Splendid

when I should have been cleaning...

I was scrapbooking...

This is my newest addition to my "scissor sisters" album, Vee, who I got to hang out with this summer at Mandi's house.  She's sweet and funny and I admire her creative craftiness. (as well as her insanely broad knowledge of reality tv shows which she is always filling me in on which I need to watch, which I appreciate because before living south of the border I rarely watched tv, here I need something each week to laugh at.)...

 
then just some others...

 
 
 
 
and there's a few more, but I'll post them tomorrow or the next day.  Hope you all had a great weekend!  Did you do anything special?

atc, little white rabbit

Simply ArTistiC has it's last Alice in Wonderland challenge.  This was my take on the prompt given to us, a cover of an Alice book that was pink and black and had silhouettes.

 

and the back

 

Go play along to swap your atc with someone else, it's so fun!

Creative Type, inspiration part 2

I posted my Creative Type somone of inspiration layout on the first about my lovely friend Steph, now I'll share the other one I did about Vanessa.

I met Vanessa at SisCon 2 years ago and again we met up this past summer in Ohio and I just love her.  She's witty, pretty, independent, FUNNY and my wing-man when I've overdone my spending of midwest milkglass (so much at such good prices in the midwest though-agh...)  We're both Pennsylvania girls and have emailed back and forth many times, talked on the phone, and shared dreams. She taught me how to twitter (not rocket science I know, but she showed me the ropes...).  I dig her style and her sense of humor is effervescent!  And spending the girls only weekend with her in Ohio at Mandi's house was a blast, so here she is.

Come play along with us, do a layout or project about someone special in your life that inspires you.  The Creative Type is also doing a Design Team call, so come over and tell us about yourself!! 

my first Dare...

Jen has told me a couple times to do a Dare and I always meant to, but then life would happen...But I saw her and Vee's Stand layouts last night and made myself go do one real quick at 10:45...here is is...

 
 

this is me

Category Stories October prompt is "this is me." Come play along!!

welcome back The Creative Type, it's been awhile...

Welcome back to autumn scrapbooking and new challenges! The Creative Type is back in full force, y 'all. Come over to the newly revamped blog and play along!!!!  Meet the new members, try out for the upcoming DT call, say hola to the old-timers,  see what's new...I love all my Creative Type team members, but when the newest prompt was to do a page about another CT team member, I knew I'd have to do Steph, my Brit friend I adore!  We were lucky enough to meet when we were in the UK a few months ago.  She's warm, genuine and lovely!  My girls were enchanted with her accent and friendliness and we hope to see her again when we go back to the UK next year. Here's a pic of her, my girls and me outside Hampton Court Palace where we spent the day walking through the grounds once ruled by Henry V111.

 
So come play over at the Creative Type, the prompt is to do a page about someone special in your life, a friend, family member, someone you admire.  There is also a new Design Team call, we're looking for some new blood, so get over there and tell us about yourself!  Come play along!!!!!!

agh...now I can't get that song out of my head...

Ya know, that song in Grease, "tell me more, tell me, was it love at first sight?" where Danny is singing about Sandy to his dude friends and Sandy is singing about Danny to the Pink Ladies?  Well, this title reminds me of that song and every time I see it, it plays for hours in my head.  Maybe it will in yours now, too. Sorry. Well, unless you like that song, a simple thanks will suffice.

 
Anyhoo, I made this accidentally for Scrap Mojo as couple months ago when I got prompts for it and I think Creative Type mixed up.  So, here it is. Enjoy.

Do you have a song you can't get out of your head?

Ohio girls rock!

I'm FINALLY with internet here in Bodega Bay, California...my wireless was on the fritz. I was in Ohio last weekend for our annual all-girls weekend with some of my favorite people as previously mentioned in my last post.  Mandi was the hostess with the most-est, we all had a great time hanging out in her so fab apartment and crafting, laughing, drinking way too much, noshing, thrifting and antiquing....I miss them already and can't wait for next year.

Mandi**  and     Vee**

 

  

Pattycakes**     and     Steph**
 

Jen**   and Vanessa***

  
 


   
 
  

watching one of my fave's create...so rad!

 

as always, Patty got scared and hid in the bushes...geesh!

 
  
In Cleveland, at Luckie's Cafe...
 
  
(The rest are taken by the other girls)

I bought so much milkglass from the multiple thrift store stops I had to mail it all back...

 
Jen and me in front of an awesome antique store ( I miss this girl so much!)

 
This was so exciting-this is when Mandi found out she got a job blogging for Apartment Therapy!  We were not surprised, of course, she's uber talented!

And equally exciting was Vanessa found out her plans of opening her own coffee shop/cafe in York was going to happen!!  

 

 
What an awesome weekend!  I miss them all already, each has such a wonderful, lovely spirit, each full of special qualities that make me so proud to be their friend. Next year it's at my place, I can't wait, it's gonna be so fun!(thank you, thank you very much...in Elvis voice.)

midwest is best...

