Stock Photos

have you seen this?
http://yotophoto.com

Miracles

Profound

A great quote I found on Christine Miller's site: http://swirlygirl.com

"Don't ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive and go do it.
Because what the world needs is people
who have come alive."
-Howard Thurman

Um... Ok

Does anybody see a problem with this GREAT DEAL?

2006 Calendar Kit - Horizontal Model: xxxxx-xxx Designed by: Xxxxxx Xxxx Price: $3.25 $1.63 Save: 50% off
If you have ever wanted to design your own calendars, this is the kit for you! Have you created a beautiful calendar background, but you don’t know where to find the numbered calendar grids? You’ve found them, right here!
And calendars are great for gift-giving!
These approximately 10"x 5" calendars are transparent overlays which allow you to use any background color or paper you choose behind your calendars. The font used is a simple, elegant text that leaves plenty of room on each day’s box for you to note important items on your calendars. You can also change the color of the font and the lines of the layout, if you wish.
This kit contains calendars for January 2006-December 2006 PLUS calendars for October, November and December 2005 as a free bonus.

All my years in retail management tell me the time for this sale was 6 months ago, at this point we shouldn't be seing this in the shop taking up valuable vitual shelf space.... time to cut and run on this one! BTW... this appeared to be just the calendar part... no top template to reuse for next year... sigh!

Things are getting worse...

Please send chocolate!



photo taken at VCOA West Coast National Meet 2006

Sweet Hubby

Over the weekend I spent some time snapping photos of DH... much to his demise.. I got some good photos and some really silly ones!
journaling reads:
While we were away for the weekend I decided to snap some photos of you. You tried to make it difficult for me, giving me every look you could think of; but, in the end, my perseverance paid off! I got some of the best photos I have even taken of you




credit:
template from Limes blog http://tinyurl.com/yl3hvv
paper and element packs from Jayme Gonzales'Green Tea Kit available at Addicted to Digital http://tinyurl.com/yklvhe http://tinyurl.com/yauws3
font: satisfaction

50% OFF NOW

STUDIO MAYA

Glam Gurl

Ok.. I don't have time to explain this right now.. just wanted to get it posted as I'm leaving on another getaway tommorrow and it's is 2 am. need to get my beauty sleep! I'll explain on Sunday or Monday... right now I will just say Doris Castle at scrapbookgraphics!

HUGE SALE!

WOW! in case you haven't heard... That's right gals...It's time to shop!!!!!! Everything in Maya's store is 50% off for 24 hours of Madness! Starting on Friday November 17th @ Noon EST to Saturday November 18th @ Noon EST in Studio MAYA www.scrapbookgraphics.com This is a rare deal so if you're a Maya fan... go fill your cart! I'm going right now so come Friday all I have to do is check out!

I Love Parades!

Ah, DH and I went to the local Veterans Day Parade. I just love a parade. Seems like in this town they always happen when it's wet out. We just got a little drizzle. I came armed with camera and took over 600 photos! LOL I told you I go crazy... I have a hare shutter finger! (is that the right kind of hare or is it hair?) A couple of years ago I had ordered some flags to decorate the flower beds from mid June to Mid July and when they arrived they were much larger than I had anticipated, so I never used them. As we were getting ready to go I asked DH to grab them because I wanted to put them in lawns of some veterans we know. I thought we could do it after the parade. That plan went by the wayside, as I was taking photos DH gave them to some of the little ones around. I was fine with that, they were so cute standing there on the curb waving their flags.

One little gal, about 6, was dressed in full camo and had her boots on! She was just adorable. One float came by and a little girl yelled from the float "Happy Veterans Day Grandma!" How sweet is that! After the parade, I spotted the the Lao-Hmong group near by and I went to get additional photos because they were so wonderfully colorful!

The President of the group game me his card and asked if I would send him copies because his camera was at the other end of the route.. NO problem. Then DH and became engaged in conversation with this couple from the Veterans of foreign wars.

