A Misher-Masher!

Happy Sunday to all my friends!  Hope your weekend has been smashing and fun AND COOL, LOL!  We were supposed to go white water rafting yesterday but Riley took a gigantic spill on his bike Friday evening and he was just too banged up and sore to do it.  So we’ll be going after we get back from NY and Canada hopefully when we are all well LOL.  But he’s ok, just sore and scraped up with road rash everywhere—no fun!  But we did go to the Loudoun County Fair yesterday and then saw the Rodeo last night (with both my boys) which was fun.  Alexa is in Ocean City with friends so she didn’t join us, but we ate some funnel cakes, fried oreos and frozen lemonade (gotta love fair food huh?)!  Today we are headed to the pool for a bit more downtime and then I gotta get some work done LOL in the evening, but it was a nice laid back weekend which I enjoyed!




Today I’m just sharing a misher-masher of things with you that you might be interested in---including my CMC DT projects for the current challenge, a card/poem made by a friend and some newsies for ya!  And I’ll be back all this week with fun projects including the new Gina K releases!

NewsBitz:

-Make sure to check out those new Elisabeth Bell for SCACD “Peekers 2 Collection”---they are sure to steal your heart!

-If you loved those Sew Easy tools than you will LOVE LOVE the new Sew Ribbon Tools—very cool and easy to use on your cards or scrapbook projects!  7 Kids has those and the Sew Stampers (for faux sewing) in the store now!

-If you haven’t joined in on the BookEndz group yet there is plenty of time to do that—you can join anytime and everyone is welcome!  But you only have until Aug. 4th to join in on the Party Challenges to win some great prizes---so head on over to join up, play along and read a great book!!

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My CMC DT

I have a fabulous, talented and very lovely DT for my CMC Challenge Group---I just adore each of these ladies and happy to call them all my friends!  They do a smashing job for each challenge we have over at CMC and I just wanted to spotlight them all!  The current CMC Challenge will end this Friday, Aug 5th so you still have time to join in---the challenge is to use Copics and use the colors AQUA, RED, CREAM/WHITE!!

If you have an interest in trying out for the CMC Challenge DT you can read details on how to apply HERE!  The next DT Gals will be announced and added in October!

Below is the current DT Slideshow for you! (if you get my blog by email you MUST come directly to my blog at www.scrapbitz.blogspot.com to see it)

SENIOR DT:

Charlene Randall (head gal)

Brook Guinn

Anary Baumgarth

Melanie LaBelle

Marie Gamber

Ruby McGuire

JUNIOR DT MEMBERS of the CMC Design Team!

Pat St. Martin

Jenn Cochran

Michele Spera

Sandie Dunne

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And lastly a fun card and poem that was done by my friend Cat Gondek who is in my online CMC Classes and was in my Chicago classes as well!  She’s a sweetie and you have to read her poem she created—it makes me giggle each time!  Thanks Cat!  (and YES if you disobey my classroom rules you gotta get up and dance with me, hee hee)

Have a great Sunday everyone & see you tomorrow!

Peeker, Peeker!!

Hello and a happy Friday to you!  Yay another week is done and its WEEKEND TIME!  Well it will be for me if I get all my work done in a timely manner today so I can enjoy the weekend with my family LOL!  I must say I am BEAT as I’m writing this post (the nite before) that I can barely see the laptop—yikes, so I apologize if it sounds wonky or is spelled funny.  We had a great turn-out for the new BookEndz Group at the CMC Classroom yesterday for the Kick-Off Party---woweeee!  If you didn’t get a chance to stop by you still can and enter the challenges---you have until Aug. 4th to do so and the GRAND PRIZE is a new KINDLE!  Also I revealed the book we will be reading which is “Snow Flower & the Secret Fan” by Lisa See---it is a wonderful book about the power of friendship between two women.  I enjoyed it soooo very much when I was a the beach and I knew instantly that it would be fantastic for the Book Club!  We ended things with a LIVE CHAT last night and those GALS (all 68 of them) were CRAZY LOL—crazier than me, how can that be.  If you’ve never been to a chat at the CMC Classroom you need to come to one, always fun, fast paced and informative but you gotta have your fingers ready to fly cuz’ it goes FAST!  And when we have a party with prizes its even CRAZIER---I think ‘dem gals were sniffing too many Copics last night I tell ya, whoooo eeeeee LOL!  Me I was just having fun and drinking Cherry Coke trying to keep up


Anyone going to the Southern Women’s Craft and CHA Supershow in September in Charlotte, NC?  I will be there with my good gal-pal Pat Jaynes on Thursday and Friday so if you will be there give me a holler.  I’d love to see/meet you!  After that I will be in Kansas City teaching and then onto Ohio, possibly San Jose, San Diego and finishing in Vegas and maybe Texas!  Yep I have a very CRAZY FALL schedule ahead of me before I stop traveling in mid-November to take off for the holidays.  But you can see the upcoming locations for my Copic Classes at www.cmcroad.com and I will have it updated late next week with all the new spots!