(source)

Today I leave to fly to Ohio to see my girls...we try to meet up at least once a year for crafting, gossip, shopping, cocktails and laughter.  I CAN'T wait!!!  Each one holds a special place in my heart and this time we even have a couple newbies joining us!  (Hello Vee and Steph, nice to finally meet you in person!)

 

    

 

Mandi, Pattycakes, Jen, Vanessa, we're together again, like super heros or something silly like that........

My sunshine...

The newest Category Stories is ___________ is my sunshine. This is a day early, don't tell anyone (shhhh...)

Come play along, there's great prizes!!!! 

I've been jacked!

I got an email from Beth last night that I needed to take a peek at the Scrapjacked blog.  I sort of knew what my little Big Dinners had done, but I still smiled at the post and its picture.  It's a picture from SisCon 09 and was probably one of the funnest times in my life.  Meeting so many awesome crafters was totally cool and I have made so many great friends from that time.

Anyways, please go over to Scrapjacked and play along-Beth has donated the prize, a really cute necklace she made!

blog award

I was so kindly given this blog award the other day from this lovely blogger.  Many thanks Nikki, it means a lot!

style files recorded

I FINALLY finished my style files recorded mini taught by the fabulous Vee.  I love these type of projects where you are prompted and given a new technique or idea, yet you can personalize it with your own style.

the front

and inside pages

 

If you ever have a chance to take a class from Vee, do, it's awesome!

Summer

Scrap Mojo has a new one all about scrapping a summer picture.  I'm sure by now you have at least one?  Maybe one from last summer?  This is the perfect opportunity to scrap it!  The second part is to use the color yellow. As always, great prizes are waiting for you, the winner!

Here's mine, big sis jumping in a pool in Acapulco.

Who was your high school crush?

Everyone has them, you know you did.  The newest Category Stories is "high school crushes" and so come and scrap it!  High school prom picture, picture of you and your first beau, maybe a celebrity crush?

Well, some of you may have seen this picture before, maybe even heard the story behind it?  If not, well sit back, pull up your fingerless-fishnet gloves and listen to this totally gnarly tale...

The year was 1989 and I was a sophomore in high school. I read Tigerbeat magazine all the time, flipping through the pages, seeing Madonna as a Virgin (jaa, right...), MC Hammer doin' it Hammer-style in his parachute pants, and stars like Molly Ringwald living Pretty in Pink, Ralph Macchio waxing on and off, and Johnny Depp fighting crime on 21 Jump Street...yep, I like, totally, had my big eyebrows, my big hair and a big pink prom dress just waiting for the fall dance! 

Then I saw it, the contest entry form for the Tigerbeat Dream Date contest. You mailed it in (pre-internet, remember those days?) to try to win a date with the then teen star Corey Haim, famous for the movies Lost Boys and Lucas.  I immediately filled it out, kissed it for good luck and placed my radical Ray-Bans on to deliver it to my mailbox.

About a month later I got a letter in the mail stating I'd won the Tigerbeat Dream Date contest with the one and only Corey Haim!!!   I was thinking, "like, this is totally bitchin'!" 

 
On the night of the dance, Corey Haim picked me up in a hot pink Trans-am that totally, like, matched my dress.  All eyes were on us when we entered my high school gymnasium.  Even my ex-boyfriend, Jake Ryan was shocked, and I could tell, a little jealous.  I mean, I was walking in with Corey Haim, like,totally tubular, ya know?  (insert gum smacking sound).  And these 3 mean girls, all named Heather (weird) glared at me while adjusting their scrunchies in their hair. My good friends Ferris Bueller and Tootie (she's a crack up that Tootie, always wearing those rollerskates, and being so top heavy and all, we always wondered how she stayed up!) looked on and gave me a thumbs-up with their free hand not holding a can of TAB.   Spandau Ballet, Wham and ABC playing in the background under the dimmed lights and crate paper streamers, yeah, it was a pretty radical night, like fer sure...

And I've never been one to kiss and tell, but, um, like, yeah, we did rock the casbah....

 Okay, like totally bitchin', riiiiight?
  
(okay, so that wasn't totally true.  I did go to the dance with big hair, big eyebrows and that big pink dress, but it was with my ex boyfriend - without a cool pink Trans-am and sadly Ferris and Tootie weren't there.  My dad didn't like my boyfriend and wouldn't allow me to hang up my prom pictures with him in them.  Corey Haim, well, I did like him as an actor, but honestly, his head fit best out of all the other actors heads in Tigerbeat, and I needed a head to cut out and paste over my ex's.  I also have a prom picture of me and Kevin Costner, too.  Again, I was limited back in the 80's with just my bitchin' scissors and glue stick people...These 2 pictures are still hanging on the wall at my parents-too funny, huh?)

Now go play along with us!!  I'm supplying the prize this month. A big assortment of papers, alphas and embellishments.  I'll be like, totally bummed out, if you don't come play, like, totally...

