My Scrap Bliss

The Creating Bug....

2012-01-15T20:36:00.002-04:00

My creative spirit has renewed itself. I have been busy at work the past two weeks on a mini album that will be a gift for a dear friend. I'm actually making two of them, so I still have a bit of work to do. The hardest part is done however, since I plan to use the layout from the first album as the basis for the second one.

I've also been playing around a bit with Photoshop. I figure that I should develop a bit more "techno savvy" when it comes to photos and editing. I started by locating a quote that would reinforce my One Little Word and decided to try creating my own "subway art" piece.

Here is the result:

Not too bad, eh?

A New Year...... A Renewed Me

2012-01-01T09:57:00.005-04:00

Happy New Year!!

Welcome to the first day of 2012.

I realize that this is really just another "tomorrow" that has become "today", but it really does kind of feel like a new start, doesn't it?

With that in mind, I have chosen One Little Word to guide me and my thinking through the remainder of the year: RENEW.

My hope is for this year to be one of renewal: renewed energy, renewed enthusiasm for life and my career, renewed creativity, and renewed romance within my marriage. I will endeavor to devote more time to the things and people that truly make my life better. I will renew my focus on things that count; things that truly make a difference.

In the past I have, too often, allowed work, stress, and the woes of the daily grind to weigh me down. I have focused on the negative and forgotten to take the time to be grateful for what I have. It is my hope that I can renew my focus on myself, my family, and the positive things about each day.

Keep watching this blog because, if things go as planned, I hope to have many more positive things to share with you.

Oh My Goodness!!!

2011-11-24T20:17:00.006-04:00

I knew it had been a while since I had posted, but I didn't ealize it had been THAT long! Life has been keeping me VERY busy. A new school year with new common core standards and new literature has kept me hopping. I'm still working and reworking things to try to get a classroom routine that I really like. (Maybe I will get it all figured out before next year.)

I've also been busy crafting. About a month ago I decided that I wanted to try to make one of those cute winter caps that looks like an animal. (You know.... you see them EVERYWHERE in the stores.) I got online and searched for several patterns then tweaked them to create my own. The result was a maroon owl cap that I thought was kind of cute.

Kari wore the cap to school, several of the kids saw it, and the rest is history. As of today I have crocheted and sold at least 50 of these lovely hoot owls. I have also adapted the pattern and created puppy dogs, a Hello Kitty, and even a teenage mutant ninja turtle. I joke the kids that one day they will look back and remember the year that Mommy "made" their Christmas. It is really only a small bit of a joke. The money is really coming in handy to purchase things from the kids' wish lists!

All of that crocheting has kept me kind of busy though, so I haven't gotten to scrapbook in a VERY LONG time! It has been so long, as a matter of fact, that I can't even tell Glenn what type of scrap stuff I might enjoy getting for Christmas. That is saying a LOT! I've always been able to give him a very specific "what I would buy for myself" list and he usually gets whatever I've asked for.

Ths year I just can't seem to think of anything that I really NEED or even really WANT. Bless his heart, he keeps asking, but I just can't seem to come up with anything. Any ideas?

I Bet You Thought I was GONE!

2011-09-10T20:52:00.003-04:00

Well, I'm not......

I've just been really busy, with the start of school. I'm teaching reading this year and I'm working on all new units. That has kept me busy a lot!

Today I finally took some "me" time and sat down to create. I scrapped a simple little page of my daughter crocheting. I combined some really old papers that have been lieing around for a long time with a new tool that I recently purchased, the Sew Easy.

For those of you who have wondered about this tool, it really is pretty easy. I just picked the style of stitches I wanted and then rolled the head along the side of a ruler, creating the holes. Then I stitched in the holes.

I'm sure hoping that I get more "me" time really soon. I've missed scrapbooking!

My Boy is Back in Town.....

2011-07-31T09:48:00.005-04:00

Can you hear me singing???

Can you tell that I am HAPPY!!!!!

We went to Danville yesterday and picked Keenan up from Governor's Scholars, where he had been for 5 full weeks. It seems like FOREVER for me......

He had a GREAT time and has matured a lot.

While he was gone we did a bit of shopping.....

Right before he left, Keenan took his driver's test and got his license. Of course we started talking "car". We weren't really sure when we would be able to purchase one for him, but we knew that he would need one to get back and forth to evening college classes during his senior year.

Glenn got what he considered a good deal and we were able to purchase Keenan's dream car: red Nissan Altima 2 door coupe. It was hard, but we kept the purchase a secret from Keenan for almost a full month. When we left home yesterday we decorated the car with beautiful bow.

As we neared home, Glenn handed Keenan 3 cards. He opened the first one to discover a birthday card, to which Keenan said, "Why are you giving me birthday stuff already?" He opened the second one to discover a Christmas card. After a few seconds it kind of sank in that he had a BIG gift waiting and he kind of knew what that meant. After the 3rd card which was a graduation card, Glenn presented the small gift box with the key inside. The look on Keenan's face was simply priceless, but his face when he finally made it home and sat in his car for the first time was even better.

My Girl....

2011-07-04T16:31:00.004-04:00

My girl turned 14 this week. It almost seems impossible that it has been 14 years since I gave birth to her and brought her home from the hospital. Those 14 years have been very lively ones! Everyone kept telling me how different boys and girls were, but I wouldn't have dreamed how different until Kari came along. After a couple of years with Keenan, I really thought I had this kid thing figured out, but I have to admit that it has been really different raising a daughter.

