Look Out World!!

There's a new student driver!

Keenan got his permit the day before Thanksgiving. Of course, with all of the snow and ice he hasn't gotten much practice yet. He's hoping that the weather clears so he can get more time on the road.



See that key? It's one of those "blanks" that you get sometimes, inviting you to come in for a car giveaway. You know... the ones that never open the car??? LOL! Keenan kept this key from some mail that we had gotten a while back. While I was working on the page I said, "I wish I had a car key." He said, "Wait just a minute," and went to his room, coming back with this key. He laughed and said, "I thought you might be able to use it for something at some point."

Boy do my kids know me!

Latest Projects

I thought I would share a couple of my "challenge" items from the Challenge Master website.

The December altered assignment was to alter a notebook. I have been meaning to do that for a while now, so it was very timely.



I used a lot of odds and ends on this one. I LOVE the way my distress ink blended. I really need to get that out more often!

For the December tag project we were to make Christmas tags, of course. I tried to make a couple a-la-Tim Holtz.....BUT they didn't turn out like his. I'm pretty happy with them though.



I'm really enjoying the challenges, and I think you would too. So.... if you are snowed in, like me, and you need some inspiration.... hop on over to Challenge Masters and join in the fun!

New Challenge Board

Sitting around here on my snow day and I got to cruising the web. While I was going through old bookmarks and deleting sites that no longer existed, hadn't been updated, etc. I discovered a brand new one.... (At least it was new to me!)

Challenge Masters seems like a great place to get inspired. If you are into challenges, this is a great place to visit. The gals are very friendly and have a gallery where you can post your finished projects too.

I've placed a link to their site in the sidebar. Just click on the membership badge and it will take you straight to their website, where you can check out their blog, forum, gallery, and all of the other fun stuff!

Snow in Kentucky means 2 things........

1. A snow day....
2. Scrap time!!!

The snow actually came on a weekend this time, so number 1 (a snow day) didn't happen, but I DID get time to scrap yesterday.




This page came together very easily. I will admit that I used a sketch, so the design part was fairly simple. The fun was in picking through my supplies and deciding what to use. (That always has been my favorite part of this hobby.)

I've also been busy creating things for Christmas: cards, sock cupcakes, gifts for others.

I've really missed crafting, cutting, and scrapping. Life has just been so uncooperative of late. Deep down in my heart, I know that if I'm to find the time to relax and enjoy my hobby it is up to me MAKE the time. I suppose I just need to think about it more and determine HOW.

My Latest Christmas Project

While sifting through some old magazines and idea books recently, I saw a project that I really wanted to try. It is a spelling book for beginning readers.

My nephew is in kindergarten and it so excited that he is beginning to read. One of my co-workers also has a young son who is just beginning to learn letters and sounds. I decided this would be the perfect gift for them.

My co-worker's son is CRAZY about Handy Manny, so I decided to create my own version of Manny's hammer for the cover of his book.



The outside is really cute, but the inside is where the magic comes alive!



I stamped three sets of alphabet letters, with the vowels in red and the consonants in black. I laminated all 3 sets + 3 blank cards. Each stack was punched and I used binder rings to put the whole books together.

When the child is ready to spell a word, he or she just flips the cards around on the rings. I added the blank cards so the child can use 1 stack, 2 stacks, or 3 stacks of letters at a time. This allows him or her to learn just the alphabet, by revealing only 1 stack of letters, create 2 letter words, or 3 letter words.

I REALLY like the ending result! My husband wants me to show it to the kindergarten teachers at school. He has seen similar items at teacher stores, and they sell for a LOT of money. I would really like to create a few and sell them, but for a much lower price than they are available for commercially.

One of My Latest.....

I thought I would share another of my "projects" with you....it's not a layout really.....

I work with several other GREAT teachers at school. We middle school teachers really try to stick together and be supportive of each other. One day as we sat eating lunch we got to talking.... (like we usually do)

One of them said something about their own space around and behind their teacher's desk. They even had a nickname for it, "Fortress of Solitude". That was their way of telling students that they should NOT be behind the teacher's desk. One of my fellow teachers actually said, "You know... we need to get a sign made."

