Worried

Today I'm worried about this little guy . . .

Our sweet boy, Smokey, had a urinary blockage yesterday (an emergency situation), and he had to have a procedure to have the blockage removed.  He has to stay at the animal hospital for a few days with a catheter and IV in him.  I just went to visit him and he seems to be doing okay.  But I'm very worried about him.  We'll find out tomorrow if he gets to come home or if further treatment will be necessary.  I'm also worried because apparently this problem can reoccur, and it can be life-threatening if not caught and treated immediately.  Do any of you cat people have experience with feline urinary tract problems or obstructions?

Good thoughts and prayers for our beloved Smokey would be much appreciated!

Giveway winners!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!  I posted two giveaways on my blog last week: one for Creating Keepsakes' Mixed Media Scrapbooking special issue and the other for Making Memories Modern Millinery products.  I used a random number generator to pick the winners.

The winner of Creating Keepsakes new Mixed Media Scrapbooking special issue is: Valerie. 
Congrats, Valerie!!

The winner of the Modern Millinery products is: Kris Berc.  Congrats Kris!

I'll contact you both to get your mailing addresses.  Thanks for playing along everyone!

I also want to let you know that CK Summer Camp 2012 is happening this week on Club CK and the CK blog! The theme is mixed media, and today the focus is Markers and Pens.   I created a fun page for a coloring challenge today on Club CK:    Markers & Pens: Coloring Challenge plus a free printable coloring page    There's a great prize package being offered!!

Making Memories GIVEAWAY -- Modern Millinery!!

**GIVEAWAY ENDED last Sunday.  Thanks!

I shared one of my "Modern Millinery" projects a couple blog posts ago and I told you how much I absolutely LOVE this entire collection.  Well today Making Memories is allowing me to giveaway some Modern Millinery products to one lucky blog reader!!  Before I tell you how you can win these goodies, I want to share a 6x6 mini layout I made with this gorgeous collection.

And now for the fun giveaway part!  Would you like to win some beautiful Modern Millinery products?

To be entered to win, simply leave a comment on this blog post before Sunday night telling me your favorite Modern Millinery Product. I'll draw a random winner and announce it next week!    Please note that the giveaway ended last Sunday.  Thanks!

Creating Keepsakes Mixed Media Special Issue BLOG HOP and a GIVEAWAY!

Creating Keepsakes' newest special issue is out: Mixed Media Scrapbooking.  This special issue of FULL of wonderful ideas for getting a little messy with paint, sprays, art mediums, fabric, metal . . . you name it!!  Best of all, there are easy to follow instructions for most of the techniques in the issue.

Check out this link for the bonus online content: Mixed Media Scrapbooking

Here is one of the projects I did for this issue.  It's a mixed media canvas using a plethora of mist, paint, gesso, embossing powder, ink, etc.

Published in Creating Keepsakes' special Mixed Media Issue.  Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

One of the fun techniques I did for this canvas project was heat embossing metal.  I used a variety of metal keys, watch parts and a bookplate that were originally a more antique-looking metal.  I wanted to give the project a bright, modern look, so I decided to coat all the metal pieces in shiny silver.  To do that, I simply embossed each metal piece using silver embossing powder.  The Mixed Media special issue shows the step shot tutorial:

Just dip in embossing ink, pour on embossing powder, then heat emboss.  Easy peasy!

You can purchase a copy of this fabulous special issue in the CK Store.  As always, Creating Keepsakes is allowing me to give away a copy of this issue to one lucky blog reader. To be eligible to win, simply leave a comment on this post before the end of the day on Sunday, July 22nd.  I will draw a random winner.

And now for the blog hop part!  Go to each of the blogs listed a below and leave a comment on each one for even more chances to win.

Mou Saha                   

Laina Lamb                 

Joey Manwarren    

Ashley Horton            

Iris Uy                         

Paper Crafters Corner 

Maggie Holmes                       

The Scrap Review       

Piradee Talvanna        

Adele Beck                 

Kim Watson        

Kim Jackson       

Patty Cieri                               

Erika Hayes                 

Summer Fullerton 

Good luck!      

Making Memories -- Modern Millinery

Sorry for the lack of blog posts lately!  I decided to cut back on my scrapbooking and blogging this summer so I could enjoy more time with my kiddos.  But a couple weeks ago I got a great offer that I couldn't refuse.  I was asked to design for Making Memories!!  Since the time I started scrapbooking in 2004, Making Memories has always been one of my favorite companies.  I love their papers, I love their embellies, and I love their tools (I cannot scrap without my Making Memories trimmer!).  As most people know, they have been going through a transition (you can read about it here), but now Making Memories is back in the groove and they are releasing more of the awesome and inspiring products they're known for. 

They showcased Modern Millinery and Sarah Jane at Winter CHA, and these will be shipping in August (the release was delayed because of the acquisition, but these lines are definitely worth waiting for!!).  They are releasing a new Christmas line at Summer CHA called Believe.

I fell in love with the Modern Millinery line the first time I saw it.  In fact, it was my Winter CHA "Product Pick" on the Creating Keepsakes blog.  What first caught my eye were the beautiful color combinations and the elegant paper designs (they had me at the rose paper!!). Then when I saw the gorgeous flowers, embellishments, and trims, my heart skipped a beat. I thought it was one of the most stunning scrapbooking collections I had ever seen. I was excited to get my hands on Modern Millinery, and I had an absolute ball playing with it!  Here's a Modern Millinery layout I created for Summer CHA next week:

I used the beautiful Modern Millinery "Net Mini Dot Black" Textile paper as the background for this layout. It's real lace sewn onto cardstock. How cool is that?!? I created two separate photo circles, then I handcut the roses and leaves out of the Statement Floral paper and used them to embellish the circles.

These gorgeous flowers, the pearl/rhinestone button, and the rhinestone trim are all part of this collection too!  You can see the full collection here.  

Be sure and check back later in the week because I'll be doing a  GIVEWAY for some of these beautiful Modern Millinery products!!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends!  I wrote today's blog post on the Creating Keepsakes' blog. They are doing an Independence Day giveaway, so go take a little look-see and leave a comment there for a chance to win the 4th of July prize package!  You can also see some inspirational red, white and blue Pinterest images/links.

Here's the layout I created for my post on the CK blog:

Have a happy and safe 4th everyone!