DeDe has another amazing kit out - Ahoy There MateyZ which is so much fun! Full of the cutest pirates I've ever seen! And the pirate shop is so cool. Plus all the papers and elements. Just a fun kit.
At 3Scrapateers DeDe is the featured designer for the Half n Half Deal September 12th through 26th. Kit available Saturday, September 12th. It's a very special deal this month because instead of buying half a kit, you buy a whole kit and get a whole other kit free when you post your LO! Yea! Details here: http://3scrapateers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=104839#post104839
And don't forget the Friday Freebie on September 18th - DeDe has even more pirate goodies!
Here's some pics of the kit:

1st kit - only $3 at 3Scrapateers right now!

2nd kit - Posting bonus for HnH @ 3Scrapateers and will be only $3 after HnH over...

 

Here's some extras - papers, borders & scatterz

There's a really fun font incl in the kits - capital letters all have cute scull & crossbones on them... 

And here's what I've done with the kit so far:

Savannah & Connor - Halloween 2005:

And Chuey - thought he made a good pirate face in this pic! LOL!

Okay, off to make more fun stuff. Back to the Princess kits and making LO's of Willow's 2nda Bday party. Plus still working on other projects!

Hugs, Tif

Hello again... I was looking at my blog on another computer (work) and it seems to show up different on other PCs... So I need to work on that too...
I wanted to add the LOs I've been working on. I love these pics of Jessica and never really scrapped them. Back then I wasn't digi-scrapping and put a border around them and her name, but not a page. And after finding digi-scrapping, I always thought of these pics, but was never inspired enough to scrap until I found DeDe's kit. And even if I had scrapped them before - I would have re-done them! This kit is PERFECT!
I'm not much of a bragger, but I do think this 2 page LO turned out well. I love them. I kept playing around with the LO to the point where I almost changed it all again, but stopped! LOL!
But, you must admit - she's a perfect little Cinderella!
Hugs, Tif

My saved file from 2005 - way before I knew about digi-scraping! You can't really see there's a border on here. But it was a fuzzy border that I still like to use now (salt & pepper in PSE) but I know so much more about PSE now. So much easier to do simple functions - but always a learning experience!

 

I have been very slow to scrap any pics yet of our adorable new puppy, Chuey. And since I am so slow, I'll at least post some pics. We couldn't think of a good name for him for a while. I wanted "Chuey" and finally won around my bday. We've had him since 6/22/09. Seems like a lifetime now. He's already changed a ton!
He is half Chihuahua and half Mini-Pincher. His dad is the mini-pincher and was HUGE! Tall and fat, lol. Biggest mini-pin I've ever seen. His mom is Chihuahua and is not small either. Large for a Chihuahua, in my opinion. Chili (Gordy & Angie's wonderful Chihuahua) was big, I thought. Chuey's mom is bigger... So, he won't be the cute Chihuahua/min-pin I am used to. But he's his own special dog. And boy, is he a handful!
Yes, his name is Chuey because he is a chewer. Of anything - toes, fingers, belts, blankets, pillows, underside of lazyboy chair, and (most recently found out) buttons off Rich's clothes... He's destroyed the 1st stuffy we gave him, a duck. True, it wasn't made for a puppy, but he still tore it up in no time. Next was a green monster type stuffy. Then a cute dog bone stuffy. Now he is working his way thru his newest stuffy: a big football stuffy. Even with all these stuffys and other chew toys (he has balls, 2 ropes, a teething stick, a chew bone...) he still chooses to find our stuff to chew on. He's left the couch and cushions alone so far....
He is a good dog for the most part. Especially since he is alone most of every day. I didn't want a dog for that reason, but he seems to be okay. And it's too hot to let him be outside much. But he's getting bigger and it will cool down in a few months...
But he is so smart. And not just cuz I'm his momma. He has been fetching since almost coming home! And he knows the difference between each and every toy. He has a few different balls, his stuffy, his ropes and the chew-stick. He will bring whichever we ask for. Rarely getting the wrong one. Pretty smart I say.
He must MUST be with you at all times. He doesn't care what you are doing, and can even ignore him sometimes, but he must be near you. If not he will whine and cry like you are slowly killing him. He's getting big to be a lap dog when I'm on the computer, but he doesn't care, lol. Usually I bring his bed in here and lay it down on the side of the desk and he'll lay down on that. (Like he is right now). When we watch TV, he's up on one of the couches with Rich or me. Takes turns. Sleeps next to Rich (of course). And if Rich falls asleep on the couch - Chuey can usually be found up by his head! Now that he's getting bigger, that's even funnier...
Okay, I've told you most about him... Here's some pics...

