Wanna win a Christmas RAK?

In the spirit of giving this holiday season, I would like to send one of my blog readers this Christmas kit that I put together. The kit includes MANY goodies from manufacturers such as Heidi Swapp, Tim Holtz, 7Gypsies, Making Memories, Elle's Studio, K & Company, Hambly, Every Jot & Tittle and Magistical Memories that can be incorporated into your December Daily Album project or anything your heart desires.

To win, all you have to do is sign up to be a FOLLOWER of my blog (you'll find the prompt on the left side) and leave a comment on this post by Wednesday at 9 PM EST. I will randomly pick a number and draw a winner on Thursday! :-) If you already follow my blog, then just leave a comment.

This week, I will officially start documenting things for my December Daily. I've already started putting it together, but I have lots more pages to complete. Here's a sneak peek!



I am using the Prima fabric album, which I painted with Making Memories cranberry acrylic paint and red velvet Glimmer Mist. This was an idea I got from Amanda (on Ali Edwards' blog). I love snowflakes and I found these chipboard snowflakes in a Stampin' Up kit that were just perfect to use as templates. I also used a holly berry tree that I had in my stash for added detail. I will likely keep the covers pretty simple so they last a long time.

Front and back covers

Inside covers


I am painting the interior canvas pages and using lots of embellies, stamps, etc. throughout. Here's a glimpse at a couple of my painted pages.




I have lots more to come so stay tuned! And please share your Christmas album and/or other holiday creations with me. I'd love to see what you're doing!

Merry wishes and joyful dreams!
Vanessa

Happy Thanksgiving!

I finished my Fall mini album. Here are the photos of my completed cover and interior pages. Now all I need is to add some of the photos I take tomorrow and some journaling and it's complete. As I mentioned in my previous post, I used Cocoa Daisy's November kit, Autumn Glow. It's delish!








I hope you have lots to be thankful for on this holiday! I know I do. Today, I am most thankful for my step dad, who is still being treated for Lymphoma. I am thankful that on Monday his doctor gave him some good news. Despite some bumps in the road and a recent hospital stay, he is responding very well to his treatments. He will continue chemo through December, but after that we hope he will be in remission.

Also, Richard's grandma is doing well after her open-heart surgery. She's so amazing. At 82, she's incredibly strong. In fact, the other night while we visited her, she chased down a roach and threw a sandal at it and knocked it dead - all for me! She knows how terrified I am of roaches! LOL! So sweet. Of course, we all told her she couldn't bend down and run after a roach just days after surgery. I guess her instinct took over and she forgot all about her pain.

Tomorrow, we will be spending the afternoon with my family at my aunt's house to celebrate Thanksgiving (turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet yams, deviled eggs, pie, etc.) and then we will head over to my in-laws' house in the evening for another dinner. Lots of quality time with family, food, fun, more food, family and food. Did I mention all the food? Yikes!

I will be baking two pumpkin pies, one for each house, and bringing the honey ham. Yum!

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends!

P.S. Don't forget! Next week, I will be giving away a RAK so be sure to visit my blog starting Monday!

xoxo,
Vanessa

Give Thanks

As we get closer to Thanksgiving, I'm reflecting on those blessings I am most grateful for: my health, my family and friends, my home, my faith, food on the table, my bed, this hobby, and so much more.

We are truly blessed.

With that in mind, I started this little album and titled it, "Give Thanks." I plan to include a few Thanksgiving photos in it and record those aspects of my life that I am most thankful for right now...



This album is a scraplift of Aida's beautiful version in the Cocoa Daisy Gallery, using the awesome November kit full of fall goodies and rich colors.

I am also working on my December Daily. This is what my scrap room floor and kitchen counter look like right now. I've taken over the house! LOL! Operation December Daily is on!




Have a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. Stay tuned! I am giving away a RAK filled with holiday goodness so you won't want to miss it!

xoxo,
Vanessa

Halloween Mini Album... Finally!

Here it is! (Esther, this is for you.) This is Christine's Halloween Project kit that I purchased with my October Cocoa Daisy kit. I started working on it with Ady and Damaris just before Halloween. I thought that I would have it done in just one day, but boy was I wrong! LOL! It turned out beautiful. I love all the details, but those details are what took me a bit longer than I had anticipated. Totally worth it though :-) I worked on it little by little until it was done. Of course, it didn't help that I ran out of ink (twice!). I went and bought ink for my Kodak printer so I could print my 5x7 photos, and then the next day my little Epson runs out of ink, too. What are the odds that both of my photo printers would run out of ink from one day to the next? Go figure.

Well, I hope you enjoy all the photos. I tried to capture almost all of my pages so you can see it all completed. Now off I go to place it in my basket of completed mini albums. Mission accomplished.
















Have a great weekend!

xoxo,
Vanessa

Flower Power

If you haven't checked out Cocoa Daisy this week, go visit their new website. There are still a bit of details that they are working out, but the new look is awesome.

This past weekend was their Fall Crop and the Design Team hosted challenges and classes. I wanted to participate in the Flower Power Challenge from Aida. I love Aida's work and her layouts always inspire me. The challenge was to use flowers on a 12x12 layout (as many as you like or just a single flower). Well, I LOVE flowers, especially anything from Prima. Here are some layouts I made with the August Cocoa Daisy kit using one or more flowers...


A couple of different felt/fabric flowers


Layered flowers


Chipboard flower


On a separate note, I am trying to finish up my Halloween mini album (almost done!) so look for images of that very soon... After that, I plan to focus on my December Daily album and some Thanksgiving layouts using my NEW November kit from Cocoa Daisy. Yummy!

