Top Dog Guest Designer: Insta-Love Mini Album & Giveaway

Hello friends! I had the opportunity to pair up with Top Dog Dies as a Guest Designer this week. Top Dog Dies is a new online store that offers their own brand of wafer-thin and steel-rule dies, along with dies from brands you already know, including Little B, Lawn Fawn, Taylored Expressions, Savvy Stamps and Cheery Lynn Designs. Top Dog Dies is also the leading U.S. retailer for Tattered Lace, a new line of intricate dies designed by British designer Stephanie Weightman. 

I created this sweet little mini album with the Top Dog's Camera Die and Camera Finishers Set, as well as a cheery little card you can check out on the Top Dog blog. At seven inches across the camera die was perfectly sized to make an album with my Instagram prints. I cut the center out of a four inch doily to mimic the lens, then layered each page with paper, ribbon, wash tape, doilies and tulle to accent the photos. 

Be sure to enter the Top Dog Dies guest designer giveaway by Sunday, August 31 for a chance to win a $50 shopping spree at Top Dog Dies!

Insta-Love Mini Album

The Details

**Be sure to enter the Top Dog Dies guest designer giveaway by Sunday, August 31 for a chance to win a $50 shopping spree at Top Dog Dies!**

Glitz Design Finnley Blog Hop & Giveaway

Welcome to the Glitz "Finnley" Blog Hop! This month we are featuring the fabulous "Finnley" line from Glitz. Lots of soft shapes mixed with geometric goodness make for loads of fun projects.

As always, leave one comment here and one on each of the stops along the blog hop for a chance to win a "Raven" prize pack! The winner will be chosen at random from one of the blogs on the hop and announced on Sunday (12.01.13) on the Glitz Blog.

"Happy Heart" Supplies"

Glitz Design "Finnley" papers: Neon, Floral, Stripe

Glitz Design "Finnley" 6x6 paper pad

Glitz Design "Finnley" Titles & Accents Sticker Sheet

Glitz Design "Finnley" Alphabets & Words Sticker Sheet

Glitz Design "Finnley" Whatnots

Glitz Design "Finnley" Bits & Pieces

Glitz Design "Finnley" Giant Rhinestones

Glitz Design "Wild & Free" washi tape - tiny hearts

other: lace (Martha Stewart), Stazon Ink, oblique pen, Old World Ink 

Don't forget to leave only one comment per blog for a chance to win the Glitz Prize Pack. We will be giving away the "Finnley" collection...both traditional & digital! The winner will be posted on the Glitz Blog Sunday afternoon. Good luck!

Official Blog Hop order:

Amanda DeJong - http://somethingsorta.blogspot.com/
Amanda Resende - http://amandaresendescraps.blogspot.com.br/
Barbara Sokee - http://sokeeb.wordpress.com/
Donna Espiritu - http://www.scrappydonna.blogspot.com/
Emma Poon - http://amazinglyscrapped.wordpress.com/
Fauve Van Maanen - http://www.fauvevanmaanen.blogspot.com/
Jaime Warren - http://jaimewarren.typepad.com/
Jocelyn Olson - http://redballooncards.blogspot.com/
Karine Cazenave - http://karinecazenave.typepad.com/
Kym Tsukamoto - http://busybostyn.blogspot.com/
Laura O'Donnell - http://itsallrosie.blogspot.com/
Lea Lawson - http://leascupcakesandsunshine.blogspot.com/
Lisa Andrews - http://lisaandrews.blogspot.com/
Magda Mizera - http://www.magdamizera.blogspot.com/
Maria Lacuesta - http://analogpaper.blogspot.com/
Marie Ramirez - http://www.absosweetmarie.blogspot.com/
Mary Martinez - http://www.marnels.blogspot.com/
Miki Krueger - http://thecountryteacher.wordpress.com/
Mou Saha - http://collagecollagecollage.blogspot.com/
Nina Ostermann - http://ninasblog-scrapmama.blogspot.com/
Noel Culbertson - http://paperpassionpixels.blogspot.com/
Smitha Katti - http://www.smilingcolors.com/
Stephanie Bryan - http://www.stephaniemakes.blogspot.com/
Tiffany Wheeler - http://iffycreates.blogspot.com/
Glitz Design blog - http://glitzitnow.com/blog/ 

Sunshine in My Soul Blog Hop & Giveaway

Welcome to  Glitz Design June blog hop! This month we are featuring Glitz Design's the "Sunshine in My Soul" line. This versitle set includes sticker sheets, alphabets and of course, fabulous Glitz designs. 

