Happy New Year!!!!

OK. It’s not quite the New Year, but it is New Year’s Eve! I’m going into work this morning for just a few hours, then the youngest 2 are going to friends for a New Year’s Eve Bash Sleepover. They’re so excited & have been doing a daily countdown since Thanksgiving!! LOL I’m not sure what Hubby & I will be doing, since Savannah will be home. He may work {he drives a taxi cab} since this is a big night for people who want to drink but not drive ~ which is fine with me if he works, that’s extra money for us!! LOL
Hope everyone had a pleasant Christmas. The girls & I went to my Mom’s on Sunday the 23rd to celebrate it with her & my 2 sisters. Mom didn’t do the big dinner this year, we just munched on cheese, crackers & veggies, drank lots of egg nog & sparkling grape juice! Then after opening all our gifts, we played our favorite game of all time ~ UNO!! We play it every time we get together & it goes on & on & on & on…..We’ve literally had one game last for 4 hours!!
Christmas day we went to my SIL house to spend it with her, her 2 kids, & the rest of Hubby’s family. Hubby’s Aunt, her husband & his Grandma drove from Nebraska & his cousin flew in from New York.
After opening all the gifts, it’s his family’s tradition to see a movie on Christmas day. Hubby’s Uncle buys the gift certificates ahead of time, and then we decide what movie to see. This year we saw National Treasure ~ Book of Secrets. Pretty good movie. It was decided we should catch the 2:20 showing, so we gather up kids, decide who is going with who & leave for the theater. Hubby, the kids & I as well as his Mom & boyfriend get there, but didn’t want to get the tickets yet because the rest of the family had yet to arrive. My SIL & the rest of the crew finally arrive 10-15 mins after us & the 2:20 show is sold out. So we get tickets for the 3:20 show & wait @ the theater behind about 75 other people for an hour to get decent seats. Crazy!! But, we enjoyed the movie & head back to my SIL house for my MIL to make her famous & delicious enchiladas. Needless to say, my SIL forgot to get all the ingredients for enchiladas so Hubby’s Mom was going to take us to dinner, but the only restaurant open on Christmas day was Denny’s. NOT where I want to go for a Christmas dinner!! It was about 7:30 PM by then, the girls were getting cranky & hungry. So we head back home & have a Christmas dinner of burritos!! Not quite your traditional Christmas dinner!! LOL

I must be off to work now. Have a save & Happy New Year. ;)

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas Eve!! I’m officially done with ALL my gift buying; I finished up this morning & have been wrapping between baking banana bread, cleaning up a bit & playing with the girls toys. We had Christmas at my Mom’s yesterday w/ my 2 sisters, & the girls really hit pay dirt w/ Grandma!! And tomorrow it’s Christmas with Hubby’s family.
Since I will be away for Christmas, I will give you the remaining freebies. Somehow I missed a day & have 3 for you. I’m sure you’re OK with that aren’t you?? LOL And here they are ~ a set of stapled jewelry tags, some messy stitches, & a set of satin bows. Enjoy & the Merriest of Christmases to everyone! ;)

get the jewelry tags here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

get the stitches here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

get the bows

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

Well, I made it through shopping at Wal-Mart & Target yesterday without a scratch!! Pretty much got everything on the lists. Hubby has to get the last of the gifts; just a few more from Santa & we’re done for this year. Whew!! Now I will sit back & relax. I don’t have to worry about cooking dinner this year, my SIL is doing that. I’m not entertaining at my house, so I don’t have to worry that the vacuum cleaner broke & the carpet is a disgusting mess. I’ve even put aside working on designs for work for the next 4 days!! This is Heaven! Actually what would make it more like Heaven is if Hubby gets me the Dyson I want so I can get this house cleaned up! Yes, I’m the type of person who doesn’t mind when her husband buys her gifts like vacuum cleaners. LOL!
On a bit of a different note, I’m hoping Kendra W has stopped by to read my little o’ Blog. If you’re reading this Kendra, you purchased 2 kits from the store & the Pay Pal address you have was returned as unavailable. I want to get the download links to you, so if can you contact me here with an alternate email address I will get them out ASAP. Thanks.
Now on to today’s freebie ~ a set of gingham bows in colors to match the papers. Enjoy!

grab them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

Are You Ready??