They were very sweet. He was a WWII vet. They invited us to an additional celebration and dinner at the Moose Club. We graciously (I hope) declined. Then I spotted this Vietnam Vet walking my direction down the block. He was wearing his full outfit backpack and all.. albeit the backpack looked a bit light. He looked very surreal walking up there alone in the dampness.

I had to take that. He stopped to talk with someone and I caught up with him, got some closer photos. Turns out the guy he was talking to was from the local radio station, so I got some photos of the interview. Then we happened along a Coastguard reserve gentleman and his dog. I couldn't resist and then when his wife came out of a nearby shop in her uniform, well, th e shutter kept on clicking. Turns out he was in the Navy during WWII. He met his wife in the 8th grade when they both lived in Folsom. He joined the Navy right out of high school and said he was so surprised when he reported to San Diego to find 5 other of his classmates there. He said it was just like going back to high school. Well he and his sweetie never got together... for several decades... ten years ago when they got married they joined the coast guard reserve....

seem kind old but what do I know? We met many interesting and friendly people... and they all want copies of the photos... did I mention my cd player/burner is kaput? wonder how I will pull this off.. anyway, I leave you with a few photos

I posted about 20% of the photos here http://tinyurl.com/ybuudr incase you would like to see more!

Two Small Items

the first is a quote:

"It is a denial of the divinity within us to doubt our potential and our possibilities."—James E. Faust (Ensign, May 1986, p. 21.)

is that profound or what? The second is a photo. I'm behind.. this is one I took when in Monterey. When was that... August? I should just put all my photos up on photobucket or something LOL ok ok I can't post just one! (don't shoot me!)

OK OK enough is enough.. you SHOULD see the things I take pictures of!

Healdsbug

OMGosh.. I forgot to post pictures from my last trip. Here are a couple. I'll post more... another day when I have time to tell you about the silly thing I did!

Whew! Scrap Artist fun!

Working my fat touche (tushy) off trying to finish the album I promised my cousin for her daughter's first year. This one I really want to share; not because it is exceptional (it's not) but because I got to use a Scrap Artist apprentice challenge round 4 product. For those who have been with the bears for the past month or so and those who don't run in digiscrap circles... Scrap Artist wanted to add some new designers to their shop and to make it interesting and draw traffic to the site they held an apprentice contest. (kind of like the Donald only the gals there all have far superior hair styles and the hair on their heads is actually rooted in!) Anyway, there was 4 rounds. In the first three rounds the contestants were given guidelines on something to create. At the end a number of contestants moved on to the next round... and the others... well I know of one who got a position at another shop.... each rounds entries were made available for free download to SA members. Round four, the final round, the last 9 contestants were to create an entire kit. The kits are being offered at the site for $2.00 EACH! WOW! what a steal! Each sale is tallied as a vote. The winner(s) are offered a shop at scrap artist. Turns out I know some of the final contestants... one of which I work with on JoDe Lawrence's (Digitalbits) Creative Team for Altered Scrapping and Scrapbook-Bytes. It's Lisa Dozier! Lisa created this wonderfully bright sanded looking kit that would be great for either traditional style, free style or altered scrapping . Take a peek Now to top it off, Lisa is offering a free add-on kit at her blog as well as a posting bonus! FABULOUS stuff! Go check it out!

Winners and Loosers

I sure wish I could remember this when I need to!

The act of taking the first step is what separates the winners from the losers. - Brian Tracy

Junk Mail aka SPAM

you know all that junk mail that your friends and family send on to you because somebody sent it to them and they didn't want an evil curse to come to their house so they sent it to their 5 or 10 closest friends within 2 minutes? Well, there was a time when I actually read that stuff and sometimes I saved it! Rather than clog your email boxes with it, I thought I would just post some here occasionally to amuse everyone! With that said... here is one I found in my box... it's uh... from 2002... LOL but it still made me smile!

IT'S GOOD TO BE THE WOMAN.

We got off the Titanic first.

We can scare male bosses with mysterious
gynecological disorder excuses.

Taxis stop for us.

