June Desktop Calendar Freebie!

Can you believe it's the end of May already? I can't imagine where this month went but it's gone and to get you into June with a good start I've made a desktop calendar using Amy's Playdate kit.


Here is the download link hope you all enjoy it and the month of June!

Download link

Brag Book Templates

Hi, Crystal here stepping in for Lydia with this week's product spotlight. I will try and keep it short today. I often find myself scrapping more moments than events, so for me one photo templates and smaller size templates are very useful. Something I started a while back was making 4x6 layouts for Lukas (my son) to put into a little album to look at. He will sit for hours and look through it, but there are still many spaces to be filled that I haven't gotten around to scrapping. Which brings me to my pick for product spotlight, Amy's new Brag Book Templates. These will be perfect to help me create layouts for his book, but they will also work great to make quick and easy presents for family members.
For this week only you can pick them up for 30% making them a bargain at only $4.20 for 10 Brag Book Templates as well as a front and back cover, giving you a total of 12 templates!!
Currently they are available at either Digital Freebies or A Cherry On Top.

Let's talk speed scrapping

Hi everyone, I was sat here wondering what I could possibly talk to you about, and I got to thinking about a few things. I have spent all of my time since Sunday trying to move everything important onto my external drive, because my computer started making a weird noise and I didn't want to lose anything important. Now during that time I have cursed the amount of time doing this has taken. In my mind there were so many other things I could have been spending my time doing. I haven't been able to scrap a single layout, and I have missed that creative outlet. Now they way my mind works is it wonders, frequently lol. So that thought led to thinking about all the othet times I have wished for more "Scrapping" hours in the day. I know I can't be the only one who is still printing/assembling things the night before they are needed lol. But the problem is birthdays and anniversaries etc may well give us a year's notice they are coming but then somehow they still seem to be able to sneak up on us and throw us into a panic. Although I am still searching for that elusive 48 hour day, to give me those extra hours I have stumbled across a few ways to make better use of my scrapping time, and get more done in less time. My first answer to this problem is quick pages, they give you a nice base layout that can be finished simply by adding a photograph. But if you own the coordinating kit you could also add to them and really make them your own. Luckily for you Amy has lots of beautiful ones available for sale. Let's start with some traditional 12x12 quickpages. Amy currently has quick pages available in this size using no less than 9 different kits. I have linked up the abbreviations of the stores each set is available for sale at PDP=Polka Dot Potato, ACOT=A Cherry On Top, DF=Digital Freebies.

B3 Bounce Bounce Bounce (designed by CT member Pam Bumbuca) PDP and DF Flowers For Mom PDP, DF and ACOTFor The Love Of Clover (designed by CT member Pam Bumbuca) DFLittle Boy Blue PDP and DFLittle Man (created by CT member Pam Bumbuca) DFOh What A Mess (Created by CT member Pam Bumbuca) PDP, DF and ACOT Purple Paradise PDP, DF and ACOTRainy Day Sunday PDP, DF and ACOTSpring Morning 1 - Single (created by CT member Pam Bumbuca) DF Spring Morning 2 - Triple Pack (created by CT member Pam Bumbuca) DFAs you can see you are not exactly short of choice, there is something for boy and girl pages. But what if you don't want to make square layouts? Well Amy can help you out there too, with her selection of quick page albums. These will make creating a beautiful hybrid gift super simple.

Flowers For Mom - Bracket Album (created by CT member Pam Bumbuca) PDP, DF, ACOT Flowers For Mom - Mini Heart Album (designed by CT member Tanya Tong) PDP, DF and ACOT Grammie's Apron - Bracket Album (created by CT member Pam Bumbuca) DF and ACOT Rainy Day Sunday - Brag Book (created by CT member Tanya Tong) DF and ACOTThere's also this fab album that accompanies Amy's newest release, a collaboration with Heather Roselli, Hope Springs Eternal. Here's something you may not have known if you pick up the kit before the 23rd (which is Friday) you get the gorgeous 2 Ring Heart Album which is worth $4.99 free. You don't have to do anything, it's included in the download, now how's that for a deal!

I know a lot of people aren't keen on quick pages and consider them to be "cheating" but they really do help out when you have a short deadline, or just a lot of photos you want to get scrapped in a short amount of time. The alternative answer I can provide is layered templates, they give you a lot more freedom and flexibility. I will hold my hands up and admit I can't remember the last layout I made that didn't use a layered template. I like to have the basics of my layout done for me, leaving me to the fun task of decorating it with the kit of my choice. The downside is they take a lot longer than quick pages, but for most people a template layout is still a lot quicker than starting from scratch. Amy has a lot of great templates available for sale, from 12x12, double page and brag book to tumbler, calendar, trading card and even blog header templates. Whether you choose to use templates or quick pages you have plenty to choose from, for all your, hybrid scrapping, gift giving or just for simply speeding up the scrapping process.

