And the moment I've been waiting for . . .

It was back in December just before New Years Eve when we were driving home from Christmas vacation . . . the roads were super sleek and very icy! So, to keep my mind off the road conditions I started to write my essay for my Spellbinders submission. I don't know what I was more focused on . . . writing my essay or watching Joe pass car after car upside down in the ditch. As the miles passed by and the hours in the truck became endless, the words just started flowing. By the time we got home my essay was complete . . . now the FUN began to gather up some creations for the rest of my submission. Here's part of what I submitted to them . . .
February 1st rolls around . . . I can remember waking up that morning thinking that TODAY is the day, Finalists will be announced! When I opened that email from Spellbinders I was honored to see that I was one of the "24" finalists . . . YIPPEE!!! After seeing my name amongst such a talented list of ladies I knew that my final project needed to be my BEST-EST! Surprisingly, my LO didn't take me forever and day to complete, it fell together very quickly and became one of my favorite LOs EVER!

Fast forward to this week . . . I've been sick for days, my voice was finally starting to come back. I definitely needed a little pick-me-up! Thursday morning, as I was just picking up by SB dies after a couple days of being crafty and thinking about a new way to organize and store them . . . my phone rang, seeing that it was an Unknown Caller . . . I instantly thought it was Kaitie calling from school. To my surprise it was Stacey and Kim calling from London . . . asking me to be a part of the 2010-2011 Spellbinders Design Team. I was S-P-E-E-C-H-L-E-S-S and still am!!!

The announcement was made here this morning . . . I'm so looking forward to the retreat in April and getting the chance to know each and every one of the ladies on that list. Congratulations to all of you!!!

Thanks,

Mini Cards . . .

Today I have a set of mini cards to share using SRM Stickers, and I paired them up with one of Reminisce's newest lines . . . "Unwritten". If you've never used SRM, you've been missing out . . . these stickers are Fabulous! Be sure to check out the SRM blog to see more mini cards sets created by other SRM designers . . . your definitely in for a treat! Also, you can now purchase SRM Stickers at their NEW online store (there is a link over to the left <---- directly to the store). They have a ton of FUN stickers, any of them would add the perfect touch to any creation. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend . . . I know I will! :)

#51005 Sticker Sentiments - Thank You

#51006 Sticker Sentiments - Thinking of You

Thanks,

Quick Recap . . .

Another week come and gone . . . where does the time go??? Between a Holiday, a weekend getaway, Birthdays, Jakob's wrestling practices, getting sick, working on some DT assignments and playing with my NEW washer/dryer I haven't found a single moment to sit down and blog . . .

Valentine's weekend we rushed out the door as soon as the kids got home from school, dropped them off at my parents, then Joe and I left town for the weekend . . . I couldn't leave without taking a picture of Jakob's first REAL Valentine's and the note inside read . . . "Your the BEST" . . . isn't that Cute??? He's going to be such a heart breaker!
Here's a special Valentine I made for a certain "Special" someone . . .And here's the Valentine Cupcakes that I picked up at a cute little cupcake shop, they actually looked better than they tasted! Kaitie turned "fifteen" last week . . . how can that even be possible? It only seems like yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital. She picked Red Robin for her Birthday dinner, then we headed out to Grandma and Papa's for cake and presents . . . what's a Birthday without a cake made by Grandma??? My Mom has always made her special Birthday cakes and this year was no exception . . . this year we went simple, one huge carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting . . . Kaitie's favorite! I quickly made the topper, it wasn't what I was imagining but it did the job! I love the last picture of my Dad serenading Kaitie . . . just look at her face!

And I couldn't finish this post without sharing my NEW (2) favorite things . . . these are AWESOME!!! Who would ever think that doing laundry would be so FUN???
Thanks,

GET REAL WITH REAL SPORTS CONTEST

"The Best Sports Collection Ever"

You can WIN your share of $1000!!!

Are you a sports fan? Is your kid an all-star? Show us your most creative sports album ever with the all new REAL SPORTS by Reminisce.

Contest Rules:

1. Each Entry must contain a minimum of 10 pages. The size is completely up to you. The majority of products utilized should be Reminisce REAL SPORTS, however, additional Reminisce products, cardstock, and minimal outside products may be included.

2. Entries are due no later than midnight EST April 15th, 2010. Winners will be announced on April 19th, 2010. Email your entries to info@designsbyreminisce.com

3. Judging Criteria:
a) 20% Photography
b) 20% Originality/Creativity
c) 40% Overall Design
d) 10% Use of Product
e) 10% Journaling/Overall Message

GRAND PRIZE
$500 Cash

RUNNER-UP
$200 Cash

3rd PLACE
$100 Cash

4th PLACE
$100 Cash

5th PLACE
$100 Cash

Be sure to check out Reminisces' blog for some great Inspiration using the NEW "Real Sports" line. Good Luck and I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Thanks,

Secrets are hard to keep . . .

