Acrylic Wall Hanging

My first attempt at acrylic. I got the acrylic pieces at Lowes. Drilled my holes and then decorated to make it oh so cute. I did learn a couple things along the way. I would tell you how I did it but, I can't. You will just have to come down to The Scrappery and take my class. It is sure to be a great time. The possibilities with Acrylic are endless.

I took this picture at night with the LO hanging in a doorway. That is why it looks black. It really is clear. I think it is just too cute for words. Oh and I did "faux stitching" on it. So it literally looks like I stitched on acrylic. So cool.

I love this hanging. And I totally LOVE the pictures of the three of us looking like a family of Dorks.

One more thing. Matt got the air conditioner installed again last night. Who is ready to come scrap with me this long weekend. In COOL air. I am so excited. Cmon over.

The Power of Three

I love this layout. The colors are so bright and the flower is just simply too cute. I got the title from the TV show Charmed. If you watch it you know what "the Power of Three" is. If you don't watch it....well.....it just means we are so much better when we are together.

To make the flower hand cut a small circle out of pattern paper. Lay that on another piece of pattern paper and hand cut a little bigger. Continue to do this until you have about 5 layers. When I say hand cut, I mean do not draw the circle and then cut, but just start cutting. The circle is not meant to be perfect. In fact it looks much better if it is not perfect.

Once the circles are cut, ink around the edges. The next step is to distress the edges. You can do this a couple of different ways,. Scissors work great. Scrape the blade of the scissors along the edge until you get a worn look. A distresser made by Making Memories works great for this also. It's a little black tool that has a blade in it. When the worn look starts to happen kind of crinkle, wrap, the edges up slightly. The leaves area created the same way you created the flower. Remember to hand cut the petals.

Now you are ready to adhere each piece into place on on top of the other to create the finished flower. In this case I also wrapped a piece of lace around the biggest layer just to add a little more cuteness. Attach a button in the middle. Either sew the button down or add a brad as I did. The stem is another piece of ribbon I found in my stash. Any ribbon will work. I just happen to find this piece of yumminess.

This is a great way to make those supplies last as I used scraps from my scrap bin. I never really thought about my scraps much. Until one night Nikki was throwing her scraps into the garbage. A "Fashionista" from SIStv was sitting there. She looked down and about had a heart attack. "your NOT throwing these away." Nikki and I kind of giggled until she created an amazing LO all on Nikki's "garbage". Yep, I am saving and using more of my scraps now. Thank you Kerri Lynn for making me "See the Light". I will not throw away a scrap.

My Favorite Friend at the Moment

Another journal entry for the "This is Me Journal" challenge. I started this entry at 6:00 am and just had to finish it before I left for work. It got done but it is very different from what I had envisioned.

The background is made from bubble wrap and paint. A technique I kind of thought up 4 years ago and used for a A-Z technique swap. But I never actually did a layout with it. Now, some are starting to use this technique a lot. I should have kept doing it four years ago.

Challenge club 1 is tonight. This is going to be their challenge. It will be interesting to see what they come up with.

I am ready for Thursdays Journal Challenge to be announced. I am having a great time with this journal.

This is Me Journal

I found this challange blog that seemed like so much fun. So, I decided to give it a try. This is the cover of my journal. The challanges will all consist of things about ourselves. They are giving out two topics a week. I challenge all of you to join me in this journey. There is still time to catch up. I did all three of these today. It was very easy. The web is http://www.thisismejournal.blogspot.com/ For my journal I had a 12x12 spiral album I cut up to make it 6x12. This is a new size for me and it is really fun.

This is my first page of my journal. IN MY HONEST OPINION. Yep, I found I am a really opiniated woman. Strong and determined in my ways. I think this rubs some people wrong as I am very outspoken in these thoughts. And look I used stickers for the first time in years. OK OK they are letter stickers but they ARE stickers.

This is the next page in the journal. MY HOBBIES. I came to the conclusion that any kind of art is a hobby to me. I love all kinds. Of course scrapbooking is my favorite and the most social hobby.

