Bringing Some Old Back for the NEW YEAR!

Don't have much time to chat today; I have still been fighting this CPU ever since it arrived. Why can't things work like they are suppose to? Anyway, I thought I'd bring forward some Freebies I did earlier in the year for you to catch up with; there's a link below each preview.

Go here to snatch this one!


Click here for this one!


And here for the last one!

Happy New Year Everyone!


Tootles!

Woo Hoo! It Came!

I received my new CPU today at 4:35pm! I hate the new Windows operating system! Vista is a load! I want my XP back! I haven't installed anything yet because I've been trying to figure out how to get around in the Windows Explorer like I use to! Just wanted to say "hi" and let you know that as soon as I can get my PSE5 loaded and get some semblance of order I'll be back!

My Little Christmas

Hello y'all! Well I had a Merry Little Christmas; the emphasis on "Little" being that it was only for a couple of hours on Christmas Eve and that Peaches (The Cat) keeps us from having a nice tree and decorations. Here's a page I scrapped for it.


As I told you yesterday, Kim and the children came down and had dinner with me and we exchanged gifts. Joshua's school did a wonderful fund raiser that was sure to please every loved one on your list: they had the children's signed artwork applied to coasters, hot pads, shirts, teddy bears, etc.! I got coasters and a hot pad, which are so dear to me, that I probably will forbid anyone to use them! They also gave me a beautiful set of opal and diamond earrings and a watch that I have really needed. The one I had for 24 years broke some time ago and I have been looking for a replacement and couldn't find one I liked with a stretch linked bracelet so Kim used considerable legwork and found me one that's just perfect. Joshua picked out a "handicapped pop top can opener" for me because of my hands; he is so thoughtful for an 8 year old! They also brought me my favorite scented cologne; and my traditional kitty calender!



Lynn gave me my new digital camera that I have had about a month. I didn't hear from my youngest daughter; my heart is breaking. I called and left a message but didn't hear back from her or the children. I sent an email to her office, hopefully I will know more soon. I hope little Tabba likes her camera! I got her and Suzy the same one and gave Timothy and Joshua gift cards because they are so hard to buy for.

I basically spent Christmas alone, right here in front of my computer. Lynn was here but not with me. I've decided to purchase myself a really nice gift: a new CPU with an Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 processor! Last week my current CPU just locked up on me because I didn't have enough RAM for my digital scrap page work. I did find out I can add RAM to my current setup but it might be years before LDW would install it for me and I don't have a way to get to the computer shop to have them do it. I just ordered it online from Costco.com which had exactly what I wanted for more than $600 cheaper than anyone else (including the manufacturer!). I'm really excited about being able to access my organizer and editor at the same time when I digi-scrap! The only thing I'm not sure of is the operating system: the new "Vista." I don't know if it's been on the market long enough to get most of the bugs out; wouldn't it be nice to buy a setup that never had a single bug? This baby I'm using now is really a great machine but even it had to be returned to the manufacturer because of bugs that couldn't be fixed on site! So when it arrives, in a couple of weeks, I might not get online for a while because of configuring the new layout.

I've checked with some of your blogs the last two days and I see that you all are having a wonderful time this holiday season-you are missing! I'm happy for you and anyone who has their family and loved ones close during this emotional time of year. It makes you melancholy for the good old days when you get over the middle age bump and start heading down the home stretch. I really am interested in how my online friends celebrated and with whom.

Going to check with Kim about those photos she's suppose to be emailing me.

Have a great one!

Tootles!

Since I started this post I have received an email from Suzi. They spent Christmas alone in the woods, hunting. She said they were happy to be together and that all of them were fine.

It has taken so long for me to post (I started at 12:55) because the CPU is sooooo slow-I'm waiting at least 5 minutes every time I want to bring something into Adobe PSE! And, I haven't heard from Miss Kim yet!

I Wish You A Loving and Joyful Christmas

I just had to come by and wish you the best Christmas ever. I hope you have lots of friends and family around to make it Merry and Bright!

I'm alone, but it's okay. My oldest daughter and her two children came down for Christmas Eve dinner and gifts. I wanted to take a lot of photos but I burnt my hand again today (I did yesterday too) and wasn't able to press the button hard enough. I actually thought the camera was broken, not me! LOL! Kim got a bunch of pix and she said she'd get me copies. Joshua really liked his treasure box and his other gifts and so did Kim and Suzy. I think Suzy thanked me at least 20 times for the digital camera! She's a real shutter bug, so I got her a really nice one.

Well I'm off to bed, it's almost 2AM.

Best Wishes!

A Gift For You!

Don't anyone faint! I've uploaded a Freebie for you as a Merry Christmas! or Happy Holidays! from me. This is an eyelet frame that I made to use on my layout "Suzy Baby" that I posted earlier. You can easily change the size and color to suit your needs using Photo Shop or Photo Shop Elements or any program that let's you lasso or select png files.

DOWNLOAD HERE

I hope you enjoy using it. Send me a link, if you do, so I can leave you some Luv!

I'm just sitting around waiting on the car to get home so I can do my grocery shopping. I made a birthday card for my wonderful friend, Theresa, this morning and I have to get a stamp and mail it today-her birthday is Christmas Eve!

I scrap-lifted it from Ready, Set, Create!'s newsletter. You can go to my gallery at The Scrappy Gourmet or Serendipity Scrapbooks to see the products list. The galleries are listed and linked to the right.

Have a Merry!

Tootles!

From Me to You!

This post is sticky-see new posts below!

Suzy Baby!

I was looking back on my pages and realized I haven't finished one in 10 DAYS! Christmas really keeps us busy, busy, busy! I decided to do a baby page for Suzy. We aren't sure exactly what age she is in this photo but I believe she's about 3 months old. (Her grandmother had this pic without any notations on it at all!) The journaling says: "Suzy, you were about 3 months old in this photo. I wish we had been your parents back then! Weren't you a cute little roly-poly thing!? It doesn't matter that we didn't know you then, you'll always be our baby anyway!"



I really enjoyed putting this one together-I even made the lace round to frame her photo. Of course there is a lot of Flergs' designs included. I guess we are just kindred spirits because I love everything she makes! Pick some up here. There are even quick pages available too! If you want to see the products list you can find it at DigiShopTalk gallery.

Christy at Serendipity Scrapbooks chose my Christmas cards as Picture of the Day for Wednesday! I'm glad they didn't read the inside, LOL!, I put New Yeak! instead of New Year! You'd think I would have proofed it better than that.

Have you ever gone to Vicki Chrisman's blog? This Art That Makes Me Happy? I subscribe to it because I love her projects, photos, and tidbits about her life. It really is interesting and she's a fab photog! Today she has a new project posted that was done for Fancy Pants Designs, it's really beautiful, have a look see. Turn on your speakers because she has music piped in!

Oh, I have to tell you about my night! I didn't get any sleep at all because of a squirrel! The little devil got in the attic and I think he's fallen down between the walls because he was scratching all night long! The silly cat that I call mine, Peaches, is scared to death and doesn't want to be upstairs in the loft by herself because of him! LOL! Talk about a "scaredy cat!" I sure hope he has removed himself to the outdoors by tonight. I need my rest because I'm on "Mommy worry duty" from around 9 AM tomorrow until the afternoon because Kimberli is driving to Virginia with her family to visit her father.

Well, this post turned out a lot longer than I thought it was! Hope y'all have a great night and a good day tomorrow!

Tootles!

Almost Ready!

Okay. I went back upstairs and got the flash drive. Here's the pix I took but they really aren't all that great-I try and try but I'll never be a photog!

First, I think you can see the Glimmer Mist better in this shot of the gift card box:


Then here are the stages of the Treasure Box (I forgot to take one of it plain):


I put a lot of little stickers and such of things that he loves and put like 8 coats of finish over them!

I'm going to write him a note and put it in the box to let him know that I love him! The letters stamped on the top are all the letters in his name.



I need to finish up in the kitchen! (The font is messing up in this post.)


Tootles!

It's Getting Closer!

Are you ready? I'm almost finished with the little things I wanted to do for my family for Christmas. Joshua's little treasure box is reassembled and is awaiting one last coat of finish. Wrapped most of the gifts and only have a couple left. Other than picking up a few small things for the children and making the menu for Christmas Eve not much left for me to do. I love it when things fall into place and I'm not rushed or being pushed over the edge because I waited too late to do all I wanted to do!

Here's some pix of the little boxes I made. Both of them have been sprayed with the gold Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels. It really makes them sparkle under the Christmas lights! I love the gold much better than any other color; hope you can see it in these pix.

I took another pic of the butterfly box that I hope is better than this one but forgot to bring it downstairs with me.

Joshua's little treasure box started out as a wooden box in the raw and I sanded and painted and put little stickers on the insides that depict the things he loves to do or just plain loves. I'd show you the finished product but it has to wait to dry and get another finish layer. I was really good about sanding between coats this time (I'm famous for rushing to the finish line and foregoing the sanding) and I hope it stands up to the test of time.

I've been getting a little "maudlin'" lately. I find myself thinking of my mother every day and wondering if I'll live longer than she did. She was 73 when she died which is a little over 10 years from now for me. I guess when you get older and you're having a good time the thought of your life ending pretty soon is a real downer. I'm not ready to go yet; there's so much more that I want to see of this world and people I want to love for longer and friends I want to make. Told you I was "maudlin!"

On a happier note, we heard from Lynn's long lost brother yesterday and he's coming to see us in February! I'm really excited to see him since I never see my brother who I haven't heard from in over a month. Kimberli is preparing for her trip to Virginia to see her dad and his family; she wanted to see her sister but I don't think that's going to happen. At least she will be back in time to spend Christmas Eve with us!

Gotta go-I'll get the pix from upstairs and post them soon! Happy Holidays!

Tootles!

Happy Saturday!

What a week! Everyone is so busy getting ready for the holidays that it feels like I'm in fast forward speed even though I haven't really done much. All the online stores are offering special discounts and having designer contests and challenges. I've done all the Christmas shopping I plan on doing; had the car yesterday and finished up before I went and picked up my grocery order. That means Saturday is for me!

It's after three in the afternoon and so far I've watch a very informative "Healthwise" program on PBS that was about acid reflux disease. It seems that at my age there is no cure or help other than continuing to take the proton inhibitor drugs. If I live too long my only hope is that they discover another drug to use because you form an immunity to the inhibitors and need to change.

I also worked on my Joshua's treasure box that I'm making him for Christmas. He likes to keep special things in a box so I thought I'd make him a special one just for him.

I've read my email and also read a very large newsletter from Stone Accent Studios. Purchased a couple of things that were on sale for a grand total of $3.30!

I'm getting ready to go to Scraphead and get Flergs' new kit Rough and Tumble and the glitter kit that goes with it. You don't have to buy the mega kit, you can just get the papers or just the elements or even just the glitters. Flergs is also doing special kits for PaintShop Pro, and making some quick pages too! Very, very busy young lady. Check out her designs:


I ought to think about getting the QP's but I never do, it sure would save me a lot of time! After I get Rough and Tumble I'm then going to watch a new DVD called The Best of Adobe Photoshop Elements Techniques. I purchased it online for $20 plus like $6 in shipping-it better be worth all that since it only cost them $1.60 to mail it!

I'll be posting some pics soon of some gifts and gift boxes I made; I keep forgetting to bring the flash card downstairs. I'm so ditzy it's a wonder I can even find my computer!

Tootles!

Just Some Tidbits . . .

Thought I'd tell y'all about this new site I've been posting some digitals at. The name is ScrapScandiStyle and it's located in Norway! There's a store and forum too. Some of the folks speak English and some don't but you know what? If you really pay attention you can get the gist of what's going on. They are a really nice bunch of people and it seems like everyone of them comments on every page posted! Don't know how they have time-I really struggle to keep up with my peeps at my favorite sites. I haven't been doing that great a job of it lately. Take today for example, instead of going online and checking out the new postings around the net, I worked on an animated Christmas card to send to my online buddies. Took me all day and I'm not pleased with it-I need to tweak it a few more times before I send it. I don't know why I'm so slow; my friend Flergs makes the time to comment and she has two small children and a husband and business to contend with! She has been designing so much lately it's a wonder she has any time at all to give back luv to her fan club! I managed to fold, stuff, and stamp my Christmas cards so that Lynn can mail them tomorrow. Now this isn't scrapping or Net related but I did make a large ham quiche today and it took some time and I washed one load of clothes. LOL! There was a time when I worked a 10 hour job, took care of my two little girls, did all the cooking, laundry, etc. and still had time for my friends. Old age does have it's drawbacks-there are not enough hours in a day for me to get done what I want to.

