Creative Charms Fall Blog Hop

I hope everyone had a great time hopping from one designer to the next. Now to qualify for the Grand Prize of both the November Kit of the Month and Deal of the Month all you have to do is leave a comment here. Let me know what you saw that was interesting or your favorite designer on the hop.

November Kit of the Month

November Kit of the Month

November Deal of the Month

November Deal of the Month

All winners will be announced on the Creative Charms blog on Tuesday, November 1st and on our Facebook page throughout the weekend.

Have a great day.

My Creative Mojo

Hi Everyone - I was told by a very good friend of mine that I needed to get my creative mojo going again. I have been negleting not only my blog but also my creative outlet. For the past few months I have been recovering from surgery and now I feel that it is time to get back on board.

Chris Hertel (chrispea) was the friend that told me to get my creative butt moving. Recently, she lost her battle with breast cancer and it was a huge shock. She was always a source of creative and personal inspiration. I watched her fight this disease with everything she had, but she was always there for anyone and everyone. She never let this disease get her down and she was always being creative in her job, with her family and with her scrapbooking. So, I am taking her advice and getting my creative mojo going.

I never did finish the class with Jessica Sprague Digi: In Deeper. Taking baby steps back into my creative realm I decided to work on another lesson. This was a lesson on Freestyle with lots of color and embellishments. This is my interpretation of the lesson:

I turned it into a layout about myself. So this is me just out of bed first thing in the morning. No make-up and no contacts. I really love how it turns a photo into a painting. This was a really intense lesson in Photoshop with a lot of layers, but well worth the trouble. I am definately going to be trying this technique again with my teenage boys.

Just a little FYI ... Big Picture Classes is having a FREE Big Idea Festival. There will be 12 days with 12 different instructors. The classes officially will kick off on August 15th. There is even a kit for purchase to go with the projects.

Now that I have gotten some of my mojo flowing, I am ready to start getting dirty. Maybe I will try a hybrid layout next. Remember...baby steps. Thanks Chris for getting me moving again. Love you and miss you.

Creative Charms Farewell Blog Hop Tour

Whew! You finally made it to the end. I really hope you enjoyed all the great projects and entered the giveaways that the designers where hosting. My secret word is: FUN

Did you collect 18 words? I really hope so because if you email me all 18 words in order to midori@creativecharms.com you will be entered to win the Farewell Blog Hop's GRAND PRIZE of both the Kit of the Month and the Deal of the Month for the month of May. This means you will be the very first person to receive them. Just be sure to be a follower of the Creative Charms' blog (http://www.creative-charms.blogspot.com/)

All prizes will be announced on Monday, May 2nd. So if you entered a giveaway at one of the designers blogs be sure to go back on Monday to see if you won.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. : )

Come On Spring

I cannot believe how fast February flew by. March is finally here and that means SPRING is on it's way! It has been a long and hard winter here in Western PA. Sometimes, it felt like it would never get warm or we would never see the sun. Well, the sun is out, but it is still very cold.

One of the special things about February is it is my son's birthday. This year Jacob turned 13 (I now officially have two teenage boys!) and we had a really great time. He wanted to go to Outback for dinner to get a Blooming Onion (yum). For his birthday he asked everyone for cash and gift certificates. He had a fun time collecting all the money and shopping on Amazon. He just bought a new Kinex for his XBox. I like it when a video games makes them move instead of just sitting around. The great thing is he can play with his friends on-line. So here is a new digi page of his birthday:

This layout was created in Jessica Sprague's latest Digi in Deeper class. I am a bit behind, but slowly but surely catching up. Going to work on my Mouse Paper Scissors class today.

To help celebrate that spring is on it's way, Creative Charms has two new specials this month. Both the Deal of the  Month and the Kit of the month are in great shades of green. These just make me feel happy and light.

March's Kit of the Month is only $14.99 and full of great butterflies, flowers and of course bling. This kit is also being given away on the Creative Charms' blog. Be sure to go and leave a comment on the post Happy March to be entered to win.

The Deal of the Month is $6.99 and is full of fun flowers in a variety of textures and of course more bling.

One last thing. I have found two blogs that are giving away some really great gifts. On TodaysMama they are giving away an iMac and on Ali Edwards blog she is giving away a Canon Rebel XS 10.1 MP Digital SLR! Both giveaways are sponsored by Just Ask. Just Ask is one of the testing companies for BRCA. This is a valuable test to make it possible for women to know if they are carrying a specific gene that causes breast and ovarian cancer. Right now if you like their page, they are giving away up to $25,000 to help women get the test.

