Christmas is so close, now!

Can you believe Christmas is just a very few short days away?  I have done no scrapbooking in so long, now, it's embarrassing to admit.  But, I am looking forward to scrapping with Mel's beautiful holiday kits, once I have all of my Christmas photos organized. 

My challenge to myself, right now, is just to get my shopping, baking, and cards done.  4 days before Christmas!  I know....I pushed it, this year.  We had many life challenges that delayed everything. 
Have you been able to fit scrapbooking into your holiday preparations?  Did you check out the speedscrap at Sugarhill Co, this past Saturday?  I wasn't able to join in, but am looking forward to the next one, in the new year.
If you participated, please share your work!  We would all love to see what you came up with.

I wanted to share a layout from one of the CT members, kovaxka.  She always does these beautiful layouts with extractions - something I'm just not good at.  But, I'm thinking, in the new year, I should challenge myself and practice this technique more.  I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do!

The kit she used is Sweet Serenity.
What challenges you in scrapbooking?  Is there a new technique you're determined to master in the new year? 
I hope you all have a magical and blessed holiday season :)  See you in 2011!
-Sherry

CT Spotlight

Hi, today you all get a chance to learn more about Sherry, aka rainervu

Do you have spouse/children:
I am married to Aaron - we've been married 8 years, now. And we have one daughter - Isabella, who is 3-1/2. She was born 1/1/07.

What do you like to do in your spare time:
Well, these days, digi scrap. But, also read, watch movies, sew on quilts (pretending I actually can do it!), explore new places

When did you start digital scrapbooking:
about 3 months ago - in May '10. I was determined I was never going to. I like the dimension of paper scrapping, and thought why would I ever? Then, all of a sudden (thanks to watching a friend, one night), I crossed over. And I LOVE it! Way too much, I'm sure.

What would be your ultimate dream vacation:
Wow...travel for a month in Italy, maybe? Or, in the US, just spending time in Napa and Alexander valleys in CA. I love that area!

What is your favorite food: anything Italian

What is your favorite TV show:
Used to be ER. Then 24. Now....I'm afraid to become too hooked. It'll just end. haha! I like Criminal Minds the best of anything we watch, right now.
Describe yourself in one word:
Just one?

Here are some layouts by Sherry
you can see more in her gallery

CT Spotlight: Angela

Today you have the chance to learn a little bit about another wonderful member of the Creative Team. Here is a little bit about Angela-

Username: aevans96

Blog 

Do you have spouse/children: I married my HS sweetheart almost 10 years ago. He's a wonderful husband/musician named Corey. I have one amazing son, named Isaiah and will turn 4 in October.

What do you like to do in your spare time: Digi scrap, photography and make digi invitations for friends and family.

When did you start digital scrapbooking: March of 2009

What would be your ultimate dream vacation: Since we are dreaming here, I would like to travel around the world. Definitely Hawaii, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Rome and Japan. I want to take the most amazing photos and experience all that each place has to offer. Not too much to ask right? 

What is your favorite food: Chicken and broccoli scampi/Alfredo 

What is your favorite TV show: I can't choose just one. We have a DVR and Love TV. It's great at 3 in the morning when you can't sleep. But some of my favs are House, Dexter, Burn Notice, Bones and Fringe.

Describe yourself in one word: MultiFacilitated 

Favorite Quote: " Success is being the person that GOD wants you to be. " 

Here's a little peek at her talent:

I can't wait to see what else she had up her sleeve! Check out her galleries for a peek.

Scrapbook Bytes

Gotta Pixel

CT Spotlight: ScrapGlass

Today you have the chance to learn a little bit about another wonderful member of the Creative Team. Here is a little bit about Kristy-

Username: Scrapglass

Blog Address: I don't keep it up anymore, so probably best to not post it.

Do you have spouse/children: Yes, Ryan is my hubby, we've been married for 16 years and we have an awesome little girl who is almost 5, Kate.

What do you like to do in your spare time: Read, watch TV, scrap. I'm a homebody at night. During the day, I'm a playgroup social butterfly. Kate and I are on the go!

When did you start digital scrapbooking: Fall of 2008, I was making books for the grandparents and decided this would be easier than paper and I fell in love and never went back.

What would be your ultimate dream vacation: 6 weeks in Europe!

What is your favorite food: Indian

What is your favorite TV show: All time, Gilmore Girls, current, probably Design Star or Project Runway for reality and Grey's Anatomy for fiction.

Describe yourself in one word: God-lover!

Check out her galleries for loads of inspiration!
Scrapbook Bytes
Gotta Pixel


Here's a little peek at her amazing talent:

There is so much more to see, take a stroll through her gallery and be inspired!

Meet Noemi

I love doing the spotlight, because I get to look through amazing galleries and show off these girls mad skills. So for today meet:

Noemi
Username: mome_david OR momedavid
Blog

Is married and has 2 wonderful kids whose stories basically fill most of her layouts.
In her spare time she can be found  scrapping and scrapping and scrapping!

She started scrapbooking back in 2008 when her sister-in-law introduced her to paper scrapbooking. She didn't fall in love with it right away until she discovered there was a digital version of the hobby.

And here are a few Faves:
What would be your ultimate dream vacation: Oh, I hate to admit it but, a day with myself and myself alone would be vacation for me.

What is your favorite food: Jap sushi!!

What is your favorite TV show: House, M.D.

Describe yourself in one word: Restless! LOL! I can't stand it if I can't do anything productive.

Here are my favorites from her gallery: 

Click on the pictures to go to her gallery and see more of her beautiful work.

