New Business Venture

Looking at my last blog post - wow - it has been nearly a MONTH since I have posted! Well, I must say - alot has been going on - but the latest bit of news is that I have decided to join up with a new home-based business! Oh, I am still doing massage - and making cards - and scrapbooking - even applied for a guest design team position - creating this LO of my step-son and his girlfriend, but wasn't chosen :( - at least not THIS time around! So, still working my hands (and fingers) to the bone - but heard about this NEW company - checked out the product and decided it was a GOOD thing.
So, what is this company you ask? It is called REVVNRG. So WHAT is the product? It is an energy drink - Now wait - before you close your browser - let me tell you a little about what I know - it is NOT like Monster or Red Bull or any of the other energy drinks on the market! This product is made from ingredients found in the Brazilian Rainforest - so it is GOOD for you - honestly. Such ingredients as Acai berry, Yerba Mate, Cupuacu, Fucoxanthin, green tea, cha de bugre and B vitamins - check them out on your own - then visit my new retail store to order your box of RevvNRG, or better yet - consider joining my team.

Thanks for visitig the spa today - where I hope you have found renewed NRG!!
~*~Paula*~*

I have been Chosen - Twice!!

On Tuesday I posted a new LO that I had done for the YMBD 92 days of summer contest. It is the last LO for the contest and I used a quick album page from the Scrappers Guide. The Quick album pages were created by one of the design team members (jwhite) and the kit was created by Gina Miller. I love designing pages, but sometimes I use the quick album templates as they are fun and give me ideas for creating pages of my own as well.
Anyway, Heather over on the YMBD forum chose this LO (scroll down to the previous post) as her gallery find for this month. What an honor - and if that isn't enough - I also won the early bird prize for completing and posting weeks 9-12 by the deadline date. Here is a picture of the goodies that are coming my way!


How cool is that? Here is a description of what is in the package:

Five glossy page inspiration and how-to books
•"Out of the Album" (scrapbook and paper projects)
•"Big Bad Brads" (scrapbooks, cards & papercrafts)
•"Ribbon & Trim" (projects for home and scrapbooking)
•"Clear Albums for Scrapping"
•"Classy & Clear" (cards, invitations, thank you notes)

Plus you get 3 CD's for digital scrapbooking:
•Digital Delights (180+ images)
•Digi Templates (240+ images)
•Digi-Elegance (9 Digital Kits includes 357+ images)

I am really looking forward to receiving this entire package - I love how-to books and anything that gives inspiration. I also am very curious about the digital stuff! Wow -

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my excitement!
*~*Paula*~*

A New Contest

The last couple of weeks have been busy - catching up on the Layouts for the 92 days of summer - AND completing ALL 13 layouts!! That was certainly a contest that challenged me every week. The last layout is one of my favorites. I used the newest Scrappers Guide Premier kit for my layout - utlizing one of the quick album layouts. Annie and Sam (along with his girlfriend) came down for a visit. It was a wonderful BUSY time spent with them going all over San Diego and revisiting places I had been too many times during my college years at SDSU. I had to work a couple of the days they were here, but Larry was off, so he took them up to Hollywood one of those days.
Now I am on to the next challenge from the YMBD girls - and it is something that I LOVE to do - MAKE CARDS!! Not only that - it is a Christmas Card challenge too - so the whole month of September there is a challenge everyday - yeah I know - I am 8 days late on this one - and haven't even begun any of the challenges - but those Christmas cards that you always say you are going to make to send - and then never do - well, now is your chance to make a go of it. AND, if you don't need/use that many - why not send them to CFH - as our troops will certainly use them!!
I am going to catch up on the challenges - they are simple ones - and then post them later on -
Thanks for stopping by just to check on me and see if I am still alive and kicking - I am!!
Enjoy your day and come back soon to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the spa.
*~*Paula*~*

Busy couple of weeks

My Step-kids are here and it has been a busy couple of weeks - getting the kids back in school and visiting and wandering all over the place - will be back with some new cards from the 365 card blog next week - and some more digital scrapbook pages for the last of the 92 days of summer.
Thanks for stopping in -

*~*Paula*~*

Just 'Toile-ing' Away!!

