Amber Packer

Have you seen my Valentine’s?

When the boys met me at the airport to pick me up from CHA, they had this bouquet of beautiful RED Gerbera Daisies.  Knowing that I would be in need of some fun pictures for Valentine’s, I made them let me shoot these pictures after church last Sunday.

I was going for the greeting card look (you remember the cute kids in the 90’s).  I think I may have achieved it on some of them.  I’m not sure about the door picture, though.  That’s what I need to do… change everything but the flowers to black and white… hmmm. 

Anyway, I thought I’d share these in case you’d like to take pictures this week.

You’ll find a layout using these pictures on the My Mind’s Eye blog on Monday.  We’re also starting up the February challenge then.  I love seeing what you come up with!

I hope you have a WONDERFUL weekend!

I have so much to catch up on my blog – check back soon!

Win NEW My Mind’s Eye!

Comment on the My Mind’s Eye blog by tonight at midnight and be entered to win these collections!

 

 

You have until Thursday evening to enter to win Lush!

 

My Mind’s Eye Jan. Blog Challenge

Challenge #7: Three Photos

Ready to WIN three My Mind’s Eye Collections? 

Oh, wait!?  Are we coming out with NEW collections?  Are you dying for a new collection (premiering on our blog January 12 – 15, 2010)

Join us for this month’s challenge!

The Challenge:  is to create a layout (card or other project - your choice) using three photos and this sketch designed by Anam Stubbington.  You can change it, use it as-is, flip it, whatever you'd like as long as we can still recognize the sketch (We you know what to do with a sketch).

The rules: Use ANY My Mind’s Eye products (current or past) you’d like as long as your project has at least 80% My Mind’s Eye products.

The deadline: Email your project, first and last name to amber@mymindseye.com (with Blog Challenge 7 as your subject) or add a link in a comment on this post by Thursday, January 21, 2010 (midnight, MST).

(For tips on how to best photograph your entry, click here)

The PRIZE: Our lucky winner will be featured in a blog post and receive one of everything from three collections of their choice!  We will also award an honorable mention winner with one collection of their choice!

Everyone is a winner!  We are grateful to everyone who will participate in this challenge.  We will put every entry in a photo album here on the blog.  By submitting, you are giving My Mind’s Eye permission to include your entry.

QuicKutz Guest Designer and contest

Guess what!?  I’m the Guest Designer on the QuicKutz blog!

Let me just do the happy dance for a minute…

Here is a sneak peek of the project I created for them:

Want to win $100 in QuicKutz products?  QuicKutz has issued a challenge!  Be sure to read the blog post to find out the details.

QuicKutz cupcake liner

I announced on Good Things Utah yesterday that All Scrapbook Steals would sell the cupcake liner for $19.99.

Guess what!?

I was wrong!

All Scrapbook Steals is selling the cupcake liner for…

only $ 7.50!

GTU – All Scrapbook Steals – Sweets for your Sweetie

It’s that time of year when we get to express our feelings for our loved ones.   It’s also the time of year when it’s legal for a mom of two boys to use pink!  I’m just saying…  When Jorjana asked me to do a sweet shop theme for today’s GTU segment I was thrilled.

I immediately thought of the QuicKutz cupcake liner die.  I’ve been looking for an excuse to use this die since they released it.  You can purchase the die for a discount (of course) at All Scrapbook Steals. 

The Doodlebug Sweet Treat and Confections lines are perfect for a project like this.  You’ll love the glittered paper and stickers, “sweet” brads and other embellishments!  Both collections are 25% off at All Scrapbook Steals.

I demonstrated how to make the cupcake liners and heart shaped box.  When it’s available, I’ll add a link to the segment here and in the left sidebar.

Until then, here I’ve included instructions for you to download HERE.

Finding Hope Through Adoption

Aren’t they cute?  I get to claim this cute family as part of my family.  Meet Troy, Rebecca, Rand & Caleb.  Becca is Bryan’s sister.

Today, I wanted to share their story with you, my online friends, and ask for your help.

A few years ago, Troy and Becca were blessed with a handsome baby boy… Rand.  And they were happy.  As Rand grew, Troy and Becca decided it was time to add to their family.  After trying many different ways to get pregnant and much discouragement, they turned from a medical approach to adoption. 

One wonderful day, they were blessed with THE CALL!  A beautiful girl named Erin had chosen to place her son in their home.

Can I tell you what I think of Erin?  Erin is a most cherished daughter of God.  Erin’s act of love was one of the most unselfish and Godlike actions anyone could perform.  Through her choice to be a birthmother, she blessed her life as well as the life of my loved ones (and me).  She put Caleb’s needs ahead of her own.  I can only hope that I would have been as strong and as selfless as she was when she made the choice to share Caleb if I was ever in that position.

