Altered Canvas Class Layout

This project was so much fun to create! I'll be teaching this class on Saturday, February 12. Please let me know by Monday, January 31 if you will be attending.

New Year's Resolutions (Scrappy Ones, That Is...)

January's challenge on the MemoryWorks consultant site was to scrapbook your New Year's resolutions. Idea being that if you wrote them down, and further, went so far as to actually make a layout about them, you'd be more likely to keep them.

Now I swore off "life resolutions" years ago, but I do embrace the "One Little Word" concept (see previous post about that). That left me a little at a loss as to completing the challenge. But then I thought, "Y'know, I DO have some scrappy resolutions that I really want to see through in the upcoming year." So I made a page about those. And here it is, without further ado...



Product List: Echo Park Patterned Life Is Good patterned paper, alpha stickers, and element stickers. I created the photo collage in HP Photosmart Essential, then cut the photos apart and adhered them to the patterned paper. Computer journaling is done in Toxica font.

January Class Layouts

I chose Cosmo Cricket's Nutmeg kit for this month's layouts, and I was really surprised that I could get two such different themes out of it.



First up is a nice, Thanksgiving-themed layout. There is room for 4 4x6 photos (or 8 4 x 3's) and one 5x7 portrait-oriented photo.



And the second, a lovely Valentine-themed layout, with room for 4 4x4 photos and 2 4x6 photos. The block with the I <3 U tag on it opens up for a journaling spot or extra photo.

I really love both of these layouts, and can't wait til my 2010 photos arrive so I can add them!

SURPRISE!!!

Yesterday was my fortieth birthday, and my husband planned a big surprise party for me. I never suspected a thing! We had a fantastic time, and in the end, I didn't feel so skittish about turning forty.

I have big plans for myself as I enter this new decade of my life - in all areas, including scrapping. They say life begins at forty - I say bring it on!





Note: I've added some links to tutorials for Make the Cut software. Check 'em out!

Urban Traveler

January 2011 MW Express Kit

Polished and going places - our January MemoryWorks Express kit will fit right in with your traveling plans. Bold colors and easy, effortless designs make this kit a must have for the New Year. Add the fabulous embellishments and your favorite travel memories to create that urban look to any card, layout or home décor project!

Idea Express PDF

January 2010 MemoryWorks Express Kit Contains:

Patterned Paper
{1} 12x12 The District - The District (Scrap Within Reach)
{1} 12x12 The District - Ninth and Elm (Scrap Within Reach)
{1} 12x12 The District - 406 Eighth Street (Scrap Within Reach)
{1} 12x12 The District - Flatbranch (Scrap Within Reach)
{1} 12x12 Buddies - Flannel (My Mind's Eye)
{1} 12x12 Merry January - Ice (We R Memory Keepers)

Solid Cardstock
{1} 12x12 Hot Fudge Smoothies (Bazzill)
{1} 12x 12 Flintstone Smoothies (Bazzill)
{1} 12x12 Sugar Cream (Bazzill)
{1} 12x12 Spring Willow (Bazzill)

Embellishments
{1} Journal Clear Stamp (We R Memory Keepers)
{1} Negatives Rub-ons (Bo Bunny)
{3} Trinket Pins - Assorted Styles (Tim Holtz)
{3} Memo Pins - Assorted Styles (Tim Holtz)
{4} Journaling Tickets - Assorted Styles (Tim Holtz)
{5} Parisian Anthology Tickets - Assorted Styles (Pink Paislee)
{15} Willow Fabulous Brads (Chatterbox)
{1} Package Tiny Type Alpha Stickers - Black (Cosmo Cricket)
{1} Package School House Chip Letters (Cosmo Cricket)
{1} 1/2 Yard Jumbo Olive Cotton Ric Rac (Creative Impressions)
{1} 1/2 Yard Rust Grosgrain Ribbon (Creative Impressions)
{1} 1/2 Yard Oatmeal Grosgrain Ribbon (Creative Impressions)

Bonus Cards
{1} 5.5x8.5 Hot Fudge Smoothies (Bazzill)
{1} 5.5x8.5 Flintstone Smoothies (Bazzill)
{1} 5.5x8.5 Sugar Cream (Bazzill)
{1} 5.5x8.5 Spring Willow (Bazzill)
{1} 5.5x8.5 Papaya Puree (Bazzill)
{5} 5 3/4 x 4 3/8 Natural Envelopes

$29.95 plus shipping and handling. To subscribe, contact me today!

Loving...

I had the chance to retreat with a bunch of fun scrappin' friends over the weekend, and, even though I didn't get just TONS done like I normally do (too busy socializing - I haven't laughed that much in a long time - and I needed it!), I did come away feeling rested, refreshed, and inspired.

To top it off, I got to enjoy a rare snow day today, and I've been browsing around searching for new goodness.

Here's what I've found that I'm loving:

From BoBunny

Crazy Love

and Crush

And from Echo Park

Wintertime

and Be Mine

I can just see so many cute cards and layouts with these! And with Valentine's Day coming up (and my family's banquet/talent show), I can't wait to play!

Success!

At last - after a year and a half of procrastinating and working in fits and starts, I have FINALLY gotten all my photos into storage binders ala Stacy Julian's Library of Memories style. I set my mind to finishing this task three days ago, and now, 4 movies later (I find that watching movies distracts me and I'm able to get more done), I am finished!

I used the plain 4x6 photo albums from Wal-mart ($5 apiece), and did find along the way that you get what you pay for. Some of the seams between photos didn't hold up and I found myself having to replace certain pages. I'm storing anywhere from 2-6 pictures in each pocket (front and back), and have my photos in loose chronological order. These storage binders will serve as a sort of catalog of all my pictures that I can flip through and choose ones to scrapbook. Later, I'll begin "triaging" some of them into category drawers. More on that another time. For now, I'm basking in my success...and I'm excited to scrapbook again!

One Little Word

For the past couple of years, I've sort of secretly followed along with Ali Edwards's concept of "One Little Word." Year before last, my word was "purpose." Last year, I chose "possibilities" (although I think "change" chose me - against my will).

This year, I've sort of struggled and cast about, trying to find a word suitable for all the things I want 2011 to be. But I think a word has chosen me, and this time, it's one I can embrace. The word is "blessed," and that is certainly what I want to see manifest in my life in 2011. Not only do I want to realize what my blessings are, but I want to strive to help others feel blessed.

I had originally thought I would choose the word "unleashed," but that seemed a little too wild for me and my personality. I also thought of "new," "remade," and even "hopeful," "joyful," and "successful." All good words, but still, for me, not such a great fit.

Then one of my students gave me an adorable Christmas ornament with the word "Blessed" emblazoned on the front. "Hmm," I thought, "you know, I AM blessed!"

And then my sister gave me yet another, GORGEOUS Christmas ornament (as is our tradition with one another) that also displayed the word "BLESSED." This was particularly meaningful, as she knows very well the struggles I've been through this past year, and her declaration of "Blessed" in the midst of all that was a sort of claiming of triumph in the face of much sadness.

And, finally, just last night, I found myself describing to a very dear friend all the reasons I feel blessed, and that's when the word stuck in my mind as MY word. I'm blessed. I want to let the knowledge of that soak into my bones and let it radiate from me. I am blessed.

To read more about the One Little Word concept, check these out:
KLOVE
My One Word
Big Picture Classes

There's even jewelry specially designed to be a reminder of your word throughout the year:
Lisa Leonard Designs (hmmm...my birthday is coming up. Perhaps one of these would be an excellent present to myself!)