January's KjoiStudios Collab...on sale for 8 more days!!

Hi all,
I know I have been a bit scarce the past several months...but hang in there, I am hoping that will change still! In the meantime if you want to see my latest designs, they are in the most recent KjoiStudios Collaborations. January's is called Natural Reflections...and it is a peaceful and calm yet amazingly beautiful kit! Here is the preview and it is linked to the shop:

I hope you are all having a fabulous New Year!!

2010 Brag Book Calendar Blog Train

I am back with more fun! And speaking of fun...have you been by the KjoiStudios forum to check out the Advent Calendar Hunt? Every day another part of this kit is hidden in the shop for you to snag for free...but if you want to know where it is hiding you have to check the member area of the forum.

Now for some more freebie fun!! Some of the KjoiStudios designers have gotten together to help make your family calendars for 2010 a breeze! There are 10 designers that took on the 12 months...each designer with one of their items, which is now on sale for 50% off during the blog train for the calendar pages. So...here is my BB-sized Quick Page Calendar Freebie, for May 2010:

(Click on the image above to download directly.)

And here is the blog train list so that you can grab the rest of 2010 from their blogs:

Jan * Panda Bear Designs
Feb * ScrapznBitz
Mar * SandEz
Apr * Lizard Dau Designs
You are here!---->May * April Dawn Creations<----You are here! Jun * ScrapznBitz
Jul * KatLen Kreations
Aug * ice princess
Sep * Lori Imel
Oct * CACTUSmango Designs
Nov * Designs by Angel
Dec * KatLen Kreations

Breast Cancer Awareness-Charity Kit and Freebie!

Hi all, just popping in to let you know what I have been up to lately. Did you know that this month is Breast Cancer Awareness month? If not, now you do! It is amazing how many fabulous things I have seen going on this month to push forward this cause. I know this disease is one that hits families hard, and catching it early is key. So...the designers at KjoiStudios wanted to do their part in helping contribute to the awareness of this disease so more lives might be saved. And what do the designers do...but design! So 13 of us have put together this INCREDIBLE and gorgeous charity kit:

(Click on the image to visit it in the KjoiStudios Shop.)

All proceeds of this kit go to the Susan G. Komen Fund...the shop paypal fees are included too, so every cent goes to them! Here is the description in the shop for you to see what we put together for you:

This kit was put together by 13 designers who want to get out the word on Breast Cancer Awareness. ALL proceeds from the sale of this kit will go to the Susan G. Komen Fund to aid in this cause! For more information, or to donate to this cause directly visit: http://ww5.komen.org/. This kit is for all the mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, grandmothers, and many other loved ones who have ever suffered from this illness and their families.

It is so important to catch this early...and that is the message we want to get out! Check yourselves, be checked by your doctor, and be aware for those that care so deeply about you! To those that haven't survived this...we will remember you forever!! And to those that have survived this...we are amazed by the strength and courage you inspire in those that are around you...THANK YOU!

This kit includes 71 papers, 113 elements, and 2 alphas. All items are 300ppi resolution, and are jpg/png files. The papers are all 12x12 in size.

There is also a generous coupon added by Kara of KjoiStudios for her shop!

The elements include: 12 frames and frame clusters, 13 flowers (1 of which comes in 3 colors), 15 Word Art, 9 individual Breast Cancer Awareness ribbons, 5 bows, 8 ribbons, 5 tags and journaling tags, 4 butterflies, 4 buttons, 2 bottlecaps, 3 doodles, 3 glittered chipboard pieces, 3 borders, 2 crowns, 2 flourishes, 2 mats, 1 marquisite pin, 1 sparkly tree, 1 butterfly trail, 1 scatter of silver hearts, 1 frilly heart, 1 silver swirlie, 1 Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirt, 1 glitter leaf, 1 photo turn, 1 Hope rock, 1 chipboard piece, 1 rose stick pin, 1 eyelet ribbon, 1 Hope charm necklace, 1 lace clip, 1 ribbon pile, and more...

The alphas are: A distressed chipboard alpha (Uppercase only), and A glittered polka dot alpha (Uppercase, Lowercase, Numbers, and Punctuation).

Now this isn't all we have for you, if you like BB pages and freebies you are in luck! Lori Imel has taken this fabulous kit and put together an FABULOUS BB page album for us to post parts of on our blogs to help get the word out! You can get the part she donated for me to use by clicking on the preview image below:

(Click on the preview to download the BB pages Freebie!)

You are probably wondering where you can get the rest of this STUNNING album?! Well, no worries! All the information about what blogs to visit will be/or is posted on the KjoiStudios Blog! Just visit the blog for the list! And please help us in getting the word out, both about Breast Cancer Awareness, and our charity kit! THANK YOU!!

Updates, and Birthdays!!

Wow, it is amazing how time flies! My poor neglected blog...oops!...anyway it isn't neglected now!! I have been busy playing with the construction again. Check out the TOU tab and the About Me tab...they are updated! I still need to add the general information on the About Me page...but it is started and ready for me to finish. I am hoping to finish up some of the other tabs this next week as time allows...we will see as the kids are on summer break.

And speaking of time flying, this hit me hard the other day as I realized how close my son's birthday was. They grow so quickly. The changes are subtle from day to day, but when you look over a period of years they are incredibly and drastic!

Here is a LO that I made around his birthday last year!

Do you find the same happens with your scrapbooking? Are you one that tends to redo old layouts because they just don't fit your style or scrapbooking knowledge anymore? If so, my opinion is that you should let it be. I am like you on this...it truly does bother me, but a good friend pointed out the other day that this is a journal of your knowledge and how you have learned and grown.

If you change this, you lose that record of you, and as scrappers we are the person most often left out of our scrapbooks. Let's see what we can do to leave a record for our children, grandchildren, and other family that might really treasure it. It is amazing how much they see in us that we just don't see in ourselves!

Now, back to my son's birthday...with his birthday, I am having a "My baby is turning 9!" sale!! There are 9 items in my shop at KjoiStudios.net, that are only $1...these items are at least 50% off or MUCH more!! Oh, and the Fighting Fire kit that I made for his birthday is FREE...but all of this is ONLY for today!! So, come grab these items if you are interested!!

April Fool's Day...LOL!

In the past this has been one of my least favorite days, but not this year!! There is SO MUCH going on this time to have FUN with, there is no way I am going to feel anything more than excitement at what I KNOW you all are going to LOVE!!

But first let me get a tiny bit of business out of the way...lol...that sounds so drab! This is FUN business!! Kjoi has a new collab and it is our biggest yet, Garden Paths Mega Collab is perfect for scrapbooking those photos of doing yard work, landscaping, gardening (flower or vegetable), or even just simply enjoying the beauty nature brings us this time of year! This kit has 98 papers...all 300ppi and 12x12 jpg files. It also has 167 elements...all 300ppi png files. Here is the preview of this fabulous kit:

(Click on the Preview to visit it in the Shop.)

The elements for this kit include: 35 various flowers, 18 frames and frame clusters, 17 bows, 10 ribbons, 7 tags, 6 borders, 6 word arts, 4 butterflies, 4 branches, 3 seed packets, 3 overlays, 3 flower cards, 3 fence elements, 3 wavy beads, 3 leaves, 2 bowflowers, 2 kitty garden clusters, 2 pairs of brackets, 2 shovels, 1 folded paper, 1 bunch of grapes, 1 set stitched shapes, 1 tap w/drip, 1 frog, 1 fly, 1 bush, 1 aphid bug, 1 spiders web w/spider, 1 fox statue on a rock, 1 pot of tulips, 1 journaling mat, 1 clip, 1 trowel, 1 cart/wheelbarrow, 1 clay pot, 1 pot cluster, 1 rock, 1 snail, 1 bee, 1 archway, 1 tomato, 1 pea pods, 1 turnips, 1 carrot, 1 sun, 1 tools cluster, 1 flower stem, 1 button, 1 polka dot tool belt w/ tools, and 1 paper vine.

