Hop on in!

Welcome to my part of the most EXCITING BLOG HOP EVER!

Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but just a little.   Hopefully you have come to me from Brandi's Creative blog.  If you are just now joining and would like to do all the blogs START HERE. 

Now, of course, with any hop there will some order and most importantly purpose.  The purpose of this hop is to challenge you to create something out of your comfort zone...to stretch yourself. Sometimes the stretching comes with the challenge of just completing them! 

CSDivas will have a Grand Prize to giveaway (separate then each blog challenge or giveaway, if there is one offered)... Prize includes:

- Making Memories Alpha Fetti Black and White die cut letter pack.
- Recollections About Time¨clear stamp set
- Assortment of ribbons
- Assortment of prima flowers and leaves

What you need to do to be eligible to win the Grand Prize?

1) Upload your project in the gallery with the tag... VDHop Pam

2) Post your creations to the corresponding discussion for each Blog Hop Participant.

 Mine is at this link: http://divascreativas.ning.com/forum/topics/valentines-bh-pams-challenge

a) Players will earn a ticket at CSDivas, when they upload their entries to corresponding discussion.

They they need to be new creations and meet the challenge criteria.. I think this is important, that's how you stretch yourself!
b) You will earn a ticket for each different challenge creation you upload.
c) Due date to upload entries at CSDivas is Thursday February 17, 2011.

d) Winner will be announced on Tuesday February 22, 2011..

List of Blogs to Hop:
SANDY http://www.scrapbookblessings.blogspot.com/
DENINE http://www.pumpkinspiceblog.blogspot.com/
BRANDI http://joyfullycreative.blogspot.com/
PAM http://www.dreamersklub.blogspot.com/
ANGELA http://tealfullycuttinup.blogspot.com/
MARYANNE http://www.scrappy-gifts.com/
LORI http://scrapmomsmusings.blogspot.com/
KATIE http://www.katiesnestingspot.com/
ANN http://www.annlenth.blogspot.com/
BRENDA http://www.brendasjoy.blogspot.com/

ALECIA http://freakalecias.blogspot.com/

STEPHANIE http://todaysmagical.blogspot.com/
LUISA http://www.creativedesignsbyluisa.com/

So, now let's play.
Let me start by telling you a Valentine story..
Christmas in my family was a BIG EVENT.  The whole family (I have 20 cousins ) gathered at my Grandma's farm house in Western Oklahoma.  It was a family event and casual dates were not invited...you must be serious to bring a boyfriend with you.  When my DH and I were dating, my older brother bought his girlfriend an engagement ring for Christmas.  And of course announce their engagement during family time. In front of my large family (there were a min. of 65 there) Steve professes that he thinks he would rather have a new stereo, but before he had one of those. Ha Ha.  The whole family got a laugh, except for me, I gave a polite, disappointed smile.

  We lived about 150 miles apart, so conversations were mostly letters, with the weekly "long-distance" phone call.  Well, he had something really special for my visit in February, which was on Valentines weekend.  My friends and I knew I was getting a ring.  I showed up with anticipation, said pleasantries to his folks, and we went to his place (he had an apartment in his folks' back yard).

  And he presented me with the most beautiful stereo system that Pioneer made!  Yes, he did! 

And 34 years later, we are still listening to the speakers, playing the record player and our 2nd son has the receiver in his garage.  So Pioneer really knew how to make stereos....and I did get that ring....but not until June!

So Valentine's Day at my house is not a huge romantic event. Not that you haven't already figured that out!  I don't do alot of pink, syrupy things. So this has been a challenge for me, just coming up with a challenge for you!

My project came from a prompt at another blog hop at Sketches for All, that  I played this weekend. It was to make a layout using a love song for the title.I knew instantly that was what I wanted you to do.  So I entered this over there last night, but really had you in mind. 

I am very happy with all except the fact that I can't take a square photo!  I promise everything on this layout is straight (sometimes I use a ruler!)  This is Steve's favorite love song, which he sings to me on occasion.  I agree with the words..in my life I love him more. And I wanted to show him and tell the world at the same time! (no stereo here!)

I used the new collection from K&Co  Floral and Fauna. Lovely soft colors and very earthy.  But just a hint of it, cause I didn't want the page to be to 'girly'.  My background is a kraft paper that I have splattered with Olive Vine Tattered Angels mist. I didn't do the soft fine mist.  But instead a bold 'blotches' again to make it a little more manly and apparent.   

I framed him with a circle flourish frame that I cut out with my Pazzles Inspiration.  It is an amazing machine!  I cut the alphas also from there. 
 And that is all I have to say today, no it's not!  He is wrestling out 3 grandsons at Halloween in the one picture, another love of my life!  But the main pic I took on our 32nd wedding anniversary....we went to a Boston Red Sox game.  My gift to us!

So, my challenge is to make a page, using a Love song on it.  Could be title, could be journal...but must be new for this challenge please.  1)Enter it into our forum for a chance at the grand prize

2) AND a chance to win the K & Co paper pack like I used! (or leave me a link to your layout)
3) If  you leave me a comment and or join my blog (cause I really, really need people to read my blog,

 cause I get so lonely. I just want to be your friend!)  for a 3rd way to win a prize. 

So now you are going to Angela's blog.  She is a new member of our room and is really into getting her challenges done!  Have fun on the hop and remember

Keep Dreamin'