When I got home I tripped over two boxes that were sitting on my doorstep.  They were from Crate Paper.  Oh my gosh, these products are absolutely beautiful!  You will love them!  The images on the computer just don't do them justice.  Stop in the store and check them out.  You won't be able to walk out of the store without them.  If you don't want to leave your house - order them online and we will be more than happy to ship them to you!  They will be available on our website later on this evening.  www.hip2bsquareonline.com

Just arrived - Making Memories - 5th Avenue - Elizabeth Collection.  As usual, Making Memories put together a fabulous collection of products that will be the perfect backdrop for any project!  Their attention to detail is impeccable!  These are the products that we got in yesterday.  We expect more in a week or so.

More on their way...

We just got a shipment of all kinds of ink pads, paint.  They will all coordinate wonderfully with our new clear stamps, or you can use them by themselves to distress your pages. 

Ink Pads

Ranger Distress Ink Pads

Paints - ideal for stamping, distressing or painting chipboard, brads or other embellishments!

Today we received shipment of clear stamps by Inkadinkado and Autumn Leaves.  Regardless of whether you are a scrapbooker or a stamper, you are going to love these stamps!  I wanted to pull a set out of each style for myself, but I am waiting for our reorder - as they are going fast!  I don't want to be selfish.... ha ha!

New Alphabet Stamps...

Other designs...

Great individual stamps for only $1.25 each....

 For those of you who feel entirely overwhelmed with the idea of scrapbooking every moment and event of your family's life, take a step back and ask yourself this question.  Why do you scrapbook?  Is it to create a timeline and story of the lives of your children?  Is it give yourself a creative outlet?  Is it therapeutic for you to reflect on your life or the lives of your loved ones?  Regardless of the answer, each scrapbook journey is a personal one.  You might even find that your reason for scrapbooking might change from time to time.  When I had more time, I loved scrapping all of the moments of our lives, this is not to say that I ever got "CAUGHT UP".  Today, as life is more hectic and I have less time, I love treating myself with the time to create - and work on my photos.  I don't take less pictures, but I am more selective about those that I work with.  I find myself scrolling through hundreds of photos until I find one that speaks to me.  I use this as my inspiration for my page.  I absolutely  love the whole creative process, and I don't want to let the pressure of what others are doing to take the joy out of it.  So, for those of you who don't want to commit to scrapping every photo, but might want to play with one here and there - I say DO IT!  With this in mind, as I was going through my many photos, I came across and fell in love with this picture of my sister and my oldest daughter.  This was the inspiration for this page.  I am so happy to be able to share it with you.

This layout was created with the products that were included in our March What's Hip Club Kit.  I love this stuff!!!

Here is another page that was done with the contents of our March What's Hip Club Kit.  The great papers from Pink Paislee coordinated perfectly with the other embellishments.  I used my Ranger Distress Ink Pad (Brushed Corduroy) to distress the edges of the paper and some of the embellishments.  It makes the scallop show up better.  This is a great technique if you use papers that are similar in color.  On a more personal note - I absolutely adore this photo of my middle daughter.  She is twelve now, and the personality that shows through in this photo is still a big part of her today.  When I say time goes by quickly - I am not exaggerating - it seems like yesterday when I was looking into the eyes of this little person.  Now she is twelve and becoming so independent.  The good news is that she hasn't outgrown me yet.