Scrappy Stuff

Creative juices have been flowing a bit more than usual lately could be because of all of the blogs I read and get inspiration from, or it could be all of the pictures I have been taking lately just waiting to get on paper. Regardless of why, I am excited to be getting pictures out of the envelopes they were shipped in and onto paper and into albums.

Had a great time with my family in the Outer Banks of NC this summer. One of the nice things about being part of a big family is there are always little kids around- I can't think of a better subject to photograph than little kids. I had almost as much fun creating this layout as the girls did at the beach.

Like many scrappers when I started scrapping, stickers were the one and only embellishment I used. I quickly realized there was a whole other world of embellishments out there and abandoned stickers; however, I have tons of them in my stash and need to get rid of them. I saw a layout recently that used an entire sheet of Making Memories WordFetti and thought "I could do that" and I did....... Felt pretty accomplished, I finished yet another layout and I got rid of an entire sheet of stickers, go me!!!

It's a small world after all

Okay now that I have that God awful song in your head I can go on with my post. When I signed up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I had no idea it was going to be what it is today. To be honest I did it because I knew I would be ordering a lot of stuff and could use the discount, plus my "stamp lady" was so cool I would do anything to help her. So I signed up because I knew
Dawn would get credit for the recruit and she deserves it, she works so hard! Never did I think I would be signing up to go to convention or spending my days off stamping and scrapping. However, I have been and I love it. I have met so many cool people because of Dawn and Stampin' Up! it is amazing.

Yesterday morning I get a phone call from Dawn asking me what I am doing because friends of hers are coming out with a paper line and she is going to their house tonight to help them assemble kits. Of course I tell her I would go, like I said I would do anything for Dawn. So with yahoo maps directions in hands we head off to help these ladies out. From reading the directions I had a general idea of where we were going; however, I didn't realize it would be right around the corner from my family church.

I am so glad I went, these ladies are great, we hit it off immediately!!! They are introducing a new paper line at CHA in July, and let me tell you it is awesome!! The line is Mollie and Mac after 2 of their children. How cool is that?!? We kind of invaded Mac's dinning room- cutting, punch and stamping paper getting them ready for a "swatch" book they will be giving out at CHA.

Mollie and Mac (not their real names) were kind enough to give us their soon to be released paper. Of course I couldn't want to get home and start scrapping with it. Since I hadn't finished all the sketches from my sketch class I thought I would kill two birds with one stone and use their paper for one of the sketches. This is what I came up with.....

I really wish I had a 12x12 scanner because my picture does the paper absolutely no justice. Since it is a 2 page layout (my favorite) I thought I would also post pictures of each page, so here is page 1 and page 2
I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I had with these ladies. All together there were 6 of us. At one point Mac went in the kitchen to get everyone drinks , when she came out she was carrying a cup with the flying WV on it so I got that cheesy alumni smile on my face and said "Oh My God, I went to WVU" and she said "I did too!" How cool is that, not only do we have scrapping in common but we are both Mountaineers!!! So Mac and I have a connection, but that doesn't mean Mollie (again not here real name) and I don't. In reading an email she sent this morning, I feel like her name is really familiar so I take a stab at it and ask if she is related to a girl I went to high school with, specifically her husband. Wouldn't you know it, she is. As a matter of fact, she is related to my high school friend and her husband is related to the high school friends husband. It is Mollie's mother that introduced my friend to her husband. Go figure! What a small world.

I have no clue why I am awake

I got 4 hours of sleep yesterday and have been working like crazy, there is no reason for me to be doing anything by sleeping right now; however, I am doing everything but sleeping- Scrapping, Blogging and blog hopping. Good thing I am off tomorrow I have a feeling I will be sleeping most of the day.

