My Memories Scrapbooking

I have found such a neat new way to log my cross stitch projects!!  I used to keep this journal of my quilt projects from design to finish.  I haven't found anything similar for cross stitching and I know one day my memories will fade.  Then I was contacted by My Memories(all colored text like this is a link that will take you to their page) and asked to try their digital scrapbook software.  This was right up my alley.  I tried to scrapbook once, after spending oodles on Stampin Up products and just couldn't get into it.  But I am a digital kind of gal.  So I gave it a try!!  And here is a unique way I came up with showing off and keeping track of my finished projects:

Now is that cool or what?  The program was sooo easy to use.  I'm not creative in this sense, but all the packages they have available for free, for 99 cents (and up), make it so easy!  I spent 10$ and got OVER 62 downloads of papers, embellishments, word art, quick pages, etc.  And being digital software makes it so easy.  I know some of my pics the fabby is all wrinkled, but it will be so easy when I get them framed up to just delete that pic and put the finished one in.  I can print them myself, put it on a jump drive and take it to Kinko's or somewhere and have it printed, or you can go to their website at My Memories and order it made into an album!!

Now you want to know the really cool part?  Just for trying it and blogging about it, they are letting me give 1 program away!!  After using your code to get the program free, you will also receive a $10 certificate code to use to order papers, embellishments, etc!!  How cool is that!!  So whether you want to create a yearly craft book like I am, or make family memories, you can zip right along with this awesome program!!

I am holding a drawing for the free program and taking entries from now until next Friday (August 9, 2013).  On Saturday August 10, 2013 I will draw the winner.  Comment below for 1 entry into the drawing.  Here are some ways to gain additional entries:
1.  1 entry for mentioning this giveaway on YOUR blog (please send me the link to your blog mention)
2.  Go visit the My Memories website and have a look around.  Tell me your favorite paper, word art, theme, something and provide link. (2 entries)
3.  1 entry for each person you send that enters the giveaway.  (make sure they tell who sent them!)

That easy!!  Now get going and have fun!!

If you just can't wait to get your own program, or you don't win, I am able to offer you a coupon for $10 off your purchase of the program!  Click on the blinkie, or got to their website and use this code in the coupon/promo code section to get your $10 off!  STMMMS76494  (program is regularly 39.97, you get it for 29.97)

Thoughts on Goal lists and other crazy things.

Why do we make goal lists?  Why?  I look at my goal list (especially since we are halfway through the year), and I feel like a big fat failure as I'm getting so little done on the projects I listed for this year.  On the other hand....I'm doing a lot of extras and I'm happy with my completed projects list.  I'm battling this right now, because several on my goal list are currently in rotation and right now, I have absolutely 0 interest in my rotation.  I want to stitch something else!!  I'm so mixed on the goal list.

This is one of the projects I started working on:

 This is from the movie Labyrinth and is for the hubby.  I also have the Marvel comics alphabet he wants so bad.  I ran out of thread for this one last night.  I started looking through patterns thinking I wanted to do some fall ones.  Wouldn't you know every dang one I tried to kit up is missing at least 1 thread color?

So now I've made working patterns of some of my pink ribbon patterns and am considering trying to kit those up.  I would really like to do some pink ribbon stitching and scarves to donate to next years Bike Run.  I would also like to do some to donate to the Epilepsy Foundation.  

On the Ty front, we got his certificate and are working on the driving experience.  He's got the feel of the 'burban now.  Today we need to focus on vehicle control.  His dang size 14 foot has a tendency to slip and hit the gas when he means to hit the brakes, he doesn't have a good feel for accelerating yet, but we've not been on roads where he can get that feel either.  He needs to gain more control in turns and just overall build his control of the vehicle before I take him on a busy road.  It's all about time and confidence.  I FINALLY saw an upswing in his driving confidence yesterday.  That was so exciting and good to see.  I realized when we were talking, he's trying to be the tough, stoic guy and not admitting fear.  When in truth he is scared of driving and has 0 confidence in himself.  Some of it is because of his wreck.  That really, really shook him up.  Understandable!  But the other part, is his epilepsy.  Last year proved to us that it can come back even if you've been seizure free for a year or more.  We're 8 months in now.  But ALWAYS in the back of his mind is, Is this the day I have another seizure.  Now adding driving it is compounded with "what if I have one while driving".  Going through this with him has really opened my mind to the struggles of an epileptic person.  I'm so thankful that we do gain so much control with his meds as I know there are many out there that the best control they can get is down to a few seizures a day.  Our goal right now is to keep prodding Ty and have a lot of positive interactions with him and try and set him up for successes so that confidence can build.

Seriously..June 15th was my last post?

I am beyond falling way behind then.  I do have somewhat of a reason though.  I normally use LiveWriter to do my blog.  Well, my 'puter died.  I had to get a new one and I still haven't loaded livewriter on it.  But, I thought, maybe, just maybe I'll be able to write my blog like normal :)

Ty, hmm, poor kid, he is having ups and downs.  Thankfully today was a talking day.  When his mood flips, there is no talking to him, it is very adversarial, but today was a good day.  He got stuck for the longest on his Driver's Ed, and we talked about that.  But he did finally finish it, his certificate is being mailed.  So now it is a matter of getting him driving and experienced so he can take his driving test.  It's a little scary because he's only taking his seizure meds every 2-3 days to try and make what is there last longer.  He has no insurance now, those meds are easily 500 a month.  He has applied to the local clinic here, but no word yet.  And since it is for indigents, it can take forever, so he is probably going to have to run out of meds, run the risk of some of the most dangerous seizures, and when he has one, take him to the ER and maybe it will get the app pushed through faster.

Hmm, on the stitching front?  I'm not sure where I last was, so here is a current report and pics:

First Fall of Snow is finished.

