Testing The Ice Book Giveaway...Winners Announced!!

I have winners to announce...woohoo...I love this part...

The following 4 ladies will receive a copy of the book Testing The Ice:

Jael Custom Designs
Blue Violet
Winning Readings
Melissa

The grand prize which includes the Kidorable Hat, Glove & Scarf set (random styles) and a copy of Testing the Ice goes to April!

Congratulations everyone!! I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I did!

Please email your address to tanisharenee74@hotmail.com

Have a great day all!!

Avni's Henna Cermony

Taking photos of Avni's henna ceremony was so much fun for me. She's the daughter of one of my former co-workers and I was honored to have been asked to capture the event. Everything was so beautifully decorated and colorful...even the ceiling was covered with a number of different color saris.

Here are just a small sampling of some of the close-ups that I captured of the finished product!

If you look closely at her left palm, you can see the face of a bride. The mendhi artist also drew a picture of a groom on the right palm so when Avni placed her hands palm up, the bride and groom were facing each other.

I attended the wedding ceremony as well and Avni made an incredibly beautiful bride. I wish her and Chirag all the happiness their hearts can handle and more!

Thanks for taking a peek!

I Have Returned...

It's been a little over a week since I last blogged, but for good reason...I just returned from the Croptopia Getaways Bermuda cruise that I won from Scrapbooking and Beyond Magazine. I took my mom along with me (her first vacation ever) and we had a ball scrapping and touring Bermuda. Croptopia Getaways spoiled us so much that my mom has decided to become a scrapper with all of the goodies and lessons she's acquired!

I took a couple of awesome classes and learned a lot in the mini album classes taught by Cheryl Mezzetti (always wanted to take one of her classes) and learned some Cricut tips and created a couple of awesome projects taught by Cara Miller (aka the Cricut Queen). There were quite a few make n takes, too! I can't wait to share the pictures here!

If you know me, then you know I took a few hundred photos and will definitely share by way of photos posts and layouts! Bermuda is such a beautiful island and so was the ship we sailed on, Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas.

I'll definitely tell you all about my trip over the course of the next week or so, but right now I'd like to share the layout I created for Dreamgirls latest challenge and Shimmerz!

Prompt: Using the negative paper left over from a punch - get creative and incorporate it into your layout - You can stencil through it, mask it, or make an embellishment out of it .
Technique: Stitching, faux or real
Product: Use a scallop circle journal spot.

Click here to see what the rest of the Dreamgirls created!

I took this photo on Mommy and Donnie day; not an official holiday, but a fun day for my li'l man and me! How gorgeous are these Webster's Pages papers? OMG...love them!

close-up of the top right corner and the scallop that I hand stitched around the corner of the photo

I used the negative space from a die cut heart to add a little interest to my journaling spot

I loaded up on the shimmering spritz; I sprayed the flowers and the bird that I cut from patterned paper. I also dipped a paint brush into my spritz and used it to paint the cherries.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Testing The Ice Book Review And Giveaway

In the early 1950s, legendary baseball hero Jackie Robinson literally "tested the ice" for his kids who so eagerly wanted to skate on the frozen lake near their home. Under Sharon Robinson's skillful authorship and Kadir Nelson's vivid illustrations, TESTING THE ICE also becomes a stunning metaphor for her father's remarkable racial breakthrough.
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I was so excited when I was contacted by Big Honcho Media to review Scholastic's new book, Testing The Ice. We are avid readers and love books in our home, so this opportunity was very welcomed!

I'll admit when I first opened the package, I did the one thing they say you're not supposed to do about "books"...I judged it by it's cover. Or better yet, the size of it's cover. I thought "this is one big book, I don't know if Donovan (age 5 1/2) is going to sit through this story in one sitting".

When I opened the book, I noticed the large writing and thought it was perfect for little eyes to read along with. I was truly amazed by the phenomenal artwork which was inspired by Jackie Robinson's actual photographs.

Donovan and I sat and had fun reading the book...he loved it! It wasn't nearly as long as I'd thought and as a parent I can appreciate the fact that the book is not only a lesson in bravery, but also a wonderful lesson in history. Don't just take my word for it, check it out for yourself!

FIND IT ON AMAZON

Here's your chance to win a copy of the book!! Post a comment here between now and 11:59 PM EDT on October 21st to be entered into a random drawing.

One (1) blog follower will receive a TESTING THE ICE prize pack! (add "follower" to your comment)
Kidorable Hat, Glove & Scarf set (random styles)
copy of Testing the Ice

Four (4) additional winners will receive a copy of the book!

Prizing Values:
The grand prize pack is valued at $52.99
The books are valued at $16.99 each

Shipping Guidelines:
Prizing is only available to United States mailing address only. (International readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

Tweet this giveaway and post here in a separate comment for an additional entry into the random drawing!!

