Scrapbook Playground Closing

I'm so sad. Wendi posted the following info on our forum last week:

On January 1, 2009, Scrapbook Playground will be closing the site. With the close of the store in May of 2008, it has become financially impossible to continue to run the site so the decision to close has been made. The Happy Box kit club is continuing and announcements in regards to the kits will be made on the Scrapbook Playground blog. Thank you for the wonderful years of fun - the Playground will be missed.

Wendi was the first to give me an opportunity on a Design Team! I feel like Playground was my family and I'm sure going to miss all of the fun we had. If you were part of our family come on by and say good-bye to Wendi and the rest of the ladies. I'll miss the Playground Wendi and thanks for all you did for me.

Cosmo Cricket - Want Some???

If you would like some Cosmo Cricket then head on over to this blog and enter yourself right away. http://lifeaslou.blogsome.com/

And while you're there check out the beautiful mini-album she's made. It's gorgeous! Also, keep your fingers crossed that hubby WILL be home for the birth of their child!!

Magistical Memories

Magistical Memories was the sponsor for Scrapbook Playground this month. They were super generous with their product and I had a great time using them. I love their borders. They were easy to alter and are perfect additions to my pages.

I loved the ballerina slipper mini-album I got and had a blast decorating it for my daughter. It now has a new home in her room.

Come check out the Design Team Gallery for more creative ideas using Magistical Memories chipboard.

A New Etsy Shop

My friend Kimmie decided to start an Etsy shop. She's got some really terrific tags and beautiful cards. You should definitely stop by and check it out. My favorite are those cute little Christmas tags with the Santas. Maybe I'll find them in my stocking on Christmas morning - LOL!!

Here's a link and tell her I sent you: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6151239

Shout it Out Loud

WOOHOO! I made it!

I found out today that I made the Design Team at Your Memories By Design! I'm so excited I can't tell you how much I wanted to make this team. Catherine is just so wonderful and her Etsy shop if filled with so many goodies that it's always hard to decide which ones I want to try next.

I just wanted to say thanks to Catherine, Heather and Megan for selecting me to be a part of their team! And a huge congrats to Julie, Susan and Vanessa who are also joining the team. So come on over and join us for a lot of fun at YMBD.!!!

Pick Me Up!

There's nothing like a little pick me up to get you going on a cold and breezy Monday morning. None of the kids want to go to school today and honestly I don't blame them. Who would want to venture out in that cold air? Well, I'm sure there are some, but not me - I am so NOT a cold weather kinda gal. But I'm getting off topic here. I got an email this morning and it's because my friend Heather (YMBD) loves me. Well, not me really, but one of my LOs. LOL!!

Heather has chosen this LO to be the gallery find for this week. Thanks Heather! It's just what I needed this morning.

I even get a special little blinkie to display in my siggy. Woohoo!

Buttons Galore

Use Your Stash Blog's challenge this month is Buttons! I found this really great, inexpensive Barn Star at Michael's. I used Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding line and lots of buttons to jazz it up a bit.

We want to see 8.5x11 or 12x12 layouts that use lots of buttons!!!! Be creative and show them off! We'd like all work to be new - the idea is to USE your stash by making NEW pages!

The deadline is November 20th, winner announced on the 25th. Voting will be done by poll - after the dt has narrowed it down to 2 layouts.

Come on over and check out what the design team has created.

Scrap Within Reach

Love, love, love this month's sponsor at Playground - Scrap Within Reach. They have some really great lines that will work well with lots of different styles. I received The Cottage line and fell in love with the yummy blues/browns/greens. Here's a peek at a couple of the LOs I did:








Don't forget to come on over and check out the gallery for some more inspiration from the Design Team.







I also got a manufacturer kit from Scrap Within Reach through Crop Addict. This time I received the Elliot Collection. Here are a couple of my LOs from the kit:











Make sure to come on over and see what the rest of the Design/Creative team did with SWR.

So You Think You Can Scrap?

Well at least this week I can! I made it to the next round of the So You Think You Can Scrap contest over at Your Memories By Design. I thought this week was hard, but next week's challenge is challenging! LOL You have to mat your photos with non-traditional shapes (no squares, ovals, circles, diamonds, etc.).

