A One Day Countdown to CONNECTION - and a Giveaway!

OK, so one day isn't much of a countdown. But we're still super excited to share our new kit, CONNECTION tonight at Midnight!

This kit is such a great mixture of paper from American Crafts' Amy Tangerine Line, Jillibean Soup's Sweet and Sour and Homemade Six Bean Collection and Crate Farmhouse. 

The idea? How do you stitch together a life you love? Where are the missing patches in your quilt? If you drop a stitch, does your fabric unravel or can you weave it anew?

And like a quilt, this beautiful, homey, comfortable kit has an incredible array of color that fits together just right. Mix and match patterns, tiny spools, vintage look journaling cards and kraft bits, zipper trim, stitched paper...there's so much to love!

And if you start or renew your six month subscription, you'll get these great bonuses (not to scale):

Prima's brand new Tiny Treasures Hearts Package
- one locket (imagine the possibilities) and one flat embellishment in a lovely antique finish

The hard to find and easy to love 'You're Golden' stitched fabric paper from Amy Tangerine.

And how about a chance to win?

Come to our website after midnight Pacific Time tonight and leave a comment on the forum post called 'the kit is live' on our message board. You'll be entered to win a full set of the papers from this kit - 12 double sided patterned papers in all, plus 4 sheets of coordinating American Crafts cardstock. In your comment, make sure to let us know what your favorite thing in the kit is. You have until November 4 and noon Pacific to enter to win.

It's a great way to try out what we do best for free! Make sure you wait until the kit goes live at Midnight.

See you then ~

Love,

CONNECTION - November Sneak Peek and a GIVEAWAY

All about the crazy quilt that makes up your beautiful, complex and meaningful life. Who matters most, what are the ties that bind, what keeps you safe and attached, and what bonds have been broken?

Features Amy Tangerine for American Crafts, Crate Farmhouse, & Jillibean Soup...Sassafras, Authentique, Maya Road and more.

Join us November 1 for CONNECTION.

In the meantime, we're spreading the word about new ways to participate in our CRAFT: Creating Reflective Art for Transformation retreat coming up in just a few weeks. The lovely Donna Downey posted about our art and soul retreat today, and as part of the post we're giving away the ACHIEVEMENT kit.

You'll need to do 3 quick things...


1. Go over to Donna's post and read all about it.
2. Click on the link in her post to the CRAFT blog and sign up on the CRAFT mailing list.
3. Go back to Donna's blog and let her know you joined the CRAFT mailing list in the comments.

And Voila! you'll be entered to win the kit AND will be up to date on all the news about this November's retreat and other in-person events, online classes and more.

Hope to see you soon, online or in person!

Love,

Failure/Chasing Pavements - Lay It Out!

Whew!  Where did October go?!  Kai, here, zooming on by to toss out one of our challenges to anyone out there willing to take it on.  How about laying it out for Achievement, or ... rather... lack of achievement?  Here's what we're tossing out, throwing the gauntlet down, so to speak...

Failure: Is there such a thing as failing, or are you a believer that every failure is just a step on your path to a different success? Is failure a sign that you’ve actually tried difficult things? Are you quick to rebound after a failure or are you slower to recover. Has there ever been a time when you’ve closed your ears to the voices of others telling you that your failures meant it was time to stop trying? Have you ever looked back at a past failure and seen the meaning in it from the long view? What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Please create a layout about a past failure that taught you an important lesson - either about your limits or perseverance.

For the design twist, let's explore the song by Adele: Chasing Pavements. Use anything from the song OR song imagery in your LO:

http://youtu.be/Wdtz0GRqKng

I've made up my mind, don't need to think it over
If I'm wrong I am right, don't need to look no further
This ain't lust, I know this is love

But if I tell the world, I'll never say enough
'Cause it was not said to you
And that's exactly what I need to do if I'd end up with you

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?

I build myself up and fly around in circles
Wait then as my heart drops and my back begins to tingle
Finally could this be it?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep on chasing pavements
Should I just keep on chasing pavements?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere? 

Are you willing to take up this challenge?  If so, let's see your result!  Post it in our challenges gallery.  While you're over there, check out our other challenges and see what tickles your creative bones.   Hey, you might even win some goodies for your effort!

Monday Motivation - Telling the Truth

Hi smart and crafty gals! Just before we sneak the next kit (WOW, where did October go) here's a little bit of what we do at SFTIO that's so very special...our online multimedia inspiration! Every month, we provide a ton of content - using music, stock photos, quotations, pinterest (not just pinning pretty things, but meaningful ones!) and our exclusive prompts and challenges that help you dig deep.

Here's a taste...but to get it all, you'll need to come over to the site. All our inspiration is FREE...all you need to do is click over and see us. I also urge you to sign up on our message board (just takes minutes) and you'll be ready to chat with women all over the world, who, just like you, struggle, triumph, ask questions, wonder, worry and celebrate...and you'll come away with more freedom, more honesty and more courage than you thought was possible.

What's our secret? It's not a bunch of phony 'happy thoughts' or transient states of bliss. It's telling your truth, no matter how scary or ugly it may look. Self-expression can't fix all your problems, but it makes you freer and more resilient. Here's a LO I did with last month's kit, BALANCE to show you what I mean:

This was my response to a challenge (from me :)) to our members to scrap about a major shift in their worlds and what the 'new normal' looked like.

Those of you who have been reading for a while (or have glanced at the sidebar) know that I lost my precious Bart last December. This is actually the very first page I've been able to do about him...that's right, me, the purveyor and enabler of emotion-based scrapbooking. But I finally got to the point where I could no longer ask you all to share without sharing more of what was difficult for me - sharing the thing that is MOST difficult for me. And if you read it, you'll see, the journaling is not a peaceful acceptance of the loss. I'm not there yet. 

And here's my (not so) secret - I don't have to be. And neither do you. 

Being right where you are, accepting yourself now, including your anger, resentments, fears, worries and resistance to change is CRITICAL to your well-being and your growth. Fighting it won't make it disappear - but being with the present moment and letting your emotions flow will make every future moment a tiny bit easier.

Here's a little sampling of what the ACHIEVEMENT Inspiration Page has to offer:

Prompt:

Failure: Is there such a thing as failing, or are you a believer that every failure is just a step on your path to a different success? Is failure a sign that you’ve actually tried difficult things? Are you quick to rebound after a failure or are you slower to recover. Has there ever been a time when you’ve closed your ears to the voices of others telling you that your failures meant it was time to stop trying? Have you ever looked back at a past failure and seen the meaning in it from the long view? What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Pinterest:

Music:

Defying Gravity by Idina Menzel

Quote:

Periods of tranquility are seldom prolific of creative achievement. Mankind has to be stirred up. Alfred North Whitehead

Photo:

For more music (a streaming playlist), quotes, prompts, photos and pins, come visit the Inspiration Page.

I hope you use it to tell your truth.

Love,

Weekend Layout Inspiration - Back to School

Happy Friday! It's a lovely day here in Santa Monica, a perfect 70 degrees, but there are signs of autumn. Nippy nights where you snuggle under the blankets are upon us and I'm feeling moved to break out the down comforter that's been in storage all summer. And maybe a new duvet?

This is on sale at West Elm and I'm thinking this would work beautifully - time for a little renewal...

Even though our bed has a chocolate finish, the modern lines and green wall should meld nicely.  This is a stock photo, but you get the idea.

 This is the paint color - still love it after 10 years! It's a bit darker in person.

I do tend to use a lot of the same colors in my favorite layouts...do you? These home decor color appear in our latest kit, ACHIEVEMENT.

And yes, leaves do fall in Southern California. Proof:

Bigleaf Maple is native to the Pacific coast from SoCal to the Pacific NW. This is on my street! Right next to a lot of California Fan Palms.

Just makes me feel like all the best memories of fall. I remember the excitement of new clothes for back-to-school, the sound of crunching leaves under my feet, and all the possibility that was ahead.

So many more layouts, and three new ACHIEVEMENT challenges are up on our gorgeous brand new website...come see! Scrap about what you've already achieved and what is in your plans.

Enjoy this beautiful fall weekend and all there is to achieve in your future.

Love,

My Bartie-Boy as a baby - he loved fall too!

Rachel's Ramblings...CRAFT Updates and Seeking our next Design Team!

Hi there! Hope everyone's week is off to a good start. I had a delightful opportunity to meditate this afternoon at the fantastic Insight LA here in Santa Monica. I'm finding that just half an hour of focusing on my breathing, and especially NOT judging my thoughts really helps me with my day.