Now what else have I got for you...LOL...just you wait and see!! KjoiStudios is holding it's first ever GREAT KJoi Egg Hunt April 1st-April 30th!! One product from one designer will be on MEGA special for $1 every day during the month of April...we are talking greater than 50% off, some as much as 80% off!! But which designer, and which product, on which day??

Well, for that you must register in the Kjoi forum and visit it to find out! We will post one Egg with a clue each day. Find the Matching Egg in the Shop, and you will have your special for the day! There will be a crossword to fill out for those looking for more fun and a fabulous freebie to those who fill it out. For more details visit us in the KjoiStudios Forum to find out!! Here is the ad we put together...

(Click on the ad to visit our forum!)

I have a freebie, it was posted on the DigiScrapStation blog several months ago but not many were visiting there then, so I have chosen to dust off this fabulous Add-On to my Rosebud Garden Kit as it holds some of my favorite parts! Here is the preview:

(Click on it to download from the shop.)

I hope to see you around more often...oh, and no worries, this blog is still under construction...so if you click on my links above and find a blank page that is why!

Crazy Days

Where did I go?? Well, things have been crazy...lol, and it is long past due for an update! I was hired on as Media Manager and Site Admin at KjoiStudios. Learning my new role there has kept me hopping! But I have enjoyed every minute of it!

On top of this, there is a chance that my boys both have an autism spectrum disorder...at this point we think Aspergers. So, I have been busy trying to work with Dr.'s and the school and my boys to see what accurate diagnosis we might find. This of course is a job and a half, but I am finding a ton of support from friends...online and offline...who know what I am facing and are showing they care.

I have now officially left DigiScrapStation...although I hope to go back again at some point. With the above mentioned things going on I haven't had time to do anything more there, and didn't feel that right for Nancy who is so kind and easy-going. Anyway, I will miss them greatly but will still stop by from time to time as life allows because the ladies there ROCK!! They are so nice and welcoming!

Then, at KjoiStudios...we are preparing to celebrate International Scrapbooking Industry Day on March 4th. There is SO MUCH going on there! We have at least 6 different challenges, 3 chats, 2 games, and 2 drawings...all of these come with a prize for the winner, or for the participants!! We were able to line up some incredible sponsors for the prizes too!! Plus we will be hosting a hunt...don't worry there isn't a piece to this hunt kit that is hosted on 4shared or any other file sharing site...so no need to worry that freebie hunting is going to destroy your computer! So, I hope to see you all there! And I look forward to hearing what you all have been up to...lol!!

SUB for Santa Tradition...and Internet "FUN"!

Shortened Sub for Santa Story:

When I was about 7 yrs old, my family was blessed when another family did the 12 days before Christmas for my family. We enjoyed this so much that we decided to use our talents to raise the money to do this for other families. My mom made homemade ornaments and we sold them door to door to raise enough money.

Then my little sister died in early Dec. one year, and we were unable to do it. However,others who knew of our own need did a Sub for Santa for us. We were each given a gift for under our tree, a blanket, and the food for our Christmas meal. This touched my family so much that we went out the next year and sold enough to do both a 12 days and a Sub for Santa project. This tradition continued until we all left home.

I am now hoping to restart this tradition with my own children. My oldest suggested I use my talents the way my mom used hers. In my case this means digi. I am hosting a Ten Weeks of Christmas Challenge at KjoiStudios. After the freebies for the week have been available for 2 weeks to those participating in the challenge, they will be available for sell at $1-$2 depending on the size of that week's freebie. There are already 2 weeks worth to sell in the store…Calendars and Gift Lists.

I am donating every single penny of my proceeds from these items to the Sub for Santa project. It will go to a family connected with New Beginnings for Women and Children. An organization that helps women get the jobs, education, and housing they need to get back on their feet again so they are able to care for their children like they want to. If I get enough I will do multiple families…there are 80 in need just with this charity organization alone. Thanks for any help you send me with helping these families and keeping my family tradition alive!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been having internet trouble, and have been unable to post on my blogs...the 10 Weeks before Christmas challenge is still going...I would LOVE to have you join me!! I am unable to post previews as it takes more time than my internet connection allows right now.