I received this test last year because I have a very strong family history of ovarian cancer. I already lost two aunts to the disease and another that is fighting it right now. Luckily, I do not carry the gene but we are unsure if that was the cause of my aunts' cancer. They live in Japan where the test is currently very very expensive and not covered. Here with insurance it was over $500 and that does not include the genetic counseling that is required. So, I take all precautions to live a healthy life, get my annual check ups and do self exams. As my friend Chris says (who is a recent survivor of breast cancer) "Feel your boobies" :)

Well, Hello There...

Wow, wasn't that blog hop with K Andrew a ton of fun? I know I had a great time hopping across the country. I also got a lot of new followers (bonus). So, I thought I would start out with an introduction.

Hello, my name is Midori and I am a stay at home mom of two teen age boys. My oldest is 16 and my youngest just turned 13 (we tell him he is only 12.1 - not allowed to become a teen). I am married to my high school sweetheart for over 18 years. We still act like teenagers as we have date night every Friday night. I am a lucky girl (shhh I am not getting older). We also have a great border collie Rocky (named after the blue Power Ranger) who is now 8. We now reside just east of Pittsburgh. I say reside as we are transplants of the beautiful state of Washington via South Carolina.

My Family :)

Now, I know I said I am a stay at home mom and my boys are my first priority but I also teach scrapbooking classes at my local store (Art-Tech Supplies) and any retreats that find their way into the area. I am also the Education Coordinator and E-Commerce Coordinator for Creative Charms. It is a wonderful embellishment company and I am having a ton of fun working with the design teams and running the websites/blogs/facebook accounts.

Now for some scrappy stuff. I am just dying to get back to my scrap table, but have been unable to due to a few health issues that will be resolved soon. Thank goodness for laptops. I have been taking some great digi scrapping classes over at Jessica Sprague's site. Her classes are so great and I have learned a lot. Photoshop has come a long way since I learned how to use it for work waayyy back in 1996. It is a lot easier to use and therefore a lot more fun. Right now I am taking the final class Digi: in Deeper. Here is the latest project:

The goal of this assignment was to work in a "Grungy" style, break up a circle into different mats and also to fill a font using a brush. We also learned how to make our own brushes using a stripe generator. This class is just way too cool.

On Monday, we start a new class Mouse, Paper, Scissors and it is a hybrid class. Just got my goodie box and I am so excited to start sharing the projects with you all.

One more thing. Want to be a guaranteed winner? Go to Creative Charms' Facebook page and "Like" them. Then send a self addressed and stamped (44 cents) business envelope to Creative Charms (PO Box 186; Wexford, PA 15090) and they will send you something blingy back! This is to celebrate the 1,000+ "Like"s on Facebook. Everyone WINS how great is that. Just make sure your envelope is post marked before Saturday, February 19th.

Have a great week!

Congrats!

I am so overwhelmed by the response to the blog hop with KAndrew. Everyone was so positive and enthusiastic. Thank you for becoming a follower and hopping to my little blog.

Ok now to announce the winner of this portions hop:

Again thanks for hopping to my neck of the woods. I promise to keep on blogging and try to make it interesting.

Have a great day!

Cricky Across the 50 Blog Hop

A Big Cricut Hello & Chirp to each of you! Welcome to the Cricky Across the 50 Blog Hop hosted by K Andrew of Getting Cricky! (http://www.kandrewdesigns.blogspot.com/) If you are from Rebecca's blog Crafting with Becka in Oregon (http://www.creationswithbecka.blogspot.com/) then you are in the right spot. If you just arrived here and would like to start from the beginning please go to K Andrew's Getting Cricky! (http://www.kandrewdesigns.blogspot.com/). For this blog hop K Andrew is celebrating her big move across the country with a big road trip, and of course this hop across the 50 states! She has hasked us all to post a little bit about the state we are representing and then to post our Favorite Craft Project. I am representing the state of Pennsylvania.

Right now Western Pennsylvania is FREEZING cold! However, it is a very nice place. We have all four seasons and the summers are not too hot. Pittsburgh is home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins and the Pirates for all you sports fans. To the north is Erie and Punxsutawney (home of Groundhog Phil) and also a very large Amish population. To the east is the great city of Brotherly Love: Philadelphia. If you are a foodie or historian this is the place for you. The middle of the state is home to the Hershey factory and amusement park (free chocolate!!!).

