Dear Hubby,

Hi all!  I have been so busy!  First we went to my mom’s in Kansas (17 hours both ways!), then I went to Utah for the Rusty Pickle Retreat.  I have lots of photos but I’ve still got to upload them!  Before I do that, I thought I would give my dear husband some ideas for my birthday!!

First, I would love a new lens for my camera!
Canon 50mm 1.8

or a figurine to add to my Willow Tree collection:

or maybe a gift card to Ulta!

or a new teapot for my shelf!

I’ll update with pics from the trips as soon as I download my camera!!!

Happy Scrappy,
Mandie

My first three days of LOAD

I am so excited that the LOAD Challenge has been going so well!  I thought I would share with y’all what I had been up to!

Day 1.  The reds match irl, so not sure what is wrong with the photo!

Day 2. This sketch came from my friend Shanna!!

and Day 3:

Thanks for looking and
Happy Scrappy,
Mandie

End of the month reminders!

Hey, there is a lot going on around the little ol’ blog!

First, my October projects! I made a chore chart for each of the kids and a “Christmas Memories” clothes pin!

For Drew I used the new Thriller line! To make his buttons stick to each day of the week I used little velcro dots!

Faith’s chore chart was made using Candy Land! Each day is counted off using buttons with a magnet back on it.

Last I made a Christmas Memories Clothes Pin. I made a button bouquet tree to mimic the tree in the White Christmas paper line!

Second, don’t forget you can win the brand new Thriller line by entering the contest over at A Cherry On Top here!

Last, have you heard about LOAD? Its a Layout Of the Day Challenge. It will be full of inspiration and goodies!!!! Check out the blog entry below this one! And please if you would like any more information, email me!

Happy Scrappy,
Mandie

LOAD (Layout of the Day) Challenge

Ok, so here are the official details!

When you sign up and join you get a daily prompt and inspiration email, and you create a layout a day. Every day. 30 layouts? Yes, there is 30 days!

How it works:

*Create a layout a day for the entire month of November.

*Upload your creations to our online gallery and group at a message board created just for this.

*Admire the layouts of yourself and others!

*Be eligible to win fabulous prizes!

Here’s what you’ll get:

-Access to our online gallery and message board!

-Daily inspiration email from me with a prompt, quotes, humor, sketches and general fun!

-The opportunity to win the Grand Prize (for creating and uploading a layout each day for the entire month) as well as weekly prizes.

-An awesome blinkie so everyone knows the fun you are having.

The participation fee is $5 for the month.

But wait! Don’t leave! I have a question.

Ok, go for it!

FAQ #1. Sounds great! How do I sign up?

Answer: You can Paypal me at mandiedillard at yahoo dot com, or contact me for my mailing address. Can’t wait to have you join in!

FAQ #2. Are there minimum size requirements for the layouts?
Answer: I say 6×6 is the smallest you can go! If you want to do say cards, you need to do 3. Otherwise 6×6 and larger!

FAQ #3 Why a daily email? Why not just post it all?
Because I want constant contact with you! I want you to daily be inspired (or at least poked) by me!

FAQ #4. Hey what if I don’t like one of the challenges?
Answer: You don’t have to do it. As long as long as you do a layout. I am just providing a bit of inspiration, a jumping off point.

FAQ #5: What if I miss a day? Can I “catch up?”
Answer: For the purposes of this challenge, we are creating a layout a day. That means there is no “catching up” or “banking.” However if you want to complete on November 30th all the ones you missed, go for it! It’s very satisfying. You do get 2 “get out jail free cards” since it is a holiday month. Just email me a, “Hey Mandie I just couldn’t do todays layout!” Plus Thanksgiving day is going to be a bonus day not a have-to day!

FAQ #6: Can I upload layouts I’ve already created?
Answer: Um. . .No! It has to be fresh, brand new pages!

FAQ #8: What if my washer explodes, we’re hit by a hurricane, the power goes out, I get sick, I decide to go to Tahiti, etc.?
Answer: Then you will have my sympathy, compassion, or envy, depending on your circumstances. But again, to be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing, you have to upload a page a day for the entire month (have I said that enough yet?).

FAQ #9: How will you decide who wins the Grand Prize?
Answer: At the end of the month, everyone who has uploaded a page each day during the month will be entered in a drawing. Then I will pick my favorite person. Haha! Just kidding. It will be random. Entirely random. Really, really random. As in randomgenerator.com!!

FAQ #10: I’m in a different time zone. Can I still play?
Answer: I hope you will! The daily challenges may go out a bit late for you, but you can work ahead or backwards on those as you desire. And when I look at daily uploads, I’ll be going by 12 midnight CST

FAQ #11: I’m a digi (hybrid, organic, paper, recycled) scrapper. Can I participate?

Answer: Yes! All scrappers are welcome! And please tell your friends!!!

