Wow... where has time gone?  Seriously... this year has just flown by.  Crazy.  2011 is upon us and I sure hope its a better year than this one has been.

I released my second apprentice kit, Country Holiday, at Digiridoo Scraps last week.  Then I got sick and have been in bed all week long so blogging about it was last on my list.  I am finally feeling better but still coughing my lungs up.  But hey, all things for a reason right?  Well, how perfect is this?  Today is also my contribution on the Digiridoo Scraps blog/forum.  I have an Add On to Country Holiday available for FREE.  And I think its super cozy!  mmm.... dont ya wanna go check it out?  Yep... go!

Here is a preview of Country Holiday.  The full kit contains 15 papers and 31 elements.

 I am offering it for only $3 but if you go check out the FREE add on, you might find a special something something.  You can find this kit in the shop.  And below is a preview of the Add On.

Well, not much else has been going on.  I haven't had a lot of time to scrap but here are a couple layouts created using Ellie Lash's new kit called Jolly Holiday.  You can find it at Sunshine Scraps separately or in a bundle.

 

Hmmm... trying to think if I have used any other kits lately! I just scrapped a page tonight using a new kit from Scrap'It Designs.  Heart and Soul can be found at Digiridoo Scraps.  My page also uses some grungy glitter called Haute Couture by Kathryn Wilson.  I think it works just perfectly here!  Oh, yes, he is beautiful!

Lastly, my blog seems to not like links lately.... so, please excuse the randomness and inability to click on anything.

belated Nov news...

Yep... its December. I know. Thanks for the heads up. Goes to show you how far behind I am on just about everything. Seems to me that life just stopped around the, oh, I guess the 23rd or so of October. Yea, a while ago. Wanna know what happened? Well, I wont bore you completely.

Basically, had a school function that required ALOT of prep work from me and the one other parent volunteer I could wrangle... plus lots of nights working late and then being at the school working on stuff all day... etc etc.. ya get the picture right? So, day after Halloween, I wake up sick. Yucky sore throat and stuff... just a cold but annoying. Then the kids get it and the hubby and for those of you with kids and hubbies, ya know how bad this is. Right, right. Moving on... finally get better and then we have several store visits (for work) in a row, leading up to the President (of the company, not the USA) stopping by which results in one really long shift... like till 5am. Yea... long long night. But we were great and the next week is the dreaded BLACK FRIDAY... OH... FYI - if I am moving really fast, its because that's how my life moves.... zoom zoom zoom - so Black Friday.... {insert evil laugh}... I get the 8:30pm Thursday night to 5:30am Friday morning shift. Its crazy crowded, its hot (because the A/C shut off thinking we were all in bed), half the people don't understand me (I don't speak Spanish), it goes on and on. But in the end, I stumbled home tired... but happy. I managed to get an awesome jacket at PacSun for 50% off... it was my size and the ONLY one there... I had been eyeballing it a few weeks prior but they didnt have my size. Destiny, I think. Went home and pretty much crashed because by now its after 7am and I have been awake a very very long time and those two Monster Loca Moca Energy drinks have long worn off. My MIL very generously had volunteered to watch my kids since she knew I would need sleep and hubby had to work - who knew the the day after Thanksgiving was a busy golfing day. Not me... Anyways, so hubby took the little devils to gramma's and my eyes were shut solid long before they walked out the door.... and they stayed shut.... until 5pm that night. Yep... I slept a long long time! Got up for a bit, ate, etc and pretty much went back to bed. I had to work the next 2 night so I need the energy. Skip past those two work days and you have Monday, Nov 30. I am feeling the need to scrap and stay up till 4am scrapping. 3 layouts done but I wake up in the morning sick... again! By Tuesday afternoon, I am running a fever of 102, so I lay on the couch with my BUG until hubby comes home and then I pretty much pass out... until Thursday night... yep! When I get a fever, I go out for the count. I am feeling alot better now, well rested. Just full of snot like you couldn't believe. But guess what I got a few hours after rising from the depths of my comfy bed... a little BUG with a temp of 101.7 and the sniffles. Ugh... yea, that means he cant go to school. So my one day home that I feel kinda decent, I have a sick kid with me. And of course this story cant end like that... nope. The other kid comes home from school sick... coughing up a small lung and spewing germs all over me.... again. I love being a mom. Yep. germs too.

Ok... was that alot? That is exactly how things go for me. Does it go like that for you? Well, if you made it thru all that then I want to share some recent layouts. Of course, these layouts are created with kits that I got for free - in exchange for working with and promoting the kit - blah blah... don't like it, don't read my blog .

So these first two layouts are created with a kit from CONNIE PRINCE called HEY SANTA. If you haven't seen Connie's stuff yet, then you are missing something. Plus, the girl is a kit machine. I think she cranks out a new kit every day. If you click on the layouts, it will take you to the Gotta Pixel Gallery and you can get more info on the kit there in the layout credits (and you could leave me some lovin'). Ok. Connie sells at Gotta Pixel and Elemental Scraps so click on either store name to check out her shop! She always has great deals and kits for $1 or $2... cant beat that.