Ok, I challenge all of you to go to http://www.thisismejournal.blogspot.com/ and join me in learning more about yourself. And leaving the true you behind for future genorations.

Self Portrait

Note to self: taking a picture of myself is not necisarilly a good idea.

I have a hard enough time getting non blurry photos without trying to do it off to the side with one hand. Not an easy task. If you don't believe me then just try it. I do have to say that this time turned out better than last time. Mostly because I look better this time.

Now if I had a digital SLR it might be all good. My birthday is coming for any of you wondering what I want. hehehehe.

Morning

Cookie wanted to say good morning to everyone. This is what she looked like before I cut her hair. Yep, you might say she is cute. But I tell you when that hair gets all dirty and then it starts to get all matted. It's not so cute. That is when she needs a doggie makeover. See my last post about the makeovers. I can not wait until she looks like this again. Seriously, much better than all hacked up.

I feeling much stress these days. A wedding 3 weeks away, Jennifer leaving for boot camp in 7 weeks. And the mortgage industry has never been more stressful. Especially my job. We can not get stuck with any of these loans investors are starting to discontinue. If we get stuck with them, that is when we will start to get into financial trouble like so many other companies out there.

Here is a great example. Yesterday we had a loan that we were trying to fund. I could not let the funders fund it because it still had outstanding conditions to be satisfied in order for me to sell the loan to the investor. This particular loan was under a program that will no longer exist as of tomorrow. Which means the investor will not buy it after tomorrow. This loan is for $700,000.00.

The loan officer and the processors are pushing for this loan to get funded without the necessary conditions. One of which was showing a $20,000 lien had been paid before we close, evidence of closing cost of almost #300,000 and a 12 month mortgage history on a previous mortgage. Also, if we did not fund tomorrow the original note would not make it to the Warehouse bank quick enough to get sent back out to the investor by Friday AND we would not get the final HUD in time from the Escrow company.

I had to get involved and tell the loan officer and the processor's and their manager "NO" we will not fund this loan without all of these conditions in hand. They are not used to me getting in the way of funding a loan. So, of course, all heck breaks loose. I finally went to my boss, who is the president of the company, and told him what was going on. Thankfully he trusts me enough to stand behind my decision.

After about 3 hours of being stubborn, I finally won. They got us all of the conditions just in time to fund the loan. WHEW! Now why could they have not done that in the first place? Now the loan is funded and I still have two more days of hell to get this loan purchased by the investor or we will still be stuck with a $700,000.00 loan. I am confident I will get it done by today. One day early.

NO, I am not under any pressure. And this is just one loan. Never mind all of the other ones outstanding right now. No pressure at all. HELLO????????

My Nicoletta

This is the super Fab Nikki. Whom I call Nicolletta. I wanted to do a page with all her qualities on it. Mostly because I did not take this picture of her and I could not think of anything else to journal on it. Someday we may look back on this layout and wonder "what was I thinking when I said that was a quality" but i dought it. She is amazing and I am so glad she is one of my best friends.

Doggie Makeovers

Yesterday I got a wild hair up my bu** and decided to give Cookie a hair cut. Normally her hair is all fluffy and big. Problem with that is it gets all matted and yucky. So, I just took the scissors and started hacking away. No rhym or reason to the method. Just pick up the hair and whack it off. Turns out looking pretty ugly huh? LOL she looks horrid. LOL

Joey was feeling a little left out. Looking like he really wanted to do what Cookie was doing. Matt decided we needed to give him a hair cut too. Not that he has any hair. Matt took him in the bathroom and this is what he looked like when he came out. Pretty manley I would say. He is the toughest looking dog on the block now. The funny thing is Jen was at work when we did this. She has not seen it yet. Matt and I were laughing so hard. Jen is gonna flip. I can not wait to see the look on her face when she discovers it. Bwahahahah!!!!!!!

Moral of the story. "Never leave mom and Matt home alone"

Eye Candy

I love my ribbons. Don't use them as much as I used to but that is going to change. I gotta start using them again. I have so many more that I gotta wind and put into the cases.

