Slowly....

I've walked 1.5 miles two days in a row now, and if I do it today (which I plan to after the kiddos are down for nap time), it will be three days.

This layout is a lift of a layout created by the fabulous Kelli, who is ending her term as Guest Design Team Member at Scrapbooker Online. Kelli and Kristin (the other GDT this term) have been wicked awesome members of the team, and they are great friends. I can't wait to see them again at the next SBO retreat!

Enough.

This is an old layout that I created for my 2006 CK HOF entry. I also tried to submit it several other places with no luck. It's one of my most favorite layouts ever.

We're off to my in-laws this afternoon for Christmas Eve goodness. I am making Patti's meatballs to bring and the house is smelling yummy. I need to make gingerbread cookies at some point, I've already made up the dough, and it's chilling in the fridge. I love the smells of the holidays!

Thank You BJ's...

Today I had to run to BJ's to get meatballs. That's all I really needed, though I picked up a couple of other things. The place was a zoo, with Christmas being two days away. The parking lot was jammed, the aisles full of people, and the checkouts clogged. I was trying to get out of there in a hurry, and I used one of the self-checkout lanes. When I checked out I got $20 cash back so I could stop at McDonald's on the way home for lunch.

I was back at my car when I realized that I had forgotten to pull my $20 out of the money thing. I ran back in, and sure enough, there was nothing in the money thing, someone surely took it. I took a chance and went to one of the front end personnel to ask if someone had by any chance turned in the $20. She said no, but one of the supervisors gave me $20 from the Customer Satisfaction fund, or something like that after looking at my receipt, and seeing that I did try to get $20 back.

Thank you BJ's, I know $20 isn't much, but when you're only working part time, it means a lot.

Getting off my Rear End.

Today I walked 1.5 miles on the treadmill, and I hope to keep this up regularly, if not daily.

Celebrating Friends and Family

One of the resolutions I've chosen for 2008 is to send more cards. I make cards all of the time, but most of them sit around. I've decided to start sending more cards, and just try to be a better friend by letting people know I care.

To keep track of birthdays and other special days, I altered this little Hallmark calendar that I picked up at the drugstore. I covered the front and back with Making Memories paper, then covered the spine with a piece of Strano ribbon that had been stiffed. The "ticket" is an Autumn Leaves stamp set, and I used Colorbox and Staz-on inks.

Starting the Resolutions Process

I don't want to jump right into resolutions for 2008. If I just write things down, I'm not sure they'll have the importance and meaning I'd like to have for them. So, I've sort of invented a process for myself to develop and clarify my goals. Let me know if you find any of this useful, or if you think I'm a nut.

I'm directly adopting four "buckets" for my goals from Franklin-Covey's "Sharpen the Saw" concept. The four buckets are:

• Physical (or goals that have to do with my physical self)
• Social/Emotional (goals concerning relationships, friendships, my emotional state)
• Mental (goals for my brain)
• Spiritual (goals for my heart, and things that really matter to me)

This week I will be brainstorming some goals ideas for each bucket. I'm just going to throw down whatever I think of as I think about it. Then, I'll weed through them and take out unreasonable goals, clarify vague goals, and make each goal specific.

Once I have some clear goals, I will outline any interim tasks that are required to complete the goal, then establish due dates for each subtask, as well as for the complete goal. These dates will then get moved into my planner, and each goal will get its own Goal Sheet in my planner. Each goal will be reviewed during my weekly planning process in 2008.

So, those are the ground rules, now to start thinking about actual goals. :D

I {heart} Strano Ribbon

I received a lovely order of gorgeous ribbon from Strano Designs today. They are having a clearance sale on their web site for discontinued ribbons, and although I bought more than I probably should have, I just love these ribbons. I bought a long length of SuzieQ to make a belt out of it, but the rest will be for general crafting, scrapbooking, or maybe just fondling. These ribbons are 100% acetate, and are so smooth and just gorgeous.

