Scrap Haps...

With Doug being gone, I haven't been sleeping very much...my mind doesn't seem to know how to shut down so that I can snooze. So, what better way to spend those long nights than by scrapping? I know I should probably spend more time packing, but I am without boxes right now so in the meantime, I will gladly spend that extra time scrapping on the computer. Here are my recent pages:

10.06.09 Font Challenge at Funky Playground Designs - Honey Script

10.07.09 Scraplift Challenge at Funky Playground Designs - Fasylvia's gallery @ 2Peas

10.08.09 Product Challenge at Funky Playground Designs - Use a Quote

10.09.09 Designer Challenge at Funky Playground Designs - What are you Thankful For?

10.10.09 Speed Scrap at Funky Playground Designs

10.12.09 NEW Product Release from Miss Tiina Designs - Little Owlie @ FPD

10.12.09 NEW Product Release from Leah Farquharson - Funky Fall Collab with Traci Murphy

10.19.09 Color Challenge at Funky Playground Designs - Black and orange

10.20.09 Font Challenge at Funky Playground Designs - Journal in list format

10.21.09 Scraplift Challenge at Funky Playground Designs - KJ Starre's gallery @ 2Peas

10.22.09 Product Challenge at Funky Playground Designs - Flowers

10.23.09 NEW Product Release from Creations by Rachael - Ladybug Love

**Exclusively at Gotta Pixel**

10.23.09 NEW Product Release from Creations by Rachael - Ladybug Love

**Exclusively at Gotta Pixel**

10.26.09 NEW Product Release from Miss Tiina - Fall Friends @ FPD

10.26.09 NEW Product Release from Tania Shaw - Fab Fall @ FPD

I don't know if I have ever explained the whole "being on a creative team" thing. Basically, as a member of a designer's creative team, I have full access to all their scrap products in agreement that I will scrap with them and promote their designs. For someone who likes to scrap as much as I do, it's perfect because it allows for me to appease my addiction without having to fork out the green (translation: I get to scrap for FREE). I am fortunate to CT for three very talented designers, and recently I also became a member of the site CT at Funky Playground Designs.
YIPPEEE!! I cannot tell you how excited I am. Two of the designers for whom I currently CT sell at FPD, and as I'm sure you are familiar with by now, I LOVE to participate in the site's weekly challenges. As a member of a site CT, I get access to ALL of the designer's products...how sa-weet is that?! There is seriously some amazing design talent at FPD, and I am so looking forward to sharing that designer fabulousness with you.

Now, going back to the whole "promoting" thing. I mentioned a few new releases on my LO's above...if you click the page title, you should be linked to the store for that kit. Additionally, there are a few sales going on that I would like to share with you...


Also, there were a number of new releases today at FPD - I didn't have the time to scrap with all of them, but you can check out the new kits HERE. Just so you know, new products are generally discounted for a week after their release - anywhere from 20% - 70% off!!

My sister-in-law had asked me if I would make some invitations for my niece's birthday party for her preschool class. I figured I would make a couple and let her decide, but two designs quickly turned into five...I had so much fun making these, I just couldn't stop! Here are the different invitations I came up with:

And here is the one that was passed out the kids in her preschool class...turns out she liked the ghost. To complete the invitation, my sister-in-law tied a strip of tulle around it with a plastic spider ring in the knot...they turned out terrifically cute.

Even though the party has already passed, I made these three with some new release kits that came out after the invitations had been printed...they were just too cute not to play with! I suppose I can hold onto them for next year!!

Using [Lil Spooks] from Creations by Rachael @ Plucky Pear Designs



Using [Lil Spooks] from Creations by Rachael @ Plucky Pear Designs



Using [Bump in the Night] by Miss Tiina @ Funky Playground Designs

Well...I think that's about it for now. I may be back later with some fun projects I've had in the works. Thanks for letting me share my love for scrapping with you! Have a great day...

What Do Monsters Look Like?

I just found out that my uber talented brother-in-law is now a published illustrator, and I had to share because I am so extremely proud of him! This is a project that he has been working on for years with a friend of his from high school. I remember seeing the original illustrations (paintings) when I lived with them (way back in the day....before I was married and had kids) and they are seriously fan-freakin-tastic.

