Friday, October 31, 2008

I hope everyone has a FABULOUS Halloween today and a GREAT weekend. Will have LOTS of fun pics to post after the weekend.
Have a SAFE and FUN Halloween.




Friday, October 24, 2008

Yesterday was not a GREAT day for me, so let's hope today is better.

Bug did OK today when I dropped him off at school- not great - he cried a little when I was leaving. He pooped in his pants THREE times yesterday at school. Must have been all that corn he ate the night before. he he he. Today is his Biggest Goal Ever - Do not poop in his pants. I hope he can do it. I may call the director to speak with her about what we can do to stop this problem. He does not do this at home, only at school. I don't know.

Yesterday he had his very first School picture day. I hope they come out good. It was weird to not be there for it - since WE usually take him. lol . I can't wait to see them, and his CLASS group shot. HOW FUN!

He slept "pretty" good last night - until his pull-up leaked - then he woke up crying - I thought he was just crying until I tried to lay him back down and he said "Nooooo it's WET". His pull-up was completely DRY so it must have leaked out the side or something. He had to sleep on the couch after that. Fortunately though - his little mattress pad thing worked GREAT - the mattress was not wet at all.

Last night Scott gave us some money to go the grocery store - because I did not have a thing to make for Dylan's lunch today - and Dylan asked him if he could buy some "Cupcakes" to make. Daddy said of course.....so off to the store we went in search of goodies to make the perfect Halloween Cupcake. Unfortunately - they did not have ONE Halloween cupcake decorating item. We ended up with the standard silver cupcake liners, and he picked out a PINK strawberry cake mix. I could not convince him to get something like chocolate. he says "NO - I LOVE PINK!!!". ha ha ha...Ok - these are HIS cupcakes so whatever he wants - then he picked chocolate frosting, and we bought orange sugar crystals, and brown sprinkles, and some mini marshmallows. He was such a big helper. He poured the water into the bowl, he poured all the oil into the mix and did not spill a drop, he helped me crack the eggs. He even helped me stir up the mix - which - let me tell you made my arm SO tired, and he was stirring then had to stop to say "Mommy - My arm is sleeping"...Ahh ha ha ha ha. I told him he needs to tell Daddy to get Mommy a MIXER for Christmas....lol Once the cupcakes came out of the oven and cooled for a bit - he did not make it to the decorating stage and immediately devoured a plain pink cupcake with a BOWL of mini marshmallows that I had set out to decorate the cupcakes with. We had a great time, and I took plenty of pictures of course.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

One of the WONDERFUL advantages of being on Pamela Gibson’s creative Team is not only the fact that I get to work with such GREAT kits ALL THE TIME, but also the fact that she let’s me GIVE my layouts away to YOU! So really it is a Win, Win, Win situation. In this case a quadruple win – since it is a charity kit.

I get to work with a great kit = You get a free quick page =
The Charity makes money = Pamela get’s promotion

YAYYYYY!!! We all win. I love it! So without further ado (sp?), I present you the QP I made using her adorable new kit called Peachy Keen that she and Jan Crowley worked together to create for the Songbird Ave Charity Kit.

DOWNLOAD

All proceeds from this kit go to The Animal Haven – a no kill shelter. Isn’t that wonderful? A great cause, a great kit, and a great FREEBIE….lol

Check out this wonderful kit over at Songbird Avenue
and be sure to check out the rest of Pamela's kits over at Polka Dot Potato

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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Oh My GOODNESS this is absolutely GORGEOUS - You have got to see this woman's talents. Beauty on every page. Look at this gorgeous gown she has created. You MUST see for yourself her wonderful creations.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Next Season's Dancing with the Stars


I don't know where this originated, but got it from an email from one of my co-workers and it just cracked me up....lol

Monday, October 20, 2008

FREEBIE QP


Imagine my excitement when I was approached by friend and fellow designer Joy of Share Joy Designs to create a quick page using her fabulous new kit "Let's Hear It For The Boys". This kit is so much fun and perfect for scrapping both the little guys and big guys in your life.


Hop on over to her blog to get the QP I made and for more information on how to purchase this adorable kit.

Missing You

Dylan's cousins moved all the way to Texas so we made this little greeting for them. We miss them so much!

Click to play Tyler & Gillian
Create your own greeting - Powered by Smilebox
Make a Smilebox greeting

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

SUCCESS
Dylan slept SOOOOOOO good last night. He slept from about 9:15 until 6:15 this morning and did not wake up ONCE. I am so happy and so proud of him. He didn't want to get out of bed this morning when he woke up either. He wanted me to lay in his bed and cuddle...lol - then when I dropped him off at school he was not even trying to get me to stay - he just ran off to play with his friends. I am once happy Momma!

When I picked him up from school yesterday, Miss Maria said he was SUCH a good boy yesterday. He did what he was supposed to - he interacted with other kids, and he PLAYED. He didn't just pull something out and then move on to the next thing. She was so happy with his behavior yesterday. He didn't poop in his pants ALL day but had an accident about five minutes before I picked him up. They were on the playground and one of the kids bumped his head - so Miss Maria took him in to get an ice pack, and the other teacher could not leave the kids so he pooped his pant. SO CLOSE. He said his goal today is NO POOPING IN HIS BIG BOY PANTS. I hope he can do it. He KNOWS when he has to go and he doesn't do that at home, so I think he is acting out or trying to get the teachers attentions to himself. He is so used to being with my Mom only and no other kids. It will get better.

Monday, October 13, 2008

HALLELUJA (insert music here)

We finally got around to getting Dylan his Big Boy TWIN bed on Saturday. We all piled into Scott's truck and took a drive out to West Covina to Sit and Sleep. Dylan LOVED 'testing" them all out. His favorite's were the ones that tilt up and down like a hospital bed...lol He LOVED those. We picked one out that he seemed to like and then paid for it. They would deliver it on Sunday. I got home and set to work on cleaning and re-arranging Bugs room. Whew - what a task. I am the QUEEN of rearranging a bedroom without taking everything out. I got it all rearranged and hung up some pictures I had been meaning to put up for a while now. I removed the shelves from the wall above where his new bed will go and will be relocating them to another wall for safety reasons of course. I also hung a little toy hammock in one corner to hold some of his Webkinz and other stuffed animals. I worked my BUTT off. I was in there for hours. Dylan seems really pleased with it though. I am happy with the results myself, but I must admit he has WAYYYYYYY too much stuff. There was no way I could prune it down while he was there though, he would have had a fit...

Sunday the big boy bed was delivered and I made it up with his brand new Lightning McQueen sheets that Grandpa Ron sent him last Christmas and some new fluffy pillows. All comfy and cozy. I put a little step stool for him to climb up on, a night light next to his bed, and a lamp on his little drawer thing next to his bed so we can read when he goes night night. He LOVES it....He loves the fact that Mommy can actually lay on his bed and read to him now without the mattress falling through like it did in his Race Car Bed....and now for the very BEST part. He slept last night in his OWN bed from 9:15pm to 4:45am at which time he woke up for like two minutes asking for a drink. I told him I would be right back and when I got back - he was back asleep and slept until I had to PRY him out of bed at 6:45am. I HOPE THIS LASTS. He said he LOVES his new bed and that it is so comfy. He is so funny - I woke up and took him in to go potty and when he was done he said "I want to go sleep" and went back in his room and crawled back in bed. YAYYYYYYYYY I don't want to get my hopes up - but I am praying this will be just the thing to get my Son on the road to GREAT sleeping habits. I got such wonderful sleep myself, that I am MORE tired this morning than I usually am. I am SO PROUD of my big boy and I hope and pray he keeps this up.

This morning he was in a pleasant mood and ready to go to school. He told me all about how he was NOT going to cry today, he was going to be a GOOD boy and listen to his teacher. We had a very nice morning. I told him how proud I am of him for sleeping in his big boy bed, and how happy that makes me and that my heart was singing....he likes it when my heart sings...lol - I took him to school and Miss Michelle was not around, so we had a hard morning. He did not want to let me leave. Miss Vanessa had to step in and take over the situation. He was really looking forward to seeing Michelle and telling her all about his new bed. He has really grown attached to her. I don't know what the poor guy will do when she goes on Maternity leave.

Friday when I picked him up from school I found out all kinds of lovely things the little rat fink had been up to. Pushing kids, pulling girls hair, spilling the kids milk, breaking the crayons in half, coloring all over the table, pooping in his pants, I don't even want to know what else. He promised to be a good boy today - I hope so. Scott and I both had a serious talk with him about his behavior and explained that we do not hit other kids, and we NEVER put our hands on a girl. Maybe the bad sleeping habits affect his behavior. I don't know.

I am praying for a good day for my Bug.

Here are a few photos of Dylan in his newly arranged room, and his new big boy bed.








Friday, October 10, 2008

ALMOST DONE...


Compilation, originally uploaded by Stokes Family Photography.

With my first PRINTED layouts.
I made these layouts in succession to print and frame and plan to continue to do one using the same template each year.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

***LINDA***

***Linda ***

Honey - I am SOOOO sorry - I do not know what is going on but my emails must be going to your Spam filter. I emailed you yesterday morning to tell you I got your payment - then I emailed you the links about ten minutes later. Then again in th afternoon just in case. I saw and replied to all of your comments here this morning and on slide.com. I am not sure what else to do. Do you belong to any forums that I could PM the links to you?

You can contact me at any of the following - I check them every couple of hours.

grmnvixen@yahoo.com
stokes@avinc.com

I would really like to make this up to you and am offering you one other kit of your choice FREE. Sorry for all the trouble. I hope you get this!!!


Monday, October 6, 2008

I got an award today - SWEET!


THANK YOU Mardesia -
You are so sweet to give me this lovely award.
I LOVE IT!!!!

I have received this once before a LONG time ago, so I will just say THANK YOU Mardesia and you are a TRUE sweetie. I will wear this with pride.
  • The winner can put the logo on her blog.
  • Link the person you received your award from.
  • Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
  • Put links of those blogs on yours.
  • Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.
  • If the Blogger you nominate has already received this award they don’t need to pass it on.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Freebie QP for you....

I have a brag book quick page for you in 4x6 - just plop a picture behind it and your all set. This page was made using my "Halloween Party" kit available here on the blog for only FIVE bucks. Hope you like the freebie.

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Password is HSD


Thursday, October 2, 2008

Top ten things overheard at Sarah Palin's debate camp.
From the US Weekly.com blog

David Letterman is poking fun at Sarah Palin's awkward interviewing skills.

In honor of tonight's buzzed-about vice presidential debate, he revealed the "Top Ten Things Overheard at Sarah Palin's Debate Camp" on his show Wednesday.

Read on below, and then vote on who you think will win tonight's debate!

#10: “Let’s practice your bewildered silence”
#9: “Can you try saying ‘Yes’ instead of ‘You betcha’?”
#8: "Hey, I can see Mexico from here!”
#7: “Maybe we’ll get lucky and there won’t be any questions about Iraq, taxes, or health care”
#6: “We’re screwed!”
#5: “Can I just use that lipstick-pit bull thing again?”
#4: “We have to wrap it up for the day — McCain eats dinner at 4:30″
#3: “Can we get Congress to bail us out of this debate?”
#2: “John Edwards wants to know if you’d like some private tutoring in his van”
#1: “Any way we can just get Tina Fey to do it?”


Tutorial Jackpot

This came through the pspscraphouse freebie group today and I thought I would pass it along. SOOOO many great tutorial links here.

PAPER, BACKGROUNDS, VELLUM, OVERLAYS, TORN PAPER, BORDERS

PAINT SHOP PRO
MAKING PAPER AND BACKGROUNDS
Paper embossing 1: http://loriweb.pair.com/9pembossIB.html
Paper embossing 2: http://loriweb.pair.com/9pembossDS.html
Textured paper: http://www.designwithrenee.com/psp%20tutorial%20paper.htm
Corrugated paper: http://digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/psp_corrugated.shtml
Corrugated Paper: http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/digitalscrapbooking/psp9_tutorial12.html
Homemade Paper: http://members.cox.net/tutorials1/hmpapertutorial/hmpaper.html
Making lots of different paper from a photo: http://groups.msn.com/TheLoneScrapperteer/tuts.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=15&LastModified=4675591600900680746
Stripes, gingham and plaid paper: http://groups.msn.com/TheLoneScrapperteer/tuts.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=14&LastModified=4675591509307219895
Stripes from photos bg: http://loriweb.pair.com/scrap_StripesFromPhoto.html
Mesh: http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/digitalscrapbooking/psp9_tutorial11.html
Textured Paper: http://puuurfectdesigns.com/scraptuts/texpapertut/texpapertut.htm