Resolutions

It's getting closer to that time of year where people are thinking about resolutions for the new year. I am absolutely awful when it comes to resolutions...I have problems getting my daily to-do list done. I really want to do something with resolutions this year, so right now I'm thinking about what my resolutions should be, so that I can have them clarified by the time the new year rolls around. Then I'm going to enter them in my planner as goals, writing out the steps needed to achieve each goal and have dates assigned to each task so I can attempt to keep myself accountable. So, now to think about what I want to resolve to do......

I posted a new Suite101 article on altering chipboard with paper HERE.

Chipboard!

I posted a new article on chipboard today at Suite101. Check it out!

Chipboard 101

Congrats to the New Scrapbooker Online Design Team!

Here are the new ladies who will be designing for Scrapbooker Online in the first half of 2008:

Rachel Morgan Theall
Jolene Johnston
Patrizzia Gundich
Beth Price
Juliete Concepcion
Carolyn Lontin
Nicole Patrizio

I can't wait to see the projects, challenges and inspiration that these ladies provide in the new year. You all rock!

Source for Stamps and Distress Goodies

I got an email the other day from Artistic Outpost, a new stamp manufacturer. They have some really neat art stamps that remind me of some of Tim Holtz's stamps. And they also stock lots of Ranger products that aren't available near me, so I am seriously considering placing an order.

Custom Envelopes for Gift Cards

I've posted a new article at Suite101 on creating custom envelopes for gift cards. This is a great way to dress up a plain Jane gift cards and personalize them for each person in your life. Check out the article HERE.

Another Creative Outlet

I love to write, and writing is something that I try to work into all of my interests, whether technical or creative. I recently found a site called Suite101 where writers can write and submit articles to be posted on their site. The articles are picked up by Google and other search engines, so people who do a keyword search can find your article in the results.

Here's the cool part: Suite101 works with Google's advertisements to provide targeted ads next to the article. And the author (me) gets paid when readers click on an ad next to her article! It is not a lot of money, and it's a long-tail game, but it's a great way to build up a writing portfolio on subjects I enjoy and make a little money on the side.

So, if you have a minute, check out my Suite101 profile, where you can find links to my articles. There isn't a whole lot there yet, but it will grow as I write. I am trying to write one article each day where I don't have other billable work to do.

A Great Digital Scrapbooking Find

If you love a weathered distressed look, then check out Gina Marie Huff's digital products at Weeds and Wildflowers Designs. I just downloaded the "Playing With Wire - Winter" kit, and I am now looking at her yummy papers. Definitely some nice rich colors, and some effects that remind me of Tim Holtz's distressed projects (can you tell I have a thing for this man?). I have not done much digi scrapping lately, but I've been thinking about making a new blog header, and these wire shapes will work well for a fun winter themed header.

Tim Holtz's 12 Days of Christmas

Have you checked out Tim Holtz's 12 days of tag tutorials for the holidays? Apparently a lot of people have. His entry for December 3 had nearly 1000 comments (not views, mind you, but comments). Tim is giving away a great prize pack for each day for people who comment on his blog. I wish that people keep reading his blog even after the tutorials are over, because he really is a fabulous artist.

I've had the pleasure of taking one of his classes at CKU-Boston in 2006 (and kicking myself for not taking the other one that was offered). I love his projects, I love his Distress Ink products, and I love the style and look of his work. I am going to try all of the tag techniques that he presents, though at this point it probably won't get done by Christmas.

So, now I have the insatiable urge to buy more Ranger products. I suppose that is part of the motivation of the tutorials, but I have no problem with that.

Hi.

Hi. My name is Sue. I scrap. And apparently, I don't blog.

:D

This past weekend was the latest and greatest Scrapbooker Online retreat. I got very little sleep. I did scrap a lot. I also ate a lot of REALLY good food. And I was in Maine, so I ate lobster. Twice. Yum. Time to start counting the days until the next retreat. I miss all the sistas already.

JOIN OUR BLOG PARTY!

Everyday Digital Scrapbooking Blog is the leader in bringing you innovative tutorials and the hippest trends of the scrapbook industry.