FAQ #12: I’m a manufacturer, kit club owner, store owner, etc., and I’d like to donate prizes. Would you be open to that?

Answer: Um, yeah! Totally! Email me please! mandiedillard at yahoo dot com!

I think that about covers it! Please email me if you have any questions. Otherwise when you paypal me I’ll send instructions to that email address I receive it from. If you need it sent to another email address, please let me know!

Happy Scrappy,
Mandie

Where has the month gone???? A Challenge just for you!!

I swonder! I told myself that I was going to do better this month with my blog. But. . . .ya know. But I have a little bug to put in your ear and a reminder.

First, the reminder:
Do you want to win some Thriller? Come on you know you do!!!! Check on this contest I’m hosting over at ACOT:

Second, how would you like to be inspired everyday for a month? Maybe the month of November? A friend and I did a Layout of the Day challenge last year on another blog and loved it. So she has conspired with me to do one on my blog! Here is how it will work. Everyday starting November 1 I will post a challenge. I want you to upload it to your blog and then come here and leave a message in the comment section showing your layout. If you don’t have a blog just email me the layout. You will have 24 hours to do this!

Now, I know what you are thinking: “What this is a holiday month!!! Have you lost your mind?!” but I am going to give you 2 get our jail free cards so to speak. And I think this will give us all a little reprieve from the holiday hustle and bustle. A little “me” time during this busy month.

At the end of the month if you completed all the task I will put your name in a random generator and you will receive a BIG prize. (There will probably be some Rusty Pickle in there too!) Remember now the more people participate, the bigger the prize! So tell your family, friends and general acquaintances.

Ok, so have I convinced you yet? Great! Email me: mandiedillard at yahoo dot com for full instructions!!!

Happy Scrappy,
Mandie

Wanna win some Thriller????

Thriller is here!!!!

If you want to win Thriller take a look over at A Cherry On Top! If you have any questions please email me!

Happy Scrappy,
Mandie

Fall is in the air!

In Alabama there are really only two seasons: Hot and Not so Hot.  We have finally hit the not so hot although according to the news we will be back to HOT by the weekend.  But man this cool air has put me in the fall mood.  So, yesterday I started pulling out the fall decorations.  I had started working on my monthly Rusty Pickle projects already and decided to go completly fall!  I am very pleased with my new entry way sign:

Then I made a set of 3 cards which I think I’m going to give to Faith’s teacher:

Thanks for looking and
Happy Scrappy,
Mandie

And the blog hop winner is. . . .

Comment number 52 which is:  Amy White!!!

“So cool!! Love the ideas!  P.S. The Rock Star Line“

Thank you all so much for hopping along and leaving great comments!  Please come back and visit again soon!!!  And Pam, please email me your address and I’ll be sure to ship out some great goodies!

Happy Scrappy,
Mandie

It’s a blog hop!

Welcome Hoppers!!! I am so glad you have made it my way! I am at a scrapbook retreat with bad lighting so please excuse the bad photo, I will scan this when I get home on Sunday and give you guys a better view! Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you make my blog and Rusty Pickle a regular stop!

Below is a fabulous layout featuring my very good friend Amy’s daughter Harper and her grandfather, Papa.

For you first time “hoppers” this is how it works. You start at the Rusty Pickle Blog and “hop” across visiting a series of Blogs where each will link to the next “stop”. Each Chef will have a Rusty Pickle creation to share for inspiration and will have a link to whatever Blog you should visit next. As a added bonus, after visiting all the Blogs, come back to the Rusty Pickle blog and post a comment with what your favorite project was.  On Monday, we will be randomly selecting a winner to get a fabulous “Pickled Prize”.

So get your “Hop” on and “Hop” on over to our talented chef Mou to see what she has created.

Tell me what your favorite Rusty Pickle line is and you could win some great Rusty Pickle goodies!  I will draw a winner Tuesday morning.  So be sure to check back, you may just win a prize!

Happy Scrappy,
Mandie

Blog Hop

Are you ready to hop?

Rusty Pickle will be hosting a Blog Hop this upcoming weekend starting on Friday, September 18th. You will be visiting several of our talented Chefs and seeing their beautiful creations for endless inspiration. Not only will you have the opportunity to win a Blog prize from us, but several of our Chefs may also be hosting RAK’s on their own blogs. The only way to find out is to check it out.

For you first time “hoppers” this is how it will work. You will start here at the Rusty Pickle Blog and “hop” across visiting a series of blogs where each will link to the next “stop”. Each Chef will post a Rusty Pickle creation to share for inspiration and link to what Blog you should visit next. Sound like fun?

Can’t wait to see you then, be sure to check back here on Friday, September 18th for some Pickle-licous “hopping” Fun!!!

I still have a couple of open spots for the retreat also!!!!  Email me if you are interested!

Happy Scrappy,

Mandie