1.31.2012

a pretty giveaway {digital scrapbooking software}

Admittedly, I've never been a scrapbooker. You know I'm not "crafty". Anything involving cutting a straight line with a pair of scissors is entirely too difficult for me. However, I've always loved the idea of scrapbooking. I love journals, sketchbooks, blogs – anything that allows one to document life. And what's a prettier way of documentation than scrapbooking? So, when My Memories contacted me about doing a review/giveaway on my blog of their digital scrapbooking software, I decided to give it a try...

The Review:
Like I said, I've never been into scrapbooking, but I am a graphic designer. Therefore, I think the digital software is a good fit for me. Personally, I liked how all of the key commands {or keyboard shortcuts} are the same as what I'm used to {in Photoshop, for example}. This made the software super duper easy for me to use. And even if you're not a Photoshop geek like me, overall I think the My Memories Suite is very easy to figure out.

I liked that all of my fonts transfered over to the program. I don't know what the Suite initially provides you with, but being a graphic designer I have a lot of fonts on my computer that I was glad I could use.

I also liked that the software came with a lot of embellishments. And, downloading the templates and kits you want from their website is much cheeper than buying all that pretty paper in stores {not to mention that with the use of a kit, much of the work is done for you!}

Below are two examples I did using my favorite of the templates provided in the My Memories Suite:
One thing I didn't like {this is an honest review after all} was, once I added large pictures to my pages {see the angel statue in the background of the second page?} the program slowed down a bit. Although, this could have just been an issue with my computer.

Overall, I think the My Memories Suite is an excellent digital scrapbooking software. With the software you can make scrapbook layouts, photo books, cards, calendars, even videos – get creative! Then, easily share your creations! Visit these My Memory links to learn more : websiteblogfacebooktwitter, and youtube.

Luck You:
Interested in trying out the My Memories Suite for yourself? My Memories is offering Pretty {much} Art readers a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store – a $20 value! Simple enter the code: STMMMS89448Purchase it here!

The Giveaway:   **CLOSED**
That's not all! One lucky Pretty {much} Art reader will win a free download of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software!

How to enter: {mandatory to win}
1. Visit the My Memories website. Leave a comment on this blog post letting me know which digital scrabooking kit is your favorite

Please note that if I can't get to a working email through your profile you will not be contacted, and therefore won't win! It's not a bad idea to post your email in your comment to be sure I've got it {I'd suggest writing out (at) and (dot) in your email address to avoid spamy-spam}.


For more chances to win: {please leave a separate comment for each one}
2. Like My Memories on facebook.
3. Follow My Memories on twitter.
4. Tweet this giveaway. 

That's four chances to win! A winner will be chosen and contacted next week.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full disclosure: My Memories provided me with a download of their software for my honest review. All content of this review/giveaway was left up to me. I was not financially compensated for my opinions of the My Memories software.

1.30.2012

be {pretty} happy

I must remember this. That is all.

P.S. I'm doing an awesome giveaway tomorrow. Be sure to come back and check it out!

{image via : Pinterest}

1.27.2012

a {pretty} weekly wrap-up

Pretty neat things I discovered this week:

This bed spread. – I'm not really sure why, but I love it.

Love her style. – I could spend hours browsing this fashionista's blog.

These apple turnovers. – Look amazing! I'm dying to try these.

Bow cuff DIY. – I'm loving bows lately, and this leather cuff seems super wearable. As in, I'd wear it with every outfit.

Geometric diamond necklace DIY. – Yes, that's a DIY! From the same lovely lady who made that cuff.  I know I'm not much of a crafter, but I have a feeling I'm going to give this one a shot.

Camouflage artwork. – This isn't a new concept... in fact I'm watching an episode of Face Off right now where they're doing the same thing. This one, however, is just really pretty.

Chanel in a machine. – I'm not kidding. Those cheesy claw machines {that, incidentally my dad used to be really good at and is how I got many of my hundreds of stuffed animals as a child} now carries high-end, no knock-off Chanel!

A post on Transgenderism. – Angie wrote a couple of personal and very insightful posts on Transgenderism. Definitely worth a read.


1.25.2012

a pretty color combo {summer ready}

My dreams are dark. I'm someone who distinctly remembers my dreams each night. The setting for which is usually nighttime, itself. Dark, dreary, with streetlights and lamps being my only glow. But last night was different. Last night, my dream was set in the afternoon of a summer's day. I was sitting on a low wall near the beach, with sunshine so bright it hurt to look up at the sky. It was warm. There were boys and girls lounging around in  glaringly bright bathing suites of red and pink. I know, it isn't even February yet, but I think my subconscious is trying to tell me something.

{images via : Pinterest 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5}

1.24.2012

pretty {february} friends

Hey you! Do you have a blog you'd like to advertise on Pretty {much} Art? While P{m}A isn't currently accepting paid sponsorship, all of those ads on the right are from sweethearts who've swapped with me. Now, it's your turn! If you're interested in swapping ads for the month of February, please email me or leave a comment {providing your email address} below.

1.20.2012

a {pretty} weekly wrap-up

Pretty neat things I discovered this week:

This print. – A saying I need to remember.

