Life as a Scrap Mommy

{A Nice, Quiet Weekend}

Gosh, I don't think I've had such a relaxed, no-running-around weekend in a long time!  The boys have been here with me and we've just been sitting around the house doing nothing! Much to Karsten's chagrin I'm sure!  I did manage to finally get some designing finished! I did a new sketch template pack and a new Kit called I Dig Dirt!  Being exclusive to ACOT now is definitely interesting, I feel like I hop from board to board not really knowing anyone! I'm sure I'll find a home soon, it's just terribly odd! Anyway, here are the new kits, both are on sale until midnight Sunday.

This is definitely a boy kit if I've ever seen one, an "Ode to Karsten" of sorts!  He has this little song that's called "I Dig Dirt" that he got from one of his bedtime movies and runs around singing at the top of his lungs all the time. The boy loves dumptrucks and firetrucks and cranes and ambulances and police cars and vehicles of any sort, so this truly is a kit for him!  I hope you can get some use out of it too, I know that the love of construction equipment is a common theme among all boys!  If you don't have a boy, it'd be suitable for girls too as the backgrounds are mostly non themed and could very easily be used for feminine layouts, so don't let all the trucks scare you!  Anyway, here's the link if you'd like to purchase it, it's on sale through Sunday Night! 

Ok well, I guess if I did one for the boys, I had to do one for the girls too, but this time it's a layered sketch pack!  Petal Power is all flowered up with flowers I drew myself and all sorts of paper-piecing fun!  I love the way this came out and special kudos go out to KC who helped me figure out the design for the third one, I just couldn't get it through my brain! I think the flowers fried me, I AM a mommy of 2 boys ya know!

This one includes the stamp as a bonus too, in case you wanted to use it more than I provided it in the sketch!  Make sure you pick this one up before tomorrow night too, as it's on sale with I Dig Dirt Until then! ($3.75 for all three, what a steal!)  Here's the link for the sketches!  Again, thank you so much if you support my designs, I really appreciate it more than you'll ever know!

Also, if you haven't donated to my Dad's Relay for Life and you have an inkling to, please remember that the fundraiser closes on tuesday, thanks to everyone who's donated thus far, your contributions are touching!

I can't believe how much time i have on my hands lately to SCRAP! It's so awesome!  Here are a few of the layouts I've done recently! All of them can be found in my DST Gallery here if you'd like to leave me comments, I sure do appreciate it!

Here is one about Karsten's first fort, he just loved playing in this box! Can you tell?  I did this one with a sketch by Miss Kim and Laura Deacetis' Fab Sasparilla Kit!  Did I tell you I get to be on her CT? Now that ScrapMommies is no longer, I don't get the "perks" of getting to work with her stuff anymore so I had to beg her to let me on her CT or ELSE! LOL!  I'm so excited about her new opportunity that opened up after SM closed, but nope I can't tell you WHERE yet! It's a surprise!  Needless to say, I can't wait to see her new stuff!

  AND I just got this kit for my other CT, Amy Bleser's FABULOUS Autumn Meadow Kit, I swear, this girl impresses me every time with her elements!  This kit just screamed to me to scrap this picture of my nana circa 1970. Wasn't she a hottie?
You can get Amy's Kit Here, which is also on sale for only 24 hours! Seriously though, if you haven't scrapped with one of Amy's Kits and seen her embellishments, you're missing out, the girl is the reigning queen in my opinion right now!  Look at that bow!

And last, but not least is this sweet one of Josiah and I on Mother's Day this year, look how small he was! I can't believe how fast time has gone, he's going to be eight months old in a couple days! GEEZ!  This fabulous kit is Misty Mareda and Jennilyn's Together Kit which I had to search High and Low for to get!  Thanks to Michelle and I's hard sleuthing work, we finally figured it out! Anyway, there was a layout contest to go along with the kit so this is my entry for it! Crossing my fingers!  The alpha is by Katie Pertiet from Designer Digitals :)

Well, I also did a little shopping, so I'll be back tomorrow with what I bought!  Have a great Sunday!

{Donate!}

Hi Everyone! I have a good cause for you today and I hope you can help me!

