I have a few things to remind you to check out today!

No no stamping goodies to show just yet. Im busy working today-but hope to post later. Its just a little time consuming-and I need to actually get a shower BEFORE noon!

Check out my For Sale section of my side bar! Contact me with your list. I charge actual cost of shipping.

 If there is something you want-not listed- ASK!( If I have it I may be willing to part.)

I do have stuff to get rid of just haven’t gone through it all.

Also if you have a minute PLEASE take the quick survey at SCS found HERE

http://app.icontact.com/icp/sub/survey/take

If you use SCS at all then it would be great for you to help them try to improve their site (is that possible???)

Lastly a SALE!!! All That Scraps is have a huge sale.

With CHA right around the corner we need to make room for the new products that will be coming in next month. All discounted items will not be restocked so get them while you can.

The following are starting at 15% off

Bazzill Really Big Brads

Karen Foster Big Time Brads Black and White

Making Memories Ribbon and Ribbon Brads

Prima Brads

Rob and Bob Snap Ease

Junkitz Paints

Making Memories Paint Sets

7 Gypsies Binding Rings

Bazzill Really Big Paper Clips

Bazzill Blossom Heidi

Junkitz Halloween Book Plates

Making Memories Sweets

Making Memories Simply Fabulous Trims

Making Memories Safety Pins

Pebbles Word Charms

Q & Co Buttons

Q & Co. Bold Sequins

Q & Co. Chic Charms

Q & Co. Fab Flowers

Q & Co. Sassy Sequins

Q & Co. Anchorettes

Cropper Hopper Embellishment Organizer

Cropper Hopper Supply Case

Daisy D’s Beacon Hill Chasing Butterflies

Basic Grey Dasher

Flair Baby Of Mine

Flair True Love

Flair Christmas

Junkitz School Days

K & Co Brenda Walton Christmas

SEI Smarty

SEI Citrus Kick

McGill Punches

McGill Strongarm

Q & Co Felt Ribbon

Prima Petites

Prima Silk Road

Prima Got? Flowers

Prima Belle Fleur

KI Alphabet Soup

Simply Chic Clear Stamps

Gina K Wood and Plain Rubber Single Stamps

Gel A Tins -select stamps

Bazzill Bazzinks

Notecards and Envelopes

The following are 25% off

Junkitz- Laguna Guy

Laguna Girl

Calendar

The following are 50% off

6 pack owires

Center City Designs

Cherry Arte

Moxxie

Pixel Decor

Daisy D’s-Mistletoe Memories

Girlfriends

Gypsy Harvest

Happy Shopping!

So, its time for my last letter. The letter “J”.

Before I go into all my “J” for Julie ramble, I hope all my PSF’s know it was hard to pick only a few to shower with “mytime” mail. I tried to spread the love to PSF’s whom I had not ever done much for, but are deserving all the same.

If I had the time I would make each PSF a letter. But its not a perfect world :C. So I hope none of you feel sad or slighted in anyway, as each of you are important I also appreciate all your friendships.

OK So upon my search I realized that there are hardly any GOOD words that start with J! WOW!

Here are some random words-BUT we wont say all of them are associated with Julie OK!

Jezebel, Juicy (HA! HA!), Jiminy, Jeepers, Jealous, Justify. Jump, Jinx, Joker, and Jewels!

But one GOOD word was JOY!

She has brought alot of JOY to us.

Did you know that she bought Alexa is “talking, light up Tinkerbell wand” all the way from Disney! Now she doesn’t live there, and it kept going off through their travels. She begged her hubby NOT to chuck it out the window! Everytime the wand goes off-(usually off one of the other kids heads) I remember her story. Alexa LOVES the wand BTW.

Thank you Julie for everything. Here is Julie’s Letter-

I think this was my favorite of them all! Because it was so different, and maybe because it had butterflies! AND Julie’s favorite color was purple-just like me

I used the “Joy” , which is lightly stamped in the bkgd from the PTI set Serene Snowflakes, and the sentiment is from Green Thumb.

The butterflies are from my favorite Stampin Up! set-Garden Whimsy . Of course there is dazzling diamonds on the wings. I had to add Prima’s to coordinate.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Now Julie wanted to learn to sew! So, I did some on her letter, and sent her one of the famous sewing machine’s I got for myself! Sorry people, I got the last 2 they had and the other was MINE!

So I hope she liked her package of goodies.

I’ll be right back with todays sketch!

Till then

OK I got tagged, and Im wicked sorry! I cannot find WHO it was that sent me this email :C

I just went copy/pasted and went back later to find “you” and now it is stuck amongst my many INBOX messages-SORRY! Let me know WHO you were! 

1. Name your 2 favorite Scrapbooking topics.

YUCK! I hate to scrap! But I like Smileboxes so, it would me my kids, and I guess our dog-Daisy. She’s really funny.

2. What are the two best places you’ve been to?

Paris and Hawaii

3. Name two things you do every day. Clean and stamp

4. Name two things that pretty much everyone knows about you.

I love to stamp! AND I have a little OCD so try to keep the house as clean as possible with  kids.

5. What are your two favorite stores?

TARGET!!! And any craft related place to shop.

6. What are your two favorite accessories to stamp/scrap with?

Ribbon and BLING

7. What are your two favourite occasions to make cards for?

Thank you and Birthday-most commonly used.8. What are your two favourite SU! Cardstock colours?

I LOVE celery and soft sky

OK there you have it.

I dont sound very interesting-but hey that me! BORING

 A get well note.

Oh so much on this creation to share! So I won’t “babble” to much OK!

My poor friend Dawn has been so sick for a while now.

Weird fever’s on and off and stuff like that. They aren’t sure WHAT is going on.

Anyway-that calls for a get well note! Its a true MIRACLE that I am actually getting this off in a timely manner. She is just the sweetest thing, so I want her to know I’m thinking of her.

I am including the COOLEST tin of tea I made with an upcomingMFT release! I cannot share it, because it’s getting published NEXT DECEMBER! LOL! Yes you read it right, almost one year from now. I have been making CHRISTMAS stuff-AGAIN for publications-CRAZY huh?

Ok the card-

When I think “note” I think “bird”.

This is yet another MUST have thing for me-these style of bird images. I just LOVE them. Elegant birds. Can’t get enough. Whimsical Birds-doesn’t matter-Love them.

This one above is by Inkadinkadoo. I got mine ——->HERE. To my knowledge Lindsay will be getting in more of these new images soon She is awesome to buy from too.

Did you see my SUPAH awesome embossed flowers?

After you pick yourself up off the floor, and catch your breath, REALLY look at the beauty of them.

THAT my friends, is a flower’s Spellbinder’s Nestabilities die! Can you scream GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe Christine from All That Scraps will be getting some in. I know she is getting the hearts in soon. I got mine at my LSS. Couldn’t leave them there.

The scalloped circle , that the birds are stamped on, is also a Nestabilities die. They add such elegance.

I use versamagic ink on most my solid creations. I LOVE the coverage and matte finish it has. I also love that they are SO close to SU! colors. They cover like a craft ink, but dry instantly. I own just about every color. Since they are dew drops they hardly take up any space at all.

Now that paper is the Target $1 spot! I scored there BIG TIME the last few weeks.

The ribbon was found at Michael’s.

Now the “get well” tab, is by Making Memories. Its a tag curling thingy that secures to your ribbon???

All I know is they looked cool, and I was NOT paying $25 for something to close it onto my ribbon! I used my wire cutters to chop off the curling part.

Originally it was on my ribbon (closed using Pliers), but it was unbalanced looking so I moved it.

The scallop row of stitching at the bottom is anOnare template, I love using.

WHEW! Are you still with me?

Was that the most boring thing you read ALL week?

I didn’t realize there was SO much on this crazy card, till I began rambling along.

Well tomorrow is our Blogger’s Challenge. We are all doing a SU! Catalog layout case! So that should be cool to see everyone’s interpretation of it.

Till tomorrow.

OMG! I got this super amazing package in the mail yesterday from my secret friend!

Look at all the amazing stuff I was RAK’d! can you believe someone loves me THAT much?

HOLY! AMAZING.

So to re-cap what you are looking at-

The card was done with my favorite image-a Butterfly-with beautiful paper.

She made me a altered Starbucks travel coffee mug-to match my stamp room!!! Using the Hot Holiday Drinks, and included some nice bottle of happy juice-to add to my mix

She made me a frame for my room!!! It matches my stamp room colors.

2 boxes of Tastefully Simple YUMMIES, that I have NEVER tried Including a few twizzlers.

A GORGEOUS purple shell type of silver butterfly necklace-really pretty!!!

2 neat stamps! 1 is a butterfly and the other is a butterfly bkgd.

Some mirrored coasters.

Purple Sprites! Can you believe I had NONE in purple. Along with some brads, and eyelets.

Paper and a winter stack by DCWV. Really great assortment.

Some cool embellishments-like scrabble blocks, assorted ribbons, rub-ons, metal charms and stickers!

Then she even added some stuff for Daisy!!! Some puppy cookies-which she is LOVING.

 Then this

 A purple squeeky, rope chew toy!

As you can see-she LOVES it!!!! In case you didn’t know-Daisy has her own toy basket. She takes stuff out of it as she pleases, and even puts it back in there when she is done!

Now that is my kinda dog She has been such a great addition to our family. I love her to pieces.

So who ever you are, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You made my day with your amazing and thoughtful goodies. I feel so special to be so loved!

I myself have a few Secret Friend things to get to the P.O.!!!

Thanks for looking.

Rain, rain go away. Come again another day.

Feels like Spring here in New Hamsphire. The rain adds to that feeling. I think it’s somewhere around 60′s today.

I am still in Spring mode here. Ready for flowers to bloom, and cheery colors.

Done with viruses  and pneumonia, and the kids being stuck inside. (NOTE: Alexa and Amber are doing very good! Thanks) Too bad I have a ways to go till winter has past. Maybe THAT is why my kids are killing eachother these days.

Noah use to be my headache. He is now “the good child”. Amber and Alexa cannot even be in the same room, without an all out brawl!

I tried to bring out some fun, by letting the kids play with Moon Sand. OMG! That stuff is AWFUL!

DO NOT BUY IT! DO NOT OPEN IT! IT WILL SELF DESTRUCT!

My play room looked like a mini beach!

Yes, I put down garbage bags even-before the play began. Hoping to capture the sticky sand, but NO! Sticky sand or not-SAND IS SAND, and it made a mess.

Let me tell you-Moon Sand will NOT make another appearance here in my house till it is warm enough to play OUTSIDE!!

Thanks MOM! That was a GREAT idea. I’m sure you giggled all the way home from the store when you were thinking of the FUN I would have cleaning it up.

When we were kids that stuff would not have gotten BOUGHT, let alone played with. Oh the joys of being a grandmother I imagine.

OK back to my card! LOL! Don’t know how I got so off topic. Maybe the clumps I keep finding in wierd areas of the house………………. but anyway…………

I LOVE using images in a way they aren’t meant for OR expected to be used like. I was in a BRIGHT mode when I made this card.

Here is my first example

For this card I used Papertrey Ink Limitless Labels, Green Thumb, and Beautiful Blooms.

The blooms are die cut with my Cuttlebug Flowers #1 folder.

I LOVE how Nichole makes sets that interchange with each-other, effortlessly.

The colors were inspired by my ribbon.

The label became a band.I love all the scalloped edges this has, as well as its dimension and POP! You can’t see it here-but this is very dimensional. The flowers a really popped up too.

I then took the idea and went more subtle with it

 Spring for you

Is this not so different? For me anyway.

On this card I used-Limitless Labels, and Text Boxed.

I just went with a shabby , scrappy, sorta naturey-I dont know how to describe it kinda look.

