TOO EXCITED for words

I'm in this Amazing Race on Timeless Inspirations and I was put in the
Pit Stop for the Second time. It didn't mean I was totally out of the game
but on the way out.

Anyway -- this week I made the little CD book below and I MADE IT OUT
OF THE PITSTOP! HELLO! I'm so freaky Deaky excited.

See --here was the post on TI

First off...
WOW...its been six weeks already!!! You have all made this a wonderful and exciting six weeks. You have all created such amazing and creative layouts and altered items that have just blown us away!! You should all be proud!!! And I strongly suggest that you gals start sumbitting those projects cuz you all really thought "outside the box" ~!!'

Without further adue, here are the final six gals...remember though
- if you want to be a contender for a spot on the design team you dont have to win the race, just play along and complete all the weeks challenges and you are still in the running...
There will be one gal though guaranteed a spot on the new team...
and she will be one of the following six gals below....!!!!!
Congrats to....cathib
deazine
momfroma2z
poshmom
toniscraps

and heading back in jumping out of the pit stop to compete in the final strech...
give it up for
iamascrapper (HELLO< that's ME!)

Have I told you how excited I am yet???

OK -- so moving on -- here's this weeks challenge:

*strech your imagination*
It's a free for all week ladies...its the race to the finish line and we want to see something AMAZING....! This week's challenge...create *anything* you want - a layout, an altered item, a project etc...and the only thing we ask is that you have the wordAMAZINGon your project. That's giving you all a lot of room to break out all the stops and show us what you got!!

U ROCK

Little mini album made up of CDs cut in half and altered.

Each page has a picture of DH and a Song title.

Title page U ROCK (thanks Maria for the idea! You ROCK too!)

Page 1 "I Think I Love You"
Page 2 "Sharped Dressed Man"
Page 3 "Love will keep us Together"
Page 4 "Crazy little thing called Love"
Page 5 "I Melt with You"
Page 6 "Better Together"
Page 7 " What I Like About You"
Page 8 "It had to be You"
Page 9 "I keep fallin'"
Page 10 "Hot Stuff"

Jacob's Angel Pose (or at least that's what he calls it)

This is for the Timeless Inspiration contest. Again I was put in the pit stop but I'm still going to keep trying. This is the Detour challenge layout I did. We had to choose either READ it or BEAD it. (see below for more information)

anyway, I chose Read IT -- torn pages from a book. I bought this dictionary at the thrift store about a year ago and wanted to use the pages on a LO! Well here it is -- finally. Had to be challenge to do it... Oh well..

This is Jacob doing his little "ANGEL" pose. Used lots of Stampin' UP! ink, hand stitching, Basic Grey Rub-ons (something I struggle with), more SU ink, Basic Grey Chipboard brackets, Basic Grey Letter stickers and Heidi Swapp chipboard letters and a little more SU ink. ...

update on life

Life is precious....make the most of every moment you spend with those you love. And make sure those moments are many.

GOTTA see this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjPrL3n63yg

I watched it yesterday and then again today... I can't believe the strength of this
father and the determination of both -- father and son. SO inspiring.

So yesterday I decided I want to be stronger.. I decided to go running. My time is
limited and I've wanted to get into better shape for over a year now, so yesterday
I went running for about 30 minutes. I wasn't able to run the whole 30 minutes.. it was more like a jog/walk thing... Well -- today I am so sore! I could barely get out of bed. Ouch!
I'm going to do crunches today since my tummy isn't sore and then I'll try to run
again tomorrow. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and sign up for a race in the fall.
I use to run races when I lived in Colorado and they tend to keep me focused. Plus
I really want to loose these last 8 lbs.
Steve started running consistantly and I can really see the difference in his body. He's slim and his butt is quite a bit tighter (LOL!) He also likes to rollerblade, and I'm sure that helps too.

UPdate on Amazing race...
well, I was put in the Pit Stop again.. I guess I'm a little disappointed but I know not everyone can win. I'm still competing though... I still have a chance... if I get out of the pit stop this week
-- which is possible -- I might be considered. I think I just need to have "more spirit" -- yep, that's it -- find some SPIRIT!

