Sad - VERY sad weekend!

Hey everyone!

Sorry it has been so long. We went on a long road trip to visit all of my family in Oklahoma and Kansas and had a great time.

I have some good news. I will now be teaching classes at the new scrapbook store, Scrapper's Boutique, and am very excited about that. My first class is a mini book class designed for children and adults ages 8 and up. It is an 8" x 8" board book done with the Snorkel papers by Cosmo Cricket. It is this Saturday, August 15th from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. I hope to see some of you signed up. :)

On a sad note, I have decided that I need to close my digital design website, and I will no longer be designing in the digital community. I took the summer off and have just realized everything that I have been missing out on with my family by being so tied to the computer. I will still be designing for Memory Mixer by Lasting Impressions and Daisy Trail by Serif, but won't be on any other sites for now. After August 20th, Paula Phillips Designs will be shut down, and that blog will have to go down also, so I'll be back here to hopefully be a better blogger - hehe.

Now for the awful news. This weekend I had my new wedding rings stolen. I know that they aren't just "lost" cuz I ALWAYS put them in the same spot every time that I take them off and all my rings are placed in a certain order EVERY time (this is just another of my type A things) but when I went to go somewhere the next day, my wedding rings were gone, but nothing else had been disturbed. The other rings were in their exact spot right next to where my wedding rings should have been. There had been a company come into my house to do some work, but I have known them for a long time and just don't want to think that they could have done it. I just can't imagine what happened to them. I have turned the house upside down and they just simply aren't here. They had to have been taken. It's the only scenario that makes sense. I remember putting them in their spot the night before when I arrived home around midnight. My kids have NEVER EVER touched or messed with my jewelry and they both have told me very emphatically that they didn't touch them. Not to mention that I was in my room most of the morning before the workers arrived, and my kids weren't even in there much at all. It just makes me sick. I don't think we'll ever be able to replace them. It was a very original set and the company where we bought them is no longer in business. Not to mention that I had saved and worked like crazy to get the money together to get this new set because my old set had problems and could not be fixed. I don't know if we will ever be able to save enough money to even get something close to replacing them. With the money I saved and trading in my old set - the new set was my 10th anniversary present. I am just heartbroken. Then - it gets even worse. The rings disappeared on Friday, then today (Sunday) I woke up to my older dog Hercules coughing like crazy and having a hard time breathing. We took him to the ER vet and have been told that he is in congestive heart failure with fluid on his lungs and possible kidney failure happening. We have him on medications that hopefully will help him live comfortably a while longer, but his heart has already enlarged and is pushing against his trachea. It's just not good. We may only have a few months left with him and I just don't think I can take any more of my heart being ripped out. I'm trying so hard to not just fall apart, but every time I think of anything, all that can pop into my mind is that my wedding rings with all their meaning to me are gone and now I'm loosing my dear Hercules too. I just ask that you all pray for me and my family right now. I know that we will get through this and I'm praying for the Lord to give me some comfort and help me understand. I know everything is part of his plan, but it's times like this that you just wish you could have a glimpse at that big picture so maybe it wouldn't hurt so bad right now.

Well - I'd better try to get some sleep now. Thanks for listening to my rants. Hopefully next time I post, things will be looking up. I hope you all are well! ((HUGS))
~til next time,
Paula

We saved a turtle!!

We just had the oddest thing happen to us yesterday and I just had to share it with you. Last night my family decided we would all go for a walk. The weather was so nice and we had walked several blocks and had walked along the street next to the quarry and turned to see a HUGE turtle in the road. It was larger than a basketball and was only moving his head. His shell was cracked on the back and we couldn't tell if he could move or not - but he was a huge snapping turtle - so we didn't dare get too close. My husband decided we would try to help the poor turtle so he went back home to get a big bucket and shovel to put him in so we could take him back to the quarry where we assumed he came from. Well - while my husband was gone, the turtle decided to move - so we did find out he could walk. Really the only thing that appeared wrong with him was the crack in the back of his shell. So me and my kids kept an eye on him until hubby came in the Jeep with a large container and shovel. He gently lifted the turtle up and placed him in the large container. That turtle snapped so hard that I thought he was going to snap the shovel handle in two pieces, but he didn't. There was a huge fence around the quarry and there wasn't a way for us to put him in there without just dumping him over the fence, which could have hurt him badly - plus hubby said the thing weighed prolly 25 to 30 pounds and would have been hard to lift that high anyway. So - we took him to a nearby lake and released him. He seemed so happy to get into the water and be off of that hard concrete street. Then the coolest thing happened - we watched him swim away - then right before we turned to leave - he came back and just popped his head up out of the water and looked at us as if he was thanking us. It really was a cool moment and it felt so good to know that we helped that little guy out!!

