:MEMORYWORKS EXPRESS: September 2011 Kit - "Harvest"

Soon the seasons will change from the bright days of summer to the hazy days of Fall. Time to gather all in and enjoy the seasons to come!

Our September 2011 MemoryWorks Express kit Harvest is full of rich Autumn colors, shades and designs perfect for your Fall activities and memories!

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

September 2011 MemoryWorks Express Kit Contains:

Patterned Paper
{1} 12x12 Countryside - Farmhouse (Crate Paper)
{1} 12x12 Cross Stitch - Farmhouse (Crate Paper)
{1} 12x12 Cupboard - Farmhouse (Crate Paper)
{1} 12x12 Memories - Lost & Found 2 (My Minds Eye)
{1} 12x12 Silly Stripe - Stella & Rose (My Minds Eye)
{1} 12x12 Dusk - Forever Fall (Bo Bunny)

Solid Cardstock
{1} 12x12 Papaya Puree Dark (Bazzill)
{1} 12x 12 Suede Brown Dark (Bazzill)
{1} 12x12 Sugar Cream (Bazzill)
{1} 12x12 Kraft (Bazzill)

Embellishments
{1} 6x12 Phrase Stickers - Farmhouse (Crate Paper)
{1} 6x12 Border Stickers - Farmhouse (Crate Paper)
{1} 6x12 Woodgrain Mini Alphas (Sassafras)
{3} 5x8 Ribbon Edge Chipboard Banners (Fancy Pants)
{2} Cream Notions Patterned Flowers (Studio Calico)
{6} Pyrus Glazed Brads - Assorted Styles & Sizes (BasicGrey)
{4} Memories Eclectic Buttons - Assorted Styles & Sizes (My Minds Eye)
{1} ½ Yard Timber & Cream Gingham Ribbon (Creative Impressions)
{1} ½ Yard Jumbo Mustard Rick Rack (Creative Impressions)
{1} ½ Yard Antique Ruler Twill (Creative Impressions)
{1} ½ Yard Natural Twine (Creative Impressions)

Cards
{1} 5.5 x 8.5 Papaya Puree Dark (Bazzill)
{1} 5.5 x 8.5 Suede Brown Dark (Bazzill)
{1} 5.5 x 8.5 Sugar Cream (Bazzill)
{1} 5.5 x 8.5 Spring Willow Medium (Bazzill)
{1} 5.5 x 8.5 Kraft (Bazzill)
{5} 5 3/4 X 4 3/8 Natural 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!

:QUOTES: on NATURE according to...

JOHN MUIR:
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

LAO TZU:
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

ALICE WALKER:
“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.”

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.

:GIVEAWAY: Budget-Friendly Scrapbooking from Creating Keepsakes

Creating Keepsakes has a fantastic new special edition available called Budget-Friendly Scrapbooking.

Anyone who has scrapbooked for any length of time, knows that it can quickly and easily become an expensive hobby.

However, it really doesn't have to be. With our present economy, it seems everyone is trying to find ways to stretch their dollars.

Budget-Friendly Scrapbooking will give you all kinds of tips for enjoying your hobby without breaking the bank!

If you'd like to take a look at what's inside, here's a sneak peek:

Open publication - Free publishing - More inexpensive

GIVEAWAY:
I have a free copy of Budget-Friendly Scrapbooking to give away to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment answering the following question by 5 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, September 1, 2011 and you'll be entered for a chance to win.

Have your ever felt like you couldn't afford to scrapbook? If so, what did you do? Quit? Find budget-saving tricks of your own?

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

GOOD LUCK!!

:PHOTOS: Black Hills Vacation...Day Three

On day three of our Black Hills vacation, we headed north to Spearfish.

First, we went to the D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery.

Kaitlin had a great time feeding all the fish.

It was a little warm that day and Kaitlin was getting a little irritable while we were waiting to tour the Booth home.

I loved these flowers...

How about this for a fridge!

LOVE that tub!

Then, we went for a drive through Spearfish Canyon and made a point to stop for each of the three waterfalls along the way.

First up was Bridal Veil Falls.

There are signs saying that you aren't supposed to leave the road, but none of the tourists were listening.

Justin, Kaitlin and I all crossed the steam and hiked right up to the base of the falls. Kaitlin and I ended up with soaked socks and tennis shoes, but it was worth it.

Here's a picture taken right in the middle of the stream...that water was SO COLD!!

Here's Justin trying to dry out my socks for me...we got more than a few funny looks as we held socks and shoes out the windows as we drove through the rest of the canyon.

