Where have you been, you ask?

Hey all...it's been a while! 

Lots of changes in the past few years...new relationship status, new career, new lease on life...

But one thing that hasn't changed is my love of creating...I still have all my scrapbook tools and supplies and one day will venture into that fabulous world but at this point and time I'm really into buying, finding and acquiring wood furniture to turn it into something beautiful and unique...take a peek over at my new blog for a couple sneak peeks and to see if there's anything that you might want to purchase.  If you have something you'd like to have me "make new" for you, please inquire about prices and time lines for your loved piece of furniture!!

Check back often, I hope to be uploading weekly projects, tips and items for sale...in between my three, yes, I said three, jobs...I told you my life had changed...only for the better!!!  :)

'Til the next time...please check out my newest passion at Refreshed Renewed Recreated!!

YMBD Gives Back" National Scrapbooking Day Online Crop

Official crop kickoff is 7pm EST tonight (Friday May 1st) and runs all weekend long! Deadline for all crop submissions is Midnight EST on Tuesday, May 5th.

So here's how we are going to do it...

The "YMBD Bucks Bucket"


Help us fill this Bucket with YMBD Bucks!

For every 1000 YMBD Bucks that goes into the Bucket, YMBD will donate $1 to the

Canadian Cancer Society.

Here's how you can help fill the bucket:

• For every challenge completed during the online crop and uploaded to the YMBD Gives Back Crop Gallery, 100 YMBD Bucks will go into the bucket!
• As of this morning Cat has cleared her own YMBD Bucks Balance to 0. She will be accepting donations of your own YMBD Bucks balances (as much or as little as you would like to donate). To donate, just click the donate link in her profile to the left! All donations of your bucks will go into the Bucket, as well as any Bucks she earns during the crop by posting, commenting and uploading! So keep an eye on her balance and watch it grow!

Take advantage of our Crop Sale! Use coupon code: GIVEBACK between now and May 5th and get 10% off your entire order (excluding May Special, Gift Certificates & Clearance). Of that 10% savings, half will go into the Bucket!

Challenge Submissions: All challenge/crop submissions must be uploaded to the YMBD Gives Back online crop gallery, by Midnight EST May 5th.

IMPORTANT: You may complete as many challenges as you wish, and you may complete all challenges more than once, but please only upload ONE photo of each submission to the crop gallery (if you want to post additional photos of closeups, you can upload those to the regular Member Gallery).
All submissions must be new creations, created during the crop (no past work allowed). Your creations may be traditional scrapbooking, digital or hybrid. The gallery upload limit we normally have in effect is lifted during the crop and does not apply.

Prizes: What's a crop without prizes right? Prize winners will be drawn randomly from the crop gallery. The more challenges you complete and upload the more chances you have at winning (statistically speaking).

•First Prize: $20 YMBD Gift Certificate
•Second Prize: $15 YMBD Gift Certificate
•Third Prize: $10 YMBD Gift Certificate
•3 Runner-Up Prizes: each will receive a suprise assorted package of YMBD Goodness valued at a minimum of $5.

Remember: the more challenges you complete the more you help fill up our Bucket, and the closer we get to curing cancer! Hopefully this fuels everyone's mojo this weekend! So PLEASE, scrap lots!

Please join us this weekend for National Scrapbooking Day and for the Canadian Cancer Society...you can give back!!!!

MyScrapbookSocial.com

Oh my....YOU have to go check this out!!!!! Cat from YMBD's DH, Hugh (got that? lol) created this community for scrappers to post links, their work, chat, meet new friends, you name it!!!

Cat says, "Think Pub-Calls only BIGGER (and better). Like, Facebook-style only for Scrapbookers! "

I think it's the coolest idea!!!! I've registered - created my resume - uploaded my blog, etc.

Check it out...I dare ya! I think you'll be come addicted in no time and who knows what may come out of it if you do register...a layout published; meet new scrappy friends; the possiblilities are endless!!!!

How's this...for everyone that registers, come back here and post a comment and I will draw a name from the comments to win some YMBD awesome stuff!!!! I know you want to try it out!!!! A week from today I'll pick a winner and send you some yummy stuff to play with...you'll be addicted to both sites in no time!!! :)

What are you waiting for? Here's the link MyScrapbookSocial or click the banner on the right to get there!!!! I can't wait to see you!!!

Scrap Lots!!!

We're Back!!!!!!!!!

Had an awesome time in Mexico...we arrived late April 4th at the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda Resort in the Mayan and had a fun filled week of sun, sand, pools, tequila and Bubba's filled with vodka!!!! I think I'm going into withdrawls right now!!! LOL

Here are a few pics!!







Some shots of our resort:









Deep Sea Fishing Excursion:

Loved the fancy gold downrigger unit


Wendy's Barracuda



Playa del Carmen - Fifth Avenue

So Sketchy Reveal(s)...YMBD April 1st Reveals!!!

