Finished Camp Layouts

Finally finished the lo's for cheer camp. Now I just need to get them printed out. That's the easy part! lol!

I'm excited they are done because when the cheer season actually starts, I'll be that much farther ahead with dd's book.

I wasn't sure how I was going to do her cheer books: whether I was going to do one frosh, one soph, one junior, one senior or do a jv book and a varsity book. But since she made varsity, I'm just going to do a jv and a varsity book.

Went to the CK Convention near here. Went crazy and spent too much. Not more than I expected so it was all really planned. I was fairly good as far as I didn't buy everything in site like some people. I bought the new Basic Gray Periphery and the Mellow with matching Bazzill cardstock, a few 7G embellies, a hoard of paper by Fancy Pants with some coordinating cutouts and rubons and a set of ribbon and some 12x12 chipboard cutouts, as well as some 12x12 chipboard, paper and ribbon from ???. Drawing a blank right now. Specific plans for this stuff...my wedding album, older Christmas photos, and Halloween photos that I have already sorted. Also got a convention t-shirt to wear to crops.

The two lo's above are sketches from Lindsey's blog. Not sure what number because for some reason her blog is not online today.
Digital elements from: Dora Phillips, Janneke Smit, Rhona Ferrar, and Lisa Whitney.

In a rush

Heading to CK Charlotte tomorrow to check out all the goodies. I"m so excited. I have 3 lo's...well, two. One is a two pager that are going to be in the Sept. issue of Scrapstreet. I'm so excited. I've got to get busy this weekend and pull them off my blog. No peaking! hehehehehe

I'm on Lindsey's Blog!

Oh, I've had a great surprise this morning! Lindsey added my sketch, along with Janneke's and her original to her sketch site. I'm very excited to be there with all the other girlies that she has posted on her site!

You definitely need to go over there and check it out. She has a choice of layouts for those of you who like one photo or many or one page spreads or two. Great sketches. I'm definitely going to do more. I would have done more, but for all the challenges over at Divine Digital that I've been doing lately!!!
This weekend I'll be heading to CK Convention. No classes. None that really interested me. I guess having taught myself and being a "cutting edge scrapper", I'd done or could teach all that they were having. I'm not being a bragster here, just true.
That's one great thing about hanging out at internet scrapbooking sites. You get to learn so much and definitely stay current!
By the way, I hope they have some of the new stuff from CHA there! I've been cruising various sites that have things posted and YUMMO to quote Rachel Ray!
Scrapstreet and Divine Digital had some Christmas in July stuff going on. It is fun to do Christmas in July. Great idea on that! I need to dig up some Christmas photos. Maybe after CK Convention!!!

Cool Challenges from Lindsey's blog

PULLED FOR PUBLICATION
Busy doing scrapbook challenges at Scrapstreet last night. I did 3 lo's all together -2 for the sketch challenge which was taken from Lindsey's blog and one for the lift challenge.

It was exciting to do the sketch challenge as I made my own torn paper! Yes, I did - using a brush and the eraser. Also made my own brush out of the cake top to stamp on the one photo. I'm just learning so much lately!

Participated in the online chat at divine digital regarding the Christmas tag swap. We all got a total of 16 tags - the two that we made plus everyone elses. Great variety and good job by all! It's kind of fun to have the chat format and get to know the other participants. The hostess had a quiz for prizes and I did get a 50% off coupon to a digital kit.

August Scrapstreet e-zine will be coming out soon, and I will have 3 lo's in there so I"m excited about that. Wonder if I will get anything in September. I have submitted 3 things for that! We'll see!

I also completely lost a lo that I started on vacation, but I guess that's what happens when you scrapbook digi in the car. I must have deleted it in error. I had the one I started, but the other one is nowhere to be found. I got a little carsick so I was in a hurry turning off my computer. Should have saved along the way. I
do know better than that! Oh well. I'll just do it over!

Also filled out a design team application for a website that Di posted at Scrapstreet. One never knows! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Day 12 at Divine Digital

Ok. It's hard to believe, but I am caught up from being on vacation. Divine Digital can post the next challenge, and I am ready! For day 12, Royanna talked about portrait photography. Frankly, I took a photography class at the local adult ed place a few year's back so I really didn't need the tutorial, but a refresher is always nice! Lucky for me, though, dd is obsessed with photographing herself and her friends. I had plenty to choose from to do the box layout challenge. Can't wait to see what day 13 is! oh Yeah! Now maybe I can clean up my hard drive a little and organize some of my stuff! heheheheh

Story Board & Christmas Tags

Well, we are learning so much at Divine Digital. Royanna is teaching us all kinds of things with Photoshop. I know people look for tutorials and buy books and such, but I have found everything I need on line by doing google searchs. Royanna, at Divine Digital, has a tutorial just about every day and a challenge to go with it. That has really helped me learn some things! I feel like my digi knowledge is growing exponentially. There is alot more to learn. I know I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of PSE 5.0!!!
Also did a challenge for a Christmas tag swap. I'll brag for a second and say that I've gotten rave reviews on my tags. I'm rather excited because I designed them myself. Although each does have an embellie on it from someone else...
Di posted about a CT call. I"mg going to try. It's for digi. I have no idea if I'll get it, but if you don't try, you will never know about it.
Now the storyboard is my friend's garden, Nancy. She has a knack for growing. I'm always fascinated by what she has in her yard when I visit. Check out her passion flowers. They are so beautiful! That bottlebrush is so vivid. Nature is amazing in its crayon box. Storyboard is by Royanna Fritschmann. The rest of it is a kit I designed called Inked & Distinct.
The two embellies on my tags are by Royanna. The rest is me! YAY! I found the quotes on the internet.
I"m really enjoying this digi scrapping. I guess you can tell by all the pages I'm doing. And as usual, I appreciate everyone's encouragement along the way!!!

Day 10 At Divine Digital

Day 10 at Divine Digital is about your style. Well, my favorite style is collage. I put a little saying on this lo. It says, "A cluttered mind is a terrible thing to waste!" LOL!

I like to do linear and graphic styles as well. Of course, anytime there is LOUD color, I'm in! I also like vintage. It just depends upon my mood.

Kit credits:
Photos: Royanna Fritschmann
Traci Reed
Lauren Bavin

I should be out mowing the lawn. Am I? No, I just had to do my challenge. I'm almost caught up from being on vacation! I didn't do one challenge though, as I mentioned before because it wasn't my cup of tea.

I also noticed they were having a Christmas tag swap. I might have to participate in that. It sounds like fun!

Day 9 at Divine Digital

Our challenge today was to use all the letters of our name in our title. So I did! Template was provided by Royanna Fritschmann and digital kit is by Traci Reed - Vibrant.

Scraps of Life

For day 8 we had to scrap 10 goals that we had in life. Now, I should have made the 10 ones I already did! LOL! I have more than 10 goals and I have some serious ones and some superficial ones. I just jotted out what came into my head in no particular order.
Lots of credits for this design:
curve: me!
wings: Blue Moon
stitches, photo turn, lace, binder: Traci Reed Unbound
every thing else: Royanna Fritschmann at Divine Digital

I hope you like my quote from Satchel Paige..."sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits."

I didn't do day 7 because it was some stuff I wasn't really interested in. We don't have to do every day. If you do 30 out of 50 challenges, we get a coupon or something. I can't remember off the top of my head, but Royanna's challenges and tutorials are so good, it doesn't really matter.

Now I'm off to do day 9!

First freebie

I have my first freebie posted on my blog. It's a love sticker. Check out the link to la art and design studios. That is l - a as in Leigh Ann.

My kit is done except for one thing. One element. It's one embellie, but I've been having too much fun making digital layouts. I'm addicted. I have a problem! LOL!

ATC Card and Making A Sticker

Well, I'm back from vacation. Lots of stories to tell, which I will. I need to catch up on so many things...ie bills and such. Today was eaten up by getting a new tire since we got a flat on the way home. Praise GOD!!! that no one was hurt and it was just annoying because we had 2 holes in the sides of the tire - each one was 1"!!! Anyway, my tire on the van is an odd size so I had to take it to the dealer to get the tire. Which is fine. I just had to have a tire!

I did have a few minutes to scrapbook tonight so I did a challenge at Divine Digital. Day six was to do the tutorial and make a grunge brush and then use it to make a word sticker. Then use the word sticker on an ATC. So here is my ATC:


Credits: DAISIES welcome Kit; Traci Reed

Tomorrow is laundry and paperwork and cleaning to catch up so I will have some time during my morning coffee to check on friend's blogs and cruise a few boards!

