Not Everyone's Mama

I just had to comment on this and I’m not going to call out anyone, point any fingers, just had to say, I see you!

Just days after releasing one of my kits – not 1, but 2 people that I know of came out with a kit with the same colors – and named it the same thing.  Didn’t say anything, but if anything ever came up, I’d love to compare dates of uploads to the stores. 

Then, after uploading another element pack that I made, someone (Just happens to be one who um, had a similar kit with the same name) came out with a similar product.  This one doesn’t look the same at least, it’s just amazing that right after I released my product, they came out with something that in theory is the same thing, just a different look.   So, we started joking around that I had a cyber stalker.  It did kill any of thoughts I had on taking my idea any further.

Now, one of our designers has been releasing bits and pieces of something (along with another designer in our store playing with her) and she had a product waiting to go into the store, and what do you know, someone else came out with just about the same thing. 

With the freebie war, we’ve been introduced to a lot of you that would not have known us before, which we ADORE, but with that comes the finest form of flattery.  LOL 

Ok, I just had to play with that for a bit.  Scroll down for the freebie! 

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I remember what I wanted to blog about the other day.

Have you heard of Freecycle?  It is the coolest thing.  It’s about keeping things out of the landfills, and paying it forward.  I’ve given a bunch of stuff we don’t use anymore away and I’ve received a bunch of stuff that other people have given away, my latest favorites being:  my food processor and the tower I got to build Jordan a computer, just needs my old hard drive stuck in it, my old monitor, mouse, and keyboard, and he can play his webkinz on his own darn computer.

Last Saturday, someone posted that they had a 1988 Ford Ranger pick up they were freecycling.  I immediatly thought of my brother.  He’s trying so hard to get and stay on the right track finally and things just keep hitting him down.  His car broke down and cost more to fix it than the car was worth, so he’s been riding his bike to work (in the beginning he was running to work) and it’s quite a ways.  He also had to rely on other people to pick up his oldest daughter for visitation.  (He lives with his youngest daughter)

Now, the drive shaft joint was broke on the truck, and that meant absolutely NOTHING to me.  I called my dad and asked him if it was expensive to fix that.  He said, no.  But, he also said that I had better talk to my brother before I asked for the truck.  Well, do you think he would answer his phone?  Or his girlfriend answer hers?  No.  He was working, so I can’t blame him.

I thought the chances were slim to none that this family would pick us because when a car, boat, trailer, anything like that comes up, they get HUNDREDS of responses.  But, I told them that I wanted to throw my brother’s hat in to the mix.  He called me!  He said that if we could go get it right then that we could have it.  But, it had to be quick because it was sitting in the middle of the street.

Now, I was panicking.  Like I have the stuff needed to tow a truck.  LOL  And I still couldn’t get ahold of my brother.  So, I called my brother n law to be and told him.  He went over and towed the truck to his house.  And after looking at it, both of my brother’s and my brother n law to be have said, it’s going to cost about $100 to get everything fixed that needs fixing, they can do it themselves.  So, woohoo!

 I felt so good about being able to help my brother.  It’s not his dream car, but it will get him from point a to point b and hopefully back again.  LOL  I called the people back who gave it to us and just thanked them profusely.  It was so nice!

Ok, a freebie!  Here’s some fun summer word art for you to add to your summer LOs!  Hope you enjoy it!  Make sure you check out the other designers and see what they are offering in the freebie war!  They are all under DSO designers in my sidebar to the right.

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Guess what Alyce is saying?  She’s such a good girl.  This all started when she got her shots a couple of weeks ago.  She was crying, and she started saying, ma ma through her tears.  Now, I know, I know she’s just babbling.  But, I got excited everytime she said it, and yesterday we were sitting outside, she was in her walker, and I was reading a magazine.  I heard her saying, mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, and looked at her, and she said, mmmm, mmmmm, ma ma, and then smiled all big at me.  So cute!  So, I got all excited and said, ma ma!  And she smiled again and said, mmmmm, mmmm, ma ma!  All day yesterday she continued, and she’d look at me when she would say it.  She would get so happy when I would get all excited.  Now, who knows if she knows she knows she is calling me when she says mama, but I LOVE it!  My first child who didn’t start out babbling, da da. 

Pato heard her doing it last night, and he was like, cual pinchi mama.  LOL  (what is this mama, more or less)  say, papi!  She said, mmm mmmm, ma ma and would start giggling.  It was just too cute watching them argue over it.

