He's Got Magnificent Feet...

Hey everybody! It's movie tribute week at Scrapping The Music, and this month we are featuring the title song from the movie "Footloose!" Here's what I created...
The name Footloose made me think of feet which made me think of this little duck that we saw in San Diego. Aren't his feet amazing!?!?!!! Talk about fantastic camouflage. Here's the full picture of what he looked like standing in the weeds...


It's kinda funny cuz his feet are fantastically camouflaged, but then he's got this big round black body that stands out like crazy - so, ummm, what good do the camouflaged feet do? Unless, maybe they are meant to camouflage him from someone/thing that swims under him in the water??? Maybe that's it. In any case I just love the little guy - he's adorable!

Hey, guess what? There's a new scrapbooking community/challenge! I just found out about it yesterday and it's called "The Color Room." Lots of people are joining already and it looks like they are going to have different challenges every week, like color combos, sketches and techniques! The first challenge is already up and it's a gorgeous color combo! Click here if you want to check it out!

Congratulations are in order for my friend and Fave Things cohort Jamie Dougherty! She made the new design team for Couture Cardstock! Check it out here! Congratulations Jamie!!!

Look what I found on ebay! It's a 4+ lb. lot of vintage ephemera, and I had the winning bid with only $7.00!!! It came in the mail yesterday and it's even more fun than I imagined! There are things in it like letters from the early 1900s, receipt books, old travel diaries, ads for everything from old felt hats to fishing bait. Now I just have to figure how to work it into my art! Hmmmm... I love a challenge!

Have you ever gotten something really cool from ebay? If so, what was it? I would love to hear!

Alrighty, I am really behind on my projects, so I'm off to start making stuff. Have a fabulous Friday my friends!

The Slideshow Is Up...

It's our first Wednesday slideshow at Scrapping The Music and it's a good one! Check out all the magical layouts inspired by the song "Fireflies" by clicking here...

See you again soon!

Live With Prima Project...

Thanks so much for all of your comments on my last post about organizing projects! I love hearing the different ways people have of making time for creativity!

I finished my first of three layouts from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's latest "Live with Prima" class last night! I didn't have the kit, but I had a blast figuring out how to create the project with my own stash. Here's how it turned out...
Becca is my stepdaughter and it seemed perfect to use a photo of her for this very girly layout. In the class Julie used alcohol inks to dye some prima flowers. I didn't have any alcohol ink, so I used a combination of spray ink and copic marker to dye my flowers, and I love how they turned out! I also didn't have a Prima vine, so I cut one myself from a piece of brown felt. This was seriously so much fun! I love learning from others cuz it always broadens my creative horizons! I totally dig that painted circle, and I would have never thought to do that for a background on a layout before. Thanks so much for the inspiration Julie!

I can't wait to do the other two layouts from the class! Yeayyyy!

The new deadline for Scrapping The Music is Tuesdays at midnite, so if you want to play along with this week's challenge, you've still got a few hours! Check it out here! The new song will go up tomorrow evening.

Thanks for visiting and I will see you again soon!

Keeping Track of Projects...

Hi everyone! I got a question in the comments that I'd like to answer - Candy asked:

"Can you talk a little bit about how you regularly schedule time to be creative? You mentioned on this blog how you were changing your routine to do a particular project."

Thanks for the question Candy, I'd love to talk about that! There are two pieces that I'd like to address: The first is how I schedule my time, and the second is how I keep track of what to do with that time.

Back in January of, I think it was 2008, I participated in a challenge at Big Picture Scrapbooking called "A Layout A Day." Did any of you do that one? It went for one month and the idea was to make something - anything - every single day, and post it to their online gallery. I thought it would be a huge challenge, but I was up for it so I signed up. Not only did I finish the challenge, I learned that creating something every day makes me REALLY HAPPY!!! - so I've been doing it ever since!!!

I do have a full-time day job, but in the evenings, almost every day - I make the time to scrap or art journal.

In order to not spend my whole evening trying to decide what to create, I keep a project list. This is where I keep track of design team assignments, online class assignments and just-for-fun projects that I want to do. Some people have said they would feel totally trapped by a list like mine, but for me it's like planning a party for every nite! Here's an example of a page from my list (click to see the details)...
I color code the projects by type (i.e. design team, class, etc.), and I put the due date next to the project as a reminder. Am I crazy obsessive? Perhaps - LOL, but for me it's FUN FUN FUN!

