:DAILY INSPIRATIONS: April 2009 Winner!!

I received some amazing entries for the April 2009 Daily Inspriations contest! Thank you to all of you who submitted...you are all amazing!

However, I only have one Making Memories prize package to give away, so the winner is.......

Sammie Coxbill...who submitted this adorable layout based on the handcut title challenge.

Congrats, Sammie! You must have a steady hand! I will be emailing you soon with details on how to claim your prize.

REMINDER:
The May 2009 Daily Inspirations contest is in full swing! Layouts can be submitted until Friday, June 5th, 11:59 PM (CST) for a chance to win the Dutch Girl Paper Crafting Kit by Cosmo Cricket!

:CROP: OMG...Stacy Julian posted our pic on her blog!!!!!

I'm just about crying right now! I'm not yet ready to share the full story of this weekend - still recovering and haven't even uploaded my pics yet - but I had to share this RIGHT NOW!

Scroll down a little...yup, that's us with the Fun Dip!!

How amazingly cool is that...more great stories about my first crop coming soon...

:HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY:

:JOURNALING: 10 Questions to Ask Your Mother

I was flipping through my May 2009 issue of Real Simple and came across something that really sparked my interest - an article called "10 Questions to Ask Your Mother."

I immediately thought what a great journaling starter the questions would be for a layout, series of layouts or even a mini-book...and what a great way to learn something new about your mom in honor of Mother's Day.

Here's the questions:

1. What's the one thing you would have done differently as a mom?
2. Why did you choose to be with my father?
3. In what ways do you think I'm like you? And not like you?
4. Which one of us kids did you like best?
5. Is there anything you have always wanted to tell me but never have?
6. Do you think it's easier or harder to be a mother now than when you were raising our family?
7. Is there anything you regret not having asked your parents?
8. What's the best thing I can do for you right now?
9. Is there anything that you wish had been different between us - or that you would still like to change?
10. When did you realize that you were no longer a child?

In the article, the author, Judith Newman, goes into further detail about why each question is important and what your mother's answer can review about you, your mom and your relationship.

She also shares some answers of her own mother and/or those of her friends. An interesting read.

Hey, Mom...you up for a few questions? :-)

:GIVEAWAY WINNERS: Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking 3 & Tessa Ann's Buttons

Phew...two great giveaways in one week!!

That means two very lucky winners...

On National Scrapbooking Day, I offered up a free copy of Jessica Sprague's wonderful new installment of amazing digital and hybrid techiques, Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking 3.

So, I headed to Random.org to find a winner from all the wonderful comments (some of you found some really amazing ways to spend the weekend, by the way!)...

and the winner is...

#43...


Congrats, Lorraine...sounds like you had quite the NSD weekend and now you get a little bonus for your creative productivity!

THEN, we also had those adorable little buttons that Tessa Ann offered up from her etsy shop.

From the looks of the comments, there's a little something for EVERYONE in Tessa Ann's store.

However, the lucky winner of these adorable Retro Blue Bird buttons is...


#9...


Congratulations, Lana!! I think it's pretty awesome that the winner ended up being someone that actually listed these exact buttons as her favorite!

Lorrainne and Lana, I will be emailing you soon with details on how to claim your prizes.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking 3
If you didn't win the free copy of Jessica's book in this giveaway, come back next week. I will be posting a review of the book along with another chance to win!

April Daily Inspirations Winner
All of the entries for the April Daily Inspirations have been collected and a random winner will be chosen very soon. Please watch for the announcment early next week!

In the meantime, be sure to check out the May Daily Inspirations and enter for your chance to win this month's great prize package!

:CROP: Packing the bag...ummm...bags...

On Friday morning I am leaving for my first ever scrapbooking crop!! Woohoo!! I am so excited!

I have a feeling that even if I don't get that many layouts completed, it's still going to be an amazing weekend.

However, I am hoping to get at least a few layouts done (especially since I haven't scrapped since before my accident), so of course I must go prepared.

Therefore, I found the bag and then it was time to pack...and this process had me a little worried (you can read more about my irrational fears - or are they? - here).

First, since I generally start with my photos whenever I start a layout, I figured that it shouldn't be any different when trying to pack for a crop so I spread all my to-be scrapped pictures in layout groups on my table.

I have a good variety...some winter shots, some play shots, some dance shots, some Easter shots, etc.

Then, since it would be physically impossible (or at least extremely inconvenient) to take my entire paper stash, I went on to the next step of attempting to pick out individual papers and collections that I felt would go best with the photo groupings I hope to scrap.

I limited myself to ONE Cropper Hopper vertical paper holder to house all of the paper and cardstock that I would be taking.

Then, I moved on to embellishments.

This step proved to be even harder than the papers...I filled ONE snap lid 13x13 box with letter stickers, chipboard letters and shapes, gems, journaling blocks and more. It is so stuffed that it almost won't snap!

These two holders went in the main compartment of my new bag and fit quite nicely.

See that narrow space in front? I'm hoping to fit my laptop there as I have been told that there will be a computer and printer available for printing off journaling, titles and other stuff, but we have to have it created and saved on our own flash drive first as to not tie it up too long.

This picture doesn't show it well, but there are also zippered pockets on each side of the bag. On one side I have a large selection of rub ons and on the other are chipboard alphabets and a little bit of ribbon.

Next, I moved on to what I am referring to as my tool bag (actually a diaper bag given a much more glorious purchase).

In it, I packed my trimmers, ruler, favorite punches, adhesive, paints, disposable brushes and stapler (and a fishing tackle box holding brads, eyelets and gems because it fit better in this bag).

And, last but not least, I used the over the shoulder bag that came with my rolling bag to house my PageMaps print offs (LOVE THESE) and my copies of The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker and Photo Freedom since I'll have the perfect opportunity to get author autographs (I hope).

A few other favorite idea books might find their way in this bag as well...

So, that's it...I'm packed...and can't wait to go!

This process has made me curious though.

For those of you that have been to a crop before...did you go through a similar packing process or is yours completely different??

What am I forgetting??

:MEMORYWORKS EXPRESS: May 2009 Kit - "Tutti Frutti"

Live life...in COLOR!

Isn't life a little more fun when you have a bright and bold array of choices? This months' kit is so full of yummy colors and delicious flavor combinations you're just going to want to gobble it up!

We are so excited to bring to you our May MemoryWorks Express kit "Tutti Frutti".

Delve into the fabulous, fresh, and fruity colors and patterns; and don't forget to top it all off with all of the irresistibly juicy embellishments and page enhancements. So get creative and experiment with all of the fruity goodness!


Patterned Paper
{1} 12x12 Cherry Hill - Tea Towel (October Afternoon)
{1} 12x12 Cherry Hill - New Apron (October Afternoon)
{1} 12x12 Cherry Hill - Cookie Jar (October Afternoon)
{1} 12x12 Garden Grove - Joy Street (Scenic Route)
{1} 12x12 Garden Grove - Flower Street (Scenic Route)
{1} 12x12 Creative Café - Orange Notebook (Creative Imaginations)

Solid Cardstock
{1} 12x12 Intense Orange (Prism)
{1} 12x 12 Intense Kiwi (Prism)
{1} 12x12 Sunflowers Medium (Prism)
{1} 12x12 Really Red (Prism)

Embellishments
{1} 12x12 Cherry Hill Alphabet Stickers (October Afternoon)
{1} 5x6 Sheet Snack Attack Felties (Sassafrass Lass)
{1} 12x12 SheetGarden Grove - Die Cut Arrows (Scenic Route)
{1} Red Square Journal Sprout (Jillibean Soup)
{1} Green Square Journal Sprout (Jillibean Soup)
{1} Orange Round Journal Sprout (Jillibean Soup)
{1} Black Round Journal Sprout (Jillibean Soup)
{6} Tutti Fruitti - Trinkets Beads (Maya Road)
{2} Ladybug Buttons (Doodlebug Designs)
{2} Tangerine Buttons (Doodlebug Designs)
{2} Limeade Buttons (Doodlebug Designs)
{2} Bumblebee Buttons (Doodlebug Designs)
{1} Marigold - Lollipop Layered Fabric Flower (Prima)
{1} Yard 5/8" Orange Dot Ribbon (May Arts)
{1} Yard 3/8" Red Stitched Ribbon (May Arts)

Bonus Cards
{1} 5.5x8.5 Intense Orange (Prism)
{1} 5.5x8.5 Intense Kiwi (Prism)
{1} 5.5x8.5 Sunflowers Medium (Prism)
{1} 5.5x8.5 Really Red (Prism)
{1} 5.5x8.5 Baby Blue Medium(Prism)
{1} 5.5x8.5 White Envelopes

ALL FOR ONLY $29.95!! (plus $6.50 S&H)

If you are interested in this kit or subscribing to the MemoryWorks Express Kit Program, please contact me today for further details!