Same photo two different layouts....

I just can't believe it's almost October & *gasp* the holidays are right around the corner.....

A friend sent me a picture message of a Halloween layout that is in the October Scrapbook Trends.  (sorry poor quality I'll have to get another when I see her magazine).  I'll get my copy when they return my layout.  It's one of the best scrapping magazines out there - such beautiful big photos of all the projects let you really see all the details.

But I used the same photo of my sister for a EMI Scrapbooking LSS design team layout recently....  I love the whimsy of My Mind's Eye Boo To You & it fit this photo of Karen even though she is an adult when Halloween comes she is a child at heart.

I'm busy today making mini album kits for sale & designing a new one.  I love creative days when I make a mess with my supplies and have so much fun.

Today is the last day to enter your work in the Paperclipping Monthly Challenge.  The winner is in the spotlight on 3 websites (internationally read Paperclipping, Lesley a.k.a Hungry Heffy, & here on my blog).  I was a past winner before becoming a judge & boy did it increase the traffic on my blog so if that is your goal it's a great prize.  We don't offer tangible prizes due to international limits and laws but I know I just like a bit of love & an acknowledgement.  Go here to enter you work.  I'm working on the topics for October as we speak.

Enabling alert... Unity Stamp Co is having a great last big sale & freebies with orders today in honor of moving to a bigger and better website in the coming weeks.  Go give the current website a workout lol... you will not want to miss these scrapbook sets.   Also chat it up at the SCS message board thread here & maybe win some great stamps & do the blog hop for inspiration/prizes it starts here...  I'm hoping my homeschool books sell on ebay so I can buy some....

Have a great day & thanks for visiting/reading

Hugs, Suz

What's with Blogger or is it my computer?

Blogger has been giving me grief the last 2 days trying to post... is it just me?  I did see another friend say on Facebook she was having trouble too... anyway here I try again

I went to my LSS yesterday to drop off my mini kits for sale & to help with some make and takes for Scrap Pink on Saturday.  One of my medicines was not making me the sharpest tack on the block & my hubby kept calling & bothering me with nonsense (doesn't he know that I'm in my shan-gri- la when I'm up at EMI?  Well I had the kiss of death with tools yesterday... first I jammed up a circle punch (not my fault). Then I was using a long  full alpha quickutz die in a Big Shot (I'm a Cuttlebug gal so not used to that tool) & dummy me while messing with all the "pages" to sandwich in forgot to put an extra cover plate on top... yep you guessed it I warped the die big time!  I was so embarrassed & was full expecting Susan to kick me out right then and there - those things are so pricey so I tried to bend it back as best I could....

While I was there Basic Grey Wander came in.  It is just fabulous!  I love this line so much.  See the slideshow here.  I never do it but I bought the entire paper pack.  You should see the doily paper.

I love them when they are an entire sheet of loveliness but this one his even better with so many different strips of lacy color.  It's a must buy multi for my stash for sure.

Well off to do Unity Hip Hop & hang out a bit in the Unity forum for chatting & maybe winning some new rubbery goodies.....

Have a great day

Unity Friends with Flair

It's been a while since I participated in a FWF hop as a stop.  I love to hop because I am always so inspired by others but lately I've been a bit post challenged.

Here is a card I made with Samantha Walker's Encompassed Grace Unity Stamps.  These were on my wish list since I knew they would be perfect for the shabby chic cards I love to make for sale but I was on the fence about if I would really get the stamping milage of using them on layouts since I do have only guys in the family.  Since winning them on a Hip Hop Thursday they have been one of the most inked stamps (second only to Donna Downey by Unity - swoon).  So add this set to your must haves and tell your LSS to carry these because you can't purchase them direct from Unity.

Thanks for stopping by & I'm sure you want to do the hop from the beginning at the Unity Blog.  There you will find an entire list of participants & remember one of the blogs will have a special avatar & that blog will be giving away 50 Unity Stamps to a lucky commenter so get hopping.

I am having a big sale on all my in stock Ippity stamps see the tab above or click here.... as always I offer free USA/APO shipping & discount international to reflect the free amount.

