Digital Scrappers!! "Niko SALE"

Oh my, I've got to let you in on a secret...

I was in a chat last week, and as silly as I can be from time to time, or corny, a few of the designers over at 3Scrapateers have decided to extend their After Thanksgiving sales until the 1st of December, and calling it a "Niko Sale" [unofficially!! LOL]... isn't that neat? Long story, but I had mentioned that I was going to miss out on some items and asked if they could keep it on sale until at least the first of the month, as I wasn't going to get paid until this weekend... And guess what?? You now can take advantage of kits being on sale up to 50% off!! Woo hoo!! See, aren't you glad you're my friend? LOL...

Check out their stores and grab some goodies by December 1st!!

Carla Ware

and

Kimberly Stewart

(buy $10 and you get 2 FREE alphas sets)

* * * * * * *

Also, FishinMom Designs has a two new kits that are on sale this week at Digital-Scrapbooking!! I'll have to upload some LOs from all of these wonderful ladies when I get back from an appointment! Plus I've got a LO from Lisa Majewski Designs "Elf Lovin" kit that you don't want to miss if you haven't already seen it!

If you like FREE stuff, make sure you're hanging out in the 3Scrapateers Chat room tonight from 10 p.m. EST for the Half-N-Half Chat and then immediately following, at 11 p.m. EST for the Embellish It Chat!! As horrible as I'm feeling now, I might not be there, but you definitely don't want to miss out! You could get practically a whole kit FREE just for showing up and having fun! **In order to chat, you must be a 3S member, and don't forget to list "NikosMom" as the referral when you sign up! Here's the calendar.

* * * * * * * *

Plus, if you would like to see what Eglë (FairyMouseMom at ACOT), my mentor, teacher, friend, and AKA Sensei has been up to, show your support, by scooping up the new "A Kid at Christmas" kit QP set she designed and collaborated with by designer Michelle Bradley, or even scoop up the ENTIRE bundle (which includes everything plus the alphas) and save $4 at Shelby Design Shoppe. If you can, please show her your support, as she put a lot of hard work into those Quick Pages, and I would not be where I am with digital scrapbooking without her! (that's why I call her "Sensei") And just look, based on what she has taught me all online, I've been creating for two fabulous digital designers and my LOs just keep getting better and better!!

Oh gosh, I'm now almost late for my first of several doctor appointments!! Have a blessed day! Hugs to everyone that crosses my path... Please, keep me and my family in your prayers.

Sharing Some Photos

Well, I didn't want to put in a slide show, I just wanted you to be able to see the photos!

Taylar's 7th birthday!!


Me at 0'dark thirty waiting for a Black Friday Sale--wasn't worth it, didn't get the television I wanted. So that smile soon became a frown.

Me and some ladies (new friends) at By Design Scrapbook Boutique at the beginning of November for a Bo Bunny Holiday Planner class! 1st photo, Susan, Lynn, me, and Susan.
2nd photo are of Susan and Lynn from Canada! I enjoyed scrapping and meeting all 3 ladies, and now Susan (in the black shirt) and I try to scrap about once a week--well, when I'm not sick and she's not working! You should come and join us!

Sasha and Niko during our road trip to San Antonio; yes, they are sleeping on my new television! LOL.. at least I was able to go to San Antonio and make it for the sale there!

After Thanksgiving sale at By Design Scrapbook Boutique! There was a mega sale (see the tree? Those were coupons that Cheryl had made!! Woo hoo!) and Timi did a wonderful Make and Take with the new Creative Cafe items! Even Pablo participated in the Make and Take...

Me and my adorable hubby in front of the Pink Christmas Tree at BDSB (LSS); the owner LOVES pink!! She said she finally got a chance to decorate a tree the way she wanted!! See more photos and read her story here!

I will have more photos later this week, along with a couple of freebie downloads! Also, if you haven't signed up for Lisa Majewski's Blog or FishinMoms Designs Blog, you need to! Especially if you digitally scrapbook! They have wonderful freebies and sales, and you don't want to miss out! If you sign up or grab a freebie, please make sure you let these ladies know what a wonderful job they do, and that you heard about them from me! Elise (aka NikosMom on 3Scrapateers, DigiScrapBoutique and Digital-Scrapbooking)

Raining Inside My House!

