ATC "Girls Night Out" ....LOVE the finished product!

I had a blast creating an ATC for the upcoming swap.  Here is a little view of the process!! 

Pic #1

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  I used Anna Griffin Velvet Leopard paper as my base 2.5 x3.5 ATC and distressed all the edges with a Heidi Swap Paper Distresser (I usually use the Tim Holtz distresser for this look).  I stamped "You Rock" 3 x's (Sampin' Up Stamps I bought from Cierra).

Pic #2

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  I found the COOLEST little "Girls Night Out" scratch off cards (12 in a pack...lucky!!) I cut the pieces up because I obviously did not need all the "naughty" little sayings.  I cut the cute little scalloped board off the card and used it as the top and bottom border of the hot pink card. 

Pic #3

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  I cut out the words "Girls Night Out" from the scratch off card, adhered it to Kraft colored paper, used a rub-on that says "Party" and rubbed it on the corner of the "Girls Night Out" card.  I stapled a hot pink feather (from a cute sign Toni M. made for Pink Pineapple Scrapbooks) to the top using the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher.  I also found an awesome pack of metallic lips and black confetti at Party City.  I cut the middle of the lips with an exacto knife to push the corner of the card into the mouth....heheh.

Pic #4

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  I cut a 3-D metallic Sticker and placed it in the corner.  I attached a black ribbon to the scalloped border on the opposite side of the sticker.

Pic #5

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  I used a 1" circle punch to cut out the "Boys" paper and cut it in half to signify "no boys allowed."  I used my Dymo Label Maker to type "No" and "Allowed."  I then used sand paper to give it a rugged look.

Pic #6

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  Wooo Hooo....finished ATC cards, 12 in all!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Suzi Blu...You Take My Breath Away!

Suzi Blu...You Take My Breath Away!

You are NOT going to believe this.  Ok...so last post....I mentioned starting a new Art Journal.  I was inspired by many people, but mainly by the new class I am taking at the La Petite Academy (Suzi's Online School.)  I am taking a "beginner" Petite Dolls class....whew...beginner??  wowza....

Anyway, so I posted my little chatty about the Art Journal I was starting...and I hopped on over to my classroom on Suzi's blog....and would you know it....there is a FREE ARTE JOURNAL CLASS!!  No kidding!!  I almost hit the ceiling as I jumped for joy and floated on Art high!!

I skip on over to the Art Journal class....and there it is....in all it's glory....Suzi's Art Journal.  A little video on the makings of her journal.  Better yet....she gives us an "inspiration" to journal about.  I was so excited UNTIL I read the first assignment!!! YIKES....I have to journal what I am good at, what I can congratulate myself on, what I like about myself.  WHAT??  what the heck??

Oh right, you are thinking..."how hard is that"  Um....think for TWO SECONDS...what are you good at?  What do you like about yourself??  Let me tell ya....it's a TOUGHIE for me.  I think about all the things I DON'T LIKE, that I WANT TO CHANGE.....things I aspire TO BE, DO....etc.  She says you become one with your thoughts.....this takes deep thought to actually grasp what she is saying...but I think I finally get it.  I start my list (yes ....very short) and I plan to log it in my Arte Journal.  So the assignment was so dang hard for me personally that I only accomplished ONE THING so far......covering the front and back of my Journal binder....UGH!! 

Suzi....I LOVE your challenge....you take my breath away!!


By the way, I used all old scraps....felt good to sift through and use supplies that have been sittin' around forever!!

Art Journal - A Challenge

It has been a long time of thinking....exploring...wanting....
needing. I don't spend time on "me." As most of us tend to do....we take care of others. Whether it be children, husbands, friends, family, neighbors, strangers.....we care for other people. As I sit here, I'm actually timing myself....giving myself only a few moments to blog...until I go back to "work," "cleaning house," "teaching," "inputting product into the business database." Why? Why am I timing myself??? Because I don't feel I "deserve" to spend time for me when others are to be cared for.

