Cover page for 2007 book

This is the front and back cover I'm hoping its ok for my 2007 book. It took me a bit to figure out how to get it so it showed up right, in the software, I'm just hoping that it will actually BE right! I can just see my book coming, and having the pictures chopped off or something. *giggle* I'm having trouble getting it uploaded to the site, but have e-mailed them, so hopefully they can figure out how to help me soon. I liked their software, till I got to the cover...then it was a little challenging getting it figured out, but hopefully I finally managed it.

Kit Credit: St Patricks Day kit, Box of Quilling Kit, Easter Basket kit, and Snow Flakes kit ALL by Blushbutter.

I couldn't come up with another title, and that's what I've put on the title pages of my photo albums for years so I just stayed with that, for my yearly books...least for now. A few of you have wondered where I was getting the book printed at...I went with mypictales.com this time around. Hopefully I am as happy with them as I was shutterfly, because I would like to use them more, as they allow more pages, and they are cheaper. If any of you have gotten a book through them, feel free to share your opinions....and I'm sure I will share mine, once I get my book.....that is if I ever get it uploaded so I can get it. LOL Thankfully they seem to be pretty good at answering e-mails so far, as they have sent me a couple, asking questions, already, so I have hope, in that respect!

Well I have things to do, while they are figuring out the problem, so I better get busy! I hope everyone is having a great day! Thanks for your comments. :)

Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo Group Layout Challenge for May.

Its that time again, time for the new challenge to start on the blush~n~dusty yahoo group. This time I want to see your pets!! If you don't have one now, show me one you used to have...or your neighbors pet, or even just the "pet" that walks down your street. If all else fails, tell me WHY you don't like pets, if you can't do one of yours or someone else's pet. It can be dogs, cats, horses, goats, or even fish, whatever you love to love!! I would love to see a picture!! Course if it happens to be a snake, be warned, I may run screaming in the opposite direction!!

Here is my layout for the challenge this month. I thought I would do these photo's, my DH took of the cat sitting on the dog's food bucket, when she got caught stealing their food. LOL They were barking their silly heads off, trying to get her off it too. I had to laugh when I saw the photo's, cause it was rather funny that she was curled up on the bucket.

Kit Credit: Romantic Memories and Pet pretties by Lara Payton The paw prints, were picture tubes that came with my psp program.

This next layout shows our barn, in the process of being built, and DH and his sister on the roof of it. The last layout is our neighbors, driving their little red tractor at the parade in town...and another kinda neat looking tractor that was in the parade.

Summer Dreams by Lara Payton. This kit is a $2.00 kit and is part of a mega kit, that several designers put together. You can find out more about the mega kit, and get links to the other parts (that are all priced at $2.00 each) on this blog.

I hope everyone is having a great week. DH had a doctor appointment Tuesday, (and two more coming up this month, not going to be a good month, for our gas budget) and yesterday I got the grass in the back yard mowed for the first time this year. It grew fast, once it started growing! I've always found it hard to start a mower, and its even more irritating, (while at the same time, I'm greatful) when I can work and work, to try to start it and can't, and DH comes and does it on the first pull, even with his bad back! I'm such a wimp. *giggle* I have to say, that was the ONE thing, that was nice about last year...DH's sister did the mowing. Not that I will regret having to do it myself this year, gotta love the better mood around the house these days.

I managed to get a few other things I've been needing to do done yesterday, so hopefully I can get another couple layouts scrapped, for this week. If I'm lucky, I'll be done with 2007 layouts by my birthday...although I won't hold my breath, as not every week, am I able to do so many, and with having to be gone some this month, that's going to slow us down, even more.

Its sure nice to have nice temps some this week, I've enjoyed that! I can't handle the heat, of summer, so not looking forward to that, but do LOVE spring, and the trees are even starting to green up around here finally! There were a lot of tree's in Lincoln, that had flowers all over them, they were so pretty. Our poor little red bud tree, outside my office window is budding. I love those trees, they are so pretty in the spring, ours is still quite little, but its still neat to see the buds, although not as pretty, as the bigger trees. Growing up in Missouri, I saw them quite a bit in the spring, out in the timber. Now I can't wait for the lilacs!! We didn't have any last year, cause of the late frost, so I'm really hopeful we will this year, even though our lilac bushes are small yet too, gotta LOVE the smell of lilacs!!

Well better get this posted, and get some other things done. I hope to see some of your pets, show up in the yahoo group gallery!! :)

Another no news day

I did a couple quick and simple layouts with photo's from last year today. The first one is one of our Doxie's, she has a problem now and then, with thinking she just had babies, so she takes and "mothers's" her toys, protecting them from our other doxie, and generally being silly. I love her to death, and know its not her fault, but during that time, she can drive me crazy, with her wondering around the house, crying. She is more cuddly then though, which of course is nice, since I love cuddling. If you look close in the left photo, you can see her nose wrinkled, cause she was snarling at Rascal. The toy she is "mothering" is the red thing behind her.