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Lil’ Purse Peeker!

Want this badge?

YAY---today is RELEASE DAY for the new

 Elisabeth Bell for SCACD “Peekers 2 Collection”! 

 If you loved the first Peekers you will ADORE this new collection!  You can see and buy the whole collection at SCACD HERE!   I love each and every one and they will certainly make you sigh and say “awwwwwwwwwww” – come on, say it with me! LOL! 

If you are hopping then you came from my good gal pal Janiel’s Blog so now make sure to hop to the next blog at the end of this post for even more inspiration!  

And if you are overseas you can buy these cuties at Quixotic Paperie!

I’m entering this into the following challenges:

Amber’s Crafts & Stuff Challenge (patterned paper)

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge (make it girly)

Crazy Challenge (ribbons)

Isn’t she a cutie? I love her and her name is “Purse Peeker”---I love purses and I love shoes so I had to use her FIRST LOL!  I paper pieced the purse to match the background papers (ooh I’d love a bag like that) and then colored the purse handle with Copics & used Diamond Glaze on the handle to make it pop more.  The papers are NEW and by “Lily Bee Designs"--love gingham and love red and aqua together!  The mats around the image are SB’s “Lacey Circles” one of my go-to fave nestabilities.  The gingham border was done with my MS border punch and then I matted it on the shimmery white cs to make it pop.  Bow was done with Bow Easy and then topped with some matching Prima flowers!



She was colored with Copics R29,R24,R22,R20 / BG04,BG02,BG000 /E11,E00 / E37,E31,E50,YR20.  I added Diamond Glaze to her headband and bracelet as well and then some stickles on the coins and rose for bling!

Now you need to hop on over to my good friend Kim G’s Blog HERE to see more beautiful inspiration!

Have a great weekend!  See ya on Monday!

Readers, Readers Everywhere!!

Well a very happy Thursday to you all!  It is gonna be another hot one here in Virginia and tomorrow it will be 100 degrees again---man oh man I wanted summer but I think this is a bit extreme huh? LOL!  Alexa left for the beach today with her best bud and I can’t think of a better place to be in the heat.  We are traveling to West Virginia this weekend to go white water rafting and I’m so looking forward to it.  Just pray that there are no WEIRD Suzanne incidents---I want to stay IN the raft, not under it ‘kay? LOL!  But it should be a great day and a good way to keep cool in the heat of this summer.



Today is the BIG DAY!!!  Yeppers, the new group I’m starting called BookEndz debuts today over at my Color Me Creative (CMC) Classroom!  There will be fun contests and challenges all day so make sure to pop on over there to check them out.  I’ll also be announcing the Book Club book that we will read for the next 6 weeks.  If you are also a crafter than you will be able to create/share projects in the theme/spirit of the book as well for a chance to win at the end of the 6 weeks.  Not a crafter but like to read? Well you are welcome to as we will chatter about the book regularly and at the end of 6 weeks have a Cyber Book Party with prizes for everyone to get a chance at too!  And my project today is actually for the BookEndz premiere so it MIGHT just give you a hint to what the book will be….hmmmmm…..have to pop over at 9 am to see that! LOL!  This group is something I’ve been planning in my head for a LONG time, hee hee.  My two favorite things are to read and to craft so what could be better than combining the two right?  I started a book club in my old neighborhood and it was really fun, the hostess each month would have food and games in the theme of the book.  I sure do miss it and I just never got around to creating one in my new neighborhood.  So many of us here work, have young kids and live crazy lives that there was never time so I thought about creating a Cyber Book Club for awhile---that way lots of people can join in whenever you can with others who love to read too!  So I have great hopes for a fun, relaxed atmosphere there---my CMC Classroom is very much like that and I enjoy the chats and people I’ve gotten to know through it.  So please hop on over & join us for a bit today---I’d love to have ya!

PS—thank you, thank you for all the wonderfully sweet emails and comments I got yesterday on my post (you can read it below this post).  It made my day, brought a smile to my face many times and really enforces my reasoning behind blogging every day!  And for those that think I should write a book? Hmmm You NEVER KNOW what I might be up to (wink) LOL!

NewsBitz:


-OMGoodness have you seen the new La La Land Crafts stamps? I saw them while I was at CHA visiting with Irina and they are SOOOO CUTE you will want them all (a crafters addiction right)! Check them all out HERE!

-Tomorrow is RELEASE DAY for the new Elisabeth Bell “Peekers 2” Collection for SCACD---awww they are adorable and I can’t wait to share my project with you all!

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A Fan Friend!!

