My net was intermittent and mostly down this past weekend so I'm playing catchup with my bloggity blog tonight. I'm shooing away the janitorial staff here at work so that I can blog in peace!!!

It looks like the Nook's site is down due to some site upgrading work, so I'd like to share my Layout Page class here. (Whew! I had just posted my class on the message board, and then the board didnt' work anymore! lol...surely I didn't break it right?)


Materials Needed: (from Nook's May Kit)
* Lily Bee Diagonal Striped PP
* Lily Bee Olive Green with Squiggly lines like clouds PP
* Bazzil Blue Embossed Cardstock
* Lily Bee Brown with white birds PP
* Lily Bee Frame Die Cuts
* Lily Bee Olive Green with trees PP (you will need 2x2 of this)
* Scallop Edge Scissors/Border Punch
* Maya Road (one each of tree and tree shrubs) chipboard
* A few pieces of blue Kaiser bling (I used 4 gems on my layout)
* 3 of the Puffy Velvet Maya Road flowers
* BG Chipboard alpha
* 2 blue or coordinating colored buttons
* Pencil (not included in kit)
* Creative Chaos Journalling Spots (not included in kit)
* Prima Flower Vine (not included in kit)

Step 1: Trim off the top portion of the "clouds" of the olive green pp by cutting along the squiggly lines


Step 2: Prepare the other PP's by cutting them to size.

* Trim off 4 x 12 inches of the diagonal striped pp
* Trim off 1.5 x 12 inch of the diagonal striped PP
* Trim off 1.5 x 12 inch of the Bazzill embossed cardstock

Step 3: Use a scalloped edge pair of scissors or border punch to create a scalloped border on the Bazzill embossed cardstock like this:


Step 4: Glue the scalloped Blue embossed cardstock (with scallops facing towards bottom of the page) onto the diagonally striped 1.5 x 12 inches border, so that the straight edge of the blue cardstock is flush with the border of the diagonally striped pp.

Then glue the straight edge bottom of the Green Olive PP on top of this newly prepared blue cardstock/diagonally striped border like this:


Step 5: Glue the larger piece of the olive green paper that now has a squiggly border on top of the 4 x 12 diagonal striped PP you cut out in Step #2 like this:


Step 6: Pop out the Pink label shaped Frame die from the die cut paper.

Use the negative opening to trace a 2nd shape with your pencil onto the back side of the diagonally striped paper that you have left - the back side is the baby blue with white polka dots.

Trace it and cut it out.


Step 7: Adhere your Blue with white polka dots and Pink label shaped frames onto your page like this (or however it better suits your pictures):


Step 8: I thought for an extra oomp, I wanted to add another patterned paper and color to tie in the brown of the tree I'm going to add a bit later, so I trimmed off an "L" shape (its about 1.5 inches width) from the brown with white birds PP like this:

Step 9: I trimmed about .5 inches from the left and top edges of my layout that was already put together so that I could attach this brown "L" shape for added interest like this:

Step 10: Add pictures onto your page by playing up the label shaped photo frames you created:

Step 11: Now add journalling spots (these were not included in the kit and came from my own stash)

Step 12:Paint one of the Maya Road tree stumps brown with some brown acrylic paint. Cover one of the tree shrubbery "clouds" with that Lily Bee Olive Green pp with the trees on it.

TIP: I use UHU gluestick to adhere the pp's to the chipboard, and then use my BG file set to ensure clean edges of my covered chipboard.

Step 13: Now add your prepared tree, Maya Road fabric flowers, buttons, BG alphas to the layout like this to finish up your layout.

I also added a Prima viney flower from my own stash to the layout.

TIP: I added some blue Kaiser bling to cover the button holes for some added interest.

Voila! You're done!

Hope you enjoyed the class! If you enjoyed this kit featuring Lily Bee, please check out our May Kit at the Nook to get one for yourself! :) I'll be back with a few more projects from this really sweet and pretty May kit this week.



"Doing Lunch (on a Friday Afternoon)"
Paper: Lily Bee "Three Little Birds" PP; Bazzil Swiss Dots CS
Embellishments: Lily Bee "3 Little Birds" Frame Die Cuts; Maya Road Velvet Flowers & Chipboard; Misc Buttons; Kaiser Bling; MM Milk Chocolate "Piper" alpha Chipboard; Prima Vine Flowr; Creative Chaos "Perfect Little Labels" Journalling Spot
Accessories: SU Scalloped Border Punch

Its been a long time since I've gotten to choose exactly every single item I want to scrap with since I've scored my DT gigs, so its a bit nerve wracking to do it all from scratch! But ooooh so giddy I was last week.

