Nazareth and Caesarea

I can't believe we leave for the Philippines in less than 2 months!! I'm starting to really stress out and become anxious. We'll be gone for 5 weeks...ack!! Never in my life have I been gone from home for so long. Even when we were younger going to the PI we would be gone for 4 weeks max!! Thank goodness for the internet! At least I could still use email and pay bills..LOL.



This brings me to my next project...I really want to get the Holy Land pictures scrapped already. I do a few, then stop, then do a few...then stop! It funny, when I first started scrapping them, I used practically every picture. Now I'm throwing out more and more! And the pages are not as detailed...it's all about getting it done! LOL...

I'm not too fond of this layout at all. I think the pictures are not that great (indoors) and it just didn't motivate me. We (magpoc family) didn't get off the bus for this town. We were so tired and I wanted the kids to rest a while, it was a bit of a walk to get to the church. Here is Nazareth. The town where Jesus grew up!

The final stop for the day was Caesarea. It was once a thriving port on the edge of the Mediterranean. Here is our big group! I can't find Jordan in the picture though :(

Since I couldn't find Jordan in the last picture, I highlighted him in this picture...LOL. So glad he went for it...what a great photo op! This layout was made for a challenge from Scrapping Spot. Shawn, who hosts Nuts About Sketches, created this cool sketch. I can't find it on her blog, but it's posted at The Scrapping Spot. I changed it up a bit and used a bunch of scraps!!

Okay, that's it for now!! I made a card this past weekend, but gave it away before I had a chance to scan it...dang, I liked it, too! LOL. I also have another layout to scan....time, oh dear sweet time, where art thou??

Take care everyone!

The Scrapping Spot challenges

Hello everyone! Happy Monday to all of you :) I've got quite a bit to show you today. I've been scrapping a bunch with The Scrapping Spot Use Your Stash challenges. I LOVE LOVE the feeling of using up oldies but goodies. It would be great if you can come join us :)

These are new challenges for March. Here is one created for my challenge....use 5+ different ribbons. I tied a bunch along a border die cut I received in the mail. One of those freebies to try to lure you into their club or subscription.

This was actually from Feb's challenge. I combined 2 challenges: use green/yellow/orange on a layout and use frame/glitter/stars. Since I was late with this challenge, I also added a challenge from March...use 20+ brads. It's kinda a double page layout. They do sit side by side in the album and I used similar products on each..LOL. Yes, I'm still finishing up our Summer album from last year..LOL.

Finally, this layout is also for March's challenge: use 20+ brads. Man oh man, after these layouts, my fingers were kinda sore..LOL!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you can come join us at The Scrapping Spot and use up some stash!! Take care and happy scrapping :)

The Scrapping Spot challenges

Woohoo! I actually found time to play along with some challenges. It was super fun to just dig into my stash and just start throwing things on the layouts. Man, I have so much s'crap'! I've even been purging alot the past year and have not really bought anything. Either I need to purge somemore or I get my butt into gear and scrap more! I'll take the later :)

Anyway, here are the layouts for The Scrapping Spot's Stash Challenges.

First up, use Flourishes.....I also combined another challenge...use Punches....

This layout, another flourishes layout...sorta..LOL.

This layout, use the colors orange, yellow, green. I ran out of some letters, I made the "t" using an "l" and a swiggly line thing. Hey, it works. And check out my "a"!

Finally, my favorite layout!! This one is to use hearts. And I pretty much loaded up this page with lots and lots of stuff!! The big red outline type heart is actually 2 sorta flourishes from the Pink Paislee alpha. It was actually by accident, but I LOVE LOVE it! Another challenge was to use eyelets, but I can't find any! But in my quest to find some, I unearthed other antique treasures...safety pin, jump ring, and MM metal letters! These were totally the rage back in they day. And man, I still have plenty of that stuff left! Also....MM heart brads, Heidi Swapp clear and chipboard hearts. Even a total old school All My Memories metal heart. I love this layout...the embellies are timeless...just like our love. EWWWWW! That was super cheesy...LOL!

Okay folks, that all for now! Have a great Monday..it's almost March! YIKES!
Thanks so much for passing by :)

The Scrapping Spot--Feb kit

Isn't this kit so pretty!! I love the colors and the mix of greens/blues/brown makes this kit very versatile! I used this kit for everything other than Valentines!! I also wanted to say THANK YOU verryyy much, The Scrapping Spot, for having me on the team these past 6 months. Jill and Cathy, it sure has been a pleasure working with you and your fabulous kits!!

Now, onto the projects....a few cards.....LOVE the cupcake bling!!!

Another Thanks card...again for another staff member at school!! Dude, we had to make 4 cards and 4 gifts. I'll have to share with you the gifts the kids created. It was super cute!!

Awww...how I love my sweetie!! He just turned 3. Don't know if you can tell at the top, but there is hidden journaling that I plan to write stuff about.

My big dude on the beach. Looks serious, man!

Finally a family picture taken at the beginning of the year. This will be the first page in our 2010 album.

Now who said don't have any Valentine pictures. You can use this kit for anything!! Have fun with and get your scrap ON! :)

The Scrapping Spot--Jan kit

Are you ready to check out a COOOOOL kit?? Gosh, how corny! LOL.


Here is the Jan kit from The Scrapping Spot! OMG, I am in love with all the glitter in this kit. The papers are glittered, the transparent frame and brads, even a bottle of Shimmerz!! This picture does not do justice to the kit, you need to feel it, touch it, caress it...bhwahahwaha!

I'm going to start off with a card. I made this for a friend. As I mentioned in an earlier post, her husband passed away the day after Christmas. He battled 4 short months of pancreatic cancer. I printed out the ticket from this site...THANKS!! I also printed out the .gif image showing all the tickets. I really only wanted the boarder, so I trimmed that out. Other than that, the alpha, the green brad in the center of the flower, and the bling, the rest is from the kit. The sparkly dots on the flower..that the tulle. OMG, LOVE it!

Check out our little cutie pie. I'm probably biased, but I think she is so pretty. Unfortunately, she knows it, too..haha! I had so much fun with this layout. I ruffled the tulle and stapled (since I don't sew) it on the left side. Then I cut out each of those pom-poms and glued them over the tulle. I also altered the ticket and erased the word (I think it was snow or something??) and used alpha stickers for "you!". Used strips inked with the ink pad included in the kit. And finally added the title and bling from my stash.

These were taken Dec. 2008. I know, totally working on older photos. I realized in 2009 I didn't take as many. I think I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the ones I have now. Or I'm just too lazy to bring along the camera now and let others take the pictures..LOL! These were taken at Christmas in the Park in San Jose. It's really cute, they have different booths with displays, a Christmas tree contest, rides, ice skating rink...and SNOW! LOL. I used the ink from the kit for the snowflake. Then added Stickles from my stash. I especially love the Fancy Pants transparency frame...soooo fun!!

Finally a 2-page spread...WHAT?!?!!? I know, I hardly do these kinds, but I had a bunch of photos from the event. More pictures from Christmas in the Park. We did go this year, but I took maybe 2 pictures, then my battery died! Oh well...we can always go back again in Dec!

Hope you all are having a fabulous Monday! Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Scrapping Spot--Dec kit!!!

Hello everyone!! WOW..can you believe on a few short days until Christmas! I am almost done with all the shopping, only a few more gifts to get then finish wrapping them. I still have not sent out our Christmas tags! I have been slacking on that big time. I really just need to sit down and sign them, stick them in an envie, and call it done. But....I need to get started, YIKES! LOL...

Check out this kit from The Scrapping Spot...this kit features the beautiful Fancy Pants Christmas Magic collection. I've always been a fan of Fancy Pants and this kit has me drooling over them even more! It's also full of embellies like an acrylic Christmas tree, Kaiser Craft wood ornament, and SHIMMERZ! Man, this stuff was fun. I've never used it, but I painted the ornament and it's gorgeous. I LOVE it!!

For some gifts this year, I packaged a few handmade cards, wrapped it up in tissue paper and tied a pretty bow. Here are some of the cards I gave.... I used the quotes on the Fancy Pants patterned paers. It's cut in scallop because I cut the scallop border from it..LOL. It's the "Merry Merry" layout below...

