Artisan 4.0 ~ A Review of Digital Scrapbooking Software

A few months back I heard about an opportunity to test a brand new software that could be used to digitally scrapbook, called Artisan 4.0 by Panstoria. I decided to go ahead and take the software for a test drive. For those that know me I can imagine the gasps. I am an avid scrapbooker, and in the past have been adamantly against digital scrapping. I gave my friends who “turned to the dark side” such a hard time. Where was the fun in using a computer to do your scrapbooking?!? Well friends, I am eating my words, and after I write this blog post I should send an apology note to all of my friends who digitally scrap. I had quite a fun time testing the Artisan software, and I have created some very cool pages using it. While I will not be giving up my old-fashioned scrapbooking ways, I have already started planning the projects I want to do using this software. I have decided to enjoy the best of both worlds. 

 When I went into this testing of the software I had never digitally scrapped before, so the entire process was new to me. I was very nervous because I was such a newbie to the process. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that even as a rookie, this software was quite easy to use. I spent quite a bit of time familiarizing myself with the software, and quite honestly, I still don’t know everything there is to know about it. And that is because Artisan 4.0 has so much to offer! There are so many cool things you can do with it! You can design the pages yourself, or use pre-designed pages, and you can even have the software fill the pages for you with your pictures. I just bought the adorable zoo kit, and can’t wait to add a few more kits to my collection.

 The Panstoria shop has the software available for download for $39.95, but if you watch the video below there is a 20% off code at the end! The Panstoria shop also has digital kits to enhance your software. You can buy kits, pre-designed pages, alphabets, and frames on their site. They also have a few freebies on their site. They have quite a few different themes and sets to choose from, and I have heard that in the coming weeks and months their store will be filling up with even more kits and such to choose from to enhance your software.  They also have lots of helpful videos on You Tube to help the newbies like me along on this journey.

What I like best about this software is that there is no mess. I can work on the pages for an album a little bit here and there like I do my own scrapbooking projects, only with the software there’s no mess to clean up, no expensive adhesives, no dangerous paper cutter sitting out on the table, etc. Another great thing about digitally scrapping is that you can change your layout easily. If you create a page for a scrapbook using paper it’s stuck. It’s often a pain to change layout, and can result in ripped paper or photographs.

 I know I sound like a commercial, I tend to do that when I'm really excited about something...but I really did enjoy using this software, and I am really excited about starting a few new projects on it. I will still do my old-fashioned paper & scissors scrapping, but this is another fun new hobby for me, a different way to creatively present all of the millions of pictures I take. I can’t compare it to other digital scrapping software, but I do think it’s fairly easy to use, and has a lot to offer when combined with all of the fun digital kits they have to offer!

 **Disclaimer: In return for doing the beta testing of Aritsan 4.0 I was given a free copy of the software. But please know that the free software did not influence this review. I really did have fun with this!

happy birthday prince henry!

one year ago this morning prince henry entered the world to the tunes of vampire weekend.  he weighed in at 9 pounds, 10 ounces, the biggest of our four.  he has spent the past year trying so hard to keep up with his older siblings.  he loves them so much, and is always happiest when they are around.  he can stand, walk holding onto furniture, say dada (and sporadically call out mama if the mood strikes him), he can climb up onto rocking chairs, he loves pancakes, and broccoli, and he can dance (on rocking chairs no less).  he takes a few steps here and there, but his prefered method of movement is crawling.  he likes taking ALL of the wipes out of the box, figuring out how to climb up onto tables, and he loves to look out windows.  he's a very happy baby, but we are worried that he might be allergic to sleep.  he is healthy & growing, and learning new tricks every day.  we are all fascinated watching him grow up.  we love you prince henry!

banana cupcakes + cinnamon buttercream icing = a birthday treat fit for a prince

yesterday afternoon i realized that in my obstinate denial of my baby's first birthday i had completely forgotten that we should indeed have some kind of dessert to celebrate today.  so i scoured the pantry to see what i had on hand, and went through my never-ending list of recipes that i've been dying to try and stumbled upon a recipe i've been wanting to try for quite some time.  banana cupcakes and cinnamon buttercream icing from justJENN recipes - she has the CUTEST cupcakes on her blog, you should wander over and check it out.  so, armed with the ingredients & recipe the kids and i set to work on the cupcakes.

max mashed the bananas

ella measured out the ingredients

and sam mixed the ingredients...that boy loves the hand mixer!

and i iced the cupcakes.  i have to say, i'm quite pleased with the finished product.  i am not known for my cake or even cupcake decorating skills.  they are usually a mess, and i tell people that my kids decorated them.  but these i am proud of!

