Giveaway Reminder and Something New

Just a quick reminder to check out and enter the My Memories giveaway - the software is really nice and so far I only have a few entries, so you have a good chance of winning!

And...have you seen this? 31 days of posts throughout the month of October on a variety of topics.

I think I'm in...this is a late in the game decision, so we'll see how it goes. Check back tomorrow for post number 1!

My Memories Scrap Software Review and Giveaway

I love the idea of scrapbooking - beautiful paper, stickers, fun embellishments, and more. I've collected supplies over the years, but haven't really ever been able to get into scrapbooking and stick with it. A couple of years ago, my friend mentioned a digital scrapbooking site that she just loved. Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I went looking for this site because I had decided digital scrapbooking might be the way for me to go. Unfortunately, the site was no longer up and running, so I put digital scrapbooking on the back burner again.

That's why I was so excited when I was contacted by My Memories to do a review of their digital scrapbooking software. I was really thrilled when I discovered I get to give away a copy of this software to one of you!

I've been exploring the software for the past week and a half and I know I've only scratched the surface of what can be done with My Memories, but here are a few of my favorite things so far.

• The software is very simple to use. It comes with a number of preloaded templates, papers, and embellishments and you can use these to put albums together right away. You can use their templates or create your own page from scratch.
• There are lots of great free and inexpensive page kits and paper kits at their web store.
• You can find kits to fit practically any event, activity, or theme. I especially love this A Bushel and a Peck pack.
• The software makes it easy to create a wide variety of items other than scrapbook pages. I made an invitation and some Christmas word art to print out (see below). I am thinking it will work well for photo cards for Christmas. There are also customizable calendar templates to create. Some of the embellishments would even make cute cupcake toppers!
  
• Lots of additional ideas can be found at the My Memories blog and Facebook page. It's fun to see what others are creating with the software.
  

The only difficulty I experienced with the software is that is runs a bit slow on my older (7+ years) computer.

OK. Let me show you a couple of things I made and get to the giveaway!

This is a super simple invitation made using the Pretty Ballerina pack. I am thinking these could be printed as 4x6 photos and mailed out for a cute and frugal birthday party invite.

This is some printable word art for Christmas made with Away in a Manger Word Art and Christmas Snow paper.

I hope you are all as excited as I am about this great software and are ready for the giveaway details. This giveaway will remain open until next Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 10:00 p.m. EST. I will announce a winner here on the blog by Friday, October 7. Please make sure I have a way to contact you if you win!

To enter:

• Visit My Memories and take a look at the great selection of items. Come back and leave me a comment with your favorite digital paper, template, or pack.
• If you would like extra entries, you can visit the My Memories Blog, Facebook page, or Twitter account and follow and/or like any of the three. Please leave a separate comment for each thing you do.

If you'd like to purchase the My Memories Suite before or after this giveaway, you can use this code to receive $10 off and a $10 credit to the My Memories store: STMMMS24174

Have fun and spread the word!

**I was given a copy of the My Memories software to review and the code above is my referral code. All opinions in this review are my own.

Fall Work Ensemble

Fall Work Ensemble by gracenote30 featuring short sleeve tops

Cardigan
$27 - kohls.com

Worthington short sleeve top
$18 - jcpenney.com

Bootcut pants
$32 - kohls.com

Kvoll flat heels
$23 - yesstyle.com

FOSSIL feather jewelry
$38 - zappos.com

Vince Camuto pyramid stud earrings
$24 - zappos.com

Sewing List for the Week of 9/26/11

OK, so I am definitely late on this one! I decided to try writing these sewing lists to keep me working on the many, many projects in my head, but I am not sure if they are working. I definitely got some things done, but not all of them are on the list...sometimes I work on things when inspiration strikes and I skip other things in favor of that project. Also, I finish some of the things mom makes for the shop (adding Velcro, etc.) so that doesn't always make it on the list.

That being said, here is what I did get done last week:

• Finished a zippy pouch and cut one more.
• Made 2 mug rugs - they were intended for the shop, but I wasn't thrilled with how the finished project looked when I closed it, so my daughter and I now have matching mug rugs. :)
• Finished 2 coffee cozies - coming soon to the shop!
• Cut a big stack of novelty fabrics into rectangles. I am thinking about making coasters, placemats, or table toppers for the shop from them.

If you are keeping track, that is 3 out of 6 from last week. So, that leaves 3 larger projects (for me) on the list, plus now I have more ideas! I think I will call this my idea list for this week and see what I get accomplished. Here we go!

1. Start sewing corduroy dress.

2. Finish zippy pouch.

3. Baby blanket for cousin (minky and flannel)

4. Cut pillowcases.

5. Patchwork project with novelty rectangles.

6. Mug rug for shop.

7. Napkins for shop.

Well, this list is one bigger than last week...but it's good to have goals. :)

What are you working on this week? How do you prioritize your ideas and decide what to work on?

Laminator Deal

I don't usually blog about deals much anymore, but we love this Scotch Thermal Laminator! We homeschooled for preschool last year and are homeschooling again this year and this laminator works great! This deal is really good - $17.99. Check it out if you have need of an inexpensive laminator.

Terrain Giveaway

Another great giveaway - for Kate Spain's Terrain! Love this fabric - check it out and enter!

the musings of a craftaholic: Sunday 9/25 Fabric Giveaway

Pumpkin Muffins

We have these pumpkin muffins in the oven right now! We plan to ice ours with vanilla frosting. This recipe is good with spice cake mix, chocolate cake mix....mmm! Do you have a favorite pumpkin recipe? A favorite super simple recipe that uses only 2 or 3 ingredients? I'd love to hear about them!

Sewing Goals for the Week of 9/19/11

I posted some sewing goals last week, and while I didn't finish the list, I did get 3 out of 4 done - plus the apple skirt pictured above which was not on the list. :)

So, I made a zippy pouch, cut the corduroy dress, and selected pillowcase fabrics. This week, I have a list of 6 items. I am sure I will not complete all 6 things, but it helps me to stay focused and try to complete some things each week. So, here we go!

1. Zippy pouch (I cut 2 when I made one this week.)
2. Start sewing corduroy dress.
3. Start cutting pillowcases.
4. Finish coffee cozy.
5. Blanket for cousin's baby.
6. Mug rug

What are you crafting, baking, sewing, or decorating this week?

Be sure to check back later this week - I have a fun giveaway coming up!

I'm linking up to Made By You Monday at Skip to my Lou!

Fabric Giveaway

Check out this great fabric giveaway. I love this fabric - perfect for fall. She needs at least 15 entries to do this giveaway and entries need to be in tomorrow. Hop on over and enter!

Coming Home fabric giveaway

Fall Decorating and Printable Roundup

Well, it certainly feels like fall today! We're changing over some of the decor in our house and I'm trying to use what we have already. I have some cute stuffed fabric pumpkins I made a couple of years ago, found some pumpkin placemats that mom made that reverse to a golden yellow feedsack type print, unearthed a fall bunting I made last year, and got out a cute grapevine wreath from several years ago. Plus, my mom made me the prettiest new patchwork fall runner for the top of our piano. She is working on one for the shop, too!

I pulled down the framed art I have right now and hopped onto Pinterest to hunt for some new fall printables. I found so many cute things! If you are looking for some cute printables, here are some I discovered.

Fall is Here

Fall Subway Art

Fall Words

Fall Bucket List

Give Thanks and Fall Subway

Fall with Blessings

With Bunting

Phew! Quite a list! We also have mums now, too! How are you decorating for fall? Any great projects I should try? Happy Saturday!

Sewing Goals for This Week

I am starting to work on my Christmas sewing as well as sewing for the shop. I have been writing down a monthly sewing "to-do" list, but I often find it overwhelming - and I never complete it. So, here are my goals for this week. Some days I don't even get my machine out and other days I can only work for about 15 minutes. I hope this is realistic! I'll try to write down which ones I get done and which ones will carry over until next week.

This Week:

1. Start a corduroy peasant dress for my daughter.
2. Make a zippy pouch for the shop.
3. Make a mug rug for the shop.
4. Choose band and accent fabrics for pillowcases for a Christmas present.

What are you sewing or crafting this week? Have you started making any Christmas gifts?

Friday Fun!

It was a short week with the holiday, but I am glad it is Friday! Something about Friday just feels so much more relaxed, doesn't it? It's been a busy week - starting back into our fall routines with dance class and choir practice at church, plus something about the season makes me want to work on projects even more than usual. We've been cleaning things out, listing on ebay, making up scrap bundles for the shop, organizing the garage, doing home decor projects and more.

I'm transferring photos from our camera to the computer, so here are a few photos from around here...

Fabric in embroidery hoops

Dahlia blooming


First day of homeschool

Stacks of scrap bundles


What have you been up to lately? Is the change is seasons making you work on any new projects? Any big plans for the weekend?

Giveaway: the musings of a craftaholic: Free Fabric Sunday 9/4

Stop over and enter this fun giveaway! Not lots of entries right now, so check it out! The giveaway ends today!

the musings of a craftaholic: Free Fabric Sunday 9/4