*American Crafts/Scor-Pal Blog Hop*

Hi!
Happy St. Patty's Day!

You are wearing green today...aren't you?
I'm not one for getting pinched, so you better believe I've got mine on!

Welcome welcome to all of you to the American Crafts / Scor-Pal blog hop!

If you're coming here right from Jamie Harper's blog -
you're in the RIGHT place!

For my hop project - I created this layout using all AC goodies and
my new best friend - my scor buddy:

Products used for my layout:

Black Cardstock (71082) - AC Cardstock, Cascade Cardstock (71509) -AC Cardstock,

Cabbage Cardstock (71565) - AC Cardstock, Get Around Paper (35561) -

Amy Tangerine, Is It Any Wonder Paper (35556) - Amy Tangerine, Oh Happy Grey

(35565) - Amy Tangerine, Cafe Iris Paper (35541) - Garden Cafe, Stawberry Eclair

(53225) - Thickers, Knockouts Border Punch Starter Kit Open Scallop (63008) - Punches,

Lovestruck Stamps (59151) - Amy Tangerine, Black (59500) - AC Ink, Taffy (62622) -

Stamp Marker, This to That Glue Runner (61712) - AC Adhesive, Dimensional Dots (61709)

- AC Adhesive

Other:Scor-Pal Scor-Buddy, Silver Zig Pen,

Silhouette with AC Girl Silhouette by Amy Tangerine

"this is what life looks like" phrase by Lori Whitlock

here's some close ups so you can see how I used my Scor Buddy:

I had the best time putting this layout together!! That's my girl on her 21st birthday
this past January. Hard to believe it!

Now for some fun -
I'm doing a little give away. All just for leaving a comment here on my blog!
I'll randomly select my winner on March 23rd & will post on March 24th!
here's what I'm giving to one randomly drawn winner:

(plus I  just *might* throw in a few more AC goodies!)

now, next up on the blog hop is:  Lisa Andrews

If you happen to get lost along the way -

just head right back to the American Crafts blog & you'll find your way!

Thanks & I sure hope you have fun hopping!
Good luck to all of you!

xo,
Leslie

*My Treat!*

I know I know...
I suffer from a serious lack of blogging,
sorry everyone!
Life got in the way for a few days...
When the cute boy comes home from college
for Spring Break - everything STOPS.
Especially since I haven't seen him since early January!

I'm back I'm back - promise!
My blog will be seriously hopping starting Saturday
(you won't want to miss that hop!) and again on Monday (that one either!)
with another fun hop! Details coming very very soon...like, Saturday!

Anyways....
Today I have something fun to share with you.
I made some tiny little goodie bags - I call them "my treat!" {to you!}
they're just a little something I whipped up for Echo Park:

there's a full tutorial on the Echo Park Blog today -
so go check it out!  these little bags are so cute - they're 3.5”x2”x6.75” big.
I found them at Hobby Lobby. Believe it or not, there are some even smaller!
You can also make bigger one - even add ribbon or whatever
you want to your bags to make them yours.

So to see all the supplies & the full tutorial, visit the blog today!

Here's a few close ups:

Don't forget to come back Saturday for a fun fun FUN hop!

Until then - I'm off to think about our little fur-grand-girl as she's at the
vet having"the" surgery - she turned 4 months this week & the vet wanted to wait
until then because she's only 6 lbs.
How precious is SHE! Little Lilly (Pulitzer) Ashe:

See you Saturday...

*She's at the TOP of MY list*

hi friends.
thank you so much for the well wishes!
(and for liking my friendship layout!)

just a super quick update on me...
today I went to follow my ER visit up with my pulmonary doctor.
they didn't like that I was still "wheezing" and coughing.
SOOO more steroids (12 days worth, ew.) & cough medicine.
then continue the breathing treatments until I feel better.
whew...the end is drawing near - I see that well cloud in the horizon.

but - seriously, I'm tired of being sick & tired of talking about being sick
so let's get this blog post on the road & post more interesting stuff -
not sick stuff, ew.