I am working on a couple new classes for The Scrappery in Cotati. I am most excited about the acrylic wall hanging I will create this weekend. I think/hope it turns out really cute.

The Scrappery is going to be doing "Scrappy School" once a month at the store. On a Sunday. You can sign up to spend the whole day with 4 fabulous instructors. Can't tell you what we will be working on yet. Your day will be filled with fun and learning. AND you get to take away 4 to 8 really great finished projects. Gonna be so fun. Get a hold of The Scrappery if you are interested. www.thescrappery.blogspot.com.

I am also adding the altered All My Memories tote to the class list. This was so fun to create. I thought some of you would want to learn how to make your totes unique and truly your own work of art. It's easier than you think and I will be there to walk you through the whole process.

Now, for a little bit of a bummer. Remember when I told you the day was not going to be so good. Well, it wasn't. My full time job went through downsizing that day. It was really tough to see people leave that had been working with the company for so long. We laid off 11 people. It was a sad day for sure. I am very lucky to still have my job. Keep your fingers crossed we don't have to downsize more. Mean while I will kick myself in gear yet another notch so if it comes time again I will know I did beyond my best.

Natural Poser

Nikki has this way of being able to naturally pose when the camera comes out. Kind of irritating in a way. If I were to try posing like she does, most of the time it would come out looking like some over age over weight dork trying to be all young and cute. I do love taking pictures of her. She is just so darn cute.

Today is not going to be a good day. I can not tell you why yet. I will be able to tell you tomorrow.

Jenni and I got a lot of the wedding stuff down on paper. I feel a little more organized now. We did not think of anything new. We just got our thoughts in black and white instead of rolling around in the head. Now I can let some of it go and think of new things.

It's An Addiction

For most scrapbookers their camera is an addiction. Nikki is no different. This is her new digital SLR. I am pretty sure I am amazingly jealous. Seems all my friends have one. But not me. Anyone want to donate to the poor me fund so I can get me one too?

Four years ago I bought myself a really nice expensive camera. One I new I would want for always. It was the best camera in our group of friends for about a minette. Then they all went and bought the digital SLR. I feel camera deprived. Mine is still a good camera. It's just not the best. We all want the best. RIGHT? Someday over the rainbow, I too, will have the SLR.....

Rockin Good Time

I did this Layout at the SIStv crop on Sunday. Jen says it is her favorite layout I have done so far. I kind of love it myself. The title totally makes it HOT. The journaling reads: "Who would have thought a country boy would steal her heart. She is such a city girl. You can take the city out of the girl but you can't take the country out of the boy."

This is the cake I made to take with us to the crop. It was chocolate/chocolate and oh sooooo yummy. I love cake.

A bunch of SIStv members got together on Sunday to meet each other and crop in Fremont. It was a 1 1/2 hour drive for us. But, it was sooooo worth it. We got to meet so many of our SISters. Kerry Lynn was there, she is one of our fashionistas. Such an awesome lady. She amazes me as she just started to scrap 8 months ago. It's always fun when you get to meet people you talk to online all the time.

For those of you who don't know SIStv you should. They are a scrapbooking web community that is very supportive and very positive. I love that there is no drama going on there. Everyone is very encouraging and just plain nice. If you have never been there or never heard of it go try it out at www.scrapinstyletv.com I promise you will love it.

Michelle Hill & Suzy West

This Picture seriously ROCKS!!!!! Last night Brenda,Nikki and myself went to a crop 1 1/2 hours from home just to be with Suzy West and Michelle Hill. If you don't know these two ladies you should. They are two of my three very favorite Scrapbook instructors. Both of them teach at CKU and CHA as well as travel all over to teach at different events and stores.

The other fab lady in the picture is Lizz. She is super fun and works for Suzy. I think she looks alot like Gene Simmons in these photos. She will probably kill me for that but what the heck.