Christmas is only 3 days away. {Aakkkk!!!!} Everyone have your shopping done?? I don’t!! Savannah & I are heading out in a bit so she can get her gifts for Riley & Darien, then I have to finish my shopping, do Hubby’s & get Santa gifts. All this I plan on getting done today. Not to mention I have to go to the grocery store, too!! It’s now about 10:30 & I really should’ve had most of this done already. Oh, well.
I wanted to get you guys your goodies before I headed out into the madness. Today there will be 2 since I didn’t get yesterdays uploaded. I was having problems w/ the internet & was just too damn tired to mess with it after work! So, you get a set of stitched felt stars & assorted frames for today. Enjoy!! I’m off & hopefully will make it back in one piece!!

get the stars here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

get the frames here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

What a Day!

I’ve been going since 5:30 this morning & it's now 6:30 PM!! It’s nice to sit down for a few minutes. Long enough to give you guys your treat for the day!! Yeah you!!! It’s a set of 6 papers in colors that coordinate with the Holiday cards.

I’m now off to do Darien’s hair ~ enjoy the papers!

Get them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

Day 5 Freebie

Just a quick stop before I head out to work. Today’s freebie is a set of 4 vintage gift tags ~

Get them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

Christmas Gifts for All

As you may know from reading my previous post, some of my husband’s extended family members will be here for Christmas & I was struggling with not only the hassle of having Christmas in 3 places {our house, w/ my family & w/ his family}, but also with the financial aspect of the whole affair. I came up with what I think is an awesome solution. We live right next door to a CVS & they print digital pictures in 1 hour for just pennies. And across the street is a 99 cent store. So….for just a few dollars Savannah & I went around the neighborhood taking pics of some interesting things to give for gifts!! We’re doing some photo editing in PSP so they’ll each have an
interesting effect. Here is a sample of one I just did of a photo I took ~

ORIGINAL:

EDITED:

I love changing a pic to B&W with just the “subject” in color. Especially if the color pops! I think our family will enjoy them, especially since the photos were taken by Savannah & I. And it was fun finding things a little “unusual” to photograph & frame.
Now for your goodie of the day ~ fabric tags, perfect for your Holiday layouts!

get them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

On the Third Day of Christmas...

FernLili gave to you 4 silk flowers, Holiday cards & some cute paper Christmas trees. Yup, today's goodie is 4 silk flowers with glitter "button" centers in traditional holiday colors. I'm off to {Gulp} Wal-Mart & Target ~ enjoy!

Get them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

One More Before I Say Goodnight

Hey Folks, I’m back again with another goodie!! But before I do that, I want to remind you that my huge 55% off sale is still going on in the Store. Everything {excluding sale rack items} is on sale. There are some whopping deals you shouldn’t miss. And just in time for the Holidays!!
Now on to the freebie ~ a set of 4 5X7 holiday cards in PNG format to slip a photo or 2 into. Until next time ~ Enjoy!

Get the cards here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

She Does Exist!!!

I’m here, I’m alive & I’ve been such a bad bloggerL. I’ve just been so busy at work; I’ve had next to no time for much else. The company has hired 2 new people, so I’m hoping they will have the skills to help take some of the weight off my shoulders. I’m handling customer service calls, product status calls, scheduling technical measurements, scheduling installs, and production tracking. Add to that the designing, which I’ve gotten behind on & have been taking home. Hence my lack of time to Blog. Not to mention I’ve shopped for exactly one, yes, ONE Christmas gift & that I did online!! What I would really love to do is just spend the day with my family just hanging out, play some board games & cards & just be together. But my SIL has this big to-do planned with her & hubby’s grandma, aunt, uncle, cousin & mother. Plus her kids & mine. I’m actually not looking forward to it. I know, I know. I sound like the Grinch. But she wants to have EVERYONE {adults included} bring a stocking over the night before, then show up early the next morning for breakfast & present opening. I barely have enough money to buy my own kids gifts, much less my husbands cousin who I met once 12 years ago, his aunt I see maybe every 2-3 years, & an 80 something grandmother who really does not need another knick knack or do-dad. I think the stress of work & the Holidays are making me crabby L
So I will move on to more uplifting subjects ~ last year at this time of year, I gave away a full kit in a “12 Days of Christmas” download-a-day freebie. It was a big hit, so this year I will again have the “12 Days of Christmas” freebie-a-day, but this time it will be a different thing each day. And to start things off, today’s freebie is a set of 4 paper trees; lightly decorated so there is room for you to add your own trimmings of glitter & glitz. Because I’ve started a day later than planned, be sure to check back again tonight for another freebie!!