Wednesday Challenge Time!

Howdy Folks! Char here, and it's Wednesday Challenge time again. Forgive me for missing the last couple of weeks. I think my weeks just didn't include Wednesdays - time goes by so fast!

So, here's your challenge for today - it's a THEME challenge. Create a layout using the theme PLAY. It could be a layout with you playing with your kids, or your husband playing with a big-boy toy like a truck or tractor. As long as it fits the theme PLAY, it counts!

In the comments, post a link to your layout, and we'll pick a random winner on Saturday evening. Winner will receive a $5 gift certificate for more Amy Bleser products!!

So, play... play... and play some more. And then create a layout for the challenge!

Happy Wednesday!

Hope Springs Eternal

Hi there! Lydia here with another product spotlight. Today, I'm gonna keep it pretty short and sweet, but I don't want anyone to miss out on Amy's new kit! This kit is a collaboration with Heather Roselli. I love the colors in this kit, and it is PACKED with beautiful papers and elements. Hope Springs Eternal is for sale right now at Sweet Shoppe Designs and will be for sale tomorrow, May 20, at Digital Freebies. And, as a special treat, if you buy it this week, you will also get this cute, cute 2-Ring Heart Album for free!! It doesn't get any better than that! So, run on over and pick up Hope Springs Eternal!

Aaaack! I missed a week!

Whoever stole the last week of my life - please return it!! :) Hehe! It didn't seem like a week ago that I blogged but well a few dozen boxes more and a couple of new kits/designs and here it is - a week later!

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day! Mother's Day here was pretty much overshadowed by Aidan's 7th birthday and the move of course. But that's okay - my husband was very sweet and the kids colored the wrapping paper on their presents for me and it was very festive and fun. David got 3 kits to make stepping stones for the garden in the new house - 1 for each kid of course. It is perfect, it will be wonderful to make them with the kids and put them in the garden and see them everyday.

Aidan's 7th birthday was on Saturday but we celebrated on Friday night and on Sunday. He received lots of HO train things including a new engine, a new passenger station, box car and more track. He was in heaven! And then on Sunday we took him to the local Train Museum and he got to drive his track on their layout. He was so excited and did so well. Major kuddos to the young boys at the Train Museum who were very nice to Aidan and taught him the ropes so to speak. We all had a very nice day. We went to Bill Miller's for dinner at Aidan's request and had a fairly good and inexpensive dinner. Here's a couple of pictures:

Time for me to go and do some packing and make lunch, but before I go I want to share with you some new designs I have in the stores (links are in the sidebar)! Also, I am going to start something new here on my blog. Each week when I announce new products, I am going to give one away to one blog commenter. So that means, leave a comment on my blog saying "Hi" and which of the new releases you would love to have and on Wednesday I will pick a name out of the hat and whoever it is will get the new release of their choice. If I get lots of comments, I might even do more than 1 giveaway. Here are the previews:

First up is a cute heart shaped album designed by my awesome CT member Tanya Tong using my Flowers for Mom kit.

Next is my kit called "Grammie's Apron." Very flowery with a classic look - perfect for heritage photos and all those Mother's Day photos from this last weekend.

And speaking of fantastic CT members, Pam Bumbaca made this fabulous bracket album using Grammie's Apron. I love it and when the move is all settled and I can find my photo paper - it is going to be the first thing I make up.

Tanya's been busy this week - hehe - she also did this really wonderful brag book using Rainy Day Sunday. It is perfect for mini albums for Father's Day or just any mini album featuring the men and boys in your life!

So on that note, I am off to make lunch for my littlest nut and get some food myself! I'm starving!! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a great day and I look forward to reading your comments.

What's Your Personality!

Oh boy, here we go again, another personality profile providing you with more information than you ever needed to know about me! Or cared to!! LOL. This comes from the "Our Blog to Yours" at Sweet Shoppe Designs.

You Are An ENTP

The Visionary You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression. You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything. Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off. You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments. In love, you see everything as a grand adventure. You enjoy taking risks for love. And if things don't work out, you're usually not too much worse for the wear! You would make a great entrepreneur, marketing executive, or actor. At work, you need a lot of freedom to pursue your own path and vision. How you see yourself: Analytical, creative, and peaceful When other people don't get you, they see you as: Detached, wishy-washy, and superficial

What's Your Personality Type?

Okay so give it to me straight - take the test and link me up so I can see who my friends are.

Help!! I'm Missing Someone!

Yes it has finally happened! My house is overrun with boxes. They are stacked 3 or 4 high on every available wall. The children are hiding in them and every once in a while a scream of "....where are you???" can be heard throughout the house as I try to locate my little nuts between, behind and beneath all these boxes! We begin moving in just 10 days!

Sadly I did no digiscrappin today but I do still have a layout to share with you! This one is using Kristin Cronin-Barron's My Sunshine kit available at Sweet Shoppe Designs. It is such a fun and happy kit - I just love it. Oh and I also used one of Bree Clarkson's fabulous templates too.

