Random-ness today

Did You Get These Yet?

Get ready! I've been working on some really cute kits lately. Have you had a chance to purchase these popular kits yet?  All these kits are available at Scraps N Pieces, My Memories and Heritage Scrap.

Sunflowers and Straw

Pink Lemonade

Grease is the Word

 Welcome Back

Sunday Afternoon

ScaryTales 3: Superstitious Feeling

And Releasing Soon.....  

Passwords: 

Have you been following the issues Scraps N Pieces (and apparently GingerScraps too, I heard) have been having with hackers? I tell ya, it was a nightmare just sitting there as a designer, I can't even imagine what it was like to be the owner of those sites. I certainly don't envy them!

For SNP, it was not a malicious attack in that there was no real loss of data, other than a couple hours during the time the host was recovering and upgrading the site. HOWEVER, for members of SNP, it was malicious in that the hackers were looking for weak passwords. What they do is they grab the database of emails and passwords. Once they have that, they know that a lot of people use the same password for multiple sites. So they start trying to hack sites that use same the email and password that the members use at SNP. I know of 4 SNP members who had their Twitter accounts hacked immediately following the hack at SNP. Coincidence? Possibly, but I highly suspect it was related.

I have changed all my passwords (and wow what a headache that is!) and have gone so far as to have computer generated passwords on some of the more important sites like banking and such. I strongly suggest everybody does the same thing. If you are concerned about remembering all those passwords, there are reputable websites set up to keep track of them for you. The one I recommend is LastPass because A) it was recommended to me by my son who keeps up with internet security issues; B) it works; and C) it's FREEEEEEEEEE. It is also very highly encrypted and I feel that it's safe.

 Season of Change: 

It's Autumn! Can you believe that it's almost October?! The leaves are falling and changing colours; the weather is cool in the morning and evening yet warm in the daytime; the hours of daylight are getting shorter; the geese are flocking; and... there are no mosquitoes left! (yippee!)

But not only is this the season of change for the Earth, it is also a season of change for myself. I decided it was time to completely redo myself. So now, I have the shortest hair I've ever had and it's also darker than it's ever been. And I LOVE it! I've been losing weight -- 20 down, 20 to go. I have little positive quotes posted all over my office and have noticed a huge difference in my attitude.

Finally, TNS is holding a rare CT Call:

I am looking for some talented people to join my Creative Team

1. 4 LOs a month, Freebies will occasionally be required.  Commenting in TNS galleries is also required

2. LOs must be posted in a minimum of 4 galleries, including the galleries and social media of stores I sell at

3.  Participation in Scraps N Pieces forum, using TNS products

4. Blog using provided blog code, also posting in prominent social media sites such as Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter

5.  Responsible, self-motivated people who enjoy scrapping and want to keep it fun.

Email truenorthscraps @ gmail dot come with a short bio, CT experience (experience is not necessary however), other scrapping responsibilities, a link to your best gallery and a link to your blog and Facebook page.

1. Write blog posts for new releases, sales and a few pertinent announcements

2. Write a newsletter using MailChimp to be sent out twice a month

3. LOs are not required

4. You will be given access to all TNS new releases for your personal use

Email truenorthscraps @ gmail dot come with a short bio to apply

Time for a sneak peek

Look for In Loving Memory, releasing tomorrow at Scraps N Pieces and at Heritage Scrap.

Mystery Box Revealing Friday, and Charity Kit

Have you bought the Mystery Box at Heritage Scrap yet?  If not, you are running out of time to get one of the best deals you will ever find!

Move It Move It

Smooth Sailing

Escape to the Caribbean

Project Life's Busy, plus bonus elements

On Friday I will be putting these kits in the store individually and at full price of $5 each.  Until then though, you can pick up all FOUR kits for only $5!!  Buy one, get THREE free!!  And the bonus elements will be going into the store as an add-on.  So don't miss out on this amazing bargain, valued at $22.50 for only $5.00!

Lookin For Adventure -- profits are donated to charity

I also want to make sure you know about Lookin For Adventure.  My husband and I are avid motorcyclists.  We are registered to participate in Ride for Dad (a fundraiser for prostate cancer) at the end of May; and the Breast Cancer Pledge Ride at the beginning of June, both of which are registered charities.  These cancers affect 1 in 8 males and 1 in 8 females.  That is just way too many people -- we need to do something about that!  I decided that I will donate ALL my profits from the sale of this kit until June 30th, to these fundraisers.  If you purchase this kit you are doing your part to help.  You can find it at my Heritage Scrap store or at my Scraps N Pieces store for only $5.00.  