Oh la la la---I adore these new papers from Authentique, these are from the JOURNEY Collection. I was drooling over them at CHA and guess what?  SCACD has them all in stock HERE—run get them while they last, cuz you know us crazy crafters we like to HOARD stuff, hee hee!  And yes this new card is in the THEME of our very first BookEndz book we will be reading---any guesses?????

I'm entering this into the following fabulous challenges:

Crafts & Me (ribbon)

Papercraft Star Challenge (anything goes)

Party Time Tuesday Challenge (anything goes)

Stamps + Fun= Creativity (no sentiment)

One Stitch at a Time Challenge (pearls & swirls)

This gorgeous stamp is a Kraftin’ Kimmie stamp called “Sakura” and she’s just so lovely---the whole line of Oriental/Asian Kraftin’ Kimmie stamps are 25% off right now HERE!  I had a ball working with this lovely lady and using these fabulous papers.  The bow is a double flat bow---created by making two loops of ribbon, adhered with Scor-Tape and then a middle piece of ribbon wrapped around to secure the bow.  I wanted to replicate the bow on the back of her “obi” or sash.  The swirls are YES from my fave Marianne Designs dies and the round elements were made with SB’s Lacey Circles and regular Circles nesties.  Then I layered some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts on there as well.  The small black pearls were done with my Graphite Viva Décor Pearl Pen.



She’s colored with Copics B04,B02,B01,B000,B0000 / C9,C5,C3,C1 / E11,E00,R20.  And you can’t see well in the photo but I used pale aquas and grays to create a soft background around her and then faded it out with the Colorless Blender.  Her obi and fan got a nice thick coat of Diamond Glaze and then Stickles on her beautiful hair comb.




Hope you enjoyed this today and makes you want to get reading and crafty LOL!  Make sure to pop over to the BookEndz Group today to join in on the fun!

The Sky’s No Limit Baby!!

Happy Wednesday to you all!  How is the week treating you so far?  I want to spend my blog “monologue” saying thank you to you all!  I have been so lucky over the past few years to be able to blog and spill my stories and life experiences here most days.  And I’m lucky to have had so many of you stop by each day, share your own stories and comments and make me feel welcome in your lives.  For those of us in the crafting community we know how LARGE it can be but sometimes it really is like a small town---that six degrees of separation always circling around us! And the majority of us are women, although we do have a few wonderfully talented gents sprinkled in, hee hee.  No other business community has a larger group of women who blog, own companies, run companies and are artists---that’s HUGE, a great accomplishment!  I think sometimes we all forget how powerful we can be as a GROUP, working together, building each other up and helping each other.  When we come together like that we can DO ANYTHING, THE SKY IS NO LIMIT!  Truly how wonderful is it that we can turn our hobby into a career, our career into our hobby and do something we love from home.  The internet has been such a valuable tool for us all, it allows to become friends with those across the country and the world---there is nothing better than a friend who supports you, loves to do what you do and shares your crafty-craziness LOL.  I know I wouldn’t be doing what I do each day without the internet and without all of you in my life!  Well I’d be doing it but in a much smaller scale in my own home, hee hee.  For me getting to know all of YOU makes every thing I do so much worthwhile and FUN!  I have received the best notes and emails from so many of you over the past few years and they all touch me in so many ways and I treasure each one!  You let me know that what I might say here everyday on my blog has helped you in some way, cheered you, made you laugh, made you cry or just gave you a happy start to your day.  When I write my blog I am literally journaling my thoughts of the day or stories I want to share or something that made me happy or outraged me sometimes---and while I know you come by and read my blog I don’t always think about what I say here and how it might affect your lives.  So when I get emails from you letting me know that something I shared, talked about or made has effected you, its always so special to me, reminding me that we all have a way to touch someone’s life. I am grateful and thankful to everyone who even takes 1 MINUTE to stop by my blog and to email me a sweet note---it really means a lot to me!!  Hopefully we all try to put out our energies in a positive way and I know I try to reach out always in a positive way as much as I can, and every day that I'm here on earth.  There is so much negativity in our world and so much pessimism---I have always been a “glass half full” kinda gal and YES I do have days where I am stressed, or tired or just don’t feel good trust meeeee (they are called jammie days in the DEAN household LOL)!  But I prefer to approach everyday with a positive attitude and people ask me allllll the time (LOL) if I’m always happy and you know what?  YEP I pretty much am----if my feet touch the floor in the morning, my family is healthy than its an EXCELLENT day and I approach everyday that way.  Life is wayyyy too short to spend being negative or wondering why life is so bad/gray---make it better, I believe we all have it within ourselves to have a good day, a good life and be positive.  So anyway, just remember that the one encounter we might have with just one person that particular day, that week or that night might be the one time you could affect someone’s life in a positive way, change their outlook for a few minutes or just bring a smile to their face.  I’m not a magician, I’m not special or any different than anyone else but I do KNOW that I try to always put out there what I want to receive back each & every day. Doesn’t always work on the receiving end, but I know if at the end of each day I feel good about what I did that day than I had a GREAT DAY KWIM!!!  So put a smile on your face, pay it forward, show someone you care in a small or big way and make your life here on earth (which is way too short sometimes) matter in a way that makes YOUR heart happy!  The sky is NO LIMIT on what you can do, how you can make a difference and how you leave your imprint here on this earth!!