Help us celebrate the first of many birthdays with a fabulous BLOG PARTY!

To participate in our October 1st-5th BLOG PARTY, create a digital or hybrid layout with a technique to share with us and have a chance to win a spot and reign as our Guest Team Member for 3 months!



How to participate and win: from October 1st to October 5th upload to your blog or gallery a digital or hybrid layout showcasing your favorite technique and include instructions.

Please make sure to include your instructions -instructions are very important here. Then leave a link to your layout with its' instructions on our blog during our birthday week. You can create and post as many technique tutorials as you like during our Birthday Week October 1st -5th.



The EDS team will choose one of our favorite layouts that includes instructions and pick a winner as our GUEST TEAM MEMBER!

The guest team member will reign for 3 months: November 2007 through January 2008. The Guest Team Member will receive all the benefits as our full-time Creative Team, and will be responsible for contributing at least two tutorials per month to the blog during their reign. They will also be featured in our newsletter which is sent out to almost 1000 persons world-wide.



Come visit and tell your friends to party with us at Everyday Digital Scrapbooking Blog!

(Pssst - don't forget our REALLY BIG! free kit that will be in our newsletter our birthday week!)

Be sure to join us October 1st - 5th every day for our Big Birthday Bash!




Credits: (all items from the EDS Birthday Kit)

Background and ribbon: Amy Duquette

Number & flowers: Sarah B. Meyer

Stickers: Julie Kelley

Coming soon to the Everyday Digital Scrapbooking Blog!

It's time to plan your escape!!!

It's not too late.....Scrapbooker Online is sponsoring a fabulous weekend retreat at the Meadowmere Resort in Ogunquit, Maine. The retreat will be Friday November 16 – Sunday November 18, 2007. Come meet some fellow scrapbookers, learn some new techniques from the SBO Design Team, and get lots of scrapping done with all those pictures you have piling up at home.

It's not too late to sign up. Check out this link for more information: SBO Retreat. We had an absolute blast at the retreat back in March, and we'd love to have more people join in on the fun. I will be teaching another fabulous layout class, and there will be other classes, prizes, contests, as well as the SBO inventory on hand! So why are you still reading this? Check out the link above.

Another year.....

Yesterday was my birthday. I had to stop and think how old I was. I'm now in my mid-30's, and honestly I don't feel that old. I tell people that except for my stretch marks, I feel like I did in college.

I'm working on a few projects for Scrapbooker Online using some photos from my first birthday, here's a cute one. Everything about my party was Raggedy Ann and Andy. I think everything about my 1-year-old life was about Raggedy Ann and Andy.

Monday again...

Apparently, Mondays are my blogging days. Hopefully I'll think about blogging on other days once in a while.

This is a hybrid purse that I made for a tutorial for the Everyday Digital Scrapbooking Blog. I totally LOVE how this came out. Check out the tutorial HERE. All of the digital elements are from the Raspberry Marmalade kit by Carrie Stephens for Scrapbook Dimensions magazine. (given to the first 500 subscribers).

A day to get things done.

I have really been neglecting my scrapbooking lately. I've been waiting until the last minute to get things done, and I'm behind on other projects. Well today, I managed to clear some of the backlog. I finished and packed two circle journals to send along to Canada, packed up four RAK's for some SBO sistas, cleaned out some of my old DT kit materials, and I even did a little organizing and floor sweeping! Of course, I now have a whole bunch of ideas I want to play around with, so it's all going to be topsy-turvy again very soon.

I did start using my art journal today, finally. It's got a sketch in it for a Memory Makers magazine call, a quote ("There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going." - Beverly Sills), and a list of the last 6 art card prompts from Emily Falconbridge's blog that I wrote about in my previous post. I really really want to do all of them, I so love art cards!

