Contest Entries

I got my first contest entry, and it's a good one, so you guys better get on the ball and send in your layouts! This first entry is coming all the way from the Phillipines!
Timi O. Mercado sent me her layout this morning, and here's what she used!-
(materials used and journaling):

Title: 5 Reasons to Celebrate ME
Materials used: Patterned papers: Rouge de Garance, Chatter Box and Urban Lily (Linen); Cardstock: DCWV; DCWV alphabet stickers, brads, buttons, glitter glue (blue), metal photo corners, DMC embroidery floss, Fancy Pants stamps, Uni-ball Signo pen (white)

Journaling reads:
1. I am PASSIONATE. I put my whole heart and mind into anything that suits my fancy.
2. I am CREATIVE and it shoes in my craft, whatelse but SCRAPBOOKING!
3. I am SIMPLE, with simple wants and needs, putting importance to life simple's pleasures.
4. I am a LEADER. And I do it well.
5. I am EASY TO GET ALONG WITH. I easily fit in a group. I don't have enemies.


This next layout entry is from my Friend Corinna-Scrapbooker for hire!
Corinna creates most of her layouts in 8 1/2 x 11, and you'll always find ribbon and great journalling on each page.


Here's Thea's layout!

her journalling reads....
October 31, 2007

This page is so totally NOT what I had in mind for my “self-esteem building” page. I guess my muses were invading today. It IS Halloween so I shouldn’t be surprised. I have been trying to straighten up/organize my scrap room for 6 years. Yes, I said 6 years and I’ve finally realized, through reading countless articles and books, and talking to friends and my 16 year old daughter who does happen to speak wisdom on random occasions that I don’t like to scrap in solitude. I need wide open spaces. In the ACTION. Gotta see what’s goin’ on. Then it came to me that in only 1 & ½ years, Brittany will be off to college like her brother Erik and the whole house will be empty. SO, I’ve decided to go ahead, turn the scrap room into a Studio. Really make it a place I can be crafty. I am at the top of the stairs so not really out of things since I’ll be the only thing in the house, except for Rocky, the beast. If I want to scrap in the kitchen I can take what I need BUT if everything in the scrap room is where it should be and easy to find it should be easy to put away. Keep your fingers crossed.
So, what does this have to do with Jill’s challenge you ask?
Well, I like that I can think things out. It may take awhile but I eventually get to where I need to be. I’m a good listener because I realize that God gave me 2 ears and 1 mouth so I can hear twice as much as I speak. I’m supportive of the underdog because I’ve “been there done that” and am not going to let others take advantage. I’m pretty confident though sometimes I’m shaken in my shoes. I act as if….. Having 2 alcoholic parents taught me a lot. I kinda like me. I realize there are things I can’t change, gave up the high heels years ago, but I figure I’m a work in progress and I’m progressing nicely!!!



I know that several of you have said that you have been really busy and you want to send in a layout for my contest, so since this is my FIRST contest, I'm going to bend the rules a bit and slide back the due date until November 5th. If your layout isn't emailed to me by then, too bad so sad, gonna have to catch ya on the next contest! =)

Do you know how much I love you?

Ok, so "do you know how much I love you?" was the first text I got from my husband last night. My first thought was "oh, no, what has he done?" His next text said something like "I got bored, and found the scissors, and gave Jadyn (my youngest) a haircut. She moved a lot, got fussy, and I really screwed it up, but at least it's out of her eyes!"
Of course, my response was "OH MY GOSH>>>>PLEASE tell me you're KIDDING ME!"
his response---"nope, not kidding!"
my response---PLEASE PLEASE tell me you're kidding me!!!"
his response---"ummm...NOPE, not kidding!"
My response---"did you do this cause you're getting back at me for spending tons of money at the scrapbooking expo tonight?"
his response---"nope, just got bored, and she needed a haircut!"
my response---Holy crap, my poor baby!"
his response---"give me a break! THere's fires all over California, 1500 hundred houses have burned, over 1 million people have been evacuated, and you're MAD about a bad haircut?"
no response from me....
So...I guess I could say that I made it a point to NOT feel guilty for spending money at the expo, cause he butchered my baby's hair. I got home, she was already in bed, so I got to sleep without seeing it. THANK GOD.
I woke up in the morning, and Jadyn walks in with a HUGE pout, which I attributed to her bad haircut, and Jacob walks in behind her and says with a smirk "I always wanted a little brother!" Then Jadyn sings "I'm a boy, i'm a boy, i'm a boy!!"
are you laughing yet?? NO??? Ok then...here's a picture!!!
BEFORE>>>>