I hope that helps - Let me know if you have any other questions. :0)

P.S. If you are interested in the "Layout-A-Day" idea, I noticed that Lain is hosting it again in May from her blog. Click here to check it out.

Sometimes, I just don't feel like doing anything on my list, so I don't - HA! I love to break my own rules! Anyways, that's what happened on Saturday, so I played along with the Studio Calico Sunday Sketch instead. Here's how it turned out...
I used my new Noel Mignon kit, plus a couple of things from my stash. The yellow pom pom, which I cut in half so I could glue it to the page, and the turquoise flower, which is actually an old earring.

Do any of you have systems you've created for organizing your creative projects? I'd love to hear about them!

I'm off to watch the new Prima Class by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and scrap along with it! Check it out here - you can make three layouts in two hours, and it's free!!! Yeayyy! (I'm ignoring my list again - grin)

See you tomorrow and thanks for visiting!

Project 12 for March...

Okay, so I got seriously INSPIRED after finishing the February Project 12 pages, and absolutely HAD to jump right in to the March pages! I completed them both in the past couple of days, and am excited to share! I used the Studio Calico "Baker's Dozen" kit for both layouts.

Here is the official Project 12 sketch that Becky Fleck created (for April actually, but I used it for my March layout)...

and here's how my layout turned out (click on the image to see it larger)...
I stuck pretty close to Becky Fleck's April sketch for this one. I know it's confusing, cuz I get super excited to use the sketches as soon as they come out, (instead of waiting for the next month), so I will always be a month ahead on the sketches, hence the April sketch for the March layout - LOL. The black and white striped Happy tape, and turquoise ribbon are from my own stash. Writing the journaling for March was a bit of a challenge, because our family had some big health issues to deal with. I don't normally scrapbook about hard stuff; but I want these monthly layouts to be a true reflection of our life, so after consulting with some friends at Studio Calico, I came up with some words that felt right. Thanks Ally and Astrid!

After I finished that, I dove right into the calendar layout, and I must say it was fun to do them right together like that. I think I will do that every month. Here's how it turned out (click on the image to see it larger)...

Speaking of Project 12, Denise asked on the February post, if I got two sheets of the (exclusive Studio Calico) Newsprint paper in my kit, since I made a double-page spread with them. I didn't get an extra sheet in my kit, but one of the cool things about Studio Calico, is that with each kit, you have the option of buying an extra set of their exclusive papers as an add-on, which is what I did. I love that option because when those papers are gone, they are gone, and I almost always want more! Thanks for asking Denise!

So, now I'm off to start my next project. I will see you tomorrow with another update! Thanks for visiting and have a super duper Saturday!!!

Project 12 Part Two for February...

I finally finished my February calendar page for Project 12, and I gotta say, these little buggers are time-consuming, but SO MUCH FUN to put together!!! I had the best time doing this one!!! Here's how it turned out...
I used the Studio Calico "Quilting Bee" kit, to coordinate with the February Sketch layout that I finished earlier in the month (shown below). These pages feel like putting together a puzzle, and this kit's Sass Lass paper really lent itself well to making the little squares.


I'm so inspired, I think I will put aside tonight's regularly scheduled project, and work on my March Project 12 layouts - yeayyyyy!!! This is going to be FUN!!!

Oh, and also, I was SO EXCITED to see that Davinie featured my February sketch layout on her Project 12 blogpost today! Click here to see it, plus some wonderful work from other Project 12 participants!!!

We announced our new design team member at Scrapping The Music today! We are so excited to have her joining our team! Click here to find out who it is!

That's all the news for today! Thanks so much for visiting and for your comments! I really appreciate them! Have a fabulous Friday!

Come See Me In The Gutter!

I'm so excited! Today is the day that I get to be an Honorary Gutter Girl! I did a special layout for the current challenge, and there's also a bio a little article and some of my fave layouts! I'd love it if you stop over there and say hello in the comments! Thanks so much for asking me to be an honorary gutter girl Glenda! P.S. Glenda has some super-inspiring work of her own in today's post too - she is the queen of misting and masking!!!

Last night I finished another layout for The Street Where You Live. This one is about our local post office (click to see more detail)...
I used one of the class sketches for inspiration, and the Studio Calico "Quilting Bee" kit for this one. I love how one of the Sassafras Papers just happened to have some stripeys in it that remind me of the old air mail stripes that used to be on envelopes! For this one, I used only the border and the flowers from the Sass paper, and cut the entire middle out to use on another layout. I backed the border with navy cardstock from my stash. The scallop at the top is actually cut from the inside of a security envelope - :0)

Don't forget - tomorrow is our farewell tribute to Marie at Scrapping The Music. I hope you will stop by and check it out!

