That's What Friends Are For

Credits That's What Friends Are For by Doreen Stolz and Verena Karolyi (Collab Kit); Everthing Stitched by Doreen Stolz; Painted Tapestry by Cottage Arts.

So I'm having a creative dilemma in my scrapbooking right now. At first I got into digi scrapping because I could make realistic scrapbook pages. "Is it live or is it Memorex?" If you remember that commercial from way back when...

But then, there is so much more to digi scrapping where you can make really creative and artistic pages. They don't look like traditional paper scrapping because you couldn't do these things easily with paper.

What's a girl to do?

I've been experimenting with new things, as you know from visiting my blog. I think that is what I will keep doing. Just trying all the different styles out there, but I'm wondering where your thoughts lie on this topic?

Give a teen the keys to the car and you give them power. DD is out in front of the house yelling at ds to hurry up and c'mon because he had to run back into the house twice as he forgot things. He's older, but the one behind the wheel is the master. I don't think she'll like it too much when he gets his license and the shoe is on the other foot!

My dh is so cute. If I work the evening shift, I call him when I leave work, and he has the garage door open for me when I get home! Isn't that sweet! (We've lost our opener.)

The person who hit my car was not at work last night so I didn't say anything. I want to look at their car to be sure. I'm not one to accuse based on supposition. I'd rather double check before I make a stink.

A little something different

This is my new blog blinkie that I will be adding to my siggies. Of course, if you want to visit my blog, you can always add it to your blog links and make it clickable! I used Beth Rimmer's ATC VAlentines kit available at Digitals. I wish I had saved it larger, but it is actually 3 ATC's all together in a row. I'd give a direct link to Beth's kit, but Digital's store is temporarily down!


Credits HERE

What's a woman to do with three giggly teenagers and an eager young man, but put on her iPod and scrap. So that's what I did while dd had her friends over after school. Girls can be so loud, and they were all stirred up. Ds had his headphones on in his room. He didn't hear a thing either.

I hope you like my lo. It's a little different for me. I'm always trying to learn new things, and I wanted to try out this style. The color part isn't out of my ordinary, but all the other things going on are. I layered two papers to get the effect I wanted and the color I wanted.

Ds starts his new job Wednesday. That should be interesting in a positive way!

I just want to say regarding my CT's that it is 2/18 and I only have one more obligation to fulfill and I'll be done for the month. Not that it's a burden or anything. I'm just the type person that when I have something to do I like to get it done!

Thanks to everyone who visits and leaves me a comment or a message in my chat box. It's always appreciated, and I'm going to try to make an extra point of visiting your blog if you leave me a comment!

If you have read my blog, you know I have been working with a "coach" at our Y to lose weight. Well, I lost five pounds until I met the Godiva chocolates I got for Valentine's Day. I ate all but two. He said I should have eaten a few and given the rest away. That's INSANE. I say eat them all at once, and then they are gone. He didn't buy that philosophy, but they weren't his favorite either! So I put on 2 lbs., which I still find hard to imagine. I think it is water from PMS. We will see next week. I need to be extra good as that is the last week of my free "coaching".

Favicon Frustration

So I made this favicon using an element from Beth Rimmer's ATC Valentine's at Digitals and the L from Jane Austen font. Much to my displeasure, I have not been able to get my favicon to show up. I tried finding an ico host to no avail. So I found instructions for uploading a gif file as my favicon. But nothing. I mean, honestly, I've managed to make hot links on my blog with blinkies and words as well as make my own header. You would think a stinking favicon would be easy as pie. And part of my personality is obsessive. In other words, I can't give up until I figure it out. It will drive me nuts.

Worse than this is I wasted my evening trying to do this and not creating scrapbook layouts! OH the trauma of it all!

Susan Darter left a comment on my blog yesterday, which was so kind and a compliment of the highest order imo! So if she reads this post, much thanks to you, dahlin'!!!

Tangie Baxter has made some great felt creations which I was going to play with tonight along with Rasberry Road's Legacy kit. There is, after all tomorrow!

So if you read my blog. I hope you like the favicon that will never be. I would rather play with my digi stuff than mess with that thing anymore!

One little stinky thing that happened was a fellow employee hit my car and broke my hubcap without leaving a message. stay tuned for updates on that as I go to work and ask whose car that was and explain to them that they hit my car and damaged my hubcap. I just want a new hubcap instead of a cracked one with a big hole in it as my car is only 2 years old.

Anyway, I will scrap my heart out tomorrow so look for some new lo's to be posted tomorrow night.

Rasberry Road

digi credits:HERE.

I have an anecdote or two about Valentine's Day, which I'm sure y'all would love to hear! I cute elderly couple came to the counter and was looking for a watch, but her dh wanted her to try on a ring we had on sale. She didn't want to try it one and kept telling him no, but he kept insisting. She put it on and said, "My hands look so old."

I told her they didn't.

And she said, "Well, when you're 70, you look old. And he's 80. Plus I've been sick."

I told them truthfully they both looked great for their ages and who cares if what your hands look like anyway. Wear what you want.

He told me to set the ring aside with her saying, "No, no, no, " the whole time, while they went and found her a watch.

The came up to pay for the watch, which she wasn't sure she should get because she might lose it. And he assured her she had never lost anything so why would she lose this watch. She told me again she'd been very sick. Honestly, she didn't look it, but I guess she didn't think she looked like herself or felt like herself yet.