To me there was only one thing that I could do.... take my stamping abilities and create signs for them. I stamped the actual slogan, "Fortress of Solitude" and used Glimmer Mist and Smooch spray to create a more "rustic" background. Then I embossed a wide strip of paper with a "brick" embossing folder and used my distress inks to color the brick wall itself. I added some black stamped "graffitti" including the year.

When I took them to school I had each teacher autograph the wall on his or her sign with his or her own name. I framed them in simple little frames. My team members were shocked that I had actually created such a thing for them and they LOVED them! The students are in shock that I could actually create something like that...LOL!

Finally!!!

I finally took the time to sit down and get some pages finished.

Alas.......I must confess that I did not complete these pages in one sitting.

I actually started them several weeks back at a crop. They have been lieing here on my scrap table, teasing and taunting me.

I have looked at them and considered finishing them, but just couldn't find the energy, creativity, or time.

I finally decided that enough was enough... I WOULD get them finished!



This first page documents my daughter's 13th birthday. Since the cake was tie-dyed I decided to use tie-dyed looking paper and "groovy" accents.



I feel like this page still needs something, but I'm not sure what.... I did this page to tell about the gifts that my daughter and son hand-selected for each other last Christmas.

Scrapping with the girls

I had a GREAT time last Saturday scrapping with some of my buddies! We used to get together very often, but life kind of caught up with us all and we just couldn't get it scheduled. We have decided that the time has come to start making a point of meeting once a month at least. I think that we all missed the fun of seeing each other work and just talking about everything with each other.

I managed to get about 7 pages finished, most of them of Kari and her track team. I'm kind of out of practice with packing for a crop, so I ended up starting layouts at the crop and finishing them at home, but I did get them all done!







and my favorite....



I can't wait until we get together again in October!

My Latest

I'm not getting much time to scrapbook since school started back. It seems like I spend a lot of time grading papers, planning lessons, and doing other odds and ends connected to school.

I've had a 2 page spread laying on my scrap table for weeks now and it just isn't going anywhere, so today I decided to take a break from that one and work on something else. I visited Scrappin Mojo and decided to try my hand at one of the new September challenges. The sketch challenge seemed easiest: go somewhere and find a sketch, use it as inspiration. I LOVE Page Maps so I decided to look there. I found one from September 2009 that would work perfectly with a couple of photos of my poor son during his BETA Club initiation last year. I really like the way it turned out.

I Really Struggle....

with Christmas pages!

They all seem to be so similar: photos of recipients with their gifts, red and green, Christmas tree, same old same old....over and over. If any of you have any great ideas for making my Christmas pages a little bit easier to scrap I sure would appreciate it! Just leave a comment for me telling me what you do to make yours more creative.

For now.... here's my latest Christmas page:



That's my son with some of his Christmas gifts from last year. I know that some of the photos are the greatest, but I really wanted to document his first year of "choosing" his own gifts.

A New Paper to LOVE....

Today I discovered a "stack" of paper in my stash that I had almost forgotten I had purchased. It was DCWV's "The Music Stack". I bought it, intending to use it for some of Kari's music pages. I LOVE the paper because it is very thick and glittered. Each of the pages in the pad of paper has beautifully colored glitter on it! A little bit of this paper goes a LONG way on a layout!

This particular page documents my daughter's first piano recital.



This page was so simple to put together! A little bit of inking, a stamped title, and a bit of lace trim.... voila! another page in the album!

A Little Something Different

I thought I would post my latest project, it's not really a standard layout, but it definitely falls into that line.

I've spent a few of the last weeks working with summer school at the local high school. While preparing materials for my crafts classes we found several wooden art kits that were filled with colored pencils, markers, etc. Most of them were missing various pieces, paint was dried out, etc. so we set about emptying the boxes. When we finished, we were left with several GREAT wooden boxes that had handles and latches. We decided that we could repurpose these as "memory boxes".