Finally got to complete the layout for Sketch3 of the Got Sketch class, those of you that didn't sign up really don't know what you are missing, it has been a great class!! Anyway this is a 2 page layout is a "Tricked out Flipped out Layout" Basically the goal was to be able to get alot of pictures into one layout. I figured wedding pictures were the perfect one for this type of layout- I really wanted to scrap them; however, I was not looking forward to creating tons and tons of layouts with the same pictures, etc. So this is what I came up with. (Be wared not all of the pictures are the best but you get the general idea)



















This page has 4 pictures on it, here is what it looks like when you flip up the first picture,

Here is the second page of the double layout- This one has 4 layers of pictures

so here is what it looks like with the first one flipped up and the next picture flipped, and

flipping up the final picture gives you this look, When the 2 pages are next to each other it looks like this - since I am sure you can't read the journaling it is the lyrics to "Finally Found Someone" by Bryan Adams and Barbra Streisand.

So many lines of that song really hit home for D and I- we did start over coffee, even though I told him I wasn't a coffee drinker, he insisted he go to Starbucks after our first date! My favorite line is still can I call you sometime. I remember standing in the parking lot talking to D the weekend that we met and he says to me- so what happens now, are we going to exchange numbers or something? I swear I thought he would have never asked. "Did I keep you waiting" do I really need to explain that one, we started dating in 1999 and got married in 2007- Enough Said!!

Since there is no sketch tomorrow, I should be able to get caught up, I am a sketch behind, which isn't too bad considering I still haven't finished my Journal Your Christmas Project :)

Trying to get caught up

It took me a little longer to complete sketch 2 than I wanted it to, the important thing is I completed it. I have an idea for the 3rd project, hope to work on that tonight after work or tomorrow before going to my Parents for the Father's Day celebration.

I love the ATG however, I don't like how unforgiving it is. Once you put that paper or picture down, there is very little you can do to get it back up and move it or reposition it. Which is why some of my patterned paper is a little crocked. Oh well, it speaks to my personality! Made the scalloped edge all by myself, first time ever, kind of excited about that, love how it turned out and am sure I will be doing it again, stayed tuned for future scallops.

Another Roll bites the dust

I am so excited, I kicked another roll of ATG tape and that can mean only one thing, I have been scrapping and creating a lot more than I usually do and that my dear is a good thing!!!!

I think I have about 200 of my convention swaps ready to go- or as ready as they can be without the stamping on them. Meaning I have adhered all of my paper to the bases and have cut all the other paper I need to stamp on. The scan isn't as clear as I would like it to be but you get the idea. The base is Taken with Teal, the crimped layer is Chocolate Chip. The "Enjoy" sentiment was stamped in Taken with Teal on Very Vanilla paper. The flower center is Taken with Teal and the flower is stamped in Chocolate chip on Apricot Appeal. "Every Moment" is stamped from the "Enjoy every moment" stamp set, again I used Chocolate Chip. I used the spiral punch on the side, I love the look of the spiral punch, to me this card really says "not to self, take a minute and enjoy life" Convention is 44 days away, I am sure I will have everything done by then, it just gets a little nerve racking when I realize how close it is. The problem is I am not sure if SU! will retire the spiral punch and I won't know until July 15. So the goal is to have all the stamping done and be ready to adhere by then. As soon as the list is published I will be able to finish the card by either using the spiral punch or going to my plan "B".

Got tons of pictures printed today, hope to get a lot of scrapping done. The sketch for yesterday was amazing, I can't wait to get working on that. I love all the creative juices that are flowing lately, hope to keep my mojo going.

The block as been lifted.....

Not sure how it happened or when but I was able to come up with a layout for yesterday's sketch. As you know I am a die hard Giants fan (if you didn't know that you can get some background here and here) Since there is no telling when my favorite boys in blue will win another Superbowl (especially with Michael Strahan retiring), I thought I better cherish this win as long as I could.


The pictures are mounted on a pocket, right now there is nothing in it; however, I am going to put this in there I love the idea of printing your journaling on card stock, not sure why I never thought of it before. Not sure if you can read the journaling- "New York Giants Super Bowl XLII Champions!" "The greatest football story every told. Giants defeat Patriots 17-14. New England loses perfect season why the Giants defeated them on Super Bowl Sunday."

I knew this would happen.....

Since I signed up for the sketch class, I have been on a roll, cranked out 3 pre-class projects and didn't think twice about it. Had tons of fun creating them and did it in record time. Class offically begins today and here I sit blogging instead of scrapping. I keep looking at the sketch hoping something will jump of the page at me, so far nothing!! I don't even know what pictures I want to use. This is not good people, not good at all.

