Lauren turns 21!!!

I remember it like it was yesterday.  My husband was coming home late after studying while at Naval Postgraduate school in Monterey, CA.  I stood up from the couch to greet him  and my water broke.  I wasn't prepared.  I was 36 weeks along.  I called the hospital and they ask me if I went to the bathroom instead.  I told them I knew the difference.  So off to the hospital we go.  Meanwhile, I am busy having contractions while the hospital is trying to figure out how they could airlift me to San Francisco where they have a preemie unit.  I didn't think we had time!! About 2 1/2 hours after arriving at the hospital, Lauren joined our family.

Lauren is smart, unique and very talented.  She is a wonderful artist.  She is getting a degree in Environmental Science from Tulane. 

Here she is at the Casino

Here she is with her sister Allyson

My black lab...

is my little boy.  Mind you he is 50 lbs and 9 1/2 years old but he is still my puppy.  He believes it too!!  He has two favorite toys.  One is a big pink bear with the stuffing coming out.  Now you ask why does a male black lab have a pink bear?  Because he wanted it, that's why!!!  You know, whatever he wants he gets.  Just ask my daughters!!!  So here is a layout of my little boy and his pink bear.  I made the embellishment out of ribbon and put a brad in the middle. 

Sketch-a-thon at Sketches4all

Sketch-A-Thon
Ok everyone....get your photos and scrappy stuff ready. Starting tomorrow there is a Sketch-A-Thon over at Sketches4All. It is a back to school/fall theme Sketch-A-Thon.

There will be fabulous sketches to get you started....but wait for it.............. .............there is going to be a special sketch designer....none other than Nikki Sivils!!! Her sketch totally rocks.

Come on over a join the fun!!!

In the meantime, one of the challenges at SFA is the tag challenge and to get you primed, the challenge is the tag, so I made one.  I found this dick and jane paper in a kit and didn't know how to use it.  Then I had a card from my Noel Mignon kit and I thought it went perfect.  I added a banner from Sassafras Lass and a chipboard B and I was done.  So easy and quick.

Crop Suey

I am super excited!!! I am part of the design team at Crop Suey. I will be doing tutorials. Crop Suey is under new management - Mia Clarke has taken over and her co-conspirator is Stacy Pietryszyn. So many exciting changes are going to be happening including TWO tutorials per month! Great challenges and some extremely talented new ladies! So keep posted as the challenges will start in the fall!

For now check out Crop Suey and the new design team - you might just know one of them!

elizabeth carney
natalie macdonald
heather leopard
cassie box
mara campbell
norine borys
sarah mullanix
and the tutorial guru along with me is:

trina kison

Friends book for my niece

My niece asked me to make a book for her.  On vacation, she got to hang out with some friends she hadn't seen in a long time.  I love to make books and I got to use scraps!!  The book is from Scenic Route.

I've been scrappin'!!

Hey all, I got several kits in recently, one was my first Noel Mignon kit- this was "Sweet Sue".  It is absolutely jam packed with goodies and paper.  I have had so much fun with this kit.  I love the colors!! The papers are adoreable- October afternoon, Sassafrass Lass Indie Girl (I am officially in love) with an adoreable sticker sheet that I keep using over and over!! Here are some layouts:

I got this really nice plant from a friend of mine and then one day I noticed a birds nest.  It even has eggs!!  I thought that was really cool!!!