Note: All images and projects are courtesy of the Simple Stories blog.

Again, they’ve got these “awesome” 6×8 pages that will fit into THIS new journal/scrapbook; it was introduced on Monday. You can mix and match all the new lines in it: so far, we’re talkin’ “FABULOUS” and “Awesome.” Maybe more later this week … I hope!

These are my favorite stamps – the license plates are classic!

Hey, I hope you’re entering the daily contests on the Simple Stories blog. You can win an entire set of a new collection just for entering a comment. Memory Works totally RAWKS. I’ve been a CONSULTANT with them for almost 5 years now. HERE is my website.

I’ll be taking pre-orders on all these new lines, which are due out in March. More details to follow on that … My understanding is they’re due out in March 2012 so we have a little time :)

After yesterday’s reveal of “Fabulous” ~ a more girly, feminine, spring, bright, pretty line ~ I was very glad to see this more boyish one. I love that it uses boy-friendly colors but it’s not the traditional primary blue/red/yellow. There are so many elements that can be used on other layouts, too. I’m picturing Fall, sports, travel, teen, etc. I can even see some toddler pages, with some of the fun sayings like “Are you looking for trouble?” I love their take on the banner flags, too.

What do you think of “Awesome,” Simple Stories’ new line for boys?

Now it’s time for Memory Works and Simple Stories big reveal #2 of CHA …. Introducing “Fabulous”!!!

NOTE: All images and projects are courtesy of the Simple Stories blog

The Simple Basics Designer Cardstock is one of my favorite elements of the “Fabulous” line. I love the pretty, simple prints AND the ledger sides, too. How will a girl choose???

These “Fabulous” Journal Pages will go with the 6×8 journal products revealed YESTERDAY. Is that cool or what? My mind is spinning with the creative possibilities of mixing and matching these journal pages from all the new Simple Stories lines into the 6×8 journals! Oh my gosh, talk about personalizing your journal/scrapbook!

Okay, that’s the whole line ~ what do you think? I’m loving the whole thing. Often “girl” lines are just pink-pink-pink, and it really limits what you can use the lines for. One thing I like about “Fabulous” is that it has a variety of colors and designs that can be used for other layouts – for instance, All About Me, spring, summer, swimming, birthday, etc.

On the message board for MEMORY WORKS consultants, we’ve gathered suggestions for future Simple Stories lines at least twice before. “Boy” and “girl” collections always come up, so I know many will be happy there’s now a girl line for Simple Stories.

I hope it means that a Boy line is next. I can’t wait for tomorrow’s reveal!!

HERE IS REVEAL #1 !!!

NOTE: All images and projects are courtesy of the Simple Stories blog.

It’s a whole new system within the Simple Stories framework and design concept: 6×8 elements that you can make a personalized mini album with or use the elements in your 12×12 albums. It’s like a combination SMASH BOOK, PROJECT LIFE, and SIMPLE STORIES all put into one.

{Sorry the blog looks a bit wonky but I figured you’d want to see BIG pictures of it!}

I love this whole concept and can’t wait to get my hot little hands on it! The stated release date is March 2012. If ya’ll let me know you’re interested, I’ll do pre-orders again. That way, when the items are released, you’ll already be paid in full and I can submit your order the minute everything goes on sale … which is a good thing, as the new Simple Stories have been known to sell out quickly on their initial run.

What are your thoughts so far? Are you curious what else Simple Stories by Memory Works has in store this week? If you see anything you want to pre-order, leave me some comments so I can get to planning :)

Happy “Simple” Monday to ya!

Here’s mine: Fun Things To Do By Yourself

1. Scrapbook (duh!)
2. Scrapbook shop
3. Blurf
4. Take your time in Target with no one rushing you
5. Go inside with The Sitting People at Starbucks instead of using the drive-thru
6. Lie in bed in the middle of the day and read on your new Kindle
7. Watch scrapbook haul videos that no one else in your family cares about (or understands)
8. Make a lunch only you will eat like caprese’
9. Watch Gilmore Girls reruns
10. Obsessively watch old Steve Perry videos on YouTube.

There’s my list. Where’s yours?

Scrapbooking Rules of Acquisition – Rules to Live By

1. You want it, therefore you need it.

2. You need it, therefore you must buy it.

3. All other things you need including food, car insurance, and lunch money are incidental in comparison to what you need for scrapbooking.

4. “You can’t take it with you” applies only to money. Begin getting your loved ones accustomed to the fact that you intend to be buried with your scrapbooks.

5. If you think there is a ghost of a chance that you might use it in a future project, buy it now, because if you need it later, there won’t be a substitute.

6. A scrapbooker must purchase appropriate storage containers, shelves, bins, units, etc. all for scrapbook-related purchases.

7. A scrapbooker has the right and responsibility to discard all previously purchased storage systems in order to purchase a new more appropriate system at any time.

8. Scrapbooking is an inexpensive hobby. This can be proved by applying “Blondes Logic” to your purchases. For example, no hobby where the supplies usually cost under $100.00 can possibly be as expensive as big-ticket male hobbies such as restoring vintage cars, radio controlled planes etc. This just makes sense.

9. Scrapbooking actually saves money. Scrapbooking promotes do-it-yourself philosophy. By applying “Blondes Logic”, you can conclude you can’t afford not to scrapbook.

So the next time hubby gives you a hard time about your scrapbook spending, just show him this list and explain Blonde’s Logic. I’m sure he’ll get it then.

Is that cool or what? My 3 favorite features:

1. It stores the bottles upside-down which is the preferred method for many Stickles luvahs.

2. You can leave the cover off to see all your pretty colors or you can put the cover on to take them to crops, or just to keep the dust off.

