Okay…. that will seriously go down in history as the world’s longest Blog Title. HEE! HEE!!! Some Pink Paislee love here on this layout I did last night at Scrappin’ Divas… my local scrap store! I was finally able to get to a crop and had a lot of fun! Thanks to my sweet hubby who was happy to watch all six kiddos while I went and met some new scrappy friends! The ladies I met there were super sweet and we even exchanged blog addy’s. If you’re reading this…. HI MARY & ELIZABETH!!! It was so fun to meet ya and I look forward to it again soon!
Hip-Hip Hooray! It’s your Birthday! This is my card for this week’s sketch over at Triple the Sketch. There’s always some awesome inspiration going on over there and I think Patter even has a special sketch in the works to celebrate CHA next week! One of these years I hope to attend one of those shows but until then I am happy just having some of my designs being displayed there! This is just a fun one I made playing around with the Making Memories “Animal Crackers” line.
Alrighty…. so I wanted to get out of the house like crazy yesterday and our weather has been on the fritz for weeks. Some days it’s bright and shining outside…. other days it pouring buckets. Welcome to Mississippi I guess right? Well…. last week when the girls were gone to their Dad’s and I was out driving with the baby I found this really cool natural landmark I guess you could call it off the side of the road heading towards Tupelo. It was actually pretty creepy to me at first but my curiosity got the best of me so I pulled over and got out for a closer look. This place is called Cypress Swamp. You need to click on the photo of the sign with Cassidy and read what it says. It’s pretty freakin’ cool. It looks like hell on earth at first but when you get down in there and walk across the bridge you can see and feel really how beautiful it is. And peaceful. I took the girls to see it on the way to a little picnic lunch we had next to the lake. They were hesitant at first to get out of the car and take the bridge walk but when they did….they loved it. Here’s some photos. It was a cool place to stumble on. 
And I mentioned the picnic lunch we had at the lake. We were only there for a little bit. Long enough to eat, enjoy the scenery, and watch some water skiiers and wakeboarders whiz by behind the boats. I wish I had found these places before my family came out to visit. They would have loved it. Oh well. Sorry these photos are so dark but hopefully you can see a little how pretty it is. And how big little Brody is getting! LOL 
Oh and Bailee wanted me to post pictures of her tree frog she caught. She has set “Hopple” free (yes…. my kids HAVE to name EVERY creature on the planet they come into contact with… you think I’m kidding?) since I took these photos but at least we got a picture of it. I had JUST found these cute little bug bins at the Dollar store too the day before she caught her frog. My girls would spend all day catching bugs and creatures if I let them. I am constantly shooing living organisms out my back door! LOL Ahhhhh…. fun, carefree days of summer as a child. Complete with 257 Otter Pops a day. 
Okay…. so who would like me to scrap a layout for them using 2-3 of your favorite photos????
Doing the RAK/giveaway thing was getting boring for me so I thought I would change things up a bit! I need some more feedback because I am finally getting time to work on my classes for Scrappin’ Divas. I’ve decided to have one of them be totally geared towards learning 3-5 new techniques while creating our project or cards. When I went to Creative Escape they had a class where you roamed around to different tables and learned new techniques. They called it the “Technique Boutique” and I am totally ganking that name for my class…. LOVE IT! ANyhoo…. this is what feedback I need from you!
Please post and tell me your TOP 5 techniques you would want to learn in a scrappy classroom setting. Even if it’s something you’ve learned how to do once before but want to become even better at it! Anyone who posts and lists their TOP 5 Techniques for me will have their name put in a drawing to win a layout scrapped by me! I love getting my hands on other people’s photos so this is a totally selfish giveaway on my part! HA! Okay… hurry and tell me what you think! You have until later next week!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Toodles!
June 28th, 2008
June 28th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Lisa King Says:
Top 5 techniques:
1. Multi-photos on layouts (I’m talking LOTS of photos)
2. Using masks (like Heidi Swapp)
3. Using transparencies on layouts
4. Perfect Pearls, different types of inks, etc. in stamping and scrapping
5. Make ahead mini-albums or travel journals for vacation–I’m thinking something to record thoughts and notations about places visited for scrapping later
I love your blog! Added it to my favorites.
Lisa
June 28th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
kerry Says:
Oh I SO would have kept that frog!! And he’d be spoiled to death!! He’d live in my bathtub and I’d catch him fresh bugs everyday, and I would love him, and hug him, and play with him!! Who’s a cute froggie woggie?
That swamp place is kick butt cool too. I love the photos! Did you take the ‘leisurely stroll’ and refresh your soul and feel totally relaxed and all that when you got back?
June 28th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Hillary Says:
AW! Yeah, you’re right. I would’ve loved that place. It looks so beautiful and peaceful and just awesome! That’s ok, next time….I love the pics of the kids! WAY cute!
June 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Diana Says:
Top 5 techniques:
1. using acrylic paint on pages other than just stamping….
2. the use of buttons on a layout (seems to be a difficulty of mine)
3. better heartfelt journaling….(maybe questions to help spur on better journaling)
4. embellishing embellishments
5. using transparencies on layouts, how to adhere and place.
Thanks for a fun place to visit!
June 28th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Brandy L. Says:
Love the pics you posted! Wow! What a cool place to visit! My youngest daughter likes to catch critters too. We have caught, named and released lots of things!
My top 5 techniques would be:
1. Multi-photo layouts (I am in such a rut!)
2. using transparencies
3. Stamping techniques — making the stamped image “pop” off the page
4. Creating your own shape templates — I love the ones you create!
5. altering
This was fun! Thanks!
June 29th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Kim Says:
Hey Shanna!!! Fun blog post girl. So glad you are getting to know Mississippi (I had to say the saying to get it spelled right!)!!
Ok, now for what you asked for:
1. Definitely multi-picture LOs! I take way too many pictures of things to narrow it down to one or two pictures. I’m talking 3 to 5 pictures atleast.
2. Very ways to title. I get in such a rut when it comes to making titles. I know there are so many options out there.
3. Attaching transparent embellishments….either vellum, ghosts, KI soup letters, etc.
4. doodling
5. um, well, um, thinking….let’s go with my favorite RIBBON! You always have a way of putting ribbon on your LOs and cards…and they look so cute!!!
OK, that’s my list so hopefully I will be the lucky one to get you to scrap my pictures. I would be ever so grateful for a Shanna original!
~Kim
June 29th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Katy Says:
Love your layouts - I’ve been meaning to have you do a frameable wedding layout!
My Top 5:
1) heat embossing & stuff like that (have no idea how to do this!)
2) layering & coordinating products/paper
3) new ribbon techniques
4) new stamping techniques and uses
5) using flowers (I love flowers) on boyish layouts (I only have a 2 year old boy-so I never get to use flowers or other girlier type stuff!)
Thanks for reading!
June 29th, 2008 at 2:53 am
Suz Gray Says:
Awesome photos!
Things I’d like to be better at:
1. Photo class
2. Acrylic mini albums
3. Cricut (I just know the basics & don’t have too many cartridges)
4. Copic Marker card making
5. I think I’m a good journaler but not always the best titles on my layouts.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:42 am
KarenM Says:
hmmm top 5 techniques:
1) match printed papers (that are not already part of a set)
2) fun ways to hide journaling
3) using those precut tags (I just collect them)
4) creating embellishment ‘clusters’ that don’t just look like a mess
5) resizing a 8.5 x 11 layout to 12 x 12 for scraplifting.
June 29th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Marcia Deignan Says:
5 techniques:
1. using flocking
2. using glitter
3. distressing stuff like grungeboard
4. creative use of stamping
5. chipboard pieces - how to use them in creative ways
Wish I lived close enough to take yourclass! Sounds great!
