Jodie McNally Designs Blog

I love it when I’m cruising the gallery at Oscraps and see my word art on awesome layouts and projects! I thought I’d show off a few of those now!  Thanks to everyone who buys my word art and makes it look SO good on your amazing layouts!

Here’s an awesome card made by madigirl at Oscraps! She used my Dude-ulrific Frames and my Age is Just a Numbah Word Art.  Click on the image to see the full credits! I love the ribbon at the top, the swirls, and the little rhinestones she put on the number one – just the right amount of bling!!!  Great card, Maya!

Here’s a great layout by one of my best customers, lukasmummy! I just love the design, that adorable photo, and the way that she used the Sleepy Time Word Art to help tell the funny story in her journaling! As always, I *love* the white space in the layout! Click the image for full credits!

There are tons of new layouts in my Designer Gallery at Oscraps…some of my CT members have been crankin’ out the goodness, so go check them out!

I have tons of new releases scheduled to debut this week, so be sure to check back often! In honor of my Travel and Road Trip Word Art Packs (watch the store today), I have this little sneak peek freebie! Grab this “Going Places” word art, make a layout with it, link me up here, and you could win the Travel/Road Trip Combo! Layouts must be linked here in a comment by 10:00 AM (CST) on Tuesday, August 20th, so hurry!

Click here to download the freebie! Please don’t share the freebie with others…send them here to download it! Thanks!

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Thanks to everyone who applied for my CT! I was worried I’d only get one or two…but I was pleasantly surprised! I now have to begin the long, long process of going through all of these.  As promised, I will announce by 3:00 PM (CST) on Wednesday, August 13th! Thanks again to everyone who applied!

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I have two new products in the store:

Running Word Art – to help my friend and CT Member, Kara, raise money for cancer research:

I also have new Zoo Word Art & it is on 25% off this weekend!

You have 48 hours to apply…I have 48 hours to decide!

Email me at jmcdesigns.call@gmail.com by Monday, August 11, 2008 at 3:00 PM (CST).

Please include: name, username, link to one gallery, list of current CT gigs, a little about yourself, and a link to your favorite project or gallery.

Thanks! I can’t wait to see whatcha got!

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I am having one of those days….the weather is pleasant (which has not been the case lately), I have a yummy, steamy, cup of Highlander Grog (our fave coffee that we found SUPER cheap on sale – which makes it taste even better), my beautiful child is happily digging in the rocks, and the dogs are frolicking in the yard.

I’ve realized that I am finally starting to come out of the funk caused by having 3 people pass away in the first four months of this year.  Am I over losing Nan and Mamaw? No. But, I am starting to accept it and realize that I can’t let my grief consume me.  Losing Aunt Peggy was definitely a shock to the system and I do miss her, but I wasn’t so close to her that I feel like a giant part of my life is missing.

Most people I know would be shocked to hear that I’ve been as depressed as I have been…and I kind of feel the same.  I had a few days alone while Lily stayed with my parents and Shan was working, and I really spent a lot of that time reflecting on the first half of 2008 and I have realized that I have to get back to living my life.  I will always miss them and I will think of them daily…but I (and tons of other loved ones) are still here and alive.  I have to start focusing on living my life the best I can and appreciating every single moment I have with the people that I care about.  Perhaps some of this was prompted by the fact that over the last two days I read For One More Day by Mitch Albom.  It’s a great book – a fast read and really well-written.  Have some tissues ready just in case.

I am listening to a song that is totally perfect for this blog: Down So Long, by Jewel:

Sun sets cross the ocean, a thousand miles from anywhere. My pocketbook and my heart just got stolen, and that sun acts like she don’t even care. Wind blows cold when you reach the top, it feels like someone’s face is stuck to the bottom of my shoe. I got a plastic Jesus and a cordless telephone for every corner of my room.  I got everybody but you telling me what to do. 

But I’ve been down so long, it can’t be longer still. I been down so long, that the end must be drawin’ near.

I look to everybody but me to answer my prayers till I saw an angel in a bathroom and said she saw no one worth saving anywhere. Blind man on the corner said it’s simple, like flipping a coin – don’t matter what side it lands on, it’s somebody else’s dime.

We’ve been down so long, it can’t be longer still.  We’ve been down so long, I know the end must be drawin’ near.

So, yes…I’ve decided that it is time to wake up and smell the Highlander Grog.  Life is still going on all around me and it is time to snap out of it.  Nan and Mamaw wouldn’t want me to be missing out on life any longer because I’m sad about them dying.  They were both ready to go home…even if we weren’t ready for them to go.  And if the fact that Jewel’s Angel Standing By just came up as the next song on my iPod isn’t a sign…I dunno what is.

All through the night I’m watching over you.  And all through the night I’m standing over you.  Through your dreams I’ll be right there baby holding your hand to tell you everything is gonna be alright.  When you cry, I’ll be there baby tellin’ you that you’re nothing less than beautiful.  Don’t you worry, I’m your angel standing by. 

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Ok, I’ll admit it…

I have dabbled with MySpace and Facebook in the past, but they never really held my interest for long.  I usually only log in to my pages when I get a “so-and-so has added you” email.  That has all changed….I have recently reunited with several old friends that I haven’t spoken to or seen in years (some as long as 10 years!) and it is just stinkin’ amazing to me.  I love how Facebook does this “People You Might Know” thing and helps you see who matches up with several of your friends.  I know I’m not explaining it well…just go check it out yourself if you’re at all interested.  \

Ok, I know I had a reason for telling you this.  Ahhh, yes…Shauna Sever.  She also has a really cool recipe/food blog thingy called Piece of Cake.  At the risk of getting too nostaligic, let me fill you in on the story of how I know Shauna Sever.