Here's the LO I created for last week's challenge: base your LO on your favorite ice cream flavor - mine was Moose Tracks. You're allowed other color, it just can't be predominant on your LO.

Crop with the Bullies

Scrapbook Playground is having an on-line crop this weekend. So come on over and crop with the bullies! We promise to behave ourselves - sort of. The crop will run from today through Sunday (October 17-19) and all projects will be due by 9pm(EST) on Monday, October 20th. We will post challenges starting Friday morning. All projects must be new work and you cannot combine challenges. We want this crop to get you cropping and get those pictures scrapped. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Crop Addict's On-Line Crop

Crop Addict is hosting their On-line Crop this weekend. So if you get a chance pop on over and play some games and try out some of the challenges. Who knows, you could be one of the lucky winners.

I'll be your hostess from 9-11 a.m. this morning with a great challenge and a fun game thanks to Heather at YMBD. I loved playing the "hot potato" game at one of their previous crops.

Ta-Da Feature

This month's sponsor at Scrapbook Playground is Ta-Da. I received their 2007 Christmas line and it's beautiful. Here are a couple of my favorite LOs. Come and check out the other eye-candy and be sure to check back on the 20th when the other DT members upload their creations.

So You Think You Can Scrap???

YMBD is having a huge contest, So You Think You Can Scrap. We need your votes!!

"So You Think You Can Scrap" (SYTYCS) is a 6 round contest/competition that is open to all forum members (worldwide) to join. Each round is a different challenge which you must complete, and at the end of each round, the entries are voted on (anonymously) by the public. After the poll closes, the entries/participants with the least amount of votes are eliminated. The remaining participants move on to the next round. There will also be a wild-card spot for those eliminated during the first 3 rounds, for a chance at getting back in the game!

No one is allowed to solicit votes for their own LO. We want you to come and vote for your favorite. You can only vote once, votes are anonymous and the results cannot be seen.

So come and help us decide who should move on to Round #2 of YMBD's "So You Think You Can Scrap" Contest! Click HERE to view the submissions and cast your vote .

Come and vote

Your Memories By Design has a sketch contest every month. This month's poll is up and ready for your vote. The results will not be viewable until after the poll closes.

October's sketch has been posted, so come on over and give it a try.

We need your votes!!! Come and help us decide the winner of YMBD's September Sketch Challenge! Click HERE to view the submissions and cast your vote!

Wrangler

Scrapbook Playground's second sponsor this month was Paper Trunk. Their Wrangler line is cute and perfect for boy pics, but I found it versatile enough for girls too. Especially the yummy yellow patterned papers (which is a color I don't scrap very often). Here are a couple of my favorite LOs. Come on over to the Paper Trunk Gallery and check out the rest of the DT's creations. There's plenty of inspiration to go around.

Crop 'Til You Drop

That's what I did this past weekend. YMBD had a super fun on-line crop this past weekend. I managed to get a lot accomplished with their pre-crop challenges, games and a ton of fun challenges. I finished up my DT work early for Scrapbook Playground so I had plenty of time to play and the deadline for uploading entries was not until Tuesday. I ended up getting 12 LOs, 1 mini-album, and 9 cards done. I think that's the most I've ever done at one time.

Here's a couple of my favorites:

Don't forget to check out Catherine's Etsy Shop at YMBD. She's posted new goodies and I've already added them to my wish list. Oh, and she's having this great So You Think You Can Scrap contest. So come on by and upload your entry, it promises to be a lot of fun with some great goodies being handed out at the end.

Blog Award and On-line Crop

Mel - you are the sweetest! She sent me a blog award - Woohoo!

Hope hurricane Ike passes you by this weekend - so stay safe!


YMBD - Your Memories By Design is hosting an on-line crop this weekend. Be sure to stop by. The pre-crop challenges have already begun and are really fun. This group of ladies is super fun and Catherine (YMBD's fearless leader) is a hoot! So come on over and join in the fun this weekend. Oh, and there will be 3 grand prizes and 6 minor ones.

