Here are the photos I took last night after I finished my Coffee Tumbler (Travel Cup) from Starbucks. I love the way it came out!

Again, I used Marcee's (RoseMadeDesigns) Contribution to the Feb. 2008 Totally Grungy Mega Kit for Club Deco.

Well, I thought it would be fun to do a page about the Photography Challenge itself for my Starbucks Coffee Tumbler for my first insert

Again, I chose to use Rose Made Designs Contribution to the Totally Grungy kit, and I added some little hearts in the corners from Carol Rupley... I love the way this turned out...

Every once in a while, I like to get myself a little present, and I just could not resist this one... it is a coffee tumbler I saw at the Starbucks in our grocery store. I can change out the scrapbook page in it when ever I want to... this of course will be a two page spread, once I deside what page I want to put in it first!

I used Marcee RoseMadeDesigns Quick Page from the Totally Grungy Mega Kit for Club Deco Members for this! It was the kit from Feb. 2008. Thanks Marcee! I love the way this page turned out!

This little guy was out in the back yardthis morning, and when he saw me, hestarted puffing himself up, like he wassome big tough strong guy! Then the song“Bad” by Michael Jackson started playingin my head, and I was glad I had my camerahandy! I had to laugh ... this little guy was smaller than my foot!

The photos are not the greatest, because I had the zoom up as high as I could get it, because I knew if I took one more step toward the little guy he would high tail it for the woods... but you get the picture!

I used Jen Hanson's Quick Page from the Wild Thing Mega Kit for Club Deco for this... Thank you Jen... the page was just what I needed for this bad boy!

Several Months ago, Matthew and I were out and about, and we decided to go and visit Grammy... however, I am so horrible with directions, and I even called hubby to ask him where the grave site was, and we still did not find it, so, on Memorial Day, when we went to visit and put some silk flowers and a flag on her grave, I took these photos to help me remember next time we want to stop by for a surprise visit. I also thought this might be something good for future generations... as long as JC Penny doesn't go out of business, or leave the Mall!

I thought Michaele Burkharts Quick Page from the Totally Grungy Mega Kit for Club Deco Members was just perfect for this! Thank you Michaele!

Found these two hangin out in the park yesterday! This is the Quick Page by Mary Ridgeway from the Feb. 2008 Club Deco Mega Kit Totally Grungy!! I love this page Mary! Thank you so much!

I took these photos today at the parade. We picked up my FIL and DH, DS and I went to watch the parade. I don't think Matthew was as impressed with the parade as he was when he was younger, but it was a nice family time.

I used Celebrate Freedom by Kathie Woolery for this page. I love her new kit... it is just fantastic! If you have not taken a look at this one in the store, please do... it is going to come in really handy for 4th of July too!

I was out on the back deck, waiting to turn the hambergers on the grill, when I saw this little guy hitch a ride on my lawn ornament color wheel... it was really something the way he hung on and it spun around like a ferris wheel.... I think I was able to get this photo, because he got dizzy! LOL!

I used elements and a background from Inner Spirit Light Extra and Add On kits to create this page... thank you so much Marcee... for the chat, which was lots of fun, and the fantastic presents!

This is a card I created with my new kit, Paisley Glitter...

I love making greeting cards! I really like the way this one turned out!

The little flowers opened up today... they do smell pretty... not as potent as the big lilacs I love, but pretty none the less.

The background and weaves are from a new kit I am working on called Quilted With Love, and I used a couple of goodies from Cathie Woolery - Feb. 2008 Totally Grungy contribution for Club Deco (The flower in the clip, and the paper clip), and my tacks from the same kit.

Tonight we took Matthew out to dinner and to a movie. Ironman was pretty good... I enjoyed it, and I think the guys did too.

I used the Quick Page by Lorene Hill from her contribution to totally grungy mega kit for Club Deco for Feb. 2008... thanks Lorene... I think the page worked out great for my evening out!

I just released a new Personal or Commercial Use kit in the store called Doodle All The Day!

Doodle All The Day! By Deb Ammerman

Personal Use - Commercial Use OK

Doodle All The Day is a series of doodles created 100% digitally in Illustrator and imported into Photoshop for crisp, clean edges and great vector quality. Each doodle has been drawn by me to create a fun and whimsical element for your scrapbooking needs.

