When is the number 3 an unlucky number?

When you have Trish Jones, Doris Castle and Meredith Fenwick leaving Scrapbook-Graphics at the same time.

December 14 is Meredith's last day, so if you like her stuff, go grab it now before the stuff disappears for good.

Retirement Sale by Doris Castle...everything 50 percent off

I guess that by now you know that Doris Castle is leaving Scrapbook-Graphics...

So sad to see her go, but she is a fabulous designer and a good friend and I wish her success in all future endeavors.

Remember to use coupon SDRetire to get half off of her designs.

Close Out Sale by Trish Jones - 50 percent off

In case you haven't heard the news, Trish Jones is leaving Scrapbook-Graphics. She is currently having a 50 percent off sale off of everything. No coupon needed. She has some great kits and elements. Grab them here before they vanish.

I really like her designs and am sorry to see her go. Good luck, Trish!

Captivating

Your natural beauty is undeniable; but it is your captivating smile and gentle heart that charms me.

Supplies from Birgit Kerr

flower, swirls (recolored), stitching, leaves and brads from Sweet Summers End

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19825&cat=0&page=2

Snowflake Sash (recolored) and background ppr. from Winter Wonder.

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19842&cat=0&page=1

Crochet lace, felt heart and red ppr. and linen ppr. from Weichnacht page set.

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19843&cat=0&page=1

Beaded staple from Brighten My day page set.

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19837&cat=0&page=1

Tape from Fasten It

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19769&cat=0&page=6

Frames by Joanne Brisebois.

Sketch from Rachael Giallongo's The Merriest Collection.

http://www.polkadotpotato.com/shop/product.php?productid=1504&cat=0&page=1

Fonts: Passions Conflict and Times New Roman

Friday Goodies

I tried to post yesterday, but Blogger ate my entry. So here I go again.

Scrapbook-Graphics has 2 templates available.
Bookmark template
Tri-Fold Gift Card template

2 Peas has their December kit up.
Amy has a super cute template.
Andrea has a snowflake accent template on her blog, too.
Artistic Musings/KSharonK has a wonderfully bright xmas sampler....the new kit is fab!
Babs has part 4 of her zum Nikolaus kit ...
Brushes by Valgal. From her 25 days of xmas chall...a gift each day. Be sure to check them all!
Christine has some fabulous funky fiber flowers...while there, check out her new products. Christmas Drama Pprs. by Mindy
Christmas glitter by Krista.
DigiDiva has some great cardboard buttons.
Eva has a red glittery alpha on her blog. Perfect for those xmas pages!
Ronna Farrer has some fabulous tags at the Shutterfly Blog.
Shandy has a great template...go grab it. She is also having a sale.
Skittlesandscraps has some cute templates at her blog.
1762

Snow Series: Introducing Mrs. Shivers

TaDa! Introducing the fabulous Mrs. Shivers.

*It was Kaylie’s idea to use her scarf.

Frost Biten by Bren
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19434&cat=0&page=2
Chilly Willy by Bren
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19433&cat=0&page=2
Sticky Tabs by Bren
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19324&cat=0&page=3
Essential White Chipboard Alpha by Kathy Moore
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17583&cat=0&page=4
Magic and Miracles – The Window by Maya
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17140&cat=0&page=1
Font: Times New Roman

Snow Series: The Making of...

It was snowing outside and the kids were eager to get out and play. They piled up as much snow as they could and started building a snowman. Because Kaylie was in charge, she decided she wanted a snow girl. She used one white button and one green button for the eyes, a carrot for the nose and cranberries for its cheeks. She then wrapped her hot pink scarf around her snow girl and christened her Mrs. Shivers. Dec. 4, 2005

Font: TimesNewRoman
Curled edge by Marcie Reckinger.
Chilly Willy kit by Bren Boone
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19433&cat=0&page=1
Frost Biten Overlay by Bren Boone
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19434&cat=0&page=1
Essentials White Chipboard alpha by Kathy Moore
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17583&cat=0&page=1
Good times laundry label by Traci Reed
Backward staple by Jen Patricks
1762

Snow Days Series

I will be doing snowy layouts for a bit now...taking a breather from the xmas pages...but don't be surprised that I still have more xmas pages...I am redoing most of my old ones.

Kaylie loves snow. Once the snow starts coming down, she starts looking for her gear to go out to play. She is full of glee and her eyes twinkle with joy. If it makes my girl this happy, I say, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow. 2-11-2006

Chilly Willy by Bren Boone
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/search.php?mode=search&page=1
Frost Biten Overlay by Bren Boone
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19434&cat=0&page=2
All Tied Up Vol II by Traci Sims
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19272&cat=0&page=6
Sketch Coll 22 by Jen Caputo
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19744&cat=0&page=1
Font: Century Gothic

Extreme Makeover

Every Sunday, faithfully, my dh and kids watch America's Funniest Videos and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Kaylie listens to the family's story of misfortune and invariable ends up crying. Liam, on the other hand, loves to watch Ty Pennington screaming on the bullhorn running around like a wild man. But I digress, the purpose of the preceeding information is to make you realize that that is where the inspiration for this page came from.

Extreme makeover in the fact that Liam, who is only 5 years old and in Kindergarten, thought to dress up the turkey as Santa. We printed papers and embellishents from Bren's kit and started disguising the turkey. Cotton balls, foam and staples where also used. The same digital papers that were used to make the turkey, were used in my scrapbook page. How is that for coordination?

Fonts: Century Gothic, Mistral and Impact

Ribbon from ON Designs' Christmas Stuff’ No. 1http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19546&cat=0&page=1

Kit: Christmas Cheer by Bren Boone

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19523&cat=0&page=1

Sketch from Sketch Collection 22 by Jen Caputo.

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19744&cat=0&page=1

P.S. The minute that Liam heard the title of the page, he got a huge smile on his face and then he was grinning. He thought it was so cool..

1792

My Pride and Joy

Another old layout redone.

Journaling: "Christmas time is wonderful now that I have you. I love to see your faces of enthusiasm and wonder. Everything is extra special for you and you can’t wait to enjoy it. You know that it is a time to spend with family, be good to our neighbors and be the best we can be. I don’t know what I did to deserve such happiness. You are my pride and joy and am happiest when you are with me."

CREDITS: Traci Sims’ Fancy Glitter Borders; Janet Phillips’ Holiday Grabbag; Bren Boone’s Fun with Frames (round frame), Merry Memories; Faith True’s Safety Pin Alpha, Kim Jensen’s Date It Plastic Beads; Kristin Cronin Barrow’s Frosty Frolics (stars); FONT: Velvet

Count On Me to REMEMBER

Though my son Adam passed away 3 years before Kaylie was born, and 4 years before Liam, I have a need to teach them that we need to honor his memory. I'd like to think that he is in a much better place looking over all of us.

Bg. Ppr.: Fleece Blanket Pakhttp://cottagearts-net.stores.yahoo.net/flblpapakw.html

Flowery Swirls are from Count on Me Element Pk.

http://cottagearts-net.stores.yahoo.net/coonmeelpak.html

Power Borders 1 template by Julie Mead @ CottageArts.Nethttp://cottagearts-net.stores.yahoo.net/pobo1te.html

Font: Elegant

Template (modified) from CottageArts Simply Done 1

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled mytwo children on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree onthe school playground and figured out how to attach nine patches onto mydaughter's girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candyaisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like a car with fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight, and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of mychildren's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. And please don'tforget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the In-laws' house seem just like mine.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a styrofoam container. If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season.

Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pajamas at midnight. Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.

Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, Mom.
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep mychildren young enough to believe in you.