New Toy

As I mentioned before, I just got the Silhouette Cameo machine. It is nothing short of FABULOUS!! I am not usually one for 'cutesy' designs but how can you resist this Parrot? These photos are from our vacation in Tybee Island when a parrot scared the daylights out of my daughter. She wasn't expecting such a loud squeak to come out of the bird! What better way to put that Cameo to work than to cut out a multi-cut/colored parrot? I think he is adorable!!



Daughter and I are going to spend the day cutting out gymnastics designs for her walls! I can't wait...a toy we can both enjoy!

The News

I have been selected to join the design team over at My Scraps and More. SO EXCITED!! Tammi is the owner and she is awesome! The turn around time on ordering from her site and receiving the goods is amazing. The pricing and deals can't be beat. She carries my absolute favorite manufacturers: Crate, My Minds Eye, Cosmo, Basic Grey...and so many more. On top of all of that....the women on the forum are fabulous!! Such a welcoming and talent group of ladies. At the very least, stop on over and say hello!! Right now we are having a month long "Lift It" Crop -- I have posted a number of my lifts over the past week.

Today I'll share the layout I submitted for the DT call --- I loved how easily this one came together for me. The weathered wood paper was perfect for our Arizona horseback riding picture and those old October Afternoon and Cosmo papers have been sitting in my scraps pile for months but I couldn't bring myself to throw them out. So glad I hadn't!

Life Today

This past seven or so days have been a blur. We...

• had Hannah's gymnastics team over for a sleepover. I turned into a drill sergeant around 1:00am when the seven girls were still awake. Giggles were heard as I left the room so at least they didn't take my foul mood too personally. BTW the boys ran and headed to Atlantic City for the night and following day -- good thinking on their part!
• spent an hour an a half at the pediatrician's on Monday b/c Hannah had broken out in a rash during school....turns out she has strep. -- Good thing we had just had the gym team over! I let all of the parents know and so far no one has gotten sick that I know of.
• have gone to bed every night this week by 9:30pm, myself included .. hope I'm not getting sick as well!
• [I] got some awesome news from My Scraps and More!!
• had the sitter cancel last minute so I had to leave work 2 1/2 hours early to take care of school pick-up.
• are off tomorrow!! Teacher in-service day so I am staying home with the kids.
• will spend tomorrow getting the car inspected, running some overdue errands, and playing with my new scrap toy:

So mine doesn't have the cute little peacock on it but excited all the same! I have already cut out a couple of gymnastics things for Hannah to decorate her room!

Many Loves

I have many loves...my children, reading, chocolate, scrapbooking, photography....this past weekend I think I indulged in all of them. In fact, three of them worked quite well together this past weekend! I am taking an online photography course and had a weekend assignment. I had to photograph a person or thing in five different settings. In the house, in front of a window, outside in shade, outside in sun, and outside in indirect light. My youngest jumped at the chance to pose for mom. I love that she hasn't outgrown that --- even at six she still loves to be my little model. Well, with photo assignment complete, I rushed in and printed out a few of the pictures. There were a few shots that captured the light in her eye and with this Color Room sketch and color palette in mind, I set to work.





And the end result: