Scrappy News

Have you been to Elemental Scraps lately? There have been some changes and here are a few just to lyk. The challenge forums are open again and there are some really fun and inspirational ideas so if you need a spark and want to earn store credit at the same time be sure to check it out. Also new releases come out on Monday now and are on sale 25% off. Both Chrissy and Mandy have some fun new things today. Check them out below and click on the images to head to the shoppe.

This page was also made using the above kit but also the latest free template by Chrissy for the template challenge. Make sure you pick it up by clicking its image below.

Additional credits: Chippywords by DMogstad

Thanks for looking.... now go scrap something!

Project 365 Day 5

Today's prompt was to take a photo from your front door with a part of the door frame in the photo as well. Gosh it is cold today! Here is a thought....
Winter: breezy, sneezy, freezy
or perhaps it is
Winter: slippy, drippy, nippy

Project 365 Day 4

Darn Migraine! I wasn't well last night and so I am late getting my picture posted for Sunday. The prompt was to take a photo of your Christmas Gift. And here is a thought to go with it.

My Christmas Present My Christmas present stares at me, A silver bulge beneath the tree, Tied with bright red bows. I pick it up--its ribbons slip And tingle on my fingertips. "What can you be?" I whisper low. I shake and poke and peer at it, Then put it back and sigh a bit. It will not tell me what it knows. Stiffly dressed in shiny clothes Of silver, waiting silently, My present sits...and stares at me. --Deborah Chandra

Project 365 Day 3

So today's prompt was a bit odd. It was to take a picture of the inside of your fridge. All I could see from it was that it is time for a trip to the grocery store and that I really should clean the dirt out of the bottom crisper drawer left over from potatoes and now home to capri suns. Here is my quote for today.

Good food is a celebration of life. --Sophia Loren

About Project 365... Why do it?Taking a photo a day is a big undertaking with big payoffs. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider doing it:

Original Inspiration From the Photojojo site. Here is what it says on their site.

*Imagine being able to look back at any day of your year and recall what you did, who you met, what you learned… (Often we find it hard to remember what we did just yesterday or even last night, let alone a whole year ago!)

*Your year-long photo album will be an amazing way to document your travels and accomplishments, your haircuts and relationships. Time moves surprisingly fast.

*Taking a photo a day will make you a better photographer. Using your camera every day will help you learn its limits. You will get better at composing your shots, you’ll start to care about lighting, and you’ll become more creative with your photography when you’re forced to come up with something new every single day.

Project 365 Day 2

Today's photo prompt was to shoot a photo from where you are sitting when you read this prompt. This is my kitchen window from where I sit at my laptop at the kitchen table (see yesterday's self portrait lol) I'm calling this picture "Looking Out" and here is the quote I found to go with it.

"The world is a mirror: what looks in looks out. It gives back only what you lend it." - Ludwig Boeme

A QP Freebie for you and a challenge!

Happy New Year to you and Happy Feet too. It is time for another element challenge at the Scrap Orchard. Are you ready? Last month I gave you a quick page to embellish and it was quite popular - so I am going to provide you with a quick page this month too. This month the quick page was created using the darling collab kit Happy Feet.

To pick up the quick page click HERE. The password is tiffanyqp

Here are the rules: Finish decorating the quick page provided by adding at least NINE elements. Yes nine in honor of the new year 2009! Upload to the HoneyBee challenge gallery at the Orchard and then post a link in the challenge thread there before the end of January so I can leave you some luv and you can earn your challenge points. Hope you enjoy the challenge.
To make your page perfectly coordinated, may I suggest heading over to the market to pick this kit Happy Feet up? Of course you are welcome to use any elements you desire to complete the challenge.Here is my completed page just for inspiration.

Project 365 Day 1

I mentioned in my earlier post my desire to participate in project 365. I really like the way this blogger here did the challenge last year. She posted her picture along with a quote or thought each day. I am going to try to follow along over at Scrap Orchard in the forum with the photo prompts they give. Today it was a self portrait. Notice the little tell tell signs that tell you a bit more about me? I love diet Pepsi lime, my signature color is green and I need lots of memory for my scrapbooking - hence the 1 TB EHD that I got for Christmas. So here is my portrait and a little quote I like.I've learned to take time for myself and to treat myself with a great deal of love and respect, 'cause I like me. I think I'm kinda cool. --Whoopie Goldberg

Happy New Year! and a couple freebie links

I want to take a moment to wish you all a Happy New Year. Our celebration was pretty low key- but it was fun. Clayne chaperoned the Church youth activity and accompanied Cheyenne there. They were home about 9:30 though cuz they don't let the 13 year olds stay at the party til midnight. I took the remaining 3 kids out to dinner at Wendy's and then we went to the discount movie theater to see the movie Bolt. It was way cute and I'm sure we'll end up buying it to add to our movie collection. When we were all home again we celebrated together with a dish of egg nog ice cream- so yummy! Then we watched a bit of the TV New Year special and at a little after 10 we put on our party hats, blew our noise maker horns and popped the confetti poppers. It makes such a mess but the kids love it. We then spent an hour cleaning up all the confetti lol. We were all in bed sound asleep before midnight. Hope your New Year was good too. I haven't yet transferred my photos to my computer from last night but I did a little page up from last year's pictures and it would likely look much the same as this years.

As for new year goals. I don't like the idea of having to sit down and write them up just because it is the 1st day of a new year. Instead I let them evolve over the first few weeks. I am too busy with Christmas to give them proper thought prior to the 1st so I do it afterwards. I do know that I plan to participate in project 365 - taking a photo each day to document the year so watch for my posts about that - or don't watch if you think you have better things to do lol.


I made this layout using the kit below. You can click on the image to pick it up on sale 40% off. Scroll down a bit more and you will find the freebie mini kit that coordinates and if you click on it you can go to Mandy's blog and pick it up.

And here is the cute freebie to click on.Ziggle Designs put out a fantastic grab bag. Until the 15th it will be just $3. After that it will be revealed and you will have to pay for each item separately in the Market. There are items in the bag that are more "boyish" so don't get the idea from my layout below that it is just a "girl" kit. I just loved the part of the grab bag that was "Shabby Garden." You will definitely want to head over to the CT blog to get a free pack of coordinating paper. SO CUTE! Scroll down to see my sneak peak layout and to click on the image of the Shabby Garden paper to take you to the CT blog where you can get it for FREE!

My good friend Shelly Brown took this photo for me. Isn't it darling. She rocks. Thanks Shelly! Click here to check out her photography blog.

Christmas 2008

Credits: Holiday Magic 2 by Carina Gardner, Template by Liz Designs, Font - CK Becky

I finally got my Christmas photos loaded on my computer. It was then that I discovered that Carson's gift from Santa photo was blurred. Either he or I moved but hey... I'll just reshoot that photo this week.

So I posted last week about the "fairness meter." My kids were all very happy with their gifts and even remembered to thank us. One thing that I did do when wrapping was to make sure that they each had the same number of gifts under the tree to open. If Savannah had a greater number of items due to the cost of her items being less expensive than Cheyenne's items, I just paired them up and wrapped them together to make an even amount of gifts. I know that this is plain ridiculous but it works.

Unfortunately later in the day, as text messages for Cheyenne came in from friends, that was when the "fairness meter" came into play. She wasn't quite as pleased with her gifts when she found that her friends got things that were "bigger" or "better." I didn't let this bother me though - well not too much. I remember the same kinds of feelings when I was growing up and would visit my friends to see what they got for Christmas. The thing of it is... that I now can hardly recall any of the gifts I received when I was a kid. I hardly remember what I even got last year. It really doesn't matter what we get but it is the memories. For me the joy is in watching my children's excitement, it is in being together and sharing our love, and of course it is in remembering our Savior.

This year was a little different as far as celebrating all of our Christmas traditions. I usually make a chain and have an activity for the kids to do each day of the month of Dec from the first to the 24th. This year I didn't get my chain made and at first was a little distraught by my lack of preparedness. I felt like I was letting the kids down. Turns out that much of the chain and activities must have been for me lol. Christmas came just the same and we did do many of the activities we have done in the past and it was a lot less stressful for me. We still had fun - even when we didn't get all 24 activities done. I will be giving this all some thought over the next year and decide what I want to do for next year's Christmas. I love having traditions, but I do think that simplifying things is wonderful too. I hope to find a balance.

On Christmas day, Clayne's parents and his Aunt Nancy, braved the weather and joined us for a nice Christmas dinner. I was more than happy to have them join us - especially when his mother volunteered to bring the ham and homemade rolls. I took the easy route for the rest of the meal and we had baked potatoes and a vegie. I also baked a Sara Lee pumpkin pie and thawed a Marie Callendar banana cream pie. Easy Peasy and it was just fun to enjoy a simple but nice Christmas dinner with family. Ok... I've rattled on for long enough for now lol. Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas too.

Grocery Deals - Week of Dec 31

Smith's

$3.99/lb boneless NY steak
$1.99/lb boneless pork loin chops
$1.89/lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

10/$10 Hershey's 8 pack or theater box candy
10/$10 Kroger 16 oz cottage cheese, sour cream or dips

P&G has a get $5 off offer when you purchase $25 or more on participating P&G items using your savings card (see ad or store for details)

Albertsons

2/$4 Shoppers Value gal milk
38 cents Dannon yogurt
3/$10 Dreyer's ice cream
$1.59 Kellogg's cereal (select varieties, limit 5)

buy one get one free on clementines, pork chops, beef chuck roasts, cinnamon roll 4 packs, a few other meats as well

There is an ultimate 1/2 price sale on some Kraft items (see ad or store for details)

Scrappy News

Just a quick entry. I'd share about Christmas, but I haven't even uploaded my pictures from my camera to my computer... Maybe I'll get to that today? Our Christmas was nice and I hope yours was too. Now I'll just quickly share a couple of good deals from my CT designers.

Over at Scrap Orchard you can pick up the new Mega kit for just $3 until Jan 7. It is so cute. Below is a layout I made of my niece, Megan, using this kit. Click on the kit image to go to the Market.

Over at Elemental Scraps, Mandy has a few kits that she is retiring by the end of the year. For a few days you can pick them up at great savings and then after that they'll be gone.

Merry Christmas to All and a peak

So are you ready for Christmas? I finished my shopping last Thursday but have yet to wrap any gifts to put under the tree yet. I just can't gear myself up for the "fairness meeter" to come out. Are you not familiar with the fairness meter? Well I believe every family should have one. My kids have gotten used to my statement, "Quick! Someone get out the fairness meter!" This is what I say whenever one of my kids feels that there has been an injustice in equal fairness to each child in the family. Some people hold off on putting presents out because they don't want the kids shaking and trying to figure out what they hold but I am holding out because I don't want to counting of gifts for each or the size/weight of each gift being measured out by each child so that before the gifts are even opened they can tell me how unfair it all is. I wish that I could say that my children were angelic and just so cheerful about receiving an orange in their stocking but they are like most children and are caught up in all the fun of gimme gimme. They are good kids though so I am sure Santa will make a visit this week. I hope you will also be found worthy of a visit from the Jolly man. More than this... I hope you will have a joyous Christmas. I may or may not be back with a post before Christmas.....

So I do want to share just a few things with you in case I get too busy. I had so much fun using two of the dollar day products from my previous post. I used the Something to Brag About templates by Chrissy and the Snowman Kisses kit by Mandy to create a quick little album that I will likely print off and give to Savannah's teacher when they return from Christmas break.

Also... just in case you want to buy yourself a little gift this Christmas, Scrap Orchard has a fantastic sale coming up that you don't want to miss. Click the image to go look at the Mega kits.

Alice QP Freebie Blog Train and some Sales

First I apologize for any confusion! I thought the blog train was to start at midnight tonight not last night. So I just hope that you have come back and that you will enjoy my Quick Page that I have for you.

Welcome to your next stop aboard the Ziggle CT Express!!! Let me just remind you that TODAY is Kami's turn at the Scrap Orchard's 12 Days of Christmas. And she has her ENTIRE STORE at 50% OFF - TODAY ONLY!!! Plus, she has a free w/ $10 purchase there for you too! Look at my previous post to see those 2 beautiful new kits and scroll down to view the 2 pages that I have made using these fun kits.