The 2nd layout shows my rolling pin, and the holder that DH had finally managed to make for it. My Uncle Orison made that rolling pin for me, before I got married, and he fashioned it after one that my Great-Grandma had, had. (The small photo is Great-Grandma's) I've wanted to hang it on the wall for years, so it could be out where I could see it easy, yet out of the way, and finally got DH to make me a holder for it, so I had to get a picture.

Kit Credit: Daisy by Designs by Krista It was a freebie on her blog. :)

Am I taking simple to a whole new level? I mean, I really didn't use much on these two layouts, I know I sometimes find it hard to put a lot on a layout, but its getting ridiculous. *giggle* Ah well, it leaves me room for journaling, which I like to have, if I can think of any, because these are for my yearly albums, and they tell the story of our year...so having some journaling is nice for the story. And as "simple" as the layout is, it still looks better than a plain white page, with a bunch of photo's on it, like I used to do...before I found Digital Scrapbooking. NOT that I mind the plain photo album's I used to make, but I like these, however simple, better.

Anyway, as you can see, I have no "news" again today, so I'm just rambling on...don't ask me why, but I'll stop now! LOL Thanks so much for all your comments, both here on my blog, and through e-mail!

A couple layouts and a tongue lashing

I managed a couple layouts for Kali's book this morning. The first layout is her parents, and the changing of her diaper...one of those every day moments with babies. The 2nd layout is my Dad, holding her. I thought the Orange of this kit went with her mothers shirt, so used the Gentle kit again, with some of the quilling flowers on the metal corner. I really love the flags I used in the 2nd layout, for the title. I also love the fact that there was a set with a drop shadow, and a set without, this time I used it with, but once in a while I could see where that wouldn't be what I would want, so its nice to have the choice! And don't you just love that fluffy looking feather. LOL

Kit Credit: Gentle Kit, Box of Quilling Kit, and on the first one I used a frame from the Digi Frame Pack ALL by Blushbutter

Not much newsworthy happening, least not around here. We did get a tongue lashing this morning, by one of our Doxie's when we got back in from milking, cause they inadvertently got locked outside. *giggle* I came in, saw them both standing at the patio door, in the kitchen, and let them in, then Rascal started barking at me, like he does, when we've been gone, and he is chewing us out, for not taking him with us. Then about the time he was settling down, DH came in, and he started all over again. DH felt sorry for them, so gave them one of their treats...which always makes Rascal start barking in excitement and dancing around, till DH can get them out of the bag, and give him one. It was rather funny to be chewed out this morning by a doxie though. I had to laugh at him, which only made him do it more. :)

Hope you all are having a good day! Thanks so much for the comments!

LOTS of layouts.

I'm trying to get caught up, on this years photos...so here are some more layouts with photo's taken this year. I have to admit, I didn't spend as much time being picky, and rearranging things because I wanted to get more done. As you can see, I was on a roll yesterday...cause that's when all these were done, along with the ones in yesterday's post.

This first one is our doxie's snuffling one of the new baby goats. They love to sniff them all over, and just won't leave them alone, till they go back outside. The next layout is DH drying the ears of a new baby, so the ears don't freeze.

Kit Credit for the 1st two: Denim Delight by Jean Daugherty Designs

Then we have our cat, that likes to come inside. She seems to be camera shy, least when she is playing with a toy we bought her, cause I snuck one picture in, but its not real good...then she would stop and sit there all pretty, when I tried to get close enough to get a good photo. Its like she was trying to pretend she wasn't doing the silly thing, of playing with the fake mouse! LOL I did this to go beside a layout I did a while back, so that's why you don't see one that looks like it "matches" here.

Kit Credit: Stories of Yesteryear by Doxie Designs

I got a letter in the mail yesterday, telling about a family reunion this summer. Last time we went they said it would be every 5 years....that COULDN'T have been 5 years ago already, could it? LOL I know it probably has been, it just doesn't seem possible, and makes me wonder where the time has gone. I am hoping to go, but we will see how things are going, by then, it COULD be just a day trip, although it would be a long day, but we will see how much Gas is...if the ford dealer has gotten me a car, that gets good gas mileage...and if I can talk DH into going too. *giggle* I certainly don't want to drive in the BIG city, myself, if I don't have to, since living on the farm, I've gotten used to less traffic. (I know, there is ALWAYS an excuse for me not to drive! *giggle*) It should be fun, if we get to go.

Ok, back to some more layouts.

This layout called Spring Mud, shows our rock pile we had dumped in front of our barn. Thankfully DH and our neighbor was able to get it spread out. I really hate mud, so its sure been nice having a lot of it covered by rock, even if it didn't go as far as would have been nice. This layout was done to go beside one I did a while back too.

Kit Credit: Frou-frou frames & Flora Fun by Lara Payton

These last two layouts, I used a couple qp's that I picked up on a blog, and just put a background behind it, that was from the same kit, that the qp's were made from. I thought they would look ok with the pictures, and since all these were done yesterday, along with the two in yesterday's post, I had about had it with scrappin, but wanted to get a couple more done! LOL 8 layouts in one day, is the most I've ever done, even if they were ones that I didn't take as much care with. However I only have a few more layouts to be done with what I've taken so far this year, so that makes me feel much better. LOL Then I can try to get back to doing some from the last two years...once I get organized, so I know what photo's I have left to scrap.