Notice more sewing! How fun that is lately. Im getting my use for the $4 sewing machine! (PS-MY AREA- They sold out a while ago! I went back to check on those and the cupcake stands-GONE! SORRY!)

I LOVE River Rock and Soft Sky. They are just so gorgeous together.

I just loved both of these. As different as they are, I think it shows ANY stamp set can be used for ANY style. Just put your own lil twist on it, and don’t be intimidated!

I say that now, but I have that Crafty Secrets- Kitchen set-never inked-that petrifies me to even touch it! LOL! So not LAUREN. I get a headache looking at it. The weird thing is I DO like it? So what is up with that?

But Papertrey…………………..OMG! It screams LAUREN BUY ME! USE ME! LOVE ME!

I haven’t gotten much time to play with my new stuff, but hope too soon.

Hope you are having a great day!

Don’t forget its MFT’s New Release! Today.

Till tomorrow.

How sweet it is!

Does this box of yummies make you just want to eat one?

Love the colors, love the layout, love chocolate, love this set-period.

Here is another card using Be Mine. It is a new release by MFT (ready for order the 9th).

I LOVE chocolate. So I had a blast making this card.

I used some yummy ribbon my American Crafts, and my cuttlebug embossing folder. I think these colors should be the official Valentine’s Day colors.

I am starting weight watcher’s next week,on the 15th. I chose that day cause everyone starts the first. I want to be in the mindset that I am starting a life style change-not a diet (as Dr. Phil would say).

 My goal is to get ALL the chocolate OUT of my house.

NO! I don’t mean throw it away! That is a form of chocolate abuse! I am NOT an abusive person. I will properly dispose of each morsel-myself! LOL!

I am lucky Im not the size of an elephant-with all the coffee I drink (lots of sugar and cream) and chocolate I love. I just have a few pounds that crept up on me through out the year. It mainly starts with the stress eatting when Alexa gets sick, then goes from there.

I drop it in 2 months, then gain it back slowly over the year. GOOD TIMES.

THIS year, I turn 30. So if it kills me I WILL use my exercise machine and get my toned ab’s back! I want to say that I look HOT in my 30′s, not LOOKED Hot for some of my 20′s. No I don’t look HOT now-but I will. BY my 30th birthday May 3rd.

I LOVE the DVD- Turbo Jam! Its only 20 minutes of a great workout! You lose 10 inches in 10 days! Its great. There is also some 10 min. stuff for when you are way crunched for time. Hey its better than munching for 10 min. or sitting on the computer.

OK by better I mean better for your butt.

So tell me if YOU have a new plan to get in better shape this year. Or share a diet you are on or plan to try, exercise video, meal plan-WHATEVER you want! I want to know I’m not alone in this insanity we women put on ourselves

Ok I do have another SWEET idea for you! This one is FAT FREE

I also hope it makes you view everyday items (especially SALE items) differently.

While shopping the discounts at Rite Aid I found this cupcake rack! It was on SALE for only $2.99!!!!!

I decided it would be PERFECT for my smaller bottle of Prima’s, and my Martha Stewart glitter. For photo purposes I did not FILL it. I wanted you to see how it looks.

Since I have the wire racks to store my stamps it fits in so nicely.

Who would think a cupcake rack could be used by a stamper? We are just the most innovative, resourceful, and crafty people on the planet aren’t we?!

THAT being said Debra shared a link with me that blew me away! Check it out

$6 Ink Pad Holder

Now that my friends is genius. I would love to actually try it.

Do you have any cool tips or unusual uses you want to share? Post them here!

Share the LOVE!!!

OK, I gotta run. Alexa has pneumonia too. So it will be a long, and late night. We spent the day at the doctor’s. She looks OK, but we need to hope no high fevers-otherwise we are IN HOUSE! Her counts are fabulous though! Thank God! That is good.

Amber is pretty much back to her terrible three’s. Who says 2 is bad? 3 is far worse.

