Scrappy Projects

I hope your weekend is off to a good start! I picked up my car from the dealer (it was getting serviced) and I got a manicure. Now I'm at home, catching up on stuff before we head to dinner with our BFF's later tonight. My DH is visiting his sister, Roxana, at the convent where she's been staying since April. So far, she still wants to continue to be a cloistered Carmelite nun.

Here's a close-up look at the bird album I put together for the Scrapbook Designs Beach Retreat. It's called "Love Birds." I used photos of my Godparents, who celebrated 50 beautiful years of marriage. These photos were taken in July when we visited my family in Puerto Rico.

Funny thing is my DH saw the cover and he thought I was making an album about us, so he asked me, "Who are the love birds?" When he found out it wasn't about us, he was like, "Well, aren't we love birds, too?" LOL! Of course we are, honey bunny, but we have albums about us already! He was just being silly... cute, but silly!











And here's a Prima-inspired layout that I also created using my favorite photo of my childhood home in San Sebastian, PR.



That's all I have for now. I have TONS of layouts that I've created, but I haven't photographed them yet. I'm also busy finishing my Puerto Rico album so I'll post pics soon.

Peace and happy scrapping,
Vanessa

Weekend Retreat

This past weekend, I got to scrap and hang out with some amazing women. Damaris hosted Scrapbook Designs' first annual retreat and she went all out. The hotel was fabulous, the food was yummy and the goody bags were awesome! We got so much product, it's amazing! The best part for me was spending some time with my BFF and my closest scrappy friends who are all very special to me. I'm so thankful to have met each and every one of them through this shared passion of ours. I love them to pieces!

Here's Damaris in the Island Room, a beautiful, bright room with water views from every window. Those beach bags were full of goodies, including a Prima kit, for each of us.



And this table had some projects on display for classes and ideas. I made the little bird album as a sample for the retreat... That was such a fun little project!



And look at these cutey patootie aprons personalized with our initials!!! Aren't they adorable? I loved mine :-) We each got one and we got to wear them all weekend long. (Of course, when I walked around the hotel's common areas, I think people thought I was serving something... I even got asked if I was in a cooking class! They obviously don't know me... LOL!)

Strike a pose!




The meals were delicious, too! On Saturday, we all ate together in the veranda overlooking the pool.




And if you used self parking to save on valet costs, you were rewarded with this scenic walk along a picturesque bridge... too bad it rained most of the weekend!



Some of my friends brought along their beautiful families...




And my BFF and I snuck into the "Back Room"... shhhh!



If only I were rich, I would have taken this beautiful little puppy home... Look at the little bow we tied on his head. He was auctioned off that night at a black tie event (turns out the highest bid was $2,000). One day, I will once again own one of these adorable, furry little pups!



The weekend ended way too fast... But I guess all good things must come to an end. I only wish we could have been there all week! (But I think Damaris would kill us all off after 3 or 4 days! LOL! Nah! We were a good group of girls... Weren't we, D?)



I was so sad to say goodbye to my friends, but it was a very productive weekend for me. I created 17 layouts, which is a LOT for me because I am a slow scrapper. Damaris put a lot of heart into this event and we truly appreciated all her efforts! Thank you, my sweet friend. I look forward to next year's retreat!

xoxo,
Vanessa

Lovin' my glimmer mist!

This is a layout I created with my July Cocoa Daisy kit. I LOVE this kit. I think I've made about seven layouts with it so far. :-) This "Friendship" page has these beautiful lace butterflies from the add-on kit, which I sprayed glimmer mist on to turn them from white to bright pink and yellow. I'm very happy with the result...



On a TOTALLY different subject, something just happened and I have to share. My aunt from California called me earlier today while I was at work, so I figured I'd call her back this evening. She called again and left me a message, saying she needed to talk to me. I called her from home and she asked if I was okay. I found it odd, but I told her I have been having a very rough week and that I just about had a nervous breakdown late yesterday (loooong story!). "Why?" I asked. "Because Mami has been telling me to call you and she won't leave me alone until I do. I have this feeling that she thinks something is wrong." Oh my God! I get goose bumps all over again! You see, I've thinking about my Mami a LOT lately, as this week will mark the one-year anniversary of her passing. I miss her so much!!! More than words can ever say. But I know she is with me, and to this day, she's still looking out for me. I love you my sweet, beautiful Mami.

xoxo,
Vanessa

Shuttle launch

Hi my friends!

