hohoho

Merry Christmas? Well, I know it is early for that but... I don’t think I will have time during my AMAZING holiday "back home" to blog or scrap. So I have a little something for you in case you stop by in search of news:

My first freebie, made with love and care ;) download it here
And if you ever use it, PLEASE link me up, I would love to see it :)
Oh, and if you speak portuguese, I made a Portuguese version exclusive to Scrapblog.

Happy Birthday to Lucas

Yesterday my little angel turned one.... gosh, where did the time go? We had a big party on Sunday that I will only be able to share with you in a couple of months, for lack of time now, but here is a double pager I did this weekend:

Journaling
Lucas, it is hard to accept time has slipped by like that. If feels like yesterday I looked into your inquisitive eyes for the first time. I can’t believe we already went through so many milestones and it still amazes me how much the human mind can absorb in such a short time. You are transitioning from baby to little boy, and that reminds me there is so much more to come. But please don’t hurry, don’t grow up too fast. No matter what, I hope to be there every step of the way. Love you always, mommy ~ November 2007

I was going to post this yesterday, but hubby had an accident. He is fine now, he had a fall at pizza hut last night, lucky he had a friend with him. He was taken to hospital and got a couple of stitches at the back of his head. It was a little scary because there was a lot of blood, but, except for a sore neck, all is good now and hopefully he will feel better soon. We are going to try to get a doctor’s appointment tomorrow just to be safe.

Stay tunned, I have a farewell gift coming your way this week.

My SUAS journey

(long post)
I was anonymous contestant number 16010A for the Stand Up and Scrap Contest, here are my beloved pages and credits:


WEEK 1: dreams

I love Australia, but how good would it be if I could live with my family in Brazil? So much would have to change for that to happen though, so, my layout is a little bit utopian, but we were asked to dream BIG :)

Credits
Jackie Eckles – Coffee Stains Brush Set, Inked Swirls, Coastal Kit flower, Tape frame (altered) and Doodly Font.
Michelle Coleman – Painted Heart
Michelle Coleman – Glow - Gold Dust Edge
Amanda Heimann – Backs - Almost White
Sue Cummings – Chalked Frames volume 3
Lisa Whitney - Background paper
Dani Mogstad – The Ultimate Stitches Collection - the 'not so' basic and 'im'perfect circles
Christina Renee – Dirty Notes - Blue
Journaling Font is 1942 Report.

WEEK 2: sweet smiles


I love PP :)

Credits
Lisa Whitney ~ Ultimate Stitches Vol2
Lisa Whitney ~ A Beautiful Mess background paper
Fee Jardine ~ Big adventure alpha
Michelle Coleman ~ Sweet June patterned papers
Font is 1942 report


WEEK 3: must be love


My favorite LO for the competition :)

I made a similar layout with this music before. I got “stuck” with it in my head when I tried to go back to work when Lucas was 5 months old. I couldn’t understand why it was so hard even though he was my second child. This song reflected exactly how I felt when I decided to ask for another year of leave from work it must be love!

Journaling: Selections from “Must be Love” by Madness.

I never thought I'd miss you Half as much as I do And I never thought I'd feel this way The way I feel About you

As soon as I wake up Every night, every day I know that it's you I need To take the blues away

How can it be that we can Say so much without words?

I've got to be near you Every night, every day I couldn't be happy Any other way

It must be love, love, love It must be love, love, love Nothing more, nothing less Love is the best

Credits
Background paper from A Beautiful Mess and stitching by Lisa Whitney.
Background paper, Bookplate Alpha and Alphabits Alpha by Christina Renee.
Alpha from Sk8r Girl and Little words by Dani Mogstad.
Grunge overlay and Paintsrokes by Sue Cummings.
Doodly font and Doodled hearts by Jackie Eckles.
Font: Funky


WEEK 4: peaceful



Credits
Beautiful baby by me.
Transparent pocket by Leora Sanford.
Paper hearts, lace and gold overlay by Michelle Coleman.
Background paper, Alpha, buttons and staples by Lisa Whitney.
Font is Jane Austen.