A quote since Angela & the Unity gals are all about quotes (love the stamps that incorporate them)...

Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.  ~Sicilian Proverb (a favorite of my grandma)

Have a great day & do something creative.

Everything Scrapp'n' Monthly Challenge & Design Team work

It's challenge day at Everything Scrapp'n'... I hope you will join us for a fun challenge with a super duper prize (Pink Paislee - Starlight paper & Tattered Angels Marshmallow Glimmer Mist.

Click here for all the details.

Here is my layout for the challenge (which is to use Red, White & Blue in a non 4th of July way).

I love anything Pink Paislee & have had a lot of fun working with the Starlight line.  It's great for layouts about my guys - so I'll be going back for more since good masculine lines are hard to come by.

I made my own distressed letters inspired by the Pink Paislee ones that were the wrong color for this page.

The sticker sheet for this line is filled with borders, journaling spots & embellishments.  They add a touch of shimmer to them but not too much that it distracts in any way for those who aren't glitterers

Supplies:   Paper (Pink Paislee - Starlight Bright, Pink Paislee - Starlight Dazzle, Pink Paislee - Starlight Glow, Pink Paislee - Starlight Shine, Pink Paislee - Starlight Spark); Stickers (Pink Paislee - Starlight Sticker Embellishments); Punches (Stampin' Up, McGill, & Marvy); Diecut Letters (Making Memories Slice); Spinner & Brad (Tim Holtz); Ribbon (Offray); Clip (Paper Studio); Thread (Coats & Clarks); Twine (Making Memories); Stickles (Ranger - Antique Linen Distressed); Buttons (stash); Alpha Stickers (Cosmo Cricket - Tiny Alpha Cream); Adhesive (Diamond Glaze, Tombow & Glue Arts)

I love ledger paper for my backgrounds, journaling, ANYWHERE goes.  This is a great one to add several pieces to my stash.

Pink Paislee - Starlight Shine

I also made a couple cards.

The first is made from scraps of the layout above.  I just love that subtle flourish on the background paper.

Supplies:  Cardstock (Paper Resources); Paper (Pink Paislee - Starlight Bright , Pink Paislee - Starlight - Glow, Pink Paislee - Starlight Shine, & Pink Paislee - Starlight Spark); Ribbon (Offray); Punch (Stampin' Up); Diecut (Making Memories Slice); Brads (Heidi Swapp); Stamp (Ippity Stamps - Fall for You & Unity Stamp KOTM); Markers (Copic); Ink (Hybrid)

My second card mixes October Afternoon (another one of those companies that makes my heart sing) with the Pink Paislee & some Webster's Pages scraps... I should have named this post scrapping with my favorite companies lol

I've been wearing out the Tim Holtz Bird & Cage Die by Sizzix lately.

Supplies:  Cardstock (Bazzill); Paper (October Afternoon - Thrift Shop Good Junk, October Afternoon - Thrift Shop Collectors Item, Pink Paislee - Office Lingo & Webster's Pages); Die Cut (Sizzix - Tim Holtz); Stamps (Unity Stamp KOTM & My Sentiments Exactly); Ink (Ranger - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Broken China & Tattered Rose & Hybrid); Ribbon (Vintage hand dyed stash);

This is the paper with the music on the back.  For my card I used about an 8th of the sheet - there are many different songs.  It's a must have for your stash so stock up.

October Afternoon - Thrift Shop Good Junk

Well hope you have a fantastic day & make sure you enter to win those great prizes at the ES blog.

Prize Update with Photos

 Lots of prizes up for grabs.  

We'll have 4 winners........

Prize #1

Paperclipping Premium Membership

($55 Value)

Winner will receive 6 month membership & have access to the huge archives of Paperclipping video tutorials.

Courtesy of Noell Hyman owner of Paperclipping.com

Prize #2

Unity Stamp Company Prize Pack

$75+/- Value

I believe these are available only in retail stores

Courtesy of Angela Magnuson owner of Unity Stamp Co.