Anyway, these last two layouts are of our chickens...the first one shows the ones we bought this year, and the last one shows a couple hens sitting on eggs. Nothing spectacular, however they will be ok to tell "our story" for this year.

Kit Credit for the last two layouts: Sundance by Designs by Krista It was a freebie on her blog, when I got it, which is why the link goes to her blog...I think it may still be available, but you better hurry, as she doesn't leave her links active for long.

Yesterday afternoon, DH worked on a way to make it so I didn't have to give the goats just a little bit of food at a time, in order to slow them down eating it...and make it stretch out over most of the milking time. This morning was the first test, and it did work much better. We put half the food in at a time, and on the first goat, she is a slower eater, and easier to milk, so I was done, before she finished the first half of her food. The 2nd goat being a little harder to milk, and a much faster eater, finished all of hers, before I was quite done, but it was still better than stopping every little bit to give them more feed. He still has to perfect the new "invention" but least it will help with the milking.

Other than that and the family reunion news, that's about it for this time...as if 6 layouts in a post isn't more than enough. This weekend, I'm going to try to work on organizing the last two years pictures and layouts, so I can know what I still have left to scrap, since I'm almost caught up with 2008 photo's. That way once I have a couple layouts each week for Kali's book, if I want to, I can do more for mine. Plus its stopped raining, and suppose to be warm, so I'll want to go outside some too. I hope everyone has a great weekend, enjoy the warm weather, if your lucky enough to have some!

Funny Photo Layout Challenge

Dad, don't look at this post!! *giggle* Sorry I just HAD to use this photo of you, and since I didn't get around to doing it last year I thought it would work great for a challenge.

Its time once again for the new challenge at Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo Group, well almost anyway. I figured I would go ahead and post this a little early, since I just did my layout today for it. If you want to see the freebie kit you get a little closer look, go to Blushbutter's blog, and scroll down a little and you will see it. Isn't it beautiful? Feel free to recolor if you need a color besides pink, like I did. I'll be posting it through the group later tonight or in the morning.

I have been wanting an excuse to scrap this photo of my Dad, even though I figured he could get ummm miffed at me spreading it around the net, but since its so many years old (1971), and really is guaranteed to bring a smile (ok a snicker) to everyone, and make their day a little happier, I just had to have the challenge for this month be about a funny photo....or one that made you think of something funny. While you COULD make the photo so it can't be seen on line, if your a nicer person than I am, whats the fun in that! LOL However feel free to do that to yours if you must. I do LOVE a good laugh, and when my Mom sent me this one, I loved it, because as soon as I saw it I started laughing, and ever since, every time I happen across it, I have laughed. Not really AT my dad, but hey, the picture really is rather....funny looking! *giggle*

This is my first layout in pse, I'm so proud of myself for not giving up and going back to pspX! LOL Granted I kept it simple...REAL simple...but it was still way slower than normal, and I'm slow enough, with psp. I found several more things that either I don't know how to do, or it just won't do (bummer) but since I'm sure you all are tired of me moaning about programs I'll forgo listing them. I did find out a neat thing...if you hit control D, and then click on the layer you want selected in the layer pallet, it will select the element. I sooooo wanted to go try it in psp to see if it worked there and I just hadn't figured it out (in all the years of using it) but I didn't. Anyway, least I managed one layout, we will see if I can do a little more later this week....maybe a little more complicated looking.

I made some whole wheat crackers this afternoon, and then while they were finishing baking, I made some simple apple salad. Love Apples, raisins, black walnuts (has to be black walnuts) and a little bit of lemon juice all mixed up together. Its all good for you, even though they are carbs, so we have to watch the serving size. Anyway, my Doxie was in Apple heaven! She LOVE's fruit and apples are one of her favorites, so every time she sees me getting that handy dandy apple peeler my wonderful hubby surprised me with a year and a half ago out, she stands around waiting for some of those heavenly apple peels to fall from my hand. LOL I give her some from each apple till she gets enough, which when I'm just doing enough apples for a salad, is pretty much every apple that gets peeled. After I was finished I saw her running happily to grab a toy, which isn't' something she does alot anymore, unless she is in a really good mood...she is going to be 8 this year I think, so playing with toys has slowed down from few years ago. Usually the toy time is when both DH and I are in the house, so they can show off, and make us both laugh. DH was outside though, so I knew she was really happy to have gotten some of those apples. We have always thought it strange that she would rather have fruit, than a chunk of meat.

Its been kinda dreary here today, not real warm, and damp...got a little rain this morning, but not all that much. The grass is just starting to turn green though, so there is hope, that Spring is around the corner!! Still waiting to hear the frogs though.

For further proof that God has a sense of humor, read my DH's blog post for today! :)

Have a great week, and thanks so much for your comments!!

