Sketchy Thursdays {real artist}

Hi! It's Thursday and I have a layout to share with you. I created this page using the current sketch I made at Sketchy Thursdays and the October kit from Scrapbook Circle.

I can't stress enough how fun these wood alphas from Pink Paislee are. And the papers in the Oct. kit are amazing. I love that chevron kraft paper.

I love the story behind the pictures I used on this layout. Nate loves to craft with me. His craft area is set up right next to mine, so we often work together on our projects. Yep, he even has his own projects. 

Nate was using some stamps that my mother bought him when he came over to me with his inky fingers and said, "Look Mom! I'm a real artist now!" Melt my heart!

I hope you have some time to play along with us this week. Freehand Scraps is giving away a $15 gift certificate to one lucky, random winner. Can't wait to see what you all make for the challenge! See ya' over there!

Wordless Wednesday

Scrapbook Circle Oct. kit

Time to get excited about the next Scrapbook Circle kit, Fresh Picked, coming soon. I sound like a broken record, but really — I love it! And look at those Pink Paislee wood alphas. You know I'm a fan!

Check in tomorrow for a page I made with the next kit!

Scrapbook Circle {winner}

It's time to pick the winner of the Scrapbook Circle The Good Life kit. And the winner is ...

Congrats, Antonia! Send an e-mail with your shipping address to dianadesigns [at] rochester.rr.com, and I'll be sure to pass that along to Lisa at Scrapbook Circle right away for you! Enjoy the kit!!

And thanks to everyone who left a comment. I really enjoyed seeing what makes your lives good lives.

Fall festival fun

Hello and happy Sunday! It felt good yesterday to continue with my "just because" creating. With DT commitments and commissioned work, I don't always have that opportunity.

This page is made for the Day 2 Tic-Tac-Toe game at Artful Delight. I chose "scraps" "buttons" and "fall" for my squares. I also used the current sketch #55 at Sketchabilities.

This page is made with the Happy Harvest collection from Imaginisce. Such a fun fall line! It's got to be one of my faves, for sure!

I hope you all have something fun planned for today. Thanks for stopping by to see my layout.

Swing!

I took a half day off of work this past Friday. Three-quarters of our staff was at the national conference for our industry, and I was completely fried from the fall schedule that we have for the first three issues of the school year.

So, I took a half-day vacation and came home to create. I flipped through the blogs I had unfortunately been unable to visit lately, and I came across Leeanne's birthday celebration at Artful Delight. Stop on by, be inspired and play along!

This page was made using the sketch challenge that was posted on Friday.


I made this page with my stash and mostly Simple Stories papers. And don't you just love those alphas from Pink Paislee—such an amazing font style, don't you think? And great texture with the wood grain.


This page is about how Nate had a baseball clinic during the summer—every Saturday morning for 6 weeks. And this was after he played tee-ball in May and June for 8 weeks. The kid had a baseball summer, that's for sure. He loved every bit of it, and he did learn a lot about technique and being a good team member.

Well, hope I pointed you in the direction of a new place to play, or maybe you are already playing along at Artful Delight. Thanks for stopping by to see my page!

Scrapbook Circle {kit giveaway}

Remember these lovely pages I shared with you recently? They were all made with The Good Life kit from Scrapbook Circle.

AND YOU COULD WIN ONE ... RIGHT HERE! Lisa from Scrapbook Circle is in the mood to celebrate, so she's encouraged the DT to give away kits. You have until Sunday, 9/25 at 11:59 p.m. (EST) to comment here on this post, and I'll draw and announce a winner on Monday.


So, here's what I want to know for your comment: What makes your life THE GOOD LIFE? Excited to see your answers! (And remember to leave your contact info so that we can reach you for your prize. Perhaps even follow my blog so you'll be sure to see that you won.)

Sketchy Thursdays {play time}

I'm going digi again! Even though I work in these elements all day as a graphic designer, sometimes it just feels good to play around for fun with all of the digital tools I have at my fingertips. I used digital elements from Sir Scrapalot and Echo Park at Jessica Sprague.

These pictures are from one of our most recent trips to the playground. Even though it's been starting to cool down here, we are trying to get to the playground as many weekends as we can before the chill sets in.

