I've been busy...

And that's an understatement.

Been busy editing and playing with photographs a lot lately. I turned some of my favorite floral photos into cards once again and listed them over on the Etsy site if you want to check them out.And I've created more banners in the past month than I have in my whole life combined in preparation for this class. I really am excited and can't wait to share more when the class starts next week. I created this banner for my bathroom and it will be listed as a bonus project in class...
Work in Progress Kits has the pleasure of hosting the Anniversary Bash today over at Willow Traders, so be sure to stop by and say hello!! We'll be sponsoring 4 challenges with WIP Kits as prizes, so come on over and play!!

See you there!!

Kids stuff...

Becky Higgins coined a phrase recently. “play station”. She stated how she has what is called a “play station” set up in her create space for her kids so they can be busy while she is in the midst. I did that a while back, but I did not have a clever title for it. We just call it "Analise’s stuff". My youngest loves to be in my studio with me. She told me the other day: “Mama, when I grow up I am going to do scrapbooking just like you”. How sweet is that? How can I resist not letting her in the room with me? So, I put some supplies together just for her and a place just for her to store them. I simply made a file type box from some leftover cardboard. Covered the box in patterned paper, added some ribbon and embellies, and you would have thought I just bought her a pony and her own circus. She loved it! We cover her glue stick in paper so she remembers it’s hers. And she has access to all my punches and goes to town punching and gluing to her hearts content.
In so many ways it’s a win, win”:
She spends time with me….
She does not get into my stuff…
I recycle older supplies in her direction…
Everybody is creating and happy…
This helps with my scraps, too. I hate to throw them away, as it is. So instead we utilize the die cut machine, and other paper punches, and they make for many creative outlets for her.


Oh, and one more thing…my oldest daughter loves the photo mistakes I so often make. So, I don’t throw any of those away either. They are saved for her and she relishes those little treasures.
Just a few thoughts on keeping little ones happy, and you happy.

Monday, Monday...

Happy Monday, Friends!! I have so much to share today...

I'll begin with a quick photo of a wonderful group of ladies from the crop this weekend. Now, I've been doing crops here at my community center for a few years now. I'm not sure if it is the season, the fact that people are feeling cooped up here in northeast Ohio, or the fact that we've had 2 lss's close in the past couple of months...but for whatever reason, the crops have been filled. It is great to see new faces and meet new people, so a special hello and thank you to all who attended our crop this weekend. I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did!! And if you're looking to join us at some point, you can check out the schedule here...
I had to share this recipe from Dawn Kos...it was heavenly--and she swears it is a snap to make...
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Treats

2 packages of crescent rolls

2 packages of cream cheese ( i used the 1/3 fat cream cheese)

1 1/2 cups sugar (save half cup for topping)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg yolk (save the whites)

1/12 tsp. cinnamon

Grease a 9 1/2 x 13 pan.

Spread one package of crescent rolls in the bottom of the pan

Mix two packages cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 egg yolk with a mixer until blended. Spread over crescent rolls, Spread the other package of crescent rolls over the top. Brush egg white over the top and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of sugar mixed with 1 /2 tsp. of cinnamon. Bake in a 350 degree over for 30 to 35 minutes, cool completely and refrigerate. Enjoy!

Did you happen to notice I posted a couple of sneaks here? They're all ready to go...so fun!!

I'm gearing up for a really fun class called Banners and Garlands over at Get it Scrapped, and I can't wait to share more sneaks later this week. I've officially gone mad...I'm off the deep end here with banners, people...

Also wanted to say a special hello to the most amazing teacher who is also starting her own class over at Get it Scrapped today...Pattie Knox...
Some of you may know Pattie from her other classes over at Get it Scrapped. Her Digi classes are so easy to follow, anyone can learn from her. Trust me on this one, if I can do it, believe me you can too. Today she begins Mad Digital Skillz, and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us!!
See you in class!!

Our guest designer for March...

Full Name: Kim Faucher

Nickname: Kim, Kimo, Kimosabe, kimosabescraps

Where she calls home: Now, Barrington Rhode Island but I've lived in California, Arizona and Texas as well!

# of years scrapping: 9 years.. but I made bulletin boards and collages when I was a teenager.. it was always in my blood!

Favorite product lines: Making Memories, Heidi Swapp,Jenni Bowlin,Prima as well as fun eclectic things found at vintage shops, ETsy stores, etc.

Scrapping style: I have been described as a multi layered, fun scrapper. I like to try new things. I am not overly technique-y but love being original. I love pops of color, strong photography, and lots of fun embellishments.

2 Favorite tools My crop a dile... what did we do before that thing?? and my tweezers.. they get me out of a jam!

2 Favorite designers This is a hard one... I have come to admire so many people in this industry.. I really don't think I could just pick 2...I have always admired Heidi Swapp... she has an original style, not afraid to stick with what works for her and she is very classy. My other favorite designer is Joy Madison.. I have been so inspired to scrap time and time again from her creations.. She is unique, so much fun and I've been honored to become online friends with her as well.. She is one of the reasons I love this hobby and the camaraderie it brings.

2 Favorite color combos: I love black with a pop of strong bright color, like red or fuscia...I also love yellow, blue and green... such happy colors together.

2 Favorite CHA items you can’t wait to get: I am waiting on Heidi swapp extra large masks.. , Making Memories new Slice cartridges and some new Sassafrass Lass.

2 Favorite subjects to scrap: family events, day to day life, me and random things... I scrap it all... no real favorite subject!

2 Favorite foods: chocolate & coffee... don't know if those really qualify as foods...;)

I eat red vines in my studio while scrapping... I swear it helps my brain think faster!

You can visit Kim over at her blog here and see more of her work over at 2 Peas here.

Thanks for joining us, Kim!!

The Everyday

It's Colleen wishing everyone a happy Saturday!

Before I even gab away about what I want to share today, I just have to say that I got my April kit in the mail today and WOWEE!!!! So yummy and fun! Jillybean Soup y'all...so adorable and fun. And fresh! Really creative stuff out of this new company. I really think you guys are going to like what Trish has put together for next month.

Whew...
I just had to tell you guys.

Ok, now where was I? Oh yeah, the everyday.

I am a firm believer in everyday scrappage. Scrap yourself, scrap your day, scrap the little things. I think it is the Historian in me. I'm a history professor in my other life, and it is so important to document life in its entirety.

I've actually been keeping up with my Project 365 photographs and I have taken a picture everyday since January 1!! Here are a few of my favorites so far...just snippets from my life as it happens.

Last week it snowed, which is so rare for Atlanta. But, I wanted to capture not only the snow, but where we were as it was happening. So, I snapped this pic of our street sign.

Sometimes exciting things happen, like when we went to the circus on Feb 21

Sometimes it is just everyday routines and habits that get captured, like a peaceful drive through the country on my way home from school.


What I'm reading

eating

or even wearing


and of course, the special people in my life who sometimes have to be in every stinkin picture that I take (she's such a diva)


Capturing the everyday is so important in our pages. One day, someone will look through our albums, but they won't see us in them. We are the ghost behind the camera, but we need to put ourselves in our pages too.

So snap a pic of what is happening with you today and link it here!!!

another LO and a project idea.

hey ya'll! emily here :)

i had time to crank out one more layout using this months kit...

i loved the girly vibe i got in this kit.

it made me smile :)

**********************************

and here's a project idea.

do you have tons of photos printed, like i do?

see, i take so many photos, and have many that are frame-worthy, but i don't have the money for all those frames right now!

so, i got these magnetic boards from IKEA (of course!) and just started putting pictures up on them.

now i can easily take them down and replace them, when i find a new picture to put up.

these hang right on the wall when you walk into my home...and there are 3 of them. they were 10 bucks each, so it was a pretty good deal, and i get to display lots of photos.

have a great friday!

mini books...

There's no stopping me, I am addicted to making mini books!  I love how quickly you can create a coordinating album and with this months project kit that's just what I did.

Once I had it all together with the paper and the pictures I went back and added the little details.

This was a trip Chelsea had taken with her girlfriends, so I left the journaling for her to fill in.

cards.....

good morning! first of out i would like to wish one of our former design team members Molly Peckham ( and my best friend) and very happy birthday! Hope you have a fantabulous day and all your wishes come true!


now onto the cards..... i love to make cards!
i even run a challenge blog dedicated JUST TO CARDS!
(card a licious-if you wanna take a little peek)
my favorite way to start a card---is to just my leftover
suuplies for my WIP kits! a fun fast way to get a card done.
besides you already have all the stuff out!
here are a few i have made with leftover
kit supplies!

How do you tell your story...

Amy here, and I wanted to chat a bit about journaling. Since I have started scrapbooking more 'everyday moments', I find that journaling has become one of the most important parts of my page. I want to make sure that I remember why I decided to create a page about a certain activity or story, and journaling is a great way to do that.

When I am ready to journal, I find that my 'must haves' are these:



I LOVE my precision pens. I find they write the best, and don't like to journal without them. I am not a 'write by the seat of your pants' type of gal. I HAVE to write my journaling out with a pencil, then with my pen and then I go back and erase the pencil. That's where the white eraser is key, it does the best job without damaging your paper or smearing the ink.

I have become quite addicted to journaling tags lately. I was THRILLED when I got my DT package and this was included:

It made my jounaling life so much easier.
Etsy is also a great place to find cool journaling tags and spots. Here are a few that I have my eye on:

I love anything pretty much from Elle's Studio

This shop is also a fave of mine for journaling tags. Here is one of my faves from her shop:


As you can see, I use my handwriting almost exclusively for journaling. It's more because I'm too lazy to get up and print my journaling, and it's just easier and quicker to write it myself.

This is how I tell my story, how do you tell yours?

Three Things.

1. I have a daughter that loves to write me notes. If I work a crop and come home late, there is always a note from her on my pillow. I know when she gets to be a teenager, she won't want anything to do with me. So I have been keeping the special notes in a black 12x12 album for when those days come and I need reminders...
The idea isn't original--I lifted it from Becky Higgins. I simply place plain cardstock into the page protectors and insert special notes. I try and date them when I can too. I also have a book that I keep just for invitations and announcements--using the exact same concept. Give it a shot! It takes so little time, and the pay-off is well worth the effort...
2. I've been working like a mad woman on an upcoming online class. I can't wait to share more info soon!! It will be on banners and garlands--my latest obsession...
3. And last but certainly not least, you must see this movie. Regardless of how you feel about the war, the movie has nothing to do with politics. Taking Chance is a true story of a Lieutenant who volunteers to escort a fallen Marine home to be laid to rest-- Chance Phelps. Sometimes you watch a movie and it sticks with you. The journey of a military escort and the dignity and honor with which fallen soldiers are given as they are escorted home is something I didn't know about before this film. Take the time to watch--and bring tissue.

Peace.