And, does anyone else have a 3 year old who is just a clutz?  My goodness, Katiana can not stay on her feet.  She is constantly tripping over something, or nothing.  And she is bumping her head everywhere.  I don’t know what is going on with her, but wow!  I can’t hardly stand it anymore, just because a)  I hate to see her hurt, and b)  when Kat cries, she screams.  A high pitched, blood curdling scream.  I HATE it!  I keep saying, Katiana, can’t you cry without screaming, No.  What was I thinking?

And remember my post about being excited about Jordan being out of school?  Well, you can now hold that over my head.  I’m so tired of my kids fighting.  Can’t stand it, can’t take it.  I keep sending them to their seperate corners.  My family couldn’t believe it the other day.  Father’s day we were out at my parents’ house, and my SIL came running out to me (the kids were inside with them) and said, Kat and Jordan are fighting bad!  Yep, they were, they had identical water bottles, and were just about coming to blows over whose was whose.  I don’t remember fighting with my brother’s like this until we were teenagers.  My kids are 8 and 3. 

Alrighty, now the freebie!  I thought I would work on my mega kit contribution today, but since I got up so early, I thought let’s get a freebie done first!  Here’s some sunflower elements to go with your sunflower denim paper yesterday.  See how this all ties in nicely together?  First you got the denim patches, which led to the denim alpha, which then turned into sunflower denim papers, which now has led to some sunflower elements.  When I start these things out, I never know what it’s going to turn into.  LOL  It just snowballs.  Wonder what it will be tomorrow?

Remember, do not give your friends the direct download link, send them to my blog to get the goods themselves.

And, check out the other DSO designers listed on the right to see who has new goodies today keeping the blog war going!

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I had something I wanted to blog about today, but I can’t remember.  LOL  So, if it comes to me, I’ll just have to come back and edit this little ol’ post here. 

In the meantime in between time, here’s your freebie for the blog war today!  Make sure you check out the blogs of the other DSO designers (in my sidebar on the right) to see what goodies they have for you today!  I used Michelin Martin’s Denim script again.  I figure you all need some papers to go with your alpha and patches.  The lined paper, is notebook paper lined in denim.  )  The sunflowers on the denim pages are overlayed with my new commercial use Sunflower Days Overlays, which aren’t in the store yet, but they will be.  Got to make the preview first before I can upload them.

Make sure you don’t share the direct download link with your friends!  Send them to my blog to find all the goodies themselves.  And leave some love if you download cuz —- all you need is love!  LOL

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I was so mad yesterday!  I told you all the presents Pato got for my cousin for her shower.  I loaded up the kids, ran through McDonald’s on the way out, and continued on my way.  I went around the corner, and Pato’s cup holders STINK!  – Doesn’t help that Mcy D’s, didn’t put the lid on my glass right.  You can see where this is going right?  The glass tipped, the lid popped off, and the glass spilled all over the floor, which is where the bag with my present was sitting.  It got all over it.  The robe had Mr Pibb all over it, the card was soaked, but I was able to save the other 2 from disaster.

I walked into the shower and pulled my aunt aside, and she said, oh honey, it’s alright, she can wash it.  She’s going to anyway.  So, then I talked to my cousin who said the same thing, but I was MORTIFIED.  I mean, who brings a cute little robe to a baby shower that is stained in Mr Pibb.  GRRRR!

Now for the scary.  We got home at about 5 and Pato called me and said that he thought he left the garage door open.  So, I sent Jordan out to check and close it.  When he got there, there was a man in the garage going through our stuff.  Jordan said he must have stepped on some rocks because the man jumped, turned around, saw Jordan and took off running.  That ended much better than it could have.  He could have hurt Jordan.

I was so freaked out.  I said, is he still out there?  Jordan said no that he ran across the street to where the houses are.  He also told me that the guy had no shirt on and that his tummy jiggled when he ran.  LOL  So does mine, but that’s beside the point.  I went outside with the girls and Jordan to check, and heck if I can tell if anything was stolen.  Pato’s got so much stuff out there, none of it was thrown around, so hopefully he was surprised before he had a chance to steal anything. 

I’ve been a busy busy bee.  Ready for everything that went into the store yesterday?

First is my ‘circle template set’. 

How fun are these?  4 templates coming at you all with fun circles!  Create some funky layouts with these circle templates!  You can also remove the circles for a completely different look! 

