Playing catch-up

I'm so far behind, that I never will, (catch up)...just got to keep plugging away.
I just finished reading Ali Edward's new book. At the end she says that everyone is a creative person - I certainly didn't feel that way today! I feel like I have been chronically, even terminally blocked lately! It took me 4 hours just to come up with an idea for the first one (#2here). I guess the trick is to just keep at it, the second one came a little easier...
The temptation for me, was to stop with the layouts and do some of those cool canvases Ali's used as her chapter headings in the book - they look so fun! I may have to try that one day...
Here are two layouts from last fall - the Halloween one is a scrap lift of one of Yvonne's awesome layouts. (Thanks Yvonne!) I used Scenic Route Salem papers & stickers...

For this one, I used Melissa Frances papers & stickers, and Scenic Route chipboard letters.

Thurday's Fruits

A couple of projects I did this week - first, here's a second helping of Basic Grey's "Two Scoops" - this time a little Love note for Valentine's...
*This one just got picked up by the online magazine Ready Set Create,

(The same card just got accepted into Basic Grey's gallery)
...Meanwhile, the "Removed for publication" sign is new too - just made it - never thought I'd need one! LOL!

...and second, my first entry in the art journal (I really am going to do this!)
I said it wouldn't be anything wonderful - and it's not! But I pulled out the water colors and had fun with them - haven't painted anything in a really long time!

Thanks for visiting - have a really great day!

Notes for a Monday Morning....

A few weeks ago, I ran across a "Book of Me" challenge - I don't even remember where, but it was to write a letter to yourself as if you were writing to the you of the past.
My initial reaction was to think "Why would I do that? What possible purpose could be served by doing this? Rehashing past mistakes...giving myself advice for things that I can no longer change?" Silly! A waste of time!
But then I realized that my daughter has many of the same issues that I did at her age, and if I could possibly help her make a few better decisions than I did, would I not do it? Of course I would!....so Baby - this one is for you!

Art Journal
I've also been planning this project for a while - and it's about time I got started on it. I'm going to start printing out my blog posts, and mount them in a book. My blog has been my "journal" for the last couple of years. My family never checks it out, but they might like reading it someday...(one of those "long after I'm dead" sort of things! ha ha!) So, I'm going to create an art journal with them.
My daughter made me this beautiful blank book a few years ago for my birthday. I love it, and have been trying to think of just the right purpose for it - it will be perfect for this.
I'm sure it won't be anything wonderful at first, - this is a totally new thing to me, but hopefully it will improve as I go, and be something for my kids to remember me by.

Lazy Day *Quick Update*

*Just a quick little *Toot* update - both of these cards were accepted into the gallery over at Basic Grey today! Woot woot!

I've been so slothful today - I've accomplished nothing except to make these 2 cards with my new Basic Grey Two Scoops papers!
....Oh, but it was fun!

Do You Ever ????

See something in the store, and shrug it off - but then later you get an idea for that product and you HAVE to have it, but you don't know who makes it, and you can't remember where you saw it - so you spend hours and hours searching every LSS, every magazine, every online store until you finally find it?
No?
*Note to self - schedule appointment with therapist.

I've been searching for a Christmas paper that I saw for weeks now - and I finally found it! So I'm off to the LSS.....

And about those scrapping resolutions....

I guess I'd better make some after all - after the online crop this past weekend, I was apalled at how rusty I am! ...The ideas didn't flow, and when they did - the pages didn't come together like I wanted them to. I seriously need more practice!!!

...A little post-crop card, just because I need to reassure myself I can still do this...

I found these Rob & Bob folder cards on clearance yesterday - the papers are Basic Grey, Making Memories bling, American crafts ribbon. The rub-on is a generic one from WalMart.

Where am I you ask.....?

*(I'm going to continue adding my creations to this thread as I go along so check in again...)
I'm busily playing at an online scrap-a-thon, trying to get some projects done and use up some of my ancient scrappage!
As you see, I have a lot to get rid of!

I'm also going to be pretty busy cleaning house - my new grand-baby is going to be named on Sunday, and the brunch is to be at my house (Oy - two really big families!)...so, you'll understand if I'm a little scarce around here...
I have finished my first challenge - a 6 x 12 layout of the baby of whom I speak - I haven't used any of my Chatterbox paper in ages, and my friend Jaime sent me the ribbon (it's American Crafts, as are the sticker letters) the journaling tag is Heidi Swapp, and the flowers are All My Memories. (Sorry, I can't remember the brand of the other patterned paper.)

Friday Jan. 4, 2008
This challenge was a scraplift - I lifted my friend Jaime. I wanted a simple design that wouldn't take away from this photo. These papers are from Stampinup, the stickers are Making Memories, and the chipboard is Sandylion.
(I've been using the 8x8 black backgrounds for my Book of Me pages - I forget when I do other things that size, it's ok to use color! LOL)

Saturday, Jan. 5
Today was a day from H-E-double hockey sticks, and I can't say anything nice about this layout right now, except for the subject matter - it took me waaaay too long, and I had all kinds of problems with it! I even had to bug friends and family for advice - I am really loosing my touch, but here it is.... (the challenge was to scrap a photo with no people in it.)

The papers are Provo Craft, My Mind's Eye, and Avon - yes, Avon! Basic Grey rubons, and a Melissa Frances corner thingy. (If you click on the pictures, they'll go big enough for you to read the journaling.) :)
Sunday, Jan 6:
It's been a while since I've done a page for my son's book of silly shenanigans, and the single color challenge was a perfect opportunity to do that...

I will probably take this one apart and re-do it later, I'm not too crazy about it, but for now, it's done - the challenge was to take a simple shape and repeat it at least 8 times on the layout.

Once there was a Snowman...

What better way to start a new year than with a fun challenge?
I found this one on Lillybean's Paperie:

* Create a WINTER card in either blues or pinks.
* Card must have glitter or bling---you know some sparkle!
* Must include either fabric or felt
* And, must have a snowman on it---die cut, paper pieced, from patterned paper, sticker, etc.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish it on time for the deadline, because all the scrapbook stores were closed around here yesterday, and I needed the felt swirlies to finish it - but here it is anyway.... Fun challenge!
I used up some of my Basic Grey Figgy Pudding scraps, the snowman is from Sandylion, and the mini snowflakes (with the bling and sparkle) are K&Co.

*Side note - today is my parent's wedding anniversary - they would have been married 72 years.