Check it out!

A new challenge blog unveiled today, and it is awesome! Color Story is unlike anything else out there. And the best part is you don't have to buy anything, it's all about using up your stash. Gotta love anything that motivates me to use up all the goodies I've been hoarding - lol :) It's a great concept that gives you a color palette, sketch, ad inspiration and design examples twice a month. Here's how Kim, the site owner, describes it:

"It's a bit of color, sketch & design paired with a challenge to you twice a month. It's not a kit... but it may require you to open that stash of pretty & perfect papers and emblellishments you've been saving and play along."

Can't wait to play with the first challenge...off to dig through my stash for pinks and greens ;)

Our trip to the snow.

Last weekend we were invited to join some friends at their cabin in the mountains...we, of course, said yes! The kids were thrilled at the thought of playing in the snow. We arrived Friday evening to the beautiful sight of 12 inches of freshly fallen snow. But I don't think the guys were too thrilled when they saw that shovling the driveway would be a bigger chore than they anticipated. While the guys worked up a sweat clearing the driveway, the girls ran to the grocery store and picked up pizzas for dinner. The kids were so excited and it was close to midnight before we got them settled down for bed. Saturday morning they woke up with one thing on their minds --- SNOW!! We managed to get some breakfast in them before bundling them up and heading outside. We used a neighbors unshoveled driveway as a sledding hill and it was perfect! With kids aging from 5 to 2, we didn't want anything too steep. One of us adults sat at the top and helped them onto their sleds and then another was at the bottom to catch them and keep them from sliding into the snow bank across the way. Breana and Madison couldn't get enough, while Samantha and JJ were content to sit on the sidelines and play in the snow, or in JJ's case eat it :) We came back to the cabin for lunch and hoped the kids would take naps, but no such luck...they wanted to get back to the fun. So we headed back out, but went in search of a new sledding hill and found one even better than the first. Everyone had such a good time, can't wait to do it again!!

The four of us!

Samantha, who was not thrilled to be on the sled and only went down twice the entire day, but I was so proud of her for at least trying it! She preferred to build snowmen and snow castles.

And then there is Madison, my little dare devil who just couldn't get enough! The faster she went, the more she loved it. Crazy girl!

Madison is 3

So, I've got a little catching up to do on my blog...oops!

Well, to get it started, here is a pic of my now 3 year old little girl, Madison. Her birthday is December 24th, poor thing, but we do all we can to make sure it's special for her. She's such a fun kid, so full of spunk, sass and independance! Always laughing and giggling and with an imaginiation that knows no bounds. I just enrolled her in pre-school and she's so excited to start (not until August, though). She definately keeps me on my toes, but with a smile on my face the entire time :)

Oh. My. Gosh.

I got an email yesterday from CARDS magazine saying that they'd like to use one of my projects for their May 2008 issue!!! I was floored and thrilled at the same time :) I'd never submitted anything before, but about a month and a half ago I decided to send a few things to the magazine on a whim. I really didn't give it much thought and certainly didn't expect them to reply. So imagine my complete surprise when I checked my email this morning -- "thud", that was me hitting the floor in shock ;) I told Jeff and he seemed truly excited for me, as did my mom when I called her. I felt like a dork calling my mom...but if you can't count on your own mom to be happy for you, then what?!?! So, tomorrow I'm heading to the post office (which will be a zoo, I'm sure) to send my project off to Orem, UT to be photographed. Exciting stuff, exciting stuff :)

Just have to share.

Because I love it so much, I wanted to share the full size version of this pic :)



I even used it in the Shabby Princess free December desktop! Which, by the way, I love these free downloads from SP. I've been using them for the past few months. So awesome and easy!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Here are a few things I made with the November kit at Inspire Me Card Kits. The LO is going to be a new favorite of mine, I think. That picture just melts my heart! And the best part is I didn't even ask them to hug...I was just lucky enough to have my camera ready :) I love, love, love the shimmery blue cardstock that came in the kit! It went perfect with the snowflake paper on the "Merry Christmas" card. I cut out the center of the rub-on circle to make a little peek-a-boo window. On the inside is stamped "Merry Christmas". Had fun making some non-holiday cards as well. And last, a cute little door hanger. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep this one for myself or give it as a gift ;)

Catching up.

I've gotten about half of my shopping done for Christmas and Madison's birthday (Dec. 24th). I have a goal this year of having all my shopping done by the first week of December, birthday invites out by the 8th and Christmas cards out by the 15th. A tad bit ambitious, eh? We'll see how it goes, LOL! This is a cute little 'thank you' card I did recently. It's been a long time since I've used my sewing machine, so I got it out the other day and did some playing ;) I'd forgotten how fun it is! I have a few other cards and projects in the works, but it seems like the past couple of weeks scrappy time has been scarce.


The cards below are some I did a while back using the Sept. IMCK kit...

And, I've been tagged by Kim. So, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, here are 7 random facts about me:

1. I sleep with socks on almost all year round


2. I lurve mushrooms


3. I dig fantasy fiction (as in knights, wizards, etc)


4. I'm not a huge chocolate lover


5. I worked in the financial industry once upon a time ;)


6. I have fancy china that I've never used


7. I have a new obsession with Gingerbread Lattes from Starbucks

Also, my friend Linda nominated me for the Creative Bloggers Award. I feel so honored, especially since I so often neglect my poor blog!