This is a test....

The newest challenge for Candy Shoppe Designs is up!

This was soooo much fun and I'm so happy with the results!

Think of School Days....



Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket, October Afternoon; Tickets: My Mind's Eye, Pinecone Press Papers; Cardstock Alphabet: My Mind's Eye; Alphabet Stickers: Cosmo Cricket; Stickers: October Afternoon; Flowers: K&Co; Acetate: K&Co; Trinket Pin: Maya Road; Mist: Maya Road; Other: Flashcard, burlap flower, pearl, rhinestones, button, embroidery thread

 This is me and my girls, friends for a long time now. I'm so lucky they are still in my life.

I don't have alot of close friends; I go for quality rather than quantity ;)
Love these girls!

So head over to Candy Shoppe Designs to get the recipe for this challenge!

More news...to see the TONS of eye candy created with

Nikki Sivils

Prickley Pear

and

SRM Stickers

Check out Scrapbook News and Review's forum to see all the action!

You would not believe all the tutorials and inspiration there!

Enjoy!

Don't you know.....I'M NO PUSHOVER!

From Stamping with Mo: Crafting and Scrapbooking

Remember this layout?  It's one of my FAVORITES!  Inspiration for the layout was drawn from one of the challenges at All About Me!  So....I can't take all the credit!  And the fabulous Jen over at Challenge U 2 decided to use it as the #8 lift challenge!  How flattering!  Thanks Jen!

If you get a change, head on over and play along!

This layout reminds me of the other day at work.  Remember how I've said that Nursing is one of the professions that put you at risk for assault?  Well....OH YES.....I had to leave a room of a patient YELLING at me out of nowhere standing two feet away, waving her hands and directing all of her frustrations of the day on ME!  I just came in to give some pain medication (had no clue what's happened prior to the time I got in to see her).  I came in sweet as pie (as I always am)...and I tell you...SOME people think I will allow myself to get SH***ED on just because of my smile, my small stature and my kindness.  First of all, you DO NOT start yelling at a Filipino for no reason....we may be classified as Asian (you know, the stereotype of being passive) BUT we have that passionate Spanish blood that can boil and steam!!!!  (And the females are worse than the males....tee hee...as I insert another stereotype...I'm soooo baaaaad.)  NO WAY was I going to allow myself to be a stupid doormat!

Now, I understand that people are frustrated (that I TOTALLY get) but I DO NOT get why someone thinks they can yell in a public place where other people are sick...if not sicker than you and direct their anger at one person that did nothing wrong but be at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Did she do this to the doc????? Noooooooooooo.  Because some patients seem to save all the rudeness for the "little people".  Anyway, this was not just ANY yelling person, this was someone who looked like she was holding herself back from harming me and she made several movements toward me....yeah.  So I told her I wouldn't take the yelling and I was leaving and I did.  But not before she accused me of giving her attitude because I chose to speak up and say I would not stand for someone yelling at me.  I made some attempts to calm her down by saying "I'm sorry you're frustra(BUT SHE CUT ME OFF)" so I told her she didn't have to yell...and I swear...she WENT SUPER CRAZY!  So I left. 

It wasn't even a full moon!!!!  Ugggggghhhhh!  It's days like that when I HATE BEING A NURSE.  Anyway, OBVIOUSLY Miss Rudeness didn't get the memo.....I'm NO EFFING PUSHOVER biooootch!!!!!!

Thanks for letting me vent!  Nurses WILL fight for you and watch out for you to get things done if they can!  I hope today goes better!  Sigh.

Hugs,
Mo

Alone.....

I've been waiting for the first challenge at Scrap That Poetry ALL WEEK! I loved how my page turned out.

The inspiration poem is "If" by Rudyard Kipling. See the entire poem HERE.

As I read the poem, I was reminded of some not-so-great years in college. Most people might look back and enjoy this time. I didn't.

Not all of it was bad...but let's just say, women can be mean and I discovered some enemies I never knew I had.

I will never understand why a person can decide NOT to like someone "just because" but that happened to me. And it happened several times.




Here's the part of the poem I used in my journaling:

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you; But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting; Or, being lied about, don't deal in the lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;


No matter what I did, I felt it would backfire....and things did. If I looked nice, I was talked about. If I dressed down there were whispers. If I talked to a guy friend, I was accused of flirting with someones man. In the end I just gave up and walked away. But I can't say I was the bigger person, because when you hurt...sometimes you hurt back.

So that's the reason for the title. I felt very alone during this time in my life. I gradually changed the people I hung around with and slowly I started to enjoy myself. But in the process I tried to do the right thing, but didn't always succeed. Hate is such a self-destructive thing....and I think it even lead to some self-hate. But I worked through it and realize I wouldn't be the person I am today with all the hurt and pain and the mistakes I made then.

