(diva)logues

The BIG BOOK...

 

The Big Book of Scrapbook Pages by Memory Makers is finally out!  I had 2 pages picked up for publication in this book last year & I remember thinking, "It's going to be an entire YEAR before the book gets printed?"   But the year went by & I received a surprise package on my doorstep yesterday... the book and my two original pages that are inside it.  I was particularly excited because one page was made using Nikki Sivils' products...

 

... and the other was made using SRM Stickers...

 

I quickly flipped through the book looking for my pages, but still need to sit down & take it all in.  There's more than 500 layouts in there.  Major inspiration.  And I see LOTS of friends' pages in there, too.  Love that.  I'm thinking this book will be in my carry-on bag.  A little light reading for the airplane.  Maybe I'll come home inspired to make something.  

Headed for wine country tomorrow... ;-)

"Ingenious trees..."

 

I had another page published in Scrapstreet.com Magazine.  It was the 2nd of two pages one of their staff writers found in my Two Peas gallery and requested for a couple articles she was doing.  This month's article was titled "Ingenious Trees."  Kind of funny, considering how much LOVE making trees... as you are already painfully aware.   ;-)

You can see the page here.

And just for fun, I made this one last night while watching The Voice.  Dang some of those peeps can SING.  I still have "Jolene" running through my head.  And no trees on this one, but I do love my STARS just as well!

 

As for the page... I did a little masking + misting... of some smaller stars.  Then decided to outline the stars, but right after I got started I HATED it.  So... I had to draw/cut out my own BIG star & add it to cover up my mistake.  There's always a way to fix a mistake, even if it wasn't my first design choice for the page...   

 

I also put the center photo onto pop dots & a yellow frame just to make it more of the center of attention...

 

As for the rest of the page, just random bits of old + new... as well as a basic design for which I seem to be doing quite a bit lately.  In fact, I'm beginning to think my pages are all looking the same.  Ask me if I care though?  

Yeah, ummmmm.... no. 

Photos + journaling... another completed page.  :-)

ALLT OM SCRAP... (easy for you to say)...

 

Yesterday the June issue of Allt om scrap, a Swedish ezine, was available for download.  This month they featured an article on Nikki Sivils!  Some of Nikki's design team submitted pages for publication in the article, which begins with an interview with Nikki on page 24.    Here's the page I made using Nikki's Summer line...

 

I really do ADORE that Summer line.  I thought it might be my favorite line of hers EVER, but then I saw a sneak peek at one of the new lines that will debut at the 2011 Summer CHA Tradeshow...

 

"School is Cool" looks like MAJOR CUTENESS!  I may have a new favorite... or two... or three... or...

Off to the Y... it's time for Spin class!

Random things...

 
A couple months ago, I received an email from someone at Scrapstreet Magazine asking if she could publish one of my pages she'd found in my 2Peas gallery.  It was for an article she was working on for the April issue about using word bubbles.  You can see the page here.  Then she emailed me again shortly after that asking for another one for the May issue!  How random is that?  You just never know how you might get your work published.

Yesterday I received a box of goodies from Northridge Publishing... my 2 free copies of Scrapbook Trends Magazine along with my original scrapbook page they published in their April issue and some fun goodies.  I just love the way they photograph the projects they publish in their magazine...

 

And speaking of Easter... we had lots of fun that day with plenty of sweet treats!  Bryn & I made our milk/egg/nut-free chocolate cupcakes...

 

 

 

 

We also enjoyed a yummy dinner with our good friends, since we had already celebrated Easter last weekend with family.  It was a wonderful day from beginning to end! 

And speaking of good friends... I love having lunch with the girls.  Makes my week... 

There she is again...

Bryn's face has graced the pages of a few more magazines recently!

The May/June issue of Creating Keepsakes...

