You and Me / National Scrapbooking Month!

May is National Scrapbooking Month and Close to My Heart is offering this amazing kit!  Please take a look at the video on my blog and if you're interested in purchasing this kit and/or participating in a workshop on May 14th , 10:00 a.m. let me know!

March CTMH Special

Best Stamps on the Block

At Close To My Heart, we know we've got the best clear stamps and blocks —and we'll prove it! Throughout March, when you or your customers buy My Acrylix® stamps, we'll give you a free My Acrylix® block. Not only will you have the best stamps on the block, you'll have the best block, too! Just purchase $25 US/$30 CAN in stamps and you can choose from two of our most versatile sizes: 3" x 3" (Y1006) or 2" x 6 1/2" (Y1010).

Workshop on the Go - Wings

 Here are a few examples of the layouts which were created by Anne (above) and Sheryl (below).  Chris and Sharyn just have to add their photos.  I'm glad they had a great time and we'll be getting together in March for the Sweetheart Workshop on the Go! 

Three Crockett Girls

What a bunch of pretty girls!!  It's too bad that I only had a shot of Paula's head...but it's very pretty!  I just can't believe how quickly time has flown!  Chloe is "almost" a pre-teen now!  Robin hasn't changed a bit; even after having three more babies!  My Las Vegas family are just a bunch of wonderful, crazy people. 

Baby Chloe

Chloe was the first grandchild in our group of friends!  She is the granddaughter of my very, very dear friend/sister, Paula Crockett!  This was also taken the day of the other page (Crockett Boys).  It's always fun being the "first" and her grandma and grandpa sure loved spoiling this little one (and the others too as they came along).  This little girl is very special to our family.  When she was a little older, she was the flower girl in Brenna and Rudy's wedding!  Love you Chloe and I hope we can see you when we're in Las Vegas in February!

Crockett Boys......Where's Matt?

Summer of 2001 and we were visiting Paula and Bill Crockett in Las Vegas.  We always enjoyed our visits with them.  They are more than just good friends, they are family.  I have known these boys for almost 32-years!  They all use to be shorter than me!  I just can't remember where Matty was on that day.  The only thing that makes me sad when I look at these photos, is that Morgan is no longer with us.  Thank goodness for our photos and our memories.  He will always be there in our lives.  We love all of the Crockett Boys!

Celebrating Jan's Wedding Anniversary

Using the remaining papers from the Wings Workshop On the Go kit and the new spray pen, I created a page focusing on Jan St. Pierre's 25th wedding anniversary.  I was working at Cabrillo at the time of her big day!  Here we have Jan (top row in the center) surrounded by her Cabrillo workmates.  Heather was there as Margaret's "date" for the evening.  I think that we haven't really aged that much since this evening.  I think the year was 1998.  So, Jan if you read this, let me know if the year was '98 or '99!

Jenkins Family Banner

This banner was so fun to make!  It's titled "Jenkins Family" and shows pictures of the original five Jenkins, Rudy and the grandchildren!  I made this using the new banner set from Close To My Heart and used the paper from the "Wings" Workshop On the Go!  I also used the new spray pen which is included in the kit.  I am really quite pleased with the outcome! 

125 Degrees / Oatman and Havasu

It was June, 1994 and we took a trip to Laughlin with the Carnines.  It was one of the hottest days ever when these photos were taken....it was around 125 degrees...I swear!  Well, we decided to take a side trip to two possibly even hotter spots!  Oatman (because Kathy and I wanted to see where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon) and Havasu, just because!  Michael is wearing this thing that Greg bought at one of the shops in Oatman....it kept your neck cool.  I remember everyone wanting to wear that and we had to take turns.  Even though I don't look too happy in the photo with Michael, we still had a wonderful family outing!

Night At the Oscars with Diane and Kathy / 1989

Kathy Carnine and I enjoy watching the Oscars every year.  This particular year, way back in 1989, we were going to watch it with friends at Kathy Gorman's home.  Carnine and I decided to hit the thrift stores and find our elegant gowns to wear to the social event of the season.  No one knew what we were going to do.  We even had Kathy's husband Greg, drive us to Kathy's house and he did a great job, opening the door for us.  One of Kathy's daughters made the sign....we were Blackwell's top dressers for the Oscars that evening!  What great fun we had with our group of friends!  It's even better knowing that we still have great fun!

First Theme of the 2011-2012 Scrapbook Goal / Friends!

Lizzie Carnine

I have been trying to think of my new scrapbooking goal for the 2011-2012 year and this is what I have decided to do.....I am going to pick a theme for the month and I'm going to scrapbook at least 15-pages centered around that theme.  I am also going to try to upload a video clip once a month showing a scrapbooking technique!  I know that will be a true challenge for me!

On this page, I have Lizzie Carnine as the main theme of the page.   I was fortunate to be able to visit her when she was a month old.  She and her family (my dear friends Kathy and Greg Carnine, mom Laura) were living in Colorado.   So, here we have four people (besides her mother) who love her very much.  Her grandparents, her Auntie Lisa, who came from California also, and myself!  It was great just to sit and hold her all day! 

The 365th page - January 2, 2010 - January 2, 2011!

Here it is!! The final page of my personal challenge beginning January 2, 2010 of creating 365 scrapbook pages!   This photo goes back to 2000.  Just a good group of friends enjoying good laughs and good times!  We are so fortunate to have these wonderful memories and relationships still maintained (Hogues, Carnines, Sharps, Fitzgerald and Vinci)

More Thanksgiving Memories 1996

More family and friends enjoying our Thanksgiving meal 1996

Thanksgiving 1996

As I was going through the older photos, I came across the Thanksgiving 1996 folder.  I thought it was time to scrapbook some of the least current events in our family history.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it just revolves around food and family!   Here we have my brother Michael, sister-in-law Michelle and my niece Ingrid!  And you can see that Brenna (15-years old at the time - but you could tell that by the scowl on her face!) and Michael (13-years old) were humoring me by posing for a picture.

Sweet Smiles at Melanie's Birthday

Melanie's 6th birthday party was a big hit with her and her guests.  They were kept so busy, decorating cookies and cupcakes, making scrapbook pages and Christmas decorations.  It was a perfect California December day and all of the activities were able to be held outdoors!  As you can see from this page, all of the little girls and big girl Jessica have the sweetest smiles and were so proud of their creations.  I have scrapbooked with quite a few women and these little girls needed no directions. They just were using their own creative flair and their pages were outstanding! 

Michael and Brenna 1987

Michael and Brenna

I can't believe that it's been 24-years since this photo was taken!  Don't they look so sweet?  It's fun to hear their stories of what they did to each other back then to drive each other and their sister Heather crazy!  Where did the time go?  Michael is going to be 28-years old in a couple of days and Brenna is just a few years older.  It seems like only yesterday we were all living in the house on Silverwood.  Our days were never empty and neither was our home!  There are times I miss those good old days and I just go revisit those moments through my scrapbooks.  I'm thankful for all the memories we have made as a family.