Also, the new challenge is up at the Fave Things blog, and this time we are scrapping our Fave TV Shows! I actually have about five favorite shows, but Flash Forward is the one I really felt like scrapping about. It's a real mind-bender if you ask me, and I love the mystery and imagination of it. Here's my layout...
Do any of you watch Flash Forward? I would love to hear what you think of it!

That's all for today - thanks so much for visiting my friends! I will see you again tomorrow!

Artful Amblings and Scrapping The Music...

The February 28th prompt at Artful Amblings was "Silence," and the technique was to use inchies. If you are not familiar with inchies, they are tiny works of art that are one inch square. I took a simple, photographic approach to the prompt, and here's what I came up with...
I edged the photos with acrylic paint and wrote the quote with a sharpie. The inchie photos are miscellaneous ones from peaceful, quiet moments in my life, and the big one was taken on a solitary road trip for work. Sometimes I listen to the radio, but more often than not, I drive in silence. It gives me time to think and I love that.


We've got an awesome song at Scrapping the Music this week! It's "Fireflies," by Owl City! Here's my take on the lyrics...
I used Sharpie Poster-Paint markers to create the background and write the lyrics. I just love that photo of little Wilbie catching a few zzzzz's in his Snowman bed.

The new sketch is up for Project 12! I can't wait to work on it! Click here to check it out!

So, it's a new week - what's on your agenda?

So Much Fun!!!

Happy Friday everyone - it's the weekend - Yeayyyyy!!!

I had three fun things happen yesterday, and I just have to share with you all! First, I was contacted by Debbie Hodge of Get it Scrapped yesterday. She told me that three of my layouts were featured in an article at their site about the "Street Where You Live" class! I was so excited and honored!!! I would love it if you have time to check it out and leave me a comment! Click here to go to the article.

It was also an awesome happy mail day too! Harmonie Products was kind enough to send me this selection of their new product line to play with...
Isn't it beautiful stuff? It's even prettier in real life. The patterned paper is a nice heavyweight, and they are all double-sided. I think my fave paper is the one on the top right with the butterflies and dragonflies! I also love the wood frames and patterned brads! Can't wait to start creating with this stuff! Thanks so much Harmonie!!! You can visit their website by clicking here.


I also received my Noel Mignon kit and WOW I LOVE IT! I am such a color-oriented person, and these colors are fabulous!!! The other thing I noticed about this kit is you get LOTS of embellishments, which makes me happy happy HAPPY!!!


Stay tuned to Scrapping The Music for some upcoming news. We have a few changes that will be announced very soon! In the meantime, you still have a little time to play along with this week's challenge! Check it out here, but hurry!!!

I hope your Friday is going fantastically!!! Thanks so much for visiting and for your comments - they mean alot to me!!!

New "Street Where You Live" layout, and other news...

Spring has sprung in our neighborhood and it's so wonderful! The sun is shining and the temps are climbing upwards and we have started our regular walks! I finished another layout for my "The Street Where You Live" class, using a couple of pics we took this past week...
I used the Studio Calico "Quilting Bee" kit for this one, plus some pom pom trim and green cardstock from my stash, a white sharpie and blue watercolor crayons. The design was inspired by one of the sketches they provide. Another lesson goes up tomorrow at the "Street Where You Live" forum, and I can hardly wait! Even though it's a free class, the lessons are really in-depth! They give you lots of ideas and options, plus a few sketches to help you along! I am really loving it! If you want to check it out, it's not too late. The class goes all year long and you can jump in anytime. Click here for more info.

I've heard such great things about the Noel Mignon kits from my friend Julie, that I decided to try one of their kits. I ordered this one, and I can hardly wait for it to arrive! It looks amazing!!!

Sonoma County by Noel Mignon

Those colors are fantastic and it looks huge!!! I'm hoping to have it by Friday!

Speaking of kits, the Studio Calico reveal is this weekend too, and it looks like it's going to be a good month for them. Click here to see sneak peeks.

Oh, and I'm SO EXCITED that I'm going to be featured on the Gutter Girlz blog next Tuesday as an honorary gutter girl! I finished my layout and interview, so now I'm just waiting for Tuesday. I hope you will stop by and check it out!

