My Memories Suite

Today, I am excited to tell you about the MyMemories Suite Digital Scrapbooking program from My Memories.  Liz contacted me to see if I would like to review their program.  Since I am not a Demonstrator with Stampin' Up! anymore, I am able to play with other toys and tell you about them.  YAY!  I was delighted to download the program and check it out.

First, it is offered for both MAC and Windows.  It is easy to purchase and download.  I didn't even have to wait for the box to arrive.  The program only costs $39.97, which is a deal for a digital program that has the capabilities this one does.  Many digital scrapbooking programs are twice this price or more, and this one does everything if not more than those do.  Guess what the exciting news is for you....my blogging friends get your very own $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!)  You will receive $10 off the program, when you use your code at checkout.  Then you will receive a receipt that includes a $10 coupon for the store.  WOW!  When you go to My Memories to make a purchase just use this code: STMMMS28071.  The best thing to do at checkout is copy the code and past it in the box.  That way you don't make an error in typing all those letters and numbers.

Okay!  There is another great deal for you....

Every person who buys MyMemories Suite Software during February 24, 2012 - March 31, 2012 is eligible to receive a one year RAKStar Membership - FREE!  That's a free HUGE digital scrapbooking kit every month - and it's MyMemories Suite compatible, so it's like getting a free software content upgrade every month.  The value of this membership is $247.35...holy moly!  All you need to do is email your receipt that has the code on it of your purchase of MyMemories Suite Software.  You will get a reply with a gift certificate good for the annual RAKStar Membership.  Remember the receipt needs to be dated between 2/24/12 - 3/31/12.

What do you need to do to be eligible to win a FREE program?  Go to My Memories and look at their digital scrapbooking kits.  Come back to my blog and post in the comments your favorite kit by Wednesday, February 29th.  That's it!  I will randomly pick a winner on Thursday, March 1st and post it on my blog.  Don't forget to tell your friends about this awesome giveaway.


MyMemories Suite is not only a scrapbooking program where a beginner can create beautiful pages from scratch or build an entire album with one of the many scrapbook templates provided for you.  A seasoned scrapbooker can create gorgeous pages with flourishes, embellishments, paper, and more.  It is so easy to use that I didn't even have to reference a manual or watch tutorials.  I made this two page layout in minutes with one of their fabulous templates.  I was able to edit my pictures too with a click of a button.

Not only is it a scrapbook program, you can make so many wonderful projects for all occasions.  There are so many to list that I thought you might want to see their VIDEO that shows you everything.

I made this card with the same program and had fun using all the buttons to make the clover.  I covered the holes of the buttons with a lime circle.  Did you even know those were buttons?  They come with the program.  One of things I love, love, love about the button that holds the sentiment is it comes with the stitches, so it looks sewn on the card.  The stem is ric rac ribbon.  Awesome!

For only $39.97, you get a lot for the money.  Wait!  You can get it for $29.97 with the discount, and you get over 1,500 papers, over 1,000 page elements, and over 30 album templates.  You can start creating right away without having to purchase anything else.  If you want to add more to the library, you can do that too by shopping their online store of great digital packages.  Here is the direct link to the My Memories Suite.

If you would like to see more of their videos and tutorials click here.

Good-bye Bad Habits

I am always ready to welcome the Lenten season starting today with Ash Wednesday.  This happens to be our son's birthday too.  Why?  No matter what bad habit I am wanting to kick I can do it during Lent.  I wish I had that much will power the other days of the year.  I guess I should be grateful I have these 40 days to strengthen my faith and work on myself.  This year, I am hoping this will motivate me to keep going after Lent.

What habit am I talking about?  Eating unhealthy foods....ALL THE TIME!

I admire the people I know who eat healthy no matter what the circumstances are in their life.  I can think of three of these people right now.  They live their daily lives without indulging in every goodie they see and they look MARVELOUS!

That is not me right now, but that is my goal.  I am always wanting to lose 15-20 pounds and tone my muscles.  I succeed at losing the weight every year.  THEN, I put it right back on and add a couple pounds.  I am discovering that the problem is my goal.  Usually, I have a goal to lose 20 pounds.  Okay?  That sounds like a great goal.  My problem is I get to that goal and celebrate that I made it with Cold Stone ice cream.  Yes, I celebrate hitting my weight goal with food.  Now, I am beginning to see my problem.  I reward myself with goodies.  That is sad! The victory is hanging in the air and I am eating exactly the "thing" that got me to my top weight in the first place.