I want to send a shout out to all the folks in the mid and North West who are battling ice and snow storms! Wow! I don't envy you guys. Y'all stay bundled up if you have to go out but stay in if you can, like they always say, "better safe than sorry." We're having a heat wave in NC; I have on flip flops and shorts today.

My Suzy stayed out of school today! I think this is the first day she has missed in years. She really does have a good school ethic and I was surprised to learn she felt sick enough to stay home. I wonder if my posting the new page for her had anything to do with it?! LOL! Just kidding. She has a band recital this evening and I wish I could go but no wheels means I stay at home a lot.

I'm getting ready to go fix me some supper. Haven't had much of an appetite lately, which is a good thing since I probably would break the scales if I was brave enough to get on them. Have a great evening!

Tootles!

For Suzy!

This is for our Suzy! She seems to think that for every page I do of Joshua I need to do one of her! She's such a little minx! She's 13 years old now and really hasn't changed all that much, i.e., she still likes to have her picture taken-over & over, she still needs us to tell her how pretty she is 50 times a day, and she still pouts and prances! The journaling on this page is about how we had to play "modeling" and she did the modeling and I was HER announcer! She was only 5 in this shot-such a little cutie!



Okay, Baby, there you go! It's published!

Tootles!

I Made My Christmas Cards!

I did it! I designed and made my Christmas cards! I purposely bought 20 Christmas themed stamps to force myself to do the card thingy this year. It has just gotten so expensive to mail cards now a days that I haven't sent any out in years. I need to this year because like everyone my purse is a little thin this year. Those friends and family of mine that would normally receive a token of my affection will now be getting a card. As I've matured ( read, gotten older) I have realized that gifts of your time and effort are so much more special than something you pick up at the mall. I really do love and appreciate my friends and family and hope the feeling is mutual.
I adopted a tiny little kitten that I named "digi do" in honor of my new scrapping ability! She's at the bottom of my blog, so go play with her for a while. If you are among the complainers to our "Designing Diva's of the Whimsical Wonderland" give away, for having to wait for the Freebies, then you need to play with her for a long while until you calm down. Like my Mom always said, "never look a gift horse in the mouth!" (It took me years to figure out this little gem, LOL!)

It's getting late and I need to stop posting so late in the evening because I'm not always in the best frame of mind. But I do enjoy your comments and emails and sharing things with you! I'm working on some butterflies! I'll be sure and post them as soon as they are done but I have to get some other things out of the way first.

Have a great day! Tootles!

Check This Site Out!

You just have to go to ScrapScandiStyle and buy their charity kit for "Trevor!" It's only $9.90 and I counted 52 designers participating in this giant endeavor! You not only get something great that comes along maybe once in a digi-scrapper's lifetime but the best thing is you get to help out a fellow human being in the process!


And don't forget about the mega Christmas kit that our Designing Diva's are posting for the 12 Days of Christmas called Whimsical Wonderland! I just downloaded day 7 from Amanda's site Perfectly Imperfect Amanda. The links are permanent for now so don't miss out! Start at Sugar Snap Scraps.

There's also the designer challenge kits at Stone Accents Studio that are down-loadable for free. Just register at their gallery and look for the designer challenge. You get to vote for the designer you like best-they are currently on round two of the finals.

I've spent my entire day (hours and hours) sitting here downloading and organizing the downloads from these three sites! I wanted to work on a page today that featured Suzy but that will just have to wait because I really need to get to bed!

I don't get to see Joshua again this weekend. :( He and Suzy both have joined INDOOR soccer teams for the winter months! Those children love their sports! I'd like to go up and watch but any driving I do tomorrow (excuse me, it's today) will be short; squeezing the steering wheel is horrible on my thumbs.

Tootles!

Just Finished!

