Remembering Pandi

One year ago today, my little sisfur crossed the bridge. She was 17 years old and lived the best life a dog could have asked for :) And she had the best parents who loved her dearly!!!

I went thought my old pictures this weekend and found some of Pandi growing up. It was so fun to reminisce and see her as a pup again :) I thought I'd share a slide show I put together.

A picture slideshow by Smilebox

And here is the layout I made last year after she passed. I was never more happy that I had this photo taken!!!

To Mom, Dad and Lucky: You are in my thoughts today!

Trick or Treat Team Treasury

Pam of MagdaleneJewels created a fitting Trick or Treat Treasury for our EtsyBloggers Team this week.

Have a Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

Friday Features-No Tricks, Just Treats

My favorite part of Halloween as a kid was always the candy! I remember coming home from Trick-or-Treating each year and dumping out my bag of goodies to see what all I got! I was never much into the scary part of Halloween, but the treats sure were great. So today's finds are to indulge my sweet tooth :)

SWIRLY PUMPKIN Sugar Cookies (12)

by KindredSpiritSweets

12 Chocolate Covered Oreo Candy Corn

by CANDYCRAFTS

One Dozen Decorated Halloween Skeleton Sugar Cookies

by AuCourantCookieCo

Pumpkin Topper

by BrianBearCupcakes

And as a side note...a few of these sellers are new to Etsy. Stop by their shops and give them a warm welcome :)

New Albums Are A Hit!!!

Both of my new Family Albums that I listed this week have been included in treasuries already!!! I was so excited to get the messages that my albums had been included :)

Thank you to nezoshop for including me in her I hope you'll enjoy!!!!................. Treasury!

And thank you to Hagarae for including me in her It’s a family affair! Treasury!

To see the treasuries in their entirety, just click on the photos :)

Wordless Wednesday-What's in the Works

Perfect for Fall

New Family Word Albums in colors that are perfect for fall!

Maroon, Navy and Hunter Green

Navy Blue and Brown

You know how I love my pinks and purples, but I like to keep a variety of colors in my shop. And I think these color combos are great for this time of year. Look for Purple and Brown soon too!!!

These make excellent gifts, for yourself or others :) And as always, if you'd like them in a different color, you know how much I love custom work!

Tagged...Four Questions

Ani at Coffee Pot People tagged me in a fun round of Four Questions :) I am to answer the four questions she left for me and tag four more people with four new questions. What a fun bloggy game :)

1. You're at a bookstore. What section has sucked you in?

Definitely the arts and crafts section :) I think that's all I read about...LOL!

2. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas is my all time fave! It is no longer about the presents and the candy. As I've gotten older, it's all about time with family. My parents come to visit for two whole weeks and I spend every waking moment with them. We also get to have family get-togethers with extended family :)

3. If you could live in (or at least visit) any era, which would it be?

I truly believe I was meant to live in the late 60s and early 70s. I am a flower child at heart! In junior high I remember wearing bell bottoms and "shopping" in my mom and dad's closets for old clothes. Most of my favorite music is from this era as well. I so could have been a groupie...LOL!

4. What is your favorite literary genre?

Uh oh...literary...does that have to do with books! I have to admit, the last book I read was a text book! I love magazines and read a few of those, but books...I couldn't tell you the last actual book I read! I'm too busy scrapbooking to read :)

Now on to my questions and people to tag:

1. What was your biggest accomplishment for the week? Or month if you prefer?

2. If you could choose one age to be the rest of your life, what age would you choose?

3. What is your favorite season?

4. What is your favorite color and why?

I'm tagging: Theresa (TiLTcreations), Sharla (BeadedTail), Patch (patchfirstshop) and Linda (pruitthandcrafts).

An Aries Artist

I was recently featured on this site and many of the questions in the interview had to do with how my crafting relates to my astrological sign. In doing this interview, I realized just how many aspects of my sign do effect my crafting...and my life in general.

I am an Aries through and through! From being outgoing and independent to being impatient and hardheaded...I fit the profile. Much of my success has come from having the confidence to talk to people about my scrapbooks. All of my consignment deals have started by me just walking up and asking if the store owner would be willing to sell my items. This is something that comes easily to me, but doesn't always come easy to others. And craft shows are much the same way. I'm not afraid to put myself out there and talk to people all day at the shows. It is just something that comes naturally :)

Being an Aries also helps me to take on challenges and branch out with my scrapbooking. I love working on new things and always have 100s of ideas running though my head at any given moment! This really helps in my custom work when people request all sorts of new things.

There are also some down sides to being an Aries when it comes to my crafting. My scrap room always tends to be a mess! And I always have 10 projects going at the same time. I don't like to sit idle and have to have something to work on. I've also noticed that I work best on a deadline. I stay very focused when I have orders to work on, but not so much when I am just working on inventory.

All in all, I'll take the bad with the good when it comes to being an Aries. After all, I wouldn't be the same person if you took out all the "bad" things :)

Do you believe in astrology and your sign? How does it affect your crafting?

Team Treasury-Woodland Fantasy

With the wonderful fall weather we've been having the last couple of weeks, our latest team treasury makes me want to get outdoors even more!