We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.

No fashion faux pas we make could ever
rival The Speedo.

We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.

If we forget to shave, no one has to know.

We can congratulate our teammate without
ever touching her rear.

We never have to reach down every so often
to make sure our privates are still there.

We have the ability to dress ourselves.

We can talk to people of the opposite sex
without having to picture them naked.

If we marry someone 20 years younger,
we're aware that we look like an idiot.

There are times when chocolate really can
solve all your problems.

We'll never regret piercing our ears.

We can fully assess a person just by
looking at their shoes.

hmmm, almost sounds like a scrap challenge eh? LOL
We can make comments about how silly men
are in their presence, because they aren't

listening anyway.

Studio Doris Coupon!

Do you love Doris Castle's work as much as I do? Well if you do... here is a coupon for 25% off items from Studio Doris at Scrapbook Graphics



Just in time to buy supplies for all of your holiday gift creations!

Woo Hoo!

Have y'all seen the November Issue if the DigiShop Talk Insider? Did ya notice one of my layouts was mentioned in the Trends Watcher section? I was blown away to see my name in the magazine! Thanks Terra and Kristin!
here's an excerpt:

Just a quick cruise through the DST Gallery with an eye for "fastenating" embellishments will yield enough creative inspiration to keep you scrapping all month long – till we highlight the NEXT hot trend!

Here are a few that caught our eye to get you started!

Happy Fastening!

1. 
   The ball chain in Nikki’s "Me & My Boys"
2. 
   mokk-mokk’s page using thread through eyelets in "Diggin’ in the Dirt"
3. 
   justjulz’s use of unique tie downs in "Nilo"
4. 
   opeysmama’s use of photo turns, staples, and button border in "Decorating Pumpkins"

woo hoo! check 'em all out!

For those who have asked

Pretty One

Just when I thought I had finished up with a project I started for my cousin... she sent me about 6 more photos.... gah! SO here's my cousin's daughter on her first birthday all covered with chocolate frosting!

creative credit:

House of Lime http://tinyurl.com/y6hpmp

papers and elements from Doris Castle's Walk in the Garden at Scrapbook Graphics http://tinyurl.com/t5ctl I also used stamped alpha by Doris and crystal wedding alpha from cottage arts (re colored) http://tinyurl.com/y723d6

fonts: Jayne print and Petra Script

I really wanted to get a shot of the cake in here.. but for some reason was unable to make it work... that "block" thing ya' know.. I envisioned arrows and what not with this photo... ended up with no arrows and not even using this photo... lol.. what's that they say about mice and men? Look how cute the cake was. Any volunteers to correct the photo?

Big News!

JoDe has her site and her blog back up... and for those of you who REALLY liked that scroll cut pumpkin in my "pumpkin boy" layout!... you can get it FREE as part of the halloween gift she has on her blog... shhh.. don't tell her I sent you, but make sure you leave her a thank you note! Here's a preview of the gift... SO COOL!

Focus

well, I was really happy with this when I finished it.. then while posting it to the last gallery I noticed the photo slipped down and needs to be nudges up.. then when looking at it in the galleries, I'm not so sure I like it.... I took this photo over the weekend while we were in Healdsburg and I was feeling "pretty". Anyway, here it is:
I used "BohoBlues" by Brenda Kempf available at SBB.

Worry...

Worry is a thin stream of fear
trickling through the mind.
If encouraged, it cuts a channel
into which all other thoughts are drained.
- Arthur SomersRoche

Pumpkin

Just a couple photos I took last week end when we took Rye to the Pumkin Farm!

Credit:

"Serious" -

Paper and Elements From Spiced Cider by Doris Castle at Scrapbook Graphics

"Pumpkin Boy"-

Paper and Elements From Autumn Cascade by JoDe Lawrence at Altered Scrapping

Excitement!

