Catching Up

Well, we here in South Dakota persevere.  With the beautiful weather the weekend AFTER the storm, you would never know we had 31" of snow.  But, all over town the sound of chain saws was the music and huge stacks of branches were the pictures.  Hubby and youngest son worked on our yard and went and helped my sis by cutting as much damage off of here huge old tree as they could. Don't they look like hard workers?

Meanwhile, I met some of my students for lunch before we did the picture frame class.  We went to HuHot for the first time.  YUMMY!  We really had fun.  And, we had a server who didn't mind getting into the spirit of things by photo bombing!!  :)

 And , then it was time to get serious and make some awesome frames to give as gifts or hang in our homes.  I am always amazed at the diversity of my friends.  One did a frame as an engagement gift, One did a frame of her boys camping....

 Another was a surprise for her hubby depicting the Sturgis Rally this year!  

 A family trip to Florida and Disney for another,

 And finally, a series of family vacation memories.  What a fun we to display them in your home!  

I'm still 2 weeks behind in Blog posts, so don't be surprised if you hear from me soon.  I am enjoying a semi-normal schedule at work for a while, so I am getting back into my house work/ scrapping/ 2nd job routine.  

I hope you all enjoy the pictures and visit.  I know I enjoy getting it all down.  

See you soon, 

Connie

Retreat week!

Well, you all know that we were snowed out o the retreat that I was going to host a few weeks ago, but did you know I planned on attending a second retreat this month?  I can't say my hubby is thrilled with me, but he does spoil me and doesn't put up to much of a fuss about the retreats in the fall.

I actually only attend 3 a year, and I host 2 of them, so they are a bit of work.  This one is awesome because I am actually working on my family albums and not fussing about how everyone is doing and watching clocks and worrying if people are having a good time.  Not that I mind that at all, I still enjoy my retreats, but this is a bit more relaxing!

So, one of the reasons I am excited about this retreat, is that I am going to be working on my 2012 album, which I have decided I am going to do BECKY HIGGINS PROJECT LIFE style.  I am hoping to get the whole year done in one weekend.  (scary huh?) But, I think I may be able to do it.  And, this is the pile of stuff I am taking to the retreat.  Yes!!  this is all.  I know right??  Not the huge car load I usually have.   Oh, I am taking my CRICUT and my GYPSY too, but that is it!  So, wish me luck and I will send you updates from the CROP!

Have a super weekend !  I know I will - Connie

Fall retreat in South Dakota

So, I have had these pictures loaded for about a week and a half, but they make me so sad, I have had trouble getting the post written.  I was so excited to go to out retreat at STORM MOUNTAIN this year.  I was organized, I had a plan, I started packing about 2 weeks in advance, and piles of things to load into my car appeared in the living room starting the Monday of retreat.

By Thursday night, this is what I was looking at piled up by the front door.  I knew the weather man was predicting bad storms, but he is always wrong.  They ALWAYS go south of us!  We ARE going to scrap book this weekend!  AT STORM MOUNTAIN!  And, I believed that, right up to 11:00 AM Friday morning, when I watched someone go into the ditch on the way home from Walmart.  :(

By Friday afternoon, this is what we were dealing with.  And it was still coming down in droves. The leaves, still on the trees and not yet turning their beautiful fall colors, were holding all of the snow up in the trees.

And by early evening on Friday, we were hearing branches breaking all over the neighborhood.  Power had been flickering in and out all day, and by 6:00 PM.....it was over.  No electricity for us.

My son's little project truck has a broken windshield.  And the tree damage on the property is unreal!

Thankfully, the tree that landed on the shed didn't do any damage, but I was worried, with very little storage in the house, this is where I keep my extra stuff.

The last blessing for us of course, was the fact that I picked up firewood on an impulse Friday morning.  We haven't used this fireplace in 10 years because we aren't home long enough (usually!) But it sure kept us warm this storm.  

So, during the storm, I read 3 books, made 6 cards for a customer of mine  (oooh!  I should take pictures of those!), and hung out with my hubby and son.  