March's Layout Challenge on Blush ~n~ Dusty's Yahoo Group

Well with March here, and spring just around the corner (I hope!) I thought I would have this months theme be what you like the most about spring. I KNOW there are quite a few of you who are soooooo ready for spring, I know I am, even though with it comes the mud, especially after having so much snow. So come join us on the Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo group, and show us what you like the most about spring!! You can get the mini kit from Lara Payton FREE, by using the coupon code, that you can get in the group.

This layout uses that free mini kit, and I showed some of my favorite things from spring in it. The baby goats dancing around the pasture, the song of the frogs in the creek, everything turning green and the beautiful flowers.

Kit Credit: Flora Fun by Lara Payton Alpha pack 1 by Blushbutter

I think this spring, we are destined to not have those adorable baby goats dancing around the pasture. We lost the one that survived yesterday, last night. DH came in this morning and told me it looked like Mom crushed it. She was in a separate pen, and had plenty of room, but still had to lay down on it. I don't know if this was her first time having babies or not, because we just bought her last year, but I had really hoped that she would be able to raise that one up....I guess we aren't meant to have a reminder of Billy.

I have this problem with the tail's of the black and tan doxie's we have I think. I remember when we were traveling a lot with our business, I was holding the one we had at that time and had to get something out of the middle console in the truck, and didn't realize that his tail was hanging down so it was in it. I shut it when I got done, and got his tail, the poor thing. After that, he could be sleeping in my arms, but if anyone opened the console, his tail would tuck up against him, it was actually pretty funny. Anyway, last night Autumn came up and wanted one of the mint treats I keep in my desk drawer for them so I got the package out of the drawer and had it in my hand, with her standing on my lap with her nose as close to the bag as it could be. I reached down to shut the middle drawer of my desk...which has to be open just a tad bit, to open the side drawers...and all of a sudden, Autumn yipped, and jumped up into my arms. I had to laugh, cause it was funny how she did it, but the poor thing had her tail in the drawer, and when I shut it, it got pinched! I think our dogs, especially if they are black, should really watch their tails, when they are around me!!! *giggle*
Tomorrow is my Dad's birthday, so I thought I would show the card I made him, and wish him a very happy birthday. Happy Birthday Daddy!! I hope you have a great day!!!

The photo's on the card, are ones Dad took. I thought the fact that he caught the kid, leaping off the Donkey was cute.

Kit Credit: Junk Drawer by Shadow Scraps

I hope you all have a great weekend!!

New Furniture!!!!

We ordered a new couch and recliner a few weeks ago, and they finally got delivered this morning!!! Bright and early even, we had them by 7:30, which was amazing, course we were their first stop, but still. DH loves his new chair, AND the new couch, first of all cause its not pink, like our last one was (we got it at an auction, so didn't have a choice) and because the new one is more comfortable for taking his nap on. This is our very FIRST new couch and recliner, everything else we have had was used. Course we got them in the clearance part of the store, so they were cheaper, but that's ok, they are still new. Hopefully they will last for many years, so we don't have to replace them to soon. I had been planning on getting DH a new chair for several months, but figured we would make do with the couch for a while longer, but silly me, I found this one, and just had to get it, since we had enough in savings for it, cause it was so comfy, and DH takes naps on the couch quite often, and I like him to be comfy.

So anyway, I had to scrap a quick and simple page, so I could show you all our new furniture. Our Doxie's were enjoying the new comfort too! And the best part about it is, we had it delivered, so they did the carrying, and we didn't have to, we just watched, and then sat down and enjoyed! LOL We naturally had to pay a little extra for the delivery, but we talked them down on the price of the couch and chair enough, to more than cover the delivery cost.

Kit Credit for 1st layout: Stories of Yesteryear by Doxie Designs

The next two layouts are some of the photo's I took, of the shed getting moved the other day. Kit Credit: Autumn Beauty by Designs by Krista

As you can see, I am in that ultra simple phase of layouts again! *giggle* Or something like that, cause I didn't use all that much on any of them. I started the last two yesterday, but didn't get them finished, with doing other things too, so finished them real quick this morning.

We had to take a trip west this week, during the snowstorm we had, that didn't give us as much snow as they were thinking it would, but still enough to make the roads bad. I'm not real fond of driving long distance at 45 miles an hour (less at times)...but its better to do that, then end up in the ditch. Thankfully when we were ready to head home, the roads were clear again!!! I get really nervous traveling in bad weather, so ended up with a stress headache on the trip out. Something I had a lot of, there for a while, although thankfully not for the past few weeks. It's been so nice to not have them, even though I didn't really realize that I hadn't till I got one again (I guess I have been to happy, and busy to think about the fact that I hadn't had one! LOL). I Praise God for getting us home safely!!

I had to go help the neighbor this morning with his printer again. And I've managed to sweep most of the hard floors....and get these layouts done, so now after lunch, I can get some other things done. If I can keep on this roll I'm on, maybe I'll get quite a bit done today, we will see. I love it when I can get several things done each day, and still play on the computer too! :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and that the weather doesn't turn really bad for you!! Especially if it would be tornado's like went through several states this week. Take Care and thanks so much for the comments you leave me....or e-mail me!!