Contest - Cosmo Cricket

Scrapbook Playground's sponsor the first half of the month is Cosmo Cricket. Come on over to the Playground and submit a LO or altered project for the contest. Rules follow:

You will need to use at least 75% Cosmo product for this entry.
*8.5x11 or 12x12 layouts only - no mini's, no cards.
*one entry per person
*you can not win back to back challenges - but don't let that stop you from entering because we love to see what everyone can create!
*you have until 9-30-08 to get your entries in the correct gallery
*all work must be yours - no scraplifts or sketches, please Post your LOs/altered items in this gallery.
Good luck!

Blog Giveaway

Anyone up for a little blog giveaway? Go to this blog and post away. Make sure you give them a link to your blog promoting the giveaway. Hope you win - well not really, I want to! LOL

http://scrappininmysparetime.blogspot.com/2008/09/little-blog-candy-anyone.html

Use Your Stash Blogspot

This month's challenge was to dive into our stash and use chipboard. Easy enough - I may have cornered the market on chipboard. Especially all of those cool Technique Tuesday frames. I've had them for well over a year is my guess and had hardly used them. I finally broke them out and honestly I barely have any left. Guess I need to go get more. Right? According to Kimmie and Corey - prolly not - use what I have. LOL!

I did 2 LOs for this challenge. The first is my absolute favorite. I adore this pic of my daughter at the beach this summer. I couldn't believe that I caught this pic at just the right time. Here they are:

But you need to head over to Use Your Stash to see more amazing inspiration.

Sponsor - Cosmo Cricket

This month's sponsor at Scrapbook Playground is Cosmo Cricket. They have some really bright vivid papers. I usually do tons of LOs with my DD, so this month is totally dedicated to DS. The papers seemed to fit him to a "T". Come check out the gallery at the playground. Here are two of my favorite LOs.

Summer Photos

I have been bugged, and bugged, and bugged to get my summer photos up. Well, since it's the end of summer I guess I'd better (or else Kimmie will send her evil twin after me - LOL)! As you can see from my previous post we did a lot of fun stuff this summer. These are just some of my favorite pics and activities:

The kids with my mom.

Bocce ball on the beach. Uncle Jim and I crushed the competition.







A rare shot of me at the pool.








Nick at the Baltimore Aquarium.










Boogie boarding and Mermaids by the sea.













Go Karts and Monopoly.








Fun with friends on Memorial Day Weekend.

My Summer List

This is for a challenge from Heather over at YMBD. Summer flew by for us and is winding down way too soon. The kids are back in school, but the pool is still open and the weather is still warm, so as far as I'm concerned Fall can just wait a while. I'm so not ready. Our summer was jam packed with activities and here are just a few:

* Trip with DH to Vegas
* Family vacation at Nags Head
* Visit with friends in Ocean City, NJ
* Bocce ball tournaments
* Loads and loads of time in the pool
* BBQ's with all of our friends and family
* Mini-golf
* Go-Karts
* Bumper Cars
* Top Golf (Nick and Maria are getting really good)
* I still managed lots of scrap time
* A visit from my brother who lives in Denver
* GASC Chantilly

So tell me, what did YOU do this summer?

I've been Tagged!

Corey got me, so watch out, I'm about to tag back. Thanks Corey!
If you are tagged, you must first post the rules, so here they are:
* Write 7 strange characteristics about yourself. They interest us all!
* Tag 6 other people at the end of your Post.
* Visit everyone that you have tagged and leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they have been tagged.
So here are my seven strange characteristics:
1. I am addicted to cookies. Seriously, I could eat a whole bag at one sitting.
2. I hate to clean, but don't mind doing laundry.
3. I hate wearing makeup, but don't like the way I look without it.
4. I'm always reminding the kids to take their vitamins but can't remember to take my own.
5. I always have to squeeze the toothpast from the bottom of the tube and roll it up.
6. I'm always losing my glasses and I can't see without them. DD always has to find them for me!
7. I get after the kids to eat more fruit, but can't seem to make myself eat more.
I'm going to tag:

Julie -http://joverby.blogspot.com/
Rita - http://onmyway-journeytoheaven.blogspot.com/
Mel - http://mel-melplace.blogspot.com/
Nic - http://npealer.blogspot.com/
Megan - http://scrappin-daisy.blogspot.com/
Amber - http://wwwjustscraps.blogspot.com/

My Favorite Things

This week since we've been back from vacation has flown by. I haven't even had a chance to post some of our vacation pics yet. But I promise I will.