I wonder if this might be the beginning of  a weather trend here, it has been the weirdest year for us.  I am going to remain prepared just in case.  Firewood ready!  Flashlights a plenty!  And batteries galore for when the next storm hits.  In the man time, I have put away my retreat bags and and plan on doing those projects at home, sometime between now and Christmas.  And, I am packing up for my next retreat at the end of the month.  I am working on a new project at that retreat!  I am going to give pocket scrap booking a try.  I'll let you know how it goes.    C

Getting ready

So, it's Sunday morning and I thought I would give you a glimpse into my day.  I slept in, I LOVE Sundays for that!!  Woke up knowing that I was making waffles for breakfast and got moving!  Started dish water
(didn't get dishes done last night because I want to Les Miserables with my sis!) and heated up the waffle iron.  Before I got to far into my multitasking, I had sliced my thumb open and gone through 2 sets of band-aides.  Not a great way to start the day, but I must persevere!  I have much to accomplish!  Look at these Boxes!!

These are only 2 of the 4 that I need to get packaged out for the girls going to the retreat this weekend!  Many many fun things in here!!  Can 't wait for you all to get to Storm Mountain!

The only side effect of boxes is those darn pillows!  I have bags and bags of them.  Usually, I donate my bags and boxes to the Black Hills Area Decorative Artists.  They use them to ship memory boxes to hospitals all over the world.  It is such a great program.  If you don't know what the memory box program is, please go check it out here!  (oooh!  I've never added a link like that before!  That was fun!)

So, right now, I have this one bag of pillows, but I'm sure by Wednesday I will have at least one more.  I'm so glad they get recycled.  And, hopefully by the end of today, I will be able to find my living room again!  ;)

Connie

Welcome to STUDIO J

So Excited to share some STUDIO J pages with you today.  These are the first ones I have created and I am THRILLED!  I am a total paper scrapper, but it was fun to step out of my box and these came together SO QUICKLY!

I created a St. Patrick's Day layout first.  I had to do it twice, because I learned how to change the papers, and I really was unhappy with one of the B&T papers I had used.  Once I figured out how to do that, I was thrilled with the layout, but I don't have permission to share the people's pictures, so, I will just keep that one private.  

I think I only spend a couple hours on ALL FOUR of these layouts.  I am thrilled to have the pages done for my bonus child, Tori.  I have a book started for him, but get so few pictures.  I think these are almost all of the pictures I have for 2013. That's OK, he's a grown up, but I still want him to have a book.  

I LOVE the details on these pages.  It is so fun to play with the elements and know that you aren't committed until you say "order these pages"  You can change and change and change everything until you are completely happy - or crazy and have to step away.  Either way, you have pages created!

Buttons, Brads, Bingo cards under pictures, and stickers.  What more could a girl want?

And access to a bunch of old AND NEW papers through STUDIO J.  

Won't you come play with me??  c

Creating again!!

An acquaintance of ours from the local HOG chapter retired from his job as a motorcycle mechanic last week.  I had to work, but Gary went to the party and needed a retirement card to take.  I have a bunch of cards on hand, always, but not retirement cards.  I also knew I had this great motorcycle stamp from 'the other company' that I wanted to use.  None of the papers are CTMH either!  Ha ha.  I really rebelled this time!  The papers are a REFLECTIONS pad from Micheal's, the watch stamps are from CTMH as is the 'Congratulations' stamp on the edge.  The brushed pewter brads are CTMH also.

I used an EKSuccess punch on the edge of the Kraft card from CTMH.  I thought it gave the card more texture and interest.  The layout is from our ORIGINALS design book.  Having that really makes a difference for me.  I am not a card maker by choice, it comes with being a consultant for me.  I am definitely more comfortable scrap booking. But, give me one of our design books, and I can do some amazing cards if I do say so myself.  I love being able to use my scrapping supplies for multiple purposes, more bang for my buck you know!  lol

When I get an opportunity to make a card for something or someone specific, and it all falls together so well, I really do love it!  This was fun to make, and reminded me that I need to make cards more often.  

Hope you are creating this week!  C

DOTTY and DREAM POP reborn

So, here I am again, posting months after my last blog. I don't know why this is so hard for me.  as much as I talk, you'd think I would be able to hammer these posts out in a heart beat.  Oh well, I guess we'll just see you when I see you.  I am continuing to try and make time to post here.

This month my club members couldn't do the BUZZ and BUMBLE paper pack like we had planned (I don't want to talk about it!) so, we resurrected the last two NSD special papers and made pages and cards with them. We'll start with the fun, pastel, summery DOTTY paper pack.