OMG!! I can't believe this... when it rains, it absolutely pours!! Well, it never fails, when I get really sick, it seems like Niko has sympathy sickness too. Then that only leaves Pablo and Sasha to run the house, and then of course not much gets done, but I do get pampered. So, I'm still dizzy, still got the illness thing going on, and amidst all of this, I forget to take Niko to get his vaccinations yesterday so his Rabies shots would be good for 3 years. Well, dang it; I missed it by one day, so I now have to take him for an update one year from today! They couldn't give him the 3 yr. one because I was a day late... We go, he does fine, we get home, I'm not feeling well, although several professional nurses, caretakers, police officers, and close friends have all come to the conclusion that what is wrong with me has something to do with Hypoglycemia. So, I've got appointments Thursday (tomorrow), Tuesday, Wednesday and the following week... Hopefully and with many prayers, the docs can get a handle on what is going on with me. The constant sleeping, the horrible body stiffness, nausea (and clock work vomiting), shaking and everything else has got to stop! I am starting to become consumed by the recent symptoms and illness! Please send me good vibes and prayers if you can...

Anyways, back to Niko, we get home, I was just about to lay down, and after about an hour, I'm looking for him... No where to be found was he!! Then I glanced at the end of the hallway, and he's sleeping against the wall. There's no doggie bed/pillow there!! I went to pet him, and he's got bumps all up and down his back!! He had a rash... or whelps or something! So I call the vet, I explain to them, and they say rush him back. He was having an allergic reaction to the Rabies vaccine, so they had to give him a diphenhydramine shot and observe him... for 3 hours, so I'm sitting there waiting; then the shakes and the dizziness start! Ugh!! So, I ran to Starbucks and got a "Tall Skinny Mocha Cinnamon Dulce Latte" and I'm not a coffee drinker! Oh but that was so delish!! :)

So, now we're at home, and we just watched the "Shrek Christmas Special" and it was too cute. I'm extremely tired, but due to the time difference in Sweden, I'm trying to stay up to talk to Marie! My sleep schedule and frequent trips to the hospital has gotten me so off track, I can't even remember the last time I chatted with my Twin Swedish Sister!!

Well, I'm loading some photos just for the fun of it, because I haven't had much time to do anything else. Not only that, these needed to be shared! Hugs to all! Enjoy the photos!

BTW, I've got some great news amidst all of this, and I'll have some freebies on my blog come Friday!! So keep a look out!! :) This will be a HUGE announcement!

The latest 411 (Updates)

Yikes!!! I can't believe I have not blogged in about a week! So much has been going on in my life, it's almost "unreal"... I ask that you all keep me and my family in your prayers. I have had a whirlwind of events going on... Well, we thought we were pregnant, and it turns out to be something else. How did I find out the test was negative you ask? I've been to the ER twice in a weeks' time... and guess what? They don't know for sure what is causing my dizziness or the nausea and "throwing up". Good thing, it wasn't any E-coli. contamination like I originally thought. What would the world be like without me? LOL... well, from being in the military, I've always been told, "the mission doesn't stop because we lose one person"... hmmm.... (smile) But I've always thought that I was pretty important! Ha!!

Okay, here's the latest in a nutshell...

1. Been to the ER twice


2. I've selected the winners of the card contest I sponsored in Sweden


3. Pablo and I managed to go to San Antonio in a one days' trip to shop for "Black Saturday" at Lackland AFB, and managed to get the last of the Christmas shopping done.


4. Christmas decorations will go up on the house the first weekend of December, as my mother started that as a tradition...


5. The ACOT Crop here in Texas is up and running!! (If you haven't signed up or paid, there's still time... I'm got surprises for those that sign up and pay before the 18th of Dec.; also, if you live in Texas and want to come to a crop with a bunch of wonderful ladies, please sign up for your free account on ACOT--http://www.acherryontop.com/, and you can join us for fun at By Design Scrapbook Boutique the whole weekend from 29 Feb - 1 Mar 08!!)


