Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Kids Vol. 1

Linda LaTourelle 

This is the grandest collection of words, verse, poems, titles and more ever written in one volume. It is designed for every person who loves to create things for and about children. This brand new book will bring a smile to your lips, a tear to your eye and a joy to your heart as you read the incredible array of writings within its pages. Truly a delight for kids from 1 to 100!  Online Reviewer:  Lianne Carper

I love this series of books from Linda. They are a wonderful resource for scrappers and cardmakers. This particular volume covers from birth thru to preschool age topics and themes. It is a fun read and there are so many of the poems that I have never heard before. They inspire you to create and celebrate. When I read through this book I got lots of ideas for layouts that I would have not thought of otherwise. Thanks for the inspiration Linda. The book is laid out in a very organized manner and has an extremely detailed Table of Contents. All the themes are listed alphabetically for easy reference. Linda offers poems, titles and sayings for scrapping and cardmaking. Plenty of options for every occasion - A detailed and well written resource that I will be using frequently. I only wish it was spiral bound so that it would lay flat. I can't wait to read Volume II. Online Reviewer: Danie’s Scrappalicious Times Blog, Daniela Austen aka Danie32 (Design Team)

“This is Wonderful!!! If you scrapbook about kids, this is a great book to help you find what to say on your pages. It's fun to read to my kids, too. Tons of the old and new.” Online Reviewer: Wanda, 5/05/05

“Love this book! If you have Linda's two other books you must have this one. I love the older poems included. I am so glad that the younger generation will have books such as this one to bring some of the "oldies but goodies" back. You will enjoy this book and keep it near your computer for reference!” Online Reviewer: Anonymous

Where’s Thena, I Need a Poem About…

Thena Smith

“I positively love Thena's book! Placing poems within categories simplifies finding the right one. As a person who scrapbooks, makes cards and delves into other crafts, I am eager to have such a plethora of her material at my fingertips.“ Online Reviewer: Sharon H.,  6/5/06

“I finally received my copy today – the wait had been agonizing! I look forward to savoring each of Thena’s beautiful pieces. She is truly a beautiful person and a wonderful friend; these characteristics shine through in her poems. I look forward to another Thena book soon!! “ Online Reviewer: Merryann Phillips

“To have Thena’s poems at my fingertips is awesome! She is fantastic and her poems are breathtaking!!!” Online Reviewer: Kaybear52

“Thena is awesome!! I found out about her this year online and every time I needed a poem she comes up with the best worded and most meaningful poems ever! My scrapbooks are full of her poetry and people always ask me how I found a poem to fit the picture so perfectly… I have not finished reading this book yet, I am taking it slowly; it is so full of emotions, and great poetry and I don’t want to rush through it… I feel like most poems were written for me… Just today as I was reading “Sweet Kisses” (page 73) my son came up to me and kissed me, I had to cry!! Thanks Thena for writing such an awesome book… I am already looking forward to a next one.”  Online Reviewer:  BrazilianChick

Lovelines CD - Perfect Word Art Quotes Worth Repeating

Linda LaTourelle 

“The Love Lines cd is packed full of beautiful word art creations. I was so excited to receive it and immediately popped it into my computer. From the moment I opened it, ideas started running around in my head. The great thing about this cd is that it includes both .jpeg files that you can print to use on your paper layouts and .png files that can be used in most digital scrapbooking software. The word art is beautiful and inspiring!! Some of them are soft and elegant while others are fun and flirtatious!! There are so many different quotes and poems that you are sure to find just the right one for your photos. There are poems, quotes and word art specifically for Valentine’s Day, wedding’s, and Christmas. I could even see using some of them for baby and pet pages. The possibilities are endless.  You aren’t limited to just using them on layouts either. You could use them on other crafts like cards, boxes, and candy bar wrappers. One of my favorite things about this cd is that when you find a quote you like many of them are done in several different ways so that you have several choices to match the style to your layout!” Online Reviewer: rewards4u 