My feelings transferred onto the layout as I created. The hurt, patched by lots of prettiness. I added bling with the torn edges and everything held together with stitching....to create a facade: underneath the pretty papers I layered some Walnut ink over some Kraft card stock to give it a dark feel. I projected strength but inside I was torn and wounded. I masked the hurt with bitterness. I didn't like the person I became. And I was lost for awhile. Other things in my life were leaving scars. Scars of unworthy people I let into my life and bad decisions I had made. I was lost for a long long time.

Here you can see the torn edges and stitching. I love how imperfect this page is. I love the upturned and ripped edges.

Lots of dark colors are blended with red...fire...anger. Parts of the real me are sprinkled throughout the layout...the turquoise, the bling.
But if you look closely, it's not really me.

Here's the title. See the crystals? Think salt on wounds.
Hurt.

Pain.

Screams.

Loss.

ALONE.

And there's my fiery red flower. All by it's lonesome. The key locking away the pain.

The scraps are crumpled and distressed as well.

I love all the texture in this layout. The rips and tears.

Luckily, I climbed up out of that hole I was in. I found myself again. And the sun was shinging. And I was happy. I found Faith again. And I loved myself again. Really loved myself. And I found love too. By then it was 2001 and my life was about to change big time. I was ready for what life had in store for me.

For this layout, I used the September Kit - Gypsy from Simply Obsessed. I loved all the Bo Bunny papers together. The colors are so spicy...and passionate.

This is absolutely my most expressive layout. It's become my favorite one too. Weird huh? It evokes all these feelings and parts of me from a time I don't like to remember...but I love it because of the honesty in it.

THANKS SCRAP THAT POETRY! This was an amazing poem and I can't wait to see the other submissions! Thanks everyone for reading my deep dark secrets! He he!

For a supply listing CLICK HERE.

Have you tried scrapping to poetry? Do you like it?

****I've got some fun in the works....he he. Want a hint? Check out the vote box above! That's right! Cast your vote for the Man of the Week of October 19th! The poll is in the sidebar*****

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I will be busy working till Tuesday afternoon so I will blog visit ya'll Wednesday!!!!

Hugs,

Mo

Geeky High School Photo of Mo!

Here's another layout from ME...your Sketchy Thursday Addict!!!! You have till midnight tonight to send your entry...if you miss it, don't worry, cuz there will be a new one tomorrow! I used my August Kit (Lillybee Designs) from Simply Obsessed. I'm loving their kits! I have yet to break into my September kit! It's got TURQUOISE in it!!!!

I actually finished this layout last Friday but have been sooooo busy getting ready for Isabel's first day of school! Yep, can you believe how late she started?

Ugh! I was soooooo frustrated trying to figure out the bus route she was supposed to take! In the end, I drove around this morning asking all the parents at several bus stops around my house what schools the kids were going to. Can you believe that there were 4 bus stops about a block away from our house in all directions...and not one of them were for her school? And I could see more bus stops even further down the street!

I have NO IDEA how she ended up at the school she's at when all the other kids in the neighborhood are divided between 2 different schools! Oh well, we like the school a lot....except for the fact that we never know what class she's assigned to until a few days prior to school starting. It seems other schools seem to be more informed. Ugh! I hate not knowing things...then scrambling last minute to figure it out! And I hate it more when it's not due to my own procrastinating!

Okay done ranting!

I've been doing a lot of rub-ons lately! I think because I want to break out my liquid pearls!!! It's soooo gratifying when the last thing I do is add the liquid pearls...it's soooo final...so complete! The whole "bloop....bloop...bloop" (yes, I make sound effects) and then the tapping so that the thick liquid flattens out. LOVE IT!

I have concerts too. Yes, I sing while I scrap....and loud too...not so much in the shower....singing while scrapping is my thing!

In the layout, I used one the photos I took Senior Year. And I took a picture with one of my best friends, Allen.

Okay, ready for the close up of the geeky outfit? Aaaaaaah! Look at all those flowers! Ugh...flower print over load!! I don't know what the heck got into me, but I picked this outfit and was sooo excited to wear it! Why couldn't I have picked something cute like my friend Al? She's so purdy in her pretty dress and her curls! I also chose to have bangs....ugh...looks like I've got helmet head! Hey, I was trying something different.....nope, didn't work out too great. Oh well, now I can look back and laugh.

Well, hope you enjoyed the photo! This one had been hidden...for a long.....LONG time. I found it and HAD to scrap it!