Suzy just opened a store 8 months ago http://www.bayareascrappers.com/ called Picture Me Perfect. She used to have a store in her garage. Yes, the garage. It was a huge success but just could not accommodate all of the ladies that wanted to come visit all of the HOTness Suzy has to offer. If you want to know how to use those canvas's Suzy is the woman to see. Brenda and I have been taking her canvas classes every year for about 3 years now. She is one of the reason we get so excited to go to CHA.

Michelle Hill is a designer for Lil Davis. She is seriously one of the sweetest most energetic women I have ever met. Her talent simply oozes out of her. I always scramble to get her classes as she is so much fun and has the cutest smile ever.

Now you put them both in the same room and you can not help but have a great time. There were only 10 of us at the crop last night so we got lots of time with both of them. Never mind that we had dinner with them before the crop. And they hung out at our table at the crop all night. They have the best stories and you can tell from the photos just plain crazy.

Michelle was supposed to fly home Saturday but we all talked her into hanging out until Monday and coming to the crop at Suzy's store on Sunday with all of the ladies at SIStv. We are in for another amazing day.

They Like Me

I stole the title of this layout from Sally Fields (the actress) when she got her academy award FINALLY. It just seemed to fit this photo of Brenda, Nikki and myself. This is one of the few photos the three of us have together. One of us is always taking a picture of the other two. But never all of us together. I guess thats what happens when we all carry a camera.

We waited forever for the Love Elsie product to come into the store. When it finally came I had to go a little crazy with it. I think this is a very "Elsie" layout. I love it. It was soooooo much fun to create. Looking forward to doing more.

"19" by Waycross

Wow. I was checking out Debbi (with no e on the end) blog today and found this video. Amazing song. Really makes you think about the young adults that make the decision to fight for our freedom. Beautiful song.



Waycross - 19 - video powered by Metacafe

When I was young the Vietnam war was still going on. Young people did not volunteer to join the military. None of them wanted to go. The "Draft" was in full effect. They were told they had to go. Many of them "ran" to Canada to escape going into the military.

I remember reading and seeing movies about when the war started and how drastically it effected the women. Most of the young men got Drafted. The states were left with very few men. Women were left alone, no job skills but had to learn rather quickly.

By the time I was a young girl the "Draft" was not as prominent as it was back then. My dad never had to go. He was in the medical field, was married, and had me. He would have been one of the last chosen. I remember thinking "Thank God, my dad did not get drafted." By the time my brother reached 18, the war was over and there was no more "draft." I remember thinking "thank God" at that time too.

Now, Jen has volunteered to serve in the Marines. These young people simply amaze me. The courage, the commitment, the dedication they have. I am thankful we have enough young people volunteer to where the draft has not been put into effect again. I honor and remember these young people every day. They are my Hero's!!!!!!

Happy Next Day Birthday to Nikki

Nikki's Birthday was yesterday. Brenda, Curtis, Ron, myself all went out to dinner with her to Chili's. Nikkie always looks so darn cute. She can not help it. No mater what she does she is cute. Darn girl. Last night she was just oozing cuteness. I had a yummy Cajun Rib Eye. It was so good I swear. I must have more. Oh wait, I do get the leftovers for lunch. YUM!


This is the cake I made just for Nikki. It was Strawberry inside. I tried to get Nikki's colors into the flowers. Unfortunatly the teal and the blue were so close in color they looked the same. I know for next time. Jenni picked out what flower I was going to do on the cake. This particular flower is a hard one for me. But they did not turn out to bad on this cake. Thank goodness.

Let's not forget that Cookie (the brat dog) helped with the decorating. I got all done at midnight. Turned around to fold the box. I made one fold and turned around agian. There she was. On the chair, face first into the cake just licking away. Happy little girl she was. Until I yelled at her. She just wanted to help with the decorating so I left it there for Nikki to see. Happy Birthday Nicoletta.

No Sunshine

This song was going through my head all day on Saturday. I figured it was a sure sign I needed to use if for a Layout title. What better photo to put on the layout than my two best friends. Nikkie will be very proud of me for doing a long multi font title. I also used some rubons from my stash. I have no idea where or when I got it. But I knew I needed to use it. It is a rub on I cut in the shape of a circle. Love it. Wish I had more now.