Okay...Week #2 is here!!

Hi all,
I am having so much fun with this new challenge! Not to mention making the digital freebies to go with it! Here is a preview of Week #2's freebie. You will find it in the 10 Weeks Before Christmas Challenge at KjoiStudios!

This weeks challenge is about making those dreaded gift lists...and making it FUN to check them twice!! Here's an idea...how about scrapbooking them!! More on this in the Challenge forum!! Come share fun family gifting traditions with us!!

Week #1 - Kjoi Chat!! Come join me!

What to know that the whole deal is REALLY with this fabulous challenge?? Well, come see what you can find out tonight at the KjoiStudios Chatroom...where I will be hanging out from 11 EST to 12 EST and will have more details to share!!

I am VERY excited...so come join me!! You must be registered in the forum to get into the chatroom...so be sure to get that done beforehand! I look forward to seeing you there!! Oh...and I might just have a heads up for you on the supplies needed for weeks 4-6 of the challenge!

Here is the FORUM!!

And have I mentioned that things are starting to brew for DSD at DigiScrapStation...hmmmm...well they are, be ready to hear what on Nov. 1st!!

Week #1 Challenge

Hi all...the first challenge is up in the KjoiStudios forum!! Go check it out! Here is the freebie template you get there to help you along:


That is if you need to have help...we don't all need it, but I know sometimes I want it!! You can get it and more in the Challenge thread!!

And here is my first months calendar(made using mostly my week 4 entry from the contest):


AND...IF you are silly and forgot that today is when registration starts for Jessica Sprague's new class...GO SIGN UP!! LOL!

10 Weeks Before Christmas Challenge!!

I am already busy at work at Kjoi!! LOL! I am having a blast!!

Those that know me in RL...know how MUCH...I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I generally prepare MONTHS in advance, starting in June...but this year I am WAY behind. So, I got to thinking...how do I catch up with my Christmas to do's and still digi-design and have FUN!! Well, at KjoiStudios I am putting my answer(here is my ad):


I had a LOT of FUN coming up with the poem...and only used a little piece of it for this ad!! The whole version is up in the Kjoi forum. I will probably be doing a weekly chat, but haven't nailed down the exact time yet!! And here is a run down of what we will be doing:

Week #1: Calendars...for family or the scrapbook...works either way!

Week #2: Gift Lists...this will be a TON more FUN than it sounds...LOL! Come prepared to post family gifting traditions you either do or would like to do!!

Week #3: Christmas Cards...with a LOVELY surprise to help them along!!

Weeks #4, #5, and #6: We will be doing fun Photo Craft or Scrapping related Gifts for those on our Gift Lists...or ourselves...LOL!

Weeks #7 and #8: Ornaments for our trees...every year I make one for my family with a story. I will have a fun Christmas story to go with these two as well!

Week #9: Time to Wrap some gifts! We will have some ideas for FUN gift tags, or dressing up gift bags and wrapped presents!

Week #10: This is when we reward our hard...but FUN work!! I am REALLY excited for this week!! Stay around and you will find out why!!

Now...just in case any of you may have forgotten...Jessica Sprague starts her newest class Registration TOMORROW at 9 EST! DON'T MISS THIS!! There is NO ONE that explains PS as well as she, and this is a class you don't even have to be a scrapper to attend!! It is called Stories In the Hand...and is like it says...ALL about getting our stories in our hands rather than just in our minds...which, LOL, we all know can be faulty with stress or time!!





Now on to Challenge #2...hmmm, no not yet, LOL! You will just have to check out DigiScrapStation in a few weeks for this one. I want to make sure it is FABULOUS first!!

Joi De Vivre-Kjoi Blog Hop!!

Okay, so you made it to my blog!! YAY! Here is a little about me...

