Kicking some grass...

We've waited & waited...and now we only have two days left...it is time. Believe it or not, I'm really getting excited about going!

We are headed out to Avery, Texas this weekend for the Annual Tomato Festival & US National Lawn Mower Racing Championships {ESPN will be filming, don't worry, you will be able to follow it too}...uh-huh, we're cool. "Watching real men kick some grass". After the festivities we'll be staying in scenic Paris {Texas} ooh-la-la.

Don't you wish you were me... this is so much better than the Carribean cruise that my friend Angie's husband took her on this week {LOL}...imagine the photo comparison session we'll have when she gets home...there is one thing - the shock value & memory-making potential of the trip is terriffic!

...and don't worry, I intend to take about a million photos!

Scrapping & Stuff...

I did this layout when I got home from San Jose of our first official Girl's Night Out. This 2-pager looks so good in our little 6x6 girlie scrapbooks we bought to document our adventures...

I also added a new feature to my blog today {makes me smile} - I added a weather goth from weather pixie. She updates my area weather hourly, the graphics change to reflect the weather & time of day and she changes her little goth outfits when the temperature changes...I could've gotten a weather girl, but they were a little too Paris Hilton for me...I'm also a big fan of the weather Geisha...but that doesn't exactly work for me either. So enjoy the weather!

Home again from CKU...

Home from San Jose...got lots of sleep & am still somewhat exhausted...the time change & daily margaritas got the better of me...

Not as many pictures as I took in Provo - San Jose seemed like more work & less play - on this trip, however, I did manage to go to dinner with my friends every night at Spencer's {in the hotel}. Day one, we had some free time & went with Kandice from Cross-My-Heart {who's boxes did not show up} for pedicures {my first}.

Got to spend more time with Barb from IP & Sherry, one of my fellow Imagination Project Design Team members. They are great, however, I am determined to give them a hard time...they took off for San Francisco an evening without us - um, hello????

Also had a blast hanging out with Andria from Reminisce...she is now officially "part of the posse"...

People I didn't see enough of {because they were, like w-o-r-k-i-n-g all the time} Margie R-A, Tim, Stacey, Teresa {who was there with her husband Ty & her boys}, Janna, Tricia {who was there with her husband Brian & the "little Davis" herself, who has gotten so much bigger since I've seen her}, Ali, Marji, Michelle & Kristi S-B.

I had such great students...I love teaching in California. If you were in my class be sure to chime in and say hi...I'd really love to hear from you! I got the most thoughtful gift ever - The Festival of Bones - a beautifully illustrated bilingual children's book on the day of the dead. I collect day of the dead skeleton figurines, started on my honeymoon in San Antonio - in 1999, the same year this book was published. I also love richly illustrated children's books... I taught a class on writing your own bio at CKU-Teachers two years ago & which she took & she remembered those minute details I used as examples and found me that book...I am overwhelmed. I'm going to alter it and make it into a book about my collection. Thank you more than I can express, Michelle - you made my day!

Top left: Kandice (Cross-My-Heart), Debby (Canson/Anna Griffin), Anita (CK), Ashley (PolkaDotPotato/Magic Scraps), me, Barb (Imagination Project). Bottom left: Andria (Reminisce), Kandice, Barb, Debby, me.


Top right: the "pedi-party". Middle & bottom right: OK, OK...this is Debby and the "scary guy" from the bar...OMG...there is sooooo much that could be said here, however, I will summarize with the fact that I am very, very sorry for his wife that has to put up with his extremely inappropriate behavior. Debby was MORTIFIED...but the pictures are great...aren't they?

Do you know the way to San Jose???

Well, I'm off to San Jose this morning {hence the extremely early post - trying to wake myself up}...The last few days have been a whirlwind of making sure I have everything, getting groceries, paying bills, doing dishes, doing laundry & finally packing. My washer and/or dryer conspired against me & ripped one of my favorite & brand new shirts that I was going to take..hmmph! I showed it - I went shopping and got something cuter...so there {and it drys flat, that ought to teach it a lesson!}. ;)

Anyway, I'll be doing the rounds at make & takes today and will be teaching 3 times on Friday & Saturday...I fly home at 0-dark:thirty on Sunday {which coming from California means I'll be home around 1}. Gotta love that time change...I intend to take lots of pictures, so stay tuned!!!