One of the workers at summer school took photos of the classes and trips so that students would have photos to scrapbook and students hung onto memorabilia. The final week of summer school we ModPodged designer papers into the inside of each box and students used foam tape and glue guns to adhere their memories inside.

I created one for the Director of the Program.



I added some tags and ribbons to the handle to decorate the outside a bit.

If you look closely at the next two photos you will notice things like fishing lures, erasers, tickets, chopsticks, and other special little things that will remind everyone about the fun that was had at summer school this year.







I have some more of these boxes lieing around and, I bet some of you do too. This project is so easy and kid friendly. Dig out one of these and have your child document their summer trip. It looks just like a little suitcase!

Another Page Done

This was a simple one. I used one of the new July sketches from over on Page Maps. If you're a scrapper and you are not using her sketches, you really need to check them out! I print out the pdf each month and file it away in a binder. Then when I get stuck for ideas, I just go through the sketches to see which one might work best with my pics.

Anyway, this page tells the story of the Mother's Day meal that almost wasn't..... You have to read the journaling to get the story, so remember to click on the pic to enlarge it. I used some semicircles of Stampin Up paper, SU cardstock, a border punch, some old stamps, and a metal exclamation mark. It was really very simple to put together, but I love that it allows the focus to be on the story. OH...I actually pulled out the sewing machine and sewed that circle!

Yes, I'm Still Here.....

Things have just been pretty hectic lately.

I won't bother you with all of the details, it's boring anyway.... Let's just say that I am REALLY READY for some summer relaxation!

As far as scrapping and crafting goes, I haven't gotten much done lately. I have finished a couple of layouts and I'll post those here; I certainly hope that my "production level" increases a bit. Summer is normally the time of the year when I get the MOST done, but somehow I don't think that is going to happen this year.

As far as my "spending limit" is concerned, I'm sad to say that I slipped a bit there too, primarily because of the new "Cricut Lite" cartridges at WalMart. I have purchased 4 and my sweet hubby purchased one for me. There are 3 more that I really want, but I'm trying to force myself to wait a bit. Other than that, I've really done very well.

On to my finished pages:
This first one used digital collage templates to block out the photos, something I don't do very often; I guess I'm more hands on than technological. I like the technique, but I'm certainly not skilled at it. I just left the areas where there were no pics empty and then added in papers and other embellishments in those spots.



My second page was just a fun one of our Halloween photos from last year. I dug into my chipboard letter stash for this one. I separated my chipboard into alphabetical drawers a while back, and it makes it SO MUCH EASIER to find the letters! I love mixing and matching them too!



Guess that's it for now. Here's hoping that I'm back sooner this time, with some more creative results to share!

Last 4 Mini Pages

Let me start by apologizing once again for my great delay in posting. (Seems like I've been doing that a lot lately!) Anyway, I've been really sick with a sinus infection and then I had a reaction to the meds that I was given. I'm on the mend now but I'm afraid it will take a while.

On top of my illness, my dad got injured pretty badly while doing some woodworking. He spent 5 hours in surgery and several hours in recovery. After a brief ICU stint, he is now home, attempting to heal.

Putting all of that together, I just haven't had the energy or attention to detail that scrapping requires. BUT....hopefully, that will change.

I have finished the final 4 pages for the Posh Brag Book Challenge and, while I'm not totally happy with all of them, they are DONE!

Page 7


Page 8


Page 9


and Page 10


Now I just need to get the pages mounted onto chipboard and bound together. I'm hoping to get that done before Friday so that I can give it to my daughter when she returns from camp.

Two More Mini Album Pages

Here are the latest two pages for the mini album I'm doing for the Posh Designs group challenge.

My Little Athlete



and

My Social Butterfly



I am really loving this mini album! I haven't made many in my scrapbooking "career", but I could get used to it! I love the fact that these sketches are helping me use some of those scraps that I have accumulated over the last little bit. Too often they are neglected.