“The Love Lines CD is a GREAT resource for your word art needs. Complete with a plethora of BEAUTIFUL art for your scrapping needs, both paper and digital, it is a MUST have for any scrappers "stash". Available in jpg and png format really provides versatility that many of us want or need in our scrapping. But don't be mistaken, this CD has word art that works for weddings, the love of your life, first loves, last loves, friendships and children. A handful of word arts can even be found created in several ways from fancy to fanciful.” Online Reviewer:  Kerri Horton

“Linda LaTourelle has another winning series. Love Lines is part of the "Perfect Words Worth Repeating" series and if the rest of the series is anything close to quality of Love Lines I will need to purchase them all. This CD has over 500 wonderfully created Word Art creations. Each of them is connected to the theme of love and friendship. They would be great for scrapping or cardmaking - marriage, love, engagement, friendship, anniversary, valentines and thank you’s. Linda has used a variety of fonts and effects to add depth and dimension to our projects. The best thing about it is that you can use the same images over and over. You can print them out and create using traditional methods or you can open the images into your software and use them in the jpeg or png format. Great versatility.” Online Reviewer: Sue Bond (craftyaunt)

Whispers: Passionate Poetry from First Glance to Lasting Romance

Thena Smith

“Thena did it again! With this gorgeous collection of passionate poems, awesome sentiments and words full of love, Whispers is your first choice when scrapping your precious photos of weddings, engagements, relationships and loved ones. Whether you are creating cards, layouts, albums or other handicrafts – you will find the right sentiment for every occasion in this never-ending source of inspiration! From first love to everlasting romance, from relationship to wedding, from loved one to breaking up – you will definitely get the right verses for your journaling needs. This book is so versatile; you can even create whole albums with it. Thena really has outdone herself once again with this great book and it will be my true source of inspiration for sure!”  Online Reviewer:   Daniela Austen aka Danie32

“Oh my goodness! If you are a romantic at heart or need to find ways to express your romantic feelings then you have GOT to have this book! With poems stemming from young love, love online, honeymooners, humorous poems all the way to breaking up this is a resource you will use over and over again. I can see myself using it to scrap my boys' loves as they grow up and to continue to use for my own love." Online Reviewer: Executive Asst. Kerri Horton

“A lifetime of love is packed into this wonderful collection of poetry by Thena Smith! She has is all covered, from that first look, the engagement, the wedding, each member of the wedding party and of course the anniversaries. Whispers takes you on a sentimental journey as you read each word that is lovingly written with passion and wit and perfect for your most endearing photos.” Online Reviewer: Kimberly Stewart (hrhkimmi)

“I could relate to so many of the poems written!!   Thena has written a book of poems that I was able sit back, read and enjoy. So many are related to my own life and relationships that I've had. I've decided to give this book as an engagement gift to one of my daughter's friends, and that's the best review that a person can give, to keep on giving the gift.“ Online Reviewer:  KimInIowa

Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Kids Vol. 2  K - 6th Grade

Linda LaTourelle

“This is a great addition to the Ultimate Guide series (The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Word and The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Card). It's nice to be able to find so many fun and uplifting quotes, titles, and verses compiled just for scrapbooking and cardmaking!”  Online Reviewer:  momfor2 (Jennifer Smith – Sporty Scrappin’)

“The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Kids, Vol. 2, the newest addition to Bluegrass Publishing’s ultimate line, is 384 pages of rhymes, titles, quotes and bible verses that provide bits of wisdom on topics from boo-boos to school pictures which chronicle a child’s Elementary School years. This collection combines original poems from Linda LaTourelle, Thena Smith and some of the best know poets from our current time. You will never again be at a loss for words to craft about from baby to grade schooler! It is an amazing collection of words, verses, poems, titles and more just for kids. Every mother, aunt or grandmother needs these books! If you like The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Word then you will need to add Celebrating Kids to your library.” Online Reviewer: Michelle McVaney

