Miss Manners?????

Ever since my sweet Reese started feeding herself she also started putting food on her head.  Why, we don't know. Luckily, we have pretty much broken her of that by now but back then it was so peculiar, yet funny.

I went a little more simple with this layout for Sketchabilities than usual. The colors and the patterns dominated the page so much that I didn't want to add my usual layers. The papers are from the Scrapbook Circle September kit. I think my favorite element in the handmade flower I made with the amoeba rub-on for the leaf. I'll do a tutorial on the flower next time I make one. And I love that I had the orange flower rub-on and puffy stickers that matched the flower in her dress perfectly. 

My Little Pony

EAD Designs sent me some fun repositional vinyl Stickerz to play around with.  They're cute and I knew I had the perfect photos for them.  Here's the stickerz, the Sketchabilities sketch and my reveal.  I made a layout and a card and I still have several more Stickerz to play with.

By the way, the Stickerz come in color or black and white (to be colored in with Copics, or your markers of choice), on a clear background or white.  Now if only I could get brave enought to play with Copics.....

Blog Hop Winner & Sneak Peek

The 1st Sketchabilities Blog Hop was such a success!  I hope you all had a great time hopping around to all the design team blogs. Thanks for all the kind comments about my blog and projects. I am so happy to welcome all the new followers. And now, for the winner......

Congratulations Jennybean, you are the winner of the Just Because kit.  Send an email to heather AT spottedleoparddesigns DOT com.  Make sure to include your mailing address and I'll get it right out to you!

Don't forget to check the Sketchabilities blog on the 22nd for a list of all blog and grand prize winners.

Here's a sneak peek at the layout I did for the 9/23 reveal. I have a card I will be posting too, something I never seem to find the time to make these days.

Sketchabilities Blog Hop - TONS of Prizes!

NOTE: The blog hop prize contest is now closed but feel free to continue hopping to find inspiration from our Design Team participants.  Thanks everyone for all the wonderful, kind comments and for following my blog.  I appreciate each of you and hope I can continue to inspire you.

Original Post:
Welcome to the first ever SKETCHABILITIES Blog Hop. If you came to my blog from Simona's blog, then I hope you are enjoying the blog hop.  If you started on my blog you might just want to hop on over to Karan Gerber's blog because we have a little something up our sleeves for you.  There is an order for you to hop and the opportunities for you to win individual blog prizes and a grand prize are incredible! So, check out Karan's blog for all the details about the hop and the special blog hop catch phrase giveaway. Keep in mind that you have to leave a comment on each DT blog to be eligible for the catch phrase grand prize.
 
You'll have until September 20th to complete the hop! Winners of each DT Blog RAK and the Final Sponsor Giveaway prize will be posted Sept 22nd!

NOW... on to my RAK giveaway...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I am happy to give away this awesome stamping, scrapping, card-making or whatever-you-want-to-do-with-it kit. I used it to make a few cards and a couple of layouts. It includes a fun stamp set, mini inks, paper, cards, envelopes and some great embellishments (a $35 value). In order to be eligible for the random draw for my RAK, you must:

1. Become a follower of my blog (if you aren't already)
2. Leave a comment that you are a follower. Feel free to leave a little blog love if you so choose.
3. International winners will be asked to pay the difference in postage before accepting the prize.

Individual items, such as the stamp set, inks, and more not shown in photo.

Now for the catchphrase, the word you are looking for is HAVE.  Next, hop on over to Aubree's blog to get your next word.

Oh How She Love the Bubbles

I really loved this week's sketch over at Sketchabilities, actually I love them all, but it was perfect for this sunny beach layout I have been wanting to do. My mother-in-law bought the girls these big bubble sticks so we took them to the beach with us.  Reese had a great time emptying her bubbles, with the help of her grand daddy. As you can tell from the photos, the wind was working in her favor. She was able to get some big bubbles.

Play along with us at Sketchabilities and show us what you can do with this fun sketch! Check back later this morning for the start of the blog hop and the chance to win some fabulous giveaways from all of the participating DT blogs.

Blog Hop Reminder & Another Sketchabilities Giveaway!!

I told you that Karan has lined up some great surprises lined up for the Sketchabilities 1st birthday celebration, right?  The blog hop starts tomorrow so make sure to check back for details on that. 

In the meantime, here's a chance to win the September kit from Work in Progress.

In order for you to be considered to win this awesome prize from WIP Kits, you will need to complete this sketch #26 by Karan Gerber and post your layout via Mr. Linky on the Sketchabilities blog.

You have until Friday, Sept 17 at midnight EST to link your layout and then your name will go into a random drawing to be considered for WIP Kits Sponsor Giveaway. Karan will announce the winner on Saturday at 12:00 Noon EST.

Cherish the Happy Times

Edited to add: My layout below was a Sketchy Fave over at Sketchy Thursdays!  Thanks Diana, Heidi and team!




Now, back to my regularly scheduled program...
I love these photos of my oldest daughter, Rheagan, and I.  They really capture the joy she can bring to my day.  I also love the rustic feel to the photos.  When scouting locations for our family photo shoot (last year) I found this old bar nearby that was made to look like an old west town.  It was great because each of the outer sections of the building were painted differently so we had lots of unique background options.  I think they recently repainted the building so I might just have to use it again this year. Anyway, here's the layout using this lovely Sketchy Thursdays sketch. This layout includes dressing up the drab cardstock with Misting spray, fussy cutting the backgroud & strip scallops, border and flowers.