Memories

As therapeutic as Scrappin can be, least for me, it also can stir up memories that make you sad. I wanted to use this blue background with the lace, cause I love it, and thought this picture would work good with it. While scrappin it, I got to thinking about my Grandparents, and missing them. Especially my Grandpas smile, and chuckle, He has been gone for several years now, but looking at pictures of him, brings the memories back. Its been almost a year (on the 20th) since my Grandma died, and she is missed to, especially her hugs.

This photo was taken by my Uncle at their cabin in Minnesota, before they headed to church. That wonderful piece of land, beside the lake in Minnesota, still has my childhood heartstrings. I love where I grew up in Missouri, but Minnesota was my favorite place to go in the summer. Its memories are wrapped up with memories of my Grandparents and Uncle Orison, and while I haven't seen it for years, and probably won't ever again I can go back there in my mind, and feel the warm sun on my face as I lay on the dock, or hear the boats on the lake, or smell the wind off of the lake. I can once again be sitting at the table, enjoying playing Othello with my Uncle, or having a discussion with my Grandfather, which wasn't often, but did happen, or watching Grandma get a meal. I thank God for those wonderful memories.

I had to work with some pictures of my Doxie's next, as they never fail to entertain and lift my spirits. As you can see, I really LOVE that blue background!! *giggle* These are our two Doxie's, who fill our life with Delight!

Kit Credits for both layouts: Merry Christmas Kit, Creased Frames and Victorian Wedding kit on the first layout, and Alpha pk 1 on the 2nd ALL by Blushbutter

Yesterday morning, after I got the store opened, I went outside with my camera, and got some pictures of the ice. It was so beautiful out there, because the sun was shinning, and everything was covered in sparkles. It truly was a Crystal world, with everything covered in ice. Unfortunately, I couldn't capture the beauty with my camera, I think I only got one picture where a couple of sparkles actually show up (bottom pic with the grass, although it may be to small to see the sparkle). DH took me for a drive, and I got more pictures, some really kinda neat, but alas, the sparkles only wanted to sparkle for us, not for the the camera. We don't have real THICK ice, but its still cool how everything is covered. Course, that is, its cool for the pictures, not the people still without power! I can't wait to scrap the pictures...or at least some of them, as I took WAY to many as usual, but I have to figure out what kit to use first.

One of these days, I really would love to actually learn how to take good pictures of times like yesterday, where God has covered everything with one of the things I love the most....pretty sparkles! (I love almost anything sparkly LOL) Beauty, that I would love to capture with a camera, for later times, when I need a reminder that God is there, and can bring beauty out of pain....or in this case ice, that has created a lot of extra work for many people, and caused many to be without power, including my parents...who are STILL without electricity.

Well I have several things I need to get done around the house now, so I better stop rambling, and get to work! LOL Thanks so much for all of your wonderful comments, I'm glad your enjoying the freebies!

Thankful 2007

I stop and think about what I'm thankful for several times through the year, but this time of the year, with Thanksgiving here, I tend to do it even more. So I think its a great time to do a layout that shows a few of those things.

Last year I did a layout, you can see in this post, course we lost our oldest doxie (the red one) shortly after it, but I was glad I could include her in it, at the time. This year I wanted to do another one, only I thought I would try a photo collage...something I haven't done before, and now I know why! LOL I'm not real good at it, but its nice to try new things sometimes.

First and foremost, I'm most grateful for the wonderful man I married. He is such a gentle, kind, and caring man, and really takes great care of me. He is a hard worker, (to hard at times, with his bad back and knees) and has given me a wonderful home that I love. I'm thankful that we can enjoy time spent with each other, even if we don't do more than watch a movie, or sit and enjoy the peace and quiet.

I am thankful for family, and our animals, our fantastic home in the country, the beautiful views we have, and lovely sunsets and sunrises we get to see. Our new truck, and the fact that its red!! LOL That we have managed to make it through more trials, and are still here to talk about them, and know that God helped us through.

I'm thankful that I can Scrap a lot, which is something I love doing, and it gets something accomplished at the same time....preserving my photos, with information attached, for the future. Also for all the wonderful people I have met, because of my hobby, and the friends I have made along the way. The fact that I am on my Dream CT teams, and get to play with some of the best kits in the business because of it. And for all of YOU, my blog readers, who have laughed with me, and cried with me, over the past year. I love reading your comments, especially if I'm having a bad day, just knowing there is someone whom I have never met, who cares can help cheer me up. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments!

Kit Credit: Everything is by me....Doxie Designs.

Well I think I better stop for now, I have things to do! LOL Thats all for layouts till after Thanksgving. I hope to have a little freebie for you here tomorrow, that will only be available till Monday morning. Its someting new...well anyway new for me, and I would really appriciate some feedback on it!!

Take Care, and thanks so much for your comments!! Feel free to leave me one telling me what YOUR most thankful for...or a link to your blog, if you posted a thankful post on it. Have a great day!