“Linda LaTourelle has compiled an INCREDIBLE amount of rhymes, quotes, titles, poems, etc. geared towards Grade School students. The very first thing I did after receiving the book was to sit down and read through it. And, let me tell you, if you need to rekindle those tender feelings towards your kids or howl at some outrageous things kids do then the book is worth it for that alone! If you struggle with journaling and never quite know what to put on your page then this will be an invaluable resource for you! This book is filled with everything from Animals to Boogers, Books to Earth, Easter to Grumpy Gus, Gymnastics to Music, Naptime to Sunday school, Super Scouts to Zoo-rific. You're bound to find SOMETHING that you can use to help you fill that page. Online Reviewer: Kerri Horton

A Taste of Paste – Poems for the Classroom

Thena Smith

“Thena has done it again!!! Though you certainly don’t need to be an educator to fully appreciate her newest creations, I believe they will be popping up in classrooms everywhere. A Taste of Paste is an adorable publication that brings to life many of our childhood days. A wonderful new offering from Bluegrass Publishing."  Online Reviewer:  gamma2five  Books for the classroom

“As the title indicates, this is a book full of poems about teachers and school. But don’t let that fool you because it is so much more! Inside you will find poems for teachers, for parents, about students and school. You will also find poems about growing up, birthdays, holidays, home schooling and scouting. I make gifts for teachers every year and the poems in this book will be a wonderful aid in personalizing those gifts. There are many poems about graduations to use with your child’s page, not only for their senior graduation but for kindergarten too! There are also poems about the bus, which I plan to use for gifts for my daughter’s bus driver. Thena’s poems are sweet and inspiring. Her way with words will make you smile, laugh out loud, and may even bring a tear to your eye!!!” Online Reviewer:  rewards4u (moderator)

“Thena's book called Taste of Paste is indeed a "great resource for teachers". It is also a great tool for scrapbookers, cardmakers and note writers. It is packed with over 200 pages of detailed, well written and thoughtful poems. Some poems are written from the Teacher's perspective, but many poems can be used by parents and relatives scrapping or creating cards on academic themes. There are several pages of retirement poems not specific to teachers...these would be great for layouts, cards and notes. There is also a section that presents poems Grade by Grade...wonderful tool for those school photo layouts that sometime become too daunting to work through. The section on school photos is very useful and appropriate for creating school albums. This book is a great resource for anyone who needs to scrap school photos or events. A wonderful tool to have close by when creating your next school album or better yet, go back and add some of these beautiful poems to layouts that you have already created.”  Online Reviewer:  Sue Bond (craftyaunt)

“What can I say? I so thoroughly enjoyed reading through the poems in this book! Another book I had picked up intending to be a teacher's gift for the end of the school year but found that I enjoyed it myself! There are so many poems in this book that are so much fun to read and really cause you to reminisce about the "good ole days". If you spend time involved in your children's school "career" at all then you will have PLENTY of opportunities to use this book for your scrapping pleasure!” Online Reviewer:  Kerri Horton

“A Taste of Paste is a really good book for satisfying certain scrapping needs; particularly your needs of scrapping about teachers or for teachers. But, this versatile book can be used for many different subjects as well. Some of the many uses for this book are the first day of school for the little ones in your life, capturing those often difficult yet wonderful teen moments. A particular poem caught my eye; it comes from the Heroes section. The name is Heroes; I enjoyed it because it was a surprise to see an awesome poem to those true heroes from 9/11. I've only begun to touch on the many great uses for this great book, so go out and grab it up and you'll see just what I’m talking about!” Online Reviewer: Dawn Mills

This book will help spark your childhood memories with poems that take you back to your days spent in the classroom, as well as those of just growing up in general. The contents are easily accessible for use in scrapbooks, cards and homemade gifts, or just enjoying a delightful read. gamma2six, San Diego, CA (online review)

BoardSmartz - Learning Quips & Bulletin Board Tips

Thena Smith

“The poems in Board Smartz will aid teachers in sparking the minds of children to learn little ditties that will help retain what has been taught, as well as offer fresh ideas for teachers as they construct bulletin boards for the classroom. Another wonderful new offering from Bluegrass Publishing.” Online Reviewer:  gamma2five