Allen, if you're reading this, BOY I MISS THE FUN! I'm so bad at keeping in touch....forgive me!!!! Allen and I were also partners in tennis.....sooooo fun! I will have to scrap some photos of me on the tennis team!!!! Aaaaah! Nostalgia!

Well, I hope to be able to blog once more before the week is done!

Hugs,
Mo

Hey you Guuuuys!

This one's a quick post today!

Layout inspired by prompt on These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things challenge blog....MOVIES. You can scrap your fave movie or movie quote...I did both!

My ALL TIME FAVE MOVIE....THE GOONIES!!!!!!

I thought it was sooooooo cool to treasure hunt as a kid so this movie was exciting! What's cooler, is my kids LOVE IT TOO! When it's on tv, we watch it together and I love that.

I found the photo and map on Flickr and printed it! I stamped the pirate ship and "x marks the spot" with a set called Ahoy Matey by Stampin' Up! (retired). The edges of the layout were distressed with my tool by Making Memories and I also smeared some distressed stickles (antique linen) to get an effect similar to sand....kinda looks like it in person!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week! I'm hoping to get lotsa scrapping in cuz I've got a 5 day stretch off starting Wednesday!!!! Yeeee haaaaawwww!

Supplies: Stampin' Up!, Making Memories, Ranger, and Luxe Designs.

What's YOUR favorite movie?

Can you name what movie this quote is from?

"...I do a great impression of a hot dog..."

Hugs,

Mo

Guilty?

What's your GUILTY PLEASURE?

Here's MINE! It keeps me VERY GUILTY....but PLEASURED??????? Yes! The funny thing is, I had to take some bottles out....cuz they didn't fit in this picture! My taste in fragrances are generally light floral and floral fusions.....I also like sweet-smelling fragrances! My daughter Bel helps me out by wearing a spritz now and then so I can use up my CRAZINESS!!!!

Last week, I was VERY INSPIRED by the prompt over at the Pink Ninja's blog where you are to share your guilty pleasure! These girls are too cute! And, of course, I hopped over to see what's up with my girl Euphoria who is so very talented!


Here's the kicker.....other than that super cute black and gray patterned paper and alphas (black - Thickers; white - October Afternoon) in the layout.....EVERYTHING ELSE I used were parts of my perfume boxes!

NO JOKE! Right now my new favorite fragrance is my Harajuku Lovers perfume - Love (there are different scents)....that's the black and pink box and the other perfume box I used was my Versace - Bright Crystal.

I cut out pieces of my Harajuku Lovers box like the "love" definition and the quote from Gwen Stefani's song called Harajuku Girls: "You got the wicked style, I like the way that you are, I am your biggest fan."

The white cardboard box was taken from the inside of the Versace box. And that GORGEOUS snakeskin pattern (which is embossed and full of texture) is THE TOP OF THAT BOX! I just inked some parts of the cardboard so that the ridges would pop a little more. I've never had more fun making a layout!

That cool black and gray patterned paper is by Tinkering Ink. Its from the Haberdasher collection and this is a double sided paper called Brentwood - Fog. LOVE IT!

There's already a new prompt up this week.....I'll just say.....KICKS! Go check it out!

For those of you that wear perfume....What's YOUR favorite?

THE MOMOSTAMPER BLOGOVERSARY WINNER!

Remember these goodies?????? It's time to announce the winner!!!!!

Below I've copied the comments and numbered them. I gave a second number to each person who also did a blog post. I first went down and numbered them 1 thru 15 then back up the list to give a second number to those who did a blog post as well (for their second entry). I spaced the numbers out so you don't get 2 consecutive numbers (I honestly don't know if it even mattered.....anyone that knows the answer to that, please enlighten me...math and statistics were never my favorite subjects. Ugh!

Here are the numbers:

1) Teena in Toronto said...
Happy blogoversary! May 7, 2009 4:05 PM

2 & 16) Jocelyn said...
I just love the new scrapbooking papers that they have!!!! I have to share a pic with you of my addiction for SU!!!! Happy Blogversary and I adding the information to my Blog!!! Happy Mother's Day! May 8, 2009 11:47 AM

3) Sheila said...
Mo, Happy Blogoversary! Thanks for adding me as a "FRIEND" to your BLOG! Hope you have a "BLESSED DAY!"Sheila :) May 31, 2009 5:44 PM

4) connie said...
I love Stampin' Ups paper. Happy Blogoversary. I don't have a Blog to post on. June 3, 200912:06 PM

5) Diana Fisher said...
Happy blogoversary! Check my blog in a bit, I'll put ya on the sidebar! (If the yellow birds are still in your Etsy shop I may have to go snag them now!) June 4, 2009 12:09 PM