Speaking of best friends. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not wait to see you tonight for dinner. Cookie has a surprise for you.

Love Elsie

I am loving this layout I did with the Love Elsie product. We waited so long for it to get to the store. I just had to use it right away. I had so much fun with it. There is another layout but I will share it tomarrow.

This picture is of Jennifer trying on wedding dresses. Journaling reads. "We had so much fun trying on wedding dresses. I just never thought my daughter would wear one before me. It's all good."

How Much

(this post is not for the easily offended reader)

Oh this picture just makes me sing "How Much is that Doggie in the Window? Ruf Ruf"
We had locked her outside to go potty. She refused to go potty outside. We looked over and there she was on the table outside looking in at us instead of doing her duty. Dorky dog.

If that doggie was for sale, I sometimes wonder if I would buy her. Cookie is loving, but oh she is such a girl. She will scold any dog that comes around. She even scolds me. When she does this that girl with get about 1 inch from my face and all of a sudden RUF. It is rather loud and annoying to say the least. Especially when I am sleeping. Yes, she even does it then.

I can not ignore her when she wants to play. She will bring her dirty gross toy and drop it on my face. Not kidding. ON my face. Not my hand. Not my lap. FACE. Uhg.

When she wants to play with Joey (Chihuahua) he can not ignore her either. She will start growling and biting any part of his body that's the closest. Literally! One particular night I was hearing Joey whining and Cookie was growling. I looked over to see Joey standing VERY VERY still. Cookie's head was under his belly tilting upwards. I realized she had a hold of the poor little guys wee wee. He was sooooo scarred and all she wanted to do was play. She did not know what she was doing but he sure did. It's rather funny now. Joey still does not think it's funny.

Even though Cookie is a pesky dominant girl, I would probably buy her if she was in the window. She is just too cute for words. Ilove her.

My Little Navy Girl

My Little Navy Girl Julia came home on leave for a week. It was soooooo great to see her. She looks fabulous. Lovin the new hair and the skinny minni.

She is in A School right now. Usually Navy Seamen are not allowed to go on leave until they get stationed. Julia is one of three Seamen that were granted leave while still in A School (job training). Her brother who is a Marine is being deployed. They let her come home to be with him before he leaves. What a surprise this was for us.

Julia is one of the sweetest girls I know. A kind heart anyone would love to have. She just ouzes kindness. The best part is she considers me her other mom. She called right after she got back to base to let me know she was safe. She also surprised me by inviting me to her A School Graduation. She said I was just as much a part of her family as her real family.

How sweet is that? I am so honored. I wish I could go. I can't because she gradusates the same weekend that Jen is leaving for boot camp. There is NO WAY Jen is going to allow me to not be with her during her last days as a civilian. Just NO WAY. I will be with Julia in spirit. I miss her so much.

Altered Totes

I have been wanting to alter my All Memory totes for a long time now. I was scarred to try it for fear of messing them up big time. No one wants and ugly tote. It's not like paper where you can start over.

I finally got up the courage and just did it. I stopped trying to plan out what it would look like in the end. Just let it flow as you go. That's my new motto.
The big tote in the first two pics was done with paint, stamps and a black sharpie.

You never know if people would want to take a class on altering these totes. So, I wanted to do each one with a different technique. Sometimes I am smarter than I look.

The medium tote was done with rub ons. These particular rub ons were a bit trickier than the making memories words I used on the first tote. They did not rub off so easily. Makes for a slow careful process. It was all good in the end. I love the colors of these rub ons.

The small tote was another story. This is where the "nobody want to carry around an ugly tote" comes in. Yep, hate it. Won't post a picture of it until I figure out what the heck to do with it. It is sooooo ugly. I tried to hand paint little flowers. I wanted white doodling. Since the white pen soaked into the fabric, I tried to paint the doodling on. Whatever you do, do not try that at home. Create and learn.