J & D

Jen sent this picture to me awhile ago and said when she saw it she thought it looked like us.  I loved it and finally got around the scrapbooking it this last week.  She did hers as well, so go look over at her blog  and see, of course it's freakin' fabulous...

and Jen's layout below. Smashing, I think (that's us last summer on the balcony of Matty's swanky Chicago apartment.)  (we're pretending to models and Vidal Sassoon girls) (we're nerds, what can I say?)

 
Every time I see my layout laying on the dresser in my craft room it makes me smile.  I'm SO (insert loud shrill squeal) excited to see her in August (along with Mandi and Patty and Vanessa and quite a few other crafty gals, Mandi has graciously organized a girls weekend).  Times like those I relish whole-heartedly!!

Do you ever get to go away with your girlfriends?

the best kind of fun

Category Stories newest prompt for June,  "the best kind of fun" and I know you all can come up with something there!

I used my nifty Fuji instax for the LO. I said, " the best kind of fun is being with friends and family."  Yep.

Come out and play with us-we've got nice prizes!!!

loving...

button hearts made by little hands

 
this dress (it's mine now...)

(the dress, not the lady, but I love her blog)

 

and these from this etsy seller, I bought all this yummy milkglass for my collection and a couple other fun home decor things. I already have almost each one of these, at least one, the vases, like 3, but they are all in storage in the States. Here, I have a few milkglass platters, a few bowls, creamers, a couple planters, small bud vases and one big vase, etc.  So, I decided I needed some more here in Mexico for now.  We came down with so very little and I feel like I really need to make this place more homey, especially since we're here another 18 months.

 

 

and from the same seller, glass terrariums for my garden I'm starting under my dining room table

and an old tray that reminded me of my sweet Granny.  She would have had this in her house for sure, her jewelry displayed on top, or some old milkglass pieces, I inherited her collection when she passed, she's the one who got me started a few years ago.

and lastly, I signed up for this, I hope you will too, so we can all be crafting this summer together! (Patty, you in???)

 

 and special holiday weekend plans???????

new design

What do you think?  It's not done, but I think it's turning out super cute.  My super crafty friend Marolle in Denmark has a similar design and elements and I loved it. I've been wanting to redo my blog and thought since she has a lot of the little elements I wanted,  I'd have her do it for me.  I love the sewing notions and vintage touches from downloadable Danielle Thompson kitchy digitals, Shabby Miss Jenn, and other digi sites. If anyone is interested in having their blogs redesigned, please contact Marolle.  She was fast, professional and so sweet. In the next week or two it should be all done, but I'm rather pleased with the splendid design...you???

happy NSD to you

The newest Category Stories and Scrap Mojo are up!  And today is National Scrapbook Day (I think it's the whole weekend if I'm not mistaken??? People, help me out?)

First, in honor of Ali Edward's Week in the Life project that I did this past few days, Category Stories has the prompt, "A week in a Life" which funny enough we'd had planned for months before we found out about Ali's.

I used my fun Fuji instax for instant pictures.  I listed my general day schedule and added a picture each day. (god, I love that camera...) What is your average week like?  Or did you go on a vacation one week and need to scrapbook that trip?  What about the mundane, normal stuff?  Scrapbook it. Think about in 20 years how cool it will be to look back and see what you were up to, what car you drove, what cell phone you had, what clothes you wore, what pressures you faced, etc. I love stuff like this! 

 

And Scrap Mojo is here with a Mother's Day prompt (or should be up shortly). Marie had a great idea to do this tribute to our moms. What does your mom mean to you?  Has she given you advice that as helped you?  Do you have something you want to say to her? The second part is to use fabric flower. I used red tulle and buttons to fashion my fabric flower, but this is something I'll definitely do again. Here's my mom and my oldest daughter on Easter. My mom's name is Rose, hence the Shakespeare quote. And it's true, call her anything, but she's still just as awesome.  I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!

 

As always, we have fun prizes, so please go play along!!! Come play along for NSD this weekend! And all you scrapbookers, what's your plans for NSD??? Does anyone know of any online challenges or games going on?  Do tell!!!

New scraps

Come play along over at these fun scrapbook challenges,  first is Scrap Mojo, and the prompt is "Practical Jokes" in honor of April Fool's Day. Last year for April Fool's Day, big sis had me help her make super creamy mashed potatoes and serve it as ice cream to her dad.  She thought it was a riot!!!

Then the second one is Category Stories with the prompt "my world."  I used this picture with little sis and her rad, pink cat-eye glasses and said, "I see the world through rose colored glasses, or at least fabulous cat eyes..."

Come play along ya all!  There's fun prizes to be won!!!

Skate, Skate, Skate

The new Creative Typeis up!! Come play along with us!  The prompt is using repetitive words, I used "skate, skate, skate" and a picture of me rollerskating down along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.  We used to go over there and go rollerskating many weekends. Sometimes we just skate around the house.

 
Come play with us!!!  As always, great prizes!!!

Come out and play...

*(I'm in Europe and this was pre-scheduled to post) *  With the holidays over now and I know most of us are feeling chilled to the bone, it's a great time to play along at some of the scrapbooking challenges.  It's fun, a theme motivates you and you can win some cool prizes. The 3 DT I'm on currently have the following, so come play along with us!!