Kari is our free spirit, fun loving child. She would rather be out running or playing a game with a friend than sitting at home reading a book. She is much more independent than her brother too, and sometimes that independence creates conflicts with us.

Even with the problems, arguments, and conflicts, I really wouldn't change a thing. I am so happy to have her in our lives. Happy birthday Baby Girl!

Daddy's Girl

2011-06-27T10:13:00.008-04:00

You ever have that photo that you just HAVE to scrap? You know.... the one that touches your heart and brings a smile to your face....?

When I saw these pics of Kari with her dad, I knew that I had a scrapbook page in the making.

Can't you tell just by looking at these photos that this girl has Dad wrapped around her little finger? Whether it be a new shirt that she might love, a cd by her favorite artist, or a new nail polish that is just a shade different from one she already owns, Dad always seems to come through.

As for the layout, I can thank Scrappin Mojo yet again. I used this month's "Mojo Master" to provide the directions for the layout. If you haven't tried joining in on this yet, you really should. Every month there is a new set of instructions. You get one instruction at a time, every few days, until you finally have a finished page. At the end of the month it is so much fun to see the original inspirational layout and compare that to your finished one.

A New Love

2011-06-18T17:25:00.004-04:00

I haven't been scrapping much for the past few weeks, but I have been keeping an eye on the scrapping goings-on online, particularly on Two Peas in a Bucket. I have gotten hooked on the videos that are posted there by the design team, especially those by Nichol Magouirk. I LOVE her simple, linear style! I also love the AE stamps that she has been using. (For those of you who haven't discovered them yet, I'm talking about the Technique Tuesday stamps by Ali Edwards.)

They are SO versatile and Nichol's videos are opening my eyes to LOTS of possibilities, so much so that I have subscribed to the monthly automatic delivery orders. I received the June set this morning and wasted no time using it on a layout.

I used the words "adventure" and "explore" from one set and the word "our" from another stamp set. I am LOVING these stamps! (They also inspired me to dig into my stash of die cut tags....LOL!) I'm fairly sure that you can expect to see more stamping on my future pages, especially with these word stamps!

My Father, My Hero

2011-06-05T20:35:00.006-04:00

Father's Day is coming up and I had to take a few minutes to create a layout dedicated to my very special dad. Growing up, my dad was always busy: work, church, deacon meetings. He was very dedicated to making a way for his family.

As I became a teenager and then went to college and moved out, Dad went through lots of personal turmoil. He has had several accidents. Everything from having a tractor roll over on him to falling from a church roof. Through it all Dad never gave up. When he fell from the church roof the doctor informed us that Dad would be blinded in one eye. Even that didn't slow him down, much to my surprise. Most recently, last year Dad had 4 of the fingers on his left hand cut, losing 2/3 of the pinky. After 5 hours of neurosurgery, he came home within a week and was back at work within only a few weeks.

Though I don't have many warm "fuzzy" memories of time shared with Dad, there is not doubt that he loves each and every one of our family members. That is why I dedicated this layout to My Father, My Hero.

By the way, the layout design came from my latest purchase: Allison Davis's Volume 6 of Sketches for Scrapbooking. LOVE those books! This sketch is also the sample for my One Little Word Challenge over at Challenge Masters. Be sure to come check it out!

Family Time

2011-05-29T17:04:00.007-04:00

Now that school is finally out for the summer I am trying to squeeze in as much family time as I can. It isn't going to be easy: Kari is going to Academic camp in a couple of weeks and will be attending ACT Prep classes much of the other weeks. Keenan is going to Governor's Scholars for 5 weeks. Glenn is doing his usual summer "get everything ready for the new year" work at school.

Knowing that everyone is so busy it makes every mooment that we have together more important. This weekend, for example, we spent a large portion of Saturday morning assembling our new gas grill.

The kids managed to get along throughout the whole process and the final result was a grill ready to be used.....

Of course, that required that we actually give it a try, right? Keenan and Glenn prepared beef and chicken kabobs, along with potatoes and corn on the cob. It was DELISH!!

Photos really don't do the food justice, but I'll tempt you with it anyway.... YUM! YUM!! (Now we just need to get a table and some chairs so we can sit outside and enjoy the food.)

Make the most of what is left of the Memorial Day weekend and try to squeeze in a few minutes with your family too. Store up some memories!

4-Ever Friendships

2011-05-15T14:45:00.004-04:00

As a young girl, the one thing that I ALWAYS wanted but I never had was a sister. I was the oldest of three children, the other two being boys. I wanted a sister so that I would have that best friend who was always there by my side, to tell my secrets to and to share my problems with.

The next best thing would have been a BFF.... the kind that was as close as a sister could be. I never really had that either. My family moved across the state when I was in sixth grade, forcing me to leave all of the friends that I might have had during those developmental teenage years and I don't think that I ever really fit in with the other kids at school. I was just too different.

Sure, I have friends, but I don't think that any of them is a true BFF type of relationship. To see one of those, I have to look no further than Kari and her BFF, Zoey.

That photo on the far left was taken when Kari was about 3 and Zoey was probably about 5. They met then and have been inseparable since. I know that there is no one in the world who knows Kari better than Zoey does. I also know that if Zoey needs to get something off of her chest, she probably texts Zoey first. These two have that special relationship that I always dreamed of having. I like to think that it isn't too late for that type of "sisterhood" to develop, but I'm really not too confident about it.

Memories...