17) Diana Fisher said...
oh, forgot to tell you that Stampin up stamp sets are the best! June 4, 2009 12:13 PM

6) Beate said...
Happy blogoversary! I love my Stampin Up heat gun! June 4, 2009 12:19 PM

7) Heidi said...
Happy blogoversary to you! Happy blogoversary to you! Happy blogoversary to Mo! Happy blogoversary to you!!!! That is awesome!! My favorite SU! product is their background stamps (several of them, can't pick just one!). I love how stinkin' huge they are. I was a SU! demo for a couple years, so I, too, have a TON of retired stamp sets! Maybe I should do a giveaway. Anyhoo, congrats! I'm off to make a post on my blog about this giveaway, too! Ta! June 4, 2009 3:01 PM

18) Heidi said...
OK, done! Chatted and linked you up on my blog http://notbusyenuf.blogspot.com/. Happy blogoversary again!!Heidi June 4, 2009 3:14 PM

8) Greta said...
Very cool! SU has awesome stuff, but I rarely buy any. My favorite product (that I want to get) is the diecut label shape punch...although I don't know what it's really called. The cards are gorgeous!Happy Blogoversary! :) June 4, 2009 4:08 PM

9) thescrapmaster said...
Pick me! Pick me!! LOLRight now, my favorite SU product is Melon Mambo!!! I am loving this new color. I am a pink gal all the way, baby :O) June 4, 2009 6:02 PM

10 & 19) JessiW said...
Mo, beautiful cards...I just put a blog post onto my blog here: http://jessiscorner.blogspot.com/2009/06/giveaway.html

And I have never really bought any Stampin Up products if you can believe that but I am gonna check it out and see what strikes my fancy. I'm goin back over to your Etsy site now to browse. See ya later girlie... June 4, 2009 6:33 PM

11) Stace said...
Happy blogoversary!!! And what an adorable giveaway! :) June 4, 2009 9:27 PM

12) Lizzy said...
Happy Blogversary Maureen! I honestly don't own anything stampin up yet. I'm new to paper crafting and will be placing an order soon. I love the stamp set in the giveaway..good luck to anl! June 5, 2009 1:52 PM

20) Lizzy said...
I also posted this on my blog Maureen.http://dizzylizzyscreations.blogspot.com/ June 5, 2009 2:05 PM

13) in company with sparkles said...
Ooh, right now I love my little corner stamper! I adore rounded corners, so I use it on photos all the time.Congrats on one year! June 6, 2009 1:15 AM

14) Janis said...
Happy Blogoversary! How fun!! June 6, 2009 5:35 PM

21) Janis said...
My favorite Stampin' Up! Product... it's actual the catalog / idea book! I know that sounds kind wierd, but I save all my books and continue to look through them years later!Here's my link to your blogoversary! Happy blogoversary again!!http://pausedreamenjoy.blogspot.com/2009/06/stamping-with-mos-blogoversary.html
June 6, 2009 5:42 PM

15) Ginger's Camo Page said...
Here's my link to your Blogoversary!! Congrats!http://grissomcamopage.blogspot.com/2009_05_31_archive.html#6380466361401892311
June 8, 2009 8:09 AM

22) Ginger's Camo Page said...
My favorite Stampin Up product is their white gel pen - - works better than any other I have found! June 8, 2009 8:10 AM

I used Random.org and used the Integer Generator. I have no idea how to get that page to copy over....but here is what pasted on.....DRUM ROLL......AND THE WINNER IS.............................

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers: 19
Timestamp: 2009-06-11 05:54:06 UTC

Wooohooooo! Looks like JessiW! Girrrrrrl! You won! Email me the addy you want the goods sent to!

Thanks everyone for playing! I've got some more giveaways up my sleeve! I will have to figure a better way of generating these numbers (without paying...haha). If you have any suggestions, please let me know where to go for a number generator that will make me an html code to past the result box to my blog post!

Another Sketch Challenge...Kenner Road

So, a couple of days ago I asked if anyone had any challenge blog I could visit! Wooohooo! I found a few!

I was told about Kenner Road Blog Sketch Challenge. It's still going on. The last day to link up would be June 7th! Um......LOVE THIS PLACE! Thanks Beth for helping me find another place to play! It's also Sam's doing......I now LOVE SKETCHES!

Currently they've got this suuuuuuper cool mini album tutorial/class! I'm dyin'! Check it out guys!!!!!! Oh! Oh! Oh! (hand on my forehead)! I can't wait till tomorrow...but poo I work in the evening! Cough! Cough......just kidding!

I used lots of scrappity scraps! Yay!