Where do I start?
How about the last 2 sketchs of the awesome set we had to work with in March from So Sketchy...okay, that sounds like a great idea!!!!! :)

Here's the 2nd one that I worked on in March...I went WAY back in my stash for this one and pulled out some fun KI pp!!! A treasure found as it worked perfectly with the photo I took of a rose from the bouquet my hubby got me for my 40th birthday!!!! Since it was my birthday, the Printable Stamps from The Cutting Cafe that was our sponsor this month came in very handy!!! I used a small one and a large one that I punched out after printing with my big 3" scallop punch...love the look!!! Thanks for the opportunity to work with your wonderful printables...I enjoyed it throughly!!!





Supplies Used:
KI pp
Bazzill Just the Edge CS Strips
AC Thickers
Adirondack Dimensional Pearls paint
YMBD Butterfly CS Embellishments

Next was a circle layout but I had fun changing it up a bit and using a die cut sheet of pp to show off my gorgeous pup!!! :)





Supplies Used:
Pebbles pp
Pebbles chipboard
YMBD Your Life Labels
Maya Road Sheer Journal Shapes/Chipboard shapes
Prima Bling Swirls
Black River Glitter Alphas

Okay, lets move into April...here's my first April sketch uploaded. Loved the mix of clean lines and circles on this sketch and found by stretching out the layout a bit it worked perfectly with these photos of my neice this past Fall.





Supplies Used:
Dream Street pp
Prima Blossoms
AC Thickers
Pink Paislee Alpha Stickers
Riff Raff Chipboard Vine
YMBD Kraft Classic Scallops Journal Tags
Fancy Pants Black Frames Overlay
Misc Buttons

****************************************

Your Memories By Design April 1st Reveal Projects!!!

April's Special Includes:
•Swirly Bird Cardstock Embellishments (set of 3 in Huckleberry, Grape & Kiwi)
•Graph Paper Scallops (set of 8)
•Who/What Classic Labels (set of 15)
•Chipboard Apples (set of 12)•Acrylic Circles (set of 4)
•Yummy Surprise

RETAIL VALUE: $11.75
You Pay ONLY: $9.40
You Save: $2.35 (20%)

Only available until April 30th!!!

WIN, WIN, WIN -- Want some free YMBD goodies? Then don't forget to submit your layout, card or other project (created with this month's special) into our Monthly Special Contest. Click HERE for more details!

And without further adeu, here are my projects with April's yummy kit!!!!









That's all folks!!!!

Note: Hubby and I are heading off to sunny Mexico on Sat (Apr 4th) so the blog will be quiet for a week or so...stay tuned for when we get back because I plan to take 100's of photos and scrap them all!!!!!!! Have a great week, everyone!!!

Scrap lots!!!

So Sketchy Reveal - a couple days early! Yay!!!

I love, love, loved working with this sketch...I'm so in luv with wallet sized pics lately!! YUM!!! Lots of fun embellishements on this layout and you can see more details on So Sketchy.

Here's my sketch:



Here's what I did with it...pretty true to the sketch it was such a fun one to work with!



Supplies used:
Basic Grey Porcelain PP

Bazzill CS

Prima Say it in Studs

Bazzill Just the Edge CS Strips

Martha Stuart Border punch

EK Success Scallped punch

Riff Raff Chipboard Butterflies

Heidi Swapp

Chipboard Heart

Basic Grey Chipboard Alphas

MM Journal Blotter; blossoms; buttons and mini Alphas

AdIrondac Dimensional Pearls paint

I Got Nothin'....

Hey all...pretty quiet on here, eh?

Well, no reason really except that I had nothing that I could show you. ;) It's been pretty busy around here the last week or so and hard to update the blog when I'm barely at my computer! Fun stuff, for sure, but it's cutting into my scrap time!! :)

Okay, I lied, I got a little something....I have been scrapping, honest but nothing new I can show you right now...there are a couple layouts coming for So Sketchy so watch for them and here are a few layouts and cards from the Mid Month Reveal at YMBD...yay, this post isn't totally going to be imageless!!! LOL

Enjoy!

The Members are Taking Over at YMBD!!!!!

Want to participate in an awesome online crop? Come on over to YMBD, the members have taken over and will be posting awesome crop challenges and giving away fabulous prizes!!!!!!

Come check it out, starting at 7:00 PM EST - the pre-challenges from Cat are up now and the member challenges are starting to pour in, I know I won't be able to keep up! LOL

So Sketchy - Guest Designer for April

Guest Designer for April

For the month of March, anyone who submits a card or page using any of the sketches posted for the month have a chance to win a guest designer position on So Sketchy for April.

Contest details:
For the monthly contest, please email your submissions to:

sosketchy@live.com

Create a page or card using any of the sketches showcased this month. Please reduce the size of your image to below 150kB.

With your image:

• Please include your name, location and title of your creation.
• Please identify what sketch number(s) you used for your creations.

The So Sketchy Sistas will vote for the best submission and the submission that has the most votes will win the Guest Designer position for April.

NOTE: If would like to be considered for the Guest Designer position, I would love to see you comment on the March creations by the So Sketchy Sistas this month.

MARCH CONTEST DUE DATE: All creations are due by the 4th of the following month. (ie: March sketches due April 4.) You will win a copy of the printable images from The Cutting Cafe the Sistas used for their March creations, PLUS two of your choosing and a guest designer spot for the month of April.

