this is it...

...a very special day for Isabel - her birthday! Happy 9th Birthday, Isabel! She is growing up so fast and accomplishing so much - and she is so stinkin' cute in her sassy Easter dress. Love you lots!

...and here it is:

my entry for the MM Idol contest. I was informed a little more than an hour ago that:

I WON!!!!! Thank you to everyone who voted, and encouraged me, and stood by me! Thank you to my husband Scott, who was just a nervous as I was and thank you to Chloe, my cute daughter who announced to everyone what it was and what they needed to do! I am so excited for what lies ahead - challenges and opportunities.

the FINAL challenge...

Wow. I can't believe the final MM Idol challenge is here! You can see the projects and vote HERE.

I just want to send a big THANK YOU out to all of you who have been voting and participating in this contest. It means so much to be picked from such fabulous creations to go forward each week. It feels awsome and I am amazed I am here! And, regardless of who you vote for, it is the voting that makes this contest - so thank you!!

So, if you haven't done it yet...GO VOTE!

inquiring minds want to know...

Okay. I'm a snack lover. It shows in my waistline (among other places), and it's pretty bad when I can call a few snacks a meal - and not a very good example to the kids either! So, I have a question for you; but I'll get to that in a minute.

My new friend, Wilna - you might know her as the first and most fabulous MM Idol, has asked me to help her in an awsome RAK she is doing. She needs you to answer a question - in the form of a comment on MY blog. Then, to be eligible for the RAK, she needs you to visit some other blogs and leave comments there too. Here is her blog: Wilna, so you can see what else you need to do!

So, now to the question you need to answer: "What is your all time favorite scrapping snack?" If you care to elaborate on your answer, feel free to!

The layout posted above is all about one of my son's favorite summer time snacks. It's just something you have to eat in the hot summer heat and everything about it is appealing - the intense color, the refreshing cool down in your mouth, and the blast of fruity flavor...yummm.

Welcome...to the final challenge...

Yes - I made it - top 3 of MM Idol! I'm actually a little shocked and surprised - the competition was really amazing and I was so nervous! So a huge THANK YOU to everyone who voted...even if it wasn't for me - your support of this contest is great and very much appreciated by all of us.


If you didn't know already, this was mine. Such a fun challenge with chipboard!

MM Idol Challenge #6

It is that time again...voting has opened for the next round of MM Idol - go HERE. You will notice that there are no names or recognizable family pictures associated with any of the entries. They wanted this challenge to be a truly anonymous project - for the focus to be on the technique and not the person. The technique was to do something new with chipboard.

There are several things I have loved about these challenges each week, the first is the parameters. I like limits. I truly believe - for me - that limits and boundaries cultivate creativity. I'm a little leary about this project though, espcially after seeing the other fabulous creations by the other 4 finalists. They are pretty amazing! I have also enjoyed Wilna's encouraging words on the Making Memories blog. She was the first MM Idol last year and if you have ever seen her stuff, you know why. I look forward to her weekly inspiration and have been able to learn something new every time.

So, if you haven't voted yet - get to it!

WhooooooHoooooo!!!!

Just releaved....I made the top 5 on MM Idol! Thanks so much to friends and family who have been following me on this journey and supporting me with your votes. Here was my project...

...I will get the next challenge a little later today - so you have stuck with me this far, now let's take it all the way baby!

well, did ya?

vote - I mean. There are still just under two hours to vote for the 5th challenge. It was an anonymous post this time, but anyone who knows me or my family will be able to figure out which one is mine - especially if you have the "time" to look :). I'll post the project when the voting is closed.

It is amazing some of the stuff you can find on YouTube! Here is a darling little home made video we found one day, just doing a search on our last name. It's a little dorky in a sweet way - listen to the words. Chris is not related to us (that I know of) but anyone who writes a song about Disney Princesses is okay in my book!

Let's Party...

Challenge #4 is up and it's all about a party so GO HERE to vote! Here is what I did for this challenge - an Expedition Party. The invitation and "field journal" for the scavenger hunt.

Every party needs a favor - mine doubles as a tool box that every explorer needs when going on an expedition.

What's a party without the goodies? Here, I made a pudding/"dirt desser" with the leftovers from the fossil dig!

top 15...

here I come! Thanks to everyone for all the votes - this next challenge should be so fun. It's all about a party and I'll share more details later on. I've just got to decide what to do!

Challenge #3 is open for voting...

So, on this week's challenge, we had to get back to the basics and use a limited number of things for our project. Paper, ribbons, brads, buttons, and pictures were the basic list of what we could use and the project was totally up to us. I opted to create a canvas wall hanging that I basically just adhered a layout to. The canvas was also something that could be used, and I didn't paint it or anything, just used the plain, white canvas.

Voting has begun and as always, I would love your vote! 10 people will be cut this week taking the total down to 15. So, even if I don't make it to the next round, I really love this wall hanging of my Princess JillyBean - it is now one of my favorites! Thanks for your support and go vote!

ding ding...round #2...

The challenge for this week was to create something you can do with a kid. One of my favorite crafts to do when I was a kid was shrinky dinks so Isabel and I updated our designs and materials and made some funky and graphic buttons to decorate a lampshade. It turned out darling...

...almost as cute as my helper...

So, now Round #2 has begun with the voting. This is such a fun contest and the competition is really underway. The other finalists have made some awsome projects - everything looks so fun and colorful. Check it out and place your vote: MM Idol - of course, I would love your vote if you feel so inclined!

