Thursday, August 19, 2010



Perhaps you've heard the buzz all week long. Yup it's time for another crazy Catscrap Shindig! I really am not sure anyone quite throws a party like Catscrap. They are so super generous with the prizes. And this party is the biggest of 'em all. Happy 4th Birthday Catscrap!!

And just cause I gotcha here, I'm gonna take a minute to show you this impressive party schedule -


And I bet most of you are here for the blog hop. But of course before you get...I must give...we will be having CHATs. Yay!!



Oh and if a chat is not your game, there are tons of challenges and games in the forum. And you soo wanna win the goods. There is so much new wonderfulness in the store and a new collab next week with a guest designer whose store initials are PP. (But you didn't hear that from me.)

So yes, yes...the time has come...I hope I don't disappoint...(love comments by the way :)):
Here is the original-



And here is the QP-



You can download this baby here: My Beautiful Blog Page
This sweet little page was brought to you by the new Catscrap Collab Fall Reverie! (Free with $10 purchase)

Then you can mozy on over to Tez's Blog. Then head on back for some Catscrap Party Games!!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans

I've spent more than half my childhood and college years on the Gulf of Mexico. First in St. Petersburg and then in New Orleans. And there is just something so special about that body of water. So it was so depressing to see the oil seeping out and knowing how awful a disaster is like that.

So when Sara Gleason asked me to be a part of promoting a Charity Collab designed to support the efforts in cleaning up the Gulf, there were tears in my eyes.

And then I went to download the kit...and holy crumoly smackaroly!! This is literally the largest download of goodies that I have ever had the pleasure to download. Wow oh wow. I made 3 layouts (which by the way I have never done with a kit) and literally could make at least 3 more.

So for those two gigantic reasons I would sooooo recommend to anyone that they should run on over to After5 and pick it up. Definitely a win for the scrapper and win for the environment too.

And in case I did not convince you, here is the press release:



For more than 90 days, oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico before the leak was finally "capped" in late July. It is estimated that approximately 4.9 million barrels (or 205.8 million gallons) of oil spilled into the waters. It has been one of the biggest environmental disasters in decades. Hundreds of miles of beaches, wetlands, and estuaries along the northern Gulf Coast have been impacted. The spill, though temporarily "capped", continues to cause extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats as well as the Gulf's fishing and tourism industries. Families are without work and marine and land animals continue to suffer. And there are still many unknowns about the long term effects of the oil and of chemical disbursements used in attempts to curtail the flow and impact upon the regional coastline and waters.

Forty-five designers across the digital scrapbooking community have united with one shared cause: to raise awareness and to support recovery efforts for the environment and those impacted by this tragic disaster.

Participating designers include: Aja Abney, Amy Martin, Biograffiti, Boutique Cute Dolls, Createwings Designs, Deena Rutter, Designs by Cindy Schneider, Designs by Crystal Livesay, Dido Designs, Dunia Designs, Emily Merritt Designs, Fiddle Dee Dee Designs, Fizzy Pop Designs, FruitLoOp Sally Designs, Laurie Ann (Heaven's Gate Designs), Holliewood Studios, Holly Designs, Holly Spring Designs, Jazzmin Designs, Jennifer Barrette Designs, Jacque Larsen, Juliana Kneipp Designs, Kay Miller Designs, Kaye Winiecki, Kitty Designs, Kristin Aagard Designs, Lauren Grier, Leora Sanford, Loreta Labarca, Micheline Martin, Nikki Beaudreau, Paislee Press, One Little Bird Designs, Sabrina Dupre, Sahlin Studio, Sarah Cornish of My 4 Hens Photography, Shabby Miss Jenn, Studio Basic Designs, Sugarplum Paperie, Tickled Pink Studios, Tiny Toes Designs, Tracie Stroud, Vera Lim, Vinnie Pearce, and zinnias and swallowtails.