even though we haven't had our birthday dinner for the boy yet, michael and i snuck a cupcake last night, and they were DELICIOUS!  don't try to make them without the cinnamon buttercream icing though, because i don't think they would be the same. 

what is your favorite kind of cupcake?

seems like yesterday...

this picture was taken one year ago today...i am quite simply overwhelmed by how quickly this year has passed.  ella snapped this picture of sam and i when we dropped the three of them off at nana and papa's house to stay for a few days while i was in the hospital.  as much as i feel like our family is complete, it still makes me melencholy that our baby days are drawing to an end and that there will be no more babies in the belly.  i always loved being pregnant, there's nothing more magical in this world if you ask me.  i adored the little flutters that turn into monkey flips and then into kicks worthy of a soccer game.  i guess there were some aspects of pregnancy that weren't my favorite...heartburn, backache and the like.  but for the most part i just loved being pregnant!  so today i am allowing myself to be a bit blue that the pregnancy/newborn days are behind us.  tomorrow i will allow myself to be blue about a baby reaching that huge one year milestone.  and then i will go back to savoring the here and now and being fascinated by every new thing our baby learns and enchanted with his ever-blooming personality. 
i think that it's ok to give into a little bit of melencholy every once in a while!

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama: A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

corn chowder (with potatoes)

this snowy day is making me think about soup simmering on the stovetop.  here's what i'm planning for dinner, it's one of our favorite winter-time dinners.  it's quite easy to put together, and it doesn't take long to cook.  i found the recipe in my Celebrations cookbook by Paula Deen.  enjoy!

Corn Chowder

Paula Deen

2 Tbsp butter
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 baking potatoes, peeled and diced

4 cups chicken broth

4 ears white or yellow corn on the cob **

1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
One 10.75 oz can condensed cream of celery soup
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper (optional)

In a heavy-bottomed 4 quart stockpot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and potatoes and saute for about 2 minutes. Add the broth and boil the vegetables over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes, until the potatoes are very soft. Meanwhile, cut the corn from the cobs with a sharp knife. Place each corncob in the middle of a large bowl to catch the kernels and juice. Add the corn to the soup and cook for 5 minutes more. Add the half-and-half, salt, pepper and the cream of celery soup. Stir well to combine. Simmer until hot. Serve immediately. Garnish with the bell pepper. Makes about 6 cups.

**Substitutions: I actually use a bag of frozen corn instead of fresh corn, and when I’ve been in a pinch I’ve used milk instead of half & half.

PS...I think this soup is best served with cheesy garlic biscuits (recipe found on the side of the Bisquick box)

{this moment} ~ reminiscing

Inspired by SouleMama:  A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

snow days!

 i think that i am in the minority when i say that i love snow days, i have since i was a child (well, who didn't love snow days as a child?).  i love being snowed in with my family, with nowhere to go and no obligations.  snow days are the kind of days where you can get away with cancelling plans, shirking responsibilites, and staying in your pajamas all day long.  when the children are in school i fill my days with projects, cleaning, errands, tasks, lists, chores, and the like.  when they are home from school i try to focus on them instead of the to-do list.  i try to make our time at home fun and special. 
here's how we spent our snow days this week:

 

 

~ reading books about snow & winter ~ bundling up ~ baking ~ sitting by the fire ~ doing snow-themed arts & crafts ~ drinking hot chocolate (with a bit of butterscotch schnapps for mama & dada) ~ throwing snowballs ~ laughing ~ more reading ~ wearing pajamas ~ simmering soup ~ shivering ~ sledding ~ movie watching ~ crocheting ~ running into trees with our sleds ~ cuddling

unfortunately we did have to throw in a little homework & cleaning, but we followed those tasks up with fun activities!

how do you spend your unexpected days home from school?

snowpeople craft

sam's preschool teacher sent home a cute craft homework project this week, and i decided to make it into a project for all of the kids.  his teacher sent home a piece of black paper and three circles with instructions to make a snowperson.  it's a simple project, and the kids had great fun creating them! 

1.  gather your materials:  blue or black paper for background, stencils for circle making, white paper for circles, pencils, scissors, glue, and any materials you'd like to use to decorate the snowperson.  i found some adorable snowflake sequins in our craft cupboard that were perfect for this project!  i also gave them glitter, markers, and construction paper for cutting out accessories for the snowpeople.

2.  trace circles 

3. cut circles 

4. glue circles on background paper 

5.  decorate!!! 

tada!   look at those big green eyes on sam's snowman, and max made a robot snowman.

Gecko Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to all who entered the Great Gecko Giveaway!  I hope you will stay tuned to the blog for future giveaways, craft ideas, recipes & tidbits about my munchkins.

The winner is....KIMBERLY!
Here's why she wants to go to COSI:  Oh boy! COSI was always a favorite destination of mine when I was a kid. My Girl Scout troop used to go up every year for the Girl Scout Overnight, and it was always a blast.

