Atlanta, here I come...

I leave to teach the final CKU-A of the year in Atlanta in the morning. I'm so glad I have the opportunity to teach this class again. It was such a fun project to create and even more fun to teach. I look forward to seeing old friends again, and seeing some newer ones too.

CKU's are an adventure. They are a time to learn new things with others who have the same interests. They are a time to teach each other, share, and be taught. They are a time to celebrate each others' accomplishments and be inspired. I always take home more from these events than I bring.

Ready or not Atlanta, here I come.

float...

Tomorrow is a big holiday here in Utah - Pioneer Day. We have a huge parade - actually the 3rd largest in the country, and this is the float I was lucky enough to help my stake build. The title is "Capturing Generations from Quill to Computer" and shows the progression of family history over the years.

The back of the float (in this picture) shows a laptop computer with a picture of a family by the temple. There is also a little "go cart" computer mouse with a darling little girl driving that will be towed behind. The sides of the float have the old fashioned typewriters accented with some pencils and the front of the float has a giant parchment scroll. These pictures show the float before the little mice (actually they are huge - the scale on a float is awsome) are dancing on the typewriter keys and parchment scroll.

Isabel and I are working on the title banners that go along the entire sides of the float. The matching outfits were totally by chance, but they do make for a very nice picture! What an awsome helper Isabel was. She kept at this with me until it was finished - totally focused on the task at hand. She also helped me attached the fringy stuff to the bottom of the float. Chloe helped a lot too on some of the earlier projects. It would have been quite a bit harder and longer without their help!

I had to show this shot of the drivers seat of this float. My hubby, Scott, will be driving it and I took the picture so he could see the luxury he would be surrounded by while driving (is that a fire extinguisher?). Who said that float drivers didn't have a glamorous job?

And finally, Isabel and I at the convention center where the preview party will be - this shot just shows the scale of this float. I am so used to working with paper and pictures 12x12 inches and under. To actually participate in something this size was eye opening and so fun. Practially everything is glittered too and I'm such a sparkly and bling girl, it was right up my alley!

The Days of '47 Parade is televised around the entire country on July 24th. If you get the chance, watch for this float tomorrow - it's turn is about half way through - I think. It is the float from the Copper Hills Stake. I am so honored and proud to have had the chance to participate in something like this. Building a float just isn't something you come across everyday.

sendin' out...

a huge CONGRATULATIONS to my friend Janna Wilson! She (pictured here next to me in the black T-shirt) was just named one of the next years' designers for BHG Scrapbooks Etc. magazine - a huge honor. Not only is she incredibly talented, but it couldn't have happened to a sweeter or nicer person. Way to go Janna! Also congrats to the other new design team members - it will be a very inspiring year indeed.

couture anyone...

With all of the CHA sneak peeks, I just couldn't resist! Such a fun time and the buzz of new stuff to come is like this electrical current feeding from one scrapper to the next!

This is my all time favorite new line from All My Memories' Couture line: Genteel. I am lovin' the blues and greens in this 8x8 page:

Another little tidbit from the Courture Line as well; this one is Posh and I have more ideas in this line. It went so well with pictures from my SIL's wedding a few weeks ago I just kept these samples in that same theme. Beautiful purples, plums, and browns. This is a 12x12 and I used the new chipboard letters and glued pattern papers to them and trimmed them out. There are letters printed already in each of the lines that adhere nicely to the chipboard - a lot less work that way!


Have you ever used a picture for a card? This one uses Expressions rub-ons and a few elements with Posh here and there.
This last sample is an 8x8 using just the pattern papers. They are so vibrant and rich - just lovely.

tote-ally enabled...

While visiting the Costco site, I also noticed these little goodies - the Tote-ally cool totes from All My Memories. This is a killer deal with not only the tote for supplies and such, but the shoulder tote as well. It also comes with a nifty mesh bag that is so handy. These tote packages come in green (as shown), pink, or blue. Enjoy!

costco...

You gotta love Costco! Check it out...a whole batch of Simple Sweet stuff in Picnic, Toybox, and Juicy, and such a great deal - here is the link.
I just love these three color combos - you can do about anything with them!

mud slide...

Gives a new meaning to mud slide. This picture was taken Saturday at Pineview for a half boating day. The beach we were by had this mini "cliff" and a natural slide area where the kids dumped water down and proceeded to slide. It is hard to tell, but it is steep and they went fast! Oaken had to get in on the fun and slid twice - what a daredevil!

There were also had a bunch of squirrels at the top of this beach area and Isabel and her friend spent a good hour trying to catch one in these little buckets - I love this shot because you can see two of them fairly close by. The girls never did catch one (I wasn't really that sad about it - can you say rabies?) but they still had a good time.

I have been working on our Stake's float for the Days of 47 parade on the 24th of July and it is so cool. You never really think about creating on that scale. My first project was creating some seals that say our stakes name and location - they are about 3 1/2 feet in diameter. The letters are 4 inches tall and had to be painted and glittered on the sides and top. My next project is the banner along the entire length of the float that says the title - I don't even know how to go about measuring and drawing something that is going to be about 24 feet long. The letters are about 12" x 6" and they are already done - that makes it easier. I must take some good pics of my individual projects and the float as we assemble it.