"You know that monster that lurked under your bed when you were a kid? Ever wonder what he thought of the monster right over his head? A story told in two voices. First read the story from the child's point of view, then flip the book over to read the story from the little monster's point of view. The little monster's mom doesn't believe him any more than your mom believed you when you were a kid!" - Barnes and Noble

This book was just released in mid-September, and can currently be purchased at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

Congratulations Ryan!! We are all so proud of you and this monster accomplishment!!

Fun Blog Finds...

Despite our upcoming move, I have been feeling crafty lately and have turned to the internet for some inspiration. I recently discovered (some by way of my sister-in-law Bobbi) a couple of blogs that I instantly fell in love with and felt like mentioning, along with some craft ideas that totally rock my crafting world...

While these projects will have to wait until I can get my hands on a sewing machine, they really inspired me to be better about reusing old clothing. This artist smock is adorable and is accompanied by step-by-step instructions on how to make it. The dresses are refurbished skirts and/or shirts...seriously, how fabulous is that?!

This gal is absolutely amazing...she does a lot of furniture refurbishing, which I dream of doing when we finally get into a home of our own, and she's actually pretty funny as she walks you through her projects....great inspiration mixed with occasional chuckles - my idea of a great blog!

I am amazed at the transformation from the rusty old desks she found on craigslist to the adorable chalkboard desks seen in the second picture. And the necklaces are made from scrapbook paper, scrabble tiles, and good ol' modge podge - sounds quick and easy to me!

Somewhat Simple is a really great site because it provides inspiration for so many different areas of your life...not just sewing, not just crafting...but also cleaning, cooking, and kids' activities. Here are some crafts that I am dying to try...

I hope to be back in the next couple of days with pictures of completed projects...but in the meantime, click on the header images for each blog so you can check out their total fabulousness.

Blog Kits

Calvin-isms...

A few years back I wrote down a bunch of Calvin & Hobbes' quotes...I had all but forgotten about them until I happened to find the little slip of paper in a box of stuff I was sorting through for the move. I LOVED reading C&H as a kid, and reading back over the paper reminded me why. Here are the lines that made the list:

"Know what's weird? Day by day, nothings seems to change. But pretty soon, everything is different."-Calvin

"You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help."-Calvin
**This was yesterday for me...granted I don't have any lucky rocketship underpants, but even if I did, they wouldn't have helped...which is why the following line is so appropriate**

"Being a parent is wanting to hug and strangle your kid at the same time."-Calvin's Dad
**So true, so true...am I terrible parent for thinking this?**

"Reality continues to ruin my life."-Calvin

"A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do."-Calvin

"Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless."-Calvin

"If you couldn't find any weirdness, maybe we'll just have to make some!"-Hobbes


"When I grow up, I'm not going to read the newspaper and I'm not going to follow complex issues and I'm not going to vote. That way I can complain when the government doesn't represent me. Then, when everything goes down the tubes, I can say the system doesn't work and justify my further lack of participation."-Calvin
**This is how I feel right now with current politics and government actions...seriously. Ignorance is bliss, eh?!**

"You've taught me nothing except how to cynically manipulate the system. Congratulations"-Calvin

"Life is like topography, Hobbes. There are summits of happiness and success... ...Flat stretches of boring routine... ...And valleys of frustration and failure."-Calvin
**Why do I feel like most of my time is spent in the valleys of frustration?**

"The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity the tell the difference."-Calvin

Like 6-year old Calvin so easily demonstrates...life is not always roses and sunshine. It is often frustrating, and you have to deal with the idiots and annoyances that life entails. You don't always fit in, and you won't always see things eye-to-eye with everyone else. That being said, you can look to the simple things to help make life more enjoyable - be it through the companionship of an imaginary friend, developing a superhero alter ego, throwing a snowball at a well-deserving moron, or getting a hug from someone who means the world to you.

Creations by Rachael Guest CT Call...

One of the designers for whom I CT is having a call for a guest CT member. Rachael is an amazing designer and the gals on the CT are all very talented. It's a lot of fun, it's great practice, and it means FREE scrapbook kits. Yup...that's right...FREE! All you have to do as a guest CT member is create 2 layouts per kit and post those layouts into 3 galleries. Pretty easy, eh?

