Our QT Spotlight is on Sherly.

What is your screen name? nietis

Are you married/have children/pets? I am married to a very loving husband for 3 years now

Where is home for you? Home is in tropical Bali Island of Indonesia

Snacks…Salty or Sweet? I’d prefer salty over sweet, but I love chocolate and ice cream =)

Beverage of choice? Orange juice or water.

PC or Mac? PC at the moment.

How long have you been digi-scrapping? More than 1.5 years now.

How did you get in to digi-scrapping? I saw a friend do some digi-scrapping on her blog and I asked her about it. After that I was hunting for freebies and tried it and instantly hooked!

What is your favorite Suzy Q Scraps kit? Giggle monster! It’s a super cute kit!

What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Taking new photos and using themey kits.

What are your favorite movies/TV shows? Twilight saga, How to train your dragon, Prince of Persia and many more. *Yep, I share the love of movies with my husband *

What is something unique about you? Oh this is hard. Mmmm… I am super neat-freak. Does that sound unique? I hope so.

Now that you’ve gotten to know a little more about Sherly, I picked some of my favorite layouts she has done with SuzyQ Scraps kits to share with you.  All the images are linked to Sherly’s gallery so pop over and leave her some much deserved love for these fabulous inspirations!

Here’s a freebie template and a challenge for you! Use this template, inspired by Sherly’s layout “Inside Your Hug,” to create a layout OR hybrid project. Leave a comment with a link to your layout or project. Anyone who plays along will get a 30% off coupon to SuzyQ Scraps’ store, with one lucky winner receiving a $10 coupon! Deadline is 7/31 at 11:59 pm Eastern. Have fun creating with it and make sure to link us to your layout!  Click the image to download. Enjoy!

Thank you Sherly for your awesome inspirational layouts!  These four are just a small taste of the absolute gorgeousness you can find in Sherly’s gallery to inspire your next layout.  Don’t forget to leave Sherly some love,  link us up to your creations, and join in on our Blog Party!!!

Meet Susan …

1. Your screen name? IvoryKeys

2. Are you married/have children/pets? I have been married to my wonderful DH for 15 years (in just a few days). We have 3 children (2 girls, 1 boy) and 3 cats

3. Where is home for you? Texas

4. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? Mostly sweet but I really like mixing sweet and salty together.

5. Beverage of choice? Vanilla Coke or Water

6. PC or Mac? PC

7. How long have you been digi-scrapping? A little over a year and a 1/2.

8. How did you get in to digi-scrapping? I had always been interested in making layouts with photos and kept telling myself that I would do it someday when my children were older. As I was looking for some backgrounds to use in a screen saver I was making for my mom I stumbled upon some digital scrapbooking blogs, then a blog train, then some scrapping forums. I knew immediately that this was the creative outlet I had been looking for to show off all the digital photos I’d been taking for years!

9. What is your favorite Suzy Q Scraps kit? Each time SuzyQ makes a new kit it’s a new favorite so picking one is hard. Out of her most recent kits I love the colors and elements in Heart to Heart.

10. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Getting started. It seems that when I want to scrap there are a lot of distractions and by the time there is quiet in my house (generally after the kids have gone to bed) I’m so tired that it takes a while to get started. Once I do the layouts tend to just fall into place.

11. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? I’m a NCIS fan!

12. What is something unique about you? I don’t see myself as unique…just me. I am who I am through the grace of God. Well, maybe this, I have rhythm (after all I’m an elementary music specialist) but I can’t dance at all. I’m super clumsy. Any of you who have known me long probably know about my “accident” in the fall where I fell while demonstrating how to go up the climbing wall part of the inflatable obstacle course for our students. Perfect example of my clumsiness. Why I thought that was a good idea is beyond me.

I browsed through Susan’s gallery & found a few layouts that I love!  They’re all linked back to her gallery so make sure you pop on over & leave some love.

We have a template AND a challenge for you! Use this template, inspired by Susan’s layout “Thankful,” to create a layout OR hybrid project. Leave a comment with a link to your layout or project. Anyone who plays along will get a 30% off coupon to SuzyQ Scraps’ store, with one lucky winner receiving a $10 coupon! Deadline is 6/30 at 11:59 pm Eastern. Have fun creating with it and make sure to link us to your layout!  Click the image to download. Enjoy!

