I have a quick post today with a few updates about what's happening with me.

Remember how I made it past the first round of the Spellbinders Design Team call? Well, unfortunately I didn't make it past the second round. My assignment was to create a 12x12 scrapbook layout. I have done minimal scrapbooking thus far....my passion is card making, but I REALLY want to get going on some albums because I have tons of pictures from 3 vacations that just need to be scrapped!
It just seems to be an overwhelming project, so I'm avoiding it :)
But after you read my next piece of news, maybe now is the time to do it!?!

After several months of waiting and wondering the fate of the company I work for, it has resulted in unemployment for me and several dear co-workers. A new agency was chosen to take over the account that I worked on, resulting in absolutely no other work for me and several others. Ironically, this also happened with my last job, almost exactly two years ago! It's been quite an emotionally and mentally exhausting few months, but I'm glad all the waiting and drama is over! I believe everything happens for a reason (although sometimes it's hard to understand WHY), and I truly believe there are better things to come! I'll be sure to update again if anything changes with my employment status. 

In the meantime, you just might see me posting creations more often!

Have a great rest of your week!

Paper Therapy Challenge #16 - Shape-a-licious!

Good Monday morning to you! I have lots to talk about today, so let's get started!

First up is an announcement about a blog hop that starts this coming Friday, Jan 21st and runs through Sunday night Jan 23rd. It's called Made with Heart Valentine Blog Hop, and there will be 15 Bloggers participating, including me! You will see many different projects, all Valentine's related! ;-)
I would love for you to check back here on Friday morning to see my project and the details of the hop! Some of the participants will be offering blog candy, so it's really worth it to
check out each and every blog along the hop!

Next is the new Paper Therapy challenge for the week...Shape-a-licious! Make a card using a shape other than a rectangle or square. There are so many possibilities...I would love to see what creative shape you use! Upload your card to the current Paper Therapy challenge thread HERE.

You have until Saturday night to get your entries in!

I used a Spellbinders scalloped circle die to cut out the base shape of my card. Then I embossed the front with an embossing folder. The circle piece was the most fun part to make! I used the emboss resist technique. I die cut the shape, stamped the triple heart stamp using Versamark Ink multiple times to create rows. I heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I sprayed it with Scarlet Glimmer Mist and let dry. Using a kleenex, I gently wiped off the excess mist from the embossed hearts, and underneath are some shiny white hearts! Such a cool technique! To finish it all up, I used a smaller die from the same scalloped set, stamped a little sentiment, sponged the edges, and punched a hole in it and attached it with some pink and white baker's twine! This was such a fun project to make...I loved the shape challenge!

Last but not least, I have to mention the fun Dave & I had yesterday at the Chicago Bears playoff game! We are both big fans, and were so grateful to attend such an important game.
Here's a pic I snapped of us with my phone.

GO BEARS!! These smiles are because the Bears were playing great and WON!!
Don't think we were COMFORTABLE sitting in the 22° weather, HA! I'm not even kidding you...
I wore 3 layers on my legs, 5 on top, AND a one piece ski suit on top of all that!
Next week we face the GB Packers for a HUGE game!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Rose Red, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, SU Rose Red

Ribbon: Michael's, Baker's Twine

Other: Nesties: Big Scalloped Circles LG, Standard Circles Small; Cuttlebug Emb. Folder - Floral Fantasy, TA Glimmer Mist - Scarlet, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Sponge

California Vacation Pics...

Dave and I are back home now after having a wonderful California vacation last week. I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pictures. Dave really enjoys photography, so I had the luxury of just enjoying the scenery while he snapped, snapped, snapped away with his camera! Overall, he took about 2000 pictures! Here are only a few...