Make ribbon out of patterned paper: http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/digitalscrapbooking/psp9_tutorial1.html
Striped ribbon: http://everydaydigitalscrapbooking.blogspot.com/2007/04/now-create-your-own-striped-ribbon-with.html
Make ribbons: http://puuurfectdesigns.com/scraptuts/ribbontut/ribbontut.htm
Folded Ribbon: http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/digitalscrapbooking/psp9_tutorial10.html
Folded Ribbon in PSP X: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/pspx_foldedribbon_sjs.shtml
Folded Ribbon: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/psp_foldedribbons_vb.shtml
Folded ribbon: http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/digitalscrapbooking/psp9_tutorial10.html
Wire-edged Ribbons and bow: http://members.cox.net/tutorials1/ribbon/ribbon.html
Vector Bows: http://folkarttreasures.com/tutorials/xmasbow/xmasbow1.html
Bow with trailing ribbon: http://folkarttreasures.com/tutorials/bells/jinglebow1.html
Go here for the selections or to add jingle bells: http://folkarttreasures.com/tutorials/bells/jinglebells1.html
String Bow: http://folkarttreasures.com/tutorials/eleganthearts/ehearts3.html
Go here for the heart that's with it: http://folkarttreasures.com/tutorials/eleganthearts/ehearts1.html
Make lace: http://www.angelfire.com/art/graphicsbyart/tut4.html
Make Battenburg Lace: http://www.gentlearts.net/battenburg_lace.htm
Battenburg Lace: http://psp.tephras.com/tutorials/battenburg/index.html
Making lace edging 2: http://web.archive.org/web/20030802121310/b4stitchers.crosswinds.net/tutorials/edgings2.html
Making lace edging: http://web.archive.org/web/20031207032759/
http://b4stitchers.crosswinds.net/tutorials/edgings.html

EMBELLISHMENTS
PAINT SHOP PRO
Faux Foam Stamps: http://www.matterofscrap.com/tutorials/1_fauxstamp.htm
Making fortune cookie insert: http://www.matterofscrap.com/tutorials/6_fortune.htm
Make a sports card: http://www.matterofscrap.com/tutorials/3_sportscard.htm
Metal rim button: http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/digitalscrapbooking/psp9_tutorial3.html
Element Cut Outs: http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/digitalscrapbooking/psp9_tutorial7.html
Glass badges and buttons: http://groups.msn.com/TheLoneScrapperteer/tuts.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=154&LastModified=4675618271036769375
Lace doily: http://www.pspug.org/tutorial/html/tut8eff/lacedoily_v8.htm
Lace Doilies: http://www.geocities.com/bwgoose/doily/doily-beg.html
Envelope: http://groups.msn.com/TheLoneScrapperteer/tuts.msnw?action=getmessage&mview=0&ID_Message=25&LastModified=4675592426154917773
Make an envelope with custom brush: http://beginnerpsp.com/envelope/psp_8_envelope.htm
Glass stones: http://loriweb.pair.com/9glass-stone.html
Tin Glass Necklace: http://psp.tephras.com/tutorials/tincup/index.html
Metal elements: http://groups.msn.com/TheLoneScrapperteer/tuts.msnw?action=getmessage&mview=0&ID_Message=13&LastModified=4675591370089842952
Eyeglasses: http://psp.tephras.com/tutorials/glasses/index.html
Punched Tin: http://folkarttreasures.com/tutorials/punchedtin/tin1.html
Faceted Gems: http://psp.tephras.com/tutorials/gems/index.html
Realistic Balloons: http://people.aapt.net.au/~dkaya/CreatingBalloons_PSP.htm
Drilled Glass Beads: http://psp.tephras.com/tutorials/drilledbeads/index.html
Easy Patterned Beads: http://psp.tephras.com/tutorials/patternedbeads/index.html
Too Easy Pearl: http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/digitalscrapbooking/psp9_tutorial15.html
Pearl Strands with tubes: http://psp.tephras.com/tutorials/pearlstrand/index.html
Beading: http://web.archive.org/web/20030802064151/b4stitchers.crosswinds.net/tutorials/beading.html
Embellished Beads: http://psp.tephras.com/tutorials/embellbeads/index.html
Round Bead: http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/digitalscrapbooking/psp9_tutorial14.html
Simple Jewels: http://members.cox.net/tutorials1/jeweltutorial/jewels.html

The Substitute

Ooooh school drop off was not good today. Unfortunately he was a little hesitant again this morning and I mentioned he would get to see Miss Michelle which helped perk him up a bit - but when we got there - Miss Michelle was not there today and he had a SUBSTITUTE!!!! OH - this was not a happy change for him. He cried and cried, and tried to get me to stay with him. I took him over to meet "Miss Jane" and explained to her that he was a little afraid because he did not know her. I told Dylan that Miss Maria would be there soon, and he cried and cried. I said I will see him soon and left, Miss Jane holding his had tightly. I hate leaving him like that.

Scrap Tutorials

Digital Scrapbooking Place has a TON of tutorials geared for everyone.
They have tutorials available for every program, and you can learn to make pretty much ANYTHING.

Here are a few examples of some of the tutorials available....
They tell you what program the tutorial is compatible with. You are SURE to find something to help you here.

Click HERE to go straight to the tutorial page.

  • Backgrounds/Papers
    Backgrounds [Corel Draw] [PhotoPaint]
    Background Textures, Creating [PS]
    Brushed Backgrounds Event Transcript (4/04) [PS]
    Corrugated [PSP]
    Distressed [PS]
    Full-Photo Backgrounds [PS]

    Pattern, Checked [PS]
    Pattern, Striped [PS]
    Stripes & Plaids [PSP]
    Swiss Dot[PSP]
    Torn Mulberry [PS]
  • Beads [PS](E) [PSP]
  • Borders or Mats [PSE] [DIP]
  • Brads [PS](E)
  • Brushed Metal [PSE] [DIP]
  • Making a Custom Brush [PS] [PS 2]
  • Buttons, Making [PSP]
  • Cheater Brads, Buttons, etc [PS]
  • Chenille Stems [PSP]
  • Chrome Eyelets [PS]
  • Creating Layer Styles [PS]
  • Doodle Dandy Fun [DIP]
  • Easy Alphas or Titles [PSP]
  • Eyelets & Buttons [PS](E)
  • Denim Texture [PSE]


I found a great website that has TONS of fabulous titles for scrapbook pages. I had it book marked a few years ago and totally forgot about it until now. Looking for the perfect title? There are tons of categories - check it out.




Here are a few examples in the Children category...

#1 Kid Of The Year
A Child Fills A Place In Your Heart You Never Knew Was Empty
A Chip Off the Old Block
Adventure Time
Ain't I Cute
All By Myself
All My Children
Busy As A Beaver
Busy Little Hands
Children Are A Handful Sometimes, A Heartful At All Times
Cuddle Bug
Cute As A Bug
Cute As A Button
Cute, But Dangerous
Cute, Cute, Cute!
Cute Things I Say And Do
Dinomite Kid
Don't Leave Home Without It
Each Child is a Unique and Unrepeated Miracle
Entertain Me!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

This is a TEST.

I like you - and you seem to like freebies so I am GIVING AWAY my entire "Swedish Dreams" kit - The Elements, the papers, the Add-on and the Quick Page. I would be ever so grateful if you were to show me what you make with it.

I made this kit in honor of my beautiful Mother/Best Friend. Her favorite colors are blue and yellow.

And since I no longer sell my designs at Ahhh Scrap - I would like to give this to you as a special gift. I hope you like it.

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Have a GREAT Wednesday and Happy October to everyone.

As always the Password is HSD
I have to get this down before I forget about it.
Kids' really do say the funniest things....

We are driving to school yesterday and we are stopped at the red light waiting to turn left.
Dylan say "Ugghhh COME ON LIGHT - Turn Green already"..... HA HA HA HA HA
It was SO funny. Something I say ALL the time.

Cute Craft Find

Check out these ADORABLE Pom Pom Pumpkins, and the how to info over on the Liquid Paper Blog. These are SO CUTE!

100 Lightning Costumes

Dylan coughed a lot LESS last night without the humidifier but then seemed to cough MORE this morning when he woke up - maybe it had all settled in his chest while he slept. The humidifier is probably a good thing. Maybe I can use it while we are in the living room in the evenings, but then not in his room at night. I don't know. Dylan did really well going to school this morning. When I picked him up yesterday he did cry a little - a HUGE smile on his face but crying. lol The teacher said he did very well all day but cried a bit in the afternoon. Then she said "Give me two more days"....he'll be fine. When he woke up this morning he said he did not want to go to school but then he perked up once he woke up a little more he was fine. He was in a happy smiley mood and he was dancing around and stuff. Then he comes over and tells me "Mommy - If I am really good at school today - can you bring me a present - maybe a lightning costume - maybe a hundred lightning costumes?" lol I was like first of all - You can't have a present or surprise EVERY day because Mommy is not made of money, secondly there is only ONE of you - why would you need a hundred of the SAME costume...he he he and last but not least - do you have any idea how much money a hundred Lightning Halloween costumes would COST? ha ha ha ha - He is TOO MUCH. I took him and dropped him off at school and he stayed happily with Miss Michelle and held her hand and waved goodbye to me as I was walking to the gate - all the while with a smile on his face. I am so proud of my Big Boy!