Some Awesome Digi Scrap Freebies...

Can you believe that the generous designers at scapladies are giving away this awesome kit? Sign up for their newsletter when you go and check them out...they are supper generous as well as supper talented!


I just love this kit! It is so feminine...which I have oddles of mushy lo's of me and hubby to do and this will be perfect! There is also a coordinating cardboard alpha up for grabs!!!

Just click on the links and be whisked away to download happiness!

Happy New Year! Huggs!!

Heather

One more for One Scrappy Mom

Okay, I made this layout for a challenge at a gallery about falling in love and now I am having a "mommy memory" moment...Any help????? Oh, well I love the layout. We were cracking up laughing at my grandma trying to get my hubby to smile...I will let your imagination go wild with what she was trying to get him to say.

Kit: Butterfly Dreams

Alpha: found in the Perfectly Pink kit

CT Layouts for One Scrappy Mom

I made two more layouts... I really like how they turned out! The first one is of my dd performing at the Church Christmas Show!



It's so funny to see my kids doing and experiencing the same things I did as a kid. Visiting my dad at his hunting camp was a regular adventure for us....lots of stuff to explore!



Everything except the hinges were made with One Scrappy Mom goodies. Click the title above to check out her goods...the hindges are by Bren Broone.

Grumpy Santa Video

Check out the video at the bottom of my blog...it's too cute!

Merry Christmas!

hugs XXOO

Heather

Digital Scrapbooking Freebies Daily Downloads

Who doesn't like getting a little something for free? There are many awesome sites out there that have a "Daily Download" where you get part of a kit just for visiting their site. The practice is two fold....it's a great way to say thank you for your business and a great way to advertise your product. Here are a few sites I have found during my travels. Not all sites are created equal, so check them out and pick the one's that fit your scrapping style If you know of another good one, please leave it in my comments section.

Divine Digital
Gotta Pixel
Scrapping Digi Kreations
3 Scrapateers
Creative Scrap Treasures
Scrap Professor
Snap and Scrap

Kids and Christmas and Reason for the Season

I am begining to wonder how many children actually think about the birth of Christ when they think of Christmas... Would it even be in their top three? If I had to make a guess about the majority of children in the US, I would say the top three would be as follows:

1. Presents
2. Cookies/Candy
3. Long holiday off from school

Am I wrong? Okay to keep this blog on a positive note, I am going to list a few things that our family does to keep the focus on the reason for the season.

1. Teach them about God and Jesus through out the year... (Read not just Easter and Christmas)
2. Involve your child in church functions or surround them with fellow Christians that hold the same beliefs as your family.
3. Pray with your children and allow them to see you pray. When children see their parents praying they naturally learn that God is real and can help them through anything in life.
4. Expose your child to God through toys, games, music, and videos. Veggie Tales is a great way to get younger kids involved and interested in God's Word.
5. Live the Lord's Greatest Commandment: Love your neighbor, every day. Look for opportunities to help other people. Talk out loud how good it feels to help people out for the sake of giving. Finding different ways to help others and follow through with putting other people first helps in so many different ways (sense of community, self esteem, goal setting, problem solving, social involvement, etc).

I guess to keep a long story short, you can't expect a child to know the real reason of the season if you don't live it every day. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing your child has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I know I listed a lot of daily on-going activities and it can seem over whelming. Start Small. You do not have to do all of it at once. It has taken my family about 3 years of adding bits and pieces to our routine. The main thing is talk to your kids about God, they are listening!

Ink that stinks

So I am somewhat bed ridden today with being sick... All is not lost, I have been able to use two of my sick days at work and I was able to stumble upon some interesting tattoos.

I would be pretty upset if I were "Mr. Awsome." The other two get what they deserve... I know someone that wanted "scarred for life" (I guess he thought he was pretty tought) But he ended up getting "scared for life." I guess it pays to learn how to edit your work... The title is clickable if you want to check out some of the other "Pretties."

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Master :: I am going to censor myself here, but it rhymes with 'gator'
2. Tour :: France
3. Input :: Output
4. Downtown :: Uptown
5. Pricey :: Can't afford it
6. Acceptable :: who says so
7. Terrace :: villa
8. Sunday :: time for church
9. Payoff :: boo-ya
10. Jack and Jill :: Of course Jill had to go, Jack can never do anything by himself!