A Winner, a Sneak Peek and More Giveaways

Thanks everyone for all the wonderful comments on my layouts.  I had so much fun looking back at them to see what you had to say. ;)  Now without further ado, the randomly selected winner of the Rustic Flowers stamp set giveaway is ........ drum roll please ...............

MARA!!!!

Congratulations, Mara!  Please send me an email with your full name and address to claim your prize. Make sure to leave a comment here telling me you sent me the email.  I want to make sure I don't miss it!

Now, on to the sneak peek.  I have been a scrappin' fool lately and I have so much to show you but I can't until the reveal days.  However, I've just got to get a little bit of this one out there so here's a sneak peek.  Trust me, you will want to check back in at Sketchabilities starting on the 15th, to see all the design team reveals but also to participate in the blog hop.  There will be lots of chances to win some fun, crafty stuff. 

Speaking of a chance to win free stuff, have you seen the current RAK Karan is giving away at Sketchabilities?  Run over there right now and check out the contest details and to see a list of everything included in the giveaway shown below.  There's still a few days left to enter. Good Luck!

Phew, I think that's everything for now.

Straight to the Top Layout & Sketchabilities Goodness

Sketchabilities is celebrating it's 1st Birthday and with that we are having a month long celebration!!!!!  It starts with this fantastic new sketch (and my layout reveal), Sponsors, Guest Designers and lots of prizes! First, check out my layout for the birthday sketch and then read below to see the line up for this month.

Straight to the Top - Rheagan LOVES to climb the rock walls at our gym (we all do).  She mastered a few of them while she was there for summer camp.  I found this adorable "Pennants" paper by The Girl's Paperie, fussy cut a few of them out and then "strung" them up.  I love that it was a 12x12 paper full of various pennants and I know I will get lots of use out of that one sheet of paper.  Next, I fussy cut out and sporadically scattered large and small circles to try to give it a rock wall effect.  I strategically placed the large circles and buttons but for the smaller circles, I basically dropped them on the paper (with a little guidance) and placed them where they landed.

 Supplies: The Girl's Paperie: "Pennants" and "Travel Tickling" (both sides), TPC Studio "Bad to the Bone", BasicGrey Kioshi Azami, Fancy Pants Designs "Brother", Close to My Heart Liquid Glass

New Sketch & Designer Reveals Line-up:

• Sept. 7 (that's today): Birthday Sketch, Design Team reveal and Guest Designer - Patti McCarthy
• Sept 10: Guest Designer - Sarah Buck
• Sept 13: Guest Designer - Luzma Bruna
• Sept 15: Sketchabilities Design Team Blog Hop and Guest Designer - Irene Tan
• Sept 16: Guest Designer - Char Dobson
• Sept 19: Guest Designer - Kristie larsen
• Sept 21: Guest Designer - Amy Kilgore
• Sept 23: Guest Designer - Jenny Chesnick 
• Sept 30: Guest Designer - Amelia Kahlik

Karan also has some great sponsors lined up so make sure to check the Sketchabilities blog on the days posted above to see how to participate.

Last but not least, check my blog on the 15th to participate in the blog hop.  Most of the Sketchabilities DT will be participating AND I will have another fantabulous giveaway.  All I'll ask is that you become a follower of my blog and post the photo and a link to my blog giveaway on your blog by the deadline. Of course I'll need you to post a link to your blog post to verify you qualify for the random drawing. It'll be that easy and the giveaway will be worth the winner's effort. Soooo, see you back here on the 15th when I'll reveal the RAK.  I think you'll love it!

Announcement and Giveaway!

I'm so excited to join the DT for Crop Suey! Crop Suey is under new ownership so that means fresh, new ideas, new challenges and the reveal of the new team.  Mia, the new owner, is great to work with. My term begins in November but Mia has everything all planned out in advance which means I've got the challenges in my hands already.  The things they have lined up for you are so fun.  I can't wait to get started on them.  She also has a 2-person tutorial team, which means a new tutorial every 2 weeks.  But that's not all...each of the design team members will be posting a tutorial during their term.  Mine is not until April but that's okay; it gives me some good planning time to whip up a great tutorial for you. So go check out the other designers who were chosen for the team! 

In honor of my exciting news today I am happy to announce a RAK giveaway.  I love Close To My Heart acrylic stamps so I think I'll give away this new Rustic Flowers stamp set (valued at #22.95).  I love this stamp set because it has a versatile saying that can be used in many ways, a variety of flowers in various sizes and cute little centers but what I like the most about this set is the dotted background.

Here's what you need to do:
* Become a follower of my blog, if you aren't already AND
* Leave a comment on your favorite layout or tutorial on my blog and leave a comment here on this post telling me which one you chose. 

Leave your comments by Thursday, September 9, 2010. I will draw a winner on Friday.  Check back here to claim you prize. International winners will be asked to pay the difference in shipping.

Good Luck!