Stampers with an Attitude Showcase Picture My Life

This month, members of the Stampers with an Attitude team (associated with Close To My Heart), are highlighting one of our fabulous product lines, Picture My Life!  It is truly phenomenal and probably my favorite right now since it offers so much versatility that goes way beyond scrapbooking.  However, for this Blog Hop, I did decide to use it as created (but don't be afraid to step outside of the box as I am sure you will seen done on other posts).

If you are coming from Catherine's Blog, you are on the right track.  She is a start of the hop and a complete listing of blog participants are located on her blog as well as at the end of this post.

I decided to use the Chalk It Up Picture My Life Scrapbooking Program for my layouts today to commemorate the 2014-2015 when I served as Principal of two elementary campuses in southwest New Mexico.  I still have plenty of pages to create but am thrilled with some of the first few pages.

This is a sample of some of the cards contained in the Chalk It Up program.

You will definitely want to click on the photo for an enlarged view but aren't these class photos just precious?!  I am including the student's names on the back of the card for future reference.  It will be fun to see what these little kiddos turn out to be in several years.

FULL LAYOUT - Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Because all of the class photos were given to me in small sizes - 3 1/2" x 5" - I used some of the 4" x 6" cards as mattes for the photos (and also added some additional mattes in some cases).  I did not want to detract from the photos but instead, get them out of the plastic bag they were in so I can review them from time to time and remember the fun memories of last school year.

LEFT PAGE - Click on the image for an enlarged view.

You can take the cards and simply slide them inside the pocket, adding in your photos and journaling, or you can be a little creative as I have done on some cards.  Here, I used an exacto knife to trim around this makeshift sticky note, allowing my photo to slide underneath it.  Cool, right?!

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

On this page I did include some other cards and techniques just to add to the layout.

RIGHT PAGE - Click on the image for an enlarged view.

 This "Reach for the Stars" banner was located on the center of this 4" x 6" card I used as a matte.  I just cut it out of the card, with an exacto knife, and put it as a 3-D banner on the corner of the photo.  Gotta love being able to use your cards for more than just one thing!

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

 These two sayings, "Keep your face towards the SUN and..." "...the SHADOWS of life will fall behind you" were parts of another card that I trimmed and added with some 3-D foam tape.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

I hope you love my layout as much I do!  I totally had fun creating it and cannot wait to add in more photos.  This was just Pre-K and 2nd grade!  I have to do all the way through 5th!  WHEW!  Thankfully, Picture My Life will make that Faster. Simpler. Easier.  :)

Please consider leaving a comment before hopping over to Sheila's Blog to view her fun creation!

Here is a list of participants and links to their blogs:

1. Catherine Nowak
2. Melissa Robinson
3. Sheila Bennett
4. Belinda McLane
5. Jen Patrick
6. Christy Geyer
7. Denise Elliott

Happy hoppin'!

Happy Birthday!

Saturday was my hubby's birthday and we had fun celebrating over the last few days.  Of course, being an avid football fan, his birthday always falls right around the Super Bowl so that just adds to the fun!  And...my niece, Alyzae, celebrated her birthday yesterday.  Hard to believe how much time has passed since she was born.  Love that little girl!

At one of our favorites, LaHacienda Ranch.  YUM on their fajitas!

This is a fun birthday card I made using the Brushstrokes stamp set.  I loved it when I saw it in the catalog but really wondered how it would look when stamped.  Well, now I know and I love it!  It comes out so nice that one of my customers thought I had done them by hand.  Um...I'm not THAT good!  LOL

Attempting to make this more masculine, I stamped in the following colors:  Topiary, Smokey Plum, Cranberry, Dutch Blue and Outdoor Denim.  This card design would be great with any sentiment and with many combinations of colors.  I'm thinking this stamp set is going to get some good use from me.  I hope you love it as much as I do!  (The design idea came from Close To My Heart's, Make It from Your Heart Blog.)

Make it a great week!

ESPN College Gameday in North Texas!

So...I am almost as addicted to football as my husband is.  (It's his fault.  LOL)  Even if he is not home when there are games on, our tv is tuned in.  I LOVE football and don't like the non-football part of the year so I try and soak it all in when it is in season.

College Gameday has been in Dallas/Fort Worth all week in anticipation of the National College Championship, between Oregon and Ohio State (I have yet to decide who I am cheering for but I am thinking Oregon...), that will be held on Monday night at AT&T Stadium (aka "Jerry's World).  My hubby and I finally took some time on Friday to go check out the sights and scenes.

This is us in Del Friscos' Grille - right across from the various sets.

Here is a view of the outside set, from directly behind it.

This is an angle view from where I was standing when I was on the broadcast, in the background, as shown in the next photo (below).

My parents saw me several times on tv during the the broadcast.  Too fun!  A little tv fame... :)

I knew they would zoom in on Jesse Palmer.  LOL

This was another outside set and I got shown on tv several times during this segment.