Lara Payton's new kit

I managed to get one layout done today with one of Lara Payton's new kits. She made a two part Christmas kit, that can be used for more than Christmas!!! That makes me really happy, cause then I can play with it to! LOL Gosh I love the ribbons she has in it! Going to play with it more later...either today, this weekend or next week if I can squeeze it in between cooking for Thanksgiving.

I used some photo's for this layout that I took when we went down to Kansas last year, to help my DH's brother move...well brother, and nephew and nephew's girlfriend and daughter. These photo's show them taking a break to eat and watch Husker football....something they can't miss! LOL If you will notice in the photo of my BIL that is a little bit under the frame at the top, one of our Doxie's is sitting in front of him, hoping for food! LOL I thought that was cute, and so had to put that photo in there not in the frame, as I would have had to cut her out to fit the photo in the frame, and still have my BIL in it. Actually she is also sitting on my DH's lap looking right at me as I take the photo, so she has red eye, or in her case they look kinda blueish....makes her look like she is a devil dog, or something, I left them like that, cause at times she has been a little on the devilish side!! *giggle*. Not sure it will show up in the smaller version as much though.

Anyway, don't you just love those ribbon flowers? And she has some other ribbons I still hope to use in the kit...or actually both parts of the kit. Kit Credit: A Vintage Season 1 by Lara Payton

We went into town and got the rest of our Thanksgiving Dinner supplies today. There was a three day sale going on at the store, so I wanted to get in on it. I got the fruit for one of our traditional fruit salads...got really green bananas, so they won't be black hopefully by the time Thanksgiving gets here. I have to remember to get the turkey out of the freezer this weekend and put it in the fridge to thaw...I cook it early, because I like to enjoy my Thanksgiving, and its hard to do, if you have to cook everything that day....and take the extra meat off the bone. Oh and I got several boxes of our favorite brownies because they were less than a buck a box when usually they are almost $1.40...I put them in the freezer, so I'm sure they will last for several months that way, we don't have them lots, but can now and then. I do hate spending full price for them! LOL (I know, I'm such a cheap skate!) Anyway, I'm glad we are pretty much ready for the baking for Thanksgiving!

I still have to pin my DH down on what kind of pie he wants, we looked at mincemeat, but its really expensive, so guess he will make do with a fruit pie or something. (the mincemeat was over $7 a jar! And it looked like a small jar to me, so probably would have had to have two for a pie...I couldn't believe it!) He would have been the only one eating the mincemeat, cause while I always liked my Grandma's green tomato mincemeat, it didn't actually have real meat in it, and I'm not sure I could handle a REAL mincemeat pie. Course I'm sure he would love the fact that he got it all! LOL Oh well someday, when we want something extra special....and have more money to spend, I will get him some. Its been a while since he had a mincemeat pie. I just can't see spending $15 for a little ol pie right now....even $7 something is high, when you have to go home and make it still! Course that could just be my cheap side talking again! LOL

Ok, I guess that's enough rambling on the food subject! I need to get some things done around here anyway! LOL Guess I will post this layout around later! Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Doxie pictures

Ok, been wasting way to much time today, looking through my kits. I was going to use a particular kit this morning, but then ended up not being able to, but was in the mood to use a round frame (after seeing the one in the kit I was going to use) so went looking for one. I can't believe I don't have all that many kits with round frames in them! Least not the ones I did look at, and I couldn't just remember any kits that had any either. I know Blushbutter has some pretty round lace frames, but I didn't start out planning on using lace, so kept looking, and looking, and finally gave up, and used this kit (with lace). I wanted green, cause I thought it would go nicely with the pictures, so when I saw this kit, after having looked through way to many of my folders, I just had to use it, even though the round frame was lace.

As you all know, I love lace, I just didn't know how I would like it with my Doxie. I think it turned out ok though, so I guess all is well! LOL While I would usually have leaned towards using the lighter green in this kit, I decided to try the darker one, because I remember Blushbutter has used a darker paper recently, with a lighter picture and I thought it made the picture stand out more, so thought I would follow her example. I'm going to have to remember to do it again, cause I do like it. It may not work as well with darker pictures, but since these photo's had a lot of light in them, they did great!

These are our two doxie's sitting on my chair in the living room looking out the window. They love to sit there and wait for DH to come in. I can usually tell he is coming in, if they are there, cause they start making a ruckus, all happy to see him. This is even before he gets into the house!! When they are watching, he can't sneak in and surprise me that's for sure! *giggle*

Kit Credit: Beyond the meadow by Lauren Bavin

If you haven't seen Blushbutters layouts lately, go view her blog here. She is doing a book featuring one of her sons, so has a lot of baby layouts, but if you scroll down you will see a wedding one that uses a dark paper with a light picture. I think it is so pretty...(her baby ones are adorable to!!).

Well here it is, almost noon, I only got one layout done, and I have other things to do around the house so i guess I will have to leave the computer, and get to work! LOL I hope all of you have a great weekend, enjoy the very first national digital scrapbooking day, and don't over spend at all of the sales!!! LOL I don't know if I will even venture out, to look at them or not. Not even sure whats going on this weekend here, so don't know if I will be around to, or not. If I manage to do more layouts I will post them, if not, see ya all next week, thanks so much for your comments and for stopping by!

