Shimmerz Vlog Hop

It's time y'all!!!! After weeks of bubbling with excitement over becoming one of Shimmerz Education Team members, I finally get to Shimmy my Shimmerz and shout it from the rooftop!

Welcome to the Education Team's video blog hop...If you have arrived here from Lori's blog, then you are well on your way. If you haven't and would like to participate in the vlog hop for a chance to win 1 of 5 complete sets of the newly released product (3 miniz and 4 shimmers) then you will want to go back and start at Shimmerz blog, become a follower and then make your way to each Education Team member's blogs, leaving comments and listening for each member's favorite of the new Fall vintage colors. Once you know the faves of each member, email the list to shimmerzpaints@live.com. Have fun Blog hopping!!! (the next blog to visit is at the end of this post)

Check out the projects I created with the new (and existing) colors...

This layout, created using Basic Grey papers is all about my Xan's entrance into the world as blogged in this April 12, 2008 post.

I painted the bodies of the dragonflies with Vintage Wine Shimmerz and the wings with Pixie Dust Blingz.
I used my finger to rub some Antique Lace Shimmerz on the puffy alpha to tone down the brightness of the color.

The felt lace seen here was originally cream, but I changed to color by spraying it with Purple Passion Spritz. The satin ribbon was sprayed with Baby's Breath Spritz and the Organza ribbon with Treasured Hymn spritz.

I also painted the tiny Prima buds with Pixie Dust Blingz.


Looking back on photos like this remind me just how much bearing children has changed my body...miss that body! Anywhoo...this layout was created using Graphic 45 papers.

I spritzed the background with Licorice Spritz, as well as a few of the flowers. I also painted some of the flowers with Wed Wagon shimmerz.

Remember the technique from the video? Well I cut the embossed cardstock into a snowflake and used it to create this card featuring papers by Delish.

**Edited to add: the diecut/embossing machine is the new Epic Six by Quickutz, I just used a Cuttlebug embossing folder in it**

I used Licorice Spritz on the snowflake, Concrete Spritz on the grey grosgrain ribbon, and Baby's Breath Spritz on the tag.

Thank you so much for taking the time out of you busy life to view my video and projects. I hope you have learned something new...now go on and get your shimmerz on!!

Every person who leaves a comment here by Friday 11:59 pm EDT will also be entered into a random drawing to win a jar of shimmerz from me! (colors may vary).

Next up is Leslie's blog! Just wait until you see the fabulous ideas she came up with!

Robots Un-plugged

This new line from My Little Shoebox could not be any cuter! I adore the fact that the papers are so versatile and can be used for both boy and girl pages. And those robot cutouts...LOVE them! I dressed one of the pink ones with eyelashes and a bow for the front cover of this mini album that I'm teaching next month at Scrapper's Cove. I added some brads and highlighted some of the features with stardust stickles to help make it my own and add some extra texture.


Here's the class information:

Nutty Buddies Mini Album
Scrapper's Cove
75 North Main Street
Milltown, NJ
(732) 745-1000
October 4, 2009
12:30-3:30 pm
limited seating


The photo on this layout was just screaming to be scrapped. I took Xander and Donovan to the playground around the corner from the house one day...of course I try to stay armed with my camera and I captured this picture of my baby boy. Don't you just want to kiss that sweet face?

One of my favorite scrapping techniques is hand cutting. I love to make a piece of paper look differently than it did when I purchased it. This line is so perfect for that! Not only can you cut out the robots, but the numbers are big enough cutout as well. That's exactly what I did here!

I printed some additional photos from Donovan's mohawk photo shoot to use here...they were just too perfect for me not to. I freehand cut some circles from the star paper, added some doodling around the border for this quick and easy layout.

This card was so super easy to make and is just right for the little dudes in our lives!

Thanks for taking a peek!

A Challenge and Some Great News

The new DreamGirls challenge is up, hop on by and play along with us! Check out this week's challenge:

Prompt: "First Impressions" - Using the first line of a book - eg: Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice "IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife
Product: Paper with words on it
Technique: Paint washing - watered down paint to create a subtle paint effect.

Don't you love it when you come across a scrapper whose work really inspires you? This was inspired by Stacy's use of ribbon, lace, and thread on her projects.

Here's my take...

I have some really fabulous news to share!!! Shimmerz Paints has a new education team and I've been asked to join! I am so freaking over the top happy! I can't wait to start vloggin different tips and techniques!

"We will be teaching classes locally and online, doing make-n-takes, creating videos for you and so much more! We are kicking off the fall color release with a Bang! So be sure to join us on Monday, September 21st for a fun Video Blog Hop that will start right here!"

