Choo choo! Food of Love QP

Welcome to this stop on the Food of Love blog train!  The Food of Love collab kit by Scraps of Ellay and DigiDesigns by Nicole is amazing!   If you like what you get from the blog train then you will definitely want to go pick up this kit at Stuff to Scrap.

Here is my contribution:
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Make sure you stop at all the blogs on the way because you’ll have one delicious QP album when you are done.

Christie Dawn
Katie
Ginger
Susan
Jodi
Sandra
Knittinjen
Glenda
Noelle
Ellay

When you get to Ellay’s blog there will be a link to head off to Nicole’s page to pick up the other half of this blog train from her CT!  Enjoy!!!

Wednesday – just barely

This week has flown by!  I don’t know where my time has been slipping off to.  Our youngest little one was sick most of this past week and I think it wore all us big people out.  Now that she’s feeling better I’m out of energy.

What have I not shown you?  Let me go look……

Gracious!  I think I have been a little behind sharing things.

I made this layout this weekend with a beautiful kit by Lizz Gasaway called Bella.

The papers in this kit are beautiful!  And of course you can pick this kit up at MBH.

I also found myself a little short on time and creativity this week.  Lucky for me, BTA Designs has a great new template set called Blocked Templates1 in all her stores so putting together that layout was a breeze!

SuzyQ Scraps has a new kit out that is totally adorable and perfect for those special loving monster pics of your little ones.  Love Monsters is available at her Scrap Orchard store.  As well as a coordinating alpha called Fuzzy Love Monster Alpha.  You can see both in this layout.

I haven’t forgotten DaniMoy, Mel, or Scraps of Ellay.  I’ve been a little busy with my lead CT duties for Me and Ellay and doing some behind the scene scrapping for all 3.  Projects are in the works for all 3 that I’ll be able to share with you soon.  I should have some layouts that I can share in the next day or two from them.  :)  I know you’ve been missing them. 

I do have some big news that I can share.  Color With Caryn had a unique CT Call this week that I felt drawn to apply for.  I really was surprised when she invited me to be part of her CT working with her CU stuff.  I am thrilled beyond belief!  This is great for you because it means I’ll be creating all sorts of goodies to share with you! 

This week Caryn has a new Glitter Mega pack out that I love!  You can find them at her DSW store.  Just click on the preview to see this as well as her Krafty Styles and Chrome Alpha.  All these are CU products but can be added to any PU layout too!

I used it to create a  little element pack for you.  the preview says 7 elements – I forgot to change it when I added the flower stem, so there are actually 8 elements.  I’m really too tired tonight to fix it.  I hope you’ll overlook it this one time.

Download Elements HERE

Be on the lookout for more new things soon.  I plan on blogging a little more often and having more goodies to share with all of you.  I need to get off here for tonight and actually do a couple more things. My goal tonight is to get in bed before 11:00.  So until next time I hope you enjoy your little freebie!

Inspiration and a Freebie

Today passed in a blur.   I know I was busy but what did I do besides clean house and chase my kiddos all day?!  I meant to have this ready early today.  One thing led to another and now it’s 10:00 p.m. and I’m just getting around to blogging about it.

Before I get to the freebie I have a very special kit to tell you about.  Special Olympics holds a dear place in my heart because of some of the students I teach.  I see all the kids in the elementary school I teach at and that includes two classes of wonderful special needs children.  These kids are the ones who come into my classroom so innocent and unassuming.  They grasp life with both hands and it is such a joy to watch them enjoy life to the fullest.  Even at the tender age of 6, 7, 8 , 9 they don’t let life’s circumstances hold them back.  Special Olympics gives them the freedom to feel that moment of success and pride that the world often tries to take away or diminish in some way.  They don’t see the world like we do, often times I think we would all be better off if we could view the world through their eyes even if it was just for a little while.

Scraps of Ellay has created a kit called Never Give Up that she is donating all the proceeds for to Special Olympics from now through Feb. 5th, 2010.  It is a bright, cheerful, and fun kit that would be a great addition to any scrapping stash.

Clicking on the preview will take you to Stuff to Scrap where you can pick up this awesome kit and help support this wonderful charity!  If you ever have a chance to volunteer with Special Olympics I would encourage you to do it, I guarantee you’ll get a blessing from it.

Here’s a layout I did with this kit

I mentioned a freebie in my opening so here it is.  I have loved all the great positive comments about my Winterlicious kit.  I’m so glad that so many of you liked it.  I loved getting to see layouts done with the kit and Moyenbof used it to create a custom header for her blog which I adored!  Sorry I couldn’t leave a message in French, I think I’ve forgotten much of what I learned in that language from lack of use.

