Saturday, February 25, 2006
This amused me so darned much today!
I found this on a site I visited today and it amused me sooo much. This is one of my most favorite songs of all time- and someone was clever enough to change it into a scrapbook theme. So much talent out there:

(based on the song lyrics (Everybody's Free to)Wear Sunscreen by Baz Luhrman)

Scrapbook.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, Scrapbooking would be it.
The long-term benefits of scrapbooking have been proved by soccer moms, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering childfree experience.
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your negatives.
Oh, never mind.
You will not understand the power and beauty of your negatives until they've faded.
But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at the negatives of your photos and recall in a way you can't grasp now, how much possibility before developing and how fabulous they can now print.
Your handwriting is not as bad as you imagine.
Don't worry about future books.
Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to make a paper piecing by using a pair of lefty scissors in your right hand.
The real troubles making your book are apt to be layouts that never crossed your worried mind.
The kind that blindside you at a crop in some mall at Archivers.
Do one layout every day that inspires you.
Tear.
Don't be reckless with other people's layouts.
Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Trim.
Don't waste your time on jealousy with others layouts.
Sometimes you're 4 layouts ahead, sometimes you're 20 layouts behind.
The crop is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself, and the 120 lbs of paper you just HAD to bring… just in case.
Remember tips you receive.
Don't forget the techniques.
If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters you will need them in your "remember when" layout.
Throw away your old bank statements, who the heck scraps those?!
Emboss.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your books.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 12 what they wanted to do with their books.
Some of the most interesting 80-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of paper.
Be kind to your Fiskars.
You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll stamp, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll have walnut ink, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll only make one book, maybe you'll scrap your 75th birthday party.
Whatever you journal, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either.
Your thoughts and recollections are soon forgotten.
So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your stickers.
Use them every way you can.
Don't be afraid of them or of what other people think.
It's the greatest supply you'll ever own.
Crop… even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Use templates, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read scrapbooking magazines.
They will only make your layouts look ugly.
(Beat)Get to know your ribbons.
You never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your pop-dots.
They're your best fastener for your layout and the glue most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that embellishments come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to acquire the most supplies, because the older you get, the more you'll need the supplies to crop those photos you when you were young.
Crop in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.
Crop in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths:Supply Prices will rise.
Magazines moguls will philander.
You, too, will get old.
And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, magazines moguls were noble and children respected their cutters.
Respect your cutters.
Don't expect anyone else to support your scrapbook spending.
Maybe you have a savings account.
Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse.
But you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your layouts or after the 8th hour it will look like a 4 year old finished it.
Be careful whose coupons you use, but be patient with those who supply it.
Coupons are a form of collecting.
Dispensing them is a way of fishing your finances from the disposal, wiping it them off, inking over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the Scrapbooking.


Wednesday, February 15, 2006
You Amaze Me


Create My Keepsake design team work, featuring Chatterbox papers. I stitched the papers to the cardstock and added the flowers (cut from more Chatterbox papers) for some visual interest.

ETA: I re-worked this page after receiving a request from an online mag, but in the meantime, Creating Keepsakes picked it up for a special issue! (I'll add original layout back in when the issue hits the stands. YAY! So excited!



My pocket of Posies accordion album




Create My Keepsake design team work, featuring Pebbles, etc stickers and paper. The album itself is by Crafty Secrets. When it is unfolded, it reveals all the things I am tahnful for. The tags pull out from little hidden pockets. This was so much fun to work with!

The alpha stickers are Lil Davis and the ribbons are Queen & Co Frills.



Memory Makers toot!
After emailing back and forth with Karen at Memory Makers, I received the confirmation that they would like to use 'For the Love of Coffee' for the 502 Great Scrapbook Ideas book! YAY!


Wednesday, February 08, 2006
(almost) toot!
I got an email from Karen at Memory Makers today requesting my Nature page (about Madison) but I have already sent it off to Cantata to be published in an upcoming book.

I am going to email her back and see if there is anything else they would like to use instead. Keep your fingers crossed for me! :D


Santa baby


Scrapper's Daily Dose design team work, featuring Daisy D's products.

I just loved the look on Ava's face this year. This is what you gt when you tell her to 'smile!' The drool is just a bonus! LOL



Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Special Bond

***Soon to be seen in Ready, Set, Create! June/July issue***

Scrapper's Daily Dose design team work, featuring Magic Mesh. The papers, paper flowers & photo corner are all Chatterbox.

I wanted to make the Magic Mesh look like ribbon, so I used that in the corner and added zing to the photo corner by putting a little behind it- AND used my Quickutz to cute those super cute flowers that are the base for the Chatterbox paper ones. Had so much fun making this layout about Sadie and Madison.


Monday, February 06, 2006
peace

Ok, you know how sometimes when you are creating pages, you do things for odd reasons? Well, that was the case today. I just got off the phone with my Mom, who shared with me the passing of her aunt, Georgann. Obviously saddened by this news, I needed to take a break from all of my scrapbook work and just go be. Another reason I needed to step away: I knew. Sometimes in life, things happen for reasons we cannot control or even begin to understand.
I was working on projects for the SDD design team tonight, mostly happy pages- Santa baby, Special Bond & {love}. After setting these projects aside, I pulled the birthday page I had been working on for a while and started to feel restless. Before I knew it, I was sifting for pictures on my computer- I knew I was looking for something in particular, but I didn't yet know what it was. All of a sudden, I knew what I needed to do and started off working, almost mindlessly. This layout came together quickly and with an effort I have never had before. I finished it, looked up at the clock and saw that it was 9:45. My Mom called at 10 to tell me Aunt Georgann had just passed at 9:46. Miracles happen every day. Sometimes we have to believe and be open enough to feel them.
I love you Aunt Georgann, we will all miss you terribly. Godspeed.


Thursday, February 02, 2006
{love}

I just loved this shot of the girls...

This one went pretty quick. I made my own version of the 7 Gypsies 97% complete tags and crumpled Stampin' Up! cardstock for the heart and photo mat. The heart paper is Rusty Pickle and the ribbon is May Arts. Corrugated cardboard completes it.


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