Happy Sunday

Couldn't resist using KimB and Chaos Lounge-Jenni's stunning new ANGELS TEARS collaboration. Somehow it just worked for this photo I took of three of my great-nephews. You can find this kit at DSO.



Your word art freebie today is an add-on to the June Birthdays kit posted on Friday:


Can you believe it's the last day of May today? It's difficult to conceive how rapidly 2009 is going so far, that's for sure!

Hope your day is glorious,
Melanie

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June Birthdays

Inspired by all the June Birthdays in my family, that's the subject of my interpretation of the June Color Challenge at DSO. KimB has a true gift in her color selections and the palette for June's challenge is no exception.

For the longest time, I was the only member of my family who celebrated a birthday in June; and then 4 nephews came along to share it -- which makes it SOOOOOO much more fun. I love 'em all and these colors express the vibrance of their personalities, so it was absolutely a no-brainer this time around.

As always, I would LOVE to see any layouts you prepare using this kit, please!!!

All the best,
Melanie

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Dreams & Goals

Here's another glance at the preview of BIG STEPS, a meaningful set of word art pieces which can easily help transform your layouts into an eye-catching, thought-provoking record of a special time in your life. It's available through a small donation of $2, please. Your order would be very much appreciated.



And speaking of meaningful memories, I found this quotation this morning and thought it was a great interpretation of the way dreams and goals can work for us...more BIG STEPS, don't you think? :)



Hope your day goes extremely well!
Melanie

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here's the skinny

Pardon the pun. As the first day of another month approaches, yes, it's the newest deadline to start that diet, isn't it. :) Sigh. Heavy sigh. Dontcha just hate it?

The real success always lies in making lifestyle changes, and don't call it a diet. Health issues dictate those changes, too, of course, but that's sort of like having a flashback to when your parents/teachers/grown-ups were always telling you what to do, so we balked.

Let's be a rebel and listen to our inner voice for a change ... and make those lifestyle changes stick this time? It's a goal...but in the meantime we can have a sense of humor about it, can't we? ;)




Be good to yourself,
Melanie

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just one will do sometimes!

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alter your life

Back again, as promised.

First, I want to thank you for your comments and thoughts about leaving thank-yous for freebies. Heidi, thank you for your feedback; it was thought-provoking, and you certainly have a point. Sometimes you really have to "dig" to be able to leave comments on blogs, that's for sure. As others have suggested, I, too, will try to find the designer's e-mail address to express my gratitude -- but not everyone provides that option either.

My rant was directed at the majority out there who NEVER express gratitude for anything. I wasn't fishing for compliments myself, just a generalization and observaton. I confess that I don't always take the time to leave comments, and that's not a good thing, but I do for almost all. Sometimes that's the best I can do, but I try to make up for it later.

For most of those whom I directed my comments toward? It's a choice that they have made to "go to the party without bringing anything for the hosts." If that makes sense.

For Shirley, Debbie, Dawn, Electra, Sandi, and the other readers who left such great comments, I appreciate your input. I don't thank you enough, myself, I know, but hope you accept my blog gifts in the spirit in which they are intended.

When we returned from our weekend getaway, I found several graduation invitations for graduating seniors who are children of friends. Boy, does it make me feel old! Most of them are graduating from university, mind you.

That reminded me to tell you that my BIG STEPS word art is still so great for those graduation layouts and other rites of passage. They are also terrific to illustrate your dreams for your children/grandchildren; especially the "Paint your own rainbow" word art in the set. This 12-piece set is yours for a donation of $2, please.

My dogs are reminding me that it's time for them to eat, so off I go to the kitchen. I'll leave you with this additional word art, with the hope that you can find a special way to use it. I'D LOVE TO SEE YOUR LAYOUTS!

blessings on your day,

Melanie

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true love

Wow, how nice to come back to so many comments! I hadn't planned to "hit and run" with my posting last Wednesday, but my husband and I ended up taking an impromptu mini-vacation over what became an extra-long holiday weekend.

I'll be back later today with more blogging, and possibly more word art ... gotta catch up on the laundry we brought home with us!

Hope you can use this. True love comes in all shapes and forms, don't you think? :)

Catch ya later,
Melanie


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it does matter

It still amazes me when I visit favorite blogs and scrapbooking sites how few people express appreciation for the gifts they're given in the form of free kits, word art, tutorials, advice, etc. Absolutely astounding. I know I get on this soapbox occasionally, but haven't done so in awhile.

For the faithful few who leave messages for me and my designer friends, I'm profoundly grateful. It makes me smile.

For the thousands of others who do not tell some absoltely extraordinary designers out there how much they appreciate their professionally designed 75+-piece kits they're giving away ... well, shame on you!!!

Pass it on!