I made a couple of Quickpages for all of you faithful blog readers who like them.  I hope you enjoy them!

Download QP FREEBIE

Need some Inspiration?

I’ve got some for you today.  Scraps of Ellay has some fabulous deals for you.  She’s retiring 4 of her older kits from the store at the end of the month and she’s got them all for sale for $2.00 each.

My favorite is Butterflies Are Free with Child’s Play taking second place.  If you have any Back to School photos that still need scrapping check out Child’s Play.

Ellay also has this fabulous kit called Cosmic Charlie available in her store that I’ve enjoyed so much that I made 3 layouts.  The papers in this mega kit blow me away!

Such variety!  I have just scratched the surface of this kit. 

SuzyQ Scraps has a template pack called StoryTellers Vol 1 that will get you scrapping those photos in no time at all.

My scrapping time has been limited a lot since school started up so templates have become my best friend.  I like the freedom I have to add to and take away but a general design start helps me generate ideas that I would miss otherwise.

I’ll have some more layouts to share later, probably tomorrow.  I’m enjoying a little quiet scrapping time at the moment so check back to see what I get finished!

Happy Monday

As some of you read this I’ll be back at work with a bunch of new students walking through my door.  I am finally at the point where I’m excited about starting a new year.  When I wasn’t feeling that way a week ago I was worried.   I think it was the combination of knowing I’m going to miss spending a lot of time with my own children, knowing I’m going to miss chatting as often with several scrapping friends (live for the weekend right?), and still recovering from a tough year last year.  But on Thursday night it hit me full force.  All it took was seeing a few of my returning 2nd graders who all ran up and gave me a big hug while their parents looked on (some with a confused look as to say “Who is this woman my child is hugging?”) and then hearing the kids turn and say “This is my music teacher!” 

Their excitement must have been contagious because even though it was a 13 hour day I went home with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.  Tomorrow I get to start meeting all my new 1st grade kiddos and relearn all my 2nd graders names.  704 at last count, but this year is going to be a good year.  Now will one of you remind me of that when I post tomorrow night about crying through the first hour or so of my day because I had to walk my little boy to his Kindergarten class and LEAVE him?  Where did time go?

Now on to the scrapping part of this post…you knew there was suppose to be that right?  Scraps of Ellay has a new kit going straight to her store today called Guinevere’s Beauty.  I had a great time working with this kit and I think you will too.

I have some other layouts to share a  little later in the week.  This week will still be kind of on the slow side because we’re all trying to settle into our school routine but don’t give up on me.  I’ve been working on something really cool and it’ll be coming your way pretty soon!

Layouts abound

Just a real quick layout sharing today.  Some of you may have noticed a new CT blinkie.  For this month I’m getting to be a guest CT for AmyM Designs at SDD.  If you aren’t familiar with her templates they are terrific!  She has a new set in her store today called Hutchie’s Style.  Here is a layout I did with it and Ellay’s new kit Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Made from this:

and this

I also had a chance to use a new kit that A+ Designs has in her store at ESS today called Summer Breeze.  Mel’s done it again and has put together a phenomenal kit.  I just love the soft blues and greens in this kit. 

Here’s  a preview of Mel’s kit:

I linked all the previews to each store.  Have a safe 4th of July weekend and make lots of memories!

A give away by SOE and finally a Freebie from ME!

Scraps of Ellay is giving you all a chance to get her new kit Goodbye Yellow Brick Road for free!  Actually she’s got several chances to win going on.  First over at DSA all you have to do is post saying you want the kit and she’s going to pick 2 people to win!  I made the link take you straight to the post so no excuses get going!

Then you can blog about the kit, go to the forum at Stuff to Scrap and let Ellay know that you did and you’ll have another chance to win the kit.  If you aren’t already a member at STS you’ll have to join but if you are here’s the link straight to the place to post.

I’m so sorry that I haven’t posted a freebie in a little while for all of you.  I’ve just not felt the QP urge lately.  Don’t know why.  But I’ve tried my hand at a couple of new things.  First there was this tutorial on creating overlays from photos that I tried out and of course then I needed to do something with them so I tried my hand at making papers.  You know how it is you start one thing and it leads to another…

Well, the paper making bug hit and I started learning more about how to achieve the different looks I really like.  I was talking with Lori aka Scraps of Ellay (I love you LA!!) and she offered to let me try out some new CU overlays of her’s.  How lucky am I?!  They are fabulous!  BTW these overlays should be appearing in her store soon.