6. I've got some LOs to share with you!!


7. We took the puppies to "Woofstock '08" here at the Clear Lake park, sponsored by the Bay Area ASPCA... (my personal opinion, my Sasha should have at least won as Mrs. Woofstock!!--but it was all in good fun, I just know that I plan to come bigger and better next year!! LOL...)


8. I'm working on a digital freebie for my blog readers... I love going to blogs and scooping up freebies, so why not offer one?

Well, on to some exciting news...




WINNERS of the Grodans Scrapgarden Card Contest (drum roll please....)

• Alexander--fars Dag (I love how he used the punches!! And of course, my favorite color scheme of Red and Black!! And he didn't even know! LOL)

• Annelie Rosinki--Christmas ornament (I love this shaped card and the different bling!!)

• Linda Wiberg Stjärna--God Jul (I just love the different techniques she used)

• Pia Kronkvist--God Jul (Of course those that know me, know how I feel about "Snowmen", but I fell in love when I saw this! Extremely elegant card, the "stitching" and even the snowman looks cute!)

• Sanna Orrgren--God Jul (look at the paper piecing here, and all that bling!! too cute)

**Ha ha!! I bet you guys thought I didn't have the proper keycodes to get those special characters for the Swedish names!! I think it's important that I spell everyone's name the correct way, because you know how I detest it when I get called "Elsie" when my name is "Elise!!" LOL...

I want to thank all of the participants in the contest as well!! It was a really hard decision, and I was going to ask the assistance of some of my American friends that scrap at the LSS here with me, but I had a few that stuck out in my mind as a card that I would LOVE to receive in the mail! You all know how I hate getting bills in the mail, and it's just so exciting when a letter, note or card arrives!! So... without further adeau lets have a look, shall we? Here are all the entries that were submitted... Please make sure to leave a comment about the cards you see here, and let's show a little American "love" for these wonderful Swedish Scrappers!! :) You know how much we like to get "warm fuzzies" on our LOs and work that we create when we upload to the galleries!! TIA!! Elise

Announcements Galore!!

I just found out I won Layout of the Day (LOTD) at 3Scrapateers!! They loved my little LO of sleeping Sasha!! If you are over there, please leave me some love, and you can create your own by picking up the FREEBIE by Lisa Majewski!!

Wow!! That is such a wonderful honor!!

I've got so much info to spread, it's not even funny!!

I just got the card photos from Grodans Scrapgarden in Sweden, and I will be posting those this afternoon so you can see what wonderful work comes from another country!! Sweden is just getting in on the scrapbook hobby and they are rockin' it!! Apparently they LOVE it just as much as Americans do!! So...

On to my next announcement, if you are in Texas and would like to get together and have some fun with some of the best scrapbook girls on the internet (both paper and digi girls are invited)--You've totally got to join http://www.acherryontop.com/ (aka ACOT) and sign up to join us for a fabulous fun filled weekend packed full of cropping, games, and prizes at By Design Scrapbook Boutique in Clear Lake City, TX (Houston--not far from NASA Space Center)!! And if you're not in Texas and you'd like to fly in or drive down or across, I'm pricing local hotels. The wonderful event will be February 29 thru March 1st, and I would like to hold a brunch/breakfast that Sunday Morning the 2nd of March before everyone goes back home or out of town... I'm planning the event with ACOTs very own Amanda 'Mkcdaisy', who is one of the Creative Team members!! Click on her name above to read her bio!! Save the date!! It's going to be a blast, I can guarantee it!! This will NOT be something you'll want to miss--even if you don't scrap and you're thinking about starting...

There is a SALE!! Going on over at DSO--FishinMom Designs is on a roll with new kits!! There are two new Christmas kits!! Right now they are 50-60% off!! But I believe you've only got one week to scoop these up!! Both are different, and I just can't keep up with her!! So, I don't have any LOs to show you right now, but I didn't want you to miss the sale!!

Click on the photos, to buy the kit of your choice!! Or better yet, pick up both kits for less than the cost of ONE kit!!