When I opened up the 365 card blog window yesterday (Day 168) and saw that the challenge was to create a card with Toile - I thought OH NO!! I don't have any stamps that are like that - I remember SU used to have a bg stamp several years ago that was either called Toile - or something like that - anyway - I went online - along with many of the other card makers doing this challenge and found ideas for toile - but just didn't have time to run with it. So, like most others, I chose a 'fabric' pattern that I saw and printed it out. I went back through some of the old sketches that we have had on the blog and chose to modify the sketch from Day 15 - the bg is busy enough - so it really didn't need much more - I added the rhinestones and the ribbon along with the sentiment and there you have it - my 'toile-d' card!!
WHAT will they come up with next? Oh, yes - Sunday is ALWAYS sketch challenge day - so that should be an 'easy' one!!
Thanks for coming into the spa and resting awhile.
*~*Paula*~*

'Gift' Card - Catching up

I am once again catching up on the 365 card blog - with just a couple hours to go to the extended deadline!! Thank You PAM!! On Day 167 we were to create a card that looks like a gift. Well, since my middle daughter just had her birthday - while she was gone to an encampment - I decided to make a card for her - now whether I give it to her or not is a different story! :) Sometimes when I wrap gifts, I like to make the ribbon go around opposite corners. So I did this on my card. I usually then place the flower (bows) on top of one end, but here I decided to do the flowers separate. I actually CUT one of my primas (the green ones) to make leaves - an idea I got from my friend Gloria. I even cut the petal that is layered underneath the top flower - could use that somewhere I am sure! I then used one of my cb die cuts for the tag which has a little flower cut out in one corner - I used that to tie the tag onto my 'gift' card. I tore the one edge to give the idea of tearing open a gift! :) Oh, and the button must have fallen off another card, so I decided to use it - however, I wanted to use the backside, and that side still had a glue dot on it - so I sprinkled on some glitter! Hope you like it!!
Thanks for stopping by the spa today - have a wonderful day!
*~*Paula*~*

A Card Recipe

Are you participating in the Cards For Hero Blog Hop? If so, WELCOME - if you have come here some 'other' way - then why not hop along with the rest of us. You will be inspired to get your holiday cards started and you will also be inspired to share your talents with those who are fighting for our freedoms.
Now, onto my card - this was posted a couple of days ago for the 365 card blog challenges, but since I made a holiday card - I figured it was fitting for the blog hop. Here we go:
You have 'heard' me talk about how much I like sketch challenges, and color challenges - but the NEXT best thing is a RECIPE!! When you put all those together - well - it would be an easy project, right?
On Day Day 166 on the 365 card blog the challenge was to use this recipe. I decided I was a bit tired of using white as my base, so I pulled out a sheet of black and got busy. I looked through my stash of patterned papers first - and decided it has been awhile since I have done a Christmas Card and it IS getting closer to that time of year. The deadline is coming up fast for holiday cards to be sent to our troops overseas. I send my cards to Cards For Heroes and November 1st is the deadline to get holiday cards to them so they can get them to the troops.
Now on my card, I used glimmer mist and since the recipe called for using glitter, I used a glue dot in the center of my flowers and sprinkled the glitter there. Now this card may not make it into the hands of our troops because glitter is NOT a good thing. It can get on their uniforms and make them visible to the opposing forces with the night vision goggles, so I seldom use glitter anymore for that reason. As you begin to create for the holidays, I want to encourage you to get involved with CFH. My best friend has a son-in-law that is deployed. He recieved a big box of cards from CFH that he shared with his buddies. However, the really cool thing was hearing back from my friend that she received a card from him that was a CFH card and it meant A LOT to her - and it does to the troops as well!!
Thanks for stopping by today - I hope that you have been inspired to begin your holiday cards and to share them not only with family near and far - but with those you may never know - but who fight for the freedoms we so enjoy everyday.
Now I am going to offer you all a challenge of my own - I am going to challenge you to make at least FIVE cards to send to CFH - now the catch is that they have to be HOLIDAY cards - so go make your cards and come back here and let me know by sending me a link to your five cards. I will choose one of you to receive a CFH stamp that can be used on the back of your cards when you send them off to CFH. Oh, and I may throw in a couple other little goodies too - you just never know! :)
Now, off you go - but before you go get creative - continue to hop along (you might want to bookmark me so you can find your way back) and I am sure you will find LOTS of inspiration as you visit the blogs along the way. - Cyndi has an incredible computer generated card that will just take your breath away, and maybe even bring a little tear to your eye - I know it did for me!
*~*Paula*~*

STARS!!!