Now, before we go much further, I have to add a disclaimer.  I LOVE PINTEREST!!  and I stalk it and CASe (copy and steal) from PINTEREST all the time.  This is one of those instances.  I didn't design this page.  I found it, and the cards, on PINTEREST and CASed them.  I guessed at the dimensions and put the pages together so they would look like the pages I fell in love with.  If you want to see the original designer, please refer to my PINTEREST/CTMH.

So, now that that is out of the way, on to the pages!

Isn't this a great page?  I love the banners in the left hand corner, all the bright colors on the KRAFT CS. and the double layering of the pictures on the left page appeals to me too. I don't have my journaling in there yet, I'm not sure which boys album this is going to end up in, but I think I am going to put my journaling on the right hand page below the 3 pictures on the top.

I love this card.  It is a design from the MAKE IT FROM YOUR HEART design book by CTMH.  I use this design book so often.  I don't care what papers you use, you just can't go wrong when you pull your design from one of CTMH's design books.  The inspiration for this was also found on PINTEREST, but the design is #19 from the MIFYH book.

Isn't this card great?  I love the new M sized 'THANK YOU' stamp!  and I think that this design really sets it off well.  I used double sided paper for my card base, the inside is a pale grey dotty pattern.

Again, PINTEREST inspired.  I was going to use a different pattern, but this is so simple and fun.  I love the banners and the one brad.  Oh!  I just realized that the brad is supposed to have a bow tied around it with BAKERS TWINE.  Some one dropped the ball!  (**blush**)

And here are the same designs only with the DREAM POP paper pack.  the only difference is the third card.  I repeated the #1 design and changed the sentiment.  I really enjoyed working with these 2 papers and I am thrilled to have more pages done for the 2009 album.  I am really hoping to get close to caught up soon so I can concentrate on making some fun mini albums and trying some different scrapping techniques.  Well, that is it for now.  I will be adding some catch up pages soon.  But, today, it's time to shower and get ready to go out on the bike.  What a gorgeous day!!  Hope you enjoy these last days of summer!  C

Cleaning up on the 4th

Hello Everyone.  I thought that I would drop you all a note since I am finishing up in my scrapbooking room today and did accomplish a few things.

 I finished the detail work on several layouts that have been sitting on my desk waiting for something little.  You know, the ones that need a few brads, a title, or some journaling.  I did some of all those things today and have several layouts ready to add to albums.

 I also did  something that I have seen others do, but have never really done myself.  I chose a layout that I loved in the idea book (Spring/Summer 2013 page 100) and I used it as the inspiration for my 8X8 layout for my work album.  It was very interesting to me because, at first, I just loved the strip at the bottom and the long colorful banners. But, as I was putting the page together, I noticed more details that I wouldn't have thought of, and I think they add so much to the page.  The little tags above one of the pictures and the journaling on the tag underneath the flower. The ribbon behind the embellishment cluster. I didn't add all of these elements, because my page was smaller and my pictures were bigger, but I think I got enough in to make it work. What do you think?

It was also kind of an "ah ha" moment to realize that "inspired" doesn't necessarily mean "copied". Even though mine really does look quite different than the original, I am very happy with it.  I think it shows off the before and after prom style beautifully and will be a wonderful page in my album.  

What inspires you?  Have you tried a page out of our idea book?  If you have, please share, I would love to see it. I hope you had a Happy 4th of July! And I will talk to you soon.   Connie 

Spring was here!

Spring was here!  I remember it.  That was when life went from crazy to insane and as usual, the blog posts got put on hold.  I will try to get better about posting more often.  I take pictures - almost every day that I can post.  I create something almost every week that I would like to share.  I just don't have a marked tome to sit down and share with you all.

My Dear Husband is about to start a new job though, and we will have a huge schedule adjustment (said with a British accent to entertain myself - ha ha ) I will once again try to schedule a regular blogging time.  In the mean time, I would like to share some pages I made for a young friend of mine.  Her mother has been my friend since I was in high school, and Melissa just made her a grandmother.  It is so fun to be around all these babies again.  It has been 20 years!

So, I had to give her a baby album for a shower gift - right??  And I saw this really cute idea on Pintrest.  Aaaand, I have all this pink paper floating around my scrap room.  So..... this is what I ended up with.

Isn't this Subway influence cool?  I love this look and hope to do some home decor with this influence.  

I put together a very basic book, so I wanted to have some pretty basic themes going through the book.  Keeping, of course, with a pink paper through out the whole book. 