I saw that The Pink Elephant had an Inspirational Play Along for May using this as a spring board for some creativity:


So when I saw these papers from the new Glitz line called Sparrow last week during my lunch hour, I was hooked!! I was so inspired by a particular layout that was created by the Glitz owners that was being taught at a wonderful lss I had never been to before (Sonja's Scrapbook Shop is located in the LAX area near my alma mater Loyola Marymount), but I wanted to do my own thing to it and make it more ME. I drove back to the store after work the same day to get them because I just couldn't get this gorgeous line out of my head!

Here's my layout:


And here's what I scrap lifted from (its piled on top of their other two layouts that were going to be taught in the class, and I just loved how that darker purple based pp looked, so I decided to incorporate that darker purple pp onto my layout):

In mine, I did add a few more things....lol. More strips of paper from the same Glitz Sparrow line and I did add a journalling spot from Creative Chaos from Jenn's Perfect Little Labels in White Set to commemorate the date.

tfl!


"Beautiful & Exquisite"
Paper: Glitz "Sparrow" PP; Bazzil CS with an EdgeEmbellishments: Glitz "Sparrow" Cardstock Journalling Stickers & Rubons; Glitz Ornate Frame Rubons & Cardstock Frame Stickers; Glitz & Prima Bling; Prima & Misc Fabric/Felt Flowers; MAMBI "Beautiful" word Bling; American Crafts "Getty" alpha stickers; Creative Chaos "Perfect Little Labels" Journalling Spot
Accessories: SU Retired "Lexicon of Love" Text Stamp; Colorbox "Yellow Citrus" & "Tangerine" Chalk Cats Eye; Versafine Black Ink

the preview of Marks Paper Company English Garden line?

It's Stacy Mark's new Spring Line for Marks Paper Company.

I think Stacy must have a line to my head and she just knows what I love! Its so soft, pretty and shabby! I love it and can't wait to get my hands on it. Here are a few sneak peeks to whet your taste buds...

And Die Cuts...

And Covered Buttons...

If you love this sneak peek, click here to see the rest of the entire line.

He he....just wanted to pop in today to share a few toots! Jackie, who was on the DT with me when we were both at Paper Popsicles last summer, contacted me about a layout I created, also last year, and wants to have it published in an upcoming issue of ScrapStreet EZine. How cool is that? I can't share the layout with you as I've just signed and sent off the release agreement. The layout that's being pubbed is entitled "14 lbs Lost" that I created using lots of goodies from an older Poppy Ink monthly kit. I'm stoked! Thanks so much Jackie! I'll be on the look out for it sometime in July or August.

The 2nd toot is from one of the cutest little challenge blogs evah! ~ The Pink Elephant. Thanks so much Lori, Robin, Tina and everyone at TPE! You guys are sooo cute!! Thank you for choosing my layout as one of the top 5 of the week. I will wear this badge PROUDLY!!

The layout I created for My Scrapbook Nook, featuring Jim from the April Nook Kit incorporated lots of distressed scallops and circles, which was just what was called for in TPE's Challenge #13 was chosen as one of the top 5 this week. :)

I just wanted to share with all of you an amazing opportunity!! The Cuttlebug Challenge blog will be having a drawing for a couple of awesome prizes! If you participate in any (or all) of the challenges on the Cuttlebug Challenge blog during the month of May, you will be entered into the drawing for either one of these prizes:
An Epson Artisan 700 All-In-One Printer plus three months' supply of ink cartridges or
A Cricut Expression with an additional cartridge (along with the two that is already included with the machine!) plus a caddy from Scrapcessories.
Winners will be announced on June 1st! You will have all month long to participate. Just be sure to add a link to your project for each challenge you complete onto the Mr. Linky widget in the appropriate challenge post. The more you participate the more chances you have to win!

Sure wish I was eligible to win! lol! Good Luck ladies!

Sniff! Sniff!!

With this blog post, I'm so very sad because its my very last gallery share with you girls for Embellish-Online.

This month, May, is my last month of my DT term with Embellish-Online. I can't tell you what a blast I've had with these ladies: Barb (owner), Suzy (DT Leader), Michelle, Debbie, Daniela, Cindy, Julie, and Norma. Embellish-Online was one of the very first Design Team positions I was selected for. I've learned so much and have grown so much, especially as a card maker. It is because of these girls at Embellish-Online that I jumped on the Copics bandwagon. So yes, I have them to blame for enabling me. :)

Barb and Suzy, thank you for choosing me 10 months ago. I was a complete DT newbie and now look at my blog!! lol....thank you, thank you, thank you!! I've so enjoyed creating with all the fabulous and yummy things you've carried in your store. I'll definitely be a continuing customer at Embellish-Online. Love that EIO always has a coupon code for 20% off - coupon code is "Glitter" folks!