Better Late Than Never....

First of all, an update....

Since I last posted I have finished 3 graduation cards and one layout that I didn't post here. (The layout was actually a project for my sweet hubby. He had been asked to do a layout for a scrapbook that a group was completing at school. He was a bit lost on what to do, so I helped him out.)

Now....on to the latest thing that I finished.

I know that it is June on the calendar, but I had a layout or 2 that I was trying to finish up for the May challenges over at Mojo. The challenge was to
use an altered photo on a layout. I don't remember exactly what I did, but I used Photoshop to alter this photo. The journaling was the important part to me. (What can I say? It must be the English teacher in me.)

2 More Mini Album Pages

Let me start by offering a quick apology for not getting much scrapping done lately. I feel like I've been neglecting my hobby and my blog. BUT.......GOOD NEWS!!! School is now officially out, (at least for the students). That should give me more time to enjoy crafting.

Now......I did get a couple of pages completed for the Posh Designs challenge.



AND



I don't do very many mini albums, but this challenge has gotten me to thinking that I should try to make some more! The sketches are so easy to use and it is so easy to actually FINISH an entire album! I'll be back next week with the next 2 pages, once the sketches are posted.

Another Contest

Any of you heard of the "Distrezz It All"? It's a brand new tool that I am just DIEING to own! It distresses the edges of almost any kind of paper much more quickly and efficiently than I ever could. I LOVE the distressed look!

Anyway, I recently discovered an online scrap store called Posh Designs. They just started a challenge that you can complete in order to be entered to possibly win one of these GLORIOUS tools! Each Monday they post 2 sketches for mini album pages. For each page you complete you are entered 1 time into the drawing. Complete all of the pages and that means 10 entries! (I have added a link to the store in my sidebar of this blog.)

Here are my first 2 pages:

Page 1 "Attitude"


Page 2 "Silly Feet"


By now, you probably figured out that my subject for my mini album is my daughter, unique creature that she is!

By the way, I'm counting 2 mini album pages as 1 full page completed, since these pages are 5 X 7 in size. That makes 2 pages almost 12X12.....

Are You Bear-ied in Work Too???

It is that time of the school year: testing, end of the year trips, awards programs, concerts, field days, you name it! Those of us who work at school seem to be swamped with things that we have to get done within the next week or two. Just as I get one thing finished, it seems like someone puts something else on my plate.

A couple of weeks ago was Teacher's Appreciation Week at our school and, with it, we received goodies, food treats, and a great big thank you. At the same time, our poor guidance counselor sat down in her office, juggling all of the testing paperwork that was coming her way. While she enjoyed the goodies and gifts right along with us teachers, I didn't think that was sufficient. SO......tonight I fixed up a couple of cards and goodie bags: one for the guidance counselor and one for her aide.

Here's the card:



This is a "Gruffie", another great stamp from the House Mouse family of stamps. I LOVE these things! I colored it in with my Prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless spirits again.

Inside the card reads:

But now, the tests are done.
It’s time for you to sit back
and have a little fun.
Enjoy a chocolate queen-sized treat,
Soak in a tub, put up your feet,
Don’t feel neglected, Don’t be blue,
For one thing we know is true…..
To have you here, we sure are blessed!
You’ve sure earned a little rest!

The goodie bag that I fixed has bath gel, lotion, a bath puff, some scented candles, and a "Queen" Size Reese cup bar. (I took yellow paper and covered up the word "King" wherever it appearaed on the wrapper.)

Did You Think I was Gone???

It's been a few days since I posted a layout. I haven't had a lot of time to craft, because of all the "end of the school year" events. 2 more weeks to go! I don't know who is more excited, the students or the teachers....LOL!