I did start on both challenges for this week.
The Detour challenge this week is to
Either
#1 Bead it
or
#2 Read it

in BEAD IT - you will create a layout beads on your page -- remember the more unique ways the better...!

in READ IT - you will create a layout using a torn out page from an old book or a page from a magazine somewhere on your page


I'm working on a READ IT layout and So far I'm loving it!

Next will be the Roadblock challenge
-- Make something out of Old CDs

I've started on this one too!

Well, better go get busy on these challenges.

Friday Funny

NO WORDS to DESCRIBE THESE!





















































(well, maybe one word -- SAD!)

Top 10 Reasons we LOVE SUMMER!

I had so much fun making this little album
for the Timeless Inspiration Amazing race, (which
I happen to pull myself out of the pitstop!!!)
I used lots of KI Memories Color Theory paper, lots
of Heidi swapp products, SU ink, some cute Ric rak
I picked up at the Doodle 40% off sale plus some
other goodies.

Group 2 Layout for Kaliedoscope Swap

Jacob and Lukas -- I think Lukas was only a week old or so in this photo. Jacob looks small there too... man, has he grown!

Few Freestyle attempts

I just got my new White Pen from Stampin Up and it's sooooo cool. Here are a few LOs I've created using the "PEN"

















This is my friend Terrilyn and her BF Rod, along with his children...
This photo was taken for their Christmas cards and I've been saving it for some reason... I guess this was the reason. Terrilyn is looking GOOD!

Group 1 Layout for Kaleidoscope Swap on Scrappin_fun

I'm in a Swap on Scrappin_fun and all layouts must be made with Kaleidoscope Papers from the following lines: Friends, Sunny Days, Playful, All about Me and Pals -- AND white Bazzill cardstock. This kind of a big swap for me. There are 4 groups, so I must design 4 layouts and I believe there are either 6 or 7 people in each group.... So that will be 28 layouts. So, when it's all said and done, I have a completed album for one of the boys.

I'm doing a theme of Brothers for my layouts...
Here's the layout I'll be doing for Group1

About Me 6x6 LO for scrapyard swap

This layout is 6x6 and was created for a swap in my Scrapyard online group. This was so easy to do! I had to make 9 (well, I hope I had to make 9) LOL

I love Prima papers

Ok, so here's my Detour Challenge layout.
We were to choose between Hinge or Fringe.
I chose Finge -- had to use 3 different fabrics
on the layout.

I used the new Prima papers and I think they are just awesome! I must go buy more!

This photo was taken several years ago when Steve and I lived in Colorado. I believe this photo was taken by my Dad at a Hot Air Balloon festival.

ABC's of ME

Challenge posted on Scrappin_Fun.
List the ABCs of yourself.
Here goes:

A: Aunt, ambitious
B: Blush easily
C: Chi-Omega Sister
D: daughter
E: Elvis fan
F: Friend
G: gushy, green-eyed
H: hopeful
I: investor, independent
J: jolly
K: kind
L: loving
M: Me, Melissa, Mother
N: natural
O: open-minded
P: pony-tail girl
Q: quite sometimes
R: restless
S: stubborn, Scrapper, sister
T: trustworthy, thirty-five
U: umpire to my 2 boys
V: visual learner, vacation lover
W: Working mom, woman
X: xtreme scrapper
Y: Yearn for more scrapping time
Z: zealous

PIT STOP -- Round 3

Well, I'm in the Pit Stop but I hope I can make it back into the game. This week
for the Roadblock Challenge we are to do the following:
create an altered notebook or journal

Must use :
the colors yellow and green (somewhere on journal)
~ rhinestones or jewels of some sort~
staples~
three different style of flowers (ie paper, heidi swapp, bazzill, doodlebug etc etc just three different ones)~
acrylic paint

So Here's Mine:
Used -- Basic Grey PP
Primas dipped in acrylic paint
Bazzill flowers stapled on side
Machine stitching
Stampin UP ribbons
Heidi Swapp Rhinestones (on small primas)
Heidi swapp Ghost flower painted with Acrylic
paint and topped with letter stickers (my)
Acrylic paint and Making Memories stamps
Memories Complete Letter stickers

Round2

Ok, so I made it past Round1 ... On to Round 2

First item -- I had to choose from Round or Pound.

I chose Round.
Made my LO round with circle stitching.




The second item -- had to be a Halloween Recipe. Had to use Purple and Black, a spider, and doodling.

