a big 1st grader in the house!!!!

Can you believe it's back to school time already? sheesh! Well, Hailee was super excited to get back - she plans on learning to read....THIS week! lol

I took the traditional pictures in front of the gate - I really hoped to get a picture without her squinting but hey, what can you do? at least it's only the one! lol The picture I really wanted was her sitting in her desk, but there was too much chaos - so I have a picture of her next to it...while tugging her tights! lol and I was doing just fine with the whole situation of leaving my baby at a school with a new teacher that I don't know and didn't find overly friendly until she asked "aren't you leaving?". that hurt.

I forgot to share!

The Playground is sponsored by My Favorite Things Stamp Co. this month and I had fun! I was sent the back to school stamp set so I made a card for Hailee's first grade teacher along with a layout using her kindergarten class photo. Then, to spice things up a bit (cuz we're SO spicy!) some of us (the design team) sent each other images of our stamps so we could all play with different themes. Kimmie sent me some images from the winter set and Beth sent me some from a shower set - I used what I could (still have some Mother's Day images from Marti to play with, too). Anyway - here are the 3 I uploaded in the gallery on the 5th - more to come on the 20th!!


and the August challenge over at Use Your Stash!! blog was posted on the 5th - it's to use patterned paper - the more the better!!! you have until the 20th for that. and hang on to scraps because you know we'll want you to make a card with those around the 12th :)


what else - OH - I recieved my box from Wendi (playground) for our September and October projects and WOW - we are SO lucky...great sponsors and I can't tell you yet - but watch out - because there's always a challenge to go along with it!

and I just got an email from Jen at RSC and my dt box is going to be delayed but good things will come of it - she's going to send more of my stuff so I get it all at once! it will be a scrappy overload and I can't wait!!! The October/November issue will knock your socks off - Jen rocked the sponsors for sure this time!!!!!


and UYS has a fun sponsor for September too - so much to look forward to - good thing all the "little people" will be back in school so ya'll can play along!

that's all I've got for now - have fun and go scrap!!

My cute little space

well - I used to have all my scrap stuff in our spare room-turned kids room- that I shared with Darren. I had half the room to spread all my yummy scrappy goodness throughout. When we finally had to give it up and move my stuff to our bedroom I had a mild panic attack. But it's working, and I'm able to see what I have and really use it better, so it's a good thing. Yes, I'm crammed on one wall, but it's working. Here are a few pictures (still some organizing to do but Darren and I are still in debate on what would be best) so you can see where it is I create.

Braden's big boy bed!

Well we got the toddler bed tonight! Braden kept getting his feet stuck in the crib rails so we decided it was time! AND walmart had Spidey sheets for it with a blanket so he JUST HAD TO HAVE IT! he was so excited! lol He THOUGHT he was ready for bed, but he tried to change his mind once he was actually in it - but we only had to put him back in bed a few times before he fell asleep - he's pretty good when it comes to bed routines - he likes sleep :)

New contest at the 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 HERE
*all work must be yours - no scraplifts or sketches, please

if you have any questions - visit the Contest Forum over at the playground!

Have you seen the latest issue of Ready, Set, Create?

if not - here's my contribution - and if you want to see more get over there and get yourself a subscription! so many amazing ideas and talent just ooozing off the pages!!

there's more - but I won't bore you any longer! thanks for looking this far!

a lot of these were made with digital kits that either I printed at home, or Jen from RSC printed and sent to me - so don't be afraid of digital - just go hybrid!

the difference between a girl and a boy.

a girl will stop and pose for the camera with a pretty smile (even if my camera gets a grainy pic that will later make me mad).

a boy will not. ever. at all.

and for some strange reason my camera focuses on this. it likes his inability to cooperate with me.

when you send a 6 1/2 year old to clean her room...

...this is what you'll find instead...

Question with a giveaway!

so I made some more cards for Jen at Ready, Set, Create. They are highlighting a font sponsor and are SO fun. I really enjoyed working with fonts for the upcoming issue.

my question - what are some things you'd like to see in the magazine? a specific article? a theme highlighted with layout and card samples? tell me!


give me your input and I'll put you in a drawing for a 3 month subscription to RSC. and don't worry if you already have a sub - I'll have Jen add on 3 extra months for you!!!

you have until July 31st to give me all your great ideas!!!!

Time to share the SEI DILL BLOSSOM stuff! Enjoy!!!

thanks for looking!!!

Happy Birthday to my sister!!!!

My sister, Briana, is 27 today! I love her to death and miss her dearly! She lives in Florida with her husband, Parker. We're lucky enough to meet up in Seattle at dad's once a year - but it's not enough!

Happy birthday, Beej - we love you!!!

Giving you a peek a day early!

Deja Views - Little Yellow Bicycle - Sharon Ann Designs.

whatever you call it - I love it! We were lucky enough to get them as a fab sponsor at the playground this month and even though at first I was scared of the pastels, I had fun! Here's what I created!!!!

okay - so that last one isn't all that great - but I made a mask, and a flower - so it was doing new things - just go with it. lol

thanks for peeking! check back tomorrow for the OTHER fab sponsor this month!!!

July 4th - in pictures!

No fireworks. Just my kids. And Darren. I did get pictures of my mom but had to promise not to show them (she better do the same for me when emailing HER pictures to family!!!)

it was a normal HOT, HUMID day in Broken Arrow, so you'll see that when looking at my kiddos!

bECOming green!

some of you know that I won the becoming green collection from Tinkering Ink. well it arrived in my mailbox yesterday and I just have to say WOW! first of all, it's double sided. second, the colors are YUMMY! third, it's KRAFT!!!!!!!! fourth, the patterns. fifth, it's soft...really, it has such a great feel!

thank you TINKERING INK for the great paper - I just love it!!!!




I've also recently won the Wrangler collection from Paper Trunk and it is PERFECT for my kids! Can't wait to dig in.

AND, I won something from Fancy Pants that I haven't received yet - but I'll fill you all in when I do!

happy Saturday!

I'm still here - still visiting with my mom and having fun. She's spoiling my kids so after she leaves Tuesday I'll have my work cut out for me to get them back to normal! lol

a new challenge is up at Use Your Stash!!! so be sure to check it out!


okay - ya'll enjoy your weekend - I'll be back next week hopefully with some pictures!!!

Happy July 5th!

I wasn't here to wish everyone a happy 4th so I'm doing a happy 5th instead! hope ya'll were safe and had fun!



I'm having a great time with mom and will be back - be sure to go to UYS and check out the new challenge!!!

Let's all sing together...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR PAPER TRUNK
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUU!!!