Lookee at my beautiful friend Eva!!!

She just got picked as a FAB 5 and is featured over at the awesome 2 Sketches 4 You card sketch blog.

Check out Eva's fabulous winning card here on her blog.

Congratulations my friend. You inspire me beyond the paper and glue world. Mwuuah!

I was remiss for about 2 weeks in updating my blog due to life happening and work, and what do I find when I get back after my marathon blog posting last week?? LOL....a few Blog Awards from my friends Jackie, Lynda and Paula.

So, I'm finally playing catchup after my big BLOG LIFT (do you like it by the way?? he he - I finally got everything juuuust the way I like it), so I thought I'd play along.

First up....I received this super cute Blog Award from mi amiga Paula in Buenos Aires. Paula and I met a long long time ago on another small message board. She and I, along with so many others from across the country, with an Italian, a German and a Laotian, all became very close knit. Although the site didn't survive due to changes in policy and ownership, we all thankfully have remained in contact. It was a blessing that Paula and I got to meet in person here in Los Angeles, CA when she and her family came here to Disney for vacation. Paula coordinated her vacation dates with my scrap weekend retreat that I was running at the time, and many of us, from that small message board that I had mentioned before, got to meet Paula and her family and took her shopping to all of our amazing lss' as well as to Michaels and Joann's. Here are some pics of Paula and her family that I still cherish from her visit. Muchisimas Gracias por la regla mi amiga!!


The Rules of this "I {heart} Your Blog" Award?

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog. {Yep, its right here NICE and BIG!!!}
2. Link the person you received your award from. {Paula}
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
So, I nominate the following outstanding girls:
* Alison (otherwise known to us POP girls as Nevis) - This girl is articulate AND talented!!
* Zoa - I loooove her sunny online personality and she just always has soo much going on.
* Bonnie Sharp - I'm just in awe of her creations on her blog.
* Michelle Pearson - I think she's uber talented, but because we recently bonded over resolving some bloggy techy problems, she's a little bit more human and less super talented card making goddess to me!! lol
* Mykle Parker - I'm just getting to know this incredibly vivacious, talented and FUNNYYYY woman who is also a Designer and Instructor at Scrap-N-Yap!!
* Eva D - One of my very best friends who thankfully has joined the blogging world so that I can stalk her creations easier.
* Susanslamb - Another one of my best friends who just has one of the most charmed lives evah! If anyone deserves it, its definitely this fine lady!! And she scraps beautifully to boot too!

Ok, the other Bloggie Award Thingy that I was tagged with was by my Paper Popsicles mates Jackie and Lynda! Way back, I was tagged by PJ as well who lives around here locally near me. So yeah, major catch up ladies. LOL...thank you so much for the honor Jackie, Lynda and PJ.

Who gets the “Brilliante Webblog Award"?

Websites and blogs of your choice for their designs that are especially noteworthy.
1. The winner can take the logo
2. Place a link to the person that sent you the award
3. Give the Award to at least 7 other Scrapbooking-Blogs, which by its currency, the issues of choice and for their designs are especially noteworthy
4. Put a link to these sites on your Blog.
5. Write a comment on their Blogs that they’ve won an Award.

So here’s who I’m AWARDING:
* Tanya L - Because so many amazing and well deserved accolades have been coming her way in the Scrap World!!
* Karen M - Because she's super talented and I'm blessed to call her my friend.
* Jessica S - This woman has more energy than anyone I know...and is super sweet nice to boot!
* Sue B - My friend all the way across the pond. Because I haven't chatted with her in a looong while and its all my fault for busying myself.
* Jackie P - A girl after my own heart...she blogs about food! Whooohoo...and she's one super talented scrapper....when she actually scraps that is! lol....You know I love you Jackie.
* Sherri - She's the uber hostess of the Debt Free Divas Challenge Group over at 2peas trying to keep us all in solidarity!! She always seems to take the time to post lovely comments on my blog. Thank you Sherri.
* Marci B - I love discussing issues with this girl on ANY message board!! Its like we're twins or something??

Whew, I gotta alotta people to tag now don't I??

Ladies, last month, I added a new feature on my blog by creating a "MY SCRAPPY EVENTS" section which is located at the TOP LEFT of my blog. Its pretty much my calendar of when:

* When Challenges are Being Hosted
* Contests for free scrappy stuff
* Guest Design Team Spots for you to win free scrappy stuff and bragging rights
* My class offerings at Scrap 'N Yap, which is my local scrapbook store.
* When and Where my Design Team Projects will be debuted online
* Where and When I'm attending local crops/retreats.