I definitely do not believe in putting myself "first" or the theory that if we focus on our "own" happiness we shall suddenly be happy. I do not believe in the "me" society. There are so many therapists and MANY people in general that believe if you work on "yourself" then you can truly be happy, make others around you happy, and live a happier, fuller life. I do not buy it at all. Putting myself first, if I'm going to be honest (which tends to get me in trouble sometimes) is what I consider selfishness. I believe if you (I) put God first, happiness will follow. I will be happy, I will make others happy, I will have a fuller life. However, instead of putting "me" first, or "God" first....I have lost the walk with both. I am a true believer of God in every sense of the word. Unfortunately I have stopped asking Him for guidance, strength, clarity, peace and grace. I have been trying to "do" these things alone. I have tried to recover from the shock of transitioning my business. I have tried to recover from losing friends for reasons still unknown by me. I know these "friends" could not have been "true" friends. If they were they would have been by my side, helping me recover. Not running from me like I had the plague. Not running from me when I was suffering inside. Not running from me when I was shutting down. I needed them. I needed them for comfort, to bring me back from the depths of darkness, to help me breathe once again. Instead of trying to recover from these devastating losses alone, I am turning to HIM. I know it is best. I know it will be better. My life will be even greater. I will once again be filled with joy. I have been so caught up in feeling as though I have let others down. I lost myself and I believe I was lost because I hid from God along the way. I shut him out. He can not hear me when I do not speak. He can not help me when I don't ask for help. He does not grand grace to those that do not seek it. Today, I am asking Him for these things. I am taking the path less traveled. It will be scary. I may seem alone at times. But I will always be walking with Him.

Today, I am starting an Art Journal. Something I have wanted to do for years, but have put it off in order to take care of others. I put it off because I have spent valuable time trying to repair things and relationships that were not, and are not, repairable. Although I so wish they were....I have longed for it. Today, I am putting those "longings" behind me. I am starting today by documenting ME through an Art Journal. I have always believed taking time for "me" is selfish. It is not. I know that when I finally put God first again in my life, he will soften my heart from feeling as though I can not possibly take time for me. Time to explore me. Understand Him. I want Him back. I want me back. The Art Journal is the beginning of my journey in finding Him, me, and happiness.... the beginning of my new life. At age 40.

I stepped out of my comfort zone and did something I thought I would never do. I enrolled in an Art class. Suzi Blu inspired me. Lead me. Made me see it was ok for someone like me (so extremely business, math and science brained) to explore the waters of true art.

The first lesson in class is all about eyes, placement, expressions, beauty. I eagerly watched the first video and jumped right in. And then.....my time was consumed with work, family, friends...etc. I did not go back to class. I waited almost a month. I watched video two. I realized that I can not and will not leave such a gap in this class. I had to re-learn, take notes....I lost everything I had learned a month ago. This time I took notes. Why? Maybe I am afraid I will not go back to video two again....for months. I want to. I'm just taking baby steps.

I am hoping this mixed media class will bring me back to my first love....scrapbooking. It has been my therapy for years. My art, my time to express. Yet, I have had NO time to scrapbook. None. The scrapbooking I have done has been for clients only, making albums for other people. For me, this is not "true" scrapbooking. I don't use my style, taste, nor is it therapy...it is a job. So, I turn to mixed media in hopes of finding my scrapbooking identity once again. It's time to scrapbook about my life, my family, my journey. I want to hold photos in my hand and remember. This is me. This is what I want. Art Journal. Step one in finding me.....while finding strength once again in my walk with Christ.

Home Schooling Is For The Birds....

For those of you that know me pretty well, you know the current situation I am in with our middle guy, Coleby. About two and a half weeks ago he came home crying hysterically (very long story) from school. He had called my husband from his cell phone and cried the entire walk home!! Ok, granted we live super close to the school, but jeez....poor kid! Anyway, I had a very sad, but loving, comforting, and enlightening talk with him in his room about what caused the tears....after our very very long talk ...I waited patiently for my husband to arrive home so we could assess the sitch.

