Country Christmas STS road trip

Aren't you loving this road trip?  It has been a long time since I have designed anything, but when I saw these colors I fell completely in love and just had to play.  In case you haven't seen it enough yet, here's the preview of the whole trip and the stops along the way.

JMC Designs

Sweet Maple

Scrappin Serenity

Growing Pains Scrapped

Let Me Scrapbook!

scraphannah

Tina Dell's Tags

Saphira's Scraps

Junfunkie Designs

Sweet Creations

Just For Fun Designs

Queen Bee Scraps

Seal Scraps

CutieFruity

Queen Wild Scraps

Monkey's Musings

The Digi Scrapping Mama

Mommy Made This

DoubleTrouble Scraps

The Scrappy Kat

Heni scrappel

Note-able Scraps

AZ Sweetheart Scraps

Scrappin Ninnie

Here's a preview of my mini.

You can download it {HERE} and then be sure to jump to the next stop: Scrappin Ninnie You don't want to miss a single pit stop along this road trip.  (I'm so sorry if you tried to upload it before.  The link should be working now!!)

Before you go, let me put in a little plug for Stuff to Scraps' December CU grab bag.  I always love to add to my CU stash, and these products are great!  You can check it out HERE in the STS store.

New CT

I'm so excited to be a new CT member for HD Creations.  She just had a new kit release this week, and I got a chance to play with it. 

 

The kit is called Things That Go.  There's also an add-on, word art pack, cardstock pack, and a set of QPs.  You can buy the whole bundle {HERE} in her store at Stuff to Scrap.

Team Call!

I've been MIA for a long time, but I'm getting back in full swing.  Have you heard about With Love Studio?  It's brand new, and they're looking for team members to help them build up and become one of the best digi-scrap homes out there!  It's not too late to answer the call.  I've been accepted to be on the Promo Team, and so far I'm the only one! LOL!  I would really love some more team members to join me, so if you like fun digi-scrap events and would like to help plan them, APPLY!!!  We'll have a blast! :)

Giveaway!

I'm crazy about templates, and I'm lucky enough to CT for Rainy Dayz Designs who makes some of the most amazing templates I've ever seen!  Do you want a chance to win her newest release?  She's releasing a new template pack on Friday, and you could win it!  Click HERE to find out how.

She's also having a $2 sale today on some fabulous packs.  Here's a little peek at what I did with some of them.

Rainy Day Guides vol. 4

Rainy Day Guides vol. 5

Click HERE to find the sale!

Spring Break!

I am so ready for a vacation.  So.  Ready.  And I'm so ready for Spring.  Real Spring with warm temperatures and sunshine.  Not this Utah spring where we use our heater in the morning and air conditioning in the afternoon.  It's the first official day of spring and we're supposed to get rain and snow - yes, I said SNOW - all week.  I'm from Arizona where spring was basically just early summer - hot, hot, and more hot.  So I think when the spring months come, it ought to at least be warm enough that I don't have to send my kids to school in winter coats.  Who's with me?

Combine Spring and vacation and what do you get?  Spring Break!  Last year for Spring Break we went to Disneyland - with the rest of the western United States.  Seriously, it was probably the busiest I've ever seen the Happiest Place on Earth.  We generally try to go during the off season when we can, but we were taking the kids out of a little too much school, so we decided Spring Break was a great choice for our next Disney trip.  After all, it couldn't be as bad as that one year we went over 4th of July weekend, right?  Wrong!  Not only was it Spring Break for Utah, Arizona and probably a few other neighboring states, but Southern CA was also having a 2 for 1 deal with a coupon you could pick up at a local grocery store.  We found out about that one from some people who were standing in front of us in line for Pirates of the Carribbean.  They were from Tennessee.

This year we're changing gears and visiting Grandma during Spring Break instead.  The kids couldn't be more excited.  Well, maybe they would be more excited about Disneyland.  They don't really remember the crowds, just the fun.  Still, they're super excited to go visit their grandma in Texas in a few weeks, and their parents are pretty excited, too. 

Do you (or did you) have any fun Spring Break plans?  Any road trips?  Fancy beach vacations?  Or just a week of sitting around in your backyard or chillaxin' at home?

This year I'm going to do all of those things - right from my living room!  And one week just isn't enough, so my Spring Break is going to last an entire month!  Want to know the best part?  You can join me!  Who doesn't want a whole month of vacation?  That's right, all through the month of April at Brownie Scraps, we're going to have a Spring Break Bash full of tons of fun.  We'll have special challenges, games, prizes and more.  You can purchase your ticket now to win extra points that will be redeemed for a chance to win fabulous prizes!  The ticket includes an adorable Spring Break kit from Ramona the Pest Designs.  It's available now in the store for only $5.  Here's a little sneak peek and more info about our fabulous Spring Break Bash.  You don't want to miss it!!