2011-05-10T18:31:00.003-04:00

Recently I purchased small portable photo scanner for one specific purpose: taking it to Mom's and scanning family photos. My son and I spent a long afternoon wading through photos of ancestors who had died, ancestors he never knew, and photos of his grandparents as they grew up.

THEN we reached the can that had MY childhood photos in it. BOY! did that bring back memories. I scanned a TON of them and brought them home where I could show hubby and my daughter.

I just used one of those pics to scrapbook some things that I WISH I had known then.....

Yep! That little scrawny, freckle-faced girl is ME in first grade! Boy, have I changed! I keep wondering what I would have been like if I were in first grade NOW. (The world has changed so much and KIDS have changed so much!) That girl never saw a computer during her elementary OR high school education. She learned to type on an electric typewriter and would have had NO idea what to do with an iPod. Her proudest possession as a young teen was the little record player and the small collection of 45s. When I think about how far technology alone has advanced in my lifetime it is AMAZING!!

Gone.... But Not Forgotten.....

2011-05-07T22:16:00.004-04:00

To a scrapbooker, her camera is not just a thing....

It is a friend, something that is always at her side, ready to document whatever high points or low points come along.

That makes the loss of a camera a tough blow to take.

I should know. I have suffered the loss of not 1, but 2 cameras within the last year.

First there was my beloved Canon Rebel. I had paid for it in installments and purchased 2 lenses to go with it. It had been at my side for a Washington D.C. trip, St. Louis trip, and MANY family events. Then the pins in the memory card portion got bent and I decided it was more responsible to purchase a new camera, rather than pay to have it repaired.

In the meantime...........

I decided to use my old digital camera. It still functioned fairly well, though I really wasn't happy with the picture quality as it compared to my Rebel. Still it was a shock when I lost that camera too.... in a rather odd way.

I decided that it was a story that definitely needed documenting, so I created a layout to tell the story.

I will never forget this camera. It was the first digital one that I had owned. It taught me the basics of taking digital pics, uploading them to a computer, and using PhotoShop.

I WILL get another camera, of course..... I will have to. After all, I am a scrapbooker and being without a camera........ Well, it's like being without an arm or a leg.

Join Us for an Online Crop!

2011-05-05T18:45:00.004-04:00

Challenge Masters is hosting an online crop in honor of National Scrapbooking Day. (For those rare creatures out there who don't know.... there REALLY is a day dedicated to my favorite hobby!)

The crop begins today, May 5 and runs through May 12. There are lots of great challenges, a BINGO game, a guessing game, you name it! It's sure to be TONS of fun and there are lots of great prizes to be won!

My contribution to the crop is the ice cream sundae challenge.
I posted a list of several ingredients that could be used to create ice cream sundaes. Each of those ingredients was then assigned a scrapbooking "equivalent". Each scrapper now uses my list to determine which scrapbook "ingredients" she must use to create their own layout.

Here's my sample:

My ingredients of choice were vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, chopped peanuts, and whipped cream. The scrapbooking equivalents were sewing, glitter, ribbon, and rubons.

There's a link to Challenge Masters right over there----------------------->
on the side..... Click on it and come on over to check out the fun that we are having! We'd love to see some of your work too!

If you can read this.......

2011-05-03T21:37:00.003-04:00

Thank a teacher....

You may not know that this week is Teacher's Appreciation Week. Now I know that I'm a bit biased, being a teacher myself, but I have to say that teachers are truly worthy of appreciation.

I am a teacher because I was inspired to be one. From the time that I started school all that I ever wanted to be was a teacher. I saw it as a profession in which I could help others develop their abilities, their confidence, and their intellect. If I am totally honest, I have to admit that there are days.... (more than I care to admit sometimes) when I wonder if I am truly doing any of my students any good. Then a student seeks me out, just to talk, just to spend some time with me, or sometimes on rare occasions, to tell me how much they enjoyed something that we did in class. It is THOSE days that make me feel appreciated.

If you have a child whose teacher goes above and beyond the call of duty.... If you are a parent of a child who has had a teacher who did some little something to make school better for that child.... or if you just know a teacher who could use a little boost....... Please take some time this week, just to say, "Thank you. You really are appreciated!" Trust me..... it will make his or her day!

Rain, Rain............ GO AWAY!!

2011-04-26T19:50:00.004-04:00

I know that April showers bring May flowers, but enough is enough......

It seems like we have had rain, showers, thunderstorms, and even tornado watches more this year than EVER before. We really want to till up our garden, but it seems that every weekend when we have time, it's just too wet.

Oh well..... if I'm going to stay indoors I might as well scrapbook, right???

Last weekend I finished up this layout........

It's for the "Monthly Mojo Master" challenge over at Scrappin' Mojo. One of the gals selects a sketch that only she sees. She then posts instructions for us to follow, one step at a time, until finally we have a finished page. It's really fun and it's a great way to get a page done, even if you only have a little bit of time each day. If you want to try something fun, give it a try next month!

Getting My Groove Back

2011-04-22T06:18:00.004-04:00

I have often said that scrapping is my personal form of therapy, and this week is evidence of that.......

I haven't been able to get much creative time the past few weeks and the pre-testing tension at school had just zapped me of all energy. I sat down with a list of the challenges over at Challenge Masters and a stack of photos. After selecting pics, I flipped through my sketch books. I selected a couple from Page Maps and I was off and running.

This one was for the manufacturer challenge.

and.........
This one is for the Day in the Life challenge. (We were supposed to scrap someone acting foolish....LOL!)