WEEK 5: brotherly love (made it to the top 10)


{if you can't see the love between those two, then I picked the wrong photo}

Credits
Background paper from "A Beautiful Mess" kit by Lisa Whitney.
Stitching from Ultimate Stitches Vol. 02 by Lisa Whitney.
Doodles from Whimsicality Series No. 02 by Jackie Eckles.
Font is Monteiro Lobato


WEEK 6: think green



Journaling
I am not proud I am one of those lazy ones. One of those that sometimes
spend a little too long in the shower instead of cutting it short to save water
throw the glass container in the normal bin because it is dirty instead of washing and doing the right thing
take the car when I could use public transport and contribute a little less to our huge pollution problem
and other such things that I know I could avoid, but am too lazy to.
My hope for the future is not only to learn to do the right thing, but also to change, to be that other person, that one that not only cares, but does something about it.
Well, at least, that is the plan!

Credits
Background paper and stitching by Lisa Whitney
Doodled star brush by Jackie Eckles.
(I think this is the least amount of digi elements I ever used in my life, but I really wanted to focus on the message)


So, what do you think? I wasn't happy with my "performance" in the contest, no points for my favorite pages... but I like my pages.. yeah, maybe a little pocket album with these? what do you think? :)

one page worth many

the page:




During the "digital scrapbooking day" weekend, I was so busy with chats and trying to keep on the loop that I didn't scrap at all. The girls at the Digichick were having a creative team contest and decided to extend the deadline by 9 hours... 9 hours, just enough for me to include some sleep and time for a layout, and so I did! OMG LUCKY I did!!! They picked me to be the new girl at the Digichick Creative Team. I still don't quite believe it, it kinda feels like.... Imagine someone knocked on your door and you told you won a brand new car.... totally unexpected, you in your PJs, how do you feel?.. yep! that is how I felt! LOL

I am about to go away for a while so really, won't be doing much until next year but that is actually a good, I will get to know the forum and everyone there a bit better :) I am ready for the journey, are you ready for some serious eye candy? hahaha ok.. I'll do my best ;)

Sugar-Plums

All the great designers at The Lilypad put together this wonderful kit along with Meredith Fenwick & Jan Crowley. I just love the work of these ladies!!!

Isn't it just gorgeous? And all the profits from the sale of this kit benefit one of the most wonderful charities around: Toys for Tots. This kit is amazing, can't wait to get my hands on it!

(specially because I missed out on last month's kit and I am sooooooooo sad for that :()

Happy Digital Scrapbooking Day

it is almost 5AM, I have been to 4 chats, collected some cool freebies, got info on a ton of challenges but I don't think I will have any energy to participate in anything tomorrow... next year we celebrate DSD during the Aussie day time mmk? :)

also, an update, 3 weeks to go before: BRAZIL! WOHOOO (so much to do, so little time)

and check this out (for my mom's 50th, an ABC album):

(credits: Shabby Miss Jenn's Flea Market Baskets)

Lastly, if you speak postuguese: temos um desafio relâmpago acontecendo no Scrapblog para comemorar o dia do Scrapbook Digital :)

Overbooked

So, Wednesdays Mateus goes to child-care and I have the whole day for me and Lucas... and housework.... and catching up with e-mails..... checking the many forums I participate in......... reading blogs....... writing posts............ and scrapping? Oh well, I think I planned a little bit too much for Wednesdays. I am the queen of procrastinating, and today I realised how much I “left for Wednesday”. There is no way I could get everything done, so maybe there will be no scrapping today :( oh well, I gave up scrapping for sleep on the weekend, I can survive this time since I am actually getting other things done.

Hubby asked if I wanted to keep the car so I could go out and buy a DVD player for our son (his DVD broke) and I almost had a heart attack. If I kept the car I would have to take Matty to care and buy the time I am back and get everything else done, it is lunchtime. Before I know it is 5 o clock and I have to go pick him up, never accomplishing much on these days, so I was VERY happy when I convinced him Matty could wait till the weekend.