Grab them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

A SALE & A FREEBIE!!!!!!

Since going back to work full time {2 years now!!}, I’ve had to make some big & very difficult decisions & some compromises. One of them being my store. I just don’t have the time right now to devote to my designing like I should. {It’s been so busy at work, I’ve been bring designs home to work on.} I will still offer freebies here on my Blog, so be sure to check back once in awhile. I won’t be closing the shop, but I am having a huge sale! Pass it on to all you know ~ I’m having a whopping 55% off everything!!!! This even includes some new items I’ve added!!! Check them out ~

Not much else to report, fall has finally arrived ~ YEAH! It was 70 today & I was freezing!! But it’s a nice relief from the 110 degree weather we’ve had! Things have been busy with the girls various activities, but all next week is Fall Break, so things will slow down for just a bit. Savannah was playing with the camera again {& with a couple of my coats w/ fur collars}& as usual got some cool shots of herself. I’ll have to post them later. For now, hop on over to the Shop & get a bargain or two, & here is a little something for all your fall layouts ~

grab them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

Cool Weather, Sunshine & Rain

Ahhh, the beauty of living in Arizona. It is currently a warm 97 degrees, sunny & raining!! I looked for a rainbow, but haven’t seen one yet. The youngest 2 girls are outside playing in the rain, one of the joys I never really got to do as a kid growing up in New England. The cool weather is a nice relief. It’s been an average of 110 lately. It looks like fall may finally be arriving!! Yeah!!
I haven’t been doing much scrapping lately. I’ve been on the computer so much lately, both at work & home; my right hand is beginning to cramp. I guess maybe it could be carpal {sp?} tunnel, the muscle in my middle finger from the knuckle to my wrist starts to really hurt & cramp now. The downfall of enjoying technology ;(
I did get a scrapbook page done, although it took me the entire week to complete!! Every time I’ve sat down to scrap some pics, I just stare at the screen & nothing. No ideas, no inspiration, no mojo. So I decided to pop on over to We Digi Dare Ya & last week they had a great dare. To find an artist, style, technique, or topic that you have wanted to try but haven’t yet and try to SCRAP LIKE THAT! And to use products from at least one designer you’ve never tried before. Bingo! I’ve always wanted to scrap just one picture with lots of “do dads” around it. Kinda like they were just thrown there, and I had just done some shopping at Funky Playground & Lily Pad, so I had some new “do dads” to play with. I didn’t get the LO done in time to get the fab freebie, but hey, a LO got completed!! LOL

Here’s my newest LO of Riley ~

Credits ~ background paper – Funky Playground Sept. Goodie Box; frame, proverb heart – Jess Bolton; paper flower – Ann deJong; tatty bow – Syrin; stitched flowers – Traci Murphy; blanket stitch – Kate Hadfield; knotted ribbon, graphic rub-on – Little Dreamer Designs; hook & eye, string – Linda Gil Billdal; stitches cluster – Natali; bow in eyelets – Alma Townsend; tag & pin – Miss Mint

The "Good Ol' Days"