It could be the fact that today is Friday, or it could be the fact that I finally had some time to take part in my scrapbooking "therapy"....... Whatever the cause, I definitely feel a little less "stressed" this morning. I have a third layout on my scrap desk and there is time for me to begin a fourth one tonight. Yippee! I think Stella is getting her Groove Back!

For it is in Giving, that We Receive

2011-04-17T09:29:00.004-04:00

I have always taught my children that it is better to give than to receive. At Christmas when they were younger we had each one choose an angel from the angel tree. Each of them would select the gifts and package them before delivering them to the drop-off site. We also made a trip to the children's hospital to drop off gently used toys that our children no longer played with. The kids even carried the box in themselves.

Now that my children are older, that independent giving spirit is beginning to show. Keenan came home recently, telling me that the BETA Club wanted to create Easter cards for the local nursing home residents and they would like for him to design something. The two of us put our heads together and created this simple card....

It's nothing fancy, because we wanted something that the kids could create fairly easily.

Yesterday morning, on a rainy Saturday when most of his classmates were still in bed, Keenan helped cut all of the paper and emboss the front panels.

I was so proud of him for taking the time to give of himself to help brighten the day for others. It is times like these when I know that my kids are going to make the world a bettr place.

My Girl....

2011-04-16T13:14:00.003-04:00

I haven't gotten to do much scrapping lately.
When I did finally get to sit down and work on a challenge or two I had to scrap pics of "my girl" Kari.

She's had kind of a rough week. She fell twice this week at track, the second time while doing hurdles at a meet. Both falls injured her left wrist. It was still sore on Friday, so Glenn took her to the doctor to get it x-rayed. Thankfully, it's only a sprain. She has to keep it wrapped for 3 or 4 days. She's really missing doing hurdles and the relay.....

As for the layout....

This page was for another challenge over at Challenge Masters. We were supposed to use words from the "Easter Parade" song as part of the title. I LOVE this pic of Kari. I snapped it when she was all dressed up for the spring dance.

Chop..... Chop......Chop!

2011-04-08T20:44:00.004-04:00

This is the final week of Challenge Masters "Chopped" Contest. I have to be honest and say that I feel a lot like those reality show contestants who are standing on stage just waiting to hear whether they are the one selected to go home that week.

I have NO DOUBT that if this weren't the final week, I would definitely be on the cutting room floor. For some reason this week's challenge was just that.... a BIG CHALLENGE!

We were asked to select 3 of the elements used in the previous 3 challenges and use them in our layout. I started thinking about my page and decided to use white, circles, and sewing. I then got a basic idea forming in my head, but the more I worked, the more I felt other elements inching in as well.

My final design used white, yellow, lime green, circles, sewing, and scallops.

I'm not 100% happy with the final page, but all of my critics (i.e. my family) kept telling me that they wouldn't change anything, so I guess this is my finished entry.... LOL!

Spring... Is it Finally Here??

2011-04-03T05:07:00.001-04:00

As much as I find snow beautiful, I am really happy that spring is finally here! We've had some cool mornings, but the warm rays of sunlight are very welcoming after the months of snow and ice. One of the things that means spring to me is the row of brightly colored daffodils that are planted in our front yard flowerbed. I knew that I had pay homage to them and when I saw the sketch on Sketches in Thyme I knew exactly how to scrapbook it.

I used a 5X7 photo of one of the daffodils and created my own ruffled green "grass" by using a sewing machine to gather 3 layers of spring green tulle. I added some silk daffodils that I found at the Dollar Tree, of all places. Some stamping, a punched bird and a post-it note journaling spot finish off the page.

I LOVE it!

Here's a closeup of the ruffled tulle.

Time For a Riddle...

2011-04-02T18:46:00.003-04:00

What do you get when you cross a sweatshirt that's too small with a sewing machine run by a teenage girl?

...............

...............

...............

Give Up?????

You get a one of a kind creation!!

Today, Kari came home from her BFF's house and informed me that she wanted my assistance with a project. She then showed me an old hoodie sweatshirt that she had outgrown. It was still in good shape and it was one of her favorites, so she really didn't want to get rid of it.

Instead, she turned it inside out, sewed up the bottom of the sweatshirt,and then turned it right side out. She slid the end of one sleeve inside the sleeve cuff on the other sleeve and stitched the two sleeves together.

Her creation was her own version of a "hobo" type bag.

She just reaches inside the "hooded neck" of the bag to put things inside or get things out. If she wants the bag to close, she just pulls the string in the hood.

Gee, I wonder where she gets her creativity???? LOL!

Chopped Week Three

2011-03-29T20:03:00.007-04:00

I've been participating in the "Chopped" Challenge over at Challenge Masters and this week, I think I created my new FAVORTIE layout!! Our recipe for this week was to use white, cardboard, and stitching. As soon as I saw the recipe I knew exactly which photo I wanted to use. I had a photo of sweet little Kari, back when she one and a half or two years old, all dressed in white, sitting on a white carousel horse. I also knew what technique I wanted to use. I took 4 or 5 different border punches and punches strips of white cardstock. Then I placed them on a sheet of vanilla cardstock and sewed each one down. Here's a closeup:

As for the cardboard, I used my Big Shot to die cut 3 small butterflies. Then I pulled off one layer, painted them white, and added some coarse glitter. Here's a look at them:

Before I show you the finished layout, I have to give some credit to my biggest inspiration. Several years ago I started scrapping with some wonderful gals over at Scrappin Mojo. It was there that I met Niki Willaert. I immediately felt myself drawn to her feminine, nostalgic layouts and projects. I found myself oohing and aahing at everything she posted. The whole time that I was working on this layout I found myself thinking, "What would Niki do??" No joke.... I think I actually tried to channel her creativity into my work....LOL! I would love for you to get to see some of her work too. Visit her blog to see some of her beautiful inspiration! http://petalstopolkadots.blogspot.com/

Now for my finished layout.... Before I show it to you, let me say that it is much prettier in person.