We're busy here at SFTIO this week planning the final delightful details of our upcoming CRAFT Beach Retreat, just weeks away. If you've been thinking about joining us, there's still room...just email us at craftbeachretreat@gmail.com and you could be wiggling your toes in the sand in between renewing and transforming your inner world...

Here are the class descriptions and some juicy pics of what's arriving...

What Matters Most Workshop

Amy Tan’s workshop will have you thinking about what matters most in your life, and how to keep those things in focus and balance. She’ll empower you with her
effortless approach to creating from your gut.

Free Your Heart Workshop

Ly T. Le’s mixed media project will give you the opportunity to create a piece of highly dimensional art that will explore what makes you feel free,
and how to access more of that feeling.

Double Agent Workshop

This innovative folder project - a file of thoughts, ideas, hopes, and wishes - with Linda Barber will let you explore the faces you show the world, and the ones you don't. Who are you now and who would you like to be? And how do the two coincide?

3D Vision Workshop

Paige Evans’ workshop will help you process an important life experience by looking at it from the vantage points of before it occurred, while it was happening, and after it was over.
You’ll gain clarity, perspective and inner vision in this most enjoyable workshop.

Bridging the Gap Workshop

Stacy Cohen’s project will prompt you to look at a past accomplishment and apply the skills you developed in reaching your goal to a future dream, bridging the gap from past to future.

 

And then there's the future...oooh. It's Design Team time!

Here's the call!

Scrapbooking from the Inside Out is a monthly kit club, inspiration source and online community. We are holding a Design Team search. Inside Out is a different kind of kit club – we use scrapbooking as a form of self-exploration, self-expression and self-discovery. Our goal is to encourage the use of scrapbooking as a way for us to tap into our deep inner worlds in the midst of our very busy lives. Every month Scrapbooking from the Inside Out creates a kit that uses the freshest supplies along with symbolism that helps scrappers tell their real story. Our industry-exclusive FREE Inspiration Page each month provides a multimedia support system - including deep journaling prompts, a music playlist, quotes, photos and evocative challenges to make tender hearts and creative minds and hands flow.

We will be taking submissions from now through November 11, 2011. Announcements will be made on or before November 18, 2011.

We are seeking talented designers (US and Canada only, sorry!) who are passionate about scrapbooking and personal growth to share in this journey, to add to our team. As a Design Team member, you will serve a critical role in promoting the kits and the website on message boards, the blog, and representing the company where ever you can. We ask that our designers not hold design team positions with any other kit club or online scrapbooking retailer. Manufacturer design team appointments and teaching at your LSS are fine.

As a member of our Design Team, you will be asked to:

1. create 5 self-focused layouts using 80% materials from our kit each month and relating to the theme of the month
2. contribute one monthly article for special content (tips or techniques with step by step photos )
3. participate on our message boards at least 5 days per week
4. design for Inside Out for a 6-month term, beginning on December 1, 2011 (starting with the January 2012 Kit)
5. post your Inside Out LOs as requested by us at scrapbook community sites
6. submit your LOs for publication as requested

All projects made with the kit are yours to keep, and when used in the newsletter or on the website, you will be given full credit. As our designer, you can also submit your own work for publication as long as you give Inside Out proper credit in the contents list.

Your compensation will be:

1. Free monthly kit, including shipping, for kit release months January – June 2012.
2. Paid admission to CHA-Winter in Anaheim (travel and hotel NOT included).
3. Recognition on our website with a link to your blog.
4. Publishing opportunities and featured blog opportunities based on SFTIO partnerships with manufacturers and celebrities.
5. Incredible friendships, publishing opportunities and creative insight into your heart!

To apply, please email the following to scrapbookdesign@aol.com (subject – Design Team):

1. photos of 4 layouts of any size. All 4 projects should be about YOU and your inner world – your thoughts, feelings, dreams, fears
2. links to your online gallery, blog and/or resume, if available
3. your full contact information: name, phone number, email address, and mailing address
4. a short paragraph or two about why you want to be one of our designers – why this concept matters to you
5. a list of your current scrapbooking commitments – other DT work, etc.

We’re a passionate and creative team looking for like-minded people who love to share their thoughts and feelings using our craft and foster a supportive and welcoming community. We look forward to getting to know you!

So are you all in? Let me know!

Love,

Love you too, Donna!

