Teresa Collins NOEL album

I've been working on my Christmas album using Teresa Collins NOEL collection.  I have to say... this collection is so simple yet elegant.  I love it!  I wanted to create an album of details that I love during the Christmas season and all the prep that goes into it and leading to the BIG day!  I used her album from WELCOME HOME collection.  So here it is.....hope you like it!

I created the Santa Clause silhouette on my Silhouette.  I'm still learning.  I tucked my tags under Santa.

I decided to decorate my wreath with pictures from our recent photo shoot of my whole family with Kim from Super Kimagery Photography.  Love her and her work!  

For the window, I cut out the front cover of the package of Teresa Collins NOEL kit and used Hambly acrylic page and added alcohol ink to make it look like it's snowing. 

I used just the front cover of Teresa Collins NOEL chipboard album for my second page.

This is this years Christmas card.  Photos taken by StoryBox Art Photography.

I had Ella write a letter to Santa Claus on this TC paper from her Travel line.  Inside will house her other letters to Santa from Abby too! 

I created an interactive page and also made a pocket for tags.

 Love me some Starbucks espresso and Ella loves her Soy hot chocolate.  Don't you just love their Holiday cups?  When they start using these you know it's the Christmas season.  

Here's a page with a present that opens up for picture or journaling.  The tag says "Do Not Open Til Xmas"

Love this picture of a reflection of me and Ella on the ornament.

Love this phrase from my Silhouette.  Photo taken by Ella.  Not bad huh?  My young photographer.  Look at that bokeh.  Pretty good.  

Folded this page to create a pocket to house tags and photos.  Also used bling on that small white and red polka dots that came with the NOEL kit.

Here's  a pix of Ella decorating our tree and some ornaments that have been around for years.  Of course, Art has to have his football player ornaments.  

Our sweet and loyal dog that makes us happy especially, Ella.

There it is.  Hope you enjoyed it.  

Merry Christmas everyone.  Be safe.

It's Christmas Eve! Day 24 of Teresa's favorite things and 3 GIVEAWAYS!!

Can't believe it's Christmas Eve.  December flew!  You won't believe Teresa's giveaway on day 24 is.  It's not just one or two it's...... THREE giveaways!  Amazing!  Go on her blog and enter to win.  One of them is her Stampmaker!!  Woohoo!  One other thing.... Teresa Collins has started her own newsletter so come on over and sign up on Teresa Collins designs website to receive her newsletter. http://teresacollinsdesigns.com/sites/tcd.amariotti.com/files/december%20newsletter2010b.pdf

Christmas Season

I looove the CHRISTMAS season.  Once Thanksgiving is over we put up our tree and decorate the house.
I know it's Christmas time when Starbucks has their Holiday red cups.  Yummm.... I love it!  I just get that warm, cozy and joyous feeling.  The excitement of my daughter saying " I LOVE Christmas!!"  So cute!
Another thing we love to do is go ice skating.  Every year our hometown has an ice skating rink at our outdoor mall.  My daughter loves it!  So we take her there and my nieces come along and skate.

Another thing we love to do is hang out in the city(San Francisco) during the Holiday season.  We love to shop and see all the Holiday decor.  We also love to go to Justin Herman Plaza at Union Square to take pictures by the Christmas tree.  Also to ice skate sometimes there.  

Btw, I forgot to mention...these were taken by my point and shoot. I didn't want to lug my big camera around.  

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Day 23 and PUnky Sprouts giveaway

IT's day 23 Can you believe it!!  Today, Teresa is giving away Punky sprouts.  They are an adorable company that has different mini albums of different sizes and media within the albums.  My crazy and sweet friend Suzy West is the designer for PUNKY SPROUTS.  Go and check them out and comment for a chance to win.  1 more day til Christmas....Are YOU ready?

Excited beyond words.

Yesterday, I had to get one more thing from the mall which I had totally forgotten.  I thought I was absolutely done.  I honestly don't like dealing with all that Holiday madness at the mall.  The parking, people getting angry on the roads and the crowded malls.  That's not how I like to Christmas shop.  The parking gods were on my side though.  I got there as crowded as it was on the roads to get to the parking garage then as slow and packed it was.... I quickly found a parking spot!!  Woohoo, Score!!  So i got in returned some merchandise and got what I needed.  Quick and efficient!  I didn't even shop around for myself.  Amazing if I do say so myself.  Stayed focus and not spend any money on myself.  So now, I have to focus on finishing up wrapping all the presents.  Happy Holidays!