You don't have to ride a motorcycle to use this kit.  It is very versatile and can be used for so many different LOs.  Use your imagination and help support a couple of very worthwhile causes.  Thank you.

iNSD!!

There is SO much happening this weekend, but I hope you will make some time to join me at SNP and HS for some great sales and goodies! First of all, let's see what's happening at SNP. 

 Don't spend all your money at all the other sites before you check out SNP -- the entire store is on sale 

for 50% off! Plus there's lots of fun events: 

   

 Mark all those times on your calendar! And I hope that you can join me for the Queen's Boudoir chat on Saturday at 2 pm Central. It just might be worth your while ;) 

 And over at Heritage Scrap, I have some real steals for you! First of all, my entire store is on sale for 45% off! 

   

 And that's not all -- I have an amazing value for you! In fact, it's so good, that I can't include it in the rest of the 45% off sale. I am releasing 4 full-sized kits after NSD, all valued at $5 or more. But for NSD, I've bundled them up in a Mystery Box and you get all FOUR kits for only $5! Look at it like this -- Buy One, Get 3 FREE; or 4 kits at 75% off, or $1.25 a kit!! Either way you can't beat that deal!

 

 Make sure you check your stash before you buy, because these kits have been released in Scraps N Pieces and My Memories already. 

 HAPPY iNSD -- I hope you get lots of great bargains!!

True North Scraps has some wonderful Super Saturday sales going on at Scraps N Pieces today.

Escape to the Caribbean is going for $3.00 such an amazing deal. 

Plus the coordinating add ons are on sale too!

Escape to the Caribbean Card stock is going for $2.00

And you can pick up Escape To The Caribbean Journal Cards for $1.00

Here's some CT inspiration.

poki

Amy

Debbie

Melissa

You only have a few more days to get 'Buy My Store' sales are only until the end of March. This is SUCH a good deal! My Scraps N Pieces store is only $25 for well over $200 worth of product.

In addition, my new, smaller store at Heritage Scrap is on sale too. This one is only $10 for over $75 worth of products! There's one bundle in there that is worth $10 all by itself, and anything else you get over and above that would be free!

Next I have a Sneak Peek of True North Scraps next release. I love the colors it reminds me so much of spring....hint hint!

And yes, we have a freebie that you're just going to love. 

For your direct Download click here. Remember, it's only available for 1 week. Hope you enjoy the rest of weekend!

Plenty of news!

Don't forget to join me this afternoon for my Speed Scrap at SNP.  

The prize is a fantastic little mini kit called Small World Add-On.  

This add on was made as a prize for the speed scrap, but I couldn't turn off the kit designing machine and ended up splitting it into a full-sized kit and a mini.

And that leads me to News Item #2.  I am releasing this kit off my usual release cycle.  Small World and Small World Add On will be available on March 28th in both my stores.  

Next and most exciting news to break to you is this:

I have over 1000 Likes on Facebook now.  I decided to celebrate this milestone with a big sale.  To be exact, it's a Buy My Store sale!

The small print:  Sale ends March 31, not valid on collabs and not valid with other coupons.

Time for a sneak Peek

 

 True North Scraps and Keystone Scraps have teamed up again this week to bring you a groovy, retro, flashback of a kit that I know you will LOVE! 

Head over to the Keystone scraps Blog for your chance to win this fabulous kit

Whisper releasing March 11

Template Pack Release from TNS and a chance to be a Guest North Star!

Are you a template fan?   There are so many ways to use a template and make it your own, and that's what I had in mind with this set.  You can follow them exactly or dress them up or down, flip, flop, rotate, whatever you fancy.  That has a little to do with the name of this template pack

Whichever Way the Wind Blows

I used them when I made a double page LO for ScaryTales 2: Laissez les bon temps rouler

My North Stars were busy trying out the templates

Don't all these LOs look great?  You can visit their blogs for a closer look at their work.

The templates are CT friendly, and come in PSD, TIF, and PNG formats.  From February 21 - 24, they will be on sale for 30% off, then they will go to their normal price of $3.50.  Grab 'em this weekend while they are really cheap!