He insisted on getting the ring which was about a 3 carat white topaz (I believe) with diamond accents. It was huge. Anyway, he insisted she wear it out, too. And was pleased as punch to buy it for her and have her have it on. It was the cutest thing you have ever seen. I so hope to be so in love still at that age with my dh!

His woman was getting that ring period end of sentence because he wanted her to have it and that was that!!!

I also had another customer, a young man, who was buying a ring for his soon-to-be fiance who was out of the country with her job. He wanted something fabulous, but not too expensive, but not too small. I showed him everything we had, which completely overwhelmed him. I could tell he was having an overload meltdown. He had to go home and think about it. Then he called me later to double check the price of his one favorite ring which is a three stone diamond ring in white gold. It is yummy. It has channel set diamonds on either side of the 3 stones. Just in case that was more than he could afford, he was worried if I had something similar but a little less.

Frankly, I love helping those in love. He's so eager to please and do it right. It's so cute. We don't get commission, but even if I did, I wouldn't break someone's bank just for my own gain.

Then I had a hilarious middle aged gentleman who brought me the sales and with the pic of what he wanted circled. I love a man who comes prepared. I showed him the case where his rings were, and he decided he wanted two others. He had to get two you see because he had two lady friends. Just friends he said. He took a very long time looking at each ring and selecting exactly the look he thought he liked best.

Then there was the future son-in-law who was shopping with his futer FIL. Now FIL had all the $$$. SIL had none apparently. FIL kept saying, "I promised to help you out."

SIL must be an idiot. That's all I could figure. It's a wonder FIL didn't choke him. "Do you like this," he would ask as I showed him each piece.

"I dunno. Do you think she would like it?"

OMG. It took a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time for that kid to finally commit to something all the while saying, "I don't know. Do you think she'll like it?"

I did manage to sell him a very affordable ring on clearance that was beautiful for his future wife, but it was like pulling teeth. I wanted to knock on his head and ask if anyone was in there!!!

And I'm sorry this is so long, but you must hear about the RUDIE-PANTS teenage girl with an attitude. Miss Rudie-pants says as loud as she can, "Can I get some help over here," as if I were ignoring her when I had just finished a customer and was putting some things back that I had set on the floor. I cannot have things on the floor out of the case if I am not right there!

I came over and she says, "I'm looking for something you had in your sales flier." You know this is my favorite line. "Can you describe it for me?"

Do you know what this idiot said? "NO!"

Great. Now how am I going to help her. What a dufus. So she gets on the phone with her mother who apparently sent her on this errand. Meanwhile another older gentleman walks up so he needed help. She was on the phone so I started helping him. She then says really loudly, "You were helping me first," and yells to the other girl working nearby, but not in my area, "Can you give me a sales flier."

I tell her that I need to page a manager to help her as I have another customer, but if she can wait a minutes, she will certainly be taken care of. Now I page 3 times before I finally get someone to come over.

She starts to tell me about some heart earrings blah blah blah. So I point her to some display tables we have, guessing as best I could based on what she was telling me.

Meanwhile, the gentleman I am with also wants some heart hoop earrings, sees them in the ad, and I go right to them. I ring him up and off he goes.

As he leaves, the manager shows up and she says that I sold her earrings she wanted to another customer while she was the one who got there first. WTF? Is she kidding me? This little teenage kid about 16 is to young to be so rude and lie!

But I didn't get in trouble because I did what I was supposed to: call for assistance from a manager when I have a problem customer. What a pain in my rump. On the phone the whole time. You know the type. No manners at all. Anyway, all those other cuties made up for it.

Hope you had a great V-Day. I did. DH got me my favorite Godiva Truffles...which Ihave been scarfing down until I am sick!

More Birthday Photos

Here are some more photos from dh turning 50! Aren't they cute! Soon to be scrapped!

I had a woman come up to my counter and say, "I'm looking for something you had in your ad. Can you tell me where it is?" Now, honestly people, don't you think I could get a little more of a description! She started getting mad when I asked her to describe it more so I could assist her in locating it. Like I was the dummy. Excuse me. HOw hard is it to tell me what it looks like...silver...gold...diamonds...gemstones...earrings...necklace...WHAT?!!!! GEEEEEEZ! The holidays really bring out the lulu's!!!

Then a lady came up all pissed off because "we sold her a 10K gold ring and it is turning her daughters finger blue." I had to tell her I really couldn't comment on anything until I saw the ring, but she should check for the 10K stamp on the ring, although it is possible her daughter is having a chemical reaction. It happens. So she said to me, "Well, that would make her finger turn red." I didn't say this, but I thought it, "NO, an irritation would make her finger red...like getting soap caught under it and it starts growing stuff..." bleh! Ok...enough of that. I just told her to bring the ring back and let us have a look at it. I'll definitely be calling a manager if I'm on because she was really mad about it. But like I said, I can't do a thing or comment without the ring...duh!

My convection oven is finally on sale. It's a counter top one that holds 2 12" pizzas. How cool is that! Our toaster oven is in sad shape so I've been waiting for this to go on sale! Wahooooooooooooooo!!!! Plus I have a coupon and my employee discount!

Marianne Wahlberg Kit Call! YAY!

