live, love, laugh, create

I love a person with a good perspective!

I have been surfing blogs and websites all week and reading a lot about CHA in Anaheim. There's been some great info and pictures of products that will be released soon. Gotta love those sneak peeks! Julie Fei-Fan Balzer posted a summary of each of her 3 days at CHA. It was her first time there and so neat to see things from her eyes. She also gave a great synopsis of her experience and CHA which is really informative. She also discussed networking, which is the reason why a lot of people go to CHA. She was lucky enough to hit it just right at a moment and met the editor of Scrapbooking and Beyond magazine Jane Guthrie. Julie showed Jane her portfolio and Jane took 12 of Julie's LOs right there on the spot! Go Julie! So  if you are interested in seeing a great perspective on the dynamics of CHA stop by Julie's blog and check it out. While you're there don't forget to congratulate her on her pubs in Scrapbooking and Beyond magazine!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafty goodness

Once in  a while I get inspired by something that is not scrapbooking related. I'm totally taken my this gal'sblog which has her awesome handbag creations. Stop by and say hello, leave your name for a chance to win one of her beautiful creations and be sure to tell her I sent you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Winter CHA

I've been having fun surfing sites and blogs for all of the CHA releases. I'm sure it would be a lot more fun to see it all in person, but I have come across some really great people who have taken the time to give us a preview on their blogs.

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is at CHA and posted some great pics of lots of different items. She also just got hired for another 7 episodes of her crafty goodness on Scrapbook memories TV. Congrats Julie! Check out her blog for more details and some peeks at some great stuff from 2 of my favs Basic Grey and Cosmo Cricket!

Heidi Swapp has come out with a really neat idea for paper. The line is called "Invisibles". They are papers and die cuts that have patterned resist areas on them. She has a demo on herblog. So totally cool! Thanks Heidi!

Basic Grey designer Kelly Goree has the new lines up on her blog with examples of her fabulous work. I can't decide which I like better so I may have to buy a little of each!

Cosmo Cricket has 2 very, very cute kids lines. Check them out here or check out Leah Killian's blog and while you're at it, wish her well. She's been so under the weather for the past few days.

There is so much more out there to see and if you are interested you can check out the threads on the general scrapbooking and pub boards on 2 peas.

If you are interested in taking a beginner's photoshop elements class then check out Debbie Hodge's Get it Scrapped Web site.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wordplay challenge and some rambling thoughts

I have been thinking about my words for the wordplay challenge. One would think that for someone who openly babbles on a blog a couple of times a week it would be and easy challenge. Think of or find a word and journal about it. Of course, I tried to cheat on the first challenge and crashed and burned when I opened my fortune cookie and it had a really lame uninspiring statement in it. I'm still thinking about my fortunate sentence. It will come to me eventually, I'm sure. Things like that usually occur driving home from work or in the middle of a liver transplant or spinal fusion. I really tend to function on autopilot in many aspects of my life, but I really am half paying attention, or mostly, which is more than half.

 I came across a blog link from someone else's blog today that gave me a great idea for the word challenge. Emily Troutman made a phenomenal video with adjectives to describe people's feelings on the day of the inauguration. It's a great video. It also gives me inspiration on creating a LO about what's happening with us right now. I probably will not put pictures on it but the creative process is very raw right now. I'm just putting thoughts together and jotting them down. I just hope I don't accidently throw out the post it I wrote on. My word by the way, is hopeful. 

A trip to Barnes and Noble 2 days in a row yielded me these goodies.

 

How I love to read. The best part is that these books were bought with a gift card from my sister that she gave me for Christmas (thanks Liz!) and 3 of the books had the "buy 2 get 1 free" sticker on them. And I think I just found my fortunate sentence....I am so f0rtunate to be able to read. See? I told you things come to me eventually. This time it wasn't during surgery.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Confessions of a blog hopper

I totally love reading 0ther people's blogs. Most I read are scrapbooking related. Not surprising, right? There's always projects, ideas, inspiration and links to more projects, ideas, inspiration and links. What could be better?

