It been a blech weekend! It rained here from Friday straight through to today (Sunday). Miss Katie is off tomorrow so if it rains again we are so sleeping in! Add the rain to my horrible cold and boy what a miserable weekend. I missed my retreat with the Little Dreamer girls in Utah..ssooo depressing. If I had gone I would have no doubt been in the hotel room the entire time. Luckily my ticket was credted and I won’t lose it all.

Just a little update and announcement by the way..The STAMPIN UP giveaway has been extended until Tuesday, the 30th. So you still have time (see my last post for details).

I keep forgetting to post Katies first day of 2nd grade picture..so here it is. She has done so well and we are so proud of her. In the 3 weeks that she has been back to school she has come home with nothing less then an A+. I think it’s going to be her best year yet! Doesn’t she look so cute in that uniform? She sprouted up so much over the summer and finally fits into a size 5!

And finally I got to scrap a picture of me and Al last week..This was an awesome blog freebie from Vinnie Pearce (paper and metal strip).

Ok, off to bed for me. Another collection is in the works, so don’t forget to check back!

Miriam

Yep, twice in one week blogging! Can you imagine?

This week I spent some time with my new Stampin Up! goodies and had a blast creating and so I really wanted to share with you all the goodies I got this week. Seriously, the new catalog is just yummy, yummy, yummy! So to celebrate the new catalog and all the yummy new items I am giving away a complete $150 SHOPPING SPREE. Yep, that’s right, I’m giving one customer a basket full of goodies that you get to choose! Ok, so the fine print goes like this (and I promise it’s that simple)…Place your order this week with me, any sized order at all and your invoice will be thrown into a hat where one winner will be chosen. Choose anything you like at all from the new winter catalog up to $150. Don’t have the catalog? No problem..simple…just click on the catalog below to view the full color catalog online. All you have to do is email me your order and I will place it immediately and get it over to you.

Not sure what to choose for your shopping spree? well, that’s not too hard but let me tell you about the “it” products this year.

 I’ll admit I’m not the card making queen like some but if you know me I LOVE making altered projects, so perhaps the queen of altered projects. I find all I need for all my projects right here with Stampin Up!; Paper, Inks, Paper Punches, ribbon, lots of embellishments and of course stamps! Even I cannot resist the variety of stamps. Below I used the Curly Punch Set to create this pretty tag as well as paper from the design lines to wrap the minature candies..and the scalloped punch for the border. The scallopped punch alone is worth it’s weight in gold!

My favorite purchase for myself was the Big Shot Die Cut Machine. This is my first die cut machine and I’m super excited because I have been debating and searching out the best choice for one of these. But as soon as I found out that Stampin Up! was offering this item I knew immediately it would be on my list of things to splurge. Why? Because I know the Stampin Up! quality and how they back their product and so this was a no brainer for me. Now this machine is made by Sizzix so it can be used with some of thir die cuts. (for specifics on what can and cannot be used with the Stampin Up! die cut machine and Sizzix die cuts please contact me).  And Stampin Up has come up with an amazing and exclusive line of die cuts that are to die for. That part of my order has not arrived yet but when it does and I start making goodies I will be sure to post. In the interim take a look at the machine (on sale for only $99) and the exclusive SU die cut products HERE.

A Little Info on the BIG SHOT…

The Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin’ Up! product line is a big deal! With the Big Shot you can cut over 50 different material types and duplicate creative and intricate designs quickly and easily. We’ve designed exclusive dies that coordinate with current Stampin’ Up! product lines–such as our stamps and punches–as well as Sizzix dies that coordinate with the Stampin’ Up! look and feel. Our product line will continue to expand, so check back to see what exciting new things are on the way. Stampin’ Up! has also developed some great raw materials for you to use with your Big Shot machine. Currently, we’re offering four colors of raw vinyl sheets and needed transfer sheets (Gray, White, Kraft, and Chocolate). You can also purchase raw chipboard sized specifically for the Big Shot.

Check out these adorable Pillow Boxes, Candy Bag Topper and Card..to die for! All made with the Big Shot.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE…

This week has been crazy because I have so much going on. This upcoming Friday I head out to Utah with the Little Dreamer Design team for a much needed retreat. I am beyond excited because I am in need of some R&R and really can’t wait to see Michelle again (we met at CHA last year) and also meet the other girls. Additionally I am headed to the Bo-Bunny offices to finally meet them in person and see what is in the works for paper this upcoming year! Oh and before I forget I wanted to let you know that I will be a guest designer next month (all of Septemeber) with the talented girls over at Inspiration Lane. I was pretty excited when I was asked by Jenn Howland and could not resist. So don’t forget to check it out!