 

The fact that this particular page got picked up for publication was really exciting for me, considering the idea came to me while I was running on the treadmill.  (A lot of ideas come to me while I'm running.  Clear head, I suppose.)  I was looking at Bryn sitting on the couch & watching TV with all her babies lined up next to her & thought to myself, I never want to forget this.  So when I finished running, I literally jumped off the treadmill, ran to get my camera & took a photo.  I'd been planning to use one of her doll clothes hangers for a scrapbook page & thought this was the perfect photo for it.  It wasn't something I created for design team work, it was just made for me.  So to get it picked was pretty special...

 

One of my layouts is included on a full-page Nikki Sivils' advertisement in the current issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today .  I believe the ad will be in a couple magazines right now...

 

 

And...  I have a page in the April issue of Scrapbook Trends Magazine, but I haven't actually seen it yet.  Archivers only had past issues available when I was there last and it's just not easy to find locally.  It usually takes about 3 months from the time the issue hits the newsstands before I receive my copy, so I'll see it eventually!   

  

Bryn could care less that she's in magazines, but for me... it's pretty cool.  :-)

More "happy mail..."

Even though we've been stuck indoors for a couple days, I haven't had much time to accomplish a whole lot.  My "creative time" has been spent trying to creatively figure out a way to keep Bryn entertained, so I can sneak in some work.  ;-)  I did finish most of this new page after she went to bed the other night though... before Bob managed to successfully lure me away from the craftroom, that is.  The rest of it had to wait until the next morning.

I wanted to do some paper-piecing on here by making my own chalkboard.  I also asked Bryn if I could have the little girl sticker.  It's from her American Girl paper pad.  I swear I think I use that paper pad more than she does.  The photo quality isn't so hot in my photos, as I was sitting as far away as I could possibly sit in the gymnasium, but that's ok with me.  I told the story & that's what matters the most in the future...        

 

The other day I received my copy of the October Scrapbook Trends magazine + some free supplies in exchange for my page they published...

 
Gotta love the "Boo-tiful" line from Nikki Sivils!

 

I told my dad he was famous now.   :-) 

Thank goodness we have a treadmill since the Y was closed on Tuesday (not my normal day to go anyway) and then opened late on Wednesday, leaving my Spin class cancelled in the morning.  Seriously think I'd be going nutso with all this bad weather, if it weren't for being able to RUN!   

And even though we have no school again today... I say YAY for normal hours at the Y today and my favorite class... Zumba!     

It is FINALLY official!

 

 

I am REALLY excited to finally have one of my pages published in Creating Keepsakes magazine this month.  All my other projects that have been published up until now have been exciting, but THIS was my ultimate goal... getting something in THIS magazine.  And it finally happened after much persistance. 

And even more exciting than that?  The article featuring my page is titled "Set The Scene."  Ummm... hello... my favorite thing to do!  And who contacted me about my page being accepted, but someone who I've always gained TONS of inspiration from... Cindy Tobey.  It's her article & there's some seriously CUTE "scenes" in there.  In fact, there's a LOT of CUTE in the whole issue.  I'm loving the article titled "Doodling" too!

 Ok enough about that.  On with my weekend.  It's time for my 75-minute Zumba class!  Woot woot! 

I ♥ SRM Stickers...

Just received my free copies of Scrapbook Trends Magazine along with some free scrapbooking supplies in return for my page that they published in their September issue... 

 

 

SRM Stickers simply make your projects look great.  And that page is FULL of them! 

A perfect morning...

 
It's the little things that make me happy...

• Waking up with no more migraine after sucking it up & coaching Bryn's double-header last night (yes... that would be 2 hours of volleyball in a very LOUD gym)
• Hugs + kisses before Bryn left for school
• Zumba (LOVE.THAT.CLASS.)
• Crazy Bowls for lunch with my Zumba friends (LOVE.THAT.FOOD.)
• An email from Scrapbook Trends requesting one of my pages for the April issue
• Some new FALL fashion

  
 
♥ And a little thank you to my husband, who came home from work at lunchtime yesterday to surprise me with lunch & a Decaf Soy Latte.  Then he left work early to pick Bryn up from school.  I didn't ask either of him, he just wanted to help make me feel better.  It worked.  He is the best & I feel very, very lucky...