Boy, are there days when I wish the girls were still toddlers. Life was so much easier then!! No constant bickering & picking, no dramas over hair & wardrobe, {OK, a little from Savannah, but she’s ALWAYS been a Drama Queen!! LOL}, and the most running around we did was to the grocery store, Target, Grandma’s & the park. Now, I’m at work by 7:45am and on my way home about 4:30 or 5:00pm, but first I run over to the elementary school to pick up Darien from after school activities, then to the middle school to get Riley from volleyball, then home to whip up a nutritious & yummy dinner, and back out again to take Savannah to either tumbling or cheer practice. Getting computer time has also become harder now that the kids need it for school. When I do get my turn, I’m too tired to think!! I have just enough energy to read my emails!! They’re not too happy with me taking over the computer for the entire weekend, but it is what it is.
I’m glad my girls {especially Savannah, who’s now 14} are getting into sports; it keeps them out of trouble, but sheesh! I’ve lost all my “Me Time”!! I don’t even have it in the morning like I used to because the girls are getting up at 5:30am, just after I do! Sleep-overs with friends have become a welcomed relief!
But enough griping, since it’s a long weekend {thank goodness, I REALLY needed it!!} I was able to finish up 2, yes 2, projects I’ve been working on. Many of the kids have either started back to school, or will be soon, so I have goodies perfect for such an occasion. Another 2 8X8 Kwick Stick Mini Albums!! The first one was made with my Magic Marker paper pack, plus elements from both freebies & various element packs. {Download below} And because this is Labor Day weekend when most designers have sales, and I haven’t had time to set one up, there is another Kwick Stik Mini Album in my store!! Made with Study Hall Paper Pack, this too is great for back to school pictures. {Click image to be taken to FernLilis} So, enjoy, have a wonderful weekend, I’m off for a BBQ with my Mom & 2 sisters.

grab magic marker kwick stik mini album here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

It's Been Quite Awhile....

Hello Blog readers!! I hope you haven't forgotten me!! With my new promotion at work, school starting, & carting Savannah here & there for cheer, I'm exhausted each night. And today, a Saturday, my day off, I have to got into work for a bit. Not that I really mind all that much, it's for the benefit of the company & I live just 5 mins away. Just a few minutes this morning, back home, then back to work again late this afternoon. Anyway, I've had a goodie for you all that's been sitting on my hard drive, waiting for when I had time to get it uploaded to my shop. Yeah!! That day has come!! I had such a huge response to the 8X8 kwick stik mini album made with my Pleasant Dreams paper pack, I decided to make another!! This one is with my Estate Sale paper pack and has a more masculine look. Take a look ~

So zip on over to FernLili's & pick it up. And while you're there, browse the shop, you never know what might catch your fancy!! {;) hint, hint!}

What Could be Better Than an 8X8 Mini Album???

Getting an 8X8 Mini Album FREE!!! This 6-page album is made with my Pleasant Dreams paper pack & various elements, as well as a few past freebies. Perfect for a new baby's brag book. Grab it over on my site.....

Where Oh Where Have I Been??

Gosh, it feels like it's been an eternity since I've sat down to Blog!! I got a raise & promotion at work, and now work 7 AM to 4 PM. And because I'm now salary, I'm sometimes there until 5!! And to top it off it has been 110 or hotter & so humid!! Humidity levels have been around 13%, which for some is no big deal, but for us Arizonians, that's bordering on unbearable!! LOL It just leaves you drained with so little energy to do much but sit in front of a fan.

I've been working on something new for the store, & just added it today. A mix of 19 xtras that are great additions to all your layouts, and it's only $2.oo!! {Click on image to be taken directly to the store. Hint, hint!}

The 2 younger girls are going to spend a couple weeks in San Diego with their Grandmother, leaving this Wed. with my SIL {Savannah will stay just through the weekend, then come back with SIL} so I'm looking forward to some quiet time. I hate to say it, but they have been driving me mad all summer! Hubby works nights, and sleeps all day, so it's like the girls are home alone. Nothing gets done, if they eat, they eat everything in the house, they watch Disney Channel half the day, and I've had to lock my computer so they didn't spend the other half of the day on that. And, my gosh, the messes they make!! They're little slobs!! They're cooped up all day, so when I get home {exhausted after a long & busy day} all I get is the whining & complaining. They definitely need a change of scenery, & I need a break!!!

