Monday, Monday

Yea! It's 55 degrees outside right now. And it's 7 AM. It's supposed to get into the mid 60's today with rain later on tonight. Of course nothing lasts forever and it's supposed to snow again tomorrow. I'd say only in Ohio, but I believe it's really only in the Midwest. I'm truly hoping that the snow that we're supposed to get later on this week is the LAST snow of the year. I'm ready for daffadils and tulips. After all, it's March.

Speaking of March, tomorrow is the primary here for Ohio. If you'd have said 6 weeks ago that Ohio could be the deciding factor on the Democratic ticket, I think a lot of people would have laughed. And then a lot of people thought that having the Ohio primary so far back was pointless. Well it may be for the Republican's. I think that McCain's got the nomination all sewed up. All I can say is I'll be glad not to have to watch all those political commercials again for a few months. Talk about OVERkill. I'm so glad that I have Tivo and will be using it this summer to fast forward past all those commercials.

Ok, on to business. Do you like scraplift challenges? Well, over at Heather Manning's CT blog, I'm running the first of the March challenges. No more coloring inbetween the lines. Scribble and doodle all you want. Check it out here.

And here's my lift. I've never done a scribbly page before, so it was a little bit of a stretch. Frame & other doodles you can pick up in Heather's store. The paper is from her Dirty Snow paper pak.


And Cherie Shields released a new kit at Sophia Sarducci's. Sogni Dolci or Sweet Dreams for those like me who's Italian is limited to pizza toppings. Here are 2 layouts I did with her new kit.


And don't forget about Kiki Halbert's new fabulous paper pack, Wasted Walls. Terrific for those masculine papes, but works great with the girls too. See Em being a Rock Star. The foil elements are by Kiki too, Foil Flourishes & Foiled Again. All are available at Plain Digital Wrapper.



I FINALLY got my Shutterfly Christmas book all done. I know that no one is in the mood to see cutesy Christmas layouts, but you just gotta see these. I've gotta be the only person still buying Christmas kits in late Feb.But I'm glad I finally broke down and picked up Jofia's Warm Christmas. So much fun with this kit. And the alpha is glitter by Flergs. I finally figured out how to load it, lol.
And the last page of the book, us all playing my nephew's game, he didn't get to play it for a few days. lol.
And I among many others, went nuts for Flerg's birthday and here's one of the pages I did. Something about sleeping babies just touches the heart.

Hope you all have a wonderful day! I'm going to enjoy the warm up, even if it's only temporary.

A whole lot today

So much to write about today. Where to start. Ok, life first. We didn't get the doom and gloom snow they predicted overnight. Which is great! However, it did go to the north and I think is going to affect my trip home to see the girls. Yesterday I was quite devesated by the whole thing as they were expecting 8 to 10 inches today, but I've calmed down. I think that I'll just change my travel time a little and leave early tomorrow morning instead. Give the road crews time to clean the area up some. Plus I didn't sleep all that great and still fighting whatever the old lady's trying to give me. So on the bright side, if I don't leave tonight, I'll get to come home and 1) visit all the blogs I don't get to read during the day & 2) scrap! So I'm trying to look at the brightside. It's not easy when you're a glass is half empty type of girl. However, if you don't hear from me today, that means I made a run for it and will have to jump on my mom's computer to catch up on the blogs.

I'm rereleasing my song quotes word art freebie. Why you ask, well that's the next thing to talk about. But if you want the word art click the preview or here.


Ok, now you have some love song word art, you can play along with Heather's CT on their latest challenge. It's an easy one, and perfect for this time of year. Just do a layout with the lyrics from ANY love song. For everyone who participates, they will get free QP's made from Heather's Con Amor kit that was in her grab bag. And there will be a random drawing for 2 gift certs. Check out her CT blog for more information and other CT member's layouts with love songs.
Here's one I did for the challenge, I love the Wings song Maybe I'm Amazed. Ok, I'm a Youtube idiot and can't figure out how to embed the video into my blog. But here's the link. It's a beautiful video for a beautiful lovestory.

