My Not So Charmed Life

A Baby Name Thing

2008-03-14T13:17:00.002-05:00

Well...the SSD Blog has thrown a curve ball this week for the "Our Blog to Yours" BUT! It is RIGHT in my "Home Run Zone"! LOL Baby Names! I am a certified baby name freak...so this should be fun...although, it may be tough because Meghan's taste is about as opposite from mine as it gets but I;ll give it a try!

Here are some name combos I like that may fit in with her other 3 girls:

Casey
Shelby
Marley
Landry
Avery
Blake
Morgan
Whitney
Quinn
Macy
Rory
Devereaux
Emery
Cassidy
Bellamy
Linden
Jessie
Kenna
Shea
Sinclair
Darian
Lowry
Sheridan
Harper
Brynn

Here are some names that are NOT unisex but may fit in with the the other siblings names:

Cassia
Tessa
Dara
Chloe
Camille
Maia
Calla
Lacey
Ivy
Annika
Halle
Jenna
Amity
Delia

Spreading Some Love

2008-02-02T08:29:00.000-05:00

Oh wow, it's February already! How crazy is that? 2008 is already flying by for ME, I don't know about you. I'm hoping it's going to be a good year for our family. So far, no complaints! Yeah! On another positive note, my grandma's 99TH birthday is on Monday! Yes, I said 99!!! What do you think about that? She's still up and walking, and lives in an assisted living home, not even a full care nursing home! Unbelievable! She does have slight dementia, diabetes, and Alzheimer's, but she's still here and doing great. I only hope I can have as long and fulfilling of a life as she has. She amazes me! So for me February really is a month full of love. Along with my grandma, I have 7 other family members with birthdays this month AND of course, there is Valentine's Day! So, top share my lovey feeling this month, I made these little word arts, just as a little gift to my blog readers! There are 4 styles in the zip. 2 distressed, 2 undistressed. I hope you can use and enjoy these, and have a wonderful February!

*image is linked

A Coffee Thing

2008-01-28T14:56:00.000-05:00

The "From Our Blog to Yours" at SSD has a fun little internet survey this week. I am definitely a coffee girl-so this one was right up my alley. And as boring as it may sound. I am quite happy to learn...

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe

But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated
You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys
Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites.
And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

What Kind of Coffee Girl Are You?

A You Tube Thing

2008-01-18T19:31:00.000-05:00

Well...this week's "From Our Blog to Your's" at the Sweet Shoppe is FUN. They are asking us to share our favorite You Tube video. I couldn't choose between these three-so here they are. Enjoy!

Rain-Patty Griffin

and

Tiny Dancer-from "Almost Famous"

and

Hey Ya-Charlie Brown version

A Rough Weekend Thing

2008-01-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

Wow...what a rough weekend. You know it's bad when you can't wait for Monday! I was sick, my husband had tp work all weekend..it was just NOT fun. Then I wake up to crazy hyper kids, and well...I'm sure you get the picture. Thank goodness for my mom. She took my oldest son to a movie Saturday, then let him and my oldest daughter both spend the night with her on Saturday. So I did get a little bit of a sleep in on Sunday morning, but not much. I was up and at 'em at 8 am. But that is an hour and a half extra sleep for me. But hey, nothing a coffee pot couldn't fix!

Feeling under the weather did give me a chance to get some layouts made,some new products started, and I also got a few more things uploaded to both of my NEW stores! Very excited about that! Here is a look at a few layouts I did, some for CT work, some just because:

Here is a little sneak peek of a few of my new products!

At Pickle Berry Pop:

At Purple Paper Flowers:

Hope you like them! And, as you may know, OAKS will be closing on January 31, 2008. MY SHOPPE is currently 60%(excluding already clearanced items and collab kits). So don't forget to stop in there and take a look around, some of those things may not reappear in my new stores!

Well...after a lovely weekend, it is now time for me to play catch up on housework AND laundry-how FUN! Wish me luck!

A Blinkie Thing

2008-01-10T09:20:00.000-05:00

Would you like to win alittle gift from? A possible Guest CT spot? Or maybe even afull time CT position? Well...you COULD! All you have to do is sport my little fan blinkie in your siggy. I wander around the digital community-so you never know what forum I may spot you in.

(please save to your own computer and
upload to a file hosting site of your choice!)

With OAKS closing at the end of this month,I am busily revamping products, redoing previews, and setting up my stores at both Pickle Berry Pop AND Purple Paper Flowers!

As if that isn't enough, lol, being the hardcore scrap enthusiast that I am./ I've even managed to get a few layouts done the past few weeks too.

Here is a sampling:

Well folks-thaty's all I've got for now.Time to get back to work!

A Merry Christmas Thing

2007-12-24T14:28:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for a wonderful 1st year in the designing business. A small little gift, from me to you. Hope you have a safe and memory filled Holiday Season!

*link removed*

Thank you to those who downloaded and took the time to say thanks!

