Let’s get this party started ladies!  :o)

 This will be the official sign-in post for all 15 days of the party, so it will stay up here at the top while the rest of the updated posts hang-out below.         

Just a note to encourage you all to mingle and get to know each other, even I see a couple new faces… be sure to make them feel welcome at the party :o)

 Also I want to remind you that the prizes are mostly running daily through the comments on each post… be sure to read the requirements and comment or play accordingly to be entered into each drawing.  The winners will be announced at the end of the party :o)         

 Take a look at what you’ve won!!!  A 4×6 memories book kit from S.E.I.!  Enjoy!

I got inspiration from so many different places…

• I got the template and ideas for it from THIS site
• I got the idea of the brown background form THIS template
• I used my new Cindy Loo Who font from Allie Hoopes
• A fun flower brush from Brusheezy (I heart them)
• A new stitching brush from Scrapbook Bytes (yes I said new, I went and bought it!)

I also re-colored Jess’ bright blooms paper in Photoshop by…

1. Copying my photo as a layer onto the original
2. Choosing Enhance from the top menu
3. Then Adjust Color
4. Then Replace Color
5. Then using the Eyedropper Tool I picked the blue color out of the photo
   • This is why the photo has to be pasted in.
6. I moved the hue, saturation, and lightness sliders around until I got what I wanted
7. … then I had a new color of paper to use!!!  :o)
   • You can’t do that it in handmade scrapping!

I also made the pink paper in my circles a bit lighter by…

1. Selecting each circle of the color I wanted to lighten
2. Going to the Style and Effects box to the right
3. Choosing Layer Styles & Visibility
4. Then I “ghosted” all of my pink paper…. mah ha haa :o)
   • Added to say: I like that I have the choice to just change it right back!

 And (yes - there’s more) I textured my brown background paper by…

1. Selecting the layer that was my background paper
2. Choosing Filter from the top menu
3. Then Filter gallery…
4. Then I chose Texture
5. Craquelure
6. I moved the sliders around accordingly
7. Clicked OK and vah-lah!!  - Texturized Paper!!!  (Can you see it?)
   • Still can’t feel it like you can Bazzill though :o)

 Okay now for today’s CHALLENGE… use some of the same inspiration I did (listed at top) in a digi-design, paper-design, or a hybrid-design… share your design on your blog, link back to this post and be entered to win 1 Custom Family Blinkie button for your blog or website. 

Now go on girls… have fun!  God knows I did!

OHHH!  I’m feeling generous… as a SECOND (surprise) prize share your first digi-layout ever on your blog and link back here.  (And yes it’s okay if you are re-sharing the link to the Bright Blooms Challenge if that was your first digi-layout! :o)

 The older sister totally hated her for cutting their mommy’s dress apart, but I see the point the the younger sister had!  She was still savoring the memory of her mommy’s dress, it was just in an altered state!  It still brought all the warm fuzzy memories, but in a different form.      

So my challenge for you today is to take a special piece of clothing or fabric to you, and alter it by making it into a memory on your scrapbook page!  Sound like fun?  :o)

(Oh and please don’t think that I am suggesting you cut up your wedding dress, or someone elses!! :o)      

Here is a layout I made WOW probably 2 years ago or so where I used JJ’s cute little jean shorts right in the layout to match my favorite jean jacket on her in the pictures…  (I wasn’t willing to cut the jacket up, so I cut her shorts instead to make the jacket stand out.)

I also used my client’s ceremonial handkerchief on her layout months ago as a flower (on the left) and a sewn border (on the right), I had a whole half of it left that I tucked in between the layout and the page-protector.  You can see a close-up HERE.

 And here is the next special piece of clothing I have been saving ever since B.Boy grew out of it!  It was TOTALLY my favorite on him!… and here are the pictures for that layout as well :o)

Stay tuned for the unveiling of this layout towards the end of the party :o)  I can’t wait :o)

 Be sure when your layout is finished you post it on your blog and put a link in the comments here so everyone can see.  Happy Scrapping!  Oh… I forgot to mention what you are going to win… A Journey of Creativity Idea book from Rusty Pickle!  

Here’s your Hint… to see what I tackled this week go HERE.

(I’ve been married 7 years now and I still haven’t taken it to the cleaners because of the terrifying horror stories I have heard… like the one where to woman went to pick up her dress and it was nothing but beads in a bucket!!!!) 

I have been looking forward to today because I will get to visit all your blogs once again to see how you are doing in your walks with Jesus!  

But since my blog party is going on we will not be able to put another Mr. Linky up till Monday the 26th, or my party linky will go away, so you will need to link up in the comments this week and next.

 My walk last week was a difficult one.   I’m still getting attacked over here as far as temptation to be angry, impatient and mean to my kiddos (but I won’t have it!)  JJ and B.Boy have been so disobedient lately, JJ is so mean to her brother, kicking him off of things that she wants to play with and bossing him around!  It drives me nuts… but they are doing well so far today (PRAISE GOD!).  

They also did well for Joshie when he had them all by himself on Friday night while I stayed with our High school girls from church for an over-niter at my friend’s house.  (Our first event with the Youth Group at our new church :o)

It went well, we had pizza, a small scattered message, we went bowling, played Mario Kart and Guitar Hero on the Wii, we watch Enchanted then went to bed. 

I love the fact that my Bible Study each week ALWAYS has something to help me with just what I am going through, this week some things that touched me were… 

•  Selfishness - is my gain more important than someone else’s loss?
• God can use ANYTHING for good - Romans 8:28
• Yes I received Salvation, but I must seek Satisfaction with a daily filling of the Holy Spirit.
• We struggle not against flesh and blood (my family and children), but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12

 Now for this week’s Bonus Question: If you went to youth group when you were younger what was your favorite memory as far as events go?

 My Answer: I used to love the random trips to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts after Wednesday night service, in the church bus with our Youth Pastor also being one of the church bus drivers!  :o)  Even though I didn’t really care for their Doughnuts much I LOVED the fellowship! 

As for another giveaway today… I have a challenge for you all.  I would love to see you digi-scrap a card, layout or an altered item with Jess’ free gift.

 When you are finished making it, post a pic on your blog and link back here so we can all see :o)  The winner will get their choice of one digi-scrap kit from the Scrap Princess.  Have fun with the challenge ladies.   

I will even try to make something (posted here) although I am not a digi-scrapper :o)  See you soon. 

Now share a way in the comments here that you have re-used an item to scrapbook with…

 … this will enter you into TODAY’S DAILY PRIZE… which will adequately be Season 1 of the Gilmore Girls on DVD… one of my favorite Mother - Daughter shows!  :o)  

You could even win a bonus prize for sharing photos on your blog of how you re-used the items you talked about, be sure to give the link to your post.

An even better thing regarding today’s make-n-take is that some of you will actually be able to TAKE IT!!!  TOTALY exciting I know!

If you would like to win one of these kits leave a comment on this post sharing one of your favorite ways to use ANY of the products from this file folder mini book.       

The winners of these kits will be chosen at random from the comments on THIS post.

PS… In the slideshow I shared photos of both the book I made and the one my friend Velma made… she totally added her own sizzle… she even bound it a different way! :o) 

Thank you Velma for sharing!  And thank you Rusty Pickle for this awesome giveaway!

 Enjoy ladies!!!