Would you like a winner??

THANK YOU!!
For all your comments!!
What a fantastic showing!

Goes to show just how many of you don't have, but would like a I-Top!!
:)

So using the Random Number Generator:
Min: Max: 180 Result: 38
And entry number 38 is...
Tinker and JingeBear's Mom said...

The story matters, period. And sometimes, to tell that story well, you need to customize your embellishments to match the story. I would love to have an I-top so I can include pieces of fabric from clothing I've sewn. It's more than just the photo of an outfit - it's remembering the texture, the color, the detail. Thanks so much for a chance to win one!
~ky

Drop me an email (pennyscrapbooks@aol.com so I can get that shipped out to you!

Check back SOON! We have a HUGE announcement AND another chance to WIN!!

NEW YEAR-FABULOUS RAK!!!!

How do we make this not only WORK...
...but turn it into something FABULOUS??

Well, we have some things a brewin'!!

So stay tuned!!!

In the meantime...

How about a RAK!!!

Let me know that even though we have slacked here and there, that you are out there...

THANK YOU in advanced, for your loyalty and interest!!

We'll be back, because scrapbooking matters... BECAUSE The Story Matters...
YOUR stories matter!!

So the RAK...
Let's get your attention!
The Imaginisce I-Top!!!!

That's right! It's my FAVORITE tool right now!! LOVE it!!Made that fabulous large printed brad for this layout with the I-Top!!!

So comment for a chance to WIN!!!!
(You have until the 10th to enter!!)

Let's Break for the Holiday's Shall We??

Merry Christmas
Or whatever you celebrate...

May it be merry, joyful, and SAFE!!!

See ya in the New Year!!

Happy Creating!

OH, and for some ADDED inspiration, I wanted to show you this GREAT submissions to our
"Traditions" challenge!! Click on the layout, to visit their blogs!!

Let's Just Pretend it is the 1st...

The Story Matters is dear enough to my heart, AND I still think it is MEGA, UBER, REALLY (you get the idea) important, to tell our stories... REALLY tell them!

To those ends, we are continuing with this blog site, hanging on through the declining interest of scrapbookers to challenge sites, because it IS important... and no matter what the products of the moment, or the photographic style... telling our story is so much more important than JUST making a cute page... which, of course, I am guilty of... but I HAVE gone back and evenif I don't/didn't journal on my page, I have now taken the time to say more on the back-if nothing else...
I don't want these stories and feelings lost... because we ARE human, and these stories are what is going to make my pages stay in the family with interest... That's my hope... for your pages also...

We WILL be doing a challenge every two weeks...
We WILL give away a prize whenever we can...
If you can sponsor, or know someone how is willing, let me know!!

OK, our challenge...

Traditions... do you have any? Childhood, recently started, or intended...
Scrap them. Who started it, who gave you the idea, why is it important to you??
Thanksgiving, Christmas, just cuz...

It's that open... :)

GO!!!

(Submit your LO's to our comments section by the 15th... I will post them the same day as the new challenge!!)

From our Authors:
Angela:
Journaling:

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS…this is a tradition

I intend to keep, for years to come. Ever since moving south,

I’ve gone ‘home’ to my parents’ house for the holidays…only

missing the year my son was born (he’s a December baby).

It’s good to see family, for my children to reconnect with

their cousins and their grandparents. Most years, I make a

trifle for dessert and my mom makes turkey, perogies, sweet

and sour meatballs and countless other goodies. Some years

there’s a family poker night (Texas no limit hold ‘em). If I stay

for New Years, there’s oliebollen (apple fritter). It’s always fun!
Liesbeth:
Journaling:

“We started collecting Disney ornaments for our Christmas tree a few years ago. Every time we were in Disneyland Paris, we carefully selected some of the new releases and brought them home. Our collection grew quickly! Since two years, we have enough ornaments to decorate a “Disney-only” tree. It’s our very own Disney tradition.”

Tina: (Who is hiding her journaling... but a CUTE file to hide it in!)
Michelle:
Michelle? Who is Michelle? OH YEAH! Michelle is new to our design team! {wink} Be sure to visit Michelle's blog, and give a shout out!!! Michelle is a local girl, and "only" been scrapbooking just over a year! SHUT UP! She is a natural and I am thrilled to add her to the team!! (Translation-I know her in person, and she is willing to put p with me! LOL! )
To My Family, It means so much to me that we are together, even when times are tough. I've always hoped to have a family of my own, though I often thought it wouldn't happen. Now I have the 3 of us, and I really love our holiday photo tradition. It is the greatest gift that I receive, to have us together for these photos. I hope that someday in the future we can all look back and remember only the good times and the love. I hope that no matter how old we get or the miles that separate us, we will still get together for at least one holiday photo every year. Love Michele
And since we are bringing up the subject of new designers...

BREE!! Come on down!! OK, weird Price is Right moment there... Bree, is SUPER FUN and SUPER talented... and I am honored to add her to my team also!!

