Happy Saturday!

Feels like summer!

We are off the the Sea & Science center in Manchester NH with the kids.

I have cut WAY back on all my design commitments so I can focus more on my children, family and pursuing my template designs, and MAYBE stamp design 😀 My true passions.

 Sorry this is late. I had a day out of the house and spent some time with my children, so I’m sure you understand!

Tomorrow I will spend the day packing orders from my HUGE STAMP SALE!! Paulette and I are buried in stamps and our houses are TRASHED! LOL! All the orders stacked and getting ready to go out! Some will ship Tuesday as I alerted the P.O. of how many packages we have (well over 100) and they asked me to break it up for them! We live in a small town, so you don’t want to upset the P.O.!

 Yesterday we went to Build a Bear to make Ethan’s sister Ava the Pawsome Pony!! We have two outfits-one ALL GIRLY, and the other is ALL boy. We stuffed out hearts and prayers in the pony, and left it “open” so Ava and her family can stuff their hearts and wishes in the pony too!

Amber decided Ava HAD to have a set of ALL Girly clothes for her pony so she could make it a boy or girl. She did all the “styling” of Pawsome Pony for Ava (basically she chose the same outfit she loved for her own Dog she created) Avawill get to name the pony and stuff on her own, online. Now she will have BOY Cowboy and Girly clothes for the pony. We also got a bandanna and a Saddle!

When you squeeze the hoof it says I love you! Alexa decided we had to include that.

I don’t know WHO had more fun, me or the kids. Amber decided she wants to have her birthday party there! OK! Now I know!

 I let my kids make thier own animal! They want to be “featured” here (My kids LOVE when I put their photos here! LOL! My husband, not so much!) with their animals, and share photos of the Pony that they made for Ava. Another post, another day. I think Ava will really like it! I wanted to make one for myself! LOL! Lot’s of fun.

OK so onto the challenge!

This week we have a color challenge, and I asked the My Time to Create Team to use the NEW! Weiman Wrangler’s Digi images for our challenge. 

Please read about this set! All proceeds benefit the Make A Wish Foundation of Illinois in Honor of Ethan Weiman!!

Today’s challenge is the PERFECT opportunity to help you get something together to enter to WIN the $25 gift certificate to Pink Cat Studio! –>READ HERE<—

No limit to number of times you can enter, as long as it is a NEW! creation, each time!

Link your creations HERE:

PS IF YOU ARE USING THE WEIMAN WRANGLERS—->PLEASE LINK IT HERE, AND IN THE CONTEST POST! That way you are entered in the contest!

Here is my take on the challenge

We’re Celebrating

I think this is so cute!!!

I thought this would be the ULTIMATE cute  Cowboy themed birthday invite (or card to give the Birthday Cowboy!)

I LOVED these colors for the Weiman Wranglers Digi  Set! I normally go with red or blue, and chocolate. Great to step out of my color comfort zone!

I used the horseshoe image from JustRite Stamps–NEW! Favorite Occasions Borders & Centers Set 1-5/8″  and the We’re Celebrating from the NEW! Celebrations Demi Phrases Set 2″ . It was PERFECT (I think) for this card.

Overall this is SIMPLE, but it didn’t NEED much more.

So I hope you get to give it a whirl!
My contest ends Monday!!! So get a move on 😀

In the meantime, check out the design team samples:

Tracey

Dana
Dawn
Jennifer
Kendra
Lisa
MacKenzie
Maria
Odette
Pam
Tamara

Alicia posted a SPECIAL booktoday on her blog!! She made it for her son Ethan, to remember all the things he used to say. The photo of the two of them had me in tears!

 Thanks for stopping by. I have much to share as the days go on!

I cannot wait to see what YOU do!

Please be sure to read this post, if you haven’t yet! 

(I have things to share- but this is my TOP priority today :D)

I’m so excited right now! have you seen the Paper Craft Planet homepage?

Well, Susanna Boyd was so sweet to place our tribute on the FRONT PAGE, and dedicated an entire Album there to Ethan! So be sure to load your creations there if you can!

Thank you Susanna and Jenn Tapler for putting that together. I am just so proud to be connected to so many amazing, giving, wonderful women 😀 Touched my heart in a big way.

WOW! Speaking of touching my heart, as a stamping community, by purchasing the Weiman Wranglers Digi stamps,  we have rasied (as I type this post) almost $700 for the Make A Wish Foundation in Illinois in honor of Ethan Weiman!