Just wanted to remind you that the DT at Scrapbook Playground has posted their second round of inspiration for My Favorite Things stamps. I totally adore the little beach set and actually printed some pics from our vacation for this LO. Nick loves to boogie board. I think if he had a choice he'd spend his entire time in the water with the waves. LOL Take a few minutes and come check out the gallery.

Finally!

Our vacation has come. We left at o'dark early Saturday morning and made great time to NC. Only 5 hours with a gratuitous stop at Starbucks. I'm not sure who was more excited by this stop - me or the kids. If DH didn't have to stop he wouldn't. He orders regular coffee at Starbucks. Maria loves her iced vanilla latte and Nick is my hot chocolate boy - no matter what time of the year it is. I have to have my Chai latte.

We spent some great time on the beach until we could get into the house. Yesterday was a gorgeous day right up until the thunderstorm hit, but by then we had headed off the beach, taken a dip in the pool and were inside cleaning up and getting ready to have some lunch.

We spent time last night watching the Olympics. How about Men's swimming relay team? Was that not spectacular?! We loved that finish. We watched a bit of the women's gymnastics heats. I'm always amazed at the routines on the balance beam - 4 inches - can you imagine the concentration they need for that.

DH is golfing this morning, so me and the kids will head out to do a little shopping and then hit the beach this afternoon. Hope you all have a terrific day.

My Favorite Things (Stamps)

My Favorite Things is this month's sponsor at Scrapbook Playground. They have the cutest little sets that are great for card making and can be very adaptable to your LOs. Come check out the work in the Design Team Gallery for My Favorite Things Remember to check back again on the 20th for our newest creations.

This LO was created using the snowman stamp set. Kimmie sent me images from the stamp set she received and then I enlarged them on my printer/copier. Then I placed a transparency over the top and traced it with Dimensional Fabric Paint from Plaid. I love the effect.

Contest at Scrapbook Playground

For August we want to see your layout using stamps in a creative way - so dust off those old stamps you have stored away and have some fun with them!!!!

NOW - for the RULES!!!!! lol

*8.5x11 or 12x12 layouts only - no mini's, no cards.

*one entry per person

*you can not win back to back challenges - but don't let that stop you from entering because we love to see what everyone can create!

*you have until 8-31-08 to get your entries in the correct gallery http://scrapbookplayground.com/pp331/showgallery.php?cat=994

*all work must be yours - no scraplifts or sketches, please ask if you have any questions - visit the Contest Forum over at the playground!

This is what you can win:

On a roll!!

This has been a great week. I won a contest at Unpubbed Blogspot and they made me their famer for the week. How cool is that. Here's a link:

http://www.unpubbed.blogspot.com/

Today I won a DT Challenge at YMBD (Your Memories By Design). This is a great site and you should come on over and check it out. The ladies are super friendly and they will be having an online crop in September that sounds fabulous. Here's a link:

http://yourmemoriesbydesign.ca/phpBB2/index.php

Deja Views and SEI - ROCK!!!

I can't say enough good things about our wonderful sponsors for July at Scrapbook Playground! Deja Views and SEI! We were all sent a huge amount of supplies - wonderful papers, glitter diecuts, chipboard, ribbon, brads, alpha letters, puffy stickers and much more. Yummy, yummy, yummy! I loved the colors of the Deja Views Little Yellow Bicycle line and the texture on the SEI Dill Blossom line was to die for. I've included a few samples of my LOs here, but head over to Scrapbook Playground to check out the galleries for Deja Views - http://scrapbookplayground.com/pp331/showgallery.php?cat=990/ and SEI - http://scrapbookplayground.com/pp331/showgallery.php?cat=990/

Dream Street Papers Blog

Dream Street Papers is having a little contest on their blog thanks to Kim Moreno. Hi Kim - how ya doing? I just have to say I adore your beach album on today's post - it totally ROCKS!

Anyway, about the contest. While some of the ladies are away at CHA Kim's giving you a chance to win their new 3 lines. And boy are they yummy! You haveto create 3 cards using DS papers. I didn't have much DS left, but just enough for 3 quick cards. Hope they like them.

