be a trigger and overwhelms our kiddos. We give presents right away and it is their day - they choose what they would like to do all day long. Sometimes it means

eating at McDonalds for three meals (yuck! LOL!) or it may mean a little shopping (baby girl), Chuck E Cheese (if it is a weekday) or  go karts.

They choose cake, cupcakes or another dessert and what flavors. Of course baby girl always picks "pink" she does not care about the taste - she just want's it pink!

Our night owl likes things plain - always vanilla ice cream, white cake and vanilla frosting!

He also eats hamburgers plain meat and ketchup - thats all!

Boo is our wild card - you never know what he's going to want! LOL! This year it was marble cake(black and white) and white frosting!

Having three birthdays in one month is a lot of excitement in our house!

All of the papers and letters in these layouts are from Momenta - they have a Birthday Wishes pad and the cardstock is from the Earthtones pad. The bling is from ZVA Creative and I made the dots with Viva paint pens.

How do you celebrate birthdays?