Winners - One From Last Week; One From This Week

I was so focused on getting the Birthday Challenges going, I totally spaced out that I had a winner to choose from January's last set of challenges - the week of the 25th. Actually, I didn't totally space them out, I remembered as I posted a couple times this week, but then forgot to include it in those posts. Mommy brain -- I could be the poster child for crying out loud. Anyway, saw some great layouts and cards!! Good work ladies. Our winner from the week of January 25th is: Kristin Perez!! Congrats :) In keeping with a winner's theme here, how about I select the first "You didn't have to do a thing, except be a registered follower of this blog" winner that is part of the Apron Strings' birthday celebration. I tossed everyone into Random.org and it came up with #14, which coincides with follower "CP." So, CP drop me an email at lori@apronstringsdesigns.com with your mailing information so I can get something out to you. Congratulations to both of you. Hope it makes that one more day to the weekend a little easier to deal with. :)

Don't Stash It Challenge - Day #4

I'm seeing some great layouts, and I'm seeing some pretty old products; it's like a walk down memory lane. Good Job to those of you digging deep! Hopefully it's fun to revisit older favorites. I have to wonder, is using an older kit or paper inspiring or difficult for you? I always find going through my stash inspiring and exciting and definitely makes my fingers itch to create. If you're cruising along and ready for today's challenge, wait no longer: use a combination of buttons and brads on your layout -- go for, oh, at least five of each. Remember the point of all the challenges this month is to use older kits and/or papers, so be sure your base includes them in addition to the main challenge for the day. Today's sketch comes from Becky Fleck over at PageMaps; love Becky and not just because she provides the monthly sketches for the AS kits. If you haven't checked out her extensive archives, please do!

Keep those great pages and older favorites coming -- it's just the beginning, but ya'll are doing great! Layouts for this week are due by Sunday evening and the prize for those who complete all this week's challenges is your choice of an available TV Dinner.

I'm off to do regular stay-at-home-mom stuff, sans dinner. We have a fundraiser for the kids' school at Gunther Toody's tonight. So between it being Student Appreciation Day today, which means no homework, and Gunther Toody's, which means no dinner, it should be a low key day!

Enjoy some of your own down time with a layout or two.

Don't Stash It Challenge - Day #3

Good morning (or afternoon to my east-coasters). How's everyone doing today? It's the middle of the week, any progress on getting some layouts done? I hope so, I have goodies I want to give away. I'm going to try to get photos snapped of the Big Birthday Treat so I can "inspire" you, but we'll see how that goes. Today's a quiet day, with DH still on the road back home - and he's having a ball, by the way. He's like a 10 year old on a grand adventure. Men, do they ever grow up? LOL Today's challenge: to use at least 3 different ribbons on your layout; more if you can swing it. Ribbon is such a fun and versatile embellishment, plus it's flat if you're not into a lot of bulk. Make sure you continue to use your older stuff, that's the heart of these challenges. Today's sketch is from 52 Sketches. . .52 Weeks. Julie no longer posts new sketches on this blog, but she does post a new sketch on her personal blog. The archives on the 52 Sketches blog are too inspiring to not refer to them often.

For an added little nudge, this week's prize will be your pick of any available TV Dinner.

Have a great day.

Don't Stash It Challenge - Day #2

Sorry, sorry . . . about the lateness of this, I really try to get them out by 9 am MT, but this morning I had to be at the kids' school early for our prospective parent meeting and tour. I would have set up a post last night, but I was driving my husband out to the airport to catch a 1 am flight. Yes, 1 AM! This insane departure time officially ends the new car saga!!! We found a car, WOOHOO! Too bad it's in Kentucky . . .ohhhhh. Well, partially too bad -- I do have a sister out there and DH will be staying with them tonight and he'll spend Wednesday night with his brother in Kansas City . So what's a little travel when you get to see some family and pick up your new car? A special "Thanks" to those of you who wished Apron Strings a Happy Birthday - I'm glad you're here. Okay, so did you dig out some older products to play with during this month-long challenge? Have you signed up to follow the blog and maybe win a goodie? Have you created a layout using yesterday's challenge? If not, what are you waiting for? As for layouts, you've got until Sunday evening to link up and get eligible. Let's see, what to challenge you on today. . .hmmm . . .okay, how about: use at least three different alphabet fonts on your layout. This is the perfect opportunity to clean up those random alphabet stickers or rub-ons you have laying around. Use 'em and toss the trash. Remember miscellaneous letters make a fun look for titles or bulleted journaling, but can also create embellishments (layer several stickers and/or rub-ons then punch shapes or decorate naked chipboard) or can be used to create a custom background for your base layout, photo mats or journaling boxes. Today's sketch comes from Sketchy Thursdays - great site, wonderful sketches and inspirations. If you're lacking in creative mojo, this blog will certainly give you a good push! So combine this sketch with the above challenge and you're good to go! Remember, Sunday is the deadline for uploads for the current week's eligibility.

With my morning blown at school, and a middle-of-the-night-trip out to the airport, I haven't done squat today. So I'm off to make it look like I accomplished something!