Goonies I did for the hubby, and the Mephobia for Seb.  The cancer one was for a local Bike Run Breast Cancer Benefit and the flag is the most recent of my patriotic finishes.

The MicKenzie tree was a model stitch, the Cancer poem and pink ruffle scarf were for the same benefit.

Another wonderful Silkweaver package :)  I got 2 DMC grab bags, a pattern grab bag and of course some gorgeous fabby :)

 

Some works in progress:  Oriental Dragon, Spring Butterfly and Coyote Portrait (re-started on different fabby)

And wouldn't you know it, I can't find the pics of the other patriotics I finished!!  I also have another silkweaver order, but I don't have the pics transferred.  I set my scan disk that holds the mini disk somewhere safe and I can't find it!!  I'll have to wait till my phone is back on to email them to myself so I can load them.  Same for the progress pic on The Pack.

I'm trying to crochet.  I remember doing it when I was little but it sure isn't coming back to me like cross stitch did!  I'm not going to give up and I am going to keep going at it until I figure it out!  That has taken a lot of cross stitch time.  But I did get 200 stitches done on The Pack and I pulled out A House is Made to work on in the evenings.  I have to have something out to cover my tracks as I'm working on the Labyrinth  quote for James's birthday.  I doubt I will have it done by Friday since I can only work on it while he is gone to work, but I'm going to give it a good try!!  And I guess that is all my updates for now!!

 

Loving my mailman!!

What a week!  This week started off VERY rough!  The washer “broke”.  It was the filter, but getting to it was NOT easy, 3 days later fixed.  There was LOTS of Tyler drama.  He moved back to Amarillo.  It took one night of him “living” with his friend Jake to become humble and talk right to come home.  He talks a good talk, but he always has.  We are waiting to see if he will follow through for more than 2 weeks.  Please pray for him!  He is going to get back in therapy too. 

My mailman made this week all worth it.  First I got my Silkweaver order.  Talk about stash enhancement!!

Frightful Pumpkin, I love this fabby!

Golden Promise, this pic does not do this fabby justice.  I fell in love with it!

This order only had those 2 fabby’s.  But are you ready for the patterns?

Grimm, Glumm and Gloom, Witches Wheel, Easter Avenue, Murky Manor, Eggs Ala Round, and Ghoul School.  I have several Glendon Place patterns, I must like them or something!

THEN, I had received a gc from sis Kim.  Oh how I love her.  I ordered the rest of the DMC thread I needed for Snowmen Ala Round.  And the beads, which I got 2 of since I needed another for Sleepy Hollow.  I need to order another black since I SPILLED mine.

THEN, today we got a settlement check that will get everything out of pawn and pay rent.  I paid my phone and Ty’s adult drivers ed course also.  Oh, and my next silkweaver’s order, a couple of AAN patterns and a subscription to JCS.  I got James 3 months of XBOX Live Gold for Father’s Day.  So a little splurging.  I can also fill up the gas tank, we were down to an 1/8 of a tank with no more money until the 28th.

This week was really stressful at first.  With Ty, no child support, and no spare money this payday and bills stacked high.  God blessed us in a miraculous way with that settlement check!

OHHH, and the black ‘burban was totaled out due to all the hail damage.  Thank goodness I had gap insurance, which paid it off just barely.  But, since I am through a “tote the note” guy, he was real nice and put us in another ‘burban.  It is white instead of black, 2000 instead of ‘97, and 173K miles instead of 209.  So that all worked out also.  God is really at work in our lives isn’t He.  Praise be to Him!!

This week’s update

Wow, I didn’t get to stitch near as much as I wanted to this week.  The insurance totaled the ‘burban due to the hail damage and it has been hectic dealing with that.  We now have a little newer model white ‘burban.  It’s only critique is that the leather captain seats in front are torn on the edges.  I’m investigating seat covers, yes.  The seats seem wonky though and I can’t find a thing to fit.  I may have to go special order, or just cover the bottom or something.  I don’t know.  Seb is now out of school and can say he is a SENIOR.  Oh goodness I just can’t believe it!! 

Due to all the running around this week, I didn’t get to stitch as much as I would have liked.  This week it was work on “the Pack”….remember it?

This is where I left off last time: 

And here is where I left off today:

Pretty decent progress.  I got 2 rows done.  This puts me halfway through page 1.  I’m happy, happy, happy!

Sunday night wrap up….

I hit a good stopping point on Oriental Dragon on Saturday, so I rotated early.  I just started Oriental Dragon and am please with the progress I made.  I really hated to put it away, I was just enjoying it too much!!  6 weeks is going to be a long time to wait for it’s next turn!!

I got 2 columns on the 1st page done!!  Woo hoo!!  I’m now working on “The Pack”.  I got a row on the 1st page done this weekend, so that is exciting.  It’s now kind of like a contest to see how much I can get done in 1 week   I did play with my PCStitch, Winstitch and another patternmaker.  But I just am not good at this whole converting pattern making thing.  This is what I originally had:

My dad spent 20 years as a Dallas Police Officer and was also on SWAT.  But, when I showed this to my mom, I learned that daddy’s badge was gold because he was a Sergeant.  I tried to change the silver to gold and just couldn’t fathom it.  It needed color tweaking because I don’t think lavender really belonged in there.  But again, that is just beyond my skill set.  Then I found this one:

Gold, perfect.  BUT, I really want the flag background!!  So bad!  I tried layers, but then there is the white around the badge and I just couldn’t erase it right.  Not to mention the letters and scroll design between Dallas and Texas get all blurred once I convert it.  So I am very, very frustrated.  I wish I could find a class to take on learning how to do this.  But nope, there aren’t any.  And I’m just not the patient kind to sit and play with it.  So it is once again tabled as I mull it over some more.