Giveaway: My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software

I really love looking at photographs of my family. With two young boys, I take a ton of pictures. But the challenge is getting them off of my camera or computer and into a scrapbook. I have so little time to cut out each picture and create a show-off-worthy scrapbook for each of my children!

The solution to the time crunch we’re all in is to use digital scrapbooking software with pre-made templates. Creating scrapbooks using digital software saves a ton of time over the cutting and pasting or taping we’ve been used to. It also saves time over using a web-based service such as Snapfish.com or Shutterfly.com. I’ve spent loads of time uploading pictures and creating an album only to have the computer freeze or the website lose all my photos.

With My Memories software, using the pictures you have on your computer or camera, you are able to drag and drop them directly into a template and then create great photo books that are shipped to you. You can find free templates on their website or you can purchase additional templates for more background or paper options.

I was given a free downloadable copy of My Memories to review and one to give away to a reader of my blog!

To enter to win this free downloadable copy of My Memories software, you can visit the My Memories website and leave a one comment specifying what digital paper pack or layout is your favorite. Also, you MUST be a follower of Monkey See, Monkey Do to qualify to win! (Be sure to leave your email address in your comment!) Make sure to enter by Friday, September 23rd.

As a special for all of the readers of Monkey See, Monkey Do, use this Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store: STMMMS83825

If you don’t win, be sure to use the code to purchase your own copy of the software. You can get all your summer vacation pictures organized into cute photo books for yourself or to give as gifts! Don't forget to use the MyMemories.com code: STMMMS83825 to save yourself a total of $20 when you place your order.

I will use random.org to generate a winning comment number and will send an email to the winner’s address with the code and instructions to download the software.

Good luck!

Two Things I Dislike

Lots of bloggers write about things they love. I usually write about stuff I want to make, so I normally am writing about what I like. But here are two things I just don't like.

1) Halloween. Since I do blog, I read crafty sites {sometimes!} and this season is sort of *blah* for me when I look at other websites. It isn't a religious objection to Halloween, I just don't like it. It just seems like a waste of time! I don't love candy, so maybe that's why I just never got that into it. I do admit that I'll let my kids wear costumes (that I'll probably make!) when they can ask for them.

2) Missoni for Target. Am I the only person in the country that thinks the colors and patterns from this line are hideous? I normally love Target! Half my wardrobe is from the clearance section there.* I would buy all my children's clothing there if they wouldn't end up looking like clones of every other child I know. How could Target have such poor taste?

So there you have it. Two things that have been annoying me this week: seeing tons of Halloween projects show up in my blog reader and ugly Missoni clothing being at Target.

*I have not taken a leisurely shopping trip to Target to browse the clearance section in quite awhile. I think I am due for one!!*

Repurposed Craft Supply Wall Organizer

I found this item in my parents' barn. My dad said I could do whatever I wanted to it.

"What is it?"
My dad explained it was a radiator cover that was in my great-aunt's apartment. She passed away approximately 25 years ago, so I have no idea why anyone saved this custom-designed radiator cover for an apartment in which she no longer lives.
Whatever the case, I saw great potential for repurposing it into the craft storage unit I've always wanted.

To start things off, I took a tiger saw and removed the grate from the front. Then I
sanded (a lot) to get the peeling paint off.

This was before my dad mentioned that it was probably lead paint and I should be careful of the dust and fumes.

Here is a picture of the whole thing clamped on its side post-tiger sawing:

My dad helped me cut some cleats and dowel rods (the cleats are “u-shaped” and hold the dowel rods up) to use for ribbon and paper storage. I attached them with Gorilla Glue and some screws.

I later coated it with antique white glossy spray paint. Then I masked the sides, top and bottom of the shelves, like I did for the bookshelf, and sprayed the back of the shelves with flat lilac spray paint.

Here is the finished product! Notice how perfectly it holds my spray-painted yogurt containers? How about my rescued metal recipe boxes? Everything is color coordinated!

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Unloading the Dishwasher

Could there be a more boring title for a blog post?

Anyway, just wanted to share some tips I've been using to make the task of unloading the dishwasher go faster. I personally hate this quick chore.

1) Open all your cupboards and drawers in the kitchen and leave them open til you're all done putting away the dishes.

2) When loading the dishwasher, put all the forks in one of the utensil spaces in the utensil caddy. Do the same with the spoons and knives. That way you just take them out and plop them into the drawer. No sorting necessary. (My husband instituted this one in our home.)

Do you have any time-saving tips for doing dishes?

Old Bra=New Accessory! (Guest Tutorial)

This tutorial was created by a friend of mine from Ohio! She has two adorable kiddos and we were in MOPS together.

May I just say that if you are a mom of pre-school children (ages 0-5), you must find a MOPS group to join. Hope you enjoy Katie’s tutorial!~Jen

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Hi, I'm Katie and Jen has graciously allowed me to share a super fun project with all of you. So just a quick background before we get started... For nearly 5 years straight my breasts have taken on a life of their own, through 2 pregnancies and 41 months and counting of breastfeeding. As a result, the girls have changed over the years and my once well-fitting bras, well lets just say their day has come and gone in my wardrobe. So, while going through my clothes in an effort to condense, purge, and donate items I came across 3 very lonely bras. Upon seeing them, 3 things came to mind:

1. Who would really want my used bras? (Although I have donated them to Goodwill in the past.)
2. I can't throw away gently used clothes- not even bras!
3. How can I repurpose them?

Hair Accessories! I love hair bows and headbands. They have the power to make you look and feel so feminine in a nanosecond. One problem: My bra cups are, eh hem... small. And I didn't have enough fabric to make a proper hair bow.

So I opted to make a Bra Broach... ta-da! I hope you'll enjoy this mini-tutorial. By the way, I'm really no Martha so please forgive me and my asymmetrical cuts!

I hope this project got you thinking outside the cup. Another idea of how to use fabric from an old bra... sew it into a sports bra to hold an mp3 player or cell phone! The possibilities of reusing items is endless! How have you recently reused fabric or a household item to create something special?

I'd love to hear from you on Twitter @kbevan4 as to how you plan to repurpose an old bra. I'm no longer a bloggy dog, but if you care to read any of my past thoughts, check them out here-- mama-kate.blogspot.com.

Peace,

Katie