Penny:
OK, so the journaling is sparce here... Go ahead, throw rotten fruit at me... I deserve it...
This is a picture of our "set-up" on Christmas morning...
One gift from Santa, unwrapped and ready... Santa is WAY too busy to wrap it all...
And two more from us... So each of my children get 3 gifts... if it was good enough for Jesus... :)
Sidenote: LOVIN' my I-top brad maker!!! Love to make me some big custom brads!! :)
Can't wait to see what you come up with!
I LOVE to hear about people's traditions!!!

THIS was worth the wait!! (and I posted the date I said too!! WOW!

I promised you some inspiration!!

Mo knocks it out of the PARK with this one!!

Art of Being a Woman by Monica Powell

Bazzill cardstock, Graphic 45, Prima flowers, rhinestones, and felt alpha, staples, lace, Zig Writer, Stickles, Making Memories Alpha, velvet ribbon

Journalling reads,

Prince charmings, waiting for your door to be opened, the bend and snap, correct hairflip, folded laundry and sparkling floors, manicured nails, the perfect fragrance, little black dress, ironed sheets, the right shade of lipstick, girl scouts, an unforgettable smile, a coy glance and a gentle touch, lasagna and tacos, stilletto heels, therapist and nurse,

I could go on and on.

Hands down, there is art.

How fab to be be a member of such a fascinating and mysterious sex.

Women rule.

Learn it.

Use it!!

It is SO fabulous!! And the way she journaled... oh my goodness!! THIS is what I am talkin' about! This inspires me on so many levels!! Thanks Mo for this FABULOUS layout!!

Leisbeth shares some pages of a Halloween album... she is on the right track, telling the story, don't you think??
And Megan Klauer...
Never short on inspiration!

Title: These are the moments

Journaling: Chase loves to be tickled to sleep; it seems to put him into an instant trance. And yes, those are mommy's old pink slippers he snagged onto @ nana's.

Description: Although this layout doesn't show a ton of journaling, I wanted to show the importance of adding journaling to a page; whether it's a long story or simply just a few sentences. I always want to remember how my little guy loved to be tickled to sleep.

I have the BEST design team!!

And guess what??
I am adding to it!
That way everyone can have a break now and again, and you will all still have LOTS to inspire you each challenge!!

So keep those journaled pages coming!! Remember, it is open challenge month!
Just post a layout that tells a story. Period. What could be easier? Or more important? :)

See ya on the 1st (if not sooner)!!

The 15th...

...will be focusing on our "free for all" and more layouts by our designers...

Please hang in there with us as we cook up some inspiration!!

IN the meantime, submit those layouts that TELL A STORY!

Ya gotta have on laying around!!

Let's pretend it is the first! :)

OK, so in honor of our purpose to begin with, we are leaving the challenge WIDE OPEN!

Submit a layout that you REALLY journaled... not just a one liner, but REALLY told the story!
That's it!

That is what we want you to do for this challenge!

The Story Matters getting on track-take three!

We are going back to every other week.

We will feature most alternating weeks, something highlighting JOURNALING. Some will be easy, some maybe even be digital. We'll see.
Either way, we want to stay on task... telling the story.
So we are getting back on track... or trying.

Also, if you are interested in TSM Design Team, drop me an email at pennyscrapbooks@aol.com
I have a couple talented designers I refuse to let go, but instead have on break. :)
So I could use some extra help around here!! :)

Over the next couple of days, I will be adding designer layouts that feature journaling...

From me... This layout is a perfect example of why I want to tell my OWN stories. This layout was very raw... people that read it felt almost as if they were reading something TOO personal about me. (It was displayed at the store I work at... the layout focuses on the journaling, and no the photo. Adopting our daughter was the hardest thing I ever had to do, in ways I never would have guessed. Though I don't ever want her to be sad reading, I wanted to tell the story. I don't know at this exact moment where this layout is, so I can type out eh journaling. And I may not want to share it with the world of nternet anyway... but the point is, tell the story. I see this and I think to look up Psalms 62:2 again, and I am right back to when I wrote it AND I am also reminded how long I have COME from that moment in time.

So tell your story. The one that is the most benefited from it MIGHT just be you!


From Angela... (Did you know Angela was in Scrapbook Etc. just this last issue? You are sure to see Angela more and more! She is UBER talented!! :)
And not all that into tooting her own horn... so I will toot for her!! :)

Don't forget the sentiment, and the thoughts that float through your head when you see a picture. This on it 's own is a sweet picture, but how you felt and thought when you saw or took it is important...

"from a young age you had a very strong grip and Daddy's finger was your favorite anchor. I hope, baby Maia, that as you grow, live and learn, that you're never afraid to reach for your Father's hand. Dec 07"

OK, spread the word! Let's give it one more go!! Challenge blogs are droppin' like flies!
We could use a shot in the arm.
No matter where the industry goes, telling our stories is STILL very important!

No one I know, do I want your layouts to be discarded... tell the stories, so that the generations to come know who you were, what you felt, what was important to you, how you dealt, how you lived...