Meet Mardi Davis Guest Designer

Tell me all about the start of your art, How did your scrapbooking begin?

I was invited to a Creative Memories party back in 2003 by my oldest sister, who doesn't even scrapbook. I instantly fell in love with the idea. I spent a ridiculous amount of money that evening and only knew that world of scrappin' for about a year. I found an entire new world of scrappin and my style has changed since then, but I still spend a ridiculous amount of money for this passion of mine!

Do you have a stand-by element/paper line or tool that you must use when you scrap?
I seemed to be fascinated by flowers and tool I could not live without is my Fiskars rotary trimmer.

Do you have a favorite technique?
My favorite technique at the moment is cutting out patterned paper, the bigger the pattern the better.

If you could not shop for one year...would your scrap space be emptied or would you still have product?
Honestly my scrap space would not be emptied for at least three years if I did not purchase one thing in that time frame with the exception of adhesive.

If you could make one outfit out of scrapbooking paper what line would it be from?
Tough questions because there are so many papers out there that I love, but if I could only choose one it would have to be Little Yellow Bicycle.

Can you tell something about yourself that others would be shocked to learn?
I would love to but it is a secret, just kidding! I am one of eight children that grew up on a farm. We grew our own veggies and raised our own meat.

What makes you a groovy chick?
I am a groovy chick because my favorite time frame of music is the 70s and wasn't everything "groovy" back then?


Visit Mardi's blog here: http://mardi-sistas.blogspot.com/
Thanks Mardi for sharing some of your day and art with us. You are a groovy chick!


Here is a piece of Mardi's Art World:

Girls vs Boys!!!

Around many areas the boys and girls are celebrating their senior proms, end of school year, and ring dances over these next few weekends. It is a very special time where the boys and girls should be getting along and having a wonderful and memorable night. As for parents I know it will be a bittersweet moment seeing your children approaching adulthood and then the memories of them as little babies. I hope you enjoy and embrace every moment!

Since we are thinking about boys and girls this is a great time to show what our Dollbabies and Sweetheart Artists created at this time.

Here is Jen Lead Dollbabies Artist and her layout:

Here is Celina Lead Sweethearts Artist and her layout:

Product list:

Cardstock - The Paper Company

Patterned Paper - KI Memories

Brads - Joanns

Title-Cricut, Cursive 101

Stitching-Singer Sewing Machine

Celina also used this sketch :

What Do an Alter Artist and Yard Sales Have in Common???

What has our Alter Artist been up to lately? Let me show you! I know so many people enjoy going to yard sales, garage sales and tag sales. Estate sales are in that list too! While you are out running from place to place you should consider the treasures you find as having a new and useful purpose. Check out what Charlotte made using a spice rack that she found at a yard sale for ONE DOLLAR. Really Beautiful!!!


Bazzill black cardstock
Autumn Leaves buttons
Prima flowers
Petaloo flowers
Heidi Swapp flowers
Miss Elizabeth chipboard butterfly
Adhesive Xyron
Glue Dots
Colorbok chipboard owl

One Sketch 4 ways!

It is amazing each time there is a sketch and
four different artists using their take. Just see the many different ways it can be interpreted! Here is the sketch our Lead Sketch Artist Lissa created for the team. They chose a theme of using eyelets and brads this month to thank last month's sponsor, Eyelet Outlet for generously providing a prize for our winner. These are all sensational. If you choose to also do a layout using Lissa's sketch please let me know and I will show your work here on If IT's Groovy and Lissa has a RAK to someone choosing to follow the sketch as well. Check out her blog here: http://theuntamedscrapper.blogspot.com/ or click the title of this post to hop over there for details!!!





Lissa































Guylaine
































Lynnette






























Nikki

You'll Never Guess This Thursday!

Congrats to The Rambling Papercrafter who guessed the last photo that was posted and distorted She guessed a stop sign and she was right. WTG! Now let's see what you can all do with this one...

An Interview with our Green Sponsor SKOY

Hello Michelle and Karen! It is such a pleasure to be able to have some time with you today and to learn about your product!