Bottom line: Coleby has not gone back to school since that day. Long long story, but a decision we as a family felt was necessary. Sooooo.....I am trying my hand at Homeschooling for the last few weeks until the long awaited summer! Let me just tell you....it's a LOT of work man!! Well....for the parent!! The schedule goes pretty fast (even though he does spelling, writing, penmanship, social studies, science, grammar, math and reading for at least 25 minutes ...oh yes and art yesterday too) because there isn't that non-sense "filler" time or a teacher being pulled in 21 different directions. So, teaching one child instead of 21 at the same time...it's much easier for the homeschooler to get their work done in a much shorter time period than a regular school day...little or lots of help...either way. We start at 9am and we are finished by noon.

So why all this homeschool talk? Cuz I AM CERTAINLY NOT doing this for a whole school year!!! I just had to share with you the two little videos Coleby made for his Science lesson today.....too damn cute not to show off!!!


Teri helped him construct his little "Orange Cup Bird Feeder" and then helped video this first little clip-

Soo....lil Coleb's goes off to baseball practice and comes home 2 hours later....rushes into my craft room and says, "mom where is the video camera...I have to check to see if any birds ate the orange!!" I was NOT expecting to see this.....BUT it is dang cute!! No idea he would think to narrate AND video himself...hahha

So ladies.....THIS is the giggle for the day!!

Blog Hop Baby!!!

Pink Pineapple Scrapbooks is soooo excited to team up with Suzi Blu, Jennifer Priest, Stephanie Ackerman, Corina Nielsen, AND Elena Etcheverry for a fun "click-ity click, hop-ity hop, bounce-ity bounce" through blog land!! CAN YOU SAY "BLOG HOP BABY!!"
You KNOW you want to win great PRIZES.... each one of us has something VERY different to give-away!!

Read the directions closely to make sure YOU get a chance to win 1 of 8 different prizes!!!

To play along you must complete each of the steps in items #1 and #2 :



# 1. Become a "follower" on each of our blogs. Click on each links below then select "follow me":



Krystie Whillock (Pink Pineapple Scrapbooks) - http://www.pinkpineapplescrapbooks.typepad.com/

Suzi Blu (Le Petite Academy) - http://www.suziblu.typepad.com/



Jennifer Priest (Hydrangea Hippo) - http://hydrangeahippo.blogspot.com/



Stephanie Ackerman (Homegrown Hospitality) - http://www.homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/



Corina Nielsen (Photographer & Digi Designer) - http://www.corina.typepad.com/



Elena Etcheverry (Scrapbook Royalty) Scrapbookroyalty.blogspot.com



# 2. You must leave a comment on all of our blogs.
Why? So we can ENTER YOU FOR A CHANCE TO WIN! (new followers & current followers alike will get an entry AS LONG as you leave a comment about our BLOG HOP!)



By joining the fun and completing the two tasks listed above, you will get one entry into the drawing for a chance to win one of these fabulous prizes (do I sound like a game show host??)


Here is a little peek-ie at the SWEET give-aways!!!











WANT MORE THAN ONE CHANCE TO WIN????


We all know how much you LOVE TO WIN free stuff!!! Here is a list of some EASY WAYS to get MORE opportunities for MULTIPLE ENTRIES into the drawing for the give-aways!!.

FOR EACH TASK YOU COMPLETE BELOW: You will get ADDITIONAL chances to win!!!

Completing all 10 tasks listed below = 10 additional entries into the drawings.

1. Make a POST on YOUR blog about our blog hop! (Leave your blog addy in the comments section on our blog so we can check it out!!)
2. Become a member of Suzi Blu's Ning Community - http://www.suziblu.ning.com/
3. Become a member of Pink Pineapple Scrapbooks Ning Community - http://pinkpineapplescrapbooks.ning.com/
4. Join Hydrangea Hippo Facebook Community - http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=118855531464033
5. Join Pink Pineapple Scrapbooks Facebook Community - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45193161373
6. Join Scrapbook Royalty's Facebook Community- http://www.facebook.com/scrapbook.royalty
7. Become a follower of Scrapbook Royalty's Twitter Network - http://twitter.com/ScrpbookRoyalty
8. Become a follower of Pink Pineapple Scrapbooks Twitter Network - http://twitter.com/PinkPineapple1
9. Add Seller as a favorite on the Hydrangea Hippo Etsy Store - http://www.etsy.com/shop/hydrangeahippo
10. Become a follower on Giggling Recommended Blog - http://www.gigglingrecommended.blogspot.com/


HAVE FUN....check out our bloggies.....and PLAY PLAY PLAY along!!

