Hi. My name is Jenn, and I’m a scrapaholic. Yes, I have a room full of funky scissors, expensive paper, ribbons, leetle flowers and WAAAAY too many stickers. And I NEVER use them. But I scrap every day! Yes, I’ve gone digital.

I imagine over the years I’ve spend hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on all that stuff gathering dust in my craft room - but I avoided using it because it was too much work to get it all out; I didn’t want to just have to clean it all up again in order to eat dinner, the kids would get into it and make ‘art’ with $1 sheets of paper… too many excuses. I was working at a scrapbook store, when I realized I hadn’t done any personal scrapping for TWO YEARS!!

Then I went digital! I have always used Photoshop as a retoucher, and had moved into laying out my kids’ school yearbooks - when I had that D’OH! moment… laying out a yearbook is… yes… SCRAPBOOKING!! I started looking around online, and realized lots of other people had already figured out how to scrap digitally, and were doing a WAY better job than I was!

I started learning and scrapping, and was able to tell my story again! (CLICK HERE to see a slideshow of some of my favorites.)

Digiscrapping fits into my new thrifty lifestyle because:

• Once I purchase a page kit (papers and elements), I can use it over and over!
• I can make my own backgrounds (papers) and titles and elements - it’s fun!
• I can stop and start whenever I want - no cleanup! Just hit ‘Save’!
• I can wait for sales or free coupons to print things (just got a free 20 page book from Shutterfly!)
• I don’t HAVE to print - lately I’ve been making slide shows from my layouts and sending them to the grandparents on DVD. Easy for them to view - everyone can see at once, no crowding around the book!
• I actually DO it now!

You can’t put a price on preserving your memories.

One day I was telling my son that we were going to host a couple of high school kids from a choir that was visiting our church. I asked him if he remembered when we did that the year before.

“No, I don’t remember.”

“Sure you do, remember they slept in your room and you bunked with your sister?”

“Nope.”

“Of course you do, remember we took them to Baskin-Robbins for ice cream?”

“Did you take pictures? Can I see them?”

“No honey, I don’t think we took any photos.”

“MOM, if you took PICTURES, I’d REMEMBER!!!”

Out of the mouths of babes.

So, if you’re not crafty, can’t stand the idea of little stickers and glue sticks - try digiscrapping. If you paper-scrap but can’t seem to find the time or space - digiscrap! If you’ve got a story (and we all do) - tell it!

Jennifer White is the owner of ScrappersWorkshop.com, a learning site for digiscrappers. She also designs scrapbooking supplies, catch her blog at http://www.scrapkittydesign.com/blog. If you’re new to digiscrapping, (or even if you’re not!) free samples and tutorials are available at http://www.scrapkittydesign.com/ScrapKittyDesignNewbiePage.html

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I love Kim Komando. Now there is a woman who knows her digital stuff! I just usually bow to the steel trap that my Dh calls his brain and ask him. But if I want to take the time to research on my own, I go to the HCIC (Head Chick In Charge). Now she has a great page of daily downloads for free. She is all about not wasting your money or getting caught up in all kinds of spyware or viruses. So I thought I would tell you about her great free downloads. Enjoy and feel free to peruse her site for answers to any questions you have about the digital world.

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Jardine has recalled their cribs that were sold at Babies R Us. The wooden slats and spindles can break and then trap little ones. Some babies have even been hurt. To see the complete list of he cribs that have been recalled, click the link to the Baby Center. Make sure you keep up with the latest recalls. Your babies are depending on you to keep them safe.

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While the writers of the b5media Lifestyles Channel may be scattered about globally, one thing we all have in common is a celebration of fireworks. I hope you’ll enjoy our blast from the past.

Chloe of Tangled Thread shares a few festive fireworks and needlework patterns.

Kerri and Cory at Marriage Actually talk about why having a shared past is one of the best parts about being married.

Heather at A Creative Journal shares her first memory of firecrackers with a view from Australia.

Christine at Mad Cropper remembers Guy Fawkes Day, a day celebrated in New Zealand with lots of fireworks. Find out why Guy Fawkes is celebrated by the English and most commonwealth countries. It is indeed a blast from the past!

Mary Emma at Quilting and Patchwork, provides a quiz for her readers. See how many of the quilt designs you can connect with historical Americana - events, objects or people.

Marye at Baking Delights reflects on just how much menus have changed over the years while at Kettle and Cup she shares a modern twist that many are sure to love with her Non-Alcoholic Long Island Iced Tea.

Kelly Saunders at Thrifty Mommy shares her favorite 4th of July memory. Check out the surprise.

Char and Christine continue Camp Weary Parent with this weeks Patriotic activities: Star Spangled Rocket and a week full of other fun projects.

Marcie and Mary Emma are blasting through books with Fourth of July and summer recommendations at One Book Two Book. Make sure to check out Fourth of July Books for Teens and The 10 Best Fourth of July Picture Books

Linette at Robust Cooking shares 10 Healthy 4th of July Dessert Ideas. At Mother Earths Garden she calls out the old saying about corn - Knee high by the fourth of July. At She Knows Parties, she shares fond memories of her summers and holidays as a child.

Karen at Thrifty Mommy has a very special reason to celebrate the fourth.Check out the photosas she shares one of the most memorable nights in her families’ lives.

Christina at SoloMother shares her own experiences of celebrating the 4th of July in the nation’s capital.

Susan at PlayLibrary shares her memories of playing the classic game of Zimm Zamm during her familys annual July 4th barbecue celebration.

Eliza at Babylune reflects back on early holiday celebrations with baby on board and looks to this years celebration - their first out of the military.

And finally, theres Gayla at MomGadget - Without fail, each year her memories race back to an earlier time when life was much simpler and shed celebrate her summer holiday with relatives down in the holler in the hills of Kentucky - this year - she shares a Bluegrass Kinda Fourth of July.

To all our readers in the U.S. - we wish you the happiest and safest of holidays - and everyone else, thanks for allowing us to share our own memories with each of you.

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This month’s Lifestyles carnival theme is “Blast from the Past”. We’re focusing on the 4th of July or similar type holidays in other countries.

Kelly told you about her most memorable July 4th and now I’ll share mine. If you read her post, then you’ll knowthey have similarities. Mine is different though because 1) I did the pushing and 2) I have the pictures. lol

And here we have . . . Alligator’s birth day!!!!

My mom said I should name her Liberty Belle. lol That would have been a cool name though.

This picture is not great, but we did have an awesome view from the hospital. I believe we were on the 4th floor.

Here she is at home, just a few days later. She’s a bit pink and peeling because she decided to be a few weeks late.

Alligator is pretty excited that she gets to see the fireworks every year on her birthday. Happy 5th Birthday to my Little Miss Independence!

What’s your most memorable July 4th?

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