And now... the QP freebie that you have come here to pick up. The Password is tiffanyqp and you can pick it up by clicking the image below. Your next stop is jennifer: http://www.jemenifer22.blogspot.com/

And before I sign off let me also tell you that over at Elemental Scraps it is the Dollar Sale and both Chrissy and Mandy have some fabulous new items up for just $1. I so wanted to have time to create something with each of their products but I think you can all relate to the busy time of December. I will definitely be sharing something soon to show off their new products though. Click on the images below to go to their stores.

From Chrissy:

From Mandy:

Well I am out of here for the day. We have a big family Christmas party at my parent's home with all my siblings and their children. We will be making gingerbread houses and eating way too much and Santa will even be stopping by. Hope you all have a great day.

Scrappy News

Have you picked up Chrissy's most recent template challenge template? It is free and so cute. Head over to her blog to get the link. While you are there be sure to check out her sale. She's going to blog every day from now until Christmas with DAILY SPECIALS!! At least 2 items will be on sale each day - but here's the catch - they'll only be on sale for ONE DAY only each!! So you'll have to check back every day to see what the sale for that day is!Here is my layout using this template.


Credits:
Fa La La by Irene Alexeeva, Alphabet Soup by Ziggle Designs, Challenge Template by Chrissy Williams, Font - Highland Perk

Ziggle Designs has new kits coming out this week! Well actually one new kit (10 Little Monkeys) and one kit that will be FREE with a $10 Purchase (Cheese-A-Lini) on Saturday, December 20th (when her store will also be 50% OFF!!!!)!!!! So be sure to plan on doing some shopping at Scrap Orchard this weekend. There will also be another blog train with a stop here at my blog for a lil goodie so be sure to come back. I can't wait to play with these 2 kits and will be sure to share my layouts here when I find some time to create.

Grocery Deals - Week of Dec 17

Albertsons

$3.99/lb Beef Rib Roast
99 cents/lb Cooks shank ham
99 cents/lb Bone in split chicken breasts, or max pak drumsticks or thighs

38 cents/lb oranges
$1.67 Kellog's cereal (when you buy 3 select varieties)
$1.79 albertson's butter
$2.88 Dreyers ice cream or Sara Lee oven fresh pie
$5.99/2lb block Tillamook cheese

20/$10 (first 20)
Green giant vegies, campbells cream of mush soup, swanson broth or campbells gravy

$2.60 12 pack Coca-cola (when you buy 5 with card)
$2.75 12 pack Pepsi (when you buy 4 with card)
$1.79 12 pack Albertson soda

Buy one get one free Doritos

Smith's

$1.59/lb Spiral sliced half ham John Morrell

5/$13 12 pack Coca-cola
2/$5 Breyers or private selection ice cream
$1.29/ doz large eggs

10/$10 dips, sour cream or cottage cheese

A QP Freebie for you!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas with a little gift from me to you. I am thrilled to be a part of the blog train using the beautiful kit Feels Like Home by Ziggle Designs and B~Creative Designs. If you make it to all the stops you will be picking up all these gorgeous pages.



And here is the page you'll be picking up at this stop. Click HERE to go get it. If you need a password it is tiffanyqp Your next stop is Jemenifer's Blog Oh and of course I want to remind you to swing by the Scrap Orchard forums to enjoy the 12 days of Christmas celebration. See my previous post for more info. Click here to go to the forum.

Scrappy News

Yep here's more Digital Scrapbooking news. This time it is all about Scrap Orchard! Today Starts the 12 Days of Christmas. FOR TODAY ONLY... Visit Matahati Design's Store and not only will you find her store on sale but she's got a FABULOUS FREEBIE for you too! (as will all of our fantastic designers... so head on back for all 12 days!)

Do you like the festive new look of my blog? You can get it too. Scrap Orchard has new products available to help you out. Click on the image below to go check it out.



Ziggle Designs has a super cute new kit out this week and below is a layout I made using her new kit. Click on the image to go to the store and pick it up for 20% off.