Please tell me a little about yourselves. How did you meet?
We met when our kids were in preschool together.


How did you come up with the concept of SKOY?

So… I am married to a Swede and before we had kids, we lived in Sweden for a while. Every household in Sweden uses a cloth like Skoy. So when we moved back to the states, I brought back a handful of cloths along with a few other couldn’t live without Swedish things… I gave a cloth to my mom and sister-n-law and they thought it was fantastic. We would go visit my husband’s family each summer and I always stocked up on this cloth. Friends would come over to my house and comment on what a wonderful cloth I had in my kitchen and they wanted some, too. This is where Karen comes into the picture. She loved the cloth. We talked about selling the cloth for like a year and then we finally did it. Our kids were getting bigger and entering elementary school and we had some extra time. Thus SKOY was created. Skoy is a Swedish word for “fun” and we started our business for fun and to put some fun into the kitchen with a some cute modern designs.


Where is your business located?

Encinitas, CA – just north of San Diego, CA


Are SKOY cloths made of a special material?

Skoy cloths are made of from a unique blend of cotton and wood-pulp cellulose.


Can the consumer expect to use SKOY cloths in place of their normal paper towels or other products?

Consumers should use Skoy in place of paper towels and synthetic sponges. One Skoy cloth can outlast 15 rolls of paper towels because it is a reusable product and can be cleaned in the washer and dryer, dishwasher, or microwave.


Is there any surface that a SKOY cloth should not be used with?

Skoy is best used on hard surface areas, eg. Counter tops, tables, sinks, stainless steal, glass, tile, and more. It is possible for some color to transfer to a textile surface as all the colors and inks are water based and non-toxic.


Is there a special technique to using them?

You just need to wet the Skoy cloth first – then squeeze out the excess water – and wipe.

What is the proper way to care for them?

The SKOY can be cleaned in your dishwasher and is washer and dryer safe up to 90°C (190°F).

Another option to keep your SKOY cloth germ-free is to microwave it daily when damp for 1-2 minutes. This will also remove possible bad smells that are caused by bacteria. Remember your SKOY cloth must be wet when microwaving for best effect and to avoid risk for fires.

And at the end of its life, Skoy is compostable.

Are they available world-wide? How do we order the product? Can they be found in retail stores?

You can order Skoy on our website at www.skoycloth.com. Or we have about 60-70 little Mom and Pop type shops that are currently carrying Skoy. Check out our website for locations.


In closing, can I ask you ladies why is living a green lifestyle important to you?

It has become a way of life for us because we have realized that teaching our children to be responsible and aware of the environment is best done through example. It is our children’s generation that is going to make the biggest difference for our Earth. And it just plain feels good!


Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn more about your company, and for the contribution you have been a part of in making our lives more Earth-friendly. It has been my pleasure to learn more about the SKOY cloth, as well as about you ladies! Your sponsorship in our Groovy Green Goddess Contest is also appreciated!

Also, a VERY special THANKS to Michelle Lundqvist Skoy Enterprises who granted me this interview and to both she and Karen for agreeing to sponsor us in the Groovy Green Goddess Contest. Please visit their website at www.skoycloth.com for further information and good luck to those entering the contest. You will LOVE the prizes they have supplied for you!!!

Where'd Ya Go Wednesday

Hi! Did you have a fun week? Where'd ya go? I had to go with my husband to see a neuro doc and see them give him an electrical shock treatment. It was weird!!! He is having some serious issues in his elbow and arm and this was a nerve test. We are waiting for results.

So did you go somewhere fun or uh nerve-racking(no pun intended, lol)?
Deb♥

Two for TwoZday 2Pagers

Our two page design team has made some incredible layouts again this month. They had a theme amongst them of creating pages about love. Here is what they have to show us proving once again that 2 page layouts have not gone out of style and that they still have a valueable place in our scrapbooks...

Amy:













Genie:























Marci:

It's Take Two TwoZday

Hey there PhotoBugZ!!! Whoo, I love Tuezdays!!!

Grab a pen, a favorite journal and your camera! Today is the day you are prompted to do everything in twoz.

