DT call at Scraplovers!!!!

ScrapLovers is looking for two new Sweethearts to join our existing team. We need one regular Sweetheart and one who does strictly cards/altered items. We are looking for designers who can meet the following criteria:
- Unique style
- Ability to use a variety of styles and be familiar with up-to-date techniques
- Ability to create projects from basic to a more advanced skill level
- Creative use of product
- Ability to think outside the box
- Ability to work within timelines and under pressure
- Cooperation and teamwork
- Great communication skills

If chosen to be a Sweetheart you will be responsible for:

1. Committing to a 5-month term beginning March 1, 2008 through July 31, 2008.
2. Creating 4 layouts using the monthly product you are sent. If chosen as the card/altered item Sweetheart, you will create 1 altered project and 3 sets of cards using the product you are sent. You will upload half of your projects on the 5th of the month and the other half on the 20th of the month.
3. Taking turns hosting a technique or stash tutorial for our Technique Thursdays.
4. Taking turns on a weekly basis posting a Question and Project of the Day.
5. Posting additional projects in your personal member gallery.
6. Participating in forum discussions on a daily basis and keeping the message board flowing by regularly posting new topics.
7. Leaving praise in the gallery on a weekly basis.
8. Issuing 2 monthly challenges to the members- one on the 1st of the month and the second on the 15th of the month.
9. Participating in cybercrops and contests held by ScrapLovers.
10. Contributing to the ScrapLovers newsletter and blog when necessary.
11. Promoting ScrapLovers on your personal blog (if you have one) and other forums (where allowed) to help facilitate the growth of our community.
12. Identifying that ScrapLovers provided the product in ANY layout posted on another site or published. Projects are exclusive to the ScrapLovers site for one month.
13. Communicating with the Owner and Sweetheart Coordinator about absences due to illness or vacation

If chosen as a Sweetheart, you will be compensated in the following ways:

1. You will receive product to work with each month to create your required number of designs free of charge. All projects created are yours to keep.
2. You will receive 20% off purchases from our store throughout your duration as a Sweetheart and free shipping on orders that are shipped with the monthly kit. You will receive a shipping credit of $5 once each month on any additional orders.
3. You will receive exposure with your bio and headshot being posted on our Sweetheart page, as well as being spotlighted once on our blog during your term.
4. You will be provided a blinkie for use in your signature, on your blog, and at other sites as permitted.

Application requirements:
1. Upload 5 pieces of your best work that are representative of your style to the 2008 Design Team Call section of the ScrapLovers gallery. Projects do not need to be new or never-before-seen, but should be original works of art (no scraplifts, please).
2. Register and become a member of our message board. Introduce yourself in the Welcomes and Introductions forum.
3. Send an email to info@scraplovers.com including the following:
- Provide your name, address, preferred e-mail address, and links to online communities in which you are active (be sure to include your username). If you have a blog, please include that link as well. Please specify if you are applying for the card/altered item Sweetheart.
-Provide a list of current and past design teams. Don't worry if you aren't on any. We want to see your work, and we all have to start somewhere. Membership on other DTs is not discouraged.
-Let us know if you've been published and where.
-Complete an essay about why you feel you are a prime candidate for our design team. Focus on your strengths and include what you will contribute to our team and message board. Share your ideas and thoughts for promoting our site and store.

The deadline for submitting your application is Monday, February 11th at 11:59 PST. International applicants are welcome. If chosen, you will be notified via email to accept no later than Saturday, Feb. 16th. The official announcement will be made on the message board no later than Monday, February 18th. You will start on March 1st with your Sweetheart duties. If you have any questions feel free to email me at info@scraplovers.com. Good luck and thank you!!

New Scraplovers Contest!!!

Scrap Around the World!