Well, I check the calls at DST once in a while to see who is looking for folks, lately I'm looking for guest spots. I saw this gorgeous kit >Grandma's Treasures by Marianne Wahlberg. Her call was for people to play with her kit. I applied and WAHOOOOOOOOOOO! She picked me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I played with it. I mean, the colors are divine...gorgeous jewel tones. The elements are varied and so real. I can tell this is a kit I will go back to time and again. So thanks Marianne, if you read my blog, and I'd love to play with something else if you're looking again or have a guest spot!!!
And anyone else who reads my blog...if you have a guest spot...think about me!

I spent part of my day aggravated, but I may be over it! LOL! I've lost 5 lbs. using this "coach" at our local Y. He weighs you every week and then checks over your food diary. I am starting to hate that food diary because I won't eat things because I don't want to write it down. Yet, at the center of that very hatred is a 5 lb. weight loss that is coming at a pace that I will be able to keep it off!

But the kicker was the washing machine leaking all over the laundry room floor. Not one load, but two. I thought it was a fluke the first time, but it wasn't so when I ran another load...woooooosh...all over the floor. The drain hose from the back of the washer had come out of the drain spout in the wall and was shooting water on the floor! ACK!

So I had to relax and scrapbook and calm my nerves. heheheh. At least my laundry room floor is very clean.

Last but not least, Tangie Baxter, who is very generous with her DT, gave us 3 downloads today on our Design Team Chat. They are 3 different sets of frames that are HAWT. She gives us a very generous allowance, but these were outside of that!
Vintage Gallery Frames, Vintage Museum Frames, and Vintage Studio Frames. Please check 'em out, and if you get 'em, tell Tangie I sent ya!

The Black Cake, New Glasses, and My Handsome Son

Okay, here is the cake I keep talking about on my blog. Like I said, I needed to buy the bigger size of black food colorant so the cake and icing aren't as dark as I would have liked.

Also, check out my new glasses. Burberry. Not that I really care about the name brand. I just picked out the pair I liked. What do you do? If you have to wear glasses, you might as well get the pair you like the best.

I'm always trying to get ds to let me take his picture, but he is not interested. So I finally caught him on dh's birthday and made him take his picture with me! YAY!

New Layouts and the Birthday Cake

Credits here

Credits here

Okay, I had fun today making these lo's. It feels so good to not be working and be at home doing some things I love. That includes unzipping and playing with all the new things that the designers I create for have been making. I've gone crazy!

I tried something new today as well. I made that white background lo, which I usually do not do white! And I did the cartoony-handdrawn look that so many are doing. I like it when I have time to do things that I have been wanting to try, and I like stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things.

I also finished dh's black birthday cake. I guess I should have bought the large black powdered food coloring because my cake and icing are gray, but that still works! I didn't make regular cake icing. Instead I made cream cheese icing and then used the cake icing (made with crisco) to decorate. It's so fun having someone turn fifty and getting to mess with them a little bit. Wait til he sees his black candles! I'm so bad!

Ds has been so helpful today. He's excited that it's a birthday. He's like me. He loves a good celebration. Dd is in a bad mood. But then she helped me get presents yesterday so I can't really complain, although it is chapping my hide! Mainly she is mad because I wouldn't let her drive to the mall to get an ice cream and meet her two friends. But she hand't done her chores at home and exactly where was she getting $$$ to pay for ice cream??? Anyway, she's going to be having cake later with us so she doesn't need ice cream.

Tangie Baxter, Rasberry Road, Scrapstreet

Digi credits: HERE

Playing with Tangie Baxter's Mystery Case #2, which is available through Feb. 28th...I think. I need to double check. And a fun set of papers from Michelle Boeckermann at Scrapstreet called Caught Off Balance. I'm here CT rep for the month!!!

I have a lo I want to do from a magazine ad. Somehow I ended up with this one instead of that. You never know where your brain is going to take you on the creative process.

ATC's again, Tangie Baxter Designs

Digi credits: here.

Tangie Baxter's My Little Sweetheart {Girl} kit was perfect for this Valentine ATC. I'm either going to put this in a pocket on the front of a card or I might make a little ATC Valentine mini book.

I'm having so much fun making ATC's! I'll be making some more today!

Right now Tangie has a great Myster Kit no. 2! If any of you remember Mystery Kit no. 1, it was jam packed full of goodies! I'll be playing with these treats over the weekend!!!

Work was so busy last night. I'm not really sure what people even bought. I just know I was exhausted when I got home and fell asleep and slept really hard! DH met me at work and we had a dinner for two at our favorite restaurant. It was so nice just to sit and chat.

Do you know my DH will be 50 tomorrow? I am making him a black cake with black icing! He doesn't know it. I'm off to the cake store to get the black powder to color my icing. I will definitely have pictures of it!

I tell you a mother's heart really does get a tug when dd starts driving. That is freedom for a kid, and they are gone like a rocket shot. I've hardly seen her all week. I miss my baby!

DS went to his friend's house. The run dogs in fox hunts or something like that. Anyway, they have a gob of beagles and a fenced area with 3 foxes for training. Last time I was there, they put the puppy in to chase the foxes. That dog just ran round and round. There are also some mini machines out there like a bulldozer as the dad is clearing some land so he got to operate heavy machinery. No wonder he never wants to come home! LOL!

Beth Rimmer ATC Valentine's

ATC Valentines at Digitals by Beth Rimmer! Be sure to check them out! There's also another set if you can't get enough!

Don't you just love ATC's??? I've been in several swaps and am always amazed at what people throw together. Same topic, yet they are always so different! I'm really having fun with this ATC set and I'm going to play with some other kits, too, and make a variety!

Rasberry Road, Week 4 at Faith Sisters, Yoga and Weight Loss

See this lo over at Rasberry Road Design Team Blog: Click here.

I hope you will pop on over to the Rasberry Road CT blog because we always have lots of new lo's and the winner of our very first challenge is also posted there.

I just knew exactly what I wanted to do for the Faith Sister Challenge. I saw the perfect quote while I was out and about yesterday and then Chuck Swindoll was preaching last night about change on our local Christian radio station. I still need to do BEAUTY and KINDNESS. Kindess I will use the Fruit of the Spirit, but I haven't decided on beauty yet.

I went to yoga yesterday, and we had a sub. She nearly killed us. I tried to run at the Y today and was sapped and sore so I just ended up walking with a 4% incline at 4.0mph to get my sweat on! LOL! I can't kill myself as I do have to maintain some semblance of energy for work.

I lost two pounds from last week when I weighed yesterday which is fab considering I had cookies, chocolate, donuts, and a piece of cheesecake! The guy was amazed that I lost weight even after that, but I do know how to compensate by eating lower calorie foods. However, when I weighed today, the very next day, there was an extra pound. So I might have lost 5 so far or only 4. Either way, I have passed my first goal and am now working on the second. I have either two or three until I get there.

A Cropping Weekend, Fun With Tangie Baxter, Politics, and Teens

(1) The cropping weekend. I'm off tomorrow for a cropping weekend. Wahoo! Paper, not digi. I haven't done paper in so long! I'll be with my girlfriends. Lots of talking and laughing! Can't wait!
(2) Playing with Tangie Baxters Pink Sea Kit. Photo from our recent trip to our beach house. I love the beach in winter! It is so beautiful even if it is cold!

(3) My dh is a political junkie and is watching every little political show on CNN he can get his hands on. Myself, I just wish they would get it over with. Don't get me wrong, I'm voting, but I hate all the yada yada yada before they get into office.
(4) My dd was mad today because the car had to have new tires put on it, the oil changed, and new windshield wipers installed for her safety as she is a new driver. She wanted to drive to school or have the car dropped off, but that didn't work out so I had to pick her up ...much to her disgust. Then she was mad because the JV cheerleaders can't get their snap/clean motion right which means at the pep rally, the Varsity will have to do the same cheer they've done all year. They're all mad at JV. It's been a bad JV year.

And that is about it for today. I'm delaying packing my crap because I hate packing all my scrapping stuff. Just because you need everything but the kitchen sink. So I'm going to finish my Tangie lo and then go pack my junk!

Do we ever really know what they are up to???

Climbing trees, jumping on the bed, hiding in cabinets, or climbing on the roof? Evidence they got on themselves as these are all pics they took when we were at our beach house a few weeks ago!

Do they ever grow up? It's good to see the kid in them still, especially during these teen years.

Faith Sisters, Tangie Baxter

digi credits are here.

Okay, I knew when I saw the Faith Sisters week 1 challenge exactly what scripture I wanted to use. So here's my page. Well actually, I am making them to fit in a 5x7 card box. Fun, eh!

I don't have much to say today. Hard to believe. I'm tired. I worked today. Tomorrow is gym day. I was good on my eating plan. I made a tasty dinner, but most importantly, the coffee maker worked! LOL!

Faith Sisters Scripture Challenge, Bad Dinner, Coffee Crisis

Okay, what do you say about a day that starts with coffee shooting down the cabinets and all over the floor? I am not awake when I get up so I had to make the coffee as I was the first one downstairs. Let the dogs out, cleaned up a little poopoo accident, washed hands and went over to the coffee maker. Got the pot out of the dishwasher, put the coffee in, turned it on and next thing you know, coffee is spewing out of the base of the coffee maker, across teh counter tiles, and down the front of the cabinets onto the floor. I kept trying to figure out what was going on in my early am fog, and frankly, I just couldn't figure it out. Turns out I was missing the basket that actually should be holding the coffee instead of the piece that swings out, which is where I put the coffee.

Let's just say, the day was hairy from there so I'm glad to be scrapping and trying to wind down! And to end the day, I made a new recipe, which turned out very badly. It smelled a little funny and didn't taste that great.

I've lost another pound on my gym coaching thing so I'm down three pounds. WAhoo!!!

Finally, I needed the WORD today so I did my first of the Faith Sisters Scripture challenges: WAIT, which turned out to be an appropriate word for today.


credits: here

I hope you do photos of yourself. I have lost a few pounds over the past several years, and so now I am at a point where I am comfortable with my image. Trust me, this was a long time coming. It's important for your family to see you, too, in photos when they look back.

Anyway, I tried a new technique from PhotoShop Friday hosted by Jessica Sprague on her blog. I made myself glow! I also had to play with this new kit from Tangie Baxter My Little Sweetheart {Girls}

Sunshine Blossoms at Cottage Arts

Digi credits here. This paper is brand spankin' new at Cottage Arts and is called Sunshine Blossom. I think it is absolutely yummy!

What a day today! I thought I was going to get to scrapbook all day, but those family duties kept me going. DH and I ran to breakfast, which was great! And then he had to get new tires on his car because he got a flat yesterday. So while we waited, we went to Barnes & Noble where I read scrap magazines for free, and a Photoshop mag, and drank another cup of coffee while DH showed me hilarious dog pictures. Then it was off to pick up ds at his friend's house, which involved seeing their dog chase foxes. By the time we got home, it was time to run dd and I to the eye doctors for our eye exams. When that was over, I had to run her home so she could get to church and run back to the mall to pick up my sunglasses. My new regular glasses weren't ready. Then it was home to get dinner and there went the day!

I have some very cool glasses that should be here in about a week. When they get here, I will photograph myself. They are a little edgy and fun! Something different!

Play Time and Yummy Dinner

I made the most delicious dinner that was a tomato bisque soup with whole wheat tortellini, bourbon marinated salmon, brown rice with broccoli, and a fab green lettuce salad with walnuts, dried cranberries, and goat cheese. I'm full and very pleased with myself.

Tomorrow I do not get off work in time to catch the bus with the varsity cheerleaders, so I have to meet them at their game. Luckily, these are very responsible and well behaved girls so I am not worried. Also there will be about 4 other adults on the bus with them.

Oh, my crop is coming up. One whole week and then I will be on a scrapping weekend! Wahoo! I haven't paper cropped in so long, I hope I can remember how!

Now on to the fun part of the day...the scrapping. I got to play with a kit by Doreen Stolz. I love the rich colors of the Memory Lane kit. I decided to scrap part of my Christmas lo's with it. I just don't want red and green on every page! Since my guest CT spot with Natalie Bird Designs is nearly at an end, I had to play with a few mor things, too!


Digi credits: HERE

Thoughts

Just some random chatter today. I started a lo last night, but honestly, after working all day and then being aggravated by a flagrantly defiant JV cheerleader and having her mom in my face, I didn't feel the mojo!

I don't usually do the JV games, but they have run off two coaches with their attitude and the other Varsity coach was ill so I had to step in. Mind you, I'm a volunteer. When I got to the game, this girl showed up ten minutes late. Why? Cuz she didn't know what time to be there. No one told her. They announce it at every practice. I said that she should have asked one of the 15 other girls on her squad if she wasn't sure and to take 2 laps. The bball team was running to warm up so she could just fall in line with them and since no one was there, it wouldn't be a big deal. She tried the "she didn't know tact", but I have no sympathy for that this late in the year. Next thing I look up, and no lie, this girl is walking around the court. WALKING right under my nose. Now, I have 12 girls looking at me to see what I'm going to do. I told her to run, not walk. She told me she'd get sweaty. (um, hello? You're a cheerleader, duh...) Run. She said she wasn't running. I told her fine, that she could sit on the side and not cheer for me.

She ran to her momma who got all up in my face in front of the 13 girls. (I had 2 others that were late, but one of those just doesn't give a crap. I knew she'd be running when she got there.) Now, if I just say, "Oh, your momma yelled at me. You can just go in the game." What lesson is learned. The principal wasn't there because momma wanted to know who else she could talk to. The AD wasn't there either. What's a girl to do??? And I don't coach them so they can't run their laps tomorrow because how do I know they will do it? With that bunch, I know for sure they wouldn't!!!

Anyhow, they called the other varsity coach and since she's doing their practice, she said they will run today. Fine. I'm off the hook. And everyone behaves for the rest of the game.

Now, I went to yoga this morning. It was fab! I also have lost 2 lbs with the "coach" at the gym where I go. Right now it's about our eating. So I'm still waiting for him to give me a fitness plan. My diet is pretty good. There are some areas for improvement, which I know so I guess I'll focus on improvement this week and also exercise! LOL! I'll take 2 pounds. My goal is to lose 10 while I do this program. I'll take 8, if that is all I get!

Mind you, I lost those two even with being at the beach for the weekend! YAY!

Soon to have a licensed team driver at my house. She nearly lost her priviledge before she ever got it. She went out to start the car this morning and then actually HONKED the horn at me to come as it was time to go she had decided. DO NOT HONK THE HORN AT YOUR MOTHER or you will not get your license any time soon.

So mainly today I'm just doing stuff...laundry, errands...scrapping! YAY! That's my treat later today!

Doreen Stolz, Idol, Heath Ledger

Digi credits: Holly Jolly Christmas by Doreen Stolz, circle stitches by Lisa Whitney @ Scrapartists, fonts - CK Becky, King & Queen, Christmas on Crack

Well, another layout down as far as Christmas and designer obligations! I finished this one today. I made the "font" as far as using one of Doreen's papers to give it the stripes for something different.

I keep saying I'm going to try all the new techniques that I don't know in my Digital Scrapbooking mag. Soon! Right now I'm trying to catch up and working. I'll have a day off soon so I'll be able to take a little more time and fool around. But I do love trying new things and getting different effects.

Are you an Idol fan? I am. I love it! I love having my laptop cuz I can scrap and watch Idol at the same time.

Heath Ledger - what a waste to die so young. I'm not a fan of "Brokeback Mountain", but I loved "The Patriot", "10 Things I Hate About You", "Lords of Dogtown". I don't know why he died exactly yet, but I guess it will all come out in the wash.