Click the title to go to the site and check out the fun!

Digital Scrapbooking Freebies and rude people

I have be digi scrappin for about 6 months and have been overwhelmed by all of the support and kindness that most scrapping communities provide. I have found free tutorials, encouragement, and a ton of fabulous freebies. However, I am beyond shocked to find that some people feel that they can be rude to whom ever they feel.

I just can't believe that people would leave rude comments to someone who is trying to give them a free gift. The nerve of some people is just ridiculous! I for one find it encouraging that in a self-centered society (the States) we are still blessed with people willing to give of themselves to others for the sake of being kind. And what happens??? They get spit on by thoughtless individuals that are only concerned about how the world is rotating around them... Talk about insensitive and down right cruel. Since when were you given permission to bash others or put others down because you didn't get what you want the moment you wanted it. Shame on you! I am really hoping that it is temporary insanity and that your mothers' did not teach you to treat others in that manner.

As a professional school counselor, I should add that in 9 out of 10 bully situations I deal with, the bully has actually been bullied or perceive themselves to have been bullied or pushed around by someone else. Bullying is an attempt to reclaim a sense of power and control. People who are secure with themselves do not need to put other people down. They realize that people are different, that doesn't make them good or bad, just different. And they realize that other people are not responsible for their own happiness.

I am currently teaching my 2 year old and 1 1/2 year old to be patient and say thank you, maybe I should make an instructional video.

Yay! I'm creating for Bobbie M

This post is past due, but I just want to throw it out there that I am now on the Creative Team for Bobbie M. I am supper excited! She is an awesome designer and now I get to play with all of her goodies!!! Christmas has come early for me. Now I feel like I have another built in excuse to scrap. Since I am now representing some one else's work, I will be giving credit on my blog for my pages, which in all honesty I should have been doing anyway! But now I will put it up so you can go and gobble up all of the goodies...That is if any one except my mom is reading my blog! Love ya ma!!!

The above 3 layouts were made with Bobbie M's stuff at the Digi Scrap Shak I used a part of the January Collab kit for Madelynn's B-Day lo's and her gorgeous Christmas Cheer. The sparkly alpha for Madelynn and Benson's name is by Bren Broone.

Isn't this cute? I made it by combining a bazillion different challenges. I just love doing that. I end up with something I would never have thought of my self. The lo is made from a small part of the Mistle Toe Magic Collab Download a Day (December) by Snap and Scrap.

Yeah, I made my Christmas Card

I love our Christmas card this year! I am going to run over to Sam's tomorrow and get them printed. The silly teeth were a gift from Uncle Page. The kids just loved them, of course it helped that there was a sucker on the other side. I couldn't help but grab the camera and what better way than to show how crazy my kids are then using the pics in our Christmas Card. I think it will definately get a second look!!!!

Rape: Woman can now bite back

Rape is nothing to joke about... in South Africa a women invented this condom type insert to "clamp down" on a male's penis with micoscopic hooks. The hooks must be removed by a doctor.

Some women have taken a stand against the lack of law enforcement efforts and believe that the insert is suggesting that women have to adapt to rape.

Considering that a women is raped every 26 seconds in South Africa...it is something to think about...

Click on the title or pic for a link to more info

Scrap Freebies

just click on the pic and it will take you to the website:

Here is a gorgeous freebie...

From time to time, I will post some freebie links on my blog! I will only post what I will use myself. Enjoy!

click on the pic and it should take you to the download site!

What is digi scrapbooking?

Basically, digi scrapping is using a photo editing program to create a digital scrapbook page.

I have some of my digi layouts posted on my myspace page and I often hear, "How do you do that?" The answer is simple... I am addicted to digi scrapbooking. I don't pretend that I am the greatest at it, but I know just enough to spend way too much time entering challenges and building beatiful pages to perserve these precious times.

Here are some basics to get you started:

1. Select a photo editing program. I like to use photoshop elements 5.0 It is simple yet versital. If you perform an online search, you can easily find one for about $30.