Don't Stash It Challenge - Day #1

See this is what happens when people on the Yahoo Group start chatting about the size and depth of their stash of scrapbooking products. I get inspired and you get challenges :). Now don't get me wrong, part of the fun of scrapbooking is the "acquiring" of goods - you just have to see my own treasure trove to know I'm right in there with you. But to not use it, ever, can be a budget-buster - I mean you've spent the money and to have it just sit . . . well that isn't good. Eventually, you forget about it, it gets buried and then when you do uncover it, chances are you can't remember what it was you loved about it, or at the very least what pages you bought it for (that were more than likely completed with other products.) You may even question your taste when you find it again (been there myself) because what was hot five years ago, isn't so much now. So, all month long during the Apron Strings Birthday Celebration, we're going to be digging into our stashes and bringing out all those past favorites (maybe a little purging along the way) and we're gonna use it! I've seen what you ladies can crank out in a month and you should not only have a stack of completed pages, but a seriously depleted stash. If you're one who always wants to play along (but manages to find reasons not to) - this is your time; there are so many opportunities to play and win this month. Each weekday I'll post a challenge, along with a sketch, you'll have until Sunday evening to complete the week's worth of challenges to be eligible for prizes. There are multiple opportunities to win - even if you only get one challenge from the week done. (See the following post for details on opportunities to win.) First up in the "Don't Stash It" challenge is: Use your oldest kit (if you're a kit owner) or your oldest papers. When you post a link to your layout, be sure to note how old you think the products are or what kit they came from. Today's sketch comes from Nuts About Sketches - thanks to Shawn for allowing me to use her great work.

You have until Sunday evening to link up the challenges you do during the week to the appropriate posts. Remember these challenges are about USING YOUR STASH - try to work with products over a year old, as well as those odds and ends that just keep hanging around.

Good luck and I want to see a lot of layouts!! (The regular weekly challenges are suspended until March: Monday Challenge, Sketch Wednesday and 5 on Friday.)

Happy Birthday to Apron Strings!!

Yep, it's Apron Strings' birthday today!! Five years ago today the first kits went live (see below) -- autoship would follow two months later. Oh the changes in just the last five years - not only in what I've learned, the way that Apron Strings has grown and all the fantastic members I've met both face-to-face and online, but changes in the scrapbook industry as well (two of the companies in those first Apron Strings kits are gone now.) :( However, I'm proud that not only is Apron Strings still around and going strong, where others have closed, but in the wonderful club it has grown into.

Okay, while it's fun, and often funny, to look back that's enough sentiment because there's more fun to be had in the celebration that will continue all month long, here on the blog. And while I love me some presents (just ask my husband, LOL), presents are going out to you all who play along. "How can I get some presents?" you may be asking. Here are the ways you can enjoy Apron Strings' birthday month!

1. Participate in the challenges each week -- one winner will be chose from those who complete each challenge during the week.
2. At least one (I'm not decided yet) overall winner will be chosen from those who complete all the challenges during the month.
3. One random winner will be chosen from those who do at least one challenge from each week - you only need to complete one challenge from the week to be eligible for this random drawing.
4. If you're a "follower" of the blog, you could be chosen as a winner. If you haven't registered as a follower, now's the time, it could pay off in a Birthday Cookie Treat. (Spread the love and tell a friend who may not be following.)

Luckily, it's a short month, because we are gonna be cruising through challenges and maybe a game tossed in there for some fun, we'll see. But rev up those scissors and get ready to get this party started!

Check the next post for the first challenge of "Don't Stash It."

5 on Friday

Ah, the sun is shining, the skies are clear and if you could ignore the snow on the ground you'd swear it was warmer than 30 degrees. But it's not, so I'll just cozy up for the day and find something to do - heaven know there's plenty on the list! When I last posted, I said I was wanting to do some crafting and I know you've been on the edge of your seat wondering. Did she? No. She didn't. I ended up checking CHA updates, adding to the Apron Strings wish list of paper lines (which is quite long) and sending out requests for new catalogs. Still a productive night, though not necessarily crafty. So in the hopes of spurring on your crafty side, here's this week's 5 on Friday list:

• 1 sheet cardstock
• 1 sheet rub-ons
• 1 sheet patterned paper
• 1 set felt or fabric embellishments
• 1 set of brads

Other than title and journaling, these are the only things allowed on your layout. Link this, and the other two challenges from this week by Saturday night to be eligible for a Cookie Jar Treat.

Speaking of which, I do have last week's winner - totally spaced that out on Wednesday. A big congratulations goes out to Rebecca! You'll find something tucked in with your February shipment.

All you who love big challenges, get those fingers limbered up and be on the lookout during the month of February for the "Don't Stash It" challenges. February is Apron Strings' birthday month - so presents will be waiting to reward your hard work. ;)

Plans for the weekend? Here? We will be wrapping up one basketball league, while one is just getting started. So we have a game tonight and two games tomorrow. I think we have a tournament next weekend, but haven't heard from the coach yet. Even with the games it feels like a rather light weekend -which is a good thing. We got an email from my 11 y.o.'s soccer coach about training starting next weekend. Really?? Ick - spring soccer is my least favorite - we battle cold, biting wind and snow more often than not. I have a feeling this may be my 11 y.o.'s last season though, I don't think he's all that jazzed about soccer anymore. It really bums out my DH, who played soccer up through college. Plus my son is good and it's hard when you know they're good, enjoy watching them and they just don't feel it. So we'll see. The child who can't decide what to eat in the morning (thank goodness he wears a uniform to school) will have to decide whether to continue or not before we drop the money on fall registration.

So, whatever your weekend holds, I hope you find time for yourself and that the only decisions you have to make is whether to use a sketch and your kit, or "wing" your next layout. :)