Catching UP!

Credits: here plus I forgot to add that the fuzzy stitch is by Amy Teets Sun Porch!

Credits: here
My laptop is back so I am mega catching up on all my CT assignments. I was at our beach house this weekend thinking I would get alot done! Nada! Even as cold as it was. The pull of the beach is irresistable! I made this lo in the car on the way home!

I've also started the six week fitness thing at my gym. We have a "coach", and I'm meeting with him this week on Thursday. I better have lost some weight. We did not pig out at the beach and hopefully walking will have made a difference while I was there!

I entered CK's HOF many years ago when you had to send in photos of your lo's! It was just a fun challenge for me, but apparently some chicks think otherwise. Check out this article in Newsweek: A Scrap Over Scrapbooks

While it appears all work was not original, and the lady signed a statement saying it was, I think getting your panties in a wad over that, which I do agree is cheating, also means that people have too much free time on their hands. Why take someone else's joy, even if they didn't follow the rules? Just let it ride! It's not like your name was next on the list! I don't even read CK anymore because they kept publishing the same people who even re-scrapped the same photos and it was just more of the same ole same ole. Plus you can find lots of ideas online for free!!!

Beth Rimmer

Beth Rimmer at Digitals Miracle on Main Street & It's Raining Men (brad); fonts: Monika and Dear Teacher

Oh, the joy of having my laptop back and scrapping away and chatting with my scrapping friends! Happy, happy, happy!

As I sit here blogging, my cat is next to me on the top of the sofa making many tiny little sleeping noises.

DD bought this hat from AE with her GC from my sil for Christmas. It really is a silly hat, but she loves the darn thing! I'm definitely scrapping this photo! My laptop might be back today so maybe I will have something to show tomorrow!

I have been a working fiend since Sunday, but I am now of for several days. I'm very happy as I need a break to catch up on the ole housework. KWIM!

DS had the best day of his life yesterday because he had no exams, he got to stay home legally from school. That is his idea of heaven. I never let him miss school unless he has a fever, diarhea(sp???) or is vomiting. He got to sleep in and watch some shows and play video games. I did make him do some chores.

Now my two are on to a new semester and the last half of the school year starts today. New classes.

Not much else going on except my aggravating dog, Runt. When it is cold out, we bring the four dogs in at night. Runt is a Australian Cattle Dog according to our vet, but he looks like a Jack Russell/Corgi mix. He runs right in the house and jumps on the furniture trying to see if we will let him sit in the living room with us. We will not because in about 10 minutes, he will take a big poop in there. When he sees the other three running for the kitchen and hallway area where they sleep, he does go in with them. No bribe.

As for the morning...he's too smart for me. That's all I've got to say. He will run right to the oversized chair and sit there looking all innocent while the other 3 run outside to go potty. I've tried cheese. NOPE! Cereal. NOPE! DH said I must bribe with meat. Took out the ham. He looked very excited from his spot on the sofa. He sniffed the air and then buried his head in the pillow. Not budging.

I bring the ham over and wave it under his nose, carefully pulling the ham back as he snaps for it. He moved an inch, and realized he had moved, and so burrowed in the chair. He looked at me innocently. I know I've got to get this dog out or he is going to POOP in my living room. He just is like that. I try the ham again. No deal.

Finally, I have to go get a towel, in case he pees in excitement, and wrap it around him to cover his wee wee like a diaper. Then I have to lift his overly elongated body with his four little stumpy legs dangling and carry him outside. What a mutt!

New Stuff At Tangie Baxter Designs

Pink Sea

Just cruising around this morning seeing what is out there in digiland! I came across this gorgeous alpha from Tangie Baxter's Love Letters and of course, the Pink Sea, above. Aren't they just terrific. I can hardly wait to use them.

Which if you know about my laptop, will be soon. It's on its way back to Best Buy as we speak. I'm going to call and check this morning. I can hardly wait for it to get back here. Even though I have scrapped some on the other computer, it's not the same as my laptop with all my stuff on it!

Here's another gem I found on my wandering from Natalie Bird Designs Ultimate Element Collection.

Not too much else going on this week. I hope to get alot of scrapping done!

Rasberry Road, Natalie Bird Designs & Cottage Arts

DD on Christmas Eve...

Digi credits:
Frilly Knickers Papers and Frilly Knickers Elementsby Handmaid Designs (Katey Green) at Scrapstreet!
brads: Cottage Arts Scrap Attachments
frame: Natalie Bird Designs Eclectic Desires Frames
hinge, leaves, flower center: Natalie Bird Designs Eclectic Bits & Pieces
barcode: Natalie Bird Bar Code Stamps


This is my cat who is very excited that we have a leaky faucet. He only drinks from a running faucet...what a nut!
Digi credits:
Rasberry Road Hemingway Collection, Natalie Bird Designs Doodle Alpha, Natalie Bird Designs Eclectic Desire Frames, Natalie Bird Designs Sparkles

Been scrapping all day using my PSE 5.0, which I loaded after my frustrations yesterday. One of my fellow CT members at CottageArts was kind enough to point out what I was doing wrong that was frustrating me the most. To make a long story short, you don't just drag your element up from your tray. That's what's different. But I survived and got an answer so all was not lost!

Finally got to play with Natalie Bird's stuff. Oh yes, being a guest CT member is very exciting! And I played with the Rasberry Road Hemingway Collection which I have been chomping at the bit to try out.

Please excuse me for being lazy and not posting direct links to everything. Just click on my blinkies on the side if you want to go have a peaky...Although I do need to add Natalie's direct link and her guest CT blinkie. I'm tired. Maybe I will do that after work tomorrow!

I survived yoga with my healing back. It felt so good to stretch out that knotted up muscle. I can't tell you how much better it feels even if it is somewhat strained. It is looser. It may sound insane, but it is true! I will be back in yoga next Tuesday since that is the earliest class I can make.

I did basically nothing today except for a load of laundry and the dishes. Oh well, what can I say...heheheheh.

Disorganized, Cottage Arts, and PSE 6.0

Digi credits: CottageArts Paper Bag by Julie Meade font: Enviro

This is my most recent lo done on my non-laptop computer with PSE 6.0 trial instead of my usual PSE 5.0. I HATE PSE 6.0. It is aggravating. Not that I was considering changing, it was a matter of convenience to try and get some lo's done because I was going crazy not scrapping!

I'm not sure why, and I have yet to figure it out, but when I put an element on the page, it ends up with a gray background, that I have to cut out. Annoying when you have do to this on every element. And, one element it wouldn't even let me put on the page, which of course, was the one I wanted the most. It kept giving me some stupid message. If this is an "improvement" from PSE 5.0, then bump that is all I've got to say!

I love this Paper Bag set by Julie Meade at CottageArts.net. It really is alot of fun and versatile. The alphabet is one of my absolute favs. I must say about the stitching, too. It is the most realistic I have seen of anyone's. Top notch!

Let's see what else is going on? I am off today and then work for seven days straight. I can't complain though, because they are majorly cutting hours, so I'm lucky to have the mega hours I do have!

I heard a great talk last night on radio by Chuck Swindoll about the uniqueness of each child and appreciating that in your children. Having a child with ADHD, and I mean the poster child for ADHD, and one that is not, and a boy and a girl and so on...I have been very careful not to compare them to each other because I do not want one to feel either one is favored, more special, or better. Both my children bring joy to my world and brighten my day...except for the teenage part. Sometimes they both really chap my hide! LOL! Anyway, hug your kids today and appreciate what makes them different. It's what makes the world go around and keeps us from being bored.

New Guest CT Spot For Natalie Bird Designs

YAY! I found out today that I get to be a guest CT for Natalie Bird Designs. I'm so jazzed. She is very talented and has great designs! Check out her site: Natalie Bird Designs Oh, there's so many things I'm drooling over...hehehehe I love the Doodgle Alpha! It's so cute! And the Grungy Bold Alpha...along with the 20 Tattered Tags...I could go on and on. Hope y'all check it out. Can't wait to get busy creating!

Kids back at school today. Had a very productive day cleaning and doing laundry. It had to be done. So tomorrow I'm going to play some. I went to the gym as well. I'm going to give yoga a try and see if my tendon has healed and my back can take it. Garsh, age is a pooper isn't it! LOL!


If you have teenage girls, you know they love to photograph themselves and their friends. Of course, mine is no different. She took this photo of herself recently, and I absolutely love it. To me the lighting is amazing! Of course, in photography, that is something that always catches my eye.

Both of mine are chomping at the bit to be licensed. By the end of this month, I will have two licensed teenage drivers in my home. Please pray for me, and I'm not kidding!

From the Ali Edwards blog, I picked ME for my word for the year. I found a quote today from the newsletter from Faith Sisters from Galatians 2:20 “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

I think I am going to make that my ME quote for the year. I will memorize it and remember it and reflect upon it. Part of me this year is Spiritual ME, always room for improvement there! So as part of this journey, I subscribed to the Faith Sisters' Newsletter. And look, I'm inspired already! Maybe I will make an ATC about that...hhmmm.... one never knows!

More Vintage Photos and Rasberry Road Talk

Here's some more things I found in the vintage suitcase from the closet. I think I may be through all the pictures. Now to go through all the clippings and letters!


This is my mother at age 20.


This is a corsage I found preserved from a dance in the vintage suitcase I'm going through. How cool is that!


This is my mother at age 7 playing in the snow. It appears to be across the street from the house where she grew up! Isn't this great!


This is from a newspaper article about the cheerleaders at her high school, which of course, features my mom. She also played basketball, field hockey and swam!


Credits: All papers and elements from the Heirloom Garden Collection by Raspberry Road Designs with the exception of a few elements taken from various Raspberry Road Designs Collections and the Inked Edge Overlay from the Overlay Collection Vol. 1 by Kris Myers. Template by Yin. By Cheryl, a Rasberry Girl.
Just click on the photo and you will go straight to the RR Girls' CT blog!

I really feel lost without my laptop. It's so easy just to sit down on the sofa and go to it. Instead, I have to be in the other room now, away from the family, with non of my stuff. I'm so spoiled. To think that before this was the only way I got on the computer, and it never bothered me then!

We are supposed to share a quirky fact about ourselves and do a lo about it using our favorite kit from Cottage Arts. Let me tell you my quirky fact: I will not drink milk out of a plastic cup. I think it's disgusting. Only a glass!

