I know everyone has a favorite manufacturer of scrapbook products. My friends all know that mine is Hambly Studios. I love that they are different, and a small family type company, all their products are made right here in the good ol' USA. I had the EXTREME pleasure of going to visit their studios yesterday. I had set up a time to come meet the fabulous Allison and talk to her about our WISHFEST event coming up in September, and to talk to her about teaching a class for us at MDW. Coming up to the building it is very unassuming warehouse type place. A small sign indicated that we were there. As you walk in, there are paper holders that have EVERY type of paper and overlay they carry.. can we say "AAAAHHHHHH"... scrappers heaven! Allison came and greeted us and she is a doll.. so cute, down to earth and just so happy to show us around. Seeing the overlays made is incredible. The huge machines. The great workers with big smiles.. you can tell this is a great company to work for! We even got to see how rubons are made! Have you ever noticed that their papers have a sweet smell to them? Well, I found out that they put a trace of VANILLA in the ink for the papers! How cool is that? We were able to see how Allison gets her designs and the ins and outs of the company. What a wonderful treat to be able to do this! We were even able to spend time with MR. HAMBLY himself. What a sweet sweet man.. The company is everything I expected and more! Look for Allison to teach at MDW on November 8th, and also look out for MDW in the Hambly newsletter next month! Silly me had forgotten my camera.. duh! I was so excited to get there, I left it at home.. but wow what an experience I will never forget, thanks so much to Allison and everyone at Hambly!

I want to first say THANKS to everyone that came and took my Inspiration class! I know it was a lot of little things, but I am so happy people stuck through it and left with a completed book. Big shout to Sheri, for being my TA. I couldn't have done it without her help, we would have been there till midnight.
I was lucky enough to actually have a few hours all to myself on Sunday afternoon, and I was INSPIRED! I had this project on my to-do list for a few weeks, and just couldn't figure out what I wanted. WOW did it come to me and I just worked my hands all afternoon. They were all orange, black and had some dried hot glue on them, but I felt soo good when I was done! I don't know how you feel but wow I was a happy girl all night because I finished from start to finish. I can't wait to do this class! I know you all have see the Doodlebug magazine ads. I personally think they are one of the best most creative ads I have ever seen. I knew when I saw these houses, that I needed to do one for Halloween and Christmas. Here is my Halloween version and I used Making Memories, Daisy D's, paint and ink. I am really happy with the result. The class won't be until October 6th, but sign up early! Hope to see some of you there!

Happy Friday everyone! Wow, did I ever get caught up in a big gossip thing this week. The whole Stacy Julian email and the hubub about her comments and BPS. It was one of those things, where you are reading a message board, it references another site, then another, and all of a sudden two hours later and you have no idea where you are on the internet. How many times has this happened to you??? Its sad that something like that got out in the public, but more sad that someone you respect says comments like that about us scrappers. For me, online classes would never work cause I am a touchy feely person and I love interaction with people in classes or crops. I spend too much time as it is on the internet. I love the relationships and fiding out what is new and hip in our world, but it is time away from our families and our craft. Whilst roaming around I found this blog Scrapsmack and this lady tells it as it is. I respect that she has the guts to say what is really going on.. You go girl!
For today I'll share a layout challenge I did from my girl Wendy, and our little group, IT Girls. It was a challenge to use Grey in our layouts.. here is mine.. If your interested in joining our little group.. see here.. It Girl Media!

Well I'd like to introduce you to TULA! She is our brand new baby! She is 3 months old and she is a Doberman/Lab mix and she is a doll! We love her so much.. she loves Rocky and Tony, and we are having a great day getting to know her..

I can't believe its been over a week without a post. Life sure does get busy and mixed up as I am sure everyone goes through it. This past week I just haven't had the time to be creative for me. But, I made a point yesterday to complete a project about ME! I was worried so much about everything else in my life and family and I didn't take the time I needed for me. Scrapbooking and creating really makes me a HAPPIER person, and I feel like I have accomplished something if I get to "play" a little bit every few days. I just didn't have that this past week and it showed.

So, I am making a pact with myself to take the time to just be at my space and create something or play with a product. I did that last night and it felt so good! I didn't know what would come out of it or if it would turn out nice, but it was fun to experiment and just let it happen! Try it this week! Take out a product and just try different things you can do to it or with it!

This is one of my favorite acrylic books I've made. Its a 6x12, my absolute favorite size! I can't wait to make a book this size, I am going to try tonight with a zutter. Its such a fun and funky size. These are all pictures of my "younger" years that are my favorites. I used the Love, Elsie Lola line, a bunch of alcohol inks (my favorite product to play with right now), felt, Hambly overlays, ribbon and rubons. These are my favorite colors, so this book made me smile. I hope you enjoy it too!

I have a suprise hopefully to share with everyone tomorrow... stay tuned.. hint.. its tiny, soft and precious!

Happy Thursday everyone! I am very excited to say that I am now the Lead Designer/Class Coordinator at My Daughters Wish. I'll be helping Sheri keep organized, on her toes and help our new Design Team become integrated to the store! There is so much going on with MDW. If you don't know, the store is moving in September. We are moving to a place that actually has a parking lot! I am very excited about it. I visited the empty space yesterday and it has really good vibes. If you aren't on the MDW email list, please get on it for all the details about this and the fabulous event coming up for the grand opening, WISHFEST! Also, if you don't know about the design team search check the BLOG for the info or just email me!

I finished my class sample for "What Inspires You?" which will be held on August 25th at 1:30pm. Come join us for this fantastic journey to document what inspires you!

Happy Sunday! I have had a fun weekend, spent yesterday scrapping/teaching/creating so it was a very happy day. This morning I took Tony to the "Little Farm" and Steam Trains in Tilden Park. He loves loves loves to feed the goats, cows and chickens.
I am a fan of the ScrapJacked gang and they have started a new "Jack" of Kristina Contes.. I thought I'd jump in and play.. my interepretation of her layout is very loose, but it gave me the inspiration to create this layout of Bianca.. I am still obsessed with Acrylic, but now am so intrigued by 6x12 layouts.. so I mixed the two. I used a bunch of alcohol inks on the edges, and buttons. So, Enjoy.. if you decide to do this jack, post a comment on my blog.. I'd love to see them too!

Well here it is! The Acrylic Wall Hanging! This is my next class at My Daughters Wish, and I am so excited for how great it turned out. Its a 12x12 layout with two 4x4 squares and one 4 inch circle acrylic piece. We'll use masks, alcohol ink, buttons, rubons and have a blast making this! The class is next Saturday August 11th at 1:30pm and will be $28. This is a really great price! Come join me next Saturday!

Hello Friends! I have so much to talk about and tell everyone! I am one busy lady and my plate is overflowing with creativity, teaching and all around scrap happiness! I can finally post my new layouts for Scrap for A Cure. This is with the new August Kit "Copa Cabana" and it rocks! I tell you this is the BEST kit I have ever had the pleasure of owning. The product rocks, and is so easy to work with. My buddies over there have a fantastic eye to pick products for this kit club. Best of all, a portion of the sale of each kit, not profits are donated to charity at the end of each quarter. For this first quarter, they have chosen St. Jude's Hospital. How much better can it get? You get fantastic fun product and you are helping out a charity, go support this kit club!

I have added another class to my list on the right sidebar! I am teaching my 5x5 Acrylic Book Class at YoungPlay Memories. It will be held on Saturday August 18th at 1pm. Come join us and make a fun Acrylic Book!

By the way, I will also be at the YoungPlay Memories Anniversary Crop doing a make and take, come by and make a fun little book with the Your Pictured Memor-ez products!