2. Purchase or find some download freebies. I recommend downloading some freebies until you are familiar with the process and discover your style and favorite designers. I recommend the following sites for some rockin freebies:

http://www.ikeagoddess.blogspot.com/
http://www.scrap-a-lot.blogspot.com/

Download and open your files in a folder labeled "digi scrapbooking." (I will post later about how to set up and organize your files)

On to creating a page:

Open your photo editing program. I will give directions that I would use in PE 5.
1. Select file; open
2. After selecting the appropriate folder; select items you wish to use; you can select multiple items by holding down the ctrl key
3. Repeat step 2 as needed to select all of the pictures, papers, and elements you wish to use
4. Drag and drop the items onto the work space in your editing program. (I start with a 12"by 12" paper so that my page will be 12" by 12"

Make sure to save your work.

This is my oldest son with my father. He calls him Be-Ba. I don't know why, but it is cute. They were at Fish Point looking at a few hundered geese.

Thoughts to Ponder

I found these musings on a blog...

Only in America do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in America ......do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
Only in America do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
Only in America ......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
Only in America do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
Only in America ......do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.
Only in America ... .do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.
EVER WONDER ....
Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin ?
Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?
Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?
Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'?
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!
Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

My mom rocks!

I already new that my mom spoiled me when it comes to always being there for what ever I needed. But man, after 10 days of her being in Arizona I realize just what an awesome woman she is.

I want to remind myself that this woman can no longer do any wrong in my eyes. She gives of herself unselfishly and doesn't think twice. She is truly an amazing woman. I hope that one day I can support my children as much as she has supported me!!!!

Gotta love mom!

Madelynn's 1st Haircut

Madelynn wanted a two inch pixie cut, but we settled on a shot cute bob. She is too cute with her hair cut. I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but since she doesn't really let me do anything with it anyway...Why not?

All of the $$$$ from the haircuts went to Breast Cancer Research. Can't beat that deal!

Putting it into perspective

My mom helps me and my family out in so many ways, too many to count. At times it can be a little hard to digest some of her "suggestions" but when I look at all of the love that she has shown my family, I feel that she is entitled to make as many suggestions as she wants.

One day she may not be here to make her suggestions, and I will be devastated! What do you do for someone that does everything for you? What is the best way to say "thank you for being you?"

My bubble boy

Here is a lo I did for a few challenges. I actually had to remove a photo for one of the digi challenges that I ment it for...Tell me which one you like best!

Heroes Premiere

I have been waiting for some time now for the premiere of Heroes. Maybe it is the difficult life situations I deal with in my job, but there is something to be said for getting lost in a good sci-fi program.

While the premiere did not dissapoint me as far as character development and plot, it did seem apparent that they were setting up the session with mini-subplots. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I remember the first session as being more seamless with transitions to the mini-subplots.

Don't get me wrong, I still loved the show and will continue to be a fan. I am glad that Peter and his brother are not dead, as the session 1 finale seemed to imply. What about Syler though? I know some thought he was dead, but those of us whom were paying attention would have caught that he slithered down the man hole. And what is with that the weird symbol that kept turning up? Obviously that will be further explored in future episodes...

Benson is such a little stinker!!!!!

Here are a couple of my favorite digi pages:

This is Madelynn's first day of Young-5's. Towards the end she was totally over me taking pictures! She loves her classes though. Unfortunately, I often have to haul her out of school over my shoulder!!!

Mom helping Elijah to walk.

I just love this one with the kids all piled on Ben.

We had a lot of fun this summer. We went up to our families cabin 3 times. With three little ones that is not an easy thing to pull off, but the kids loved it.

My baby is growing up!

I guess all of my babies are growing up! I am a little sad, but I am looking on to the next chapters in our lives.

Oh no! New Blog!!!

Well, I switched internet providers...so my email is different...so I can't retrieve my password for my old blog. Bummer! Oh, well. I wasn't as dedicated as would have liked anyway. I don't know if two posts is close enough to a dedication... Anyways...here we go...

This blog is to document the chaos that is my family life, my life, and my general musisings. I don't know if anyone cares to read this, maybe it is just for postaririty. Hopefully, there are no crazy people out there getting any ideas. If so, I believe in the right to bare arms. With that said, enjoy!