Daddy & Superman...

Well, today is father's day...happy father's day daddy & James! I have a very cool dad who is my hero...he has every tool you could ever need, knows what's wrong with my car and/or house when I'm having a problem, can do anything with my computer, has seen like every movie ever, knows all the words to Airplane, Blazing Saddles & Monty Python, has a great sense of humor, is supportive & loves me no matter what I've done and/or do...I have even almost forgiven him for the incident with the elephant & the film box...daddy - you know what I'm talking about...{one step away from therapy here} :)

I am also blessed with an awesome father-in-law, James...master of the go-karts, sharer of the guacomole, John-Wayne-loving, Matt-raising, all-around great guy.

Speaking of supermen, those bunnies have done it again...Superman came out on Friday. If you like this 30 second short, be sure to check out other movies from the Bunny Theater Library {my personal favorite}...

The garage sale was a tremendous sucess...can't wait for the next one. I went to bed by 8PM, but dropped & shattered a full glass of water about 1AM & cleaning that up has made me wide awake...I plan to get up {again} & take my dad out to a late breakfast & an early movie...fun.

What a laugh...

Went out with Angie last night & and figured out what we missed so much - just goofing off - random shopping, talking & laughing, singing to the radio...no purpose, no responsibilities. We didn't even make it to the movie we were having so much fun! We had dinner at PF Changs then drove around...we hit CVS, ReCollections {where we bought matching scrapbooks & tins in different colors to document our girls' nights out}, a half price cd place, and Krispy Kreme... We made a list of some of the things we want to do & a list of off limits activities

• never call you husband on a gno
• never say "we're old" and/or "fat" on a gno
• never ever go to a place where we could be mistaken as somebody's mother {i.e. find age-appropriate places to hang out - do not revisit places we went when we were 20}

A big ole' scrapbookin' garage sale...

oh my goodness...if you live in the DFW area, head on over to Richardson this weekend!!! We are having a big garage sale at our warehouse...not just Magic Scraps - several of us will have tables there as well. Good, good stuff. Come early & stock up on cheap bulk items for cards or Christmas {I make a lot of gifts & have a hard time passing over bulk craft supplies - would be great if you're a girl scout leader too!}. We'll be having another one July 8th - all new stuff & new people with tables, so plan on coming to both!

My dear friend, Martha came over for dinner last night...she is such a hoot. Since she has two jobs & is single she usually doesn't have much down time to "just hang out". I totally understand & take the chance to see her when I can get her. We scoured the retiring Stampin' Up catalog to see if we needed any of the outgoing stamps {I do - p 151 Postal Ephemera}, had dinner and talked.

Tonight {barring change of plans} is the first meeting of Angie's Girls Night Out Club {first order of business is to get a better name}. Angie is my best friend from my college days & now that we're 35 {OK - don't correct me on this, Angie - you'll be 35 in two months, and yes I'm still older than you- but you know what I'm getting at} we are getting a little nostalgic about the "good ole' days". We aren't missing being single or living with our parents or anything like that{we may miss how disgustingly thin we were}, but we just used to go out {movies, dinner, mall, road trips, etc} at the drop of a hat before husbands & children {she has 2 wonderful boys}. We plan to doll up and go out to dinner & a movie just on our own...sounds heavenly. Lynette was going to join us, but can't make it tonight so this first meeting was just how we started {just the two of us}.

This picture was taken right before we went out in the winter of 1990 {so very, very young here}...we've been painting the town red since 1989.

Easily amused...

I have often been told that I'm easily amused. It's true...here are 5 things that made me happy today...