These are normally go to be $4.50 but are on sale right now for $3.58.

Next we have my ‘ooooh Pretty!  Glitter Frames!’  These will be $4.99 each but are on sale for $3.74 right now!

Here are some fun glittery frames to add bling to your layouts!  There are 31 frames, the multi colored ones shown in the preview and oh so many more in every color you could want!  Don’t have boring layouts!  Bling them up!

The Circles

The Rectangles

Or save money and buy both of them for $7.99 normally, $5.99 on sale!

The Set

Then we have the Bringin’ in the Bling – The Alpha

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and now you can add them to your layouts!  Here is a white gold alpha with ‘flawless’ diamonds embedded throughout the letters.  What a stunning way to add a little glitz to your pages!
 
Special thanks to Blythe Evans for use of her ‘Flawless’ diamonds – ‘Flawless’ © Blythe Evans

This will normally be $2.50, but is on sale for 99 cents right now!

Now on to the war!  Yes, Ms Bunny, I used Micheline Martin’s Denim Script again to make my Denim Alpha.  LOL  But, I’m on her CT, I’m supposed to use her products.  )  I know, I know, I’m cheating.  But hey, all is fair in love and war right?  This alpha matches the patches I gave you yesterday.  And I think it looks like it’s a stiched alpha almost.  Hope that you enjoy it!

There is no drop shadow on the alpha, it’s just for the preview.  If you want the same look, I used a gray drop shadow instead of the black one I normally use.

Leave some love if you download it.  (I was recently asked why we say leave some love when what we really want is a comment – doesn’t eveyone need some love?  I love love, you love love, we all love love!)

Remember not to share the direct link with your friends, send them to our blogs to get the goods themselves!

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Now, go check out my competitors friends, and see what they have going on at their blogs!  Bet they have some goodies for you!  (Unless ya lazy butts are taking Sunday off!  ROFL  J/K)

Bunny  Lynn  Lexi  Mel  Kim  Dorothy  Teriann  Lani Cheryl  Joy  Catriona  Darlene 

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Remember I posted yesterday that my mom was taking Katiana (my 3 year old) last night?  Well, she came and got her.  Kat was ready to go (about 6 HOURS before Grandma got here), she had her little dress on, and her hair in a pony, and she packed her little suitcase with her clothes and some my little ponies, and all of her bob the builder trucks (she’s not always a girly girl LOL), and her gameboy.  She kept picking up her suitcase and going to the sliding glass door, when is grandma gonna be here???  I think we called grandma 4 times.  LOL

So, the moment arrives, my mom walks up, Katiana goes FLYING out.  GRANDMA!!!!!!!  Oh she was so excited, they talked about what they were going go do, all that fun stuff.   They leave, then Jordan – I think he as upset that Kat got to go to grandma’s without him (he’s 8 and he went last week) – he got sick, all over my couch.  He had been  crying about his stomach hurting while my mom was here, and we asked him all the questions.  When he got sick, I had just put one of those herbal rice bags that I keep in my freezer on his forehead.  Poor little guy!

At 8:30, my phone rings – Hello? 

My mom – I have a little girl here that misses her mommy and doesn’t want to spend the night at Grandma’s house.

Me – And how is that little girl going to get home?  (We love 25 minutes away from my mom and dad)

Mom – Well, I suppose her grandma and grandpa could bring her back in.

Me – ah!  Do grandma and grandpa want to go to the casino and that’s why they aren’t fighting Katiana too hard on staying there?

Mom – maybe.

Then we both cracked up.  I was just teasing them.  But, I was worried before I sent Kat out that she would do this.  We talked the day before about whether she was a big enough girl to sleep at grandma’s.  I said, it’s not like home, you can’t sleep with grandma and grandpa, you sleep on the couch or in the guest room.

She said, “I can’t, mom.  I’m not huge.”  LOL

But, she changed her mind and wanted to go, and I kept saying are you sure?  Yes, I want to sleep at grandma’s.  I guess she changed her other mind.  LOL  And, when she got her, she walked over, drank the rest of my moutain dew (naughty naughty) while I was talking to my mom, then snuck off to Jordan’s room.  When my mom left, I went to talk to her, and she was already asleep in Jordan’s bed of all places.  LOL  Poor kid. 

