True Friends - Paper Craft Crew Sketch

This is my card for the Paper Craft Crew Sketch this week.  It was a fun sketch utilizing Word Bubbles.  I found this quote in MDS and cropped it to make it fit into the Word Bubbles below.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hoe you have time to check out the rest of the designers cards HERE.  They are really great!

Steelers MDS Monday Challenge

MDS Monday had a great challenge this week with their weekly sketch.  I just discovered yesterday that my sketch was featured on the MDS Monday blog for the pick of the week a couple of weeks ago.  This week the challenge is to create a page highlighting something you love.  Well, there are a lot of things that I could have picked from - family, life, travelling, etc.  But, I decided since it's now football season, to pick STEELERS FOOTBALL!!  I went through some of my older photographs to pick out a few favorites.  This was good timing since Sonny and I will be going to the Steeler - Panther game in a couple of weeks thanks to a very good friend who is giving me her tickets!!

I used several stamps and elements from MDS.  My favorite tool to use is the Search tool in the bottom right.  I can just put in any word and it finds all stamps, embellishments, punches, etc. that are associated with it.  I used mostly the Game Day stamp set for this layout.  I created my own Subway Style words for the top and the bottom instead of using DSP.  I like the way it turned out.

Embellishments
    _Designer Kits\Downtown Grunge - embellishments\Downtown Grunge - frame5
    _Designer Kits\Downtown Grunge - embellishments\Downtown Grunge - frame2

Stamps
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Decorative Overlays\Decorative Overlays - grid, Color = 0,0,0
    Game Day Football\Game Day Football    
    Sporting\Sporting - score,
    Game Day Football\Game Day Football - 10 yards,
    Designer Kits\Lemonade Stand\Lemonade Stand - i heart this
    Game Day Football\Game Day Football - ball,

Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = BASIC BLACK 19,27,29
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = BASIC BLACK 19,27,29
    Basics\Oval Punch, Fill Color = BAKED BROWN SUGAR 174,142,94

Keep This Memory

Shh .... I'm supposed to be cleaning!  But MDS was calling me and I wanted to put a page together of a happy time in our lives.  We were so proud when Ashley graduated from medical school and officially joined the Army.  And what made us even prouder was the fact that our son, Jeff, was there for the occasion and was the one who pinned her bars on.  The ceremony was held at The Alamo in San Antonio and was quite impressive.  Hopefully, Ashley will have time to see this today and it will cheer her up a bit.  She is in Cleveland for work and will be returning home on Thursday .... and flying here on Friday.  Yesterday she found out that one of her interns from the Transitional Program (she is the program director) hung himself.   She was really upset and feeling a little guilty that she was not there and the guy who is taking her place while she will be gone is having to deal with it on his first day.

Life is so short.  We need to keep the good memories and do away with the bad ones!  I am in hopes that Robin Williams' death will awaken people up to depression and they will get help in their lives when they suffer from that disease.

OK - enough depression - on to happy!!

I have done another MDS Monday Challenge.  The challenge on MDS Monday this week is to use Overlays.  I love using overlays and do it quite often on my scrapbook pages.  On the page above, I used the Texture Overlay in white over my background paper and set the opacity at 60%.  I used two overlays over the large square punch - a checked overlay from Tickets and Tags that I recolored to match the uniforms and the Hexagon Overlay from Keep In Touch in white. In keeping with the hexagon theme, I added a few hexagons (paper filled from Keep This Memory) and tucked them under the pictures.  The "memory" text is from Keep This Memory.  I even played around with the top picture where Ashley is being sworn in and blurred the guy next to her so she would stand out.

Background
   Designer Kits\Keep in Touch - designer series paper\Keep in Touch - 10

Embellishments
     embellishments\Keep This Memory - hexagon frame (re-colored)
    embellishments\Keep This Memory - hexagon frame (re-colored)
    embellishments\Keep This Memory - hexagon frame (re-colored)
    embellishments\Keep This Memory - hexagon frame (re-colored)

Stamps
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Be Awesome Today - texture overlay,
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Tickets & Tags - overlay,
    _Designer Kits\Days to Remember\Days to Remember - picture perfect memory,
    _Designer Kits\Keep This Memory\Keep This Memory - arrow,
    _Designer Kits\Keep This Memory\Keep This Memory - keep this memory

Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color
    Basics\Hexagon Punch,  Filled with: designer series paper\Keep in Touch - 4
    Basics\Hexagon Punch,  Filled with: designer series paper\Keep in Touch - 8
    Basics\Hexagon Punch,  Filled with: designer series paper\Keep in Touch - 2