Meet my dad, 52 Years Old, loving, charismatic, highly intelligent and a 3 Year Leukemia Survivor.  When I was told that my dad, MY DAD, less than 50 years old, seemingly very healthy and robust had Leukemia, it felt like my world was crashing in around me. What does this mean? Will he die? How can he have Leukemia? What is Leukemia?

I was about to get a very real crash course into the world of cancer.

Until then, I'd only had experience with cancer very remotely, I had a few grandparents with cancer but their deaths seemed very remote to my teenage existence and sadly only register a faint blip on the radar screen of my self-absorbed teenage life. But this, oh this, would change my life dramatically. Needless to say what it did for my dad.  We almost lost him, twice.  Three rounds of very scary chemo and a bone marrow transplant later, he was living, but just barely. But most importantly, he was CANCER FREE.  I can't imagine what he went through, my only thoughts and from the stories he's told me is that it could only be described as pure hell.

I am so grateful that my dad survived and thankful to the medical team that saved his life. But what if we could cure cancer? What if no one had to suffer and die from this terrible disease any longer? What if?  Almost everyone in this country has been affected by cancer in some form. What if it didn't have to be that way?  Well, there are many groups trying to raise the money to find a cure for cancer and my father, the champion that he is, is now helping to run our local Relay for Life and he needs your help! 

In an effort to get the word out about his relay to you wonderful and very giving group of women, I've made a beautiful and vibrant kit that I am donating to the cause. I completed it in the main colors of the relay and the theme is Hope. My Hope is that you will all help us out to raise money.

So how do you get the kit?

It's very easy. A very small donation of $5 or more and it's yours! You can make your donation via Credit Card at my team page HERE (very safe and easy) EDITED TO ADD: The donation through the site will not take less than $10 so if you only wanted to donate the $5 minimum, please do so through paypal! Or if you prefer to donate via paypal, I've set up a special paypal address to recieve donations to then be transferred to the Relay. This is very simple as well, just log in to your paypal account, click on the "Send Money" tab at the top and put the email relay4lifeTMR@gmail.com into the recipiant box and "Donation" into the subject line! When you're done donating either way, just forward me a copy of your reciept and I will send you a link to download! Simple, quick, easy and makes such a HUGE DIFFERENCE!

I hope you can join me in supporting this great cause!

{AHHHHH....so THIS is what Summer's all about!}

Not being cooped up by the green glow of the computer, but being OUTSIDE, with my boys, letting them play and be free!  I finally understand the "lazy days" of summer thing, I feel like I've been doing NOTHING these past few days! Look, I even have the time and energy to BLOG and SCRAP!! amazing... Please do not be alarmed, I'm still going to be designing, just taking a mini vacation..hehe

Did you see this today??  The Digi Dares Blog

It's so cool! I need some random inspiration sometimes, LOL! I already did my layout for it...

You should jump on board, it's fun!!

Also, the new Travel ACOT kit came out today!! Yippee!  You can check it out and pick it up here! Here's the layout I did with it of Josiah!! :)

Look at that 2, count em TWO layouts I love in as many days....I'm proud of me.

Thanks to all of you wonderful ladies who have asked about Josiah, he's doing fine..his tongue is still healing but he still has a little nobby on the end of it so it's not back to normal yet. I say yet in hope that it does go back to normal, please pray for him!

I can't WAIT until the new season of Grey's Anatomy..I'll just throw that out there...hehe I'm such a big fan of Dr. McDreamy, who cares that he's married to the crazy lady? I want he and Meredith together...oh AND I'm soooooo mad because on the preview for the new season you see them pulling Izzy away from Denny crying...yep pretty sure he died...now THAT makes me soooo mad...but I guess your favorite characters can't be happy otherwise you'd have nothing to watch!!

{Thank You so much...}

For the outpouring of love and support I've recieved from everyone! I truly appreciate it more than you'll ever know.  I'd like everyone to know a few things :)

First, no I'm not going to diappear off the face of the planet! I had already started selling a few of my products at ACOT and I will be moving a bunch more over there in the next couple of days, including my layered templates!  In fact, the next collab kit I contributed to over there is due out friday, here is a sneak peek!