Look here, we have a new store to shop at. Kristine (da wench) has opened her own store.
Stop by and browse through Kristine's new store. She's got some gorgeous stuff there. Just click the ad.
And Kiki has an awesome grab bag over at PDW that starts today. I've seen what's in it, unfortunatly I didn't have time to play with anything before the sale so I could show you a sneek peak, but for $2 it's a steal!!

Well I think I've gotten everything. Please hope the weather cooperates for me so I can see those little girls. Cuz if I do, that means I get new pictures and a whole new scrapping mojo. Enjoy your weekend all and stay safe.

No more blogger at work.

So I've been having issues at work with my computer the past few days. When the IT guy called yesterday to go over things and reinstall and remove etc.. stuff, I just happened to have the site for my new blog host up. Well, later this afternoon I found that IT has blocked all Blogger based sites from my access at work. I have a feeling that forums will be next. I tried to clear out my history and stuff, but I know they have an exact printout of where I've been and such. Now I don't know why they feel that scrapping blogs are so dangerous to the server but I'm pretty sure that I've ruined it for everyone else in the company. However I doubt that anyone else is a ticked off about it as I am. I have a boring job and the only thing that makes it even remotely tolerable is my Internet access. So while I'll continue to blog I won't be by to read your during the day. I will however continue to visit my friends, nothing will stop me from my appointed rounds, lol. I just wanted to let everyone know what was up and why I'm not traveling the blog train during the day. (or at least until I figure out a way around this). I did get a domain name and started to set up a new blog. I'll let you know if I can access that one at work, not that it will matter, cuz I won't be able to read yours at work.

So it was very nice to see this from Yen yesterday on her blog. I truly adore all my regular readers and am an avid reader myself. It's nice to get to know what it going on in peoples lives. I am so majorly bummed out about this IT issue. Anyway, I would like to once again recognize Heather, Kristine & Cate. These girls are just such a part of my daily life. I can't repeat what Kristine said about my IT issue, but it at least made me chuckle. Which I believe has become her main focus in life. Cate is my lifeline on trying to figure out my Vista and PSE issues. I don't understand something, one email screaming help and the problems fixed. Heather believes in me, even when I don't believe in myself. Love ya girls~Mwah!

I thought I'd play around with Kim B's color challenge over at DSO. I don't know when it started to become a design challenge, but it seems that everyone is trying their hand at that. I think I'll stick to word art. But here is my very first attempt at papers. If you like it, snag em here.

Don't forget to stop by Heather's CT blog & leave a comment to be in the running for her newest grab bag. I'll be randomly drawing a name of everyone who leaves a comment. At least I'm getting all those at my email. lol. Ok, I know shut up and do your job.

Have a great day! I'll be missing you.

Finally Friday

Thank God! Of course I still have to get through today and 1/2 tomorrow without bi*chslapping anyone at work or home for that matter. I didn't feel that Isn't PMS a wonderful thing was an appropriate title for today's entry, but that's what it should be. And for those of you who are lucky enough to feel that it doesn't really affect you much, wait til you get older. I am every cliche in the book right now. I got home from work last night, told the old man to do whatever he wanted just stay away cuz he ALWAYS pushes my buttons. I holed up with my computer, trying to fix something for Heather. Got so frustrated and mad that I just deleted it. Can't get anything to go on a page so it looks half way decent. I really think that I could just curl up somewhere until next year and that would be just fine with me. Except that I'm the only one in the office til Tuesday (which is actually quite the blessing). And now I'm just a ranting and raving here. Just what you want to read.

On to something much more pleasant. Tomorrow is Heather's BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

So a very, very Happy Birthday to you Heather, and many, many more!!!

Stop by her blog today & tomorrow and leave her birthday wishes.

