No New Release Monday/Show-OffZ

I guess you probably noticed, but I just didn't get a new release or Show-offZ challenge done this week. I'm waist deep in trying to finish my Good EatZ kit - its probably not going to be finished in time for the crop - I just can't seem to stop - but it will be done before next Monday! :)

Anyways, sorry for the no new release - I'll be back next week! Thanks for your patience with me! Crazy May!

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What one little post can do....

So yesterday - I came across my neighbor's blog - who happens to be an author - and decided to enter a little contest she had going for a book that is just about ready to be launched. I have been wanting to get to know Tristi better and I mentioned that to her via an email I sent entering her contest. I also blogged about the contest yesterday. This led to a few emails exchanged and actually Tristi wrote on her blog about me yesterday - which I just felt amazed about. (Funny how we are both stay-at-home moms and very busy and we don't see each other very often even though we live right across the small street from each other- but its just possible that we might get to know each other through email/blogs. I happen to think its very cool.) Anyways, just a few minutes ago, I got an email from Tristi saying that we are both featured in the weekly bloggernacle (from Mormon Times - by Deseret News). All because I decided to reach out and make contact with an amazing person.

Now we are blogging neighbors! :) Thanks Tristi!

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Secret Sisters Contest

To my LDS Readers out there - are you interested in a new book series! I have a neighbor who happens to be an author. I have not been a very good neighbor, mostly because I'm shy and I have a hard time putting myself out there and gaining new friends. Tristi Pinkston is my neighbor and she is a wonderful writer. I've read 2 of her books and I really do love them. I need to get the others. I would love to get to know Tristi better and I just need to do it. Here she lives right across the street and when I see her - I wave and I've talked to her a bit at church activities, but I would really like to get to know her better. Anyways....

In March, Tristi is coming out with a new book series that sounds so fun and something I look forward to reading. Here's the exciting part - she is having a fabulous contest where you can get one these books for free plus some other great prizes!

So you have to check her blog and go enter the contest!

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Update

Okay, so my January has just been shot. My computer has been having major issues and has been in the shop most of the time. So I have had to cancel all my plans and goals for this month. It's not been a good time for me.

But I want to start fresh in February. I'm hoping to get my computer back this week sometime and then of course I will have some major catching up to do. But hopefully by next Monday, February 1st I can start again!

So no crop this week. Come back the following week, where I hope to be able to catch up and start fresh on my resolutions of an organized and productive design schedule! I'm trying very hard not to let this horrible month get me down and I really want to KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

Thanks so much for your patience!

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Miss me?

Unfortunately, it's going to be the beginning of next week before I get my computer back. Just went in to pick it up today and found out that they didn't get our message to fix it and so they still have to order the part and get it repaired. UGH! I was really really hoping to have it back today so I could spend the weekend getting caught up. :(

Anyways, but hopefully next week I'll get everything together and I can start fresh. Sorry! I hope you are all doing good!

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Freebie will come late...

Hi everyone,

I still don't have my laptop back. I can get email and browse the internet using my hubby's PC, but I don't have any of my files or anything right now until I get my computer back!

So, today's high/low - freebie post will come next week, when hopefully my computer will be back! I promise I'll make it up to you!

AND REMEMBER THIS WEEK'S SHOW-OFFZ ARE DUE TODAY!


Thanks!

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MIA a little longer

Okay so I'm going to be a little longer than I thought. I've really been thinking that I needed to backup and organize and reinstall because my computer has been really slow and actiing weird. So yesterday I got everything backed up and started reinstalling. And just as I was finishing and about to bring my files back - the hard drive completely died. So there was a real reason that it has been so weird lately and thats because my internal Hard drive was failing and I just didn't know it. Thank heaven for small blessings that I had just backed up and so I haven't lost a thing except for time. I now need to purchase a HD and have Simply Mac put it in for me. Not sure how long thats going to take and then of course I will have reinstall everything again. But hopefully I will be back soon - I'm so sorry if you are waiting on me for anything! Geez, just when I thought I was on a roll with my goals and getting things done! UGH!

Thanks for your patience!

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Blog ResolutionZ...

January is a month of changes/revisions/resolutions and I have been wanting to bring more to my blog. Today I finally made a plan for my blog in 2010!

I will be continuing the following:

Creative Inspiration - layouts by my CT with my kits (usually when I introduce a new kit to my blog).

Ads - I try to advertise my new releases and my sales and chats, etc.

Products - I sell my products here too (Check them out through the Blog Labels to the right - sometimes I have special collection deals that are only available here- for instance you can get a special deal on my Happily Ever After Kits only here on my blog)

High/Low & Freebies - On Fridays, I give my High and my Low of the week and offer a freebie

Project 365 (in 2010, I will be calling it LIFE 365) - I will be continuing this in 2010. This is my family journal - I try to post this on Sundays (but it could be later) - of the previous week's daily photos and a bit of journaling about the day. I'm hoping to do better this year with the actual LAYOUTS and post them with the week's photos/journaling!

Blog Trains: I will be participating in my stores blog trains that happen about twice a year and occasionally hopping on other designer trains as well.