3. Speaking of pretty colors, you can line them all up in ROYGBIV order. Oh, be still my anal-retentive heart!

Okay, that’s 3 but I just thought of 2 more. So sue me.

4. You get 3 units in the set and can store up to 30 BOTTLES, people! {Don’t sit there all righteous and pretend you don’t have that many … we know you do}.

5. The Stickles Sort and Store can also hold other popular items like Liquid Pearl, Stampin Up ink pad refill, Claudine Helmuth Studio Mini Acrylic Paint, Mini Art, and Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Ink.

Oh crap. I thought of another one.

6. It’s only $24 for a set of 3 which hold 10 bottles each.

I’m thinking they’re a new item because Tiffany’s website, THE SCRAPRACK MULTI-CRAFT, says they ship January 17th.

I’m trying to decide if I should get a set or not. My Stickles are currently lined up on a stamp shelf above my desk. Let me go count my bottles … K, I’m back. I have “only” 18 :P So I’ll probably hold off for now but I’m glad to know about this great new scrapbook organizational item. When I make it to 30 bottles, I am SO getting this.

What do you think of the Stickles Sort and Store?

{Okay, Erika, put down the triple latte’ … that may have been a bit much for 9pm on a Sunday. Just sayin’.}

If you need to read my explanation of 52 Lists in 52 Weeks, it’s right HERE. And HERE is the prompt from Kellie for List #2: What are your New Years Resolutions?

Now I don’t normally *make* resolutions because they usually involve making commitments to yourself and ~ while I’m superb and stupendous about honoring commitments to others ~ I’m quite crap at keeping them to myself.

But Kellie says to make this list, so I will. Begrudgingly :P

My 2012 NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS:

1. Speak with Kellie. Nicely but firmly.*

2. When downloading books on your new Kindle, only download 362 times more books than you have time to read. If you do any more than that, it will be too stressful.

3. Buy more scrapbook supplies. You do not have nearly enough. I will tell you when to stop.

4. Keep up your SMASH BOOK aka fitness journal. And only lie about your weight when you have a bad week. The rest of the time, tell the total, honest-to-God, 100% truth. Except about the Reese’s dark chocolate cups. Those are exempt from this resolution as well.

5. Do not give up on your Project 12. If you can’t manage to take 7-8 photos a month about everyday life and journal about them, you’re a bigger loser than I thought. And I say that with love <3.

Okay, can I stop now???!?!??! This resolution-listing is making me cranky. And I want to enjoy this coffee high while I have it, so I’m outie.

Oh, except I need to demand … erm, ask very nicely and super sweetly to please see your list for this week. Please.

Thank you :)

*TOTALLY kidding, Kellie! Luvs ya, gurl…

Ian Axel, “This is the New Year.”

Isn’t that fun?!?! Doesn’t it make you want to attack 2012!??! I love all the bouncy normal people and the cute dog.

Here are the lyrics:

Another year you made a promise
another chance to turn it all around
and do not save this for tomorow
embrace the past and you can live for now
and I will give the world to you

Speak louder that the words before you
and give them meaning no one else has found
The role we play is so important
we are the voices of the underground
and I would give the world to you

Say everything you’ve always wanted,
be not afraid of who you really are,
cause in the end we have each other,
and thats at least one thing worth living for,
and I would give the world to you

A million suns that shine upon me
A million eyes you are the brightest blue
Lets tear the walls down that divide us
and build a statue strong enough for two,

I pass it back to you
and I will wait for you,
cause I would give the world
and I would give the world
and I would give the world to you

This is the new year
A new begining
You made a promise
You are the brightest
We are the voices
This is the new year
We are the voices
This is the new year

*Courtesy of ELYRICS.NET

I thought those lyrics would be great for a New Years layout. And even if we don’t use them for scrapbooking, I hope I made you smile today :)

I heard about “52 Lists in 52 Weeks” from THIS THREAD on 2peas. I followed the link to Kellie’s blog, “On the Brink of Something Beautiful.” She did this project in 2011 (you can see her lists from 2011 HERE) and will continue it in 2012.

On of my New Year’s Resolutions is to be more active with my blog again (now that my work life has become a bit more manageable), so I’m going to try and play along. Once a week in 2012, I’ll post a list … won’t make a promise which day it’ll be but hopefully sometime during the proper week, lol.

I’ve always been a list-maker, even since I was a kid. For example, on Friday I wrote a “To Do” list on the steno pad that lives inside my day planner. Then I typed up a list in Word called “Online To Do” which has things regarding my blog, work stuff, etc.

I also think lists are a fun and meaningful way to journal in our scrapbooks. So who knows? Maybe some of my 52 lists will find their way into scrapbook layouts.

So here we go with Week 1: “What’s on your plate for today?”

TO DO: January 1, 2012
1. Put away Christmas ornaments and decorations
2. Make fruit salad
3. Laundry
4. BBQ with friends @ 2:00
5. Finish reports for work
6. Enter birthdays in 2012 dayplanner

I would love you to join me each week by posting your “52 Lists in 52 Weeks” right here in the Comments section, on your own blog and link to your entry in comments, or join in on Kellie’s BLOG. She has quite a group posting their lists over there!

Here’s to a fab and scrappy 2012!

They contacted me months ago to say my blog was listed on their site but I just now had time to check it out. It’s pretty darn coolio. They even have a MOBILE APP for iPhone and Droid … which I of course downloaded immediately (go ahead, it’s free!).

It’s a very clean looking site, easy to navigate, and has tons of blogs to choose from that you can “follow,” similar to TWITTER and Pinterest. There are blogs with 20-30,000 followers … and I have a pitiful 6. So help me not look like such a loser over there and follow me, wouldja’?

Grazie mile! (Thanks so much)

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I’ve also added a button on the top right of my blog that you can click to easily follow my blog at Bloglovin’.