Running Scared

Autumn, our baby girl doxie (not such a baby anymore as she just turned 6 earlier this month) has always loved to torment toads. She will stand there for hours on end barking at them, and pawing at them, pick them up in her mouth, and then fling them down again. She loves to see them hopping around, so tries everything she can, to get them to. She can be dripping saliva all over the place, from having them in her mouth...they must excrete something, that makes her drool big time, cause she can just be slimy all over her face, after playing with one. She doesn't hurt them, just enjoys making it (and us) deaf, and watching it hop.

Summertime is toad time, and she loves to go out, if its not REALLY hot, and search all over the yard for them. Usually there is at least one out there, and when we get tired of hearing her bark, we have to go make her come in, and hope we can get her to STAY in. Its sometimes not really that easy to do.

We recycle pop cans and sell them when we get a bunch, so usually there is a partial bag of them out on the back patio. There has been all summer in fact. We really need to find a better place to keep them (obviously) but so far, that's where it sits. Today while I was cooking supper, I started hearing a racket out on the patio. It wasn't windy, at least not enough to make something blow around, THAT much, so I turned to look, and didn't see anything. I looked out the other window, just in time to see the black garbage bag, streaking across the yard, toward the dog door. I couldn't see it very well, just well enough to know the yellow ties on the bag, to tie it shut, were wrapped around a dogs neck as she hightailed it to the safety of the house. I knew right away which dog it would be, because she is the one that is always out, nosing around looking for toads, and sure enough, Rascal was barking at the noise the cans had made on the concrete from the safety of the couch in the living room.

I figured she would be stuck in the dog door, cause I didn't figure the cans would fit through it, but come to find out, that's where she finally got away from that horrible thing that had followed her all the way across the yard, cause as she dove in the door, they couldn't, so the ties broke, and she was at last, safe, back in the house with me. Course I was practically rolling on the kitchen floor, from laughing at seeing that garbage bag, almost flying across the yard. DH went and got the bag out of the dog door, and she saw him carrying it, and wouldn't go near him, till he put it down. My poor baby girl was running scared, but I doubt it will cure her of looking for those poor toads.

I didn't get any layouts done today, I just couldn't settle down to do any. So hopefully tomorrow I can make myself do some...just a couple more days before I need to print out the last of what I have done for the album. I did however see a Scrappers poem today at my favorite poem/quote site, and thought I would share it here. Eventually, hopefully, I will actually put it on a layout, for a album. Maybe an about me album, if I ever get around to doing one...like the one they are doing on Tina's yahoo group. I really had planned on doing those challenges, that would net me an about me album, but so far, haven't managed to get started on them. Oh well, its not like I don't have enough pages about me, for Mom and Dad's book! LOL

Now isn't this poem, perfect for all of us Scrapbookers!

Scrapbooker's Verse

We gather up pictures
and bits of our past
and scrapbook them into
a gift that will last.

We write about milestones
and travels and such--
the times of our lives
that we treasure so much.

A few special photos,
a family tree,
a few thoughtful words
and soon we will see...

The album we've made
is much more than a book.
It's worth even more
than the time that it took.

It's a gift holding memories
and made with great care
by hearts and hands
with love to share.

by Kimberly Rinehart

Ok, here's some proof.....

I am strange. I've known this for years, really I have! LOL I don't bother to do anything about it, cause...well, I just don't care, I love being different. However, even though I am strange, I never thought I would be posting this picture anywhere. Why would I take a pictures of the rear end of my baby doxie? I adored her, and thought it was cute! Well that and I was bored, as we were traveling, and was playing with my camera! LOL However I went in to DigiZines today, to see what the last challenge in the Aug Tag your it game was, and it was to do a layout featuring the end of something. Yes, I know, I could have done several things....end of summer....end of school....end of single life.....but no, this is what I came up with! LOL Now how many of you are laughing at me right now? Or thinking, hmmm she really IS strange!! Well for all of you out there who thought I was normal, SURPRISE!!!! Oh and don't go telling me different, you might hurt my feelings! I would hate to think I was normal! *giggle*

Kit Credit: Aug. Tag your it freebie kit by Deanna Patterson


Ok, now that the silliness is over...maybe :).....I just have to share with you, Blushbutters newest creation. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I adore lace!! I could use lace, in everything...well I want to use lace in everything, but I try my best to not use to much in the more masculine layouts. Anyway, Blushbutter sent a preview of some lace frames she made through her yahoo group this morning. Wow, they are so pretty!! You can go get them here!! They are on sale!!

I don't know if I will be very productive on the computer this weekend or not, so if you see something new here great, if not...see ya next week! Have a great weekend everyone!!

I'm so tired.

Well we had a late night last night, DH didn't get home till midnight, and I couldn't go to sleep before he did, so I scrapped. I used one of Tina's kits for a couple layouts. Course with being up so late, that means today, I'm really tired.