Hands Across the Gulf is our heartsong for this cause. This gorgeous kit representing the varied styles of the scrapping community, is positively overflowing with beautiful papers, unique elements, templates and Photoshop actions. All told, designers have contributed more than 100 papers and 200 elements, 2 full alphas, 18 templates, and 4 PS actions to Hands Across the Gulf.

Available for sale for one month only, 100% of the proceeds from this kit will be donated to the National Wildlife Federation and to the United Way's Gulf Recovery Fund.

Hands Across the Gulf arrives Sunday 15 August 2010 at After Five Designs.

So now maybe a little eye candy from me:






























Yes I do miss New Orleans. There is something magical about that place and it makes me so sad to see them go through so much! (By the way the photo is not mine so here is the TOU stuffs - Copywrite 2010 Roy Tennant Freelargephotos.com.)



































I have to say this is like one of my fav. templates ever. And that is saying alot since I have access to the best in the business!

Hey why are you still here...go now...click on the link now...

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
I'm in love with the Mailman this week!! Now yes, I've been stalking him for the sketchbook, but lo and behold, he brought me another surprise too!!

See this, this is the realization of a dream. It's been hard work, sweat, tears and worry. It all started, such a LONG TIME AGO, when I first opened my very first issue of Creating Keepsakes. I was thrilled, amazed, but most of all I said I want to create art like that!!! So yes, it has finally happened, I've been published in CK!! Yay Me.

Now I can't help think that all dogs have a lucky day now and then, but Thank you soooo much editors of CK. IT is such an honor!!


Now see this? This next item is creating such calamity with my emotions, lol. On the one hand I am so excited to get this project started. And on the other hand, if I start this project, I might ruin it. Yup this is for real. So I'm working up the nerve (and to be quite honest, I've been scrapping like a maniac) to crack it open and get busy. I'm sure excited will win sooner than later.
Now that you've waited, I've got good news for you too!! CHAT at the Lilypad!!!


Tomorrow, Friday the 13th at 7pm Central. There will be prizes too!!
See I told you it was worth the wait.
Hope to see you there!!

Thursday, August 5, 2010





Yay. Sketchbook has been sent!! Thanks Steve and Shane! Also learned there are 10,000 signed up. Wow. It's a good thing it's not a competition.

Here is a little more practice. This time practicing shadow and pattern from what I saw at Sarah's Band School:


Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Another random post. But I do have to say that when I decided to do a blog, I really didn't want it to be Wall of Torn Advertisements. I mean I super love all that I create for (I mean really, how lucky am I!!). But what I really want to explore is my artistic adventure. So on to my latest adventure:

It's been years since I sketched. Like 20 years maybe. But I've been inspired -

The Sketchbook Project
So for my birthday, I've signed up. I'm joining in and hoping for the best. Sure there is amazing artists joining in, sure the Brooklyn Gallery will be displaying it for all to see, but I'm stepping out naked and not perfect making the plunge.

And I'm so so very excited. My theme for the book is "I'm Sorry I Forgot You". I totally relate to this topic. I was totally traumatized by my parents forgetting me once and have since left my daughter somewhere. I know what sorry is! But I'm not sketching this rather personally tragic but publicly boring idea. Instead I have come up with some other ideas
- Sketch all the things I have left behind as I've aged (like perky boobs)
- "Forget" the book everywhere and let others sketch (this feels like cheating)
- Sketch a love letter to my DH (which feels a little odd since I doubt he would love it)
- Sketch a landfill will all kinds of junk left behind (maybe sketch it aging with somethings going back to the earth and some not) (This one feels pretty fake to since I don't recycle)

If you are reading this (and I'm not sure you are) let me know which one you like best!

So Yes I know I am an amateur so no heckling please (unless it is really funny, cause you know I love to laugh!):

Practice 8/3/10

Check out the web site. Super cool!! I could look at all the sketches forever. (well not mine, lol.) If you join in, or are blogging/flickr let me know. I would love company.