MDS Monday Ireland Scrapbook Page

The challenge sketch this week from MDS Monday was one that used lots of photos!  That's the best thing for me.  I have a hard time weeding through my photographs after a trip to just pick out a select few.  I see other people's scrapbook pages where they have just used one or two pictures.  Not me!  I tend to want to share them all!!  So that is one of the reasons I liked the sketch this week.  I decided to use some of my pictures from our Ireland trip.  That was the most awesome trip.  And I got to relive a few of the moments while putting together this page!  Hope you like it!  The main focus of the challenge was to include a map on our page. I had downloaded this map after our trip so it was easy to use it for the background and circle some of the places we visited.  The focal picture is Sonny and I walking through St. Stephens Park early one morning.  What a gorgeous place!  I used several elements from Project Life for this page.

I Love Texas and MDS

One of the things I love about My Digital Studio is how versatile it is.  I like Chalkboard Art or Subway Art and I am always snapping pictures of great sayings on plaques when I am out shopping.  I don't know how many I have saved in my file just waiting for me to transport them into a digital file and make a print.  Here are a few that I will be working on one of these days!

Well Ashley saw a plaque at Target that she liked and instead of paying for it, she recreated it in MDS and is going to get it frames and hang it in her house.  

Oh Snap! MDS Monday Challenge

As you may know about me, I love My Digital Studio and enjoy doing challenges using the program.  I decided to incorporate a few of my Convention photos into a MDS challenge page for MDS Monday.  Hope you like it!  I used a couple of overlays to create the background and several different kits for embellishments and stamps.

(click on image to see it larger)

The first evening of Convention, Marianne and I were lucky enough to discover that the line to have a picture with Shelly Gardner was not too bad.  So, we stood in line and smiled pretty for the camera with Shelly!  The picture with the flower background was another story.  Every time we looked, the line was a mile long for a photographer to snap your picture with the flower background.  So we discovered a time when the photographer was not there so we took our own picture without standing in line!  Every convention that I have gone to I have taken the bus ride out to the Home Office.  This rock is at the entrance and is a perfect photo op!

This is the sketch challenge:

Paper Craft Crew Challenge

Wednesday was the date for the Paper Craft Crew Challenge.  I did my card a few days ago but forgot to post it yesterday!  Oh well, what's the saying?  A day late and a dollar short?

This was the sketch:

And here is my interpretation of the sketch:

I used the MDS Beautiful Today.  This is one of my most favorite kits for MDS.  I just love the soft colors and the watercolor washes that are in it.  Also the download features a video tutorial that teaches you how to align and space objects.  By following along the tutorial, you can create your own Daily Affirmations Journal.  For $14.95, this is great bargain!

We got some good news today.  Ashley called this morning to tell us she is on the list to be promoted to LT Colonel next summer!!  We are so proud of her.  Last year's promotion list did not include many girls on it at all.  She was not eligible last year so we had our fingers crossed this year for her.

Paper Craft Crew Challenge 95- using MDS

Here is my card for the Paper Craft Crew Challenge this week.

 This is the sketch we were to follow:

Make sure you stop by the blog and check out the other cards.  And why not create one following the sketch?

Imagination can take you Everywhere!

Time for Paper Craft Crew Challenge.  I have missed several of the challenges lately for one reason or another.  But I made sure I did my card early this week and got it posted.  I opened up My Digital Studio for my card as usual.  I really love this card I made this week!

I used DSP from Sweet Sorbet and the cork flowers and embellishment on the side are from Sale-a-bration.
This was a fun sketch with all the banners and the word bubble.  Why don't you give it a try and post your creation HERE

Ampersands are the Rage!

More bad weather moving in tonight!  Rain or snow is predicted for tonight and tomorrow but no accumulation.  The high tomorrow is only supposed to be 48 degrees!  Hopefully, this is the last hurrah for winter here.  I would like to get my capris and flip flops out of storage!

Things are getting better at the Maranich household.  Sonny is still not 100% but he is starting to rally.  I have "gunk" in my throat and sound kinda "froggy" but I am not achy like I was yesterday.  It's gotta be the honey and cinnamon!!

I played around yesterday with making a couple of cards with My Digital Studio.  Here is one of them using the popular Ampersands.  Isn't it funny that ampersands are in vogue now?