 NOW, if you have NO experience with Digi Stamps : You will want to read my friend Tracey’s Post—->HERE! She worked VERY hard to put that together on a SUPER tight deadline (sorry girl!) for you all , to show you how easy it is. Tracey works for Dustin Pike,  and she is just the Digi Guru, in my opinion! She does things I never knew possible! She rocks!

Digital images are cool because not only are they INSTANT, you can re-size, layer, mirror them, and all sorts of fun possibilities.

I use digital images from All That Scraps

 As well as one of my fave companies (they are ALL Digi images) : Squigglefly (oh boy I need to get some more stuff from them soon! I didn’t see their latest stuff!)

That being said Squigglefly (my friend Holly) has a fabulous VIDEO on using digital images! Check it out —>HERE!

I got some questions about COLORING the Digi images:

 As asked yesterday-YES! You can use your Copic Markers! That is ALL I use with mine! I just print my image on my cardstock and Im on my way! I use Papertrey Ink Select white cardstock, and NEVER had a smudge issue.

PLUS they are like super easy and fun coloring for my kids! No mess with my ink pads 😀 LOVE THAT!

Chances to WIN: just by supporting this fabulous cause:

I am offering a chance at a $25 Gift Certificate to Pink Cat Studio—>HERE

Then Heather is also offering a generous gift certificate too—->HERE!

Vicki is offering a gift certificate too!—>HERE!

THANK YOU ALL so much!

May sound CRAZY, but I’d LOVE to raise $1,000! I speak from experience when I say Make A Wish goes ALL out for EVERY sick child, and each “Wish” definitely costs more than that. You can read our personal Make A Wish story—>HERE!

I know I spend more at a trip to the coffee shop, than these images cost!  For your donation to a FAB cause, you get some UBER cute images and a warm feeling in your heart, knowing you  are helping make the day of some very ill child!!

Thank you again for the support! You all are an amazing community of people!

My friend Katie from Paper Makeup Stampshad this DIGI image —> Fairy for Kayleigh<— designed to raise money for the family of Kayleigh Freeman. You can ready her story —> here.

Kayleigh passed away after a long fight with many medical issues since birth.

Upon linking this info, I went to the latest entries on their family blog, and just cried my heart out for this family. I didn’t even READ it, I just looked at the photos. I have no idea how they are coping. Talk about having Faith. Its easy to SAY, but not easy to LIVE. They are living it. They are in my prayers.

I made this card for the family, using Kayleigh’s image

Sentiment reads:

Each new life, no matter how fragile or brief, leaves tiny footprints upon our hearts

Sentiment is from Papertrey Ink-With Sympathy- Loss of a Child

Never did I want to have to use this set again. But, it was perfect, for such a time, when there are NO WORDS that can help.

Going with the sentiment-I airbrushed a heart around the Fairy Angel.

Her wings are glittered.

I think this is such a peaceful image.

Katie is doing a GIVEAWAY for a $25 gift certificate for those who use this image. Drawing is May 30th

Enter your creation —-> here

As I leave this post, I hope you are thankful for your family, health and life. Remember how precious EACH moment is. I’m off to appreciate my own children and family, as I say a prayer for the Freeman’s.

May God bless little Kayleigh.

Apple Crisp for the teacher

Before I begin with announcing the winners of the templates,  I have one more idea to enable you BEFORE the actual release! LOL!

This uses the For Keep{sake} template! I created it to look like an apple, and put some homemade Apple Crisp mix inside 😀

Bottom is pure poppy cardstock, top is the new ripe avocado! Cute huh?

Another view

There is a “apple” stamped on the acetate window using a solid image from Flower Garden, in Pure Poppy ink, and the leaf with Ripe Avocado ink . Teacher sentiment is Limitless labels, stamped in white StazOn.

The bag of apple crisp has a wrinkle-not my window! LOL! I wanted to keep it fresh so its in a Ziplock baggie.

For the top apple stem I knotted through some dark chocolate twill, and adhered 2 Prima leaves on top! I think this is SUPER cute and was SUPER easy! Just print, cut, score and done!

OK Im done enabling! I know you will LOVE it, and if none of this has made you yet, then once you try the FREE download you are SURE to fall in love!

DONE TALKING!

Time to announce the My Timeless Template © Winners! I used www.random.org to randomly select winners from my posts beginning on the 11th- through to tonight the 14th! Entering ended at 9pm.

The winners will be emailed ONE of My Timeless Templates © courtesy of Papertrey Ink!

Congratulations to everyone, and thank you so very much for sharing my excitement during this time! Everyone wins since you all can download the Stocking Stuffer FREE!