The Creative Type has a challenge of using your font as your embellishments. For a school themed layout, I've used staples in my embellishments and in my title.  Here's big sis' school picture at her new school, isn't she the cutest 9 year old??  She also wants me to clarify she is "actually in grade 4 in the States, but here in Mexico they do 2 years of Kindy, so that's why she's in grade 3."  Okay? Okay.

Escuela

and Scrap Mojo's new challenge is to use a quote from a love movie as part #1, and to journal as part #2. I used a quote from Practical Magic (such an awesome movie!), " do you ever put your arms out and spin and spin and spin? Well, that's what love is like.  Everything inside of you tells you to stop before you fall, but you just keep going." I used some polaroids and a Fuji instax mini for the layout. As always, there's great prizes, so go see!

Keep Spinning

and lastly, Category Stories has a challenge, "If I had a time machine..."

"If I had a time machine, I'd ask these dames how they made these swell cocktails."  I haven't done an Anne Taintor in a while and was slightly panicking when I was doing these before we left for Europe. I wanted to put, "I'd ask these dames where they got their swell, pointy bras..." but I wasn't sure others would think it was as funny as me...

Come over and play along with us!!!

touch of grey

The Creative Type has a new challenge up this next 2 weeks. The theme is "neutral" and here's my take.  I found this wonderful Jerry Gracia postcard I've had forever.  I love the black, greys and whites in it. Then it reminded me of the Grateful Dead song, Touch of Grey. I used a vintage sweater ad for the clouds and doilie sun, then plain old tin foil for the silver lining around the clouds, it's alittle hard to see in this picture. Come play with us, there's an AWESOME prize!

 

chilly...

It's a brisk 48 degrees here in Mexico.  Doesn't sound too terribly cold like some of my US pals being blanketed in snow and dealing with freezing pipes, but it's been a cold, wet few days.  Most of the days it's dreary with rain and foggy skies.  And I must admit, I think my Philadelphia blood is thinning and I'm becoming used to the balmy average of 70 degrees. And funny enough, even nice homes and apartments here don't have heaters, because usually it never gets below 60 (or above 85) So, I've wrapped myself up in fuzzy sweaters and my knee-high Uggs.  I also crocheted about 7 feet of garland the other day while watching an episode of Mad Men.  (sadly, looks like I've lost my tan from Acapulco...)

and it's perfect for hanging pictures on.  Super simple, but effective in decorating the drab walls of the apartment. I also thought maybe I'd crochet a garland as a border for the girls rooms, and I definitely want to make a garland for the tree this year.  Maybe red, or white, maybe red and white?

I made these last week...

anything with woodgrain is okay by me, I'm in love with these letters!

This is for the newest Category Stories, "A Perfect Fit" is the theme.  Come play along!  Also, if you're interested in becoming a Category Stories design team member, please click on the link here to go see what you need to do to submit!!!

I ordered this little number for big sis so we can start sewing together again.

it got great reviews by all the adult users and so I may even use her. She's a bit smaller than the other standard machines, like 2 inches shorter, but for simple projects I think she'll be fine.  Big sis wants to continue practicing what she learned in Philadelphia last year in her sewing lessons.

Hope you're all staying warm and cozy.  It seems like the whole planet is in a freeze!

Happy December...

Let's see, I have been busy on a few embroidery projects, one of which I was hoping to get done before December 1st, and I have 95% of it done.  We're still opening the notes in each pocket, but I'm trying to sew december and the last embellishments on tonight.  I let big sis sew on 10 of the pockets...I'll show pics in a couple days.

Here's my The Creative Type project.  The prompt is to use newspaper print.  I made this Christmas inspired shadow box...that's a page from the book "The Night Before Christmas," a book from the 70's I found in a  thrift store in California a couple years ago.  As always we have great prizes from sponsors!

Then my Category Stories, the prompt is "the Best Present Ever."  I got this card for my birthday a couple weeks ago since my family knows I adore John Hughes films. I LOVE (said in a super high-pitch squeal) his films, especially 16 Candles (well, all, but this is a fave). 

Go play, there's awesome prizes to be won!!

Then, I don't think I ever showed these...the first is a cool old sign not far from Matty's apartment in Chicago.  In September a group of us girls stayed there for a fun 3 days weekend.  I love this sign, makes me think of them and the windy city...

and this one, little sis learning to read...

and Autumn, this picture was taken last month in Philadelphia...

BTW, big sis is doing much better at school. A couple weeks ago she was having a rough time, but she has made a couple little friends, and it seems slowly breaking into the group.  She's even having a sleepover this Friday night! She's doing awesome and had to give a short speech in front of her class and 2 teachers today, all in Spanish.  She memorized it and her Spanish accent is fabulouso, much better than mine.  Little sis started a Montessori school full time today (sob...) so I'm all alone...the first time in 2.5 years.  I already miss homeschooling.  What am I going to do???  Craft all day? Well then, things are a-okay...

some new ones...