Here is my supply list for the card:
 Background
     Color = BAKED BROWN SUGAR

Embellishments
   (3)  Staple & Stitching\Chocolate - Simple Stitches line 3
 
Stamps
    OVERLAYS\Decorative Overlays\Decorative Overlays - woodgrain, Color = SOFT SUEDE
    OVERLAYS\Decorative Overlays\Decorative Overlays - woodgrain, Color = VERY VANILLA
    Designer Kits\Amped Up Ampersands\Amped Up Ampersands - ampersand,  VERY VANILLA
    Bring On the Cake\Bring on the Cake - happy birthday script,
    Bring On the Cake\Bring on the Cake - happy birthday script,
    Designer Kits\Amped Up Ampersands\Amped Up Ampersands - and many more,  EARLY ESPRESSO
 
Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Be Yourself - designer series paper\Be Yourself - paper 9
    Labels & Tags\Tag It - punches\Tag It - tag 1, Fill Color = SUMMER STARFRUIT
    Labels & Tags\Tag It - punches\Tag It - ticket, Fill Color = SOFT SKY
    Basics\Scallop Oval Punch, Fill Color = SOFT SKY

Where Does the Time Go? Paper Craft Crew Challenge #70!

Wednesday already and I haven't posted yet and Wednesday is going fast!  Where is the time going??  My December is going by and according to my date book, will be going by in a flash!  I think I only have about 4 days free until we go to San Antonio Dec. 18.  I had to make an unexpected dentist visit and was lucky to be able to schedule it in the late afternoon after my bridge party next week.

Today was our Newcomer's Christmas party and, WOW, was there a lot of food.  But not as much as in the past.  Usually everyone brings a dish and it is overwhelming with about 100+ people all bringing food!!  This year the alphabet was split in half.  The first half brought a dish to share and the second half brought a bag of canned goods for the Soup Kitchen.  I was in the second half but I took pity on one of my friends who doesn't cook and volunteered to make a dish for her.  Another gal was supposed to do it but she wasn't able to come today.   We loaded three cars up with food to take to the Soup Kitchen pantry!!  Along with the food we took, we also made baskets for the seniors in the community who are not as well off as some and we brought toys and/or clothing for the children who are in need.  These items were loaded on a Christian Missions truck for distribution at Christmas.

Toys for the children

Children toys

Some of the clothing for the children

Senior baskets

More Senior Baskets - think we counted 68!!

Starting to load the items onto the truck - a really foggy day!

Plenty of food for everyone and more being brought in!

OK - on to my Paper Craft Crew creation for this week.  I turned to MDS and Season of Style Pocket Card kit to create this festive card:

Modern Medley Overlay

If I had finished this card in time, I could have mailed it to my son.  Today is his birthday.  It is hard to believe my "baby" is 35 years old!!  Wow!  How time flies.  Seems like just yesterday he was making sandwiches for the guys in our neighborhood who were building new homes on our street.  He would make peanut butter sandwiches and take them to the construction workers and have lunch with them!  That was in the days that we didn't have to worry if our child went down the street to play.  I know there were predators but they just didn't seem to be every where like they are now.   I called him earlier to wish him a happy birthday.  He told me it was easy to remember how old he, my mom and myself are - Jeff & I are 30 years apart and add another 20 for my mom!  Makes it easy, huh???

My MDS birthday card for the Paper Craft Crew challenge this week is made using red and black.  I love that color combo!

I used a recent stamp that I purchased.  It is the Modern Medley Overlay.  I used the music notes - making one of the overlays black over the white card stock and the other one white over the black card stock.  For "smile" I did the first one in black; copied it and pasted it directly on top and changed the color to Red.  Then I just used my arrow keys to move the word over so it looked like it shadowed the black one.

Check out the great cards the rest of the crew made HERE.

Amped Up Ampersands

Don't forget to check all this week for the specials and samples Stampin' Up has in store for us for My Digital Studio.  These are the specials that will be on sale.  It's all happening at MyDigitalStudio.net.

11/1 Amped Up Ampersands Kit

11/2 Hello There Kit + FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set

11/3 All Time Fave Photobook Template

11/4 Modern Medley Overlays Kit

11/5 Be Brave Pocket Cards

11/6 Nobody's Business Photobook Template

11/7 Autumn Traditions Kit

11/8 Afternoon Daydream Kit

They are also offering 30% off  print services for the projects you create with MDS.  

Have you wanted to try MDS?  You can Try it FREE for 30 days!!

I purchased the Amped Up Ampersands Kit on Friday and here is a page I made of Alabama's concert on the first day of our cruise.

Ashley went to Seoul, Korea Saturday to teach a class this week.  Isn't that crazy?  By the time her body gets used to the time change, she'll be back home.  That life is definitely only for the young!  It is a 14 hour time difference!  She sent me a quick email this morning to let me know she arrived safe and sound.  She said she was going to bed - trying to convince her body it was bed time and not 6 a.m.!!

