We can pretty much be sure that this isn’t a “Hallmark” holiday, however, I admit that it is a new one to me! But, let’s not pass up an opportunity to have fun and create cards - right!! Join us!!
WHEN: October 4th, 9 am - 7 pm central/standard time
WHERE: Paper Popsicles Message Board
WHY: To discover new creative cards ideas
Our design team is going to showcase a card creation every other hour starting at 9:00 a.m., then 11:00…. See the ideas and techniques they use to create their card and then make one yourself. We will be featuring the following card ideas: money card; gift card holder; pocket card; shaped window card; monochromatic card with dimension; ideas for using Paper Popsicles exclusive cut-out cards…..
Can’t make it on Saturday - no problem. Just check out the forum when you are able to after October 4. But remember to share your cards with us!

I'm happy to report that I've advanced not only past the first week, but also the second week of the competition over at BadGirlsKits for their Top Designer 2008 competition.

As of tomorrow, Monday, we'll be in week 3 of a 6 week competition where we students have to create a layout based on the class, post it and see if we are allowed to continue to the next week. So its almost like Survivor, but for scrapping. :)

I'm having a ball participating in it with my friends Karen and Eva as we are rooting each other on. I'm also loving playing with the kit contents of my friend Kari's Urban-Anthology debut monthly kit called "Who's That Cutie?" I did add a Hambly leaf transparency that I originally wanted to use for something else, but I just thought it works so beautifully here for the fall Lobster Festival that I really enjoy attending here in the LA area. I also added some ki chipboard and some MM papers.

Here's my Week 2 Class Layout for the competition which called for mixing patterned papers that complements my photos.



And here are the details:



I did pass Week 2, but please continue to wish me luck, girls, for the remainder of the competition!

I'd like to share some recent toots that happened this past week!!

First of all, my cards that I created for Embellish-Online using the Basic Grey Archaic line was recently accepted by Basic Grey for their gallery. Whoohoo!!! Here are my rephotographed pics since my original ones were taken really late at night so my lighting weren't to my satisfaction.





And here were the other ones I made using the Fancy Pants Papa line for Embellish-Online that I also rephotographed as well that I wanted to share again.





And.....I'm totally excited to share that I was just chosen as the October Guest Design Team Member for one of my most favorite sites, Moments-2-Remember, which I dub the "Charmed Place."



My Guest Design Team Gallery will debut on Oct 1st...which coincidently is my BDAY!!!

Works' been a killer this past week, so I'm sorry I've been remiss with my blogging.

Tuesday was Mothermark's (Cindy's) Teapot Tuesday Challenge. This week she has the most adorable owl themed challenge. Check it out here.

Welcome to Teapot Tuesday! from the lovely MotherMark (Cindy) over at Embellish-Online.
The rules for this challenge are easy because there are none! Well, maybe just one!

No coffee pots allowed!

I will post a picture of a Teapot each Tuesday and my sample card. Then you make a card based on how you were inspired by that Teapot! No rules, no deadlines.

Have Fun and thanks for joining us for Tea this Tuesday morning! (or whatever morning you get around to making your card!)

Here is Cindy's teapot and card that she made:



Make sure you put TPT10 in the keywords section of your upload page!

Then Friday was my turn to host our newest Friday Challenge today which is Make It Edgy. Some examples were using scallops (punches, scissors etc) or pinked edges. Use whatever medium you'd like, just make it edgy! Keep straight paper cuts to a minimum. Here's one of my examples for my challenge:



Come play with us and be sure to use keyword FC8 when you upload your projects to the gallery so we can all see your beautiful work! To see everyone's submissions click *here* including my friend Eva's fabulous card that won her the Card of the Week contest over at 2sketches4you. Congrats girlfriend!!!

Lastly, Barb over at Embellish-Online is now carrying those infamous Copic Sketch markers in corresponding Stampin' Up! colors. Prices go up on these babies everywhere on Jan 1st, so head on over to Embellish-Online to preorder yours now.

Scrap Pink Weekend!
Saturday, September 27 and Sunday September 28 will mark the second annual Scrap Pink Weekend at Scrap n' Yap. Many of us have been affected by the ravages of Breast Cancer, whether it is a friend, mother, daughter, sister, cousin. This devastating disease touches everyone in some way or another. Please join us for this weeked of fun that is also to fight the good fight against a deadly enemy. The proceeds for this event will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation. There will be fun, prizes, a goody bag and lots of laughter, shared stories and maybe even a tear or two. Maybe - we will even get a page or two done in our scrapbooks! Bring a little card or momento to put on our "Memory Board" to support our loved ones - past and present -who have been affected by breast cancer. As Ford Motor Company says in their support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation: We can all be "Warriors in Pink". We at the 'Yap want to help this wonderful foundation which was begun because a sister wanted to honor and remember a sister.
So.........join us at the 'Yap on Saturday, September 27 from 10:00AM- 10:00PM and on Sunday September 28 from 9:00AM -5:00PM for 18 hours of scrapping fun, laughter, food and friends. WHERE? Scrap n' Yap 830/840 S. Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016 626.357.2727 WHEN? Saturday, September 27 & Sunday September 28, 2008 TIME? Saturday - 10AM - 10PM Sunday 9AM - 5PM COST? $80.00 per person FOOD? OH! YES! 3 meals on Saturday and 2 on Sunday!! You will NOT starve! ( if you want to bring something to share - no one will mind!) Call now and become a "Warrior in Pink" at the 'YAP!