Enjoy your free template! I cannot wait to see what you all do 😀

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

176 51 150 247

Timestamp: 2008-10-14

Big Announcement post-Winners from the 11th: posted in order to numbers chosen

Mary Cedarstrom |

Shannan | shannanselsor

Misti |

Kerry from PA |

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Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

229 252 443 89

Timestamp: 2008-10-14

Music Makeover -Winners from the 12th: in order to numbers chosen

Lorene |

Dottie K |

Conniecrafter |

Janine | 2bKrafty.blogspot.com

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Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

351 105 371 131

Timestamp: 2008-10-14

Knock your socks off post-Winners from the 13th: In order by numbers chosen

 Tina | stampinmom

Barbara |

Janet Sisk | moosisk.blogspot.com

diane mcvey |

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Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

151 197 85

Timestamp: 2008-10-15

Templates review post-Winners from the 14th: In order by numbers chosen

Sarah(Mustang) |

Anne Lawrie |

Christy Martin |

Well I hope the winners enjoy their template! You will be sent the template from Jennifer Ellefson, so watch that INBOX!

ENJOY! Be back later!

I am excited to offer my very first sneak peek for the Unity Stamp Co. release!! 😀 There is so much to tell you I pray I get it all right! LOL!

You are going to freak when you see Angela has 11 (HOLY MOLY!!!) sets to release this month. There is something for everyone!!! Here is a little inside info (hehehehe), she has created some of the sets to gear towards card-makers :D. Many of Angela’s sets are larger than the norm (which I love too), but this time she figured she may scale it down a bit……………SSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! That’s it! My lips are sealed. All I am saying is WOW!

Now for the FUN 😀

GIVEAWAY!!!

I have 2 peeks for you!! Angela sent me not ONE, but TWO sets to give away!! Also there are 2 other Unity members giving a stamp set away-so search the Unity blogs (see my side bar for links) to find out which ones 😀 so you can enter those as well.

So you have a chance to win ECO CHIC, or TINY TRINITY!

Here is Eco Chic sample #1

Not sure if you can see it-but the Earth had a large Making Memories page pebble on it. I had to go with the FLOWER CHILD funky feel for this. I have many “earthy” friends who this set reminds me of.

The large flower was done with a Giga Marvy punch that Lisa Johnson MADE me buy after seeing all her fab. stuff with it. It was perfect for this card.

Wait till you see some of the other peeks I have with this set-if I do say myself-they ROCK! LOL!

Now we have TINY TRINITY

I am officially saying that this color combo ROCKS!!! Oh and you know me and my circles! I LOVE them.

I also love Unity 😀 Angela’s stiff is just so fresh and funky. I love that it gets me out of that box.

AND that this tree is AWESOME! I am so in love with trees and birds and butterflies, and all that kind of stuff these days. This set is so adorable-more peeks to follow.

2 winners-from comments posted here, will be announced Wednesday night at the Unity Release party! I will email you for your mailing info if you win-so make sure you have an email address for me 😀

TO ENTER TO WIN:

So what I need YOU to do to enter to win-is go scan the Unity site—->HERE and tell me your favorite set. Also if you want, include what you are loving about Unity. If they are new to you then YEAH!! You just got exposed to a great “virus”! LOL! A new company that causes more stamp addiction! LOL! 

WARNING: this writer is not responsible for any monies spent while you browse the UNITY Site. Any and all spending is reader’s responsibility. You do have permission to lie to your husband about what you spent, and blame said design team for instant and temporary insanity.

DETAILS: For the Release Party

Unity will be giving away prizes!!!

The winners of the stamp sets will be announced at the party!!

Party Thread on the Unity SCS forum 8p-10p central (that is 9p-11p est)

We will have a 25% discount for the first 25 orders. $5.00 shipping on EVERY ORDERDon’t miss the Unity Party Sketch Challenge thread—>HERE! This is for everyone to play along-weather you own Unity Stamps or not.11 new sets to be released

Thanks for reading! Best of Luck to you who enter.

NOTE: More Blog Candy from Storage Units, Ink & More at Bethany’s site–>HERE!

As promised, On Halloween-the Mytime Mail Think Pink winner was to be announced from this thread.

Thank you to all who participated, and those who make a difference in their daily life 😀

I also want to thank all of you who hshared your stories here with me! I was touched by each one. Those who lost their battle, and left you behind, and those of victory. It was all very touching and humbling.

The lucky winner, by random generator was Number 10!

 Here is what she wrote:

Chris | christine.mott

https://chrisscrappinanstampintx.blogspot.com/2007/10/october-breast-cancer-awareness.html

Lauren,
I did use my picture, but a great idea. I signed up for the smilebox just to spread the word!! Awesome idea. Anything we can do to spread the word!!!! Thanks! Chris

Contact me with your address for your box of think pink goodies! OR I will email you later tonight.