1. a Lindor truffle, just one, a white chocolate one while running errands...
2. running to Target for a regular coke...
3. buying cute ribbon {downtown black} with a coupon...
4. a new flavor of IceBreakers {my favorite thing right now - I love, love, love the fruit sours - berry sours today!}...
5. really loud music {in the car} & singing along...

...enough procrastinating...I must start going through my supplies for a huge scrapbook garage sale we're throwing this weekend...more details tomorrow!

Sad but true...

Well, the press release just came out {see below}...Just wanted to let you know that we're OK. It's been a wonderful four years - thank you Ashley & Advantus for all the opportunities you have given me...

• Never fear, I will be teaching Magic Scraps classes at CKUs for the rest of the year {I like to think of them as "limited edition" now}.
• I will be attending CHA Summer and working in the Noritsu booth, I hope to see you there.
• and last, but not least, I hope to remain in the industry, so if you have a job for me I'm very interested in talking with you...

Advantus to discontinue Magic Scraps

Jacksonville, Florida, June 12, 2006 – Advantus Corporation and Ashley Smith have announced that they will be discontinuing the Magic Scraps line of products beginning January 1, 2007. This was a mutual decision by both Ashley Smith, founder of Magic Scraps, and Kevin Carpenter, President of Advantus Corp.

Advantus will continue to sell Magic Scraps Scrappy Glue and Scrappy Tape on a go forward basis. The remaining Magic Scraps inventory will be available for sale while supplies last.

When asked about the decision to discontinue the Magic Scraps line of products, Kevin Carpenter said, “Advantus is committed to our craft and hobby division. At this time we find it necessary to focus our resources on the Cropper Hopper and Heidi Swapp brands. With the pending addition of two new major brands to be revealed at CHA Winter 2007, we made the difficult decision to discontinue Magic Scraps.”

Ashley Smith added, “I’m thankful for the experience that Advantus has given me, but I’m an entrepreneur at heart and happiest when I’m running my own business.”

Ashley and her husband Ben will be launching a new venture in digital scrapbooking, Polka Dot Potato (www.Polkadotpotato.com).

Love & Cherish...

Here is the 12x12 I did with Imagination Project's brand new line, Chartreuse Dream...I was watching Pride & Prejudice and got all romantic & dug up these pictures of "going away" from our wedding...and since I never scrapbooked our wedding {sacrilege}, I thought this was as good a place to start as any...

This layout features: Chartreuse Dream Blush Daydream paper: Oodles of Doodles; Retro Echo paper: Primrose, Be Squared; Chloe’s Closet Carnival Coaster Circles; Gin-X Black Maggie Rub-ons; Ranger Ink: cut & dry foam, pop dots, black archival ink, vintage photo & old paper Distress Inks; Junkitz long bradz; Heidi Swapp photo corners & flourish rub-ons; 7 Gypsies Parenthesis pre-made tag and 2 text papers; Deluxe Designs plain jane swirls; Lil Davis rub-ons; Anita’s acrylic paint in ivory; Stampin’ Up! date stamp; Sandylion rub-ons; Making Memories rub-ons.

Texas State Fair...

I scrapbooked on Sunday...felt so good! I mostly scrap in either 9x9 or 12x12...this is a 9x9. I love this picture of my dad & uncle and my dad actually remembered where they were based on the cotton candy. Couldn't help tinting the photo...too much fun!

This layout features: Center City Sutton place papers: Lever House, Jimmy’s Downtown; Sutton Place Cotton Art Tape & Cotton Tabs; Gin-X Black Andrew Coaster Alphabets; Gin-X Black Maggie Rub-ons; Gin-X Black Kellerman Type Rub-ons; Lil Davis Rub-ons; Bazzill Cardstock; Magic Scraps Star Mini Fasteners; Ranger’s Black Soot & Broken China Distress Inks, cut & dry foam and nibs.

Sobbing {the 4400 season premier}...

Do not read this if you haven't yet and intend to see the season premier of the 4400.

series overview - also click around the sight they have a great 43 minute online video to catch you up on the series if you want to start watching or just feel like you need a refresher...

OMG...sobbed near-hysterically when Lily died...Matt kept telling me "it's just a show" {scoff}, um excuse me? and I guess he's just watching some everyday basketball game? {I think not}. Poor Richard, my heart breaks for him. Do we really know who this Matthew Ross is anyway? Was he a 4400 - I thought he was just a pr guy? Where did that slap come from? Is Isabel evil? What exactly is her power anyway? What exactly is she? Theory - Isabel & Shawn...if they had kids...what would that do? And um...anyone catch that COLLIER IS ALIVE?????????? Genuinely disturbed by the torture scenes & think the main Nova guy is disturbing. Always thought Alana was creepy {I see real problems in the future with her "gift"}. And I saw no Kyle - I wanted to see Kyle. And was anyone else wondering why the heck they weren't just asking Maia what was going to happen on the 19th? {and btw - wasn't that a cool trick?} And Burkhoff drugging up like that - reminded me of "the Fly" at the end. So Diana...she's dating Marco {which is adorable} & I just got used to the idea she'll never hook up with Tom {which I used to think was a given}...but were they hinting around a future thing with Burkhoff???? Was the kid Maia met in class named Kyle? How many Kyles does a show need???

I took the "4400 ability personality quiz" 3 times with the same results each time {spooky - questions vary}...Apparently, if I had been an abductee on the show I would be a "mind control master". OK then. *********read my blog*********comment on my blog****************
Okie-dokie...we'll see if that works...

The Scrapped Movie...

Saw a piece about the new independent film coming out on scrapbooking on the channel 11 news this morning & really regret that I missed my chance to meet Wes in his booth at GASC in person...check out the previews on the scrappedmovie site or watch the progress of the upcoming documentary on his blog.

Wiped out {a post-GASC review}...

Home from GASC Arlington...what a great weekend, but I'm soooooo ready for bed! The classes went great - I was lucky enough to get four classes full of wonderful women! They really liked the project & it ended up being really fun to teach. I made it past the "authorities" with cookies instead of cupcakes & was able to give them to all my students...

Did some quality shopping....First were the "frocs" {frocs=fake crocs. They look like crocs, they feel like crocs - but they're not crocs - they're divine & totally so-comfortable-you-can't-tell-the-difference $10 knock offs}. I got pink & slate for my cousins & lime & sky blue for me. {while looking for a picture of them online it accidentally took me to Jibbitz - Croc accessories - how cute!!!} As for the scrapbooking stuff, I got 7 Gypsies Universal Tags, Fancy Pants chipboard {scrolls}, Deluxe Designs chipboard {seventies & swirls}, 7 gypies hardware {open book knob, antique silver & "Pull" plate, antique silver with attached handle}, daisyd's rub-ons and Scrapworks tabs {morocco & pacific}.

Unfortunately, money doesn't grow on trees...here's what else I would've gotten if my funds were limitless {from what I saw - and I didn't even see that much of the floor}! 7 Gypsies clipper frames, Cactus Pinks' entire decades line, daisyd's papers {girlfriends & attic}, some of the ultra unusual unpackaged silk flowers, and stamps, stamps & more stamps {especially fontwerks}.

Here's what I wanted that I couldn't find...the incredible line of PineCone Press products Pam used in her class, new Design Originals papers by Tim and the foam stamps designed by Teresa {when searching for these saw the totally redone Junkitz site - their web person is amazing! check it out}.

Got a Pappacito's Plato del Mar on the way home to feed us & am ready to go to sleep now!!!!! Tomorrow will hopefully be a scrapbooking day, as well as a countdown to game 2 of the NBA finals {GO MAVERICKS} and the season premier of the 4400.

Inked, etc...

Another week with my cousins...they went home today - maybe now we can all get some sleep {lol}! We stayed up last night and ended up coating Amy's legs with drawings & writing {she started "practicing" her Japanese while I was cooking dinner & when dinner was ready - she was already half way covered!}.We ended up watching television, talking and doodling into the wee hours of the morning {it gets late enough anything gets funny} the top picture is a close up of her leg, the second is my shoulder...