A Blow Out Thing

2007-12-21T09:17:00.000-05:00

End the year with some incredible savings from Rachel Martin Designs. Save 60% on all of my products.

Here is a quick lineup of a few of my things:
(all images are linked up)

A Shopping Thing

2007-12-10T11:16:00.000-05:00

Okay, so my sister had been gushing on and on about a place called The Flower Factory. She loves all things crafty, as far as home decor goes. She loves that country/shabby/primitive look. So when she was doing her gushing I was doing the customary nodding and "uh-huhing". I am NOT into the crafty look. I like it for other people houses, so don't think it's that I hate that look. But my interior design has/will have a more eclectic, world traveler, modern feel. So, as she was going on and on about this place-I am all but ignoring her, again, with the customary nodding, yada yada yada. Fast forward to 2 months later, my sister-in-law and my best friend decide they want to go. So I half reluctantly decide to go with them. I mostly went thinking I could find a cute ornament or two, and it'd get me out of the house and away from the kids for a few hours. Well lo and behold, this place was amazing. They had crafting supplies; beads, paint, markers, crayons, canvas, ribbon, string, felt, stickers, tools, paintings, artwork, holiday decorations, toys, candy, party supplies, some household goods, silk flowers, I mean-I could go on and on myself, lol. It was SO fun. I bought $50 worth of stuff;stocking stuffers for the kids, a few ornaments, a new thermometer, a few gifts. It was fabulous. I definite;y need to go back, and I definitely need to stop being so snotty to my sister! So if you have a Flower Factory near you,I highly recommend it.I can almost HEAR you all nodding and "uh-huhing", am I right?

Lightroom Example Thing

2007-12-07T09:27:00.001-05:00

Okay...so a few people asked about examples, so here they are. A few presets used on the same photo(I've labeled each photo with the preset use and the designer of the preset):

I'm also including a little preset for you if you'd like to try out the "Raspberry Glow" effect:

Raspberry Glow-Lightroom Preset by Rachel Martin

If it asks for a password, try "cloudnine". I'd love to here from you if you decide to pick it up and try it out! Enjoy!

A Lightroom Thing

2007-12-06T13:09:00.001-05:00

Okay...so after months of seeing it mentioned here and there in forums and galleries...I finally downloaded the trial version today. There should be a discaimer on this software-something like ::warning-this software is digital crack: 15 minutes into playing with itand I'm HOOKED. The hype was right. This thing is seriously FUN. AND I was able to scout out a few freebie presets so I could play around even more! How exciting. So I wanted to share. Here are a few links to some gorgeous FREE presets:

Inside Lightroom
Kelsey Smith
Jack Davis
Various Artists

and here are some links to some amazing preset for sale:

Victoria Feemster
Michelle Pearson
Simonetta Rossi

A CRD Thing

2007-11-28T12:47:00.000-05:00

So I stumbled upon the new CRD blog "Authentic Artistry" yesterday. How neat it is. I also decided to participate in the 1st challenge on the blog. I'm still a sucker for a good freebie, I guess, lol. So here it is(clickable for your crediting pleasure):

I think it turned out pretty ok!? It was fun no matter what, and really, that is so refreshing. To just do a LO with no real strict requirements.

A Turkey Day Thing

2007-11-28T12:25:00.000-05:00

From the SSD Blog to Mine:

You Are Mashed Potatoes

Oridnary, comforting, and more than a little predictable
You're the glue that holds everyone together.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

A Smelly Thing

2007-10-10T15:41:00.000-05:00

From the Sweet Shop Blog to mine:

Your Scent is Key Lime

Sassy, real, and totally smooth
You're a total flirt who's always ready for a challenge!

What's Your Girl Smell?

This was a fun few minutes in my day. Funny enough, Key Lime is a real favorite dessert of mine! YUM! Try this out! Also...SSD has some FUN challenges going on over there! If you stop by, check them out!

A gemstone thing...

2007-09-24T08:05:00.000-05:00

I'm playing along with the "From Our Blog to Yours" at SSD, this week. Here is the fun little activity they had. A quiz about what kind of gemstone you are. I LOVE what was chosen for me. Aquamarine is probably my FAVORITE gemstone.

Your Gemstone is Aquamarine

Intuitive, tranquil, and trusting.
You inspire others to have faith in themselves.

What Gemstone Are You?

A New ES Blog Challenge Thing

2007-09-12T08:16:00.000-05:00

As you may or may not know, I am onthe site CT for Elemental Scraps. GREAT team, fun girls, fabulous product to play with. Well, anyways-I get to do one of the 2 bi-weekly challenges this week! I even made a layered PSD template to help you along, I'd love for you to check it out!

ES Blog Challenge #4

There are prizes involved, and who doesn't love a good prize?

