Gettin' By

Give-It-Away Thursday: Lend a Helping Paw!

Growing up with a veterinarian dad, our home was always occupied with animals, many of them with special health issues or various baggage from their previous living situations. I never questioned the logistics of taking in animals who needed care - it was just something we did. And I'm a better person today because of their presence in my life.

So that is why I am so passionate about supporting people who are tirelessly working to help animals in need.  Like Bernie Berlin at A Place to Bark. Bernie, an artist, founded this no-kill shelter in 2001 and works to rescue animals at high kill shelters, providing them a temporary home at her foster facility where they receive full vet care, rehab & training until they are able to be adopted. They are funded solely on private donations and the sale of Bernie's artwork, and they are in need of our support now.

Based on the responses I received from you readers after posting about my dog Lucy, I know a lot of you are animal lovers too.  Which is why I'm enlisting your help in raising funds for A Place to Bark.  They are in desperate need of funds to keep their shelter open. Over the next month, they have been offered a matching grant for every dollar they raise.  To encourage my readers to make a donation, I'm offering the chance to win a huge assortment of scrapping supplies if you make a donation to A Place to Bark this week:

There are more than 50 sheets of paper from Jenni Bowlin, Making Memories, Crate Paper, American Crafts, as well as cardstock, alphabets, die cuts, stamps, labels, rub-ons, embellishments, mists, and mini albums.  (And I keep adding in stuff after I took these pictures, so you'll get LOTS of goodies, I promise!)

To be entered to win this assortment, just go make a donation to A Place to Bark.  Any amount, big or small - whatever you can spare. Then come back here and let me know you donated (and please feel free to spread the word on your own blog, Facebook, or Twitter!) 

In return, for every comment I receive, I will donate an additional $1 to A Place to Bark (up to $250).  The giveaway will remain open until Thursday, July 7, at 7:30 am MST at which time I will close the comments and randomly draw a winner of the whole lot..

And if you are lucky enough to have a special pet in your life, go give them a hug and a belly rub!  Have a wonderful Thursday my friends!

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UPDATED WITH WINNER: Thanks to everyone who donated to A Place to Bark!  And remember, the donations made during the month of July will be matched dollar for dollar by a corporate grant, so please continue to spread the word.

The randomly selected winner of the scrapbook supplies is Dee:

         

Dee, shoot me an email me at lisa (AT) bsdgraphics (DOT) com with your mailing address and I will get your package to you.

 

 

Sharing a few scrappies. And a really bad rhyme.

Well hello internets! How are you this Tuesday? Here at the Dickinson household we are in full-tilt summer mode - sidewalk chalk-ing, arts & crafts-ing, picnicking, park exploring, play dating and of course, keeping cool at the pool-ing.  (Of course, all this requires that mama do a little deadline ignoring -- and possibly some freak-out melt-downing when she realizes that July 1 is a mere three days away.....whew, deeeep breath!)

OK, that's better.  So today I wanted to share my final gallery at Elle's Studio. These pages will solidify my reputation for being a fan of both stars and circles. The last batch of pages I've done all include some form of these shapes. In fact, my new motto for scrapping just might become "Want to make your page more fun? Add a circle & star and you're done!"

Note to self: do not attempt rhyming poetry before first cup of coffee has been consumed.

Ok, onto the pages!

School Portraits | supplies:  patterned paper (Basic Grey, Making Memories, Girls Paperie, Sassafras Lass, Cosmo Cricket, Studio Calico) + Elle's Studio Tags (This Moment, Vintage Calendar, Fun Striped, Handmade Layers) + Basic Grey rub-ons + Sassafras alpha + Fiskars border punch + Creative Memories circle cutter + pens (American Crafts, Sharpie) + ribbon, buttons

I am always challenged by scrapping school pictures, so these have been laying in my to-scrap pile for quite awhile now.  I can't get over how small the kiddos look - lots of baby fat rolls and chubby cheeks! (sigh!)

Since the background colors are so neutral, I wanted to add pops of color with the border. I used lots of various sized circles, layering paper, rub-ons, tags, and buttons with foam adhesive for dimension:

All the supplies (except the Elle's Studio tags) are from the Studio Calico kit, Continental.

Rock Stars | supplies: patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket, Crate - Dresses, Crate - Fabrics, American Crafts, Pink Paislee, Webster's Pages) + stickers (American Crafts, Pink Paislee) + Elle's Studio tags (This Moment, Handmade Layers Pennants) + American Crafts pen + buttons

These photos of Riely and her cousins crack.me.up.  These two girlies are serious about their rock star status.  And I guess I shouldn't talk too much smack, since they both can kick my butt in Just Dance 2.

This page uses the Singin' In the Rain kit from Studio Calico, to which I added the Elle's tags.  I used some of my bare chipboard stars as templates to trace the star shapes onto patterned paper and then cut them out. You can never have too many stars, right?  (The correct answer is NO.)

And that's all I've got for today!  Stay cool my friends!

 

 

Friday Re-wind.

There's a beautiful Friday brewing outside so today I'm playing hooky from my normal Five on Friday blog duties and heading out to enjoy the day.  To keep you entertained, I'm re-airing a post that originally appeared here on February 2, 2008. Hoping your Friday is filled with funny!

Book Titles Recently Added to My Amazon Wish List 

Toilet Humor: Why Your Kids Find the Words Poop & Pee
to Be Uproariously Funny

Punchlines for Kids: How Just Saying Poop! or Pee!
Makes Everything Hilarious

The Royal Flush: Knock-Knock Jokes That Incorporate Bodily Functions

But Really, Don't Your Kids Know Any Other Jokes?

Diarrhea: The Funnier Version of Poop

If You Thought Diarrhea Was Funny, Wait 'Til You Hear About Farts

Grandpa Calls Them Barking Spiders: Fart Jokes That Bridge the
Generation Gap

 

Give-It-Away Thursday: Jenni Bowlin mini kit

Yesterday the Fed Ex truck visited my house, bringing with it the new Jenni Bowlin Mercantile kit for July. That in itself is reason enough to celebrate, but when I opened it up I was so, so excited to find a new kit-exclusive stamp inside.  The soda water label paper from JBS is one of my faves, so I'm crushing hard on this stamp of the same motif. I immediately had to test it out in a few colors:

It's definitely going to be making an appearance on my kit pages this month - a project I hope to dive into this afternoon!

And since a new kit is in the house, it's time to pack up the old one and find it a new home. Today's giveaway contains goodies from the June Mercantile kit, including a sheet of Crate border stickers, a Fancy Pants alpha (only 4 letters are missing!), JBS labels, some 6x6 and mini papers, several vintage buttons, a cameo, and a few other ephemera I threw in there for good measure:

If you want to give these supplies a new home, just post a comment below. I'll leave comments open until Friday morning, June 24 at 7:30 am (MST) and will randomly draw a winner and post their name shortly thereafter.  (Internationals are welcome to enter, but you'll have to pay postage.)

Have a fabulous Thursday!

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UPDATED WITH WINNER: Thanks to everyone for visiting! Today's randomly selected winner is Cheryl S:

        

Cheryl, shoot me an email me at lisa (AT) bsdgraphics (DOT) com with your address and I will mail your goodies to you. And don't forget  to stop by next Thursday for another giveaway!

Lost In Translation.

If you had been a fly on our front porch last night, here's a bit of conversation you might have overheard.  It makes me laugh and I hope it will make you smile, too.

Riely:  Mama, do you know what heinie means?

Me: Um, I'm pretty sure it means bottom. Or booty. Or butt.  You know, your REAR.

Riely: Heinie is how you say butt in Spanish!

Me: Really?!?  It sounds more like German to me.

Riely: No. It's Spanish. My friend Sassa told me so and her mom is from England so she knows.

Me: Well you can't argue with that logic.

Hayden: But do you know how to say butt in French?

Me:  I know one phrase in French. And I'll teach it to you when you are 30.

Hayden:  I'm pretty sure tushy is the French word for butt.

Me:  We'll have to Google that to confirm.

Hayden: I also think Grandpa knows how to speak French.

Me:  Ha!  Why do you say that?

