that the 2008 Masters are going to be announced! I am so excited to see who the talented 10 are! it's been such a wonderful year, and I know that the 2008 Masters are going to have SO MUCH FUN!

I'm still out at my mother's house in Long Island, and have been staying up too late honing my digital scrapping skills, and reading novels. Always so relaxing. We return home next week, and start homeschooling the week after that--I am getting nervous but excited about the whole journey that lies ahead of us. I really think it's going to be a wonderful treat to teach Luca! Also getting geared up for the next One-in-48 Sketch Challenge Class at nycscraps.com These classes are always so fun and productive, and I hope you'll consider joining us!

So here I sit, out on Long Island visiting my mom (and riding on my neighbour's DSL line to boot). I am out here for the month of August and she has no wireless (it's heartbreaking, really.) I have been doing a ton of digital scrapbooking, which is a switch for me, since I brought no paper supplies with me.

And GASC! What a blast! I got to say hi to some fellow Masters, and also meet my book editor Amy Glander-hi amy!! I also got to reconnect briefly with Katie Hilbert from the magazine--hi Katie!! And my classes were so much fun...and Judy, it's Maya Road that makes those boxes--email me and I will send you one!! My students were kind, open, honest and fun. I am so glad though to be spending a month near the beach--it's so wonderful to simply relax and read books. And maybe not having wireless is a blessing in disguise, since i've read 5 books since arriving last week.....hmmmm.....

I am eagerly awaiting the news of the new Masters for 2008--how exciting is THAT?? 10 brand new designers for the magazine's pages....I have no doubt that whomever they choose, the magazine will continue to rock. I will miss designing as a Master for the magazine though. So many doors have opened for me in the last year, and I am so grateful. So if you happen to be one of the talented 10 who are chosen this year--prepare for a WILD and FUN ride!!!!

I am so excited for the Great American Scrapbooking Convention in Grand Rapids, MI! I will be teaching 3 classes each day, and preparing for them has gotten me all excited about the possibilities for each student! I have never been to Michigan either, so I can't wait to meet some scrapbookers from the region.

I will be teaching a class called Say What? where students will make a mini card book of favorite family member's sayings--we're using some fantastic We R Memory Keepers paper, as well as Maya Road Chipboard Card Boxes which are simply fantastic. I am also teaching a sketch-based class where students will explore their own personal style while making a great, multi photo two-page layout. Finally, I will be teaching a journaling class where students will "dig deep" and find out how to express their voice in their layouts.

Today we're having (another) birthday party for Luca, who turned 5 last week. This party is for all his friends here in New York City, and we'll have it outside at a water park near the Statue of Liberty ferry..it should be a blast! I will post photos later!

So, today is the very last day of class over at my online Computer Techniques for Paper Scrappers class at nycscraps. Lots of energy in the class, lots of students, and I think everyone had fun and learned alot! The brush class in particular seems to have excited a lot of people. Today is also Luca's last day at pre-school, and since we're starting homeschooling next year, it's his last day in a "real" school for quite a while. The school is having a party and lunch where Luca will have a chance to say goodbye to everyone. In truth, he will be visiting next year since Julian is starting in the 2's class. But still, big changes.

Preparing for my classes at GASC in Michigan at the end of July...I hope some of you are coming and I can't wait to meet you!!!

What a weekend! Luca's preschool had a Kooky Karnival fundraiser, which Michael headed (which of course entailed many late night email sessions to nail down who would be running which booth). The water slide was DEFINITELY the biggest hit. Then Sunday I scrapped a bit, and we spent the afternoon enjoying the hot weather....but really, I forgot just how tired hot weather can make a person. I feel like crawling into bed every day at 8 pm....

I hope you enjoy these layouts I created recently for Sweet Pea Scraps kit club! I had the pleasure and privilege of designing their kit for June...total blast.

Last night I was up super late creating some things for HSN; I am not too great at creating home decor items, but am pretty pleased with how stuff is coming out. Unfortunately, Julian has croup and was up from about midnight until 2 am...sigh...Poor guy. My bet is he'll be taking a loooong nap today, and i'll be right there with him.

