Zany Zinnia Sept. Kit: Autumn Afternoon

I was so honored to be asked to guest design for Zany Zinnia in September. My new "Fall" blog header was made using the kit and you can see other designs here:Zany Zinnia September Gallery. Stacy & Dolores consistently put together lovely, reasonably-priced kits that are so much fun to use for layouts, cards, and other great creative projects. And while you are there, check out the "sneak peek" page for October, too!

Almost Fall... but not quite yet...

I'm getting ready to decorate my blog for Fall soon... any day now, really. But before I do, wanted to post at least one more bright layout, this one done for the LEO Challenge we're doing over at Willow Traders (layout every other day). Challenge was to use a "non-square" or edged shape. I used the August Studio Calico kit and some felt shapes from The Dollar Tree and felt ribbon from the Joann's $ spot.

And here's a little card I made about 2 weeks ago using my new Unity butterfly stamp:

I am loving Unity stamps (link is over on the right). Can't wait to do more with them soon... am in a stamping mood! Check back soon for a new "Autumn" blog header!

September... back to school, back to reality...

September has arrived, and it is sort of hard to get back into all the school/homework/carpool routines! Tessa's first day at Lawndale Kindergarten (half day at our church) was Tuesday and she did great. Here she is, ready for school... and looking at Mom like she really shouldn't have to take this picture (oh, come on, she wouldn't let me walk her in... had to snap a shot from the car):

I've found some new stamps that I love: Unity stamps - wow, they are great! My first ones came last week and I made a few simple cards:

Be sure to join the fun on Hip Hop Thursdays when you can blog hop to see what the designers have recently created with their Unity stamps. I've been missing my stamping, so I am happy to be getting back into it a bit more (on layouts and cards). If I can just find time between all the carpooling the kids to school and activities, that is!

Wow, wow, wow... I'm SO excited!

I really am jumping for joy (at least in my mind, if not IRL)! Okay, maybe I jumped up and down a little bit. I am thrilled for 2 reasons that I can now share. I am going to be the Guest Designer in September for Zany Zinnia and can't wait to design with the Autumn Afternoon kit! I've been a fan of ZZ kits for a long time... was one of the first kit clubs I ever tried. I really appreciate Stacy giving me the opportunity! Look for the designs mid-month.

And I am also very honored and happy to have been selected for the Scrapbook Circle Design Team! Can you hear The Pointer Sisters singing "I'm So Excited"? I can (and trust me, you'd rather hear them singing it than me)! I'll start with the October kit. Lisa puts together fabulous kits and everyone is so friendly at the Scrapbook Circle community. There are some very fun kits planned in the future; here's her preview of the next few months:

October: Fancy Pants Daily Grind & October Afternoon Hometown

November: Basic Grey Ambrosia & Collage Press Jackson Lodge

December: Christmas lines from Prima, October Afternoon,

Heidi Swapp and Bo Bunny

January: Collage Press Camden & Prima Youth

And Diana puts together fabulous project kits, like the Travel Journal kit or the "Let's Play" kit. She will also be coordinating some fun challenges/contests, so come join the fun!

I have been creating a little bit this week. One thing will be posted in the next day or so on the Scrapbook Circle blog. This week I completed these layouts for Jennie's challenge, to use something from your stash that was 3 years old (or older). Here are my layouts:

Old stuff in the first layout: alphabet stickers (both), DCWV sticker strips and basketball patterened paper. In the "Precious" layout, the Stampin'Up doily, ribbon corners and antique buttons.

Photo Fun & First Day of School

So, I've been playing with all the fun photo editing options over in Photobucket lately. Here's a "pop art" picture of me:

Kinda cool, huh?

Today is Seth's first day of school. 4th Grade. Wow, time flies when they go to school. Next week Tessa starts Kindergarten at our church (calling it "little Kindergarten since she'll go to "big" Kindergarten next year at Jones, where Seth is). Love that my kids are learning (or going to learn) Spanish. Wish I knew another language. Those French classes in high school and college did not stick.

So, here's Seth's first day of school picture. Tried it a couple of different ways. Think I like the 2nd "old fashioned" one better, but it may just be the plain old original one I end up scrapping!

Love the Olympics...

For the last 2 weeks, we have been totally hooked on the Bejing 2008 Olympic games. Wow. Michael Phelps' 8 gold medals... Dara Torres age 41 silver medalist... women's beach volleyball gold, US gymnasts performances in the midst of controversy... US basketball at it's best (even if Coack K is the coach... had to pull for him this once)... Greensboro's Caroline Lind winning gold on the women's "8 person" rowing squad... equestrian events, table tennis, water polo, soccer, track, kayaking, wrestling, synchronized diving... too many sports watched here for me to remember and name them all - it's been amazing!

Made me want to scrap our Olympic experience. Kent & I attended the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and I finally did these layouts:

"a Gold Medal Memory" was inspired by an ad challenge over at the Big Wig Crop, put on by Big Picture Scrapbooking and Key Lime Crops. Lots of fun over there, but I haven't had time to play much.

I'll be sad to see the 2008 Olympics end, but at least I'll get more sleep!

Hello, August!

It was about 99 degrees here today (not much less) and Seth had an afternoon baseball camp! Whew, he's a trooper and loved it anyway!

Today was also our last challenge in our LOaD challenge over under the Willow tree. If you have a chance, check out some of the incredible layouts done by fellow willow ladies! Here's my last one. I was inspired to do this layout by old photos I rescued from a "bad" album of my parent's Chow Chow, Ming, who was like my dog, too. And by Colorstory #7.

And here is one I enjoyed quite a bit (the challenge was stamping, and I stamped the background and a few other things):

And I've done a little etsy shopping lately as well (insert shameless but genuine plug here). I bought these adorable little scrabble tile necklaces the other day (one as a little pick-me-up for my sis, the owl for me and the other as a gift for a friend). These are from the etsy shop Home Studio and I love them (really, I do)!