I want to congratulate EIO's new incoming Design Team members who start their term in June:
1. Suzy Haghighi (DT Coordinator and DT Member)
2. Michelle Pearson (EI Blog writer, DT Member)
3. Julie Okada (Returning DT Member)
4. Cindy Motherway (Returning DT Member)
5. Christine Ousley
6. Kim Gruetzmacher
7. Danni Reid

Guest Designers:
June Lee Murphy
July Latisha Yoast
August Amanda Sewell
September Kim Prince
October Tracy Shultz
November Eva Dobilas *** Yeahhh!! Eva!!!
December Surpise! TBA

Ok, for this last month, I got to play with the new Craft Fair line from American Crafts for Embellish-Online.

My friends Susan and Kari have been going Cricut crazy since there was a HSN or QVC special on the Cricut Expressions the past couple of weeks, so with all the daily Cricut talk, they inspired me to pull out my baby bug for a spin. Hmm, well, I had to dust it off is more like it. LOL!

I knew when I saw this paper from American Crafts that I wanted to build a cityscape.


You can't see on my card that the buildings are pop dotted for dimension. The card base was made using my new Storybook cartridge.

For this second card, I had to cut out a smaller flower base from cricut again for this more teen inspired Pssst! Card.


Ok, I now have a few buildings cut out and was on the verge of creating a layout of being out and about, but then, well, I was at a crop at my lss, Scrap 'N Yap, when one of my friends' daughters came in before her playdate. Kamryn is a precocious as well as precious girl so I just HAD to create this stair step fold card that was inspired by her. You see, that day, Kamryn was going with her friend to the beach for a bike ride.

Now, while Kamryn is only 8 years old, here she is on this very cool vespa a la my retired SU stamp. This is my 2nd attempt at Copic coloring. I'm still having my color bleeding problem which I know is a paper problem.


So, I cut out my "Kamryn" and made her moveable by way of the pink grosgrain ribbon on this stair step fold card....he he he...its soooo much cuter in real life!! I also added in some die cut trees for a "Central Park" look with the new QK Reuse Limited Edition kit. (Its sold out at my lss, but thankfully, they had their small retailer kit that I got to use. I love those girls at the Yap!)

And here's a side view of little "Kamryn" scooting thru my Central Park in the City scene. Pull the little pink ribbon and she moves across the card. :)


This Kamryn in the City thinking about "Hello? Shopping for Today" card was inspired by the Bonus Sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You this week.

That was a fun card to make which I plan on giving to Kamryn. And I made this little embellished clear pillow box to hold some candies for her when I give her the card.




If you enjoyed my cards and want the Craft Fair paper line from American Crafts that I used, please visit Embellish-Online here to get yours. Don't forget to use that coupon code!!



"Call Me, What's Up?"
Paper: American Crafts "Craft Fair" & "Teen" PPEmbellishments: American Crafts "Teen" Stickers
Accessories: Cricut Storybook Cartridge; Sizzix Scallop Circle Die; Foam Pop Dots

"Psst!"
Paper: American Crafts "Craft Fair" & "Teen" PP
Embellishments: Misc Ribbon
Accessories: Cricut Storybook Cartridge; Sizzix Scallop Circle #2 Die; Quickutz Thought Bubble Die; Foam Pop Dots

"Hello Shopping!...Today"
Paper: American Crafts "Craft Fair" & "Teen" PP; Bazzil CS; Prima (leafy trees) PPEmbellishments: American Crafts "Teen" Stickers; HS Bling: SU Pink Pirouette Grosgrain Ribbon
Accessories: Copic Markers; SU Retired "Spring Into Paris" Stamp; Quickutz "Reuse" Limited Edition Die Set; Foam Pop Dots

Yep, we're having a big Scrap Off Contest over at the Nook. The prize is a 6 month DT Term and a few Guest DT spots. Yep, keep reading!

If you choose to participate you will be in for five weeks of excitement, inspiration, challenges, and on your toes competition. One lucky winner will walk away with. . . wait no, actually, she'll STICK AROUND as a permanent member of the DT for the next 6 month term! Two more talented ladies will also play on filling guest designer spots!

Innovation, cleverness, creativity and lighting fast typing are skills you will need over the next few weeks! From May 5th until May 26th you will be battling it out over points. These points will be earned by completing weekly challenges and various other minor challenges/games that may crop up. Weekly challenges will earn a set number of points- plus, each DT member will chose her favorite project and those chosen will receive extra points. Completion of all challenges is absolutely not necessary (and possibly impossible) but the more you scrap and play, the higher your points will be which is important because. . .