On Day 165 the challenge on the 365 card blog was to use stars as the dominate shape on our card. Well, I didn't get a chance to make my card yesterday as we had a wonderful event to attend - but it involved STARS!! (Of a different sort) - but first my card! I was going to cut out star shapes on my cricut, but then remembered this long-standing set from SU called stars and swirls. It was perfect for my card. I stamped the images in brilliant blue and real red. Then I went looking for patterned paper and came across my Bazzill Basics Dotted Swiss paper and my never used before Vintage Collection 'Flower Power' Core'dinations cardstock. I also pulled out another 'never used before' cb folder - the one with the stars - it is new - and embossed on the core'dinations cs. It was quite a simple card, but I decided it needed just a bit more embellishment - so I went in search of these flowers - I took my glimmer mist and sprayed the bottom flower - which was gold to start - with Glacier - WOW, I was impressed with the color - it comes out a very pretty shimmery gold. Then I added the star in the middle of the flowers - and my card is complete.
Now, back to the OTHER stars!! We got tickets (they are free online) to go watch America's Got Talent - LIVE in Los Angeles. It was WAY Cool!!! We were in the balcony - but honestly, it is REALLY not that far from the stage. The Cameras make the studio seem MUCH larger than what it really is - you 'think' all those people are in the 'nose-bleed' section - but honestly we were not! They passed out autographed photos of David Hasselhoff and we ended up with THREE of them - each of them are individually signed (not photocopy signed) - we compared the signatures!! ~giggle~ My girls are at a week long event, so they were unable to go with us and they don't even KNOW we went, so when we see them on Saturday they are going to be so - hmmmmm - jealous??
Anyway, I know I divert from the normal relaxing atmosphere of the paper spa - but just HAD to share!!
*~*Paula*~*

Colorful Colors

The next best thing to a Sketch challenge is a Color challenge!! Put those two together, and your card is nearly complete!! Today on Day 164 of the 365 card blog - the challenge was to use these five colors: red, yellow, purple, orange-ish, and blue. Well, I have been holding onto SC220 for quite some time, waiting for the right moment to use it - and today was perfect!! I didn't think that the orange-ish color was really a bright orange or even a muted one, so I used more of a gold-ish orange color for my card. Now the theme this week is all about glitter - well, I don't mind using glitter, but because the majority of my cards go to Cards For Heroes, I don't put glitter on the cards. The reason is this - the glitter can flake off and get on the troops uniforms and then they can be spotted by the opposing forces with the night vision goggles - so I choose not to use glitter.
Anyway, I decided to use these UGLY flowers - I mean, come on - have you seen flowers that look like these in nature? I figured this challenge was perfect for trying to use them up. I added the brads to the center and then popped them off the card. The sentiment is another one from the kid sayings that I got on sale at Michael's.
Thanks for stopping by and taking a rest - have a wonderful day.
*~*Paula*~*

It's a MASK!!

How long has it been since you played with masks? Not the kind you used as a kid, that covered your eyes and you were sure that no adult would be able to guess who you were - how silly!! No, I am talking about masks that help you to create dimension on your cards? Where you can layer 'flat'! Well, when the challenge for Day 163 popped up on the 365 card blog I was thrilled. JUST a few days earlier I had been thinking about masking and using these stamps. I saw them when I was looking for another stamp for another project and thought, hmmm I don't think we have had a masking challenge on the blog - well, Pam must have read my mind as that is what the challenge was - to use a mask. These stamps are from Art Impression and I got them SEVERAL years ago when the front/back stamps were popular. Of course, I got in on that at the tail end, so could only find this cute little rabbit. I really wanted the boy and girl sets as they were just plain adorable. Anyway, I stamped the rabbit front and then masked him and stamped the fence. I then fussy cut him out and then stamped his back, masked and stamped the fence again. I missed a little on the back - that is where my stamp positioner might have been handy, but I don't like using it. I added the soft sky cs to give the impression that he was outside looking over the fence and then stamped my sentiment. Now this little rabbit could be saying alot of different things - but I chose this sentiment. I decided to add a bit of glitter to the letters and my rabbit since it IS Art Glitter week on the 365 card blog.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing my little rabbit today - and hope your visit in the spa was a relaxing one. Come again soon.
*~*Paula*~*