If you have won in the last 3 months, you are ineligible for this month's prize.

Good luck!!

March 1st Reveal - YMBD

The Vintage Garden - March Special

March's Special Includes:

•Simple Scallops Vintage Journaling Tags (set of 9)

•Corrugated Cardboard Blossoms (set of 10)

•Vintage Skinnies Journaling Tags (set of 12)

•Shrink Plastic Flowers (set of 8)

•Vintage Flourishes Journaling Tags (set of 8)

•Yummy Surprise

RETAIL VALUE: $14.75

You Pay ONLY: $11.80

You Save: $2.95 (20%)

Only available until March 31st!!!




Isn't this months kit so very scrumptious!!!!!! I had such a blast working with this kit, it came together so easily and I used almost all of the product sent to me...that's a first!!!! :) :) Check it out and check out the store to get your own kit before it's gone!!!! :)









This fun layout was created with the YMBD The Vintage Garden - March Special kit, as well and used for the Layout Tag that Jess hosted on Scrap Shotz...check out all the layouts here!



That's all for now, folks...check back soon for another So Sketchy reveal soon!!!!

So Sketchy Reveal...Yep, Another One!!! :)

I love, love, loved this sketch!! I'm digging wallet sized pics lately so this So Sketchy sketch was singing to me!!!!!!!







Supplies used:

Making Memories - {Note}worthy PP/embellishements
Bazzill Dotted CS

Prima - Say it in Crystals

Maya Road velour blossom

So Sketchy Sketch Reveal!!

This sketch was YUMMY and I couldn't wait to create my layout with it!!!!! But then, aren't all of Allison's So Sketchy sketches?? :) :) I had so much fun playing with the 8.5x11 layout and making it work for me!!!! Ally's sketches are so versitile!

Check it out!

Supplies used:

KT2 Kit Scrap Shotz - Black River Designs
Riff Raff Chipboard - Wildflowers
Scribblz Art - Amazing
Maya Road ribbon - pom poms
Prima Flowers
Hambly Rubs

YMBD Feb Mid Month Reveal and a couple other fun things!

First off...Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!!! Hope you got to spend yesterday with your loved ones doing whatever makes you happy...I know I did!!!!!

So now, down to business!!! Cat has some awesome new flourishes, scrolls and images in the store and we got to play with some of it for our Mid Month reveal...can you say fun!!!!! I had a blast creating these layouts and cards...and everyone knows how much I love to make cards...not so much! LOL

Pretty In Pink has a gorgeous pink scroll and a really fun chipboard snowflake and journal tag on it! I painted the snowflake pink, added some Rangers Stickles and sprayed with Vanilla Glimmer Mist to match it with my layout colors. It's so easy to work with and adds great dimenion to the whole look!!!

Boys Will Be Boys has a gorgeous flourish...yep, even boy layouts can have a bit of "fancy" and still work...especially with the skull and cross bones Grungeboard to "man" it up!!!! This layout is based on the latest Mix it Up Challenge #5.



Now for the fun cards...you'll notice I'm using a LOT of old pp, embellishments etc. lately...this is for a reason!! SSZ is having a Trash Your Stash contest...100 projects before you can buy anything new...I've bought new, how can a girl like me resist?? She can't!!! But I have yet to use any new stuff...it's awesome to pull out "old" stash and see it all in a new light again!! Feels good. I'm about half way through the 100 projects so a while to go but I can't complain about anything that I've created lately...I love it all over again!!!

Some HS pp that I just had to have and didn't use on this card, my new scalloped circle punch (ordered before I started this stash but tools don't count for me in this non-buying challenge! ;)), old 7 Gypsie's rub ons and a fabulous flourish from YMBD finish off this card.



The best for last...it's probably my favorite card I've ever made....more HS pp and 7G's rubs and the amazingly sweet butterfly image from YMBD!!! Oh and a new Martha scallop punch...can't get enough of those border punches!!!!



These little cuties I made yesterday and took to the Valentine's party we went to last night...I made 10 in all (a nice addition to my stash challenge, I might add! ;)) and used Daisy Bucket stamps for the heart image and sentiment. They are 3x3 and so quick and fun to make, you could use anything for the image and make them work for any holiday or occasion!



That's all for now, folks...off to edit some pics I took for the Photography class I'm taking at SSZ and get a head start on my So Sketchy March layouts!! Some FUN stuff coming up for March, make sure you come back to check it all out!!!!!!

Digital Layouts

I've been taking a Digi Diva class at Scrap Shotz the past couple of weeks...finally had time (and fixed my PSE so it would stop freezing on me after each step!!!!) today to finish up a couple of assignments...fun stuff, clipping, .png files, collages, oh my!!!!!

Here are some super easy layouts that I tried:

This first one was for the Scrap Shotz Gives Back challenge during the Online Crop this past weekend...Sandy donated $5 for every layout uploaded...$235 was donated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation...something very near and dear to my heart!!!!!

Here's the collage/brushes challenge:



Lesson #1 - creating a digital layout



Homework for Lesson #1...play around and create another layout:



Using .png files



Clipping lesson: