Blog hoppin' fun

Well, I've been so honored to receive a few different blog awards over the past couple of weeks, but I've been terribly slow about getting them posted here. Life just gets so crazy, doesn't it? But here they are, and I hope you take a few minutes to check out these other bloggers -- there is so much amazing creativity out there!

The first one I received was from my awesome friend Amy. This blog hop asks you to post your first scrapbook page, share what you were feeling at the time, and pass it on to 5 others.



I think this is my first official scrapbook page -- I had gone to a Creative Memories party for my cousin who was starting as a rep with them, so I probably did a page there that has disappeared somewhere, but then I went to Roberts to check things out and totally fell in love with the wall of patterned paper. I had just come back from study abroad in London, so I got a big stack of patterned paper and my big stack of pictures and went to town. I was big on the shaped pictures and cutting out the backgrounds of everything. I did all the lettering by hand (I was so bummed when the title on this pretty silver paper smudged). I think I was mostly feeling excited when I did this -- a whole new world was opening up for me!

Okay, for this one I'd like to nominate:



This second award was from the amazingly talented Diane. If you own a Cricut and you haven't checked out Diane, you reeeeeeeeealllllyyyyy should -- that woman is totally amazing with Design Studio. For this one I need to tell a few things about myself, so hmmmm... trying to think of something you don't all already know. I love music and singing, and I LOVE to sing. I don't get much of an opportunity to do it nowadays, but I sing to my kids all the time and I hope they inherit my love (and talent) for it. I love all kinds of different music, but I really love accoustic folk-sy type rock. I really wish I could dance, but I'm terribly uncoordinated. My hubby is an excellent ballroom dancer and I would LOVE to be able to keep up with him on the floor. Let's see, one more thing... I love to cook and I'm starting to get adventurous with making up my own recipes. I think I've been watching too much Food Network -- the biggest clue was when I heard my 3-year-old yell from another room "3-2-1, time's up! Step away!"



This last award really makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Thanks for including me in your circle of friends, Lisa! I love love love all my scrapbooking friends I've found during the past few years. I've learned so much from each of them -- I know I'd still be stuck in the same-old, same-old rut I'd fallen into, thinking I was alone in the scrapping world, without my wonderful scrapbooking friends. Thanks for everything, y'all!

Okay, I couldn't decide who to nominate for what, because I really wanted to see all these people's first pages AND learn some random things about them AND let them know they are important in my circle of friends, so I thought I would just list some of my most amazing scrapping/blogging friends and let you decide which one you want to pass on. Is that dumb? Oh, well!

Carol -- love the happiness and fun I always feel from your cards and layouts
Sonja -- we've been through lots together and I always feel like you are there for me, for inspiration and for friendship
Jason -- one of the brave, the few, the male scrappers -- I love your unique style!
Brittany-- You are so fun and bright and always make me laugh
Tonya -- I love chatting with you about our girls, and you always make me feel so great about myself! Your cards and projects are always great and get better all the time!
Lori -- girl, what would I do without you? I look forward to every time I get to see you. Your projects always blow me away -- you have such a creative approach to the world and think of things I would never have thought of in a million years.