Spirit of 76 by Cari Cruse

Here is this GORGEOUS new kit by Cari Cruse (becoming absolutely one of my fave designers!!) of Sunshine Studio Scraps. The textures in Cari's kits are freakin' amazing (pardon my language)! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this kit, and you can pick it up, too, at Sun by clicking layouts or preview.

Pop's Hot Rod Garage by Scraps of Ellay

This kit was so much fun to scrap with! And the girly-garage add-on is SOOO much fun!! Of course, Scraps of Ellay has ONLY the MOST awesome kits, so head over to Stuff to Scrap and pick up this gorgeous kit, Pop's Hot Rod Garage - don't forget the girlish add-on, too! Click either layout or the previews to head on over to Stuff to Scrap.



I scrapped the real-life Mustang Sally using this girly portion of the kit.




And I scrapped my car-loving nephew using this boyish main kit!

Flights of Fancy by Cari Creates

This designer, Cari Creates of Sunshine Studios, is becoming one of my absolute faves! Her kits are always recognizable by their incredible texture and beautiful colors - the texture is just incredible!! SOOO beautiful!! This kit, Flights of Fancy, is another one of her BEAUTIFUL creations! Check out my layout and the kit preview, and be careful not to get all that drool all over your keyboard, then click either the layout or preview and head over to Sunshine to get this gorgeous kit!

Lone Star by Seal Scraps

Well I'm not much for cowboys and all that, and don't have many pix for that type of kit - but this Texas-sized beautiful kit called Lone Star by Seal Scraps of Stuff to Scrap is perfect for ALL kinds of layouts - as you can see by what I have scrapped with it! Click on the images or the preview to head over to Stuff to Scrap to pick up Lone Star by Seal Scraps! Also, this is a collab with Mommy Me Time Scrapper, so check out her store for her portion - also totally awesome!

Paint the World by Project B Designs of Sunshine Studios

I got to work with this GORGEOUS kit by ProjectB Designs of Sunshine Studio Scraps called Paint the World - here's a couple of layouts I did with it. Click on the layouts or the preview to head over to Sunshine to pick up this beautiful new kit!

New Favorite Book!

Okay this blog is almost all about digi-scrapping, but I have NEVER spent a weekend like this one just past. My daughter went to spend the weekend with a friend, and I had a lot of cleaning and laundry to do. So thank goodness I am into audible books, because I'd never have gotten ANYTHING done if I'd had to sit down and read this book - I'd never have put it down. I just did a digi-scrap layout with my 10 favorite books, the actual title being (because WHO could have just 10 fave books!?) "10 of My Favorite Books on the Top-of-the-Stairs Bookshelf Not Including Anything Harry Potter Because Amaria Had Them All In Her Room at the Time". And if there hadn't been the top-of-the-stairs limit (I had to be able to have photos of my own of the books, not from the internet, because of challenge rules on the layout), there would have been some other books, like Angela's Ashes and the Bible, for example.

But after this weekend, one I spent continually with Edgar Sawtelle and his amazing dogs. If you haven't read the book and plan to, STOP READING NOW. SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER FOLLOWS!!! STOP READING!!!




One reason I may have loved this book so much at this time is that my dog, Humphrey, recently died. As I had no images to go by (I listen to books from audible.com and don't usually look too closely at the covers), I pictured the Sawtelle dogs all looking just like Humphrey - who was an Australian/German Shepherd mix, so he actually kind of fits in. I am so glad I was not listening to this book in public!! When Almondine was searching and searching for Edgar, I SOBBED!!! SOBBED I tell you!! I sobbed and told her, "No, he's coming back, he's on his way, wait, just wait!!" And of course, I pictured Humphrey spending his last hours wondering where I was, and loving me as much and as unconditionally as Almondine loved Edgar. I have decided not to get another dog, but after reading this, I REALLY have to remind myself of that, because you can't possibly be a dog-lover and read this book, and not want a dog! On the other hand, the Sawtelle dogs set such a high bar, who could ever get a dog as good as them?

I'm doing a horrible job of writing how I feel. I feel like I lived Edgar's whole short life with him. I feel like I faced the evil of Claude with him. I feel like I was there when he finally, in death, spoke the only words he ever spoke aloud - not the "I'm Sorry" that Glen wanted him to speak, but the "I Love You" which summed up his entire short life so much better! I am going to have to read this book again. And again. And again. I think I will add it to my list of once-a-year books, but always remember to read it at home, because I am sure that on my 50th reading of the book, I will still sob, SOB, at Almondine's death, at the end of Edgar's life, and even in the beginning when the baby and the wolf pup are both buried.

So, don't be mad at me, I said there were spoilers. But if you got this far, if you have read this book, what did you think? I have been reading reader reviews, and people have wildly differing opinions. I don't really care what any of them are, because this book is now right up there with Angela's Ashes and Schindler's List for me - just amazing, heartbreaking, heart-rending, uplifting, and full of interest on every single page. Wow. Now I'm going to see if this guy has written anything else. That's my book rave for the day - now I'm reading "The Passage" by Justin Cronin, also said to be a fantastic book. Yippee!! Thank you, excellent authors, for giving me all this great stuff to enjoy!!

Wanna Be a Guest Skribbler?