Having so much fun.....

If you haven't signed up for Got Sketch 101 shame on you!! (Yes Anna and Luz, I am talking to you) We are having so much fun chatting and scrapping.

The most recent assignments was a chipboard project, yet another layout made with Stampin' Up! products and papers. It was the first time I used the "build a brad" I loved it, can't wait to do it again, it is so cool that you never have to go digging through your stash of brads looking for the perfect color again!!

You can't really tell from the scan (not the best scan, in real life it doesn't come off the pp like it looks like it does) but some of the balloons are on "pop dots" so they come off the page.

I am not that skilled with the craft knife so I decided to take some sand paper to the chipboard bracket (not su!) I love the way it turned out! They are posting another sketch tonight, can't wait to see it!!

Feeling Accomplished

Today was a rather successful scappy day for me. Not only did I decide what my SWAPS will look like for convention, I got all of my cardstock cut! That is no small feat considering I am making 288 cards (kind of an odd number but that is because I am using 8 1/2 x 11 paper, cut into 4 and there are 24 sheets in each pack of paper and I got 3 packs of paper) Because of this amazing device, it took me less than 20 minutes to cut all of the base cards and a second layer of paper.

Seriously this thing is amazing- it cuts through 10 piece of card stock at once. You can read all about it here

As if getting all the card stock cut wasn't enough, I finished my first roll of ATG tape, that means I have done some serious scrapping lately, it takes awhile to go through 36 yards of adhesive. I was a little nervous about changing the roll since the first time I loaded it I did it while watching a tutorial video, no fear- I DID IT all by myself!! *big cheesy grin*

Tomorrow I hope to finish running paper through the paper crimper (I had to give my wrists a break, they were killing me) and get all of the crimped paper mounted on the base card stock so that all I have left to do is to actually stamp (go figure) I need to get my butt in gear considering convention is 55 days away. Kind of impressed with myself, usually I wouldn't start something with 55 days to go, must be getting responsible in my old age :)

As soon as I find the sample I made of my SWAP I will post it, I have no idea what I did with it, not like it is a big deal by the time I am done I will have 287 others to show you!!

Luz should be proud of me

I didn't create on Tuesday but I did create yesterday and today- go Me!! I am having so much fun coming up with layouts for the sketches they are posting before the class even starts. I can only imagine what it will be like once class starts.

Shutterfly delivered almost 300 pictures to my doorstep the other day so of course I had to use those on my layouts.















One of my scrappy friends, Dawn, always has things printed things directly onto her patterned paper or card stock, I never tried that before, and now it is my newest obsession. if I am not printing it directly on the layout, I am printing it on card stock or regular paper and cutting it out. Super cool, great way to work around the whole I hate my hand writing thing.

















I have really enjoyed my 2 days off, not only have I gotten some scrappy stuff done, I met up with a bunch of people I work with last night to celebrate some one's birthday. It was really nice, first time I had hung out with the socially and I am really glad I did. Even though they told the cab driver to make sure I got where I was going especially since I just got out of jail!! Good thing the driver didn't speak a lot of English, I would have had some explaining to do if he did.

One of the many reasons I took 2 days off back to back was to prepare for the insanity that next week will bring- Semi Annual Sale starts on Monday!!! (please pray I keep what little sanity I have left)

Are you in the house?

I got an email the other day promoting a class taught by Janna Wilson and Valerie Salmon, it is a ssketch based class and I have never been a sketch scrapper. I decided what the heck it is only $21 and I might learn a thing or two not to mention actually get some layouts created. Class doesn't start until June 9th but Janna and Valerie are doing a great job keeping up pumped about the class, they even posted an extra pre-class challenge for us should we be itching to get started. Of course I couldn't wait to get going so I jumped at the opportunity to get some scrapping done.



















It isn't the best layout I ever came up with; however I am celebrating the fact that the challenge has been up for less than 24 hours and I already have a competed layout to go with it!! It is the first time I ever ran my paper through the printer and had something printed right on it. It is always the first 100% Stampin Up layout I have made. I am hoping to get even more done this weekend and will post those too.

