Server issues at SM

Well, if you tried to take part in the NSD festivities at ScrapMatters this weekend you know that there were some server issues. If it caused problems with you being able to make your desired purchases I have some good news for you!
Now, didn't I tell you it was good news! What are you waiting for?

Happy NSD Day!

Hello everyone! And welcome to your next stop on the ScrapMatters [inter]National Scrapbooking Day blog train. This train has stops ALL OVER THE WORLD!!! You have probably just come from Becky's blog . That's the stop before this one. And now you've arrived in Ohio at Manda's Memories!

Our NSD mega-collab at SM this weekend is called "Moments that Matter" and the whole theme of our celebration is all about those moments in our lives that really matter. At each stop you'll find a story about a Moment that Matters along with a freebie!! There are TONS of stops on this blog train, so you can pick up a LOT of goodies!!

OK, so the 'moment that matters' I've chosen to share is . . .

When the 2007 school year started my youngest was getting ready to go to his first full year of preschool. He attended a special preschool under an IEP (Individualized Education Program) because he was very delayed in his speech. Because this was under an IEP and the school he was being sent to was in another district within the county he received busing to the preschool. That first day of school he was so very excited to be headed back. He had loved the half a year he had attended the year before.

We had been told that the bus would probably come at the same time, but to please be outside waiting 15 minutes earlier than his pickup time the year before for the first couple of days until they had a better feel for the route. So we were out waiting at the desired time. Because of the longer ride time he was actually supposed to be picked up a little before my oldest.

I had both boys out waiting and managed to take a really great (my favorite to this day) picture of the two of them together. The expected time for his bus had come and gone with no sign of it. After big brother's bus came and his still wasn't there he got so upset. He walked to our front step, sat down started crying. Finally, about 45 minutes late the bus showed up. It had been stuck in a long line of traffic waiting for a stopped train.
I want to always remember that excitement that they had for school that year. From that year on, while neither of them hate school they have not been quite as excited about it again. It was also one of their best times getting along to date, and I even managed to get it on film.

Well, on to the blog train freebie that I have for you. I have a thank you card and an embellished heart made from the Moments That Matter - Mega Collab to share with you today. I hope that you can find a use for this.


You can download it here... link disabled.

Link will be active until midnight Thursday night 5/6. Then all these blog train goodies are getting gathered up and put into the store!

Enjoy!!! And now you're off to the next stop on the blog train . . .

Alamama's Blog!

Have fun and wonderful NSD!!!!

And the sale is on!

The NSD sale at ScrapMatters that is! And there is some really great stuff new to the shop today. TONS of grab bags packed full of goodies. I snagged Chelle's grab bag and made something really cute with it. Want to see???


Also there is a "fireside chat" there tonight. Should be lots of fun! Hope to see you there!

iNSD is coming this weekend!

NSD is coming this weekend and there is TONS of stuff planned over at ScrapMatters! Go here to check out what all is going to be happening. There is going to be a blog train on Saturday (yes there will be a stop here!) as well as there is a free with purchase mega kit, and hybrid printables if you meet the respective purchase minimums. And let me tell you, there is going to be some great stuff coming out over there this week!

Wendy has been busy this last week as well. She has a bundle, a collab and a template set that are new in the store this week. And here is how I used them this week. First off I made this card with matching envelope from the Where the Heart Is collab. Isn't it just the cutest? I also used Krisi's Cover it Up: Rectangle template to make the envelope. Those are such a great deal because it takes all of the guesswork out of it. And there is something to be said for a matching envelope. I also played with the Shamrocks bundle and came up with a fun set of pins for the boys and I to wear on Saint Patrick's Day. I haven't decided who will get to wear each one yet. Problem is I love them all! The Irish for a day pin uses pop dots to raise the smaller shamrock off of the background and make it more dimensional.

another CT

When Sarah Bennett joined ScrapMatters on a permanent basis she decided to do a CT call. I love her designs so I figured I would throw my hat in the ring. I am excited to be able to say that I was accepted! So this was my first actual week on the CT and wow, does she have some goodies available.Spunky Monkey is a brand new release and it is so perfect for all those ornery kid pictures! The next offerings are all being re-released to the ScrapMatters Store. Starting off with the Lined Up Template Pack, the gorgeous Sister Sue, the fun Scribbly Alpha and Scribbly Alpha 2. I have only had a chance to play with the first three so far, but I am sure I will get much use out of all of them. Here is my first layout, featuring my niece being a silly monkey.
And I also did a hybrid project using the Sister Sue kit. It also uses Krisi's Not Straight Up:Hybrid Boxes template. Don't ya just love that flower on the top!Well, I think that is about all that I have for you today. Check back soon to see what Wendy released this week as well!

no more lost cards...

Flash cards that is. I used some of Wendy's new products out today to make sure of that. First off she has an awesome Cardstock pack out. Look at all of those great colors!

And to go with it she has some alpha's. The bundle is the way to go here.

So, what did I do with these? I made some flash card books! I used the above products as well as her Back to School: Overlays and my wonderful Bind it All to create these. Now there is absolutely no reason for them to be all over the place. I did "shuffle" them up so they would not be sequential. Now all I have to do is find the subtraction cards in stock at the store, and put it and the division together and they will have a full set!
Well, hopefully we don't get all of this snow that they are calling for. I am so ready for all that white stuff to be gone. Have a great day!

for Mom

Ok. I altered a clipboard for my mom this week using Wendy's new kit Fat Tuesday. I didn't have any New Orleans pictures, but the papers are just gorgeous and I wanted to play with them. My mom really loves the color purple so I figured this was the perfect kit for this. I also used some Bazzil swiss dot cardstock I had found at the store and really love. Anyhow, this is what I managed to come up with. Do you like it Mom?

Organization

First off I am very sorry it has been so long since my last post. My whole family has been sick , and not all at the same time. Of course we had to drag it out and all be sick one after another!

One of my goals for this year is to be more organized and I decided to make myself a file to help with that. I will be using it to store medical and dental receipts, unpaid bills and such. Isn't it just gorgeous? I even got to play with my new Bind-it-All in making this. The flower on the front is also raised up 2 times with dimensionals. Ialso used the kit Elegant Whisper by Legacy 4life, pop dots, a corner rounder and red bazzil cardstock.
I will be back with more again soon I hope. Have a few things in the works.

ballerinas

So, I hope everyone's New Year is going well. Ours hasn't been too bad, after all my Buckeyes finally won a bowl game! And my Browns also pulled off a win streak to end the season. If only I could get rid of this lingering cough. It has been hanging around for over a week now and is really getting old. Fortunately I seem to be the only one in the family affected.

Vacations are almost over. Les went back to work today and the kids head back to school tomorrow. I have almost forgotten what peace and quiet sounds like!

Ballerinas are currently a very big thing with my niece. She is taking dance class now and is TOTALLY loving it. So I made her some stuff with an awesome kit called Tiny Dancer which is a thrice as nice collab at Scrap Matters. I made her a shirt, which I hope to have a picture of her wearing soon and this barrette holder which I am so tickled with.