This is a card that I made last year for my nephew's birth announcement. I made it on the simpler side as I had to make quite a few. Now, I hope this doesn't come as a shock, but I am not a regular Cricut user. I do have an Expression which I love to cut out large backgrounds and mats. But, I really love my Silhouette. This is where I cut out all the layers of the card. The fish and crab are multi layered and the "its a boy" was welded together using a font that I have on my computer. All the edges were chalked and then pieced together.

I also have been falling more and more in love with digital scrapbooking. Lately, I have been taking all of Jessica Sprague's digital scrapbooking classes. Currently, I am working on the last class: Digi in Deeper and this is the latest project that we created.

Now for the goodies! I have a packet of over $50 worth of Creative Charms goodies. It is full of the brand new Vintage Velvet Poppies, Vintage Brads, Vintage Jewels and of course some bling. Gotta have the bling. To win this prize all you have to do is leave a comment and become a follow of this blog. The winner will be announced on Valentine's Day.

Please make sure to leave comments on all of the blogs for a chance to win a ton of different Grand Prizes on Getting Cricky's blog, from these great companies: Scrap N Tote, Scrap N Easel, Cri-Kits, Creative Charms, Memory Miser, Scrappy Chic, Loralie Designs, My Pink Stamper, Peachy Keen Stamps, Cricut Town, the Scrappin' Table, Piktails, and Pink by Design. Please make sure to visit ALL the blogs, as EVERY single blog will have fabulous giveaways (cricut cartridges, paper packs, copic markers, yourstory bundle, clear stamp sets, and tons more). Each blogger was extremely generous with their own personal giveaways.

Next stop on the hop is Rhode Island to Karel Jennings of One by One the Flamingos are Stealing my Sanity (http://karelj.blogspot.com/).

Thanks for stopping by.

Review of the New

Hello - I have been looking and reading enviously all the great new things that everyone found at CHA. Some were some fabulous paper lines and other great new tools. Ohhh and do I love a new scrapbook tool. Here are some of my top five favorites so far (there really are too many to comment upon):

1. Lucky 8 Punch by We R Memory Keepers. There are six punches in all, but each punch will create your own diecut style papers. How cool is that?!?

2. Toy Box Collection by Crate Paper. I am always on the lookout for great boy lines. There are not that many out there that are good for not only little boys but also the older teen. This collection will work for all the male species.

3. Daily Junque by Pink Paislee. I oh so love anything that has to do with "office supplies" and adding the double bonus of vintage this is just my cup of tea.

4. Twig by My Little Yellow Bicycle. Love these green, blue and browns mixed together. The best thing about their collections are: the stuff! I love that they have tons and tons of embellishments, stickers, papers, and mini books that all work together.

5. Mini Kraft Alphas by Jillibean Soup. I love these mini letters that are set on a type background. There are four different colors to choose from and are loaded with tons of letters.

There are tons and tons of other great new products that are out there, but these are my personal favorites. This week I am starting Jessica Sprague's new digi class: Digi in Deeper. I am so excited to be learning advanced techniques and hope to share more soon. Here was our first assignment. The theme was Graphic and Grungy. I hope I kept with the simplicity of Graphic and the well grungy of Grungy.

Have a great week everyone. Don't forget to stop back by for the 50 States Blog Hop on Friday.

Wish I Were There

This week is CHA week. I wish I was there in sunny LA, but alas I am here in the Pittsburgh area reading the many posts that are out there reviewing the show. I am super excited by some of the products that are coming out and will hopefully have some updates as to what is going to be ordered for Art-Tech.

I have fallen off of the bandwagon...my Project 365 has fallen apart these last two weeks. I am determined to get back on and start taking pictures again. Next week I will have updates to my Project 365.

Still going strong with digital scrapbooking. Finished Jessica Sprague's Now We're Rockin and now on to Digi: In Deep. Trying to get through this in a week because Digi: In Deeper starts on February 7th. Here is the first project for Digi: In Deep.

I have joined my friend K. Andrew's blog hop across all 50 states. I have been chosen to blog for Pennsylvania! There will be give-a-ways for each blog...that is 50 give-a-ways. Also if you finish the hop then you will be entered for some really big prizes. The hop will be held February 11 - 13. I am so looking forward to it.