NewsBitz:


-If you haven’t joined in on the Magnolia-licious Summer Bash Contest—make sure and check out all the fun details and the TWO different ways you can enter to win BIG HERE!

-SCACD is having sneakie peekies this week for a fabulous NEW RELEASE by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD on the 29th!  Stop by the store blog HERE to see the peeks and enter for yummy blog candy!



-Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!!  My new Cyber Book/Craft Group “BookEndz” kicks off tomorrow---if you love to read and love to craft well we’d love to have you!  Even if you don’t craft and you just like to read, come on over and chat with us.  There will be fun contests all day and FABULOUS PRIZES including the Grand Prize of a new Kindle!  We’ll end the day with a fun LIVE CHAT at 8 pm EST on the main page of the CMC Classroom tomorrow evening too---so make sure to stop by at some point.

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Sky’s NO Limit!!

Appropriately enough I picked this cutie-patootie new Tilda (and rocket & sentiment) from the new Magnolia “Heroes” Collection that will be available soon at Magnolia-licious.  There was some talk that some of the newer Mags weren’t cute—but I DISAGREE, I just ADORE THEM and think they are so appropriate for so many occasions! There is also a collection called “Winner Takes All” and there is a Mag stamp for every sport including skateboarding and gymnastics!!  And hey I was a huge tomboy growing up---I had an older brother that I worshipped and didn’t know I was really meant to be a girl until around 8th grade LOL!  So yeah I wanted to be a GI, an astronaut, a vet and a cowboy (not a cowgirl lol) so I love love this lil’ Tilda Astronaut!

I'm entering this lil' space traveler into the following fun challenges:

Make It Monday (anything goes)

Oh La La Creations (circles)

The Crafty Pad (embossing)

Fairy Knoll (colors of rainbow)

Paper Cutz (anything goes)

I loved the bright colors of this Bo Bunny “Blast Off” paper—the patterns and colors were just perfect (I got my papers at Archivers while I was in Chicago along with 10 other paper pads that I needed….errr….wanted)!  I used my SU Star punches and layered them together than applied Stickles to each star and a fun red rhinestone on top!  The sentiment and the rocket are also Magnolia stamps that will be available soon at Magnolia-licious too---stay tuned for pre-ordering details on these!  The scrolls are Marianne Designs dies and then I embossed the circle with a CB folder and added another fun circle with my SB’s “pinking circles” dies to give the moon a GLOW



Yep she’s colored in Copics B39, B37,B34,B21 / R29,R24,R22,R20,W5 / E47,E37,E35,YR20 / E11,E00 /YG25,YG03,G20.  I gave her helmet and boots a THICK coat of Diamond Glaze for a glassy shine.  The rocket flames and her accents got some Stickle bling---even in space a gal MUST have bling KWIM LOL!

Hope this gave you a smile today and made you want to share a smile too!  See you tomorrow!

Classy AND Sassy?!

Well hello my friends and a happy Monday to you all!  I took the weekend to recover a bit from my trip to Chicago and I must say I am feeling better and more revived.  Although I did work (shhhhh don’t tell the family) a bit to catch up on emails and things so I could jump right into crafting today. LOL—can’t keep me away from my laptop for very long KWIM—hubby says if I could attach my laptop to my hip I would hee hee (and he’s right).  I leave August 7th for NY and Canada to teach and visit my grandmother who just turned 90 and I’m looking forward to that.  My grandma can still run circles around me I do think at age 90 so I always tell James he has LOTS to worry about with me cuz’ he thinks I move too fast now but there is NO SLOWING down.  I always say “I can sleep when I’m dead”---too much to see and do and I don’t want to miss anything!  I’m taking my son with me as he loves it up at my grandma and uncle’s house—he gets to be a country boy and hang out.  I will spend 3 days up in Canada teaching at my friend Sheila’s store “Scrapping Great Deals” and hanging out with my crazy…errr….I mean fabulous Canadian friends Andi Murdock & Kim Reid and more!  I’m sure I will laugh my pants off with those girls and I’m looking forward to the classes!  AND GUESS WHAT?  I will finally have my car back tomorrow—YAYYYYYYYYYYY!  I’m so excited---I only got to drive it for 2.5 weeks and I haven’t had it since mid-April while they were fixing it (long story short—I was rear ended by a texting teen in April).  So you know what I’m driving up to NY dontcha? LOL!  In the meantime I have lots to catch up on and do here at home and enjoy some of the last days of summer too and boy-o its been a hot one huh?  So stay cool today wherever you are!