I have a question to ask and one of the people who answers it will be chosen randomly to win a one month guest CT term (March 1 - 31) as a North Star!

My question is:  What do you think is my really HUGE news is?   I can't wait to spill the beans, and it's not long before I will, but in the meantime I thought it'd be fun to see what people think.  I can't really give you a clue without completely giving it away, and since it doesn't matter if your answer is right or not for you to win, I thought I'd just leave it wide open and see what people come up with!  Just leave a comment and a way for me to contact you (remember Anonymous can not win) and I'll randomly select a winner Tuesday February 26 at 7 am Central time.  I have a little sneak peek of one of the kits being released in March to encourage you to enter this contest:

It's time for a sneak peek and another contest!

SNEAK PEEK

I've got a kit releasing Feb 11 that will get the good times rolling

 

I'm starting the party a few days early -- leave a comment with a guess about what you think this kit is and I will randomly select one person to win it!  Contest closes and the winner will be chosen on February 10 at 5 pm Central

Remember, I need some way to contact you if you win -- I can't award a prize to "Anonymous".

NEWSLETTER

Are you a TNS newsletter subscriber?  I hope so!  The last couple newsletters have had some terrific freebies in them, as well as plenty of news.  There's a button to subscribe on the sidebar of my blog.  Don't miss out - the next newsletter is coming out in a couple days and there's another fantastic freebie in it for newsletter subscribers only.  I'll give you a hint:  it coordinates with my new release that day!

Sneak Peek and a chance to win!

Hi everybody!  Oh boy have I been keeping busy -- which is why you've not heard a lot from me lately!

I have a gigantic kit releasing on February 1.  It's one of the biggest ones I've made.  It's so big I had to break it up into pieces and bundle it up.  Wanna sneak a peek?

I love how this kit turned out and I think you will too.  In fact, I'm so happy with it, I want to RAK somebody!  

THE PRIZE:

the entire bundle

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on my blog telling me what you think the kit is.

That's all you have to do.  I'll use Mr Random to pick a winner from everybody who comments (so make sure I have a way to contact you - it's hard to give "Anonymous" a prize).  I'll announce the winner here, on Facebook and Twitter, and in my newsletter (sign up on the side bar), as well as in the forum at Scraps N Pieces on January 31 at 6 pm Central time.

Good luck!

News and Blog Train

Where has the time gone?!!!  I've not been feeling well since Christmas time and can't believe it's already the middle of January!!  Time flies when you nap all day and/or have med-head!

Well I really have to tell you about a few things before I get to the blog train.  I've been wanting to do a Project Life type scrapbook for a while.  But I've never had the time to.  That's when I got this idea:  I'm probably not the only one who doesn't have the time to make a Project Life book from scratch.  Normally I don't really care for quick pages, but I thought this would be a time when a quick page would be perfect.

We always start these big projects with the best of intentions, but after a few weeks something happens that takes priority and then you fall behind. Falling behind leads to discouragement. Well, don't be discouraged! I've done most of the hard work for you. All you have to do is add your photos and your journalling. 

If you are anything like me, you want to personalize your quick page so that it looks like you put a little effort into it.  So I have also made a coordinating kit of embellishments. 

 You could even turn this into a hybrid project if you would like. The sky's the limit now that you will have all this extra time on your hands thanks to Project: Life's Busy!

You can find these products in my store at Scraps N Pieces, as well as in the P365/P52 category there.  They are reasonably priced under $2.50 each.  Look for my next edition coming in February!

I'm very busy now working on my next three kits for February!  Due to feeling poorly, I've decided to forego my planned release on January 21 and it will release in February instead.  I just haven't had the energy to work on it.  I can give you a sneak peek though:

One last thing -- I promised you a blog train.  Well, here it is!

Click image to download

Here's the map in case you get lost on your journey:

Prairie Song Scraps
Honeybees Creative Hive
Karen Diamond Designs
GraceBlossoms4U
Queen Wild Scraps
Shuckclod's Stuff
Mommy Made This
Studio Linda Renee
Busy Crafting Mommy Designs
Ladybug 
Pics n Scraps
Scraps N Pieces
Just For Fun Designs
Scrappin' Is My Thing!
Fit 2 Be Scrapped
Stampgram's Studio
A Fish Design
Wendy Tunison Designs
True North Scraps  <--- you are here
Joyful Expressions