I believe that God wants us to be happy.  I believe He provides a way for us to be happy (through the sacrifice of His Son).  I believe that we can be made whole again.  I know this because of what I have experienced personally and witnessed in others through the healing power of repentance.  I believe that adoption is a way for healing to start and peace to be found.

Troy and Becca LOVE Erin and are close with Erin and her family.  They go to lunch regularly.  Erin is special part of their family.  They pray for her daily. 

They ARE happy.  They want to share that happiness with another child.

Here’s where I need your help.  Please take the time to visit their  adoption blog and read their online profile.  Share their story with your friends and keep your ears open.  If you know of, or hear of a birthmom who is looking for a wonderful family please send her to their adoption blog or to my blog for a link to their adoption blog. 

Word of mouth is a powerful tool and can help them find a baby.  If a birthmom you know doesn’t choose them, then it is my hope that another family may be blessed because of my post today. 

What a wonderful blessing it is!

Many families struggle with infertility.  If it is your struggle, too.  I hope you know my heart goes out to you!

Coming up…

Thursday, January 7, on Good Things Utah (abc 4, 10 – 11 am): 

“Sweets Treats” for your sweet!

Sponsored by All Scrapbook Steals (www.allscrapbooksteals.com)

Happy New Year!

Photo Credit: Carrie Butler photography

We are constantly learning.  On the My Mind’s Eye blog today, we are all taking a look back at what we learned in the past year.  What is the biggest thing I learned in 2009?

It’s my choice.  I thought I already knew this.  It’s been reinforced to me more and more this year.

“I can’t choose what someone else says or does.

I can only choose my actions and how I react to theirs.

I choose whether or not I give someone the power to affect me, to control me.

It’s my choice to choose to be happy or sad.

I choose how I look at the world.

Bad things happen to good people.

Others make choices that affect me.

How I react to all that is my choice!

And I choose to be happy!”

Check out the My Mind’s Eye blog for more looks back at the past year.

Lump of coal?

 

Can you believe that I DIDN’T get a lump of coal that year?  Santa

had his chance… no coal for me - EVER!

Check out the other fabulous layouts on the My Mind’s Eye blog.

Merry Christmas!

I’m the Christmas Card Scrooge

It’s true!  We gave up.  Something HAD to go.  Unfortunately it was this fabulous card made with the Letterpress tool from QuicKutz!

Photo Credit: Katherine with Heirloom Photography

We even had Katherine Morgan take this adorable photo of the boys and Santa taken and purchased the rights JUST for the card!

I told Bryan we should send out this same card for Valentine’s (with this picture and all).  We’ll see what happens.  If you usually receive a card from us, please forgive us and know that we thought of you.  If you would receive your card this way anyway, THANK YOU for your support you are loved too!

More L Letterpress projects

I should be designing my February Autoship Club layouts right now, right Shyloh? 

However, I’m too excited about the other projects I created for GTU yesterday that I have to share them with you – to help get my creative juices going, of course!

Photo Credit: Katherine with Heirloom Photography (801) 878-4642

Merry Christmas supplies:

• Plate – Celebrations Printing Plate Set 2
• Plate – Everyday Printing Plate Set 5
• Plate – Holiday Printing Plate Set 3
• Plates – included with Epic 6 Tool/Letterpress Combo
• Die – Merry Christmas
• Ink – Red
• Ink – Black
• My Mind’s Eye  – Santa’s Forest paper
• My Mind’s Eye – All Aglow paper
• My Mind’s Eye – Evergreen Dots paper
• Fancy Pants Designs – Red Ball Trim
• Prism Metallic cardstock
• Black rhinestone and Holiday Red Glitter Glue

 

For You Card supplies:

• Plates – included with Epic 6 Tool/Letterpress Combo
• Ink – Red
• Ink – Black
• Paper – A2 Fold (White)
• Envelope – A2 (White)
• Black rhinestone

Quick tip!  Letterpress paper comes in white and cream.  A quick way to add color to the paper is with Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels.  In the photo below, I have colored white paper with Honey Dew Mist.

 

If you watched the segment, you saw a glimpse of my Christmas card.  I will show you better photos of the card on Friday!

p.s.  Don’t forget that the L Letterpress is on sale at All Scrapbook Steals!

GTU – QuicKutz – L Letterpress tool

Today, on Good Things Utah, I demonstrated the NEW L Letterpress tool from Lifestyle Crafts, a division of QuicKutz.  

I have been anxiously awaiting the day when I got my grubby little hands on this bad boy!  It was definitely worth the wait.  

SO absolutely amazingly Beautiful!