So ladies, do check out my "My Scrappy Events" BLOG CALENDAR that's located at the TOP LEFT of my blog. Check it out!! I updated it religiously as I have new updated info. (It becomes my cheat sheet for quickly finding what I need. )

TGIF Everyone!!! This week, Heidi Baldini, one of our Design Team members, will be heading up our newest Friday Challenge today. See please stop by to check us out and play along. Here's an altered door hanger that I created earlier tonight for the challenge using the lovely Jellybean line from Paper Trunk. (I will be gifting this to a good friend who is local to me because I just think she's doing so much for her cropping friends!)


And I've been also remiss in reminding you all about Cindy's (MotherMark's) weekly Teapot Tuesday Challenges at Embellish-Online as well. You gotta check out all the amazing peices of art Cindy and everyone playing along has been creating.

You're sure to be inspired!

NOTE: The DT Friday Challenges and the Teapot Tuesday Challenges that occur WEEKLY have been added to my BLOG CALENDAR that's located at the TOP LEFT of my blog. Check it out!!

And GUESS WHAT? Embellish-Online is having a SALE on all Cuttlebug embossing folders, including the new seasonal Halloween and Christmas ones that were just released at CHA.

I"m still up tonight and its already 5:30AM. Damn this ice tea!! Guess this stuff is caffeinated? (yeah, I knew that) At least, I'm taking advantage of being wired by being productive. LOL....I know I've been remiss in updating my blog the past couple of weeks. I've had some personal stuff happen to me that left me quite heavy in the heart, and then I was bogged down at work with some projects.

Soooo, here we go with my marathon blogging tonight, er, this morning. I just wanted to jump up and down (on my blog) because earlier this month, I submitted my Embellish-Online DT projects to Basic Grey and 3 of them were accepted to be displayed in their gallery! I'm totally stoked!!

Here they are:







When I got the confirmation email from Basic Grey, I have to say that I probably kinda felt like this! (if any of you were watching the Olympic Swim Meets)



He he, are you proud of me that I was able to legitimately relate an almost naked picture of Michael Phelps to my blog post?? Michael, baby, keep wearing those speedos REAL low....we love it! Now, please try to give your fans a REAL wardrobe malfunction one of these days??

With no further ado...here are some sneak peeks of my VACATION themed Envelope Accordian Album Class which will feature the Heidi Swapp Travel World line. Its scheduled for Sunday, Sept 14th from 1:30-4PM for $45. Please note that this class date has been updated on my BLOG CALENDAR that's located at the upper LEFT side of my Blog.

Here's what the cover looks like:



Here's what it looks like underneath the cover flap:



And this is what a few of the accordian pages look like.



There will be 10 panels in total and you'll have 8 full panels for pictures as well as 5 fully functioning pockets to tuck in memorabilia, tickets, notes, etc. There are some interactive elements as well. :) You can use either landscape or portrait photos, but I suggest that portrait photos in either 4x6 or 5x7 would work best with my class design.

I'm proud to learn that this class is selling out fast! If you want to sign up, please call Scrap 'N Yap to register.

I'm sorry I didn't post this sooner as I've had pictures of my class for close to 3 weeks now. As you can tell, I'm catching up with all my blogging since tonight seems to be the blogging marathon for me! :)

If you weren't able to make it to Scrap 'N Yap's Open House 2 weekends ago on Sat, August 9th, you really missed out!! We had sooo much fun seeing what all the Designers created for the upcoming classes for the Sept and Oct calendar.



It was also CRAZY busy because SOCAL SHOP HOP was going on too so alot of scrappers were coming through the store with their passports looking for the hidden golden coins throughout the store, picking up their TAKE and Makes (lol...since there just wasn't enough time to actually sit to make and then take them), and earning a chance to earn more fabulous scrappy prizes by choosing a bauble of their choice in our AMAZINGLY BLINGED OUT Treasure Chest created by our amazing Mykle. Our Elizabeth Tuch, Scrap 'N Yap's owner, was amazingly generous with the prizes!!

Here's Mykle enjoying some cupcakes in her piratey garb. Hmmm, what a comely wench you are....AYE!!! And seriously, how AMAZING is this Treasure Chest that Mykle created??





Here are some pics of our regulars Sandra and Diane enjoying the Open House festivities. And our Erna is just hilarious isn't she in her very sexy Pirate themed blinged out Tee which is available for sale at Scrap 'N Yap. And speaking of sexy, check out Miss Elizabeth modeling how sleek this pirate themed blinged tee fits??




There are still a few more days for the SOCAL SHOP HOP (ends on August 24th!), so come on in 'cuz we have so much new product already in the store that was just released at the most recent CHA show.

Here's what Scrap 'N Yaps' got in...hurry, cuz they are selling like hot cakes!!

New Halloween papers, embellishments and more adorable little acrylic stamps from Imaginesce:



And then we got the much anticipated Vintage Moon (the little blue owl) and Pop Fashion (pink and grey) lines from Pink Paislee. How gorgeous are these lines??