NewsBitz:

-Today kicks off a week of Sneak Peeks for the new Elisabeth Bell release from SCACD—you can see sneaks of the cuties and enter for Blog Candy HERE!



-My new Crafting/Reading Cyber Book Club BookEndz kicks off on July 28th with a day of FUN challenges, contests and prizes including a NEW Kindle!  You won’t want to miss it so mark your calendars now---everyone is welcome!  Even if you are NOT a crafter and only want to join for the book part that's A-OK too, we'd love to see you there!  See all details HERE!

-I have NEW locations for my CMC Copic Classes coming soon including San Jose,CA / Chicago / San Diego / Texas.  So stay tuned at www.cmcroad.com for all details and registration!  Currently registering for classes in Ohio and Kansas City!!  Kansas City store/class info HERE.

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Vogue Monochromatics!

Today I’m sharing a project I made for a challenge I’m hosting over at StampTV called Mix It Up Monday!  My challenge this week is for everyone to create a MONOCHROMATIC project---which are never boring!  Using all tones of just ONE COLOR can be elegant & classy OR modern & sassy!  So I’d love to see you all pick your favorite color and create a project and join me over at the challenge HERE!

I'm also entering this project into the following fun challenges:

Lollipop  Crafts (anything goes)

CCEE Stampers (hugs/encouragement)

Divas by Design (pastels)

Ginger Loft Challenge (sparkles)

I used a fabulous Gina K set called “Vogue Vases” for my project (you do NOT have to use a Gina K stamp to join in on the challenge but if you do you get 2 chances at winning).  I kept my colors all in one tone of soothing buttery yellows.   Classy and elegant and perfect for any occasion me thinks.  The papers are all from PTI as is the matching ribbon.  I used some Bella Baubles and Marianne Designs dies for the accents.  For a monochromatic card its important to use LOTS of textures to add some dimension to the project since you are working all in one tone.



For the main image I paper pieced the vase and then I used my Ranger Liquid Pearls to add small pearls to it for more texture.  When I paper piece I always shade the paper with my Copics to keep the look dimensional and to match any other coloring done on the image.  The leaves got a coating of Gold Stickles for sparkle and I added Baubles to the center of each flower.



Hope you enjoyed this project today and I hope you head over to StampTV to join in on the challenge with me—I’d love to see what you create!!  Enjoy your day!

Got Fur?!!!

Happy Saturday everyone!  My it seems like its been a long while since I posted, LOL, and I guess it has been huh?  I have to say I am half zombie today -- Chicago and CHA has tired my bum out for sure.  As much as I love it, enjoy every minute of it, it sucks the life right outta ya! LOL!  Being on the go since last Thursday from 6 am till 1-2 am every day really can beat you up but I hate to complain because I enjoy visiting, teaching and having fun with everyone while I'm away. But it will definitely take me a couple days to get back to somewhat normal KWIM!  So today I'm taking off and tomorrow I will head back up to my studio and get back in the swing of things a bit.

Stories?  Oh yeah I've got lots of those of course---I mean geez I was gone a week and I can't usually go 24 hours w/o something happening hee hee!  I got into Rosemont on Sunday after teaching in Downer's Grove on Friday and Saturday.  It was HOTTER THAN HADES in Chicago--usually I can get a bit of a break from the heat while I'm there but not this time!  On Monday I and some friends headed down to Navy Pier in Chicago and while we had a great time it was so hot sweat was dripping down my legs.  But we saw some sites (see slideshow below) and rode the large ferris wheel to see the city which was nice.  On the way back we decided to take a taxi back instead of the train----ummmmmm BIG MISTAKE! LOL!  Our taxi driver had NO CLUE where the convention center was and it was RUSH HOUR traffic--oy vey!  It took us so long and he passed our exit 3 times, finally he decided he didn't want to go around again so he got on the shoulder of the highway (major 8 lane highway) and backed up 90 mph---yes BACKWARDS!  I had to chant to myself and pray hard for that one as I was sure we were going to get hit or fly off the overpass.  We were traveling over those rumble strips so hard that my I think my head was injured in some way, LOL (well if it wasn't already right?).  Not a good ride and NO ONE in CHICAGO believes in A/C (air conditioning)---what the heck!  The taxi had no A/C--I thought we were going to die as we slid around the WET-SWEAT soaked seats into each other like we were on a cheap fair ride, LOL. (gross-o)  But its always about the experiences huh?