As a college freshman, I lived in a co-ed dorm that divided the boys and girls by alternating floors.  At least I think it was alternating…hahaha! I know Joey, Doug & Duran, and Don lived on the basement floor.  I’m pretty sure a few other girls who were fellow special education majors lived on 1st floor.  Not sure about 2nd, and I know boys lived on the 4th floor.  So, that leaves 3rd floor.  3rd floor U-Hall was the scene…the friggin’ place to be, dudes.  Seriously.  We had such an odd mix of girls…preppy, grungy, studious, flunky, straight-laced, party animal, boy-crazy, rich, poor, athletic, lazy….you name it, U-Hall 3rd floor had it.  We even had a former Miss Illinois living on our floor (I think – maybe she lived on a different floor and just had friends on 3, but I’m pretty sure she lived down the hall around the corner). I will admit (with mixed emotions) that I probably fit in to almost every single one of those categories at some point during my freshman year.  Well, I fit into all of the categories except beauty pageant winner, rich, straight-laced, and flunky (that came later in junior year…ack!).  Shauna also fit into a lot of those categories. 

At first glance I never would have guessed that Shauna and her roomie, Linda, would have been people that I would have enjoyed hanging out with….and I’m pretty sure they probably thought the same thing about me.  Hahaha! But, that’s the cool thing about freshman year, I guess…you take chances and get to know people that you normally wouldn’t have had the chance to know.  Shauna and I weren’t those friends that did everything together or shared clothes….but she was one of those friends that I knew I could always hunt down for a late-night heart to heart or just a little silly goofing off if need be.  Linda and Shauna called me Jodeci – one nickname that has actually stayed with me in some of my college circles. 

So, see? Facebook isn’t just a silly way to send cupcake hugs and cyber-poking your friends in the chest….it’s a great way to reconnect with those friends that you might never have crossed paths with again.   So, Shauna, my homegirl…if you read this, congrats on the pregnancy and all of your MANY successes.  I always knew you’d be famous….ever since that big audition you left for and made me swear to GAWD that I wouldn’t tell anyone what it was for.  Peace out, homies….go check out her blog! She has some great recipes and is a great writer….you’ll be entertained even if you don’t like to cook.

I’ve been meaning to blog about new recipe ventures for a few weeks now…I even have pics saved and recipes ready to type out.  So, thanks for the inspiration, Shauna.

Oh, and mad props to 3rd Floor U-Hall.  

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Sorry I’ve been quiet for a few days…we’ve had a lot going on! I am going to use this post as a way to catch up on all the stuff I’ve been meaning to blog about in the last week but just didn’t get to it.  So, get a snack kids…this is gonna take a while.

CHA Related Jibber-Jabber and Photos

Here is a great photo of the amazingly talented and all-around awesome Mark Montano! The picture I got of the two of us together is a terrible pic of me, so I’m not showing it.  It’s hard to look cute standing next to him, anyway…he is just adorable, isn’t he?  My cousin, Stephenie, wants to put him in her pocket.

One thing I totally forgot to mention about CHA was the fact that I also got to meet and chat with Jennifer Perkins! She is awesome in all of her vintagey, jewelry-making glory! I had a blast at her Make-n-Take and have really enjoyed reading her blog since I’ve been home! I’m also excited to start spending WAY too much money on her goodies…she sells really sweet vintage, revamped jewelry and accessories in the Naughty Secretary Club Store.  She also has a great new book out –  details on her blog!

Here she is with another designer at the make-n-take booth:

In addition to all of her crafty talents, she also has a lot of marketing and business smarts…and she shares some of that info on her blog.  Here’s a great post regarding Indie Businesses! Ok…obviously I think Jennifer rules.  On to other CHA schtuff…

Here are my pics of Heidi Grace doing personalized doodles at the Fiskars booth! She is such a wonderful designer and also a very sweet person!  It was an honor to meet her!

Here’s the really nice lady who helped me make Lily’s Hello Kitty necklace (her “most favorite soob-a-near” that I brought home from CHA)! I was such a pain while making this – I didn’t follow directions well (imagine that) and kept making mistakes…and she was so patient and helpful! The necklace turned out great – you can see it in the pic, too!

I also made my niece, Olivia, a onesie at the Pentel booth! That booth was another one of my favorites – tons of cool pens and markers to try out!

Ahhh, yes….Angela! She was the one and only person I met at CHA (other than my relatives) who had heard of Jodie McNally Designs! She is also a lead Fiskateer and a LOT of fun to hang out with! Her blog is over in my blogroll – it is highly entertaining, so check it out!

Speaking of Fiskars…I saw the Rock, Paper, Trimmer! It really is pretty cute and *insert subtle hint to my cousin* I can imagine myself using it a lot at school or for hybrid stuff and card-making. 

New Puppy!

Yep…you heard me! We got a puppy…a little terrier mix named Addy (short for Addison – GO CUBS!) that we adopted from Guardian Angels Animal Rescuers. Our older dog, Sierra, was not exactly thrilled with the idea of a tiny, playful pup…but after a few days, they have become best buddies! They can’t go outside without each other, they wrestle around and play together, and they love going on walks together.  The best part is, they match! Reddish-brown heads, black/white spotted bodies, and red-spotted feet.  Here are some pics of our furry family members:

Ok…I’m off to bathe my child and get her ready to go to Mimi’s house.  She is spending the night (possibly two nights) there, so she is excited to get a move on! I will be back tomorrow (maybe) with some pics of an awesome hybrid gift I made for my niece’s baptism yesterday! Have a great Monday!

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