good news and bad news

First - the bad news. I received an email from a friend of mine in PA letting me know that a friend of ours had died of melanoma cancer. She had just found out about a spot of melanoma on her toe while we were still living there 2 1/2 to 3 years ago. She passed away this weekend and I just feel so sad. Can you imagine the pain her husband must be going through - and her children...it brings me to tears just thinking of what they are going through. This tragedy has reminded me to love on my family and friends every chance I get. It has also made me think about my position on always being the one behind the camera. I am so self-conscious about how I look. I put on some pounds during both pregnancies and thanks to my non-functioning thyroid...I can't seem to take it off! I need to get over it. I need to remember that if something unfortunate were to happen to me - I want my girls to have lots of pictures of us having fun together. (sigh...) This is something that is so hard to think about - yet I can't stop thinking about it. KWIM?

Ok - so now for the good news. You still have time to get in on the Rusty Pickle giveaway! Go to the blog now: http://rustypickle.typepad.com/ and just leave a comment on today's post to be entered to win today's giveaway...NEW French Market papers AND an acrylic album! WOW! Go back tomorrow to see if you've won...and if you haven't, keep leaving comments! The last day of the giveaway will be soon - but it will be a big one I'm told. So don't miss out!

What else is new...
Tom and I are starting to talk about buying a house. When I start looking - I get so excited and seriously - I just LOVE looking at potential houses. We went to an absolutely BEAUTIFUL neighborhood last weekend. Many of the new homes were on a lake. Gorgeous houses. But I think the neighborhood is a little far north for us...well, for Tom. We have his commute to consider. So I'm looking on some builder websites and found another house that I fell in love with. And I'm telling you - this house was AWESOME. Again, on a lake, mature trees and landscaping, 2 story (there are way too many 1 story homes in FL) and the house itself looks like homes that are priced for twice as much in this area. Tom even admitted that he liked it. I had called the builder to see about getting a walk through, but 6 hours later when they called me back, I was told that the house sold that very same day. BOOOOOO!!! Even though we are not ready to buy right now, I was really - truly bummed. I know there's something else out there for us. But you know, when you get all excited about something, it's hard not to be bummed.

I am busy designing classes for Heart in Hand Scraps. It is a wonderful site that offers online classes. They have an ad in the latest Paper Crafts issue as a launch of sorts since the site was new and basically had members just from word of mouth up until now. Lots of great instructors there - check out the bios and join the forums. Things are going to start taking off there very soon! My first class will be available soon - possibly this Friday!. I've also been designing projects and writing supporting articles for another site that will be launching soon, designing some mini albums for a special project that I cannot share with you yet (there I go again!) and gearing up to play with more hybrid scrapbooking. Glitz sent the DT their CD's and it all looks so awesome. Those will be so fun to work with! And of course I'm busy doing projects for Rusty Pickle. Man oh man am I loving all the new stuff! The winter papers match the Grinchmas line and are so pretty! I have 2 layouts I will be uploading this next week that were designed with the new winter papers. I am also trying to get back to my album using French Market. I also have some acrylic albums sitting here that I want to work on. These new Rusty Pickle albums are to die for! I mention all this to let you know why I haven't uploaded many projects lately. Much of what I'm doing is for something specific that is not released yet. Exciting stuff I tell you!

ok - gotta run and get Lindsay...then tennis...then ballet for Jess...then out to dinner I hope! I will be uploading some photos from the RP Retreat in the next day or two. Beautiful place - and I had the best time!

We ALL need a little Glitz in our lives!

Who doesn't enjoy Glitz? People that know me, know that I'm all about the Glitz. Which is why I've been chomping at the bit to tell you my good news! I have been asked to be a designer for Glitz Design!!! Keep your peepers peeled on that website. I tell ya - some super fun stuff coming your way at CHA! In the meantime, you can check out their blog here: http://glitzitnow.blogspot.com/ There are sneak peeks thrown in several of the posts. If you check out their post today and play the video - you'll see what fun-loving gals they are. So silly...I love it! I cannot wait to start working with these wonderful ladies!

Unbelievable!!!