We love Donna Downey! Go on over to her blog today and meet her other sponsors...she's kindly featuring her blogvertisers (is that a word) today...click here... And Sunday, a great giveaway's coming. Stay tuned!

Lay It Out! - Fulfillment/Distance

Ready for another challenge?  Let's swing on back to the topic of the month: Achievement.  Join us with this first challenge.  Scrap your thoughts, use a self-portrait or a stock photo (or no photo!), incorporate the design twist and then post it in the community gallery at Inside Out for a chance to win some goodies!

Ready?  Here's your first Achievement challenge:

Fulfillment: What makes you feel fulfilled in your life? Do you create goals to achieve that are different in your personal life and your life outside the home? Do the two conflict with each other or are they symbiotic? Are you someone who longs for something different than what you already have? Does fulfillment in your life depend on acquiring something or someone, or are you at peace with what you have?

For our first challenge -

Please create a LO about your level of fulfillment. Are you in possession of that which you need to be fulfilled, or is it far from you?

For the design twist, please surround yourself with your fulfillment or separate yourself from it. 

I sure hope you play with us.  Sign up (it's free) to our message boards to gain access to the gallery and show us your interpretation... just lay it out!

Flashback to Passion

Those who control their passions do so
because their passions are weak enough to be controlled.
William Blake

This month's emotion is Achievement, and we'll certainly be exploring that over the next few weeks.  However, Inside Out has been around for quite some time, and I wanted to jump backwards to another time and another emotion, just for fun:  Passion!

Passion was originally explored in February 2010.  I loved this kit, I loved the inspiration and I loved making a layout of one of my first passionate crushes, back in the good ol' days of high school.  He was my "rebel" boyfriend (the kind you really don't want to take home to ma and pa) and I experienced many forms of passion with him, one of which I'm embarrassed to say, was somewhat stalker-ish.  Uhm, on my part, not his.  Poor guy.

Anyway, please join us for this flashback challenge.  Create a layout and post it in our gallery (view our message boards too and let us know you're posting for the flashback challenge) and who knows?  There might be some goodies involved.  C'mon over and play with us!!

........................................................................................................................................................

Hi all, Rachel here hijacking the post to add one of my recent PASSION layouts - it's never too late to use one of our themes to explore you...

Here's a sneak - you'll have to come join us on the website to see more!

Our regular reader may remember that I am James Taylor's BIGGEST fan. So I wanted to capture some of why I love him and what he stands for, how he inspires me.So what are you passionate about? Like Kai said, come tell us and you could win a great prize!

XO,

Goal Setting in your Layouts - and a Chance to Win ACHIEVEMENT

As your week draws to a close, do you feel that you accomplished everything you set out to do in the past seven days? How about the past month, or year? We all set goals for ourselves in different areas of our lives. And if you’re like me, you struggle with reaching all your goals because there are so many great things to create, so much you can become, and so little time.

My new blog post is up over at the Creating Keepsakes Blog today. It's about goals reached and opportunities missed...and how to be gentle with yourself about where you are in relation to your goals and dreams, loving yourself as you are right now. 

Her are some sneaks of the LOs you'll see. Make sure to head over to the CK blog for your chance to win the ACHIEVEMENT kit.

For more ways to win, come over to our beautiful new site and go the Community drop down to sign up on the Message Board. We've got meaningful, thought-provoking challenges all month with more chances to win great scrappy prizes.

What are your cherished goals?

Love,

Use Your Words

What's your favorite definition, synonym or antonym for this month's theme, ACHIEVEMENT?


I love actualization, fulfillment and mastery.


Share your favorite in the comments. Did we miss your fave? What does the word ACHIEVEMENT mean to you? Stay tuned for our Achievement challenges and PRIZES!

Main Entry:       Achievement  

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         something completed successfully; goal reached

Synonyms:        accomplishment, acquirement, acquisition, act, actualization,

attainment, completion, conquest, consummation, contrivance, creation, deed,

effectuation, effort, enactment, encompassment, execution, exploit, feat,

Fulfillment, hit, masterpiece, performance, production, realization, stroke,

success, tour de force, triumph, victory

Antonyms:        defeat, failure, forfeit, injury, miscue, misfortune, neglect,

negligence

Main Entry:       acquisition

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         obtaining or receiving