FishinMom Designs also has a kit she is working on that will go up in the stores some time soon, but she is offering it to all her blog readers for FREE a download a day!! So... run over to her blog and scoop up "Winter Berry" a piece at a time, and collect the whole kit before it's available in the store!! She will only have the links available 48hrs at a time!! Oh yeah, did I say Free?

Been sick... and a little more!

Well, I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd come upstairs and get something done... not sure what I'm trying to get done, but I'm working on a few new LOs...

Can you believe I got to participate in a "Local" crop in Sweden? LOL... I didn't go there physically, but I made some prizes for those that attended and those are going in the mail, plus if you've seen any cards I've ever created or designed, I put together a card kit together and ran a contest there at Grodans Scrapgarden... My "svenska" (aka Swedish) isn't that great, but I'm learning it slowly! :) Some of the words I can make out, but if I need a translator, I ask Marie to translate for me! I wish Babelfish had Swedish on their translator page!! Maybe Nordic languages are getting lost or becoming "old world" languages... I know French and Spanish, and understand a few Germanic words, but Swedish, is nothing like the "romantic languages" of French, Spanish and Italian... so... I try! Marie laughs at me from time to time saying that some of my words that I pronounce sound like I'm from "Stockholm" or north Sweden--hey, first, I'm American; secondly, when you're used to rolling your tongue for Castillian/Spanish, you kind of put a twist on some words, no?

So anyways, I'm waiting to see what cards were made for the contest! I'll try posting a few, along with the samples I made that these winners are going to get to make from their kit! WOW, did I pack the kit with all kinds of goodies!! I just hope they like them!!

The special gobstopper of a prize that I made has already been drawn, and I decorated a little pail (clear), and filled it with:

• Heidi Swapp butterfly Mask
• Tim Holtz blending tool and distressing ink pad
  
• Heidi Swapp Ghost Shapes (Flowers) and some chipboards
  
• Making Memories Brad
• American Crafts Ribbon
• Scrapbook Magazine

The winner was Carola!! She must have spent a bundle at Lucienne's store, because I think for every 100Kr (that's Swedish Crowns/Krona) you got to put your name in for the drawing!! Not sure what the exchange rate on the dollar is but I think it was like $1.oo U.S. = 6 or 7 Kr!!

Well, more info later!!

Oh yes...
INSIDE SCOOP!! The two girlies that I CT for have got some fabulous Christmas kits coming out!! I'll tell you now, in case I don't get it loaded quickly enough, sign up for their newsletters so you'll know when these kits are in the stores and on sale!! First week for both designers, their kits are on sale!! Don't miss out!! I mean MEGA sale!! 50-67% off!! You can't beat that!!

Here are the links to their blogs:
Lisa Majewski
FishinMom

New Baby O Baby kit by Lisa Majewski--SALE!!

Okay, here it is, and I'm making every effort to make sure I let everyone know about new kits and sale items by both designers that I CT for!! This on is on sale at both DSB and 3S, and you can pick up a coordinating QP FREEBIE at her blog!!

Her newest kit is great for all of your layouts for babies, kiddos, celebrations, and so much more! And it's on sale for only $3.00 until November 16th, so pick it up before it goes to regular price! (This is 50% off the regular price!! Get it now!! Even if you don't have children, the embellishments and frames, and solid papers, plus the alphas alone are way worth more than $3!! Don't let it pass you buy, I think it's also great for any Easter photos you've got to scrap!!) Again, you can find it at 3Scrapateers or Digiscrap Boutique

Credits:

“Baby O Baby” QP Freebie by Lisa Majewski
Stiches by Lisa Majewski
Alpha Tags from “Princess and the Pea” kit by Lisa Majewski

Fonts:

2Peas Renaissance
Bell MT

Card Contest and an Update

Wow, I for sure thought I would have had at least 2 entries from my blog readers and subscribers!! Guess I'll be keeping my $10 Gift Certificates to myself then!! I had 3 to give away!! Maybe next contest...