We got the totally cute Mr. Campy & the new blackboard shaped mini books from Cosmo Cricket in too....check it out!



Are you exhausted yet?? Yeah, lots of new scrappy goodness huh?? Check out Teresa Collins new recipe and xmas lines!! She even has these adorable chipboard shaped books that are exactly the same size as those diecut pages. So it makes it easy to make your own customized mini books. And here you thought those diecut pages was just for your Bind It All?? That Teresa, she's a smart cookie!





Lastly, look at these gorgeous 7 gypsies papers and embellishments?? Fabulous for those heritage, vacation or masculine projects, no??


Yep!! Just soo much eye candy and scrappy goodness!! We at Scrap 'N Yap have ALOT fun!! So you wanna see what the Designers have in store for you in Sept and Oct?? Here are some sneak peeks for yah! The calendar will soon be up on the website so be sure to check it out. Else, they are already printed and available in the store by the register. You definitely don't wanna miss out on these fabulous classes!

Ha ha...its just a sneak, I know!! Tune in for more details and better sneaks of our upcoming classes scheduled for Sept and Oct at Scrap 'N Yap by our talented designers Michele, Elizabeth, Erna, Karina, Mykle and of course MOI!

I'm sooo proud and soooo happy for my friend Kari, who recently launched her own scrappy website. Well, after sooooo many hours and weeks of pouring through online photo albums, manufacturing sites, blogs and catalogs, Urban Anthology has finally launched their inaugural monthly kit!! I'm wishing you all the luck in the world Kari for MUCH success!! And thank you for giving me the opportunity to design your kit contents. So I'm vested too....lol...I wanna see this be successful too!! I now have such a deep deep respect for all those other kit clubs out there. Picking and choosing product for a monthly kit is NOT easy!! I'm incredibly humbled!!

So, with no further ado...(drum roll please!) Here is "Who's that Cutie?" featuring Pink Paislee's Vintage Moon, Tinkering Inks' Becoming Green and Chatterbox's Together lines with Prima, Jenni Bowlin, and lots of vintage unique embellishments/trims we found in the Downtown LA garment district. All kits, in fact, will feature unique finds from Downtown LA.


You can place your name on a reservation list now, please email Kari at kari@urban-anthology.com. Buy one kit, or sign up for a 3 or 6 month subscription.

Kit Cost $35 (for 6 month subscription $30/month, 3 month subscription $32.50/month), plus tax as applicable, and $5 shipping. Kits are limited, so pre-order yours today!

Pardon my bias, but seriously ladies, these kits are gonna be AMAZING!!!! You don't wanna miss out on these! Stay tuned cuz October's kit will soon be announced, and yes, it totally rawks!

Man, time sure has flown by! I could swear I was standing out in the hot sun serving myself a hot dog right outside Scrap 'N Yap just the other day for our last Open House. LOL (So, I'm going to lift Karina's very well worded announcement.)



Yes, that's right ladies and gentlemen, we'll be having another Open House THIS SATURDAY, August 9th from 2pm to 4pm to premiere classes for September and October as well as all new product that's been arriving at the store.

Ching, Erna, Kim, Michelle, Mykle, and Karina will be there to showcase our new classes and do our traditional meet and greet. And of course our amazing staff, Renae, Rosanne, Shauna, and Jen, and last and most definitely NOT least, the queen herself, Elizabeth Tuch, store owner and hostess of the grand event.

As you may or may not know, our open houses at are always a blast! The atmosphere is very welcoming and there's always something fun going on!!! It's like "CHEERS" but without the beer (lol)...everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came. So if you are new to Scrap n' Yap, or have not vistited us yet, come on by to check us out and say hello. If you're a regular, and we love our regulars, mark your calendars and don't forget to visit. The more, the merrier!

You know I love sneakie peeks but I'll have to hold out until later on this weekend to show you pics of my upcoming "Vacation Envelope Accordian Keepsakes" class as yet to be scheduled in Sept / Oct. Of course, I'll let you know as soon as I find out. I'm featuring one of my very favorite line of manufacturers, Heidi Swapp!!

Remember, if you sign up for classes on the day of our Open House, you'll receive 10% off the class fee. Hmm, more savings means more shopping money for scrap goodies, and I'm all for that!!

This time, I plan on taking pictures of our really fun Open Houses to share with you and I'll be posting them on Sunday along with sneak peeks of my class project for those of you that can't make it this Sat.

Ok, so many of you who know me personally have seen me stress the past couple of weeks with coming up with designs that are worthy of the rest of my Embellish-Online Design Team members. These girls are super talented!!



Today, Tuesday, August 5th, is the debut of our August Design Team Gallery, so please come on by and give us some love.

Here's a sneak peek of one of the projects I completed. If you know who I'm stalking lately, then you'll instantly recognize the source of my inspiration for this sneakie peek I'm sharing with you. Lol!