I am just thrilled to have made the Top 10 in the MM Idol competition! How exciting is this?! Thanks again - SO MUCH - to those of you that are voting. And especially to those that believe I am deserving of your vote. This is an incredible experience and one that will surely make me a better scrapbooker/artist/designer. The challenges continue to make me think outside the box. It's a good thing! And once again, I am beside myself to have made the cut. I am certain my neighbors heard me scream yesterday when I pulled up the voting results. But as much as I wanna spend the day celebrating, I've got to put on my thinking cap and start the brainstorming. Honestly, I am still unpacking from my weekend retreat last weekend...but everytime I took something out of my bag, I'd try to think how I could use it in this next round. I did manage to jot down some ideas in my journal, but I can't say that anything has come from them yet. They are just that...ideas. Sometimes I get a creative spark from the most random ideas that I've written down. So you never know...it's good just to get any idea at all down on paper. Free the mind. I may try to get out of the house today just to help me relax and possibly get some inspiration.

So this retreat I went on last weekend...it was so much fun. I did not do my usual socializing, but ever since I've been creating for this competition - I've been on a MISSION! So I kept to myself a bit so I could think a little clearer. When I start goofing around and singing and eating (my usual crop behavior) I don't get much accomplished. LOL...I know lots of you scrappers can relate. Here are some pictures from my weekend at the Scrapbook House.

I also wanted to remind you that Making Memories is celebrating their 1st year blogging with prizes today. A prize every hour! Check it out! http://www.makingmemories.typepad.com/

Happy Valentines Day!!

I love Valentines day. For no other reason but that it reminds us of the ones we love and more importantly - it reminds us to show and tell others how much we love them. I don't think that happens enough in this world. So all my friends and family that are reading this - please know how much you mean to me - I love you!

I wanted to wish my hubby a happy Valentines Day and tell him how much I love him. Tom...thank you for being such a wonderful husband and friend. Thank you for being the most amazing father to our girls who love you to the moon and back. Thank you for being the hard-working man that you are. You are amazing - and truly the man of my dreams! I love you with all my heart!

So - what are your plans for Valentines? A special dinner? Exchanging gifts? I know Tom and I are planning to go to the hibachi tonight with the kids. I got the girls a little Valentines gift that we'll give them when Tom comes home from work. Then we'll head out to Wasabi for a fun evening. The girls love watching the hibachi chefs do their thing - and seriously, I think the chef's enjoy making the girls giggle. They act like kids themselves...making their onion volcanoes and flipping shrimp into their hats while making bad jokes. If you've never been to a hibachi, I highly recommend it. It makes for a great evening out. Tom and I always split the surf & turf and I'm certain tonight will be no exception. Yummy!

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I also wanted to share a couple hybrid projects I have just done. You'll have to let me know what you think. I'm still new to the hybrid thing - but gotta tell you how much I'm loving it!

The first project is the altered heart at the top of this post. The scalloped heart is by Making Memories. I printed out digital papers (free Rhonna Farrer digital kits at 2peas - Feb2007 and April 2006) to cover it with and added the BasicGrey ribbon, Prima crystal flourishes, Heidi Swapp stamp and ghost flowers, and an Autumn Leaves rhinestone brad.

Last night I made this: **ETA** Project removed for publication

I bought this Asian inspired double canvas funky looking picture at Marshalls. I ripped both of the canvases off and coated them twice with Gesso to cover up the rich reds, golds and black colors. I painted the frame background a dark brown then went back to the canvases. I painted the sides with acrylic paint and then applied some Tea Dye Varnish to match the distressed look of the digital papers. I then created both of the layouts in Adobe Photoshop Elements, printed them off on cardstock and embellished with gathered ribbon, chipboard monogram, rhinestones and a stamp or two. Digital supplies are as follows: LiquoriceRevamped papers 1, 3, 4 and 6 from Scrapbook Bytes (designed by Vera Lim), the flourish was also purchased at Scrapbook Bytes and is by Trish Jones. The photo edges3 are by Rhonna Farrer from the Designing With Digital CD. The blue digital paper was a freebie found at Scrap Chic Studio called Bliss Mini Kit - designed by Mindy Wade.

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day! MWAH!