I Heart Faces Week 36

This week's theme on I Heart Faces is "Contemplative".

I took this photo of Donovan last Summer--he is in such deep thought that he looks much older that his 4 years. I love this picture of him!

Disney Is Searching For Mom Panelists!

Celebrating the Start of the Third Year:
Disney Expands Walt Disney World Moms Panel
And Seeks New ‘Mouse’ Experts for 2010

Search for 10 panelists opens online Sept. 10, ends Sept. 20

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Sept. 10, 2009) – Is Disney your go-to family vacation? Are you a master at coordinating everything from character breakfasts to family reunions? If so, then Disney Parks would like you to apply to be on its third annual Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Disney Parks announced today its search for 10 park-savvy parents to reside on the 2010 Walt Disney World Moms Panel, www.disneyworldmoms.com, where they’ll join panelists from previous years to make this the largest panel to date.
Similar to asking a friend or neighbor for advice, this online forum, led by parents sharing their ultimate park smarts, serves as a resource for families planning a Disney vacation. Beginning today, Sept. 10, the Moms Panel search begins online, www.disneyworldmoms.com/2010 and will close on Sept. 20, or when 20,000 applications are received, whichever comes first.
Parents who pride themselves on being Walt Disney World vacation experts are encouraged to visit www.disneyworldmoms.com/2010 for what will be a magical seat on Disney’s Moms Panel.
“We realize moms and dads are online now more than ever, engaging in social media to research tips, connect with others and identify what’s best for their family. The Moms Panel provides an online space where they can interact and receive feedback from parents just like them,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “And the response has been phenomenal – more than 25,000 questions have been answered to date. With each new post, we reveal more of the magic of Disney. We’re looking forward to another year of moms creating and sharing that magic with others.”
“As a member of the Moms Panel, I have an amazing opportunity to help guests plan Walt Disney World vacations and craft trips that yield memories lasting a lifetime,” said Tanya McNally, a panelist and mother of two from Basking Ridge, N.J. “As a special needs mom, I know firsthand that each family’s vacation is different, and I feel most rewarded when I make tangible contributions to families with diverse backgrounds, budgets and abilities to plan trips as unique and wonderful as they are.”

Beginning late this year through 2010, Disney Parks will unveil new features and Web enhancements to the Moms Panel site to further engage and educate inquiring guests on all their park-related questions.

How to Apply:
The Moms Panel search begins online, www.disneyworldmoms.com/2010, Sept. 10, and will close on Sept. 20, or when 20,000 applications are received, whichever comes first. The application process begins with a series of questions and three brief essays – about his or her family, why he or she is a great Walt Disney World vacation planner and his or her favorite Disney vacationing tip. Following the search, the 10 best candidates will ultimately be named to the Moms Panel in January 2010. In exchange for sharing their Disney knowledge, panelists will receive a vacation at Walt Disney World Resort for themselves and three other people.
“The goal of the panel is to create a resource for vacation planners to obtain valuable insights from moms just like them on what might be considered vacation challenges,” said Crofton. “As most parents look to friends and family for advice, consider the Moms Panel an extended network of real parents who have helped plan hundreds of Disney trips and who are literally, Disney know-it-alls.”
To learn more about the 2010 Walt Disney World Moms Panel Search, please visit www.disneyworldmoms.com/2010.

About the Walt Disney World Moms Panel
Entering its third year, the Walt Disney World Moms Panel is an online forum where guests can get insider tips and insights for vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort from real moms and dads who have mastered the art of planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Due to the overwhelming response since its launch in 2008, Disney increased its panel from 12 to 16 members for 2009, featuring 15 moms and one Disney dad. Each panelist was selected to share their vast knowledge of the resort and personal secrets of success with other families who are considering a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Guests can pose questions to the panelists, as well as gain access to other valuable park insights and vacation planning tools for booking a Walt Disney World vacation. For more information, visit www.disneyworldmoms.com.

Something New Is Brewing...

Mark your calendars...September 21, Shimmerz is going to have some very exciting things happening. Make sure to stop by the blog to check out what all of the excitement is about and for a chance to win some free goodies.

09/09/09...

In our house, it will forever be known as Donovan's first day of Kindergarten! I wish I could say that the day went along smoothly, but I'd be telling a big lie! Things happened but in the end, it all worked out.

Mr. D started the day off with mommy's french toast and watermelon slices...yummy!

He took a healthy lunch of peanut butter on wheat (he doesn't like jelly), grapes, a granola bar, and a capri sun...all of his favorites.

