Baaaad Blogger!

This whole month is going to end up being one big blur. Things have been crazy around here. Then once October is over the holidays will be coming soon. Arrrgghh.

I have got to get back into a scrapping mode, though. I miss it when I can't squeeze it in. I did want to share my latest LO. Hopefully it will be seen again.



I squeaked it out for a call that ended yesterday. I'm not sure the style really fit the mag it was for, but I couldn't not submit to this one. I had hoped to get several more done, but time just ran out.

Can I just say how happy I am that I don't feel the pressure to computer journal anymore? I hated feeling like I was tied to the computer when I was scrapping. I'm loving my pens again!!

Wooooo hoooo!

I finally got rid of that pesky title. It took a lot of guessing and changing things around. I now feel free somehow! I'll quit avoiding my blog now--promise!

Just a few pics from our recent beach trip. It was cloudy, and I haven't played with any of them.







I'm totally prepared for upcoming summer/water/beach calls! Those pics are always my favorites!

A Place to Play

Sometimes I have ideas that I want to experiment and play with, but I don't want to risk jumping in and putting them on a page. I'm definitely feeling like I need to get out of the box lately, and I've seen so much about art journals. I thought it would be a great place to mess around. Besides I had one of those spiral bound books from the Target dollar section lying around. I think it's going to be just right. I had fun playing with my new Christina Cole slab to decorate the outside. I hope I have this much fun creating on the inside.

Here is a peek at the outside cover.



It's a little funky for me, but that's what this experiment is all about! I'm hoping I'll stumble across some creativity that I didn't know was there.

OK...so I messed it up.

I had a nice new banner all made up, and then I couldn't figure out how to get the original title off. I destroyed all the formatting, but it never went away. Anyway, I just put the old background back up and it will have to do for a while--until I can learn more and be able to fix it all pretty. Ugh!

I finally did it...

I can be the Queen of procrastination at times! I have had a frame that I picked up to make a project for J's Grandpa since well before Father's Day. Well that came and went, and their visit in September came and went. I have just now found the inspiration or even the motivation to get it done.



The frame is a matted 8x10 shadow box. I like these because they give you freedom to put dimensional stuff on the project. Even though I'm not usually a really bumpy scrapper, it's hard to make projects flat enough to fit in a traditional frame. I had to take the glass out of the one I made for Grandma, and I'm liking this much better.

The papers are Chatterbox rec room. The journaling says A Grandpa is an important person in the life of a boy! The pic was taken when they were here in September. MIL actually took the pic. I never got any good ones because my camera stinks at indoor shooting. (another plug to get a new camera!) That was one of the reasons for procrastinating for so long. Now I'm free to move on to other things.

Going Vertical

It seems like vertical is good lately. I know vertical paper storage has transformed the way I store paper, and it has given me tons of extra space. With a 2-year-old, I need a way to keep photos, embellishments, and tools out of the reach of little hands. I have seen so many pics of cute rooms with tons of shelves and stuff. I have 2 issues though:
1. My budget is tight.
2. We rent our house, so I can't exactly do a shelving makeover.

I think I have found a solution!!



I already had this huge printer cart in my room for storage and counter space. I found these neat stacking bookshelves at Wally World on clearance, so we stacked them on top of the cabinet to make vertical shelves. Yay!! It may not be chic, but it serves the purpose. It's going to give me lots of extra room. Now I just have to dig in and clean out he closet in here. I may get organized after all!

A Little Something

This isn't brand new, but it is fairly recent. It was my response to a challenge from my mentor. The challenge was to create a layout using no words - no title, journaling, etc. The layout was still supposed to convey a thought or idea.

This was a fun challenge because it made me think about how I choose products and how the overall design of my page can convey an idea. I am certainly enjoying my assignments.

So here it is!

I am GREEN

...with envy that is. As a pretty serious scrapbooker I would like to get more serious about my photography. Having more photos that truly inspire me would means more fantastic layouts created in the midst of that inspiration. I have had my eye on DSLRs for some time. My sister calls me up today to let ne know she just bought this. She says it's her Christmas, birthday, and graduation present from her fiance. Yeah right. Maybe I can get one too if I give up all gifts until 2010...

What a Waste

A couple of hours and several gallons of expensive gas were wasted today. I really need to find a way to remind myself that ordering online is the best way to go.

I'm hearing all kinds of praise over at the Bucket about the Heidi Swapp line that Target is carrying. The husband loves Goodberry's which is an awesome frozen custard stand that happens to be located near a Super Target. Since our Target is less than Super, I was able to convince him he needed a custard fix today. All is well...so it seems.

My day was something like this... Get to T...no Heidi. There was an awesome school supply clearance sale, so I did pick up some nice 3 ring binders--just in case. After custard, we really should ride into Raleigh since we are so close...Ha. Check the other Super T--no Heidi. I should stop by the LSS since we are right by it. I'm looking for 8.5 x 11 albums--good thing I picked up the 3 ring binders--no albums. Also, the stock is less than marvelous since there is a new owner.

I really should check at Michael's to see if they got in that new 8 x 8 slab with Christina Cole papers in. Found some American Craft ribbons, and a great deal on paper for my sister's wedding invites, but alas--no slab. So next time I decide I just have to drive an hour for a SB supply fix, I really should come review this entry so that I will realize I should just be clicking away with my mouse and actually doing the things on my "to do" list!

It's a whiny blog day for me!

A Stretch for Me

Many who call themselves scrapbookers also consider themselves altered artists or simply like to "alter" things. This is not something that I do very much of. For one thing, I have to much "stuff" around my house to start with. If I started creating all the cute things I could think of, i would be drowning in more stuff.

If, however, some really awesome manufacturer of scrapbooking products puts out a call for a design team and requests an altered "project," then I am forced to comply. Anyway, I just wanted to share what I came up with. It's not spectacular, and I've seen some awesome projects in the gallery at 2 Peas. This is my project for the AF design team call, though.

It's an altered memo board. I picked it up months ago at the Dollar Tree just because it was a cute size. Now it's been transformed with acrylic paint, AF papers, and Mod Podge.


If nothing else, maybe I've found a good Christmas gift for some of my little cousins.

Sssshhhh...

Oh my! Am I really admitting that I have a secret life? I have a love affair with paper and paste. No, it's not carried over from my days as an Elementary school teacher. It's really more like a love affair with gorgeous patterned paper, textured cardstock, glue sticks and adhesive runners.

I admit it. I am a scrapbooker. Some people in my "real world" know about this. They just don't know the extent to which my obsession goes. They don't understand that it's more than cutting photos into pretty shapes and adhering them to white pages. They don't understand that it's about recording my family's experiences in life and it's about color and design and texture. Hmmmm....I get excited just thinking about it. They don't understand tha I long to see my work in print and that I lie in bed at night thinking about techniques and color combinations. They just don't understand. It's a secret life.