As we sat, part of the time inside - because it was COLD - we saw quite a few of the ESPN commentators.  Corey knew all the commentators - male and female - by name as we came across them.  He had several conversations with several of them which was pretty cool.  People who were around had no idea who they were so that made for a relaxing atmosphere (for them, I'm sure).

Here I am taking a photo with Lee Corso.  Kirk Herbstreit had just come down the stairs prior but they were on a mission to get somewhere so I was not able to stop him.

And...Tebow... :)  He was getting ready to get on set for the next segment so rather than asking him for a picture with him, I just asked if I could take his picture.  He turned and posed for me - and me alone, I'll have you know (LOL).  Fabulous photo, right?!  I would have given anything to be in a photo with him but I'll take this.  I was very close to him and had to take a few steps back to get a full body picture (of course ha/ha).  Cracking myself up!

This is Darren Woodson, a retired Safety with the Dallas Cowboys who retired in 2004.  I just asked him to take a photo of him and he started walking to me.  I said, "Oh!  You'll take one with me?!"  He said, "Of course!"  YAY!

It was in the low 30s all day but we had a BLAST!  It was just a nice and enjoyable outing with my hubby and I got some great photo opps!  Woohoo!

I can't leave without saying...

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COWBOYS!

Cheering on the Cowboys!

We were blessed to be able to attend the Cowboys' playoff game last weekend against the Lions - GOOOOOO COWBOYS!  (Thank you, Dad!)  It was such a fun and electric atmosphere!  We had a blast!

We started off the day at Blue Mesa, enjoying a delicious brunch before making our way towards the stadium for kick-off.

Gotta show up early to watch pre-game!

 It was a bit chilly - more windy than anything - so we had to buy some fun hats on our way to the stadium!  (This photo was actually taken after the game.)

So I am a die-hard Cowboys fan - win or lose - so I will be cheering them on big time this Sunday as they take on the Packers!  A win would be AWESOME!  

Cheering them on from TX!

Holiday Weekend with My Parents

My hubby and I were able to spend the weekend between the holidays with my parents in Midland, TX.  We met them there for the weekend and I loved spending time with them.  We didn't do anything too fascinating but it was a GREAT time!

I did manage to convince them to get out at a part to take some fun pictures, despite the cold.

 We enjoyed a yummy meal at a hibachi restaurant.

 Love the look on their faces here.

 And then we had dessert at none other than Starbucks!  YUM!

I truly have the most wonderful parents who raised me to be who I am and continue to support me as an adult.  I love them with all my heart.  Thanks, Mom and Dad, for meeting us for the weekend.  It was awesome.

Grateful,

Frosty the Snowman at the Gaylord

My friend and downline, Michelle, invited me to join her, her daughter and our friend, Lulu, at Ice at the Gaylord in Grapevine on Friday night.  I have wanted to go for several years, hearing great things about it, but never have...until now...

 

We had the fun opportunity for a photo op where we were edited into the background.  I can't wait to get it put on a page/layout.  It will be fun scrappin' all these pictures.

Starting here, until I tell you otherwise, EVERYTHING in the sceneries was carved out of ICE!  It was 9 degrees in the tent where all the fun was found.  I had dressed in winter clothing - coat, hat, gloves, etc. but we were still provided with a parka and it was much needed!

I was in awe at all the fabulous creations and detail in everything.  I don't think, even in seeing it, that I really could comprehend that it was all ice and nothing else.

And this...a HUMONGOUS nativity scene!  It spread across the entire area that I was only able to get a photo of these images.  It was absolutely amazing and beautiful!

This Christmas tree is not out of ice.  LOL  It's a gorgeous tree that was in the main area of the Gaylord Hotel.  Isn't it gorgeous?!

I had a fabulous time and am thankful for the invitation and fun shared with Michelle and Lulu!  Thanks for the fun memories!  And now I have photos for my layouts!  WOOHOO!  LOL

Be blessed!

Blessed to See Another Year!

I celebrated another birthday on Friday, by the grace of God.  These days we are usually in an in-service on my birthday (not so much fun) but at least it fell on a Friday and I was able to celebrate all weekend!  Actually, my celebrating started on Thursday evening when my parents took me out to dinner. Then, my husband and I spent the weekend in Santa Fe.  I LOVE THAT PLACE!  

It had been years since I had been back to Santa Fe but have been several times since living back in NM these last two years.  I LOVE the downtown plaza and enjoy seeing all the tourists checking out the NM artwork, shops and cuisine.  We have fallen in love with "The Shed", where the photo above was taken.  The food is delicious and we highly recommend it!

No better way to start off Saturday morning than with STARBUCKS!  

Another one of our favorite restaurants is "Thunderbird".  It has a balcony where we enjoy overlooking the plaza and all the activities taking place.  If you have never been to Santa Fe, or it has been a long time since you have been there, well...worth...the...visit!  I know you will love it too if you enjoy seeing and experiencing new things and a different culture.  

I am blessed beyond measure!  Happy Sunday!