Original Chicago PIE!

Well we finally made it to Chicago and to CHA. It took two lost bags, no clean clothes, a change of hotel after one night and not a Starbuck's in site but we are finally here. Wendy and I did manage to have the best pizza for dinner tonight. An original Chicago Pie !!!! It looks like alot of dough but don't be fooled - that is all yummy, delicious CHEESE! I will try to post some new pics for tomorrow of the yummy stuff we see at the show. Today was all set up and there were crates and boxes blocking everything - so tomorrow when all the booths are shiny and new I will keep you updated !!!! Here is a picture of the flowers outside of our hotel. Everything here is so green. It rained like mad all day yestarday and part of the morning. A far cry from the dry LV desert and temperatures of 115 degrees. Aren't the flowers pretty?

Finally ! Some finished goodies !

Well it has been a long time coming but I have actually finshed some pieces for the CHA show in - YIKES - just one week. My poor kids have been patient while I have been working so I treated them to the new Harry Potter movie today. It was fabulous. I am such a kid - I just love those books and movies. There is nothing like sitting in a dark, air-conditioned theater when it is 110 degrees outside. With fresh popcorn and an ice cold soda.

Here is a mini-album that I made for our Girl Scout Trip to Sea World a few weeks ago. I love mini -albums because there is such a sense of accomplishment when you finish one and they don't take that long. I used chipboard alphabets from Heidi Swapp. They are altered with nothing but glimmer mist. The black impressions are some assorted stamps but nothing else was used to color the chipboard. Glimmer mist makes it so easy.

I even used it to create borders on some of the edges. I just pulled the edge of the photo onto the extra "spray" from the glimmer mist. When you spray the chipboard there is always some overspray on my craft sheet and instead of waste it I used it the "frame" the photos. I would let it dry naturally though because the heat tool could damage your photos.

Our Girl Scout troop sold over 4000 boxes of cookies to pay for that fabulous trip. So to all those who purchased cookies from us - we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

My second adventure was a bouquet of paper flowers - yes, it has been done before but not with glimmer mist.

You can really see the shine and shimmer in this photo. My daughter Karissa helped me make these flowers. There is only one flower that has been covered by paper (the white one). All the rest have been colored with Glimmer Mist. The petals with the swirls were created by applying white acrylic paint to a clear rubber stamp and then stamping the chipboard flower before the glimmer mist was applied. This is now my new favorite thing to do ! I just love the effect. And it was so quick. Thank you to Diane for showing me the amazing Accucut die for all of these flowers. She saved me loads of time.

Well I better go feed the family and finished some more projects for the show. If you want to see a great new die from Accucut please so visit my new friend Vicki's blog, she made some great flowers today too !

See ya later XOXO

Can you believe that the first week of July is already over . . . .

Well it has been a few days since I checked in - so much going on this week. David has actually had the week off of work so we have been spending precious time as a family. We celebrated the Fourth of July with red, white and blue pancakes. Yummy! We spent the day swimming and playing at home. Everyone on our street met outside after dark to set off fireworks. Just a nice, easy-going day.

David and I attended a wedding on 7-7-07. A very LUCKY day for our friends - Tate and Dave Donner.

Is this the cutest cake ever? What fun to have an excuse to have your hair done and buy a new dress. I went to the hairdressers with Shelly and Helen - a girls day at the salon! Not to mention I got to wear my favorite sparkling shoes.

Tate had decks of cards made with their picture on it as a parting favor at the wedding - so appropriate for a wedding on 7-7-07 in Las Vegas. All of the water bottles had custom labels and the tables where sprinkled with crystals and rose petals. So sparkling and lovely!

Don't they make the cutest couple - so much LOVE! Can you see their names projected on the dance floor - that is such a unique personal touch.

Well it has been a busy first week of July - still working everyday getting ready for CHA and for the premiere of the new Harry Potter movie. The kids are so excited - they are planning a "Harry Potter Day" on Tuesday when we go and see the movie. They are trying to get me to try some of the Bertie Bott's beans which are jelly beans with strange flavors like ear wax and dust - I don't think that is going to happen.

It is already July 8th - where has the summer gone !

Happy Birthday Dionna !

Spent Saturday evening at a fabulous birthday party for my young friend, Dionna. My friend Donna and her husband Mike always throw a great party with lots of friends and family and tons of incredible homemade Italian food ! It is like a dream come true. Not to mention cake and you know how I love CAKE! I spent most of the night catching up with my fellow PTA moms - so much to talk about when you don't see each other for a few weeks - although most of the conversation settled around my friend Tate and her upcoming wedding andwhat on earth we were all going to wear.

The book bag for Dionna's present turned out better than I expected. I added glimmer mist to the bag as well as the paint before I stamped out her name. I wish you could see the sparkle. Perfect for a little girl who appreciate sparkle and a little "bling"!

We spent Sunday at Cottonwood Cove with some good friends, Chris and Brittney. I did not snap many pictures because it was windy and I am always trying to protect my camera from the water. It was warm - OK I admit that it was hot, I think the temperature topped out at 110 degrees - but you can certainly stay cool with you feet in the water. Kaitlyn is trying her best to "surf" on our new family floating island (LOVE IT!). The lake is a little choppy with the wind and Dave and I are sore from riding the jetski. When you are constanly jumping the wakes your neck and back take a beating. We are both feeling the need for neck massages today but we would go again tomorrow - it is so much fun!

Monday was just a catch up day at home - still working on projects for CHA - Looking forward to the 4th of July. Love the fireworks,the picnics, but mostly the family time. My husband is always home on the fourth. Must go to bed now I didn't realize is was so late.

It is the weekend ! Happy Saturday !

Well today is my first entry. I am intrigued by this "blog" way of communicating with my friends and family. I haven't written in a diary or taken an account of my daily life since college ( lets not discuss how many years that has been) and I am so excited to document the little things as well as the big things. So here are some of my "big" things - my children. Don't worry only three of them are mine. The other three are my best friend, Shelly's youngest children. This is a picture of them the last day of school this year. We went to lunch and played outside all afternoon. It was unseasonably cool for the southwest and just a beautiful day. There is nothing more precious than children at play. I wish I could post their giggles and cute little voices. Oh, children are my life and I love it !

There is nothing much on my "to do" list today except to work at home. Lots of projects to get done today to get ready for a big trip to Chicago - my first trip to CHA (Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show). I will be helping my friend Wendy promote her new product called Glimmer Mist. I have always adored scrapbooking but to be an actual part of a company involved in the field is very exciting. Also must finish a gift for my friend Dionna. Today is her 9th birthday party! Happy Birthday Dionna ! I am going to attempt a fairy themed book bag. Wish me luck.