Well, this has been a really exciting week for me in more than one way! Oh yes, first an update on Marie, she is at home, healing, just a little pain (but not enough to have missed an all day crop yesterday at ScrappeGardens in the south of Sweden! You know how we are... near death, but still croppin'!!) I have made her a get well card, and will be sending it soon!

Now, there are two different pieces of great news, I can only reveal one right now until I get the go ahead for the other one!

I've been selected for my second CT!! Take a look at the official Announcement! I'll also be creating for FishinMom Designs!! She has a blog where she has been designing and loading lots and lots of FREEBIES!! So now she is selling specially designed kits that are sold exclusively at Digital Scrapbooking.Org (aka DSO)... And I was the FIRST one selected to be on her CT!! So I'm officially part of the 'fishpond' ; isn't that a cute play on words? It's all in her blog!! Sign up for her blog updates, she is still giving away freebies, and they come from the actual kits she's selling!! Catch the kits when she first puts them in the store and they're only $2!! Yes, you read correctly, that's 67% off the regular price!!

Here are is my first LO created using her "Hot to Trot" kit!!

Credits:
"Hot to Trot" kit by FishinMom Designs

Chalk overlay designed by me

Professional photo taken at PetCo

Scraplift (Raylene @3S)

Fonts used (most availabe as free downloads at DaFont):

Zallman-Caps (90 and 72pts)

High Tower Text (48 pts)

Tahoma (26 pts)

Punch Label (36 pts)

Crayon (100 pts)

Gigi (48 pts)

“Hot to Trot” kit by FishinMom Designs now on SALE!! Only $2!! Get it now before it goes back to the regular price of $6!! This is practically a steal!! A great fun versatile kit! Don't forget to pick up the matching QP freebie at her blog! BTW, all of her downloads are password protected, but the passwords are listed right above or below the photo of what you're downloading!! Please leave her a huge "Thanks" if you pick up any freebies! She's like me... it makes her heart smile!!

I'll be posting a few more layouts today, I've been so busy creating and creating for both Lisa Majewski Designs and FishinMom Designs, now I just have to get them all uploaded!! Stop by and tell these wonderful ladies you found them through me, Elise, aka NikosMom when you sign up at any of the sites that they sale their designs on!

She's up to something!!

Check back this weekend and see!! I've got some more exciting news and some updates, but you know me, I'm running late going to school!

Holiday Kit Sales!! Only $3 Plus Freebies!!

Can you say WOW!! You've got to get these kits while they are on sale! That's 50% off the regular price! I was shocked to see she reopened the Halloween Kit "Boo Who" for sale again, but then again I'm really not, Lisa Majewski is such a sweetie anyways!!

Hurry over to her stores, and pick them up! Grab the Freebies at her blog by clicking here!

These kits will be on sale until midnight Thursday, 8 Nov 07!! Get them before the go back to regular price!!

• "Painted Desert" Can be purchased at either of her stores at digiScrap Boutique or 3Scrapateers

• "Boo-Who" Can also be purchased at either store at digiScrap Boutique or 3Scrapateers

When you visit her blog and scoop up the freebies, let her know Elise sent ya!! And if you're joining either site for the first time, make sure to use my user ID as the referral--"NikosMom" :) Enjoy your week!
Elise

Update on Marie and Card Contest!!

Thank you to all of you that sent prayers and messages for my friend and sister Marie, I finally did get a chance to talk to her husband, and he told me she had to have surgery, well it turned out she had an Appendectomy--that's what the severe pain was, but I finally got to talk to her as she was discharged from the hospital today!! Yay!! I was so happy to hear her voice on the phone! She is still in pain and will be on bed rest recovering for the next two weeks!

I've decided that no one likes to be sick or stranded at home in the bed--not even scrappers surrounded by scrapping supplies when you are kind of immobile or can't carry or lug all your new goodies home from the store if you go out and buy new stuff without having to ask someone to help you carry the bags in! So...