For this card, I cut up the quote into strips--inking the edges and staggered them. I also added bling...can't forget that..LOL! Cut circles from scraps and added the tiny buttons.

More bling and a quote from the sticker sheet. I LOVE easy!

The gem tree is so cute! Added that extra umph for this card.

Here is the "Merry Merry" layout that used the scalloped border from the card earlier. We celebrate with our immediate family on Christmas Eve. We have a yummy feast and open gifts. This year Jasmin saved up all her gifts and piled them up high. While her brothers were ripping them op as they got them! I think she still had a few unwrapped gifts for a few days even after Christmas..LOL!

These pictures are from Christmas day. For event scrapping, I like to keep them pretty simple since I ALWAYS have tons of photos and unless I want 20 layouts for each year...I load my pages with pictures! My parents with the kids....

I had Jasmin write the journaling on here. She has AMAZING writing skills at 6 years old. She writes better than me! LOL! Check out the wooden ornament. The paint from the SHIMMERZ is awesome. I added some of the bling to jazz it up...

Finally, the kiddos....day in, day out, happiness, stress, joy, laughter, and tears...no matter whay...they will always be our precious gifts.

Wow, I can't believe it's almost Christmas and it's almost the end of another year. This year surely flew by...I think I say that every year! I was really busy with life and creating took a back seat. I hope next year life will slow down even just a little bit. I miss crafting, scrapping, and just overall fondling of papers, buttons, flowers, and bling..LOL....

Thank you so much for visiting....until next time...hugs!

The Scrapping Spot--Sept kit!!!

Hello hello!! Wow, where in the world has Sept gone? It's almost the end of the month and I'm now just getting around to posting this!

I am completely honored to have been asked to design for The Scrapping Spot!!! I have been oogling their kits for some time and now I can play with them!! Look how fun this kit is, esp with all the stars! I'm constantly looking for boyish kits filled with stars. LOVE it!! What a perfect kit to start designing with. THANK YOU so much, Jill and Cathy for this wonderful opportunity!!

Let's star off with a couple of cards....perfect for boy birthdays!


Next is our little "Thinker". I have no idea how this all started, but he looks too adorable! I edited the photo in PS and added the journaling directly onto the photo. I love the gears..makes me think of his sweet brain spinning it's gears as he's thinking!

Next a couple of layouts for Jordan! I don't get very many photos of him anymore since he's not into the picture thing! But a few is better than nothing! I'm so glad that this kit came, great way to scrap Jordan for a change!! Here he is at the Viva la Vida concert. This was at Shoreline in Mountain View. It was the first time we had lawn seating, fun fun! But toward and middle of the concert, Jasmin fell asleep and Jordan was getting bored. At least he had his Bakugan to keep him occupied..haha!

Yay! Another one of Jordan! He is not much of a skater, but I've always wanted to use this title...haha. He does dabble in skateboarding, so he is improving. He still looks "cool" though! I love this kid, even though he's been a stinker lately! ugh!

Here are both kids at the Viva la Vida concert. I also included the tickets. They are paper clipped to the little pocket in the background. I had fun with the little pebbles in the kit. I used the chipboard stars, added a bunch of glue and adhered each pebble, one by one! Took some time, but it was worth it!

Finally, here is a canvas for Joey! Since I haven't worked with Canvas Concepts in years, I hardly create with canvases anymore. I really wanted to make something for Joey to hang in his room...whenever he will get one. For now, it hangs in our room--he calls it his room anyway, haha! I love love love how this turned out. I was originally thinking of using the spaceship as a mobile and have stars hang from it, but then decided on this. And I'm so glad I did!! I love it and this photo of him was just PERFECT!! I also used one of my favorite quotes: Reach for the moon, even if you miss you will land among the stars.

Thanks so much for stopping by. And THANK YOU, Scrapping Spot for this wonderful opportunity to design with your kits. I just received the October kit and you guys are going to flip when you see them!! I'll have some layouts for you soon!!