AFTER>>>>

All I gotta say is, she's gonna look like a cross dressing princess for Halloween, and those bangs DARN well better be longer by the time we do Christmas Pictures! haha

Scrapbooking Contest update

Well ladies, my contest ends in 4 days. I have received none...nada...ZERO layouts for the contest, so needless to say, I'm a bit disappointed. Was my prize not good enough? A free Autumn Leaves page kit worth 10 bucks plus free shipping? Heck, I'd take an hour to make a layout for a free gift like that. I've had over 250 viewings to my blog since the contest has been posted (not including my own viewings) and have had people SAY they were gonna submit layouts, but my email is empty. I was really excited about my NEXT contest, because I'm going to the scrapbooking Expo in Ontario tomorrow and was gonna pick up another cool prize, but If this contest is a flop, I might not have anymore. So I guess I can just say I'm disappointed and don't know where to go from here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Drop me a comment!!

What I did last weekend

I got a chance to visit my best friend Edie this past weekend, and also got to meet my dear friend Thea whom I've known for 3 years but finally met IRL! We had so much fun, and even got a chance to scrap together for a few hours! woo hoo! I made two layouts that I really love, so I thought I'd share them with you guys! Both are from the pumpkin patch this past week.
This first layout is made with bazzill as the background paper (love it!) I think the stamps are from my two Heidis (swapp and grace..hehe) and I can't believe I forgot who the patterned paper is from...I'm sure someone will see it and know instantly to remind me!

this second layout I LOVE! I took the new Making Memories scalloped paper and cut it in half. I was only going to use one half, and then I decided to just SEE what it would look like if I layered it. Inking the edges gave it the last "shabby chic" touch! The flower petals are from a bunch at joanns, and the button on the flower is one I made from some fabric I had (probably also from Joanns) The background paper is Crate Paper (one of my faves!) and I THINK the rub ons are Heidi Grace. The font is a sizzix border alpha strip.

pumpin patch frustrations

Ok, are you like me? Do you buy outfits, JUST because they look like they'd be good in a layout? I do it all the time..can't help it! My mind is always there, thinking of the next page to make.

So I was in Kohls the other day and I saw this ADORABLE outfit which I thought would be perfect for the Pumpkin Patch for JADYN (my youngest). It was a plum/burgundy colored onesie type outfit with pretty white arm cuffs and leg strips with flowers on them, and one of those birds that you see in all the layouts these days on the side of the hip, with felt like flowers sewn on and embroidered. Totally perfect for a layout, right? I bought it, put it on her today, and was ready to walk out the door and get my perfect pictures taken for my perfect layout...and she looks at me and says "I POOPIE, MOMMY!" omg...SO i run over to her, and she leaked through the whole outfit! (I know, TMI!~) I was soooo freakin bummed! I took off the outfit in a huff, and then searched for something else to put her in. I finally settled on a white dress with ruffles all over it, cause nothing else stuck out for me....did i mention i was bummed? We went to the pumpkin patch, took our pictures, paid WAY too much for a few dorky rides, TRIED to take pictures on the big pumpkins only to get yelled at by the workers, all of which MUST have been pmsing today ( i wanted to yell that I just paid 20 bucks for 3 dorky little 3 minute rides, so she'd better shut up about the picture on a pumpkin thing, but i kept my mouth shut) and then went home. ****note to self.....white dress....dirty pumpkin patch....not a good idea~!***

here are some of my fave pics from the patch.

what a prize...

here are a few close ups of the page kit the contest winner will receive. This page kit is Autumn Leaves Mod Daydream! It contains 5 patterned papers (scan doesn't do the colors justice) 1 diecut sheet (my fave!)30 apoxy accent stickers, 80 apoxy alpha stickers, and 37 rubons! Only 11 more days to enter the contest, so let's see some layouts!

CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST!!!

Ok, my first contest is....A LAYOUT contest! **don't worry, they won't ALL be layout contests, but I want to start things off with seeing how talented all my viewers are!

For this layout, you can make your page (or 2 page layout) in 6x6, 8x8, 12x12 OR
8 1/2 x 11, you choose. I thought about making the first contest "holiday theme related" but then, every contest right now is Halloween, so I changed my mind.

Here goes... This is gonna be a "self esteem building" layout!
I want you to create a page about YOU. It does NOT have to have a picture on it though, if you chose not to have one. What it DOES have to have on it, are 5 things that you like about yourself. You can make it silly, you can make it serious-doesn't matter. Included on your layout should be solid AND patterned paper, any way you want to do it, and you have to use SOME kind of stamp, whether it be Alphabet, or Shape stamps.

I was going to judge these layouts on my own, and post the winner only, but I changed my mind on that one as well. Every layout I receive will be posted on my website, and viewers get to vote on their favorites in the comments section. The one with the most votes wins, so tell your friends to come to my blog and vote!

Winner will receive a new autumn leaves page kit! I will be posting a picture of the page kit later on this week!

**ALL LAYOUTS MUST BE EMAILED TO ME BY OCTOBER 30TH, SO LET'S DO THIS!!!**
email submissions to kraftyladyincali@gmail.com

Tj's Birthday Party

We went to a birthday party at the park for a little boy in my stay at home mom's group today. The kids had so much fun! Here are some of the pictures!

Crop till you drop!

I went to a crop in my neighborhood last night and these are the pages that I finished. Not bad for a 6 hour crop, with 2 hours of screwing around! I'm ALMOST done with last years fall album. YAY! Tomorrow's the big contest day, so check back!

Contest prize **clue**!!!

So tomorrow I'm gonna post my first contest! woo hoo!
I hope I get a lot of participants because I would love to be able to choose from a lot of talented scrappers works! I bought the prize yesterday, and I think it's a great one!

The clue for the prize is....

Autumn leaves!!

S-T-Y-L-E ***STYLE***

What's YOUR scrap style? Have you ever been asked that before? I have..and you know what my answer has been? I have NO IDEA! I'd have to say maybe that it's "anything goes" because it all depends on my mood, and what pictures and paper I have in front of me. I kinda just go from there! Lately I've been thinking about scrap styles, and I wanted to post some styles of some of my greatest scrapper friends. All of my girlies are extremely talented, and most of them have been published, or on a design team or two.

I think I'll begin with Iris Babao Uy. I met Iris online just a week ago, after seeing her pages in one of my favorite scrap magazines. I immediately freaked out at her amazing layouts, because they're SO the style that I dream of having. Iris was just recently named one of 2008's Memory Makers Masters! What an honor! Iris is from the Phillipines, and is making her way into the scrapbooking world like wildfire! She also designs for October Afternoon, Badgirls kits, Scraplovers, and Scrapbukan. When asked what her scrap style was, Iris replied that her style was free and full of texture. She has no rules, and she doesn't plan her pages. She is inspired by her photos and products, and her layouts just flow from there! Looking at her layouts, you will see very intricate cut work, so fantastic that I acctually asked her if some of her layouts were digital, to which she replied NO. I believe that Iris is gonna go a LONG way in this industry, and I wish her the best of luck!