It's HIP 2B in a kit club...

A sneak peek at the August HIP 2B SQUARE kit has been posted!

 

Go here to join the club!  The kits are ALWAYS packed with adorable product for a very reasonable price!

 
I'm excited to say that I have a layout in the September issue of Scrapbook Trends.  It will probably be a few months before I receive my copy, so I downloaded it just to see for sure that it was in there.  I'm still having a difficult time trying to find the issue of Cards Magazine that I'm in, so I figure the search for this one will have the same result.  That was the main reason I went to Archivers the other day.  I just KNEW they would have it.  However, when I asked them where all their magazines went they replied, "Oh, we stopped selling them about 4 months ago."  Perfect.  Just when I finally start getting published. 

Anyway, I did see a lot of my friends in there, so CONGRATS friends!  And a big congrats to Amy from my SRM Stickers team who made the cover!

Did you register too?

If so, I'll "see" you in class!

I like the "admission is FREE" part, too!  Nikki Sivils is one of the sponsors giving away prizes.  Go here for more information.

We went up to school last night to meet Bryn's new 4th grade teacher & drop off all her school supplies.  Only 6 more days until school begins.  Boooo. 

And... believe it or not, Bob & I get to have a "date night" again tonight.  Bryn's going to see "Showboat" tonight with my parents & her cousin at an outdoor theater.  I can't think of anything I'd rather NOT do myself.  The weather here has been unbearably HOT.  Anyway, Bob & I will be dining INDOORS at a restaurant & then maybe to another place for dessert until it's time to pick up Bryn & take her home.

I'm off to the post office to mail another layout to Creating Keepsakes.  They asked for another one!  Jumping up & down here...

Cupcakes anyone?

I have a card in the August edition of Cards Magazine... my first time getting a card published.  I have yet to find the issue myself, but it's in there!  And thanks to my friend, Sarah (who, by the way, is on the page right next to me.... love that!), I have a photo of it.  Remember my cupcake liner skirt?

 

 

And, ummm, did you know that Sarah's card included bakers twine from moi?  DKMdiva is listed in the "supplies list" for her card.  I love it!  You can't find my shop by searching with that name, because my sign-on that I've had for years with etsy is "luvfashion," but I don't care and I told Sarah that when she asked how to list it.  The name was formed after my sister, Kaysy, passed away & it has very special meaning for me.  DKM is the first initial of mine & my sister's names.  The "diva" part... well, that's just kind of a joke between my sister, Marci, and I.  We're only "divas" in our own minds.

And speaking of my sister, Kaysy...

My parents were recently in Park City, Utah, where they travel a few times a year because they own a condo there.  3 years ago, while hiking, they made a rock formation of the letter K for my sister.  Imagine their surprise a couple weeks ago, when they took another hike & noticed it was still there, untouched...

Very cool...

Images of ART CAMP

Last week was my first week ever of ART CAMP for kids.  It was a lot of fun & the kids really seemed to enjoy it!  We had a different theme every day with a new craft to learn, plus snacks, drinks & music to make the afternoon fun!

"I'm One Awesome Kid!":  I taught them how to make a scrapbook page with an "All About Me" theme.  They had LOTS of paper, punches, embellishments, etc to use & I took individual photos of each child at the beginning of class for use on their pages.  I also asked them to fill out a questionnaire that I made up to get them thinking about some of the things they like right now.  Could be a great page starter for someone of ANY age!

This may have been my favorite day... popcorn + scrapbooking...  

Bryn came up with a great idea for her page.  She cut out the questionnaire after completing it & then adhered it to her page... 

"Charmed, I'm Sure!"  Today was all about making buttons, figurines, charms, etc. out of clay.  Some of the creations were made into rings & a lot of them were just made for fun.  I created quite a few buttons, myself! 