Ready?
Deb♥

Take One: Take a picture of something Yummy!!! Here is my example from my fruit bowl...







Take Two: Take a picture of something Yucky!!!
Now this was the same day and off of my sandwich from Chanello's...Like I said...YUCKY!!! Notice I said "off" my sandwich. I took that picture to the owner and he replaced both my dinner and Kevin's so all is good but hear ya go-go...


I can hear you all saying EEEEWWWWWW!!! Leave me a link or send me a pic at groovydeb@yahoo.com and I will show the world your yummy/yucky pics too :)




A few weeks ago I asked PhotoBugZ to go outside and look up and look down. Our Card Artist Niki took my challenge and here is what she came up with and what she had to say about her take one and take two:
"Ok looking up on this rainy two for Tuesday I see rain clouds and green trees. If you stand outside you hear nothing but the sounds of all the birds in these trees. Fun to listen and just watch the different types of birds out here. While taking this pic a saw a yellow and black finch. Was very cool to take a moment and just listen. So one guess what all this rain means.........It means I need a LAWN BOY!!!! Look at this yard...Man oh man I need to buy a lawn mower!!! I love all the green its great but wow.. that is some serious grass my poor dog lol or maybe a goat or a cow they eat grass right?"

TwoZday Talk Time

I showed you my icky tomatoes, but I did not tell you that I took that photo to the owner and showed it to him. I let him know that I was not pleased when my sandwich was delivered to me with that on there. To top it off that was my remake because they messed up the first one :( I started the conversation showing him how delicious looking my tomatoes were. He replaced my dinner AND my husband's!

Quesion #1
Would you have gone to these "extremes" or have you to show a business what you received for your money?

Question #2
Would you have eaten something that looked like that? Blek!

Yesterday's News

Yesterday was Mother's Day and hopefully a chance was not missed to create wonderful memories with someone special in your life. Mother's Day should be every day!!!

To document another time gone by, Michelle, Lead Vintage Artist, has shown us a project she created while using this PageMap.





















Isn't Michelle lucky to have had this one documented?

A Digital Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day! Here's to all the mom's out there who are working so hard each and every day to show your families how much you care for them. You are doing a GREAT job :)

Check out what our Digi Team has made in honor of this very special day!


Amanda

































Jackie:

A Little Gift Idea from DT Member Ange

We all know a mom who is important to us and showing her a little luv tomorrow is a precious thing to do for her. As a mom I love special handmade gifts from my girls. Here is a matchbook mini album that Ange has created to show us a quick goodie we can make and deliver to one of those important moms in our lives. Hope yours is happy!












outside cover















inside album

It's National WHAT?!?! Month

According to Wikipedia salad is defined as:
Salad is any of a wide variety of dishes including: green salads; vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads.[1] They include a mixture of cold or hot foods, often including vegetables and/or fruits.

Green salads include leaf lettuce and vegetables with a dressing. Other salads are based on pasta, noodles, jelly, or even cool whip. Most salads are traditionally served cold, although some, such as German potato salad, are served hot.

The word "salad" comes from the French salade of the same meaning, which in turn is from the Latin salata, "salty", from sal, "salt", (See also sauce, salsa, sausage). Vegetables seasoned with brine was a popular Roman dish.[2] The terminology Salad days meaning a "time of youthful inexperience" (on notion of "green") is first recorded by Shakespeare in 1606 while the use of salad bar first appeared in American English in 1976.[3]

Green salads including leaf lettuces are generally served with a dressing, as well as various toppings such as nuts or croutons, and sometimes with the addition of meat, fish, pasta, cheese, eggs, or whole grains. Salad is often served as an appetizer before a larger meal, but can also be a side dish, or a main course.


Having read the official definition I am really curious as to what you will come up with.

I Miss YOU!!!