As for other news, there's not any! LOL, my life is boring, but that can be good, ya know!? My oldest 2 are back to school, my youngest 2are as crazy beautiful, the daycare kids are cute and mischievious, DH is working hard, I'm procrastinating from doing some design work, all as usual. Well, thanks for stopping in and taking a sneak peak of my week. Hope you'll stop by the ES blo, and play along.

A New Collab Thing

2007-08-31T17:01:00.000-05:00

Well, Beth Kern and I put our thinking caps on, and came up with a Scrapz Duo. This is a back to school themed collab called Back to the Books. Chock full of themed and un-themed elements and papers, in a color scheme PERFECT for this time of year.

I'm sure this will help get those frazzled "end of summer" brain cells back into the swing of things. I know this is a crazy time of year for me. Seth, my oldest son, who is 8, started 3rd grade on Wednesday. So far so good. He's been excited and enthusiastic about going, so that is a plus! Leah, my oldest daughter, who is 5, starts Kindergarten next Thursday. She is BEYOND excited. Really. The girl has been pushing her "10 days til Kindergarten" countdown chart at me since May 17th. No joke! So FINALLY we've gotten to actually get that bad boy out and mark off some squares! MUCH to her, and my, relief! In other news, my youngest son, Isaac, who is 3, has been a HOLY terror. "In a second.", "NO!", and "I hate you!" are a few of his choice phrases these days. I do not know WHERE my sweet baby boy went, but he's been replaced by the son of the devil(only half joking). I'm hoping this is just a late start to the "terrible two's", but we'll see. Thank goodness for my sweet darling Ruby.She s just as loving as ever. She started walking about 2 weeks ago, and the little pitter-pat of her bare feet is like angels singing! Seriously, it is such a cute cute sound. Both her and Leah had to get shots last week. Four for Leah(OMG-the agony of holding down a child who is literally half of your size and shouts "I hate you!" midway through!) and three shots for Ms. Ruby. I know. I know. It's for the best. It is still a hard thing to do. I can't imagine being a nurse, that may be the worst in that situation. But I am now the lucky mom of 2 fully vaccinated girls. Shew! Well, everyone(ya right...lol!), I'm off to finish up dinner...and maybe scrap for a bit. Thanks for making it this far!

A Free Camera Thing

2007-08-13T07:48:00.000-05:00

Mike, from Stay At Home Dad, Geek Style, is having a give-away. He has this blog that talks about his work, which he does from home, in order to stay at home with his daughter. He talks about his day to day routine, his trials and tribulations as a young Dad, and the amazingly funny & entertaining things that happen when you are a stay-at-home parent. It is so interesting to see this from such a different perspective, a MAN! I've enjoyed browsing through his posts and checking out his site.

In his Stay At Home Dad Digital Camera Give-Away, he is giving away a brand new Canon PowerShot SD750, and all you have to do is make a post like this one! Now how easy-peasy is that, Lemon Squeezy? I hope you'll check it out! A scrapbooker can ALWAYS use another camera, right?

A Bug Thing

2007-07-30T06:46:00.000-05:00

I'm extending my Birthday Stash until Wednesday! That is 3 more days of HUGE savings. 7 products totaling over 138MB of digital goodness, with a combined value of over $20. This is a great value for those on a limited scrapping budget, or anyone who likes a little bang for their buck. Run on over to OAKS and grab it up!

This was a bsuy weekend for me. I've been re-vamping all of my previews, and let me tell you, this is TEDIOUS work. My family felt abandoned. Poor things. But even with the non-stop computering, we(DH and I) managed to take the kids out for some fun Saturday night. We stopped by Wendy's and grabbed some dinner to go and headed to our local Metro Garden, There is an awesome art display there. "Big Bugs" by David Rodgers. Here are a few photos of the fam:

V

And with that good people, I leave you to do some much needed cleaning!

I twitter!

2007-06-08T09:06:00.000-05:00

Do you?

Twitter with me.

Way cool.

2007-05-30T16:58:00.001-05:00

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

Boundless Inspiration...

2007-05-25T10:41:00.001-05:00

I stumbled upon the most amazing artist this week. His name is Stephane Tartelin. Isn't that some HAWT stuff? I'm really really loving the modern lines and muted colors, and the soft penciled look. His more graphic stuff rocks too. I can't even find words for his matte paintings, wow! I love stumbling upon hidden treasures like this!

Speaking of treasure...I put up a new element pack at OAKS.

I think that's enough bling and shine to label it as treasure! Here is a layout I did using them:

I've had a creative block these last few weeks. I'm not sure where my mojo has gone. My baby girl turned 1 in March, my oldest son turned 8 in April, and my youngest son will turn 3 this coming Sunday. I think my mojo has been replaced with melancholy from all of the growing up that is going on in my house these last few weeks! I'm sure it will return. It usually does at some point! Hopefully sooner, rather than later. Until then. I hope you like the last few goodies I've put up in my shoppe. I also added a freebie to the Sampler section there as well. So please check that out and grab that little gift, from me to you! Have a happy and safe holiday weekend too.

Hugs!

TAG, you're it!

2007-05-01T06:55:00.000-05:00

www.digitaltagteam.com is open for business! After weeks of preparation, opening day is finally here. I'm so excited to present to you, Sweet on Summer:

With an introductory price of ONLY $6.99, this kit is a steal! I hope you'll drop by the Digital Tag Team Blog, there will be some fun challenges and prizes too.

Busy weekend...

2007-04-30T08:09:00.000-05:00

I'm one of those people who likes a busy weekend. I'm not one for naps or propping my feet up in a hammock. I like to go, go, go. This weekend was one of those busy weekends that I love! Friday night we ordered a big family dinner from our local pizzaria. Hawaiian pizza, cheesy garlic bread, a meatball sub, and some wings. YUM. I've been craving some good hot wings, and these helped satisfy that craving. Then we ordered Eragon on pay-per-view. My 2 year old loves action-adventure movies. Saturday, we played around the house, all the kids got baths and showers, and we got ready to go to my niece's 4th birthday party. Of course, being the procrastinatir that I am, I had to drag all 4 kids into the local Kohl's, on the way to the party, as I had not yet bought a present. BUT Kohl's was having a HUGE sale, and I not only got my niece a few adorable little sun dresses, but Leah and Ruby both got a dress each, and I picked up some new CUTE CUTE tops for myself. I felt a tad guilty, as I

am not one to spend money on myself, but I had recently gone through my summer clothes, and got rid of a lot of ratty old things that had seen better days, as well as donating a lot of stuff that was just not fitting anymore. I seem to be one of those backwards women, who gets smaller after each pregnancy and child birth. Breast feeding and pregnancy really speed up my metabolism, so my clothes have started hanging on me. I really like what I got:

Leah got this dress:

Ruby got this dress:

I had so much fun just shopping and having a good time.

Saturday night, I went out with my best friend, Adrienne. We've been friends for 12 years. She's such a hoot. We met at a local bar to have a few drinks and see a band. Her dad's band actually. LOVE going out to see them. In case you want to check them out...

We had so much fun, acted like fools, danced, laughed, and danced some more. It felt really really good to just let loose for a night. Sunday was sort of lazy...I actually went back to Kohl's with my sister Stacey, SIL Lindsey, and best friend Adrienne. We carted ALL 10 f our combined kids up there, yes...it was nuts. The sales people were glaring, but made sure to straighten up racks and buns behind the whirlwind. I'm just like that. Then we had my sister Stacey and her husband Dan and their boys, along with my other SIL Amber, and her husband Jason, and their boys, my MIL Jean, and BIL Dominic-all over for a cookout. That was great! We had a few steaks, some BBQ chicken, hotdogs for the kids, some yummy pasta salad, and the BEST roasted asparagus. My SIL actually ended up running back up to the store to grab 2 more bunches of it, so we could make more. Then we just relaxed and watched the kids play and have some ice cream cones. It was great. I hope you had a good weekend as well.

Help support a great cause...

2007-04-23T06:06:00.000-05:00

I've recently contributed a few items for acharity kit called Gymnaestrada. This kit is HUG and is only $8 - it contains 50 papers and over 80 elements (size 226MB). A lot of designers also contributed. This kit was headed up by Shelleyrae Cusbert. What a caring person she is. This kit is benefiting a group of admirable kids.

Contributing designers are:

kimlizzy
Rachel Knight
Laurie Slawta
Brenda Kempf
Lori Wiley
Rachel Martin
Katja Kromann
Natalie Bird
Bernadette Hunt

The World Gymnaestrada is an invitation only international event that attracts more competitors than the Olympics. It is held every four years, this year it is hosted in Dorbin, Austria on July 8, 2007. The cost of the two week event is AUD$6000 per child and the children have been working hard to raise money. All of the money raised by the purchase of this kit will go to the general fundraising account for the team of eleven, aged between 8 and 21, and all of the money will be distributed evenly between the eleven children. Thank you for the support! If you'd like to see more info about the event please visit their team website http://www.geocities.com/tareegymnaroos/ or the event website http://www.wg2007.com/.

Get inspired...

2007-04-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

I'm hosting a bi-monthly Ad Challenge at OAKS. Come join me and get inspired!

Here is this weeks inspiring ad:

If you decide to play along, please visit the gallery at www.oneofakindscrapz.com and upload your LO there, then post a link to your LO in the Ad Challenge Forum.

I can't wait to see what you come up with! Have fun! Please, post a comment here if you decide to join me! I love hearing from you!

I'm having a SALE!

2007-04-13T11:49:00.000-05:00

::My OAKS Store::

Eye boogers, eye boogers, and more eye boogers.

