February Workshop Photos

These are the pages we did at workshops yesterday using the Topstich paper pack. I would love to have you join us next month when we do the Caboodle Kit. Please contact me for further information.

Circus Anyone?

The WHS Ballroom Dance Team had another fantastic performance Thursday night. They danced to the song Circus. I think it was my favorite dance yet. The kids had a great time designing their costumes. The enthusiasm tonight was hard to contain. I was such a proud mama. Taylor wore my Halloween costume from my Junior year in High School (my date and I dressed as a cave man and women). Can't wait to see what they do next week in Las Vegas!   

She is learning early how to make those boys behave!

Ahh, Shoes II update

Thanks for all the great comments on the shoes! If you are interested in the pattern I have included it in my first post about the shoes titled; Ahh, Shoes. I also had some questions about the dvd and the block. The dvd is a slide show set to music from the Princess and the Frog movie. We took pictures of the girls throughout the year and then created a dvd which we showed at our program. Luckily for me I got a break from doing the dvd this year and only had to create the cover for it. The other thing in the picture is a painted block of wood that says each girls name with Daughter of God underneath their name. Just click on either picture to get a closer look. I hope that I have answered your questions and thanks again for your continued support!

Ahh, Shoes II

Whew, I finally finished! We had our Spring Into Action program for the girls on Tuesday night. I have decided that some church callings are like having a baby. All the anxiety, stress, and labor is worth every minute when you see the look on those sweet faces. You forget all the pain and only remember how beautiful the end product is (i.e. the girls). I truly love serving the girls in my ward, and I am thankful that my Heavenly Father has allowed me to be a part of their lives.

I also threw some dvd covers together at the last minute using Petal and Baby Pink CS and some retired B&T. The shoes are also made out of retired B&T with a Petal and Pink flower.

My Best Valentines Ever!

This has been an incredible weekend. It started on Friday with Cheyanne's Valentine's Party at school. I just love the energy and excitement that only a 5th grader has. This year I did double duty as both the room mom and teacher. Thank goodness I had some fantastic parents come in and help so I could play the part of teacher. Being around the kids always gives me such a lift.

On Saturday I was able to spend the morning getting a scrapbook fix. I participate in a quarterly kit exchange that has been a great way to get a lot of scrapbooking done quickly. I always love the chance to get together with new and old friends.

Ok, so this is where my weekend gets even better. I know hard to imagine but it does. Saturday night my husband took me to dinner at our favorite local Chinese restaurant. As we were finishing up he pulled a box out of his jacket. Let me just pause for a moment here and tell you my husband does not do things like that, so you can imagine how surprised I was. I took off the ribbon, opened the box, pulled out the inner box, and found an absolutely gorgeous heart necklace inside. 

I can finally say HE WENT TO JARED! Don't you think he did a great job? Our cute waitress was watching all of this and came over to admire the necklace and give us her congratulations. She was so excited she kept slipping into Chinese. She asked us when we were getting married and when I told her we will be married for 20 years this year she couldn't believe it. She said I looked too young. Can you imagine beautiful jewelry and to be told you look really young in one night - too DIVINE! This gift meant more to me than you can imagine because money has been really tight at our house. Knowing my husband worked extra hours to buy this for me makes it priceless, something I will always treasure. THANK YOU DARIN, I LOVE YOU!

And the weekend didn't end there; when we got home he gave me some beautiful red roses. On Sunday my sweet Cheyanne gave me a card she made and I gave my family their gifts from me. Later that night we were able to have dinner with my first Valentine; MY MOM. I can't think of a better way to end the perfect weekend.

Ahh, Shoes

Who doesn't love a pretty pair of shoes or in this case a beautiful paper shoe? I ran across this pattern quite awhile ago but haven't done anything with it until a couple of weeks ago. I am an Activity Days leader for the girls in our Church and we are doing a beginning of the year kickoff to introduce our theme for the year and welcome the new girls that will be coming in this year. The theme last year was F.R.O.G - fully rely on God. This year we are expanding on the theme to include the Princess and the Frog. Only through Fully Relying on God can they realize they are a Princess, a daughter of God. So when I ran across this pattern again on my computer I thought it would be perfect. So now I need to make 18 shoes in the coming week. Once I get them done I will include a bag with a marshmallow frog with a crown and some pink and purple M&Ms I found at Wal-mart in the toe of the shoe. So for all the beautiful Princesses out there that would like to a make their own shoe I have included the link below.

Always remember how precious you are in GOD's eyes. Don't ever question that YOU are of Royal Birth, that YOU are divine and truly loved.