Prize #3

2 sets of Ippity Stamps & Goodies Kit

 2 great sets of Ippity Stamps & a huge kit filled with supplies for creating (including 2 mini albums, tons of embellishments, 50 sheets of 6x6 designer paper, 3 magazines, adhesive, ink, Prima Journaling Paper & lots of journaling spots)

Courtesy of ME

Prize #4

$10 Gift certificate to Everything Scrapp'n' Online Scrapbook Store

Courtesy of Heather Turner owner of Everything Scrapp'n'

To enter leave a comment over at The Paperlife post here.

All in stock Ippity Stamps are on sale this week in honor of my spotlight.  

Click here - shop early for best selection.

I'm in the Spotlight....

I am so tickled to be in the spotlight over at The Paperlife website this week.  I was so nervous about the podcast part because I'm so shy & hate the sound of my voice when it's recorded.  But when it comes to scrapbooking I'm not so shy & will try anything... once.  I don't even remember most of what I said so I hope I didn't embarass myself & I tend to go on & on or get off topic so hope I didn't lol.

I really love listening to Amy each week since she has such a wide variety of papercrafters that are interviewed.  Amy is great at bringing out the best in each of them & making them shine.  Talking to her was like talking with a friend.  So she set me at ease & reeled me in when I was "chasing rabits" as they say in the south.

I have some fantastic prizes that my friends have allowed me to give away.  I'll post photos tomorrow since I'm out & about today.  Blogger was causing me grief last night & not only did it not post what I staged but it corrupted it & will not allow it to post this moring when I just clicked post? grrrrr what's up with that?  I'll just be a name dropper..... Premium Membership from Noell Hyman at Paperclipping, a HUGE stamp prize from Angela at Unity Stamps (even new Donna Downey ones drool), a gift certificate from Heather at Everything Scrapp'n' (she has Glimmer Mist y'all) and from me 2 sets of Ippity Stamps that I'm selling now & a kit of goodies to make mini albums/cards/scrapbook pages.

I know you will want to enter for these prizes so head on over to The Paperlife & leave me a comment here & listen to the podcast.

Everything Scrapp'n Monthly Challenge Reveal

Everything Scrapp'n monthly challenge in honor of Earth Day was to make a mini album using junk mail envelopes.  One of our former designers Jana came up with this and has a great video on You Tube showing the technique.  See here.

I loved making this mini.  Not only is it budget friendly yet making a sturdy base for decorating but it also is practical since you have all these pockets to add tags in for more photos and journaling.  What better topic for a mini than our critters.... Perfect number of pages for each of them.  Making all the photos black and white allowed them to work together without distractions from color.

Here's my take on the challenge.

Cover

The little pocket holding a smaller tag keeping with the theme.

See how tags pull out of each page...

I used Glimmer Mist on the front of the tags.

Masking with Doodlebug Frills (ugly color blue I would never use but like the shape lol) and some old Magic Mesh that has seen better days.  Worked great!

Page 1 & 2

Intro & Koda

Front of tags

Backs of tags

Painted with Making Memories paint & stamped, embossed, inked

Page 3 and 4

PPK (Pom Pom Kitty) & Miles

Pages 5 & 6

George & Cloud

Page 7 & 8

The dogs Rosie & Poppy

Back of Album

Side of Album when closed

Supplies:  Cardstock (Bazzill); Paper (Pink Paislee - Fetching Appealing, Pink Paislee - Fetching Charming, Pink Paislee - Fetching Confident, & Pink Paislee - Fetching Engaging); Stickers (Pink Paislee - Fetching Sticker Book); Alpha Letters (American Crafts - Thickers & Cosmo Cricket - Tiny Alpha); Ribbon (Maya Road - Black Gingham by the yard & misc stash); Buttons (misc stash); Eyelets (American Crafts);  Office Supply Tags (Staples); Gaffers Tape (7Gypsies); Paint (Making Memories); Ink (Clearsnap - Colorbox, Ranger - Archival, & Versamark); Embossing Powder (Ranger); Spray Paint (Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist); Punch (McGill - Ticket & Stampin' Up - Scallop Border); Stamps (Prima, Unity Stamp Co, My Mind's Eye, Studio G, Inkadinkado & Maya Road); Flowers (Prima); Bling (Zva - Black Gems); Crochet Thread (Coats & Clarks); Adhesive (Tombow - Dot Roller, Tombow - Mono Adhesive Liquid, Glue Arts - Adhesive Strips, Xyron - Sticker Maker & Glue Dots)