MM Idol top 30...

Whooohooo. Thank you everyone who voted me through to the next round! I am having so much fun with this! The next task is going to be so much fun - I will post later on the details. So, as these things go...come back and vote again on the next round. It should be a very interesting round full of awsome creativity!

let the voting begin...again...

Okay - voting has started for the first round of MM Idol - again. The slate was wiped clean after all of the technical problems last week so even if your vote went through, you need to do it again.

Here is the link to the site: VOTE HERE. I'm really looking forward to this fun process and hope to go on to the next round! Go vote and have fun!

good news keeps on coming...

I am so excited and honored to have been invited to join the Junkitz design team! I have gotten to know Stacey over the past few years at various CKU events and just love her not to mention Janna and Teresa (designers) who's talent is as amazing as their personalities are fun and giving.

I really enjoy being on design teams. They give me the creative push I need and keep me current in the latest products and trends. So a big THANKS to Junkitz for giving me this oppotunity - it's gonna be great!

I also wanted to share this "oh so fun" project - a class that I created for All My Memories last week. I call it a Boutique Bag since it just looks like something you would pick up in a fun boutique somewhere. It is also totally unique because it is created by you - no two will ever be alike! This is such a fun way to dabble in doodling - and easy since you use the "stack-em" templates for the doodles!

MM Idol Update...

Making Memories emailed me with their new plan for the voting on this contest...they are starting again from scratch this Monday, March 5th at 9:00 AM MST. The voting will be open until Tuesday the 6th at 4:00 PM MST. So, for those of you who have successfully cast your vote, you will need to do it again.

I have had such wonderful support from family and friends and ask you to be patient a little longer - I think the kinks are ironed out and it should go smoothly. Thanks again to all - this has been so fun!

okay now...vote...

Here is the link to the voting; MM IDOL. After a day of some technical difficulties, they finally got it working. Voting goes until tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 9:00 AM and then we find out who made it to the next round. I'm so nervous - the pictures on the site are so small, it's hard to see the detail...so here is my page up closer:

Thank you everyone for supporting me and helping me out on this - it has been so much fun so far!

mm idol

Wow. I am amazed that I made it to the top 50! For those of you who don't know what MM Idol is, it's a contest that Making Memories is sponsoring and like American Idol, the finalists are voted forward by everyone. This is the first time I have ever been involved in something like this - it's so exciting! This isn't just a layout contest, there are great prizes to be won of course, but there is also the chance to participate in Making Memories publications and become an honorary design team member.

So, now is the time for the shameless plee - to ask anyone and everyone to vote for me. This next stage of the contest is where the voting begins. I have to download a project due by this Sunday at midnight; an All About Me type of glimpse into who I am. Voting begins Monday morning at 9:00 AM and is open to EVERYONE so stop by and cast your vote. You can sign up for an email reminder and every week vote for your favorite. Of course I would love it and greatly appreciate your vote, but look at the layouts and go with your gut - it's fun and inspiring. But in all seriousness - vote for me!

CKU Home Study...

I had the awsome opportunity to develop and film a class for CKU Home Study. The class is called "What A Year" and it's an entire album broken up into levels. The first level is creating base pages from 6 basic templates that are used over and over again for the 24 pages. The next level focuses on monthly layouts with multiple photos, effective journaling, and basic embellishments. The final level is all about advanced embellishments that are added right along side what was just created before.

You can see the same base template for these two pages, but notice how different they look with picture situation, different papers, and embellishments - these are two of the completed pages from the class. If you are interested, check it out here and scroll down a bit. I also created some journaling blocks specifically for this class that can be printed off and used over and over again. I am honored to have participated in such a fun project - I love developing classes and hope to do another soon.

okay, okay already...

I know I've been a bit lax on updating this thing. I have tried several times but it didn't take, or I forgot my login password, or I just didn't have the time. So here it is...an update!

Wow. Valentines Day. This day is my parents' wedding anniversary too. Happy Valentines Day to all! I'm going to make pink rice krispie treats today and I might even share my recipe - it's really good.

CHA was awsome. Such an eye-opener to everything that is out there. I worked the Traditions Studio booth. Made some samples for the catalog, designed some make & takes, and generally had a good time. I am still in awe at how HUGE it all was. It was also good to see old friends again too - like Lara from South Africa! Hey there girl! And Stacey and Theresa from Junkitz - you guys are awsome and look fabulous- as always! And so many others. Here is one of the samples I created for the show and the TS catalog - a new favorite!

My friend and neighbor Meridith was also at CHA with her new company: Lizzie Anne Designs. Such fun and unique stamps. I have had the opportunity to do some samples with these fabulous stamps too like this birthday purse card.

Well - there's the update. I just got back from a cruise and plan to post some pictures from that soon.

what can I say...

...when this is your view after waking up in Japan? Wow, what a way to welcome the day and the adventure of a new country.

...when I have the nicest, most helpful, awsome translator? My new friend Noriko was the biggest help and such a delight to get to know better. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you, Noriko for taking care of me and helping my class run so smooth.

when the magic of this place makes you do something you normally wouldn't? Sushi - yes - I tried, I ate, I liked! The next table over has Ali, Paolo, Tracy, and Miki, encouraging all of us at our table - Lance, Clark, Katie, Scott, and me.

...such an inspiring and incredible trip I will never forget. Beautiful people with so much humility, respect, and creative ability - my life is changed.