the charleston is such a happy dance

Come on... dance right along with these guys. You *know* you want to!

my celebrity look alikes

Uh... YEAH! Don't I just WISH!!! (Well, except for that pic of Joan Cusack -lol!)

Here's another try:



I don't recognize half these people and the others I just don't get (Tea Leoni? Meg Ryan? WHA...?

reflections of summer '07

Just some of the pics I've taken this summer. I never did manage the "photo-a-day" thing, but I did remember to pull the camera out more often than not...

A SGT thank you album

The three Amigas

End of eighth

A bopping centerpiece

Pastel primas

A cookie fit for a princess

Art Appreciation

Mr. MammaJamma

Grad Boy

Alex n Libs

Chicka-chicka-boom-palm

Maddie n Me

Hope ya'all have had a super summer too!

another funny blog entry to share

How Rachel Ray Cost Me...

new pages

I spent Saturday afternoon cropping and was able to finish three new layouts. It's funny but before last weekend's crop it had been SOoooo long since I had scrapped that I was starting to wonder if I'd forgotten how. Between last weekend and yesterday, I've done more pages than I'd done all year.

Thought I'd share yesterday's layouts. This first one "The Newest Nephew" is my favorite of the bunch. I was finally able to use my new QK Sophisticate font for the first time. Isn't it a great font?


"The Best Teachers" layout is of my daughter and her kindergarten teacher. When we go to open house we like to visit all the kids prior year teachers. So this pic is a recent one. We love Miss Ortega --she's awesome!


For some reason the last one is just scanning yucky. My scanner doesn't like really light colors and the background on "Silly Girls" is a very light lime green. I messed around with it in PSE trying to fix it, but what you see here was the best I could do. (You might notice these are all heavy on Fancy Pants products. There's a reason for that - I did them for a manufacturer challenge.)

if you need a good giggle...

...check out this blog: Because I Said So

less than one week...

...until school! I can't believe it. At this very moment my oldest is at Freshman Orientation. Yup, he's a high-schooler now. Gulp. And my daughter starts her last year of elementary school -the end of an era. How did this sneak up on us?

Here they both are as kindergarteners. My how time does fly!

pay it forward

UPDATE: ONE MORE RAK LEFT! Just leave a comment with your email to nab the last RAK.

The whole idea is paying it forward, just like the movie Pay it Forward. Only we are doing this scrapping style.

What happens is the first 3 people to comment to this thread will receive a RAK from me of a handmade item. It could be anything that I make for you. Then you promise to blog about it too and then do the same thing to the first 3 people that leave a message for you and so on and so on.

So who is going to be the first 3 to leave a comment on this post? If you are one of those 3, please leave your email address in your comment (unless I already have it) and I'll email you to get your mailing address. Then I will mail you something real soon.

This PIF blog post migrated here from:
www.onmybackporch.blogspot.com

Be sure to check Rachel's blog out!

**ETA on 8/23: Since I've had some comments left by non-bloggers I wanted to add that I'd love to send a RAK to the first three non-bloggers that give me an email addy (so I can get a mailing address). If you are a non-blogger you can PIF by sending RAKS of your own.

feeling yucky

I seem to have picked up a bug somewhere between San Diego and home. Been feeling pretty nasty the last two days. Hope tomorrow is the turning point.

ugh.

expo experience

Rock Star Mk-n-tk with Marah & Maddy at San Diego SB Expo

Back home after a jam-packed weekend. Friday at Expo was mostly good tho the heat on the shopping floor was just AWFUL! Despite that, tho still had a great time. Our first stop was at the Ever After booth where we did a cool make-n-take with Marah Johnson of Creative Imaginations. The project was a gift card holder from the Bare Elements line using Marah's new Rock Star products. Her daughter was the teacher's aide--she is adorable and an awesome teacher.


There was some shopping after that. One of the first places we stopped was Scrapbook Royalty. I just *had* to check out the banner that my fellow Good Time Girl Jennifer had made. Isn't it too cute?!


After a little bit more shopping I ducked out for the Li'l Davis class by Michelle Hill. We had lots of fun with glue pads, flourish stamps and glitter in this "Sweet Memories" class. YUM!


Then a little more shopping before our final class from Cosmo Cricket, a wonderful little chipboard album in the Gretel line. Our teacher was the awesome Tina Keyner. What a perfect way to cap off the day at Expo.


From there we were women on a mission: crop till we DROP! We checked in at the hotel and got our crop area set up. Then ran out or a quickie dinner at Rubio's ...or was it Baja Fresh? Due to my tunnel vision (focused on cropping) all I really remember is that it was street tacos and a soda.

Somehow we ended up with a continuous stream of fun movies to crop to. Friday night was "Jerry MacGuire" then "What Women Want" followed by "Overboard". We pooped out before the movie ended, but lo-and-behold it repeated the next morning so we were able to catch the tail end. Saturday's line-up was also great to crop to: Erin Brokavich, Meet the Parents, The Wedding Singer and Drumline.

I was able to get so much done, but relax at the same time. It really was a wonderful weekend.

san diego, here i come

Paint Can mk-n-tk from Costa Mesa SB Expo (designed by Joy Campbell, SGT)

Tomorrow is the day. I'll be up at an unearthly hour (not a morning person here) so that we are on the road bright and early with a goal of reaching San Diego by 9am. I worked the last two local Expos (Costa Mesa and Ontario). Maybe you remember my smiley face from the Scrappin' Good Times mk-n-tk table? Anyways, this time I'm just kicking around footloose and fancy free. If you're at Expo and you see me, please stop me and say hello!

