Happy interNational Scrapbooking DAY!!
Did you know that the Make Your Own Sale is in ADDITION to the shopwide sale of 30%?
So load your carts up with goodies that are already 30% off, and then use one of the coupons to get incredible deals.

Stuff to Scrap is celebrating their birthday this month.

As part of the celebrations, several of the designers have put together a blog train for you.  We have several cute clusters, quick pages, and paper stacks for you.  Each of them were made with the “Today is Your Day” mega kit.  I hear that registered forum members will get this kit on their birthdays

Here is my part:

You should have come from:

Build a Memory

And are headed to:

B2N2 Scraps

I decided to have my Grand Opening at Stuff to Scrap this weekend since it is interNational Scrapbooking Day.  I wanted to have a big sale, and that is what iNSD is all about.

From May 3rd -5th, everything in my shop will be 30% off.  But you can Make Your OWN Sale, and get even better deals.
Spend $10 get 35% off
use code: go35off

Spend $15 get 40% off
use code: go40off

Spend $10 get 50% off
use code: go50off

I know I have been so quiet lately….like missing in action quiet, but I really do have a good excuse.  After the Designer Darling contest, I decided to accept the invitation to join the Stuff to Scrap design team.  It has been a lot of work to move all of my items over to their store and try and jump in and get involved with Stuff to Scrap.  Part of getting involved in their monthly Build A Kit (BAK).  They provide the designers with a color palette and general theme each month, and we design pieces (paper packs, element packs, alphas, mini kits, etc).  The idea is that you can mix and match the pieces from the designers to make their own kit, hence the name Build a Kit.  I am really excited about my portion of the May Build a Kit.  This is probably one of the most manly themed kits I have done, and I am pleased with the results.  Also, if you buy 3 individual pieces, you can use the coupon code: MAYBAK_BUY3_SAVE50% and get 50% off you purchase of Build A Kit pieces.

Do you remember my one little work for this year?  You can see my post about it {here}.

So, how am I doing? 

1.  Less of me:  The Biggest Looser challenge over at Scrap Orchard ended last week.  I am very happy with how I did during this challenge.  I did the P90X program during the challenge (I am on my last week of it this week).  I really have enjoyed the program, probably because I have enjoyed the results.  I can see, and feel, much more muscle definition.  For the Biggest Looser challenge we had to have before, mid-way and final pictures, and then scrapbook them.  Well……this is a little out of my comfort zone, but here is my layout for you all to see.

Template: Scrapping With Liz December Challenge Template
Kits: Kristin Aagard “Enjoy Life”, Scrap Orchard “Story Teller”
scales from Every Day Mom Designs “Feel the Burn”

2. Less Spending:  I have been doing better, but still really need to work on getting out our cash AT THE FIRST of the month for our envelope systems.  We have set into place a set of money earning chores for the little ones (they have a chore chart that they have to complete each day before they can select a money earning chore to do).  As they earn, they are learning about giving, saving and spending.  Little Lady worked really hard and proudly bought herself a pair of roller skates a few weeks ago at the thrift store..  I will admit I was a pretty proud mama watching her pay her own money for something she wanted.

3.  Less Excess:  I have been trying to avoid purchasing anything that I might have something at home that would work just as well (maybe not as pretty, but still functional).  I have set goals to use up more and more of my craft/sewing stuff.  So far this year I have only made one fabric purchase, and it was made into my Easter dress.  I also did not allow myself to buy any new additional ribbon or felt for hair bows I made for a church function and for Easter.  I made what I have work.  I still have a hard time passing up pretty things, and have added a few more to my stash, but I think I have slowed down.

As far as food goes for this….not wanting to through out food…I have found that green smoothies help me with this.  I am willing to use an overripe fruit in a smoothie that I would not normally eat on its own.  Or for example, I have a large bag of celery that got frozen in the fridge.  Normally, I would chalk it up as ruined, but it actually works great in smoothies.   I think I need to also just start making less for dinner.  Hubby has started being on location a lot for his job, which means he cannot warm up a lunch anymore, which means the leftovers do not get eaten as fast.  It will be a challenge mentally to remember I do not need to make enough for several days of leftover lunches.

How is your one little word going this year?  I hope you are reaching your goals.

Voting is now up for the final round of Designer Darling.  Seven designers completed their entries for this round and there are some great (full size) kits to be had.  Of course, I would really appreciate a vote from you for the final round.  {Vote Here}

I also have an alpha set for that contains the alpha in all of the colors of the kit (the blue is part of the full kit).  I hope you enjoy it and I cannot wait to see your layouts with these kits.

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Who doesn’t love a gift certificate?  I know I do.  I am going to be giving one away to a luck scrapper.  So, how do you get a chance at this $15 GC?  Simple, just do some scrapping.   By now, if you have been following along with my Designer Darling journey, you have accumulated a few Piccolina Designs goodies.  Now I want to see what you are doing with them.  I want to see you layouts.  Like this one.

Post your layouts in Stuff to Scrap’s Designer Darling Layout gallery (long name, I know, but just click on the link to go right there). 

I have changes the rules a little, you can post your layout at Stuff to Scrap, or on FB or in another gallery, just leave me a comment with a link to your layout.  The more layouts you do, the better you chance of winning is.

At the end of March, I will take all the layouts posted in the gallery/links left in comments and draw a lucky $15 GC winner.  So, if you post several layouts, then you get several entries for the $15 GC.  Pretty simple.  I cannot wait to see your layouts.  Oh, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter as I will be sending out all the links for the previous kits once they are finished at Stuff to Scrap (and I may just have a newsletter exclusive freebie ).

****Maia you have been selected as the winner.  Your layouts on FB were adorable.  Please send me a message via FB so I can get you your Gift Certificate.  ****

I had planned on having this kit out to you all last night, but we had an un-forecasted  snow storm that knocked out our power around 7pm and it did not come back on until around 5 this morning.  Seems a pretty appropriate event considering the theme and reason for this kit. 

Swatch 1 was by far the winner of the voting.  There were so many great suggestions for the theme of the kit.  I had a hard time deciding, it seemed the overwhelming theme suggested was for tropical/warm weather kit.  It took awhile for me to narrow it down to a theme that seemed great with the palette and that I was inspired to work with.  I am so pleased with the way the kit came out.  It really does make me think of warm weather and vacationing at the beach. 

The image is linked to the Stuff to Scrap forum where you can grab the kit.  Please be sure to either leave some love here for me or go into the gallery and leave some love for me and the other designers this round.

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Thank you for all your kind comments and votes.  I am in Round 5 of Designer Darling.  This round is pretty much anything goes.  We get to pick our theme, our colors and use our CU stash.  The catch is that we have to make a full size kit this round.  I have come up with 3 color swatches (ok, I had a lot more, but narrowed it down to three ).  Now I need your help choosing my final swatch.  Also, if you have an idea of theme to go with the swatch, please leave me comment with it.  I would really appreciate it.  You can vote for the swatch over in the sidebar.

This week for Round 4 of Designer Darling, we had to created a kit using a blue color swatch provided and no CU items.  So, I spend a lot of time scanning, photographing, and extracting.  I also spend some time learning some new tricks in Illustrator and Photoshop.  By some time I mean a mere 4 hours learning how to create the egg in the kit.  But, I love the end results and I hope you do as well.  You can find the download links for Dyed at the Stuff to Scrap forum.  Image Linked until March 29th

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I also have a mega add-on available on my FaceBook page.  I started out just doing an alpha for you, but then decided you need some more papers and……well, take a look.

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