Pack your bags and get your passports ready because it's time for a contest!!! We are about to embark on a 7 week journey as we Scrap Around the World. We will make a stop on each continent where a challenge will be issued for you to complete. The first challenge will be issued on Thursday, Feb. 21st. All subsequent challenges will be issued on Thursdays. You will have until the following Wednesday at 11:59 EST to upload your week's creation into the appropriate area of the gallery. You will need to declare at the start of the contest whether you are competing in the paper or digital category. You will not be able to switch after the contest has begun.
The Sweethearts will then judge the creations on a 10 point scale. You will be judged in three categories- Creativity, Photography, and Overall Design/Appeal. Your individual category scores will be added up for a total weekly score. Scores for each round will not be revealed. And the good part is no one will ever be eliminated!! Please pay close attention to the requirements of each challenge. Ask questions if you need clarification. Any deviation from the challenge requirements listed will result in disqualification. This is only to be fair to those who follow all of the requirements. All submissions must be original designs. Layouts submitted for any round of the contest must be posted only in the ScrapLovers gallery until the end of the contest and must not be published, posted or entered in any contest, in any magazine or on any website until the end of the contestant's participation in the contest.
Exception-layouts may be posted on your personal blog.

As for the prizes...the paper and digital participant with the most points at the end of the 7 weeks will become a Guest Sweetheart for the months of May and June. There will also be a random prize drawing from all other participants.

In order to be eligible to participate, you must have at least three layouts uploaded into the ScrapLovers gallery and a minimum of 100 posts (both MB and gallery posts count) by the start of the contest on Feb. 21st.

Find more info here:

Contest info

What a relief!

We are now officially able to take our current home off the market! We've had a FSBO sign in the yard since before Thanksgiving, but the only phone calls we have gotten are from agents who want to sell it for us.

But now we have a friend who wants to rent it from us with the intent to buy later. So, we will work up a kind of lease to own contract with her.

It is such a relief to get that piece taken care of!

We should be able to move into our new home at the end of February. Cross your fingers for us that our builder can get it done!

Mediocrity....

Do you ever just feel mediocre? Just like you are a jack of all trades, master of none? I've been feeling that way lately. Maybe I just have too many interests and/or responsibilities to be truly good at any one thing. I have always wanted to be extraordinary at something... just one thing. You know... that fantasy of life's purpose in an idealistic teenage/early twenty-something mind? Ahhhh... but maybe the wisdom of being thirty-something is that it's ok to just be who we are, and accept mediocrity whole-heartedly!!! LOL!!!

I don't think so. ;)

Something that is certainly not mediocre.... REAL popcorn cooked on the stove! We've been avoiding the microwave as much as possible, and all of the chemicals in the microwave popcorn gives me the heebie jeebies... so, with the advice of a good friend (thanks, Tisha!), I cooked my first batch of popcorn on the stove. I used organic oil and corn... and it was fabulous! And I have to admit to becoming just a bit giddy as the first kernels popped! Let me tell you... every last kernel popped, and it tasted JUST LIKE movie theater popcorn! Especially since I used the hot pan to melt a bit of organic butter to pour over top and finished it off with some kosher salt! Yum! My girls devoured the whole batch!

Another project!

Here's another page for Scraplovers. Patterned paper is mainly Scribble Scrabble! I also used Tin Box Creations stamps here!

Want to know how I made the ribbon heart? I'll show you later this month over at Scraplovers for the last Technique Thursday for the month!

First day of school!

Remember this picture? You know it would end up on one of my pages eventually, right? The stars were created using the photo corner stamps from the Totally Unique stamp set from Tin Box Creations. I also used the Youth Upper set!

January reveal time!

Our first set of reveals for January! We chose what we wanted from the store this month! I chose more Cosmo Cricket! :)

It's a new year!

And I can already check off one resolution from my list this year!

I took a sewing class, completed a project, and now know how to fill a bobbin and thread my machine! I promise I will post pics later!

Anyway, I found this wonderful little quilting shop called quilting adventures less than 5 miles from my home! They carry all of the latest and greatest fabrics, too, with a wonderful mix of simple and artsy products and classes. Just what I need... a source to feed what may possibly become a new addiction for me... LOL!!!