Delightful Desktops

When was the last time you dressed up your computer's desktop?  This month I'm hosting the Decadent Desktop challenge at Brownie Scraps, and it has been fun to see not only how cute everyone's new desktops are, but also how many of them used products from Ramona the Pest!  Since I happen to be on Ramona's CT, and she happens to be one of my favorite designers, I felt like showing off some of the great desktops these talented scrappers have been creating with her kits this month.  All of the images are linked to the gallery, so feel free to hop over and leave them some love!

Melissa has the most adorable kiddos!  I always love her clustering, and I LOVE the way she used Ramona's Today kit here.

My fellow Pest, Ashley, lives on a farm, and her lucky little girl gets to live every little girl's dream - she has a horse!  She used Splendidly Spring, which Ramona and March created together, to showcase those fabulous photos.

Jennifer used the February Baker's Dozen, Love Story for her desktop, and those frames and most of the flowers are from Ramona!  I just love her adorable family photos!

Naturally I had to play along with my own challenge.  I had scrapped a page with all my girls, and I love it - it makes me smile every time I see it.  So I took parts of that and used it for my desktop.  Now I get to see those cutie girls every time I start up my laptop.  I used Ramona's Love U Still kit.

It's not too late to join in the fun!  You can find the desktop challenge HERE at the forum.  If you use current product from the Brownie Scraps store, you will earn 2 Brownie Points when you turn in your desktop by the end of the month.  The more Brownie Points you earn, the bigger the coupon you'll receive to buy more fabulous products in the store!  You don't have to use Ramona's product, but I would love to see you try! ;)

Krispie Kisses

Are you looking for a fun and easy Valentine's Day treat?  This one is a favorite of mine! 

The first year I tried them, I surprised my kids with them, and they were completely awestruck.  It did wonders for my ego.  Since then I have let the kids help me make the treats, and they have so, so much fun.  They love smashing the krispie goo into the funnels, deciding what to write on the tag and wrapping them in foil.  Somehow I have managed to make them year after year without taking a single picture, so I borrowed this one from Bee in our Bonnet.  She also gives some instructions and has some other cute ideas, too.

Here's the basic idea.  Melt your butter and marshmallows and add the rice krispies as usual.  You can add color if you want for the extra wow factor.  Then, instead of pouring all the goo into a big pan to set up, you use a funnel to make the kiss shape.  You can use any size you want or even an assortment.  Write your sentiment on a tag and then wrap the kiss in foil with the tag sticking out the top.  Voila!  That's all there is to it!  So simple and so fun!

LO Spotlight

Let's shine the spotlight this week on another gorgeous LO in Ramona's gallery.  Ramona's new kit releasing today is absolutely gorgeous, I mean really, really gorgeous.  And to prove it, our spotlight this week is on this fabulous LO by Heather (isaacsmom) using Ramona's new kit, Friends Forever.

I just love her photo treatment, the gorgeous clustering, the stitches around the page, the fabulous journaling, the adorable kiddos...  Awesome!  Head on over to Ramona's store or check out the Fresh Baked Brownies to find a great deal on this gorgeous kit.

Do you know how you could win a $3 coupon to Ramona's store?  It's so easy!  Scrap a page with one of Ramona's kits and show it off in her gallery.  That's it.  Remember the kit you choose needs to be a current one in her store, and you must upload it to the Ramona the Pest Designs gallery, not just the main store gallery.  Each week we'll choose a LO to spotlight, and if yours is the LO chosen, you will win a $3 coupon to Ramona's store!  Just think... if you had that coupon, you could get this fabulous new kit for less than $1!!!  How is that for an amazing deal?

LOTD!

I just visited the Brownie Scraps gallery and found that my LO was the layout of the day!!!  Totally made my day.  This new kit of Ramona's is so fun to work with.  Between Bre's template and Ramona's kit, this was one of the most fun and fastest LOs I've created in a long time - and I loved it when I was done.

Isn't it fun?  Here are some links for you in case you want to snag any of these fun goodies.

Gallery view

Kit: Cosmic Adventures by Ramona the Pest Designs

Template: Rainy Day Guides vol. 7 by Rainy Dayz Designs

Weekly Winner!

Another week, another fabulous LO to showcase and another $3 coupon to Ramona's store given away by the amazing (and generous) Ramona the Pest.  It's so fun to search through Ramona's gallery and see all the amazing things scrappers have done with her awesome kits.  This week, this LO by lwentkie really caught my eye.

Don't you love it?  She used Ramona's Potty Star kit, and it's absolutely the perfect choice for this great LO.  The photo is fabulous, the journaling is awesome, and I love that strip of elements - all those stars = so cute!  So head over to the gallery to leave her some love, and congrats to you lwentkie!