I'll share more stories with you this week about CHA but I thought I'd finish up today with a story of my LEAVING Chicago yesterday for ya.  Took a taxi up to Midway Airport after a NO-SLEEP night of thunderstorms (back story: my room faced the front of convention center and my blinds didn't close so I had the blinking Times-Square-like lights all night and police whistles every morning, omg).  We get close to airport and there is a traffic jam, horns honking and everything.  We start going by and me and the taxi driver look at the van and the driver is ASLEEP---I kid you not, he fell asleep at the light and obviously didn't hear the honking LOL (well we hope he was asleep & not dead).  How strange?  I've been pretty tired but never fell asleep at the wheel at the light ;)  Get into airport and on one side the sky is BLACK like night and I'm praying that they don't shut the airport down----yeah right Suzanne huh? Well they did and my plane was delayed for 2 hours--I have yet to fly out of Midway this year w/o a delay its like a darn curse.  They have us line up, sit down, line up, sit down---it was ridiculous and everytime we'd get in line it would lightening again like a cruel, cruel joke LOL!  I was so tired I swear I was going to lay on the floor and sleep.  We get on plane and pilot announces that HEY--yes we were delayed but now we gotta WAIT to be refueled.  Poor James was so confused cuz' I'm texting him that we were boarding, then we weren't, then we were, then we were waiting hee hee!  I get my pillow out and my blankie and I'm ready to sleep right?  Well guess what was sitting next to me?  YEP A GRIZZLY BEAR---I'm not kidding, this guy was huge and he had the deepest voice I've ever heard like a BEAR!  He manages to elbow me every other minute, chew loudly on potato chips and the nastiest smelling tuna sandwich (blech) and talking, talking, talking LOUDLY ugh!  I fall asleep and then he starts shaking my shoulder (can you believe this) and asking me if I want a drink cuz the stewardess is coming!  WHAT THE HECK?  If I WANT A FRIGGIN' DRINK I'LL WAKE UP AND ORDER ONE BUT DO NOT WAKE SUZANNE UP WHEN SHE IS SLEEPING ON THE PLANE!!! THAT IS RULE #1 YOU MUST NEVER BREAK! I was so peeved and it takes a lot to peeve me, I was so aghast that he even did it and I must have given him my look of DEATH because he immediately shut up, mumbled sorry and didn't touch me again LOL!  So if you fly DO NOT EVER wake someone for food or drink especially if you are sitting next to me 'kay?!!  LOL!

So CHA was fabulous and I had a great time, met lots of old and new friends and made some new contacts.  I have some VERY exciting news coming soon that I'm not even sure I've processed yet but I have a slideshow of pics below for you to see and enjoy!

Slideshow Pics:






NewsBitz:

-Yummy, yummy new papers in at SCACD by Echo Park & Authentique---I was drooling over these at CHA this past week, they are GORGEOUS!

-New CMC Challenge is up now HERE for the next two weeks!  Make sure to stop by and join us in the fun!

-The New Group BookEndz will debut on July 28th at the CMC Classroom with some fun contests and prizes including a NEW KINDLE!  I will announce our Book Club book and how you can play along with us---its sure to be a great time!  You can stop by and join now HERE as everyone is welcome and the party will start on July 28th!

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Got Fur?!

So I'm a bit late in sharing this (sorry but I was so tired every evening that typing was beyond my capabilities).  This is for the 7 Kids Challenge and since I was the hostess I challenged everyone to "TEXTURIZE IT"--use as much texture as you could on your projects.  You can find all the challenge details HERE.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Two Sisters Challenge (anything goes)

Fabulous Fridays (buttons)

Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges (animal & punches)

Inspire Me Fridays (anything goes)

Stampin for the Weekend (4 paws)

Moving Along with the Times (cute/cuddly with a punch)

I decided to use this super cute image by Stampavie/Laurence Designs called "Warm Welcome"--isn't it adorable? You know how much I love my kitties & dogs (I missed them so much while I was gone) and I adore this stamp.  I used lots of things to create texture on my card as well.  The papers are by Best Creations "Travel Forever" (on sale) and I loved the patterns and colors---great for a gal or guy! The ticket tag die cut and stamp are from PTI that I distressed.  For more texture I used my SU photo corner punch and embossed them, used twine to wrap around the center panel and fun buttons to match.



To simulate texture on the doggie I used my Copics to create a fur-like texture in E25,E35,E33,E31,E50.  The dog bone got a coat of Diamond Glaze and then I added stickles to the doggie dish.



And that cute kitty got some texture too---I used my Quickie Glue Pen to add some Sparkly Fluff in gray to his fur coat for even more fun texture.  I didn't coat him all over because I still wanted my Copic coloring to show through but put on enough that it would be fun to touch!

I'll see you back here on Monday---enjoy your weekend!

Summer Bash Blog Party!!