Missoni nails. – Too ambitious for me, but so cool.

A fun necklace.

Rain boots. – Rain boots I actually like.

This font. – I love it.

A baked grapefruit recipe. – Baked grapefruit? I need to try this.

Tangled Ever After. – Rapunzel and Flynn get hitched! You know how much I loved Tangled, right? This is the most exciting wedding since that royal one.

1.19.2012

pretty awkward, pretty awesome {Thursday}

{pretty awkward}
Watching a woman breast-feed a monkey on Human Planet. Yep.

Driving up to the drive-up at the bank, only to realize that my car window has frozen shut. Panic strikes. There isn't enough room between my car and the wall to open my car door and explain to the teller what's happening! So I continue to drive through with, what I think, is an apologetic look on my face. I get inside the bank, still feeling flustered, thinking I'll be able to tell the teller what went wrong, but I can't find her. She will forever wonder what that strange girl was doing... driving through the drive-up... just staring at her.

When I drop off deliveries at the Co-op I always go inside, grab a cart, take it outside, load it up with the delivery and bring it back inside. Only this time... I went in, grabbed a cart, and the guy behind the check-out looks at me a bit strangely and says, "Have a nice day." As I'm taking an empty shopping-cart. Did he think I was homeless and was just going to let me take his cart? If so, I guess that was nice of him.

My year-end review at work. It went something like; The Boss: "You still happy with working here?" Me: "Yep". It's never a big deal, but it's always awkward.

Crying during the movie War Horse in a theatre full of people. I take comfort in knowing that I certainly wasn't the only one.

{pretty awesome}
Miss Wisconsin is now Miss America! Represent.

The customer at work {an older man} who told me I was "all spiffed up" and "look'n good". Normally, I would be embarrassed by such a statement, putting it in the "awkward" category, but this time it was just funny and sweet.

The Golden Globes officially kicks off awards season! It's my favorite season after autumn.

Apple pie made with my mom's home-made crust.

Actually going to the movies with my grandma. We always say we're going to go to the movies, but we never do. We went to War Horse. We both cried.

{images via : Pinterest 1&2}

1.17.2012

pretty {blurry} beautiful

We all have a hard time focusing from time to time. As it turns out, sometimes that's just fine. Trever Hoehne's series "blurry things" blurs the lines between what most people would consider bad photography {the "oops, the camera moved!" moments} and truly beautiful art. I'm leaning well on the side of "truly beautiful" myself.

{images via : Trever Hoehne + Blurry Things, found via : Pinterest}

1.16.2012

pretty {me} pt. 2

I wear glasses... when I'm in my home. Rarely in public.

I eat Nerds candies one Nerd at a time.

I'm left handed.

In my 8th grade yearbook it was predicted that I'd become a cheerleader when I grew up.

I was cheerleading captain in high school (am I predictable or what?)

I was voted "Most Spirited" in my high school yearbook.

My favorite movie quote is, "Paging Mr. Herman. Mr. Herman, you have a telephone call at the front desk."

I hate the word "tasty". Also, "slacks" is a weird word. And, if you're obsessed with Gilmore Girls as much as I am, you'll have already known that.

I love brushing my hair. I keep a hairbrush in my purse and use it multiple times a day. The messy hair look is so not for me.

I always introduce myself as Stephanie, but I like it when people who hardly know me call me Steph. I always notice when someone calls me Steph for the first time.

Currently reading Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

1.13.2012

a {pretty} weekly wrap-up


Pretty neat things I discovered this week:

Cuuuute wallpaper. – For a nursery... or for myself.

A sour apple + caramel Sunday. – Must remember for summertime.

20 smoothie recipes. – Again, must remember for summertime. Which could come along annnnytime now. I know! It's only January!

Designspiration. – Thank God. Just when I was beginning to really lack for design inspiration, (I think I'm always in a bit of a design funk during winter) I find this website. Now, if only I could get off Designspiration long enough to actually work on something...

Simple Desktops. – A collection of simple desktop wallpapers... for when I get sick of looking at my cat on my desktop. Which actually doesn't happen often.

Camera lens SHOT GLASSES! – I want.

Rich Wold Problems. – I didn't think I was rich until I realized I can relate to everything on Rich World Problems. "Pours cereal in bowl. Goes to get milk. No milk.", happens to me all the time.

The Lion King Rises. – A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I thought the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises looks good. It, however, can't even be compared to the awesomeness that is The Lion King Rises faux trailer. Note: watch the actual trailer first.

And if those last couple of finds didn't get you smiling, just go check out this vid. It almost makes me want to have a baby. It's that adorable.

1.12.2012

pretty awkward, pretty awesome {Thursday}

{pretty awkward}
Driving around a lumber mill trying to find where I'm supposed to drop off a delivery for work. I drove all the way around this building twice before seeing the word office {written in marker} on the side of the building. I'm sure the mill workers got a good laugh at my expense.

Then having to unload five large and very heavy boxes in front of about six lumber mill workers, none of whom offered to help me. They just stood there watching. Chivalry is dead, I tell you!