Well I think you do! Who wouldn't want to be a guest for the fabulous Nibbles Skribbles! Join me!

Speed Scrap at STS!

Seal Scraps is hosting a speed scrap this Thursday evening over at STS.

Here's a look at the participation prize:
And if you miss the SS, she'll be adding it to her store and it will be on sale all weekend (Friday-Sunday). Hope to see you there!

Pretty Krafty by Cari Cruse at Sunshine Studios

This kit is SOOO gorgeous - the soft, muted colors are perfect for any kind of pix! So of course, I scrapped my beautiful granddaughter. Click either the layout or the preview to head to Sunshine Studios to pick up Pretty Krafty by Cari Cruse.

Tea Party by Valarie Ostrom - Sunshine Studios

The Sun is shining again and I got to work with this adorable kit, Tea Party, by Valarie Ostrom Designs. Click on either layout or the preview to head to Sunshine Studios and pick up this adorable kit by Valarie.
First, my daughter at her first-ever Mother's Day Tea Party - unfortunately, she didn't get to go with her mother because her mother has NOT ONE SINGLE pretty dress or anything like that! Plus, I'm just not into that kind of stuff. But Pastor Sue has nothing but boys, boys, boys, and was honored to accompany Amaria. A win-win for all of us.


Every once in awhile, I just love to make these fantasy kind of layouts - where I extract a picture of somebody or something and put them into a scene. That tea cup just begged to be sat in by a kid!


Here's a preview of this adorable little girly Tea Party kit - click on it to go pick it up!

Daddy & Me - Shel Belle Kit On Sale This Week!

Are you looking for a great kit to help you scrap those pictures of the kids and dad? Shel's got a great kit in her store at Stuff to Scrap called Daddy & Me. Originally part of the June 2009 Stuff to Scrap blog train, she's greatly expanded the kit to include more papers, elements, and an alpha. The best part? She's offering the kit for $2.00 all week at Stuff to Scrap! Head on over to the store (image is linked) and check it out! (Sale ends at midnight MST, June 20.)

Down by the Lily Pond QP Freebie

Scrappin' Serenity has teamed up with Scraps of Ellay and Ivory Keys Digital Dreams! And together they have created a super cute collab kit called “Down By The Lily Pad.” Now the catch is that they have all 3 created their own full sized kits and an extra piece to go along with it! They have combined all three kits and the three extra pieces to create a SUPER MEGA BUNDLE!! And it's all 25% off this week!!

Here’s the preview of the bundle…click it to go to the store:

AND together they have created a HUGE Quick Page Set…you can click this preview to go to the store:
Here is Scraps of Ellay's Part...Click preview to go to her store:


And here's a page I made with this part:

Here is Just Scrappin' Serenity's Part...Click it to go to her store:
Her Matching Worn Solid Papers:

Here's a layout I made with this kit:

AND their CT has collabed together to come up with one AWESOME Brag Book Train!!

Here’s my part of the train….

And here’s the whole train:
Susan
Alessandra
Misty
Deej
Ophelia
Ellay
Katie
Jodi
Ginger
ChristieDawn
Amanda
You are Here!--->>--->>Knittinjen <<---<<--- You are Here!
Noelle
Dana
Drica

The One That Got Away QP Freebie

I'm late with this - but here is a Quick Page freebie using The One That Got Away by Seal Scraps and JW Digi Scraps - two of the BEST designers I know of! Click on QP preview to download freebie. Then click on kit previews to head to the designers' blogs!

Terrible Twos Blog Train - Free Kit!

Here it is - the Terrible Twos Blog Train! We all either know or have kids who are in their Terrible Two's -- or 3's, or like me, their Terrible Tens! This kit is perfect for scrapping those "hilarious" episodes--and many other things. Nibbles Skribbles, Flower Scraps, and Scrappy Cocoa, and some of their CT members, have joined together to give you this fabulous kit for FREE!! Click on the links below my preview to pick up my pieces, then head to the other stops on the train (below the kit links). And enjoy!! And if you make layouts with the kit, let us know, we'll link to you on our blogs.


Papers 1
Papers 2
Elements

And here is the rest of the blog train stops - choo choo! Enjoy!

Crystal
Flower Scraps
Scrappy Cocoa
Jennifer Myers.
Ginger
Scrappin' Serenity
Lina
Karen
Jennifer Magreevy
Nibbles Skribbles
Knittin Jen <-- <-- <-- <-- YOU ARE HERE
Donni

Muddy Girlies by Scraps of Ellay & Ivory Keys Digital Dreams

Well a couple of weeks ago, we had Muddy Buddies for your little boys playing outside - here is Muddy Girlies - cuz we all know, it's not just the boys who get good 'n' dirty out there! This is a collab by Scraps of Ellay and Ivory Keys Digital Dreams, both of Stuff to Scrap. Click on the preview to head over there to pick it up!

The One That Got Away by Seal Scraps & JW Digi Scraps

Here's a fun new kit by Seal Scraps of Stuff to Scrap - this is a collab with JW Digi Scraps, so click on the kit preview to head to Seal Scraps' Blog (cuz did I mention this was FREE this week?) and you will find links to JW Digi Scraps' portion as well. This was so perfect for scrapping layouts of my daughter fishing with her grampa!!

And the layouts have been featured on "My Pic Tales" blog! Wow, thanks!