I have some of my favorites in my sidebar, but there's so many more that I visit that are bookmarked in my  favorites on my pc. I came across Leah Killian's in December when she was putting together a beautiful mini album made with Cosmo Cricket's Oh Joy papers. Right now she's got some LOs up for CHA sneak peeks. Check out her blog  for some seriously cool summer products! I also visit Crystal Jeffery-Rieger's blog that she has through Memory Maker's Magazine.  She has 3 great things on her blog this week. (Actually, she has great things on her blog all the time, so go into her archives for some great inspiration!) There is a really cute trinket box that can be used for party favors. The template can be downloaded for free. Crystal used Valentine's Day paper for them but the  template could be used for any occasion. Next, she has some really cute tickets to download that can be used on your projects and layouts. Totally cute!  Crystal also has a color swatch challenge that is featured in the January/February issue of MM. She has some of her awesome work posted so you can see how she used the colors for her creations.

My mission this weekend is to get some scrapping done. I'm looking forward to working on a Christmas mini book for someone who just had her first baby last summer.

Oh! Before I forget. Debbie Hodge has a list of upcoming classes for early 2009 listed on Get it Scrapped. Classes vary from LO classes, to embellishments, to journaling, to stamping. Go look and I bet you find something you want to take. And the best part is the classes are full of downloadable info and very affordable! If you happen to be on the fence about a class there is also a downloadable sample of the class you are considering.

Thanks for stopping by!

The perfect combo

 

It is so incredibly cold again today. I'm sure that's nothing new to most of you, except for those in southern California who had temperatures of 85 degrees this past week.

I totally love a nice big mug of hot cocoa with either marshmallows or whipped cream. The cake is an added bonus. I was going to make it for Christmas but it had a nut warning on it so I spared my nephew the possible anaphylatic shock. It's just a mix from Tastefully Simple called "Gingersnappy bread" and all you do is add water to the bread mix then add the frosting mix to 4 oz of cream cheese and a tablespoon of water and there ya go. Good stuff.

The mug is from Starbucks in Edinburgh, Scotland, compliments of my good friend Ruth. She and her dh Bob and 2 friends went to Ireland and Scotland last year and each time they hit a Starbucks they sent me a pic from Ruth's iPhone toasting me with latte cups held high. It made my day every time!

Don't forget about the wordplay challenge on Jill's blog. She's up to challenge # 3. I'd better get busy!

Stay warm and thanks for stopping by!

It's been a long time coming!

I have sporadically submitted my work over the past few years and have been picked up for publication a couple of times. In 2005 I was a finalist in Stamp it! Magazine's "Stamping Royalty" contest. I made a Valentine's Day card with Outline's Rubber stamps that was embossed and had a lot of dimension with raised images. My prize was a box full of goodies, a tiara and a copy of the magazine that had my card in it. The next month I was asked by their sister magazine Papercrafts to create an invitation for a New Year's Eve Party. For that creation I was compensated monetarily and got a copy of the magazine my card was in. I have submitted to Creating Keepsakes, Scrapbooks,etc., Memory Makers Magazine and the Masters 2009 contest as well as some on line sites for contests and short DT slots. I check for publication calls on the Pub message board on 2peas and I get a weekly newsletter from pubcalls that has a lot of submission requests as well as DT calls and contests. Angela Daniels has a great site too with lots of links and helpful hints for those who are looking to submit their work.

So, I imagine you're probably wondering where I'm going with this. Well, in early December I submitted 3 of my LOs to a call for pets. I was notified last week that all 3 of my LOs will be published on line in the January issue of Scrapbook News and Review! I submitted all 3 with the hope that maybe they would like at least one and I'm so flattered that they accepted all 3!!

I'm looking forward to seeing the issue and everyone's work!

Thanks for stopping by!

What's on my desktop?

There was a question on the 2peas general scrapping board that asked what was on your desktop right now. Here it is....

 

It's one of my favorite pictures of my daughter Kelle leading one of her horses up to the paddock at the Meadowlands. What's on your desktop? Do you keep the same picture or do you switch them off?

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Layouts to share

I got better pics of the 5 LOs I completed over the weekend. They are part of a new album I am doing for my friend Lisa about her dogs. They will show the best of all 5 of her dogs. Two of the LOs for the album are actually from my Memory Makers 2009 entry. Lisa's seen them before but now it's time for her to have them.