FREE Moments Ago

It's official-Digital Scrapbooking Day 2013 has arrived! And with a bang we might add.  One of Stampin' Up's talented concept artists, Jen Campbell, created the FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set and today she's sharing some project ideas. Plus, we have more guest bloggers to highlight our daily deal, the Hello There Kit- a fan favorite!



Here's a quick page I did on MDS using the FREE set above.



My grandson doing his best Dracula face!

Best of and MDS News

It's Digital Scrapbooking Day  TODAY - Saturday, November 2, 2013. But one day just isn't enough, so we're celebrating for eight days, November 1-8, 2013!

Here's what we have lined up:

• Guest bloggers: A talented group of demonstrators, customers, and designers from around the industry will share project inspiration on the blog.

• FREE download: Be sure to check in on Saturday, November 2 to get your freebie.

• Videos: We'll share some more ideas with training videos to help you get started.

• Daily deals: Every day, we'll feature a new download for 50% off!

• Challenges: Use the daily deal download to create a project for your chance to win free downloads. (Upload your samples to the gallery with the matching tag to enter.) 

Here's the list of the 50% off daily deal downloads:

• 11/1 Amped Up Ampersands Kit
• 11/2 Hello There Kit + FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set
• 11/3 All Time Fave Photobook Template
• 11/4 Modern Medley Overlays Kit
• 11/5 Be Brave Pocket Cards
• 11/6 Nobody's Business Photobook Template
• 11/7 Autumn Traditions Kit
• 11/8 Afternoon Daydream Kit

So, head on over to the MDS Blog and check it all out.

****************************************************************


And in other good news - the Best Of 25 Years stamp set was announced.  I just love these little hedge hogs!!




To order this set, go to my Online Store (see link at top) or contact me and I will put the order in for you.     Best of Snow 134387 - $14.95

Use the hostess code please when ordering - KYR7ZKH9

Envelope Tag Bookletenvel

 This is the project that I taught the gals to make at the Quarterly meeting in Shallotte.  The tag book is made using the Envelope Punch Board!  The front and back covers are just cardboard (from packages of DSP) that I covered with Designer Series Paper (retired).  I used this retired DSP because I love it!  I think it is probably my favorite that Stampin' Up has ever had and I still have 2-3 unopened packages!!  When it was in Clearance, I really stocked up.  I'm not sure if it is still in the Clearance section or not.

Front Cover using Expressions Thinlits and the stamp set from Truly Thankful.

I used Shipping Tags that I bought at a local office supply store to fit in the envelopes.  I just measured the shipping tag and found an envelope that was closest to it in size on the board.

I printed out a bunch of quotes from My Digital Studio to decorate the pages of the book

Add caption

Each tag had an inspirational quote that I printed out from MDS
 

I also made a second tag booklet from my SU Convention trip.  I put pictures of Marianne and I at convention in each little pocket.  It really turned out cute.

Weekly Deals!

Surprise!  Starting today, Stampin’ Up! has begun to feature a “Weekly Deal” in the Online Store.  Select items will be discounted for just a week while supplies last.  Even demonstrators won’t know which items are being discounted until Tuesday morning when we wake up, wipe our eyes and immediately log in to see what this week’s deal is.  The items this week appear to be 25% off, but I don’t know if that will be the case every week.

WEEKLY DEALS ARE HERE

 

Here’s the fun part – the items are listed at their regular price.  When you add them to your cart, they show up at the discounted price.  This is your chance to get some great deals!

ALSO - don't forget - today is DIGITAL DOWNLOAD day.  New downloads for MDS HERE.  My favorite this week is the 2014 12x12 calendar - some great DSP in there.

MDS News

I got my new computer installed tonight and boy, is it super fast!  Guess I didn't realize how slow my old one was.  Now I just have to get my files organized and tidy up my desktop.

 Lots of news for My Digital Studio.  Several months ago, with one of the periodical updates, SU did away with the tool bar that was at the top of the page when you were creating in MDS.  Many of us were really upset by this and complained and complained and (did I mention?) we complained!!  Well, you know that squeaky wheel?  It got greased this week.   SU updated the software with some fixes.  One of the enhancements was a new customizable toolbar. That's right! You can now select which options you want to appear at the top of your screen in MDS.  Just go to View>Customize Toolbar or right-click on the toolbar itself and add or remove options.   I am super excited about this!