 

bye 

 

Craft Therapy

the new Scrap Mojo is up.  ___________ therapy is the prompt (you add whatever therapy is yours, shopping, exercise, eating, etc.) and the second part is to use paint.

I picked Craft Therapy....and it is my therapy...whenever I feel stressed out, I can always count on crafting to make me feel better.  Keeping my hands busy seems to occupy my mind.  This Renegade Craft Fair pic is from a couple months ago in Chicago.

Now go play, as always there are fun prizes to be won! 

Bad Behavior

The next Category Stories prompt is "Bad Behavior."  So fun and great prizes from Elise Blaha.

here's my layout...

this picture is from when Jen, Patty, Matty and me visited Chicago at the Oak Street Beach bar...now go play!

Here's my Chicago trip mini book-from Elise Blaha, speaking of her and Chicago...I love to look at it and remember my 4 fun days in Chi-town with some of my favorite people...

I'm slowly uploading my Philadelphia home visit from last week.  It was a hard week, but I'm so thankful to have seen some of our old friends.  Our house is officially for sale now.  The market there is a bit slow (like everywhere) so we'll see what happens. It gives me a reason to return a couple times a year!!!

more scissor sisters and other stuff...

well, I'm off to Philadelphia. I leave tomorrow morning ...hopefully I'll get to see her and do some thrifting...hopefully he'll meet up with us since he may be going there when we're there. We can't wait for the pumpkin patch and hay rides with this family and this family.  This is going to be an extremely difficult trip.  While we're excited to see all our old friends and do all the things we love to do (hello photobooth at El Vez, hello Honey's, hello Urban Outfitter's, hello AMERICAN Starbucks with non-fat milk and Pumpkin Spice Lattes... ), yet we have to pack up our house, and that is NOT going to be fun...

Just wanted to share these I did this week, more scissor sisters as we like to say...I have 3 others half done and a couple more planned, so stay tuned...

Mandi, I used some of her Housewife collection papers.  She's so super talented that I'm always in awe of her photography and crafty style.

and my lovah-extraordinaire Heather, I'm STILL waiting for her to do my make-up...

just added, Sandy, my good friend whom I adore...

And just to end, I will be going to Philadelphia to close up shop...my sweet, old house...the house we have decided for now to move everything into storage and put on the market...yes, my house.  I am BEYOND heart-broken, my girls are upset.  But unfortunately, my husband does not think there is a place in his company for him back in Philadelphia...He is always looking forward, the glass is half full kind of guy, always reaching for more.  Which I am immensely proud of him and his success, he is a risk-taker and a dream follower, yet with a practical, business-savvy head on his broad shoulders.  I feel fortunate many days to have the experiences we've had, lived some of the places we have. I feel like it's been a good thing. And who knows where we will end up next?  Mexico now, maybe Europe or back in California. But today, I am truly, truly super sad.  So, I will try my best not to type anymore sad posts about leaving my home, friends or Philadelphia, but I will miss it more than I can say.

mirror mirror

Mirror Mirror is a class by Kim and Rhian all about creative self-portraits.  They also have a Flickr group, go look, there are some rad pictures! I know the pdf file is available when the class is all over, so even if you miss the first few days, you can see the lessons...fun.. 

today was #1 for me

and I FINALLY got some stuff delivered today. A dresser/side table and a wood divider.  I am still shopping for more furniture, however Mexico City is at least double in prices, if not more, than the States.  I have ordered more pictures for the walls, and am bringing some back with when I fly to Philadelphia this next weekend. Here's my new table and the start to my wall art collection. Some are from Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and a couple from etsy. Also from Kristina I have one of her pictures framed (the blue fence framed at the top), and she's the one who told me about the Mirror Mirror class, as well, so gold star for her!!

I have a large black and white flower painting from Urban outfitters that will go in the left upper hand corner on my wall here, just waiting for my wonderful mom to mail it to me...

and a close up of my pics...

yep, that's a photobooth pic on the bottom right, from HulaSeventy, another photographer I adore.

I will wait to show you my other bare walls until they are dressed in a couple weeks....I'm bringing/shipping back oodles of milkglass and matryoshkas and pillows and vintage cupcake toppers and anything else I can fit into 6 suitcases...the rest I'll ship!

Okay, ciao for now people!!

new ones

yeah, lame title, but I can't be catchy all the time people...

I did these this week. I hadn't done Cricket's 9th birthday in Acapulco yet, I still have a few others to scrapbook, but I like to have just one pic to feature for a big event or special day.  This was a great 3 day weekend (we made it a 3 day weekend) and all I know is I never celebrated a birthday at a resort on the beach....my fondest birthday memory is Chuckee D'isease's or the regular party with cake and pin-the-tail-on-the-Donkey game...but she was very thankful and actually so was I... this was when she had her cake and was serenaded by the mariachi band.