Happy Monday my friends!  Today I am in the Windy City of Chicago (although hoping for sun & not wind, LOL).  I spent two days out in Downers Grove, Ill teaching and I had such a great time there & hope all the gals *and gents* did too!  I have met so many nice people here in Chicago from the time I landed until yesterday and my taxi ride from HELL LOL!  I must have looked a mess when I got off the flight (slept the whole way) with my 2 large suitcases, purse and carryon suitcase hee hee. (no it wasn't all clothes, 65% was class materials).  My suitcases kept falling over, then I spilled my purse and I kept getting my suitcases stuck on things, LOL.  I had no less than 8 people ask me if I needed help and one lady said "oh honey, let me help you out" :)  But I did ok and managed to get my rental car and then my dumb GPS system to work (I swear my GPS Glinda called this one to mess with me).  I was lucky enough to have dinner with friends Saturday night after my classes and so great to meet Pat St Martin in person since I've known her cyberlly for so long and also Cat Gondek who is always at CMC and in our chats---so great to meet you both and have you in class! And a special shout out and thank you to the fabulous Scrapbook/Craft Store Memories & Beyond for hosting me---if you are around that area its a must stop if you are a crafter!  I had to drop my rental car off yesterday at Midway Airport and then catch a taxi to Rosemont to my other hotel near CHA.  I got the taxi driver from hell--I really wasn't sure I was going to make it in one piece LOL.  He went about 90 mph, talked on his phone in Arabic LOUDLY while NOT looking at the road--I don't get carsick but I swear I almost did yesterday.  Then to top it off he dropped me off at the wrong hotel and it is HOTTER than Hades here in Chicago, so I immediately found LOTS of cold Cherry Coke and drank 2 down in 10 minutes.  Then I was jittery, LOL, so I wandered around a bit before meeting up with friends.

I have the day off so I’m spending it in the city playing and visiting some sites, usually I never have time so this is nice.  Tomorrow I’ll be working on the floor all day at CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) and although its work its always fun to meet and see eveyone there—really fun!  If you are there come stop by and say HI ok

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Summer Bash Blog Hop Party!!

The Magnolia-licious DT and Challenge Teams have paired up again for a fun-filled Summertime Bash Blog Hop today!  The DTs have all created summertime projects with one of the  following themes:

Beach Bash, Summer Barbecues/Picnics or Fishing Fun!

You can find all the fun details on the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog !

You will need to hop along and collect a LETTER from each blog that you will put together to make a 3 word phrase!  Email the phrase to me at sjdean0574@yahoo.com and be entered to win the fabulous prize package below.  

AND if you decide to join us and make a project one lucky winner will also win 2 Magnolia stamps of their choice from Magnolia-licious—so there are two great  ways to win!!  So we hope you have a blast hopping around with us today!

               

Big Prize??? A Beach Pail filled with $100 worth of craft goodies AND a Scor-Buddy AND 5 Mini-Magnolia stamps of your choice from Magnolia-licious!

FISHING FUN!!

I decided to go with the Fishing Fun theme since I couldn’t wait to use these new cuties from the Sweet Rainbows Collection at Magnolia-licious.  My son loves to fish and I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay so its one of my fave things to do too—although I like crabbing and boating the best   I also decided to make a Tent Card this time to change it up a bit---easy to make and fun to decorate!



I used Edwin Waiting for Fish and Tilda Gone Fishing—aren’t they adorable? I just love them!  Where Riley fishes here in VA it is along the creek and rivers and there are tons of sweeping trees hanging over the water.  So I wanted to re-create that but not have huge looming trees take away from the images KWIM.  So I used my Marianne Designs die (swirl) and added leaves (with my MS leaf punch) to create a similar decorative look.  Each leaf got inked and then stickles to make them sparkly!  The grass was made with a fabulous die from MFT—I cut them out of the designer paper for a fun look-I layered the grass so it was dimensional and realistic.  The papers are all by Memory Box called “Minuet“.  The waters edges was done with an older Fiskars border punch & then I added more Stickles for sparkly water effects The cloud is a PTI die that got sponged and stamped with a PTI sentiment.  I used this same cloud cut-out to sponge the blue sky background behind them.



Both of my images got colored with Copics B97,B95,B91/ YG67,YG03,G20 /E11,E00,R20/ E37,E35,YR23,YR20,E50.  Tilda’s white shirt got Stickles—a girl has gotta have BLING when’s she’s fishin’ dontcha’ know!  I made Edwin’s fishing pole more realistic by using Scrapper’s Floss for the fishing line and added some beads at the end for his fishing bobber.



sThis is what the tent card looks like from the side but it will fold flat for mailing too.  By creating a Tent Card (see tutorial & use your fabbo Scor-Pal too—I increased the size of my cs to 5.5” to make it larger) you can create lots of dimension and really have fun with it--I loved creating this!

Ok now you need to collect my letter for the 3 word phrase and it is

“T” 

and hop to the wonderfully talented

 Maureen’s Blog HERE!

Remember to head over to the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog to see all challenge details and how to win!! 

Thanks for hopping with us!

Bottoms Up??!