Letterpress is the art of printing designs with ink and simultaneously debossing the image on thick, soft paper. The art of letterpress has been around for hundreds of years. It is a high end process and, while beautiful, expensive and not available to the average consumer. With the introduction of the L Letterpress from Lifestyle Crafts, a division of QuicKutz, all that has changed. Letterpress is now available to the at-home consumer for an affordable price.

Letterpress Starter kit SRP: $69.99

Epic 6 Tool/Letterpress Combo: $ 149.99

Guess What!?  Custom Plates are available!

Visit the Lifestyle Crafts blog by Monday, December 21 and enter yourself to WINa Letterpress!

Would you like to make your own?  I'll put a link to the segment with a video of my segment when it's up this afternoon. 

But, in the meantime, I've included Detailed Instructions Here.

I had a lot of fun playing with the L Letterpress tool!

You will too!  You can find the

L Letterpress locally AND on sale at: 

All Scrapbook Steals (preorder)

Tomorrow on Good Things Utah

I’ll demonstrate the NEW L Letterpress from Lifestyle Crafts, a division of QuicKutz.

Twelve Days of Christmas – My Mind’s Eye style

Wilna Furstenberg kicked off the The 12 Days of Christmas started today on the My Mind’s Eye blog.

Visit every day to WIN!  And learn!

For instance, tomorrow … check out the My Mind’s Eye blog to learn how I made these:

I’ve seen so many beautiful trees on 2ps and my dear friend, Tamara made an absolutely gorgeous set last year.  It was fun to try for myself!

New blog challenge from MME

My Mind's Eye Blog Challenge #6: Paper Flowers
Paper Flowers are all the rage right now. They are so cute and simple. But sometimes it's difficult to figure out how they're made.

We'd like to see all the different types of paper flowers you can come up with!

Are you game? Ready to play along? Want to WIN three of your favorite My Mind’s Eye collections?

The Challenge: Create a layout (or other project, your choice) using My Mind's Eye paper to create the flowers for this sketch from Anam Stubbington.

The rules: Use ANY My Mind's Eye products (current or past) you'd like as long as your project has at least 80% My Mind's Eye products.

The deadline: Email your project, first and last name as well as instructions on how to make the flowers to amber@mymindseye.com (with Blog Challenge 6 as your subject) or add a link in a comment on this post by Thursday, December 17, 2009 (midnight, MST).

The PRIZE: Our lucky winner will be featured in a blog post and receive one of everything from three collections of their choice! We will also award an honorable mention winner with one collection of their choice!

Everyone is a winner! We are grateful to everyone who will participate in this challenge. We will put every entry in a photo album here on the blog. By submitting, you are giving My Mind's Eye permission to include your entry.

We can't wait to see what our talented readers come up with!

Look what I found!

I went to World Market today with my Mom to see if we could find the chargers we need to finish our neighbor gifts.  On our way, I was looking at the ad and what did I see?  This fun Crafters Table:

I have been dreaming of the project table from Pottery Barn.  It’s just not in the budget right now.  This one is just smaller, by 8” in length and height.  But, the smaller size is actually better for my room. 

Do you want to know the best part!?  It’s on SALE – $149.99.  That’s a $100 savings!  If you sign up to receive their emails, you can save an extra 10%.

I’m so excited to get it set up! 

Win free kits from A Page 4 All Seasons!

A Page 4 All Seasons is sponsoring the blog challenge on Page Maps this month!  Here's the 411 from Becky:

A big thanks to Shyloh at A Page 4 All Seasons, who donated TWO prizes for this contest. That means TWO winners!

The prize package for each winner is a complete set of three double-page kits, one of them designed by the talented Amber Packer. (isn't Becky kind)

Everything is measured, pre-cut and ready to go on all three kits. All you need are photos, adhesive and a journaling pen, and viola, you will complete three beautiful double pages. The value of each kit is $45 bucks!

The sketch for this contest is 8½x11, but you are welcome to convert it to 12x12. Create a layout based on this sketch -- any size, any orientation, any way you want to interpret it (using any products you would like). The theme is wide open. This contest starts today and ends at midnight (MST) Sunday, December 6, 2009. Add a comment with a link to your entry on this post or email your entry to me. Linked entries are appreciated to make the judging easier! This contest is open to everyone, everywhere in the world. :)
Have fun peeps!
Becky

I was so busy being thankful

that I was able to spend Thanksgiving with family that I forgot to say
THANK YOU!  Thank you for being my friends.

(My Mind's Eye Life Stories collection 2)

There are some interesting goings on in my family lately.  I feel a great need for my parents to know how much I love them and am thankful that they are my parents!