Can’t wait to see your creations!

This month, Suzy has selected a fantastic layout-”Easter Joy” by jacinda

Jacinda used the bright & cheery “Sunshine” kit, along with “Stitch Hiccups #2″

Here’s what some of the QTs created using inspiration from “Easter Joy”

Now for the challenge:
Scrap a layout using jacinda’s layout as inspiration.  You can be inspired by anything — the overall design, the photo placement, the colors, the title, the kit, whatever.  Your layout must use 100% products by SuzyQ Scraps to qualify for the prizes.  Link us up to your layout in the comments by Sunday, May 23 at 11:59 pm Eastern — remember to tell us what inspired you.  Everyone who participates (& uses Suzy’s designs) will receive a 40% off coupon!  So leave us a comment with your link.  We love to see what inspires you from this layout!

Do you have an obsession? I hope so — ’cause this month’s blog challenge is all about obsessions.

May’s Digi Scrap Blog Challenge

• Scrap a layout about an obsession — TV show, clothing item, collection, etc. — anything you’re obsessed with.
• Show us your obsession — use one picture prominently, or use several smaller pictures.
• Use whatever colors fit your obsession.
• What digi scrap supply are you obsessed with? Use a lot of it on your layout, or make it a prominent feature.

Prefer hybrid? Here’s the hybrid twist on the challenge:
Freedom of choice! Create any hybrid project that either shows or holds your obsession — like maybe a hybrid box to hold your coin collection, or a wooden cube with different red papers adhered to each side to show off your obsession with the color red. Be creative!

You don’t have to use my designs, but I love it when you do! Upload your layout to your favorite gallery or other photo site and then link us up in the comments. Challenge runs all month long, so you have until May 31 at 11:59 pm Eastern to complete your layout or hybrid project. And don’t forget — you’ll receive a 25% off coupon just for playing. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the lucky winner of the $10 coupon!

And before I get back to work, how about some inspiration from the QTs? They created some awesome hybrid projects and beautiful layouts showcasing their obsessions!

Britanee’s obsession with Coke:

Mel’s obsession with vampires:

Melissa’s obsession with Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

Andrea’s card shows off her obsession with buttons:

Dalis loves cakes:

And LuAnn is obsessed with creating shaped cards:

Come play along with us this month!

SuzyQ’s Standout choice for April is y_baros for her layout Pieces of You.

This beautiful layout was created using SuzyQ Scraps’ Bundle of Boy, using an awesome template by AnnaBV Designs.

Now for the challenge:
Scrap a layout using y_baros’ layout as inspiration. You can be inspired by anything — the subject, the circles, the colors, the elements, the title, the kit, whatever. Your layout must use 100% products by SuzyQ Scraps to qualify for the prizes. Link us up to your layout in the comments by Sunday, April 25th at 11:59 pm Eastern — be sure to tell us what inspired you. Everyone who participates (& uses Suzy’s designs) will receive a 40% off coupon! So leave us a comment with your link! We can’t wait to see what inspired you and your own interpretation of the challenge!

If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’s that we all have our struggles.  What amazes me though is that so often we are ashamed to share them with others.  This is a shame, because if we did, we might learn something from one another, and help each other to conquer our struggles and fears.

That’s why this month we are asking you to scrap about a struggle in your life.  This can range from a bad habit to something you’ve been struggling with since your childhood.  Anything you feel comfortable with sharing, we would love to see what sort of layout you can come up with!

Here are your guidelines:

• Scrap a layout about something you struggle with.
• Focus on journaling in your layout – share at least 10 lines with us.
• Photos do not have to be included in your layout.
• Use predominantly dark or bold colors.
• Use a repetitive theme — same element throughout the layout, repetitive language in journaling, etc.

Prefer hybrid? Here’s the hybrid twist on the challenge:

• Create a journal for recording your feeling, struggles, and emotions. (Check out one of Suzy’s latest posts for a tutorial on how to create a hybrid notebook.)

Here’s a sample layout from QT Sherly

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And a sample notebook from SuzyQ using No Monsters Allowed:

You have until April 30th at 11:59 PM EST to enter your layout or journal.   Simply leave us a comment with a link to your creation. And remember, everyone who participates will receive a 25% off coupon to SuzyQ Scraps’ store … and one winner will receive a $10 coupon.

