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!