This kit is so beautiful, you just have to pick it up, hehe that's my flower and polka dot paper!! :) I'm so excited, this kit is so pretty....did I mention it's pretty?  hehe

The other thing I'd like everyone to know is that I'm truly ok with ScrapMommies closing. I know that it was home for a lot of women, and I'm sad to have lost your galleries, etc. But as for me, it's a great thing. I feel at peace with my decision and have been happier in the last couple days than I have in a long time. My kids can feel it too in fact. The temper tantrums have been rare and I've seen more smiles out of Karsten in the last 2 days than in the previous week. That's how I know I'm doing the right thing.

Again, I appreciate the love and concern, you all are the best!!

love,
Traci

{Oh Gosh, where to start?}

This week was killer!! Not only busy, but crazy too! First of all, Josaih, yes my tiny baby boy, fell and CUT his tongue! Not a surface, this'll heal soon cut, but a crazy, gushing, "I'm gonna pass out", call 911 cut that sent us to the ER for hours on end. They told me they were going to have to put him to sleep and do surgery. SURGERY. On my little baby :(  The put an IV in and we proceeded to wait. and wait. and wait for the oral surgeon. About 3 hours later, he gets there and decides NOT to do surgery. Thank God. But they didn't do anything and now I'm worried it's not healing right. Well, we're going to the doctor tomorrow again, so he'll get to check it out I guess. :(

Inspired by an Auntie Pea Layout, Kit is "He's Got Personality" By Michelle Underwood from ACOT, Scallop by holly Mccaig, Bandaids by Andrea Burns from ACOT

So, that was awful, and it made it so that I didn't finish my kit I was working on, or my sketches this week. Sigh.  Here's a sneak preview of the kit though, I hope to have it out this week (barring any major ER trips again) It's called  "I Dig  Dirt"

I did do a lot of scrapping this weekend though, I always do at the mommy's Night Out crops..here are some layouts!

Josiah and my Father in Law, I used ACOT's Adventerous Spirit Kit and it's a scraplift from ScrapMommies!

Karsten and Josiah Playing at the Mall, I just love that they play together now!! So sweet! I used Amy Bleser's Fun Loving Kit from ScrapMommies, sketch by me.

The kids playing in the new spa, I am sooooooo loving Laura Deacetis' new Kit, Spumoni Medley, OMG it's gorgeous! It's coming to ScrapMommies tomorrow, don't miss it!!

I'm thinking about having a little blog contest with my sketches, perhaps with the new set I'm putting out...hehe stay tuned for details!

{Been So Busy...}

I haven't had time to blog! Yikes! Well, what's been going on in my world? Other than work, not too much! I've been working my little tushy off at SM trying to get everything ready for our big anniversary celebration, in addition to the normal daily work I have. Also, I did a collab Kit with Amy Bleser called Dirt Luvs Boys (on sale until midnight tonight) Here's the preview, I love this kit!!

Here's the link to the kit

Oh! And after much Harassment from ya'll, I've started selling layered sketches! HEHE I have so much fun making these and the response has been huge! Thanks Guys! They're also on sale until midnight tonight! You can buy them seperately or in packs for a discount :)

Here's the link to the store for these :)

     

I've even got a fun little template freebie for you! It's up for 2 days only so get it while you can!
Here's the layout I did with it:


Here is the link (PSD and TIFF Format)!

RAWKIN Sketch by Traci Reed

If you downlaod it, please leave me a comment!! :)

Have a good day!
Traci

{Surf's Up, Coming TOMORROW!}

Here's the finished previews for ScrapMommies' next Mega Kit, Surf's Up! This kit is so GLORIOUSLY HUGE, I can't even list everything here! You can get it starting TOMORROW in the ScrapMommies store, we're going to have a great deal on it, it will be $7.99 for it all by itself OR if you spend $10 or more on other products in the ScrapMommies store, you can get the kit for only HALF PRICE by using the code: surfsuphalfoff at checkout!! Please do not forget to add the kit to your cart and use this code! You will not regret it!