I have a few other things going on right now. I am working on some craft projects for a new book by Design Originals. I'm hoping to finish them in the next few days to turn in. I think they are gonna be cute. Then I am also looking for a new digital shop to call home since Digital Candy closed. I have only sent out one application so far - just sent it last night - keeping my fingers crossed. I also have a new kit that I just released called Summer Sunrise and I'll put the preview on the right side for you. It's 25% off in my shop at Paula Phillips Designs through the end of May.

I also just found out about a new scrapbooking store that will be opening in my area - whoo hoo!! I don't know yet what the name of it will be- but it's in my old neighborhood in North Richland Hills and I can't wait for it to open. I also found out that Sharon Cheng, a super Stampin' Up demonstrator and awesome scrapbook instructor will be teaching classes there and I got a sneak peek at 2 of the classes she will be offering and can't wait to sign up!!

Well - that's about all going on right now. Just trying to get through all the end of school activities and plan for my yearly trip to see my family in Oklahoma and Kansas. I hope all of you are having a wonderful start to the new week!!

~til next time,
Paula

I saw a celebrity and FREEBIES!!!

Hey everyone!!!

Well - the storms have passed - some got pretty bad last night, but other than the practice facility for the Dallas Cowboys, everything else seems to be ok.

I have to tell you about my trip to the mall that ended up being my first time to actually see a celebrity right in front of me!! My husband had won a gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods and was wanting to go spend it, so I reluctantly agreed to go to the nearest one with him, which was at NorthEast Mall in North Richland Hills, TX. Anyway - we went up the escalator past some of the clothes (we were headed to the fishing department) when I saw a group of ladies and one of them looked very familiar. I stopped and was glancing back to see who she was - when my husband came back and told me that was Kelly Clarkson!!!! It most definitely was!! She had very little makeup on and her hair pulled back, probably trying not to be noticed, but she was still cute. I kept trying to get my daughter to see if she could get her autograph, but my daughter wouldn't do it - darn it - hehe!! So - we went on to the fishing department and watched her and her friends leave the store. There were several employees standing around watching too - and just to be sure I asked one of them if that was Kelly Clarkson - and they said - Yes it was. :) I couldn't believe it!!! Just had to share - hehe!!

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I want to take a minute to tell you to please go check out the forum in my website!! There are some great new challenges in there that I think you will enjoy!! I will be starting a points system too so that you will be earning points towards free kits from me!!! The site addy is:

www.paulaphillipsdesigns.com

Ok - now for the freebies!! I have two of them for you. I have created a 12" x 12" template for you to use, and one of my wonderful CT members, Marisa, has made a 12" x 12" quick page for you with my Spring A Ling kit. I hope you enjoy them!!

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Download Quick Page HERE

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Thanks for checking my blog and I hope you all had a wonderful National Scrapbooking Day!!

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~til next time,

Paula

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!

I am working on a couple of freebies for you, but we are having storms here and our electricity has already gone out once. It has come back on - so I just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that I will be finishing them and putting them up tomorrow. :) I have a quick page from one of my wonderful CT members, Marisa and a new 12" x 12" template!! Be sure to come back tomorrow to grab them!! Now - I'm turning off my computer to make sure that it doesn't get fried from the lightning!! Have a wonderful NSD!!!

~til nex time,
Paula

Sale Started and Freebie!!!