June 29th, 2008 at 11:43 am
CaseyLu Says:
Techinques:
1. distressing/altering
2. Multiple photos (more than 3)
3. different ways to title a page.
4. making your own embellishments.
5. creating my own transparencies and layering them.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
mary Says:
Hi Shanna,
It was great fun meeting you at ‘Divas. How cool to see the scrapbook page that I watched you create pictured right here on your blog!
I’ll have to think about my TOP 5 and post again later. That’s definitely a class I want to attend!
Stay cool - I know you haven’t acclimated to our MS heat & HUMIDITY…
-mary
June 29th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Jenny Shumway Says:
Hi Shanna -
Here’s my top 5:
1. Using shimmer mist (that color spray - I bought some and have no idea what to do with it)
2. Cute sayings and ways to put them on your page/card/project
3. More ways to use ribbon - love the stuff but I’ve run out of cute ways to use it
4. Stitching - machine or hand - new ways to add a little here & there for complete sewing idiots
5. Using stickles to “bling” up your page/card/project- I love it but I’m not sure I’m using it to it’s full potential.
Good luck!!
Jen
June 29th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Dana J Says:
What an awesome spot. MS really does have some great historical spots! Maybe you can make it down to the coast (where I grew up) and see some sites down there too!
Thanks for the chance to win a LO by you! My top 5 are:
1. Sizing photos - How you figure out what size to use
2. Two vs 1 page spreads
3. Embelishments
4. how to coordinate paper
5. If you use rule of thirds
June 30th, 2008 at 1:34 am
Dianne Says:
What a stunning lo. So glad you got out to meet some new ladies. Keep it up.
1. yep, definately multi photo layouts.
2. different ways to attach ribbon
3. using all the board alphabets I have collected besides just painting them.
4.ideas on titles for a page.
5. definately ideas /hints on journalling.
6. using transparancies.
Hugs
June 30th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Meghan E Says:
1. Using transparencies on layouts
2. different ways to attach ribbon
3. Stamping
4. anything to do with paint!
5. mini-albums - I just never know where to start
June 30th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Nicole Says:
hey! love the new layout! but I wanted to let you know I used one of your heart templates on a layout and wanted to say thanks! oh and top 5…
1. stamping
2. using transperancies
3. the clear mini books
4. more masculine pages and embelishments to use on them
5. typing journaling on a page! (how on earth do you do that so well??)
thanks!
June 30th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Amy Says:
The Hippo bday card is so adorable. I swear… If you come to mesa any time soon I am so taking a class from you!! I love your stuff!! :o)
July 1st, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Cathy Says:
Five techniques that I would like to actually see someone demonstrate in person would be:
1. Pen and ink embellishments (I love how you draw around the edges of elements to make them pop).
2. Actual sewing or faux sewing on a layout.
3. Distressing/antiquing layouts(you do that so well).
4. Using ribbon on layouts.
5. Multi-photo layout designs.
Many of these are “duh”, so simple, yet I think having someone really creative show me ways to incorporate them into my layouts would be heavenly!
The people in your class have no idea how lucky they are to be learning from you. You are such a great scrapbook designer!!!
Cathy
July 1st, 2008 at 8:59 pm
mary Says:
It’s really difficult to pick a TOP 5 (I believe I would like any class you taught) but here goes:
1. Doodling
2. Templates: creating/altering/using
3. Transparencies: creating/coloring/altering/attaching
4. Alcohol inks
5. Velvet flocking and/or crackle paints
{6,7,8,9,10… Anything you would like to share with us!}
I love all of your cards and scrapbook designs I’ve seen so I’m sure anything you choose to teach will be awesome. :O
-mary
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Brandy Baucom Says:
Love your blog. Here are my 5 techniques.
1. As someone else stated Embellishing Embellishments.
2.matching and using more than 2 PP on a page. I seem to get stuck after 2.
3. Using flowers for something other than girly layouts.
4. Using Shimmer mist on a layout without the paper curling lol.
5. Using Multi 4×6 photos on a layout.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Brandy