First challenge posted for SWAT

Hi everyone! I just cannot beleive that today is the very last day of 2011. What a ride this year has been! A new year carries with it the promise of a fresh new start, and I hope and pray that 2012 is a much better year for us. I cannot help but continue to be positive and keep the Faith that everything will work out exactly how it should. Everything always does, even if it is not how I had envisioned it should have. That's all I am going to say about that.

onto fun scrappy things. :)

The first sketch and challenge is posted up at Sketches With A Twist. The the twist to go along with the great sketch it is to use two different fonts for the title. Be sure to check out the blog to see the super layouts and card that the team created, as well as to join the message board and submit your take on the sketch/challenge. 

Here is the sketch:

and here is my take:

I wish each and every one of you plentiful blessings, good health and much happiness and success in the upcoming year!

"Dear Mr. Claus"

I cannot tell a lie- when I received the Cosmo Cricket "Dear Mr. Claus" papers to work with for the December My Scraps & More product reveal, I was a bit worried- ok A LOT worried- about how I would ever be able to create anything romotely beautiful and inspirational and satisfying with these papers. My initial thought was how ugly I thought they were (the girls even agreed that I had a huge challenge on my hands), then I thought about how my Grandma Nami would have loved them if she were still here among us. I grabbed onto that thought and used that as my inspiration for each of the projects I created. It's almost like my dear Grandmother was sitting with me, guiding my hands through the creative process.

And since I cannot tell a lie- I actually *gasp* like how everything turned out. I tried to think "old fashioned decor" with them, and it seemed to work. Do I love them? no. Will they be displayed in my home? no. They are going to be placed lovingly in a box along with some other things that I have created and don't neccessarily like, but would like to pass them along to someone who will enjoy them.

One more truth before I move on to the projects- I DO love how I was able to stretch my creativity and work hard with something that did not appeal to me with an end result that I can be proud of. I get it now. This is what growth is about. This is what being creative is about. Not everything we do or create has to be created with everything we love. Using something we are challenged with opens up a new thought process. , and in my humble opinion, makes me a better designer.

Onto my projects:

for this first project, I used an embroidery hoop that I spray painted black. I cut the base and adhered it to the hoop. I cut each letter out and used foam adhesive to gift them a lift. A simple bow and flower add just the perfect finishing touch.

these mini baskets were easy to create.

these cards came together quickly. I created them last using scraps from my other projects. Sometimes I struggle with cards, but not these.

And of course a banner:

Supplies for everything:

CC Dear Mr. Claus papers

The Twinery twine, and twine I found in the dollar spot at Target

Recollections Kraft CS

Basic Grey brads

Prima flowers

October Afternoon rubons

Thanks for stopping by. I think this will be my final blog post before Christmas, so I would like to take this time to wish each and every one of you a beautiful and blessed and most of all very Merry Christmas!

Sketches With A Twist

Check it out! http://sketcheswithatwist.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-new-design-team.html#comment-form

I am super excited to be a part of this new venture and to work with the other talented ladies selected!

Kara's Sledding Face layout

These photos make me smile. :) I just love the look upon her face, and I remember how much fun we had that day! She may not be smiling when I post this layout on my facebook page, but hey, as her mother I have to get every single simple pleasure that I can. heehee *wink*

Another thing that makes me smile is how easily this layout came together. I used this sketch from Let's Capture These Sketches.

Here is my layout:

supplies:

cs:Recollections and Bazzill

pp: MME and Jillibean Soup

embellies: snowflakes:MME, twine: The Twinery, brads: Pink Paislee

chipboard: Bo Bunny

stickers: American Crafts and My Little Shoebox

black ribbon

I am also entering this layout in the SPS Design Team Call submission. Many of the items I have used on this layout can be found at the Pumpkin Spice Shop.

Christmas is coming... are you ready? I hope you are enjoying this most wonderful time of the year!



Back Porch Memories GDT projects

Hello! Here are my projects that I created as a guest design team member for Back Porch Memories.
My assignment was to work with the wonderful Solo Kit:

Here are my projects:

I had a blast working with this fabulous kit! You can purchase this kit, or the other December 2011 kit (or previous kits) by visiting this link. You won't be disappointed!

