Monday, Monday . . .

Summer has officially started for us today.  The girls are out of school, and so begins the summer-o-fun!  For the next couple of weeks I'll be juggling kids' activities, work (the kind that I actually get paid for), and CHA projects. 

I have many CHA projects to complete in the next couple of weeks, so I'll have to find a way to speed up my normal SLOW scrapping process that involves dilly-dallying and spending 3-4 nights on one page.  No time for that now!   I'm reminded of the old I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel get a job at a chocolate factory wrapping chocolates.  Here's a YouTube clip:  I Love Lucy - Candy Wrapping Job.   When the chocolates began coming down the conveyer belt faster than they could wrap them, Lucy and Ethel started stashing the extra chocolates in their aprons, hats, down their shirts and even in their mouths (I like their thinking on that last one!).  When the supervisor came to check on Lucy and Ethel, she mistakenly believed that they were keeping up with the pace, so she yelled to the person at the beginning of the conveyer belt:  "SPEED IT UP A LITTLE!!!!"  So that's what I'll be hearing in my mind while I'm working on CHA projects for the next couple of weeks . . . speeeeeeeeeeeeed it up . . . no time for dilly dallying!   

Here's a canvas I made using gesso, paints, gauze and lots of Prima goodies:

 

Happy summer to you all!!

A couple of cards to share . . .

My current assignments are done, my scrap table has been cleaned off, and now I'm awaiting delivery of new scrapbooking products so I can start creating for CHA in July.  I'm ready!!   Today I have a couple of cards to share.

Lots of Prima goodies on this one. . .

 

I recently had the pleasure of playing around with some fun Lawn Fawn stamps.  Their stamps are absolutely adorable!!  Here's a card I made using the Bake Me a Cake set:

I love this set because there are different options for making birthday cakes, wedding cakes and even cupcakes.  Did someone say cupcakes??  Yum!

Thanks for stopping by!

A couple things to share . . .

I have lots of Prima and Creating Keepsakes projects I haven't yet shared here.  I'll be playing catch up over the next few weeks while I'm busy working on some upcoming projects and CHA booth work.   I'm very excited to see what new goodies Prima will be introducing for CHA this summer.  They never disappoint!

Here's a Prima layout I made based on this month's BAP.

Everything on this page is Prima except for this little mini bookplate.  I decided that I LOVE the size of the this tiny bookplate, but sadly it's made my Li'l Davis, which is no longer in business.  I have tons of larger bookplates, but this small size (about an 1.5 inches long and .5 of an inch tall) is perfect for small dates/ages and such.  If anyone knows of other manufacturers who make these teeny tiny metal bookplates, please let me know! 

I also want to tell you about an amazing event that I'm going to be teaching at here in Santa Monica, California in November, 2011:

Wouldn't it be wonderful to create projects while overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean?  This new event features a great line-up of introspective scrapbooking classes, talented teachers and wonderful sponsors (including Creating Keepsakes, Prima and American Crafts!).  Check out the CRAFT Beach Retreat site for more details.  Registration opens this Saturday, June 18th at 9am PST.  Space is very limited, so be sure and sign up early before it sells out!

Another year with Prima!

I'm so excited to share the news . . . I've been asked back for another year with Prima!!

Y'all know how much I love, love, love Prima, so being able to work with their gorgeous products for another term makes me very happy.   You can see the full Design Team announcement on the Prima blog.  Prima has chosen an amazingly talented international team for 2011-2012:

Sharon Laakkonen (DT Coordinator): http://sharonlaakkonen.blogspot.com/
Anna Dabrowski: http://tworzysko.blogspot.com
AnnaMarie Mondro: http://annamarie-mondro.blogspot.com/
Anna-Marie Wolniak: http://www.princi-made.blogspot.com/
Anne Jo Lexander: http://www.aniia.blogspot.com
Emeline Seet: http://www.scrapvilla.blogspot.com
Hege Lundquist: http://www.hegeal.blogspot.com/
Heidi Kelley: http://seesterk.blogspot.com/
Jamie Dougherty: http://www.jaylynnscraps.com/
Karola Witczak: http://www.karolakraftuje.blogspot.com/
Leslie Ashe: http://www.leslieashe.blogspot.com
Maiko Kosugi: http://maimaipiano.blogspot.com/
Marie-Nicolas Alliot: http://www.ma-ni.creation.over-blog.com
Stacey Young: http://www.staceyeyoung.blogspot.com
Steph Devlin: http://www.stephdevlin.typepad.com
Trina McClune:: http://www.trinamcclune.typepad.com
Trudi Harrison: http://www.scrappinwitht.blogspot.com/

Now please excuse me while I go finish doing my happy dance. 

Altered Clipboard

I have a short but sweet post for today.  Here's a simple little project I made for Creating Keepsakes' "Creative Spaces" special issue.  It's an altered clipboard that I made into a photo display to hang on the wall in my scrap room. 

As seen in Creating Keepsakes' Creative Spaces special issue, 2011.  Copyright Creative Crafts Group.  Published with prior permission from the publisher.

I altered the clipboard with ledger and fussy-cut flowery papers, Prima flowers, lace, tulle, rhinestones and pearls (all my favorite things!).  Then I clipped on two 4 x 6 photo sleeves.  The clipped-on photo sleeves allow me to easily slip different photos in and out and change them up from time to time.

I also wanted to tell you about a wonderful new challenge blog started by the very sweet Cynthia Llorens called Scrap for Help.  I will be a Guest Designer there later this year!

Scrap for Help is all about bringing people together from around the world through art and crafting. Scrap for Help also has a charitable component.  Through their solidarity campaigns they will work to get donations for people and institutions in need.  Please go check it out!