ATC Swap...

I have fallen in love all over again with ATC's! Ally got me on this kick some time ago, and I sorta lost my way. About a month ago, I came across two BEAUTIFUL ATC boxes that Ally had made and given out for her "Halloween" ATC Swap, and her "Alice in Wonderland" swap. I opened the precious boxes and sifted through my treasures. I took in every little detail of each one; flipping them over to remind me of their creator. I decided that I couldn't just bare to put them back in the boxes (although the boxes will REMAIN on display in my scrap room)......so, I pulled open some trading card protective sheets and arranged them in a way I could admire them often. In honor of Ally's famed ATC swaps, a few girlie's and I decided it was time to once again create and exchange ATC's. We strummed up the theme during our National Scrapbooking Retreat, and have decided on "Girl's Night." We had such a great weekend of girl time, we thought the theme was fitting. We are going to max the participants at 12 (just like Ally did). There is room for more of you to join....so just leave a comment and I will email you the deets. We would like to swap them by the end of the month....giving us a few weeks to enjoy the process. Swapping can be done in person (like a "Girl's Night" out) or we can exchange in the mail etc. Hope you join in on the fun!! P.S. The Ninja (pink of course) was made by Miss Ally herself! The other ATC was made by "Crystal," not exactly sure who she is but it's one of my favorites!!

Giggle of the Day:

"If you are going to be two-faced, at least make one of them pretty." Marilyn Monroe

"Sew" Glad We're Friends.

It would seem that I am really "into" making cards, but truly I am not. I like to Scrapbook pictures of things & people I want to remember the most. However, I LOVE to give & send cards so being in a card exchange is perfect for me. Every other month I design & duplicate one card, then after the exchange I get 20 different cards back!! This month Pink Pineapple Scrapbooks' FREE card exchange is "theme-less." So...anything goes baby! I made a "friend" card because I have so many "thank you cards," "birthday cards," and cards for the holidays I thought it would be a nice addition to my stash. I also chose to make a "friend" card because all of my friends have been heavily on my heart lately. Maybe it's due to my lack of actually "being" a friend this past year...(long story...don't wanna bore you.) The stamp I used for the card is from Stamping Up (which I purchased from my friend Cierra!) The stamp reads "Sew Glad We're Friends." I attempted my hand at sewing finally....although I did purchase a sewing machine from Jessica about two years ago that has been screaming "use me!" (Now I wanna play with it more!!) I used fabric & mesh, and distressed the edges of the paper to give the card a "hand-sewn" look....oh well...it was a good college try! These cards were fun to make, and I can NOT wait to see the cards that I get back in return! The cards are due by June 5th (I didn't procrastinate...yeah!!!)....the great part about the group is that you can choose to go to the short social gathering to discuss the techniques you used to make the cards. If you don't want to go you can just drop off your cards (or mail them) & you get a stack of cards back right after the little meet-up. The group is limited to 20 participants so you don't have to make a hundred cards!! I know for June we have about 7 spaces left....I'd love for you to join us!! xoxox

Giggle for the day:

Two kids were deciding what game to play. One said, “Let’s play doctor.” “Good idea,” said the other. “You operate, and I’ll sue.”

(Someone emailed the joke to me & I laughed out loud....literally.)

Just For Today....

