Welcome Back!!!

Did you miss us? Well we missed you! There's a ton to get to today so let's dive right in!

Looking around, I hope you can see that we here at The Shoe have been workin' hard on our vacation...

We're Back!!!

With not only a new look but a new streamlined format. Here's what you can expect from us coming up: Mondays, our newly designated Layout Team will rock a sweet Layout Challenge for ya, then on Wednesdays, our new Card Team will throw down the gauntlet with a Card Challenge; then on Fridays, we'll double team an irresistible Color Challenge. Every other week the Layout Team and the Card Team will take on a new Sketch for that week's Challenge.

Speaking of "Teams," we've made a couple changes to our Design Team while we were away. So I'd love for everyone to give a great big Shoe welcome to Adina & Karmyn!!! They joined us in sneak peak form in June but July marks their official ascension to Design Team status!

Yay Adina & Karmyn!!! Check out their bios to the left for the lowdown on'em!

Which brings me to our cunning, creative, cool Card Team! This talented team is comprised of Adina, Karmyn and Lesley! WooHoo! Next our Layout Team...

This also marks a sad occasion as we say goodbye to one of our original DT members, Dawn. We'll miss you girlie and hope you stop by often!!! So with the loss of Dawn, our Layout Team is officially comprised of Tanisha, Tracey and myself, Kristy. I am THRILLED to be teamed up with such creativity and talent! Now this doesn't mean that you won't see any overlap... trust me, you will! But this is how we will primarily roll from here on out.

Speaking of "New," July is our first official month with a Guest Designer! Nicole was announced in June for our inaugural Guest Designer Spot and I have to say she has totally rocked my socks off!!! You ladies will LOVE what she's got goin on! Here's a little bit about Nicole...

"I am a 26 year old stay-at-home mother of two amazing kids, my six year old, Mackenzie, who is too smart for her own good and Braden, who is three and thinks he is going on thirty. I am married to a wonderful man, Linton, and this November we will have been married for five years. I was born and raised in central Florida but have spent the last five years in Cleveland, Tennessee, which is right outside of Chattanooga. I miss home but I love being able to see all the seasons of the year. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor's in Legal Assistant Studies, with only three semesters to go till graduation. I started scrapbooking in December 2005, when my mother-in-law go me a starter kit for Christmas, and immediately became hooked. I absolutely love it. It is my get-a-way and keeps me sane. Right now my favorite scrapping item is American Craft Thickers and I love bright colors on my layouts. Scrapbooking is not the only craft I enjoy, I am also into altered art and I am currently trying to learn how to sew. When I am n ot scrapping or doing other crafts, you can find me hanging out with my family, surfin' the web, and in the summer you can find us in the sun or in the water. I am so excited and thankful I have been given this opportunity to create and play with you all and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone at The Shoe."

Thanks for taking up the Challenge Nicole!!!

Also we would like to invite Vickilyn to be our Guest Designer for the Month of August! Vickilyn sent us an amazing application and is here every week hittin' the challenges hard! We're thrilled to have her for August! Here is some of her work...

Keep those applications coming!!! Who knows, our next Guest Designer maybe you! Want the info? Check out the link in our right hand column to go see all the details!

We've also revamped our Ning Forum. Check out new challenges with our awesome community! Not a member? Why not?! You are totally missin' out! We're adding a few things there you'll want to check out as well. Not the least of all is our new "Featured Member" and our new "Shoe of the Week" Award. All you have to do is upload your projects for a chance to be chosen. How simple is that? Right now you can get started with a ATC Challenge, Inspiration Challenge, Altered Item Challenge and MORE!!! Prizes are always a possibility at our Ning Forum so definitely take a peek!

Phew!

Well chickadees, this finally brings me to our first official challenge here at the New Shoe! Our Layout Team totally stepped up when they took on my Humble sketch! Let's see the sketch...

Now let's see what our DT and GD did with it...

Nicole

Tanisha

Adina

Kristy

Way to go Ladies! Come back Wednesday to see what our Card Team did with the sketch! You hve until our next sketch to enter yours for this offering. I hope everyone is going to dig the new format and will come back often! We LOVE seeing your projects!!!

Our last bit of business before I leave you with Mr. Linky is the winner of our June Drawing! Remember, every project you upload to our Handy Dandy Mr. Linky gets you one entry into our monthly drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate to Scrap-A-Doodle-Doo! Our most FAB-U-LOUS sponsor! Who doesn't love free goodies?

Well we had 52 entries in the month of June. Counting all those made my head spin let me tell you! But thanks to random.org We have a winner! The winner of the $25 gift certificate to Scrap-A-Doodle-Doo is...

Joann!

Congratulations Joann! Please use the contact button on the top right to email us your addy so we can get that out to you ASAP!!! Joann entered with this lovely project. If we don't hear from our winner by next monday then we will pick a new winner.

Let's start it of right ladies! Who has a project for Mr. Linky?