I love my Making Memories flowers! These are from my Noteworthy embellishment jar! I know...I keep on using them! It's the turquoise!

This girl cannot stop posing for the camera! Her uncle came over to snap a bunch of photos of us on Halloween...he's such a great uncle. Thanks uncle Nan! *He does photography for the greater Seattle area!* My kids have 4 uncles.....they're all awesome and love to spend time with their niece and nephew!

Quick. Create something and LINK IT UP!

What a HOOT!

Hello hello hello! Okay! So, I'm looking for more challenge blogs! I'm having a hard time creating lately without a focus whether it be a color scheme, sketch, theme, etc...I've had a hard time! So, I went looking and here' s a challenge I found at Scrapbooks & Stuff! This one was a sketch challenge, so click on the link to see the sketch! I got to use more of my owl papers by Adorn It! Yay! Now, I only have scraps left to use! I scrapbooked a day at the park.

Isabel, Gabe and I headed over to the park for a picnic with my brother-in-law and his wife. We had a really fun day hanging out! I'm excited (I think) now that the kids are older...we can go on more fun outings like this.

I never understood the kiddie leash....until my son Gabe came along! Isabel was just MUCH EASIER.....she stayed put! But Mr. Gabe wants to run anywhere and everywhere and especially loves it when I start to run after him! Hopefully he won't need to be tied to mommy for much longer.

Boy do I love owls! I finally got those October Afternoon owl stamps I've been dreaming about...I'll have to figure out what to use them on.....hmmmmm!

He he....look at my Gabe's Flintstone Feet! That's what my hubby Luke and I like to call them! Especially now, he's soooooo skinny and he's got these big fat Flintstone Feet! I'll have to take a photo. Big feet run in the Kao Family....ha ha!

I used this printed cardstock by Adorn It:

And these Cardstock Stickers too!

I would love to hear about any more challenge blogs/inspiration blogs out there! Which is YOUR favorite???????

Fussy Cuts Challenge!

Hello friends!

For you non-VP-in-the-know folks, let me fill you in! I entered the Plum Star Search on Vintage Plum.com! Every week there will be a challenge! Create an account so you can vote and enter the many contests they have!

Sign ups for Plum Star Search have closed, but you can still follow along if you need project ideas! If you're like me, I take so long to decide on things and having challenges posted with a proposal of a certain idea/element really gets me on task and I create so much faster! If you've been following my blog posts, you'll see that I've made AND SHARED TONS of stuff over the last couple months! You too can have a CREATION EXPLOSION!

And to go to Vintage Plum, just click on the cuteriffic blinkie!

Want your own blinkie? CLICK HERE for a code.

To see a list of products used CLICK HERE to go to my "Fussy Cuts" Challenge Entry!

Thanks for visiting today!

Wish me luck!

Meeting Minnie Mouse

Okay, here's yet ANOTHER project I finished during the Vintage Plum Crop which took place over the weekend of May 2nd and 3rd! For this challenge, proposed by Stace, we were supposed to use up our stash (buttons, ink paper, etc)...for the Stash Challenge. CLICK HERE for details on the challenge and to see Stace's awesome LO!

I used this Minnie Mouse poofy sticker I've been saving for scrapbooking our Disneyland Trip in 2006. Isabel was about 3 1/2 and Luke and I thought she would have an awesome time at Disneyland. And, I didn't know it yet, but I had a bun in the oven!!! Yup, no wonder I was eating anything and everything during the trip (I usually eat like a bird). A few months later, my little Gabriel was born!

Too bad my little Belly Bel was looking away! She was all decked out in her Minnie Mouse ears!

I have a BUNCH of patterned chipboard letters but NONE OF THEM matched this layout! But it was an easy fix! I just used some embossing powder in black to color my letters!

If you're not quite sure how to do this, here's some directions:

1) Place your letter, front side down into a Versamark pad. (It helps to use some tweezers to handle your letter.) Make sure the whole letter is coated.

2) Sprinkle some black embossing powder over your letter.

3) Heat set with a heating tool.

4) Press your letter into your Versamark pad again.

5) Sprinkle a second coat of black embossing powder and heat set. Let dry.

I cannot believe how many projects I finished! If you spend a lot of time designing, how bout trying these challenges to speed up the process! I completed 6 PROJECTS IN ONE DAY! Let me tell you, it was soooooooooo relaxing and gratifying! Crop alone or gather up some friends! Either way, you'll have a blast! But.....you might get more done alone....he he!

Now let's talk about Stace! She's one of the Vintage Plum Design Team Members and she's got oodles of talent! Check out her blog:

Pieces of Me:

Random ramblings of a wife, mother and scrapper.