1st night home...

My duckie...

See how small I am???

Yep, that's me on momma's belly...

Green Monster.....

Whatcha Doin'???

I'll help ya work on the car, Daddy!

My stuffy bone

DON'T TAKE AWAY MY STUFFY!!!!!!!

Yes, I am soooo cute!

All boys love Football!

I was waiting to update my blog before I posted my wonderful news... I was accepted as part of DeDe Smith's CT! I am so excited, and nervous. For those not in the digi-scrapping world, you may not know what a CT is. It stands for Creative Team. A group of scrappers dedicated to their designer basically. My duties include: Create at least 1 layout a month. /Post layouts at 3Scrapateers, Digitals, Divine Digital, and iScrapbook. /Create a quickpage of my layout and sending it to DeDe to be used as a freebie. Also, we need to help promote our designer and be active in the forums and in our Google Group.
It's a wonderful opportunity for me. I will learn a lot from these girls and DeDe. I will be motivated to make and post LOs. And the best part... I get DeDe's kits for free! Yep, FREE! She says it's payment for posting LOs and such, but come on - that's a way better deal for me! LOL!
Well, it is "work" when it comes to using this ancient computer. I tell ya, days like today I surely wish I could save my money for a new one. It will happen, but it will be a while. Other bills need to get paid for 1st. And all that dental work should come 1st too. Although I am dreading having it done, it needs to happen. I actually have an appt with the specialist on 9-16. Not sure if I can keep it now that Rich may not be able to take me. But I requested the time off work for that Wed thru Friday. Yep, if I am getting 3 wisdom teeth pulled and going under to make it happen, yo betcha I am taking the next 2 days off! They don't work on Thrus or Fridays, so Wed it is. He told me he has to break the teeth in pieces to get them out and around the nerves. The lower ones are going to be "really tough" even for him! Ha! Like I am not scared? I am petrified of having to keep my mouth open that whole time. At least I won't be awake - I pray. Then, since he can't work on the 2 molars that need work - I'll have to schedule another appt with that specialist to have that fixed. Then, maybe, just maybe I can eat without pain. Hmm. I know I will be happy once this is all done, but until then my stomach turns just thinking about it. Then thinking of the cost! Ugg! But my HSA should cover. I pray.
Anyways, this was to promote my news of being on DeDe's CT! Here's the LO I made to submit for her CT call. And I am finishing up a 2 page LO as my 1st assignment. In the mean time I also used her kits to make 2 bday cards recently. Now I need to post it all to the various sites. Ugg, need a faster PC! LOL!
Hugs, Tif

My audition LO for DeDe's CT!

Bday card for our friend, Matt S. (front & back)

(inside)

Willow's Bday card (front & back)

(inside) just love this mirror, lol!

I am almost embarassed to say how long I've spent trying to personalize my blog again. This time I wanted to make my own header and blog credits button and add a spacer at the end of each post. After reading instructions from Kimmie Stewart (I had previously used her blog wear freebies for my blog) and then searching the web for instructions I was still a bit lost. DeDe updated her blog recently (inspiring me) and linked to a great blog: http://kevinandamanda.com/ which gave me a link to another blog and specifically this post: http://shabbyblogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/tutorial-how-to-add-post-dividers-to.html
Anyways, I played and played - still can't get my divider right. Not sure why. But this is pretty good for now. I need to get moving on making LOs and such. I'm not sorry that I spent so much time, just sorry it didn't work right. And sorry I don't understand all this fancy blog stuff! LOL!
I used to have "under construction" in my blog header before. Probably should have kept that, LOL!
Hugs, Tif

Hello again... I've been saying I was going to add this pic to my blog for months now... So here it is...

This is a brag book page made by Charne using Kimberly Stewart's kit: XOXO

Wow, I wasn't good at all about keeping up with my blog!
I was always like that with diary's too. I'd start them with so much determination that "this one" would be different. Nope. Never was. Same for a blog too it seems. No excuses, just no follow through.
I sure love to read blogs tho! It doesn't seem odd to me to read about other's everyday lives, but somehow seems odd to write about mine.
And the fact that my favorite blogs also have incredible digi-scrap freebies is also a huge lure. I wouldn't have even know what a blog was without them! But I still have my favs that I go to whether they have freebies or not... Promise!
So no promises here to keep my blog up to date. I can always try but I won't promise!