Black Friday Special:

from A Page 4 All Seasons (www.apage4allseasons.com). 

GTU - My Mind's Eye - Christmas Wreath

 

Today, on Good Things Utah, I demonstrated this wreath I made using The Merry Days of Christmas collection from My Mind's Eye. 

I just LOVE how it turned out! 

Talk about a simple, inexpensive project that makes an impact!

It's amazing what can be done with just a few pieces of paper, some ribbon and floral picks.

I designed this wreath for the My Mind's Eye Hobby Lobby Ad.  I thought it was fun, enjoyed how it turned out, but was thrilled for a chance to "kick it up" a bit.

 

 

Would you like to make your own?  I'll put a link to the segment with a video of my segment when it's up this afternoon. 

Update:  The segment video has been loaded in the left column.

But, in the meantime, I've included detailed instructions here.

This is a perfect project for Thanksgiving Day.  After your belly is full, relax on the couch, cut out leaves and enjoy this wreath for many years to come.

I'd love to see what you come up with!

______________________________________________________________

Do you remember the Witch's Boot?  Are you interested in making an elf boot using The Merry Days of Christmas collection?

Email me by Saturday, November 21 if you would like me to order one for you?

Want to win three My Mind's Eye collections of your choice?

All you have to do is join us at the My Mind's Eye blog in our November Blog Challenge.  Here are the details:

create using this beautiful sketch by Anam Stubbington.

The rules: Use ANY My Mind’s Eye products (current or past) you’d like as long as your project has at least 80% My Mind’s Eye products.

The deadline: Email your project to amber@mymindseye.com (with Blog Challenge 5 as your subject) or add a link in a comment on this post by Thursday, November 19, 2009 (midnight, MST).

(For tips on how to best photograph your entry, click here)

The PRIZE: Our lucky winner will be featured in a blog post and receive one of everything from three collections of their choice!  We will also award an honorable mention winner with one collection of their choice!

Everyone is a winner!  We are grateful to everyone who will participate in this challenge.  We will put every entry in a photo album here on the blog.  By submitting, you are giving My Mind’s Eye permission to include your entry.

I thought you might want to see the layout I did as a sample.  I switched the sketch up a bit by just flipping it horizontally, using three pictures and raising the "weight" of the page up an inch or two.

I also played with the new Life Stories collection - Ah, to die for!  I love how the background papers are pre-printed!

I got in trouble with Riley because the last layout I did was using photos of Neal, so here you go sweet stuff.  This one is for you!

Supplies:  Life Stories Frequency Grid paper, Life Stories Green Damask paper, Life Stories Trip Information paper (compass), Memories Like This Journaling card, Collection 1 Accessory Sheet, Laundry Line Natural "My Boy" Rub-on, Basic Grey chipboard letters, Maya Road Ribbon, felt border.

Enter to win!

Hi!  Wasn't that fun!?  I have been looking forward to this segment for a couple of months.

In case you missed it (or aren't local), here's a link to the segment.  The video will be up soon.

Everyone can enter the contest for my 5 favorite tools.

Here's how:

1.  Simply go to www.abc4.com and click on the contest link

OR

2.  Follow this direct link.

Now, I need you to do me a favor ... please visit the generous companies who donated products to my giveaway, let them know you saw the Good Things Utah segment and tell them how much you love their products!

I can't wait to hear who the winner is!

My 5 favorite tools!

Today on Good Things Utah (abc 4) between 10 am and 11 am, I am giving away 5 of my favorite "tools". 

Thanks to the generosity of a few of the fabulous companies I work with, this prize package is an absolutely FANTASTIC prize!

It was so hard to choose just 5.  I needed at least 10 to get all my favorites.

1. My Mind’s Eye paper (www.mymindseye.com)

· One of everything in the Breaking Free collection

· One of everything in The Spider’s Web collection

· One of everything in The Merry Days of Christmas collection

2. Haylee Bean Photography (www.hayleebeanphotography.squarespace.com)

• Free Photo Session
• Free Cinematic Memories Session (home movie)
• Free Video DVD of "home movie"
• Free Internet files of the "home movie" for blogs, facebook, what-have-you's.
• 2 free 8x10 prints
• 50% off additional order

3. QuicKutz (www.quickutz.com)

• Epic Die Cutting Machine
• Blossom Font
• Dots Border Die
• Cookie Cutter Nesting Label
• Damask Border Die
• Tree Border Die

4. Tattered Angels (www.mytatteredangels.com)

• 1 Box Glimmer Screens: Fanciful Stencils (9 pieces)
• Tweezers
• One bottle Glimmer Mist

5. Glitz Designs (www.glitzitnow.com)

• Frosting! 5 Border strips and two word strips.