Round1

http://timelessinspirations.com/index.htm is having an
Amazing Scrappers Race and I've decided to join.
These things were made for Round 1
Bookmark - using photo, quote, 3 brads and I think the colors red and pink.
LO -- I had to choose to either Press IT or Chalk IT. I chose to use Chalk.
I used Versamark with a heart stamp and then chalked using different colors.

Pocketbook... what's in there?

1- Wallet with CCs, Drivers license, insurance cards and a few other things.
2- Cell Phone
3- Comb
4- Checkbook
5- pen
6- Scissors
7- pack of gum
8- coins

That's about it -- I carry a small pocketbook -- I guess you could call it
a purse, but like Holly, we call them pocketbooks down here in the South.

My Layers

LAYER ONE: On the Outside
Name - Melissa
Nicknames - Chicken Butt, Chicken, Chick
Birthday - Aug 10, 1970
Birthplace - Shelby, NC
Eye Color - Green
Hair Color -Light brown
Height - 5'7''
Righty or Lefty - Righty
Religion - Baptist
Sex - yes (LOL!)

LAYER TWO: In The Inside
Your heritage - Mixture of lots
Who do you look like - my mom
Your weakness - food
Your fears - cockroaches
Goal you'd like to achieve - to become a better photographer

LAYER THREE: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Your most over-used phrase on the internet - LOL or Awesome!
Your thoughts first waking up - Why oh why does he always wake up at 6:30am. (he=Lukas)
Your best physical feature - eyes, I guess
Your bedtime - 10ish
Your most missed memory - my Papa Smith

LAYER FOUR: Your pick
Pepsi or Coke - Coke
Day or Night - Day
Summer or Winter - Winter in Florida
Adidas or Nike - Nike
Chocolate or vanilla - vanilla
Cappuccino or Coffee - Either!

LAYER FIVE: Do You?
Smoke - NO way!
Curse - sometimes
Sing - not well
Think you've been in love - yes
Want to get married - done that
Believe in yourself - yes
Motion sickness - use to, but not so much anymore
Think you're attractive - sometimes
Think you're a health freak - no
Get along with your parents - yes
Like thunderstorms - yes
Play an instrument - use to

LAYER SIX: Have you ever
Gone to the mall - of course
Eaten and entire box of Oreos - no
Eaten sushi - yes
Been on stage - yes
Gone skating - yes
Gone skinny dipping - yes
Played a game that required removal of clothing - yes
Been caught 'doing something' - yes (very recently)
Been called a tease - very often
Gotten beat up - sadly, yes (I think I was 14 or so-- I still don't like that girl - BULLY!)

LAYER SEVEN: Getting Older
Number and names of children - 2 children - Jacob and Lukas
How do you want to die - while sleeping
What do you want to be when you grow up - something cool
What country would you most like to visit - Greece, Spain or Italy
Number of CDs that you own - oh gosh -- I have no idea
Number of piercing - 4
Number of tattoos - 0
Number of times your name has appeared in the newspaper - Not sure

Fourth Of July

Couple photos of Lukas at the Park


This is a photo of the Whole Gang at Vinoy Park right
after the fireworks show.



Another of Lukas stuffing his face with Goldfish crackers.



Our 4th of July started out a bit uneventful. We went to Crisp park to play for a little while. Jacob had a great time because there several "new friends" to play with. They played tag, Monkey in the Middle, Army and other fun games. Then we headed home to pull out the Slip-N-Slide. The boys played on it for a while and then we sat down and had some lunch. Lukas took a good nap, but I couldn't get Jacob to nap for the life of me.

Around 3:00, Steve headed over to his friend's house (George and Polly) to celebrate the 4th. About 4 I realized that Jacob was simply NOT going to take a nap. Called Steve and then drove over to join him at George's house. We had the best time. The boys went swimming, we had yummy food, sang Karoke (well, I didn't sing, but most of everyone else did). Just hung out and had a good time.

Around 8:30 or so, we headed to Vinoy Park to watch the Fireworks.... MAN, was it crowded. Now I know why we normally walk there. We were fortunant enough to be driving down this street where a homeowner was standing outside and said we could park in her driveway. Believe me, THERE WERE NO PLACES TO PARK! Needless to say, we were extremely grateful. We watched the 15-20 min show and then drove home (which took forever!) Anyway, we had a blast and above are some photos from the day....