Synonyms:        accretion, achievement , acquirement, acquiring, addition, attainment,

buy, gain, gaining, learning, obtainment, possession, prize, procuration,

procurement, procuring, property, purchase, pursuit, recovery, redemption,

retrieval, salvage, winning

Notes:  acquisition  is a material possession while an acquirement  is a personal

skill or knowledge that one gains

Antonyms:        dearth, lack, loss, need, want

Main Entry:       act

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         something done

Synonyms:        accomplishment, achievement , action, deed, doing, execution, exploit,

feat, move, operation, performance, step, thing, undertaking

Antonyms:        cessation, idleness, inactivity, inertia, quiet, quiet, repose, rest,

stoppage, suspension

Main Entry:       action

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         individual deed

Synonyms:        accomplishment, achievement , act, blow, commission, dealings, doing,

effort, enterprise, execution, exercise, exertion, exploit, feat, handiwork,

maneuver, manipulation, move, operation, performance, procedure, step, stroke,

thrust, transaction, undertaking

Main Entry:       actuality

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         something that truly exists, is real

Synonyms:        achievement , actualization, attainment, brass tacks, fact,

materiality, materialization, real world, reality, straight stuff, substance,

substantiality, truth, what it is

Main Entry:       completion

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         accomplishment, finishing

Synonyms:        achievement , attainment, close, conclusion, consummation,

culmination, curtains, dispatch, end, expiration, finalization, finis, finish,

fruition, fulfillment, hips, integration, perfection, realization, swan song,

windup, wrap-up

Antonyms:        anticlimax, imperfection

Main Entry:       creation

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         invention, concoction

Synonyms:        achievement , brainchild, chef-d'oeuvre, concept, handiwork, magnum

opus, opus, piece, pièce de résistance, production, work, work of genius

Main Entry:       discharge

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         carrying out of responsibility

Synonyms:        accomplishment, achievement , execution, fulfillment, observance,

performance

Main Entry:       effort

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         work, exertion

Synonyms:        accomplishment, achievement, act, aim, application, aspiration,

attempt, battle, crack*, creation, deed, discipline, drill, elbow grease,

endeavor, energy, enterprise, essay, exercise, feat, fling*, force, go*,

industry, intention, job, labor, old college try, pains, power, product,

production, pull, purpose, push, resolution, shot*, spurt, stab*, strain,

stress, stretch, strife, striving, struggle, sweat, tension, toil, training,

travail, trial, trouble, try, tug, undertaking, venture, whack

Antonyms:        hesitation, idleness, inactivity, laziness, passivity

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:       end

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         completion, stop

Synonyms:        accomplishment, achievement , adjournment, attainment, bottom line,

cease, cessation, close, closing, closure, conclusion, consequence,

consummation, culmination, curtain, denouement, desistance, desuetude,

determination, discontinuance, execution, expiration, expiry, finale, finis,

finish, fulfillment, issue, last word, omega, outcome, payoff, perfection,

realization, resolution, result, retirement, sign-off, target, termination,

terminus, upshot, windup, wrap-up

Antonyms:        beginning, commencement, opening, start

Main Entry:       execution

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         carrying out of a task

Synonyms:        accomplishment, achievement , administration, completion,

consummation, delivery, discharge, doing, effect, enactment, enforcement,

fulfilling, implementation, nuts and bolts, operation, performance, prosecution,

realization, rendering, style

Antonyms:        abandoning, disregard, failure, forgetting, ignorance, leaving,

neglect

Main Entry:       finish

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         conclusion; completion

Synonyms:        accomplishment, achievement , acquirement, acquisition, annihilation,

attainment, cease, cessation, close, closing, culmination, curtain, curtains,

death, defeat, denouement, desistance, end, end of the line, end of the road,

ending, finale, finis, last, last stage, ruin, stop, termination, terminus,

wind-up, winding-up, wrap, wrap-up

Antonyms:        beginning, commencement, initiation, introduction, start

Main Entry:       fulfillment

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         accomplishment, completion

Synonyms:        achievement , attainment, carrying out, carrying through,

consummation, contentedness, contentment, crowning, discharge, discharging,

effecting, end, gratification, implementation, just the ticket, kick*, kicks

observance, perfection, realization, you got it

Antonyms:        disappointment, dissatisfaction, failure, frustration, unfulfillment

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:       gain

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         acquisition, winnings

