Internet!!! and a project posted

I'm happy to say that I have internet again!!!! My whole house does and we got this super-duper fast modem. I hope it lasts a very long time! Thanks, Jason, for all your help and Dell (although not so much).

Here is my altered box project that I did for my Secret Santee in my PAWS -online scrapping group. Didn't want to post it before Christmas -- before she opened it. And then I had the internet issues. Used Basic Grey papers, bling and stickles. Knob is from Target.

I Love Copics

I spent the most amazing weekend in San Antonio and met some very amazing women. First, I signed up to take three consumer classes at Stamp Antonio (http://www.stampantonio.com/) - Copics, Card Buffet and Ranger tags, taught by Sally Lynn McDonald. They were all amazing but my favorite was the Copic class! I learn so much about the markers that I spent way too much money - I even bought the airbrush system even though I had some constant inner-dialog going on that I didn't need another tool. The inner voice lost out! :). Then, on Sunday, I went to Copic Certification! That was even more amazing than the consumer Copic class. Sally Lynn is such a funny and inspiring instructor. My head is just swimming with ideas. The nutshell is that I will be able to teach Copic classes as a Copic certified instructor (hear that Houston LSS?). But I do need to study and practice (and study and practice).

I met some amazing women in the class. Since I went solo, I hooked up with Barb from Waco (who reminded me tonight that I needed to post!). There was Marci who lives very close to me and lots of other super talented classes.

2010 MS150 Ride

As you can see splashed around my blog and facebook page, I have joined up with Continental Airlines to ride in the MS150 bike ride from Houston to Austin on April 17 & 18, 2010. This is my first ride and I'm very excited to be riding and am planning my training! I am also excited to be raising money for such a worthwhile cause. Please take a moment to look at my personal MS page and the Continental Airlines Team page. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to MS, please visit my personal page via the link to the right (***MAKE A DONATION***). Also, check out the Continental Airlines Team page to see how I am doing!

For the scrapbooks or friends of scrapbookers, I will be putting together an awesome package of CTMH products donated by me from my CTMH business. For every $15 donation, you will get one entry into the drawing for this awesome prize package. I will get a photo of that prize package up on my blog during the holidays (and more details) so you might want to subscribe to my blog to get notice when I put it up! The caveat is that you do need to email me to tell me you made a donation. I'm not sure yet how all the donor info works so I don't want to miss anyone!

So, please donate to MS on my behalf! Love you!

Time to Update

I've got great news! Twice! I've been asked to be a Design Team Member at sketches {by tamera}. I'm really pumped! My term starts in January.

Two -- I made the commitment and signed up for the MS150 bike ride. 150 miles from Houston to Austin on April 17-18, 2010. Now, the training begins. But I need your help in raising donations for MS. Stayed tuned for me to upload the online donation link. I'm putting together a raffle basked of CTMH products. Everyone will get one entry in the raffle for each $15 donated.

Don't quite know what to title this

I was originally going to write a bit about the great/gruelling bike ride I had with my best bud from high school and how she kicked my butt on our ride Saturday afternoon in Oklahoma. However, late last night, I found out that one of my NWCC members was hit by a car and killed on Saturday morning on our Saturday club ride (which I am usually at). Here is the Chronicle link http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6743533.html

I met Stafford at a number of the rides and he was such a nice happy man. He was especially helpful to the new riders. I am just sick about this. Details on exactly what happened aren't out yet, but I have to ask each of my friends and readers to please please please give cyclists (as well as motorcyclists and slow cars) a wide berth on the road. Cyclists as well as cars have a right to be on the road. We (Cyclists) try to pick routes and times where the traffic isn't as heavy. When you see a cyclist on the road, even if they are in cycling attire, you don't know how experienced they are. You don't know if there front tire will hit a piece of debris in the road and suddenly send them spinning a few feet farther out in the road than they intended. Please give them a wide berth. Please slow down. Nothing you have to get to can be more important than someone's life. The sad thing is there was another report yesterday about another cyclist being hit by the side mirror of a Hummer as it passed him. As I understand it, he didn't die but suffered broken bones and internal injuries. If you are close enough to hit someone with your side mirror, that is WAY TOO CLOSE.

Art Box 2009

At the suggestion of a colleague at work, I joined the Art Box 2009 Show, sponsored by Bering & James Gallery. Artists in Houston obtained an "art box" from B&J --which is basically a 12"x12" wood box -- and decorated the box to their desires. The Art Boxes are to be exhibited beginning Dec 4, 2009 and are available for sale. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Depelchin Center. I decided to go with a dog theme.

I'm excited to go see what all the different artists have done with their Art Boxes. I think I heard there are over 400 artists participating. Following are closer details of portions of my box. Enjoy!

Little late but...

I totally forgot to update my blog after Halloween - probably because I was fried. I rode the Moonlight Rumble. A 20 mile bike ride through downtown Houston and the Galleria -- at 2am in the morning (Nov 1). I got home around 5 am-ish. I uploaded photos to FB but forgot to add to my blog. So here's the photo of my group -- the Bumble Bees! It's kinda small b/c I pulled it down from FB.