I am a 29 yr. old, SAHM of 4 young children, and I am married to my best friend and biggest supporter. I have been traditional scrapbooking for nearly 12 years...some years more so than others. I have been playing with digital scrapbooking for about 2 1/2 years, but have REALLY found it beginning of this year...thanks to Jessica Sprague and my great friend Janei (who introduced me both to digi and to Jessica). I have wanted to get into the designing aspect ever since I started playing with digi!! I LOVE creating things...music, a smile on someone's face, almost any craft, more projects for myself...LOL! Creating things is what makes my heart sing with joy...that is ME!!

Now...enough about me, here is what I created for the contest:

And here are the various Avatars that I used:

...can you tell I LOVE Unicorns??:

And finally, last...but most definitely NOT least!!...what you all have been waiting for...My Blog Hop Freebie:

Click on the preview to download

You can find the rest of the Joi De Vivre Blog Hop here:


21206D-Lizard Dau Designs

21845B-Labline

21879D-Digidesigns By Amberbaz

22170C-Panda Bear Designs

22181A-April Dawn Creations<----------You are here!!

22342B-Camillas Kitchen

22596D-mITSYBELLE

22611D-luvfromindia

22896B-Lori Imel

22978-Schappys Scrapdesign

23075D-Stacey Crossley Designs

23494D-Cancer Moon Creations

24301D-KatLen Kreations

24588B-Belanna At Odds

24789C-SandEz Creationz

24864A-Biebels Scraps

24974b-By God's Designs

And don't forget to stop back by KjoiStudios for the rest of the Birthday Bash!! Oh, and the ANNOUNCEMENT!! YAY!!

Announcements...and more coming tomorrow!!

Hi all, I just wanted to say really quick...I know I haven't posted many LO's lately and some are missing my lovely young family...but there is a reason for that!! I have been doing the Kjoi contest for the past few months and in order to keep my identity secret, most of my recent LO's needed to remain hidden from public viewing. But here comes the first Announcement!!

Kjoi is having their BIG BIRTHDAY BASH tomorrow and the rest of this weekend, this means that the identities will be REVEALED and the new Designers ANNOUNCED!!! I am so excited, and nervous, and well...a whole gammit of emotions from one minute to the next!

I can hardly wait...BUT OH...THERE IS SO MUCH MORE!! Some of us designer contestants have gotten together to do a Blog Hop with the reveal...so MORE FREEBIES!!! YAY!! And there are even more that will be found at Kjoi tomorrow!!

Not to mention the HUGE SALE or the Challenges with Prizes!! It is seriously NOT a party to be missed!

And I do promise more LO's next week after the Party RUSH calms down a bit!! Oh...I have more for you too...

I have designed some more Corner Brushes...these ones are MUCH more Elegant, so I am naming them...LOL...Elegant Corner Brushes! I know...I know...SUCH very creative naming! Anyway, here is what they look like:

I will be putting them in my store today, so hang in there one day more and then you can be sure to:

-pick them up from the store,
-swing by Kjoi for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and Birthday Bash
-Find out both here or at Kjoi where the Blog Hop is starting and "HOP" along with all of the FUN!!

Oh, and to all those that may have missed my lovely addition to my sidebar...JESSICA SPRAGUE IS DOING A NEW CLASS!! It is FREE and SHE IS FANTASTIC!!! AND...registration starts on MONDAY!! DON'T MISS IT!! She gives you access to the videos and class info from the class FOREVER! So, if you are wondering if you have time to do this...YOU DO!!

Now, I just KNOW I am missing something...so I will probably come back and post more in a bit, but this gives you enough to chew on for now!!

Good news and Bad news!

I always start with the bad news when I have both. I find that way you leave on a happy note, and the other person knows after getting the bad news that things can only get better! Anyway, the Bad news is that Kjoistudios grew so fast that the bandwidth usage was more than their servers could hold. So, the contest is on temporary hold, and their site is TEMPORARILY down...although last I looked the blog was still working. All of my things for the rest of the contest are turned in, so I am simply on hold waiting for it to get back up to find out how I did.

The Good news is I have a little time on my hands I didn't think I would yet! Which is fabulous when it happens to be your anniversary!! YAY!! It has been nine fantastic years with my wonderful honey! I can honestly say that I happier with that decision than I am with any other I have made in my life! He truly makes me happy. We met and married in 6 months time...but it is obvious to those who know us that it was right for us! LOL!