She said, I thought

As if getting Friday Fill ins from Anna wasn't enough, I now have Unconscious Mutterings from Luz

Concentration :: thinking
Relocated :: moved
Clot :: blood
Joints :: arthritis pain
Satellite :: dish
Money back :: rebate
Kittens :: frisky
Shady :: crooked
Drain :: liquid
Stroke:: of genius

I had hoped to get some of my London pictures scrapped but I don't have the prints yet, did get some scrapping done with my sister though. No layouts to show they are all at her house- her brother in law is retiring from the air force after 22 years of service so she is making a book of his career for him- she has never scrapped before but is doing a great job.





I did manage to create a card for our Yoga instructor, her 40th birthday party is tomorrow night, now if we could just figure out what we are giving her as a gift!!

Saturday Morning Cartoons

I am participating in a Cartoon ATC Swap hosted by Kellie over at SisTV you can check it out
here we all picked some great cartoons- Jetsons, Rainbow Brite, Jem, Strawberry Shortcake and the Smurfs to name a few. I picked the Snorks because I had this great idea that I could do some type of underwater layout, here is where the problem begins. I now have no clue what I am going to do. I have Googled the Snorks and got some great pictures- I have narrowed it down to this one since it sums up the show and cast and the show the best. With the picture picked out you would think the hard part was over and I would be able to sit down and crank out the 20 cards I need to make, but that is not the case- I am totally stuck. I am hoping to be able to come up with something today, if/when I do I will be sure to post it. Wish me luck!!

I could cheat on my husband....

But only if it was with the UPS man, afterall he is the one who delivers D's paycheck every two weeks and he is the one who drops off all my new SU! supplies. Today was an extra happy day, he dropped off 2 boxes with tons of goodies in them. As a result his recent delivery, I was able to get some stuff accomplished. D and I are going to a wedding tomorrow- here is the card we will be giving to the happy couple:



here is the inside,





I finally got to play with the SU rub-ons, I must say they are pretty cool


I got the idea from the amazing gallery on SplitCoastStampers that place is loaded to the gills with inspiration and ideas. I love it there!

As much as I would like to stay up and play with all my new goodies, I need to get my butt to bed or I will be falling asleep at the wedding tomorrow.

Got Creative

Luz is always yelling at Kim and I for not blogging more and for not including all of our scrappy stuff when we do blog. I was lucky enough to have some time today before going to work- D was at a 1st birthday party so I had the place to myself. Even though I have not finished my "Journal your Christmas" project yet- I did get some other stuff done.

I rarely do 2 page layouts and when I do I never split my title or picture across the 2 pages, I did that today and am rather proud of how it turned out. Nothing major but an accomplishment for me none the less.



I also realized I blogged about our trip to Archivers but I never posted anything that I worked on while I was there. At the time my goal was to finish my Journal Your Christmas project so that is how I spent most of my time. I didn't finish the journal but I did take it from less than 25% done to more than 75% so I feel like I accomplished something. Here are some of my favorites:




Going from KK to KKC pretty much sums up by 2007.

It is hard to tell from the scan but that is actually an envelope that opens, there is a "library card" inside that I journaled on- how nice it is to receive Christmas cards addressed to Mr and Mrs. for the first time!

These are my holiday must haves, weither I need them or not


Nothing says Christmas in my house like 24 hours of "A Christmas Story"





And last but not least, you didn't think I could do a Christmas Journal without at least 1 layout with my favorite BBoy as subject.......

Stampin' Up

What did I do wrong? A $50 gift certificate has cost me $300. My sister gave me a gift certificate for Mother's Day (I love being a God Mother- I had no idea presents were involved when I signed up) When looking at a catolog full of adorable things how do you limit yourself to $50.... you don't!! You end up signing up to be a demonstrator so you can get as much stuff as you want at a discount. I don't see myself having parties or hosting card swaps or anything but I do look forward to discovering an additional creative side and seeing what I can do with some rubber stamps. Now if only I could get myself on a schedule that allows for scrapping and stamping on a regular basis!!