Have a great day and happy scrapping!

{Tagged}

Yes Gina I do need to love my blog more. But your idea is to answer 30 questions?!?!?!

LOL

Ok here goes:

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
Nope, I look waaaaaay too goody two shoes to be searched..

2. Do you close your eyes on a roller coaster?
No way jose, it's no fun unless your eyeballs dry out..

3. When's the last time you've been sledding?
Last winter I watched the kids sled, preggo with J so couldn't slide myself

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
Alone, only because I never get to anymore, sorry Patrick.. :)

5. Do you believe in ghosts?
No, demons yes but ghosts no

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
I try to be, it is my JOB after all :)

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
Yes, do bears poop in the woods?

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? (silly, I know ... but very "now")
Jennifer, Angelina Jolie is officially a homewrecker

9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?
not really, I try not to get absorbed in it, I know the basics though

10. Do you know how to play poker?
Yep, DH loves it

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
I don't think so

12. What's your favorite commercial?
Commercials are stupid lately so I can't think of any..though the TLC life lesson ones are pretty funny

13. Who was your first love?
8th Grade, Josh Coyne

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light?
Nope, unless I'm half asleep..

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
Of course

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
neither, the strike ruined me for baseball, though before that it was the A's

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?
Yes

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
rarely, unless it's a GOOD dream wink wink

19. What's the one thing on your mind?
Scrapbooking, always

20. Do you always wear your seat belt?
Yes.

21. What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could draw<---good one Gina AND I wish I could market myself well ;)

22. Do you like Sushi?
LOVE sushi

23. What do you wear to bed?
T Shirt

24. Do you truly hate anyone?
No

25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?
hmm, I don't sleep around, not even with famous people because, it's just another man I'd have to clean up after...LOL

26. Do you know anyone in jail?
Nope

27. What food do you find disgusting?
Bell Pepper, Mushrooms, Onions, almost anything on a combination Pizza

28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
No, not unless I've already told them the same thing and am speaking to a mutual friend in a loving way about that friends "quirk" ;)

29. Have you ever been punched in the face?
Yep, 8th grade, over a boy, girl (using the term nicely) almost broke my nose!

30. Do you believe in angels and demons?
Yes

I now tag Amy Bleser and Maria La France!

{just a little tease}

Ok, well, TWO teases!  First, I'm so excited that I got to participate in ACOT's next collab kit! Imagine that, me contributing to a kit that Michelle Underwood contributed to, she was my idol when I was just a baby scrapper!! Anyway, the kit is GORGEOUS and I hope to get a few layouts done with it soon, but until then, here's a little tease!

AND! Work is almost finished on ScrapMommies next collab kit...this kit is soooooo darling, I LOVE it! I know you will too, and all profits will go to support ScrapMommies, so if you love SM, then don't forget to pick it up!

Ok, that's about all I have to say tonight! I'm working on a new kit that I hope to have done thursday, so look forward to that too! :)

{More Sketches, My Best Buys and FREEBIE!}

Whoo hoo! DH is finally home! I didn't know how much I missed him until I read my sappy journaling on the layouts I did this weekend!  We had Mommy's Night Out at ScrapMommies and I got TWO layouts done! Yay me!
This first one I love, I used Amy Bleser's Grandpa's Hawaiian Shirt Kit from SSD and a Binder Clip by Merkeley from Scrap Artist! ( I posted this sketch in my sketches album on the left too ;) )

Then this second one is with my new Super Boy kit, I think this is one of my all time favorite pictures of Karsten... even though he has a dirty face.. It's a scraplift of a layout by Gina Miller too!

Make sure you check my previous post for a great add on offer to this kit!! :) It's available at ACOT!

Oh yeah and I posted a couple more sketches in that album too, including this round's sketch challenge at ScrapMommies!

So let's see, I had fun getting some element packs this weekend from Jen Wilson and Merkely!

I got....

Great Deals! These are my Best Buys of the week!

Ok, now, what you've all been waiting for....the freebie!

Click HERE to download!

Have a great day, and don't forget to stop by the ScrapMommies store to support the fabulous designers over there!