I have not given away a freebie on my blog before, so I thought I would start off by offering you this birthday card, I hope you all enjoy it!

Click here to download the greeting card.

Even More New Pages

This is part of a two page spread I did of my Dads side of the family from my brothers wedding. Again, I used the June Color Challenge kits. Thank you again Marcee, this is turning out to be a wonderful mini-album from my brother's wedding.

Here is a photo of me and Matthew at my brother's wedding.Again, I used the starter kit for the June 2008 Color Challenge by Rose Made Designs... Thank you Marcee! Love the way this turned out.

I took this photo while I was on a break from work at FMA I love looking around at the different textures everywhere. I had no idea what I was going to do with this until I started playing around in photoshop. I love applying the different effects and filters and watching as my photo is transformed into a work of art. Sometimes, the pages end up in the trash, other times, I keep them. My paint brush may have been replaced by a mouse, but I sure do love what I can do with it.I used elements from my contribution to the Feb. 2008 Club Deco Mega Kit - Totally Grungy

As I was working on this page for the Photography Challenge, I asked Jeff what the names were of the plants in our yard... when I asked him to spell one of them, Matthew spelled it for me, I asked him how he knew that, and he told me he learned it on Runescape, I told him to go tell those things to his Dad... At least the child REALLY IS learning something while he plays games on the computer!The big arguement around here most of the time is about Matthew playing games on the computer... but at least now we know that he really is learning something! This page shows lots of different textures of the leaves in our yard. It really amazes me how many different textures there are in nature... don't think I could photograph them all in a life time if I tried! I really am having fun with this challenge! This page was created with a new kit I am working on called Down Right Grungy. The paper was created from a texture photo I took, with lots of different effects applied. You wouldn't even know there is a bird's nest in there somewhere! LOL!

More new scrapbook pages :)

Oh! I had to laugh when I saw my reflection inthe back of the mirror of Jeff’s Old Ford Pickup truck! What a hoot!

Some times you feel like a nut... some times you don't... I guess I was feeling a little nutty tonight! This just tickled me! This was my texture photo for today by the way!

I have to give a great big shout out to Kathie Woolery for this wonderful Quick Page from her Totally Grungy Contribution to the Club Deco Mega Kit from Feb. 2008! Was this perfect for my photo or what! LOL! Thanks so much Kathie!

Some photographers take reality...and impose the domination of their own thought and spirit. Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them is an instrument of love and revelation. - Ansel Adams This is a quick page that I created using my new kit ... Quilted With Love... it will be in the store soon. The quick page is showing some photos of texture I took for the June Photography Challenge. We are having so much fun with this challenge, if you have not joined us yet, please come to the forum to see what it's all about!

Well, it happened again... Every time, I tell myself I won't let it... but here I am again... in need of some serious attention! Time to break out the bottle of hair color that has been sitting in my hall closet for weeks, and then head over to the salon to get my hair cut!

I was playing around with a new technique I found in a book at the library to make photos have a soft focus Effect... believe me... you ARE VERY happy I applied it to this photo! You would have run from the screen in fear had you seen how bad I really look! LOL! After I get my hair colored and cut, I will take another photo, and share a tutorial on how to do this effect if you are interested.

I used the Quick Page by Mary Ridgeway from the Mother's Day Mega Kit for Club Deco Members, May 2008. Thank you for the wonderful page Mary!

I love the textures in the Angel I have in my back yard. I used a frame by Carol Rupley from the Totally Grungy kit for Club Deco Feb 2008. I love the way this turned out.

I took these photos of Matthew on his last day of school for the 7th grade. How this year went by really fast!

I used the Quick Page by Theta from the Totally Grungy Mega Kit for Club Deco Members Feb. 2008 Check the store ... Did you know that our designers sell their contributions to the Club Kits! So once they are not a featured kit for the Club, they go on sale by the individual designer!

Today was a very special day for you Matthew! Not only was it your last day of school for the 7th grade, but it was also your CAST-AWAY party at the doctors office! I know you could not wait to get your cast off! You were so lucky that you only had to wear your cast for three weeks! But I know it seemed like a long time when it was sweaty and itchy! Boy did that ever smell bad when they took it off!

ok, I am pulling your leg... but it looked like snow!This is a quick page by CAZ from the Totally Grungy kit! It was just perfect for this!

Yesterday, I had to be back at the office at 2pm to meet with a guy coming to look at the computers for an upgrade, but I was done with my work their at noon, so I went to the library to take up some time... on the way there I had my eye out for some texture, when I saw this entrance way! I could not believe my luck, the brick with the black iron was just fantatic... and what a piece of art! I think this building should be an art studio, not a dental implant center!Paris Designs Quick Page from the Totally Grungy kit was just perfect for this page! I love the way it turned out!

After seeing the photo my Mom had taken and printed when she was in college, I was inspired to host the photography challenge at Deco-Pages again this month. I have been having so much fun taking photos of all kinds of things, from the bottom of the bird-bath in the back yard, to the broken stone work on the front of the house. I can hardly wait to see what will catch my eye tomorrow! I used the Totally Grungy Kit Contribution by Kathie Woolery for this page. Thank you Kathie, your contribution to the Totally Grungy kit was just perfect for all these grungy textures I took photos of today!

I walked around the yard today looking for textures for the new Photography Challenge at Deco-Pages. As I was taking photos, I was amazed to see flowers that I had not seen just the day before. I know they are just weeds... but God put them here, and I realized that I was very blessed to see them.

I think it is important to stop and look around once in a while. I am far too busy these days. I try to fit so much into the day, and although I am busy all the time, I sometimes feel like I have not gotten a single thing accomplished. Is it really going to matter in 100 years if I got that ad done, or folded the laundry, or dropped off that payment at the gas company? The flowers don’t care... they just keep blooming and wanting to be seen and admired.I am so happy that I got to see these little beauties today. What a gift I was given.

I used this wonderful Quick Page by Michaele Burkhart from the Club Deco Mega Kit - Garden Party for my page... I love the way it turned out! Thank you so much Michaele!

This is one of the photos my Mom took several years ago when she was taking photography classes in college that inspired the June 2008 Photography Challenge... Please come and participate in the challenge, you can find out all about it in the forum....http://board.deco-pages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3855

This is what I did with the Quick Page I created for you all with the Garden Party kit for Club Deco Members. If you are a Club Deco Member, you can download this Quick Page in the download area of the forum. If you are not a Club Deco Member, there are several options now for joining that Club. You can join for 1 month, 3 months or the Annual Membership! All great deals! Please join us! You will love the Club!

Here is the recipe for the Strawberry Cream Trifle. Sorry, I am too lazy to type it today, but if you can't read it, you can visit it in the gallery at Deco-Pages and read it without problem... Here is the link to the page...

http://board.deco-pages.com/showphoto.php/photo/21459/cat/500/ppuser/3/sl/d

My friend Andi and her Mom hosted a Pampered Chef Party today and invited me. It was really fun, and we had very YUMMY Treats! The Pampered Chef Consultant is in the photo with the dessert, and my friend Andi and her Mom are in the other photo.I am going to do another page with the recipe for the dessert on it. I used the Quick Page by Mary Ridgeway from Totally Grungy Mega Kit for Club Deco Members Feb. 2008

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.