I haven't been digiscrapping using this computer. All my pics for the most part are on the other one with all my kits and such. I don't have PSE on here. This is the kids computer! It's so hard not to scrap.

Of course, I could paper scrap, but it has been so cold and my bonus room is freezing with those attic dormers. Even though I have a ceramic heater up there, I'd have to wait until it warmed up. BRRRRR!!!

Scanning Family Photos

Since my laptop is off in Best Buy land, I'm scanning some photos from a vintage suitcase that was from my grandparents' house. The one that fascinates me the most is the sepia photo of my Nana. She was born in 1912 so I'm guessing this photo is from the early '30's. It's really fun to see her at such a young age and such a pretty photo of her. Can't wait to scrap it!



Nana is the shorty in the front-center. This one absolutely kills me because the Nana I know would be having a fit about being in the pool and getting her hair wet, let alone smushing it with a bathing cap. She liked to look just so and the definitely involved dipping body only in the Club pool. I bet these ladies have had a great time (and a few cocktails).



My last photo for tonight was taken in the summer of 1951. Nana is the lady in the middle with my mom. I'm not sure who the guy is. It's got to be Pop-pop, but it sure doesn't look like him in this photo! My mother was 11 in this pic, and they are off on a family vacation somewhere. It's a shame it doesn't say where, and sadly, everyone is dead that I can ask! More importantly, I have the photo and can get it scrapped so my family will know who these people are!

Ali Edwards has a challenge on her blog to select a word for the year. I have chosen the word ME. This year is going to be about me. Me at the gym, me eating healthy, me doing a job I like because I want the discounts, me enjoying the beauty parlor when I get my hair colored and cut, me getting a pedicure. I don't mean selfish. I mean taking care of me. Preserving me. Sometimes ME can get lost in the shuffle and with the kiddos leaving the nest in the next few years, I want to make sure there is a ME here when they are gone off to their first of life's challenges and triumphs - college!

You Would Be a Pet Rabbit

Playful and hyper, you enjoy being around other people... as long as everyone's having fun. You are easily bored, and you almost always need some sort of entertainment. If you're not keeping busy, then you're apt to get in some sort of trouble! Why you would make a great pet: You're very entertaining, even when you're not trying to be Why you would make a bad pet: Well, personal hygiene isn't exactly your thing... you kind of smell sometimes What you would love about being a rabbit: Playtime... and eating flowers What you would hate about being a rabbit: Being held like a toy

What Kind of Pet Would You Be?

Oh The World Of Computers and such

My computer is "in the shop". The one I normally work on. The letter 's' fell off and then when I was trying to fix it, the directions said take another key off so you can get the plastic piece underneath it, configured correctly. So I took the 'd' off...only to discover that this is a bad idea. Now, both the 's' and the 'd' are off. Let's face it, we use those letters alot. That's why the keyboard is configured the way it is.

My dh said that he was a little worried for the Geek Squad guy at Best Buy. He thought I might eat him as he was trying to put the 'd' back on. These little plastic things that sit under the key are made in China by people with very tiny hands. You can just imagine a large overweight guy with fat fingers trying to manipulate this thing and shaking at the same time. I was probably giving him the evil eye without realizing it. But honestly, I'd already done all that, and to make matters worse, he was doing it backwards, inside out, all wrong. OMG!

I checked on the internet before trying to see if I could get this thing fixed because I wanted to try and fix it myself. This resulted in the 'd' popping off the keyboard and shooting who-knows-where. DH had to find it for me! I learned that the computer manufacturers do not sell these letters or their "seats"-shall we call them for lack of a better word. But a techie at Dell figured out, after numerous service calls about this problem, that there was a market for this. Although, in my whole life on computers, I've never had this happen before. I think it was a manufacturing defect in the 's'. But, there weren't any e-bay people, which is where this guy landed, selling Gateway letters. And the reason you have to take one letter off is to figure out which little plastic seat you need.

You can also buy the whole keyboard, which is around $64, instead of the $150 the local dude wanted to charge. To which I responded with my newly found knowledge, and the techie was impressed. He said, "I see you have done your research." DUH if you know me.

All this craziness to say that the computer is still under warranty. BUT have you seen the disclaimer you have to sign at Best Buy for them to send off your computer? It says that they are not responsible for incidental damages while your computer is in their care. I had to ask the little techie guy about that because how could I be responsible if they were in possession of it. DH is used to me. Then, there's the disclaimer about some sort of deposit and also another thing about if repairs are above a certain amount. Techie had to fix that because my cost is zero under warranty and I'm not giving them any room to maneuver when I can get replacement keys or a keyboard myself for less than they are going to try and squeeze me out of! But since it is under warranty, that is a non-issue.

Poor techie did ask me if I had bought the extended warranty at Best Buy. To which I had to reply, "Everyone knows that if something is wrong with your computer, it will die within the first 30 days." DH loved that one. Techie knew it was true and he left it alone. Honestly, I was under duress facing CT assignments, bills coming due, schedules for work all on my laptop. I was trying to be polite at the same time, irritated as all-get-out!

Anyway, this leaves me with much time to scan and put photos on disks to be used in 2weeks to start digi scrapping like a fiend!
Happiest of New Year's to y'all. Check out the Rasberry Girl blinkie that Jill Zwick made for us. I'm totally jazzed!