I have had the opportunity to play with a few other kits that are just being released this week at Scrap Orchard as well. New releases are on sale for 20% off so if these are the kits for you... click on them to head to the market.

Scrappy News

Elemental Scraps is having a Dollar Sale today! Two of the designers I am on Creative Team for sell there and have some great stuff for you to grab for $1 today only. Mandy Mystiques has two darling new kits. You can click on the images below to go to the store and shop. Chrissy also has her latest template set on sale today. See it below.




Credits: The above kit & Template 34 by Choukette, Fonts - Fancypens, Wendy Sue




Credits: The above kit & Challenge Template #6 by Designs by Sine, Font - Times New Roman




Credits: The template set above & Slippery Slope - Collab kit by Angie & ChrissyW , Font - CK Becky

Grocery Deals - Week of Dec 10

Smith's

$1.99/lb Chuck rump or cross rib roast
$1.29/lb Pork butt roast or assorted pork chops
$1.99/lb Tyson Fresh chicken breast or tenderloins

The following are 10/$10
sour cream, cottage cheese, dips, 1/2 gallon OJ or choc milk
There are also several hygiene items like soap & deodorant

4/$8 General Mills large box cereals (when you buy 4 with saving card)
4/$5 Large doz eggs

Albertsons

$1.99/lb Beef round rump roast or pork top loin roasts
68cents/lb Fuji, gala or cameo apples
$4.99 Northern Mega pack TP

Buy three general mills chex cereal and get four 2 ltr bottles of Coca-cola products free

4 days only Th-Su (if you are buying these - I want to know when to come for dinner)
$4.99 Lobster tail
$4.47/lb NY Steak

On the back page of the ad there are several items that will give you an instant rebate of $4 when you spend $10 on a single transaction with your savings card.
This makes the following items 75 cents each
Betty Crocker cake mix, Green giant valley fresh steamers vegies and also canned veg.
This makes the following items $1 each
Hamburger helper, Grands biscuits, Betty C pie crust mix, Betty C frosting, Betty C brownie mix, cookie pouches and scalloped potatoes
This makes the following items $1.50 each
Betty C pound cake or gingerbread mix, Progresso soup, General mills cereal, Yoplait multipack yogurt, Betty C muffin mix or premium brownie mix, General mills granola bars or fiber one bars, Go gurt, Betty C fruit snacks and... more

Now to figure out what's for dinner tonight....

Grocery Deals - Week of Dec 3

The December madness has set in already. Life just gets so busy this time of year. Yesterday came and went in a blur without time to post the grocery deals. Sorry I am a day late. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Smith's

There is a special 8 hour sale (Thurs) today only from 3pm - 11pm on the following items:
25% off on all frozen foods - includes meat and seafood
99 cents/ doz large eggs
$1.77 Tostitos chips
99 cents Kroger peanuts (12 oz all varieties)
2/$1 Semi-sweet baking chips 6 oz Kroger brand
10/$10 half gallon chocolate milk
2/$4 Oscar Mayer shaved deli meats
2/$4 M&Ms holiday candies or nestle miniatures

weekly ad items:
$1.99/lb extra lean ground beef
$1.69/lb Boneless skinless chicken breasts
$2.49/lb london broil or petite cut sirloin steak
$1.99/lb cook's butt or shank portion ham
2/$1 Navel oranges
5/$10 Post or Quaker cereal

Albertsons

There are in ad coupons for the following items:
69 cents vo5 shampoo or conditioner
$3.99/10 oz cooked shrimp ring (my kids love these)
88 cents Albertsons American singles cheese slices
$1.48 Fresh express bagged salad
69 cents Hunts spaghetti sauce
4/$1 Albertsons Mac&Cheese dinner

Weekly ad items:
Lots of buy one get one free deals on meat
88 cents/lb whole frying chicken, drumsticks, thighs or whole legs
20/$10 Libby vegetables, Albertsons pasta or seasoning mix

There are also some 5/$5, 4/$5 and 2/$5 items but nothing stands out as a better deal for me than what I can get at Winco so I am not typing them in.

Happy shopping. Hopefully I will find time to post more than just grocery deals this month. I'm not betting on it though. I have yet to do much Christmas shopping or decorating.