We've actually been thinking about taking Trinity and Gabe for a trip to Columbus to visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; maybe we'll make it an overnight, and head to COSI, too!

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama: A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

look at me!

henry wanted me to hold him so badly last night that he just stood up and reached for me, cheered on by his siblings.  he was quite pleased with himself.  we were all excited about his accomplishment, but i'm a bit blue because he's moving closer to toddlerhood.

Great Gecko Giveaway!

Has your family been to COSI in Columbus, Ohio?  If not, I highly recommend you consider taking them!  We had a long weekend mini-vaca in Columbus in 2009, and we had so much fun exploring the city, the zoo, and especially COSI.  It's a great hands-on museum that educates and entertains everyone in the family. 

In honor of their new exhibit,  Geckos: Tails to Toepads  I have been given a family four pack of tickets to COSI to give away to one lucky reader!  With these tickets you can explore the entire museum AND check out the new Gecko exhibit!  How cool is that?!?!

Here's a bit about the new exhibit:
Enjoy the most charismatic reptiles on earth when COSI (The Center of Science and Industry) opens Geckos: Tails to Toepads on January 15, 2011. This traveling exhibition is the largest and most advanced of its kind, introducing visitors to the remarkable diversity of these lizards through bold back lighted graphics, engaging interactive displays and living examples from around the world. It will be showing through May 8, 2011.


Challenge any of the 14 species displayed to a staring contest and chances are, the gecko will win. Most geckos can't blink and like snakes, they have a transparent scale covering the eye, but no moveable eyelids. Why are Geckos so fascinating, irresistible and captivating to audiences? Whether it's their bulging eyes, ‘sticky’ toepads, squawking voices, or disposable body parts - visitors will be their own judge when they explore this fascinating interactive zoological exhibition.
"We are thrilled to have Geckos: Tails to Toepads at COSI. We chose the Geckos exhibit as a great way to showcase life science as well as the emerging science of biomimcry where we can learn from the nature to solve human problems. And these creatures are incredibly intriguing and beautiful, they will appeal to all ages” said David Chesebrough, COSI President and CEO.


Highlights of Geckos: Tails to Toepads include:
• A hands-on, minds-on adventure! Visitors can experience gecko night vision, listen to gecko voices, try to spot camouflaged geckos, and build a custom gecko for various environments.
• The gecko habitats re-create natural environments in astonishing detail. State-of-the-art controls provide lighting, humidity, temperature, and water quality to meet the needs of these delicate creatures.
• An exploration of all aspects of geckos: biology, natural history, their role in human cultures, their importance to ecosystems, and the potential they hold for bio-technology.

Visitor Information
Geckos: Tails to Toepads exhibition runs through May 8,2011, at COSI in Columbus, Ohio. This exhibition is included with admission to COSI; exhibit only admission to COSI is $14.25 for adults and $9.25 for kids ages 2 to 12. Seniors are $13.25. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; Sundays: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm; and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. COSI will be open on Monday, Jan. 17 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Monday, Feb. 21 for President’s Day.

CONTEST INFORMATION ::

You have 3 chances to enter this contest (please leave seperate comments for each entry!).

1.  Leave a comment below telling me why you would like to win these tickets to COSI.

2.  "Like" the little things page on Facebook (see box to the right side of this page), leave a comment telling me you did so.

3.  Spread the word about this contest via twitter, facebook, email or your own personal blog and leave a comment below telling me how you did so.
***Be sure to leave contact info so I can let you know you won!

Contest ends Monday, January 10, 2011 at 1pm.  Winner will be drawn using Random.org.  The winner will be notified via this post & email (if contact info is available), you then have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Disclaimer:  As part of the giveaway/promotion my family was given tickets to COSI.

favorite gifts of 2010

on the whole, our family was quite spoiled this holiday season.  we received many great gifts, and more importantly, were blessed with good health, and spent much time with loved ones.  i wanted to share a few of my favorite gifts this holiday season, because i am so giddy about them, these are just a few of the fabulous things we received, perhaps they will inspire you when shopping next year.

michael and i bought these prints for the kids from jenniferfrench on etsy.  they are so gorgeous and dark, i fell in love with them.  we bought half price frames at hobby lobby and michael made mats so they would fit into the frames properly.

sigh.  i never knew i needed an itouch until i held it in my hand.  thank you michael.

fiestaware!  this lovely lemongrass set was from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. 

my children were over the moon with these statues, how cute are they?

each year michael's parents give us a gift certificate to the state parks for christmas, and we can't thank them enough.  i can't wait to start researching where we will go this year!

what was your favorite holiday gift?