I hope you are enjoying the beauty of the Christmas Season. :)

12th Day of Christmas challenge and more...

First off, today Kenny and I have been married for 13 years! We got married in our living room- just for us and although we had a formal ceremony in February, I am thankful that we did this.

Today was the final day for the My Scraps & More 12 Days of Christmas Contest. I had the final challenge and I decided to create a challenge around a banner. My challenge was to create a layout with a banner consisting of 12 flags/pieces. Here is my layout:

Before I leave you today I have some news to share; I have decided to step down as a design team member for My Scraps & More. I have truly enjoyed being on the team and I hope that I was able to inspire you to create with my challenges. It's been a fantastic team to be on, and I will surely miss it, but it's time to move on and allow someone else to have the honor. :)

Have a beautiful day!

On the 9th day of Christmas....

Today is another challenge day for me at My Scraps & More, and since we are doing the 12 days of Christmas, and today is the 9th day, I have posted a challenge to use either a grid design (containing 9 squares) or to use 9 squares on a layout.

Here is my layout for this challenge:

I know this is a several days late- but here is my challenge for day 4. My challenge was to use 4 colors on your layout:

December is such a busy time. I hope you are finding time to enjoy the Christmas season. :)

I'm a Guest Designer this month...

Hi! Happy December! I get to start off the month with something fun- I was selected to be the December guest designer for Back Porch Memories this month. Lucky me! :)

Here is my "winning" layout based off a sketch that can be found in the BPM forum:

As a guest designer I get to play with a fantastic kit as well as host a month-long challenge. I just receieved my kit today, so I have nothing to share for it yet, but I do have my monthly challenge. I adore making banners, so my challenge is to create a banner or create a layout with a banner somewhere on it. If you want to play along or check out the other challenges, head on over to the forum!

Here is my banner: I used some of the super cute new Pink Paislee and Jillibean Soup collections.

now I just need to find a place to hang this one. I love the way the light reflects off of the fake snow.

All for now. I'll be back soon. :)

Look mom, I'm a dog....

Wow. It's already the last day of November. This just does not seem possible. Today is the last day for the My Scraps and More is Thankful for... contest. It's been a fun month full of super challenges- if you are ever in need of inspiration, all you need to do is head on over there and you'll be sure to find something to get you scrapping.

Here are two more of my recent  challenge layouts:
My 11.28 challenge, which was I am thankful for paper! The challenge was to use some of your newest paper purchased as well as make a handmade element.

and then my 11.18 challenge was to create a layout about your hobbies. Here is my layout for this challenge:

Tomorrow kicks off the My Scraps and More December contest; The Twelve Days of Christmas. There will be 12 challenges to complete and some fun prizes along the way. I hope you'll join in on the fun!

November MSAM DT reveal projects

Hello! Here are the  projects that I created for the My Scraps & More November design team reveal. We were given some of the beautiful MME Lost and Found Two collection and this is what I came up with:

A layout of Emily:

A layout of Skylar:

a key holder (my favorite project I created!):

(the big flower is actually made with an entire sheet of 12x12 pp)

and a card:

We are heading over to Seattle later this afternoon. Ashlyn has a GI appt over there tomorrow and then we are going to spend Thanksgiving with my parents, and then Ashlyn has some labs on Friday then we'll head home. I hope you all have a beautiful Thanksgiving!

we have a winner!

Thank you to Bev, Lisamariemlt and Sherri for your kind comments about my first digital layouts! I appreciate them!

Now to announce the winner:

I used random.org and here is what it came out with: (I tried to add the widget, but am not sure how- it selected #1, as I tried to show below.
 
Result:

1


Congrats Bev!!! I'll be sending your promo code for a FREE My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software soon!!!

a spark of madness....

"You're only given a spark of madness. You mustn't lost it. -Robin Williams.