This one is called Roughlock Falls...beautiful!

And the last one we hiked to was called Spearfish Falls.

That night we made it back to Rapid City a little earlier (before dark) and went out to eat at the Outback Steakhouse that was near our hotel. Mmmmm....

Then, we went down and enjoyed the hot tub and pool for a while before hitting the sack for the day.

:GIVEAWAY WINNER: How to be the Best Bubblewriter in the World Ever by Linda Scott

CONGRATS, SMFSPROUT!! 

You will soon know just how to be the best bubblewriter in the world...ever!  Please watch your inbox for further details on how to claim your prize.

How to be the Best Bubblewriter in the World Ever is available on Amazon.com for only $10.17 for any of you that would still like to create your creative (and bubbly) self!

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!

:LINKS: Back to school freebies and printables...

With the back to school season under way, there are so many fun freebies and printables available online.

Here's a few of my favorite finds...

Back 2 School Photo Checklist from Rebecca Cooper

Back to School Printable Posters from Telisa from Sugar Tots Designs

School Days Subway Art from Sweet Coconut Lime

School Notes from Anything but Perfect

School Conversation Cards from Nikkala of The Crafting Chicks

LET'S TALK:
Please share any fun school-themed freebies you've found recently.

:LAYOUT: It's Gonna be a Banner Year

Second grade was a special grade for Kaitlin for several reasons and this layout will help us to remember why it meant so much to both of us.

THREE THINGS TO TRY:

#1 - Mimic a design element after a word in your title. For example, I have the work 'banner' in my title and my background paper features triangular banners.

#2 - Use a lined paper for your journaling on a school-themed layout.

#3 - Write your journaling first and take a phrase from it to use as your title.

Journaling:
Even though Kaitlin probably would choose to stay home most days if given the choice, she really does love school. She loves learning new things and the time spent with friends.

The impending start of the 2nd grade school year was special for a couple of key prospects…both exciting and not-so-exciting.

First of all, Kaitlin had developed a special relationship with one 2nd grade teacher in particular – Mrs. Melanie Vlasman – early on in her time at Beadle Elementary. Even as a Kindergartener, she would stop by Mrs. Vlasman’s classroom at the end of the day to give her a hug before heading to her after school program.

Of course, Kaitlin was just longing to have Mrs. V. as her 2nd grade teacher. We had to wait until the open house the day before school to find out whose class list she would be on. That day came and she was elated when she saw her name on Mrs. V.’s list.

However, that elation quickly dissipated a little as she then noticed that the next child’s name on the list was that of a little girl that had caused her quite a lot of tears and grief during their first grade year together. Sad to say, but as much as she was hoping to be in Mrs. Vlasman’s class, she was hoping just as much that she wouldn’t be in the same class with this little girl again.

So, it was all a little bittersweet at the start of her 2nd grade year.

Yet, we are now a few months into the year, and for whatever reason, things seemed to have worked themselves out between the two girls. From the start, there was hardly a mention of any problems. Certainly, they are not “besties,” but they don’t seem to be enemies any longer either.

Maybe they are both just growing up a bit or perhaps it’s the magic of Mrs. V.

Either way, I think it’s going to be a banner year!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: The Girl’s Paperie, Basic Grey
Stickers: The Girls Paperie
Chipboard: My Mind’s Eye, Basic Grey
Letter Stickers: October Afternoon
Ink: Colorbox
Corner Rounder: Marvy
Border Punch: EK Success, Martha Stewart
Font: Century School Book
Pen: Bic

:REVIEW: The Katyn Order by Douglas W. Jacobson

Book Description for The Katyn Order: A Novel by Douglas W. Jacobson:
The German war machine is in retreat as the Russians advance. In Warsaw, Resistance fighters rise up against their Nazi occupiers, but the Germans retaliate, ruthlessly leveling the once-beautiful city. American Adam Nowak has been dropped into Poland by British intelligence as an assassin and Resistance fighter. During the Warsaw Uprising he meets Natalia, a covert operative who has lost everything—just as he has. Amid the Allied power struggle left by Germany’s defeat, Adam and Natalia join in a desperate hunt for the 1940 Soviet order authorizing the murders of 20,000 Polish army officers and civilians. If they can find the Katyn Order before the Russians do, they just might change the fate of Poland.

A die-hard fan of historical fiction, this book was right up my alley. While this book is fiction, it is important to not that the Katyn Order - the murder of Polish officers and civilians - does exist and did happen. I especially enjoy fiction that weaves in truth and it was obvious that Jacobson has done his research.

Previously, I had not know of this particular piece of WWII history and found the details both interesting and disturbing. 

