Tourist Week in Tampa, Fl

My husband and I decided to be 'tourists' this week and our goal was to eat a different cuisine each day for lunch. (we are trying to adapt to the 'empty nesters' lifestyle). Our first trip took us to Tarpon Springs - we haven't been there in a long time! It is famous for their Greek cuisine and the sponge docks. They have been harvesting sponges for years - the type of sponges used for sponging your wall etc.

My husband had a Gyro (pita and lamb sandwich) and I had the Greek Salad. The food was delicious! The weather perfect for photos and only a few pesky tourists!

Here is my layout of our day in Tarpon.

Blog Bling! How Exciting!

Well, I am ready to start my first challenge and I am posting today the prize for winning the challenge. Yes I know it is typically called "Blog Candy" but I decided since my prize sparkles so brightly, that I would call it "Blog Bling!" Check it out!

Inky Doodle: 7/4 Technique Challenge

Inky Doodle: 7/4 Technique Challenge

Tying up a few loose ends. Here is a card that I started for Korin's challenge before I went on vacation! It is a retired set called Citrus Set - C1043. It is perfect for our hot, humid days in Florida.

Card Challenge

Ladies, I thought I would start with a really easy sketch with this first blog challenge . I have included a card sketch from http://www.pagemaps.com/june07cardmaps.htm - one of my fav websites. You can come up with any idea you want - birthday, holiday, baby etc. I think you get the idea. Don't forget to post your card entry using the link below!

Here is my card sample for this challenge - Let's have fun

Kevin in 1st Grade- isn't he cute?!

Another digital scrapbook page - I am on a roll...... Actually the pictures look better on these pages than in real life!

My son always said he had a bad haircut - I am starting to believe him!

Tag - I'm It!

OK - I have been tagged by Korin! This is so much fun!!!

The Rules: So this is how it works. I must post the rules, 7 random things about me and then tag others to do the same. Sound fair enough, right? These are the rules…. each player starts with 7 random facts about themselves on their Blog. People who are tagged need to blog 7 facts about themselves and post the rules as well. At the end of their blog list 7 people you are tagging. Let them know that they are tagged by leaving them a comment. (thanks to Korin for the verbage!)

#1 - When I asked my husband (boyfriend) to the prom (I was a senior in high school) - he said "No!"
#2- I have been published in Sew Beautiful magazine.
#3 - My first car was a bright blue Pinto hatchback - the ones that blew up in a rear end collision!
#4 - I do not dye my hair - only a few stray gray hairs!
#5 - I am still working on my Masters degree - will I ever graduate?
#6 - I once wrapped a roast with rubber bands instead of string!
#7 - I have a HUGE M & M collection!

Who do I tag now? Korin (got the magazine today!), Nina, Erin G., Kathy, Cheryl B. ,Kim, Dawn S. and Dawn H. I had fun - I hope you do, too!

Happy Birthday from Jeff - My first Digital Scrapbook Page

I am a "goal-oriented" kind of person. One of my summer goals was to learn how to make a digital scrapbook page. I have had Photoshop Elements 5.0 since Christmas but never had the time to kearn how to use it. I took a class from Epson at the Tampa Scrapbook Expo and it gave me the confidence plus a great book to design my first page. The papers are the free pages for June from "Two Peas in a Bucket" web site http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/digital.asp.

The photo is from my nephew - he knows I love flowers! Thanks Jeff! I hope you enjoy it!

I USED to love to sew, but....

Carpal tunnel in my right hand got the best of me! So I have spent the last few months converting my sewing room into a craft room for scrapbooking and stamping. Another trip to Goodwill with bags #12 and #13 and the conversion is almost complete! So now I plan on 'quilting' with paper and stamps! Here is a recent card I created from the June 2006 Technique Junkies newsletter. This technique is perfect for small pieces of paper. It is a 5 x 7 " card with 2" and 1" squares. You can use a punch but it is easier for me to cut them out using my trimmer.

July SOM Coluzzle purse

Each mointh I particpate in Nanci Hatcher's Standing SOM (Stamp of the Month) Club. Each month our swap items must include the stamp set and the color theme selected by Nanci. Each monthI post all of the items in the "My Community" section of the website, plus I post all of the swap items at the bottom of this blog.

I am responsible for making a Coluzzle Purse item every month and each month it gets harder and harder! Here is my selection for July - D1220 Typewriter keys

Happy Birthday Mike!

Not sure how I could have a brother who is 62! I am glad I am the 'younger' sister!

OBX 2007 Fishing Trip to the Outerbanks of NC

My nephew Jeff and his friends spent the weekend at the outerbacks of North Carolina in May. His fishing pictures were perfect for the new "My Reflections" Majestic Blue paper pack. I also used stamp sets D1205 New Horizons and D1206 Woodcut Alphabet to accent the layout. Not sure what types of fish he caught - I don't think we have anything like this in Florida!

Happy Father's Day Shaker Box card

For the 'Love of My Life!" a card for the perfect Father's Day Gift - what else? louvres for his 2007 GT Mustang! or what ever you call those things!

Doodling with Playful Flourishes!

I had my Creative Techniques Club tonight and we had great fun playing around with this stamp set and the doodling technique. Here is the card we made tonight with the Summer Celebration colors.

We also made the technique card for our booklet with the new White Daisy Craft Ink and the August Stamp of the Month - Free Spirit. I hope you like both of them!

LOVE Artwork

I was so excited to be able to take a class at the Tampa Scrapbook Expo and create this project in a class sponsored by Rusty Pickle. I knew right away what I was going to do with it. Liz is the lucky recepient of this artwork. Sorry - Liz you will not be able to get it until I show it off first!

Tampa Scrapbook Expo - Summer Fun!

This page was a huge success! Plus I won some NEW software so I can scan and stitch my pages together. Here are the pages to my "Summer Fun" layout. I changed the original layout by Melody Felder because I did not have enough of the flowered B & T paper for 22 kits. Instead we used the stamps to random stamp our white daisy cardstock. This page will be great for any summer photos that you have!

My nephew is a brat!

I have been collecting his photos to make a two page layout using the new Majestic Blue paper BUT he couldn't wait to see his pics on my blog. So I am adding this page until I can finish the others!

He still is my favorite nephew anyhow!

Tampa Scrapbook Expo

I am almost ready for the Scrapbook Expo coming up this weekend. Don't forget Close to My Heart will be there offering 2-page layouts for only $5.00! The Expo is at the Tampa Convention Center from Friday - June 8th - 10:00 - 6:00 and Saturday -June 9th from 10:00 - 5:00 p.m. Here is one of my layouts - Expedition and C1274 Nature Walk. I will be offering this 2 page layout from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. It is a perfect layout for your Busch Gardens or Lowry Park Zoo pictures!

Kindred Spirits -CTMH June Hostess Gift

This stamp set matches the JUNE SOM D1218. The stamp set is loaded with lots of stamps to accent your summer pages and cards. Host a gathering this month and receive this stamp set FREE! Look for more information on my website www.SweetAline.myctmh.com