And now I leave you with this little snippet. And a question. What is the legality of photos that are passed around in emails? I know that someone had to have taken them, but they're never credited. I would LOVE to use some of them in some layouts. Maybe even find my mojo (but I doubt it). With all the issues going on with piracy in the digiworld does anyone know what the stance is on email photos?

Come on now, wouldn't you just love to get your hands on this photo to scrap for one of your CT's. I could think of half a dozen of the Christmas kits that would be totally awesome for this. Isn't it adorable!!!

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend! We're expecting snow so I'm sure it'll a be a blast.

Scrap happy!

It's almost Friday!

Hi there!
It's almost Friday, Thank God. Only a little bit more. Livin for the weekend, have to finish up my shopping. Hope yours is all done. Shannon's company dinner last night was nice. Long but nice. His boss gave him/us the new George Foreman grill, a box of Omaha Steaks and a nice travel/gym bag. We were kinda hoping for a cash bonus, but can't be too greedy. A little disapointed yes, but not upset. It beats my Kroger gift card and a lump of coal. I'm grateful he works for such a nice guy.
Look, Yen's back!!!! And sweet as ever. She nodded my way with these cute awards she got while off having a baby. (I think she got the best award of all- AXEL). So I'm passing this on to Kristine & Cate. They both have Bodacious blogs that are on my daily must read list and both ladies, in my opinion are as True Blue as they come. I'd have included Heather in my list, but Yen tagged her too. So thank you ladies, all of you, for making my little corner of the scrappin world a brighter place and warming my heart with all you do for me.

Don't forget about Heather's Grand Reopening/Birthday sale at her storefront,
It's only until Sat. Grab your list of goodies and shop til you drop.

Well, it's time to make the donuts, as they say in that old Dunkin Donut's commercial. Meaning off to work. Hope you enjoy your day and the nasty weather that's hit a good majority of the Midwest (but missed me, thankfully) doesn't head your way. And if it did, stay safe! Scrap happy and see ya tomorrow.

Humpday!

Well, the weeks almost half over. That brings us one day closer to Christmas and the New Year. I ran into Kolh's yesterday looking for the mixer on a stand that my mom wants. They had plenty and on sale but they were the Kitchen Aid $299 ones. Now I can cook and am pretty good at it, but don't do it too often. I want to know why anyone needs a $400 mixed? I just don't get it. Does it make the food taste better? Now mom already knows that she's not getting one of those. She'd probably have a heart attack if she opened it up and then would be yelling at me for wasting money. I'm heading to Target after a Christmas dinner tonight. It's Shannon's company dinner. Always a nice time.


Have you been over to check out Heather's new and improved storefront yet? Well what are you waiting for? If you wait too long, you'll miss her grand reopening/birthday sale. So make sure you stop by and look around. All the good stuff without any calories.
And if you're looking for the QP's go down to the next two posts. If you use them, please make sure that you are crediting the designer of the product used- Heather Manning. I just threw together her fabulous products.


Did I show you this layout I did over the weekend? Well, if I did, sorry but you have to look at it again, lol. This Santa is an ornament from my childhood, he looks a little strange in the photo. He's got those eyes that move. I can't think what they call that. But I used DigiDiva's Color Revolution Ravishing in Red collection with a paper from Ann Marie's Christmas Sampler (which you can get free at OAKS). Just one of the many goodies I've gotten from a generous Santa lately.



Not really a whole lot left to say. Yen, the sweetheart that she is sent me an email to thank me for stopping by her blog while she was away. Now this is one classy lady. She's a new mom, has 3 or 4 blogs, does the pay per post, posted a mass thank you to several boards and yet is making an attempt to personally thank those who care about her. This is what I like about the scrapping community. It warms my heart to see that so many people care not only about her, but all of us. And it almost makes up for the nasty, swarmy remarks people are making on the blogs for Christmas around the World that was organized. I just don't understand people sometimes. Designers go out of their way to make something for FREE and people degrade it, steal it or are just nasty about it? I just don't understand people. Ah the great mysteries of life. I know I was having an issue with one particular upload and I left a comment on a blog. I don't believe it was a nasty one, actually I'm sure it wasn't cuz the designer came over here to let me know that if I can't get it through 4shared, then she'd find another way. That's class too!!