I underestimated the amount of time it would take to get myself and 2 kids out of the house and we ended up rushing like mad dogs to get him to school on time, but we made it. Tomorrow, I'll be certain to get up earlier!

The camera was at the ready though....had to get some shots no matter how little time we had! LOL!

He's such a cool little dude. He suddenly decided not to carry his book bag with one strap on each shoulder, but with both straps on one shoulder...too cute!

His grandmom picked out the outfit...love it!

I can always tell when he's feeling "nervous and a little shy" because he puts on this face...

Our other "hiccup" for the day...the school did not make me aware that school uniforms were the standard attire! Donovan was the ONLY kid in his class without a uniform! Talk about someone being pissed! Yeah, that was me! My mother in law and I spent a lot of money on school clothes only to find out that we didn't have to. Not very happy about the lack of communication and I certainly hope that this doesn't set the tone for how things are going to go during his time at this school!

I swear Donovan's height never ceases to amaze me! I look at him as my baby, uhh I mean my big boy, but when I see him next to kids his age, he looks ginormous! (I blurred the eyes of the 2 kids closest to the camera)

Despite the nervousness, Mr. D had a great day and is looking forward to returning to Mrs. N's class tomorrow!

Just check out the after school smile...

When I asked him about his day he said he colored, played, went to the computer lab, at lunch in a place that had 2 basketball courts (aka the gym), and the teacher read 2 stories to the class.

He even felt up to striking a few poses for me...

So, all in all it was a good day, my baby is happy, so I'm happy. After school we went to Dairy Queen for ice cream since he was such a good boy in school. I ran to the mall and picked up a few uniforms so we're already for tomorrow.

Shimmerz and paper Popsicles

I had the pleasure of mixing shimmerz in with some wonderful products from Paper Popsicles! I just loved the bright, cheery colors of this kit!

Shimmerz takes center stage on this thank you card! I started by painting a piece of white cardstock with Tickle Me Turquoise shimmerz to create my own bling cardstock.

I stamped the flowers onto patterned paper using Close To My Heart stamps, cut them out and painted with Pixie Dust blingz before adhering to the card. I think pixie dust is one of the most versatile of the blingz because you can paint over any patterned paper and still see the pattern...just with a little more sparkle!

For my layout, I used Baby's Breath and Tuscan Sun spritz and Pixie Dust Blingz. I wanted to tone down the brightness of the white in the background paper so that it coordinated with the other papers I used for this layout. I placed the background paper on a plastic bag and lightly spritzed the entire surface with Tuscan Sun shimmerz.

I dragged the torn edge of one of my patterned papers through the excess spritz that was left on the bag to get the look seen here.

I spritzed the ribbon with Baby's Breath Shimmerz-- I love the way it looks on satin ribbon.

I really wanted my blingz to stand out on the chipboard wings so I painted them with white acrylic paint first, then painted with 2 coats Baby's Breath blingz for that extra burst of bling.

Here's a close up of the left side of the layout. I tore small strips and then rolled them up. I loved the striped paper on the back and just wanted to show it off! (Just another way to add another pattern to my LO...)

I created this LO as a reminder to myself to keep my goals in focus. Here's a close-up of the collage of rub-on frames and phrases.

I hope these tips help you to get excited about trying Shimmerz products! Thanks for taking a peek!

100% BOY!

Remember those cute photos that I took of Donovan showing off his mohawk? Well, I couldn't wait to put them on a layout! No flowers or ribbon here, I went straight boy style; these papers from Prima and 7 Gypsies were just right for the look I wanted to achieve!!! I did add some shimmerz paints, though because you can find a use for Shimmerz on ANY project! Just check out how I used gold glimmer blingz here. Do you see it?

How about a closer look! I painted the stars with yellow acrylic paint and then went over them with gold glimmer blingz. Just enough bling without sacrificing the grungy look!

I painted the edges of the layout and added some paint splatters all throughout to mix in more yellow with the red and black color scheme.

I ran my fingernail around the edges of the journaling strips to rough them up bit.

These alpha stickers have been in my stash since I started scrapping 5 years ago. I loved them then and was more than happy to revisit an old fave! Since the stickers have been sitting opened for so long, I didn't know how well the adhesive would hold up, so I added a little machine stitching to make sure they stay in place. I think it adds a nice little touch, too!

Lastly, I used a sharpie to doodle a frame around the main photo to highlight my cutie.

This layout was created using an awesome sketch I found on Design By Diana.

Thanks for stopping by!