And here, this is me next to the pool with little sis...

and here's one weekend in Curanavaca, a small town about an hour outside of Mexico City...

and me by the pool in Curanavaca...

and again, Acapulco, not my fave, but I still wanted to get it done...

and what do ya know? Jen picked me for the catwalk!!  Yay and thanks!  What a wonderful surprise and honor! I hope you all had a good week!  Do anything good?

Me Gusta Mucho

My first prompt over at The Creative Type is up.  Go play, it's a fun one.  The technique used is masking.  Here I used some old letters I had laying around to write Me Gusta Mucho, then I sprayed some ink (thanks Vee for the class), let it dry a few minutes, then removed them. Easy!

  

Creative Type newbie

I'm proud to announce I've joined The Creative Type!  Some of my favorite crafty people are on there and I feel super lucky to able to join such a talented group! 

Tomorrow I'll be back to reveal my first prompt!! Hope you're having a great weekend!

Charlotte's Web

The new Scrap Mojo is up. Charlotte's Web is the prompt as the first part, use a quote.  The second part is to use a page from a book.

 

This is one of my best friends Sarah who lives in Philadelphia.  She's got the biggest heart and such I just love her!!!!  I see her in a week when I fly back to Philadelphia and can't wait!!!!!!

Laugh

The new prompt over at Category Stories will be up tonight or tomorrow.  The theme is "Laugh", an easy one I hope you all can participate in. Of course there are great prizes, so come play along!

and she does, love this little so much!!!

I'll be back soon with the new scrapmojo and some other fun, crafty new news!!!

another atc swap done...

Finished my atc swap this weekend for Ally.  The themes are Kawaii and Halloween. I didn't have much here in Mexico to go off of with Kawaii, but I embroidered two Japanese characters and I found a cute little Japanese geisha stamp, along with some Kawaii tape. The Halloween cards I luckily picked up some stuff in the States a couple weeks ago.

I have two layouts I'm working on, but I have my father-in-law here this week...so sight-seeing and entertaining has taken up a lot of my time. And don't forget the new puppy Violet, lots of potty training walks every 45 minutes-agh! But that's fine, I love my new canine baby!!

How's your weekend going?

As Far As I Can Tell...

The new Category Stories is up, go play along!  There's a great Studio Calico kit to be won!!

The prompt is "as far as I can tell" and I loved this Anne Taintor picture.  Check out her casserole-Ha!

Chicago, Chicago....

It was 4 days of fun for me this past weekend. I flew to Chicago to meet up with some of my favorites. Patty, Jen and Mandi came in from all over and we stayed with my hubbie's BF (and mine) Matty who just moved a couple months ago to Chicago from Philadelphia.  He was so kind to let us all stay in his super nice apartment on State Street.  We walked all over that area, along the Magnificent Mile, down along Lake Michigan and of course we went to the Renegade Craft Fair. We ate out at historic Pizzeria Due and drank way too many cocktails at restaurants and on his balcony.  It was awesome!  I can't wait to see my friends again soon!!!  It would have been better had Sandy, Heather, Vanessa and Angie could have joined us, but next time, even if I have to come kidnap them!!! 

Down by Lake Michigan...

I thought this might be Mexico...

It was like Sisinversary take 2           

Patty loves the color orange (or bronzer)

Here's the fab host Matty... (Mandi was on her way, she joined us later that night)

Saturday we headed to the Fair....

 Elsie's stickers-Patty bought many... bought a Feist poster here...knitted matryoshka-LOVE!         

we stopped by to say hi the the Red Velvet Art booth, met Elsie, I tried on a pair of nerd glasses

LOVE me some Martha!!  I was so happy we got to have lunch together and hang out if only a small time.  She's one of my favorite scrapbookers! Her friend Sarah was with her (Craft Critique)

   

skyping Sandy and Vanessa (photo was taken by Mandi)

We went to one of the oldest Chicago pizzeria's, Pizza Due, Saturday night, (deep dish squared!)

of course, there was lots of cocktails and convo...rad view of the city from Matty's apt!

Chicago River

This place had the most delish carrot cake cupcakes!!!

Thanks Matty!!!!

Come visit us in Mexico (and bring my crafty girls!)

Let the fun begin...

I'm here in Chicago for my girl's weekend (well, my bf Matty is here, too.  He's so kindly opened up his swanky State Street apartment to us gals).  Patty just called, she's on her way, Jen and Mandi should be here in a few hours.  Tomorrow is the Renegade Craft Fair and shopping, dinners, gold coast, cocktails and seeing the Chicago sights! SO FUN!!!  Martha is even coming to hang out with us!!!

I'm so bummed Sandy and Vanessa couldn't come. Amy thought she'd be here, but that's next week. We'll have to come back here here again!!! Heather, Angie and Sarah, you guys HAVE to come next time!!! Heather, I need help with my make-up...

more pictures and skying this weekend!!!

Here's a skyline view from Matt's balcony last night...a little blurry...no tripod and 2 margaritas...

I'll prob use Most of Mandi's pics for the next post...she's such a better photog and editor...

 Have a GREAT weekend!!

(Sandy, I hope you're feeling better!)

I'm the white rabbit...