2007-04-09T07:10:00.000-05:00

Oh YUCK! 3 of the 4 kiddos have crusty eyes today! Poor things. I woke up to a chorus of "Mom!" They could not open their sweet little eyes. I distinctly remember this from my childhood, though it seems so much more serene in my memory. My mom, gently swabbing my eyes with a cotton ball dipped in salt water, as she gently caressed my face and whispered sftly to me. This morning was FAR from serene! A grumpy 8 year old boy, yhelping and batting away my hands as I tried to administer eye drops, and 2 year old crying, pulling his own eye boogers off and eating them, and a 1 year old squirming and screaming as I try to hold her eyes open without blinding her with my fingernails. MASS hysteria! LOL. BUT, I survived, and they have all been treated. Shew! And it's not even 8:30am! Hopefully the rest of the day goes more smoothly! :)

Little bunny Foo-Foo, hopping through the forest...

2007-04-06T08:15:00.000-05:00

Looking for that perfect addition to your Easter cards or spring LOs? Well, search no further! Introducing Litle Bunny Foo-Foo. Cute as he can be.

Now available at OAKS

I also want to let you know that OAKS is now offering a free kit with any purchase over $10! All of the OAKS designers collaborated together to make this bright and spunky kit, Colour of Spring:

Isn't it so fun? I hope you'll stop by OAKS and have a look around. There will be a 30% sale in the whole store this weekend too! So it should NOT be hard to spend $10.

I really can not believe it is April already? We are a fourth of the way through 2007 already! Where does time go? My baby turned 1 last week. My oldest turns 8 this month...I feel old, yet I know I'm not. LOL. Easter has snuck up on me too. I am horrible at getting all "Holiday-ey" (soooo not a word...but I'm famous for making new words up). I've not made the first plan or bought the first chocolate bunny. I know, BAD mommy. I know I'll be running to Target at 9:30pm Saturday night. It's just my way! Oh, and I take that back, I have made one bitty plan. We will be at my MIL's house at some point, and my SIL is making this DELISH looking ham:

GINGER PEACH-GLAZED HAM

The ham tastes great hot and even better served at room temperature, when the cinnamon flavor is more pronounced. For the best flavor, look for peach preserves made with just fruit and sugar and no artificial ingredients.

5 cinnamon sticks, each about 6 inches long
1 precooked smoked ham, about 15 lb.
2 cups dry white wine

For the glaze:
1 jar (15 oz.) peach preserves
1 Tbs. minced pickled ginger
1 1/2 tsp. ground dry ginger
1 tsp. dry mustard
4 Tbs. firmly packed light brown sugar
1 head chicory (curly endive), separated into
leaves

Preheat an oven to 325°F.

Break the cinnamon sticks into 1 1/2 to 2-inch pieces. Using a sharp knife, cut 8 or 9 horizontal slits, each 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep and running at an angle in the upper, more fatty side of the ham. Slip the cinnamon-stick pieces into the slits, poking them into the meat.

Set the ham, cinnamon side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan. Pour the wine into the bottom of the pan and tent the ham with aluminum foil, sealing the edges securely. Bake for 2 hours.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the peach preserves, pickled ginger, dry ginger and mustard. Stir well and heat until the preserves melt, forming a glaze.

After 2 hours, remove the ham from the oven and poke any loose cinnamon sticks back into the meat. Increase the oven temperature to 350°F. Stir about 2 Tbs. of the pan juices into the glaze to thin slightly. Then spoon about three-fourths of the glaze over the top of the ham. Sprinkle 2 Tbs. of the brown sugar on top of the peach glaze, then pat it with the back of a spoon so that it clings to the meat.

Return the ham to the oven and continue baking for 1 hour more, then baste with the pan juices and spoon the remaining glaze over the top. Pat with the remaining 2 Tbs. brown sugar. Continue to bake until the glaze is browned and bubbly and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 140°F, about 30 minutes more. Remove from the oven, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 25 minutes before carving.

Transfer the ham to a large platter and garnish with the chicory. Beginning at the large end of the ham, carve across the grain into thin slices and arrange them around the platter. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Serves 20 to 24.

Adapted from "Williams-Sonoma Lifestyles Series, Brunch Entertaining," by Janeen Sarlin (Time-Life Books, 1999).

Doesn't that look and sound YUM-O? Mmmmmmmmmm!

New kit up!

2007-03-24T12:09:00.000-05:00

Iris is up in my store!

I'm offering a 25% off coupon to my blog readers too. The code is bloggycharm. I hope you'll stop by and take a look around OAKS!

Nothing much...

2007-03-23T07:33:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share this interesting site I stumbled upon. It was in an "inspiring links" thread at DD. I checked it out, and it is such a cool voyeristic idea, and full of random images that might just make you laugh, grimace, grin, or even scrap!