I know I am not alone.  This time is the last time I will need to kick this bad habit.  Boy, that sounded awesome!  No really, it is true.  Why is it different this time?

I am changing my attitude.  I do not have a goal weight in mind.  Nope!  I am not going to step on the scale every day and see how my weight fluctuates.  The scale helps some people I know, but not me.  I will eat well for a few days and see my weight going down.  Then, I have just a little cookie and step on the scale and see the weight still moving in the right direction.  I tell myself..."That cookie didn't effect my weight.  It is okay if I have a cookie again today."  Next, thing you know I am having COOKIES again.  I feel like Cookie Monster!  I can't get enough COOKIES!  Sound familiar?  Again, I know I am not alone.  That is what is so comfortable about being here.

Today, I started a new exercise program that I see advertised on TV and know a couple people who have completed the series.  I know it will not be for everyone, but I thought I would give it a try.  It is P90X.  It is a 90 day program where I am supposed to see results in that 90 days.  I like to see results that fast, and the 90 days will land right before summer.  You know, the time I have to get out the shorts, tank tops and dreaded bathing suit.

You know what I had to do before I started the program?  Take pictures of myself.  SCARY!  I put on biking shorts and an exercise bra and had my son take my picture six times.  As I was standing there I thought about how bad these might look.  When I saw them on my computer screen, I did couldn't believe that was me.  Notice, I had my son take my picture and not hubby.  I didn't want him to see me like that.  LOL!  He sees me like that every day.  What is boils down to.....I didn't want to see him seeing me like that.  Now, I have something to look at every time I want to cheat on this plan.  That will scare me straight.

I told my sister I had pictures taken and she said, "Don't you know how you look in the mirror?"  Yes, I do, but I don't know how I look in a picture with from the side and the back!  Now I do and it is motivation, since I am supposed to repeat these pictures at 30, 60, and 90 days.  Some people in the program post their before and after pics.  I don't think I will be able to do that.

In addition to the workout program, I am going to start eating healthy today.  There are so many plans out there, and I have tried about three of them.  The South Beach Plan seems to work the best for me.  I have lost my weight on Weight Watchers, but I need a plan that keeps my carbs low and sugars healthy.  There is diabetes in our family.  I am not saying I will never, ever, ever have a goodie.  That would be insane! But during Lent, the only sugar I am eating are natural ones that come in fruit.  Our boys are giving up candy and I always want to show them you can do anything you put your mind to, so I am go to that next level.  If I gave up candy, I would just increase my bread and CAKE intake.

I did my first workout on the P90X program and made it through the entire tape.  I like the combination of lifting weights (to tone my muscle - goal checked) and the cardio.  During the session the host, Tony even says things like..."Now, don't go to the grocery store and buy all that nasty food."  Okay.  So I made it to the store and remembered those words today.  Again, I am on day one.  I will let you know in a week how I am doing at the grocery store.

Are there any bad habits you want to kick?

Now, Which One?

First, I wanted to share with you a picture my Uncle David took that I absolutely love.  I did put it through Topaz Labs Adjust 5 to have some fun with it.  I love trees!

I want to thank those of you who purchased some of my stamp sets.  I had one person purchase all my CTMH sets, so I am well on my way to saving for the new iPad 3.  I have been doing some research to figure out which iPad I want to buy.  Oh, even researching about the new iPad is fun.  I still have a few SU sets left for sale. You can see them at this post.

In addition, I wanted to give you a little teaser about a digital software company that has approached me to review their program.  Within the next two weeks, I will be creating a post about it, and you will be given the chance to win the program and a great discount.  I just got the program this afternoon and I have been playing with it.

Stay tuned.........

Mama WANTS an iPad

Finally, I am done uploading all the stamps I have for sale (at this time) and the prices.  The prices do not include shipping.  I will try to put them into a flat rate box depending on how many you want to purchase.

There were so many stamps I had to open another Flicker account, so I could download all of them.  They have a rule about how much you can download each month.  Below are listed two sets with all the information.

For every $50 you buy, I will throw in some FREE products/goodies!

Here is a legend:

R - means retired (These are not all up-to-date).  I stopped doing this last year.

C - means clear-mount SU

The other SU ones are wood.  All CTMH stamps are acrylic.

You will see under some of the SU stamps, I put whether I have the punches for them.  If you are interested in the punches that match the stamps sets, let me know and I will get you a price.

If you want to see some examples created with the sets, check the sidebar under Stamping Creations.  I probably have some made.  