With all that said I am going to get out of here and get creating. Don’t forget to check out the Stampin Up! Catalog (link above) and get your order in by this Friday, 9/26/08. I can’t wait to see who is going to win the big prize!

A long time of no posting it certainly has been! I’m not sure why I haven’t blogged, aside from being so busy but I’m hoping to get more time to come back to what I love about blogging; sharing my love for scrapbooking and crafts of all kinds and keeping in touch with all my supporters, friends and family.

I want to start off this morning by asking you all to take just a moment to remember the lives lost around our nation on 9/11. As I have said before it is a day I will NEVER forget, nor will the people around our nation remembering the lives lost on this day 7 years ago. Each year the anniversary  of 9/11 seems to hit me a bit harder then the last. Why? I have no idea. I think it may be because each year I am reminded of how lucky I really am… to have made it out of my building safely that morning, to be able to have gone home to my new born baby and family and to have the opportunity to live the rest of my life. But each year it becomes more real to me. Not that it was not very real the day it happened, but  even as I think back to the day watching the building fall in front of my eyes I could not fathom it. I did not believe it happened. I remember going home and being very numb from it all. And as I stayed home alone with my baby that night and my husband went off to work (he is a police officer) not once did it really hit me..the magnitude of it all…or the fact that my husband would be on call to assist in the events across the river. None of it seemed real that that many people could die or be hurt. But as time has flown by, which I might add still really seems like yesterday, it has become something very real…because it is/was. But I digress. Those were my experiences. But what is more important is that we remember all those that suffered and continue to suffer eternally for it. Forever those people will be in my heart as will the friends and co-workers that stayed with me that day.

Onto other things because even in my somber mood I want to catch up with you all! I have been super busy trying to catch up on tons of things but in the last few months I have been able to accomplish a few things..let’s take a look shall we? Here’s a couple of older and newer collections in my shoppe at Little Dreamer Designs

My latest collection, Love Katie. This one was just released into my shopee a few weeks ago. Based on my daughter, Katie, and her favorite colors and themes this collection is very near and dear to me!

This one was released earlier this past Spring, but still one of my favorites. My Canvas Art Inspirational Series is something very close and personal to me too. Really these were created as actual canvas art paintings but I really wanted to share my love for these and so they were recreated digitally. A few of my Creative Team Members have done some really cool projects with these. I’m going to have to come back here and link them but trust me you are gonna love these as much as i do.

Happy Day Digital Stamps.

So, rather then bombard you with all my newer stuff I’m going to leave it at just that. These few things are among my favorites and things I really wanted to share anyway.

In other news…well, life is good. For now. There were some things that happened over the summer that really set me back a little but nothing worth being negative about. Hopefully they are behind me! And in Kaitlyn’s world…well, things are good too. She just started 2nd grade and loving it (surprisingly!). In the next coming days I will be uploading some summer pictures from our Florida vacation and Katie’s first day of school…so keep an eye out!

Oh, and before I forget…please check back this week. I’m running short on time at the moment but I have some great Stampin’ Up news! YAY! I’ve got a bunch of specials to tell you all about and upcoming stuff that will knock your socks off! I promise you will love the new Catalog and Stampin’Up Stuff…but more a little later this week.

Have a GREAT day!

Man! Yesterday’s video failed, can you imagine? The day I get all the camera settings right and actually have lots of stuff to talk about and it fails! Grrrrrr…..Well, the issue was that I guess I had too much to talk about. So, basically I had talked about all the prizes for PINK WEEK. (Even though I linked ya there we still do not have the details up but they ARE coming soon I promise).

Anyway, today was a bit of a bore. I am still sick, and I had the video to prove it..lol. Not much going on except taking care of a house full of sick people needing love!

How about a few VERY random pictures? No one said they were good..

Here’s my picture of the day…just a little way of saying I’m really trying to get into the “skater girl” thing by wearing this at Katies request. But I do love this t-shirt. You cannot see it but it says dominKNITtrix. (webcam pic..yuck)

and…a little humor during my tantrum today from Stephanie (love this, seriously!)

And finally…a sneak peak of SKATER BOY (oye, I’m moving in slow mo for the last 2 weeks)

K, so this is short and sweet but it’s all good because I will be back with some video bloggin’ tomorrow (scratchy voice and all) and I won’t leave ya without a little something. Thanks to Stephanie, my very trusty ct (and sidekick) we will be offering monthly desktop calendars. Hope you like! Click below for your February gift (yes, a tiny bit late). Have a wonderful day…or night if you are on my side of the planet!

Click HERE for 1024×768

Click HERE for 1280×800

…and I’m off! (only 3 hrs to post this itty bitty post!)

Links to follow when I get back shortly! Sorry so late on this. Oh, and I guess I thought the sound was better - eh, maybe not! Sorry. It’s a work in progress…