But I love her to pieces and would FREEZE her at this point, as she is adorable. Yes, I am a sucker.

 Till tomorrow.

My heart is really a flutter, with the New! Lizzie Anne Release.

Have you seen all the must haves?

I think I am the only designer who doesn’t have her sets :C YET.

So, you know my mailman JOE (yes we are on a first name basis, yes the PO knows my voice, and yes they call me now when I have a package there to give me the option of an early pick-up!) is getting stalked tomorrow-for SURE! Its nice living in a small town.

I was able to order ALL of them! Except I missed the Far East one. No idea HOW I didn’t order it, but I didn’t-YET. I love the lantern in the set-way cute.

So tonight the party starts at 10pm EST. YEAH! There will be games and prizes too

In honor here is a sample I made using Heart to Heart (heart with wings) and L’Amour (swirly hearts/sentiment). Not made with a NEW set, but still a great one.

Masculine Hearts A Flutter

 click

This may just be Jason’s V-day card. Is it NOT fabulously manly-yet with that touch of LOVE

I embossed both the heart, and the swirl with white EP. I didn’t dust away the trails of excess powder, cause it added to the look I felt. I colored the little hearts with my Fantastixand versamagic dew drops in Aegean blue. The wings were gently colored with a white crayon pencil thingy, on thetured cardstock-for that soft look.

My favorite Dreaming of Dots will be revealed later as well! I LOVE that set. You will see…….it’s such a LAUREN set

OK thanks for looking.

Till tomorrow. Enjoy the release.

While blog hopping-(something I RARELY get to do), I found this idea on Julie’s Blog. It is to find your word, to describe what you want in 2008!

It originated at Ali Edwards blog, from what I understand. Its like follow the link, to the link, to the link! LOL!

My word is ACHIEVE!

If you know me this is not shocking. I think its what I want for 2008. To me it has many meanings. I think it best describes what I want in life as whole.

Here is the dictionary version

a·chieve play_w(“A0053600″)

 (-chv)

v. a·chieved, a·chiev·ing, a·chieves

v.tr.

1. To perform or carry out with success; accomplish. See Synonyms at perform.

2. To attain with effort or despite difficulty. See Synonyms at reach.

v.intr.

To accomplish something successfully; perform at a standard or above standard level: skills needed to achieve in school.

I think it’s important to continue to better your best. I don’t mean that in a competitive way. I don’t feel I need to “compete” or compare. I am who I am, and am only interested in beating out myself. To continue to strive to become the best LAUREN I can be.

I believe in hard work, bumps in the road, and pushing past obstacles. That is what gives us strength, character , confidence and accomplishment.

I have many goals for 2008- for my family, personal health, my children, and career.

So if you could only use ONE-What is YOUR word?

Ill be back tomorrow to share a MFT Sneak Peek!

Sorry Im running WAY late with the challenge.

Lots of excuses.

I went to shop at Target-

Then had to get Christmas photos off the camera-

Then my camera batteries died, and need charging and I have NO photo of the sketch.

I got busy stamping a project for my Secret friend thing on SCS! I am UBER pleased with it. Wait till you see it. I do have to make sure the person gets if first.

Now we have had company for most of the day for the football game – Patriots VS Giants. Its a big game. Lots of possibilities for record breaking.

I am the only one here who doesn’t know whats going on, nor do I care! LOL! I only know what I said, cause thats all I keep hearing.

But there are wives here who do, so to leave to stamp would be beyond RUDE!!

I am sneaking away just to type this and re-group. I HATE ALL sports!!

On a good note-I found I have 3 publications in Paper Trends!!! One 2 page spread (Go lauren! LOL!) using Green Grass Stamps, then a card using MFT, and another using Lizzie Anne

I’ll fill you in more later. Im way happy about those. I had no idea. I was in line browsing and saw me in there! So I don’t even have MY copy yet.

I don’t keep track of that stuff, till it comes out. Some stuff gets taken a year in advance!

Anyway-have a good night-Ill be back when I get things photographed.

Thanks for hangin in there.