Happy Halloween!

My good friend, Loretta, made this little Frank as her contribution at the TXGC SBS. Isn't he adorable! All cardstock and ink to shade. He is a cover for a package of microwave popcorn. I'm giving him to my daughter today.

Everyone have a wonderful and safe Halloween!

And More TXGC SBS cards...

More of the cards from the Texas Gulf Coast Shoebox Swap...

Excuse the terrible coloring on the penguin. Guess that is something I need to practice a little more. I never color!

And a box ...

This cute little gift box was also made at the TXGC SBS swap.

TXGC SBS Swap cards

I think this is the last of the TXGC SBS cards -- I need to look through all my images and be sure. I hope you enjoyed them. I sure enjoyed making them

More TXGC SBS cards

Continuing to post the amazing cards that I had the priviledge to do at the TXGC SBS on the 17th. I will continue to post these for the next few days. Enjoy!

And, again, more TXGC SBS cards

On the 17th, I went to the Texas Gulf Coast Shoebox Swap hosted by Anita in Brazoria. These are additonal cards that I made there. Aren't they beautiful! (Note: I did not design any of these cards). Love those Kitchen Sink stamps.

Another TXGC swap card

Here's another card from the Texas Gulf Coast Shoebox Swap that I went to last weekend. I'm showing both the outside and the incide. The tree stamp is from Kitchen Sink stamps and the sentiment from CTMH.

TXGC Swap cards

I am posting some of the swap cards that I made at the Texas Gulf Coast Shoebox Swap last weekend. They were simply amazing -- I cannot take credit for the designs. I wish they had all been marked with the designers name. Enjoy!

Texas Gulf Coast Shoebox Swap

I went to a fantastic Shoebox Swap this weekend, hence the title, hosted by Anita -- Chosen Creations from SplitcoastStampers website. It was the first large scale shoebox swap I had ever attended and I had a blast! It was a whole day of stamping and meeting new people. I was totally surprised when I won one of the Creative Challenges for the Fall card. This is a horrible photo -- think something is wrong with my camera lately. I won some cool Kitchen Sink stamps.

So, again, thanks Anita and the whole Brazoria area SplitcoastStampers! I've already decided that I'm going to have to hold one after the beginning of the year here in Houston so stay tuned for details. And, I've promised a friend that I will get on taking photos of the rest of the cards from the swap and posting them.

I made this card using Basic Grey paper, a prima flower, Nestability dies and an old faux jewel that I found in my scrap stuff. Enjoy!

Birthday cards

I love making birthday cards -- I send out so many that it seems like I never can have enough. Here are some recent cards that I made.

Scrap Cards

Sometimes, I just want to make some cards and not cut up a bunch of new fresh paper. So, I make what I call scrap cards. Cards made with bits and pieces. For this card, I used some Basic Grey papers, Doodlebug paper frills, some cardstock and then cut a focal point with my Nestabilities and a chip board flower from a set at Micheal's. KC

Something different

This is a fun card size -- it's 8 x 3-1/2 ---- and the cards fit nicely in a standard business envelope. Used entirely scraps on this card, except for the card base...

Have a great week!

My niece

Well, scrapped a few years late but this is on of my niece's senior portraits. I used Basic Grey sultry papers, a profusion of ribbons from MM, bling swirlies from Say It With Crystals, MM staples and used the cricut to cut the title. Enjoy!

Senior Portraits

I just love senior portraits -- especially one's like this one of my niece where there isn't a lot of predominant colors so I can use any paper I want! :) Used Basic Grey papers, HS flower and bling, Say It With Crystals bling bird, hand stitching (!!) and doodlebug paper frills. Enjoy!

This was a quickie using the Imaginisce line of VBall papers and stickers. I actually used deco scissors for the scallops!! I cut the title "Shopping" from my KNK (which is yet another electronic cutter out on the market that hooks up to your computer and cuts any fonts you have on your computer -thanks for those of you who asked last time).

Prom Perfect

Love the colors of this Basic Grey papers and stickers. Photos taken before prom of "the gang".

More VB layouts

I am finally getting around layouts I did in February. Please pardon my tardiness -- March was way too weird for me.

Retreat Success!

Had a great time at the Retreat in Surfside this weekend! All the ladies were lovely -- even with the chilly weather and wind! Looking forward to another great retreat this coming weekend! And keep an eye on my blog -- or subscribe to it. I will be posting the dates for the Fall Retreats soon.

Next club crop is March 27th.

H&B croppers

This is some of the H&B scrappers from this weekend crop. How Peggy managed to get out of there without getting her photo taken, I'm not sure. Top to bottom: Karen, Leisa, Elida, Jean, Sandra's niece, Sandra, and Michelle.

We always have great fun, great food and get a whole lot accomplished!