 

"Slumber Party!"  Today the we all wore our pj's to camp & created personalized pillow cases using fabric markers.  Bryn insisted we buy the neon-colored markers & I have to say, they did make for some bright & happy-looking pillow cases!  With some time left-over at the end, we made some very basic friendship necklaces + bracelets out of yarn & plastic initial charms...
 

"Owl Be Seeing You Soon!"  I taught the kids basic hand-stitching & we made the CUTEST little eyeglasses/sunglasses holder.  I found the pattern here.  I mean seriously... so CUTE! 

"You're the Tweetest!"  For our last day we went outside on the patio to paint birdhouses & eat popsicles.  Thankfully it wasn't quite as hot & humid as it had been, but I did turn a fan on for some extra relief.  I think the 3 popsicles/each helped keep the kids cooler, too.  LOL!

I was able to do a little painting myself (on chipboard!) for my upcoming day to post on the Nikki Sivils blog.  Stay tuned for that on the 5th!  I may have been inspired by some OWLS this week!  

And real quick...

 

HIP 2B SQUARE is having a design team call!  For information on the requirements, check it all out here!

And... I finally received my copy of the Scrapbook Inspirations Idea Book...

My little "fashionista" is in another magazine...

 
 
 It's almost the weekend! 

Scrapbook Ideas Inspiration Book...

  

Evidently, it hit the shelves in the UK on June 8th.  I checked out Barnes & Noble on Tuesday to see if they had it yet, but the last issue was still on the shelves.   Will keep on the look-out for it, as I have a page published in there. 

And that layout on the cover on the bottom row, in the middle?  My friend, Sarah, made that one!  Congrats, girl!

I have a thing for circles...

You can even find quite a few of them in my home decor.  This month SRM Stickers is loving circles, too!  Get creative using circles & stickers (they do not have to be SRM Stickers to participate) and post your projects here for a chance to win!

I originally made a layout for this challenge using lots of circles, but I was pretty excited to find out that it got picked up for publication by Scrapbook Trends.  So, I made this card to replace it!   You can find the SRM Sticker Sentiments that I used here. 

Bob stayed home this morning after Bryn got on the bus.  He's taking the day off to go visit his dad, so we went running together before he left.  It's something we almost never get to do.  And how appropriate that I actually ran OUTSIDE today, rather than my usual run on my treadmill, since it's Earth Day...

When Bob announced that we ran 4 miles in 35:44 (he was wearing a Garmin watch), I yelled in jest, "Mother f-er.  Are you trying to kill me?"  Let's just say that it takes more effort on my part to keep up with his long legs (5'4" vs. 6'4").  And lately I haven't been busting my butt to run very fast.  So the last time I was running around this pace, was when I was training for the half marathon, over a year ago.  I did it though... I kept up & high fived him at the end! 

Happy Earth Day! 
  

A nice way to start off the week...

The new issue of Scrapstreet.com Magazine has hit the streets today.  I have 2 layouts in this magazine!  One of my layouts is brand new using the U R MY FAVORITE line from Nikki Sivils, and the other one is a 2-page layout that I posted in the Fall. 

Today is a long day for me.  Bryn was off to Dance Club at 8am & is there late today for Drama Club (until 4:45).  Unfortunately, both clubs she's involved with have practice on the same day of the week.  It makes for LONG Mondays for her.  I'm heading to Zumba soon, running a couple errands & then planning to finish up some projects I've been working on.  Also expecting to receive my January HIP 2B SQUARE kit in today's mail, so I'll be tearing that box open right away, too!

Today is the day that Nikki Sivils is announcing the new designers being added to the design team.  I, for one, am looking forward to seeing who was chosen! 

I think my jaw dropped wide open...