As always, leave one comment here and one on each of the stops along the blog hop for a chance to win a Glitz prize pack of "Sunshine in My Soul" goodies! The winner will be chosen at random from one of the blogs on Sunday (06.30.13), and will be posted on the Glitz Blog. 

"Love" Supplies:

Glitz Designs "Sunshine in My Soul" papers: Suns, Rays, Stripe

Glitz Designs "Sunshine in My Soul" 6x6 paper pad

Glitz Designs "Sunshine in My Soul" Title & Accents Sticker Sheet

Glitz Designs "Sunshine in My Soul" Alphabets & Words Sticker Sheet

Glitz Designs "Yours Truly" Giant Rhinestones

Glitz Designs "Vintage Blue" Trim

Glitz Designs "Uncharted Waters" digital embellishments (anchor brush)

other: heart punch, doily, alphabet, sequins, Photoshop CS4

Don't forget to leave only one comment per blog for a chance to win the Glitz Prize Pack. The winner will be posted on the Glitz Blog Sunday afternoon. Good luck!

Official Blog Hop order:

Jaime Warren - http://jaimewarren.typepad.com/
Karine Cazenave - http://karinecazenave.typepad.com/
Karola Witczak - http://www.karolakraftuje.blogspot.com/
Lea Lawson - http://leascupcakesandsunshine.blogspot.com/
Leicia Forrest - http://www.10-4livingoutloud.typepad.com
Lisa Andrews - http://lisaandrews.blogspot.com/
Magda Mizera - http://www.magdamizera.blogspot.com/
Marie Ramirez - http://www.absosweetmarie.blogspot.com
Mou Saha - http://collagecollagecollage.blogspot.com/
you are here---> Noel Culbertson - http://paperpassionpixels.blogspot.com/ 
Stephanie Bryan - http://www.stephaniemakes.blogspot.com/ Glitz Design Blog - http://glitzitnow.com/blog/

Treasuring Moments

This week for Glitz we worked on projects featuring the men in our lives. This year I've been reflecting on my dad - this first Father's Day without him. I scanned and printed this photo of my dad with my siblings and I taking a ride on his back. It's one of my most fond memories from growing up, playing and laughing together as a family. He really was an amazing dad, who devoted his whole heart each day to his family. I cannot help but think of how thankful I am for every memory, every moment that I had with my dad. So this year I am trying my level best to take hold of each moment, treasuring the memories and counting each blessing. 

Glitz Designs "Color Me Happy" papers: Hearts, Bits & Pieces
Glitz Designs "Uncharted Waters" 8x8 Paper Pad
Glitz Designs "Uncharted Waters" Paper Garland
Glitz Designs "Uncharted Waters" Rubber Stamps
Glitz Designs "Yours Truly" Peek a Boos
Glitz Designs "Cashmere Dame" Washi Tape - blue polka
Glitz Designs "Beautiful Dreamer" Trim
other: sequins, ink, white card stock, sewing machine

Insta-Update

True to the pattern of life in the spring, things are busy around the house with Church, home schooling, enjoying the spring flowers and wondering at the common wonders of life. However, we're also preparing to send Stan out on his ninth Navy deployment in just a few days. We were able to head out of town for a last minute trip to spend a little family time before he heads out for the next six months. 

Since I'm terribly behind on editing the photos from my "big camera" I'll post a litany of Instagram shots from our last couple of weeks.  

I am one lucky girl.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Our first stop on our trip was a few quiet days in Mt. Angel, Oregon. We stayed at the Monastery, visited St. Mary's for Mass and the Mt. Angel Abbey & Seminary.

St. Mary's Parish 
Mt. Angel, OR

Our Lady of the Angels Monastery

Our tour guide and friend, Brother Leonel

Mt. Angel Abbey & Seminary 

I enjoyed paroosing the library at the seminary. It was one of the places my dad had wanted to visit for years. Walking through three stories of books was a flood of thoughts and emotions. I especially enjoyed the several shelves of Chesterton books I found.

The redwood in front of the Monastery.

At the foot of the redwood tree.

Silver Falls

The girlies walking behind the waterfall

On the road again

Beach camping in sunny Southern California

Journaling our trip

Excuse me, I mustache you a question...

Shave it for later.

Chesterton on the beach

Campfire dinners

Castles in the sand

He is pretty amazing

San Juan Capistrano Mission

Lunch in a train car

Home Sweet Home

Came home to our rhodie in full bloom

"THE fact is that purification and austerity are even more necessary for the appreciation of life and laughter than for anything else. To let no bird fly past unnoticed, to spell patiently the stones and weeds, to have the mind a storehouse of sunsets, requires a discipline in pleasure and an education in gratitude." -G.K. Chesterton, Twelve Types