Use Doodle All The Day! to create embellishments, frames, backgrounds or tags. Use them in whole or in part. Combine them for even more fun. Make stickers or glitters, patterns or fun little hand drawn elements. Color them in or leave them as line art...it’s all up to you!

I applied some glitter to the elements shown here on my scrapbook page example. This photo was taken in my yard earlier this month... I love my little bug don't you!

Last weeks photos and pages

My new kit is out, it is called Paisley Glitter and these are just a few of the goodies you will find in the kit. If you are participating in the Photography Challenge for May... you will get this kit if take your photos every day and get all your pages done for the Challenge!

Journaling reads: Matthew, What a fun time you had with your Uncle Gary when he came for a visit from Seattle. He loves to goof around, so he brought plenty of goodies with him, and was the hit of the party! You had fun with the rubber poop, plastic cockroaches on the dinner plates, envelopes with baby rattlesnake eggs, and so much more. It’s no wonder you enjoy your Uncle so much... he’s just a great big kid!

Here is a link to the new kit in the store at Deco-Pages:
http://www.deco-pages.com/product.php?productid=17573&cat=0&page=1






Well, I actually had to pay $3.99 a gallonfor fuel today. How frustrating! I don’tknow what the answer is... hybrid cars thatrun on less fuel and electricity... drivingmuch smaller vehicles that get more mileageto the gallon of gas. But it really doesmake me mad that the oil company profitshave quadrupled at the expense of so many people having to do without. People on a fixed budget are really hurting now and they are saying that it is only going to get worse. I heard on the news last night that fuel could go as high as $6 per gallon!





Quick Page by Deb Ammerman Totally Grungy Club Deco Contribution Feb. 2008 recolored

I waited for you with anticipation to see what you would look like. I enjoyed your beauty and you brought me great joy my little tulips... I will wait and watch for your next year to come and dazzle me with your beauty once more... Your time was too short.

My poor tulips petals are all falling on the ground... the time I had with them, short but sweet... I will miss them until next year...

I used the Quick Page by Becky Smith from the Totally Grungy kit for Club Deco, Feb. 2008 ... if you missed this wonderful kit from Club Deco, you can order the designers contributions individually in our store. Thank you for the wonderful Quick Page Becky!

Matthew came up with this little idea all on his own, and I thought it was so cute, I ran to get my camera.

I used Jen Hanson's Quick Page from the Feb. 2008 Club Deco Mega Kit - Totally Grungy! Did a little color alteration on it to go better with the spegetti... Love the way it came out! Thanks Jen!

On my way home from the office yesterday, I stopped by the dam to take a photo. This is actually 4 photos that I spliced together to create the big picture... I do not have a wide angle lense... had to do some cloning and color adjustments on the photos. I am really happy with the way it turned out.

Driving home from the office this afternoon, I saw these pretty wild flowers on the side of the road. I see them every Spring, and wish they grew in the woods by my house. Soon the day lilies will start to show up. I do love the Springtime flowers.

I used Dragons Lair Designs Quick Page for this, again I did a little color alteration to match my photo... I love this quick page from the May 2008 Club Deco Mega Kit - Mother's Day.

Growing Tomato Plants

This is photo of one of the tomato plants I repotted last week, I think they are growing pretty well!

I have to tell you what happened when I was creating this page... it was way cool... I pasted in the bow by RMD from her Mother's Day Kit for Club Deco members, and it landed on the stalk of the plant! I thought it was so cool there, I recolored and left it! Isn't it cool when things like that happen! Thank you for the wonderful kit Marcee! I love the way this page turned out!

More New Pages...

I just loved the page "Colour Brightens My Day" by ACountryRose, which can be found in the gallery at Deco-Pages... http://board.deco-pages.com/showphoto.php/photo/20816 I had to use it as a guide for this page for the Gallery Hunt Challenge. I used RMD Cozy Comfort kit recolored and altered frame with my flourish and butterfly from the Mother's Day Mega Kit for Club Deco Members ... I also altered the color and opacity of the elements.