Now the other good news is that I have finally after a 2 month break got something new in my store!! The irony is that it is a mini kit with a baby theme...LOL!

This IS NOT an announcement...but since our first child was somewhat of a honeymoon baby, it fits! LOL! Also, my dear sister is due anyday now with her first...so you could say that is the reason that it was on my mind! So, here is a glimpse of it.

Here is the mini kit.

And here is a matching alpha!

You can purchase them in my store at DigiScrapStation! I would LOVE to see your LO's when you finish them...feel free to leave me a link to them in the comments!

Wow...thought you were done?? Here is week 3!!

Simply amazing!! Now I could post more info here...but I REALLY need to go work on my week 4 entry!! So, go download(at www.kjoistudios.net/blog)-comment, and vote (the gallery and forum at www.kjoistudios.com !! Then make LO's...just because it is FUN!!

Kjoi Studios Week 2 Designer entries are up!!

This is the color scheme and theme that all of us designers created from! And I do have to say that there are some FANTASTIC FREEBIES over at Kjoi. Now due to us overpowering her site...she has them posted and the downloads linked all on the new Kjoi Blog!! Check it out at: www.kjoistudios.net/blog and then be sure to swing by the forum to vote for your top 4 favorite entries!! Good luck narrowing it down to 4 out of the 34 contestants...because these entries truly are "knock your socks off" STUNNING!! Don't forget to comment in the gallery on your favorites either as comments, anc downloads count towards our overall weekly scores!

Here is the blinkie showing all of them:

And NO...I won't tell you which one is mine...weeeellll...not yet anyway! LOL!!

Kjoi Studios Designer Contest Week 1 Freebies!!

They are up...go check them all out! This is going to be one TOUGH competition as they have all turned out FABULOUS!! There are around 40 Freebies for the capture...but PLEASE stick around and Vote on your top four favorites!! Downloads and Comments are also counted for the contestants (like me!!) so be sure to comment on your favorite ones!! I would post examples...but then that might give mine away, or narrow it down for the guessers! So...just know this-the theme for this weeks entries was Vintage, Heritage, and Grunge! And the color scheme was this:


Someone put together a blinkie of all the entries in the contest...so we were given approval to put it on our blogs!! So, here they ALL are...

Go snag them at KjoiStudios.com ...then be sure and comment and vote for your FAVORITES (up to 4 of them!!).

Vacation, Layouts, and Contest Buzz with Freebies!!

Okay, a few have wondered where I have been and why I have been so quiet. So, here is an update for you! My younger brother got married the end of last month to a very lovely young lady. I am thrilled to have a new sister and my kids already love their new aunt!! But that took a good amount of my time. We drove at least 4 hours for 5 days in a row, and some of them we drove around 12 hours. So, I have had a REAL FUN time getting back into the creative swing of things since then. Although, while on the trip, I came up with some fabulous things that you can look forward to seeing in the store this next month!!

I did get time to scrap a 2 pager before I left though, so here is my latest pages:

Credits: I did both of these using mostly things from the kit Totally Yummy from DesignsBySassy. I did add the white background paper for the journaling and the pink mat paper for the photos by creating my own. Oh, and I created the alpha for my LO using paper from Totally Yummy as well.

Now, after a lot of debating with myself as to whether or not I had the
time or energy to put into this. I decided that with them telling us how they were scoring upfront, and keeping all the contestants anonymous by using contestant numbers and threatening disqualification if it is revealed who you are by you, that I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to get a true idea of how good or "bad" my designs are!

So, I can tell you that I am participating in this contest. I can tell you that I would love for you to head over to the site www.kjoistudios.com to vote...starting August 13th. And I can tell you that there will be tons of freebies from the designers participating in this contest. I can't tell you which one is mine, or what my number is...nor do I want to!

But PLEASE, if you like me and/or freebies at all, GO VOTE and Download and Comment on your favorites. These all count toward the designer points at the end. No one is eliminated until the end...so it will be a true fun ride for 4 weeks!!