Hello my lovely friends and a very Happy Friday to you all!  Yay it’s the weekend---hope y’all have fabulous plans.  As you read this I am flying overhead on my way to Chicago this morning, renting a car and driving to Memories & Beyond in Downer’s Grove, Ill. to teach for two days.  Let’s hope Suzanne has NO adventures during the flight and drive ok, LOL, I MUST be at the store ontime to teach   I have 2 days off on Sunday & Monday which is nice and I’ll be in the Windy City to play and see some sites with my friends.  I usually don’t get to do that so it will be fun for sure---singing perhaps? (you never know, lol)  Then I work all week at CHA which is always tiring but super fun to meet and see everyone—I love that!

And yes I have another STORY for you today---when do I not huh? LOL!  I seem to attract the weird, funny, and strange around me and I’m not really sure why but it sure does make my life interesting!  I finished all my class prep, laundry, packing & grocery shopping yesterday so Alexa and I set off to get pedicures and nails done.  Its something I do every 2 weeks as a treat and break from work for myself—I don’t work but just sit & relax for a bit.  So I was having my nails done after having my pedicure and a man walks in to get a pedicure—not very strange as I’ve seen lots of men there.  To set the stage as well where I go is owned by a Korean family—very nice but sometimes hard to understand KWIM as far as speech goes.  So he sits down and he starts in---OMGoodness I was like what the heck!  He’s super loud and has a Southern accent that carries across the space--reminded me a bit of Nathan Lane in the "BirdCage" movie if you get my drift, LOL (love that movie btw)!  So he wants a pedicure BUT he also wants her to paint animals on some of his toes, LMBO—which they do there but usually not on men.  The salon lady is one of the quieter ones and she just cocks her head and looks at him.  He’s going on & on about this beach party this weekend and how he wants all kinds of Sea Life painted on his toes like dolphins,crabs & fish LOL.  And he’s Southern so he has an accent and I can TELL she does not understand him, hee hee.  So he finishes his request and she’s quiet for a minute before saying “so you want feet done and crabs all over you?”  LOL—I about died! I was trying so hard not to laugh but it all bottled up and YEP I SNORTED LOUDLY and that was it for me, I couldn’t stop laughing.  He just stared at her for a bit and then said “WELL, I don’t want JUST crabs dear, I want some fish & dolphins too!” very seriously.  I was hyperventilating at this point and Alexa was just glaring at me and laughing too—even the gal doing my nails was laughing.  So the lady sat down and started his pedicure and the whole ENTIRE TIME he giggled and was like “whoohoo that tickles, hee hee hee” loudly each time she scrubbed/polished his feet.  It was a RIOT!  Usually its very quiet and peaceful in there but NOT today, no way!  I left before I could see his feet (which he invited us ALL to see, lol) but I’m sure they were OCEAN FRIENDLY!! LOL—oh my!  You just never know do ya!?

NewsBitz:


-Pre-order all the NEW Spellbinders dies at 7 Kids College Fund!  There are a few beauties that I MUST have!  Also pre-order the beautiful new holiday Stampavie Stamps and the cool NEW I-Zing products (must try these me thinks)

-Remember I have a Summer Special going on for all my Online Copic Classes at the CMC Classroom thru Aug. 15th!  Also check out the current challenge at the CMC Challenge Group too!

-If you email me and its urgent over the next week while I’m gone, please put 911 in the subject line.  Otherwise I will check in on my emails when I can during the day & evening!  Thanks!

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Bottoms Up??

Today is another fun Copic Creations Challenge and we have been challenged to use all PASTEL colors! We have a fabulous sponsor this time “Sparkle Creations” who provided the DT with images to use today so generously.  If you haven’t checked out their cute designs take time to do so—they are just adorable and so fun to use!



I chose this cutie called “Cocktail Emily” as I thought she was perfect for summertime fun!  I have a friend (ahem…ahem) who loves purple so this card may end up at her doorstep if I remember to mail it (I am notoriously horrible at sending stuff, lol).  I chose these beautiful SEI papers for the color scheme of lilac, spring green and pale yellows.  The swirls are made with Marianne Designs dies and then I added some layered Prima flowers/roses.  I added some Stickles to the flowers so they would be sparkly too.  The mats behind the image are from SB’s dies Labels 20 Mega Nesties.  Some blingy rhinestones and a bow finish this cutie off!



She was of course colored with Copics YG67,YG03,G20 / V17,V15,V12,V000 /E11,E00 / Y11,Y00 /C1,C000 and Colorless Blender.  The edges of my images as always were done with my fave Inkssentials Blending Tool.  The glass/drink got a coat of Diamond Glaze and then I sprinkled Deco Art’s Glamour Dust in the glaze while still wet so it suspends within it—cool effect.  The line got some stickles too!

That’s all for me today---hope you enjoy your weekend! Make sure to stop by the Copic Creations Challenge Blog to see the DT projects & join in the fun!! And make sure to stop back by here on Monday for a fun Magnolia-licious Blog Hop!!