Happy scrapping!

P.S. Suzy is out of town this week, so she’ll be choosing the winner from last month’s challenge when she gets back.

It’s time for another episode of Digi World Wednesday, where I bring something from the digi world to you — like introducing you to a new-to-you digital scrapbook site, or perhaps reminding you of an old favorite. Since I’m sponsoring The Digi Dares this week, I thought it’d be a good time to post about them. I’ve been enjoying their challenges for a while now, though it’s true that in the recent past I’ve participated less often due to time constraints. I hope to get more organized and streamlined soon so I can play more! (Psssttt! You still have time to play along with this week’s dare, and get a coupon from me! Check out Digi Dare #171.)

The Digi Dares host weekly challenges that “[dare] you to scrap outside the box.” If you’re looking to be stretched, these challenges are for you! Not only are their challenges inspiring, but you also have a chance to win prizes! Each challenge is sponsored by a different designer, so a total of 4 designers each month. You’ll receive a discount coupon from the sponsoring designer for the week, just for playing along that week. If your layout is randomly picked as a winner, you’ll receive (2) $10 coupons from the darer/designer. And the darer’s pick receives a $10 coupon from each of that month’s sponsors! So play along all month for your chance to possibly win a $10 coupon to my store, plus 3 more coupons from the other March sponsors.

Here are the 3 layouts I’ve completed this year because of their dares. (I wish I had more time to play along — if I did, I’d be at The Digi Dares every week!)

For Dare #163:

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For Dare #166:

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For Dare #171:

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I love how their challenges really do dare me to scrap outside my box. They stretch me and help me tell the stories that may have remained untold without their inspiration. (I even got a GSO with my Positive Change layout!) If you’re like me and have a hard time keeping track of all the fun things in digi land, you can add their site to your reader, or even sign up for their newsletter.

Check out what Ellie did for Dare #171:

What are you waiting for? Go check out this week’s dare … and be inspired every week! (And go make someone’s day lucky!)

This month, Suzy has selected a fantastic layout!!! It’s Rascal by valleygirl!!

She used SuzyQ’s fabulous digital scrapbooking kit Bundle of Boy.

Now for the challenge:
Scrap a layout using valleygirl’s layout as inspiration. You can be inspired by anything — the overall design, the photo placement, the colors, the title, the kit, whatever. Your layout must use 100% products by SuzyQ Scraps to qualify for the prizes. Link us up to your layout in the comments by Sunday, March 21 at 11:59 pm Eastern — be sure to tell us what inspired you. Everyone who participates (& uses Suzy’s designs) will receive a 40% off coupon! So leave us a comment with your link! We love to see what inspires you from this layout!!!

Here’s the layout I created for the dare:

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What are you waiting for? Head on over to The Digi Dares to check out this week’s challenge by Barb. And be sure to stay tuned next Wednesday for some more info about The Digi Dares.

Take a look at these layouts created by Suzy and the QTs that show you how easy it is to incorporate quotes into a layout.

Now that you’ve had some visual inspiration I have a challenge for you!  Create a layout using a quote and 100% SuzyQ Scraps’ designs, then come back and link us up to your layout before Saturday, Mar. 13th at 11:59 pm Eastern and earn a 25% off coupon to use in SuzyQ Scraps’ store.  That’s not all!  One participant will be randomly chosen to win a $5.00 gift certificate to Suzy’s store!

Don’t have any of SuzyQ’s designs?  Still want to play along?  I know of a way you can get a SuzyQ freebie to use!  Suzy has an add-on freebie available at Log Your Memory, where she’s the guest designer this month.

To make it even easier I am going to give you 10 of my favorite quotes.  You don’t have to use one of these quotes for the challenge but we can always use more inspiration!

Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.  ~William Stafford

Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it. ~Not Your Average Dictionary

The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child. ~Joe Houldsworth

Love unlocks doors and opens windows that weren’t even there before. ~Mignon McLaughlin

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world. ~Author Unknown

Families are like fudge — mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown

You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

Remember, if you’re headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns! ~Allison Gappa Bottke

Giving up doesn’t always mean you are weak. Sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go. ~Author Unknown

Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending. ~Author Unknown

I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Until next time — Happy Scrapping!