 

My bofriend Luke. He takes such a great portrait doesn't he? I actually want to add the date the photo was taken at the bottom. It was taken around his first birthday in late October/early November. The papers were part of a kit that I bought from Coordinates Collections. Love their kits!

 

This paper was also part of a Coordinates Collections kit. I also used the Cricut for the letters. It was really time consuming but I like the look.

 

This paper is a little Bazzil and some My Mind's Eye. I was a little torn as to whether I should include some journaling or not but the info about the show is in the photo itself so I opted for simplicity here.

 

This too is a Coordinate Collections kit. The patterned papers are from American Crafts and the cardstock is Bazzil. The die cut paper may be Jenny Bowlin, but I'm not sure. I stamped the letters with my acrylic Technique Tuesday alphas.

 

I actually think this LO is my fav of all of them. The papers & rubons are K & Co's Wild Saffron. I used some cream and brown Bazzil for the letters that are from the Cricut Base Camp cartridge.

In case you're wondering, yes all 3 LOs are of Emma at 3 shows last fall. She took 2 firsts and a third in confirmation classes.

Just an added note, if you could keep my boyfriend Luke in your prayers. Lisa had him admitted to the vet hospital on Saturday night for vomiting. Seems like there is either a partial or total obstruction and they are giving him IV fluids hoping that it passes and they don't have to do surgery. They have been on the phone with the vet and are visiting him often. He's in good spirits and not critical. Just cross your fingers and pray that he poops soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Weekends away

There's something to be said about getting away for a few days with friends and doing whatever it is you damn well please....no phones to answer, no meals to cook, no laundry to fold, blah,blah,blah. You get the picture. I went to a scrapbooking retreat sponsored by Lasting Memories over the weekend. Barb & Julie closed their store in July but are still doing the weekend retreats and some 12 hr crops. We were at the Danbury Plaza Hotel this weekend. I was super productive and as usual the weekend just flew by! I completed 5 LO's for my friend Lisa's album but I can't show them now because they didn't photograph well indoors this evening. I'll retake them tomorrow in the natural daylight and get them up for you to see. I did complete 3 great mini albums that were created by Janene (you know, CK mag's "will you marry me Janene?"). She wasn't able to come this weekend as our guest teacher due to the snow. Bummer because I haven't seen her since the spring! I had purchased a halloween mini album kit and a birthday celebrations kit last year because I missed her classes due to my work schedule. I finally got to complete them this weekend. I really love how the halloween book turned out.

 

 

The tin, album and chipboard tree are from Maya Rd. S0me papers and the rub ons are from Creative Imaginations Fright night collection and the flocked spider web paper is from Little Yellow Bicycle.

This little book is too cute for words. The album is from Maya Rd and the papers are from Imaginisce. I have not finished this album because I'm saving it for my niece's birthday which is not until October.

Sorry about the dark photo  but I think you can still see how cute this album is. I will probably post it again in its finished state so consider this just a sneak peek!

I had a mostly complete star mini album that Janene had also designed. I have done 2 star albums in the past and this one by far is my favorite and my personal best.

 

 

The colors Janene chose are perfect for the theme. I used the album for my favorite pictures from Martha's Vineyard.

These 2 little mini albums are kits from Deja Views that I've had for forever in my stash. I told you I have a lot of stuff!! They're perfect as an adjunct for a baby shower or new baby gift. I had them complete in about an hour or so.

  

  

Cute aren't they? I also made some Christmas cards that were designed by Kim Smith who is one of the instructors for Lasting Memories. This one is my favorite

  

I don't remember the paper co though so if someone needs to know just email me and I'll find out for you. 

I think this one is my next favorite although I had a hard time tying those tiny bows!

  

I do know that this paper is My Mind's Eye and I used the threading water punch because I didn't have a scallop punch for the top border.

This one is nice except for the glitter that was all over and the difficulty with getting an adhesive to stick to the paper. 

  

Ok, gotta run and get unpacked and get some laundry done.

Thanks for stopping by!