Randy Travis - Angels

Me and some of the boys

Were sitting around the other night

Started talking about politics, religion

Love of life

And what a shame it was about 9-11

And what about Hell

And what about Heaven

And is there or isn't there

Angels here on earth

And then one guy said

Well, you can take that for what it's worth

If it's something I can see or something I can touch

Hell, I might believe in all that stuff.

So, I just had to say to him

Are you telling me

You've never seen an angel

Never felt the presence

Of one standing by

No robe of white

No halo in sight

Well, you missed the most obvious thing

Man are you blind

Just look in your mother's eyes.

And then I said

Who went through the pain

And smiled through the tears on the day of your birth

She counted your fingers and toes

And thanked God you were whole

Son, you oughta know who loved you first.

That's right.

And who always came runnin'

Everytime you cried out

And how many more things have you forgotten about

And who tried their best

To teach you wrong from right

And how many nights

Did she leave on the light

While she waited and prayed

Till you came in?

And who'll be there for ya

Right up to the end.

Think about it man.

Are you telling me

You've never seen an angel

Never felt the presence

of one standing by

No robe of white

No halo in sight

Well. you missed the most obvious thing

Ah, man are you blind

Just look in your mother's eyes.

Ah, man are you blind

Just look in your mother's eyes.

That's right...

This page was done for a Lyrics Callenge hosted by our Creative Team at http://www.deco-pages.com/ please join us for the challenges... you will have so much fun, get a page done, and receive a reward!

My Mom loved her family. Blood was thicker than water... and no matter what you had, you always had enough for family if they needed you. I remember cousins living with us when we were younger. I remember spending hours driving from Indiana to New York to be with family for the holidays. My poor Mom and three brats (my brothers and I) fighting all the way. She was not perfect, but she was my Mom, and I loved her very much. I wish I had been a better Daughter to her... but I know she loved me, and forgave me my shortcoming. I remember when Matthew was born, she drove all night from New York so she could be here to see him the next day. She was so excited to see her first Grandchild. I wish she had had more time with him, and he had gotten to know her better. I miss you.... MomNo matter how small or how blurry, any photo I have of my Mom is a treasure to me. This is one of the few photos I have of her. It was taken in the 1970s when we lived in Texas.

I decided to take a peak and see if anyone was at home... I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Momma Robin in her nest. I had seen the Daddy out in the yard, so I guess I did not expect her to be on the nest... but here she was... just as quiet as could be. I was a little surprised she didn’t attack me... but she let me try to take several photos... this was the best one I got... I didnot want to get to close... I did not want to overstay my welcome or scare her.

I happened to glance out the window of my office here at home as I was working on my computer today... grabbed my camera and ran out the door. The clouds in the sky looked like balls of cotton! I just had to save the moment! I used Roxanna Parkers contribution to the Mother's Day Mega Kit for Club Deco Members for this page... I just loved the flowers... did a little change on the colors for the papers to match my photos... Thank You Roxanna!

It was really good news that you did not have to have surgery on your finger... the Orthopedic Surgeon said that the line up on the bones was very good, and he put you in a cast for the next three weeks. You are a very lucky kid! Some people have to wear casts for months... and as you discovered last night, as cool as it is too have a cast, it gets sweaty and it itches....I used my EMT kit and the staples and photo holders are from my Grungie Day kit.

This has definately been a year of injuryfor you Matthew. Earlier this yearyou fell getting off the busand scraped up your forhead,cheek, lip and mouth, thena few weeks later you spraigned your ankle ingym class, now, today,you broke your littlefinger. They say bad thingshappen in 3s I hopethis is it for you! Papa is going to try to get you anappointment with the ortho-pedic surgeon tomorrow. The E.R. Doctors showed me your x-rays, and although they did a pretty good job when they set the bones, they were not able to get them lined up straight. This is definately not the page I wanted to do today... I would have much rather taken lovely photos of flowers in my yard... but at least Matthew is resting comfortably now, and will hopefully get a good nights sleep.