Whew!! That's enough bitching for the night!! LOL I'm off to watch 'Hell's Kitchen", but you know I won't jet without leaving you a little goodie. Here is a little sample of my new Xtras Mix ~

get them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

A Quickie

Must dash off to work but before I do, I want to leave you all the last freebie for the month. A set of Bread Tag Labels. Bread tags have been a hot item lately, and these come with 5 labels, one blank and 3 different colored X stitches to attach them to your LO. And before I take off, a reminder that my 55% sale ends midnight Saturday, and all the Blog freebies will be gone the, too. Enjoy & have a great day!get them here
{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

Pictures

Not much to talk about today except this picture of a dead bug my sister found in her back yard ~

That's her roommate's foot, and she wears like a size 8!!! EEEWWWW GROSS!!!! She {the roommate} even picked it up!! {Even more grosser!!!} My sister searched the Internet to find out what kind of bug it is; here is what she found out ~

Giant Root Borer (not species specific) Date: 2001 June 09 (seen at various times into July) Place: Guadalupe Mountains National Park Pine Springs Visitor Center (after dark)
This adult beetle is seen on the wooden boardwalk leading to the Center. All four wings can be seen - the hardened front wings and the more membranous hind wings. This is a large beetle - 1 to 3 inches long, and appears to be a clumsy flier.

Now on to the cuter things in life ~ Cali! Who can resist a cute kitten sleeping & playing?? Take a look ~ I used my frame clusters 2 ~

Oh, and I have another goodie for you!! They're what I call ripped paper tags. Little pieces of torn craft paper & notebook paper, great for jotting down things like dates in your layouts ~

get them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

Finally, TWO Layouts!!!

I know, how shocking. I haven't been very inspired lately, but browsed a few galleries for ideas & the juices began to flow. Here is one of Riley from many years ago!! I made the dress a couple of years before this picture was taken for Savannah, & all 3 girls wore it!

credits ~ Polaroid frame, papers {Fudge paper pack} & tag - mine; bling flower, fuzzy scalloped border, bling stick pin, stitches, paper fold template & envelope holders - Pink Poodle Studios; glitter flower - Carrie Stephens; corner border made with Pink Poodle Studios bling

Journaling ~

Princess Riley

She wears only the finest gowns made by the best seamstress in the land {Mom}, and a jeweled crown from the finest jeweler {Wal-Mart}!

I have so many pictures of Savannah {ALL of which she's taken!!! LOL} and wanted to do a multi photo LO with some. Bent frame clusters are all the rage now so I gave them a try. Check it out ~

credits ~ papers {Sunday paper pack}, tag & frames - mine; embroidery stitches & bow - Lisa Whitney, paper tear - Steph; word labels - Carrie Stephens

And I had so much fun trying my hand at the bent frame clusters, I made a couple as freebies!!! Both are 300 dpi & in png format, so all you need to do is plop them on a page & slip your pics under them!

get them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}

Just a reminder ~ this is the final week of my store wide sale - once it's over, the rock bottom prices will be gone, and so will the freebies, so hurry on over to the store.

No Title

I just got home from a very boring day at work. It was so slow, I was sending signals to the phone to ring ~ It didn't work!! ;)

Anyway, I meant to list credits for the frames I used for Cali's pictures. So here they are ~ Cali 1 ~ frame by Pink Poodle Studios {re-colored}, ribbons mine; Cali 2 ~ frame & cardboard shapes by Pink Poodle Studios {re-colored}, Cali 3 ~ frame & glitter flowers by Carrie Stephens; Cali 4 ~ Shabby Princess {Songbird's Folk Art Charity Kit}

Hey! Do you remember in grade school making pictures with construction paper cut-out shapes? Remember when you first started paper scrapping & used the same techniques on your pages? What?? You didn't use construction paper cut-outs in your scrap booking?? Well I did, before decided I was not very good with paper scrapping and hit my niche with digi! Just in case you occasionally want to go "back to your roots", I've made a set of summer cutouts for today's freebie ~

get them here

{Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but this download is no longer available.}