Seeing my aunt dance on a bar stool. Not awkward so much as bizarre.

That same night, seeing my brother sing Sweet Caroline at the top of his lungs while swaying with said aunt, my mom, myself, and a couple of other girls. Alright, that was more awesome than awkward. I need to go to the bar with the family more often.

{pretty awesome}
Spending quality time with best friends. This includes a homemade pizza making session that could have turned into an episode of My Drunk Kitchen. Pseudo-italian accents were involved.

Painting my nails a fun new color while watching The Bachelor. 'Cause I'm a girl. No shame!

Also, The Vampire Dairies is back! And they kissed! And if you watch that show, you're undoubtedly as excited about that as I am! And if you don't watch that show, um, you should be! just ignore me. I'm a geek.

The sunset on my way home from work. That's right. On my way home from work. The days are getting longer, people. And it might just be because it's been so long since I've actually seen a sunset, but they've been exceptionally stunning lately.

The full moon the other night. It almost caused an accident – I couldn't stop staring at it as I was driving. It was huge. And golden. And sometimes nature is just awesome.

The above picture cracks me up every time I see it. Every single time!

{image via : Pinterest}

1.10.2012

{more} pretty blocks

Hi friends. If you've visited the Pretty {much} Art shop recently, you may have noticed that, more Pretty Blocks have hit the virtual shelves! Learn more about our blocks here, and see all of our designs in the shop!

{via : Pretty {much} Art}

1.09.2012

pretty gifts {for friends}


This past weekend my two best friends and I, celebrated our annual Christmas party. Now that all of my holiday gifts have been given, I'd like to share with you some of the handmade gifts I gave this year. After all, here on the P{m}A blog, I like to practice what I preach. And that's that giving handmade rocks!

Sarah – Sara likes urban and modern, with a touch of artistic quirk. For her birthday, I got her this necklace as well as an initial pendant from Son of A Sailor. For Christmas she received this Madison signage collage from local artist, Marcia Sparks.

Lacey – Lacey likes vintage, eclectic, and whimsical. For a birthday, I gave her a set of humorous collage note cards from Madison artist, Artsy Fartsy. For Christmas I gave Lacey this wristlet gadget pouch from Antique Basket Lady, and a vintage typewriter-key ring from The Apple {both Wisconsin artists}.

{via : Son of A Sailor, Marcia SparksArtsy Fartsy, Antique Basket Lady, The Apple}

1.05.2012

pretty awkward, pretty awesome {Thursday}

{pretty awkward}
Crying at the end of Toy Story 3, and hoping no one sees me.

Sobbing uncontrollably, and loudly while finishing The Book Thief, and hoping no one hears me.

Buying tampons in front of people I know. That's why I've been so emotional lately!

Delivering some boxes for work and hearing two people say, "Your're so small to be hauling around all those  boxes!" Not sure what to say to that.

The dude who has parts to deliver to the auto shop next to my office. They weren't open yet. They don't have set office hours and kind of open whenever they feel like. When I told dude this and told him it could be an hour yet, he says "ok, well, I guess I'll just wait around." He proceeds to stand there in my office... waiting around. Naw, dude, you are not waiting in my office for an hour. So I go back to my work and ignore him. He leaves.

{pretty} awesome
I'm well into the stack of books I received for Christmas. And they're awesome.

Three day weekends. Two weekends in a row.

Not going out on New Year's Eve. Instead, spending the time at my best friend's house playing bingo with her loud and crazy family.

Giving myself a mental pat-on-the-back after every time I remember to write "2012" instead of "2011". Go me!

My mom and I walking laps around the school, then jogging every time we went through the gym where all of the guys were playing basketball. All of those guys now think that we're really joggers and are impressed with how in-shape we are.

Eating left-over Christmas cookies guilt free after "jogging".

The Book Thief. This was the saddest and most amazing book I've read in a long time. Maybe ever. It has henceforth set the bar for every other book I will ever read. Ever.

1.03.2012

a {pretty new} resolution

I have a secret. One that I've never told anyone... until now. Don't worry, I didn't shoot a man in Reno just to watch him die, or anything like that. It's my new year's resolution. I make the same resolution every year and, like a birthday wish, I'm worried that if I tell someone my resolution that it won't come true.

Truthfully though, I feel like the real reason I've never told anyone my yearly new year's resolution is because, I'm a bit embarrassed by it. So here it goes... Every year I resolve to be more outgoing. Every year I say, "This is the year I will come out of my shell." I'll learn how to talk to strangers and acquaintances. Learn to open up. Learn that it's ok to voice an opinion.

The reason I'm embarrassed to admit that, for my entire life I've wished I could be more of an extrovert is that, it seems so easy for some people! It started when I was young. When other people would tell me "You're so quite! You're so shy!" and I would think, "Oh, I guess I am." That's what everyone else has labeled me as, so that must be what I am. So this year, I finally have a different resolution. I'm not going to be what other people label me as, or what I think they want me to be. I'm just going to be me. Quite and all. Or, outspoken when I want to be. I'm what's been holding me back all these years. This year I resolve to remember...

{image via : Pinterest}

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...