Our tradition on Mother’s Day is that Jeff and Matthew take me shopping to pick out flowers to put by the front door of the house. We have done this every year since Matthew was 2 years old and we were living in this house. I love the purple and yellow flowers that were in this potted plant. Now... if I can just remember to water it . . . or pray for light morning showers and sunny afternoons!! It was a rainy day today, but the sun did come out this afternoon, and I was able to get these photos of the potted plant Matthew and Jeff got me for Mother's Day. I used Lorene Hill's Quick Page from the Mother's Day Mega Kit for Club Deco for this page. I did alter the colors... Thank you so much Lorene... I love the way this page turned out!

Tonight, after DH got home from work, it was time for some yard work... I had finished potting my tomato plants, and was inside starting dinner, when I heard a very loud... NOW WHAT! I grabbed my camera and headed out the door! Matthew had been helping his Dad in the yard, and his Dad was mowing, so Matthew was yelling at his Dad asking him what he wanted him to do next... but from my end... it sounded kinda frantic! LOL! This will be the first year that Matthew will get to drive the tractor... I am not ready for it... I am way too overly protective... and worry all the time... he is an only child... I know he has to learn to do these things... but some times, I wish he was 2 years old and I didn't have to worry about lawn mowers and blades, and ... I know... I know... I have to let him grow up.

I just had to do this page today because it makes me giggle to think of how silly Lori (the other designer at FMA) and I were being...On the way back to the office from our “field trip” today, Lori and I saw these cows out in the pasture. I pulled off to the side of the road so I could take a photo. Well... this cow looked right at me until I got the camera out... then it refused to look at me... must be camera shy! Lori and I made all kinds of noises to try to get her to look back over at the car... finally, Lori barked like a dog, andthe cow looked at the car! So... if you ever want to get a cows attention, you must bark at it!I used the butterfly element from CAZ\'s contribution to the Mother\'s Day Mega Kit for Club Deco Members for this, the rest of the page is photoshop created from photos I have taken, and stroking the layers to create borders on them.

Grown-upsget to takeField Tripstoo....Ilona's contribution to the Mother's Day Mega Kit for Club Deco Members May 2008 was just perfect for this page. I added the flowers from photos I took today at the nursery, but eveything else used is from Ilona's kit. Thank you Ilona! I love the way this page came out! May 12,2008Every Monday morning I attend the breakfast meeting for Full Moon Advertising. Usually wemeet at a local restaurant, and the owner goes overthings with the sales team and the office staff. Today, we took a field trip and went to Phil Deruiter’s Green House. Phil is a salesman on staff at FMA during the winter time, but in the Spring, Summer, and Early Fall, he wears a different hat, and runs his greenhouse. I took lots of photos of the flowers, and Phil let us each pick out some plants to take home, which he so kindly gave us for FREE! Thanks a million Phil... I will think of you all summer as I eat my tomatoes, and look at the pretty perennial flowering plants you gave me to plant by my Mother’s Angel! It was a fun field trip!

My Father-in-law turned 88 years old last week, so we went out for dinner tonight to celebrate Mother's Day and his birthday. I used backgrounds from Paris Designs contribution to the May 2008 Mega Kit Mother's Day for club deco (Colors altered), ... I also used the template by Burkhart Scrapzone (Michaele) altered to use only two photos.

I took some photos of the Dogwood Blossoms today. I really liked a page I saw by one of the participants in the photography challenge at Deco-Pages, so I used it as inspiration. This is the inspiration page...

by BansGran posted at www.deco-pages.com

I am so excited, because I am hosting another Photography challenge for the month of May at Deco-Pages.com (http://www.deco-page.com/) and we are having such a good time. I have created a page every day along with the other participants... it's been so much fun to see all the beautiful Spring flowers and more... If you are not a Club Deco Member, these are 8 wonderful reasons why you should join the Club! All of the pages (except for the Martial Arts page) were created with Quick Pages from the Mother's Day - May 2008 - Mega Kit for Club Deco Members. Every Month our Design Team gets together and creates a HUGE kit for our Club Deco Members... we choose a color pallet and a theme, and then every designer creates a mini kit and Quick Pages for our members! I am telling you, this is the deal of a lifetime! You can now try the Club for one month for just $7.99 ... One Club Deco kit is worth way more than $20.00! You can also buy a 3 month trial membership for $15.00 or the Annual Membership is just $36.00 for a full year of Club Deco! If you are a registered user in our forum, you can order your subscription by coming to our forum... http://board.deco-pages.com/forums/payments.php