Hope to see you over at Sketchy Thursdays this week. The sketch Heidi made is fabulous!

Great vintage sewing find

My friend, Theresa, is really lucky at flea markets. Her and her husband-to-be, Mark, often go to a few flea markets in the area. She's picked up jars of buttons and other trinkets for me that she knew I'd love. Apparently, when Mark saw this vintage sewing set, he knew they'd be taking it home for me.


I found the most amazing things in here. There are old tools/sewing kits marked 1902, and boxes of little thimbles, needles and eyelets dated 1912. I am in awe of this. And it is in great shape! I need to gently wash the seam binding and lace, but everything else is perfect. The threads are so bright and colorful—just love it!


Huge THANK YOU to Theresa and Mark for always thinking of me. This is the same Theresa who I always seem to post cards on my blog that are for her. In fact, I better run—I owe her four birthday cards and three Ruffled Bloom pins! Heart you, T.!

Thanks for stopping by today!

A winner {and another chance!}

My winner for the Paper Issues blog hop is ....

Congrats McVic! Please send an e-mail with your shipping address to dianadesigns [at] rochester.rr.com and I'll get your prize out to you right away.

And, if you were bummed you didn't win, I have another chance for you. My Etsy shop, Design by Diana, is hosting the current challenge at Card Makin Mamas.

Check out the challenge to use your punches (easy enough, right?!) and you could win a $10 gift card to my Etsy shop. Link your challenge entry at Card Makin Mamas by the end of the week.

I have Paper Issues {hop}

The Paper Issues team has broken up into categories and we're hoppin'! This is the CARDS hop. I just LOVE these alphas from Pink Paislee—and there are some for sale in the Paper Issues shop. (hint, hint)

Take a look at the lovely ladies' blogs below and hop along for prizes and inspiration.

Jeannie DeGruccio
Bethany Crowell
Corri Garza
Cathy Dippolito
Gretchen McElveen
Diana Fisher (You are here!)
Kristy Dalman
Kelly Ratcliff
Ruby McGuire
Jess Mutty

Leave a comment here on my blog for a chance to win this prize package: A Halloween stamp set from My Mind's Eye, custom a set of my Doilie Blooms, and the card I made for this hop. The inside says, "It's Halloween!" How fun!!


These are my Night & Day Hallows Eve set. Perfect for those Halloween and fall pages. For more Doilie Blooms, take a peek at my Etsy shop.

You have until Sunday the 18th at 11 p.m. (EST) to comment here and all along the hop with the girls from Paper Issues. Winners will be shared on Monday

... AND there is a coupon code for the Paper Issues Etsy shop now to celebrate the hop. An extra 25% off with the code HOP25.

Double the fun {Sketchy Thursdays}

Sketchy Thursdays is double the fun this week. We have joined up with the ScrapFit challenge blog. In addition to using the Sketchy Thursdays sketch this week, use the prompt: F is for Friendship, and you'll have two chances to win. Make sure to link your page to both challenge blogs.

Check out the Sketchy Thursdays blog as well as the ScrapFit blog for all the details and extra prizes. You could win a $10 gift certificate to my Etsy shop just for commenting on Sketchy Thursdays' challenge post. Play along, and you have a chance at a prize from Burlap & Buttercups kit club. ScrapFit has a prize for commenting as well as some fabulousness from Paper Issues.


This is my page that uses the sketch and the prompt. The pictures are from our company picnic at a local amusement park this summer. Some of you know about Madison from past pages, but if you don't, Madison is Nate's future bride. LOL! Madison's mom and I are co-workers and friends, so it was great to have a company picnic where our kids could spend the day together too.


I used some new summer CHA goodness on this page. The paper is from the 6x6 sheets of Pink Paislee Nantucket. The Thickers are Amy Tangerine, and the buttons and tag sticker are new My Mind's Eye. I think I was looking for any excuse to rip into those packages and threw it all down on one page.

Thanks for stopping to see my page today. To re-cap: Play along with the Sketchy Thursdays' sketch and the ScrapFit Friendship prompt. Link your page to both blogs for a chance at 2 prizes. Comment on both blogs and have more chances to win prizes, including a $10 gift certificate to my Etsy shop. Pretty easy?!

Hope to see you over there playing along—you have until next Wednesday to link up.

