reviewing NSD festivities

Last weekend my friend Erica hosted a fabulous National Scrapbook Day crop.  It was actually National Scrapbook Weekend for us.  On Friday most of us met up at the hotel & went out to dinner.  Despite the long wait, my dinner was super yummy.  I took my camera, but didn't have a memory card  :(  So bummed, I missed a lot of good photo ops.  I did manage to get some good ones the rest of the weekend!

candy bar



















on a pizza run


group of troublemakers ? ? ?


she's all that!


fearless leader


partner in crime


croppin' cutie


raise your glass


Elaine is super sweet & hi-larious!


This girl does not take a bad picture.  My camera loooooves Cori  :)


Oh, and there were prizes galore - tons of giveaways.  My friend, Echo, won this Slice.  Yayyyy!!!!!


It was great to be with such a fun group! 

happy???

thought for today . . .

sharing some cha inspiration

Each booth was over the top amazing!  Moustaches were everywhere. 

Pennants & banners added to the happy, festive atmosphere.  Cupcakes, still popular. 

Printer's trays & shadowboxes were prominantly displayed in many booths. 

Inspiration came from: Donna Downey, Girl's Paperie, Tim Holtz, Nikki Sivils, Fancy Pants,

Crate Paper, Pink Paislee, House of 3, October Afternoon, Epiphany Crafts & more!

back from cha

I had decided to pass on cha this year.  But as the date got closer I was regretting my decision. 
So when I got a 2nd chance to go, I was all over it! 

Getting into downtown LA:

Of course we had to hit the Teresa Collins booth.  Always classy, Always gorgeous!  Teresa always makes it a point to talk with everyone.  My friend, Echo, was running the make n take. 

Some yummy TC Blingage eye candy:

We had fun making cards at the We R Memory Keepers booth.  I can't decide which of their new tools I like best, the big pink cutting mat, the piercing/brad setting tool, the heart attack distressing tool, or the Lucky 8 punches that everyone was buzzing about:

  

Love all the new stamp sets at Girl's Paperie. 
Even got a chance to play with them for the cutest make n take ever! 

silly girls:

Pretty soon we were in a timholtz wonderland.  We were surrounded by the latest Stamper's Anonymous products, drooling over all the new Sizzix Alterations, ooh-ing & aah-ing over the new Idea-ology releases, & giddy over the new Core'dinations & Paper Stash collections!  The visit wouldn't have been complete without getting to meet & chat with Tim  :)

Afterward I got to stare at him some more when he did a demo of the new Distress Stains:

It's no secret - the man is a creative genius!  I love how he teaches, so easy going & explains everything to really make it do-able for us non-genius types.

One final pic for today - Lisa checking out the cupcakes at the always fabulous Nikki Sivils booth:

I'll upload more pix tomorrow of some of the amazing projects I saw at CHA-Winter 2011. 

visiting baby

This past week I got a chance to visit with Stacy & her new baby, Aubrey. 

Oh my, this baby is so sweet!!!  As soon as I held her she was sleeping in my arms in no time.  No fussing or squirming, she was perfectly content & so was I. 

walking again

After a month long hiatus I am walking again - yay!  I always take Timber.

If no one else is down at the field, he gets to walk without a leash.  We both like it better that way.  With or without a leash Timber loooooves his walks!

looking forward to Maya Road goodness

I love this time of year in the scrapbooking world.  With CHA just around the corner, all the scrapbooking companies are getting ready to unleash a tidal wave of new products to play with.  One of my favorite companies is Maya Road.  They always have a great assortment new products.  Check out some MR love here.