Hayden:  Because he calls farts fluffies.  And that sounds French.

Me:  Yeah. Especially if you say it like you just smelled something bad.

Hayden:  Well that's pretty easy to do when you're around Grandpa.

 

And yes, my children are allowed to say butt.  But only if they say excuse me when a fluffy emanates from it.  I pick my battles.

Enjoy your Wednesday, my friends!

Hello Summer.

 

Hello wildflowers blooming in the yard.

Hello fresh, delicious fruits of summer.

Hello flip flops (and the realization that H's feet are officially larger than mine!)

Hello barbeques on the back patio.

Hello weekend DIY projects.

Hello afternoon naptime.

Hello longer, warmer days spent with the ones I love.

 

Hello, summer.  I'm glad you're here.

Five on Friday.

Today's list includes five things your beach/pool/however-you-cool-off-in-the-summer bag needs to have in it - including the bag itself.  Enjoy!

1. Extra Large Beach Bag from LucyJane Studio. ($47.50)  This etsy store has some great oversized totes for hauling all your beach gear in style.  I love this floral pattern, but they also offer several other bold, contemporary patterns.  This bag is big enough to hold all the essentials, which for me includes beach towels, water guns, sunglasses, and a cold bottle of sauvignon blanc.

 
2. LaraBar in Coconut Cream Pie. ($1.29)  Since Jillian recommends the 200-calorie, all-natural LaraBar as a snack, it's a given that my pantry (and purse and beach bag) is stocked with these delicious concoctions. How can you go wrong with flavors like Key Lime Pie, Cinnamon Roll, and Blueberry Muffin? My current fave is Coconut Cream Pie. Maybe because it pairs so seamlessly with a pina colada? (Which, is NOT recommended by Jillian, by the way, but you totally have my permission to ignore that fact.)

3.  Message Beach Towels from Target. ($9.99) If lounge chairs are hot commodities at your neighborhood pool like they are at mine, invest in one of these snarky towels to protect your hard-earned real estate. These are oversized at 63" x 34" and a made of a plush 100% cotton terry. Which is great for absorbing water--if you happen to get wet, in the pool and all, which I do not--or (more likely for me) sopping up any spilled boat drinks.

 

4.  Smith Optics Serpico Slim in Mint ($119.00).  The Aviator sunglass craze is all the rage, but these shades differentiate themselves with a reduced size and shape (for smaller faces) and their beyond fabulous mint green frame. They are perfectly tropical and (you guessed it!) a perfect accessory to wear when sipping a daiquiri or mint julep poolside.

 

 5.  Alba Botanica Kona Coffee After-Sun Lotion ($11.95). After your time in the sun you'll want plenty of this yummy lotion to soothe and calm your skin. It contains  Kona coffee, a powerful antioxidant used to neutralize free radical damage, along with caffeine, which just might help perk you up after all that drinking.  Who, me??

 

And that's it for this week!  Hope your weekend contains lots of sun and fun, and the responsibly-consumed adult beverages, of course. Ciao, my friends!

Give-It-Away Thursday: Elle's Studio Savoring Summer kit!

Well hello there and welcome to the blog! It's been a bit neglected as of late, but today's post is sure to make your visit worthwhile!. Since my kids are keeping me sufficiently occupied during these days of summer and the likelihood of me completing a mini album is rarer than a snowman in July, I've decided to give away my Elle's Studio Savoring Summer kit:

This gorgeous project kit sold out quickly, and it's easy to see why!  This yummy mix of product, put together by the amazingly talented Jenni Hufford, contains everything you'll need to create a mini that beautifully documents your summer days.

The kit features papers, ribbons, tape, mist and more, from popular manufactures, along with 26 limited edition and exclusive Elle’s Studio tags designed just for this kit.  You'll also get full instructions on how to create the cover and base of the mini album.

So if you are interested in receiving these goodies, just post a comment below telling me what you've done to savor your summer so far! I'll leave comments open until Friday morning, June 17 at 7:30 am (MST) and will randomly draw a winner and post their name shortly thereafter.  (Internationals are welcome to enter, but you'll have to pay postage.)

Have a fabulous Thursday!

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UPDATED WITH WINNER: Thanks to everyone for visiting!  The randomly selected winner is Stacey:

        
Congrats, Stacey!  And don't forget to come back next Thursday for another giveaway!

Lift This Page!

At the almost halfway-point of June, I'm going to blatantly ignore the fact that summer is zooming past at a much, much faster pace than I can keep up with.  Besides the fact that it's flinging the days at me at an alarming speed, summer is also on my sh!%* list for throwing me a nasty virus that had me laid up in bed much of the weekend, watching old episodes of LOST, and nursing a very unhappy tummy that rumbled and churned at the mere mention of anything more potent than a few sips of water.

Needless to say, after a few days of being down for the count, my Agenda of Official Mommy Tasks & Undertakings has transformed from a mere to-do list into a tome of epic proportions. Remember what happens when you feed gremlins after midnight? Yeah, that's sort of what's happened to my list - it's multiplied into a chaotic and destructive force.  So tell me, short of blowing the whole thing up in a movie theater, exactly how do I tackle it?  Someone really needs to write a mom's manual for juggling work, home, and kids' activities successfully during the summer months.  A simple, step-by-step list of how to fit it all in and get it all done.  Hey - kind of like my Lift This Page posts!   So....if I explain the scrapping, you tell me how to do the rest - deal?!

Today's page was made from the Granny's Cupboard kit at Studio Calico.  The basic framework is a 9-square grid, with a square of asymetrical flowers thrown in for fun.  So let's get started!

Precious Gifts | supplies:  Bazzill vanilla cardstock + patterned paper (Girl's Paperie Vintage Patchwork, Girls Paperie Cabbage Rose, Little Yellow Bicycle, Studio Calico, Lily Bee Design + Making Memories chip letters + October Afternoon mini alpha + brads (American Crafts, Pink Paislee) + My Mind's Eye velvet trim + Typenoksidi font + machine stitching

1. Print 4 photos approximately 3" square.  Trim 4 pieces of patterned paper to the same size. Arrange in grid and adhere to cardstock. Machine stitch around edges with black thread, if you really feel like it.
2. Use existing chipboard shapes to trace various flowers onto patterned paper. Trim out shapes and adorn each center with a brad.  Adhere to grid using foam squares:
   
3. Affix chipboard letters + mini alpha in upper left square as title.
4. Print journaling on white cardstock and trim into strips; adhere to lower center square.
5. Embellish additional squares with whatever your little heart desires!  I added a strip of velvet trim to the upper right square and traced a circular pattern on the pink square in the top row, using this chipboard piece that came in the kit:

So there you go - a finished page!  And I'm off to figure out how to best to tackle this day, which will inevitably lead to me playing Wii with the children, eating popsicles, and possibly watching Gremlins on Netflix.  Probably not productive, but fun nonetheless.  Enjoy your Tuesday!

 

Give-it-Away Thursday.

It's a drizzling-rainy-foggy-gray-curl-up-with-a-book-and-latte kind of Thursday here, and I'm hoping to get the kids settled in with some rainy day crafts while I steal a bit of scrap time.  Something about rainy days sparks my need to create (or it could be the big pot-o-coffee I always brew on rainy mornings...nothing like a shot of caffeine to boose your mojo!)  But before I start getting crafty, I wanted to post today's giveaway!

It's a nice little collection of vintage ephemera, most of it left over from Jenni Bowlin Mercantile kits.  There's old book pages, flashcards, bank checks, labels and tags, antique foil embellishments, milk caps, ribbons, and bag of gorgeous silver glitter, too!

If you'd be interested in receiving these goodies, just post a comment below.  Internationals are welcome to enter, but you'll have to pay postage. I'll leave comments open until Saturday morning, June 11 at 8:30 am (MST) and will randomly draw a winner and post their name shortly thereafter.

Happy Thursday!

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UPDATED WITH WINNER: Thanks to everyone who stopped by! Come back next Thursday for another giveaway.  Today's randomly selected winner is Connie M:

       


Connie, shoot me an email me at lisa (at) bsdgraphics (dot) com with your address and I will mail your goodies to you.