As I was preparing to gather things to take on the Pink Pineapple Scrapbook Retreat this weekend, I came upon a circle journal I had not yet completed. The title is "Just For Today." The journal belongs to the beautifully sweet Miss Gloria. Inside the journal she explains her "theme" & what she would like for us to think about as we create our two-page layout for her book. She writes, "I understand what it means to live each day to the fullest. To stop in the moment & take it all in. Show me these moments in your life where just for that day you were the best you!" As long as I have known Gloria (and it's only been a few years) she truly works very hard to make each day "count." I think it's what draws people to her. I know for me it's certainly something I admire about her. In her journal, she uses the well-known quote, "it's now how good you are, its how good you want to be." So true. I find myself quite often being such a people pleaser (and usually to people that don't deserve to be pleased) that I lose sight of "me." I withdraw from loved ones, my home, my work, church, my friends, my responsibilities. I try so hard to please people that will never be pleased or happy with "me." It keeps me from spending time on people that truly matter; people that love me for "me." Why? I guess because I always thought the people that mattered the most to me would be there for me, love me unconditionally, as I do them. Not true. If you don't water the flower, it dies. (Referring back to my "gardening post") Completing Gloria's journal this weekend really had me thinking a lot about "me." What makes me happy. Who I want to be. Where I want to be. How I can be better as a person & friend. I was so lucky to have a private room during the crop. It gave me some time to really think about the important things in my life. I realized the most that a day should never go by wasted. Each day truly is a gift. As of today, May 3rd, I am going to try my very hard to be "the best me." I know somedays will be harder than others, but I will always try and ALWAYS make the effort.
Here are a few snippets from the journal pages I created for Gloria's album.

Some of the little stickers and rubons that can't easily be read read say: "Life is full of surprises, open them slowly." "Life continues to happen. Move with it not against it." "Celebrate; Make every day a holiday, and celebrate just living!" "Dare to be remarkable." "Just being alive is a special occasion." "life itself is the proper binge."








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Giggle for the day: The family and I were looking through photos that were just taken on our vacation. We came upon a little photo of our dearest 4 year olds tanned naked "bum." She says, "Throw that away!" She then cried of course because Coleby laughed at it. Little does she know....it's going in her scrapbook. :)

Pink Ninja Blog Hop Baby!!

So I wandered on over to the Miss Ultra Talented Carrie Elias Bloggie to find that she is hosting a "blog hop" for the Pink Ninja crew!! This whole idea is sooooo fun and exciting!! I may have to just "lift" her idea for good ole Pink Pineapple....

Here's how you enter for a chance to win:

1. you have to be a follower of the Pink Ninja Addicts (check....actually I already was!)

2. you have to be a follower of these mega creative Pink Ninja Addicts Girls :
Ninja Master Ally (check...ditto to the previous comment!!)
Ninja Master Nely (double ditto...)
Ninja Star Carrie (Me) (triple ditto...)
Ninja Star Gloria (she doesn't have followers, but you'll want to see all the beautiful art she makes) (agree agree agree with Mrs. Carrie...you will want to check out Gloria's blog!!)

3. you have to talk about this giveaway on your blog (hehehhe....that's what I am a doin' right now folks!!) and the Pink Ninja Addicts has to see it ....

4. you have to leave a comment on the Pink Ninja Addicts Blog (check!) It's perfect!!!

Hello....can you say rad!! Look at the Pink Ninja kit you could win!!! Ummm....delish!

In turn.....

You get to see a lot of fun scrapbook projects, and enter for a chance to win a sweet giveaway at the same time :-) Winners will be announced on Friday (April 30th), on the Pink Ninja Addicts blog.....

the prize you win is AWESOME (You get to choose from the kit shown above, or one of Carrie's hand-made owls!!)

....check it out on Carries blog....ummm....her hand made owls are to die for!! (no seriously, I may actually DIE if I had one...or at least faint when my breath is taken away in utter happiness and glee!!)

DISCLAIMER: THESE PHOTOS WERE COPIED FROM CARRIE ELIAS' BLOG CALLED "BLUME". THEY ARE HAND-CRAFTED BY HER!!!

From Scraps To Cards...

If you know me well, you will not find this topic "out of the ordinary!"

It is a FACT: I do NOT like to throw out anything related to Scrapbooking.

Someone once told me "If you can't mount a picture on it throw it out!" GASP! Have they not seen the cute punches that I store in a basket? (Although I have not USED them in years.) OR all the stamps I store in plastic containers that could be used to doll up those tiny little paper treasures!! Seriously folks, work with me here!! Save a tree, save your scraps!!