OK, so not all the pages have a pink theme!  ha ha 

This paper is OCEAN, a retired CTMH color that I LOVE and so I have quite a supply of it. 

Knowing that I really need to downsize my scrapping room so I can be more productive, I did breakout some of the papers I was hoarding and used them.

I loved this LUCY paper pack from last year, and thought it would be the perfect place to show off those doting grandparents!  The little yellow sticky notes are so Melissa knows where to journal. 

I had a page pre-made from CLUB a few years ago, and decided it would be perfect for the shower pictures!  All I did was make another 2 page spread to go with it.  I'm sure there are at least 4 pages worth of pictures of people holding Melissa's beautiful baby girl!  

So, that was the way last week - no, 2 weeks ago - went.  I will catch you all up on this week later.  For now, my oldest son is in town and he's gonna put brakes on his mama's car, so I've got to go.  

I'll talk to you all soon!  C

Memorial Day Weekend

Hey everyone.  I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  It was pretty much gloomy and rainy here, so getting DH out on the motorcycle just didn't happen.  We had a very lazy day around our house, which I am sure I will regret in a couple days.  I did do some scrap booking.  I am working on my 2009 album.  I am anxious to get it done.  I get closer and closer to being fairly caught up.  I keep thinking, if I am caught up I can take more time and be more creative with my pages and paper.  Maybe get some more card making done.  Of course, if I didn't sit around and watch movies on weekends I could probably do that too!  ha ha

Any way, this weekend I spent a lot of time thinking about our veterans and so many people who have lost their lives for our country.  I wonder, have you scrapped September 11, 2001 yet?  I have not.  I have clippings and articles, I have deeply personal journaling, but I can't make myself do it yet.  I try, I get everything out, and I look at it all and I touch it all, and it all goes right back in the box.  And I didn't lose anyone personally. Someday I will be able to do these pages, but for now, they are put away.

 I just want to take a moment to remember the people who have given their lives, the wives who have sacrificed their peace of mind and lost their family members.  Without them, I could not do what I do.  I could not dither away my weekends and blog what ever I may be thinking.  I thank God and you every day for the freedoms I have.  Thank you , thank you, thank you, And God bless and protect the men and women who are out there now fighting for the life that I am blessed enough to enjoy.  connie

My NSD project

So, for National Scrap booking Day, I always host a full 16 hour event.  8AM to 12 midnight. And, I set goals.  When I first started to do this event, I tried teaching a class or a technique, but everyone really just wanted to work on their own thing, so it became a great crop where we all get something (or a lot of things) done. I had 2 mini albums I was determined to finish.  One of them did get finished.  This is the mini album that CTMH put a video out on in March.  I challenged everyone to have one done by April.  I said I would have mine done.  Well, you know, life has a way of getting in the way of plans.  So, I made mine in May.

Some of the embellishments are Recollections from Micheals, but, if you look close, all of the paper is from the Dotty paper pack from last National Scrap booking month. The pin behind the clock is from 2009 CTMH, and the numbers came out when the ....shoot, I can't remember the name of the paper. Something like Animal crackers.  Anyway, I have a bunch of the numbers left, so I thought I would use them up.

I cut about 11 shapes on the CRICUT with my Art Philosophy cartridge. When the gal in the video says 7 shapes, that is plenty!  I have a bunch of pages in the back I won't be using at all.

So, my DH threw me a SURPRISE birthday party for my 50th, about a week after my birthday.  I spent my birthday with my scrapping friends.

I loved adding flowers and rub-ons to this album. They added some fun texture and journaling thoughts.

I won this GREAT margarita sticker at a retreat the week before!  It was perfect to tell about the drinks we had at my birthday party!

DH managed to get almost 100 people there.  Can you imagine, all to see me and wish me Happy Birthday. I was floored.

Binding this album was the worst part.  Another reason to only have about 7 pages.  I jammed a needle underneath my nail before I got it all figured out.  Blood, sweat, and tears literally went into this little book. But, I love it and I am so glad I made one.

The clock from Recollections and the pin from the CTMH Dreamin' paper kit a few years ago.

The numbers from the CTMH (?) animal crackers kit. Oh, and the banners from our dimensional elements.  I love these things!  Can't wait to use more.  

