Bad blogging day

Last night I was trying to get yesterday's entry up and kept getting error messages saying my URL was corrupted... And honestly I usually catch a couple of typos, grammatical errors once it's up - this holds true for yesterday too. But alas I can not go in and correct them as I am getting the error message when I try to publish it again even though it is only moments after it published it successfully. I love technology don't you?

My Little Monster...

Ok so I got a little side tracked but I did finally get what I planned on being my first layout of 2010 done.

You see I saw this paper by Reminisce while cropping at Stampers and Scrappers Delight in Boise and I thought I had purchased it as it was stinking cute but apparently I just fondled and drooled on it then put it back and got the Dinosaur paper by My Mind's Eye. But I digress...

So as I mentioned I fully intended the adorable (yes I know I'm biased) photos of my son in his 'new' to him robe and jammies with is brand new pillow cases to be the first layout I did in 2010. Well last Saturday I got invited to attend a hockey game with friends so went early and stopped by to pick up the paper and stickers by Reminisce but needing to create I had already done these pages.

As is my style the layout is very simply. I used a Prism base in Frosted Kiwi, used Intense Kiwi for the title and photo mat, the glitter frame transparency is by Fancy Pants, pattern paper and stickers from Reminisce's Monster Parade line and ribbon that just screamed at me to buy it while in the store. Since I don't 'do' ribbon that is saying something. I used foam adhesive to get two of the stickers to pop off the page. Currently I am big on handwritten journaling - don't ask me why as I hate my handwritting.



I also want to give a shout out to Prism and Jamie to say THANK YOU!! I won an amazing kit from them that arrived today. Today, the day I should have been only cleaning and getting ready to fly out to Florida tomorrow for my mini vacation but no all I wanted to do was dive into it's yumminess - is that a word because if it's not it should be. Now I have something to look forward to when I get back on Mondaya

2 Hours Equals ???

What does this stack of photos, 3 cardstock, 2 patterned papers, 1 vellum sheet, assorted rub-ons, and a few embellishments get you? Well if you scrap with the page protectors that MemoryWorks carries then you get 7 completed pages in 2 hours. Yes I said 2 hrs and that is with interruptions galore and taking the time to use my Cricut to do the title.

Like everyone else I am impatiently awaiting the launch of MemoryWorks Simple Stories line. So when I stumbled across 22 photos of a trip I took with my Mom in 1988 and realized I had page protectors in the same configuration as those used in Simple Stories well what else could I do..

This shows the stack of photos I started with


I originally pulled these papers but put back a 4 sheet of the patterned papers and pulled 2 co-ordinating cardstock sheets. Thus I ended up with 2 patterned papers, 1 vellum sheet and 3 cardstock sheets - I did not use a full sheet of anything!


This is my title page using the page protector that has a 4x12 strip across the top and 4 - 4x6 spaces. The rub-on used for my journaling spot is on top of the page protector and the "trip" chipboard is under.


Page 2 is of course the backside of page 1 and all elements are inside the page protector. I trimmed my top photos to 3 1/2 and mounted it in the center. Page 3 uses the 4x4 protector First Class is on top of the protector and World Traveler is on the cardstock.


Page 4 is the back of page 3 (like you didn't know that...) To save time I simply did my journaling on the back of the cardstock inserts - I did this through out you do need to ensure you do the lumpy items after you are done everything else.... Again top left rub-on is on the cardstock and bottom middle is on the protector itself. Page 5 is 4 - 4x6 and 1 - 8x6 space. I took my favorite, I know it's not the best one, photo and matted it then centered it in the space and placed a rub-on over the 3 layers. The quote under it is on the page protector.


Page 6 I trimmed the photo I wanted to use and centered it putting a rub-on over it and journaling under. The rest of the spaces simply hold photos. The last page has 1 - 2x12, 3-4x6 and 2 6x4 spaces. I placed the Travel tag is on the outside of the page protector as well as the 'bon voyage' rub-on. The scroll on my journaling card is on the cardstock.


I had fun literally whipping these up using what I had on hand and if I can get them done in 2 hours (I started at 2:13 and finished at 4:00) having to cut photos and paper just imagine what you will be able to do with the actual MemoryWorks Simple Stories line.

