Gettin' By

Give-It-Away Thursday.

Well it's already Thursday isn't it?  I reckon we should do a givewaway then, no? Today I thought I'd share some of my favorite new Jenni Bowlin supplies - the foam stamps!  These Classic Frames and Borders are brand new in stores and I've got an extra set up for grabs!

I've used the scalloped border on this page (with Malted Milk and Brown Sugar inks):

and the frame stamps here (with Fountain Pen ink):

If you'd like to win this set, just leave me a comment below. **.I'll draw a winner on Saturday morning!

And hey - don't forget Friday is also the last day to register for Spawn of True Scrap and be eligible for all the amazing sponsor giveaways.  Don't get left out - it's gonna be a fabulous event!

**Please be sure to leave a contact email in your comment if you are not signed in to Typepad.  Comments will remain open until Saturday morning, October 1 at 9:00am (MST) at which time the winner will be randomly drawn from the comments.  The winner will be posted at the bottom of this post and contacted via email (if possible). Internationals are welcome to enter, but you'll have to pay postage. And that concludes the fine print. :)

•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •

 

UPDATED WITH WINNER:  Congrats to Melissa, the winner of the foam stamps!  Shoot me an email with yout mailing address and I'll send your stamps out to you!

Sneaks & Treats

Well hello there, Tuesday! Even though I'm operating on what feels like about 15 minutes of sleep, I'm going to make the best of you. For reasons unknown to me, I seem to be suffering from Newborn Syndrome and can't sleep for more than 3 consecutive hours at a time - boo!  Thank goodness for large, steaming mugs of coffee and crisp morning air that wake me up.  And an internet full of interesting facts about Ambien. Hmmmm....

Also making my hazy brain perk up this morning? The thought of spending some quality time with the JBS Mercantile kit for October.  I've whipped out two pages thus far and have many more percolating in my head.  Here's some sneaks!

 

I'm also banking on some good ol' sugary treats to get me through today. Thanks to my recent obsession with Pinterest, I've bookmarked tons of fall baking projects, two of which we whipped up this weekend.  Say hello to these Brown Butter Pumpkin Spice Krispie Treats:

There's just a hint of Pumpkin Pie Spice mixed into the melted marshmellows, and the brown butter adds a rich, nutty flavor that's much more sophisticated than your ordinary krispie treat.  Holy yummy.

Also quickly disappearing into our tummies are my friend Margie's Pumpkin Chip muffins. I had heard rumblings on Twitter that these famous fall treats were gifts from heaven, and now I can attest to that fact.  They are amazingly moist, sweet, and utterly divine.  Not to mention they make a lovely accompaniment to the aforementioned mug-o-coffee (which will undoubtedly be my main fashion accessory today.)

So to sum up - Sleeplessness. Scrapping. Sugar. And there you have it.  Let's get this Tuesday rolling!

 

 

Are you ready for True Scrap?

I'm busy putting the final touches on my class video for Spawn of True Scrap and wanted to share some sneaks of just a few of the projects that will be featured.  My Going Off the Grid class will feature lots of creative and innovative ways to take grid design to the next level!

Spawn of True Scrap has a fabulous line-up of instructors and topics, and this online class format is so convenient - we bring it all to your computer! Plus, if you register before September 30, you'll be eligible to win a whole list of giveaways, including:

Hero Arts digital goodies
Simple Scrapper subscription download
Keep Calm & Stay Organized class
Get Organized for the Holidays class By Aby Garvey
Paperclipping membership
Digital Scrapbooking Basics class by Paula Gilarde
Back to Basics class by Renee Pearson
Exposure online photography class by Katrina Kennedy
Jenni Bowlin Mercantile October kit + vintage holiday release
Scraphappy membership from Lain Ehmann
Online Card Class & Inspiration Showcase by Jennifer McGuire
Class of your choice at Shimelle.com

 

AND.....I'm offering the next 10 people who sign up through the link on my blog a free download of my eBook, Design Workshop from Ella Publishing.**

 

 

 ** Just email your receipt to lisa@bsdgraphics.com and I'll send you the code for a free download! And if you already have my book, you can also use the code to download A Year In The Life.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend (and there's some scrapping involved, natch!)

 

Five on Friday.

Any guesses on what my favorite color palette will be this fall? Well here's five not-so-subtle hints for you.

1. Tree-Lined Streets Coat ($134.99).  Living in Colorado, my coat collection consists mainly of ski parkas, down jackets, and sub-zero suitable outerwear.  But for the early days of fall, this gorgeous brown coat with its feminine details would be perfection.  I love the wide belt and cascading ruffles and can imagine it topping my fall uniform of jeans and campus boots.

 

2.  Sherpani Nau Bag ($89.99).  This bag made from recycled materials and cotton canvas is the perfect size to serve as both purse and camera bag, with a zipper running along the bottom edge to allow for expansion.  I adore the combo of yellow and blue featuring a little art canvas. The versatile shoulder strap + attached handles make this a functional and fun tote option.

 

3.  Indefinable Beauty Cardigan ($74.99).  As the days get cooler, I sometimes find it difficult to shed my cozy fleece bathrobe for real clothes in the morning (despite the embarrassment a robe + giant monkey slippers may cause my children at school drop-off). But this soft and snuggly sweater might make a more fashionable substitute, don't you think?!

 

 

4.  Missoni for Target Infinity Scarf ($24.99).  I had marked my calendar for the Missoni release and I'm so happy I did, because the wonderful zig-zag stuff did not last long at my local store!  I managed to nab a few pretties for Riely and this cotton scarf for myself.  And I just might be obsessively stalking ebay for the matching cardigan...

 

5.  Poetic License Love Letter Heels ($97.99).  I spent a decent portion of my summer looking for the perfect yellow sandals and they elluded me.  So I'm going to make up for it and add these to my shoe collection instead.  I love these amber-hued beauties and the shorter 2-inch heel height make them totally practical and pretty.  And what's that you say? You're right, they WOULD look wonderful with that Missoni cardi I'm hunting. Watch out ebay, here I come!

 

Thankful Thursday

Just a few things I'm feeling grateful for today...

...the crisp morning air that feels definitively like fall.

...the fact that this guy is home (and snoozing at my feet) after an overnight visit to the vet with a fever and tummyache.

...the reaction to my first online class (at Ella Publishing!) has been positive.

...both kiddos seem happily settled into a school routine and are doing well.

...my October Jenni Bowlin Mercantile kit arrived yesterday and looks absolutely delightful.

...an hour of down-time on the couch with Mike last night (and the hilarious return of Modern Family!)

...the discovery of a decent box wine that doesn't give me a headache the next day.

...a job that provides me flexibility in my schedule and an outlet for creativity.

...cozy cardigans and scarves (and the cool weather to wear them!)

...pumpkin spice lattes.

 

 

What are you thankful for today?

Report for Boot Camp TODAY!

The time has arrived for Ella Publishing's Boot Camp and all new recruits should report today! If you're already registered, access our Boot Camp Barracks. Simply log into your user account and visit the page  http://www.ellapublishing.com/bootcamp11.  (You must be registered and logged in for the link to work.) And you'll get daily emails, too.

If you haven't yet registered, what are you waiting for? Join hundreds of fellow Boot Campers for INSPIRATION without PERSPIRATION. You can register for just $30 with coupon code YESMAAM (code expires today!) and STILL have time to enter all of our twice-daily giveaways.

Here's a little rundown of today's schedule (all times are EST and in military time):

06:00 Journaling Drill
First up is a really fun journaling drill from Angie Lucus called Grammar-Free Journaling! Here's a sneak peek at just ONE of the layouts she shares in this 10-minute drill.

And the morning sponsor is Adorn-It, who is offering this $50 prize package:




12:00 Lunch Break
Pop back in to the Boot Camp Barracks for a bonus inspiration video from "Storytelling Sergeant," Wendy Smedley. Every day this week, Wendy shares a fun and inspirational nugget about storytelling. Here's a peek at one of the projects she discusses today:




18:00 Design Drill
Tonight, as your Design Drill Instructor, I'll be bringing you a Designing with Pattern drill, plus a  comprehensive bonus handout that I know you'll refer to again and again. Here's just one of the more than 12 lift-able layouts featured in the video:



Our evening sponsor is Big Picture Classes, which is offering a free entry into this wonderful class from Kolette Hall:




And that's just Day 1!  There's lots of inspiration to be found, so l hope you'll join us this week!  Oh and all our daily drill videos can be instantly viewed on your iPad or iPhone, so it's easy to get them while you're on-the-go!

See you at Boot Camp!

 

P.S.  Speaking of fabulous online classes....don't forget the giveaway to Spawn of True Scrap is still open below - leave a comment to be entered to win a spot in this event!

Give-It-Away Thursday: Spawn of True Scrap!

Do you have the creepy feeling like something is sneaking up behind you? Is there a scary musical score running through your brain? Are you getting goosebumps just reading this??  

Well don't worry - it's not Jason or Michael Meyers or even Freddy Kruger....it's something much, much better!  It's Spawn of True Scrap!

This exciting online event brings 17 inspiring scrapbook classes right to your computer.  You can watch live October 20-22 and participate in chats, Q&As, make-n-takes and giveaways....or you can access the videos whenever it's convenient for you! You can see a complete list of classes and teachers on the True Scrap site.

I'll be teaching a class called Going Off the Grid and showing you some cool new ways to take the grid-based layout way beyond just a series of squares.  In addition to sharing some new techniques and tricks, I'll provide plenty of layouts that are sure to inspire you.

You can register for the event right here, or you can leave me a comment here today for a chance to WIN a free registration.  I promise it's an event you won't want to miss - where else can you learn from industry experts and get amazing inspiration for your scrapbooks...without even having to change out of your pjs?

Comments will stay open until Tuesday, September 20th at 5 pm (MST).  I'll draw a winner and post their name here shortly thereafter. If the winner has already registered, their fee will be refunded.

Happy Thursday!

UPDATED WITH WINNER:  Congrats to Nikki, the winner of the Spawn of True Scrap class!  Shoot me an email and I'll get you the info!

 

 

The Fishing Hole

One of my favorite places ever to take photos is in Kansas on our cousin Jack's farm.  He's got a few fishing holes out in the pastures that he stocks and the kids and their cousins head out there for several hours of drowning worms each time we visit.  The light is always amazing, especially just before sunset, and I have gotten so many magical shots there. 

It's the place where this boy has learned to fish...

...and bait his own hook.

Where the bait is squirmy, slimy, and pretty irresistable...

...and sometimes more fun than the fishing itself!

It's a place to break in your very first rod...

....where patience is learned and laughter is plenty...

...and where deep concentration requires you to stick out your tongue.

(even if you're not fishing).

It's where the sunlight can make a little girl look like an angel...

....where big brothers can teach little sisters...

...and where a daddy's lap can be the best spot on the shore.

And if the fishing stinks, you can always resort to rock-throwing:

Just remember, when the sun goes down, it's time to head home for supper!

 

Where's your favorite photo spot? And what kind of memories have you captured there?

Enjoy your Wednesday!

 

It's Monday.  It's early.  I'm only halfway through my first cup of coffee. And I can't come up with a title for this blog post. So let's just ignore that fact and get on with the post, deal?

Last week I posted a partially-complete page I was working on with the September JBS Mercantile kit. Well, I finished it up and wanted to share it today:

Thirteen | supplies:  Bazzill cardstock (white, kraft) + patterned paper (Crate Paper, Jillibean Soup Sour Salt, Jillibean Soup Barley Pearls) + JBS kit stamp + Prima wood buttons + Jillibean Soup label + Maya Road wooden ruler + JBS decorative brad + JBS Fountain Pen ink + Traveling Typewriter font

It features the kit-exclusive stamp which made the perfect home for these pictures from our anniversary weekend.  I filled the remaining ovals with bits and pieces from the kit papers + embellishments and topped it with a Silhouette-cut title.

Speaking of Jenni Bowlin, have you seen the new Halloween goodies?  They are definitely getting me in the mood for that holiday! (and would be perfect for this Halloween project, if you're in the mood to make a mini!)

Today I'm wrapping up the design of this month's issue of the JBS Gazette, which will be available for download on the blog September 15. Be sure to check it out - it's full of ideas for multi-photo layouts, journaling, and lots more!

Oh, and don't forget the giveaway below - it's still open! Please check out this very worthy cause that was born from a mother's grief...it's an inspiring and uplifting story about hope (and you could win a Studio Calico gift certificate for voting!)

May your Monday be fabulous.  And may your blog posts have titles. :)

Give-It-Away Thursday: $20 Studio Calico GC

Last week Melissa Priest contacted me to see if I'd be interested in hosting a giveaway benefitting the charity Holden Uganda.  After reading about this amazing cause, I knew I wanted to share it with you.

 

Holden Uganda is a non-profit foundation founded in December 2010 by Sarah Erwin to spread the love of Christ with people around the globe. After her son Holden passed away, Sarah wanted a way to honor her son while sharing God's love. After learning that one in six people throughout the world do not have access to clean water, she knew she had to do something to help, and Holden Uganda was formed.

Their mission is to provide clean drinking water, through Artesian wells, to African communities. These wells provide HOPE. Between 500-2000 Ugandan people are given hope through clean drinking water with each well. Each well is dedicated to a baby or child who went to heaven before his/her parents, providing hope to the families.

One of these wells bears the name of Melissa's daughter, Marcy Alexis:

Currently, the website Babble is hosting a contest called Moms Who Are Changing The World and Sarah Erwin has been nominated in the 'charity' category. The winner of each category will be given a $5000 grant for their charity. This grant would go a long way towards giving children safe drinking water in Uganda, providing clean water for more than 4000 people.

If you visit this link and vote for Sarah, please leave me a comment and you'll be entered to win a $20 gift certificate to Studio Calico, donated by Melissa Priest.  Comments will stay open until the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 14th and a winner will be randomly drawn and posted that night.

I hope you'll consider giving this worthy charity your support, and please feel free to share this giveaway with anyone who might support this effort.  And thanks to Melissa for bringing such a wonderful source of hope to my attention!

Happy Thursday!

•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •

UPDATED WITH WINNER: The randomly selected winner of the $20 Studio Calico gift certificate is Jenn:

Jenn, please email me and I'll get your GC code to you!