This is truly my favorite layout, I think. I love the way all of the little touches blended together to create a frilly, lacy, girly page! Thanks Niki for your inspiration and Thanks Challenge Masters for the recipe!

Experimenting Can be FUN!

2011-03-27T10:50:00.002-04:00

I'm so used to doing things the same old way. I've always been a firm believer in the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" BUT.....

Every now and then it's fun to break out of your routine and try something new. For this layout I pulled out a bottle of Glossy Accents. I had NEVER used them, but decided a while back that I ought to buy a bottle and have them on hand, just in case the opportunity presented itself. Today was that opportunity.

I had these pics of Kari spashing around in the swimming pool on vacation and decided that Glossy Accents might make the water "droplets" look more like real water. They do! You can't really tell it on the computer, but in person, the little droplets of Glossy Accents reflect the light just like water! I will definitely try this again!

Just Doodling.........

2011-03-25T22:43:00.003-04:00

I took a nap today after I got in from school, a long, luxurious 2 hour nap. I really needed it! This week has been a wild one and I just needed some recovery time. Kari and I actually lay down on the couch together and both of us snoozed. Glenn joked that he had thought about getting the camera and snapping a pic, but he was afraid that I would get mad.

After the nap, my energy came back and I came up to get some creative time. I finished this layout for a couple of challenges on Mojo and Challenge Masters.

This one was a bit of a stretch for me. The challenge over at Challenge Masters asked us to scrap a photo of someone laughing; I wasn't sure I had one, but when I went searching I found this one of Keenan. He almost NEVER laughs! The Mojo challenge asked us to use red, yellow, blue, and green.

Once I found the photo I knew that I needed something "fun", so I decided to go with a rebus title. (What can I say? I LOVE word puzzles!!)

What reallymade it fun though, was the doodling. I NEVER doodle, but somehow it just seemed to fit this page.

Finally....

2011-03-24T19:40:00.003-04:00

I finally got some scrap time tonight! My photos that I had ordered finally arrived and I jumped right in.

This layout is for week 2 of the "Chopped" Contest over at Challenge Masters. The recipe for this week asked us to use yellow, scallops, and dimensional flowers. When I first began thinking about my page for this week's entry I had visions of piles and piles of blossoms, but as I got started on the page I really didn't feel like it needed too many flowers. I created these fabric yo-yo flowers from scraps of fabric. Then I added a stacked felt flower and a couple of chipboard leaves.

I don't normally use yellow much, but I LOVE this paper. It is one sheet from the DCWV Cotton Bloom Stack. It has luscious, sparkly glitter dots all over it! Can't wait to cut into some of the other pages in that stack. They are all simply beautiful!

Still Tired.........

2011-03-17T20:58:00.003-04:00

I'm still feeling pretty run down.
To give you an idea of what "tired" means.... we ate supper, I did the dishes, and I lay down on the couch around 6:00. The next thing I knew it was 8:15 and I was lieing there in the dark....

I am physically exhausted. Glenn is wondering if maybe there is something like low iron bothering me. I'm not really sure; I just know that I DON'T like being this way.

I haven't even had creative juices this week.

I did manage to finish one layout for the "Chopped" Challenge over at Challenge Masters. They posted a recipe that required the use of the following: lime green, circles, and paint.

Here's my resulting layout:

Kari snapped this photo of herself, reflected in the mirror on the sunvisor of my car. I knew it needed a fun layout. LOVED the lime green paper that I found tucked away in my stash! I painted the white photo mat and added some painted fuschia and apricot circles, punched paper circles that I embellished, and a title cut with my Cricut. LOVE IT!

Needing an Energy Boost....

2011-03-11T20:29:00.002-04:00

Boy, am I wiped out!

This has been a draining week. I don't know if I have done anyone any good at school. It feels like I'm just not reaching my students at all right now, no matter what I try.

I'm so tired and drained that I don't even feel like scrapping.... (And that says A LOT!!)

I did want to share a layout I finished yesterday. I combined a couple of challenges: a Book of Me challenge from Challenge Masters and a sketch challenge from Scrappin Mojo. The pic is an older one from a few years back of my mom and me.

Feeling Lucky....

2011-03-06T08:47:00.004-04:00

A few weeks back I posted about Terri, over at Challenge Masters, asking me to be a Diva. Well, the time has come. Today I posted my first challenge.

I'm doing the "One Little Word" challenge and the word I chose for this month is LUCK. What other word would work for March???

Here's my sample layout:

I stamped the title with a stamp I discovered in the dollar bin at Michael's. I snapped it up because I saw lots of different opportunities to use it.

To create the shaded effect of the colors, I just chose 4 different shades of green ink. I started at the bottom and stamped the first image with the darkest shade and then restamped without reinking just a bit farther up the strip of paper. I repeated this with lighter shades of green ink, moving up the strip until the strip was full. I LOVE the effect that it gives!