Oh - this is exciting...got my ScrapCity book in the mail yesterday. Paul did such an excellent job of putting this together. It's 175 pages of hard-bound funky-paper-goodness.

Take a look at it if you have the chance. It's billed as "...the punk rocker of the scrapbooking world, the black sheep of the craft society, the glue, scissor and ruler from the wrong side of the tracks." {love that} Scrapbooking with attitude - what's not to love?

OK, OK - so I'm biased...I'm in it {pages 130-131} - but so are Kate & Ashley, Elsie & a ton of other really cool scrappers. Call me corny, but I still get a little thrill when I see my work in print...

I got a pack of some CHA release papers from Imagination Project today - so beautiful! I'm so ready to scrapbook I'm almost twitching...I'm going to have to do something soon...maybe Sunday? I'll show you as soon as I get something finished...

I start teaching at GASC tomorrow. I'm doing a workshop called Birthday Bash {I'm going to try to smuggle in cupcakes - very against the rules - but every girl needs some sugar...wish me luck}. We're going to create this 12 tag mini album in class.

I'm excited about walking around the show - it's been a while since I've been to a convention. My stepmother's coming out to help with my classes in the afternoon {which is so great - Sharon if you're reading this thank you}.

Table for 16???

Well - how fun is this? We were headed home from the grocery store, ready to start cooking dinner when my sister-in-law from Houston, Kim calls my cell phone...they're in town & hurry up to come to dinner {Spring Creek Barbeque} - everybody was already on the way...

Many hours {and rolls} later here we are - all 16 of us. We had such a good time! Our nieces & nephews are getting so grown up...

Front row: Andrew (nephew age 8), Sarah (niece age 7), Sharon ("the matriarch" - my stepmom), Nancy (step sister), my dad. Second row: Elyssa (niece age 11), Nicole (niece age 12), Doug (nephew age 10). Third row: Kim (sister-in-law), Terrie (sister-in-law), Greg (step brother), Meg (cousin age 14), Amy (cousin age 17), me, my hubbie Matt. Very back spot: Chuck (step brother).

p.s. Ginger - sorry I wasn't able to call you back - we just got home & for your time zone I thought it would be to late...

a Blue Collar kind of weekend...

I'm a big fan of the Blue Collar comedy boys & Comedy Central has been runing a blue collar marathon this weekend counting down to a new concert tonight: One for the Road (7 PM CST). In honor of the occasion {click here} to play "redneck games".

I couldn't sleep last night & went - um -we'll call it stalking and found Bill Engvall's blog {2 days old & currently not working - and yes, I left a comment}, Bill's website & my space account, Ron White's website & blog & my space account, Jeff Foxworthy's site & my space account & Larry's my space account...

I asked all four of them to be my friends {since I only have 7 on there}, I thought that would be pretty cool...

Whew...

I decided to move all my links to a new template {after a catastrophic clicking of the "save" button which wiped out most of the links on my old blog}. After re-typing it all for a good hour blogger decided crash when I hit enter - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh, so now I think I can retype the code for this sucker in my sleep cause I had to do it again...but, man it was worth it! Now that it's done I love the new look. No more changes for a while...

I've added Flikr {which is great} & I will continue to load it with my projects. Click on a photo to go to a slide show of my work. Still fascinated by the blog clocks and got an understated one for a change. Somehow got the gross purple box off from around my email button from just plaing around with the code {and yes - it still works}. I'm trying to add bloglines, but they're not sending me a confirmation email to login - so who knows? By the end of the day I should have a new banner & profile photo up too...

I bought some more digital art last night {no, I'm not converting, I like to think of it as evolving - i.e. incorporating digital elements into my "traditional" paper creations}. Fell in love with Erica Hite's work - had to get her Rock & Roll and Cherish collections. Also a big Summer Simmons fan...If you want to check out digital try the Polka Dot Potato blinkie on my blog {they're new}- really cute stuff!

{pictured are the elements from ScrapGirl Erica Hite's Rock & Roll kit}