This next layout was created just tonight during a speed scrap at Gotta Pixel hosted by Connie herself. I love her speed scraps! So much fun. Well, I used another of Connie Prince's kits, this one is called Deck the Halls. Isn't it cute? Click on the layout for the full credits because I used a couple of things that weren't Connie's.



This next layout is one of my favorite one's lately. First, I just love the photo! I used one of My Four Hens Photography Actions on it... can't remember which one off the top of my head but its one of the almost sepia ones. If you havent checked out Sarah's shop with all her amazing actions, do! And then follow her for great sales. I NEVER EVER used an action and then bought some and and now I use them each time.

Ok, back to the layout... hehe... this one is created from a new kit by Michelle Underwood Designs called Vintage Holiday Memories. Michelle sells at 2 Peas in a Bucket, which is a fun place that is both paper and digi!!!.


And that's it. I had 2 more layouts lined up but then realized they aren't released until Monday... so confusing for me to be early on a layout. hehe So come back to see 2 more adorable Christmas layouts.... from Digi-Designs by Nicole.

taking a bite...

I had a chance to work with two pretty awesome designers (Sara Ellis and Connie Prince) collab today and I had sooooo much fun. The kit is called I love Cord-uh-roy and it is a warm fallish apple-y kinda kit but at the same time, you could create very non fallish or apple-y kinda layouts. I choose to do apples because I have had these fun pics for 2 years now and there were just saying - scrap me!! So,

Ok, here are the kit previews. The first preview is Sara's portion. Stop by her blog and say howdy and maybe find something else. You can also click this image to go to the shop. This kit is on sale Tuesday, 10/27 for only a dollar at Gotta Pixels Dollar Day.


This second preview is Connie's portion. You should also stop by her blog because there is usually a freebie or two... plus it's just a nice thing to do. You can also click this image to go to the shop.


Finally, here is my layout. You can click on the layout to leave me love in the gallery if you would like. Because all we need is love....


It's my first layout in a week or so. Mr. Mo Jo ran away again and its pretty annoying to me. I miss scrapping but instead I have been cleaning house alot... yuck. I even dusted off a years worth of dust from my paper scrapping space... which is baskets and shelves on two walls. It took me two days to finish the job. Dang. I plan on getting busy with Christmas presents. What about you? Have you started preparing for the holidays? Shopping done yet? Are you doing more handmade gifts this year or is it just too much work?

Just news

First up... Speed Scrap @ Scrap Matters on Tuesday. Hope to see you there!


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Need to get started on Chrsitmas gifts? Go check out the Christmas Countdown happening at Snap and Scrap. A new gift giving idea each day.

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I made a new CT - for Nikki Painter. Nikki sells at Faith Sisters along with many other talented designers. Go check out the shop and jump in the fun on the forum. Click here to see Nikki's store.

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Lastly, a BIG thank you to all of you who left me encouraging comments regarding the CT contest at Scrap Orchard. Unfortunately, I did not make the CT. I am sad, but its ok. I got to work with two fantastic kits and I had a blast doing so.

Busy as a... bug?

Ok, call me CRAZY but I have been so encouraged by getting on Nicole and Amber's CT that I decided to enter a CT Contest at Scrap Orchard. So first, I have NEVER entered any kind of contest because I wasn't sure I could handle the disappointment but as a new digi -gal I feel that I can take this challenge and use it in ways that are helpful personnally and creatively (is that a word?).

For our first assignment, we had to take their June Collab - called JuneBug - and create two layouts with it. Deadline for this is Nov. 5th and on Nov. 7th they will announce who will move to the next round. So here are my two layouts... whatcha think???

What a great start to November!

Forget about St. Patricks Day in March, I think October was my lucky month!! Amber from Stolen Moments had a CT Call and I applied. Well, the VERY FIRST THING I see on November 1st is an email from Amber welcoming me to her CT. Super exciting! Amber makes really cute kits and she does a collab once a month with Digi-Designs by Nicole!

Amber also released a new kit - He's late for class - and I got to play with it. Great kit!
See my LO below - yea, I know - my dog is on it... not the kids!
Go to Stolen Moments to get this awesome kit but here's the catch - you have to stop by EVERY DAY to get all the pieces. Run over there NOW and get this gorgeous paper pack and then remember to come back for the rest. Amber's link will expire and then you will have to purchase the kit at TaggersScraps. Go.... now... don't stop at Starbucks on the way!

Exciting News

Friday night I checked my email and what did I find - great news from Digi-Designs by Nicole! She had a CT call and I made it! Hooray. As a new digi-scrapper, this is very exciting. It gives me a chance to play with cool kits and make new friends. I couldn't be more pleased.


I was able to play with a new kit coming out - a collab with Amber of Stolen Moments. Here is my LO made with Nicole's portion of the kit.


Go check out Nicole's blog. And check back daily because each day she gives away a different piece of the kit and I know you will want it all (believe me, it is worth the trip). Today Nicole is giving out the papers to this great FREE kit! Look how cute they are.

Get them HERE.