Melanie

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know what I mean? :)

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slow down

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remembering our memories...or not

We used to tease my baby brother about his "remembering" things that happened before he was born. One of us older four siblings would relate an incident from the past and he would always chime in, with "I remember that." Showing the slides of photos my dad took always was a trigger for his "memories," and always gave us a chuckle. Then, of course, he actually did become part of those memories and we wouldn't change that for the world! Here's to you, baby bro!! Love ya.

wishing you all well,
Melanie

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kiss them goodnight

As I awoke to a gentle rainy morning after a stormy evening, I couldn't help but think of my beautiful nephew, Jesse, whom we've learned is newly arrived in the hot, arid region of Bahrain for a tour of duty in the armed forces. What an adjustment for a young man to make...and that story can be told and retold countless times over the centuries all around the world.

But I can't think about the enormity of that right now. For just this morning, I'm selfishly just thinking about my precious nephew, who is sorely missed ... and praying for his safety and well-being.

Today's word art is a reminder to kiss your babies goodnight...and if you can't physically be there, pray for them!

All the best,

Melanie
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smiling faces

Remember that BIG STEPS is still available, for a very small donation of $2. Your patronage would be most appreciated. It really is a versatile set.



We're still battling the flu at my house. Such fun. Entered the phase of being dehydrated because all the medicine makes it so. VERY tired, too.

Today's word art is one I truly believe:

have a great day,

Melanie

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someone loves you

both my husband and I have the flu this week ... we're just grunting each other's names but at least we know there's love there, in sickness and in health! hope today's word art freebie works for you.

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love our pets

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and aren't we glad He does!

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Happy Mother's Day

As most of you know, I enjoy participating in the DSO challenges and try to do more of them when I can. Here's the layout I shared for Andrea Dickinson's Quote Challenge, using a Helen Keller quote:

This is a photo of my mom, deep in thought, and I caught it just as her oldest great-grandson snuck up behind her to give her a hug. She would HATE the photo of herself, but love Caleb's sweet smile.

Here's another glimpse at the extremely versatile word art set available now, BIG STEPS. Please consider adding it to your collection for a simple donation of $2. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

I know so many people in my life for whom this newest freebie word art (below) would apply. Bet you do, too! This applies, particularly, to my sweet MOM.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Melanie

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BIG STEPS

Hope you're ready for another set of word arts available for a very small donation of $2 USD. This set is ideal for many types of layouts, including coming-of-age, graduations, life changes, celebrations of triumphs and victories ... in other words, BIG STEPS in our lives and those whom we love. [12 pieces, 300ppi]

Please consider adding it to your collection (click on the donate button on the far right column). I'll e-mail it to you when I receive the confirmation.

Thanks in advance!

Melanie

PS: No, I'm not in the layout with the crown. That's my niece-in-law and my mom!

Tickle-Me-Nathan

Participating in the Font Challenge (led by Andrea Dickinson), this layout was prepared using the Yugly font and elements from KimB's most recent grab bag (DSO).

I thought this quote was funny; I don't really have a problem setting a good example for children, though!

Hope your day goes great!

All the best,

Melanie

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My English May

I don't think I ever posted this layout, where I used my April Essence kit (from the April color challenge at DSO). I liked the way the tree turned out, but I don't think anyone else did ... but that's okay. :)




Today, I'm posting an extremely simple layout, where I used the kit I just finished for KimB's color challenge at DSO for May. As always, her posting bonus is amazing, so I always try to participate in her challenges.


I LOVE spending time in England, particularly in May. The flowers are beautiful, the weather is fairly nice, and it's just before the majority of tourists start their holidays. KimB's color palette for this month's challenge just struck me as a good way to do something for my England trip scrapbooks. Hope you can find a use for My English May, too!

Have a terrific day,

Melanie

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Transformed by Love

Using KimB's amazing MOODY DAYS (DSO) kit again, I prepared another layout of my niece with her fiance during the photo shoot I did with them. I'm still one of those scrappers who wants the photo(s) to be the dominant focus of the layout so I guess I'm "out of style" in that sense. As a photographer, to me, it's always about the faces and finding the looks that reveal the person behind them. If that makes sense! [for those of you taking notes, font used: Goombella]


Now, for the freebie hunters, here's today's word art, for your Moms! Moms have the power to transform us by their love for us, too.

Hope your day goes blissfully well,
Melanie

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when you know it's real ...

...you find yourself asking this question. :)

I recently photographed my niece and her fiance for their engagement photos. We had such fun! This is the niece I call the "daughter of my heart" so it won't be the last time you see her on my blog! I used KimB's marvelous MOODY DAYS kit that's still on sale at DSO, I believe.

Best wishes to you and yours today,
Melanie

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I'm baaaaack

Yes, I'm back ... did you even know I was gone?!

I'm sorry it took so long to get back online, but I had to make a trip to Memphis (Tennessee) beginning last Monday to get my Mom after she had been visiting a friend of hers for awhile. Then, she wanted to take her time getting back home ... and so on and so on and so on.

Hope you had a great National Scrapbooking Day/Weekend. I missed some of the great activities going on because my husband and I had company over the weekend, but it didn't take long this morning to pick up on the enthusiasm for the events. Many thanks to all the designers for their discounts and gifts. Always a treat!

I made this word art with Mother's Day in mind:


It certainly fits my Mom!

Talk to you later,
Melanie




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