So, I posted in 4 different places today, please go have a look if you have time:
A Tutorial for the Scrapblog (in Portuguese only, sorry)
A Product Spotlight at Dani Mogstad’s team blog – Girl Talk
A Product Spotlight at Traci Reed’s team blog – Hawt Mamas
A page for the SMJ team blog (I am a guest for this month, I think I forgot to mention!)


And before I go, some eye candy that has a story behind, but I didn’t have the guts to record the bad part of it.

(click for credits)
The good part:
Lucas overcame his fear of grass in just under a week, going into the tulip farm one week and this was Floriade on the weekend. Journaling: A week earlier you were screaming you didn’t want to be left on the grass, and now look at you in awe of the flowers. It is a pleasure to witness your wonder and discovery of the world.

The bad part:
Floriade, if you know, is a flower festival we have here in Canberra in September, and obviously people shouldn’t go near the flower beds. Well, as you can see in the picture, I let Lucas crawl up a flower bed….. got so “involved” with admiring him enjoying the flowers and taking pictures I didn’t really think much of it. When I picked him up to look for daddy and his brother, Alex was quite upset, and said he was embarrassed by what I did. So much so the outing was cut short and we went back home right away. So sad. I still feel bad for it. At least the photos were priceless :)

Now I am going to catch up with my forums :) TTFN hehe

The first...

...time published, you'll never forget :)
It is here!!! Scrapbooking Memories, Vol. 09, no. 05. I have no words to describe the excitement, it didn’t sink in until I actually held the magazine and saw the LO with my own eyes…. That is just such a high :) If you live in Australia, go have a peek :)

I have been so busy, and trying to spend more time with the family, so, forgive me for just lurking around and not posting any comments. I will do better :)

Busy creative team girl

There is nothing that makes me happier than getting an invitation to join a Creative Team. It is not only because of the access to the goodies and behind scenes stuff (which I also love), it just makes me happy to know someone likes what I do so much, they want me to do it with their designs. I think it is almost the ultimate compliment (the ultimate compliment is when the family appreciates my pages hehe). So, let me tell you I have been “feeling the love” lately. I had to decline a couple of offers lately (which is driving me bonkers, I can’t let go), but I still have new CTs to talk to you about.

Just after, or almost at the same time I accepted Lili’s invitation to join her CT, LISA WHITNEY invited me to her CT. Here is the official announcement. I have been Lisa’s fan for the longest time, it was a thrill to get into her forum(amazing girls there, including Traci reed, Kate Hadfield, Nancy Comelab and Jen Caputo). I HAVE created new stuff with Lisa’s designs, but I can’t show you. I am participating In the Stand Up and Scrap contest, and for those who don’t know, we are playing anonymously, we have only numbers as our identity, and I can’t wait to share my pages with you hehehe

oscraps
I also failed to let you know that Audrey from oscraps invited me to be part of a team creating layouts for the blog challenges. I am having so much fun with those, you know I LOVE challenges, check out a couple of my layouts for the challenges:

Feliz dia das crianças

In Brasil, it is children's day! Oh, I used to love that, getting presents just like christmas, playing and celebrating the day. I had no plans to celebrate here at all, but a couple of brazilian friends organized something at their place and off we went! The kids had the greates time! Mateus is allergic (to everything) and started sneezing the moment we got there. It seems there is a cat living "outside". Anyway, it didn't keep him from playing and running and screaming and marvelling at everything around him. Here is a little eyecandy with the boys:

Credits: Alpha by Katie and Tiff/ Doodled date tapes by Katie Hadfield/ Messy staples (neutral) by Katie Hadfield/ Background paper by Nancy Comelab/ Paint and WordArt by Sue Cummings/ Chalked Frames Overlays 3 by Sue Cummings.

Catching up...

..........with sleep

I have loooooots of scrapping news... but I just spent time with the family this weekend, now I have loads to catch up on with scrapping and you know I am not one to just come out and say something, I like to “prepare” a post. Well, no time for that today, I need some sleep! Hope to *really* catch up soon :)

The big secret? Designs by Lili

LOL, actually it wasn’t a big secret, but it wasn’t official yet so I kept quiet :) The layout from the previous post, which got everyone curious, was created with Designs by Lili. Lili is a new designer starting at ScrapArtist today :) She invited me and the whole Scrapblog team to be part of her creative team and I have a feeling this will be LOADS of fun. Her stuff is just gorgeous and it will be great to work with my team mates hehehe.