Woodland Fantasy by VeryVerdant

Friday Features-Relax

Today's Friday Features have a very important message that we all need reminded of now and then. We need to take time to RELAX!

I challenge you this weekend to take some "Me Time" and relax. Grab a good book, take a long bath, go for a walk. Whatever it is that you love to do...do it! Take a little time to unwind and enjoy some time to yourself. Trust me...you'll thank me later :)

Sit and Relax Necklace

by betsyfarmerdesigns

Relax coffee dish

by SBEarthenworks

Artistic Stone Drink Coaster on Italian Tile - Relax

by BellaAngelle

Relax. Soak. Unwind.

by stakersensations

Tricky Letters and Symbols

As you know, I love to make Custom Name Albums. Each one is unique and special to the buyer :) But every now and then, they create challenges. But I am happy to say that I haven't had to turn down a customer's request yet! I always look for new ways to make my albums and make my customers happy :)

Two of my recent albums both had tricky characters to them! This first album is a Sorority Album and the middle letter (Xi) is made up of three separate pieces. How do I cut around that??? Well, I didn't. I cut the patterned paper and laid it on the chipboard page to create the letter. I cut out the three pieces separately and it worked out great!

I've done many Birthday Albums, but never had a request for an apostrophe. I wasn't quite sure if it should be a separate page or attached to another letter. I chose to add it to the end of the "H" and I love how it turned out. I used a contrasting patterned paper and it worked great!

Do you ever run into challenges with your crafting? Do you like challenges?

I'm ready for my next big challenge :)

Wordless Wednesday-Still ♥ My New Cutter

Digital Scrapbooking for Everyone

I am a traditional paper scrapbooker in most aspects. I love the process of cutting, gluing and rearranging the elements on a layout to make something spectacular. In recent years, I have become more of a hybrid scrapbooker. I still love the physical sense of scrapbooking, but I love the options digital scrapbooking has to offer! And I think digital scrapbooking has options for everyone.

Today, I thought I'd show you the most common way I use digital scrapbooking in my traditional scrapbooks and albums. I might do a series on "hybrid" scrapbooking so you can see other ways digital scrapbooking is useful in traditional scrapbooking.

The thing I love most about digital scrapbooking is the variety it gives me. Check out these two papers:

The paper on the left is the original paper and the one on the right is one that I altered to make it the colors I needed. If I had bought this paper at a store, I wouldn't have had the option to change the colors and would have had to use it as is. By using the Hue/Saturation option in Photoshop, I have endless possibilities!

I also use this technique a lot in my embellishments. Digital scrapbook embellishments are both inexpensive and versatile. Take this paisley for example. It started out black, but I've made it so many different colors that I can use it on every album I make! A regular sticker can't do that!

If you're looking for more options in your traditional paper scrapbooking, look to digital scrapbooking to help you out :)

Scrapbook Wall Art Canvas

I love branching out and finding new things to do with my supplies!!! This Canvas was so much fun to make! And now I have more ideas running through my head than I know what to do with!

Scrapbook Wall Art Canvas

I might add one more in a family theme in colors like navy, hunter green and maroon or navy and brown to give a little variety. And maybe a Christmas themed one. But I'd like to see how well this one does before I get too carried away...LOL :)

What ways have you found to branch out with your crafts?

Bling and Glitter and Rhinestones...Oh My!

I was recently asked to make a set of scrapbooks for a girl's night out birthday bash. The birthday girl loves bling and jewelry and everything that glitters, so the scrapbooks needed to be just as sparkly as her taste :) She also loves anything to do with hearts.

I added rhinestones to two of the letters and used glitter paper on another. I also used rhinestones in the centers of some of the embellishments. I made a glitter frame on the first page and add some really cute glitter hearts as well.

These were so much fun to make! I hope all the girls love them!

Now I need to clean all the glitter off my work table...LOL :)

Team Treasury-Think Pink

Following suit with my Friday Features from yesterday, today I have a team treasury in Pink as well to share :) And being that it's my favorite color...all that much better :) Think Pink by Tarapparel

Thank so much for including my Baby Girl Photo Album Scrapbook!!!

Friday Features - Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and many Etsians have items for sale where they donate all or part of their sales to Breast Cancer Awareness organizations. I love that so many people are willing to help out and give back for such a wonderful cause!

Today I am featuring items in which ALL proceeds will be donated to a Breast Cancer fund.

Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Paisley Wine Glass

by FlutterbyGlass

Leather Wrap Bracelet

by iheartjenna

PINK BEADED TWIST BREAST CANCER AWARENESS BRACELET

by tibooks

Set of 4 Cards

by DragonflyPapers

Cheery Memories

I just love the color combo for this album! The colors just look so happy and cheery...ready for all those fun memories!!!

Memories Photo Album - Pink and Orange

This is another one of my 4x6 photo albums that were made with both the scrapbooker and non-scrapbooker in mind :) There is no cutting or gluing! Just add your photos and go!!!