“I was curious about this book for putting sayings on bulletin boards. It is dubbed a great resource for teachers, but I was looking for something for our bulletin board at church. I was not disappointed! Thena Smith relates a lot of her sayings for bulletin boards towards God, even her dedication in the front of the book says: "Dedicated to my loving, Heavenly Father and to the wonderful family He sent to me." In the beginning of the book Thena tells us about how ALL kids like to be featured on your bulletin boards, not just the A students! How true with her statement...Bulletin Boards should empower not overpower! She goes on to say they should be interesting and not confuse the student (or us adults!). Best of all, pages and pages of text to put on your bulletin boards on many, many subjects. Thena starts out with welcoming messages and quickly leads into many different school subjects. Watch for the key symbols on the pages for activities to keep the children active. Our bulletin board at church, for April, had flowers on it, so I went to the page with flowers and found this quote that would fit perfectly on the bulletin board. "Bloom where you are planted." Unfortunately I found it after the girl at work put the board together, but what a perfect saying for a church bulletin board.” Online Reviewer:  Kathy Brandt 

“Gifted Teacher- Whether you are on the lookout for a great gift for your child’s teacher or you yourself are a teacher who wants to upgrade her bulletin boards, Board Smartz is a fun book you must see! Bluegrass Publishing has just come out with this 200-page book filled with original ideas that are quick and easy for any teacher to use. It has thought-provoking displays, poems, and just plain great ideas for bulletin boards. I haven’t taught school in many years, but I loved looking through this book just the same. Many of the ideas work just as well for Sunday school! Thena Smith has written a helpful book with a sense of whimsy all its own.” Online Reviewer:  “New Product Showcase- What’s new and HOT in kids’ crafting

“OK, I looked at this book and thought that it would be a good gift for my son's teacher as an end of year gift. WOW! I actually found it to be really great! There are certain things that I have to work on with the kids like Spelling, Math, etc. and found so many USEFUL ideas in this book for "presenting" the information to them! In fact, I plan to work on some album "helps" for the kids in a 4x6 format that I can laminate that they can use to help them with different things.” Online Reviewer:  Kerri Horton

What Can I Say?  The Scrapbook Way...

Wendi Sue

“This book makes adding words & journaling to your pages fast, fun and easy. Over 100 original poems & quotes in word art form, ready to use. Journaling made easy, the scrapbook way.”  Online Reviewer:  Kerri Horton

“I can’t say enough about this precious little book! This is NOT your average little quote and saying book! Wendi Sue has put together the most Awesome book of sayings for scrapbooking that I have seen in quite some time. You will find just about any little saying for any little thing in this book. I have posted two layouts in the gallery that I completed with sayings from this book and to be very honest, I have searched everywhere I could think of to find something to scrap these photos with and it was Wendi’s book that gave me just what I was looking for! I am thrilled and just as thrilled to have this book in my collection. It is one that I know I will turn to time and time again for that perfect little saying!” Online Reviewer: Carla

“Wendi Sue's book is a wonderful collection of poems and sayings. You just have to copy them onto paper or cardstock, cut them out and add them to your layout, card or other project. Each one is unique and has been created using a variety of fonts, styles and sketches. It is like adding a work of art to your project. Wendi Sue has grouped the poems by topics or occasions - weather, angels, announcing, as I grow, birthday wishes, boys will be boys, Christmas cheer, family tree, forever friends, happy anniversary, in the garden, memories, outdoor adventures, playtime, red white and blue, remembrance, schools and rules, sugar and spice, sunshine and smiles, through the year, toddler time and vows of love. A total of 48 pages and over 100 poems and sayings. If you need help with journaling or you just want to have ready-made journaling on hand, I would recommend that you buy this book.” Online Reviewer:  Sue Bond (craftyaunt)