Are you as addicted to Pinterest as I am and many others that I know?  I have found such great ideas there.  Well, Stampin' Up now has a new Pinterest page—dedicated to all things My Digital Studio!  They are filling it up with lots of inspiration.  So go on, start repinning to your heart's content. 
Follow them at Pinterest.com/mydigitalstudio

Stampin' Up has come up with shaped postcards for MDS.  Just update your software, and you'll have access to these new shape options—perfect for wedding invitations, birth announcements, holiday cards, or every day greetings.
After you update the software, you can open up a 5" x 7" or 7" x 5" postcard, then go to View > Bleed Areas and choose either of the new options: Artisan Shaped Postcard or Scallop Shaped Postcard. Once you are ready to order your shaped postcard, just go to Project > Order > Card. The bleed area that you selected while designing your card will be the default option in the ordering process. Want to check out the other shape? No problem, just use the drop down and change it.
Don't forget, our postcards are double-sided, so we'll print on the back for you too. You'll also notice a new bleed area in your menu so that you can design your card with the end result in mind. Then, when you're ready to order, just select the shape you want in the ordering options.

Cards start at $2.25 US/$2.75 CAN and regular bulk discounts apply. Click here (US/CAN) for more information.   So go on, shape up those postcards.

The new downloads this month are cool too! 


Very Merry Tags

Snowy Soiree Ensemble

Christmas Collectibles

Holly Jolly Greetings Ensemble

Tailgating Ensemble

Ornament Punch


 

Paper Pals Sketch

This week's Paper Pal Sketch was an easy one.  I used the digital kit, Follow Your Bliss.  I really like the color combo in this kit.  There are some great cards this week.  Make sure to check them out here.

I went out to lunch today with the Newcomers Out to Lunch Bunch.  We went to Jeffrey's in Mooresville and I had a delicious meal of shrimp and grits.  If you are not southern, you probably are saying "what??"  I was not familiar with the dish growing up but since I have moved back to NC, I have discovered it.  I think the first time I had shrimp and grits was visiting Ashley when she lived in DC.  We went to a soul food restaurant for her birthday and Ashley ordered them.  Since then, I have had them several times and they are always prepared a bit differently.  Today's had shrimp, Andouille sausage, and spices with yummy buttery grits.  It was delicious!  After lunch I headed over to the Department of Motor Vehicles to take my driver's test.  I passed and didn't have to wait too long.  The only "hiccup" was that since I hadn't planned on going to DEA today, I didn't have my checkbook and they don't take credit cards  - only cash or check.  There was a lady there getting her license renewed also who had been at lunch with me and she told me it would be $20.  Well, wouldn't you know it, I had $19!!  So she lent me a dollar.  When I finished the test (only had to do vision and signs), the man told me it would be $32!  Oops!  Guess I'm "young" enough that I get more than 5 years worth of renewal (it's $4 per year).   So I had to leave and go to the bank and get cash; then go back to pay and have my picture taken.  I should have my new license in a couple of weeks.  Yay! 

Paper Crew Sketch

Thought I'd share this cute cartoon -
My box man will be here on Friday!!


It's Wednesday and time for the Paper Players Sketch Challenge.  It's still a few months until Fall but I couldn't resist doing a fall card.  I think our weather is going to be fall like at the end of this week.   Friday, Saturday and Sunday are all supposed to be in the mid-70s and of course, rainy!!  This rain better be moving out of here soon.  Ashley is coming to visit Aug. 22 and she has requested no rain!!  We aim to please!  OK - on to my card.

I used the Wonderfall DSP and elements.  The banners are from the Convention 2013 kit.  How do you like the little owl in the top corner?  That's actually a square punch filled with Wonderfall DSP and cropped so just the owl is centered in the punch! 

What a day I had today.  I co-captained at the Soup Kitchen this morning.  We made baked spaghetti and prepared about 16 pans!  There was plenty left over that they will package up for the evening meals that they make for the local churches.  I was exhausted when I left.  But I wanted to get my drivers license renewed.  I went to the DMV office in Mooresville and it was packed out.  People were sitting outside on the grass and inside every chair was taken.  The line to check in was out to the door.  So I did a U turn and left!   I headed up to Statesville where I figured I'd have better luck.  Not so.  I signed in with no problem.  There were about 20-25 people in the waiting room.  But there was no one manning the desk.  I waited an hour and they only called one person to come back.  A lady came out once and told a young person that there was a 3 hour wait.  I figured that the 3 hour wait was for getting a new license - driving test and all.  There was one guy in there that said he'd been there since 11:30 - and it was 1:30.  So after sitting there for an hour with no sign of any one calling my name, I left. In that hour, no one ever came to the window to help us or just to say what kind of wait we could expect.  I guess that's why they let you get your license 3 months early - it will take 3 months to get it!!MD  What a waste of time!