Today I'm sharing an Echo Park expert post I did the other day...

(I promise, I do NOT call myself an expert - that's the name for each one of our DT members.
I still will never ever say..."hi, I'm an expert." because...well, I'm just NOT.)
I do however, hope to inspire anyone that I can...
You can see the FULL post right here:  Echo Park Sketch Inspiration

My assignment was to come up with a sketch -
then create my layout from that sketch. I'll admit. I worked a tad backwards...
here's my sketch:

and here's a couple of close ups of my layout:

and the layout itself:

and here's one more fun thing I have been dying to post about:

(for my FIRST time ever. I had a project in the SB ETC. April mag!)

here's what you'll see:

my cute little tiny flower pot I made for American Crafts!
thank you Scrapbooks ETC...you made my day!

That's it for today!
Back soon. I'm off to put my feet up, breathe in my nebulizer and snooze a tad.
I've got a couple of American Crafts layouts to share with you, so I'll be right back!

*We Were Meant To Be Friends*

first - to my many (3) readers...
I have to apologize for my "stop blog & roll" this past week...
(warning...long post. one that's taken me 3 hours now to write, eek!)

some blasted virus hit me like a time warp & sent me into overload!
I ended up in the ER on Sunday with 2 breathing treatments,
a massive dose of steroids,
& feeling like a barn door, hitched up by an 18 wheeler
took a nose dive, right into my chest.

My diagnosis: the dreaded "BRONCHITIS" again.
(you might remember my post from last year - I suffered for 12 long weeks
of that crap, ugh!)

they also said "acute asthma flare".
so I was sent home with meds for the nebulizer, antibiotics, steroids,
and some special cough syrup.  Today's day 3 of this & I actually feel
a little better! I see the light at the end of the "get well" tunnel.
FINALLY. yuck.

anyways. - enough of that sick stuff -


I want to share something with you today that means alot to me.
I have been meaning to share the pics of when my sweet friend Wendy was here
to visit. I just keep forgetting! While we didn't get as many pics as we were
hoping to (I was soaking up the friendship so much, I just forgot!) -
I cherish
the ones we did get - like the one in the layout you'll see in just a bit.
Even though I can't stand the way I look in the pic - I love how cute she is
and it just represents to me that even though we haven't seen each other in 6 years-
we are the kind of friends that can just pick up right where we left off.
It seemed like to me
that we never had a separation!
It's that kind of friendships that are hard to come by.
I know that, I realize that and I cherish what we have...a true friendship.
Even through ups, downs, ins, outs...we are true friends. I adore you Wen!

and the reason behing my layout....keep reading:

I have a sweet online friend - Courtney Walsh,

who's written an incredible story

that I can't wait to dive into:

It's a story of friendship, of scrapbooks, well - I can't do it justice, just read:

A faded scrapbook reveals secrets that reconnect old friends
in a place called Sweethaven.

Campbell Carter has come to Sweethaven in search of answers about her mother's history.
Just before losing a battle with cancer, Suzanne Carter sent letters to childhood friends from her hometown of Sweethaven, Michigan. Suzanne's three friends -- Lila, Jane, and Meghan -- haven't spoken in years, yet each has pieces of a scrapbook they made together as girls. Suzanne's letters have lured them all back to the idyllic lakeside town, where they meet Campbell and begin to remember what was so special about their long Sweethaven summers. As the scrapbook reveals secrets from the past, old wounds are mended, lives are changed, and friendships are restored -- just as Suzanne intended.
Doesn't it sound divine?
Courtney is one talented lady. I have always admired her work.
Her scrapbooking, her writing,
everything. I'm blessed to call this sweet lady a friend.
I'm blessed to be able to share her book
with you & tell you - YOU HAVE TO GO GET IT!
I'm also blessed to get to be a part of a scrapbook
challenge she has on her blog today.
That's the reason for my layout.
Courtney asked several of her scrapbook friends
(me included? heck yes! I loved being a part!)
It was my pleasure to take part.
When you go to her blog -  you'll notice something funny.
Wendy was also part of the challenge. She created her layout.
We both used the SAME PHOTO. Without even knowing we were going to do that.
See? Friendship at it's best. Finest...