Synonyms:        accretion, accrual, accumulation, achievement , addition, advance,

advancement, advantage, attainment, benefit, boost, buildup, cut, dividend,

earnings, emolument, gravy, growth, headway, hike, improvement, income,

increase, increment, lucre, payoff, proceeds, produce, profit, progress,

receipts, return, rise, share, take, up*, upping, velvet*, yield

Antonyms:        expenditure, forfeit, forfeiture, loss, waste

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:       hope

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         longing; dream

Synonyms:        Utopia, achievement , ambition, anticipation, aspiration, assumption,

belief, bright side, buoyancy, castles in air, concern, confidence, daydream,

dependence, desire, endurance, expectancy, expectation, faith, fancy, fool's

paradise, fortune, gain, goal, greedy glutton, hopefulness, light at end of

tunnel, optimism, pipe dream, promise, promised land, prospect, reliance,

reverie, reward, rosiness, sanguineness, security, stock, thing with feathers,

wish

Antonyms:        despair, disbelief, discouragement, hopelessness, pessimism

Main Entry:       satisfaction

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         giving or enjoying a state of comfort, content

Synonyms:        achievement , amends, amusement, atonement, bliss, cheerfulness,

comfort, compensation, complacency, conciliation, contentedness, contentment,

delight, ease, enjoyment, fulfillment, gladness, good fortune, gratification,

happiness, indemnification, indulgence, joy, justice, peace of mind, pleasure,

pride, propitiation, recompense, redress, refreshment, reimbursement, relief,

reparation, repletion, resolution, reward, satiety, serenity, settlement,

vindication, well-being

Antonyms:        discontent, dissatisfaction, need, unhappiness, want

Main Entry:       success

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         favorable outcome

Synonyms:        Easy Street, accomplishment, achievement , advance, arrival,

ascendancy, attainment, bed of roses, benefit, big hit, boom*, clover,

consummation, do well, eminence, fame, flying colors, fortune, fruition, gain,

good luck*, good times, grand slam, gravy train, happiness, happy days, hit,

killing, lap of luxury, laugher, maturation, profit, progress, prosperity,

realization, reward, savvy, sensation, snap, strike, successfulness, triumph,

victory, walkaway, walkover, win, éclat

Antonyms:        failure, loss

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:       tour de force

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         spectacular achievement

Synonyms:        accomplishment, achievement , attainment, chef-d'oeuvre, conquest,

deed, exploit, feat, feat of strength, grand achievement, great achievement,

magnum opus, master stroke, masterpiece, masterwork, performance, piece de

resistance, stroke of genius, success, triumph, victory

Main Entry:       victory

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:         win, success

Synonyms:        achievement , advantage, ascendancy, bull's-eye, clean sweep,

conquest, control, defeat, defeating, destruction, dominion, feather in cap,

gain, grand slam, hit, hole in one, killing*, laurels, mission accomplished,

overthrow, prize, subjugation, superiority, supremacy, sweep, the gold, triumph,

upper hand, upset, winning

Antonyms:        defeat, failure, forfeit, loss

Make sure to come by to our FABULOUS new site and join us on our message board for inspiring challenges, fun, meaning and camaraderie! Just takes a few minutes to sign up and you'll be exploring your inner world with us!

Love,

Iron Scrapper - Join Us for a Chance to Win!

Unless you're already a member of the message boards/community over at Inside Out, you may not know about this ... but happy day, I'm here to share with you again! When Rachel first started this amazing and inspirational kit club and community, she included "games" and other challenges to keep the community growing, stretching our minds and creativity.  One of those challenges is the Iron Scrapper challenge.

I'm here, today, to share with you this month's Iron Scrapper challenge.  It's a lot of fun... but I'm not going to share all of the details here.   Instead, I hope to intrigue you...

The Iron Scrapper challenge is different than our other challenges.  It doesn't have anything to do, typically, with the monthly topic we choose to explore.  It takes one element and pushes it out to anyone willing to take up the challenge. For those who do pick up the gauntlet, and share with us, we get to enjoy how our different styles and our different lives impact our scrapbooking and our views, perceptions and interpretations of various thoughts and pictures.

For example, in a previous Iron Scrapper, we challenged people to scrapbook a photo of a pregnancy test indicator (indicating pregnant) and what it meant to them.  Wow!  What amazing, heartfelt responses!

Okay, so for more details on the "rules" please visit our Iron Scrapper section on our message boards.