First of all, I spent a good part of my Sunday morning picking out a new blog banner and background from House of 3... So I now present you my NEW blog, all decked out in a cutey patootey, whimsical, colorful, happy, Sassafras-like design by Rhonna Farrer! I hope you like it! :-)

My DH had a spur-of-the-moment idea and sometimes those are the best! Since I've never seen a shuttle launch before, he decided to take me to Titusville, FL (about 3 and a half hours from Miami) to witness this incredible sight. WOW! Ady and D'Angelo joined us and we made it into a fun ROAD TRIP!!! Ady doesn't do very well on road trips, folks, but what a trooper she was... LOL! We really enjoyed ourselves :-)



We arrived about 30-40 minutes before the launch, and we joined many others on the back lawn of a condominium complex across the bay from the Kennedy Space Center.




What a view! The pics were very difficult to shoot, but just imagine a pitch black sky suddenly lit up by the brightness of this shuttle.




Really awesome stuff. If you've never witnessed this, you have to plan a trip.

Happy Sunday!
Vanessa

Scrapping away...

... the day in my Happy Room... Somehow the tune of Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" comes to mind! LOL!

I haven't been blogging as much as I used to, but I have been scrapping... I've spent a few evenings working on this album for Ady, my BFF. You see, it was supposed to be a birthday present for her back in July, but I wasn't able to finish it last month. Well, I finally gave it to her last week. And of course I snapped a few photos before handing it over...












Yes, I did include a photo of us with our EX-husbands... and I knew exactly what she would say... "I can't believe you put that photo in there..." BUT, I wrote "I know, I know, but if it weren't for these two men, we wouldn't have met." And this is so true. So everything does happen for a reason. :-)

Aside from the album, I have created five layouts with my July Cocoa Daisy kit, and I have a couple more to go, so let me continue and I will share these layouts with you soon. This is such a happy kit! Love the colors and the fun embellies.

Peace and happy scrapping!
Vanessa

Happy Hump Day

I am so glad most of the work week is over now!

Last weekend was quite busy, but oh-so-fun. I scrapbooked, attended a Baptism and luncheon, went scrapbook shopping with my buddy Damaris, went out to dinner and a movie with friends followed by a late-night cafe con leche at La Carreta, walked 6 miles in the HOT Florida summer weather with my hubby, spent time with family, and more!

This coming Saturday, I will be scrapping at Damaris's house during the day. And this is the kit that I am planning on digging into... finally! Isn't she a beauty? It's Cocoa Daisy's July kit. Delish!



Well, I am off to bed now... I'll share some layouts soon :-)

xoxo,
Vanessa

Scrappiness = Happiness

Hi my friends!

Well, all I can say is TGIF!!! I've been dealing with 2010 budgets all week, amongst many other things, and I need a break. So, I've decided to post pics of some of my favorite sneaks from CHA. These are the products that have caught my eye so far...

Although I have NOT been a big fan of Basic Grey's latest lines, I have to say that I really love this Nook & Pantry line!



Then there's Pink Paislee's new lines, Amber Road and Cupid





This is one of my favorites this year! It's called Postcards from Paris from Webster's Pages. Click here to see the entire line. It's fresh and beautiful!



The new Hambly Couture dress forms are awesome, especially the transparency (not pictured).



And here are two Prima stitched papers that I am in love with. One has butterflies, which I can't resist, and the other is bright yellow, my favorite color these days:




And lately I really like what Cosmo Cricket has been putting out there. This is Jolly by Golly (so fun and cute for my Christmas Daily album!):



That's all for now! I'm sure there's lots more, but it's a bit overwhelming. LOL! So, what are your favorite new releases? Any brand or product that has caught your eye lately? Please share!

Peace and happy scrapping,
Vanessa