New layouts

Miki is working on a new collection of kits that are great for scrapping about yourself call Shades of Me. Here are layouts from the first two kits.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this kit. Click on image to see full credits.

Want a free template?

Head over to the Sweet Shoppe blog and pick it up.

Here's my take using my newest kit The Very Thought of You

New kit is perfect for your lovey dovey printables!

First up...a new kit with ScrapKitchen! I love love love altered projects, ATCs, and more, and I really tried to keep that in mind while creating this kit...gorgeous papers, some easy-to-cut embellishments (not the flowers 'cause I think most people are like me and will just pile on the Prima lol), captivating blend of colors, and more. I'm so excited to print this out and play with it, and I'll be sure to come back and share my project.

I also have a set of word art that is great for general 365 type of scrapping.

New schtuffs in the shoppe!

Are you posting them in my SSD gallery?

As you can see here, we are starting a new feature at SSD called Standout Sundays. Each week a designer will browse through her SSD gallery and select a handful of pages and projects to highlight on the SSD blog and share a little prize. If you're scrapping and pasting my my products, why not make sure you include them in my gallery, too?!

Resolved: I will take time to tinkle the ivories each week

True story. A couple of weeks ago, I found myself feeling...oh, what's the word...a bit bleh and a lot of b*tchy. I didn't want to be on the computer; I didn't want to clean; I didn't want to hang with my family in the overheated family room. So, I headed downstairs and sat down at the piano. And you know what, it was actually VERY therapeutic. I spent just a half hour playing some of my favorite pieces, and I felt happier and more focused.

I would be foolish to ignore the powerful implications of my little exercise, so I will definitely be devoting a little bit of time each week to it. Avery seems to sit at the piano frequently, so I'm hoping I can convince her to learn a new piece with me this year...a piano duet...one of my favorite things!

She's also a soprano...perfect for this alto who finds great pleasure in harmony. Maybe I can bribe her to sing a song or two with me on occasion.

Resolved: I will de-clutter and organize

I used to be organized. Really. It was before the second kid came along...before I invested thousands and thousands of dollars into a paper-craft industry...before we moved into a 3650 sqft home with even more space for crap to pile up.

I'd love to be able to have people drop by any time and not feel like I have to close doors. I'd love to have all my craft stuff once again in my craft room rather than spread out across four different rooms. I'd love to find what I need in a matter of seconds and without needing search and rescue missions to be on standby.

I've kept a lot of stuff because I *plan* on using it OR I might *need* it someday. To heck with that. I'm donating the bulk of it. If I ever really do *need* something, the purchase price will be insignificant compared to crushing ICK that all this clutter brings to my house and my happiness. So, I've talked it over with Michael, and he's okay with my plan, too. I was concerned he might want me to try to make money off of it or something, but I think he realizes the benefits of giving (or even throwing) it away are greater than taking the time and effort to profit.

Oh...and you can all see even more how horribly organized I am when you see this photo--a walk-in closet IN my craft room. Seriously?! Most people don't have this much space to give to crafting, and I can't even seem to keep it contained to this space.

Sleepy lil' layout

Features Miki's newest kit Crystal Expression (coming Jan 3)


Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this kit. Click on image to see full credits.

Pardon my dust!

Just messing around with the ol' blog over the next few days. It might look a bit wonky when you visit. :)

So exciting!! Scrapper Portfolios for Points

Did you hear about SSD's awesome new challenge system?!! I'm so excited about this!

Resolved: I will once again wear single digit dress sizes

I feel really compelled this year to light a fire under my butt. I have been spending entirely too much time in Loserville, neglecting my health, limiting my opportunities, ignoring my talents, and suffering from extreme loser-itis. I have been blessed in so many ways, and God must feel like I'm the most ungrateful brat some days as I shove his gifts in the closet and let yuck and ick clutter up my life. I'm over it. Moving on. I am RESOLVED.

Getting fit is a huge priority for me. Gravity, age, and genetics are working against me...they are like the Titans of old, I think. I need to reach down deep and find my inner-Goddess and kick some butt. There is no doubt that I was given an extra dose of STUBBORN...a must-have weapon in this fight.