That led me to jumping in on a giveaway at Digital Craft Cottage.   Members of the Cottage can sign up to be part of a Members Collab Exchange.  If you join in you can download what the other's have posted and have a good sized kit at the end of the month.  I thought this month would be a good month to try it out (since I have a little free time on my hands).   If you would like to join in and get what the other members have then click on link above and sign up!

I know some of you may be overwhelmed with what you are already doing so I’m also making my part available here for you.  I did use Lori’s overlays on most of  my papers.  I hope you enjoy this first mini-kit from me.  I would love to hear from you and get your opinion so if you have a moment either leave a comment here or email me. 

DOWNLOAD FREEBIE HERE 

See you back tomorrow!  If you make something using any of this mini kit I would love to see it.  Just come back here and post a link in the comments.  I’ll swing by and leave you some love!

Sara Smile QP Freebie

Even though I’m going to be gone I couldn’t go a whole week without offering a freebie to all of you that swing by my blog.  I hope you can use this QP to either do a fast page for your album or as a spring board to a layout.  Sara Smile kit is still available on Scraps of Ellay’s blog for free until the end of this week.

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I promise if you leave a comment I’ll respond when I get back.  Until next time have a blast scrapping!

Friday’s News

I scheduled this to post because by the time most of you will be reading this I will be in a vehicle driving toward Branson, MO.  Hopefully I’ll get some great photos while we’re on this trip so I’ll have a lot to scrap about.  So say a prayer for my family that we arrive and then return safely and that we’ll create some wonderful family memories of this trip.

Mel of A+ Designs has been a very busy designer.  She’s got two fabulous kits being released today at her store @ Enchanted Studio Scraps where she has just gone EXCLUSIVE!  That’s right you’ll only find her kits at ESS. 

I only had time to work with one of these kits before we left but I can’t wait to work with the other one too.  The first one is Fresh Country. Here’s a layout I did with this kit: Her other new kit is called Berry Pickin’ and I love it!  I am looking forward to working with it!

In other CT news SuzyQ Scraps has 3 of her Crumple-bets on sale for $1 each through midnight tonight.  I don’t have the previews but you can find them in the Fairy Finds section of ESS.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!  I have at least 3 blog posts scheduled to go up during next week.  Please stop by and check out my blog.  I know one day there will be a freebie for you!

Freebie Kathy’s Klown QP

How have you all been liking Ellay’s Kathy’s Klown kit? Isn’t it fun? Make sure you’re checking Scraps of Ellay’s blog each day because she has another part up as a freebie. I have a QP made for you using her kit. Enjoy!

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Download FREEBIE here

New kits and a FREEBIE

Happy Monday!  I’ve been working with some new kits that I think you’ll enjoy. 

Scraps of Ellay has a new kit called Kathy’s Klown that is full of bright colors and fun elements.  To pick up this kit you can click on the preview to be taken to her blog.

Here’s a layout that I finished up to share with you.  I did a similar one for a speed scrap challenge at ESS but felt the need to make some changes. PSST . . . check back later and you might see this one as a QP.

Summer has finally arrived and Jamie of Every EverAfter Moment Designs and De of Flower Scraps Designs have a collab kit that is just right for those who have a sweet tooth for ice cream.  It’s called I Scream for Ice Cream and is available as a freebie this week on their blogs, clicking on their names above will take you right there.  The papers are available today, elements tomorrow, and alpha on Wednesday.  Take a look at Jamie’s part:

My son loves ice cream as you can tell from this layout I did with this kit.

I turned this layout into a QP for all of you.  I hope you like it . . . I would love to see any variations you come up with.  If you post a comment with a link to your layout I’ll be sure to take a look and leave a comment.

***LINK EXPIRED***Download FREEBIE Here 

Bye for now!

Susan aka IvoryKeys

Freebie QP just for you

Welcome back! Today I have a QP freebie for you from a layout I showed you earlier this week using Scraps of Ellay’s new kit Forever Romance.

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Download FREEBIE QP Here

Some of my fellow CT’s have QP’s for you too. Check out SOE’s blog to find their links! If you haven’t bought this kit hurry to the store to get it and don’t forget that Ellay has a freebie add-on to this kit on her blog until Sunday.

My newest journey and a FREEBIE QP

Every Ever After Moment from Stuff to Scrap has put together her first CT and I feel honored that I’m a part of it. She has a new kit coming out today called Monster Cute that has some of the most adorable little monsters in it. I didn’t use the monsters in this layout but I’m sure I will as soon as I find the right photo of my son, but here is a layout I did with this kit.

The journaling says: You love to climb on anything and everything. You got caught in the act trying to climb to the top of the swing set. You absolutely have . . . NO FEAR.

My son was actually telling me as I took this picture all about climbing to the top of the swing set and how his big sister did it. I was thinking, “Now I know how my parents felt when I kept climbing those trees in the backyard.” Did them telling me I could fall and break my arm, leg, or neck stop me? Nope. Did it do me any good to relay the same wisdom to my son? Nope. Did either of us fall? Nope. But I think there must be a league of angels holding their wings tight around us so we don’t.

Here’s a preview of the Monster Cute kit:

Check out her store at Stuff to Scrap here.

See there’s all the cute monsters! Who can resist those adorable faces?

I made my Monster Cute layout into a Freebie QP for you.

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I hope you enjoy your freebie. Thanks for stopping by!

The poll is about to close

Check back Thursday to see which layout was chosen by my blog readers for the QP.  I had fun with the poll – I’ll have to do something like that a little more often.  I appreciate everyone that stopped by and commented on my layouts.  I enjoyed getting around yesterday and visiting different blogs too.  There’s a lot of beautiful memories being captured out there.

Tonight I got to work with a kit by Every EverAfter Moment Designs called Flower Seeds.  You can get it here @ STS.  This kit is loaded with goodies!  Goodness the 32 papers alone are a gem!

Here’s the layout I finished up tonight.  I was trying out some new techniques such as blending into the background.  It was fun!  The photos are from my backyard this afternoon.  I have some great photos of my youngest two playing that I’m sure will turn up in some layouts this week.

Til’ next time . . . Happy Scrapping!

Busy, busy, busy

And I love every moment of it!  I forgot all about sharing these with you yesterday.  I got busy scrapping and then our oldest got sick (which we found out this morning is strep throat – so much for her solo and children’s choir program tonight) so it slipped my mind totally.

SuzyQ Scraps released a new kit Friday Called In the Farmyard.  The preview is linked to her store @ ESS.

Here’s a layout I did with this kit.

I just could resist the goat!  These photos have been waiting for a long time to see the light of day!

A+ Designs and Dani Moy Designs have a fabulous collab that they released Friday called Amy’s Birds.  This preview is also linked to A+ Designs’ store.

I made this layout Friday

And then this one during Friday night’s Speed Scrap @ ESS

This Speed Scrap was so much fun!  I love how this page turned out.  Yes, the frames aren’t around a picture – we were suppose to use them in a non-traditional way and this was where my brain took that me.  It still amazes me how the same group of people see the same instruction and come up with so many interpretations.  My students are like that too but often what they come up with is much better than where my plan was taking me in the first place.

Finally I have a free kit to tell you about.  Yes you read that right FREE.  Scraps of Ellay has a kit coming out today on her blog that will be free for this week only.  It’s called Child’s play and it’s full of fun Primary and Secondary colors.  If you have children this is a great kit for you.  If you don’t have kids it’s a great kit anyway.  Take a look.  I linked the preview to her blog so you can go right there to pick it up.  If it’s not up yet check back tonight. 

I made two layouts with this kit and since I can’t decide which is my favorite I’ll show you both.

First Days

Playing

I love the fun colors in this kit.  The top layout also used a template by SuzyQ Scraps.  I usually make a QP to share with all of you, hmmm, how about you let me know which one of the Child’s Play layouts is your favorite either “First Days” or “Playing.”  Which ever one gets the most votes will be the one I’ll turn into a QP.  Voting will go from today until 9:00 pm CST Monday night.  The poll is over on the side bar . . . so go vote already!

I hope you enjoyed these layouts and that they inspired you to make some new creations yourself!  I’ll see you around!

FREEBIE QP “May Flowers”

I know you all like freebies right? I turned one of my “May Flowers” layouts into a QP just for you! The full kit can be found in Scraps of Ellay’s store at Stuff to Scrap. Just click on her name to be taken right to her store.

Here is a preview of my QP to snag it just click on the link below the preview. My original layout had some word art created by me that I’m getting put together for you too. Check back Thursday and I should have it up.

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FREEBIE QP "Spring Bling"

I have another Freebie QP for all of you. This one is using Scraps of Ellay's newest kit "Spring Bling" which you can pick up for free over on her blog, HERE.

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Download here

Lori is also hosting a speed scrap @ STS Thursday see the flyer below for details as well as the participation prize. If you click on the flyer you'll be taken straight to the forum to sign up for the forum so you can be part of the speed scrap.