And amazingly, Jordan’s tummy felt so much better once Kat was home.  Why?  I don’t know.  LOL

And, I sent Pato to Wal – Mart after work last night to get a baby shower present for my cousin today.  I was going to go last night, I refuse to take all 3 kids shopping.  I get nothing but stress when I do that.  After Jordan threw up, he thought he was ok to go, another, are you sure you feel better? over and over things.  Why oh why can’t my kid’s just say, No, no mom, I’m not sure.  LOL  We made it to the gas station where I bought him some pepto bismal, and then to Old Navy where I got Pato and my dad some stuff for father’s day.  And Jordan was really feeling bad after that, so I swung through Culver’s on the way home, he wanted a sierra mist.  Got myself a swiss mushroom burger, yummy!  And came home and made him some chicken noodle soup.  We didn’t make it over to Babies R Us to get the stuff of her registry.

So, I sent him out last night.  I looked at the stuff she had on her registry online, and threw out a few suggestions, he went and I was so proud when he got home!  He got her this cute lil robe with a froggie on it.  Then he got her this HUGE set of baby supplies, like huge.  Nose sucky thing, the coolest finger nail clippers I’ve ever seen, I want a pair now, a bunch of medicine dispensers, tweezers, toothbrush, thermometer, there’s a bunch more, but I can’t remember.  I just know, ok honey, why didn’t you get us one of these too?  LOL  Then he got her a nice bottle thing for the dishwasher, which, um, mine were never that nice.  They were like 3 pieces of thin plastic thrown together.  It was on her registry, and I didn’t even remember it.  He was picking over my shoulder when I was reading things off to him, and remembered that.  I’m just proud, lost of guys would have grabbed the robe and said I’m good.  LOL

Not only did he get that stuff, he remembered to get a gift bag, and a card – which, he speaks English really well, but I’m always impressed when he gets the perfect card, because, even though I speak Spanish really well, reading it frustrates me, and I forget not every is like me. 

And, not only did he get that stuff, he also grabbed my dad a father’s day card.  So sweet of him!  He knew I had time to get my dad his present, but I would have to go get his card today, which meant dragging all the kids in to the store just for a card.

And it’s the perfect card.  Usually I get mushy ones for father’s day, but this one is just too cute.  My dad is a carpenter, we’ll start there.  You look at it and it says, Happy Father’s Day to a do it yourself kind of man.  And there’s this lil’ screwdriver attached to the card (a real one).  You open it up and it says, from your toughest project yet.  LOL  So appropriate.  I wasn’t an easy kid.  LOL  And sometimes, I’m a difficult 32 year old.  LOL  No, just kidding, I’m good now. 

Now, on to the freebie!  I hunched over my desk this morning!  And didn’t leave it until I was done, wasn’t gonna let anyone sneak in and mess with my newest creation this morning.  LOL  I made you some Denim Patches for your LOs.  I wanted to make something different then I normally do, and I think this qualifies as a little different for me!  Plus, it let me work with Micheline Martin’s Denim script.  If you guys work with PSP and you love scripts, seriously, check her out.  She’s over at The digi shoppe and is an awesome designer.  Even if you don’t use scripts, she’s got some fun elements, beautiful kits, and lots o designer tools! 

Remember, freebie ettiquette, if you love it and download it, let us know!  Leave a comment, we love to hear from you guys!  Also, don’t give your friends the direct download link, send them to our blogs to get the goods on their own.  You had to work for it, shouldn’t they?  LOL

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Now, whose gonna sneak over to the other’s girls’ blogs and tell me what their war secrets are?  Did they take the weekend off?  Or are they going full steam ahead!  I must know!  Anyone waving the surrender flag yet?

Bunny?  Lynn?  Lexi?  Mel?  Kim?  Dorothy?  Teriann?  Lani? Cheryl? Joy?  Catriona? 

Guess what I heard?  I heard Darlene wants to challenge us now too!

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Ok, this was just too fun!  I found this over on Cheryl’s blog.  (Her link is in the side bar under DSO designers) I had to play.  Here are my results:

What do ya think?

Go do yours and link me to it in my comments!  I’d love to see it!

Scroll down for posts on the blog roll!

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First, I want to thank all of you for your wonderful comments about me not being a bad mom yesterday.  It made me feel a lot better!  I appreciate each and every comment!