Letters to Heaven Words of Comfort for the Grieving Soul

Thena Smith and Lynne Carey 

“Letters to Heaven is a wonderful collection of poems for layouts, cards and notes. Thena and Lynne have compiled 143 pages of Words of Comfort for the Grieving Soul. They have included a wide range of sentiments to suit your needs – tribute/memorial layouts and albums as well as Sympathy and Thinking of You cards. Some are intended for cards to make the griever feel better; others pay tribute to those who have passed on. Thena and Lynne are able to put into words what we are thinking. Thena and Lynne have created a collection that include some poems with religious references and as well as those that do not. So whether you are looking for spiritual poems or not, this book is for you. If you create tribute/memorial layouts, sympathy cards or notes, this book is sure to be a useful reference tool for finding just the right sentiment.” Online Reviewer:  Sue Bond (craftyaunt)

 “In times of loss, words are the hardest things to find for me to say. What if I say the wrong thing? What do I say? Finding a card is the luck of the draw… finding something that really means what I want to say… without sounding wishy-washy (you know what I mean). The poems in this book will definitely give me the courage to make my own cards when the time comes. They are inspirational and spiritual (which can be hard to find in this day and age). The themes are endless… poems for military people, friends, babies, parents, grandparents, going home (for leaving a letter to family/friends), family, in memory and more.” Online Reviewer:  Kathryn Brandt

Color Made Easy, Instant Color Palettes  

Misti Tracy

“Color Made Easy is a great resource for choosing a color palette for your project– card, layout, story board. Have you ever bought a sheet of paper and then wasn’t sure what colors to put with it? Well this is the book for you. There are color palettes for every occasion and preference. She has not left out anything…there are pastels, bright, muted, cool, warm. You name it; you will find a color palette in this book. This reference book is well organized with instructions at the beginning, all of the color palettes next and then the actual color swatches for each palette. Each color palette section consists of 4 pages– the colors, sample projects, descriptive words, color combination diagrams and Creative Kick-Starts. Fantastic job Misti! I would recommend this book to anyone who needs help putting a color scheme together.” Online Reviewer:  Sue Bond  

“No more scrap booker’s block!!! That’s the first thing I thought when I opened this book. This book is full of beautiful color combinations and layout ideas!!! There are dozens of color palettes to choose from. Each palette includes a list of words describing the emotions and thoughts it might provoke. There are also several layouts and cards to draw inspiration from. My favorite part is that it shows you the different color combinations for the palette and how much to use of each color. I have always been one to stick to a single scrapbook kit because I’m not comfortable mixing pieces from different kits. I’m never sure which colors would go together but now I can mix kits with confidence!!! I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re color challenged like me!” Online Reviewer:  rewards4u   

“I bought this book for myself, and then ordered one as a Christmas gift. It is perfect for people who have trouble deciding or knowing what colors to use together. I am a card maker, and I often find that I know what color base cardstock I want to use, but unsure about what complimentary colors to use. This book has it all. If you purchase the book, I know you will use it constantly.” Online Reviewer:  Diane N.

C is for Christmas, Words to Decorate the Holidays

Thena Smith with digital art CD by Sharon Hammond

“What a surprise! Not the book that is, just the CD that was included with the book. I expected the CD to include the INCREDIBLE poems that are in the book, yet when I opened it up it was filled with scraplets, papers, and elements to use to scrap your Christmas holidays. It wasn't a lot, per se, but there was enough for five pages and then some. This book would give you the ability to possibly scrap an entire lifetime's Christmas' without repeating yourself. Thena is TRULY talented! I wish that I had her knack for words because she has so many GREAT books filled with words to suit your needs. This one is just as good as every other book she has.” Online Reviewer:  Kerri Horton

“Another spectacular book by Thena Smith! Thena has covered the theme of Christmas in detail. C is For Christmas is well organized with table of contents listing the sections according to theme - The Season of Advent; Christmas Albums; Photos and Scrapbooking; Christmas with Family and Friends; Christmas in Love; Early Christmas; Late Christmas; Christmas Spirit; Christmas Gifts; Christmas Faith; Pets; Christmas Places; Santa is Real; Christmas Prayers; Thank-You's; Traditions; Cooking up a Jolly Christmas; Secret Pals and Secret Santa’s; Little Notes for Christmas cards; Special Christmas Events; Christmas Decorating; Through Children's Eyes; Christmas Titles. This would be a great book for cardmaking, note writing, scrapbooking, church display or kids’ school projects. Thena has included poems, titles and sayings of different lengths to suit all of your Holiday project needs. C is for Christmas includes a bonus cd of digital designs by Sharon Hammond. It includes jiffy pages and individual elements - great time savers and a superb companion to Thena's book. Whether you're looking for some journaling for your Holiday Project or you just want a fantastic book to read, I would recommend you pick up C is for Christmas. You will not be disappointed. Thena has created another gem.” Online Reviewer: Sue Bond (craftyaunt)