Have a great week.

I Love Digital!

I think I have fallen in love...again. First it was paper scrapbooking, then hybrid scrapbooking (alter photos and use traditional scrapbook supplies) now it is digital scrapbooking. Don't get me wrong, I still love to cut up paper, get down and dirty with inks and pain; but there is something about sitting with your family downstairs and completing a page. Best of all?!? No clean up. Plus...I love free stuff. There are tons of digital freebies out there. Everything from fonts, to Photoshop brushes and best of all paper and embellishments.

I am still rockin' with Jessica Sprague's Now We're Rockin' Photoshop class. I am trying to hurry up and get finished with this one and Digi in Deep so that I can be ready for the Digi in Deeper class that starts in February. This week's assignment for Rockin' is to do a layout about something that makes you happy. Around here it is music. Both my husband and oldest son play the guitar so there is always music playing. I got some really great shots the other day while my DH was playing.

I also have been a bit lazy when it comes to the Project 365. However, I am bound and determined to get caught up. Here are my latest photos. Day 7 ended the first week's theme 'Family and Friends'. Days 8 - 14 feature 'Things We Use'. Since I am so far behind for this week I am going to just wing the next few days. Next week and the up coming weeks I am going to be featuring each person. They are going to love that (hee hee).

Enraptured

Jamie + Guitar

Jake Baked a Cake

Nightly Tea



My "Work" Space


Now I am off to play catch up today. Have a great week.

I Did It!

I can't believe it I am back and a week hasn't even gone by yet. I am still going strong on the Project 365 (one photo a day). I thought I would go with a theme for each week (and yes, I am making them up as I go along) just to keep me interested and look at people and things differently. Last week's theme is family and friends. This weeks is things we use. I also have been playing with the settings on the camera and have learned a lot. Here are the first few days of the year:

Jacob and Alex off to a Penn State party.

Jacob with his new iTouch he got for Christmas.

Back to school...finally.

Home sick :(

Solutions to "I'm bored".

Watching the snow.

I am still working on the Jessica Sprague's Now We're Rocking Digital Scrapbooking Class. The first  Start to Finish assignment of this class was: Today. I like this class because not only is there a video led layout where you learn a ton of techniques, but also 'homework' where you do a layout on your own from start to finish using the techniques you learned. So here is my take on the theme "Today". It was really simplistic as far as the layout goes, but the idea is to journal on photos and use various brushes.

Well, that is it for this week.

Oh Boy

How have nine month's gone by? Now it is the first week of January and I am hoping, no I WILL post at least once a week. Currently, I have been busy doing digital scrapbooking. I have recently discovered Jessica Sprague's website and started with her basic digital class Up and Running. I took a Photoshop class waaaayyy back in 1996. I have been fiddling around with my current Photoshop Elements 8 lately and decided that too much has changed and thought I would take the class as a refresher. Oh boy, I have been missing out on another world. Now, I am currently taking Now We're Rocking and signed up to take the next two Digi in Deeper classes. I am obsessed. The best part is I can sit here on the sofa with the rest of the family in the evenings and still be able to scrapbook on my laptop. I used to feel guilty going up to my scrap room and everyone else is downstairs. I now have the best of both worlds. Here is the first page I made for the Up and Running class:

Up and Running Layout #1

I also have been doing the Project 365 and I WILL take at least one photo a day for a year. Last fall at Chastity's crop at St. Peter's School in Somerset I won Becky Higgins' Project Life kit. This kit is perfect for the Project 365. It has a place for each photo and journaling cards for each day. I have this sitting downstairs next to my camera so that I have no excuse not to keep up. I also am going to take an idea from Jessica Sprague's website and also digitally scrapbook each photo on a single layout. Look for this layout next week.

Classes at Art-Tech have been slowly, but surely, been going on this last quarter. I just submitted some new classes last week to Cecilia. Hopefully, the schedule will be available next week. Here is a taste of what you missed from the last quarter:

Everything Handmade

Gift of Giving

Some upcoming classes are going to be Calendar Creations (1/19), Quilling Basics (1/26), Sweet Decor (2/2), Seasonal Scrapping (2/16), Altered Dry Erase Board (3/2), and Photo Transfer Scrapbook (3/30).

Looking forward to everything coming up this year. Oh yes...I almost forgot! I was touched this week. I finally got myself an iTouch. Now off to the apps store.

Have a great week.