STRAWBERRY RITUAL

The strawberry picking ritual is a yearly event that I love to do with these guys. They look forward to it and they start reminding me every spring. There are some times you must pat yourself on the back and this is one of them for me. I make the BEST STRAWBERRY BANANA JAM! It is looked for every summer by many of our friends and family. I find people opening the cupboard door where they know it is stored. So if you live in the UK and you are the mother to a couple crazy cats, watch your mail for a package! I usually have it made by now but we just went picking because of the rain. We had a beautiful day for it and some of the kids friends where there as well. I think that shocked them that we where not the only ones that did the trek to the fields. People need to stop and pick the berries once and a while, don't you think? Being together doing a yearly event teaches them about tradition and the fun that can come out of something so simple.

Well on to Brambleberry Lane. I will start releasing the new Flash cards this afternoon as well as some new stickers. I think I am going to cover one of the kids with stickers and add to my listing. I feel like I could cover the world with stickers I have been making so many. At the same time it never gets old. I love making stickers. Oh yes, do not forget that Christmas in July is just around the corner. Can it be done? Can I release that many new products that span the holiday season from Fall to New Years? Well, we will see about that. I just can't wait to try. I am better under pressure. Out of the blue my mind starts to work harder and faster. I love that rush of thoughts. The only thing is my hands some times can't keep up with my mind. I need to work on that. More exercise for the entire body is needed!

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SHE THINKS MY TRACTORS SEXY

Yes, that is a song by Kenny Chesney. And look at my husband have a great old time up on this one. He borrowed it from a friend and I have never seen him so happy. He drives around the yard moving dirt from point A to point B and enjoying every minute of it. We have only lived here for just over a year. When we bought the land about 4 years ago it was totally wooded. If the spot we purchased was for sale now you would buy it in a second because of the pond out back and how pretty it is. When we purchased you could see none of that and I was prego with Noah so there was only one set of hands cutting and working. Any who, he is now finishing some dirt moving that we had delivered on Fathers day and having a great time.

Back to Brambleberry Lane. July is just around the corner and we all know what that means...Christmas in July. Growing up we would go camping at Fish Creek Ponds, in upstate NY. I loved it. For years they had a Christmas in July program they put on and it was great.. So you will see many of the Holiday products I am working on. Also as a bonus there will be FREE SHIPPING on NEW Holiday products as well for the month of July. That is HUGE. So keep your eyes open and looking for the new products coming your way. There is a peek at one right on the side bar now, ENJOY!

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I LIKE THIS ONE!

I get silly when I like something I create and I like this. Instead of going to the store and buying some generic banner take a look at this one. And it can be yours as a fun kit to do with your kids, by your self or at a crop. So easy to put together yet those Amy Butler Papers make it stand out. It is full of color so can be used for any persons birthday. But it does give me the idea to go into my stash and make up a Boy theme, a Girl theme and a happy silly everyday theme for birthdays. I love this one and I think you will too. You can adjust the letters how ever you would like to make it longer or shorter. And the brads make it pop. Let me know what you all think!

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I LOVE THE VINTAGE THING!!!

So, I started listing some of these today. I am in love with them because the images are so great. As it explains in the listing, mom gave me some old children's books. I wasn't sure at first what to do with them. I was torn so I did nothing. But looking for something they turned up. I started using my template and moving it around the pages to see what 1" would get me. I am in love. I like when things I make make me happy. I can be proud of that little glimmer that flies in one side of the brain and out my hands. I hope you guys like them too. For the most part these will all be one of a kind sets. All of the old torn books are singles so if you like them you better get them before they are gone. I will add a couple new ones here and there. I need to get some other things photographed and listed but mister battery died in the camera so no more new picture until Tuesday when the new battery is picked up.