Now it's your turn. Get out your supplies and create a layout or card using the word LUCK or one of its forms. Come on over to Challenge Masters and post it. (There's a link on the right side of the page. Just click on my Challenge Masters Diva badge.) I'm offering an RAK for someone who is lucky enough to complete the challenge and get her name pulled from the basket. While you're there be sure to check out the other challenges posted this week. There are some great ones!

Are You Feeling Lucky??

2011-03-05T16:53:00.008-04:00

If you are, then I've got a GREAT opportunity for you!

I was just doing my weekly stroll through some of my favorite blogs when I came across a GREAT giveaway over at Creating From the Heart. Melissa is doing a FANTASTIC giveaway for those of you who like to sew.

Someone is going to be lucky enough to win a computerized sewing machine, a WRMK Sew Easy, the Sew Easy mat, and Sew Easy threads to get you started. I'm posting a link so you can get in on the fun too. Hurry over and check it out!

http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/

Sometimes I Wonder????

2011-02-26T19:21:00.003-04:00

I don't know if it is just because she is a teenager or what, but sometimes my daughter really makes me wonder.....

She is 13 and has never shown any particular interest in ANY subject matter. She worked hard at all of them, but she didn't really "like" any one alone. She also had not discussed a career at all......... THEN.........

She started watching BONES. You know, that wonderful television show with the forensic anthropologist and team who can ALWAYS figure out how a person died.....

ANYWAY.......

She has now become obsessed with the show, with the study of dead bodies, and is talking about being a coroner or a forensic anthropologist... Go figure....

This girl who has NEVER really felt that she was good at science.....
This girl who still says she isn't good at science....
This girl who is terrified of spiders........

Has suddenly started saying that bugs are "neat" and wants to spend her days analyzing skeletons and wounds.....

That really makes me WONDER??? If she gets hooked on a television show about astronauts do you think she will want to go into space??? LOL!

Regardless, I have documented this sudden interest in a layout...

Time for some FUN!!!

2011-02-22T14:25:00.005-04:00

Every now and then you just want to let things wait....... You know, those everyday things like washing dishes, doing laundry, grading papers??? Yep, you just want to let them wait and go have some fun!

After a LONG week last week and academic competition all day Saturday I felt that I deserved a little bit of playtime. I happened to see a layout on page 34 of the new April issue of Scrapbooks etc. that arrived in my mailbox last week. Put that together with a color challenge from Challenge Masters and I allowed myself to play with some scrap paper and a photo of Kari.

I LOVE the way this page turned out and it was so simple!!! It didn't hurt that I had such a fun photo to use... that's Kari proving that she can text and hoola hoop at the same time. Now that's multi-tasking!!

Page Maps Scrapping Contest

2011-02-20T20:22:00.004-04:00

Have I told you lately that I LOVE sketches???

They are truly one on the biggest inspirations I have when it comes to my scrapbooking. I really like the ones on Page Maps. Every month I hurry to their webpage for the newest set of sketches that are always released. I've also been checking out their blog.

I was thrilled to discover their latest Basic Grey Sketch contest. Becky Fleck posted this great sketch:

Once I saw the sketch and the GREAT prize that was being offered I was EXTRA inspired to see what I could create. A few days later, a little creative sweat, some inky fingers, and voila.....I created this:

Those two sweet people are my parents, who have married for close to 50 years. I can't imagine my life without one or both of them. They have both had some health problems in recent months, and that provided an emotional connection that helped me create this page.

The background is KRAFT cardstock spritzed with "Coffee Shop" glimmer mist. I used two different shades of distress ink to age the edges of the papers and then tore the edges of the blue cardstock behind my photo. I really wanted something kind of "vintage" looking for the edges of the patterned paper, so I searched through my laces and trims. When I couldn't find what I wanted I purchased some brown crochet thread and used it to add a scalloped trim at the top and some cross stitches along the sides and bottom. When I added the rubon, I was kind of disappointed because I couldn't find a brown one in my stash. Then when I applied it to the cardstock it kind of tore in spots. I think that just adds to the aged look though.

All in all, I think it is another successful layout for my albums!

It's COLD Here!!!

2011-02-10T18:55:00.003-04:00

We got more snow last night and the temps dropped down into the single digits. It's supposed to get back into the single digits again tonight.... BRRRR.....

Luckily I was tucked up, nice and warm, here at home... Scrapbooking!

One page that I finished today seemed to fit in naturally with the weather.

Can't you just feel how cold it was??? When Kari looked at the photo she said, "Mom, I look PURPLE!" While some of that can probably be blamed on the quality of the photo, part of it is because it was simply COLD that day!!

As for the layout, see those clear letters? Those were cut from TRASH! Yep! Trash! I had a package of Spellbinders dies that I had not opened. As I was flipping through some things I came across the package. The plastic that the dies were encased in was nice and sturdy. Hmm... I thought.... I can cut clear letters from that! I cut out the front and back of the package so that I had 2 flat sheets of plastic. I attached it to my Cricut mat using tape around the edges of the sheet and loaded my deep cut blade. Seconds later I had my letters AND a couple of snowflakes. Some white paint around the edges and a little bit of Stickles to make it sparkle and voila! a lovely, cold wintery page.

One More Quick Project

2011-02-08T21:47:00.003-04:00

I had just a few more minutes of craft time left tonight, so I whipped up a tag for the tag challenge. Our task was to create a "vintage Valentine" so here's what I came up with:

I took a plain old packing tag and inked it with 3 different colors of Tim Holtz distress ink. Then I wrapped a small paper doily around the side of the tag and started stamping images. I used Stampin Up's Soft Suede ink to stamp a variety of images that I thought evoked a feeling of vintage love and then added one small Cherry Cobbler heart as an accent. I ran a chipboard heart through the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder and then used the same Cherry Cobbler ink to ink it so that the dots "popped".