Okay, I guess that's it for today. I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday, and I will see you tomorrow with another update! Thanks for stopping by!

New Scrapping The Music Layout, and Album Organization...

The new song at Scrapping The Music this week is "Just The Two Of Us" by Will Smith. I'm telling ya there are SO MANY possibilities for scrapping this song it's amazing! Here's what I came up with...
Besides being brothers, Willie and Johnny are the best of buds, so it seemed fitting to scrap this song about them. I used the Studio Calico "Quilting Bee" kit for this one, and I am loving that kit! I especially love the "Dear Lizzy" ribbon that looks like roses - it's so soft and pretty! Anyhoo, head on over to the STM blog to see what the other Design Team members did! We'd love to have you play along with us!!!

In other news, I'm still in organization mode. I spent all day yesterday organizing my 2009/2010 layouts into albums, and it was so much fun! Here's the list of albums I started:

Project 12
Scrapping The Music
Fave Things
People We Love
Places We Go
Things We Do
All About Us (these last four are based on Stacy Julian's Big Picture Scrapbooking system)

Now I just have to decorate and label each album cover, and put some tabs in to divide the sections!

I also completely redid my project list for March and April!

I hope your Tuesday is terrific!!! Thanks for visiting and I will see you again tomorrow!!!

Catching Up...

Happy Sunday everybody! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted - I've been in California helping out with some family health issues that are going on, and celebrating my mom's birthday.

I came home from my trip to find a surprise package waiting for me from my sweet friend Julie. Look what she sent me! How cuuuuuute is this????
It is from a really neat etsy shop called Melbean. I put it up on my scraproom wall immediately! THANK YOU SO MUCH JULIE!!! You really brightened my day, and I will think of you everytime I look at it!!!

I have a couple of layouts to share, but first I want to answer some questions that came in from my last post about my scraproom.

Marit asked what kind of lighting I use in the evening...

My scraproom has mostly recessed lighting that looks like this...
I used to have a real problem with everything looking yellow in the evening, but I switched to Reveal (true daylight type) bulbs, and they work great! Now I can set my camera to the daylight setting and the colors are pretty true to life, even at night.

The other question was from Jeannie, who asked if my cats ever tear anything up in my scraproom...

Willie and Johnny are six years old now, so they have mellowed out quite a bit from their kitten antics. My biggest worry is always that they will swallow some ribbon or something sharp and end up in the emergency room. This has never happened, but I still make sure that any ribbon or pins I have out are in a secure container. I also avoid those cute displays of embellies some people have in their scraprooms, where they put buttons and rhinestones in muffin pans or cute bowls. If I did that I would have this problem...
Willie loves little things that he can bat around, so I just make sure that my embellies are in a closed container.

Here's another problem I deal with...
Both of the boys love to chew on anything plastic - These were some nice crop bags that I had in my bucket on the floor, and I quickly learned I needed to put them up out of reach. LOL.

Jeannie, you specifically asked about paper getting ruined and I have never had that problem. The only thing is Johnny likes to lay on it if I have it spread out on the floor. Also, I keep my kits in boxes and this is what happens...
HA! That box is full of kit contents. He doesn't hurt anything, he just crawls in there and lays. I think it's cute, so I let him until I need something in the box.

Here's one last thing I deal with...
Sometimes they inadvertently steal a sticker or two (notice the "L" on his rump area).

I always go with the motto - better safe than sorry, and try to keep anything that could potentially hurt them out of reach. It's a little extra work keeping it cat proof, but it's also so much fun having them to scrap with!

Let me know if you have any more questions - I will do my best to answer them!


Now, on to the layouts...

The current challenge at the Fave Things blog is to scrap your favorite beverage! I don't buy these very often, but knowing I had to do this layout gave me an excuse to go and get one...
Caribou is Michael and my FAVORITE coffee place, and my FAVORITE drink is the caramel cooler, no whip and extra drizzle! It's fabulous!!!! I used the Studio Calico "Soda Fountain" kit for this one.

The other layout I have to share is for the current challenge at Scrapping The Music. The featured song is "Free Me" by Joss Stone. I thought these lyrics were perfect for this picture of the kids...
For this one I used the Quilting Bee kit from Studio Calico which is one of my faves! The starburst/flower embellie at the top right is made out of wood veneer which I dyed with spray ink, and the bottom part of the title was drawn onto dictionary paper.

So, that's it for today! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comments - they mean alot to me!