Supplies used - Topstitch Level 2 paper (X7120B), Clear Sparkles (Z1104). Shoe Pattern: www.creatingkeepsakes.com/articles/free_shoe_template_download

Flutter Flitter Tweet

I have learned something new about myself. I love orange! Yep, orange. I was doing a layout for a swap I am participating in this weekend and after I pulled out all my papers and sat down to start working on the pages I realized I had included orange again. Orange makes me happy. It is cool and crisp and reminds me of summer and popsicles. Orange, not just for Halloween anymore. I also can't seem to get enough of owls, trees, and mushrooms. I know, scary. The pictures on the pages are of my kids on a display my brother Richard created for the State Fair in 1999. Well anyway, thanks for reading to the end of my post ramblings.

Supplies Used - White Daisy CS (1385), Crystal Blue CS (1292), Brown Bag CS (X5644), White Daisy Ricrac, Topstitch Paper (X7120B). Non CTMH items used - Imaginisce Hey Foxy paper and assorted patterned paper (sorry not sure of the brand name, the paper was a gift).

Dancin' Up A Storm

On January 29th and 30th Westlake High School Ballroom Dance Team held their 1ST annual Dancin' Up A Storm.

Two nights of fantastic dancing based on the hit show Dancing With the Stars, judges included. Dance Team members "Pros" were paired with "Stars" from the community. Mayors Heather Jackson from Eagle Mountain and Mia Love from Saratoga Springs danced. Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs also sent representatives from their Police and Fire Department. Westlake High School was represented by teachers, football coaches, and student body presidents. Most couples learned their two dances in about four weeks.

On Saturday Mayor Mia Love was crowned the winner with the best of cities award going to Eagle Mountain. Jason Randall - a police officer from Eagle Mountain- won second place and Mayor Heather Jackson won third place.

This was a fundraiser for the Ballroom Team to provide much needed costumes and a trip to Vegas to go to Nationals. I am lucky to live in a community that cares about and supports its children and I am so grateful to all of the generous time and money that was given on behalf of my daughter Taylor.

These two pictures are of Taylor performing the Waltz on Friday night.

This is Taylor dancing the Charleston on Saturday. If I could look that cute in flapper dress I might even try the Charleston.

O' Baby

O'BABY ISN'T SHE CUTE!

This is my adorable redheaded baby doll, Cheyanne. When she was little she had curly red hair and an infectious smile. Now she is 10, has lost her curls but still continues to make everyone around her smile.

The picture on the left is in my top 5 favorite pictures I have of her. I have held on to the pictures for years and have not scrapbooked them because I am such a perfectionist. I was waiting to have the perfect pattern, texture, stamps, journaling, etc. How absurd is that? Even as I pulled the pictures out to put these on my pages I was second guessing myself. I decided to just plow through and get them on pages because they could be seen more often in my scrapbook than just sitting in a box.  After finishing the pages I still wasn't sure if I did the pictures justice so I left them in my scrapbook room, shut the door, and walked away. When I went down the next day to look at them I decided, you guessed it, I LOVED THEM! These are now some of my favorite pages I have done. I guess after all my ramblings, what I want to say is just DO IT! Get those precious pictures out of the box and into your albums. Don't be like me and wait over 8 years to move your precious memories from a box to a place of honor in your scrapbook. 

Supplies used:

Bella Level 2 Paper Packet (X7114B), Bella My Stickease (X7114C), Connections Stamp (D1330), Foundry Tabs (Z1161), assorted buttons.

Hearts For Haiti

We have all seen the coverage on Haiti and felt helpless. I am sure most of you like me has already donated money, clothing, diapers, formula, blankets etc. I truly believe that if everyone gives just a little it will add up to a lot. All of us together can help make a difference and change lives. Close To My Heart has a campaign this month that will help children in Haiti with emergency medical help. This is a great way to stock up on supplies and also help children devastated by this tragedy.

Throughout February, purchase a 12" × 12" textured cardstock combo pack and you’ll get one free—and with every offer purchased, Close To My Heart will donate $2 to Operation Smile’s Haiti relief efforts. That means for only $14.95 you get two packs of high-quality textured cardstock and you help this urgent, important cause.

Operation Smile offers free facial reconstruction surgeries to needy children throughout the world. They currently are providing emergency relief in Haiti, and the donations given as part of Hearts for Haiti will be used exclusively for Operation Smile’s efforts in Haiti.

As I see it this is a win win for everyone. You get a great product to create with and the children get the help they so desperately need. This campaign will run through the end of the month. Contact me so we can order your paper and get your donation headed to Haiti.