I can’t believe CHA has come and gone. It is amazing how fast it goes by… just one big fabulous blur. It was great getting to see old friends and make some new ones. The internet is a wonderful thing as I will be able to keep in touch with people I met people from all over the world. While doing make-n-takes in the Maya Road booth…. nearly 500 in 3.5 days I met people from New Zealand, Paris, Germany, Australia, Japan and all over the USA.

I was so happy when Beth Williams Executive Editor of Memory Makers Magazine and GinaMarie Reda Assistant Editor of Memory Makers Magazine came by Maya Road to say hi. It was great getting to chat with them for a bit and actually put a person with their emails. Staci Ethridge and Tracy Austin two MMM ‘08 came by to say hi too. They are just as sweet as ever. I was so busy doing make-n-takes that I didn’t get a chance to really chat but just being able to saying hi in person was great. I got to chat with Tracie Radtke while she was doing her make-n-take at the F & W Publishing booth. We even planned a fun post for the MMM blog so be on the lookout for that one. While talking to Tracie I got to meet Katrina Simeck MMM ‘07. Talk about super sweet and a pleasure to meet. I ran into Christine Doyle, Editorial Director of Memory Makers Books and got to have a fun and exciting chat with her. As I was coming back from lunch I ran into Greta Hammond MMM ‘08, Vicki Boutin, the Queen of Foof herself Teresa McFayden and the super sweet Jenni Bowlin as you can see at every turn there were people to meet, chat with and get to know better. It is so fun to be around all these people with the same hobby.

I got to visit with Tricia and helped her pick out some fun things for future Cocoa Daisy Kits. I got to meet Ali Edwards rather quickly while she and Tricia were walking the floors and I was doing make-n-takes. Some of my ScrapGal friends stopped by to say hi… it is always so fun seeing Celeste Smith. She just quietly stands in line for make-n-takes and when I look up I am always so surprised to see her. I got to talk to Dina Wakley for awhile and meet Amie Farkas.

The one part of CHA that is not fun is all the stealing. It amazes me as to how much product and displays people will steal right out from under your nose. I had 2.5 projects stolen. Thankfully, Caroline caught one person and was able to get back the cover to my bird coaster album. I created it about my daughter and her friend. Of all the items taken this would have been the hardest one to recreate.

So if you happen to see these two projects floating around they are mine and I would love to have them back. No questions asked. Most likely I will never see them again. But I do find it amusing that the owl card is in the Maya Road catalog and would love to know how someone will explain that one as being their own. Kinda funny I think. I don’t know how people live with themselves knowing they took something that does not belong to them and will be missed by the designer.

I will post all about some of the new products that will be must haves for me tomorrow. Some really nice products will be hitting the stores soon.

Alan has placed my Candy Cane Kisses and Gingerbread Wishes Paper Doll in the For Sale section of my blog. The Download includes a complete Supply and Tool List, Step by Step instructions, my one-of-a-kind Paper Doll Template and Color Images to help you create along the way. I think this Paper Doll will look adorable in a layout or framed.

Thanks to all of you who have been purchasing my Downloads. It warms my heart to know you like my Tutorials that much.

I am doing a Photo A Day Challenge on ScrapGal. So Ansley and I had a little photo shot with her and Zeusy. All I have to say is… Gosh what a difference a year makes. Last year, Ansley still had her little girl look, which by the way I was holding on to like mad. This year, I might as well give up and start waving the white flag. Ansley has turned into a beautiful young lady, and to me it seems like it all happened overnight.

Ansley 2006

Ansley 2007

Ansley loves her little dog Zeusy. Here is their Christmas Photo. Thankfully we had Alan to stand behind me acting like a goof so he would look at the camera. Zeus did not like wearing his coat. I guess he figured out it was a CAT cape *GASP* I know but Ansley and I thought it was the cutest and it fit him perfectly.

If you are wanting to get some of the new Maya Road products head on over to ScrapGal. Carly stocked her store with lots of the new Maya Road goodies. She has the best online customer service out there. I don’t know how Carly manages to get my orders out and to my front door so fast. She is amazing. I love ordering from this online store. The forum is a wonderful place to hang out and you will find their design team and idea gallery so inspiring. I hope to see you there.

I am presently working on some projects but I cannot share. They are for some Creative Cafe recipe cards. I will post them once Danelle gives me the okay.

Lots of people email me asking about the glitter I use and how I use it. Well today, I posted some info about this on the MMM Blog. Check it out if you want to know more about the glitters I use and how.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

I am so overwhelmed with all the congratulations I have received. I am truly blown away. I have received e-mail congratulating me from people all over the world and who I have admired for such a long time. There have been posts started congratulating me at Cocoa Daisy, ScrapGal and Two Peas which again blows me away. There is no way I can possibly thank you all individually so I will post it here… THANK YOU! I am truly touched by all your kindness and best wishes.

I started working on a little project today that I cannot wait to share. It is rather Foof that is for sure. I seem to be in that mood as of late. Just a bit more to complete and then I will share. I also want to wish my friend Carly who owns ScrapGal a happy birthday. You are such a wonderful person and I hope your day is a great one. We all got together and created some tags to help her celebrate her day. Here is mine.

Wishing you all the best!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. This weekend all I did was scrap. I am all caught up on design team assignments and that feels very good. Here is a layout I did for a challenge at ScrapGal. I want everyone to scrap a moment that just makes them laugh. The kind of laugh that brings you to tears and makes your tummy hurt each time you think about it. My sister Belinda was so funny when Mom was pulling her hair through a highlighting cap. Each pull she made the funniest faces or screamed. Belinda had us all in tears from laughing so hard.

I also worked on some Cocoa Daisy layouts using the June kit. Oh there are four little something in this kit that I think are going to be a huge hit. One of them I just adore. Hopefully I will be able to give you a sneak peek soon.

P.S. My little sissybug, it took me nearly 25 years but I finally got you back for digging your fingernails into my makeup. I hope you like the layout. It is now posted all over the internet. Love you and see you soon.