On a personal note, this week my Logan will turn 4 years old. I have enjoyed every minute that I have been blessed with each of my children. But this birthday marks the change of many things. For one he will be going to Pre-K in the fall. As well as he will be spreading the most incredible set of wings to fly and with Logan you just know he will soar as high as possible by man. There is something special about the way that Logan looks at everyday. He is that person that was brought into my life for a reason. The reason was to keep me grounded yet be able to find my own set of wings again. There is a song by Rascal Flats "Broken Road". It is meant to be a love song. But it really does apply to Logan. God Bless The Broken Road, That Led Me Straight To You. Yup, he was the child that 10 years ago you could never made me believe I was going to have someday. I wondered when Mo got sick and other things went south, could anything ever be incredible again. It was the moment I thought I was pregnant with Logan. He turned the hope back on in my heart and for that I will always be grateful to him. The funny thing is he doesn't even know he has done that for his mom. He calls me "MY SWEET ANGEL", but that is truly what he is to me!

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FATHERS DAY 2008

Their dad and mine. What a great couple of men that I just want to say HAPPY FATHERS DAY to. I would not be the same if it wasn't for you two. You both make our lives complete! So THANK YOU FOR THAT!!!!!

MEGAN, ABBY AND GRACIE ARE ON THERE WAY

My mind is running over time. Yes, I am being torn in many directions because we are coming to the end of the school year but my mind is still pumping. So lets add my favorite girls to the product line. I am pulling all of the incredible papers that I have and making more embellishments for the world stage. I can keep up, can you? So lets get scrapping. What about sitting making cards this summer for the fall/winter season. I have so many simple ideas to put together just the right papers so you can step back and say wow, I did that. Take one of these great flowers and place on a cards front and you have anything from a Birthday card to a Grads money card. Simple, Simple, Simple! So what are you going to create today?

Well lets welcome the three girls, hi Megan, Abby and Gracie, aren't you pretty!

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THE GIFT

So last night we had some really bad storms pass over our home by the pond. If you have never read anything I have written before, you may not know how much I LOVE my home. Everything about it from the fact that we have more land then just the foot print the house sits on to the color on my walls. Little or big, there is no place on earth I rather live out my years then this house. So, when a storm comes my way last night it tends to be unsettling when you see the tree that holds bird seed bending over. That tends to make me have a unhappy evening. So what did I find myself doing in the dark? Make, Make making new products.

So what does this all mean to the post title "THE GIFT"? I am walking around here this morning realizing that I have this gift. Since this time last year I have been having this feeling in my gut, and thank the Lord it hasn't gone away. I feel like someone turned on a faucet, and things just keep flowing out. My to do list is always being added to and that is not a bad thing. I am so excited all the time. I work all day long while listening to the Diva Craft Lounge http://www.divacraftlounge.com/ . Did you know that this existed out there? I am now listening to all of the back shows. It is so much fun to work and hear people talking about the paper biz. So my Gift is this incredible ability to keep trying and create without stopping. I have always created things since a child. But this is different. It is the flow and the fact that these things are rolling and I am sooooo happy. I have been given this Gift and I am so Thankful for it and I am going to keep working my tale off until the flow slows or the faucet is turned off.

What is your GIFT? What is your passion. I promise, if you take one giant step back, and listen to your gut, your passion will show itself to you. It seems to bring this incredible Peace along with it!

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M C Novelties

What do you mean you haven't heard of this Etsy shop? Alright, I will make it easy for you all... http://mcnovelties.etsy.com/ or http://maisyh.etsy.com Just click and find the joy of beautiful jewelry. The colors are classic and forever. When you purchase one of these beautiful designs it will be a purchase that you will have for a lifetime. I have ordered products from MC Novelties and have been very pleased with my order, delivery and little extras that set this designer apart from the rest. So if you are looking for something for yourself or a graduation maybe, this is where you need to stop by.