Ok, enough rambling about my obsessive hoarding of all things paper.....

All the little bits & pieces that were sitting in a pile looked like a mound of gold that must be shined & displayed!! Instead of scooping up my "mess" & trashing all the leftovers after finishing up with the making of my "Garden" swap; I decided to make Birthday cards for the Free Card Exchange.

Here is the little card I whipped up with the scrappies:

The Card Exchange was held on April 10th, the day AFTER I left for our vacation. Thanks to Dee Steeves for being a WONDERFUL hostess. She made sure that the exchange went on without a hitch!

Here are a few pictures of the cards I received back in exchange!

Awesome group of ladies....so excited the ubber talented (& highly published I might add!!) Christine Penaflor has joined this group!! The theme for June's cards is "Anything Goes." OK.....I soooo LOVE that we have the freedom to use WHATEVER we want this time around & choose any theme that suits our fancy.

Why? 'Cuz that's how I roll!!

The next exchange will be June 5th at 11am (which by the way is NOT mandatory to be part of the exchange, just a fun little meet-up). There are a maximum of 20 participants (so we don't make 100 of the same exact card!!). We do have a few spots open & I would absolutely LOVE to have you join us!! Just shoot me an email and I will give you all the deets.

Giggle of the Day:

Aspen comes in crying, "Mommmmmyyy Coleby called me a bad word!" I say, "WHAT did he call you!" Terrified of the reply. She says through sweet little tears, "He called me WEIRD!"

It's Time To Water My Garden

I have planted many seeds in the past six months that have been neglected. They were not watered nor cared for. They were ignored, passed by.....they were simply "planted." I wrongfully assumed that sun & rain would do the rest, you know...make them "grow." Looking back, it certainly has not rained enough for seeds to grow and eventually become flowers. The sun has been peeking through the clouds with an occasional wave, but it certainly has not been bright enough to open the petals of flowers that were once seeds long ago. As you may have already guessed, the seeds are newly formed "friendships." Friendships that require constant sunshine and rain. Newly planted seeds are tiny & gentle, delicate to the touch. The soil that surrounds them is not yet "home" to them, it is foreign. Their roots have not yet strengthened. They will only grow if tended to just right. The whirlwind of activities in my life, some refreshing, some unpleasant have stopped me from even passing by my garden. I ignored my garden although it was always in the forefront of my mind. I had high hopes that the seeds would turn to beautiful flowers without any effort on my part. As I look out onto my garden today, I see a vast land of dirt with a few blooming flowers here and there that were planted from years past. These flowers are much stronger than the tiny seeds. Some have withheld many winters. Their roots have been grounded, their seasonal bloom is reliable even through terrible times of cloudy skies and an occasional drought. Joy fills my body as I am reminded that these flowers remain confident from past experience that the sun and rain will revitalize their beauty and ability to continually bloom. I have been a terrible gardener. I have allowed the day to day "rut" get into the joy I experience in tending to my garden, whether it be coddling seeds or watering flowers. Today, I choose to be a real gardener. A serious gardener. Not only for the flowers that bloom in my garden every year, but for those newly planted seeds. I want to be a gardener that is more thoughtful, and will remember to water often. One that is caring and will cast sunshine unto my garden even during the darkest of days. This is my wish for all my friends whether old or new, flower or seed..... please understand that the neglect you have felt these past few months was unintentional. I love my garden, blooming flowers and tiny seeds equally.

Here is a picture of a "Garden" swap I recently participated in with 17 lovely ladies. I chose to use a packet of seeds as the basis for my creation. I realize some may get tossed, some may get planted but never tended too, but there will be those that are planted, nurtured, cared for tenderly & will one day bloom into beautiful flowers.

The quote I attached to the seeds reads "At the heart of gardening, there is a belief in the miraculous" by Mirabel Osler. In this case for me, "miraculous" is the true belief that the seeds I plant will bloom. I have faith that this will happen because I choose from this day on to be a better gardener.

Here is a little picture of my creation for the "garden" swap. Enjoy. Plant. Water. And Care.

Love always,

Krystie