Today is Tuesday, so that means its a new Teapot Tuesday Challenge from Cindy (MotherMark). Hope you'll play along and do take a look at Flamboyant Floyd in the August Design Team Gallery. My gawd, the woman deserves an Oscar for this cross dressing little creation!!

On Friday, one of our Design Team members, Daniela, will be heading up our newest Friday Free For All Weekly Challenge.

Don't forget, Embellish-Online is still having our September Guest Team Contest going on. All you have to do is play along with our Friday Free For all Weekly Challenge. Click here to find out how to enter.

Last but not least, Embellish-Online just announced our September/October contest.

Just in time for Halloween we're giving away a package of rub ons, brads and chipboard from Imagininsce Hallowhimsy Collection!

It's a $20.00 value so enter now! You'll need to be an active forum/gallery member here and Embellish It Scrapbooking in order to enter the contest. No purchase necessary, all we require is that you join our great community and be active in posting and/or uploading your wonderful artwork!

The contest winner will be chosen on September 30th and the winner will be notified by email and posted here in the forum!

Enter here

Yep, we sure have alot planned for you to keep your mojo flowin'.....every week for the next 10 months!

I'm a bit behind in blogging the last days as I've been cramming to finish some assignments and putting in some killer hours at work. Its the beginning of the month and there's lots of stuff going on at Paper Popsicles.



* First, our September kits are available now. Free Time is chockful of Daisy D's and A Bit Stuffy has tons of Little Yellow Bicycle and K&Co. There's the adorable Happiness kit with lots of Making Memories 5th Avenue as a mini kit. Lynda, Tricia and Jackie will be designing this month's kits so I can't wait to see what they come up with.

* Paper Popsicles is also looking for their October Guest Designer. This months requirements are:

Create 4 Birthday Cards and envelopes using materials from the Paper Popsicles store. Adult or child birthday - anything goes but Happy Birthday must be included somewhere on each card.

You need to be an active member of our message board with at least twenty posts. You must be able to continue to be involved on the message board and gallery during your "month".

Submit your layout to melissa@paperpopsicles.com and be sure the image is NOT larger than 900 pixels. Please include your full name, address and message board name in your entry.

Entries will be accepted until midnight of August 28th.

The winner will receive a package of goodies and her assignment in early September. Our Guest Designer will have until September 28th to submit her assignments, a short bio and picture. This will be used on our website, on our blog and in your GDT album in the gallery.

* Want bragging rights? Is your project/layout going to be our new "Weekly Discovery"? Starting Monday, August 4th and every Monday thereafter Paper Popsicles will be doing a search throughout the gallery and posting our "Weekly Discovery" on our blog. So, get yourself registered and fill up your album in the Paper Popsicles gallery!!! You may just be discovered.

* My friend Tanya is August's Guest Designer and you gotta go see what lovelies she's created with her kit for Paper Popsicles! She just debuted her August 1 reveal in our gallery so please come over and give her some love!

* Stayce, our resident instructor, has also just debuted her amazing How-To class for August. Come see how to make this adorable ATC holder with incredibly detailed step by step pictorial instructions. If you're not into ATC's, this could easily be adapted to be a card holder. Here's a little sneakie peek at Stacey's project:



* Finally, I'd like to share my Design Team ICEE tip of the week with you here...

I've been really enamoured with circles lately and I found a way to combine this new crush with my other love of combining and layering patterned papers ====> Making my own customized journal circles for a more whimsical and personalized look vs. using mfg prefab or punched out circles.

Here in this picture, you can see that I preplanned my journalling on post it notes. I did this since I knew I wanted hand writing instead of computer printed journalling so I needed an idea of how much space each of my cluster of thoughts would take up.



I then took out a sharpie marker (I decided on my Creative Memories journalling black pen because the thickness of the pen point was most complimentary with my layout...I didn't want the tip point and thus thicknes of outline to over power the serene colors of the main patterned paper) and randomly drew circles on the light blue 7 gypsies patterned paper that came in the August Telling Secrets Kit.

Then, I used the same CM pen and hand wrote each of my cluster of journalling inside each of the circles. I made sure to select various sizes to add visual interest when I was planning the procession of which circle came after the last one.

Then, I hand cut each of the circles along the OUTSIDE of my hand drawn circle lines because I wanted the outlines to be included for that more whimsical and more personalized look.

Here is the result on my layout, which I love. :)



Here's another example of hand drawn circles in which I used a thicker tipped sharpie marker to make my own circle embellishments. I did this in order to combine the patterned papers to create a fun and masculine feel.

Whew! Lots of fun stuff huh? I haven't even told you about all the new challenges that Samantha and Valery have planned for the month of August. You'll just have to come over and read about it and hopefully play along.