Dixie Pieces and National Scrapbook Day

I'm gonna be home having a virtual party this Saturday for National Scrapbook Day. There are lots of things going on in the internet scrappy world, and you'll see quite a bit about it this week here on the blog. Looking for somewhere to hang out> Come join us at Dixie Pieces.
Here are the details.

National Scrapbook Day is all about spending the day doing what we love and everyone enjoys this wonderful hobby just a little bit different, right? Well, this year our crop is all about you - and we want to celebrate what makes scrapbooking special to you! We will have 12 challenges issued every hour from 7am to 7pm PST along with lots of fun & games to keep the day interesting! But, guess what? Our wonderful Design Team won't be issuing the challenges, YOU WILL! That's right --- this is YOUR DAY and we want to help you celebrate it YOUR WAY! For those of you that want to give this a try --- you will receive 5 entries into the Grand Prize Drawing for coming up with a challenge!

All you need to do is come up with a layout, card or altered item challenge that would get everyone's creativity flowing! Along with your challenge, you should post a sample design (this does not have to be newly created). We need 12 challenges:

There are still some spots available so pop over to this thread if you want to post a challenge and which time slot you would like. If you have any questions, or would like to run your idea by me (Kim Holmes) first -- feel free to contact me at theholmescrew@comcast.net

For those of you that don't want to issue a challenge --- don't worry! It's not required and there will be tons of great opportunities throughout the day to earn entries into the Prize Drawing!

And what would a crop be without a terrific prize? Well, you know that we are going to have one! Sherry & Brenna are busy right now getting all the prize details together so we will make that big announcement as soon as it is finalized. ETA: The grand prize includes the June DixiePieces kit, a stylish handbag we found at CHA Anaheim, and a kit of Cosmo Cricket goodies with a total value of $100+. Guess what else? There will be "BLUE LIGHT SPECIALS" throughout the day with fabulous deals on the Dixie Pieces Monthly kits and more! Mark your calendars and plan to join us for a day of doing what we love, SCRAPBOOKING!

The Fine Print:
-Entries into the prize drawing will be given for:
- challenge creation & sample - 5 entries
- game participation - entries to be determined
- challenge participation - 2 entries per challenge completed
- Blue Light Special purchases - 5 entries
-Designs must be newly created for the crop and challenges may not be combined
-Deadline for challenges will be 11:59pm, Monday May 10th. Creations must be uploaded to the general gallery and linked back to challenge thread to qualify.
-Winner will be determined by random selection from all entries and announced no later than Friday, May 14th
Hope you'll join us!

Happy Friday

Happy Friday Y'all! Have a great weekend!

Publix Trip 4/21

Let me just preface this post by saying that today's Publix trip was, for the most part, an indulgence trip. Everything you see here is stuff we don't normally buy or even need (with the exception of the lone pack of pork chops and the paper towels... oh and the girls will eat the yogurt for breakfast or snacks. That's healthy right?) My sweet tooth will be happy, even the Rice Krispies are to make Rice Krispie Treats!
But here's how it breaks down:

(2) Windex Multi Purpose Cleaner -3.39(2) = 6.78
(2) Scrubbling Bubbles Bathroom Power Spray - 7.99(2) = 15.98
Publix Paper Towels = 2.39
(3) Betty Crocker Cookie Mix - 2.67(3) = 8.01
(2) Rice Krispies - 3.99(2) = 7.98
(2) Toaster Struddles - 2.39(2) = 4.78
(2) Edwards Frozen Desserts - 2.79(2) =5.58
(2) YoPlus Yogurt 4pk -2.50(2) = 5.00
Donuts = 2.19
Pork Chops = 3.59
Grand Total = 62.28 plus tax
Most of this stuff was on sale, so after this weeks sale and my coupons I paid: 13.44 plus tax!
I know publix gets reimbursed by the manufacturers for all my coupons, but I still kinda felt like I hap ripped off the place!
*Edited to add: The Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles qualify for a mail in rebate, bringing my total down to $8.44!

Scrap Whispers

After a short break, Scrap Whispers is getting ready to start a new round. In addition to that, the weekly challenges are back. Our re-launch is next Friday the 23rd, but in the meantime we've got a just for fun challenge up for you.

This weeks challenge is all about using glitter on a page.

I used some pictures from our trip to the beach last summer. Abigail did not like the sand!

Head over to the blog to see the other layouts and play along. And also be sure to check back next Friday

Couponing

A couple of months ago a friend of mine offered a class on couponing basics. She seemed to always be getting things for cheap or free and I wanted to see what it was all about. So long story short. I've jumped in with both feet.

So here's how I've done this week.

CVS trip:
(3) 12 pack Soft Drinks = $11.00
(1) 12 Roll Charmin = $4.99
(1) Contact Solution/Cleaner = $8.99
(1) Colgate Toothpaste = $2.29
(1) Pack of Gum = .99

Total = $29.44
I paid ZERO plus I MADE 40 cents.