On May 26th- YOU will vote on your favorite projects (and everyone will earn or lose points based on these votes), and these votes will eliminate half of the players from the game. The next round (the 26th-June 5th) is key for those remaining as we will dramatically narrow down to a final few. . .

The Final Few on June 5th will get until June 8th to show us what they've got in one awesome final project, and winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

Check out the Nook and play along. Be sure to tell them that Ching sent ya! Thanks! :) Good Luck!

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!!

I hope you all are having a lovely day with your families. I was blessed to have been invited by my sister-in-law to join an early Mother's Day outing with her and my mom this past Thursday at the Huntington Gardens. We walked through the gardens while looking through the art exhibits and then enjoyed a lovely tea lunch in their Rose Garden Tea Room.


I took a few days off from work to just decompress and its been a relaxing 4 day weekend so far. Its been awhile since I've updated my blog with scrappy work, so I'm making up for loss time today and I'll have a few more to share with you through out the week. :)


Here's what I created with the April kit from the Nook:

This first one is of my best friend Jim. I've known Jim, it seems for forever, since I walked on that first bus trip to Mammoth with my ski club 13 years ago with a pillow. (See, I was much much MUCH thinner back then, and he saw the big pillow first before me, so its our running joke.) Jim suffered a stroke approximately 3 years ago and has been making incredibly strides in his recovery. We recently went out and had Chinese for lunch before we went out for a movie. It was great seeing how self proficient he is now. Jim, I know you're reading this because I'm going to send you a link to this blog post. Remember, you flashed me in your hospital bed back in Dec 06? You don't remember it, but I will forever have your er...body seared into my memory!! Thank you very much! not! LOL, anyway, yes...we will be going on a trip soon together Jim...I can feel it, its very soon! Jim, we need to do something OUTSIDE of North America next time. (That's what the journalling on the layout says.)


This "Jim" layout features tons of distressed scallops and a big circle which is just what the current challenge over at The Pink Elephant was calling for. :) That site is such a cute challenge site.

The second layout is of my BFF's Susan and Kari. We had a FABULOUS time together at Disneyland on New Year's Eve. I know it was very tiring for them doing Disney all in one day as they're both annual pass holders whereas I'm not. So, being the energizer bunny that I still am, I usually pack it all into one day, once a year. Thanks you two for being such troopers and for your friendship. I just love this picture of all of us.

I did add some swirly bling and Prima Woodstalk flowers from my own stash. I thought this butterfly kraft journalling tag, from Creative Chaos' "This and That" set which will be debuted on Jenn's etsy site on May 11th, was the perfect feminine touch for this rich layout I created using the Nook kit.


Definitely check out the gallery to see what the other Nook DT's created with this fabulously gorgeous kit!

Here's the Nook's May Kit which features all this Lilly Bee yumminess!! I just received this in the mail last week, so I'm diving into this one today and will hopefully have something to share in a few days.

Those Lily Bee papers, those little diecut papers and that Webster's Pages trim ~ all to die for! That is the most gorgeous trim. You really have to see it in real life. As always the kit's packed full of goodies with some of my favorites, like the Basic Grey chipboard alphas, Maya Road chipboard trees and velvet flowers, and a handful of bling and buttons. Pure yumminess!


We also have this adorable mini kit featuring French Couture from Lily Bee too as an add on kit.


Would you like a 6 month DT position over at My Scrapbook Nook ? Check us out and play along in our month long Scrap Off to win that DT position. We're having a series of challenges for 5 weeks. Lots of fun and great prizes, including a six month term on the design team! Now that's a prize worth playing for! :)



"Jim"
Paper: Pink Paislee "Captivating" PP & Prima Packaging (Repurposed)
Embellishments: Pink Paislee "Captivating" Die Cuts (Sticker Book) & Brads; American Crafts Alpha Stickers; Prima & Petaloo Flowers; American Crafts Ribbon; Maya Road Sheers
Accessories: Embroidery Floss; Versafine Brown Ink; SU Distressing Tool

"Susan, Me & Kari"
Paper: Pink Paislee "Captivating" PP; Jenni Bowlin Black Dictionary PP
Embellishments: Pink Paislee "Captivating" Alphabet (Sticker Book); Prima Bloom Bonnet and Woodstalk Flowers; Prima Bling; Maya Road Sheers; Creative Chaos Journalling Tag
Accessories: Versafine Brown Ink; SU Distressing Tool; HS Poking Tool