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HERE IS A MINI SCRAPBOOKING WAITING TO HAPPEN

Well, if you ever have the urge to amaze a 3 and 2 year old this was it. I love day trips. I love things that are free. And I love to show kids things that are not everyday so that they can see the possibilities of the future for them. A small down not to far from here named Cambridge has a Balloon Festival every June. There are only about 10 Balloons but it is just enough to not be overwhelming for a child. I remember my first Balloon Festival with my dad when I was 12 in Queensbury. It was awesome. I still have the pin he purchased for me from the Panda Balloon. Last night I felt like that kid again. Now I have been to see many balloon's. About 5 years ago Morgan and Josh and I even had the chance to chase the balloon's and help bring them down. It was such a great memory to share. So last night Noah, being the silly little red head that he is, was so excited. But Logan, the serious 3 year old could not stop thanking me for taking him there. We walked up to the balloon and as it tipped up I could tell he felt it. You know that feeling you get when standing by the ocean. That you are really small in the scheme of things, but that life can be incredible. The child's mouth would not stop. He barely took a breath. He described every moment as it was happening. Just fabulous. Then, as a stood there I realized, this is why we have kids, to pass down the excitement and thrills that our incredible, wonderful and outstanding parents introduce to us. So as many times in a day that I wonder if I am a good mom or and doing the right thing, last night was my moment to shine in my babies eyes. Now that is FABULOUS!

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I AM SO PROUD

So, you gals that love to blog may have run into the Girl Indie Birthday Bash. http://themommydesigner.blogspot.com/ There is a bunch of great prizes being given away and all you need to do is click on the link they provide and give a little revue of the shop you look at and your in the drawing. Isn't that awesome? And yes they asked yours truly to join. So you better head over there because I have a awesome prize pack up for grabs on their blog. Everything you see here is being given away. So go to my website and stroll around then go write a revue. Maybe you will be the big winner!

Have you seen the new products that I listed yesterday? The horse stickers are so great. And I am a big basket collector, so the basket stickers and journal spots are a scrapers dream for me. The Basket Stickers are so pretty. I have added them to everything that sits still this week.

OK, more is on the way so stay tuned. I am living the dream, and scrapping about it along the way!

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HELPING OTHERS STREET TEAM

As I took a walk from blog to blog and ran into my friends, http://maisyh.blogspot.com/ I saw that she had written about this great group here at Etsy. http://www.host.etsy.com/ HOST stands for Helping Others Street Team. This is a great Etsy shop that takes donations and helps Etsy sellers that need to have a bit of a financial boost to get their biz going. I think this is a easy and incredible thing to do for others. It is really as simple as them listing your product and you shipping it on its way. How awesome is that? That is it, that is all you have to do. No worries until the product sells and even then it is like shipping anything else. Come on everyone, give a little. If we all added something to this shop it would make such a difference. Random Acts of Kindness is a way to pay it forward that we should all live by. Because your mother was right when she said, it is the little things that make a difference!

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Owls Are All The Rage

Did you see these papers that just arrived? They are so darn cute that I am ordering more. I love them. The colors are perfect together. Many times the paper lines are totally pointed in a direction but these are wonderful. They can be used for a man or a woman. They would be great for children or teens. So many possibilities. So get them and post what you are doing with them. I love to get those convos with a picture of what you have made, so send them in. So many things to do today. I have a list again this morning to fill out and cross off. I am creating 3 new products this week so keep an eye out for them. And hopefully some new papers will be arriving shortly.

I would love to have everything in my shop totally handmade but I don't think I could really complete my vision if I did that. I see so many different things I want to bring to all of you and share that you may not see in your local scrapbook store. And lets not forget that many places don't have local stores. So let me be your local store and I will keep trying to find fun and new things for you to all enjoy!

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The Trends Are What You Make of Them!

I see people trying to follow this and follow that. So lets take a second and follow what we like. When you are in line at the store, which magazine catches your eye. Is it the object or maybe the color combo? Do you like beautiful and rich, lush pictures. Or are you drawn to the cute fuzzy bunny and puppy kind of things. No matter what you like, it is right. So why do we need to know, that is simple. If you identify your likes or style you can then put that to work in your paper creations and be so much more happy with the results. For instance, the Country Living Mag on my store shelf had the most beautiful pink/green color combo. It drew me right in. At this moment I couldn't begin to tell you what the picture was but that color combo was what caught my eye. So what do I do with that info? I make a small book or maybe a card or page and see what I think. See what I like out in everyday life and apply it to my work so that I am happy with the results. Lets face it, just the time to take everything out and start working is worth the time it takes to figure out what I like. Don't you think?

In my personal work I have been using some really great Far East themed papers. I am going to flow those over into my stickers that I offer because the beauty in the papers is in every inch. But I definitely like the other looks and feel it adds to my collection.

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