FOUND

I wanted to post a congrats and the list of HOF winners:

1.Courtney Kelly
2.Jackie Stringham
3.Summer Fullerton
4.Linda Harrison
5.Jennifer Perks
6.Vivian Masket
7.Allison Davis
8.Sheri Reguly
9.Vidya Ganapati
10.Kristina Contes
11.Wendy Bretz
12.Mou Saha
13.Bernadette Henderson
14.Lea Lawson
15.Rachel Cohara
16.Deena Wuest
17.Jill Hornby
18.Paula Gilarde
19.Kimber McGray
20.Karen Wilson-Bonnar
21.Shannon Liu
22.Mitchell Kraft
23.Jamie Harper
24.Cherie Mask
25.Tracey Odachowski

There are 2 digi-girls on there too, and I believe a few others are hybrid scrappers as well! It is fun and amazing to watch digital scrapbooking trickle into "mainstream" scrapping! Isn't it?

Also, just a reminder...I am offering a 25% off coupon, good through March 31, in honor of my baby turning one this month! So grab the code:

bloggitycharm

I'm a tease, and I offer coupons!

2007-03-20T07:53:00.000-05:00

Here is a little sneaky peek at a kit I'm working on!

I'm sort of excited about it, I'm loving the colors! I also want to remind everyone that I am offering a 25% off coupon here on my blog. It's good through March 31. In honor of this being the last few days of my Ruby's infancy. She turns 1 on March 30! It's a little bittersweet, as she is my last child! So grab the coupon code bloggycharm. I hope you can use it. I just put my latest kit in the OAKS store yesterday..."Leah, My Sweet". Don't forget, I'm offering the add on for "Leah, My Sweet" as a freebie in yesterday's post, so grab that if you want to try me out!

Well, that's all from me, short and sweet!

A coupon and a freebie for you!

2007-03-19T09:39:00.000-05:00

I released a new kit today, and to celebrate, I'm offering a coupon here on my blog. The coupon code is bloggycharm. It's good for 25% off any purchase from now til March 31. I hope you'll check out my new kit.

Click Here To Go To My Store

*Drop shadows appear ONLY in the preview.

On top of the coupon, I am giving away a little add on for Leah, My Sweet here as well. Please let me know if you like it if you decide to snag this little gift! The password for the file is cloudnine.

Download Here

Babies for sale....

2007-03-09T08:56:00.000-05:00

Okay, no babies for sale, really. BUT there is a SALE AND a baby being born, both today!! First and foremost, my sister is at the hospital as I type this! She is being induced today! They wanted her there at 8am. I'm hoping things go quickly for her sake! My 4th nephew will (hopefully) be here today, March 9th! Ethan James...isn't that a great name? I love it! She has had a very stressful pregnancy. She had a blood clot very early on, and was prescribed blood thinners twice a day for the duration of her pregnancy, and as if pregnancy is not stressful enough on a body, she had to INJECT the meds! She's such a strong woman! 2 shots EVERYDAY in her belly, so Ethan is VERY much loved and cared for already...I just hope she has a nice smooth labor and delivery! I also have my other nephew, Brayden, the BIG brother, for the day as well. He is quite the handful...but so funny!So maybe send me a few "go smoothly" vibes as well! LOL

Now, about the SALE! Who DOESN'T love a sale? I know I love to save money! OAKS is having a store wide, Spring Forward, 40% off sale! AWESOME, right? Well, on TOP of that...if you spend $10, you will also receive a free kit by Dawn Wilson! How cool is that? I know! VERY cool! So Here is a preview of the freebie kit:

And, if you'll see yesterday's blog post, I have 2 new element packs in the store too! I hope you stop by and take a look, there are a LOT of new designers and a lot of old favorites at OAKS too!

2 new element packs up at OAKS! Other random thoughts too...

2007-03-08T15:24:00.000-05:00

This pack will surely help you get your 80's glam on! Available at OAKS for ONLY $2.50.

These are sure to help you anchor any layout down to earth., and its available at OAKS for ONLY $3.00.

I'm so excited to be designing, what a GREAT creative outlet, but I am still a scrapper at heart...my newest LO:

This was done for the newest digi dare. If you have never tried a DIGI DARE, you really should. I digi-dare ya! They really make you stretch your creative boundaries!

I also want to show off a few products by a few friends of mine. Here is a great new kit by Blythe Evans:

And this kit by Amanda Roberts is gorgeous too. I think it is so hard to find good boy kits:

So if you are interested in checking any of these kits out, just click on them!

I'm also throwing out there that Lena Brandenburg is in the hospital, and if anyone reading this could just send a few positive thoughts and prayers her way...I think she'd appreciate it. I'm feeling so bad for her, and ever since getting to meet her in person, and spend a few hours with her and her gorgeous daughter, Naomi, I'm feeling especially distraught over the thought of her feeling badly, and being in a hospital room! Well, that is all from me today!

Want some free stuff? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?