Anyway, here is my latest layout:



This was my first attempt at the "banner" trend that is so hot right now on cards and scrapbook pages. I cut those banner flags with one of my purchases from my earned money. I stopped in at Big Lots yesterday and found a bunch of Cuttlebug and American Crafts goodies, but I only spent about $15. One of the things I got was a Cuttlebug "Harlequin" die. I used it to cut diamonds that I then cut in half to create the flags. I also have an idea in mind to use the actual diamonds on a page. Stay tuned!

As far as spending goes, I have "earned" the right to spend $40, but I've only spent about $20 of that. I'm surprised at just how GOOD I am being. I do think that this summer will be more difficult though. We will travel some and there is always a new store to shop in. Oh well, guess I better keep on scrapping!

Another Great Challenge from All About Me

I've been working on another layout for the great folks over at the "All About Me" Blog. This time we were supposed to document the "impossible dream" that we have for ourselves. Mine was easy.....I've always dreamed of someday writing a book.

By the way, if everything goes right, you should now be able to click on my photo and see the layout in more detail. (FINGERS CROSSED!)....



I really dug into my stash for this one: lots of different flowers, bling, dies, Cricut cuts, border punch..... You name it....I used it. Hope you like it!

I also finished another 2 page layout featuring some of my students from last year, but since I don't have their permission I can't post it. I CAN add it to my completed pages tally though!

Time to SHOP!!

I have "earned" the right to spend $40, but I'm trying to decide whether to spend it now or to wait until I accumulate more. I'll be in the stores tomorrow, so I think I'll wait to see what is on sale, before I actually commit.


Regardless of whether or not I spend the money now, I plan to continue with my crafting. My next set of 12 projects begins with a graduation card I have crafted for my niece. I colored in the image with my Prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless turpentine.



The robes look a bit "orangey" on the web, but they are actually red in person.

WHoo Hoo!!!

2 more scrapbook pages finished!!

These pics are of my favorite "not so little" girl, Kari. She has developed a sudden urge to get her hands dirty by gardening, so we've decided to put out a small vegetable garden this year. (I just hope her urge to garden continues during those hot summer months!)

By the way, if any of you bloggers out there can explain to me how to post my pics so that my visitors can click on the pics and see a larger image, I would really appreciate it! I've tried all kinds of things, but I simply CANNOT figure out what I am doing wrong.

Things are Looking UP!!!

It's been a rough week, with testing starting. I came home last night with a massive stress headache. I haven't had much time to create either.

THEN....

This morning I was making my daily rounds of the blogs and websites that I frequent most. I logged on to "It's All About Me" to see what the newest challenge is and I found out that I had won the marvelous kit that was being given for last month!! YIPPEE!!

My challenge to myself said that I couldn't SPEND money, but it didn't say that I couldn't be rewarded with goodies from other places!

Thanks "It's All About Me" and I'll get started on the very next challenge as soon as I get a free minute.

Teacher's Appreciation Day...

Just in case you weren't aware of it.....Teacher's Appreciation Day is this week. As a teacher, I can vouch for the fact that teachers do a LOT of work that is never notice by most people. I can also tell you that we spend a LOT of our own money on things for our classroom, so PLEASE.... if there is a teacher who touches your life, let them know that they are appreciated this week. Just send a little card, write a little note, or if you like, send them a little something to brighten their day.

As for me and my kids, we just finished making 12 cards identical to the one shown here:

Each teacher will also receive a goodie bag. This week happens to begin our statewide testing, so I plan to slip the goodie bags and cards in with their papers that they must pick up first thing tomorrow morning, just a little something to brighten the morning.

Isn't that House Mouse just adorable? I love these stamps but haven't purchased one before now because I was a bit intimidated about coloring in the images. I ended up using my Prismacolor pencils and then blending with odorless turpentine. I am rather proud of how well they turned out (and even more proud of the fact that I finished 12 more projects!!)

Last Minute Gift

I whipped up this card this morning as a last minute gift. My daughter is headed to a sleepover birthday party this morning and, somehow, forgot to get a gift, so I obliged her by creating this card that doubles as a money holder.