It's been a real challenge to pack for this trip. Not the clothes - but what to bring for cropping, since we're planning to crop Fri night and all day Sat. I'm used to long crops at stores or at home, but we'll be in our suite and no access to anything but what we bring with.

Should be interesting!

aloha to "aloha, baby"

It's almost time to say aloha to the "Aloha, Baby" class. Before we do, I just want to let ya'all know that there are two extra kits up for grabs thru this weekend (first come, first served). I will be closing out the class on Monday and removing them from the store. I also left two add-on kits at the register in the hold files. The add-on includes one extra 6x8 pre-made page and two half pages (4x6). These are completely done and ready to be inserted into finished albums before binding.

The kit includes wire coil binding pieces to finish the 6x8 chipboard albums off. FYI, there is a binding machine in the store so you can bring your books back when you're done to close them.

Mahalo to everyone who was in the class. I had a great time teaching and hope you enjoy your books.

one last koop for the road

I'd much rather be at the El Rey Theatre tomorrow listening to them live. Sigh.

This one is called Island Blues (kind of appropriate following my tropical class this weekend), tho I have to say it doesn't sound very islandish to me.


Can't resist adding this link to another Island song... Island in the Sun by Weezer

howzabout a nice hawaiian punch?

This layout from a recipe swap done a few years ago.

Thanks to everyone who stopped my class display at the SGT kickoff. I always appreciate everyone of you who are willing to wait in the line (esp in the August heat!) and face the crowds and general hubbub on class kickoff night.

For those of you who enjoyed the citrus punch I served, here is the recipe.

Refreshing Citrus Punch

1 can frozen orange juice concentrate (12 oz.)
1 can frozen lemonade concentrate (12 oz.)
4 cans plain water
1 cups Grenadine (a mixer found in the liquor section of your grocery store)
Juice of 2 fresh lemons
1.5 quarts pre-chilled ginger ale
Orange slices

Combine ingredients and pour over a punch bowl partially filled with crushed ice. Garnish with orange slices.

**For a spiked version my sis (it's her recipe) and I both agree - either Vodka or Rum. About 1-3 cups depending on how strong you like your drinks.

Enjoy!

class kickoff tomorrow

"Aloha, Baby" class display at June kickoff

I can't believe it's time for another class kickoff at Scrappin' Good Times. I started this blog right after the last one (oh, my --have I really been blabbing for two months?)

Well, I hope I see you at tomorrow night's event. I know the good time girls have all been cooking up some great new classes (you can get a peek at them here). The kickoff is always an energetic fun-filled night.

See you soon!

Pamela's "Pieces of My Past" June Class Display

ethereal window

This is the new window display at Scrappin' Good Times (designed by Joy Campbell). It actually looks like stuff is resting on clouds - so cool!

daisy cottage

I can't believe I haven't linked up this blog here yet. It's one of my absolute favorites to read. Like a really good magazine, but even better. It might not be up your alley, but you won't know unless you check it out:
Daisy Cottage

more koop

For your listening pleasure. This is a perfect breezy summer song. Takes me back to 60s artists like Astrud Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, 5th Dimension, etc. This one is called "Summer Sun"... just makes me feel happy.

bloom where you are planted

Layered bloom by Angela Utley

ETA: I forgot to include the time (didn't put it in the reminder email either --ooops!) We'll start at 11:30 am and go until 1:00 pm on Wed 8/8.

It's time for the monthly make-n-take at Scrappin' Good Times in San Dimas. Design Team member Jennifer Priest has planned a super fun project for this week - Layered Flowers! She taught a "Flower Power" class last month that featured fresh & funky layered blossoms with lots of texture and dimension. Now she's bringing her flower power to everyone who can come by on Wednesday - and all for FREE!

Now, if you know me even a little bit you might also remember that layered flowers are one of my favorite things. I designed the one below for an SGT progressive make-n-take last summer using gorgeous MME Kaleidascope products. I've also used them in a very small scale in prior make-n-takes and classes.



But, we're going to go absolutely flower CRAZY with Jennifer. She is mixing it up in a MAJOR way using acetate, chipboard, cardstock, felt, foam -- everything but the kitchen sink LOL! Check out these cool flowers from Jennifer's add-on kit in the July class. Aren't they just too yummy?



So I know we're going to be having a lot of fun on Wednesday and I hope you'll be able to swing by the store. We'd love to have you come out and play with us.

Another layered flower idea by Jennie Allen

165

That was us - space number 165. And what an awesome spot it was too. Lot of room and shade and even kind of divided into separate areas. Couldn't have asked for better. Altho, I don't think the squirrels and rabbits were too happy with us invading their domain.


Despite our beautiful site, I'm not sure I'll ever go back to McGrath. Too far from the beach and wasn't super happy with the bathrooms (so even tho we tent camp, I guess we don't qualify as hard-core campers!)

We went into town on our last day and had some fun window shopping. We had just seen Hairspray the day before so I was totally expecting these painted ladies to break into song.

koop

I really like this group. They'll be playing LA on the 15th but wouldn't you know we're booked that night. Anyway, enjoy this gatsbey-ish video of "Come to Me"...