Wanted.....Dead or Alive!

I'm so glad you could join the SNR Card Universe Blog Hop! If you came from (http://www.capturingamomentintime.com/) you are on the right track! If you didn't you may want to hop to (the SNR Card Universe blog hop order: http://snrcardiverse.ning.com/profiles/blogs/welcome-to-our-hop
and start at the beginning).

If link above doesn't work, CLICK HERE for a separate post on my blog which lists the Blog Hop order!

First, I want to wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July!!!!! If you don't celebrate the holiday, then HAPPY DAY and enjoy the fun blog hopping! I'd also like to give a warm thank you to all of our Armed Forces as well as their families who have made MANY sacrifices.

And a special thank you to my father who is featured in the layout below who served over 25 years in the US Navy! Thanks Dad, although there were many tears shed each time you deployed, I'm very thankful for your sacrifices and wouldn't change a thing. I Love You!!!!

My layout BELOW was inspired by the sketch above created by my friend Diana. She has this totally cute blog called Design by Diana and posts a sketch challenge every Thursday on "Sketchy Thursdays"! This layout was actually my submission for her last sketch challenge.

Planning on scrapping some July 4th photos????? Well, this sketch is PERFECT! AND there's actually a NEW one up today! That girl can SKETCH! She also gives a cool prize to the weekly winner! So, come and play with her and maybe you'll win!

Thanks Diana for the inspiration for this page!

Now lemme talk about my layout!

This photo of my son Gabe and my father was taken on my son's Cowboy-themed birthday party. The colors of red, white and blue were perfect to use on this layout. The item on the top left corner is actually one of the paper napkins from the party which I treated with a special spray in order to use on my layout. I'm so glad I kept a few of those napkins! I had this cool red plaid packing tape and used it on the large star. The other stars were heat embossed and the little blue star was stamped. I also stamped the title "Wanted" using the stamp set below:

Image above is copyright Stampin' Up! "Wanted" stamp set. CLICK HERE for details on this set.

Gabe's first birthday in 2007 actually fell on Thanksgiving! So, we threw a huge par-tay! We had wanted posters posted all around the house and everybody wore cowboy outfits! It was the best Thanksgiving ever!

To create the title, I stamped the word Wanted in VersaMark ink, then used a sponge dauber in red chalk and rubbed it lightly on the first half of the word. Then you take a separate sponge dauber and use blue chalk to color in the second half of the word. (Tip: dedicate each dauber to a different color). Stampin' Up! makes an awesome set of chalks called Stampin' Pastels and the quality of these chalks are exceptional! CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE.

Since it's July, Stampin' Up! has a new catalog that just came out! DOWNLOAD CATALOGS FROM MY STAMPIN' UP WEBSITE HERE.

*******WANT A FREE IDEA BOOK? Here's what you need to do. 1) Purchase a minimum of $25 from me through my Stampin' Up! website (before tax and shipping): http://maureenkao.stampinup.net/ AND 2) Subscribe to my newsletter by clicking at the top right hand corner "request my newsletter" on that website (you must not already have a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator). Fulfill both requirements, and I will send you a FREE IDEA BOOK AND CATALOG (shipped separately).*******This special is only available through me, Maureen Esquillo-Kao. This special offer applies through the month of July 2009 ONLY!

Want a chance to win something totally cute?????? How bout this cute chicky baby!

She's got a name!!!! It's Lady Bird! Learn more about her here on my Etsy site (momostamper.etsy.com). Give her a new home by leaving a comment below! Be sure to leave your email address unless it is already linked to your user name or blog so I can contact you. Comments posted by end of day July 5th, will be eligible (1 entry per person). I will announce the winner on July 8th right here! Good luck!

Okay, let's wrap it up! Next on the hop is Tami's blog, A Walk on the Mild Side. You have got to check out all the awesome cards there!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Come back again and say hello! Be a Follower so you won't forget me! He he!