Good luck and enjoy the book...we certainly did!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Yesterday...I walked for the cure for the first time! My walk was dedicated to the honor of Katherine, a grandmother figure to me who had a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer and to the memory of Barbara, my aunt in law who lost her battle with breast cancer 5 years ago...I still miss her so much.

The thought of breast cancer has had such an impact on my life since I was 17 years old and found a lump in my breast. I had to have a lumpectomy but was lucky, the lump was benign. Ever since then I have tried to be proactive in reminding the women closest to me about the importance of checking their breasts. Early detection is key to beating this disease!

Walking for hope at Nomahegan Park in Cranford, NJ.

I am so excited to announce that Shimmerz Paints is showing support for breast cancer awareness!!

"It's October! That means it's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We wanted to show our support by showing our Pink!! For the whole month of October, we will be sharing Pink projects created by our Shimmerz Girlz! BUT, we want you to get involved also. We want you to create projects using ANY Pink Shimmerz that you have! Any shade of pink. Then, upload it to the Shimmerz Flickr Group! Each Design Team Member will choose their favorite project, and each winner will receive something Pink! We are excited to see what you come up with! Stop by all month to see what the Design Team creates using Pink! Let's not just create, but inspire and spread the word. Post it on your blog, and let others know! Let your light Shimmer!"

If you would like to make a donation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to further breast cancer awareness and research, click here.

Thanks so much for your attention...remember...check yourself!

World Card Making Day

Today is World Card Making day and here is my contribution! The other day I create a layout using Webster's Pages (I can't show you that until later this month). Their papers are so phenomenally beautiful...I was more than happy to make a card with the leftovers.

I used Shimmerz barn door spritz on the stars and sapphire spritz on the satin ribbon for a beautiful finishing touch!

Card making day is not just for cards...I threw a layout in the mix, too! I love these papers by Collage Press, they are the perfect match for this photo, one of my fave pics that I took this summer. It's of my little Xan and I love it because it's so full of personality and I just want to kiss all over those sweet cheeks every time I see it!

I also used Shimmerz spritz here too. I spritzed truffle in the upper and lower right corners. I trimmed the background paper to 10 3/4 x 12 to accommodate for the overhang.

Then I spritzed truffle over the chipboard word that I painted with crackle paint. The crackle and the glimmer seems like a contradiction in terms, but works so well here.

Thanks for taking a peek...have a great time creating today!!!

Feeling Blue...

The theme for Week 38 at I heart faces is "Blue". I got a little creative with this challenge...

This is what my little boy blue looks like after being told he was in timeout at the park. That's what not listening gets you! Well, a time out and a crazy camera toting momma who will not only put you in timeout in public, but will take a picture of you and post it to her blog!! bwahahahaha!!

thanks for taking a peek!

My Little Shoebox Plus Hero Arts

I just love it when My Little Shoebox partners with another awesome company! Not only does the DT get to create with MLS's adorable product, we get to show you how wonderfully MLS looks with other products. This month, we used Hero Arts stamps! I need to stamp more...I have a ton that rarely see daylight, but after working with the stamps sets this month, I know I have to pull mine out more.

I used Hero Arts Artistic Windows wooden stamps and Clear Design designer alpha on this card. I stamped the wood grain image onto MLS paper and then cut a tree shape out of it. I stamped the letter U on a piece of MLS paper, cut it out and then adhered to the card.

I used Clear Design designer alpha on this layout. I love the font in this set and the fact that it contains several images like butterflies, flowers, and flourishes.

I used the Houndstooth stamp to create a custom background on this layout.

That's all for now...thanks for taking a peek!!

Vlog Hop Winner...

First off let me thank all of you for your wonderful comments! I'm so glad you liked the video and techniques. Be sure to stop by as I will try to feature shimmerz tips and techniques on a monthly basis.

Now for the winner...


charlene aka scrappygma said...
thanks for the great tips ! I can't wait to try these

Congratulations Charlene!!! Email me your addy and you jar of shimmerz will be on it's way!!

September Photos

Just a few of the pics that I took this month...

My Karate Kid...Donovan started Tae Kwon Do the same week he started Kindergarten and he loves it!

Just before school started, we had a Mommy and Donnie day. The 2 of us hung out at Jeepers and played games, we ate pizza and Rita's and just had fun. Skee ball was his favorite...funny thing is skee ball is my favorite game to play too.

I think we're going to have to make Mommy and Donnie day a before school tradition.

There's some pretty funky stuff going on in my backyard. I rarely go back there, but one day it rained and I decided to take some pictures.

I found this little critter on a tree oozing with sap. Gives me the creeps just looking at it!

The bark of one of my trees is covered in fungi...eeeewwww!

How cool is this? My neighbor's house fit inside a raindrop...

A rose I found in my front yard...

black and white

sepia

poster edge

that's all...