TGIF Everyone!!! This week, Michelle Pearson, one of our Design Team members, will again be heading up our newest Friday Challenge today which is to incorporate rub-ons on your project. Here's what I created for this challenge:




Do please stop by to check us out and play along. 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!!

Embellish-Online is still having their $5 off 12x12 Basic Grey Paper Packs sale.

I never do these competitions simply because I never make the time to scrap during the week. Shoot, for most of you that know me, I just am not a speedy gonzalez type of scrapper! lol...so when my friends Karen and Eva told me about this little 6 week class competition, I thought, sure why not?

So for 6 weeks, there will be a class (to me its more like challenges) at BadGirlsKits and we students have to create a layout based on the class, post it and see if we are allowed to continue to the next week. So its almost like Survivor, but for scrapping. :)

This first week, thankfully I got to "class" on time to be there for roll call, and I created this layout using the class directive to "layer." All the materials came from my friend Kari's Urban-Anthology debut monthly kit called "Who's That Cutie?"

There's definitely alot of layering going on here. All the papers were distressed with my SU distressing tool and then inked with my brown Versafine ink pad. There are chipboard layers, hand cut elements layered (my leaves were hand crumpled, distressed inked and pop dotted underneath the branch), prima flower layers, photo mat layers, title work layers, etc. I think I've fulfilled my class assignment. Wish me luck girls that the judges pass me to next week's Bad Girls Academy class.



Here is a detailed look....



Wish me luck, girls, for the competition!

I'll be teaching this VACATION themed Envelope Accordian Album Class which will feature the Heidi Swapp Travel World line this Sunday, Sept 14th from 2:30-5PM for $45 at Scrap 'N Yap.

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.

If you want to sign up, please call Scrap 'N Yap to register. See ya soon!

I"m so proud and honored to call Karen my friend. You see, I first became aware of Karen at one of my local scrap stores here in SoCal because her work was often displayed in the store. My, my, my, what an inspiration her work was, and still is, for me. I often took pictures of her work to lift in some capacity later, so I had the name "Karen Maldonado" engraved in my head.

Then one day, at an all day crop, I happened to sit next to two ladies whom I had never met at a table cluster of 4. My friend Susan and I are very social girls, so all day long we chatted with these two new ladies. We all got along so well with sharing tools, supplies and ideas all day. We just grooved so well together. Finally, it occured to me to introduce ourselves. Well, guess who one of those ladies was? it was THEEEEE "Karen Maldonado!" Goodness gracious!!

The rest, as they say, is history. We've been friends for awhile now and attend various crops often, and all of our respective mutual friends all get along too. How fun is that!!??

I stalk Karen's work online, you see, because she does live quite aways from me and is some sort of speedy gonzalez with the number of layouts and projects she completes on a weekly basis! I'm soo very blessed to call Karen my friend, because I do think she's an amazing person in addition to being a very talented and prolific scrapper. What would I do without Karen???

This month, Karen has been annointed with the Pick of the Month award over at Moments-2-Remember which is soooo very well deserved. She's my Scrap Idol, you see! How cute is this virtual charm that Karen gets to keep in her siggie line??









I can't mention Moments-2-Remember, what I call the "Charmed Place" due to their virtual charm bracelet recognition program and, of course, it truly is one of the most charming places to be, without congratulating M2R's owner, Robin, for the arrival of her new grand daughter. Congratulations Robin!!

And Congratulations Karen!!

Man, its like all the cosmos have aligned on this very day, Friday, the 5th, or something because there are lots of releases today to share. So please get comfy in your seats. I've got lots to share with you today.

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First up is Paper Popsicles. Today, September 5th, is the big reveal for our design team projects using the second set of September kits from Paper Popsicles.

Now, you're probably thinking....Already?? Didn't she just debut her projects recently??

Paper Popsicles is releasing these second set of kits in order to synch up the kit month with the actual calendar month the kits will be available for purchase and ship (i.e. September kits will now be ready to order and ship on Sept 1st, etc.). There is no subscription required. Kits will ship in a few business days after payment. We're all very excited with these awesome changes. Melissa really listens to her customers...so be sure to stop by the message board and join in the fun!

I've been lurking on this wonderful card sketch blog for many months now and finally had the courage to give it a try as I was working with my Paper Popsicles Sept "The Year 1974" kit. So this isn't a sneak peek, since I'm not allowed to release anything before the official reveal date, lol, so I guess I'll have to squeeze out one more card for Paper Popsicles.

Here is this week's challenge from 2 Sketches 4 You.

And here is my take on it. Miraculously, I knew exactly where I had those straw hats that I've had for yeaarrs and was glad to give my little penguin some shade. It definitely has been both hot and humid out here in SoCal. This little guy just makes me smile from ear to ear cuz he's so darn cute!!!


Materials Used: All papers and alpha stickers are from the
Paper Popsicles "The Year 1974" Sept kit, Penguin stamp is from Imaginesce avail at both Paper Popsicles and Embellish-Online, Martha Stewart border punch and EK Success 1 3/4" circle punch, Ink was Versafine in Black. Flowers, buttons, ribbons, ric rac, chalk and straw hat are all from my own stash.

I did get to play with my new Cuttlebug embossing borders that I just got from Embellish-Online. I looove them and it was fun breaking out my Big Shot again!