Gorgeous Americana kit

Sarah Bennett has just collaborated with Trixie Scraps Designs to make the most gorgeous Americana kit I have seen! It is called Old Glory. This kit is absolutely packed with goodies. I know it will be one of my favorite "go to" kits for a long time to come. Here is a layout that I did with it.
I also used Get Real: shadows by Jennifer Barrette Designs and Becky's May (SB) CT blog train template to create this layout. The font is Porcelain

How about this?

Wow, I have been away for a while. I promise I have been super busy during this time. About a month ago my Mom moved in with us temporarily because she had broken her ankle and needed some help. We are talking a serious break here... steel plate and 38 pins / screws. (So once she is fully healed am I able to ask her if she has a screw loose? *grin*). So anyways, we were discussing all the pretty canes that you can get if you have a normal one and she said how sad she is that she can't get one because hers has the 4 "feet" on it and they don't make them pretty. **light bulb moment** So I thought about it and set about making her a pretty cane. Here is what I came up with...
Using Man in the Moon Designs kit Charming Gardner, a lot of mod podge, acrylic sealer, silk flowers, grosgrain ribbon and hot glue. She is absolutely in love with it and so anxious to get rid of the walker and be able to use and show off her beautiful new cane!

Krisi is having a CT Call

Hey everyone. A quick note to let you all know that Krisi is having a CT Call!. She makes some really great hybrid templates and is really wonderful to work with. You should definitely check it out!

the Sarah Bennett CT Blog train is now departing!!!

Welcome to the Sarah Bennett CT blog train. You should be arriving at my blog from Britanee's blog. I hope that you are enjoying all of these wonderful templates. Be sure to stop on by Sarah's store and pick up some of her great kits to use with these. She has a really great kit, My Buddy, being released today with lots of masculine colors!
Here is the original layout that I based my template off of. I have added in a spot for a photo as well, still keeping with the feel of my original.And here is the template itself.
Here is the link for the layered PSD template.
And here is where you can get the separated PNG layers.


The next (and final) stop on the train is Amy. If you happen to have gotten lost somewhere along the train, or have just stumbled aboard... here are all of your stops.

CT Blog http://designsbysarahbennett.blogspot.com
Trish http://justthe6ofus.net/
Katie http://scrappingwithkatie.blogspot.com
Kim http://karayannisfamily.blogspot.com/
Li http://libeingcrafty.blogspot.com/
Jamie http://jamiesscrapblog.blogspot.com/
AmyM http://melniczenkomusings.blogspot.com/
Kendall http://majorscrapitude.blogspot.com/
Becky http://hodgeypodgeblog.blogspot.com/
Britanee http://britaneesscraps.blogspot.com/
Amanda http://mandasmemories.blogspot.com/
AmyP http://amyp-unforgettablemoments.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you will enjoy all these wonderful templates.

Another blog train leaving the station tomorrow...

Stopping in to let you all know there will be another blog train departing tomorrow! Be sure to check back.

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.