While trying to come up with a challenge idea for the "My Scraps is Thankful for..." contest going on this month at My Scraps & More, I came across this quote printed on a sheet of Jillibean Soup paper and inspiration immediately struck. I had recently looked through old photos and these popped into my mind as the perfect photos to use; they aren't great quality photos, however they are silly and capture the essense of that little spark of madness that Skylar and Emily showed here (OK- Skye has A LOT of madness- she does these things daily, Emily, not so much). So I created a challenge around the quote and these photos; I am thankful for silliness. The challenge was/is to use silly photos and at least 5 different patterns. Here is the layout I ended up with.

On a side note- Ashlyn took these photos- I had no idea the girls had been doing this. When I first viewed them on the camera, I laughed hard! These are future photos that thier husbands are truly going to appreciate. heehee :)

My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software and a giveaway!

A few weeks ago I was asked to to do a review of the My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software. Having never attempted to create a digital layout before, I was intrigued, and decided to step out of my comfort zone and give this is a try, especially since it was offered to me free- it can't get any better than that!  Oh, and they generously offered to give one away to you, my readers, as well!! How cool is that?! (We'll get to the givaway part soon, but I want to share my review and projects with you first.)

As soon as I downloaded the program, which is super easy to do, I sat down and played around a bit. Like I mentioned, I had NO IDEA what I was doing. I started out by just looking around at all the options and then started clicking and creating. Before I knew it, I had created this layout:

wow- my first ever digital layout! I thought it would be a more complicated process, but it really wasn't. I created this page with a blank template and added the background papers and embellishments to it. It was pretty easy, and fun, too!

(then life got in the way and I didn't have time to play around again until Saturday- I wanted to spend a little more time playing around with this awesome program before I gave my review.)

When I sat down again, I decided that I wanted to use some of the pre-made templates- where the background and embellishments are already on the page, so I opened an album with 5 pre-mades and got busy adding pictures. I discovered that you could remove elements that you did not want, as well as copy and paste embellishments that are already on the page, or even add embellishments from the easy to navigate side bar.

for this one, I removed a leafy stem and then added the heart and red flowers.

I removed some red flowers from this one and then added a few from the sidebar that I liked better, as well as the torn notebook edge and some stitching.

I used the copy/paste feature to add the confetti-ish element and flower by my title on this one:

this next one is a bit blah, but I wanted to keep it simple and use what was included with the initial program download. I definitely need to pay a visit to the My Memories store to pick up some kits. They even have FREE kits!

This last template is so fun and I loved how there were so many spaces for photos! All I did for this was add a title and some journaling and I still have a fun page!

My Memories Suite also has several YouTube videoes and other recources to help you get the most from this program. You can see the videos here.

If you like your own copy of the My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software you can order it here, and if you use my personal coupon code, STMMMS40269, you will get to get a $10 discount for the software! It's a great deal! Again that code is: STMMMS40269.

OK- now it's time for the part you all have been waiting for- the giveaway! My Memories is giving me a free download of this software to share with ONE lucky reader!!!
There are several ways to get a chance to get your name into the drawing:

First-Go to the My Memories website and choose your favorite digital paper pack or element pack. Come back to my blog and leave a comment on THIS post letting me know which one you liked the most. Doing this will give you one entry into the drawing.

But the chances don't stop there.You have two BONUS chances to get your name into the drawing, giving you a total of three chances to win! How cool is that?!

All you need to do is:

#2 visit the My Memories blog and follow publicly, then come back here and leave me another comment, letting me know you are following them.

and
#3 Like My Memories on Facebook, return to my blog and leave yet another comment on my blog.

There you have it- 3 ways to win one of these awesome digital programs! \

As with any giveaway, there are some rules:
the #1 above is a mandatory entry. If you do not do this one, no other entries will count.
and
in order to qulify for additional entries, you need to leave a SEPERATE comment, on THIS POST ONLY, for each addtitional step you follow- for example: you need to leave one comment stating which kit you like best, and if you decide to follow the blog, then you would leave a second comment, and if you want to follow on facebook, you would leave a third comment. If you only leave one comment for all three steps, you will only qualify for ONE entry into the drawing. You will qualify for three entries by leaving three comments.

I will randomly draw a lucky winner via Random.org on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. Good luck!