Congrats!!

I’ll post a photo of the goodies won-later this week!

Here is a photo of recent happy mail I recieved form my PSF’s!

PSF-Pretend Stamping Friends.

A term made by Alexa to describe the relationships, of the online stamping community. Generally people that have never met, but bonded. People she doesn’t believe exisit, and most likely that her mom is CRAZY! LOL!

Thanks friends for the cards, thoughts, prayers, hellos, and well wishes! You all mean so much to me!

I alway want to post these photos more often, and do apologize for not always doing so.

Hugs!

I will post later. Im having an insane morning and have to do some family stuff. So no time to upload and stuff right now.

Its going to be a post full of cool stuff-please check back later. For now I have lots to share so keep reading!

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MYTIME MAIL WINNER was picked by random.org and was #57 Mary P-please email me your address!

mary p |

I like the elephants the best. They are so huge and yet graceful in their movements. And they have the longest eyelashes. If you see one up close in a zoo, you can see that. And they have soulful eyes. I like the Pamper Yourself stamp set. We need to do that more as women. We kill ourselves caring for everyone else. Sometimes it has to be our turn!

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CARD CONTEST FOR A CAUSE!!!! 

Dont miss the ONE DAY SALE Lizzie Anne is having in honor of WCMD—–>HERE! Plus their is a new set!!! And the sets that co-ordinate with it are also on sale TODAY ONLY!

Did you see they are having a CONTEST!!! All enteries will be sent to Cards For Cancer!!! Enteries must be recieved by October 28th!! So get inking!

PLEASE READ this post for Contest details, and prizes, but also a heartwarming letter from a Cancer survivor Marcia whom founded the Cards For Cancer organization!!!

So not only will you get a chance at an AMAZING prize, you will also help make someones day! They are choosing 10 winners to get a FREE stamp set that is valued at $19.99! How cool is that!!!

Thanks Tricia and Meridith for your participation in making a difference! I am so fourtunate4 to work for some of the best companies who are run by people with such big hearts!!!!

OK Im off and running but promise to return this afternoon. After soccer we have a kids party. BUSY TIMES!

Who would have thought that “I” would get 2 nominations! LOL!

Rita from HERE, was so sweet to nominate me as one of the 5 people for both awards! As I checked out her nominations I found people with blogs that I had never known about and they are great!

So thanks Rita for the kind words and helping me discover new talent out there 😀

The nice matters award is for someone who you think is kind and thoughful.

The thinking award is for those of you who know someone whose creations or chatter makes you think.

So now its my turn to nominate 5 bloggers for this! I have such a hard time doing this! I know so many of you that are wonderful! Its really hard to choose JUST 5. AND  Alot of you, yourselves dont have blogs. So just know if you dont have a blog-you still rock in my books!

As far as the thinking awards I really feel each of you inspires all of us in some way! As I said in a previous post about publishing yourself every time you upload.

So my theory is if you stop by here and read, feel free to link yourslef in the comments! Then people can feel free to check you out! Then you can say “I” nominated YOU, and put the above awards on your site.

I REALLY cant pick just 5. I do have a blogroll of people that I check in on when time allows (which these days is like not much).

So link away!

And thanks for checkin in 😀

And the winner of the Back to School stamp set is ANGIE D!

I’d give you the answers to the questions but the drawing was done form those with the correct answer-

Thanks for playing! Angie email me your info so I can send this off!

Click thumbnail to view larger.

Who wants to win a THIS stamp set from My Favorite Things?

YOU do?

Well I have a great set that could be yours. Its BRAND SPANKIN NEW- called BACK TO SCHOOL. PERFECT TIMING! MINE is a brand new, designer copy so no fancy packaging-not that you will care Im sure.

Its being released on the August 1st. That is when my contest will end. I will randomly pick a winner (via computer @random.org) from all those with the correct guesses. If you are all wrong, then you’ll all get entered.

All you have to do is answer this short QUIZ! C’mon its a SCHOOL themed stamp set! I have to at least quiz you!

1) What was MY FIRST set from My Favorite Things?

2) How many people are on the MFT design team?

3) What is the most popular FIRST inital  of the design team member names?

4) Name the Design Team member whose first inital is the only one on the team with that first letter?

5) What would YOU like to see Kim design  in a future set?

6) What is your favorite current MFT stamp set?

And just to remind you why you are answering questions, here is yet another sample!

Im not going to bother getting into all the details of these 2 cards cause at this point I know you dont care and arent even reading! You are just itching to enter to win!

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1