Theoretically, next week at this time, the Memory Makers Masters will know who they are. Eeep.

just another Manic Monday

It is humid today. Blech. But it's not warm enough yet for the AC to kick on. And I'm too cheap to turn the temp down so it turns on. So, just hoping it warms up a bit so I can cool down. Yeah, that makes sense. :P

I am totally inspired by Emily Falconbridge's Art Card Challenge that she's been presenting on her blog. I'm bummed that I only just discovered this. I am going to find me a deck of playing cards and start working on these! I love little pieces of art. I took her canvas class at CKU last summer, and she is so fun, so casual and so creative. And she has a gorgeous new little baby with those cheeks I just want to squeeze!

We finally posted some pics from our trip last week, here's one of me and Perrin at Lost River.

I......am on vacation.

We'll actually be home tomorrow, but we have been blessed with wireless internet access at our hotel. And, of course, I brought my laptop ( you know, to offload digi pics from the camera if we need more space, and of course to get my internet fix. :D ) Seriously, how did our parents travel with us as kids without portable DVD players and air conditioning? I honestly don't know how they survived without throttling us.

We are in fact having a fabulous time. :) Tomorrow we'll be sleeping late, eating a big breakfast out (one of my favorite things about being on vacation), picking up some souvenirs and heading home. I will need this weekend to recover and do laundry.

Oh, and I did manage to get my MMM entry done and mailed the day before the postmark due date. I forgot to bring my USPS receipt with me so I can't look up the delivery confirmation. That will have to wait until I get home.

planning, packing, stressing.

This week, I am going on vacation. Now generally, to most people, that's not a very profound statement. But this is the first time we are going on vacation all together as a family. Not Eric and I dropping off the kids for a weekend away, not me and Perrin and my mom jet setting to a conference, but all of us packing up the car and heading to New Hampshire. I am stressed about it because Eric has me planning everything, and he can be so OCD about things sometimes. At least we have someone to come feed the cat while we're gone.

MMM update: I have 3 of the 5 layouts completely done and documented. #4 is in process, and I have a few already done that I may choose one as #5. I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized after reading the rules that the entry has to be postmarked by July 31st, not arrive there by July 31st. So, I do not have to overnight my entry on Monday as I rush to get everything done at the last minute. I can leisurely mail it on Tuesday after I rush to get everything done at the last minute. I am totally in love with my theme layout, it's too bad that is the one that I have to send the actual layout.

Book update: I finished Harry Potter Book 1. Nice easy read. I loved reading all the little details that were not in the movie. I've now started on Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port. It's a book designed for service consultants to develop a brand and build a client base that you love, and that is the spot I'm in right now with my business. I've read through the first chapter, and I like that it has exercises and assignments for you to do, rather than just a pure read.

Now, I will return to my regularly scheduled stressing.

TGIF!

It's Friday, and I have a ton of things to do today and through the weekend. I've got a list of scrap-related things a mile long, then add work-related and home-related, and I can't see the end of it. So in the interest of at least keeping my blog semi active, I'm taking a quick break to write, even though I really should be doing about 300 other things.

I started Harry Potter Book 1 yesterday. I spent about an hour in the afternoon and an hour last night, and I'm about 2/3 of the way through. I have seen the movie, so I knew the general premise, but it is fun to read all of the details that weren't included in the movie. It's a very easy read, compared to some other fantasy series I've read, but fun because I know the characters. I picked up Book 2 at BJ's the other day, and I'll be adding that onto my book queue.

I've decided, at the very last minute, that I want to enter the Memory Makers Masters contest. The entries need to be received by Tuesday. So, I have until Monday morning to get my entry done then overnighted. It's not as bad as it sounds, I have my theme layout done, 2 more definitely completed layouts, and a few others that I'm on the fence on. So I need to create a maximum of two layouts. Not sure when the heck I'm going to work on it, I'm going to my niece and nephew's birthday party tomorrow, so I need to make 2 cards and a present that I've had an idea for.

My dear friend Maryfrances, owner of Scrapbooker Online, had her 40th birthday party this week. The sistas created pages for this fabulous album that she received yesterday. You are a wicked awesome gal MF!

Oh dear......

My poor poor neglected blog......I'm sorry to have ignored you for so long. I promise to show you more love! Really!

I've decided to create a book queue. I have so many books that I want to read, and I pick up new books here and there, flip through them occasionally, then forget about them. So, here's the current line up:

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - yes, I am the only person on the face of the planet that has not read this series. I've had the book for months, and kept putting it off, so it's on the top of the pile. I saw the Order of the Phoenix in the theater last week, and I think that was the kick I needed to get reading.

2. Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port - technically, I don't have this book yet, it's in route from Amazon.com. However, it's next on the list as I work on my business.

3. The Sales Bible by Jeffrey Gitomer - I've already read this book, but it's one of those books that you keep reading and keep learning from. And I have lots to learn about sales and marketing.

4. Organizing From the Inside Out by Julia Morgenstern - My whole life needs organizing, and I need help.

5. Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan - Book 6 in the Wheel of Time series.

The SBO Fiesta NSD Cyber-Crop!

Are you stocked up on adhesive? Got someone to watch the kids? It's time for the Scrapbooker Online NSD Fiesta crop! Jump on into the fun HERE. We'll have a chat Friday night, then games and challenges and sketches and PRIZES all weekend! Check out this mini class by the fabulous Nikki Workman:

I'll be posting my own mini class on using Ranger Distress Inks. Come on down!

Are you ready to CROP?

Save the date, Scrapbooker Online will be holding it's next cyber-crop to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, May 5th! And since May 5th is Cinco de Mayo, we'll be throwing a fiesta! The cyber-crop will take place over the whole weekend, so if you'll be away for part of the weekend, there will be plenty of games and goodies going on, so stop in and have fun! More details coming soon!

Digi Digi Bo Bigi Banana Fanna Fo Figi

Yes I am feeling silly today.

I played around with some fabulous kits from Rikki Donovan, who is a sponsor for April at the Everyday Digital Scrapbooking blog. I've already made a few layouts with her kits, and I have a bunch more ideas.

Happy Easter!

It's time to clean.....

Yep, I've been putting it off long enough. It's time to clean, purge and organize my creative space. My friends Jeanette and Andie at Scrapbooker Online have challenged all of us to share before pics of our scrap space, then be inspired to get organized!

Now I totally love my space, but it is so not organized, and so not optimized. I have a lot of work to do!

Hybrid.....I took the plunge.

Julie Ann inspired me to go hybrid.....I've done paper, I've done digital, but let me tell you, I am liking this hybrid stuff. I think I need to make more!

Only problem is, I'm out of cyan ink! EEEEEK! No printing for me until I scrounge up the change to buy ink....maybe next week.
This is a hybrid project using the Raspberry Marmalade kit provided as a bonus to my Scrapbook Dimensions subscription. I've used three digital elements in different ways.

The simplest was the photo mat: I took the background_green paper and resized it to 4.5x6.5 and printed it.

The second item was the flower in the upper right corner. This flower was cut from the backgroundTangerine-twist2 paper, and the color changed to a more pinkish hue. I then printed and cut out two of the flowers. I curled the petals and stacked them on top of each other to give a 3D effect.

The third item is the flower in the lower left corner. The petals are cut from the scallop border. I had originally printed and cut the scallop border to use as a border, but I did not cut it very well, and it was uneven. So I used a circle punch to punch out individual pieces from the scalloped border and used them to construct the flower.

Materials:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
Patterned Paper: Junkitz
Chipboard Scrolls: Fancy Pants
Ribbon: unknown
Letter Stickers: Provo Craft
Green Acrylic Paint: Adirondack for Ranger
Brad: Hot off the Press
Digital Elements: Raspberry Marmalade Kit by Carrie Stephens (www.fishscraps.com )

It's a scrappy week......

At Scrapbooker Online we are welcoming two new wonderful ladies as Guest Design Team members for the spring: Patty Bartlett and Patti West! I am so psyched to be working with these ladies. And the DT sponsor for April is SEI....let me tell you, the kit is fabulous! And Maryfrances tells me that all of the kit contents will be available for purchase soon.

And only 3 days until the Scrapbooker Online annual retreat in Ogunquit Maine! Not only to meet up with some old scrapping friends and meet some new scrapping friends, but I will be teaching my very first class! The class is "Scrap-Free Scrapbooking", we'll be creating 5 projects from a kit of products, and there won't be a scrap of anything left at the end! I had a fabulous time planning this class, and if it all goes well, I'll offer the class on the Scrapbooker Online University later this year.

I'll also be doing a make and take at the retreat of Ranger Distress Ink techniques. I {heart} Distress Inks, and I've had so many people tell me that they just don't know what to do with them. I really feel these inks are magical, and I'm so excited to share some techniqes with people!

Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to bring to the retreat for my own scrapping! I have a few projects set aside that need to be finished, so completing some items that have been sitting around for a while would be a great accomplishment.

Hybrid Scrapbooking

I've done traditional scrapping, and I've done digital, but outside of text and titles, I rarely use digital elements in paper scrapping. Julie Ann Shahin has some fabulous questions and answers about hybrid scrapbooking on her blog this week. I created a hybrid layout for her article, you can see it on her Monday post! It was a lot of fun making some paper elements using digital prints. And you have the benefit of modifying colors to match papers! Check it out!

I did not win HOF.

And that is okay, I really didn't expect that I would.

I did not win HOF HM. Okay, that bothers me a little more. I thought my entry was definitely good enough for HM. Of course my mind starts to think, "Was I disqualified for some reason? Did I do something wrong? What was it about my work, compared to the other entries, that made it score lower than the 75 total winners?"

I think I'm going to look for a few past winners and ask them to take a look at my entry, and give me some feedback. I need to know how to improve, especially if I want to enter the SOY contest, or other contests further down the line.....

My phone was silent....

...and not in the "I put it on silent mode" type of silent. No call for me. I wasn't expecting to win a spot on the Hall of Fame. I think I will be disappointed if I don't get an HM, because I totally love my entry. I mean LOVE it! So I guess that means I won in the best way.

I got some fabulous new kits by Rikki Donovan, lots of bright colors, and lots of blues, perfect for my boys! This layout uses her Up to Something kit, which is a great combo of blues, greens and oranges. You can find her kits HERE.

Online class ideas?

I have the opportunity to develop some online classes for the Scrapbooker Online University. I am working on two classes for our retreat later this month that I can translate to the site, but I'm curious to see what others may be interested in.

Please comment and let me know your thoughts.

Are you interested in completing projects, or learning techniques?

Themed mini-books? Layout projects?

Have you taken any online classes? What did you like or dislike about them?

Pass the Chocolate.....

....or make it a stiff drink..

It was announced on the CK web site that the Hall of Fame calls will be pushed back to march 19th because Lisa B. will be on vacation.

**no, I'm not antsy, why do you ask?**

I do have a ton to keep me busy between now and then. At the Scrapbooker Online retreat at the end of the month I will be giving a class on Scrap-Free Scrapbooking, kind of a cross between supply-savvy scrapbooking and efficient scrapbooking. I'll be using Flair Designs paper, and it's going to be really fun.

I will also be doing a make-and-take on Ranger Distress Ink techniques. I'll be demonstrating lots of different things that can be done with the inks on manilla tags, with the result being a little Distress Ink sampler tag book, complete with instructions.

I am considering converting these classes for the SBOU site, I think they'd be a whole lot of fun to share, and the more people I can get inking, the better. ;)

Two new classes in March at Scrapbooker Online!

Scrapbooker Online University is offering two fabulous new classes in March.

Photography for the Cool Scrapper: Did you just purchase a new camera? Are you wanting to learn about photography and all those cool techniques used in the published layout of the top scrapbooking mags? Join freelance photographer Andie Smith as she teaches you the basics and helps your pictures to jump to the next level. Let’s get people to say “WOW!” when they are flipping through your albums. You will leave this class with a level of security about taking that next family portrait with success. This is a four-week course.

Your Town: Home is where the heart is...right? Well, in this fun class taught by Design Team Member Carolyn Lontin you will learn about your town, where you live, and what it all means to you and your family. Let Carolyn walk you through making a super cute tag album that will highlight your town and all the special places that make it your home.

Check out course descriptions and registration HERE.

Digital Scrapping with Jill D-Zines elements

Jill D-Zines is one of the February sponsors at the Everyday Digital Scrapbooking blog! Here are a few things I created using these fabulous products. Her papers are so rich and textured, yummy!

These elements are from the Simply Shabby line. These elements and others can be found at Scrap Outside the Box.

How to make an origami tulip bouquet!

I posted a bouquet of origami tulips that I created for the Prima contest a while back (check them out HERE if you missed them). Well, I've written up instructions and they are in the February Scrapbooker Online newsletter, along with a bunch of other fabulous articles from the other DT members. To access the newsletter, go to Scrapbooker Online and click on the Newsletters link. Go ahead and subscribe, and the newsletter will automatically be sent to you each month.

Back to my Regularly Scheduled Scrapping.

My HOF entry is gone, the mailman took it this morning. I will be stalking the USPS web site to check on delivery details for the rest of the week.

I totally love the feeling after a huge job is done. Both kids right now are napping, and I am clearing off my desk and scrap table, catching up on email, and reviewing other assignments. Things feel fresh and new again. And I received my goodie box from Scrapbook Trends yesterday (my layout, titled "the Circle" is on page 143 of the February issue), so I have some new fun things to play with!

More deadline stress

I have completed all of my layouts. Now, the entry assembly begins. So far I have been happy with the photos of my layouts, and how well they printed. Now I am working on the photos of my mini book, and I'm just not loving them as much. I may have to take more pics tomorrow.

Deadline stress is setting in.....

I want to mail my HOF entry on Monday. So, what's between now (Saturday night) and then? Finish two more layouts, photograph my entry, assemble my entry, package my entry. Oh, and entertain for the Super Bowl party tomorrow, take care of a sick kid, and maybe try to get some engineering work done. Or even some laundry. My scrap space is a huge mess. I am starting to feel frazzled.

12 days until HOF is due!

And I plan on mailing no later than Monday 2/5, so that cuts the time in half. Here's my status:

Assignment A: Inventive Technique: Planned but not started.
Assignment B: 4x6: DONE!
Assignment C: Journal Your Passion: DONE!
Assignment D: Crafty Combo: DONE!
Assignment E: Color Watch: DONE
Assignment F: Mini Album: 50% done
Free Layout #1: DONE!
Free Layout #2: TBD
Free Layout #3: TBD
Free Layout #4: TBD

I was hoping to be further along, but I am so happy with the layouts I've done. We're talking personal bests here. I don't know why I thrive so much on competition.

More Strano Goodness....

If you go to the Strano Designs website (HERE), you'll see not only my ribbon dresses, but layouts by my dear friends Maryfrances and Sarah. They rocked the ribbon. If you refresh the page, you can see the different images. :D

Wicked Awesome Thursday 1/18

Wake yourself up this morning with some Pink Martini! Check out what the design team at Scrapbooker Online has been creating with this fabulous line of papers and rub-ons HERE.

Strano Ribbon Dresses

I wanted to post this picture last week, but Blogger was being wonky. Credit to Lou Strano for this gorgeous picture of the dresses that I made with Strano Designs ribbon and their new product Ribbon Stiff.

My Contest Entry is In!

Okay, not for HOF, but for the Prima wood products contest. I created a vase project and a tray project. I do have one more tray, but I don't have time to make another one, since the deadline is today. Now, to get back to my HOF entry. :D

And she makes her debut....

Last month I was chosen to be a Creative Team member at the Everyday Digital Scrapbooking blog, and I was so excited to be part of the team! Well this week, I had my first tutorial go live on the blog. It's an introduction to Photoshop actions, how to install, use and create actions! If you use your computer for any part of your scrapbooking, check out this blog. This week has been all about beginner tutorials, and the team has put together some fabulous writeups. Scroll down to this past Tuesday's entry to see my Actions Tutorial, and learn how I made digital textured cardstock.

RibbonStiff by Strano Designs

Strano Designs makes the most gorgeous ribbon out there. I'd love to have a bowl full of it on my coffee table that I could run my hands through it whenever I wanted. So when I had the opportunity to play around with a brand new Strano product along with some yummy ribbon, I jumped at the chance.

RibbonStiff is a product that you apply on one side of ribbon, let it dry, and you can cut, punch, fringe, whatever you want to the ribbon, and it won't fray. It goes onto the ribbon as a white liquid, similar in appearance to white school glue. It then dries perfectly clear, with no residue. You can apply multiple layers of RibbonStiff to increase the stiffness of the ribbon, but one coat is enough to prevent fraying, even cutting against the grain. Below are a few samples that I created using Strano Designs ribbon and the RibbonStiff product.

RibbonStiff will be debuting at CHA later this month. This product really multiplies the potential applications of the ribbon, and I've had a ton of fun playing around with it.

Strano Designs "Peggy" 1.5" ribbon, dress form from Michaels, misc bling. Ribbon cut with standard and wavy scissors.
Strano Designs "Peggy" and "Truly" 1.5" ribbon, cut with circle punch, wavy scissors. Also Bazzil Basics cardstock, K and Company chipboard quote, MM and CBX stickers, BG rub-ons.

My friend Maryfrances made a stunning mini-book using Strano ribbon and RibbonStiff, check it out HERE. And if you live near Manchester, NH, you can make this book at CKC-Manchester this spring!

37 Days

until the Creating Keepsakes Hall of Fame contest deadline! My goal is to send my entry at least a week before the deadline, so we're talking 30 days now..... here's my current status:

Assignment A: Concept has been worked out, now need to develop a layout around concept.

Assignment B: Complete!

Assignment C: Theme is set, journaling has been written, time to create layout.

Assignment D: Theme is set, need to create layout. Even got a cool title.

Assignment E: Complete!

Assignment F: Theme is set, need to create minibook. This will take the most time.

Not doing Assignments G or H, unless I have an epiphany (and cleaning my scrap space to take pics for G is not in the schedule).

Additional 4 layouts: I have 3 potential candidates that are already completed.

I was hoping to be further along, but I am happy that I made it this far. I am confident that I can put together a quality entry. Yay!

Happy Hour Comes Early..

....with a little Pink Martini! Pink Martini is the sponsor of this month's DT kit at Scrapbooker Online. I've got to say, the rub-ons are very very nice. They go on smooth and easy, and have just enough stickiness.

Materials:
Patterned Paper and Rub-ons: Pink Martini (Pink Squirrel line)
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
Number Rub-ons, green jewel: Heidi Swapp
Ribbon: Strano Designs
White Pen: Sharpie Poster Paint Marker
Eyelet Brads: I Kan Dee by Pebbles Inc.

The most Wicked Awesome thing that could happen...

The most Wicked Awesome thing that could happen to me (concerning scrapbooking) has happened. Mary Frances Fabbri, the fabulous owner of Scrapbooker Online, has asked me to join her design team as a full time permanent member! Scrapbooker Online is my scrapbooking home, and to be part of this DT is amazing. These ladies are so wonderful. For sure this will be a lot of work. I won't be just designing with the monthly DT kit, but also working challenges, writing articles and developing classes for the new SBOUniversity venture.

To MF, thanks so much for this opportunity. To Nikki, Carolyn and Sarah, I can't wait to be working with you all again! And I also need to thank Julie-Ann, even though she's no longer on the DT, she has been a fabulous inspiration to me and my growth as a scrapbooker.

I also need to give a shout out to my friend Nicole who will also be joining the DT full time. You rock, sista!