Now I know you will want to see what the other designers did with the challenge & get the details to make your own mini for a chance to win a great prize. Thanks so much for stopping by... now head on over to the ES blog.

Happy New Year & Unity enabling

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2010... I'm hoping that it's better than 2009 because it sure was a stressful year.  I'm sure not going to say it can't get worse because that's just asking for trouble.... but hopefully things will be easier.

Thanks so much for all the emails & comments about my health.  I'm still in a lot of pain (I actually think it's getting worse not better with nerves pinching).  I see the doctor tomorrow & he will decide if I can lay in the MRI tube long enough to get the test done this time.  I didn't even last for half of the test last week - even with sedation I don't think I can lay on the hard table.  I feel like such a complainer....

I'm typing this on the netbook so with the small screen & not having mozilla firefox to correct my spelling I hope I'm not butchering words. lol

I also wanted to remind those of you in Georgia that Donna Downey will be up at my favorite LSS this weekend.... there may be a few spots left call Susan at EMI Scrapbooking in Cumming for more details.

Now for te big news....Angela at Unity Stamp Co. announced today that they are revamping the KOTM & pulling out the stops to spoil the customers.  You all know how much I love their stamps & even though I've given up all my scrapbook kit clubs I can't do without the stamp kit club.  Since I sell my cards I usually get enough to purchase the kit each month.  Anyway here's the details...

This kit is adorable & oh so useful....

Here's the benefits both new & existing KOTM subscribers will receive each month....

25% discount on all orders placed at the Unity online store

Free single or kit of your choice with purchase of $35

Also a referral bonus for existing members.... if you sign up make sure you tell them Suz sent you!

and for new members the first month they will receive:
10 unmounted stamps
6 sheets of 6x6 paper
1 Hybrid ink pad
(kit valued at $35 - FREE with your first month's kit shipment)

In addition you will have the opportunity to purchase a past KOTM at the discounted price of $26 (regular price $45).

Remember you can skip monthly shipments, resonable fast shipping & their customer service is super!

Join today... and start stamping up a storm

Have a great day.

Friends with Flair - Growing in Unity Day 5

Well we've come to the end of my Growing in Unity week of posts.  Thanks so much for allowing me to brag on & show off my favorite stamps by far of any I've worked with.

Thanks for all your comments & encouragement - you're all awesome!

If you haven't already entered - leave a comment for the blog anniversary giveaways here deadline midnight Sat the 19th. Thanks for the great response & helping me celebrate! If I get 100 followers I have another prize package valued at over $50 to giveaway so that will be 7 winners instead of 6 so spread the word... each time you do you can leave another comment....

This is the last Friends with Flair hop of 2009 where the customers show off their creativity!  Check the Unity Blog for full list & visit them all for a chance to win 25 unmounted stamps from one of the blogs.

I was telling you yesterday how much I love the journaling spots from Unity.  Not only are they huge making them super useful but that have so much style making them a great addition to any page.

Here's a page I made for the upcoming Everything Scrapp'n December 28th Challenge using a journaling spot from the the now retired October Scrapbook KOTM.  Don't let the December Scrapbook KOTM get away without buying it - see it here.

I love the jagged edges & plenty of room given for a lot of journaling....