This book is a wonderful, non-stop thriller that I could easily imagine being made into a movie. The characters are real and complex and the action is exciting and engaging.

I must admit, there was quite a twist at the end of the novel. However, considering the events of this particular period of our history, I probably should not have been as surprised as I found myself to be.

My only criticism of the book is the relationship that develops between Adam and Natalia. Somehow it just seemed somewhat forced to me. While I found Natalia to be a believable character in the novel apart from her interactions with Adam, there were times that I found her behavior uncharacteristic and inconsistent when she was with Adam.

However, their relationship only takes up a small portion of the novel, so it is hardly a reason not to read the book. In my opinion, it came across as any great action movie that has to have a little romance thrown in for good measure. :-)

NEXT ON THE BOOKSHELF:

Alice Bliss: A Novel by Laura Harrington

:REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: How to be the Best Bubblewriter in the World Ever by Linda Scott

When I was contacted by Debra at Laurence King Publishing to review How to be the Best Bubblewriter in the World Ever by Linda Scott, I must admit that I almost turned her down.

I always strive to make sure that the products I feature on the AMOM blog fit my topic, are something I feel that I can honestly review, and will be of interest to all of you.

Well, in this case, it was the second one that I was second-guessing. While I know that there are a lot of scrapbookers out there that really love exploring their creative side with hand lettering on their pages, I have to admit that I've never really dipped into this technique. And, honestly, I don't really see myself going that direction since my scrapbooking time is at a premium as it is.

Then, I reconsidered. I thought, "Kaitlin would ADORE this book!" She already loves using various forms of bubble writing on her home and school craft projects.

So, I replied asking if a few statements from her perspective would be acceptable. Debra replied that a kid's review would be great. After doing a little research, I soon discovered that the book is actually marketed primarily to kids, in fact.

When the book arrived, Kaitlin was simply excited that the package was for her! (Everyone loves to get a package, right!?)

We opened it up and her eyes immediately lit up! She was all, "And I can even write in it!?"

She hardly put it down for the first few days!! It was also an amazing car-ride occupier during the vacation we  took to the Black Hills shortly after receiving the book which included lots of car time.

Kaitlin said:

"I love that there are so many different styles to practice."
"Usually it is bad to write in a book. It's cool that I can practice the letters right in it."
"My favorite bubble alphabet is 'Rock On!'. It's so cool!"

In all, there are about 70 different bubble type faces featured in this book. Here's a couple examples:

As you can see, the author writes out the entire alphabet to illustrate and there is plenty of room to practice.

If you have a creative kid who love to explore their artistic side, How to be the Best Bubblewriter in the World Ever is a winner!

If you are a scrapbooker who likes to use hand letting on your layouts and/or try knew techniques to give your layouts a uniquely-you feel, this book is for you, too!

How to be the Best Bubblewriter in the World Ever is currently available at Amazon for only $10.17!

About the Author:
Linda Scott is a successful London-based illustrator and printed textile designer. She has produced work for some of the world's leading retailers, independent labels and designer boutiques. Her creative work has also featured in museum exhibitions, art shows and international publications. Currently, Linda is working with children's magazine Okido and a number of exciting animation projects.

SIMILAR TITLES:

The Scrapbooker's Handwriting Workshop: 
20 Unique Fonts to Practice and Play With
Crystal Jeffrey Rieger








GIVEAWAY:
I have a free copy of How to be the Best Bubblewriter in the World Ever to give away to one lucky reader. Simply answer the following question by 5 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, August 25th, 2011 and you'll be entered for a chance to win!

Have you ever used hand lettering (something beyond just your own handwriting for journaling) on a layout? If no, why not? If yes, is it a technique you enjoy to use often?

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

GOOD LUCK!

:SALES: 10% OFF at Scrapbook.com...TODAY ONLY!

Shop for your favorite scrapbooking supplies at Scrapbook.com today!

This discount applies to sale and clearance prices, saving you an additional 10% off the lowest-marked price on all items in the Scrapbook.com Superstore.

Simply enter coupon code aug10 in the coupon field at checkout and 10% will be automatically deducted from all items in your shopping cart.

Hurry - this offer expires at midnight PST!

:MEMORYWORKS EXPRESS: September 2011 Kit Sneak Peak - "Harvest"

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: American Crafts Campy Trails Prize Pack #2

CONGRATS, BRIANA!!

You're the winner of a great prize pack of items (1/2 of the items shown in the photo below)! Please watch your inbox for 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 left sidebar. Maybe Random.org will make your number lucky next time!