Publix Trip:
I didn't think to take a pic of my stuff from there. A lot of it was refrigerated items and I put everything away as soon as I walked in the door.
Here's what I got (18 items):
2lbs Ground Chuck; 1lb Chicken Cutlets; 1 gallon Milk; Lucky Charms; 2 cans of Mixed nuts; 8 pack Gatorade; 2 boxes of Princess and the Frog Band-aids; FOUR Bags Birds Eye Meal in a Bag; Pam Cooking Spray; Coffeemate; 1pk Craisins; 1pk Goldfish Crackers
Retail price before Savings and Coupons: $66.67 including tax
I paid: $31.96 including tax


Rite Aid quick trip:
(1) Gillette Razor = $8.99
(1) Package of Pampers = $9.99
(1) Crest Toothpaste = $2.29
Total = $22.17
I paid $9.17
Rite Aid has a rebate program which qualify for $7.50 on these products.
making my total out of pocket once I get that Rebate check, $1.67.
I'd be happy with that if all I bought was the diapers! :)

I looked through the Publix ad again and found more coupons I could use, so I went back there for a quick 2nd trip.

Publix Quick Trip:

(1)Gallon of Milk = $2.69
(2) Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayer Cleaners = $15.98
(1) Soft Scrub Kitchen Cleaner = $2.50
(2) 2 Liter 7up = $1.79 on sale
(3) Pk Goldfish Crackers = $3.00 on sale
(3) Boxes Betty Crocker Au Gratin Potatoes = $3.00 on sale
(1) Green Giant Boxed Frozen Veggie = $1.00 on sale

Total w/tax= $32.36
I paid = $2.18

A few things I've learned.
-You have to be willing to invest a fair amount of time. Especially in the beginning as you get organized and learn what you're doing.
-You have to be willing to go multiple places. I have a CVS, a Rite Aid, and a Publix all right next to each other, 2 minutes from my house. So as long as I plan it right, it hasn't been a big deal.
-You can't expect results right away. Although I've has a really good week, I started this at the end of January and have wondered several times if I was really going to be able to make it work for my family. I'm still not where I want to be. But I can see that if I stick to it, I'll get there.
-Once you get fairly familiar with what you're doing, just expect and know that you'll know more about different stores' coupon policy's then the people that work there.
-I've read a lot of horror stories online about people having problems with managers and cashiers when presenting their coupons. But don't let this bother you. In my case, I haven't run into any of that at all. In fact everyone has been very friendly.

So there you go. My first REALLY good week of coupon success.
A Grand total of $150.64 worth of groceries for $35.41
Bring on next week! :)

Scrapbook Sussies - April Reveal

When all the new stuff started coming out this Feb/Mar from Winter CHA, one of my favorite lines that I spotted was American Crafts "Dear Lizzy". So when my April kit for Sussies showed up I was a happy scrapper. :)

Here are my pages for this month featuring the Dear Lizzy paper line and a new line by My Mind's Eye.




Be sure to visit the Sussie Gallery and see what the other girls did with the kit.
Hope you're having a good week!

Happy Easter Sunday!

Today is not the norm for us, and our Easter plans for the most part have been postponed. Both girls are sick now. Abigail's much better, but she gave her cold to Natalie and they both are coughing and have lots of congestion. So.. we stayed in from church today, and John is working, so we're having Easter dinner with my parents and grandparents later on this week.

The Easter bunny did come last night.. I hid the baskets because I knew Natalie would be up before me, so we went on a search for them when all 3 of us got up.
Aside from the candy, here is their loot.

(Side Note: I haven't blogged about the couponing that I've started doing, which is a whole 'nother blog post. And while most of what I've been clipping and saving on, are groceries and personal care items, I did manage to score a deal here. I got both Zhu Zhu pets for about $1, and got both Toy Story 1 AND 2 on DVD for $3.50 ea.!!)

Natalie's face when she saw The Princess and The Frog in her basket..


Sisterly love..


Abigail getting excited over some Jelly beans..

Abigail liked the hamster, but not so much when it was running toward her..





So.. we are watching movies today and playing with our new pet hamsters. I'm so glad they are the kind that don't have to be fed.. or cleaned up after.. :)
Happy Sunday everyone!

Dixie Pieces Reveal - April 2010

This months kit over at Dixie Pieces was right up my alley. Just a few days before I saw our color scheme and what was in the kit, I had taken the girls to the park for a little photo shoot. Then when I saw the kit I just couldn't believe how perfect it was for the pictures I had just taken. So these first two Layouts are from our first spring photo shoot of the year.

(Supplies: Dixie Pieces April kit; Making Memories Slice Machine (heart and "Soars"); and Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch)

For this one I used the Glimmer Mist in the kit and sprayed the white cardstock. I cut some flowers out of one of the patterned papers in the kit and used them as a mask.
(Additional Supplies: Fiskars Threading water Border Punch; Back Zig Pen)


I struggled a bit with the placement of these photos. I like using one bigger picture with 2 wallet sized. I do it a lot. But usually they are portrait orientation, and these are landscape. I actually ended up placing all the patterned paper pieces first, and then the pictures fell into their home. I love those big sunglasses on Natalie. They're so big, that if you look close enough you'll see my reflection in them taking the pic! ha!
(Additional Supplies: Small plate for tracing and cutting the circle :)

And then here are the 2 cards I made:



The full kit:

You can check out more about HERE. We have a great Design Team at Dixie Pieces with a wide variety of styles. You can check out what all they did with the kit HERE.
We've also got a whole new month of challenges. So if you one of my scrapping blog readers, come join us on the forums!