CT Spotlight: LauraMarie Scraps

Hey everyone! Here I am again to bring you one of the best scrappers in the digi world! She's not just a scrapper, she's one great designer too. You can head to her blog to see some details about her stuff and about her too.

Here's a bit about Laura:

Username at all forums: LauraMarie
Blog Address: http://lauramariescraps.blogspot.com

Do you have spouse/children: I have 2 sons, one is 18 and the other is 2!

What do you like to do in your spare time: I scrap and design in my spare time and when I do not feel like doing those things I sit in quiet because I do not get a lot of quiet time anymore.

When did you start digital scrapping: January 2009

What would be your ultimate dream vacation: A trip around the world with someone footing the bill!

What is your favorite food: Sushi

What is your favorite TV show: Weeds

Describe yourself in one word: Indecisive

Just in case you didn't know, she made a collab with Mel before, Dirt Don't Hurt Collab available at Gotta Pixel and Scrapbook-bytes.

Get to know her more here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Noemi D.

Dj: Mommy Jackson to Two

Dj is one fantastic graphic artist. She is a talented scrapper who also enjoys doing other craft projects too. She has a fabulous blog here where you'll find much of her creations from scrapping to sewing and even baking!

A few things about her:

Username: deej

Do you have spouse/children?
I am married with two children. I typically include my husband in the child count as he is usually the instigator of all child-like activity. My daughter, Emily, is 16. My son, Nicholas, is 13. They both attend private Lutheran schools and are very active in school activities. Our furry family members are the golden retriever - Dixie Darlin', the cats - His Majesty Pepper of Mizzou, Maple Syrup and Samantha Marie, the guinea pigs - Oreo and Brownie. We currently call central-Missouri home.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
My current non-scrapping activity is sewing. I also like to knit, crochet and read.

When did you start digital scrapping?
This is a hard date to pin down. I have been in the graphic arts industry since 1995. I have been making graphic gifts for family members for about as long. Actual digital scrapping in its current form probably started about early-2008.

What would be your ultimate dream vacation?
I have never really thought much about vacations. I usually just take time off to do what I want a few days at a time. I will be taking my first real and true vacation this summer with my husband. We are going diamond hunting in Arkansas.

What is your favorite food?
Just one? Currently my favorite food is pepperoni pizza. I also love mashed potatoes, potato salad, pasta salad, fried chicken, hot dogs. I could go on, I am a food addict.

What is your favorite TV show?
Again, just one? CSI in any of its incarnations.

Describe yourself in one word: eclectic

She has a lot of wonderful ideas in her blog that you might want to check out. You'll see her great layouts, projects, even recipes!

Head on to her blog here to see and know more about Dj.

'Til next time!

Noemi D.

What would we do without Ivorykeys?

Ivorykeys, known to us as Susan, is probably the most caring team mate anyone could ever have. In fact, she is our Team leader too. Ever since I started working with Mel's team (A+ Designs), she was the one to guide me from the beginning and taught me so many things. And, mind you, she is not just a scrapper. She is also a teacher (just like Mel), a mother, a friend, and a designer as well! Yes, she's got her own products to sell too! Sometimes, I wonder how these ladies do everything that they do.

If you want to know more about Susan, you can hop on to her blog here and find so many surprises about her and her work and creations too. Meanwhile, here are a few things about our dear Susan:

+++

Username: IvoryKeys
Blog Address: http://ivorykeys74.blogspot.com

Do you have spouse/children: I'm married to my college sweetheart and we have 3 wonderful children - 2 girls and a boy

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spare time what's that? Other than digital scrapping I'm an avid reader, love to spend time with my family, play the piano, crochet, counted cross-stitch, and recently added playing the Wii

When did you start digital scrapbooking?
December 2008. I had stumbled across it in the Spring of 2008 when my DD was born but didn't really get hooked until December. Now I do something with it almost every day.

What would be your ultimate dream vacation?
I want to visit Ireland, Scotland, and England some day.

What is your favorite food?
Does Chocolate count? I like Itallian and TexMex food to.

What is your favorite TV show?
NCIS is at the moment

Describe yourself in one word: Caring

+++

To know more about her (and her products), don't forget to stop by her blog here.

Thanks for reading!

'Til next time! :)

Noemi D.

Make Way for Jan a.k.a. "intensemagic"

This month we will be featuring members of A+ Design's Team every week. And to start off, I'm featuring Jan, better known to us as intensemagic in the team.

I would really recommend that you check her blog. She's filled it with lots of inspiration from her own layouts from the Creative Teams she works for including A+ Design's CT. In a nutshell, here are a few infos about her:

Name: Jan
Username at SDD: IntenseMagic
Blog Address: IntenseMagic


Do you have spouse/children: Mom to 3... A son 18, a daughter 14, and a son 4 Yep, started all over at 40...I call him my escape when drowning in teenage drama!! hahaha. And I am wife to 1...that's more than enough!!

What do you like to do in your spare time: Besides scrapping? Well, I love anything outdoors...hiking, swimming, riding four wheelers, sports...you name it!

When did you start digital scrapbooking: I started in July of 2006

What would be your ultimate dream vacation: I would love to go to Australia or Greece

What is your favorite food: Hmmm if it's edible I probably like it! Seriously though, I love Japanese, Italian, and Mexican

What is your favorite TV show: When I'm not watching Wow Wow Wubzy or Blues Clues or Diego? I like Forensic Files

Describe yourself in one word: Dork lol


And just to show off a little of her work:

You can find more of her work for inspiration in her galleries at GottaPixel and Scrapbook-bytes. Don't forget to leave her some love!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Noemi D.