Ok, rambled long enough. Gotta jump in the shower for work. Have a great Humpday and don't forget to go check on the Humpday honeys freebies. Start at Kristine's.
Until next time, scrap happy!!!

Only 2 weeks left!!

Hi there,
Do you have all your shopping done? I can't believe that there's only two weeks left til Christmas. That means there's only 3 weeks left til this year is over. "and so this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over and a new just begun." One of my favorite lines from Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John Lennon. Really makes ya think. Back to shopping. I've got the bulk of mine done, but I've been bugging my mom since Thanksgiving for a list of what she wants. She's always hard to buy for. So now I'm off to locate a stand mixer. Unfortunately I can't get her one of the Kitchen Aid ones. But thankfully, Kohl's is having another one of their "Biggest Sales of the Season" sales that they have like every 2 weeks and hopefully they'll have em on sale.

So did you hear the news? Heather has her shop opened back up. Not only is it open but it's new and improved. http://digiscrapping.net/shoppe/ is the address. I didn't want to just do a link cuz you're gonna need that address for quite some time to come. To celebrate the reopening and her up coming 29th again (just kidding, she's not shy to tell you her age) birthday; she's having a sale- Everything is 33% off (give you a hint on her age) everything over $2.00 that is. So if you've been eyeing her fab new Christmas kits or maybe you are loving the QP's I did with her Flashy New Year kit, then now's the time.




And in honor of the reopening, I have another QP for you. I was gonna wait until Wednesday to
Link has expired.




put this up, but it's in 4shared already and 3 people have downloaded it. Wow, without really seeing it? Seriously? I just found out that your files aren't all that secure there. Not that my stuff is super terrific and all, but I feel pirated. I know get over myself. So click on the link if you want to join those who already downloaded the final Flashy New Year QP. Many thanks to Heather for her generosity in allowing me to share this with you. All credits go to her.

Well, I'm freezing and about to go and crawl back in bed with my dogs for awhile before I head off to work. Did I tell you about my day from hell yesterday, well actually it was just a customer and is probably better off not rehashed. There are way toooo many drama queens in this world. And while I tend to be one of them, I do not take it out on other people (at least that I know of).
Let's hope for a bit of peace and quite today. Until next time, scrap happy!

How was your weekend?

Hope it was a good one. What'd ya do? Me, not much of anything fun. Well, ok some fun. Had lunch with Shan's aunts on Saturday, so it was a good meal and I've had to work the last few holiday get together that they've had. It was good to see everyone and be seen.

How do you do your back ups? Do you back up monthly, weekly or whenever you feel it would majorly mess up your life and scrapping if you *gasp* crash (God forbid). I bought the new computer in August after my old one showed signs of crashing and my CD burner wouldn't burn. I didn't back anything up but hopefully if I get around to getting the right cables transferring the thousands of photos and millions of freebie files. Anyway, I decided that I needed to clean up my current computer and back up my files. The photos only took 3 discs. The files took me 10 discs, 3 hours (at least) and I'm only to the L's. Heather's files alone took up 1 3/4 discs. I'm out of discs for now. I'm sure that I'll end up downloading more files between now and when I remember to get new discs. But at least I've started.

I feel that my mojo's lost somewhere and I'm digging deep to get any layouts done. Actually, I'm attributing my mojo loss to my smoking cessation program. Basically I'm missing the smoking and designing. I'd sit here at the computer, smoke and move stuff around, smoke and put em back, smoke and decide I was done. SBB had an avatar challenge back in September asking what was required for you to scrap and my avatar was a pack of Marlbaro Lights and a Diet Coke. Now it's just diet coke. It's not enough to make me start back up. It's been 6 weeks. But it seems that it's just so much harder for me.

