Monday, June 30, 2008

Keeping the perspective....

I recently have had a couple discussions lately with several people where they have felt that their pages were not "as good" as someone else's. I'm pretty sure that currently the Olympic committee is not considering adding scrapbooking to it's line up for trials. And really what would be the point? How can a set of judges really determine which LO's are better than others? Scrapbooking is subjective and if you are waiting on the critiques of others to validate that you make great pages, you are doing this for the wrong reason. You make great pages because you have taken the time to document your life for those who come after you. And honestly, there is no one that can compete with that.

With that being said, I wanted to share a LO from my SOY entry. I love it because it is one of the first LO's that I have done about me since I started. It was a nice change a pace and allowed me to get all girly. Thanks for checking it out and have a great day!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Guess What!


This LO was featured over at Creating Keepsakes for this week's Weekly Digest. I am so super excited since this is one of my favorites. Well really they are all my favorites. Even the risks and mistakes that don't work out all that well. Thanks for letting me share. This made my day. It also made an afternoon with a three year old who didn't take a nap almost bearable. Almost.

And you thought I didn't like bugs....

Well I do. Space Crickets to be exact, otherwise known as Cosmo Cricket. I just love the colors, texture and details in these papers. And have you seen the new blackboard? What a fantastic idea! They took everything I love about chipboard and made it even better. Here a few layouts that I completed using some buggy goodness.

I love that I was able to use this paper for an updated Christmas layout. It was nice to be a little nontraditional, because really there is nothing traditional about my family. This was an absolute hoot! Not even my mother in law thought Matt would be able to cut this tree down. But he did, (with a little help from G Dad). I wanted a huge, fat tree for Christmas and staying true to form, I totally did not measure the space that I was planning to put this thing in. Let's just say I was lucky to get it in the door. And to think, I thought it wasn't going to be big enough. Live and learn. That tag is a clothing tag that was sent in my Scarlet Lime kit this month. I put the details of the tree and how much it cost us, (that was including the stand and drilling), I thought it would be neat to look back and laugh at how cheap this was in a few years.
Can this stuff get any juicer? I used every single last piece of this yummy paper. I love how because of the colors I was able to use so many scraps from my stash to finish it up.

The word play was already in the pattern of this paper and I just cut it out with my circle cutter and outlined it so it could "hang" with the other parts of my title.

Here's another close up of my journaling. I used pop up dots to help separate my background layers from my journaling. It really helps make my journaling stand out.
*I realized after taking the photos that my journaling was mixed up. I fixed the strips and reshot my LO's but the lighting wasn't as good so here is what it is supposed to say, "I can safely say that I do not know any other three year old who is as intense as you are. When you play, everyone knows that you mean it."

Last but not least is my LOL layout that is a standard on my blog these days. I love the background paper, I love that it is as sturdy as cardstock and has so much subtle detail that I can still load up the page with embellishments and not feel that my background is competing.

I wish I could show you more but right now those layouts are doing other jobs and are unable to be posted at this time. But I gotta tell you, they are really cool. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks for checking me out!

A Busy Week....

Oh my gosh have things been busy around here! Colin had his first field trip this week. When did he get so grown up? It's official, I'm the parent of a preschooler. We visited a zoo that I had never been to before. I can't say that it was the nicest zoo that I have ever been to but it was definitely manageable for little feet to walk the entire time, (something that I don't think we would have been able to do at a bigger zoo).
I have also been working on several projects, some sewing, some scrapbooking. Can I say I just LOVE Ikea! I purchased a new desk to be a home for my sewing machine. It was so easy to put together that once I finished, I made curtains for my scraproom. The desk is perfect for working on Colin's new nap mat that I plan to finish this weekend.
On another note, who's going to CKC in Valley Forge??? I just got my shift assignment for volunteering. I am so excited to meet new people and do a "little" shopping for new products. There are so many lines that I can't wait to get my hands on it's ridiculous.
I have been working on some new layouts that I hope to have scanned and posted tomorrow so check back to see which paper line I used every single piece of. Here's a hint, one of the LO's in on the right and has a photo of Colin on it. (okay that probably doesn't narrow it down all that much).
I'll leave you with a few photos from the zoo. Have a nice night and I'll chat with you tomorrow!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

My first project....

and this is what I learned. 1. When a pattern gives you measurements, they are more then a suggestion. This is hard for me. When I scrap, I don't measure so this will be a new challenge. 2. Remember how to wind bobbin. I forgot and then didn't feel like changing it. I actually liked the contrast in stitching in some places. 3. Make sure everything is attached. I made a hem for the top but didn't completely attach the lining. See #1. 4. My scrap room is not set up for sewing. I don't have a great deal of space to cut large pieces of fabric and I had to stand to sew. This doesn't work as well as standing to scrap. I will be yard saleing tomorrow in hopes of finding a cheap solution for the time being. 5. Make bigger bag. This thing will not fit much pool stuff in it at all. It's a good thing I bought extra fabric. I will be able to use this for work or just running around. I'm pretty impressed with myself for a first try. Now to see if it will hold anything.


Material: Green Fabric, Canvas, Orange Fabric, Outdoor Canvas, Cotton Straps

Friday, June 13, 2008

To scrap or to stich?


I'm sitting here thinking about which project I should start with? I just got my July CK and I have to tell you, I'm very relieved. I was getting worried since the last several issues have been pretty stale. This one was MUCH better. I feel inspired and I wanted to start working on a few scrappy projects. But I am also going to the pool this weekend and I'm in desperate need of a new beach bag. So that may be first on my agenda. I had my sewing lesson, I know how to thread my machine and now, actually kind of "get" how things fit together with thread. I need to sew something tonight either way so I don't forget everything I learned!

Maybe I will just do both. Who needs to sleep??? I gotta tell you, it's killing me that I am sitting on 13 never before seen LO's that are scanned and ready to be shared with all of you. I guess I will just have to finish a few more so I can share them, lol!

Here's another photo that I took while in Fells Point during our weekend away. Because you know every post needs a photo.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Some Randomness....

It's really been awhile since I posted any pages. I promise that I will post some pages that I have been working on soon. I'm completely spoiled now, Bonnie, from Bonnie's Place, has been scanning my LO's so a photograph simply won't do anymore. I just wish my house was closer to the store, *sigh*. Although I'm sure I would be in some serious trouble if I was that close to a LSS.

*Edited* As Promised, unfortunately it's not a scan, didn't get a chance to go to Bonnie's, but you get the idea.


So I have been doing a lot of thinking about what I want my blog to be. I'm not really good at the whole comment thing. I think people post and I can actually click on the post and then post back on the commenter's blog??? Does that sound about right? I know folks are reading and I'd love to chat and here what you guys think of the updates. Pretty low tech but I'm working on it. I'm thinking that we need to do a challenge, a giveaway or an in depth discussion on how to achieve self fulfillment, (well maybe not the last one, a little too heavy, I do heavy at work and this is for fun).

So leave me a comment and let me know what you think we should do for fun. No comment is too silly or out there and I promise to reply.

Here's a photo of Colin in his spirit week glory. I had to talk him out of wearing the chicken costume today to school, (it was costume day, no I don't typically let him wear chicken costumes to school although there are some days that I pick my battles with clothing options, I have been fortunate that the chicken costume has not been a card that he has chosen to play....at least not yet). After I explained that it was just going to be too hot today and that he loves trains and don't you want to be the conductor???? He finally agreed and boy is he cute. He looked so old today. When did that happen?

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

A weekend away....


To celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary, Matt planned a weekend in nearby Fells Point. I have been to the inner harbor several times before but never to Fells Point. They have a ton of really cute shops and historic landmarks. We started our weekend by going to see Sex in the City, loved it! I can't tell you the last time that just Matt and I went to see a movie. I'm pretty sure it was B.C. (before Colin). We had a nice dinner, stayed overnight at the Admiral Fells Inn and then spent the day shopping in quaint little shops after having crepes for breakfast. We then returned to reality, sort of. Dinner was made and all of our laundry was washed and put away, thanks BaBa and G Dad.


On a crafty note, check out these super cool fabrics! I went through my stash, unrolled and ironed them, and then neatly folded them back in their drawer. Keep in mind that I do not know how to sew. I do however have a one on one lesson scheduled for next week. So stay tuned for some fabric goodness to be unveiled shortly. That's it for today. I hope everyone has a great day!