Supplies:  Cardstock (Bazzill); Paper (Graphic 45 - Domestic Goddess); Rub On Letters (American Crafts & Heidi Swapp); Sticker Letters (Making Memories); Bling (Prima - Say it in Pearls Strip); Ribbon (Maya Road-Black Gingham & Maya Road - Beige Gingham); Ticket (Tim Holtz); Tag (K&Co & 7Gypsies); Pin (Vintage stash); Chipboard & Image Rub On (Maya Road); Spray Paint - to age the ribbon (Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist)

If you'd like to join in this challenge for a chance to win a gift certificate to Everything Scrapp'n online scrapbook store mark your calendars & come back here on December 28th for more details but here's the basics of the challenge... Be prepared for some self-reflection, because this page will be all about you! You're a part of the family too and should be in those scrapbooks as well! Participate in the challenge for a chance to win a $15 gift certificate to Everything Scrappn'.   Or better yet head on over to the ES store blog & sign up to receive the feed updates.

I'm stalking the mailman for my Dec KOTM - it's a standout!  If you aren't a KOTM member Angela has made it impossible not to sign up... see the Thurs blog post $75 worth of stamps for $24 - plus a coupn for 40% off next order!

I'll close with a quote since that's the "Unity" thing to do....

"Sometimes our hearts get tangled

And our souls a little off-kilter

Friends and family can set us right

And help guide us back to the light.

~Sera Christann

Have a wonderful weekend & if you entered the contest.... good luck!  Winners will be posted on Monday

Growing in Unity - Day 4

Woops I hit publish some how on this new web-book - I haven't gotten the hang of things yet.... so if you get the email version it's incomplete.

Well I've always heard that the 3rd day after an accident or surgery is the worst - I sure felt it on Wed & was lucky to be walking (the bruise that showed up on my back is over a foot long - yikes).  So I'm posting some of my favorite projects and how I store my growing collection of Unity Stamps

I store the Kit of the Months (that arrive as sheets of rubber to punch out) keeping them together.  I've thought about breaking them apart by type & as my stash gets bigger I may evolve to that.  But for now the cheapest way I've come up with is buying a package of those clear plastic report covers with slider bar that I used in school (oh so many years ago).  I take one of the clear pages & put a piece of cardboard between with some adhesive.  Then I add my stamps.  To make it sturdier I insert this into the heavier plastic report covers that I use like a file.  I've tried several different kinds & found the Avery ones from Krogers to be the best & cheapest at less than a dollar.

These "files" are stored in a basket & I can thumb thru them quickly.

The sets of stamps are packaged in these cute kraft envelopes.  I cut one of those clear plastic report covers in half & adhere a piece of cardboard between for sturdyness.  I've also found acrylic sheets or shrinky-dink sheets work better but are more expensive.  I then adhere the stamps & slide them back in original envelopes.  I also keep them in a long narrow basket (this one was one of 3 in a set at Walgreens)

Fianlly the wood mount stamps are hung on a repurposed cd rack with binder rings.

As money permits I hope to change to the storage cases Unity sells... but for now this works.

I really am sorry I wasn't able to scrap today.... here's my favorite stamp in action on a layout.

I love Unity journaling stamps they are huge & the designs add a lot of flair to any project.  Giving plenty of space to write while adding interest.  Check all the great designs here in the store.

Stamps used:  US-225W Fact of Love

I love Unity Stamps for making cards - this quilted look one is one of my best sellers....

Stamps used:  Unity Stamp Co - UK-406A Folk Inspired

Stamps used:  Unity Stamp Co - KOM-MAY09 ...another sweet day, Alpha G - Just My Type,

Another favorite - Love their quotes

Stamps used:  Unity Stamp Co - KOM-JUNE09 Perfect in Every Way

Finally I thought I would share some news that tickled me to death.... I was published in the December issue of Scrapbook Trends (first time in paper print) - There's some Unity on this layout.... bottom left corner I used several stamps to spell out "friends for life" (sorry didn't have the original back yet from ST to take a photo of the stamping)

If you haven't already entered - leave a comment for the blog anniversary giveaways here.  Thanks for the great response & helping me celebrate!  If I get 100 followers I have another prize package valued at over $50 to giveaway so that will be 7 winners instead of 6 so spread the word... each time you do you can leave another comment....

Thanks for visiting & I promise to have some new work up for day 5.    See you Friday for Friends with Flair - Unity customer blog hop.