Wordless Wednesday {doilie blooms}

New doilie blooms in the shop! Stop by tomorrow with details on how you can win a $10 gift card to my Etsy shop. And again on Friday when there will be a chance to win a nifty custom Doilie Blooms set.

Sharing news {coupons}

Sometimes when I get coupons and offers that I think the mommies who read my blog might like, I'd love to share them with you. Not sure about you, but I sent my kid to school today with a fruit cup. Why not use a BOGO next time, eh?!

Del Monte® Fruit Naturals® cups are picked at their ripest, the perfectly prepared fruit
swims in 100% fruit juice packed with vitamin C. Looks pretty tasty, I think.

Downloadable buy-one-get-one-FREE coupon*

*Must be a Vocalpoint member. Limited quantities available. Each member is able to download only one coupon. This offer is only available in certain areas.

Scrapbook Circle {DT Call}

I have loved every moment of my time with Scrapbook Circle. Having been either a DT member or a blog coordinator since January 2010, I can say with certainty that you, too, will love it!

Give it go! Apply today to join the Scrapbook Circle Design Team.

Who are they looking for?
* People who love working with monthly scrapbook kits
* People who are good communicators and e-mailers
* People who maintain an active blog
* People who enjoy sharing ideas in the scrapbook community
* People who able to meet deadlines

How do you apply?
Email the following to lisa@scrapbookcircle.com.

* 5 images of your favorite layouts (keep images below 600kb)
* Links to your blog and online galleries/communities where you actively participate
* Short bio including why you would be a good fit on our design team
* List of other current design teams you participate on (if any)

All submissions are due by Friday, September 30.

The design team term will be from November 2011 – April 2012.

International submissions are welcome.

BEST OF LUCK!!

Simple cards

I've been working on some simple card designs. I think I'd like to have some signature cards that are always available and made in bulk for those special occasions that seem to just sneak up on you—like babies and weddings.

Most of you who read my blog regularly know those are my two favorite cards to make! So what do you think? Good start so far?

And, on this fabulous Friday, check out what's new in the Etsy shop.

New scrapbooking kits
New handmade fabric flowers
New seasonal handmade embellishments

Thanks for stopping by to read the blog today. I hope everyone has great weekend plans. And, for those that remember and mark the day (and if you are in the U.S., I'm not sure who doesn't), join me in remembering 9-11 on Sunday. I know it isn't an easy day for most of us. Hugs to you all.

Sketchy Thursdays {foul ball}

It's another Thursday—one of my favorite days of the week. As busy as things are right now, I know that I will do my best to make at least one scrapbook page a week thanks to Sketchy Thursdays. Isn't it good to have that time set aside?!


My page this week has pictures from when hubby caught a foul ball at the Red Wings game this summer. It was nearing the end of the season, and dang it, we were gonna get a ball! And we did! Nate was so excited, and he keeps calling it his most special baseball.

The papers and most of the embellishments on this page are from the September Scrapbook Circle kit, The Good Life. It's a great one! If you don't have it yet and are in the market for some scrappy supplies, swing on by and scoop one up.


This week's Sketchy Thursdays challenge is sponsored by My Memories Suite. Check out the blog and see what all the excitement is about!

Wordless Wednesday {ruffled blooms}

Etsy

New Ruffled Blooms in the shop. The pins on the back make them perfect for adding that perfect accent to fall jackets, scarves and bags.

Sketchy Thursdays {mini golf}

So, today's layout is doubly cool. It uses the latest sketch I made for Sketchy Thursdays, and the kit I used to make this page is also this week's fabulous prize for the random winner at ST. See?! Double the coolness, right?!


This kit from Scrapbook Circle is chock full of fabulous brand new items from the summer CHA, including Amy Tan American Crafts papers that are so fun and flirty!


Thanks for stopping by to see my page today. I was so excited to scrap these pictures. I took Nate mini golfing in July and he did so good. He actually got a hole in one his first time ever mini golfing about halfway through the course.

I'd say he's gonna be a great golfer someday, but that picture on the right with him stooped way down low tells me he's got a lot to learn. LOL!

Hope to see you over at Sketchy Thursdays this week! And have a great Labor Day weekend to my U.S. friends if I don't stop back in here before then.