I will leave you with the most recent challenge posted. It came from seeing a Tim Holtz stamp, although I'm pretty sure he's not the originator of the thought... but it's something that resonates in me.  And perhaps you?  So... I challenge you to scrap this quote, or the thought behind the quote:

What if your FEARS and DREAMS existed in the same place,

would you still go there?

I do hope you will participate.  If you're not already a member in our community, please come over and join.  It's free!  So much inspiration and open-hearted friendships and support over there (AND a beautiful all-new design, look and feel). Even better, if you join us and post your Iron Scrapper layout, there is a chance you could win a PRIZE!  Who could ignore that?

For your chance to win, check out the rules, then scrap what comes to mind when you think of the quote posted, share your layout with us, mention on the boards that your layout is online in the gallery and then sit back and watch what others come up with as well.  Post your layout no later than October 18th, midnight Pacific time.


Are you up for the challenge?  C'mon!  I double-dog dare ya!

The ACHIEVEMENT Kit is LIVE

(in case you're wondering where the monthly post is with last month's content...it's not here...it's on our BRAND NEW SITE! Click here to access what you need to keep working on BALANCE...and shortly, all our previous themes will be there. Stay tuned!)

And now...

Welcome to October and ACHIEVEMENT!

Our October kit, ACHIEVEMENT, is all about reaching for the stars, becoming who you are meant to be and working hard to have all you dream of. How do you measure success? Is it internal or defined by external approval? What are your proudest accomplishments, what defeats have you overcome and what would you like to master?

This kit has a great back-to-school vibe that's modern, symbolic and fun. Explore your childhood, those slumber party memories, late night study sessions and more. Plan for your future and set up steps toward your cherished goals.

We’ve included paper from Basic Grey’s Oxford line, filled with autumnal and fashionable plaids with a whimsical touch of nerdy fun and My Mind’s Eye’s quirky Lime Twist. You’ll fall for the warm, cozy color palette of burgundy, sage, oatmeal and brown.

Embellishments galore bring in rich florals, stitching and metal. Wide ribbon trim, a regal wax seal and a layered bow tie are fun ways to go back in time while staying current! Lily Bee’s sought after Memorandum journaling cards, lots of buttons, fabric brads, label stickers and titles let you express yourself with honesty.

Go for the gold, attain your desires and believe in what you can become.

Join us and Explore Your Inner World.

Click here to go to our BRAND NEW easy to use Buy Page. Our subscriptions start at $39.99 for a perfect kit, no sneaky add-ons needed, and fabulous free gifts with your order.

10 Sheets Double Sided Patterned Paper:

• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Boy Spots           
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Playful Number           
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Remember Argyle           
• Basic Grey Oxford Ivy League           
• Basic Grey Oxford Rowing           
• Basic Grey Oxford Fencing           
• Basic Grey Oxford Deans List           
• Basic Grey Oxford Study Hall           
• Basic Grey Oxford Preppie Plaid           
• Basic Grey Oxford Debate Team

2 Sheets Specialty Paper: 

• American Crafts Nightfall Night Owl (Chalkboard Finish)
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Remember Dots (Die-Cut)

Embellishments:

• American Crafts Thickers Maple Chocolate           
• Basic Grey Oxford Alpha Stickers           
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Remember Title           
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Smile           
• Basic Grey Oxford Buttons, 10-11 Pcs
• Basic Grey Oxford Stitched Brads, 1/3 Package
• Basic Grey Oxford Small Details, 1/3 Package
• My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found 2 Rosy Ordinary Label Stickers           
• Lily Bee Memorandum Index Journal Cards,            3 Cards
• American Crafts Basic Ribbon Spools Stitched Grosgrain Green 1/2", ½ Yd
• American Crafts Basic Ribbon Spools Stitched Grosgrain Brown 1", ½ Yd
• Prima Flaxence Flower, Oasis, 1 Flower
• Prima Carlotta Flower, Parrot, 1 Flower
• Prima Vermont Felt Leaf, 2 Leaves
• Global Solutions Wax Seal, Fleur De Lys 3/4 Round, Harvest Gold           
• Basic Grey Oxford Bowties, 1 Bowtie

Cardstock:

• American Crafts Pomegranate           
• American Crafts Vanilla           
• American Crafts Olive           
• American Crafts Truffle

Color:

American Crafts Metallic Blue Medium Marker

Make sure to come by and join us on our message board for inspiring challenges, fun and camaraderie!

Love,