In honor of the new Alice movie coming out soon, I made this felt frame this week.  Quite simple actually....

the print is from this etsy seller whom I super adore...

Here's the beginning of my wall in my office/craft room.  I have 3 other prints I'm making felt frames for and am making a small shadow box with a silhouette of the girls inside.  Try to look past the textured walls, I rent here in Mexico, so there's not a lot I can do here.  

And so I'm packing and getting ready to take off tomorrow for the States, 2 weeks with my mom, family and best friends Lainie and Stef. Lainie just got engaged this last week, and so I FINALLY get to meet her new man! And then 4 days in Chicago with Patty, Jen, Mandi, Vanessa, Amy and Martha!  Slumber party for 2 nights, cocktails, Renegade Craft Fair, cocktails, shopping, pillow fights (ha Bo!) and cocktails. Plus I get to see my old BF Matty.  Sandy was supposed to come, too, but she is unable  (totally bummed!) and I'll miss her to bits!!! And I so wish Heather (my love..) and Angie could have joined us (double bummer!)...I'll have a 'grita for them!!

Hope you all are having a great weekend! What's your plans????

Glitter and saturday morning cartoons

The newest prompt is up over at Category Stories, " Saturday Morning Cartoons" and there is a fab Calico Studio's kit to be won!  Go check it out and play along with us.

Another pretty cool thing is Category Stories is being featured this month on the ScrapStreet.com Magazine site!  To learn even more about Category stories, go check it out!

And I finished my atc swap that Ally set up.  Two sets, each with a "glitter" theme. I love doing atc's, I'd gladly sign up for more!

Hope you're having a great week! Anything new with you?

What's your name?

"What's your name?" is Scrap Mojo's newest challenge for September. Do you love it? Hate it?  Scrap about it. As always, there are prizes to be won!  

I did my blog name (well, it's also my name over at Sis and I think Flickr, too)...

How was your weekend?

I don't think I ever shared these...

From Sisiversary '09 in Nashville.  I found these layouts this weekend while organizing my craft room/office.  Made me smile...

From Heather...

From Amy...

From Martha...

Yeah, if you didn't notice, WHO goes to a scrapbook convention with only a few photobooth strips? 

This little gem is from Patty, I proudly display this on my craft desk...a beauty, huh?

More crafty-scrappy news...

I am happy to be able to scrapbook all afternoon...

and I wanted to tell you all about some inspiring people...

First, my friend Mandi has launched her own paper and kit line.  I'm super impressed with her mad scrapbooking skills and the paper she has designed is so beautiful! All the papers are designed around vintage clothing or housewares.  She also has a cool vintage clothing and housewares shop on etsy.

 

Next I signed up for Vee's paint and misting class. Another lady who I always enjoy looking at her creations. It's online and only $10.00!! I'm sure she'll have it again, go email her and ask!

And I just wanted to give a round of applause to my sweet gal pal Jen who made it as a Fashionista on SIS.  Not surprising because she's pretty rad!!!

Can't wait to see her and Mandi in a couple weeks in Chicago!  3 days with some of my most favorite people (Jen, Mandi, Vanessa, Patty, Sandy, Martha, and I will be channeling Heather, Beth and Angie's sunshine spirits while there because they couldn't make it...) Thanks to Matty for lending us his fab apartment on State Street!

And finally, I signed up for the RVA Autumn Crafting class.  The two I've taken in the past were fun and I'm feeling like I need a little crafty encouragement here...You should look into it, it looks like a goodie!!

Hope you're having a great week!

Just me...

The new Category Stories prompt is up and the theme is "Pampering Me." Of course this was a fun one because the theme lends so many fun possibilities. But truly, I feel like I'm pampering me when I just have some quiet time. I took this picture awhile ago in my house in Philadelphia.  I had been reading a magazine, drinking tea one afternoon, the sun coming in through the big bay window when the girls were gone with Dave.  I remember feeling really tranquil, really peaceful...Since I homeschool, I rarely have more than a few minutes where I'm ever alone. I love being with my daughters and spending so much time with them, don't get me wrong, but who doesn't like a little down time?

Journaling reads, "I love manicures, pedicures and massages, but sometimes the best pampering to oneself is time to sit alone quietly..."  Come play along, there are fun prizes from Fiskers!

This past week was a good week. The girls finally made 4 new girlfriends after weeks of feeling rather lonely here. When it comes to kids, Mexico City is dead in the summers.  Most children in our area go away for the summers to vacation homes, summer camps or in general are just gone. The girls had befriended a couple girls here in our apartment building, but they left for vacation in Acapulco. And honestly, the area we live in is pretty affluent, and with that comes a certain, ahem..."attitude." Finally through the Newcomer's Club (an organization for expats here in Mexico) we met 2 families, each with 2 girls around my daughters ages. I'm so happy for them because moving in general is hard (even while they are pros at it now...sad...) add the language barrier and it can make for hard times.  But both sets of girls attend the small, private school down the street where we hope to get the girls into that's bilingual and is supposed to have a good curriculum.  I am half heart-broken to think I won't be homeschooling them anymore, but homeschooling is not the norm here and I worry about them socially since it seems playdates and such are not common here.  Moms are not as hands-on when it comes to arranging playdates I've noticed like Americans or other countries. If they cannot get into the school this year, I will happily homeschool one more year and try to get them into the same classes as other kids their ages (swim, tennis, art, dance, etc. at the club we belong to) and hope for the best.

