My Memories Giveaway

There has been a lot of buzz lately about My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software in blogland and it is for good reason! I was one of the lucky people who was asked to try it out and I am so glad I did. It is very easy to download as well as being fun and easy to use. One of my lucky friends will have a chance to win it for themselves!

If you read my last post, you will remember that I am very interested in photography and have been contemplating getting more serious about it. With this My Memories Software, I could not only take wonderful pictures, I will also be able to create albums that are printable for my "models". This in and of itself is a big deal! Here are a few pages that I created so you could see what all can be done. There are way more possibilities than I have shown here!

I really wish I would have had this software when I was forced to create my own wedding album after the photographer flaked out on me. Just for fun, I might have to create a new one-it's easy enough!

This software could help you market your blog or business too. I definitely have a lot of ideas running through my head. My marketing degree and this software will work beautifully together! The possibilities are endless!

Would you love to win your own download for free? Just leave a comment on this post and you are entered in to win! Feel free to stop by My Memories and let me know what your favorite paperpack is for an extra entry. If you can't wait for me to draw the winner and want to get it RIGHT NOW, use code STMMMS39821 at checkout for $10 off your purchase of the software plus a $10 coupon to use at My Memories Store-that is a $20 value!  The lucky winner will be drawn on Friday, November 18th-so hurry and enter! I promise you will love it!

Pursuing Photography of People

I have come to the conclusion that I am better at taking pictures of people than I am at taking pictures of things. I am so envious of those bloggers out there that take pictures of objects that literally take your breath away. I am not one of them. I think I have better luck with pictures of people as seen below!

This is my niece Ashley, she is my husband's older sister's daughter...when I got married I gained lot's of neices and nephews! Ashley is a Senior this year at Bend High School in Bend, Oregon. I took her older brother's senior pictures 3 years ago and was very excited to take hers this year. I was driving all over the place looking for fun places to take them. I have to say I am pretty happy with how they turned out.

Ashley was a very good sport. As you can see I had her lay down in the middle of the road...there was no traffic, it was out in the middle of nowhere! It was so much fun coming up with unique ideas!

Over Labor Day weekend, my niece Brielle decided that she wanted to do a photo shoot of her own. I love taking photos and love having a willing model! She put on her jeans and boots and borrowed grandpa's holey cowboy hat and we were off!

I call these her "Freshman" pictures (I can't believe my little niece is a freshman...I was a freshman when she was born!) I think we will make this an annual thing. Next year will be "Sophomore" pictures, then "Junior" pictures, then "Senior" pictures...but I better not get too ahead of myself!

Brielle's older brother Casey, who was born when I was in 7th grade, is a Junior this year which really makes me feel old. I would love to take his Senior pictures next year, but I have a feeling he won't be as much fun-you know how teenage boys can be!

I am seriously thinking about investing in a fancy Digital SLR camera to really pursue this photography thing. Don't get me wrong, the point and shoot digital camera I have works very well, as you can see. But I think people take you a little more serious as a photographer when you have a serious camera! What do you think? Should I continue to pursue my photography?

Happy Birthday Little Brother

I am late in posting this Happy Birthday message to my little brother. His birthday was October 18th...better late than never right? This is my little brother Josh. We are 2 years and 1 month apart, but were 3 years apart in school. As you can imagine, we didn't always get along very well growing up!

I was the typical older sister. Bossy and annoying...I know he would tell you that plus a lot more. I always got in trouble for trying to be his mom, in fact I still catch myself mothering him. Now that we are older we get along so much better. I can talk to him about anything and he often confides in me as well.

One of the things that I used to do that he really hated was call him Mister Spotty Fisher. I have no idea where that name came from but he hated it. Once in awhile I still call him that and it doesn't bother him quite as bad now! We used to play catch together in the back yard all the time. Most of my favorite childhood memories include my little brother. I am so thankful that I had a little brother to share growing up with!

My husband Cody and my brother Josh are great friends. Josh was one of Cody's groomsman and he even caught the garter. We are still waiting for Josh to settle down and get married himself. He has a girlfriend right now that I actually like (I am very picky about the girls he dates and normally find one reason or another not to like her-horrible, I know!). So maybe this girl will eventually be the one! I can't wait to have kids soon because I know that Uncle Josh will be their favorite uncle!

Josh is a lover of the outdoors. He is constantly hunting and fishing. Since the house he owns isn't very big, my parents have all his trophies hanging in their house. There is a bear rug, an elk, a deer, an antelope, a caribou and various birds. If you can't reach him, it is probably because he is out hunting or fishing!

This is Mutley, my nephew-Josh's black lab! Our dogs love to get together and play. I love my little brother so much and I am so thankful to have him in my life. He is a wonderful man with a great work ethic, a kind heart and a real zest for life. Happy Birthday Josh/Bubba/Mr. Spotty Fisher! Siss loves you!

Halloween Treat Potions

I always like to do something extra special and fun for my favorite trick-or-treater's also known as my nieces and nephews; they always expect fun things from me! Last year I made them Halloween cones filled with candy and decorated with lots of fun Halloween embellishments. This year I came up with something fun as well!