2007-03-02T07:22:00.000-05:00

Then sign up here! I'm not anywhere near being able to do a fully organized and functioning CT, but I'd love to get some exposure and feedback on my current and future products...so if anyone is interested in being on my Quality Assurance Team, please leave me a link to your BEST gallery here in my blog. I'd also ask that you be able to post your layouts in atleast 2-3 galleries, with one of them being DST. If chosen, you will receive, free of charge, any and everything I make in the next 2 months. Yours to keep, as long as you make atleast one layout using each product and/or kit. I'm hoping you'll love my stuff, and maybe tell others. So if this sounds feasible, PLEASE sign up! I'm looking forward to starting a long, fun, and rewarding design career! So if you want to be on my QT....just leave me a comment here, with a link to your gallery and your email address! I am currently selling at OAKS. Here are a few previews of my current stock:

I'll be leaving this call up for two weeks. I'll be choosing 7 talented scrappers, so be on the lookout for an email from me. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

New alpha pack and a new element pack going in my OAKS store soon!

2007-02-22T12:52:00.000-05:00

I'm excited about these two products. To the best of my knowledge, I've not seen them around yet!

and...

Well sweet niblets!

2007-02-22T09:05:00.000-05:00

I'm designing. At a STORE. Insert smiley with it's jaw on the floor :here:. I sent in an application to OAKS (One of a Kind Scrapz, for those who aren't great with acronyms...) completely thinking it would just be a good chance to learn how to effectively make and send an application AND to learn how to graciously handle rejection! How ecstatic was I, when Faith True emailed me back saying they wanted to invite me to be a new designer at the store!? Words failed me! So, without further ado...here is my very first kit currently up for sale in the OAKS store:

My OAKS Store

I'm hoping to add a few more things this week as well! I am just so thrilled! I'm one of those people, that even if I never sold a kit...just the fact that someone thought I was even remotely creative enough to give a spot in a store, is the thrill of a lifetime! I hope I do NOT disappoint them!

I'm bursting at the seams!

2007-02-21T14:24:00.000-05:00

That's all I can say right now! I promise more in a few days!

My first ever FREEBIE!

2007-01-30T07:31:00.000-05:00

Okay...got a freebie for ya! Here is Grape Martini!

Element Pack
Paper Pack 1
Paper Pack 2
Paper Pack 3

Just something I made while playing around...figured I'd share! Oh, and the password for the 4shared files is "cloudnine". If you'd be so kind as to either leave me a comment when you download,or a link to any LOs you make using it, here on my blog, I'd be MORE than thrilled! Really, it'd probably make my year to just see a few LOs made with my kit! So thank you so much, in advance, to all who are kind and thoughtful enough to comment!

Am I Snow White?

2007-01-29T08:08:00.000-05:00

Maybe you're thinking "why does she think she's a princess?". Well, It's not that I think that I'm a princess, it's that my husband seems to think he is Grumpy, the dwarf from Snow White. He wakes up in a horrible, seething, grumpy mood almost everyday. Grumbling under his breath, stomping, slamming doors. I know he detests his job, but what he doesn't realize is he sets the tone for everyone elses day too. I wish he could figure out a way to find atleast one good thing to think about each morning, to atleast get him out the door without leaving a trail of grey clouds behind him. So now I am starting this cold, snowy, miserable Monday off in a bad mood. Argh!

Oh, on a happier, less grumpy note, I started a small kit this weekend. By small I mean big. I'm hoping to give it away as a freebie later this week! I'm just horribly slow at getting my files all saved and organized and zipped and uploading things to a sharing site. :) But be on the look out...and here is a little sneak peek:

Don't leave me, the sloths and pantry climbers are invading!

2007-01-24T13:02:00.000-05:00

I think my kids wake up and secretly synchronize their watches! They all seem to have those "off" days all on the SAME day. My oldest was moving at a sloth's pace this morning, being rude to his sister and his cousin, being disrespectful in both tone and manner to me, standing in the bathroom with the water running and the door closed with a dry toothbrush in hand, telling me he'd brushed his teeth, and attempting to put his clothes on OVER his pajamas. My youngest son is almost 3 and VERY independant and EVERY other word is "NO!" or "I don't like it!". When not being disagreeable, he can usually be found jumping onto or off of the couch, climbing the pantry shelves, or haphazardly throwing all of the tools from his Elmo Workbench. It drives me batty. My youngest daughter, almost 10 months, is teething AND going through a phase of seperation anxiety, which when translated to a home where I am here every second, means she NEVER wants to leave my arms. I spend half of my day just sitting here playing, rocking, and nursing her in front of my computer. The only child acting half way calm and normal, is my oldest daughter. She has pleasantly surprised me today, and has been being so helpful. Bringing the baby toys, playing with her brother and the daycare kids, and playing quietly by herself. She also helped me choose lunch and helped me set and clear the lunch table! I'm hoping to make it to the end of the day, but having a DH who works outside all day, usually means he is drained of all energy and patience by the time he walks into the door. So I'm probably on my own. If you see a blog from me here tomorrow, you'll know I survived it all. If not, send reinforcements and it wouldn't hurt if one of them was stocked with a nice bottle of wine, a heating pad, and some cucumbers for my eyes! I'll need them all! ;)

All about me...in one word...

