Living My Dream

Creating Keepsakes Start to Finish

I recently created a layout for CK's online column called Start to Finish. It shows the entire process that goes into creating a layout, from the original idea to the finished project with photos along the way. Here is my page called The Princess Pug. This is a dog we saw recently on our visit to Carmel. I couldn't resist photographing it with that coat and necklace on! The crown is by Maya Road and I covered it with the new flocking by Doodlebug Designs. The Rhinestone letters, sticker letters and papers are by MAMBI. On Tuesday, July 1st, the HOF girls will be posting our monthly challenge on the CK message board, so watch for all the wonderful layouts... Read more →

Lady Bug Album

I made this lady bug album using a Maya Road flower petal tab coaster book. It also uses Maya Road ribbons (including the cool new sheer ones), lady bug chipboard, velvet blossoms, sheer journaling card and trinkets buttons. You can see it on the Maya Road website with the exact supplies and step by step directions. And thank you to my good friend Pam who is not a scrapper, but saw this album and said "that looks like a ladybug". Thus the idea was born...and then that very week my daughter told me she was a ladybug in her upcoming school play! I also want to thank my sweet friend Cheryl for the fun box of Fiskars products she brought... Read more →

The Best Daddy Ever!

Happy Father's Day to my sweet husband Tom! Yesterday, Chloe gave Tom a stuffed dog as his gift (something she secretly wanted for herself!). He took it to church and carried it around to make her happy. I had to give a talk during church and mentioned in front of everyone how sweet he was to bring the doggie to church and hold it so lovingly! It went from nestling on his lap to flying across the bench in a matter of seconds. Here is Tom, Chloe and his favorite gift! And another photo of Tom by himself enjoying the afternoon at his Dad's house. I don't think he could have had any better of a day with the US... Read more →

My Friend's Etsy Shop

I ran into a friend recently at Scrapbook Oasis, Debbie Flicker. She used to work at Oasis and left a couple years ago. I asked her what she had been up to and she told me how she is now making handmade jewelry. Now I have heard of people doing this - especially beaded jewelry, but this was a big step beyond. She makes her OWN beads! She then told me about the process to make Lampwork beads and she lost me about half way through. So I went home to check out her site and her jewelry and I was amazed - these pieces are beautiful and all original works of art! Her Etsy shop is called Flickerings and... Read more →

MAMBI HOF Challenge

CK is hosting a MAMBI HOf Challenge starting today - you can see the details on the CK Website. MAMBI donated tons of products to our HOF prize packages, so each of the HOF winners made some layouts using them. All of them are posted in the CK Gallery today, so check them out - lots of pretty inspiration! Here are some pages using the Modern Milan line: This page is made with the Coastal Couture line: I'm just about to start my CHA Summer work with MAMBI products - lots of great new lines coming out as well. Suzy Read more →