Lili is giving away a kit to anyone that spends 10 dollars or more at her brand new store. I LOVE the kit that she is giving away, that alpha is an absolutely must have ;)

I have a couple of half done layouts, I have been terrible at finishing my layouts lately, I have over 20 in my “unfinished” folder, can you believe? But I managed to finish this one up for today:

Journaling:
I love this expression you have, the sweet look, almost shy. It is my favorite and brings a smile to my face every time I see it. xoxo Mom ~ Jun 07

Credits
Scraplifting one of Elsie’s layouts.
Alpha from "My First Kit" by Lili @ Scrapartist
Painted Papers by Lili @ Scrapartist
Tout Doux circles by Lili @ Scrapartist
Tout Doux buttons by Lili @ Scrapartist
Ribbon Corners by Lili @ Scrapartist
Font is DJB PookieDoo by Darcy Baldwin.

Thanks for stopping by peoples :) Hope you have a great week!

It is all good

Lucas broke a rash just after the fever finally went down. Poor thing was so tired, he slept the whole day on Monday. I started to get worried, I knew it couldn’t be anything serious, but better safe than sorry, right? So I went to the doctor for the third time in a week, ack! Again he just sent me home, nothing to worry, blah blah blah. I think we are done now, no one is allowed to get sick until next year!!! Seriously! Crazy last two months! I am hoping spring doesn’t bring allergies, I am looking forward to being out and about again!

Ok, suuuuper belated celebration layout for Lucas’ tenth month:



Credits: designs from a VERY talented Brazilian designer who will start selling this weekend. I didn’t ask her if I could tell where, so I will keep it secret for now :) but will provide links and lots of enabling very soon!!!

Super quick update

After our little trip to the hospital Lucas still had difficulty breathing for another day, but since then I had medication we didn’t go back to see a doctor. Then Mateus got sick, same thing, same medication. You can imagine I didn’t get much sleep and very little scrapping got done (nevermind housework). On Friday both kids were breathing much better but Lucas spiked a 39.5C temp which Panadol didn’t tame. I suspected an infection, but by Saturday afternoon the doctors' office was closed and we had to go to the hospital again (did I mention I hate hospitals?). Once more the doctor sent us home, this time just with Panadol. He said it is normal for a cold to cause fever and the temperature to stay stable even with medication. I am happy he doesn’t have an infection but frustrated there is nothing I can do... Today we had a busy day with a friend’s daughter’s christening and lunch, let’s say Lucas didn’t like going out being unwell. I am starting to think that, he may have a cold, but this fever was also worsened by teething.... we will see. At least both kids are breathing well now :) Cup half full, cup half full.

Sorry for the pictureless post, I’ll make up to you when my little one is better :)

ETA. I already made it up to you with a slideshow on the side with my latest pages :) forgot to add it to my blog with all the crazyness hehehe but now it is there! Hope you like it :)

Just keep blogging, Just keep blogging, Just keep blogging

[pardon the enormous post]

Oh, wow, has it been that long since I blogged? I mean, when I talked about winning DDE contest it was old news already. Funny is that I only thought about writing this post because I blogged at the Hawt mama’s blog and Girl Talk blog today. It is not a lack of stuff to blog about, but lack of time and willingness to do it :) There is sooooooo much to blog about I don’t even know where to start.

I think, the most important topic of all, talking about my dear Lucas, who is turning 10 months today. Time is just flying with me at home with the kids, I don’t like to imagine how it would have been like if I was working. I normally take pictures and scrap a day like this but, unfortunately, we had to “celebrate” with his first trip to the hospital. He is so sick, poor little fella, and has trouble settling down because a head cold set off a nasty case of bronchitis. I hope he gets better soon and doesn’t follow his brother’s footsteps with a case of asthma.

Onto scrapping news
This cute layout I did for the Lifts with a Twist challenge:

was featured by Susan on the blog, and then picked as Layout of the week of the week at Designer Digitals, which you might know is one of my top top top digiscrapping destinations, I even like to call it home!