And here is a couple of things that I am going to strive to do in 2010. I am making this one of my goals for the year.

New Product every week: I have long admired the designers who have a set day to release their products and they do so EVERY WEEK. I have finally decided that this would be an amazing attribute to my design plan and I would love to make this happen.

SO, starting on Monday, January 4th, my goal is to release at least 1 new product every Monday! This might not always be a full-size kit, and I might occasionally mess up, but I'm really going to try and make it happen! At one of my stores (iScrapbook) - I don't actually put the products in the store myself - so I can't make it work exactly like this at that store - but everywhere else I can do it.) Give me a little bit of time to make this work like clock-work because in order to make this happen like I want - I need to get a few weeks ahead of schedule on my designing, so that I can also work my CT in and release things with their layouts and such. So January will be a little chaotic for me, but hopefully I will have it working good by February!

And here is where you all come in on my plan!

Show-OffZ: Each Monday with the New Releases, I will be posting a Show-OffZ Challenge. You will have until Friday to do the challenge and if you get your layout sent in, you will receive either a coupon to my store or a specific product (each posting will tell you what you are getting)! I will share all the Show-OffZ of the Week on Saturdays!


So in Summary, this is the schedule of posts on my blog (not including ads, blog trains, and other occasional blog entries):

Mondays: New Releases, CT Inspiration and Weekly Show-OffZ Challenge Call
Fridays: High/Low, Freebies, and Weekly Show-OffZ Deadline
Saturdays: Weekly Show-OffZ
Sundays: Life 365 Photos, Journaling and Layout from the previous week

As I look at that list - I guess my blog will be quite boring during the week LOL I guess thats when I will post ads and stuff and give me time to design during the week!


So what do you think? Are you in? I would love to have you all participate on my blog! Don't forget to stay connected using Reader, Feedblitz, or following my blog (links on the left sidebar)!

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HINT HINT

PSSSSST....I have a secret.....

You should definitely come back to my blog on the day after Christmas (Dec 26) - you wouldn't want to miss out! :)

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Better late than never...

So I finally got all of the Beary Wishes sent out - so check your inboxes to see if you were one of the lucky ones who got a free kit from me this Christmas! Sorry that it took me so long to get them sent out! Hopefully the near year will bring some balance and organization in my life!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Thanksgiving Point Membership Giveaway

I am really loving this blog and their giveaways. One of these times I hope I actually win! LOL

So if you live in Utah, especially if you live in Utah County, you are going to want to check out this fabulous giveaway. They are giving away a full family membership worth $175!

The membership includes:
- Free Admission to Thanksgiving Point Gardens, Museum of Ancient Life and Farm Country
- 10% Discount on Retail & Food Property Wide
- Personalized Membership Card
- 50% off Admissions for accompanied guests
- Early Admission to Thanksgiving Point Gardens
- XanGo Screen Movies $5 per person/per movie


Awesome huh? We really like the theaters there and the gardens are amazing. My kids loved the Museum of Ancient Life too. There is so much to checkout that I haven't been able to do yet but it's way too fun! So if you live in Utah - go enter!

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Disneyland Giveaway....

Okay my family's trip to Disneyland in April of this year was the highlight of my year - okay maybe the highlight of the past several years. Everything was perfect and I couldn't have asked for a more magical, enjoyable time together. I want to go back SO BAD and I wish I was rich so I could go every year! So when I saw this giveaway today - I just had to enter - I want it so badly! To spend some time in Disneyland during the holidays sounds so magical and something I know my kids would really love. It would be the best Christmas present ever! So I will make it my wish that I get this one - I'm very unlucky with things - but I'm really hoping for this one!

So if you live in Utah - you should definitely check out this giveway and make sure you enter! Enter at Sweet Life in the Valley AND Out & About with the Family!

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I'm BACK

So my computer is now fixed! Yay! So I'm working really hard to catch up and finish everything before the Digitals Birthday Bash! Cross your fingers that I'll make it! Thanks for all the support you have all given me during this time - I can't believe how being without a computer is so dang hard - I was really lost! But I'm back....

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Thank You - Links sent!

Thank you all so much for the great support you have given me through the 10 for $10 Deal. It is now no longer available! I have sent out all links - so if you didn't get your downloads, check your email and spam folders and email me if you need it sent again!

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!

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Joni Patterson?

Hi. This post is for Joni Patterson.

Joni - you placed an order for my 10 for $10 deal and keep sending me emails. I have sent through your email the links 3 times and you are not getting my emails. Can you please look in your SPAM folder? Do you have another email we could try? I don't really know why you aren't receiving my emails and I'm so sorry! I hope you read my blog!

Thanks!

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Update on Computer Woes

Okay, so my computer works right now. The water seems to only have damaged half the computer and with an external keyboard works just fine. It's pretty annoying to have to use a different keyboard, but at least it works. So now I'm just behind on everything and I'm hoping I can catch up. I will probably need to get a replacement keyboard and hope that my hubby can install it for me. I just can't afford to take it into Simply Mac.