 

... when I received an email from Stacey Michaud in September.  She asked me if I'd be interested in being a Guest Designer at ScrapStreet.com Magazine in an article about holiday traditions with a focus on JOURNALING in their December issue.  My first thought was, "How does Stacey even know who I am?"  (unless, of course, it's because she'd noticed that I'd been stalking her blog since I first "found" her during the Cosmo Cricket DT call?)  How cool, though, that she asked me to guest on a topic that I think really is the most important element on a page!  Anyway, let's just say that I was flattered, honored & immediately said YES!  So, thanks again, Stacey...  you ROCK! 

You can check it all out here!  My layout is on page 36.

December 1st... SO MUCH TO DO!

Boo for the FLU & a BOOTIFUL new challenge...

Well, I have some good news & bad news.  Along with all of Bryn's other typical flu-like symptoms, one of the things she's been complaining about is her throat.  So, yesterday they tested her for Strep.  It came back negative.  The bad news is, apparently that means she has the Swine Flu.  The good news, hopefully is, they've been seeing it last for usually 3 days.  Since the onset of her symptoms began on Saturday evening, I'm hoping that means today is the last day of this.  She has been one sick girl.... SO MANY, "Mommy, I don't feel good" cries with lots of wimpering & whining.  If only I could wave a magic wand & take it all away.  I know all moms wish they had one of those!  Anyway, her doctor said he's not concerned about the actual Swine Flu itself, it's the possible complications from it that are of concern (dehydration & pneumonia).  We are doing well on those accounts, so we'll keep on keeping on & just say our prayers.  There's nothing she can do for this, other than Tylenol/Motrin, rest + lots of liquids. 

Now... onto scrappy things...

Nikki Sivils has a new monthly challenge to start scrapping more about ourselves.  Her prompt this time was to scrap something you probably don't know about me.  It took me awhile to come up with something you may not already know, but to still make it work with the product.  I went with a 6x12 layout (a new format for me).  I do know this is a VERY selfish thought to have, but I can't help it...

I used a pattern from an old Scrapbooks Etc magazine to make my airplane.  Other than the BLAH, BLAH, BLAH (which was part of an envelope from Sarah) everything is Nikki Sivils.

Nikki did mention to me that her parents never flew together until their youngest child was out of college.  So... I guess I'm not the only one who worries about this. 

Check out the Nikki Sivils blog for the other takes on the challenge & to see who was just added to our design team!  Welcome again, Molly! 

And, speaking of Nikki Sivils... here's a few Halloween cards made with the Bootiful line...

  

  

... a quick gift card...

 

... a simple recipe card on a bag containing the best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies EVER... so moist & delicious (no eggs, dairy or nuts means Bryn can eat them, too!)...

... and another layout...

 

And strangely enough, it ended up on the SIS Catwalk today.  Thank you, Andrea Wiebe!

 

This examiner.com article on Nikki Sivils and her BOOTIFUL line is WAY COOL!  It was pretty exciting to see my work in their article!  I've only told her about 500 times, but I really do LOVE designing with her products.  I just received her Christmas line, too, and I think it just may be the cutest line YET! 

FINALLY!

After waiting over 3 1/2 months for this French magazine... (because my guess is that they NEVER sent it to me... the first copy OR the replacement they promised)...

 

I FINALLY received a copy from Larissa, who lives in Brazil!  Yes, I had to ask someone in Brazil to send me a magazine that's published in France!  I was determined & not going to give up!  LOL!  In return, I mailed her a magazine she'd been trying unsuccessfully to receive for 2 months.  She was worried, though, that the cost of the magazine she wanted was more than the one I wanted.  I said, "Larissa, I don't care.  I was beginning to think I'd have to purchase an airline ticket to Mireval if I wanted a copy of that magazine, so this is much cheaper!" 

   

It was a publication call for rainbow-themed layouts.  I guess you already know how much I love rainbows, so it was a no-brainer.  I actually submitted a layout I made last summer & it was picked up.  It's my first time being published in a paper magazine.  Only published in an online mag prior to this. 

I told Bryn she's now famous in France.  She smiled...

Pubs & cowgirls...