“OK, so I just got C is for Christmas by Thena Smith. I was thinking about how much I love Christmas! And then I realized it's THE MIDDLE OF MAY and HOT outside. What was I going to do with a Christmas book in May? Well, let me tell you this book instantly put me in a good mood!! It reminded me that the Christmas SPIRIT should be in our hearts all year! Thena has renewed my spirit with these poems she has written! They are beautiful and eloquent. There are touching poems and poems that are downright hilarious! This book is 132 pages of inspiration! There are poems perfect for that layout of Baby’s First Christmas, or the trip to see Santa! There are poems for dogs and cats and your spouse (not in that order – he he!). This book also includes Christmas Titles for your layouts and an outstanding index to help you locate what you need quickly. As a bonus there is a CD of 6 digital Christmas kits created by Sharon Hammond. Each Kit also includes a 12x12 scraplet for you to just add your photos too. Each kit contains papers, photo mats and embellishments. So, back to my dilemma of what was I going to do with a Christmas book in MAY?!!! Well, I found MULTIPLE gems that could be used for ANY time of year. I made a Mother’s Day Coupon Book and a Brag Book that Grandma is going to get at the Twins Birthday (shhhh, don’t tell her!). I was pleasantly surprised at how versatile this book is! And I can’t wait to use it for my CHRISTMAS projects and cards! You won’t be disappointed when you add this book to your collection!” Reviewer:  PJ Meadows Crop Leader & Craft Guru

“The scrapbook page doesn't quite say it all yet: Words are needed. Whether you're in need of a short phrase, a poem or a prayer, you'll find it in 'C is for Christmas'. This book is filled with page after page of original poetry, titles, quips as well as words of hope and comfort.” Reviewed by:  Card Maker Magazine

“Resource for the Holidays- At Memory Trends I got to meet Thena Smith and Sharon Hammond, both of whom are Digital Scrapper Subscribers. They gave me a signed copy of their new book, C is for Christmas. What a treat! I’ve had a chance to look through it and can say that it’s a wonderful resource for holiday scrapping. It’s filled with Thena’s signature poems and sayings for all kinds of Christmas events, from choosing a tree to opening presents. The book comes with a CD by Sharon Hammond of artwork, templates, papers, and embellishments – everything you need to scrap your Christmas photos!” Online Reviewer:  Scrapper’s Guide – Digital Scrapper  

Military Moments - Words to Honor our American Heroes

Thena Smith

“This book is the ultimate resource for sentiments to embellish any scrapbook layout or card for the troops!”

 “Military Moments: Words to Honor Our American Heroes is a collection of heartfelt sentiments for those who unselfishly sacrifice to protect our freedom. With words of hope, encouragement, prayer and humor, Thena offers the reader a fresh look at military life—written from the perspective of both the soldier and the family members awaiting their return.” Online Reviewer

“Military Moments: Words to Honor Our American Heroes is the perfect “anytime gift” for a military service man, woman or their family. Definitely comfort food for those who wait at home during a loved one’s deployment. This meaningful book will make you laugh, cry and feel a humbling gratitude for these dedicated heroes who serve and protect America—for you. Share it, read it, give it to bless your favorite soldier or their family members. Five star worthy!” Online Reviewer