2007-01-23T08:55:00.000-05:00

Got this from the blog prompt board over at DSP!

This Moment: anxious
Your Shoes: slippers
Craving: pancakes
The State of Your Home: chaotic
Annoyed By: screaming
Noise In the Background: screaming ;)
Really Want To: scrap
Thinking about: money
Smelling: coffee
Favorite Product In Office Supply Aisle: bic
Don't Ever Want To: wreck
Your Eye Color: brown
The Weather: COLD
Have Never Tried: sardines
Think Everyone Should Try: PB&Bacon
Last Vacation Destination: Gatlinburg
The Last Thing You Had to Drink: coffee
Your Bad Habit: coffee
What You're Going To Do Now: scrap

Other great news!!! Faith True just put her new boy collection up at OAKS and DSD! I'm so excited. I saw previews over the weekend, and it looks GREAT! I know there always seems to be a shortage in fun, funky, and fabulous boy kits. So I think you should definitely check it out!

New tooth. New toot.

2007-01-22T07:48:00.000-05:00

After 3 agonizing days, and a little less sleep for both me and her, Ruby's fourth tooth is officially through! Thank goodness! The bad news is, I think I see tooth number five showing beneath her gum line. Well, now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

I'm so excited this morning! Elemental Scraps new site went live! If you have not checked it out yet, I highly recommend it. It's beautiful! I'm sure if you do not have a digi-forum home, you may have now if you visit ES! The color scheme is sophisticated and chic. The forums have lots of great women, scrappers, and friends roaming around. Adding icing to the proverbial cake...there are new designers too! So please check it out!

Dancing on the ceiling...

2007-01-21T11:34:00.000-05:00

Well, not exactly the ceiling, but I did go out with hubby and friends last night. It felt great. I've been feeling like a mommy zombie lately. Like my only purpose in life is to wipe snotty noses, clean up toys, and fix snacks. I'm sure a lot of moms can relate. We sometimes lose our identities as women. Add in the fact that I run a small daycare in my home, and have 4 kids, and rarely leave my house, and you'll understand the zombie reference!

I love dancing, just good old fashioned booty shaking. It always renews my spirits, and it doesn't hurt that I got to actually get dressed up in my new velvet jacket and suede knee high boots that I got for Christmas...and...oh you will not believe it...I actually got to do my hair and wear makeup! Really. No joke. It felt great to feel like a woman, and mot just a mom and wife. And, personally, for me, there is no mood that can't be brightened by some booty shaking. Add in a few beers, some great friends, and a good beat, and you have yourself an evening!

Now that spirit feels renewed. I'll share a layout I made yesterday, BEFORE I was renewed...I was feeling very low and sad./ It was done as a scraplift challenge from Lifts With a Twist and was a scraplift of a LO done by the extremely talented, Anna, at DST. so here it is:

Behind These Eyes...

Credits:
BG paper is by Mary Ann Buchanan(Maybeyousee), from a paper pack called Skater Grunge.
Red felt heart, red velveteen trim, and red heart bead is from All You Need is Love by Michelle Coleman.
Red pinned ribbon is by Natalie Braxton.
Red glitter heart and wings(both recolored) are by the fantabulous Amanda Roberts, a blog freebie called Crushin'!
Glitter heart, newspaper heart trim, newspaper alpha, brown string, and staples are all by Faith True, from Valentines Odds and Ends, and Hot Cocoa.
Lace overlay on the photo is from a brush by FallN at devianart.
Paint strokes by Nancie Janitz Rowe.
Fonts are wooden nickel, vadim's handwriting, and turbo ripped.

Do you know where your soap has been?

2007-01-19T11:57:00.000-05:00

The first job I ever had, at age 16, was for a small "factory". It was a sub-contractor for Bath and Body Works. The warehouse was set up into several different stations, and basically we put all of B & B's gift baskets together.

One station was to stuff the baskets with the filler, usually consisting of a base layer of crumpled paper, followed by paper grass or straw, in various colors. Station two was where the bottles of product were hot-glued together into little rows ranging between 3-5 small bottles of lotion, shampoo, bodywash, body spray, or oil. Station three was where the basket was packed with the goodies, the little glued bottles of product, usually a cellophane wrapped soap or two, and maybe a little gift item like a loofah sponge, hair brush, or votive candle, among other things. Station four was the shrink warap station, you artistically covered the basket with the shrink wrap then used a small hair dryer to heat the plastic so it would shrink around the basket set. Sation 5 was the finishing station, A sticker or tag with a basket content descritpion, price tag, and finishing embellishment (bow, twine, ornament, etc) was added. Fun times. It was almost all women or girls most either 16 and it being their first job, or retired grandmothers, just wanting to get out and do something while earning a few extra bucks. For all of these wonderful duties, I made a whopping $5 an hour. Those were the days, I tell ya. Those. Were. The. Days.