We took a guided coach bus tour which started in San Francisco and ended in Los Angeles, making many stops along the way. Sonoma Wine Country, Yosemite, Monterey, a forest with the big Redwoods, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, LA, and Hollywood! We were both surprised at how cool it was (or COLD!) for most of the trip until we got to Santa Barbara. For those of you that know me personally, you know that I absolutely HATE THE COLD! The 50's-60's are not a temperature I would have guessed for California! The breeze off the ocean was very brisk. So, in the pictures below, you will see me all bundled up...I was even able to manage to get on two sweatshirts! LOL! It's shocking that I can survive living in Chicago, huh?! Hope you enjoy the pictures ;-)

The famous Lombard Street in San Francisco. It's hard to see the actual street
with all the foliage, but check out all those cars going back and forth!

San Francisco neighborhoods. Notice how steep it is! Crazy!

Something I really enjoyed on the trip was visiting Ghiradelli Square where they
make such delicious chocolate! See the sign behind us, in the upper right?

San Francisco = FOG! I love this closeup shot. The color is fantastic!

Seeing and driving over the Golden Gate Bridge was one of my favorite moments on our trip!

Yosemite National Park. Amazing!

Cool shot Dave captured with a long exposure.

California Coast

One of my favorite things was getting a tour of the Sony Pictures Studios lot!
Among the list was the set of Jeopardy and the sitcom "Rules of Engagement", but pictures weren't allowed there :(

The Kodak Theatre is where one of my favorite shows is filmed!! American Idol!!

And of course, we HAD to get a picture of the famous HOLLYWOOD sign!

CHA & Birthday Goodies

It's been a couple exciting weeks for me. First, my birthday was in July and I got a Spellbinders Wizard and the Nestabilities Labels One template! So exciting! I've been considering getting some kind of embossing/diecutting machine for quite awhile, and decided to put the Wizard on my birthday list. I've tried it out a little, but haven't actually used it to make anything yet. Hopefully that will change soon.

Happy Birthday to me!

I also went to the CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) show in Rosemont last Friday! It was my first time attending, and I'm so glad I did. There were SO MANY vendors there with stamping and scrapbooking products (and other stuff too). I sure did my share of shopping! My favorite booths were DeNami Design Rubber Stamps, Papertrey Ink, Sparkle N Sprinkle, Gary M. Burlin & Co., and Endless Creations. I got some more DeNami stamps to add to my collection, 4 more Spellbinders Nestabilities and one Impressability, a few embossing folders, Papertrey ribbon and stamps, and a few other stamps and supplies. I can't wait to sit down and start making stuff!

These are all the goodies I walked away with from the CHA show!

(minus the 2 Papertrey stamp sets - I forgot those cuz I had been playing with them!)

Lee DeWyze Comes to Town!

Wow! Lee DeWyze's hometown visit last Friday was so crazy!!!  His day was filled with so many stops, and finally ended the day with a concert at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, IL. Like I mentioned in my last post, Dave & I had VIP tickets to see him. The view was great and we got some pictures and a few videos. Lee showed so much emotion and was so humble, it made me like him even more! Hearing him sing live was also incredible. He sang about 9 songs, but was originally only supposed to sing 3! He was so grateful for all the support, and he has touched so many people, I think that's one of the reasons he's doing so well on American Idol. His performances tonight were PHENOMENAL!! I am such a huge fan. When the show is over, I will really miss seeing him on TV every week! Check out the videos below! I will post some pictures soon.

American Idol Hometown Visit!

WOW! It's been an exciting week around here. One of American Idol's final 3 contestants, Lee DeWyze, has come back to the Chicago area for the show's annual hometown visit. Lee grew up in the town right next to where I grew up and lived for years!! My husband Dave and I have been fans of AI for quite awhile, and we've been rooting for Lee since the beginning of the season! He has such a unique voice and seems like such a nice, down to earth guy.

All season I've been telling Dave that if Lee makes it to the top 3, I so want to go see him during the home town visit. Well, my wish came true! Not only do we have tickets to see him play a mini concert at Arlington Park racetrack, but I WON VIP tickets! We get to be in the section closest to the stage for a great view! Luckily the weather has cleared up, the sun is out and it's warmed up a little bit. I am so excited!!! What a cool thing to experience.  I will be sure to post again after the event, and hopefully get some good pictures to share with you all!