So, now you have seen mine, I challenge you to make one of your own!  Let me know how it turns out!  maybe even share it online with me.  but most of all - HAVE FUN SCRAPPIN'     -  C

Creating with something new

I really do use some products that aren't Close to my Heart now and then. I've had these stamps in my cupboard for ages. I bought them because I LOVE the dancers.but I had never used them. The phrases aren't CTMH either, just so I don't get pegged on that.  The paper is!  It's from a really old kit, even a NSD special kit if I remember right. Anyway, this week, that was my challenge. Use stamps I love but hadn't used. This was the end result. I only got 4 made so far.  I took them to work and sold them immediately!  So, I will be making more!   I hope you have a creative week this week!  c

This dancing lady stamp set is from the now closed ANGEL COMPANY.  I love this stamp set.  I love the JOY and CELEBRATION that these ladies show.

They make me think of old time Jazz music, or MARTI GRAS (probably not spelling that right!  oh well. )

So, I wrote this post ages ago and never published it!  Today it goes up!  See you soon!  C

Technology!!

Isn't technology great? I am finally getting around to installing a mobile blog editor on my iPad so I can chat with you all when ever I have a free moment, not just when I can sit in front of the computer at home! I put it on my phone too, so you may see a lot of me while I play and learn how this all work. According to the description, I can drop pictures in here right when I take them, won't that be dangerous!

As I am playing with all these new things, I am getting the plan for 2013 in place. If you are on my email list, you should have received the dates for all our upcoming club meetings. I am also doing a BUNCH of workshops this year that I am Really excited about.

Connie

I wrote the little blurb above about 3 weeks ago, and then didn't get much of a chance to play with it.  Well, this morning, as you can see in the following post, I have finally used my phone and  added a post.  I am so excited!!  It worked!!  I also have found an EASY app to put my blog address on the photos I post which I think is important.  And that works slicker that PB&J.  So, hope you check me out often, and hope to post often.  See you soon, c

Card inspiration

Just want to share some cards I was commissioned to make for a client this week. It was request out of the blue, but makes me feel like my cards are really selling well!

Project Inspirations: Mini Album

This looks so FUN!  I can't wait to make one.  Call me on it.  I commit to having one made by our April Club meeting.  You should too!  I'll show you mine if you show me yours!  April meeting - I challenge you!




What a great way to use up some of that left over paper we all seem to have in our rooms.  And a great gift for the kiddos - can you imagine how a little girl or boy would be having an album they could do BY THEMSELVES!!?  It would be totally theirs!  They would love it.  Give it a try.

connie

Catching up

I have had such a productive month!!  I finished off 6 - yes 6! - paper packs at our spring retreat.  I made 60 cards and 16 pages!  It was so nice to finish some paper packs so I don't feel so guilty about playing with our new papers.  And one should NEVER  feel guilty about shopping should they? With so much paper in my scrap room to be used, I sometimes do.  And I often don't buy because I have so much.  This year the plan is use stuff up and finish stuff up!

I'm not really a new years resolution kind of girl, but I do try to set some goals.  This year I plan on finishing My youngest son's Eagle Scout album, I hope to finish my 2011 album, and I would like to start sending cards over seas again.  I have someone looking for a contact for me now.  This is a great way to finish off those paper packs that I have scrapped all I can with the paper, but there is SO much left.  Cards are my answer!  I make as many as I can with the left over paper.  Then it is used, it is useful, and ....I can shop again!!

Oh, I see I got sidetracked again.  ha ha   The other thing I got done this month was to finally finish my 2010 album.  It has been laying open in my scrap room,  with just a few pages needed, for almost a year.  A few nights ago, I had a free night and decided it was time to get it done!  So,  a few of the last pages are below.  

 I had several pages of my niece and great nephew's visit that year, but never got around to scrapping the family pictures. Or the page where my great nephew told his mom that "Girls go on the back!!" of the motorcycle.  Where do boys get these thoughts??  ha ha

 I also needed to finish the rally pictures from that year.  As a rule, I don't take many, but we had been in contact with my cousin, and I needed to tease him about what he was missing.  So, when we were in Sturgis, I would take a picture and text it to him right away.  He did figure out that we really wished he had come to play with us.  

And then there were the random pictures from that summer.  My friends Kathy and Bev who work the Rally every year, and my friends Lisa and Tina who visit us from Texas every year. It is so important to remember those people that you love in your albums.  Even if it is on a really BRIGHT page with REALLY OLD paper.  I think this paper is from the year I started with CTMH , 9 years ago.  It is almost used up.  Now I need to go and make some cards.

see you soon, 

c