Hopefully I will squeeze in a few minutes tonight before I fall asleep - I would really love to do the May template from Dani's CT blog - Girl Talk. But I am yawning probably a little too much for that. I do feel good about what I did get done today - I booked a mover, transferred all of our utilities, played in a tent, read a lot of stories, did some patient records for the doctor I am a "virtual assistant" for and all around had a well balanced day between working and the kids. It was another good day!

And among all this fun time really does fly! I went upstairs to encourage Aidan to get out of the tub and was shocked to see a big boy looking up at me rather than the little baby I once knew. He has matured so much and grown into such a wonderful boy - yes filled with energy and mischief but also a very healthy dose of kindness and gentleness. He'll be 7 on Saturday and while it is such a cliche, it doesn't feel like 7 years ago when I held him in my arms for the first time and whispered in his ear "you are the best thing I have ever done." I shudder to think how quickly the next year and years will go but between all the practices, birthday parties, squables and tears, I will forever be grateful for the gift of my 3 children.

Wow - that was a serious dip into the sappy and reflective side of me. I suppose it is moving that is bringing out my sappy side. I have spent nearly all of my married life in this house and brought three precious babies home from the hospital to this home. I have never in my life been as happy or as terrified as I have been in this house. But now it is time to make new memories in a new and wonderful home. And the nice thing about moving less than a mile away - when I need to I can drive by and see how things are going over here in this little corner of my heart.

On that note - I am definitely going to stop before I become even more sappy. Thanks for sticking with me and reading all this (if you got this far!). I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will have a layout to show you tomorrow!

Have a wonderful day/evening! And please leave me a comment to say Hello and tell me what's going on with you too!

:)

Life....well it's crazy!!!

I know for darn sure I am not the only one who is amazed at how busy life is! Between soccer, gymnastics, birthdays, work, designing, scrapping, the kids school, holidays and family celebrations, moving and well moving - it is hard to keep my head on straight! And seriously, could someone please tell me how on earth it became May already??? Next thing you know we are going to be Christmas shopping!

But even with its everyday challenges and craziness, life is good! Afterall, how could it not be when your beautiful 5 year old daughter comes running into the house saying "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy....a toad pee'd on me!!" She was delighted, I was laughing and smiling - it was one of those great everyday moments.

Did everyone survive National Scrapbooking Day? Last year I went totally crazy on NDS and spent a fair amount of money. This year, I was good! I restrained myself to just a couple purchases. Now mind you, if DH was not unemployed I am sure I would have gone crazy. There were amazing sales out there, incredible designs and a lot of inspiration and fun. I didn't purchase a lot - but I did do a fair amount of scrapping - at least for me! Indulge me please while I share!

My first layout is of my sweet Eli in the bathtub. I just love that sweet beautiful face! The kit is A Boys Toys by Heather Roselli at the Sweet Shoppe and the acrylic stars are by Traci Reed. I used one of the star album Quick Pages for the layout. Yes it might constitute cheating but it turned out really cute I think!

I will spare you the whining that goes along with this next layout of Aidan who will be 7 on Saturday (hint hint - look for a sale on Saturday). He is no longer my little baby - he has grown into a boy - a big, rambuntious, active and fun 7 year old boy!! For this layout I used a template by Bree Clarkson and a new kit called Chilaxin by Melissa Bennett, Eva Kipler and Scrapkitchen Designs.

This next layout is one of my favorites for the weekend. Zoey is just so darn pretty (in my humble opinion) and her eyes are just so amazingly blue! I did this layout for the NDS Spin-A-Lift Chain game. Tons of fun! The butterfly is by Annie Manning in this layout - everything else is from Traci Reed's newest kits - JuicyPops with Amanda Rockwell and A Tisket A Tasket with Gina Miller.

Okay well that is going to have to be all for now! Soon I am going to be asleep on my keyboard! Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Layout Spotlights

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a fun NSD! I know I did!

Today I was looking through the Friday Freebie Challenge gallery over at Digital Freebies. The Friday Freebie a few weeks ago was an add-on that Amy created to coordinate with her Rainy Day Sundays Kit. I was amazed at how many different looks people could achieve with the same mini-kit. I saw some really great layouts and chose just a few to highlight here.

Old As Dirt by NeldaBelle

Nitya in the Park by swatidesoares

So Many Books So Little Time by nof007750

Joy to Me by Linda Rich

These are all wonderful layouts! Thanks for sharing them with all of us!

NDS Sale!

Hello Readers! Happy NSD!!!

Amy is having some great sales in all of her stores today!

50% off at Digital Freebies
40% off at A Cherry On Top, Polka Dot Potato, and Scrapbook-Bytes.

Links to all of her stores can be found in the sidebar. Go and stock up on your favorite stuff while it's on sale!

Happy Scrapping!