“I will begin with a brief review of Military Moments. The reason I am saying brief, is that my husband left on his 2^nd deployment to Iraq on Friday and unfortunately, it's a bit too hard for me to read the book right now. But here is what I have been able to gather for you. Much of the content of the book is beautiful poetry by Thena Smith, along with more known poems and quotes. There are poems for specific military branches and jobs, holidays like Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, as well as Freedom and Heroes in general and remembrance of September 11^th. There's also a great section that I like called "Short Verses for Military Members." It is full of short poems that I think would be great to write inside of cards that are being sent to troops overseas or to someone you know, such as a military family member, that would really show that you care. It ends with two pages full of titles, which can be so helpful, because I always find titles the hardest part of scrapbooking. I think this book would be very good to have around if you are working on a military scrapbook, send lots of cards to military members or family.” Online Reviewer:  Melissa Norris

The Whole Megillah, Mitzvahs, Matzo Balls & Everything In Between

Carla Birnberg

“This book is a must have for every household! Carla's wit and crafty rhymes will inspire both young and old. Also a great gift idea.” Online Reviewer:  Priscilla Gilbert France

“I really enjoyed this book. I'm not Jewish, but there are still some wonderful parts I can use, and the rest made me really appreciate what it means to be Jewish. Carla's poems are so funny and/or sweet--it makes me want to be invited to a bat mitzvah because I now have just the right poem for a card!”  Online Reviewer:  Heather Mecham         

“We’re always on the lookout for books that cover topics we don’t often see. It’s like finding the treasure at the end of a treasure hunt! That’s how we felt when we read The Whole Megillah by Carla Birnberg. A well-known writer, Birnberg invites readers to delve into her book of poems, recipes, quotes, and greetings that are Jewish themed but not solely for those of the Jewish faith. Emotional poems cross every religious denomination. Include the rhymes in scrapbook pages, inside cards, on holiday keepsakes, or on the family table. Topics such as Scrapbook Dedications, Pregnancy and Birth, Mitzvah, Wondrous Women, Passover, and Hanukkah fill this moving book. Birnberg suggests substituting words to fit into whatever holiday you celebrate. The Whole Megillah is a book worth having on your shelf, ready to use for instant inspiration.” Reviewer: an article on scrapbooking.com

“When I first learned that I would be reviewing the book The Whole Megillah: Mitzvahs, Matzo Balls and Everything in Between, I was a little panicked. I wondered just what a gentile would do with a book of quotes about Jewish holidays, traditions, recipes and the like. Not only am I not Jewish, I don’t have many friends who are and absolutely no photos of anything Jewish. However, when the book arrived and I had a chance to look through it, I realized that although it deals primarily with the Jewish faith and corresponding celebrations and cultural characteristics, the book does contain many poems and quotes which can be applied to non-Jewish occasions. Then my challenge became deciding just what to use. The book is divided into topical chapters such as Pregnancy and Birth, Wondrous Women, Weddings and Anniversaries, as well as the various Jewish Holidays. The poems, all written by the book’s author Carla Birnberg, vary in length from a few lines to several stanzas. They could be used on a scrapbook page or for the inside verse of a greeting card. The final chapter contains recipes for many traditional Jewish foods. Although I would think that most Jewish folk already know how to prepare these foods, it was interesting to me to read them. Finally, there is a comprehensive index at the back of the book making it easy to find a poem about a certain occasion or event. As I read the section of Jewish proverbs and quotes, I found many that reminded me of my grandmother who recently passed away. I never imagined I would create a scrapbook page about her so soon after her death, but a few of the quotes inspired me. Although this book is aimed primarily at those of the Jewish faith, there are many poems and quotes which can be used by non-Jewish folks or for non-Jewish events and activities.” Online Reviewer:  Chris

Sporty Scrappin’  Snappy Snippets that Score

Jennifer Smith

“When I decided to do this review, I wondered if I had made the right decision. My family is not the "Sporty" kind. My husband does not like sports and my son was not one to play many sports in school. My nephew, Aaron, is the only one in the family that has had the sporting edge. When I think of "Sports", I usually think of the normal football, baseball things, so I was totally blown away when I received this book by Jennifer Smith! Jennifer has taken the word SPORTS to a whole new level and I found myself trying to decide which photos to use instead of searching for photos to use! In this book you will find and array of sayings and quotes for EVERYTHING that you can imagine and not imagine! To name a few that you would not expect to find:
Automobile Racing, Camping, Bowling, Childhood Games, Cheerleading, Band & Music, Dance, Darts, Hunting, Rodeo, Bicycling, Walking, Snow sports, Swimming, Fishing, Trampoline and much, much more! Now that I have the book and have had the opportunity to look through the pages, I am so happy that I wanted to do this review and I no longer ask myself why I did! No matter what kind of activity you have in your life, from Archery to Wrestling - this book is absolutely a MUST have!” Online Reviewer:  Carla Ware

