Blessed and Touched Beyond Measure

I am so sorry I couldn't be with you all (technically) as you hopped today.  I did manage to preview all of the projects and comments on my phone before leaving the hospital.  I am humbled and blessed by the overwhelming support, well-wishes, thoughts and prayers sent my way and to my father and family.  Your love and creativity inspired, touched and cheered my tired spirit.  Many of you have never met me.  Your kindness and encouragement is something I will always remember.  AND... I LOVE the projects!  What an amazingly talented community of women you are!  Thank you for hopping for my fortieth birthday!  I pray the Lord blesses each of you ten-fold for your blessings to me today!

Hugs,

Nicole 

Welcome all to Nicole's FIERCE, FABULOUS AND FORTY Blog Hop. There are so many talented ladies joining the party. The wonderful women in this hop were asked to make anything related to the theme - cards, banners, scrap layouts, posters, bulletin boards, magnets, crafty knick-knacks, bookmarks, home decor and accents and so on and so on .

Now let's get on with the festivities! Here is the complete hopping list just in case you get lost:

1. Nicole: http://crashingcreatively.blogspot.com/

2. Ashley: http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com <---Next stop

3. Lynne: http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/

4. Lynda: http://memoriesintyme.blogspot.com/

5. Susan: http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/ 

6. Gina: http://californiascrappin-gcinderella21.blogspot.com/ 

7. Barbara:  http://barbarab3.blogspot.com/

8. Zenita:  http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com

9. Jearise: http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/

10. Sam: http://scrappingwithpirkie.blogspot.com/

11. Shannon: http://my-o-scrappin.blogspot.com/ 

12. Tami: http://tamboscreations.blogspot.com/

13. Meighen: https://scrappin3rdeeschik.blogspot.com/

14. Lisa Marie: http://craftylam.blogspot.com

Unfortunately I could not post my project as my Dad is very sick in the hospital. I am grateful for all prayers that you can say for his (and our family's) strength during this difficult time. For now, I thank all these wonderful ladies for celebrating with me and now I send you off to Ashley.

The Glamorous Side of Scrapping "Anything But a Card" Blog Hop

Greetings all and welcome to the The Glamorous Side of Scrapping "Anything but a Card" Blog Hop!  We have very talented ladies in this hop, so you don't want to miss a thing! If you came from Jearise's blog then you are on the right track. If you came to my blog straightaway then you may want to start at the beginning with Ashley. Here is the total lineup just in case you get lost:

Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com

Ellen - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com

Misty - http://mbtreasurista.blogspot.com/

Liz - http://decadeofscrap.blogspot.com/

Teresa - http://www.scrappintplace.blogspot.com/

Leslie - http://ScrapOfArtDesigns.blogspot.com

Zenita - http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com

Gina - http://californiascrappin-gcinderella21.blogspot.com/

Nicolette- http://beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

Lynne - http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/

Jearise - http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/

Nicole- http://crashingcreatively.blogspot.com/ <-- YOU ARE HERE

NEXT STOP=>Vicki - http://scrapbookingcreationsbyvicki.blogspot.com/   

Christel - http://onescrappinsista.blogspot.com/

Susan - http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/

Lynda - http://memoriesintyme.blogspot.com/

Lisa - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/

Deb - http://craftytexaswoman.blogspot.com/

For my project, I decided to peruse some of my previous scrapbooks (since I am a true scrapper at heart) and look for something that stuck out as particularly special.  Lo and behold, I found a page I did when I had ALL four of my kids together.  Now that both my adopted-daughter, D, and my oldest son, J, have moved on, it's just the two "little" guys with us now.  

I made this page for Mother's Day in 2008.  I cut the word "LOVE" using the OPPOSITES ATTRACT cart for Cricut.  I then glued microbeads to the word to make it "pop." I also used MINI-MONOGRAMS to cut the scalloped circle. Since I love, love, love flowers, I added those too.  I never get to do a very girly page, so this was as fru-fru as it got.  The puffy letter stickers, swirls, quotes and metal brads and embellishments were all from Michael's and A.C. Moore, and the flowers were purchased in bulk on EBAY.  I am not sure who the paper is from.  

I hope you like my project.  Nothing gives me greater joy than being a mother.   Thanks for visiting!  Be sure to check out ALL of the talented ladies and projects that this hop has to offer! 

A True Romance

Since my Dad was diagnosed with cancer, I seem to have lost my creative mojo.  In case you don't know me personally, my parents are my ultimate superheroes.  They will be married 40 years in May.  My dad is our family rock and spiritual leader.  He has great faith and has raised me to be a strong, God-LOVING, independent wife, mother and bold Latina woman. He has been my biggest fan and my toughest critic.  I love him more than words can express.  My mom IS my best friend (next to my hubby, Joe).

So now, my creative juices are not a-flowin'...BUT, I decided to look back at some old scrapbooks and reminisce about my life (a common down-in-the-dumps-pick-me-up) and found some of these pages that really brought a smile to my face.  This one is of my parents a few Christmas Eves ago.  We always have holidays together.  Christmas Eve is a big one.  We sing, eat, dance, play with the kids, and enjoy just being together.  Here my parents were being especially playful with each other.  It reminds me that there are no Cinderella fairy tales in life.  But there are TRUE ROMANCES.  They have one of those rare soulmate-kind-of-loves.  They truly are remarkable people...This is dedicated to my parents....whom I adore and love....