:QUOTES: on FRIENDS in honor of National Best Friends Day...

UNKNOWN:
“I believe that friends are quiet angels who sit on our shoulders and lift our wings when we forget how to fly.”

E. B. WHITE (1899-1985; author):
“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing...By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."
-Charlotte, "Charlotte's Web"

SWEDISH PROVERB:
“Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.”

:DAILY INSPIRATIONS: May 2009 Winner

Well, I received some amazing email submissions for the May 2009 Daily Inspirations Challenge Giveaway.

Thank you to all the amazing scrappers that participated.

I simply can't wait to see what creativity you have in store for me next month!

........and after the random drawing........

Tonya B. is the lucky winner of the May Prize prize:

CONGRATULATIONS, Tonya!

Watch your inbox for an email from me shortly with details on how to claim your Cosmo Cricket Dutch Girl Crafting Kit!

REMINDER:
The June 2009 Daily Inspirations has already been posted, so head on over and get scrapping! This month's winner will win a free copy of Linda Harrison's great scrapbooking idea book, Starting Points: Creating Meaningful Scrapbook Layouts From Whatever Inspires You.

:LAYOUT: Boom!

I got an email from a friend named Brian who used to work in the IT department where I work, but left us to go work for the Meredith Corporation who publishes such magazines as Better Homes and Gardens...and MUCH more importantly, Scrapbooks etc. (I still miss you, Brian...you can come back anytime!)

Anyway, he emailed me that he happened to pick up the July issue of SE the other day and found this layout of mine.

I hadn't even seen it in print yet, but have been anxiously awaiting this issue. It's my very first (and hopefully not my last) layout to be published by Scrapbooks etc.

Well, I got my subscription issue in the mail today, so here it is! It's on page 78.

It's actually a layout I created a year and a half ago or so...Kaitlin looks SO LITTLE!!

It's also a little more symmetrical than I usually go, but was the perfect arrangement for this particular set of photos.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Autumn Leaves, Basic Grey
Chipboard Letters & Accents: American Crafts
Clear Stamp: Autumn Leaves
Ink: ColorboxPen: Zig

:LIFE: Trying out t-ball...

Last year she did soccer.

This year, she said she'd like to try softball and so we signed her up.

She had her first game the other night and as usual, she's one of the littlest ones in the group (her t-shirt could double as a dress!)...but she never seems to let that bother her much.

She looks ready to catch a ball, doesn't she?

Her first opportunity at bat was a grand success...contact off the tee on the first swing! Do you see it?

Of course, they are still all at the point where they need to be reminded to RUN!

"Run, Kaitlin, run!"

Not only is the t-shirt a bit large...so is the helmet.

It tends to fall forward as she runs so she has to lean her head back to see where she's going.

It sad, but yet quite comical.

Smiling for the camera (I think) at 3rd base...

...and coming into home base for the very first time.

She had two more chances at bat. The second one she struggled with a bit and had several swings before she made contact (she insisted it was all the bat's fault). The last time, she used the same bat as the first time and made contact on the first swing again (maybe she wasn't making it up).

All in all, she made it home all three times without getting tagged out.

No one really keeps score at this age, but we told her we thought her team won.

It will be exciting to see how she performs at her last game (12 games away) compared to her first...we'll be watching...

:FIVE FAVES: June is National Wedding Month...

No, it's not...February actually is, but I think June would be MUCH more fitting, don't you?

I'm pretty sure I've been to a lot of weddings in June and don't think I've ever been to a wedding in February, but maybe that's just because it's way too cold in the Midwest in February for a wedding!

Anyway, in keeping with this theory, the market has seen an abundance of wedding themed products within the last month or so.

Here are a few of my favorites...

#1 - Small Wedding Clear Acrylic Stamp Set by American Crafts
If your one of those crafters that dares to take on the task of creating your own invites, this little set could be the saver of your sanity!

#2 - Ruby Designer Heart Bling It by BasicGrey
I am IN LOVE with all the new Bling It designs...they are just stunning! You can check out the rest of them here.

#3 - Everafter Ready Set Chip by Cosmo Cricket
Certainly not the most 'traditional' color combination in terms of modern wedding palettes. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful collection and is calling out for you to convert a few of your cherished wedding shots to sepia tone! These are the chipboard elements, but you can check out the rest of the collection including patterned papers, ribbon, rub ons and more here.

#4 - Fanfare Black Epoxy Alpha Stickers by Art Warehouse
These letters would add the perfect amount of glitz to any wedding layout title. They come in silver and white as well! There are also a few die cut papers that coordinate, a couple darling rub on swatch books (here and here) as well as these epoxy stickers!
#5 - Wedding 12X12 3-Ring Album by Making Memories
I've said it once and I'll say it again...I'm a die-hard Making Memories fan and their I Do collection is no exception! I LOVE the detail on this album and they've thought of about every little detail you could possibly want in this collection. If you've got a wedding layout or album to do, you MUST check out the complete line - it's massive!

READER RESPONSE:
What other favorite collections/items have you seen that will be making their way onto your wedding layouts this summer?

:SPONSORS: June 2009 AMOM Sponsors...

FEATURED SPONSORS:

Get it Scrapped!

With a brand new forum and even more great features, your bound to get even more out of the great online scrapbooking classes offered at Get it Scrapped! They have three new classes starting in June:

Captured Through The Lens with Katrina Kennedy - June 9 - 26
Oodles of Doodles with Michelle Houghton - June 15 - July 2
"Masterful" Art Journaling with Dina Wakley - June 30 - July 21

Tessa Ann

You simply must check out Tessa Ann's Etsy shop! She has the most adorable handmade buttons and felt embellishments perfect for adding a custom look to any crafting project.

Nicole Lombardo

Another very talented creator of handmade goods, Nicole specializes in custom designed die cut scrolls, 12x12 lace papers and more. They are amazing and nothing you'll ever find at your LSS or big box store. She's adding new designs and colors all the time, so don't miss out.

WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING A SPONSOR OF THE AMOM BLOG? If so, please contact me and I would be happy to provide you with further details.

:DAILY INSPIRATIONS: June 2009 Edition

Here it is...the June 2009 edition of Daily Inspirations...download it now for FREE here and start scrapping!!

THE DETAILS & RULES:

• Layouts must be new and created for this challenge.
• Upload to your favorite online gallery and leave a link in the comments of the corresponding Daily Inspirations announcement post. A link back to AMOM's Daily Inspirations in your gallery posting would be greatly appreciated, although not required to win. If you do not upload to online galleries, you may email your entry to me at jillmarie7276@yahoo.com (images should be 100K or less, please).
• In comment link or email, please include your name, email and challenge square used for the entry.
• Entries are due by the 5th of the following month. June entries are due July 5th.
• Challenge squares may be combined onto one layout if you wish, but only one chance will be given per layout entry. The more challenge squares you complete, the more chances you have to win!
• A random drawing will be conducted to determine the monthly winner and will be notified by email as well as being announced on the blog.

THIS MONTH'S PRIZE:
This month's winner will win a free copy of Linda Harrison's great scrapbooking idea book, Starting Points: Creating Meaningful Scrapbook Layouts From Whatever Inspires You.

Download the FREE JUNE 2009 DAILY INSPIRATIONS now and start scrapping!!

REMINDER:
It's not too late for your chance to be inspired and win the May 2009 Daily Inspirations prize! Layouts can be submitted until Friday, June 5th, 11:59 PM (CST) for a chance to win the complete Dutch Girl Paper Crafting Kit by Cosmo Cricket!