Here are my pages I have created for the Photography Challenge to date:


T.G.I.F.!!!! It was a very busy week for me, and I am so glad it is over and the weekend is here. On my break at work today I saw these dandelion seeds and I remembered when I was a child, how much I used to love to blow on them and watch the little seeds drift away. This little ball of fun reminded me of the days when my Mom would have the neighbors up in arms because we always had so many dandelions in our yard, and to them, they all wanted a rich green lawn, with no pretty little yellow flowers in it. Mom could never seem to get them under control. I created this page with one of CAZ Quick Pages from the Mother's Day Mega Kit for Club Deco Members for the month of May. This is such a beautiful page to work with! I love the way this came out! Thank you so much Carol!

Before I raked the leaves away this afternoon I took these photos. My Mom told me that she wanted to go home to Long Island and be put to rest in the cemetery where her family is, so we did as she asked. The first Spring after she was gone, I felt bad that I was so far away. So I purchased this Angel and put it in my back yard. I plant flowers for her here, and I sit and talk to her... I think of her and the times we had together.I think of the times when I held her hand, or we just sat and watched some old movie on TV that she loved. I think about cups of tea with sugar and milk, Macaroni's on Sunday, the smell of her perfume... all bring me quiet moments of gratitude.Mary Ridgeway's Quick Page was just perfect for these photos and the journaling I wanted to do. Mary created this Quick Page with her contribution to the Mother's Day Mega Kit for Club Deco Members. Thank you so much Mary!

I saw my scarecrow peaking out behind the bookcase today and decided he had to be moved out where I could see him... Thank you so much Marcee (RoseMade Designs) for your wonderful quick page from the Club Deco - May 2008 Mega Kit - Mother's Day! With a little color change, it was just perfect for what I wanted to do. Gotta love the ability to change colors with digital... not so easy to do with traditional scrapbooking supplies!

It was a beautiful day yesterday, and I had an errand to run for work... who would NOT volunteer to go pick up printer paper on such a perfect day, esp. if one has a digital camera in her purse! LOL!I used one of Dragons Lair Designs Quick pages from the May 2008 Mega Kit for Club Deco Members - Mother's Day for this. I did change the colors to match my photo, added a flower from the kit, and a jounaling area with rounded corners. Thank you so much for the Quick Page! I love the way this turned out!

It was another beautiful day today, so I was able to take a walk by the river again.My breakroom at work is grand when the sun is shining and mother nature fills it with beautiful flowers for all to enjoy! I was taking photos up by a tree, when the shutter went off on the camera, a woman walking on the path gasped and said I scared her. I guess she did not see me up there taking photos. Maybe next time I am on a photo shoot, I should wear a bell around my neck. Do you think that is why cows wear bells? I used Carol Rupley's Quick Page for this! I just love Carol's page... it really worked out great for my photo! Thanks Carol!

All winter long as I look out our living room window at the barren tree with the nest still sitting in it, I wondered if in the spring the Robins would use it again... well they have been rebuilding... And the tree is in bloom and looks so pretty.I used a Quick Page by Carol Rupley from the Mother's Day kit for Club Deco for this page! I just loved it! Thanks Carol!

Today was a very exciting day for Matthew, he was awarded a Black Belt in his Martial Arts Class. This is the first time in 10 years that Mr. Josh has given out a Black Belt, and Matthew and Dwight (not pictured) were the first to get them. This is a new kit I am working on that will be available in our store very soon at www.deco-pages.com

Before work today, the sun was out for just a little bit, and I saw this pretty little weed and had to get a shot! It's fun how this challenge makes me look for things I might not have taken the time to see before! These little flowers are much smaller in real life than they are in the photo! I used one of the quick pages I created for the May 2008 Club Deco Mega Kit - Mother's Day!

I took this photo yesterday on a little break from designing ads for my day-job. This sculpture caught my eye. Club Deco - Mother's Day - Quick Page by Burkhart Scrapzone