I failed to announce I have joined Dúnia’s creative team. Dúnia is another very talented Brazilian designer. Here is the first layout I did with her designs:

and these cute epoxi circles I used in this layout are are also from her:

8 things about me
Ana Calabresi has tagged me to talk about 8 things people don’t know about me... I just had to scrap it, right? LOL

1. Odeio batom, saia e salto alto (I hate lipsticks, skirts and high heels)
2. Eu dou mais valor ao que os outros pensam do que minha própria opnião (I value what other people think more than my own opnion)
3. Adoro jogos de computador, sou viciada e perco a idéia de tempo quando estou jogando(I love computer games, I am addicted and lose track of time when I am playing)
4. Era péssima aluna nas escola primária, mas uma des melhores na faculdade (I was a terrible student at school and one of the best in college)
5. Eu tenho gosto musical muito variado - gosto de Heavy Metal (I have a very ecletic musical taste - enjoy Heavy Metal)
6. Não consigo parar de comer enquanto a comida não acaba (I can't stop eating until it is all finished)
7. Às vezes pago pra ficar em casa do que fazer qualquer coisa na rua (Sometimes I’ll pay to stay at home than do anything outdoors)
8. Sou a rainha dos projetos inacabados (I am the queen of unfinished projects)


Digital Scrapbooking Magazine
and last, but not least, this layout is going to be published at the Feb/March 08 issue of DSM. I am sooooo totally excited about this, but since I can only really see it next year, I will hold boasting about it til then LOL

Summer's End Contest

If I had a big stash of stuff by Gina Cabrera, it just got bigger!!! I won a 50 dollar shopping spree at her Summer's End Contest. Here is the announcement. How cool is that? I was great to finally get some products I loved but could not afford. I noticed I had ALL the mini kits LOL, I was just missing some big kits. Now I just wished I had more hours on the day so I could use it all :)
Ok, I can't leave this post pictureless, so here is my layout again:

Journaling
When I looked at you for the first time as the father of my child, I fell in love again! Michelle, September 2003

Credits
DDE_School_Zone_Mini_Kit_Essential – by Gina Cabrera
DDE_Bare_Essentials_Mini_Kit_Essential – by Gina Cabrera

Songbird Avenue new kit - Faded Saphire

I absolutely love what Songbird Avenue is all about: scrapping for a cause! In August all the proceeds went to the Make a Wish Foundation! Robin Carlton was the Guest Designer in the “Dreamsicle” kit. It was sooooo pretty!!!but it is gonne now! The kits are up for just one month so you HAVE to buy on that month or you will miss out. We can't have that right? :) So I am here to give you a heads up on the September kit: “Faded Sapphire”! Carrie Stephens is the guest Designer and have got an amazing kit:

Janet Phillips has contributed a beautiful 12×12 template which is also included in the kit!

This month they are sponsoring Love Without Boundaries, an amazing charity full of volunteers who spend their free time and their own money to help orphaned children in China receive vital surgeries. Please take a look at their website and hear their amazing stories! They also have a blog and you can stay up to date on the children’s lives and the awesome people who help them.

The kit is only $8 and is available at their store. Also, have a look at their inspiration gallery! Their creative team has created some amazing layouts! Hey, no need to thank me ;)

Happy Father's Day

Alex got three father's day this year, American, Brazilian and Australian... hahahaha
Anyway, even though I did this for him for the first one, and we had a nice lunch for the second one, I thought the third one would be a good excuse to tell him how much I appreciate what he does for the kids :)

I created the layout inspired by this week’s challenge at the hawtest blog there is. The challenge is to write a letter to a loved one, perfect timing right?