In the mean time, we have been trying to keep ourselves busy... we spend a lot of time around here  crafting...

the view from our office/craft room

playing Calico Critters...so addicting...

community garden...

welcome to the cafe...

waving bubbles around at Chapultepec Park (and watching the Veronica's shot a music video)

playing in the apartment's playground (or swimming)...here's the treehouse...

or learning to make traditional Mexican food, like REAL handmade tortillas from Areceli...

and trying to make bento box art...

This is a long one, so I'll sign off now and write more later...have a great weekend!

newest...

I collect matryoshkas and when my friend Ana gave me these cute tupperware set I was so excited. I don't use them, just display them on shelves in my kitchen.

And this one from when my friend Sarah found a baby squirrel and rehabbed it back to a healthy 3 month old, it had become pretty friendly to humans until she released it back into the wild. His name was Mr. Skimbleshanks and he was so cute. Sarah and I both have a thing for squirrels and he was so fun!

And for 4th of July and Ana's patriotic party; swimming, BBQing, cupcakes, apple pie, cocktails, kids with fire...good times. Plus, it was the weekend before we left our Philadelphia home and moved to Mexico.

I made 3 almost identical pages (one for each of the girls albums and one for mine).

How's everyone doing out there? Anything new in your life?

new challenges and a walk in the park...

The new challenges are up over at Category Stories and Scrap Mojo. Come play along. There are fabulous prizes to be had!

Here's Category Stories, "Stuck in a Moment." I have this old Fenton aqua hobnail vase that was my Granny's. Every time I see Ranunculus they remind me of her because they were some of her favorite flowers. I always smile when I see them in her vase, and I miss her so much, too. She was the best!!!

 and I redid the picture in a 1960's tint and only one picture...which do you like better?

Here's my Scrap Mojo, the prompt is "Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures." How has the economy affected you? Scrap about it. The second part is to use something square or recycled.

Then this one the other day just for fun. "I never met a cotton candy I didn't like..."

Then today we took a walk through Polanco, a neighborhood in Mexico City. We met a friend from the US embassy for brunch at his house (lasts for 4 hours here, even if you are American you start to adopt the Mexican lifestyle of LONG brunches, lunches and meetings). He has 3 other US Embassy employees there, so it neat to hear where they're from, what they do, etc.
We walked to Lincoln Park about 10 blocks from our friend's house. It was busy and there were vendors of all kinds. We sat under a large tree on a stone bench drinking iced coffees and people-watched for a bit.

sculptures in Lincoln Park

walking with dad and uncle Troy

boat races in the little pond

Tonight we made a yummy dinner with a dijon mustard, raspberry vinegar and brown sugar marinade (over chicken)my friend Chandra gave me years ago. Accompanied with wild rice and a green salad, a delicious way to end a good day!!

How about you? How was your weekend?

 

wanna swap???

i'm super excited to see the atc swap ally hosted last month. the theme was transparencies which i found super fun.  i did mine with a cupcake theme. she so graciously asked me to pick another theme and do a atc in my honor. yay! thanks ally! i picked glitter as the theme, so contact ally ([email protected]) if you want to sign up.  you'll need to make 12 atcs and mail them to her by september 10th. she'll in turn mail you back 12 different atcs. mail her a SASE along with your 12 atcs. so fun, huh?

here's mine again from the transparency swap...

 

and these are the two layouts i did late last night...

summer kiss

if lovin' is you is wrong, i don't want to be right...

i loved this gnome and deer picture. i took it last winter in philadelphia in our front yard. cracks me up. awwww...conflicted love...

and here's some pics of the little bit of the home decor...i'm crossing my fingers that my husband will take me shopping on thursday for plants and more furniture. we still have no pictures on the walls, very little furniture and not one house plant in the whole place. that kills me. although i do buy fresh flowers each week from the little hombres on the corner.

in the cocina, some things i brought with me from philadelphia...

new flores...

the view from my kitchen window, it doesn't look like it, but we're 17 floors up.

poor frida, so sad...i know, i'm not too impressed with the home decor either...

hope you're having a wonderful week. anything new in your life?

 

so i'm trying to get a little mojo back...

moving always throws me for a loop creativity-wise. i guess it's the new place, things not put away, unorganized paper and ribbon chaos that leaves me feeling less than creative-spunky? is that a word? anyhoo, i decided to just plop down on the bare wooden floor and make a couple layouts.

as i told my friend heather, i need a DESK, heard of one of those hubby??

and counting down the days until i'm back in the loving arms of these chicas...

...so super excited!! chicago renegade craft fair, cocktails, shopping=bliss!

you should totally come along!!!