I did a few layouts over the weekend. This one I really liked. My dad just lit up whenever he held Emily. This was from her first Christmas and it was such a blessed day. This year will be the first without him, but it'll be Addi's first so I think we'll be ok.

These 2 were done for challenges over at DSO. The first one is for Andrea's lyric challenge. The other one was for the I can't believe you scrapped that?! challenge. I got to use Heather's Flashy New Year, but I called it the wrong name when I uploaded. Bad CT member!


But I love this kit and have been racking my brain trying to find a picture that will do it justice. I gave up, I don't know where it is. So I did the next best thing, I planned for one that hopefully I'll take this year. (but it won't be flashy cuz we usually stay home - it's safer). Heather, being the generous person she is letting me give to you, FREE, the QP I made with her fab kit. Now I mention it's free, but nothing in life really is, I'm asking you to stop by her blog and thank her for her generosity. Here's the link to her blog.

Link for the QP has expired.

You can get the QP by clicking the preview or here. And make sure you stop by and check out Heather's new and improved store. She's got it up and running again and it looks FABULOUS!

And watch for a sale of some sort from her. And check back tomorrow, there'll be another QP from her kit.

So until next time, scrap happy!!!!

Is it Friday yet?

Hi there,

I can't believe how fast the year has gone, but why is it only Tuesday? It feels like it should be Friday already and I haven't even gone into work yet. I have a feeling it's going to be a long week. grrr.

Did I tell you that my Shutterfly calendar came in the mail? Well it did and I must say I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out considering it was my first attempt. You can definately tell the difference between the photos taken with my cheap Sony and my brother's almost professional Nikon. Big difference. I'll have to make sure that if I do it again next year, I use pictures from the same camera. Most likely his. I know my mom will be pleased and that's all that matters. I kinda wish I had done another one for me, but oh well. Next year I'll know to hunt up codes on Ebay.

Check out Heather's new kit. Flashy New Year. Isn't it the coolest. I have the perfect picture in mind for this kit, but darned if I can find it. And that is killing me cuz without that photo, I can't scrap this kit. Does that ever happen to you? You see in your head exactly how you want your lo to look but something is missing. Well, when it's the photo, it's bad. I'm hunting for that one and trying to find another but I'm stubborn and can't get past the missing photo. Anyway, go pick up this kit at Plain Digital Wrapper. You'll love it too.

Remember I told you that Fantacy was working on a new Christmas kit too. Well, here's Santa's Vintage Susupenders. You can pick this up at Designing-moments.net. And here is just one of the fabulous layouts that Fantacy did with her new kit. Isn't it awesome! To me it looks like the cover of a store bought Christmas card.

And here is my layout using it and her Feral Faeries kit. That's Em after her first Christmas. Plum tuckered out she was. And just what are Sugarplums anyway?

Well, looks like I've gotta get ready to go into work. Hope you all have a great day!!!

Until next time, scrap happy.

Give Thanks - Life is good.

Hi there!



With Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow, I decided to stop for a minute and think about what I have to be thankful for. I think that far most I am thankful I live in a country where I am free and I am thankful of parents whose children are fighting to keep it this way. I wish you peace this holiday season from the bottom of my heart. I am thankful for the family I have now and the love that we share. I am thankful for the roof over my head and the love that it contains, the unconditional love of my two dogs and the "even though we annoy each other we still love each other madly" love of the old man. I am thankful for my health and the ability to make a living. I am thankful for the warm embrace of the scrapping community and the friends I have made here.

Look, I made you a little avatar type thingy. Heather, I'm thankful to you for giving me a chance. Kristine, I'm thankful for you cuz you always make me laugh. Cate and Andrea, I'm thankful for you for your unfailing support of me and reading the blog daily. Yen, I'm thankful for you for sharing yourself so freely on your blog and updating us on your little peanut, I'm glad that I can share that with you. Dawne & Traci, I'm thankful for you for showing that a grand idea can grow if you put enough love into it. Fantacy, I'm so thankful for you for giving me such a warm welcome over at SBB and letting me know it's ok to be new. And Kerry, I'm thankful for you for bugging the heck out of me to see my own potential and getting me into the CT scene. Without you, I wouldn't have 90% of the friends I have now. And if you read my blog on a regular basis I'm thankful to you too. If you haven't stopped by the blogs of these wonderful ladies, take a minute. Each and everyone is talented in their own way.