The first layout is one of our Doxie's wanting treats. She has loved mint from day one, so when we found some mint treats for dogs, we had to get them. She doesn't get them every day, because they aren't cheap, but she knows I keep them in my desk drawer, so comes looking for them alot. This time she stood on my desk trying to get me to get them out of the drawer, and when that didn't work, she sat on my lap and pawed at the drawer. I'm so mean, and just sat there laughing at her and taking pictures for a while, before I gave in and gave her some.

The 2nd layout is my brother with my niece when she was little. (Isn't she just the cutest thing! LOL)

Kit Credit: Hope by Tina Williams

This afternoon we had to run up to Lincoln, in my sister-in-laws new car (she bought a used one that gets better gas mileage than her truck because she starts her new job in Lincoln next week, and its a ways away). So I didn't get anything done this afternoon, or even a nap!!! LOL I'm so tired right now, but I need to get these layouts I did last night posted. Plus I need to stay up till 10 anyway, as we found out there was a movie on we wanted to tape, and I had gotten a new VCR a while back, and never used the time record, so since we didn't find out about the movie in time to learn how to time record, we just pushed record. So now I have to turn it off when its over.

I managed to go shopping up there, and got another hard drive...500 GB, wonder how soon, I will wish I had a bigger one! LOL I won't have it plugged into my computer, except when I back things up, so hopefully it won't die to soon, like I have heard of others doing. I actually got this one at Best Buy, because it was a step up from one I had seen online at circuit city, for the same price. Wasn't I lucky, my sister-in-law wanted to stop there, otherwise, I would probably have just gone with Circuit City! Hopefully it will turn out to be as good a buy, as it seems so far! I guess it will depend on how long it lasts!

Well I better get my layouts posted to the yahoo groups, so I'm ready for bed, hopefully I sleep good, and catch up. I have a dentist appointment in the morning, oh what fun that always is! Hope everyone is having a good week so far!

A couple layouts from Blushbutters Country Kids Kit

This first layout is from the early 70's when I was 3. My Grandparents had, my parents raise some chickens for fryers, and then when they got big enough they came to help do them in. LOL I just LOVE the middle picture here of my brother, carrying one of the chickens. He is so cute, and looks so pleased with himself, like he is so happy to be a big boy, and help carry the chickens.

The 2nd layout has my DH leaning up against one of the trees Blushbutter made, and some of our doxie's out in the field, along with the ones Blushbutter made. I was trying for the effect that if DH could fulfill his dream, we would have lots and lots of Doxie's running around our farm, It didn't turn out as good as I was hoping, but hopefully I got the point across. LOL I needed different poses of some of our Doxie's, I think...Or something, I'm just not sure what. Anyway, even though it's not quite what I had thought about when I first started, its still kinda cute. Blushbutter's Doxie looks more like he's running around, like they would be if they were out in a pasture like that. Maybe thats why the pictures of OUR doxie's don't fit as well, because they are just sitting there. I did use the little metal doxie, and tried to make it look like it was attached to a tree as a sign...what do you think, does it look like a sign, or like a doxie flying? LOL


Kit Credit: Country Kids Kit by Blushbutter

Tomorrow I am going to try for a layout or two with goats and my brother and I as young kids...we will see what I come up with! LOL I hope you don't get to tired of seeing layouts with this kit! Cause I think, I have several more pictures I want to use with it!

Have a great weekend, and hopefully I will be back to share more layouts this weekend!! If not, guess maybe next week.

Cluster Frame Tutorial for Paint Shop Pro X

Open a new canvas, and place the picture you want to use on it, and then the cluster frame you would like to use. Feel free to resize them to the size you need, and move them to where you would like them placed.



Make sure the cluster frame layer is selected on the layer pallet, and choose your magic wand tool, making sure that the box beside contiguous is checked, so that the marching ants only go around the outside of the frames. Click anywhere outside of the frames on your canvas so the space outside of the frame will be selected.






Go to Selections, then Invert. (In Photo Shop Elements I believe you go to Select, then Inverse)











Then Go to Selections, then Modify, then Contract and Contract 15 pixels (or so). (In photoshop it would be select, then modify, then contract.)






Go back up to Selections (Select in PS) and Invert (inverse in PS)it again, so the outside of the frame is again selected. Then select the Picture Layer, and hit the delete key on your keyboard, OR go to Edit, then push Cut. The outside of the picture should now be gone, so it looks like the picture is actually several pictures put together.

With the magic wand tool selected, right click on your canvas, or go to Selections, and then select none, to get rid of all of the marching ants.
If you want to move the picture around, or add more drop shadow to it, merge the two layers together to keep the look of several pictures with white borders around them, being placed together, to make one picture. Now you can continue with your layout, and add more pictures, papers, and/or elements.

This is what I ended up with. I used my Dog kit to finish my layout (Kit Credit: A Dogs Life by Doxie Designs). I also merged my frame and picture so that I could add more drop shadow, and resize the picture and frame together, and move it around.

These photo's are some I took last year, when I took our Doxie's out to our hayfield, and let them roam around for a little while. I could tell our oldest (Crystal) was really slowing down, but didn't know we would loose her a few wee