It's SNOT allergy season is it?

i feel like crap, i'm so sure you wanna hear ALL about it!!

 a lovely little vignette i've made in our home

 don't judge me, they're everywhere

 sick day must haves: paul frank pj pants (target), socks (i can't sleep without socks, sexy, i know!), tissues (which are NOT puffs and will never enter my home again!), remote (HGTV marathon day).

 ~hello! cute interruption to break up the snot report~

 mother-of-the-year award: cookie dough flurry for breakfast

seriously, could my daughter be the BEST ever? she tapes an allergy pill to my toothbrush every night!

all together now: "awwwwwwwwwwwwwchooooo"

{Please do NOT forget to go to the last post and ENTER my give-away to win your very own copy of my memories suite 2 software

but...if you can't wait use my code (STMMMS83174) for $10 off a copy of software AND $10 off kits in their shop!
use it right here: my memories store}
even if you're not a scrapbooker per say, you want to try this software!
Ok, ok, not you CHRISTINE, i know....

My Memories Suite 3 GIVE-AWAY contest!!!!

HERE

(Soooooo excited about this!!)

Like I told you before, I was given (yes, GIVEN for free) a copy of My Memories Suite 2 to try and then the option to do a give-away.  Trust me friends, if I didn't like it, I would tell you.  Thankfully, I have GOOD NEWS about My Memories Suite 2- ❤I LOVE IT!!❤  I feel like I've only begun to scratch the surface with this software.

I jumped in right away with the albums that are right in the software, all you do is drop and drag your photos!  There are all kinds of cute embellishments, tons of fonts, background papers, and options, options, options!  This software is SO easy to figure out- Yes, even for ME!!  For you regular readers, you know I've had a certain piece of scrapbooking equipment since Nov that I have yet to even turn on due to being overwhelmed by all the learning I have to do.  My Memories Suite 2 had me making an album in minutes, minutes people, not months!!!!! Once you're ready to move on, their website is FULL of amazing digital scrapbookings kits full of embellishments and papers.

Ok, enough of my blubbering-let's get to the GIVE AWAY...

What this includes: your very own copy of My Memories Suite 2 (which retails for $39.97!!).  That's right, you get the whole software package for FREE (if ya win, that is!).  You have until AUGUST 29, 2011 @ 5:00PM to enter this give-away!!

ALL you have to do is 1. head to the My Memories site and let me know what digital scrapbook kit you like best.  That's it, go to their site: CLICK HERE!, check out all the AMAZING digital kits, let me know and you are entered for a copy of the software!

Now, let's say you want MORE MORE MORE entries, here's what else you can do:

(make sure you leave a separate comment for each one that you do!!)

2. Become a new follower of chinamommy

3. "Like" chinamommy on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/chinamommy

4. "Like" my memories on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/mymemoriessuite

There you go, 4 ways to get an entry, easy-right??!!

AND... 

Want to KNOW more?  Take a look at My Memories youtube video's right 

HERE!!!!!
Ok, go tell the world!!!
Oh, and.... if you want to go ahead and BUY my memories suite 2 here is a code for:
$10 off the software 
AND
$10 off a purchase in their store!!
The code is: STMMMS83174 (just cut in paste it when you check out!).
Ok, I DO get some kickback on this when you use my code, so dude:
USE MY CODE!!  not only that, share my code and when i buy a place in maui you all can come over for a BBQ!!!

Digital Scrapbooking and hats for kids.

It's Sunday and I have the whole house to myself until late this evening.  So far I have:

• torn out what was left of the landscaping on 1 side of the house and by "landscaping" I mean the 2 huge chunks of hostas that were left after we tore the rest of the crap out 2 summers ago.
• drug 1 huge hunk of hosta to the front of our drive-way and planted them along the edge of the tree line, left the other off to the side for the Mister to deal with tomorrow.
• replanted the side yard with a butterfly bush, black eyes Susans and this other pretty pinkish thing.
• showered
• put on a ridiculous outfit
• ribbon danced around my yard until the neighbors complained

source

Ok, enough of that craziness... What I really wanted to tell you about was:

1. The hat drive

AND

2. The Memories Suite 2 Giveaway that will be posted on Tuesday.

All information about the hat drive is located under the hat drive tab above.  There is also a donate button if you'd rather help that way.  Every single penny goes to the drive, whether to buy yarn or to ship.  This is the 2nd year I've done this and I'm really hoping this will be another great year for the kids!  Please let me know if you have ANY questions at all!!

The 2nd thing is something I am also REALLY EXCITED about and I'm going to give you a little teaser.  On Tuesday I'll be posting a give-away for someone to WIN: My Memories Suite 2 for FREE! (For everyone else I'll have a code that will allow you to try My Memories Suite 2 and additional embellishments for a special savings!!!!!!) I was given this software to try out and let me just tell you... I LOVE IT!  It's easy, it's quick, it's adorable AND (most importantly) even I can do it!!  This is perfect for someone that's REALLY into scrapbooking OR.... someone that wishes they had their pictures in a CUTE  album but find that scrapbooking really isn't their "thing".  If you've ever wanted to try digital scrapbooking but just didn't know where to start, this is really going to help you out!  I've already done several things and can't wait to show you!!!!!!!!!!!

So, come on back Tuesday and see what this is all about!!!!

Easy DIY Valentine Banner!!

Oh look what a good girl I am... I said I would show you a DIY and I actually  followed through!  Now, that is progress my friends!