Twice in One Day!!

Kimmie and Corey are keeping me on my toes and keeping my blog updated for sure. I wonder if this was Kimmie's intent all along. She's always after me to update my blog. Well, here ya go sweetie - two in one day!

I had to do another challenge to use the scraps from my LO to make a card. Since I used no PP I really had no scraps, so I kept with the same theme and just made a cute summer birthday card using the same supplies (SU Stipple Shells Stamp Set, Stickles, SU Ink and pop dots, but I did use leftover CS scraps - yay me!) Hope you like it.

Use Your Stash Challenge - Using Stamps

I finally got my LO done and I'm not sure if I like it or not. It's very simple for me, not my usual thing so it sort of looks unfinished to me, but I decided I'm not going to mess with it anymore. I used the Stampin' Up set Stipple Shells. I drew a circle with a paper plate on a piece of white cardstock and then started stamping the shells around the circle. I erased the pencil line and then stamped some extra shells on a separate paper and cut them out. I then used pop dots to give the LO a little depth and added some stickles for sparkle. I also used a Sakura gel pen to add some stitching around the outside and a couple of Prima and American Craft flowers attached using brads. The stickers are from Mary Engelbreit.

Use Your Stash Challenge

The Use Your Stash Blog has started its challenges. All you have to do is dig out your stamps and put them to use. So get on over and get your creative juices flowing and post your project. There is a prize. I'm starting with a card, but plan on doing a LO. You have until July 20th to get it posted.

Use Your Stash - A New Blog

I can hardly believe that it is July 1st already. Didn't school just let out? I feel like summer is flying by and I still have so much to look forward to. A trip with DH and a family trip to the outer banks. Plus tons of other little goodies we have planned.

Friends of mine, Corey and Kimmie, have started a "Use Your Stash" Blog. This will be a fun place to frequent because the challenges will help you use up that huge stash you've accumulated. I know I definitely need that little kick in the rear to use some of my supplies. But I figured, why did I buy them, well, cause they look so pretty. Well, now they're just going to have to look pretty on my page. So head on over and check it out, it looks like they're planning a giveaway (and if I know Kimmie it'll be awesome). Here's a link and tell them that I sent you: www.useyourstash.blogspot.com.

Toot! Toot! Toot!

I can finally talk about this. I've been busting at the seams for so long now and it feels good to be able to tell everyone that I was picked to be on the Creative Team at Crop Addict. Woohoo! This is a really fun site and I'm so looking forward to working with this bunch of super talented ladies. One of the best part is I'll be working together again with my buddy from a previous DT gig - NicPea! Hi Nicole! Together again!

I'm even lucky enough to have a LO that Nic designed for a picture of my DS. If I get a few moments tomorrow I'll scan it in and post it here. She's one terrific designer.

On another note, tomorrow is the big DT announcement at Kimmie's and Corey's "Use Your Stash" Blog. It's got a great premise behind it and one that I know I could definitely use. My stash is growing ever bigger and I definitely need to start using some of my old stuff. Even if I wonder why I bought it in the first place! LOL

Take a few minutes to come check out these terrific places.

www.cropaddict.com

www.useyourstash.blogspot.com

GASC Chantilly

Well, our fun weekend has come and gone and I feel like I'm finally rested again. Too many late nights, but it was definitely worth it. Sue, Nancy and I had a blast. The only problem was that it went by on so fast. Why is that? It seems like it takes forever for the event to finally arrive, only to fly by at mach speed. LOL

I only took 3 classes this year and my favorite by far was the Acrylic Album I took from the Button Farm. This is the first time I worked with an acrylic album and I learned a lot, so I'll be able to do one of my own design without a lot of trial and error. I haven't added my photos yet and some of the embellishments, but I hope to finish it this weekend. Here's what it looks like so far:

I also took a Rusty Pickle class to make a Love Mini-Album. It too is not finished yet, just not enough class time. I don't think some of the ladies realized that the class was a little more advanced than they were used to because the poor instructor kept having to stop and make a boatload of explanations. The other class I took was an Accordion Mini-Album. The instructor was Crystal Jeffrey Rieger (she's really funny). The sponsor's for that class were Memory Makers, TI and Scrapbook Adhesives (3L).