Set 1

Set 2

Please email me at clearlyinspired@gmail.com or press the email button on the top of the right sidebar with the sets/punches you are interested in purchasing.  

I will try to keep an updated list of the stamps still available.  I will sell the stamps on a first email basis.  It would be helpful for me if you put the set number down, so I know which set list to check.  You don't have to, but it would make the process quicker.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  For example, are you looking for a particular Big Shot die, ribbon, etc.  I might have it.

They're Back!

When I became a Demo for Stampin' Up!, I could not post other stamping products on my blog that was not from them.  There are many arguments for and against this.  I tried my best to stick to this policy, so I took off all the former CTMH creations from my sidebar.  Well!  Since there are only a few days left until the end of the month, and I am working behind the scenes to change my blog....I ADDED THEM BACK!

If you go to the right sidebar and scroll to the bottom under Stamping Creations, you will see I added back all the categories for all the stamps I used while stamping and blogging.  I think that was in 2007.

I am not sure that is where those will stay, but if I move things around on my blog, I will always let you know.

IN ADDITION >>>>>

I will be selling most of my stamps sets and stamping materials that I don't use or think I will be using in the future.  I have a lot, so the list will be long.  I found a way to do this that will be beneficial to anyone who is interested.

I started an alphabetical book of each stamp set I own for SU and CTMH over year ago.  I either cut the picture out or stamped each stamp from the set on a page.  This is going to help in the selling process.  I am going to start scanning all these pictures into my computer and putting them on my Flickr account.  Once I am finished, I will post that link on my blog and you will be able to see the sets I have for sale and the price.  When I was looking for used sets, I always hated not having pictures to look at.

Well, I am off to start this project and clean the house.  Until later!

End of a Chapter.....

At the end of this month, I will be ending a chapter in my life that started in 2006.  I signed up to be a Close To My Heart consultant then.  Over time, I realized my creativity switched from scrapbooking to cards, and resigned at CTMH to sign up as a Demo with Stampin' Up!

During my time with CTMH, I was honored to be on the Design Team of Molly Stamps.  Molly Stamps is where I met my friend and mentor Susanna Boyd.  She asked me to be a member of her new site, Paper Craft Planet.  I was so thrilled to be part of an exciting adventure and talented team.

Last year, my life changed where I could not give the time and effort Susanna deserved, so I resigned from Paper Craft Planet.  Now, I have decided to resign my Demo at Stampin' Up at the end of this month.  I have been creating photo books online and see my creativity going in that direction.

I wanted to thank all of you for spending your time with me on my blog.  I have appreciated all your comments, suggestions and encouragement over the years.

I am not shutting my blog down; however, it will be taking another direction.  You will see changes to the design in the next month or so.  I will continue to post, but it will not be about stamping, Stampin' Up!, etc.  It will be about what is on my mind and about what I am doing.  I would love for you to stay with me and see where this new chapter leads me.  I understand if you decide to unsubscribe, since I won't be giving you paper creations every week.

I will be working on my blog in February, so you will start to see changes then.  Have a great day!

See you soon!

Happy Everything!

This is our Christmas card this year.  I wanted to wish all of you Happy Everything!  May the holiday you celebrate be joyous and filled with love.

The back of our Christmas card reads.....  Jesus in the reason for the season!

Hoping you have a safe and happy holiday season!

Susanna's Birthday Party

Today, October 22nd, we are celebrating Susanna's Boyd's birthday with a week-long challenge event that every member on the Planet can participate in!  The Super Novas got together and each made a special birthday gift for Susanna's birthday.  In honor of this momentous occasion, we invite everyone to post a birthday project or card for a chance to win some fabulous prizes! Yes, there are several chances to win some awesome paper crafting goodies just by posting a birthday themed project!  Further details can be found by clicking on The Planet Blog.  Check out where the party is and join us for a week of celebrations!

I created a three-page layout to celebrate Susanna's birthday.  I hope she likes it!

Halloween Bookmark

I made this cute Halloween Bookmark at my friend, Kim's house.  Oh, this would be so cute to have in one of my scary books.  In fact, it would be cute to have in any of my books.  What am I thinking?  I will have to give it to the boys, since I got a Kindle.  Oh, I could put it in the Halloween gift for one of the teachers at Westgate.  Now, I am thinking!

I stamped the image from Festive & Fun stamp set (Holiday Mini) in black Staz On and used ink and a water brush to watercolor it.  Then I ran it through the Big Shot with an Impressions Folder.  To make the raised dots show better, I brushed an ink pad lightly over them.  Oh, so cute!