I have been waiting for two weeks to share some exciting news! I made the Design Team for Kaboodle Doodles! What an honor to be a part of such a wonderful team of artists on this challenge blog!
There will be a new challenge posted every Monday morning. Each week a random generator winner is picked and will receive a gift from the sponsor for that week.

Be sure to check out this week's challenge: The theme is Birthday (or any special day).

I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t like to receive a birthday card on their special day. How special would you feel if you received a birthday banner?!
I created this Birthday Banner using my Cricut and the Pretty Pennants cartridge, patterned paper from The Paper Studio, Offray ribbon, letter stickers from Creative Memories and a variety of embellishments.  Each pennant measures 5 inches x 3 1/2 inches.

Be sure to check out the Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog and I hope you can participate in the challenge this week. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

I’m so excited about this new assignment that I want to celebrate!  To help me celebrate if you leave a comment on my blog and become a follower (if you’re not already) I will pick a random winner to receive a RAK from me.

I’m a paper, scissors and glue type of girl lol! Maybe that’s why I enjoy making handmade cards?! I have been trying to use up the ton of paper scraps that I have left over from doing scrap booking layouts. Coming up with the card design, the paper and the perfect embellishments . . . I find making cards so rewarding!

The following cards were made for challenges:

My Sketch World: Majo's Color Splash Challenge

My sketch World: Lisa's Red, White & Blue Challenge

My Sketch world: Nik's Scraplift Challenge

Kaboodle Doodles: Challenge #129

The term “crop” is common scrap lingo to most scrapbookers. The scrapbookers definition of the word crop is: 1.a. to cultivate boxes of photos so that they leave a lasting legacy for future generations. 1.b. to trim your photos to improve the composition. 2.a. a gathering of scrapbookers to enjoy company of friends and to work on layouts. 2.b. a ploy to get out of the house and gather with friends.

Crops allow you to meet new friends in a group setting while working on scrapbook pages and/or cards. Some scrapbookers come to crops dragging along several rolling totes. Others come pushing Iris carts, while still others carry in boxes and bags. It doesn’t matter how much stuff you bring or how you get it there . . . crops provide several hours of scrapbooking time and socialization.

I can’t believe that one week ago today I was in Houston at the My Sketch World Crop. I can’t begin

to tell you how much fun it was! I got to meet 15 very talented My Sketch World friends IRL and what an amazing fun filled weekend we had! Sharing pizza and scrappy time on Friday night, having breakfast with them on Saturday morning and then scrapping at Archiver’s from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Sunday after breakfast the limo bus showed up to take us to the National Museum of Funeral History (very interesting place), then it was off to the Stages Repertory Theatre to see Life Could Be A Dream and to indulge in some delicious orderves.

To top off the evening we had dinner at Pappasito’s.   The limo arrived way to early on Monday morning (4:30 a.m.) to take me to the airport. But all good things come to an end.

Pages I completed at the crop:

I have some exciting news to share . . . but not until July 30th.  I can however give you a sneak peek of a project I have been working on.

It’s July and actually going into the second week already! Vacation is over, I’m feeling rested and rejuvenated and ready to take on a very busy month.
At work I’m busy with Ashley interviewing for new staff and trying to get training ready for returning staff next month. Right now I’m so excited and can hardly believe that at this time next week I’ll be in Houston at the My Sketch World Crop! I’ll be spending a fun filled weekend scrapping and sightseeing with 16 awesomely talented ladies. My plan is to have page kits made up to work on at the crop . . . this means I better get them together this weekend!
At the end of July my sister is coming to visit form South Carolina and my great nephew is coming from Portland Oregon. We’ll be having a family get together which is way overdue. I can’t even remember when the last time we were all together?
I would like to say we but really it’s Randy (I have helped a little, but I so hate painting!) . . . is busy painting the house. I say the house because this started out with painting Colton’s room and then our bedroom. Then the decision was made to paint all of the woodwork white which led to repainting the living room and dinning room. In between all that he has decided to do some striping on the walls (which does look good if I must say so myself . . . sneak peeks later).

And as always I have so many scrappy projects in my head right now that it’s hard to pick which one to work on first lol! I’ve had the Authentique Glory Collection for some time and last week was the perfect time to use it, just in time for the 4th. I found the perfect place to hang this banner in the family room. Now off to work on those page kits. J

Definition of a VACATION: A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in. Seriously it’s a respite or a time of respite from something; . . . and in my case that would be from work. As all good things must come to an end this is the last day of my vacation. Where did 3 weeks go?!
I think I’m ready to get back into the swing of things, getting up at 5:15 a.m. and going to the gym for a good cardio workout, working from 8 - 4:30, meeting Randy at the gym after work to lift weights, coming home and cooking and cleaning and doing laundry . . . I’m beginning to believe that saying that “nobody needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one” lol!

The July sketch is up at My Sketch World be sure to check out the blog for some inspiration from the Design Team.

July Sketch:

My take on the sketch:

I have also been busy playing along with the ABC Crop at MSW.

U is for . . .

V is for . . .

X is for . . .

Y is for . . .

Z is for . . .