Hello all!! My sale has officially started at Digital Candy. All the details are in the post below - but one part of the sale is that you get a Quick Page kit (with 8 Quick Pages in it) with any purchase of my products in April - and now - you can get an extra quick page to add to that collection that is only available here at my blog!!!
Click here to go to My Shoppe At Digital Candy



























Download HERE

Special thanks to Barb of my Creative Team for making this beautiful quick page!!
Enjoy and happy shopping!!!

~til next time,
Paula

Busy weekend painting!!

Hi everyone!! I hope you all have been well. Things are going pretty good here. This weekend we have been painting my Son's room. We painted my daughter's room last weekend and their new furniture it supposed to be delivered on Tuesday -at least part of it - hehe!! They are both sooo excited!! I'm just worn out from preparing - lol. I got more paint on me than I think I did the walls, but it's all done and boy will I be sore tomorrow!! I'm already getting stiff. Ibuprofen will be my best friend I have a feeling.

Tuesday Kaylee gets to go represent her school in the Math UIL contest and I'm so proud of her!! She has been working so hard and no matter how she does in the contest - the fact that she was one of the few that earned a spot in her school to represent them is such an accomplishment!! Just had to have a proud Momma moment and share that with you. :)

On the designing front, I'm getting ready for a big month at Digital Candy!! They are having a sales contest and I'm gonna try my best to win!!! To make it easy for you all to help me out - I have put together some pretty awsome deals for you if you purchase my stuff at Digital Candy in the month of April!! Here's my ad with details - thought I'd give my readers a sneak peek ;)




















One other note - the ad is made with a kit that will be released on April 1st also. :) It was a collab that I did with Twin Mom Scraps from Enchanted Studio Scraps. It's one of my favorite kits now and I think you all will really love it!! It will be 25% off at all my stores for the 1st week. I hope to be releasing several new kits this month - some mini's that are a little less expensive and even some new commercial use kits. So be on the lookout and please - PLEASE help me win this contest!!!! (Insert cute little puppy dog face here - hehe)

Also, Faith Sisters is having a designing contest to add some new designers, and man are there some talented ones in there!! The kits that they have done are free downloads - all you have to do is go to the Faith Sisters gallery and download - it's an awesome opportunity to get some great kits for free!! To find the kits - go to http://www.faithsisters.com/ then at the top, click on Project Gallery, then scroll down to the category "Product Design Team Applicants". All of the freebie kits are there. Just click on the ones you like and you should see the download links. :)

Another little advance notice - I will be getting my new blog all set up at my website very soon - hopefully in 2 to 3 weeks, so then I will move it there. I have to tell you - the graphics are soo adorable!! Amanda put it together for me and I love it!! Thanks A!!! I will have a link to the new blog here once the move is done, but just thought I'd keep you all in the loop. :)

Ok - I think that's all the news I have for now. I promise to try my best to be a better blogger and not wait so long between posts - hehe!! Have a wonderful start to a new week!!

Hugs and . . .
~til next time,
Paula

Blog Train Time Again - Whoo hoo!!!

Hey everyone!! Sorry it has been so long since my last post - but I'm back and have a wonderful freebie for you that is part of Digital Candy's St. Patrick's Day Blog Train!! Although it is not a St. Patrick's theme, I think you will find it one that is super cute and fun to use - it is outer space themed!! This is an adorable kit so you'll want to get it all!! The download will only be available through the 28th, then the kit will be for sale at Digital Candy - so get it now for free while it's still here!!

One other thing to note - you will want to mark your calendars for April 1st!! There will be more information coming in the next week or two- but I will be having some great things going on at Digital Candy for that month (sale, freebie with purchase, etc.) - you won't want to miss it!!! Be sure to check back for more details!!

For those of you following the train, you just came from Diana's blog:
http://dianasdigitals.blogspot.com/

Here's my portion of the blog train for you



























Sorry, but this download has expired. If you missed the kit and would still like to have it, you can purchase the kit from the Digital Candy shoppe. :) The link will take you directly to the kit.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful kit!!

For your next stop - go to the Digital Candy Blog:
http://digitalcandy.us/blog

Thanks so much and I'll try not to be forever posting my next entry. :)
~til next time
Paula