Now if my creative mojo will be with me I can hope to finish everything. Sigh - I am feeling the depression setting in- But I'm fighting it...

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What do you think?

So, just in case you didn't notice - I worked on my blog again. Basically, I just went from a 2-column to a 3-column, trying to help the blog be a bit more organized and easier to find things. My sidebar was getting way too long - now at least it is spread out into 2 sidebars. I also had to adjust my graphics a bit, but it is basically the same as it was before...

So what do you think? Is it easier to find things? I feel like it looks better and at least my products can be found easier with the list at the top! Plus, I am just really proud of myself for figuring out how to change the columns and stuff - thank goodness for Google! Let me know what you think!

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Why my DollZ don't have faces....

So I felt I needed to express myself a little more fully in regards to my DollZ. I honestly didn't realize that many people wouldn't understand why the face is blank. Many have expressed that it feels to them like "ghostly/haunting." I don't feel that. It is beautiful to me. I feel that you can use your imagination and that the doll can be anything you want it to be.

From the moment I first saw them, I have loved the Willow Tree Figures so as I was creating my DollZ that is the first thing I thought of. I knew I wanted them to have blank faces. I wanted the qualities of pureness, beauty, imagination to shine through and I feel that they did.

I was reading an interview with the creator of the Willow Tree Figurines and she was asked the same question of why her figurines have blank faces and she expressed perfectly how I feel:

"This ties into the viewer becoming more of a participant in the understanding of the piece. It makes it more personal for the giver and the receiver to envision what or whom they want. At the time I created Willow Tree, I had never seen it done before, except for my knowledge of Amish women who would sew dolls for their children. Because of their religion, they did not embellish the faces; I loved the simplicity and pureness of the way those dolls looked. It’s the perfect example of 'less is more' - what is missing can speak volumes. Simplicity of form is one of my guidelines."


So I will be offering some different faces every now and again (probably as freebies on my blog) for those of you who need faces, but as for me - I will be leaving my DollZ BLANK.

Oh and a woman emailed me today with a great idea - look for a BUILD-YOUR-FAMILY DollZ Kit in the future - with Men, Women, Boys, Girls, and Babies for you to use to make up your own family. LOVE THE IDEA. I will be working on it and hoping to complete it this Fall!

Also just so you know - the different tearz creations in the Happily Ever AfterZ Kits don't have faces either - that is for 2 reasons - to match the DollZ and to try and make them enough different that they wouldn't violate copyright.

THANKS FOR LISTENING,

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A New Look

So, I have had the same old look to my blog for a long time. I always had so many other things to do and I never got around to actually spicing it up and honestly, I didn't care. I was okay with a simple white background and a header and then the posts. Plus, I didn't really even know if I knew how to change it - so I didn't worry about it.

Well until....tonight. (technically I guess it's morning now - but oh well.) Joey was away doing his podcast, the kids were asleep, I had finished my Friday Freebie, and some other design stuff and I was thinking that I needed to get started on my next kit - but nothing was particularly coming to me - so I opened up my Google Reader and started to catch up on my blog reading. Somehow I ended up on KevinandAmanda.com - a blog I didn't know about until today and I'm so glad that I found. Anyways, I found a post that told me how to include my Signature at the bottom of every post - up until now I was inserting it in manually - so I was very excited and I got that working and I kept reading about other things to spice up your blog and I started trying them and really getting into it. My creative mojo came and I was actually having fun. I was trying different things and really enjoying learning how to do things. And then when Joey came home I realized it was the middle of the night/early in the morning and I was just so energized by actually having creativity that I kept going and now my blog is full of color and spice! I probably had a little too much fun and I hope it's not "too much," but I am really loving the look. I love brown and the splashes of color, I love that I was able to add little dollz of my family in the header and I love my BearZ Peeking out on the left. I think this is just what I needed to do something creative outside of the regular digital scrapbook design - I think maybe I can actually get to work on my next kits....

But I suppose since it's 4:30am and Joey is sleeping (and snoring) beside me - that it can wait until tomorrow or next week. I should probably get some rest. Sorry for the rambling - but thanks for listening.

So what do you think of the new blog look?


P.S. Oh and in case you were wondering - I used pieces from my Digital 365 Kits, ScatterZ 2, and of course I customized some BearZ and DollZ!

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Blog Train - STILL GOING - and important info

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to make sure you know that there are still 4 more days on MY blog train. There are a few more Digitals designers joining me for a few more days too. So make sure you don't miss the last 4 ScatterZ and come back all weekend! :)


Also, thank you so much for your CT applications and participating in my blog contest - KEEP THEM COMING!

Okay, so in case you were wondering - my HIGH/LOW and my PROJECT 365 Photos will be coming back next week. My parents and some of my siblings are arriving today for the weekend and so I'm a little behind on everything - but give me the weekend to spend some time with my family and then I will play catch up.

If you sent me an email about CT applications, blog contest, questions, etc. I promise I will try and get them responded to today - but if I don't - know that I'm just with my family and I'll get to it on Sunday/Monday okay?

Hope you all have a great weekend!

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