Journaling
I wanted to let you know how happy I am to have you as the father of our children. Hopefully you will know by now how much I love you, but I think you don't know how much I appreciate everything you do for the kids, and how proud I am of you. You are the perfect dad. Sure, you don't give them attention all the time; after all, you need to work and some time for yourself too. But you sure make up for the lost time whenever you can. I have never seen such magic between father and son that you have with these kids. You can make them giggle just looking at them. You have this supernatural power of soothing them and putting them to sleep (which I can't). You can be strong when needed but you also melt when they ask the right questions. You take the time to care for them, take them out to have fun, play games, just... make them happy. You have a special bond with them, which will only grow stronger. You are an amazing father. Thank you for always being there for us.
Love you always, the mother of your children, your wife, Michelle

Credits
Traci Reed’s papers, heart, paint, frame, doodle – Faded Tee kit
Amanda Heimann’s ribbon – Bowtied
Ashley Olson’s calendar – All Star kit
Katie Hadfield staples – Messy Staples Neutrals

Challenges!!!

Me and my addiction to challenges, I just love them! It is the best way for me to do stand alone pages, otherwise I only want to do double pages for albums and, although I LOVE my albums, I don’t elaborate so much on the pages, it gets “too much” if I do.

So, today I got a layout picked as the random winner at the Digidare. I love it, and the funny thing is that I also did it for the blog birthday challenges at Catscrap. Here it is:



Now, let me tell you I have LOVED a lot of things from Catscrap for the longest time, I used to visit Birgit’s private blog and I always keep up with what is happening at the store, I was stocked when Joana joined, because she rocks and she is Brazilian ;) BUT I never even registered there. You know why? Because I knew when I did I would start buying like crazy (and I cant afford that LOL) That is what happened with the Lilypad (remember I also won a contest there?). Back to Catscrap, I knew I lost the battle when I saw the challenges on their blog... that was it, I was off to shop and PLAY. I had so much fun! The layouts are completely different from the stuff I normally do, I think, well, it feels that way. I think the creative team there is SOOO amazing!!! Here are the other two layouts I did for their challenges:






Writing this post, I just noticed I neglected to tell you I won a U$50 GC to Christina Renee Designs. OMG OMG OMG right? LOL I was stocked!!!! Remember I did 7 layouts in one week for her challenges?
Well, I didn't win anything for those LOL but later she had a hide and seek challenge that was loads of fun! I created this layout for her challenge AND our August challenge over at the Scrapblog. I love combining challenges ;)

Good thing I participated, I had already spent tons at her store but it is soooooooo good to know if she releases something new I CAN HAVE IT with no guilt LOL

Well, last but not least, here is a layout I did for a challenge at Digital Designs Essentials, owned by Gina Cabrera. I LOVE their stuff! And this was a great excuse to use my stash ;)

Do you like me?

DON’T answer that LOL!!! But if you are enjoying or getting inspired by my layouts jump over to the Sweet Shoppe Blog. They are lifting me this week :) You could win a gift certificate to the store just for playing ;)

50

Mom is turning 50 today, I swear she looks 40 or less, and acts 30 :) I love my mom, wish we lived closer, I miss her. I did the Flea Market Album for her, but it is not finished yet. So, I created this page to celebrate while the album is not ready (cause I wouldnt have it any other way right? gotta scrap :)

Credits
Template by Traci Reed for our blog challenge at Girl Talk.
Dani Mogstad’s Saturday Market kit;
Ultimate Stitch collection - Not so basics and
Ultimate Stitch collection - In*perfect circles.
Font is Jane Austen.

Portuguese: Cinquenta anos que você faz desse planeta um lugar melhor para se viver. Que Deus a mantenha assim, integra, companheira, carinhosa, humilde. Essa pessoa especial que você sempre foi. Te amo muito. Sua filhota, Michelle

English: Fifty years that you make this planet a better place to live. I hope God keeps you humble, righteous, reliable, kind. This special person that you have always been. I love you so much. Your daughter, Michelle

SMJ birthday bash

Check what I have made:Guess what? SMJ is giving it FOR FREE with any purchase at her store which is ON SALE ;) how good is that? AND that is not the only freebie she is giving away (but it is the most important because I made it, you see? LOL)

Anyway, some eye candy from her new kits:

Lilypad

They have a new blog over at the Lilypad and to celebrate they had a challenge. Guess who won a $10GC? I absolutely love the layout I did for the challenge, seriously:

Credits here

CT work and actual family news

Fun news on the scrapping side of life (after all, now, that is what this blog is all about, right? LOL) Most of what I have been doing for SMJ I can’t tell you because it is a secret ;) (products not released yet) but I think you are going to LOVE it :) but on the news I can tell you: I have joined Amanda Heinman’s creative team. I have joined Amanda Heimann’s creative team. Two of my team mates from Scrapblog have joined Amanda’s team as well, Mic and Ana Calabresi, how cool is that? and Amanda herself is on Traci Reed’s creative team with me, and there are lots of other scrappers in the team I really admire, so it is a good group of people I KNOW :) Amanda is so talented; I feel there will be loads of fun ahead :) Here is my first eye candy for her:

(click image for credits and journaling)

So, as you can see, Lucas turned 9 months… 9 months? Now he has officially existed more time outside me, wow! I don’t understand why time is just disappearing like that, is it because I am at home with the kids? It sure feels I have not achieved anything tangible at the end of day, except when I do housework, which doesn’t help either if you think tomorrow there will another loud of laundry to do. Well at the end of the day, I have happy kids, I think that is all that matters, don’t you agree? :)

Layout of the week

My layout "saudade" was chosen Layout of the Week at the Sweet Shoppe Blog, what a nice surprise :) I made this layout to celebrate Father's day(in Brazil) over at Scrapblog and it is very special to me. My sweet grandfather passed away 4 years ago and I miss him so much it feels like I should create a whole album about him! (but I don't think I have enough pics for that!) Here is a closer look at the layout:

Spinning Amy Pearson's Fidgets Spring.

Saudade is a word in Portuguese that is used to describe what we feel when we miss someone.

The translation goes something like this: My grandfather was the love of my life! Truly the person for whom I had the greatest affection. I was the first grandchild, I could feel I also had a special place in his heart. When he got sick and this crazy teenager came to spend the nights with him at the hospital, we truly bonded. I was that little girl again, but this time I was the one caring for him. He taught me to cherish life, to enjoy the moments, the simple things. I feel so blessed to have shared my life with him, and still I miss him so much it hurts. But I know he is watching over me and rejoicing on my happiness and that one day... one day I will see him again.

Journaling: Meu avô era o amor da minha vida! A pessoa por quem eu mais sentia carinho. Eu fui a primeira neta, e sentia que eu também tinha um lugarzinho especial no coração dele. Quando ele ficou doente e eu adolescente doida passava as noites com ele no hospital, parecia que tínhamos voltado aquele relacionamento sincero de quando eu era pequenininha. Mas dessa vez, quem estava cuidando era eu. Ele me ensinou a amar a vida, a curtir cada momento, as coisas simples do dia-a-dia. Eu me sinto abençoada por ter dividido minha vida com ele, mas mesmo assim a saudade dói. Mas eu sei que ele está me vendo lá do céu, e cuidando de mim, e feliz de ver a minha família, os bisnetos, e que um dia... um dia vamos todos nos reunir.

Credits
Dani Mogstad’s Sk8r Girl Alpha.
Dani Mogstad’s Saturday Market kit.
Font is Jane Austen.

County Fair

New kit by Dani :)

My page with it:

Five in a Row

Tagged by the Sweet Shoppe Blog LOL
1. Name one thing you do everyday. Think about food (LOL sad inst it?)
2. Name two things you wish you could learn. I wish I could learn Japanese and I wish I could learn to manage my time better.
3. Name three things that remind you of your childhood. My late grandpa, dogs and swimming.
4. Name four things you love to eat but rarely do. Whooper with cheese, banana split, brigadeiro (brazilian chocolate balls) and pumpkin :)
5. Name five things that make you feel good. My kids' smile, cuddles with hubby, scrapping, napping at odd times, helping people.

PLAY!

I am hosting a new challenge over at the Hawt mama team blog.

Challenge requirements:
Scrap a page with the word PLAY as your title.
Use an alpha on your title.
Have at least one black and white picture.
Use something RED on your page.

and this is what I came up with:
Love it :)

Saturday Market

Saturday Market is a new kit by Dani Mogstad:

Can you tell I am having fun with it? ;)

ScrapHappy!