To put a smile on her face, (and a smile on your faces!) I'm holding a CARD Contest!! The rules are below:

GET WELL/QUICK RECOVERY CARD CONTEST

Criteria/Rules:

1. Card can be digi or paper, but must be mailable. You may design it on digital, but must be printed out....
2. Cards must be completed and photos, scans or jpeg files must be e-mailed to me by Midnight Saturday, 10 Nov 07, so that I can e-mail you her mailing address so you can put it in the post on Monday!!
3. Postage to Sweden is currently $0.90 (90 cents) I will reimburse each participant for postage directly to her... there will not be enough turn around time for me to have you mail them to me and then me send them to her.
4. You must agree to keep her address and personal information IAW Privacy Act 1974 once I give it to you. This is important, and I know you wouldn't want someone else passing out or using your address for unofficial business.
5. Cards must be in the category of Get Well, Quick Recovery, etc. (Not Thank you, or Birthday cards if you know what I mean).
6. Cards must be 5"x5", 5"x7", or 6"x6" for easier mailing, and my be embellished any way you like! With your return addy on the front of the envelope in case she would like to write a Thank you note...
   
7. Cards will be judged by dh who also scraps, but has his own style and is not partial to any of my blog readers!
8. Please sign your cards with your name and your ACOT or other MB name.
9. I will announce a winner on Sunday evening, November 11!!
10. Submit your entries with your name, MB name, and frequently shopped online store from the selection of (ACOT, DSB, or 3Scrapateers)

PRIZE... Winner will receive a gift certificate to the shop of their choice!
Good luck and thank you for playing! Can't wait to see your entries!!
Here is the one I made for her!!
(I will print the papers out on Bazzill, and paste the Strength sticker on chipboard, and probably use Prima flowers for the Daisies and leaving the "Wishing you..." printed as is on cardstock as well! So it then becomes "Hybrid" and mailable.) I'll post a photo when I complete it! TFL!!

Credits:
"Sweet Sophie" Kit by Michelle Bradley

Prayers Requested and an ACOT CT Designer Layout!

First things first, I need all of you that read my blog to please join me in keeping my Swedish Friend, Marie, in your prayers!! I last spoke with her probably on Wednesday (and that was quite brief) and she told me she was in pain and on her way to the ER. Well, it turns out her Appendix burst, and she had to actually have surgery yesterday. I was given the number by her husband and her friend to give her a call at the hospital, but I can't get through, it's always busy!! So, of course, I'm on pins and needles wanting to know how her recovery is coming along and wanting to hear her voice and her laughter. We are so close, we always finish each other's sentences, and she makes me laugh all the time! I know the power of prayer is strong, and I just want a fast recovery for her so she can go back to her home with her family and chatting with me via the webcam! Thank you all for doing me such a huge favor!


Now, I've got to tell you, even though I've been so worried about her, I had to do something to keep my mind preoccupied so I wouldn't be calling and bothering her husband at all hours of the day and night, so I partied at the ACOT (A Cherry On Top) National Digital Scrapbook Day!! Wow, did I have a blast! I didn't get to win the GRANDE prize, but the lady that did, really did deserve it, so it was just like I won!! But I got to know a lot of cool ladies on there that I didn't know that well before, we joked and we joked and we joked!! But here's the best part!!! Can you hold your breath? BTW, they had me waiting for a whole week with this one, but here goes the story... lately I've been pretty emotional; not sure why, but I stayed up til the midnight posting to see if my photos were selected for the "Win A Designer Layout Contest" and when I went to the gallery, I didn't see my photos anywhere, I started to cry, but I was on the phone with another ACOT girlie at the time, so I was trying to hold back the disappointment (although I didn't do so well, she heard it in my voice), and then I looked a little closer, and this is what I saw!!!


LOOK!!

This is "Our Love" by CamsMomma on ACOT

She used the new ACOT Collaboration kit "Transitions"

This was about the neatest thing anyone could have done for me with those photos!! Those tears of disappointment quickly became tears of JOY!! I was amazed!! Every chance I get I just want to look at it, because I'm so used to scrapping my own photos, to see it from someone else's perspective, it was simply outstanding!! She used colors I wouldn't have thought to use with those photos, but I love the look!! Well, I'm off to finish some more layouts!!