Don't forget that Ramona is giving away a $3 coupon to her store every week!  All you have to do is scrap with Ramona's current product - easy and fun - and upload it to her gallery at Brownie Scraps.  Then watch the newsletter for the announcement each week and you could be the next winner!!  Happy scrapping and I'll see you in the gallery!

Happy 2011!!!

Happy New Year!  I'm always excited for a new year, a new beginning, and lots of new goals.  I set a ridiculous amount of resolutions each year.  I figure the more I set, the better chance I have of completing at least one of them.  Last year I really outdid myself and went a little overboard with the resolutions - some sort of twenty-ten nonsense - so this year I'm simplifying.  Since this year is two-oh-one-ONE, I'm focusing on the power of ONE.  By small and simple means, great things are brought to pass.. right?  So, after being a horrible blogger last year, I'm going to focus on the power of ONE - one blog post a week.  That will be a mighty improvement from last year and I'm looking forward to getting back into the blogging habit.  So without further adieu...

Let's kick off this new year with a giveaway!!!  I'm on the amazing CT of a fabulous designer (and one of my absolute favorites) Ramona the Pest at Brownie Scraps.  Her kits are so much fun to work with, and now she has made it even more fun by offering a $3 coupon to her store.  Want a chance to win???  All you have to do is play with her kits!  Check out her store here and do a little shopping.  Have fun creating awesome LOs and upload them to her gallery.  We'll be choosing a LO that really stands out in her gallery each week and featuring it in the newsletter.  The scrapper who created that LO will receive a $3 coupon to Ramona's store to shop some more and make some more amazing LOs, which of course should be uploaded to the gallery for another chance to win!!  There is no limit to the number of LOs you can create and enter for chances to win.  So head to the store, shop til you drop, and scrap, scrap, scrap!

This week the winner of the $3 coupon is krystlbear for her LO Memories.  Congratulations, Crystal!!

Isn't it darling?  I love the circle photos and all the swirls.  So cute!  Head over to the gallery to leave her some love and upload your own LOs for a chance to win next week's coupon.  See you in the gallery!

Thankful For... Days 7 and 8

The hardest and best thing I've ever done in my life is be a mom.  I had a moment last weekend surrounded by all of my family in the basement hanging out and loving each other when I was especially grateful for this life.

Gallery view here.  Kit is Simple Elegance by Scrappin' Daisies and it lives up to its name.  Simple, beautiful, elegant - I love it!  Based on a template by Helen at MScraps.  Links in gallery view.

We've had a strange fall, much warmer than usual, no snow, lots of sunshine.  It has been lovely, but I admit I had a little thrill when I looked outside the other morning and saw what looked like a winter storm coming in through the trees.  I grew up in a place that didn't have seasons or weather, and I really love being able to enjoy both now.

Gallery view here.  Kit is Fall Breeze by Flutterbye Faery Designs.  Links in gallery view.

Thankful For... Days 5 and 6

Life gets so busy and there's always so much to do, so many places to run, and so many things pulling us in all directions.  I'm grateful for times when I can just sit around being with my family at home. 

This gorgeous kit is Fall Memories by Ramona the Pest Designs at Polka Dot Plum.  Template was a DSD freebie from Studio Basic Designs.  Gallery view here.

This little nut has never been an easy kid.  She was my hardest pregnancy, my hardest baby, and as a toddler has been constantly on the move, destroying everything in her path, but she's also so sweet, cute, loving, and funny.  She makes my days ridiculously hard and perfectly wonderful all at the same time. 

This adorable mini is Give a Hoot by Flutterbye Faery Designs.  Every piece of the mini was used in this page.  It's free with the purchase of a Brownie Addicts membership for the month of November at Brownie Scraps - $10 includes this cute mini, another (gorgeous) never-released kit, a mega kit and add-on, extra coordinating freebies throughout the month, QP exchange, challenges, chatter, and fun!  Totally worth every penny and still worth the price even though it's already the 11th.  Gallery view here.

Ready for a vacation?

It's time for the 2nd Annual Brownie Scraps Cruise!  Hop on board and joion us for some great fun!

This really was ridiculously fun last year and you don't want to miss it.  You can buy your passport HERE.  Your passport includes a fabulous cruise kit and some other fantastic {surprise!} items.  You'll want to join us for Cruise Bingo and the chance to win $100 to spend at the Brownie Scraps store!!  Yes, you read that right, $100 GC to Brownie Scraps!!!  Have someone create a fabulous LO for you while you lounge by the pool.  And so much more!!!  (Click on the flyer for more info.)  Get your passport now.  You don't want to miss this!!

Thankful For... Days Three and Four

It's only day four and I'm already loving this project.  It's really great to spend the day looking for things I'm thankful for, and it helps me appreciate even the small things in life a little more.  Yesterday my 2-year-old woke up cranky and whining.  After I got her big sisters off to school, I tossed my whiny companion into the tub, filled it with bubbles and watched her scowl instantly turn to pure elation.  I love that I can make my baby happy with something so simple as pouring some bubbles into a tub of water.

Gallery view here.  Kit is Summer Fun: Beach by Marni Designs at Brownie Scraps.  The alpha is a FREE bonus with the purchase of the Summer Fun Bundle (which just happenst to be on sale now).  Click on the gallery view for the links.

My 11-year-old has had some issues with her teeth since she was little.  At the time I didn't realize what was going on, but looking back now in photos and videos I can see that as a baby she had a bottle of apple juice with her all the time.  all. the. time.  This resulted in "bottle mouth" which is a cute name for a gross problem -- rotting teeth.  When she was 1-1/2 she had to have her front 4 teeth pulled, and she lived without them for years and years until her adult teeth came in.  When they finally did, they were so crooked she still couldn't bite into anything.  We talked to an orthodontist earlier this year who said he could do her braces in two phases.  The first phase now to straighten her top teeth, and then in a few years when all of her permanent teeth have come in, we can do a full mouth set, fix her bite, blah, blah... all those things that orthodontists do.  We jumped at the chance to fix her funky teeth, and she had her braces put on in February.  This week she got them off, and it has been so fun to see how much she loves her straight, brace-less teeth.

Gallery view here.  This adorable kit is Toothy Grin, the new release from Ramona the Pest in her new store at Polka Dot Plum.  Links available in the gallery view.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful For... Day Two

Tonight when we were all home from school, work, activities and finally all together for a moment before bedtime, it was time for family prayers.  It was my little 5 year old's turn, and her sweet prayer reminded me how thankful I am for the sweet, innocent prayers of children.  I love her faith and confidence that someone is listening and that He will answer her.  I love that she prayed to be able to go to Disneyland again in January.  I love that she prayed for family members whose needs she doesn't understand and random people in the world that she doesn't even know.  I love that the only thing she asks for herself is a night free of bad dreams.  What a blessing to have children.

Gallery view here.  Kit is Vintage Days by Marni Designs at Brownie Scraps.

Thankful For... Project: Day One

Happy November!  I love this time of year and all the holiday excitement.  Sometimes I get so caught up in the preparation for Thanksgiving, the food, the home, the travel, that I don't focus enough on the "Thanks."  So this month I've started a little Thankful project.  Each day in November (or at least until Thanksgiving) I'm going to take a picture and scrap a page of something I'm thankful for... starting today.

We spent the end of October on vacation.  We drove to Arizona to visit with family and welcome my baby brother home from his mission.  He's as adorable as ever, and we loved soaking up every moment we could spend with him.  From Mesa, we drove to our other favorite place, Disneyland!  We spent a week at the Happiest Place on Earth with our fun grandparents, and we loved it so much it was hard to tear ourselves away and come home.  Now that we're home, we're trying to recover and get things put back in order.  I'm slowly finding the living room floor, and the mountain of dirty laundry has been replaced with a mountain of clean laundry waiting for the folding fairy to visit.  (If you see her, send her my way.)  As I stood looking at that giant mountain of dirty laundry this morning, I found myself so extremely grateful for a washer and dryer that wash my clothes while I do other things.  Seven people + 10-ish days = TONS of laundry.  I can't imagine if I had to do it any other way.  Yikes!  So here's my first of many "Today I Am Thankful For" pages.

View it in the gallery here.  The kit is Joyful by Scraps by Mara available for FREE this month for particpating in the Brownie Indulgence challenge at Brownie Scraps.  Come on over and play along!!

It's That Time Again

Time to subscribe to the Brownie Addicts Club!  Gabs of Snuggle Berry Pie Designs and Sara of Scrap Sprinkles Designs are hosting the Brownie Addicts in October.  Sign up for only $7 by the end of September and you'll get a super Mega kit and add-on on October first, another free kit to download as soon as you subscribe, bonus freebies throughout the month, QP exchange, extra challenges, and so much more.  It's a great deal!  The price goes up to $10 on October 1, so hurry and get it at a discount.  You won't be sorry!!

Coming Soon...

Guess what's coming on Friday...  You won't want to miss it!!!

Supreme Scrappin' Challenge

I've been totally MIA this summer.  Yikes!  The kids went back to school last week, except my cute little kindergartener who starts tomorrow, so I'm back, too!  Did you know that Brownie Scraps is celebrating our 2nd birthday this year?  Of course, that means lots of fun and prizes and sales -- and you should not miss it!  This fabulous Supreme Scrappin' Challenge starts on Wednesday and you still have time to sign up if you hurry!  So head on over to this thread at the forum and sign up for a chance to win some fabulous prizes and a guest Supreme spot!