Did this layout for the DigiDare this week:
I am happy with my scrapping lately, not the pages, the hobby :)
My scrapping life started with Shabby Princess, the second designer I ever bought anything from was Shabby Miss Jenn and then it was Gina Cabrera. You know how hard it is to buy your first kits, you are not sure what you are getting you are not sure what to do with it. With goodies from these ladies I never regreted a single purchase. Thinking back it would have been better if I was disappointed so I would spend soo much LOL!
Anyway, all of this just to let you know I am guest CT for Shabby Miss Jenn this month :) wooooooooohooot :)
Here is some eye candy I already did with some new goodies:Click on layouts for credits :)

Renewed love

I was so scared when I noticed my kids were sick that I almost freaked out. Went to the doctors only to be told: hey, calm down, it is a cold, it is viral, nothing you can do, just ride it out. They have no infection so no antibiotics for them but I should be relieved about that, not upset I can’t give them anything! Guess what? They are doing much better than I anticipated, they are sick, yes, but they are still smiley happy kids with their moments. Today I just really really lived for them, just went from cuddling one to cuddling the other and it was great. Yes, I didn’t get to scrap and there is loads of housework now, but it was well worth it, they are feeling better, and I am feeling better :)
This is a little quickpage from Shabby Miss Jenn. I was going to let you know she was having a CT call but by the time I finished sending her an e-mail she had to close the call, I knew she would be overwhelmed with replies, it is one awesome opportunity :)

Better go get some scraping done, I still need to do this week’s digidare :)

ETA: OMG, did I just read AUGUST!!!!!!!!!???????? Where did half the year go????

Worse than being sick

There is just one thing that can be worse than the week I just had.
One thing worse than a very sore body, feeling cold, having hot flushes, nausea, a crazy headache, terribly sore throat accompanied by a dreadful cough, and an overall feeling that you were hit by a truck......... and that thing is the realisation that your kids got the virus that just kept you wishing to stay in bed for the previous week.
I am not even 100% yet, not even close, just the thought that my little babies are going through a fraction of what I have just been through is VERY upsetting.
I know that, if you are a mom, you will relate to this: I would give anything to change places with them, I would give ANYTHING to be able to suffer through all of that again, so my kids don’t have to..... but alas… I don’t have that power.
Now I just have to put on a brave face, so they won’t see how much I am upset to see them so sick, and hope for the best...

new blog banner

what do you think of it?

I mentioned before I was feeling weird about all the scrapbooking news here since it was supposed to be the family blog. Since I found out my mom and my MIL don’t actually read this, I certainly gave up on the “family blog” idea. However, I am too lazy to try and create another blog so, I will keep using this blog for my scrapbooking news. Just thought a new blog banner might help my “identity crisis” LOL

Anyway, the banner was inspired on this layout I did for the DigiDare:

Click on image for credits

Do you think my new blog banner is too busy? I am such a clutter bug ain’t I? The banner started off as just the title in plain “stamped” alpha, but I could not resist :) opinions welcome :)

Sue Cummings & Mitia Assef

I have joined two new creative teams. Sue Cummings & Mitia Assef.

Mitia Assef is a new brazilian designer that is doing really well, check her blog here (in portuguese). This is my first page for her CT:

Click on image for credits

Sue Cummings is so talented. I love clever and beautiful titles and she sells those ready made for you to just stick on your page and be happy :) She also has lots of pretty paper and brushes, not a kit kinda of girl but with so much gorgeous stuff to offer ;) You can find her designs at Oscraps and visit her blog here. Here is my first page for her CT:

Click on image for credits

I am going to have loads of fun won't I? :)

MVP

New kit by Dani Mogstad! Fun sport themed kit, avalable at the Sweet Shop Designs.

This will be a must for me when the World Cup rolls hehehe. I love the soccer ball themed paper. Here is a page I did just to try it out:

Credits
Dani Mogstad’s Creative
Crops Dani Mogstad’s Creative Crops 2
Dani Mogstad’s MVP kit
Scraplifting Aninha Amorin's Princess Balllerina, sketch by Lutine.