“Oh this book is absolutely perfect for helping to jump start layouts! I have a son that is into most sports and this book covers everything! I used sayings from several different categories including Cheerleading and Automobile Racing and I obviously am not scrapping cheerleading here! If you are a sports fan, have a sports fanatic or participant than this book is an absolute must have!” Online Reviewer:  Kimberly Stewart (Hrhkimmi)

“Sporty Scrappin’ is a detailed collection of sayings and poems. It’s a great tool for scrapbook layouts, cards, theme parties and any other projects that require the use of words. Jennifer Smith has arranged the "snappy snippets" by theme and themes are in alphabetical order. The table of contents makes it super easy to find what you are looking for. There are more than just sporty themes in this book. Check out this list: Archery, automobile racing, badminton, band & music, baseball, bicycling, board games, boating, bowling, boxing, camping, cards, cheerleading, childhood games, climbing, coaching, cricket, croquet, curling, dance, darts, equestrian, fans, fencing, figure & speed skating, fishing, flying disc, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, horse racing, horseshoes, hot air balloon racing, hunting, ice dancing, lawn games, martial arts, motorcycle racing, outdoor water sports, parents, pool, referees, umpires & game officials, rodeo, rugby, shooting, shuffleboard, skating and skateboarding, skydiving, sledding, snow skiing & snowboarding, soccer, sports (general), surfing, swimming, table tennis & ping pong, tennis, track & field, trampoline, unicycle, volleyball, walking, jogging & running, water polo and wrestling. Pretty impressive list of topics. The snippets range in size from just a word or two.... up to short paragraphs. So no matter what size journaling you are looking for, you are sure to find it in this book. Jennifer has also left a section in the back of the book that has lined pages called "My Own Sporty Quotes"; a place to write down any of your own snippets. Great idea Jennifer, I love to keep my thoughts organized for future reference. I would recommend anyone who uses written words to get this book. It doesn't take up a lot of room and will become one of your favorite resources.” Online Reviewer: Sue Bond (craftyaunt)

The Doodle Formula - Step-by-step Guide to Creating your own Doodles

Adrienne Looman 

“I am lucky enough to have a copy of Adrienne's new book, The Doodle Formula. It's really wonderful. Adrienne's format for the book is very well thought out and well put together. She has a very good introduction at the beginning and her philosophy on doodling is quite unique. She goes over tools and formulas, and in depth covers what is involved in each step of the process. There are even places in the book to practice. All of the layouts that are used as examples are inspiring and completely creative. Through this book you can discover your own Doodle Personality. You will find what doodles you are drawn to because they are appealing to your eye, and also find out what doodles you are "best" at drawing. (When you get the book, you'll know why I put "best" in quotation marks.) My favorite part of the book is the Common Mistakes part. Sometimes we try and we try at something and it's just not clicking. But to see that there are actual common mistakes that are shared, it helps you break down how to break out of a rut you may be in. I highly recommend it!” Online Reviewer: Michelle

“That book from Adrienne Looman was so inspiring that I tried some of the tips and tricks on a layout. I'm really pleased with the result and I'll definitely do some more doodling on my scrapbook layouts! It's so much fun! You should try it too!” Online Reviewer: Eeffie

“Oh I love this book, while on a trip to Missouri I saw it and HAD to get it. I knew I wouldn't find it anywhere in my town. It kept me company on the flight home, ok when the kid wasn't climbing all over me or saying he wanted to watch another movie.” Online Reviewer:  scrapfairy