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Otherwise, send the requested information (see above) on over to creationsbyrachael@gmail.com. Oh, and if you click on the image above, you can grab a freebie from the Plucky Pear Designs blog. Good luck...and happy scrapping!

Scrap Haps...

Here are my most recent scrapbook pages...the previews look sort of blurry to me, so I apologize if they are hard to see. You can click on the image for a larger view and for full product credits...

Using [Stained and Splattered] **NEW** and [Vintage Spooky] by Leah Farquharson

Using [Pixie] from Creations by Rachael **New Release** at Plucky Pear Designs

Using [Pixie] from Creations by Rachael **New Release** at Plucky Pear Designs

Using [Little Boy Blue] from Creations by Rachael **New Release** at Gotta Pixel

Available for $1.00 through Oct.13 at the "Gotta Grab It Event"

FPD Font Challenge - Use a Quote

Used [This and That] by Sarah Jones

FPD Scraplift Challenge

Used [Photogenic] collab from Paislee Press and Audrey Neal

FPD Product Challenge - Use "Fall" or "Autumn" colors and theme

Used [Totally Eclectic] and [It's a Woodsy Thing] by Corina Nielsen

FPD Designer Challenge - Changes

Used [Totally Eclectic] and [Sweet September] by Corina Nielsen

Used [This and That] by Sarah Jones

FPD Color Challenge - use Red, Green, and Orange

Used [Come Out and Play] by Amanda Heimann

As always, thanks for looking and thanks for letting me share my love for scrapping with you!!

Silly Is, As Silly Does...

While I know that's not quite how the old saying goes, it certainly applies to how things go in our home. Lately, it seems as if the girls personalities have gone from silly to sillier...a trait they inherited from their father, no doubt. They are each other's biggest fan...and they feed off of each other's laughter until I can't help but join in as well. I love this about them...the fact that they don't take life too seriously (like their mama usually tends to do) and that they just LOVE to have fun and be silly. Maybe one day, I'll grown up to be like them...

Anyway, here are some random pics from their most recent bout of silliness, which included tutus, running shoes, and hobo hats...

My camera battery was dying as I tried to snap these...most of the photos came out blurry and pixelated, but I love the raw expressions that I was able to capture...especially this next photo.

And, since we're on the topic of silliness, a couple of months ago AK came running into the kitchen yelling "Look mama...LOOK! I'm a witch doctor." Just to clarify - we haven't taken up witchcraft or African Folklore or anything...the girls had just been watching Madagascar2 while I was putting dinner together. Roo couldn't let her sister get all the laughs, so she joined in as well. Apparently, all you need to be a witch doctor are some blankets (for the loin cloth), a play stethoscope, and a crayon (for the traditional bone nose-piercing)...not too mention, a whole lot of imagination!

And, seriously...who doesn't love to hula?

Moving to the O.C.

Yup...that's right folks. We are finally moving back to California. We found out about a week ago that Doug got the transfer we've been hoping for. He'll be working back at the Costa Mesa campus, and rather than dealing with the commute from Oceanside to Orange County, we decided we will try to live up in the "O.C." for a while. Doug actually leaves on Monday, but the girls and I won't be leaving AZ until November 8th. We are then going to stay with my parents in Upland for a few weeks so we can take our time looking at the area and figuring out a good place to live.

Now that the move is official, I will admit that I am a little sad about leaving Arizona. While the summers here are miserable, we will be leaving during my favorite time of year. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I absolutely LOVE fall in Arizona. It has been absolutely wonderful spending the past 2+ years with Doug's siblings, and it is really going to be hard not having them a stone's throw away. I am going to miss our late night movie nights, family dinners, spur-of-the-moment crafts, meeting up for lunch at McD's, and wandering aimlessly around Target, or the mall, or wherever else we decide to go. The girls are going to have a hard time not being so close to their Hoopes' cousins...but the good news is that our move will give them a chance to develop relationships with some Leach cousins and our California friends. This move is a great opportunity work-wise for Doug. As sad as it will be to leave the family and friends we have in Arizona, we both feel that many new and exciting doors will be opened up for our little family.

So....you may not see or hear much of me during the next few weeks. I have a lot of packing, cleaning, de-cluttering, and organizing to do in order to get us set for the move. Not that I've been writing much anyway (sorry about that), but I figured I would give you all a head's up on our upcoming move!!