Next, is my friend Dona. I've known Dona and all of my other blogger friends for 3 years now, and they're some of the most talented scrappers I've ever seen! I'm very proud to be in a scrap group with them. Dona is a riot! Her personality and sense of humor come unmatched, and I am so blessed to be able to have the priviledge to attend her wedding this winter. Dona has designed for Pazzles, and the Novel Approach Design teams. When asked what HER scrap style was, she said "done!" Yep, that's Dona! Dona's layouts AMAZE me. Each one is different and perfect! Her layouts (in my opinion) are so great, they're almost beyond professional. What I mean by that, is that I'm shocked that she hasn't written her own book by now, cause I'd sure as heck buy it! The vibrant colors and the silly pictures she uses just make you smile. Here are some of my favorite layouts by Dona.

Then comes Corinna. Corinna is a bit more on the shy side, and very humble, I'd say. She's also one of the sweetest girls I know, and I can't wait to meet her IRL! Corinna scraps in 8x10, and although I havn't delved into that size yet, her work has inspired me to try my luck at an 8x10 album, so I bought one the other day for Jacob's 6th grade album. Corinna has not been published YET, but I know she will be someday. Her blog is great, and she has this way with words that CAPTURES the audience reading it. Corinnas style is graphic freestylist. She is a life artist, with heavy accent on the journalling. Corinna is so deep with her journalling, that most of her layouts bring me to tears. Her family will cherish those memories for years to come!

Here are some of Corinna's layouts

Nikki I havn't known quite as long as the others, but she's just as special. Nikki is hilarious, and is always cracking us up. One thing I love about Nikki's layouts is that she's not afraid to put HERSELF in there. I'm always the one behind the camera. I have very few pictures of myself, but I see these layouts that Nikki makes with herself as the subject, and I just think..."that's awesome!" Us scrappers should use ourselves as the subject more often. Nikki uses a lot of arrows, stamps, and bling in her layouts. Her pictures are silly , and tell a great story. Here are some great layouts!

Edie is my best friend of 3 years. We met in one group, and ended up finding out that eachother was a scrapbooker, and I think I've ruined her since then. She can't let a Joann's coupon go to waste, local scrapbook stores know her by name, and she owns pretty much almost everything sizzix has ever made! Yes, I'm a bad influence..but it's fun! Edie is a great scrapper. She is kind of shy and modest about it, and doubts herself too much when it comes to her work. She has been a Scrap-room guest designer, and recently got picked to design a sample page for Pagemaps.com. I'm so proud of her! Edies pages are fantastic. out of the thousands of layouts I've seen in the past 10 years, nothing compares to her amazing talent of finding the PERFECT paper to match her pictures. Everything flows SO SMOOTHLY and just FITS. She says her scrap style is Eclectic. She uses clean lines, is journalistic, and her photos are always the main subject. Edie is not a professional photographer, but her pictures are about as close as it gets. Every picture she takes showcases something wonderful about the subject, whether it be a personality, a feeling, movement, or just the dew on a rose. Edies layouts are light on embellishments, and heavy on paper. She is a paper FREAK just like me! Here are some of Edies best works

Last but not least, is my dear friend Klo. Klo laughs at me because I tell her she's famous. She's met almost every scrap celebrity there is, from Lisa Bearnson to Allie Edwards. I went to a Scrapbook Expo here in california last year, and I was talking to this one company from around here, and I mentioned Klo, and the guy that worked there said "I know Klo" and I said "MY KLO? She lives in Nebraska!" It was then that I realized that my famous Kloey really gets around...(in the scrap world, that is!) Klo is a design team member for Pazzles, and also is the Events coordinator for Scrappin USA. She is the inventor of the new Kloriginal designs cd for the Pazzles cutter. Klo's style is eclectic. She uses her pazzles for everything, and I've seen her create amazing works with it! Examples of Klo's Pazzles pages are below. Enjoy!

Thanks for taking the time to view some of the layouts from my talented friends . To learn more about my girls above, check out their blogs listed on my site.

Stay tuned for my first "freebies" contest coming up on the 15th!

Some of my favorite layouts!