Hey Friends! I hope you are having a wonderful scrappy week. I will be away from If It's Groovy for a few days while I wait to get reconnected with my pc. The Verizon modem that I have had for quite sometime fried on me :( Whhaaaa! See you in a few days with new projects from the DT. See you then!
Deb

Thanks EyeletOutlet.com

"The It" for the month of April was EyeletOutlet.com! Eyelet Outlet & Brads is a huge supplier of the things we love the most on our pages. Have you checked them out? They agreed to help sponsor our hoppy little froggy adventure by supplying a little groovy and very froggy goodness. It was so cool to see froggy projects, now if you need to replenish frogs or any other brad or eyelet be sure to click herehttp://www.eyeletoutlet.com/
Also check out one of my favorites,Quicklets THE eyelet that you can set with a pen!!! I've done it and it is incredibly easy!

Sunday Dinner

Since we are talking and scrapping about salads this month, I asked the team to share any salad recipes they have and here is what's cooking in Marci's house:

Broccoli Salad

2 broccoli - just the heads, cut smallish, raw
1 red onion, sliced thin
5-6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon (OR can substitute about 1/2 cup smoked almonds - if you use these add just before serving)

Dressing:
1 cup mayo
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
salt and pepper to taste



Bow Tie Pasta Salad with a Trio of Peas

16 oz. bow tie pasta
salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 oz. snow peas, strings removed
4 oz. sugar snap peas, strings removed
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 cup frozen baby peas
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Boil pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt butter with oil in skillet. Add snow peas and sugar snap peas and cook 1-2 minutes. Stir in garlic. Add peas, broth salt and pepper. Heat to boiling. Stir in lemon peel.

Drain pasta and add vegetable mixture. Toss well.


Veggie Potato Salad

5 medium potatoes
4 hard boiled eggs
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon celcery seed
1 tablespoon paprika
2 tablespon fresh parsley (or 2 teaspoon dried)
2 cup vegetables (any combination of chopped spinach, zucchini, celery, sprouts, green onion, cucumber)

Dice and mix potatoes and eggs. Add mayo, seasonings and veggies.


Taco Salad

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon basil
6 oz. can tomato paste
1 cup water
2-3 cups kidney beans, cooked
1/2 pound grated cheese
tortilla chips
salad ingredients (lettuce, tomato, green pepper, black olive, avocado, etc.)

Brown and drain beef and onion. Add seasonings, tomato paste and water. Simmer until liquid is absorbed. Add beans. Chill. Make a salad with desired ingredients. At serving time add chilled meat mixture and cheese. Serve with crushed chips. Salsa makes a great dressing!

Blessings, Marci

Saturday Snicker

Enjoy a little snicker today... It's nice to be reminded of when jokes were clean and friendly. Don't ya think? Here are a few to stimulate the salad thoughts since it is National Salad Month!!!


Remember these?

Why did the tomato blush?
Because it saw the salad dressing. ;)


A faucet, lettuce and a tomato were in a race...what happened?
The faucet was running, the lettuce was ahead, and the tomato was trying to ketchup!

Reasons to Love NSD...

HOPE YOURS IS HAPPY!!!
*Our Very Own Scrapbooking Holiday
*Play with Scissors, Glue and Paper!!!
*Shopping Deals
*Store Crops, Online Crops

Come Out to Play...

National Salad Month Challenge

In honor of National Salad Month we are celebrating the love all of salads, colors of salads, recipes involving them and whatever comes to mind!

Here is the slideshow of all entries: being disabled because it is slowing the blog down. Please ask if you would like the link :)
Deb♥

...and the winner is

I am so thrilled with all of the wonderful projects that were entered in the National Frog Month Challenge and even more thrilled to announce this month's winner chosen by Random.org. I assign a number behind everyone's entry and here is the number it chose and to whom it belongs...
Random Sequence Generator
Here is your sequence:

22
20
5
39
44
17
30
10
35
8
24
15
16
31
3
11
42
1
43
38
40
7
28
13
9
32
4
14
26
37
41
21
18
45
34
36
48
27
47
12
29
2
33
25
19
6
23
46
Timestamp: 2009-05-01 15:46:46 UTC


That's YOU Jodi!!! Congrats to you on winning and for your really cute layout:

Please email me with your address so I can send out some froggy goodbness to you :)
Deborah♥