I really like the way it turned out, though I kind of felt like it needed something "more"; I just couldn't figure out what....

Some New Layouts and a Surprise!

2011-02-08T20:12:00.003-04:00

Hey there!
Just thought I would take a minute to share one of my latest layouts. As for the surprise.... you'll have to stick around a bit to hear that.

One of this week's challenges over at Challenge Masters is to scrap things that you dislike. I had already created a layout in the past that features 100 things I dislike; I actually use that layout each year to inspire my art students as they create an "All About Me" art project.

I decided that I could use a sign for my classroom though, so I set about creating a list of things that the teacher in my doesn't like.

Here is the resulting page:

A few things about this page:
I made it 8 1/2 X 11, rather than my usual 12 X 12, so I can frame it for display in my classroom. That chipboard apple started out as a chipboard leaf. I used my scissors to handcut the "point" of the leaf off and reshape it to look like an apple. The patterned papers came from a small 4 X 4 pack of paper that I got somewhere in a swap or a sale. The alphabet letters are some REALLY old stickers that I've had hanging around for quite a while. About the only "new" thing that I used was the stamp that created the journaling lines.

Now for the surprise.....

You've seen me posting about Challenge Masters for a little while now. I discovered them during one of my scrapping "slumps" and I've been joining in on their fun for a couple of months. Well, imagine my surprise a week or so back when I got a message from Terri, one of the Challenge Masters moderators, asking me if I would consider joining in the group this spring as a "Diva"!

I'll be helping to post some of the challenges and other fun activities. I'm so excited and flattered that they would consider me good enough to be inspirational. Expect to hear more about all of the fun that we are having over there. Sure hope that some of you can join us!

I splurged.....

2011-01-28T21:33:00.004-04:00

Keenan and I went to Lexington last Sunday. While we were there we went by Half Price Books. I picked up two books from the scrapbooking section: The Amazing Page and Making the Most of Your Scrapbook Supplies. I didn't feel too badly about the purchase, since the two books only cost me about $15, at least half of what they would have cost new.

It makes me feel even better when the purchase inspires me. I took a layout from page 73 of The Amazing Page and used it to help me create this layout:

The title came from a challenge over at Challenge Masters. They posted the lyrics to "Fame", a song from a show that I must confessed I watched while it was on television. Anyway, we were to select a portion of the lyrics and use them as the title of our layout. The words, "You Ain't Seen the Best of Me Yet" just seemed to fit this layout. The papers are some leftovers from my Washington D.C. album that I created a few years back. I was searching for just the right papers when I came across a stash of about 15 pages of paper that I had used in my album. OOPS! forgot there was any paper in that bag. Oh well, it came in handy!

AND..... if you look at my layout counter, you will notice that this is layout number 9 for January! I really think I will try to get just one more layout finished before the end of the month. TEN seems like a nice round number!

Be Happy!!!

2011-01-24T10:41:00.004-04:00

Everyone has to find something in the world that makes him or her happy.... you know, that little piece of chocolate cake, that special shopping trip to purchase that little splurge, a night out on the town. Well, one of the things that makes me most happy is, of course, scrapbooking, but it also brings me great pleasure when I see other people being happy.

As a mother, I spend a lot of time trying to make my children happy. Keenan has always been a bit of an enigma to me. He was a serious child, and now is a serious teen. Even when we go on vacation it seems difficult for him to just relax and enjoy the moment. When I saw this photo posted on Facebook by one of Keenan's classmates I HAD to scrap it! I love that smile that I see on his face, that uninhibited look of enjoyment! I only wish that I could see it more often!

My challenge to you today is to do something JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT!! It doesn't have to be a big something, just do something to BE HAPPY!! I would love for you to post a comment back here, telling me what you do, so that we can all share in your happiness.

I'm on a Roll!

2011-01-22T21:09:00.004-04:00

Whoo Hoo! I finished another page this afternoon! (Those of you who know my daughter personally will surely understand some of the journaling...LOL!) This was done for another challenge over at Challenge Masters. We were asked to journal with a list, so I wrote a list of 10 things about my daughter that make me go, HUH???

I'm beginning to think that I should keep a running list of my stash that I use, not just a count of the pages. I REALLY dug into it for this one: 1 sheet of cardtock, 1 sheet of patterned paper, a border punch, twill tape, a question mark stamp, 7 different kinds of rubon alphas, rub on flourishes, 4 chipboard pieces, 4 paper flowers, 1 button, 1 journaling paper, 2 chipboard numbers, 1 color of ink, and 1 marker. WHEW!! I did GOOD!! If I keep this up, I might actually find a little room to add new stuff in my stash....LOL!

Another Layout DONE.....

2011-01-21T22:44:00.006-04:00

I'm really getting back into the swing of things!

I'm loving these challenges over on Challenge Master. They are really keeping me inspired to dig through my stash and try things.

I actually finished a couple of layouts and an altered box this week, but I'll only post one.

This past Halloween there were actually 5 or 6 of us female teachers who dressed as witches. I couldn't resist getting some of us together to document it. As I started scrapping this page I really felt the need for some Halloween themed paper; the only problem was... I didn't have any. I got rid of all of my themesy type papers a while back. Luckily, I had passed some of it along to Kari. I "borrowed" from her stash with the promise that it WILL be replaced.