The best part is the inside:


Isn't that adorable???? (If I do say so myself.....)

Another One Bites the Dust.....

Yes! I'm one page closer to that spending money!!!

Before I show the layout itself, I really need to give some background:

My daughter, Kari, is 12 and has been playing the guitar for a few years now. Recently, as I was looking through some photos, trying to figure out what to scrapbook I spotted a photo of her playing her guitar in a concert. It reminded me so much of a photo that my mom had, that I had to go borrow the photo and scrapbook the two, side by side.

I kept the page itself fairly simple, because I wanted the focus to be the two pictures. The guitar stamp on the bottom left is from a "Hannah Montana" set that I bought on sale at WalMart when Kari was going through her HM phase. (Alas, I must confess that this is the FIRST time I have actually used them.)

My favorite thing about the layout (other than the photos themselves) is the design in the middle. I created that with the EK Success "zipper" punch. I punched the edge of the red sheet and the edge of the blue sheet, then butted them up side by side to make it look like they were zipped together. (The punch was one of the LAST purchases that I allowed myself to make before beginning my challenge to use my stash, rather than buy new stuff. I can hardly wait to get some other of the new punches! Mental note to self............ MUST KEEP SCRAPPING!)

I LOVE a good challenge!!

As a scrapbooker, I love to find a good challenge. I am members of several different forums and boards and I'm always on the lookout for another group that sparks my creative juices. Recently I found my way to the "All About Me Challenge". They have a remarkable designer team and I have found myself jumping right into their challenges.

The last challenge posted on the blog asked us to look at our world from a different angle. When I read this, I knew EXACTLY what I wanted a photo of- all of the students rushing through the hallways at school, BUT, I didn't want their faces; I wanted a shot of their feet in motion.

You should have heard the comments: "Why is Mrs. Baker in the floor?", "Why are you taking a picture of our feet?", and even, "Did you drop your camera?" Regardless of how silly I looked, I kept right on snapping and I think that I got a really good pic!

Next was the title: Ask any teacher what middle school lis like two weeks before state mandated testing and you will likely get an answer similar to the title of my layout.




My journaling reads:

Teaching at a middle school, things are always kind of wild, but the last 2 full weeks before testing, the whole place is a ZOO! Teachers trying to squeeze in one more unit, students who are exhausted, and administrators urging everyone to be productive. Everyone seems to move at a faster pace, and the bell at 3:15 brings a sigh of relief that the walls almost echo.

Whoo Hoo! Three more pages done!

Before I post the pics of these layouts, let me explain a couple of things:


1. I have blurred the faces of any of the students in the pics other than my own child. I didn't know if they would want their face posted online or not. I figure you can still see the basic page anyway.

2. These are very SIMPLE pages, but they are done. I'm doing a little project at school where I'm going to be assisting some brand new scrapbooking adults create a special album for someone. My plan of attack is to take 3 or 4 sketches with me and show them how they can use the sketch and create different looks, simply by rotating it. These are 2 of my "Sample" pages. I used the same basic sketch, but I rotated one of the pages and turned it into a 2 page spread.

This page has some pics that I just came across from my daughter's 5th grade dance. These kids are now in my 8th grade class! I'm going to have to take this page to school to show it to some of them.

This 2 page spread has pics from my daughter's Christmas play this year. That's her on the end with the "black eye". She was playing Grandma, who had gotten run over by Santa's reindeer. The play was SO FUNNY!

Well, let's see what the grand total is: 4 scrapbook pages and 3 cards. That means I need to get just 5 more pages done and I can go shopping to spend that first $20, if I would like. Then again, I may just hold out until I hit the $40 mark....LOL!

3 More Done..........and Some Answers....

WHEW! I've been working in between other things trying to get some sample cards done for an upcoming card workshop that I'll be doing with the local Extension people. I'm still using my supplies, so I'm allowing myself to count these in my "Master" count too.