Trying to get myself organized and am using an online program called backpackit.com--it's WONDERFUL. Seriously, I am getting so totally organized--check it out if you have the time! And getting ready for my next two classes at nycscraps.com If you're interested in online scrap classes, come visit!


Sharing a layout I did recently...

Just finished up my final layout for Sweet Pea Scraps kit club. I was asked to design their June kit for them with my favorite products and yes, it was an easy kit to scrap with hehe...Definitely go over and check out the wonderful work the design team has done....and the goodies I chose for you!!

My husband arrived home today after 8 days in Spain and Portugal for work (rough life, eh?) and I am so happy to have him home. Okay, so I am not as happy as Luca and Julian, who were giddy with excitement and basically knocked him over when he came in. Luca couldn't get to sleep until 10 o'clock!

Finishing up my book which is up for sale over at Amazon.com ....you can pre-order it now!

I have been so priveleged this year to have the honor of working with Memory Makers. So many wonderful opportunities have come my way this year.

Today I spent some more time purging my scrap space. This has to be one of the very best ways to get my creative juices flowing again. There's something about a clean space that just makes me want to mess it all up again and make some layouts! I highly recommend it.

The weather here in NYC has been so fabulous lately, and I've been spending lots of time outdoors with the boys. The sprinklers have been turned on in the parks here, and the boys are having a blast running around in their swimsuits!

I hope the weather is wonderful in your neck of the woods too!

So.....i got my hair cut today. And highlights. For the first time in oh...a year? and let's just say..it's not pretty. I felt like a mushroom head when i stepped out of the salon. Yuck. I was SO looking forward to a cut!! Doesn't it suck when you're looking forward to looking FABULOUS and you come out looking like a puff ball? So anyway, when I got home I jumped in the shower to wash out all the weird gel and spray the stylist smothered my hair in, and it looked moderately better. Moderately. The original intention was to get a cut like Sienna Miller but somehow it ended up more like a really bad Sanjaya cut. Luckily, Luca saved my mood by coming home and pronouncing my hair 'beautiful." And then he said it again about a half hour later:  "Mommy, your hair is soooo beautiful"...see, now why can't men retain that ability to spontaneously compliment?

Tonight we're watching the very last 2 Entourages on the DVD....I totally love this show. You know when you find your perfect bubblegum tv? You know, like it doesn't tax your brain too much, but it's not SO low brow that you're ashamed to admit it? That's Entourage. And it's only 30 minutes, which is even better since I have zero time or stamina these days. And with Michael's pneumonia, he's out cold by 10 pm latest. But these are the last two...so I've sort of been holding out watching them for a couple days, savoring the final moment. On another t.v. note, I am totally bummed that Gina Glocksen  got kicked of American Idol a couple of weeks ago. That was when I really began to get pissed off at Sanjaya. I know, it's only a t.v. show, and it's mildly pathetic that I care. But I liked Gina. And come on. Sanjaya's performance last night was worse than my pneumatic cousin sing Jingle Bells at Christmas.

3 more weeks til the final book deadline!!!!!!! Cranking em out....14 more layouts to go.....I am a MACHINE!!! A MACHINE I TELL YOU!!!!!!!!!

of my blogging......turns out my poor husband has pneumonia--he's been working way too hard, and logging alot of late nights, it was bound to happen. Let's just hope the kids don't get sick.

I am reaching the home stretch of my book submissions....final deadline is at the end of this month, and I've been scrapping like crazy. I want to give a shout out to my fantastic contributors: Severine Di Giacomo, Tracey Odachowski, Amanda Probst, Nichole Pereira, and Celeste Smith. Their wonderful contributions mean so much to me, and I know with their help the book will be a huge success.

I've just begun the April round of One-in-48 over at nycscraps.com....We have about 100 obsessed scrappers joining in the fun this time around, but I have to say, I don't know if anyone can beat our current record of 192 layouts completed in a month!!!! Of course, that's not the point LOL....getting the 15 layouts done is my hope for everyone, and I do believe about 90% of the students meet that goal each month...so GO GIRLS!!

I am off to the Museum of Natural History with the boys today; it's still pretty cold out, so I think an indoor day is the way to go. Speaking of which , what is UP with this freezing weather in May!???

Okay peeps--until later!