And I want to thank each of you who have taken the time to say thank you.  If you go over to Lexi’s blog and read her post today, you’ll here about some of the things we have been hearing about freebies lately, not these freebies specifically, freebies in general.  And I want to again so thank you to each and everyone who leaves a comment.  It makes our day and gives us a push to get you out some more stuff.  I came from freebies.  If that makes sense.  I started scrapping with them, and that’s why I offer them.  I know there are people who are like me and don’t have a lot of money to go out and buy everything they want.  I know there are people who are just experimenting with scrapping and don’t want to put out a lot of money until they know if it’s something they are going to continue.  And I know my reasons behind why I used freebies, so, I want to keep them here. 

For those who have been complaining that freebies are going down.  There are WHOLE sites devoted to freebies.  Check my sidebar under where the freebies be.  And just about every forum has some sort of section where members give away things.  I’m sorry if we are going off on a rant, we just happened to see these emails during the war.  It’s as if it is our obligation to give out freebies.  But seriously, do you go to Wal-Mart and ask for one before you use their products?  Do you expect to get something free when you go to your grocery store?  Do you get free paper products when you do paper scrapping?  You might get something at a class, but you paid a fee to sign up for it. 

 I saw some emails about the fact that people don’t have time to say thank you.  or that just looking at our products is thanks enough.   Or we just want thank you’s to stroke our egos.  What?  If someone gives you something, it’s just nice to say thank you!  And if I go to a restaurant, and eat there food, is it enough for me to say, I ate your food, that’s enough, I’m not going to leave you, the waitress a tip as a thank you, even though you provided a service to me, and you make $3.00 an hour.  (And I’ll tell you most designers make far less that that an hour).  How would taking a second to say thank you hurt you?  And it’s not about stroking our egos, it’s about feeling appreciated for our hard work. 

I don’t know why I’m even trying to explain this here.  Those of you who say thank you to designers, will continue to say thank you to designers.  Those of you who don’t, won’t.  It takes a few seconds out of your day that you can’t afford to lose I guess. 

May I say, this isn’t just for me, it’s for all of the designers.  When I say there are grumblings, there are.  I know some designers who have done away with freebies completely, on the grounds that people have come to expect them, they feel like it is our duty to offer them, and that no appreciation is needed.  And many designers have cut back on freebies or offer them only to their mailing lists for this exact reason.  And I’d hate to see it get to the point where all designers are doing this because of the attitudes of some regarding freebies.  Number 1, it hurts those who really truly appreciate the freebies, me being one.  I LOVE a great freebie!  And Number 2, when there are no freebies, I have a sad, sad feeling that piracy will sky rocket.  And that hurts the industry, both designers and scrappers.

So, now that I’m off my soap box, I never meant it to go that long.  Don’t think I’m bitter, I just want to explain how we feel from a designers point of view, and I am never going to understand from a freebie hunters point of view why it is ok to not say Thank you, so please don’t try to explain it to me, I’ve had people try to explain it to me all night last night, and none of the reasons made it ok to not say thank you. 

Ok, on to the baby.  2 teeth!  YAY.  Popped through the skin almost all the way.  Yep, you wanted a day by day update on her lil teefers didn’t you!  LOL  Hopefully they will come in and then give her a break.  I really really hope so!  (Give me a break LOL)

Grandma is taking Katiana tonight.  Though I think she’s nervous.  I said, Katiana, are you sure you’re big enough to spend the night at Grandma’s?  You can’t sleep with grandma and grandpa like you do mommy and daddy.  She said, I can’t, I’m not huge.  LOL  But, this morning, she says she’s a big girl, she’ll sleep on the couch, but she won’t sleep in the guest room.  So, mom is gonna try it.  Now, with one big one gone and quiet, hopefully the other big one will be quiet, and the baby can get some much needed rest without being woken up by shrill screams and yelling from them fighting.

On to the freebie war!

They did it again!  They got to my desk!  Look at what they did to my paper this time?  It’s all dirty now.  Those girls are really getting kind of sneaky!  Who was it this time?  I never got any confessions from yesterday!  Go check and see if anyone is bragging about messing with my products!  See if it was Bunny?  Lynn?  Lexi?  Mel?  Kim?  Dorothy?  Teriann?  Lani? Cheryl? Joy?  Catriona?  They might have some goodies – or are any of them waving the white flag yet?

3 papers, 2 tags, and a clip to go with yesterday’s alpha and frame. 

I’m not even going to say anything about comments.  LOL  I think I did enough damage above.

Please do not send your friends the direct link to download.  Send them to our blogs to get the goodies themselves!

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