Hope you're having a great week! I'll be back soon!

xoxo,
Vanessa

Over the Top

My BFF presented me with this award. Thanks for thinking of me! Your blog is Over the Top as well :-) And here's a list of questions that come along with this cool award. I have to answer them with just one word. Here it goes:

Where is your cell phone? Purse
Your hair? Brown
Your mother? Missed
Your father? Gone
Your favorite food? Puerto Rican (pretend it's one word)
Your dream last night? None
Your favorite drink? Coconut (Coco Rico)
Your dream/goal? Baby
What room are you in? Scrappy
Your hobby? Scrapbooking
Your fear? Death
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Mother
Where were you last night? Hospital
Something you aren't? Skinny
Muffins? Corn
Wish list? Vacation
Where did you grow up? Everywhere
Last thing you did? Type
What are you wearing? Pajamas
Your TV? Silent
Your pets? Nope
Friends? Happiness
Your life? Hectic
Your mood? Tired
Missing someone? Forever
Vehicle? Honda
Something you're not wearing? Bra
Your favorite store? Target
Your favorite color? Yellow
When was the last time you laughed? Morning
Last time you cried? Recently
Your best friend? Blessing
One place that I go to over and over? Bedroom
Facebook? Profile
Favorite place to eat? Restaurant

Now I must nominate five people whose blogs are OVER THE TOP: Damaris, Lawren, Lou, Trish and Maritza.

xoxo,
Vanessa

Update

Well, another week in the hospital, but things are looking up! Richard's grandma did experience some complications during surgery and she's been in the Critical Care Unit since Tuesday, but she's MUCH better now. She's talking up a storm and she's finally eating a bit. Her color is good and her sense of humor, too. Most of the tubes (but not all) have come out. We hope she will be transferred to a regular hospital room by tomorrow. My mother-in-law is also doing well.

My step dad is also feeling better. He's staying with my aunt and taking some time off work until he's stronger, but we're taking good care of him and praying that he recovers from this very soon... He's been through so much. The last chemo treatment was postponed for now, but he's seeing his doctor tomorrow morning to find out what's next. I know he has a PET Scan and an EKG still pending. Please keep him in your prayers!!!

Me? Well, aside from spending my days visiting loved ones in the hospital and being very tired, here are a few random thoughts so you can see what I've been up to this past week:

I got to scrapbook yesterday with some awesome ladies: Ady, Damaris, Barbara, Esther, Alma and Ana. I worked on my Cocoa Daisy Halloween album and it's almost finished.



I started printing my photos out tonight when I got home, but my printer ran out of ink! Ugh! I guess I'll try to finish it tomorrow (photos coming soon!) I know Esther is dying to see it completed because Ady, Damaris and I have all been working on this album for a loooong time!

My honey bunny bought me a VERY special gift: VIP tickets to see Bon Jovi in concert in April 2010. Whoohooooooo! I can't wait! I'm so, so excited! :-)



I'm looking forward to starting my 2009 December Daily Album this coming week.



I am using the Prima Fabric Album that Ali used, but I'm incorporating some different techniques and embellies. I hope to have a lot of it done by Dec. 1. Wish me luck!

My sweet friend, Esther, gave me a Stampin' Up gift certificate for my birthday so I ordered a couple of items that I have been wanting. The Scallop Edge punch and instead of the Watercolor Pencils I wanted, I decided to try out the Markers for stamping. Very cool.

I almost forgot! I will be at the Scrapbooks 'n' Stuff Garage Sale next Saturday (I believe it's from 10 am to 4 pm), along with Damaris. If you're in the area, please come by and shop. There will be several ladies there selling almost-new and used items that you can pick up at rock-bottom prices!!! You don't want to miss it.

Well, that's all for now... Have a great week!

xoxo,
Vanessa

Happy (Belated) Halloween!

I've been meaning to post for a few days now... BUT it's been a bit hectic. My step dad, Jorge, has been in the hospital all week. Thankfully, he was just sent home and he's staying with my aunt for a few days. His white blood cells were critically low and, initially, he was running a fever of 105 so he ended up in the ER. His oncologist believes these have been side effects of the chemo treatments, and he has just one more to go! Also, they had surgically inserted a port into his chest so that he could receive the chemo through there, but it got clogged and he was scheduled to get it taken out. It turns out that it may have become infected, but yet they couldn't cut him and take it out due to his very low blood cell count. This turned into a waiting game until it finally was removed late Thursday. I'm so glad he's better now... He's resting and taking some time off from work. We just want him healthy and strong! I love him very much and I'm praying for a speedy recovery.

This week, my mother-in-law is going in for a medical procedure that will determine if she'll need surgery on her heart. And my grandma-in-law will be getting open-heart surgery on Tuesday! She's strong, but she's 82 so we are praying that she gets through this quickly and with no complications. She's an angel and I really believe that she'll be just fine... Please keep our loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

Now on to a much lighter subject...

I hope you all had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN! How was it? What did you do? Richard and I went to Ady and Jorge's house for a party and we had lots of fun with the kids. Did I mention that my hubby is "one of the kids?" LOL!

I dressed up as... a butterfly!


And Richard was... the Grim Reaper!




D'Angelo and Elijah as the Men in Black


Damaris, Me and Ady - notice how my friends' sexy boobies make me look like I have a hot bod! I look like a Coca-Cola bottle! LOL! We got a good laugh out of that!


We went Trick or Treating and Richard scared some of the kids, especially Lil Miss Butterfly here...


I had no antennas for my costume and what's a butterfly to do with no antennas? My honey came to the rescue! He made me these awesome antennas and attached them to a headband and voila! I just love him!


And yes, he also put those black dots on my face because, after all, I was an insect! Though I don't think people got it! LOL!


Ady's beautifully decorated dining room table...



Good friends, good laughs, good food, good times! Hope you all had a great night, too.

I'm off to exercise and visit family...

xoxo,
Vanessa