I spotted these adorable little bottles of soda at Winco. They are about 8 ounces and really cute. The grape flavor has a black hue so I knew they would make great Halloween treats!

I created some fun labels on Word using clip art. Each of the 10 bottles has a different, spooky label. I tied a piece of black ribbon on the top to make them just a little more festive.

The piece of art corresponds with the "flavor" of the "potion" that each bottle holds. Each one has a customized description too. Here is the list that I came up with in case you want to make some of your own:

*Witch Wart Water-wonderfully refreshing. Fur of Werewolf Juice-100% fresh clipped werewolf hair. Broken Bone Broth-the freshest fragments. Gurgle of Ghost-Boo! Devil's Dangerous Drink-full of fiery fury. Vampire Blood Essence-only the freshest blood. Zest of Zombie-brings you back to life. Graveyard Dust Extract-bottled in the pits of fire. Black Cat Brew-don't let it cross your path. Putrid Pumpkin Puree-it pleasures the palette.

I simply removed the label and taped these on. It was fast and easy and I know my favorite trick-or-treater's are going to love these bottles of potion and a little bag of candy.


Wishing you all a very Happy Halloween Weekend!

Ben's Bells

Have you heard of Ben's Bells?  I happened to be watching a news station that I never watch and saw a story about Ben's Bells.  In honor of a little boy who died suddenly and without warning, his parents started creating these bells.  They place them all over cities and towns and when people find them, they are encouraged to take them and spread a little bit of kindness.  What a wonderful way to remember such a sweet little boy!  I never thought I would be lucky enough to find one, but yesterday I did!

Sorry for the awful picture, I took it with my phone!

 This is the Ben's Bell that I found.  I just happened to be in a neighboring town on my lunch break to visit a friend.  When leaving her subdivision, I looked at the speed limit sign and saw a flower and other colorful things hanging there.  It took me a second to register what it was, but when I finally did, I flipped my car around and ran across the street to get it.  I couldn't believe that I had found one!

The card attached to the bell tells you all about it.  I went on to their website to learn more.  Ben's Bells is actually located in Tuscon, Arizona, and I have no idea how it came to the Boise area, but I am so glad it did!  I was overcome with joy to have found a Ben's Bell and I had a little pep in my step the rest of the day!  I think that is the whole point of this project, to remind people that there is still kindness in the world.  And if you are lucky enough to be treated kindly, pay the favor back!  Now I just need to figure out how to spread some of the kindness that was given to me!



Fall Tag Swap

I recently participated in a Fall Tag Swap hosted by It's a Very Cherry World. My swap partner was Janice at Curtains in My Tree. Here are the tags I created for her.

I made her 2 tags. One that is for Fall/Halloween, and one that is just for fun! The fun tag has vintage lace, pink pearls, a rose, a vintage button, beads and a glittery paper bird. The fall inspired one is fall on one side...

And Halloween on the other side! I love the little ghosts and candy corn!

Here are the lovely tags Janice made for me. I love them both!

The first one is this October Lady. I love her orange hat...it matches the orange seam binding on top! The yellow buttons are perfect as "O's"

I just love how she used a vintage BINGO card and spelled out my name with Scrabble tiles! The ribbon on the top is orange velvet and black lace.

Thank you so mcuh Janet for my tags! I had so much fun creating these for you and love the tags you made for me! I can't wait to do another fun swap soon!

Craft fair goodies

Yes, it has been awhile. Life has been a bit hectic. My new job is in full swing-lot's of event planning, scheduling and learning-but I love it! We got an offer on our house. An insulting offer, but that's what a short sale is really. I signed the papers on September 20th-my birthday-kind of a sad thing to do. Now we just have to wait for the short sale to be approved. We could be moving within 2-5 months...which brings a whole new dilemna-to decorate for fall or not to? If I do I know we will have to move really quick...if I don't, we will be there forever! I haven't decided what to do yet! In the meantime, I have been crafting to get my mind off of things. I sold some of my stuff at a craft fair this past weekend and I plan on making more stuff to sell at other fairs this year. Here are some pictures of what I made. I get so much inspiration from blogging and Pinterest. Enjoy the pictures!

My favorite candle with white eyelet laces and a big frosty blue/gray rose.

Towel holders-painted and distressed.

Fleur de lis tins.

MagnetsRose altered candle.

Rose message board made out of an old metal tray.

Paris metal tray message board.

A little vignette of the Paris goodies.

I loved making all these book bundles. No two are exactly alike!
White vintage lace, creamy crinkled seam binding and a frosty white rose.

Pink vintage lace, pink pearls and a frosty pink rose.

White tulle with a frosty blue/gray rose.

Blue and white vintage lace with a silky blue ribbon and a glittered hydrangea.

Black crinly seam binding, black pearls and a tiny skeleton key.

I hope everyone is enjoying fall so far. I can't wait for the temperatures to drop and the leaves to start turning. Maybe when that happens, I will be swayed to decorate for fall!

Linking up with:
Faded Charm:White Wednesday
Faith, Grace & Crafts:Pearls & Lace Thursday