Getting our stories into albums will be a whole lot easier very soon!

My First for 2010

I am itching to play with paper and so is my hubby but don't tell his manly buddies... Jay enjoys sitting down and running my Cricut and Sizzlet machines (the silhouette frustrates us both most days) and he loves that I am making cards for Operation Write Home.

Today though we are going to sit down and make some thank you cards for personal use and maybe get a layout done. I say maybe as I have a vision - I know exactly what photos I want to use and what paper I need for them. I just am unsure if I have the paper on hand. So while dinner is on I'll be digging though the stack of yet to be filed paper I have on hand and getting everything else we will need ready.

Here are the photos I'm using for my first layout of 2010...

In my group of friends I am lucky enough to have some with boys just older and just younger than Reece so he gets awesome clothes from Sam and Max and when we are done they go to DJ. The first 2 shots are the 'new' robe and jammies we got just before Christmas. Reece now insists on having the robe ready when his bath is done - towels are not good enough for him any more...




In this shot he is reclining on the soft and gorgeous pillows made for him by Nej (Mom to Sam & Max). Her talent and generosity spoils all who have the pleasure of knowing her - thanks friend.


So what will your first layout of 2010 be? How do you decide or are you like me this time and had photos screaming at you to get them done?

Merry Christmas

I would like to take this time to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas. I won't be back until after Christmas as I finsih getting ready for our company. We have our big celebration on Christmas Eve with family and friends coming for cabbage rolls and spiral cut ham, mashed potatoes and a veggie. Salad, rolls, and several kinds of cookies and bars are on offer as well as the must have egg nog. Christmas Day is devoted to our little family of 3 most years and this year we hope to go sledding after present opening. It is possible that we might not have to travel as far as we usually do as there is a bit of snow and I am hopeful it will not all melt before Friday.

I have one last project to share with you this year. This is the frame I did for Jay's Mom compling several photos of Reece from 2009. My parents took one back to Canada, they don't know that yet, but it had some shots of them with Reece during their October visit. It is made using the awesome frame from Fancy Pants and as well as paper from them. There are Basic Grey rub-ons, Making Memories paint (if you paint the back of the insert you get a glossy finish and if you paint the front - like I did in the lower right - you get a matte finish) and assorted items from my stash. Reece, 2009 and the I heart you are cut using my early Christmas present the Cricut these are out of Fancy Pants paper.

We are just starting to play with adding a watermark to all our photos and as you'll see I suck at it... but the only way I learn is by doing so there it is - wink

It doesn't get any easier than Simple

I am a simple scrapper and I am an Independent Consultant for MemoryWorks so I couldn't have been happier to learn about the Simple Stories line being launched by the company I love. Check out the super cute blinkie for Simple Stories in the right sidebar.

If you are new to scrapbooking, unsure of your way around all the paper and embellishments this is an awesome place to start you on your journey. If you are like me and you've been scrapping for awhile but find you have less and less time to get your photos in albums then this is a wonderful way to get that done and leave you time to spare!

So are you excited yet? I know I can't wait... Launch for the line, the first time MemoryWorks has done one of their own, is January 18, 2010. Check back often there may be blog candy.

Happy Valentine's Day...

To most of us it is coming up on Christmas but for those who are making cards for Operation Write Home we are thinking a bit further out. The current call is for Valentine's Day cards - general themed cards are always needed - so while I am trimming my tree my work area looks like Cupid has taken up residence. I'll be honest V-Day is one of the harder ones for me it has all that red and pink... so I was thrilled with I found paper a little out of the box.

Here is my latest offering enmass


Here are some shots of groupings. I love this new stamp set from Unity Stamp and they ship super fast.


I used Basic Grey rub ons on these Valentine's Day cards making each one unique. Some also have hearts and XO's using Quickutz dies I bought then never used...





More of the Basic Grey Rubons used to make each unique.


These cards are done using an assortment of 'leftovers' from various kits and classes.


The general cards below have sentiments cut using my new Cricut (which Hubby loves to operate).


This is just a close up of one using my Cricut.


And just to show I have also been enjoying family time and because the subject is just too stinking cute not to share...





I plan on scheduling time to update here at least weekly as well as work on our website for our other hobby and that blog. Fingers crossed this happens...