I just finished re-loading the photos into yesterday's post. I looked in all the help places and didn't find anything about a glitch in the video postings. Hope these stay!
Tootles!

Blogger Trouble?

Don't know what's going on but the pix I put in yesterday's blog have disappeared and Blogger won't let me put them back! What would we do without computers? but wouldn't life be simpler if we didn't have them? I'm so glad though that they came to being while I was still around to enjoy them. I'm going to re-post the Eyes of Wonder layout. Well! Evidently Blogger won't let me post new pics either! I'll check back later and see if the problem has been fixed.

I'm really busy organizing and working on all my new elements and papers I've downloaded from multiple sources in the last few days! I'm having a great time but I need to stop and make a few layouts and some Christmas cards. Problem is when I sit down in front of this baby it's really hard for me to get back up and do something productive! LOL! I've even been thinking about getting a new desktop with more RAM so that what I accomplish is done quicker.

I did buy Christmas stamps in order to make myself send out a few cards to those people I love and don't see enough of anymore. I'd like to make the cards and have ordered some Christmas paper to do so-we'll just have to wait and see it I can accomplish it!

You might want to check out Stone Accents Studio tomorrow-they are having a contest for new designers and are letting members download the designed kits for free! I don't know how many rounds of elimination they are having but they are on the second round now. Those kits will be available for download after 7 PM Friday night (I think that's EST). I've already downloaded the first round! They are also having a challenge using the new designer kits for members of the forum and gallery. Check it out!

Need to get back to work.

Tootles!

PS: Be careful while you're out doing the Christmas and daily chores. There was that terrible shooting spree at a mall yesterday and I just heard that a mall here in Charlotte had part of their parking deck collapse! Take care of yourselves and happy shopping!

It's Been Too Long!

Hello! What a week I've had! Let's see, last weekend I got to see Kim and Suzy for a while; they helped me do the shopping (Kim doing the driving, Suzy doing the lifting) and took me to breakfast. I spent the remainder of the day ensconced in from of the computer trying to get my 9,000+ digital elements organized. Sunday I watched the Panthers finally win one at home over the 49's while still working on the organizing. Then . . .

Okay! enough boring speak. You know how nice the people who scrap are? I don't know what it is but they are a different breed altogether from other groups. I tried to do a solid for Flergs since she is always giving out Freebies to us all, well, she didn't let me get away with it! She had to send me MORE elements for my collection (I have over 900 of her elements!). She's so sweet and thoughtful even though she's up to her neck in children, designing, and making the giant collaboration Whimsical Wonderland! Wow! Have you all seen it? Don't miss out! Go to any of the participating designer's blogs and there will be links for 12 days to their wonderful kits! Let's see, there's Flergs (of course), Ellie Lash, Kristi, Idzibitsy, etc, just to name a few. Just check them out quickly before the links are expired! I've been kind of nutty over them (surprise!) and
check their respective blogs all day long. The ladies are located all over the world so I never know when the new kits are going to be uploaded. I can tell you this: these are going like hotcakes! Every time I go to download I have to wait in line to get mine-hundreds of down-loaders at a time!

I see that you have been downloading my Freebies but not many are coming back to let me know if they are useful to you or not. I would really like to know how to improve my offerings so please let me know-you can do it anonymously if you choose at the download site.

I just finished another digi layout. I really like this one! What do you think? Too much? Too little? Doesn't matter, LOL, I like it!


Oh, he was such a sweet baby! He's only 8 now and still just as loving and kind as he can be! The things I like most about him are the way he loves his family and lets them know it, his sense of wonder about all things, his happy personality, and his sense of humor!

The folks over at Serendipity are busy, busy, busy. Daily challenges, monthly challenges, special sales, questions of the day, new techniques, etc. If you're looking for a good scrapping time give them a try! They never cease to amaze me with their kindness: even though I cannot paper scrap too well right now they are still asking me to join them in their challenges and groups. Really a nice bunch of people; you know you cannot say ladies anymore-the men are joining us like crazy! Wonderful!

I'm going to go and try to make myself a blinkie! If I do, I'll post it on this site if you want to get one-who knows? maybe I'll make a good one!

Tootles!