Scraplifting with us at XOXO

WHAT? It's June 16th!!!! Is it me or is time speeding up?
And you- dear reader- have you checked out True Xoxo and tried to lift one of the pages there? There's a fantastic prize just WAITING to be snatched up!

This page was intended for May but has been moved up to June. Perhaps it inspires you to make one of your own?

Xoxo went through a transition but now we are back. A team of wonderfully diverse pages awaits the adventurous scrapper.

I know my page could use some improvements- like a plain colored background on those photos which currently get lost in the Crate paper stripes.
But I digress!!
Check out the other challenge page s here: Xoxo Design Challenge 19

Someone PLEASE explain how plain water in the bottle is YUCK
but plain water in the bottle cap is ok. As long as she's drinking....

MuChoS SmOoChes!

Michelle

Weddings on the BRAIN!

Ahh June! The scent of flowers in the air and the need to shop for just 1 more pair of shoes- you have a great excuse! You have a wedding to attend! YAY! The media is trying to convince us that the average American thinks marriage is passe. Do NOT fall for it! Marriage for ALL I say!  Where else will you get to dance the Electric Slide with your 90 year old Great Aunt AND your 5 year old nephew????

Dave and I celebrate 3 years this July!

MATERIALS: Echo Park For The Record paper, Scrap FX scrolls, Paper camellias from my wedding stash- bought 300 of those babies and still have a few, K & Co flower and leaf die cuts, Pink Paislee Daily Junque number tag, Prima Hydrangea petals,  EK Success daisy edge punch

I LOVE me a wedding! And so does Paper Issues! For the next couple of weeks you can upload all you wedding projects- go go GO! And don't forget to stop by the Paper Issues shop to pick up some verily well priced bits for the mini books you'll invariably make (or MEAN to make- ya'll know how it is).

Here is a quick detail shot:

This is last year's page- one of my favorite pages ever.

2nd Year anniversary. Our wedding colors- green and white
Materials: Basic Grey basic paper, Prima flowers Ek Success and Fiskars punches
Did you notice Lil' Lola on the edge there? Too cute!

Go on to Paper Issues- you have lots to share I'm sure!!! Who doesn't love a June (or July) wedding???? Congrats To CHERYL and to Leticia (my sister)! Wish I could throw down for mine again- there is nothing more awesome than donning a huge white dress and declaring your love in front of all your friendz and famz! (And then dancing for 5 hours straight)

Letty's dress unveiled!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Michelle

Social Network overload!

I'm expanding my "social networks" to see if I can find a new job- it's amazing how many leads now come from social networking websites. I'm totally overwhelmed- if ya'll have any tips on how to deal with digi info overload please leave a comment- I'm just trying to keep up.
Here's my latest page:

Central Park Zoo
Materials: Martha Stewart polka dot paper, Bazzill cardstock, Studio Calico mists in Sunshine, lemon and Schoolhouse, Making Memories polka puffy alphas, Glitz Design woodgrain alphas, Crate Paper buttons, My Mind's Eye woodgrain paper, K and Co handmade line flower pin, Elle's Studio Love This Moment tag (made into flag), Hearts chipboard used as a mask- thanks Queen Kat!

This was a rare moment of fun with chipboard and spray mists this week. The old mojo is out on vacation big time. I have a few assignments due so I will force them. Usually it helps to work on deadline but right now it just causes me to wig out and give up. I'm feeling lots of pressure from the job search and everything else that's going awry right now- the scrap should be a distraction from all that (but true to form I just make it into another freak out moment). But please PLEASE let me NOT complain! There is always a solution- always personal evolution!

It's sunday! Go forth and picture take!!!

 It's Puerto Rican Day Parade time in NYC! WUEPA!
REPRESENT!
 Boriqua PRIDE! Hola mi gente!

Yellow Balloon, Empire State

MuChOs SmOoChEs!!!
Michelle

Tape Deck challenge

OOOOOOOPS! The time difference is still messing with me! This Punky Challenge was due- thank goodness for my friends at Punky Scraps or this would be late.

U2 Speaks

MATERIALS- GCD Studios paper, Maya Road Mini Tags, SEI heart die cuts,  Girl's Studio tablet alphas, Basic Grey woodgrain alphas, DCWV houndstooth paper (strips),  Studio G mini alpha stamps

Since I got the deadline completely wrong I had 1 hour to execute this page and shoot it. To complicate things my computer has decided that it will no longer use iPhoto. I no longer have easy access to my photos or an easy way to upload shoots I just completed. This page is scanned and since I used micro brads there is some fuzzyness- I think that makes it Punky. ??? Yes please feel free to click your tongue at me.

The Studio G stamps are great but barely legible- here are the songs I'm highlighting: Smile (rare & unreleased track), Elevation, Beautiful Day, Kite and Pride. U2 is awesome but I don't have any photos so I just went ahead with a photoless layout.

Here is the inspiration photo:

Punky Scraps Challenge 19

Here is a detail of a window display I recently stumbled upon- it's made from Light Bright (that fabulous 80's toy) and it's 6 feet tall. Awesome right?

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

When the going gets tough

I've started to write and have deleted this entry 3 times already. My goal to be light and entertaining is failing miserably.  But, YOINKS! This weather! The playground equipment is actually dangerous. We are just as shut in as we were in the winter- that's so WHACK!

I just learned that I did not make the Elle's Studio DT. I am bummed out but when I go through the new line up it's easy to see they were looking for expert level designers already associated with other brands who produced consistently innovative work. I think I'm getting better but consistent is SO not a term I could add to my work- yet. Oh ok... I am consistently trying to get better. :)
Here is my last submitted project:

Fearless Explorer
Materials: Pink Paislee Daily Junque Maps, Sassafras Lass Sweetly Smitten stickers,  Studio Calico swallow stamp, K & Co Amy Butler Mod Alpha stamps (2 bucks at Marshall's!!!) and Elle's Studio journaling tags

For this page I wanted to document that Lola was actually scared of the tunnel at the playground. One day she just decided to try it. I was worried she would fall out but I stood back and took a few shots. This page is to remind myself of 2 things:
1- Kids change and grow so YOU need to change as well.
2- Letting Lola explore on her own without me hovering is best- even if it means a skinned knee. BACK! Helicopter parent, BACK I say!

It is incredibly hard to take a photo of Lola on a sunny day.
She simply REFUSES to look up- not even a balloon helps!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle