:WORD ART: Ringing in the New Year Word Art Pack

There's a brand new word art pack available in my My Memories store...

Ringing in the New Year Word Art Pack

Happy New Year!

Check out this and all my other word art packs available through My Memories, Scrapbook Boutique and PrintMaster.

ABOUT MY MEMORIES SUITE:
While these designs are in available in several formats for use with any digital software program, if you are looking for an easy and affordable digital scrapbooking software, you should definitely give My Memories Suite a look. It is great for digital scrapbookers of all levels or even traditional scrapbookers that are looking to supplement their paper crafting in order to complete more layouts and/or be able to craft even when away from home and supplies.

My Memories Suite is currently the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software on the market.

Read more about all the great features of My Memories Suite here.

GET $10 OFF!!

My Memories Suite already has a great price, but I have a $10.00 OFF coupon code for you to try it for yourself! Simply copy and paste the code STMMMS74998 at checkout to receive you discount.

:ETSY SHOP: Auld Lang Syne

This Auld Lang Syne printable is available in my Etsy shop now in three different color combinations.

BLACK & CHAMPAGNE

BLACK & GREY

GREY & BRIGHT BLUE

I hope you're looking forward to some great New Year's celebrations!

:MERRY CHRISTMAS:

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!!

:SALE: Great Holiday Sale @ Ella Publishing!!!

:WORD ART: Home for the Holidays Word Art Pack AND a SALE!!!

There's a brand new word art pack available in my My Memories store...

Another one perfect for the holiday season...still can't believe that Christmas is less than one week away!

Crazy!

Home for the Holidays Word Art Pack

In the spirit of the season, 

everything in my My Memories store - 

including this new design - 

is 50% off 

through December 25th, 2011.

Check out this and all my other word art packs available through My Memories, Scrapbook Boutique and PrintMaster.

ABOUT MY MEMORIES SUITE:
While these designs are in available in several formats for use with any digital software program, if you are looking for an easy and affordable digital scrapbooking software, you should definitely give My Memories Suite a look. It is great for digital scrapbookers of all levels or even traditional scrapbookers that are looking to supplement their paper crafting in order to complete more layouts and/or be able to craft even when away from home and supplies.

My Memories Suite is currently the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software on the market.

Read more about all the great features of My Memories Suite here.

GET $10 OFF!!

My Memories Suite already has a great price, but I have a $10.00 OFF coupon code for you to try it for yourself! Simply copy and paste the code STMMMS74998 at checkout to receive you discount.

:GIVEAWAY WINNER: Olfa Scissors

I've got a lucky winner to announce!

Congrats, ColleenB!!

You will soon be enjoying this pair of wonderful scissors...please watch your inbox for further details on how to claim your prize.

Don't miss out on more great giveaways coming soon! If you haven't already, sign up for updates to the AMOM blog by email subscription or your favorite blog reader through the links in the right sidebar. Maybe Random.org will make your number lucky next time!

:WORD ART: Christmas Joy Word Art Pack

There's a brand new word art pack available in My Memories store...

Christmas is almost here. Are you ready?

Christmas Joy Word Art Pack

Check out this and all my other word art packs available through My Memories, Scrapbook Boutique and PrintMaster.

While these designs are in available in several formats for use with any digital software program, if you are looking for an easy and affordable digital scrapbooking software, you should definitely give My Memories Suite a look. It is great for digital scrapbookers of all levels or even traditional scrapbookers that are looking to supplement their paper crafting in order to complete more layouts and/or be able to craft even when away from home and supplies.

My Memories Suite is currently the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software on the market.

Read more about all the great features of My Memories Suite here.

GET $10 OFF!!

My Memories Suite already has a great price, but I have a $10.00 OFF coupon code for you to try it for yourself! Simply copy and paste the code STMMMS74998 at checkout to receive you discount.

:REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: OLFA 5-inch Precision Appliqué Scissors

While a trimmer is important tool in every scrapbooker's set of supplies for making straight cuts on a larger scale, it's very helpful to have a small and sharp pair of scissors for more precision cuts.

Olfa is known for high quality cutting products and their new scissor design - the 5-inch Precision Appliqué Scissor - is no exception.

These scissors were designed specifically for working with fabrics and can  accurately cut up to six layers of fabric. Many scrapbookers have been incorporating various types of fabric, trim and stitching into their designs for quite some time, so it only makes sense to add this great pair of scissors to your stash of tools.

They are lightweight, feature stainless steel blades and have wider holes that accommodate up to three fingers for comfort and more control in cutting.

GIVEAWAY:
Here's a chance for you to try them out for yourself!! Simply leave a comment to this post by 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 15th, 2011 and you'll be entered to win.

Random.org will choose and I'll announce the winner on Friday.

GOOD LUCK!!

:GIVEAWAY WINNERS: Stop & Scrap.com

How about some winners? We've got all kinds of them today!

Let's start with our very, VERY lucky winner of a $25.00 gift certificate to the StopandScrap.com just in time to treat themselves to a little holiday shopping...

CONGRATS, Cindy V!!

And...our three $10.00 Gift Certificate winners....

CONGRATS, tina phillips!!

CONGRATS, RachelV!!

CONGRATS, Alisha Gravette!! 

Ladies, please watch your email inbox for further details on how to claim your prize!

Don't miss out on more great giveaways coming soon! If you haven't already, sign up for updates to the AMOM blog by email subscription or your favorite blog reader through the links in the right sidebar. Maybe Random.org will make your number lucky next time!

:GIVEAWAY: Stop and Scrap.com

If you are even a remotely serious scrapbooker, you MUST know about StopandScrap.com!

In all honesty, I only discovered it myself about a year ago, but have shopped there consistently during that time and have become a very happy customer. If you have yet to visit to StopandScrap.com, I am happy to introduce you!

One great thing about StopandScrap.com is that they allow you to pre-order scrapbooking supplies so that you can make sure that you are always able to get your hands on the latest and greatest as soon as they hit the shelves.

The BEST thing about StopandScrap.com is they often offer these amazing products for pre-order at a DISCOUNTED PRICE!!

So, not only can you get your favorite products as soon as they come available, but also ensure that your saving money while doing it! 

What could be better than that??

I can't think of one thing!

Here's a few of the collections that they currently have available for pre-order that I am quite in love with:

:GIVEAWAY:

In keeping with the holiday season...I've teamed up with StopandScrap.com to offer FOUR GREAT PRIZES to FOUR LUCKY readers! I have ONE (1) $25 Gift Certificate and THREE (3) $10 Gift Certificates to StopandScrap.com to give away.

All you have to do to enter is visit the StopandScrap.com website and leave a link in a comment to this post to the item or collection that you would use your gift on should you be one of the lucky winners.

Easy enough, right? I've never met a scrapbooker that doesn't enjoy shopping for supplies!

Random.org will choose and I'll announce the winners on Friday, December 9, 2011.

HAVE FUN SHOPPING!!!

:BE INSPIRED: Creativity Prompts - December 2011

Hello, all...here's the December 2011 edition of Be Inspired Creativity Prompts!

As always, it include several pages of scrapbooking ideas including prompts take from the calendar, design, color schemes, sketches and more!

If you're so inclined, please feel free to email me a pic of any projects you create inspired by these prompts and you might just find yourself featured on the AMOM blog!

Happy scrapping!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

PLEASE SHARE:
If you like the free monthly Be Inspired Creativity Prompts download, please share it with others. That's all the thanks I need.

I have created a Be Inspired Creativity Prompts button that you can use, too! Just visit the ABOUT page and copy the code underneath second button and paste it into your own blog, website or forum signature. I greatly appreciate you helping to spread the inspiration!

Don't miss out on more great scrapbooking inspiration! Sign up for updates to the AMOM blog by email subscription or your favorite blog reader through the links in the right sidebar.

:PRINTABLE: Winter poem by Torrey Miller

The snowflakes are on the way for us... Here's a printable freebie for you...just print, frame and you have some instant seasonal decor. Enjoy!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Take a moment and check out my other free themed printables.

:WORD ART: Winter Word Art Pack

There's a brand new word art pack available in My Memories store...have you had your first snow yet?

Winter Word Art Pack

Check out this and all my other word art packs available through My Memories, Scrapbook Boutique and PrintMaster.

While these designs are in available in several formats for use with any digital software program, if you are looking for an easy and affordable digital scrapbooking software, you should definitely give My Memories Suite a look. It is great for digital scrapbookers of all levels or even traditional scrapbookers that are looking to supplement their paper crafting in order to complete more layouts and/or be able to craft even when away from home and supplies.

My Memories Suite is currently the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software on the market.

Read more about all the great features of My Memories Suite here.

GET $10 OFF!!

My Memories Suite already has a great price, but I have a $10.00 OFF coupon code for you to try it for yourself! Simply copy and paste the code STMMMS74998 at checkout to receive you discount.

:LAYOUT: Fall Meets Winter

We haven't had our first snow yet this year.

We've been lucky, but it's bound to be on the way anytime now. A couple of years ago, we had our first snow in October...as evidenced by this layout.

(click for a larger view)

The green base of this two page spread pulls out the single green tree in the photo while the shimmering blue paper highlights the wintery theme. The brown, shimmery title stickers and gems further support the theme.

Journaling:
Would you believe that all these photos were taken on the same day? Leaves of green, gold, and red…and all of them blanketed with snow! Fall has always been my favorite season because of the cooler (but not cold) temperatures and the warm, rich colors. It’s not too often that you see the transition of seasons in a quite-so-obvious way, but I have to admit that the combinations of brilliant white snow softly swathing the leaves was quite beautiful.

October 12, 2009

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: My Mind’s Eye, Cosmo Cricket
Letter Stickers: Making Memories
Gems: ZVA
Ink: Colorbox
Corner Rounder: Marvy
Scallop Trimmer: Fiskars
Font: American Typewriter

:REVIEW: A Mercy by Toni Morrison

I recently finished reading A Mercy by Toni Morrison.

First...here's a general description from Goodreads...

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
A powerful tragedy distilled into a jewel of a masterpiece by the Nobel Prize–winning author of Beloved and, almost like a prelude to that story, set two centuries earlier.

In the 1680s the slave trade was still in its infancy. In the Americas, virulent religious and class divisions, prejudice and oppression were rife, providing the fertile soil in which slavery and race hatred were planted and took root.

Jacob is an Anglo-Dutch trader and adventurer, with a small holding in the harsh north. Despite his distaste for dealing in “flesh,” he takes a small slave girl in part payment for a bad debt from a plantation owner in Catholic Maryland. This is Florens, “with the hands of a slave and the feet of a Portuguese lady.” Florens looks for love, first from Lina, an older servant woman at her new master’s house, but later from a handsome blacksmith, an African, never enslaved.

There are other voices: Lina, whose tribe was decimated by smallpox; their mistress, Rebekka, herself a victim of religious intolerance back in England; Sorrow, a strange girl who’s spent her early years at sea; and finally the devastating voice of Florens’ mother. These are all men and women inventing themselves in the wilderness.

A Mercy reveals what lies beneath the surface of slavery. But at its heart it is the ambivalent, disturbing story of a mother who casts off her daughter in order to save her, and of a daughter who may never exorcise that abandonment.

Acts of mercy may have unforeseen consequences.

WHAT I THOUGHT:
I read Morrison's novel Beloved years ago (in high school actually, I think). While I don't really even remember what the story line was, I do remember loving the lyrical writing style.

I was a little worried as I started the first chapter as it begins in the voice of Florens, whose dialect is extremely thick. I wasn't sure I'd make it through the whole book in that voice. However, I soon discovered that the voice changes with each chapter and while each is unique, none are quite as difficult as Florens. With that said, even her voice became easier to read (and more lyrical) as the characters and plot lines developed.

Wild is certainly a good word to describe the place and time of this book. While there are certainly examples of goodness and hope in both events and people, there are also a strong presence of corruption and despair as well...the true dichotomy of life in this earlier period of development in our country.

While it's nice to have a nice tidy, happy ending, you won't find it in this novel. What you will find is a novel that is though-provoking and beautiful in its complexity of character and plot.

NEXT ON THE BOOKSHELF:

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

:HAPPY THANKSGIVING:

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” 

W.T. Purkiser

:SALE: BasicGrey Sale @ Scrapbook.com...TODAY only!

Scrapbook.com has an amazing deal today!!

They are offering an additional 20% off the lowest-marked price on ALL BasicGrey products!

No coupon required...but the offer is good TODAY only!

So, if you could use some BasicGrey lovliness, now is the time to stock up!! The discount is valid on collection packs, paper, embellishments, albums, card kits and MORE!

Happy Shopping!

:MEMORYWORKS EXPRESS: December 2011 Sneak Peek - "Vintage Findings"

Watch for further details on this kit coming soon!

In the meantime, enjoy the details of a few past MemoryWorks Express Kits!

