Let's play TAG!

Eeek, I'm IT!!! The lovely and talented Dedra Long has tagged me with this adorable Makes My Heart Smile bug. Isn't she cute? Now I have to choose 10 blogs that Make My Heart Smile and pass this on. Here's how to play:

1. The winner can display this adorable ladybug on their blog
2. Link back to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 10 new blogs.
4. Add links to those 10 blogs.
5. Leave a comment for the nominees.

Here's my 10 blogs in no particular order, but they DO make my heart smile.

1. Scrapbook Obsession
2. Scrapperlicious
3. Painterlady
4. Leah Fung
5. Oh Scrap
6. Paper Passion & Pixel Mania
7. Pretty Paper Swirls
8. Scrap This!
9. Life As A Scrapper
10. Such a Pretty Mess!


I hope you all enjoy your cute little bug, and thank you for sharing your blogs with the world.

For those of you who aren't familiar with these blogs, go visit, you won't be disappointed!

Yep, they're in there....

I picked up my mail today and found the May issue of Scrapbook Trends. After all my complaining and threats, they're still sending me their magazine. You'd think they would have stopped it a month ago. I wonder how long it will take. I wonder if I should send it back and not look at it? Nah....I gotta look now, it's HERE.

So, just as I knew I would, I found Ms. Dedra Long in there,....and then I found Ms. Joscie, (rhymes with bossy)! I get such a kick seeing published layouts by people I know! Congratulations to you both!

Maryann

Recently Dedra Long made a layout for the friend she lost in high school. Her best friend. I don't know how I would have coped if that had happened to me. I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through life without her, and Dedra's memory made me want to create one of my own. Maryann is my best friend from high school. The person that loved me unconditionally, and with whom I was most comfortable being myself.

The pictures I have are all so old...many of them are so faded that I can't use them. But this picture is special to me because I found it in one of my mother's albums with a note that read..."The sweetest and dearest girlfriend Eileen ever had."

Here's another little paper bag album I made using K&Company's designer paper by Brenda Walton. I really like this paper, it feels like linen. I topped it with one of those gorgeous Prima flowers over a paper doily. These are so fun to make, and they're great little gifts. Just personalize and put a smile on someone's face.



Of course, you could make your own flowers as I'm slowly learning to do with my Sizzix. One of my favorite galleries is at Scrapbook.com and the posters over there make FABULOUS layouts. Honestly, I always see breathtaking layouts over there, and some with homemade embellishments! So I'm trying my hand at making flowers with my Sizzix....oh yes, and swirls too....love those swirls.

I just can't resist those Primas though...and now I found some great mulberry paper flowers by Petaloo. I just received my order from scrapbook.com yesterday and I LOVE THESE FLOWERS! I opened the green package and put together 3 GIGANTIC flowers, but just look at how many pieces there are!



I have to admit Scrapbook.com is my favorite online store. The orders are shipped out in no time at all, and I've never had any type of problem with them whatsoever....AND they have great employees!

Scrapbook Trends and I part ways.....

Seems like people are posting less these days. Also seems like the scrap boards are visited less these days. Or is it just that I'm posting and visiting less? Actually, I'm still visiting...just not posting. Unfortunately, I don't have anything good to say right now because I'm still reeling from the dishonesty of Scrapbook Trends.

I found an incredible offer last year and subscribed to ST. It was fabulous. Great magazine, great price, fabulous layouts! Trust me, there were no strings attached to this offer, no platinum membership, no auto renewal, nothing. I received the usual emails about renewing but didn't do anything. I even received a phone message about renewing. I remember being impressed that it wasn't recorded, but a real live person leaving that message. I had decided not to renew at that time so I didn't respond. I guess that wasn't good enough for ST....they renewed me anyway, and charged my bank account for the renewal. Little did they know that when I subscribed last year, I used my debit card, so this little charge of $39.95 was taken right out of my checking account. Oh that made my blood boil, but I figured it was an honest mistake.

After a month of phone calls to ST trying to get this charge reversed, they finally took action and placed ANOTHER charge on my debit card, this one for $75!! Now, they're into my checkbook for over $100.00 and I have no idea when they might do it again! Once is a mistake, but twice? This time I flipped out, threatened to take whatever legal action I could and to spread the word on the internet. So here I am....spreading the word. They did credit my account within 3 days of that last phone call, but the damage had already been done. What if I didn't have that money in my account? What if they created an overdraft situation for me? What if they were making unauthorized charges all over the country like this? BAD. Very, very BAD.

I'm so disappointed. I know that friends of mine will still be published in that magazine but I won't buy it again. I'll wait until they can show their layouts on the internet or take a peek when I'm in the store...but I will NOT give ST or their mothership, Northridge Publishers, another penny. NO ONE has the right to tell you they put you into an auto renewal program WITHOUT your permission. NO ONE has the right to make charges against your credit cards just because they have the number on file. I know I'll never use my debit card again to make an online purchase, but I really thought I was dealing with an honest and professional business. At some level I still believe that, but something changed over there, and some bad decisions have been made. Desperation, I would think.