My Memories Giveaway!

In honor of Black Friday I am so excited to share this great giveaway with all of you! My Memories is a brilliant digital scrapbooking software program that allows you to create amazing photo pages that you can then print out. You can also use this software to make cards, videos, slide shows put to music, and even photo books.

So yesterday was Thanksgiving and I am sure you had a great time and probably took some photos of your loved ones. If you are like me you may have a long list of scrapbooking "to-dos". The guilt of realizing that I am now a year behind in my son's scrapbook is a little stressful! I was so pleased when My Memories contacted me with this offer because it has given me the chance to share how easy and quick scrapbooking can be with this program. I can now easily create pages by using photos already on my computer and then print them out, ready to be placed into my scrapbook.

There are so many options for embellishments and great designer templates that have already been created. Take a look at what I created this week.

In May I travelled with my son, husband and my parents to Marbella, Spain. Marbella has a strong connection for us and I spent many enjoyable holidays there as a child. Now, 25 years later it was amazing to return with my parents and my family to this beautiful place. Marbella is in the south of Spain on the Costa del Sol and there is sun, sand, fantastic food and most of all wonderful friendly people. We are always made to feel so welcome there and I know we will be returning in the future. It was so fun to create this page that shows photos from then and now. This software made it so easy to create and share this page and many others that I can treasure forever.

So now for the giveaway! One lucky reader will receive a complimentary software suite from My Memories (retail price $39.95). All you have to do is.....

1. If you are not already a follower, please become a follower of my blog.

2. Visit www.mymemories.com and choose your favorite digital scrapbook kit and let me know your choice in the comment box below.

The winner will be announced on Friday, December 2, 2011.

Also, just because My Memories is so cool they are providing a $10 coupon and $10 discount if you don't win and decide to purchase the My Memories Software V3 ($20 value). Just use this coupon code at the check out - STMMMS91484. 


Feel free to let your friends and followers know about this giveaway!

thanksgiving table

This table scape is actually from last year. I hosted the holiday for my American family and although I'm from Ireland (where we obviously don't celebrate Thanksgiving) I really enjoy the sentiment of the day.

I sewed my own tablecloth and napkins using this gorgeous leaf fabric and a chocolate brown to compliment. The color combination is so warm and inviting and with my gold chargers I think it really came together. 

A tip about the table runner. To add the bell tassels at the end I sewed a button to the end of the runner and then looped the tassel to that. 

A lot of the tassels are 'dry clean only' so by making it detachable it means I can wash the runner easily.

Add pumpkins and candles, some wine and the whole table really came together, now I just need some people!

This blog is linked to Today's Creative Blog.

making whoopie......pies

I made some whoopie pies for the first time today and used this recipe. I am attending a kiddie birthday party and I thought these would be the prefect mini-treat to bring along.

 Of course, since these are for children I had to add sprinkles. I also like that the recipe includes whole wheat flour. I suppose that cancels out the high marshmallow fluff content, right?

With the red and green sugar added I thought these would be a perfect treat for a holiday party. Looks like somebody thought they would be a perfect treat right away!

P.S. How much do you love those Santa mugs? I adore them.

christmas bunting

I am so excited! I have completed my first holiday project of the season and my first using felt. Felt is so easy to work with, no fraying edges, so easy to cut and to glue. It is the perfect material for applique.

This mitten bunting is a total knock-off of this garland from The Land of Nod. I got the catalogue a week ago, saw these and thought, I can do that. So I did. I made my bunting 12 mittens long and I created my own designs for each mitten. 

Although I don't usually decorate until after Thanksgiving once I put these up I found it really hard to take them down. They are so cheery and fun!

P.S. I have made another strand just like this available in my etsy shop. I am also offering custom lengths.


This post is linked to Today's Creative Blog.

cake truffles

Inspired by this blog I made these yummy cake truffles. Sweet and delicious and easy to make. My advice - just make sure you cool the truffles in the fridge for as long as you (or your kids) can wait before coating them, at least 30 minutes. I found it easier to coat them when they were chilled for a longer time. 

I used lollipop sticks on a few of the balls just to change it up and really, who doesn't love a lollipop cake ball?

happiness is....

New supplies! A box of beautiful fabric arrived yesterday from fabric.com and I was so excited. My husband looked at me as if I had two heads while I fawned over the fabric! 

I ordered this lovely stack for a quilt I am planning to make for our bedroom. 

I have been wanting to get a supply of felt for a while because I have so many ideas for it. I've already started working on something for Christmas which I will share next week. 

I also have to say that Fabric.com is awesome. Not only were the colors of the fabrics so true to the images on their site but they also sent me a free queen size quilt batting. It was as if they knew what I was planning to make. They have won my future business for sure. 

quilted laptop sleeve

I got a new laptop a couple of months ago and up until recently I have been carting it around without any protection - shame on me. I had a couple of hours to spare the other day so I whipped up this little item from some bits and pieces I had in my stash. It is so easy to make a lap top sleeve I think I will post a tutorial so anybody can make one. Watch this space...

  You need no longer neglect your laptop.

I used a free quilting technique on the sleeve. It is so easy to do and you don't have to be bothered with drawing lines or concerned about making mistakes - just let your needle run free man! 

I had my laptop at class the other night and when I took it out of my bag a classmate complimented the sleeve and asked me if I bought the sleeve on Etsy. Why no, I said, I made it myself!