But finally I'm able to share . . . last week Jenyfur, the communications director for SRM Stickers sent me an email asking me to be a part of their very first EVER Design Team. I am looking forward to working with the owner of SRM, Susan, getting to know her and working with her incredible stickers. And am so very excited to work with all these talented ladies . . .

Tania Willis
Tanis Giesbrecht
Carole Kisch
Deana Boston
Jing-Jing Nickle
Amy Heller
Tobi Crawford
Becky Williams
Raechelle Bellus
Norma Kennedy
Helen Miles
Nina Brackett
Kathy Racoosin
Jen Martakis
Jenyfur Pohl

Be sure to check out the SRM Stickers blog . . . there will be a ton of Inspiration, FUN, Challenges and Prizes!

Thanks,

We are the World!

I was just 10-years old when "We are the World" was originally recorded . . . it is definitely a song from my childhood that I'll always remember. I came across the re-recording of We Are the World - 25 for Haiti this morning, the video premiered before the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, which I missed last night. I can't explain why I was so emotional watching this video, these days it doesn't seem to take much to get the waterworks flowing . . . I'm a sap I know . . . I get goosebumps every time I listen to it! I sent the link to my Mom so that she could play it for the kids (Joe and I are out of town). I just knew that Kaitie would appreciate this song just like I had when I was younger with some of her favorite musicians singing this time around. This version is not getting the best of reviews . . . but the point behind it is what's important!

Thanks,

Feel encouraged . . .

Feel encouraged...

The world will not always offer you encouragement. Often you
must supply your own.

Many times you'll have good reason to feel sorry for
yourself. Yet you can just as easily choose to feel
encouraged about yourself.

Reach deep inside and find the goodness that is always
there, the goodness you may have forgotten about. Feel the
positive purpose that nothing can take away from you.

You are worthy and relevant, effective and capable of the
very best. Remind yourself often.

Keep in mind that every disappointment is temporary. Every
frustration can be overcome.

There is every reason to persist, to endure and to move
forward with the most positive of expectations. Because deep
within, you know you can.

Ralph Marston

I want to thank Deana for sharing this on her blog, these are true words that most woman can relate too and should live by . . .

Thanks,

It's Official . . .

I've been anxiously waiting since early in January to share my news, I received an email from Meagan @ Reminisce asking me to join their design team. I've tried out for Reminisces' Design Team Search for the past three years . . . so you can imagine my excitement when I opened up that email. We've been out of town since Thursday, after 8 VERY LONG hours of driving we finally made it home and I see this . . .

February 05, 2010
We have an announcement...
We would like to CONGRATULATE and WELCOME five talented ladies that we recently invited to the 2010 Reminisce Design Team. They are:

GINA HANSON
KIM HOLMES
BECKY KREMKE
SHELLY MAXWELL
NATASHA PRYMAK

We are so grateful to have our Design Team filled with so many wonderful and talented ladies!

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the other ladies as well . . . looking forward to working with all of you!

Thanks,

HAPPY emails . . . are the BEST ones to get!

***EDITED 2-10-10*** Shipped off my project to Spellbinders . . . now the waiting begins! Wish me LOTS of Luck! :)

WOW!!! I'm speechless and still sitting here in SHOCK! Here's the announcement straight off Spellbinders blog . . .

Design Team Top 24!

February 1st, 2010 I want to thank all of the talented artists that submitted entries to the 2010 Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Design Team Contest! Spellbinders™ Paper Arts was overwhelmed by the number of entries! Each and every submission was fabulous. We understand and appreciate the time and effort that goes into your art. You made our decisions very difficult!

So without further ado, here are the Top 24, in alphabetical order:

Janine Blackwelder
Ashley Cannon Newell
Kazan Clark
Kimberly Crawford
Deb Felts
Gina Hanson
Judy Hayes
Kim Holmes
Karen Hunsaker
Nicole Keller
Mary Milar
Renee Morris Dezember
A J. Otto
Julie Overby
Mona Pendelton
Mary Pfaff
Karen Preutt
Debbie Seyer
Holly Simoni
Gloria Stengle
Karen Taylor
Tonya Turvold
Latisha Yoast
Deborah Young

The Top 24 finalists will be sent Spellbinders™ product to create a project for the final round of the competition.

On Friday, February 26, 2010, Stacey Caron, President and co-founder of Spellbinders™ Paper Arts, will make personal phone calls to each of the lucky winners of this contest! The 2010 Spellbinders Design Team will be announced right here on February 27, 2010!

Congratulations!

Stacey Caron

Thanks,