Great Give-Away from Cosmo Cricket!!! Hurry!

While web browsing today (looking for something to spark my imagination as I am in a scrappy-rut and not even finished with my darned Christmas cards) I found this great contest from Cosmo Cricut.  You can win 6 kits, stickers and die cuts, 2 packs of blackboard, ribbon, several sheets of different stickers, a blackboard mini album and rubons! All you need to do is go here: http://lifeaslou.blogsome.com/2008/12/20/christmas-mini-album-pages-6-7-plus-150-give-a-way. Sorry the link isn't clickable; HTML is kicking my butt tonight.

Oh - and you'll also get to see this great Christmas mini-album that Leah Killian is making.  I think I'm going to try and make one the week after Christmas. Good luck and have fun!

Goofin Around

Here is a layout I made with a fun kit from Designs by Crazy Diamond, called Goofin Around. This is my oldest son when he was around 4, playing with his Dad. This is great for scrapping those Disney photos, too!! This kit is on sale right now at Ahhh Scraps.com... here is the link: http://ahhhscrap.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=306&zenid=67e78777b4647474f9eb116b7595c9e9

Loving My Garden

Love the new kit "An Enchanted Forest" by Angelfaye. It is full of lovely papers and elements, and my favorite things, unicorns. Here are a couple of flowers from my garden. Don't you love the ribbon with the sparkle buckle? How about those too cool staples? This kit can be used for just about anything. Hurry over to digitalscrapping.com and grab this awesome kit!

Another Toot For Me!

No kidding, I'm on another CT team, too! Wow - I'm so darned happy! I am now a member of Angelfaye's Cherubs CT Team. Here are the two layouts I created from her kits as my application. I am having a lot of fun doing these. Check out Angelfaye's kits at: http://www.digitalscrapping.com/shop/

Toot For Me

I have been asked to be on the DT for Designs by Crazy Diamond. Of course, I graciously accepted. What an honor and such a great opportunity for me. I'm so excited!

Here is the first layout I did with her kits:

Scrapwords - Huge Online Crop July 12!!!

Scrapwords is having an online crop! Join us July 12 10am-10pm for lots of challenges, fun, games and prizes! Did I mention prizes? The top prize is a $75 gift pack! You've got that right - $75 of scrappy goodness!

Challenges will be posted throughout the day. Every challenge that you complete on Saturday will get full point value, but feel free to keep working on your entries Sunday too for a reduced point value and even MORE chance at that big prize!

I'm hosting 2 challenges - one at 12 pm and one at 1 pm (EST). I sure hope you stop by and play!!

In a Bit of a Funk

The weather is just plain weird. It's been overcast with thunderstorms for over a week here in CT. My pain level has raised exponetionally. It's also depressing to see gray outside every single day. My peonies didn't last as long as usual this year. It's beginning to really give me pause - this weather... I suspect there may be something seriously wrong. I don't know what, and I sure don't know how to fix it. I am doing what I can in my little universe. I have switched out all my light bulbs, I hang my laundry outside to dry, I purchased an energy efficient boiler system with a tankless water heater, I redid the electricity panel in my basement, I plant a garden and can some of my own veggies, and all electronics of any sort (tv, fridge, etc.) MUST be Energy Star qualified to live in my home. Oh - and let's not forget my reusable grocery bags. So - that's what I've done so far. But it's not enough. And I'm really worried. And I can't afford to purchase the technology to use solar power for my home. Or wind power. And I'm getting frightened. Because it's just not enough. What if every single person in the US did everything that I have done? Would that be enough? I don't think so. I think perhaps we waited too long - and wanted too much... too fast... with no thought of the consequences. And therefore, I am in a bit of a funk...

So - Now It's April

They say that April showers bring May flowers... How about March showers bring April flowers? That's what's happening in Connecticut. The birds that are usually arriving in May or June are here now. I love watching them. I have 5 birdfeeders and a birdhouse right outside my dining room doors and the cats and I enjoy watching the birds together often. However, this past week, crows came... yup, big, black crows. I was NOT pleased. I put a scarecrow out - and the crows ignored it, but the other birds didn't come to the feeders. So - the scarecrow came down. Now when I see crows at the feeders, I take my cane and hobble outside and wave my cane at the crows wildly... it must be amusing to my neighbors.

I love being a Senior Wordsmith Designer at www. scrapwords.com. It is the nicest, friendliest and most wonderful scrapping website I have found, and I sure looked at a few along the way. I feel cared about and welcomed when I'm there. It is full of wonderful inspiration and very, very talented ladies. It is progressing from a physical store to a hybrid/digital store... and I'm excited to be part of it.

Not much else new in my little world. I did get to see my oldest son, Greg last weekend. He lives in New Hampshire with his lovely girlfriend, Jill (or Ruby, which is her middle name). I don't get to see them often, but he came down to see a friend and go to dinner with his dad, and he had a little time between - so I got a visit. I got to give him his birthday gift (bd is 2/25). I was happy that he liked it! It was wonderful to see him again. I miss him very much!

Matt (my youngest son) is working on his book. It's a really good book. I have been reading it as he's writing and I'm really into it. I love Stephen King and this book has some of that type of writing, and some unique writing of Matt's own... he's quite talented. His words paint vivid pictures in my head - which I love. That's what my favorite books do. He's struggling at the moment, as I believe all authors do. He's writing a chapter he's just not happy with, but he'll get it figured out. I can't wait to read the next part!!

As far as me... well... Maybe I should write some. Or perhaps, I should enter politics. Both intrigue me. We'll have to see what plays out. I do need to become more vocal in many parts of my life. So that is my challenge for this month. Become vocal... express myself - in one way or another. I pray for all people who are sick or poor or homeless every night. Please pray with me.

Wow - I'm a Really BAAAD Blogger

It's been a long time since I've been here - actually, I totally forgot about this blog! I am no longer going to school, since I can't really drive anymore. I have developed a lovely "syndrome" called RSD or CRPS - Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It is terrible and I am in pain 24/7. I take a LOT of pain meds and still feel pain... sigh. I can't work, can't drive... but I'm sure on the computer. It keeps me in touch with the world - thank you inventors of the internet!!! I have developed a love of digital scrapbooking, along with paper scrapbooking. I belong to several online groups. I also belong to several online support groups for RSD and for those of us who live in Chronic Pain! It really changes one. At least, it changed me. I'm calmer, more sensitive to other's feelings, more concerned with the needs of all people, more instrospective, more in tune with my creative side, more compassionate... and a lot of other things. I guess I would say I'm a much nicer person now. It's sad that it took this syndrome to teach me some things.

Well, now that I've found here again, I'll blog a LOT more often... lol. Take good care of you and of each other.

My First Blog!

Welcome to my home away from home. I hope to write about creating, living, loving, thinking, dreaming... and things dear to my heart - or terrible injustices and criminal acts... depending on my mood of the day. I am a newbie digital designer and I belong to a lovely site called "ScrapWords". The owner, Leslie, has given me a huge opportunity by making me the Senior Digital Wordsmith Designer. I am grateful and hope to improve all of my skills. There may occasionally be freebies here... as I am learning digital design... and will have to try out my new stuff. More to come.