And as always, if you're looking for custom colors or titles, just let me know :)

Wordless Wednesday-A River View

Survey Says

A while back I added a survey to my Paypal checkout to see how buyers were finding me. Google Analytics can be helpful, but if people are willing to just tell you, it's much easier :) I was going through my 3rd quarter sales tallying up sales tax and while I was at it, I tallied up my survey results as well.

Etsy Search: 8

Google: 3

Other: 3

Facebook: 0

My Blog: 0

This data can be very useful in determining what I'm doing right and what I can work on. I would say that my Etsy results are great. I am being found in searches and when people find me, they buy :) Google on the other hand could use some work. From my Google Analytics account, I know people are finding me through google search, but this tells me they aren't buying. I may need to work on my titles, keywords and tags. Google only picks up so many characters of your description, so many of your tags and so much of your title. I need to have my key words front and center! I know people are finding me on facebook because I make direct sales through there. But I was a little disappointed with my Blog results. I work hard to blog everyday and share a variety of info. and stories. But this shows me where I can work more. I think I might add the LinkWithin widget to my posts for a starter. And I have to keep in mind that this survey is optional and only about half of the people answered it.

Would you like to add the Paypal Survey to your account as well...it's super easy:

1) Login to your PayPal account 2) Under "my account" click "profile" 3) Under "selling preferences" click "custom payment pages", then click "options" and go to "merchant service options" 4) Check "add a customer service survey" and fill in the blanks* 5) Make sure you click "SAVE" before you exit

I'd love to hear your results if you add the survey!

Spoiled?

For an outdoor kitty, I'd say so :)

Friday Jesse worked on putting a new front door on our house. The cats kept sneaking in and after so many times of putting them back out, we just let them stay. At one point I went in the living room to find Chevy fully enjoying his time inside!

I sat down to get some work done on the computer and it didn't take him long to make his way in to visit me :) How could I resist!

10-10-10

Today I want to share a layout with you I did a while back. Looking at the calendar and seeing 10-10-10, it automatically made me think of this layout :) This layout is about 4 years old, but in reading through it, I realize that I love Jesse for all of the same reasons I did back then :)

(click on photo to enlarge)

1. The little things you do for me.

2. Your work hard/play hard manner.

3. Your need for adventure.

4. That fact that you love to get out and have a good time. 5. The way you come up behind me while I'm cooking and give me a hug...just to show you love me :)

6. The way you love the animals and spoil them.

7. The love you have for your family.

8. Laying on the couch with you getting to tickle your back.

9. The fact that you are perfectly happy sitting home watching movies on a Saturday night.

10. The way you are with children and the way you play with Dawson. (And now, Brody and Nicole too.)

What 10 things do you love about someone or something? Take time to jot it down today :)

Team Treasury Times Three

This week I have three team treasuries to share! I love how different each one is...yet they are equally awesome!

Chasing Rainbows by HoneyFromTheBee

Etsy Bloggers: Neutrals by lydiasarah

Etsy Bloggers Team: Orange You Glad by tesorojewelry

Click on each photo to be taken to the treasury. Stop by, click around, leave a comment...and thank our curators :)

Friday Features-Mud Drags

Last weekend Jesse and I went to a Mud Drag event that we attend every year. (I hope to have pictures up on my blog soon!) We have so much fun playing in the mud and I had fun finding some great mud features this week!!!

Mudding - 4-Wheel Monster Truck Charm Necklace

by rjcharms

Monster Truck - Vinyl Decal

by BubbaAndDoodle

Girls at the mud hole 11x14 print

by yoursforevermal

Doesn't that photo just make you wanna find the biggest mud puddle and jump right in :)

Fall in the Midwest-Blog Carnival

This week's blog carnival topics are brought to us by SpottedCowSoaps and here are our topics: 1. What are some fun activities you like to do in the fall. (travel, apple picking, etc) 2. Show us some awesome photos of autumn in and around where you live.

My post is sort of a combination of the two topics. A BIG activity going on right now in the Midwest is HARVEST! Everywhere you look and everywhere you go...tractors, combines, corn, soy beans, semis, and the list goes on! I work with a lot of farmers as well and every night I get to hear a harvest update!

Though I grew up in town, my grandpa is a farmer and I remember harvest as a little girl. My grandpa would let me drive the tractor while sitting on his lap :) And now that we live in the country, all of our neighbors are farmers! It is our biggest fall tradition here in the Midwest!

As I said though, my post is a combination of the two topics. I couldn't do a post about fall photos without showing this awesome tree photo I took a few years back. As all the crops turn brown and the fields start to become bare...the trees start to come alive :) And that is my favorite part of fall!!!

Wordless Wednesday-Fall on the River

October's Featured EtsyBlogger

Margaret is the owner of both Splendid Little Stars and Sparkly Park on Etsy and is our featured EtsyBlogger for October! In her SLS Shop, she sells hand-dyed creations (complete with cute little models). And in her SP shop she sells cute angel earrings. I absolutely love reading Margaret's blog! She has the most beautiful photography on her blog and always visits such interesting places and shows us the beauty in the simple things! Stop by her shops and blog this month and tell her Congratulations on being our October Featured EtsyBlogger!!!