I'm very excited about having a layout in the first issue (July/August) of Scrap Outside the Box magazine.  It is available for purchase here!

We attended Sydney's cowgirl-themed 8th birthday party yesterday.  The rain all day, kept the party from being outside, but it was fun & she had chosen karaoke for the party.  She started the party off with singing the Star Spangled Banner...

 

Bryn sang a few Hannah Montana songs...

 

Andrea & a friend made the cake.  It was delish...

 

 

 

Off to Zumba, "Bead Camp," & then one more night with the big girls & little girls before Sal leaves town.  Hoping to finish up my Hip 2B Square kit this evening, too!  Busy, busy, busy! 

Brace yourself...

  

Bryn is wearing braces & an expander on the roof of her mouth as of today.  She's talking funny & having trouble eating, but it's all new & she'll eventually get used to it.  She picked the colors pink & purple for her bands.  I get the fun role of being the "expander adjuster" every day for the next 21 days.  Why does Mommy get the role of causing more pain?  Lots of food on the no-no list... most of which she didn't eat anyway... but popcorn is going to be a toughie.  How do you have "game night" without popcorn?   But... we will adjust.  

I just found out that my Nikki Sivils tri-fold card I posted yesterday is going to be included in her CHA Summer 2009 Trade Show Catalog... which is an incredible honor!  I really think she's going to WOW everyone at CHA this summer!  For more inspiration from our design team you can find it on 2peas by searching for Nikki Sivils!  Nikki should have her website (along with a gallery) up & running soon, but it was pretty cool to see so much inspiration on the new lines in one spot!   

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner..."

Well, I have a layout in this magazine, but I have yet to see it...

 

In exchange for publishing my layout, they promised to send me an issue of the magazine.  It went to press on May 20th.  I have sent 3 emails now asking if my layout was in there & if so, that I hadn't yet received my copy.  Unfortunately, to date, the emails have been ignored.  Yesterday, I resorted to emailing Christine Middlecamp, who's beautiful work graced the cover, and asked her if she could tell me if my layout was in there.  She kindly took the time to check & responded to me that it was indeed in there!  Thank you, Christine!

For someone like me, who has only been published twice in an online magazine, it really meant a LOT to me to find out that my work was going to be published in a traditional magazine (even if it is in FRANCE!)   

Well... I guess I'll just have to keep after it until I finally somehow get my hands on the issue. 

A lay-out published, a photo swap & a new challenge...

I've been published again in the new May/June issue of Scrap-n-Art... see page 10.  It was a design team lay-out I did for Red Oak Lines.  Stayed tuned to the Etsy shop that will be updated with new goodies this month!   

Sarah of Red Oak Lines asked me to do a photo swap with her & I immediately said YES!  She is one talented scrapper that never ceases to inspire me with her fun, colorful & happy layouts.  Check out her flickr gallery... I love it!  Here's what I did with her photo, taken recently of her in Maui.  She is one of the few people I know that travels for fun more than I do...

  

I machine-stitched the border & hand-stitched the sun & the rays.  The palm tree trunk was made out of cardboard & I inked it a bit to give it a little more definition.  I hope you like it, Sarah, I sure did enjoy doing this!  Check out the layout she made with Bryn's photo!  I LOVE IT!!!  Thank you SO MUCH... I felt honored & flattered that you asked me to do this with you! 

 

"I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends" is the challenge/song up at Scrapping Across the Universe... going up today.  I did a little machine stitching on mine, as well as some hand-stitched "rays" for the sun.  It was inspired by Sarah's Joys of Freedom layout.  I wanted a Fiesta-like color combo since we were drinking margaritas in the photo... 

 

And speaking of FIESTAS... can you believe that Cinco de Mayo is just 4 days away?  I'll be spending it with Fleetwood Mac, my mom & my sister (and probably a maragita or two beforehand)...

And a HUGE thank you to Molly for creating my cute little Scrapping Across the Universe blinkie!  You rock, Mol! 

Happy Friday!