I was so excited when I went to the Dr. this morning for a nurses visit.. weight and BP just to make sure I'm still on track... I was certain with all the wonderful food I ate while in Cancun and my lack of motivation that I must have gain at least one pound... when the number quit rolling on the scale I was ecstatic! I called DH and DD right away to give them the good news... 50 pounds! unfortunately now I have to give them the bad new... I over estimated my starting weight by 8 pounds... But the news is still good! 44 pounds in 5 months! Darn though if it could have only been 6 pounds more I could be ordering an ipod right now... that was my goal 50 lbs = ipod.. LOL
When I loose it all.. laptop baby! woo hoo! I can't believe it! I eat more than I did before I started all this and I'm loosing weight... gals at church yesterday even asked me if I was loosing weight... I can't tell you how much that means to me... I owe my DD and DH a world of thanks for getting me started... thanks also to the staff at St Helena hospitals Center for Health ... they made it all make sense and gave me the tools I need to get the job done! Special thanks to Tonya, Roya for their inspiration! You gals are the best!
Creative Credit:
Doris Castle - Enchantment and Sweet Decadence from SBG
Fonts: PCThanks Elegance and Porcelain

Unfinished

Well considering my current creative funk.. I thought I would post some of my unfinished business! The last time I went through and finished up old works in progress was March... here are just a few I have accumulated since... anybody care to finish them for me.. or even start over?

Courage

The thing is, I don't always have it....
which I guess explains my creative luls...

Creativity takes courage. ---
Henri Matisse (1869-1954),
French post-Impressionist artist

Stuck x 2

Oops I forgot... after working almost two weeks on it, I finally finished a layout from vacation... It doesn't excite me though! Seems BORING! doh! I do love the fabulous colors of "Fall Crush" by Dani Mogstad and of course I used brushes created by my friend Janita at Seishido

Stuck

Huge creative block... been working on this for almost four days straight and I'm not quite sure what it's suppose to be. I used one of the photos I took in Tahoe last weekend. Backdrop by Christina Roberts http://www.tapestryofdreams.net/ brushes by Janita http://seishido.biz and Evelyn http://www.fractured-sanity.org/

Always Keeping in Mind

A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and in all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life, knowing that in this world no one is all-knowing and therefore all of us need both love and charity. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Disaster

... the only word I can think of to describe my weekend! Some of you know that I went to Lake Tahoe this weekend to take photos for the Volvo Club of America's 2006 West Coast meet AND I was suppose to represent JoDe of Altered Scrapping at the RAKScraps gallery mixer on Friday... Let me just say... if it could go wrong... it did! I borrowed a laptop from DD.... (really need to get my own) I couldn't keep the wifi connection for the crop ans was AWAL for most of it... Thank goodness I had already given the goodies to Rachel to give away at the crop... For 12 hours I couldn't locate the power cord for the laptop.... I brought the wrong software CD... the laptop couldn't handle the load of the sofware I did bring and kept crashing.... I was so late with my presentation that the "dinner" slide show wasn't shown.... Everybody was very GRACIOUS and told me I did a fabulous job... GAH! DOH!... nice of them to say so... anyway.. here's one of the photos I took... at least MOST of them seemed ok... well considering... (that's another story)

Short Course in Human Relations....

The six most important words: "I admit I made a mistake"
The five most important words: "You did a good job"
The four most important words: "What is your opinion"
The three most important words: "If you please"
The two most important words: "Thank you"
The one most important word: "We"
The least most important word: "I"
-Ernest Roy's Short Course in Human Relations

Stormy

Before we left for Cancun I made sure to check the weather forecast. Sad to say it was suppose to be 93 degrees and rain everyday! Fortunately (or not) the weather forecast was wrong. We had beautiful HOT weather most of the time. The day before we left, we caught some showers while out by the pool. It was warm and nobody seemed to care... besides it was happy hour! Believe it or not even a virgin strawberry daiquiri tastes yummy while being sipped in the rain in a swim suit! Here are a few more sunrise photos. These were take the day we left... looks like that storm finally decided to come ashore!

On The Run

no time to dily-daly... got home from Cancun late Saturday and just wanted to share the view from our Villa...

Sunrise