Thank you Courtney, this was truly inspirational, therapeutic & all out fun.
I wish you nothing but HUGE success on your book & all the other books you have in the works.
You're an incredible lady & I love your story!

I hear that Amazon has her book on sale today!
HURRY - go get it now.
I just received mine & can't wait to dive in....

I'll be back in a few days with some more fun news!
I'm off to rest my weary bronchits bones....

til then!
xo.

*Pretty Is As Pretty Does*

long time no blog!
sorry about that!
life got in the way.....in a good way of course!
really - just busy, busy busy!

anyway...
today I want to share a layout & card I made for American Crafts
using my brand new toy...my Silhouette Cameo! I LOVE that thing!
Best invention, best investment & boy am I having the BEST time
playing with it!

This week is Silhouette week at the American Crafts Blog...
here's what I made:

I used the Dear Lizzy doily die cut. I enlarged it

to my entire page (12x12) and went to town with embellishing it.
I'm highlighting our grand"pup" girl I've introduced you to...Lilly!
She's so pretty!

To see the full post & all I used, check out the American Crafts Blog

I also whipped up this card using the Amy Tan camera die:

So fun to do!
Thanks for taking a peek!

I'm off to finish up some assignments I have on my scrap desk
(have I mentioned how much I LOVE MY JOB???)
but before I go...

I haven't had a chance to show you THIS:

I still can't believe it!

That is an album I made for Prima on the COVER!
Talk about making a girls day!!
Thank you again Northridge Media - home of Scrapbook Trends Create!

Have a great day friends...happy Friday!
Back soon!

Be sure to come back Monday for another fun blog hop!!
xo.

*Jubilance to the 2nd power*

remember my word for 2012?
jubilant....("expressing joy")
you better believe I had my "jubilant" hat on when
Courtney asked me if I wanted to be a guest for the
LOVELY Webster's Pages!

It's not only an honor & joy...
it's jubilance - to the 2nd power!


I got to work with 2 GORGEOUS lines!
The new release, Sunday Picnic & Western Romance.
Here's what I did:

Here's the entire post:  Webster's Pages Blog

Check out their Inspire Me page too!
How sweet is the DT, they lifted some of my work

& boy did they do a GORGEOUS job!
I love each and every one of the girls on that team.
Incredible talent! Truly inspirational.

Thank you again, Webster's, for having me!

I LOVE everything you do!

until tomorrow...

xo!

*Ashe - Party of 4 - Prima*

hi friends!
it's monday, monday mooooonnnnddddaaaayyyy.
which means I'm getting my act together and plan to blog
all week long. OR at least I'll try. ♥

So it's the week after CHA
(Craft & Hobby Association show, for those
of you that are asking me..."what is CHA?)
Have you seen all of the new things coming out?
Are you inspired? What's been some of your favorites?
I sure have seen ALOT of lovely products & can't WAIT to get
my hands on them!

I find myself incredibly blessed to be able to design for
a few of the companies at the show. It's a fun/crazy/hectic/exhillarating
time just making lots of things in a time crunch. I know...weird, right?
Creating that way is what inspires me to keep on creating.
Anyway, enough gab - have you seen all of the Prima goodness?
I am sharing an album I created for the show using the Donna Downey
canvas album, along with the brand new Doodle Deaux collection, plus
lots more Prima lovelies:

to see a complete supply list, check out the Prima blog

here's some inside pages:

That was the most fun I've had getting all inky/painty/grungy! I loved playing with

the Ranger mixed mediums! Some things turned out to be an experiment gone

wrong - but the others, I truly adored!

I hope you enjoyed!

Before I head off for the day -

just wanted to share a quick post of something extremely FUN coming to you tomorrow:

can you guess?
Until then---
Have a wonderful Monday!