This is pretty easy little project, and takes just a few supplies.  If you are a scrapbooker, you probably have these in your back pocket!

1. scrap booking papers. 

I used 3 different patterns of 12X12 cardstock.

2. hearts.  I cut 3" hearts with my cricut, but you can hand cut or use heart doily's or pre-cut hearts.  You will need 3 hearts per heart...oh, how do I say that? 3 hearts to make 1 little 3-D heart.  Does that make sense?

3. Bone folder.  I used my paper cutter than has a blade that doesn't cut through the paper...

dang, what is that called? SCORING BLADE! Geesh, don't ask how long it took me to find that on google!

the Black one is the scoring blade...

4. Glue. After some trial and error, I found a slower drying glue works best, like a glue stick! You want to be able to move the hearts a bit and line them up before they stick tight!

5. Twine or ribbon or cord...whatever you want to hang it with!

I made my tutorial with some bright pink paper hoping that would be easier to see, here we go...

Grab your hearts and bend them all in 1/2.  If you are using 1 sided patterned paper make sure you fold the pattern IN on itself.

Grab your 1st 2 hearts

See the 2 pink "X's"? Put glue on those sides and glue together.

You'll get this

See the blue "X's"? You're going to glue those together, but 1st, put a bead of glue down the "crack" (a glue like Elmer's is going to be better than a glue stick for this part).  You're going to lay the string in the glue.

To make mine, I decided to put a heart about every 6 inches.  I left the twine on the ball and just pulled off what I needed as I went along.  I knew if I cut it 1st I'd cut it too short... did you know my best grade in math was like a D-?  Numbers are NOT my friend, unless it's 75% off, then I can figure that like an idiot savant!

So there you have it!  And... you don't have to just use hearts, you can use any shape that when folded in 1/2 matches up... I've seen these made with circles cut out of vintage books or sheet music! Very cute!!

 What do you think? Do you like it?  Well, guess what??!! You can WIN this one!  Yep, I'm giving it AWAY!!  You know, 'cause it's MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!

All you have to do:

1. Leave a comment on THIS post!!  ONLY this post...

Want an extra entry??  Here's how (make sure you leave a SEPARATE comment for EACH entry!!)

• leave a comment
• become a follower
• IF you are a follower, bring someone new on board
• twitter this
• put it as your facebook status
• blog about it

Just make sure you leave me a link to your twitter/blog post.

If you make your own link me to your pictures!

Share the love, I'm almost at 200 followers and you know I'm shooting for 2,000!

We're snowed in again today, so look for more cute papercuts in my store soon

paper cuts are cute!!

Meet my new friend...

Don't ya love her?  She's my new etsy model!!

The Mister wasn't so sure what to think, but then again, he's not so sure about a lot of things I do and drag home!!

Did you realize sometimes the packing material is just as much fun as what's inside?

Doll face came with those foam "glasses" and Darling has been sporting them ever since and who doesn't love a good bubble wrap skirt?

Speaking of dragging things home...

We were coming home last weekend in the DARK and I spotted this baby along the road and my junk seeing eyes were pretty sure it had a sign that said:

FREE!

So, the Mister, being the awesome husband that he is, pulled over and loaded it in his truck for me!

someone took a lot of time painting flowers on this bird cage and I hate to tell them, but...

I have plans to paint it black.

Apparently several birds have had this as their happy home.

Saphire and Xanzabar

Looks like a few just didn't make it...looks like lucky

Pickles was one of the last.

Maybe that's why they were getting rid of it?

Well, don't worry, I'm not getting a bird, I'm going to use it on my porch as decor'.

DON'T forget to enter my FREE Crochet Today magazine give-away!!

You just have to go to last Friday's post and leave a comment!!!

Also I'm going to explain a new feature here on chinamommy tomorrow!!

Think a new and exciting shopping experience.

I'll give you a hint:

Personal picks from yours truly!!

Go enter the contest if you crochet or know someone that does!!

lator tators!

Crochet Mania!!!

I'm not really sure how many of my readers crochet, but... because I get a little excited 

(Think Flo from Progressive...) 

I have doubles of 2 different Crochet Today magazines!  I subscribe to the magazine, but jumped the gun and bought 2 issues that promptly came in the mail to me... of course!

So, I'm going to do a giveaway with my extra mags!

This is the May/June 2010 issue

it's full of all kinds of Baby and Wedding items

and SUPER cute amigurumi by Ana Paula Rimoli

There are also cute sweaters (like the one on the cover), a large tote, and an article on "double trouble".  Double Trouble is the crochet duo of identical twins named:

Monika and Erika.

I found these girls on youtube

(cause i'm a craft geek that types in "crochet" on youtube!)

and they do some things with crochet your Grandma never even though about!

Want to win this magazine??

All you need to do:

❤ leave a comment on this post, THIS post ONLY!

want an extra entry?

❤ become a FOLLOWER (new follower only) of this blog

❤ become a fan of chinamommy on facebook

❤follow: TheCHinaMOmmy on twitter

❤refer a friend to this blog (make sure they tell me YOU sent them!)

❤send me a 2011 Range Rover in white (camel leather with black trim interior)

IF you send the RR- you just GET the magazine no matter whose name I draw!

 Make sure you make a Separate comment for each entry!!

(makes it easier for me to count, I got a D- in math every time I took it!)

Example: 

twitter: your name

facebook fan: your name

I'll keep this open till August 6 (a week from Friday).

Get your craft on!!!