Ok, on to Black Friday. My favorite subject - Shopping. I'm pretty sure that most everyone is having a sale. Some of the designers over at SBB have already started theirs and I grabbed some great closeout products from Michelle Underwood for dirt cheap. (I mean like $.25 and $1.00) And I know that several of the designers over at OAKS are going to have their store on sale at a ridiculous 50% off on Friday only. The good thing is that there aren't any "doorbuster" sales and you don't have to get up at 4 AM to get the good prices. Just make sure you check it out. OAKS ladies will have their grab bags out too. In the real world, I'm debating as to whether or not I'll get up to try to get some of the "earlybird" sales. It seems that they are opening the stores earlier and earlier each year. I mean Kohl's is opening at 4 AM. And the outlet stores at Jeffersonville are opening at midnight. Unbelievable. I'm thinking Target and ToysRUs may be the only ones I try for early. I've given up on the laptop idea.

Make sure you check out the Humpday Hunnies for their fabulous freebies today!!! Start at Kristine's, she has the link to them all. No one has previews up yet. And while you're out looking, make sure you stop by Andrea's and check out her fab new kit Tickle that will be available at DSO. Don't forget about Heather's PSP actions and great new Christmas kits.

I hope that if you're celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, you can be with your loved ones and you can remember what you're thankful for. Right now, I'll be thankful that I don't have to work on Friday. hehehe

Happy Thanksgiving!! Scrap happy.

Shopping Spree & a freebie list

Hi all,
I had such a blast yesterday. I mentioned that I had won the Queen of Chatterbox contest over at ScrapBook-Bytes for September. What I didn't know until later in the day was the scope of the prize I won. There were 9 designers that gave me gift certificates to their stores. Talk about a kid in the candy store. I was in the shop all day long, drooling over this and drooling over that. It was really hard to choose because there was just sooooo many cool things to choose from. I'm sure you'll be seeing lot of the new stuff in the layouts in the future. I still have 3 designers to go. I was uploading all night long last night. I still managed to get a few layouts done though, so I'll show you those after the freebies.


Wednesday is Humpday and to help us get over the hump, the designers at DSO do a blog freebie. Here are some previews from the Humpday Hunnies. Click on preview to go to blog.




These are the one's that are up on the blogs this morning. I'll edit this from work to add the others. lol

Have you seen Susan's (Raspberry Road Designs) Take Care kit. It's an awesome kit she's done from fan requests. It's a great kit for scrapping the Nurses in your life. Check it out.

Check out the Halloween kits from my designers- Kelli at Tallula Moon & Fantacy Scrappin Hillbilly Sweetpea Designs.

Don't forget about the RAK promotion for Tallula Moon Designs, you could get Kelli's kit.
Grab her fan blinkie, add it to you sig line and let me know where you're sporting it at. Since the one here is acting funny, if you want one, email me at carjaziscraps "at" gmail "dot" com.

Here are 2 layouts I did last night with Scrappin Hillbilly's Fraidy Cat & Hallowtween papers.




The card above was made with Jessica David's template from the OAKS template challenge.
Check out Fantacy's blog for a great desktop freebie made with her kit.

One last preview and I want your opinion on it. I made a word art overlay and thinking about adding it to the freebie list. Here it is.


Ok, it's later than I thought and I gotta jump in the shower. I'll edit at work and add in more freebie previews.



Ok pet peeve of the day: How come I can train my man to drop the seat but he can't seem to replace the roll of toliet paper????? Seriously now. And of course, he's always gone when he does this. grrrrr

Until next time, scrap happy!

**-Diane