Nimble Fingers.....

2011-01-12T21:17:00.004-04:00

Snow continues to fall outside, so I can't really go anywhere. No school, no shopping, .....

I am taking advantage of this opportunity to get some crafting done. I'm also working on keeping a promise that I made a few years back.

Before Glenn and I got married, I cross stitched him a Christmas stocking. Each year, that stocking has a place of honor on our mantle. A few years back I promised the kids that I would make them one too. I got Kari's cross stitched a year or two ago, but I refuse to assemble the stocking until I finish Keenan's.

I am working diligently to try to get his stocking cross stitched this year. If it keeps snowing, and I'm pretty sure I will get it done. I cross stitch while there is daylight so that my "older" eyes can see the tiny little squares on the cross stitch fabric, and I allow myself scrapbooking time while the light isn't so good.

Speaking of scrapbooking, I've noticed that my layouts are a bit more "simple" than they used to be. I think it's my way of getting the layouts finished without worrying so much about creating works of art....

This was the first time in AGES that I have used stickers on a layout! Those little cupcakes came from the Target dollar bin.

It's Been Nice Knowing All of You.....

2011-01-10T13:45:00.004-04:00

Am I going somewhere? NO.... but when my son sees this photo on the computer, I'm not sure how he will react....LOL!

First some background.... my son is a very serious, proud to be "grown up", teenager. For several years now he has not liked having photos taken, something that is rather difficult when your mother scrapbooks. He also hates costumes. I don't think he has been in one since he was 6 or 7.

In 2010 he was helping with the BETA Club Halloween dance and the candy distribution in town, so he had no choice. He HAD to have a costume! He and I went to a couple of stores and I finally convinced him to purchase this chef's costume. When the night of the candy distribution came I had to have a photo, since I knew I might not see him in a costume again. Unfortunately for him, the camera shutter did not want to close fast enough. He stood there smiling..... smiling..... smiling..... until finally the shutter closed.

When this photo came up in my camera's view window I knew that I couldn't delete it. It was just too funny!

The layout was a natural for some old Basic Grey "Color Me Silly" papers that I found in my stash. I used another Page Maps 2 sketch as inspiration. I am LOVING those sketches!

A Change is in the Wind.....

2011-01-07T22:25:00.003-04:00

I am feeling bright and creative this year, so I've decided to update the look of my blog a bit. (As soon as I go to the hairdresser next week, I will update my photo too. I think you will all be surprised by how much my hair has changed.)

First a report on 2010 and my scrapbook efforts. I didn't quite make either of my goals for the year. I didn't scrapbook 100 layouts and I didn't use up my stash as diligently as I had hoped.

As for this year, I'm still working on using my stash, but I don't think I'm being quite so obsessive about it. When I just let myself go and use what feels "right" for a particular layout, I tend to be more satisfied with the results.

I'm allowing myself to purchase a few things, especially things that I know will help me scrapbook more and create more. One of my first purchases for the year was the Page Maps 2 book by Becky Fleck. I always make sure to download the pdf each month with new sketches and I had purchased her first book. When I found there was a second one I HAD to add it to my scrap resource library!

I proudly present to you my FIRST layout of 2011! It was inspired by one of the sketches from Page Maps 2 and includes MOSTLY items from my stash.

I used some old Bazzill carstock for the background and stamped snowflakes with some of my Stampin Up stamps and white craft ink. The patterned paper is my only new purchase: Bo Bunny Midnight Frost, a new paper that I just HAD to buy!

My favorite element on the whole layout though, has to be the icicle stickles on the word "Snow" in the title! I LOVE itt!!

Look Out World!!

2010-12-24T14:01:00.003-04:00

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

2010-12-12T19:48:00.006-04:00

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

2010-12-06T20:10:00.002-04:00

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........

2010-12-05T11:37:00.003-04:00

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

2010-12-04T11:52:00.004-04:00

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.....

2010-11-29T21:36:00.002-04:00

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!!!

2010-11-23T21:38:00.006-04:00

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

2010-09-19T18:50:00.004-04:00

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

2010-09-05T10:17:00.002-04:00

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....

2010-07-13T21:05:00.003-04:00

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....

2010-07-06T19:44:00.003-04:00

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

2010-07-05T13:33:00.004-04:00

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

2010-07-04T17:35:00.004-04:00

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.....

2010-07-03T20:45:00.004-04:00

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

2010-06-16T08:51:00.004-04:00

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

2010-06-06T07:52:00.004-04:00

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....

2010-06-03T18:27:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-29T21:15:00.005-04:00

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

2010-05-23T07:16:00.007-04:00

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???

2010-05-20T19:30:00.005-04:00

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???

2010-05-16T08:01:00.003-04:00

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

2010-05-12T06:39:00.004-04:00

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!!

2010-05-07T20:43:00.004-04:00

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!!!

2010-05-06T20:33:00.004-04:00

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!!!

2010-05-05T05:58:00.002-04:00

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...

2010-05-02T10:59:00.005-04:00

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

2010-04-30T06:27:00.002-04:00

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.....

2010-04-29T20:19:00.003-04:00

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!!

2010-04-27T20:58:00.004-04:00

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!

2010-04-26T07:49:00.006-04:00

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....

2010-04-25T09:31:00.002-04:00

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!

2010-04-24T07:45:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-18T17:30:00.001-04:00

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!!

2010-04-18T07:53:00.001-04:00

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.