A MemoryWorks Express Kit subscription is ONLY $29.95 (plus $6.50 S&H) per month! They are chock full of the latest and greatest in the scrapbooking industry, the items are always timely in terms of the current season or holiday, and the price can't be beat!

The monthly kits are often sold out by the time the full details and contents are released, so if you are interested in subscribing or would simply like more information, please don't hesitate to contact me!

:GIVEAWAY WINNER: Scrapbooking Holidays & Seasons by Creating Keepsakes

CONGRATS, JODI!!

Please watch your email inbox for further details on how to claim your prize...

If you'd like your own copy of Scrapbooking Holidays & Celebrations, it is available at Scrapbook.com for only $6.99!

Don't miss out on more great giveaways coming soon! If you haven't already, sign up for updates to the AMOM blog by email subscription or your favorite blog reader through the links in the left sidebar. Maybe Random.org will make your number lucky next time!

:WORD ART: Secret of Life Quote Freebie

Quote #3 was easily to winner in the most recent quote vote of Lewis Carroll quotes.

Hope you enjoy this word art freebie!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Be sure to check out my other word art downloads to make sure you haven't missed any.

If you'd like to make sure that your voice is heard in the quote vote for my next word art freebie, subscribe by email or your favorite reader using the options at the top of the inner right sidebar.

:REVIEW: Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

I recently finished The Kitchen House: A Novel by Kathleen Grissom.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
When a white servant girl violates the order of plantation society, she unleashes a tragedy that exposes the worst and best in the people she has come to call her family.

Orphaned while onboard ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin.

Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk.

The Kitchen House is a tragic story of page-turning suspense, exploring the meaning of family, where love and loyalty prevail.

WHAT I THOUGHT:
Grissom's The Kitchen House is just the kind of historical fiction that I've always loved. To be honest, I would have never guessed that this was her first novel.

I found her characters to be complex and believable. The plot line kept me guessing a bit, but there weren't any ridiculous or forced plot twists that I've found in a few other recent reads that turn me off. It is clear that Grissom did her research in writing this novel.

The narrator of the novel alternates between two of the main character, Lavinia and Belle, with each chapter which I found quite interesting. Both characters are well-defined and offer a unique perspective on the overall story.

The ONLY thing that bothered me (just a little) about the novel, was that the dialect(s) were clear among the  slave characters, however Lavinia's accent is completely absent...even though it is referenced early on in the novel that she can be hard to understand at times because her Irish dialect is so strong. Just seems like one detail that wasn't carried through considering the detail and consistency found in the rest of the novel.

Despite this, if you are a fan of historical fiction, I DO NOT think that you will be disappointed by The Kitchen House!! It's a great read!

NEXT ON THE BOOKSHELF:

A Mercy

:WORD ART: Kiss the Cook Word Art

There's a brand new word art pack available in My Memories store...with the holidays coming up, I'm sure that you be experiencing some really great food and can hopefully find a use for this fund pack!

Kiss the Cook Word Art Pack

Check out this and all my other word art packs available through My Memories, Scrapbook Boutique and PrintMaster.

While these designs are in available in several formats for use with any digital software program, if you are looking for an easy and affordable digital scrapbooking software, you should definitely give My Memories Suite a look. It is great for digital scrapbookers of all levels or even traditional scrapbookers that are looking to supplement their paper crafting in order to complete more layouts and/or be able to craft even when away from home and supplies.

My Memories Suite is currently the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software on the market.

Read more about all the great features of My Memories Suite here.

GET $10 OFF!!

My Memories Suite already has a great price, but I have a $10.00 OFF coupon code for you to try it for yourself! Simply copy and paste the code STMMMS74998 at checkout to receive you discount.

:GIVEAWAY: Scrapbooking Holidays & Celebrations by Creating Keepsakes

Creating Keepsakes has another great special issue hitting the shelves that you won't want to miss!

Scrapbooking Holidays & Celebrations would make a great holiday gift for the scrapbooker in your life...or get yourself an early gift! You'll be set with inspiration to  keep you scrapping all through the coming year.

Description:
Whether your holidays and celebrations are casual get-together or formal events, this special issue from Creating Keepsakes magazine is sure to be a trusted source of scrapbooking inspiration! The gallery of 50 outstanding ideas is a quick source of scrapliftable layouts, and you'll also discover ways to make your relationships shine on your scrapbook pages, photo-taking tips to catch meaningful moments and details of your celebrations, and journaling ideas to capture the points of view of your loved ones. Learn ways to create easy holiday accents and even ideas for storing your holiday-themed supplies. Pick up this issue today for non-stop scrapbooking inspiration for all your celebrations during the upcoming year!

Check out a sneak peek of this wonderful issue here:

Open publication - Free publishing - More celebrations

GIVEAWAY:
Here's your chance to win a free copy of Scrapbooking Holidays & Celebrations for yourself! Simply leave a comment to this post by 5 p.m. CST on Thursday, November 17, 2011.

Random.org will choose and I will announce the winner on Friday!

GOOD LUCK!

:GIVEAWAY WINNER: Scrapbooking with Fabric & Notions by Creating Keepsakes

CONGRATS, KAREN!!

Please watch your inbox for further details on how to claim your prize!!

If you didn't win, don't despair...Scrapbooking with Fabric & Notions is available for purchase for $14.99 at Scrapbook.com. Pick up your copy today!!

:QUOTES: from Lewis Carroll...

Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland, was known for many memorable quotes within his novels and in life.

Here's three of my favorites:

QUOTE #1:
Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

QUOTE #2:
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

QUOTE #3:
“One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.”

READER RESPONSE:
Vote for your favorite quote and I'll create a word art freebie with the 'winning' quote to share with you sometime next week. In the meantime, check out my other word art downloads.

:MEMORYWORKS EXPRESS: November 2011 Kit - "Let it Snow"

Our newest MemoryWorks Express Kit is all about the cooler seasons.

Curl up with your favorite memories, add a dash of creativity and scrap the night away with "Let it Snow".

Check out the inspiring projects created by the MemoryWorks Design Team with this beautiful kit in the November Idea Express featuring exclusive PageMaps sketches!

The November 2011 MemoryWorks Express Kit Contains:

Patterned Paper
{1} 12x12 Wonderland - North Country (Prima)
{1} 12x12 Glacier Roads - North Country (Prima)
{1} 12x12 Manie Meadows - North Country (Prima)
{1} 12x12 Dot - Blitzen (BoBunny)
{1} 12x12 Stockings - Blitzen (BoBunny)
{1} 12x12 Reindeer Fly - Holly Jolly (My Mind's Eye)

Solid Cardstock
{1} 12x12 Cranberry Stationary (Lilybee Designs)
{1} 12x 12 Spruce Stationary (Lilybee Designs)
{1} 12x12 Frost Stationary (Lilybee Designs)
{1} 12x12 Oatmeal Stationary (Lilybee Designs)

Embellishments
{1} 12x12 ABC's Stickers - Jingle (Lilybee Designs)
{1} 12x12 Tis the Season Transparency (Fancy Pants)
{6} Blitzen Noteworthy Die Cut Shapes - Assorted Styles & Sizes (BoBunny)
{4} Kraft and White Die Cut Snowflakes - Assorted Styles (Maya Road)
{3} Kraft Mini Tags - Assorted Styles (Maya Road)
{3} Chipboard Snowflakes - Assorted Styles & Sizes (Maya Road)
{3} Antique Gem Trinket Pins (Maya Road)
{3} North Country Avon Roses - Assorted Colors (Prima)
{5} North Country Essentials II Flowers - Assorted Colors (Prima)
{12} Joyeaux Noel Buttons - Assorted Sizes (Buttons Galore)
{1} ½ Yard Brown Crepe ¾" Ribbon (Creative Impressions)
{1} ½ Yard Olive Silk ¼" Ribbon (May Arts)
{1} ½ Yard Red Sheer Box Pleat Ribbon (May Arts)

Cards
{2} 3x6 Cranberry Stationary (Lilybee Designs)
{2} 3x6 Spruce Stationary (Lilybee Designs)
{1} 3x6 Frost Stationary (Lilybee Designs)
{1} 3x6 Oatmeal Stationary (Lilybee Designs)
{6} 3 ¼ x 3 ¼ Clear Envelopes

ALL FOR ONLY $29.95!! (plus $6.50 S&H)
Due to high demand, it is quite possible that this month's kit is already sold out! If you are interested in subscribing to the MemoryWorks Express Kit Program and guaranteeing you spot for next month, please contact me today for further details!

:PHOTOS: My Cute Little Car Hop

Kaitlin got SO MANY smiles and comments on her costume this year.

With all the locations we trick-or-treated around town, we didn't see one other girl with a similar costume and she took a lot of pride that she picked something so unique.

Wouldn't you buy a burger and a soda from her??