I won't post the pics on here too, because I know that some of you go to my stamping blog too. If you don't have the link to it, here it is: My Stamp on the World

I LOVE the cards that I have designed so be sure to go check them out and leave me a comment or two.

NOW.......I've gotten some questions about my GOAL and RULES, so I'm going to try to answer them.

1. What counts?- It's really up to you. If you do a lot of mini albums or altering projects, then count those. If you do strictly scrapbook pages, then count those. The whole goal is to USE, USE, USE those supplies.

2. What about basics?- I allow myself to purchase adhesives, necessary tools, and basic cardstock without penalty. After all, those are necessary to continue creating, right? For example, my paper piercer has disappeared. I use it a lot to make holes for my brads and things, but somehow it has just walked away. I am definitely going to have to replace it....and soon....

I've heard from several of you that you are joining in on my "Supply Use Program" and I am thrilled! The more of us that support each other, the more likely that we will actually make some progress!

And So...........I Start!

In case you haven't figured it out yet, weekends are my prime scrap time. Since I teach school all week I "play" with a layout as much as I can until I finally get time to actually start sticking things down to the page. This particular layout has actually been started twice!

Those two lovely people are my parents. It's really hard to get a photo of the two of them together, primarily because, even at their age, they don't slow down very much!

The journaling reads:

The two of you really inspire me.

I know that your almost 50 years

of married life

haven't been easy.

Low income,

Working 2 jobs,

Accidents and medical emergencies,

and raising 3 kids.

But through it all, you've managed to survive...

Together...

It gives me hope that my own family can endure

no matter what life throws at us.

I believe we can stand

the Test of Time.

I'm really glad that I have this photo, really glad that I documented my thoughts, and also glad that I have finished one page toward my scrapbooking goal!

Twelve for Twenty

I've had some time today to allow my seed of a plan to germinate and had time to talk to my 2 closest advisors, my teenage children. Between the three of us, we managed to come up with some basic "RULES" that I will be following:

1. I must complete 12 pages (12X12) in order to earn the right to spend $20 on scrapbooking materials.

2. Basics like adhesives are not included in the $20; I can purchase those as they are needed.

3. A card counts as being equal to a 12X12 scrapbook page. (I always use layers and card fronts and backs, so I pretty much use 1 page of paper on a card anyway.)

4. Larger projects such as mini albums, etc. can count as more than one page, but I have to consult with my 2 teenage "mathematicians" in order to get a good estimate of just how many pages each project counts as....LOL!

(I should add here that I went to Big Lots today with my mom and I was a very good girl.....NOT ONE scrapbook purchase, though they did have some cute stuff. I just kept thinking to myself....12 pages girl, 12 pages!

WELCOME!!

If you are a dedicated scrapper and crafter, like I am, then you, no doubt, have stacks and stacks of paper, jars full of buttons, and a closet full of embellishments, all of which you PROMISE you will use some day. If you're like me, you probably also have noticed that your "STASH" is growing and the production count of scrapbook pages is DOWN. That is why I have created this blog.

It is my hope that this blog will help provide me with some public accountability. Maybe if I have to admit publically that I'm purchasing more and using less that will help push me to create and use my stash a bit more.

My plan is to set myself a goal: Scrapbook or craft "x" number of items or pages before I allow myself to purchase more. I haven't quite decided what that particular number is, but I'm happy to take suggestions. I'll post the finished projects here so that people can give me that pat on the back for using my old stuff and I, hopefully, will be encouraged to stick with it.

I LOVE Scrapbooking and crafting. (Just ask my sweet hubby and kids where I disappear to....It's always MY room.) It provides me therapy and an escape from the drudgeries of everyday life, BUT lately I'm feeling guilty about the money that is just lieing around on shelves and in boxes in my room. If I can start using some of it, I think my BLISS in my hobby will be restored.

Before I leave, I would like to issue an invitation to all of you out there who, like me, find themselves with a nice inventory of papers and scrapbooking supplies, but little productivity. Feel free to join in with me. Just post your goal here on this thread. Maybe we can encourage each other.