So, the real reason for visiting my blog today... I signed on for a challenge over at http://www.designsindigital.com/ for the NDIDDS Challenge. It's for both new and seasoned designers. The prizes are great and way above my level of expectation, but still amazing. And since I know I am not ready to design full time and sell in a store, I am not looking to "win". What I do hope to get out of this is the opportunity to learn. I want to someday play with my own kits and maybe someday sell kits. But to have the time to do that would be a luxury I don't foresee for a while. I spend way too much time as it is on the PC now. I'd have to sacrifice my blog reading time, my forum reading time, my participation in challenges and so much more. I'm not ready for that yet. But I have a huge interest in learning and growing. And it should also help me scrap more too. That's a huge thing for me. Seems I spend more time collecting kits and freebies than I do making cards or LOs. I'm always trying to organize my HD more and free up some space and haven't even played with pics in too long! Ugg!
Here's a link to the forum page which gives more details on the challenge in case anyone is reading this who isn't already from Designs in Digital...
http://www.designsindigital.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6991
Okay, so here's the 1st challenge to myself... Need to remember this starts on May 1st! And need to follow thru and complete these challenges...
Many hugs to whomever reads this...
Tif

Hello again - to anyone who visits, LOL...
Today is January 1st, 2009! And I am excited to start a new year. I pray this year is better. We need a healthy and better year financially too. So many times have I made "New Year Resolutions" - so many times have I not followed through... I stopped making them because I don't. And I won't make one this year either. I just say now that I hope the New Year is better and try to make each day a better one. What I need to remember to do is be thankful for all the wonderful things (and people) in my life and stop dwelling on what's not so wonderful. Easier said than done. But it's still my goal, and will remain one. The expression "A work in progress" well - that fits my life in so many ways. And yes, work is a four-letter word! LOL!
I changed my blog today. Love the pretty bkgound paper I used before, but just too distracting to read the posts. I love everything about the blog set I used from Kimberly Stewart. As for now I will not change anything else. Honestly, it was too darn hard to figure it all out the 1st time!
New Year - I am inspired by so many other bloggers I visit to actually write in mine. No, I don't have the freebies I love to gather from theirs - but that's not all I gather from them. Scrapbookers in general I have found to be just beautiful people. I love to read their blogs as much as I love their freebies! Stories posted about their special events and every day events. Well, I don't feel my life is so special most days - but there are some wonderful days too! And I need to start recording them for myself. So this blog is not so much for everyone else to enjoy - but something for myself. And since life isn't always so happy, I suppose my blog won't be either. But I need to record that too...
One of my favorite blogs is DeDe's. She posts a "high/low" for each week. And she's working on a new project "Digital 365" in which she will post every day and take a picture everyday... I am in awe of her even stating she intends to do this project - let alone actually do it! Inspiration comes from all around us. We just need to open our eyes sometimes. DeDe has inspired me so many times with her blog and how she manages to get through tough times and I smile at her stories of fun times! (Plus her freebies are top notch! LOL!) Of course, I found her because of her incredible talent of designing digital scrap kits and such. Her TearZ are my favorite digital bears ever!
I won't even say I'd commit to such a project. Because I know I'd fail. But I can say I'll try harder to blog. Or at least document my life somehow. Scrapbook pages are so awesome for that. I love taking pictures (anyone who knows me may say I take too many, lol). And I have already promised myself to organize them better and backup my harddrive. I need to copy to DVD for family. And I am trying. I focus too much on the details sometimes to be time proficient... I don't know. But hopefully if I work a little each day, then I can get a lot farther! OMG, just like my house cleaning and organizing wishes... So overwhelming I get discouraged. But a little each day isn't so hard... Maybe....
Of course there are "setbacks" and times I want to give up. Remaining positive is not always easy for me. Has been a struggle my entire life. Depression. Oh how much I hate that word and what it entails! Seems to have plagued me my entire life. And in fact it has in one way or another. My mother battled with it when I was small. Was it learned behavior that I developed it? Or really a chemical imbalance? Will I turn out to be like my mom is now? Oh, I have so many fears. I prided myself on being like her when I was younger. I strived to be like her. I was so proud of her and all she did for us as a single mom. Will I develop the same problems she has now? Oh God, I pray not!
New Years Day 2009 - well, I have posted a lot so far without really saying much, lol. I was so sick for New Year's Eve last night. I am so bummed about that. (some sort of stomach bug - ick) So it was not the bestest New Year's Eve... But I was with my favorite person, so not so bad really! Thank goodness for Rich. He has blessed my life in so many ways. And makes me happier than I have ever been! Not perfect and we need to work on so much in our lives, but I guess that's how life works. So anyways, being sick yesterday and today being sickish still - I would not ever take a picture a day starting today anyways! LOL!
I did what I wanted and posted. Now back to collecting more scrapbook freebies, catching up on my favorite blogs and organizing this harddrive!
Hugs, Tif