On Vacation!!!

So I've been on vacation...and still am...in sunny FL. Soon to be home. One thing that was fun is working on my laptop while we were driving. I got the alphabet done for my digi kit! And on the way home, I can scrapbook with it with some of the photos I took on vacation!

We are having a great time visiting my cousin. She is always a scream. Our families get along great, and it is very low key.

We did hit Cypress Gardens. That is a whole story in itself and will probably result in a single page of journaling only to fit it all in! We got lost on the way, stopped in a seedy spot to get directions and saw a drug deal (OMG), finally got there. Enjoyed our day. Decided to cool off when they had to close things for a few due to the rain...only it was a stationary rain with thunder and lightning, resulting in them having to close the park after an hour and a half of this, except our stuff was still back at the water park..so the first aid guy had to ride my dh out to get our stuff...still raining...got lost again on the way home...lovely tour of Lake Wales!!! Stopped to get gas and two guys were about to get in a knock down drag out. Amazing!

Check out some local shopping. Visited my parent's grave and took flowers. Hit Ron Jon's surf shop for the kids. Visited dear friends and enjoyed time with them. Lots done. Tired, too. Ready for my own bed. That's how you know it was a good vacation!

Sample of my new kit

Here is the start of my kit. I six papers and one ribbon so far. The cardstock looks like twill and so does the ribbon. The striped pattern also looks like twill. The other two look inked. Need to decide what else to put with it!

A new blog

I've started working on my blog "la art & design studio". I'm planning on designing digital kits and elements for sale. I have a few elements designed for my first kit already...a ribbon and some papers...I'll have to get cracking when I get back from vacation. Everyone needs some time off!

Making a brush from a picture.

Ok. I did it, but I tell you, I"m not happy with the lo at all. Day 5 at Divine Digital is making a brush from a photograph. Selecting what you want, cutting it, cleaning it up and naming it as a brush. I made the daisy on this lo as my brush. I like the brush itself, just not the lo. I think the problem is the cake!!! It's for my cake decorating mini album anyway. I designed everything except the frame. That was a freebie from Royanna Fritschmann. From now on to be referred to as RF until I am finished her challenge. Her name is lovely, but it is too stinkin' long to type all the time!

Creating patterned paper in PSE

REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION IN SEPTEMBER SCRAPSTREET.COM MAGAZINE

Busy evening creating over here! Got a little tutorial from Divine Digital and Royanna Fritschmann on how to make patterned paper. So I did! It was fun and not as hard as I thought!

This layout showcases my papers! Wahoo! Of course, overlay by Royanna Fritschmann at Digital Designs. Stiches by Lisa Whitney @ ScrapArtists, and kit by Traci Reed, cut circle template by Jen Caputo!

Not too many more camp layouts to do, but I"m sure I'll be taking alot of pics this year so I want to get them done. I'll wait until there is a sale again before I print out all I've done lately. Dd's book will be getting nice and full.

Not to be ignored. I do have some lo's to do of my handsome ds. Some from spring break and such. He's just sort of low key lately so I happen to have more pics of dd. They go through phases and I'm sure it will all even out in the end!

The day 4 challenge at Divine Digital was to make a layout and answer three questions about myself, but frankly, I didn't want to. We were supposed to use our newly created paper. I went and used the paper, but did a SNS Lift Challenge at Scrapstreet instead.

I really love challenges and sketches. They have gotten my mojo going lately! Can't wait to see what day 5 is at Divine Digital!

Day 3 @ Divine Digital

I'm having a few problems at other galleries getting some of my stuff uploaded. I figured out one...my files were too big. Fixed that. Posting away at Divine Digital. Now to work on the other.
Divine Digital's day 3 challenge was to make a flip flop layout. I think I could have done better on the flip flops. I tried to give them some dimension. I made the background paper myself using a tutorial by Royanna Fritschmann and an overlay she created. She also designed the flip flop shape.
I"m trying to write this with one of my contacts up in my head. So it is making it hard to see. I need my new lenses to come in at Walmart. Should be any day now. Until then I guess I'm going to be a cyclops with one eye or blurry. Geeez!!!!
Tomorrow RF is going to teach us how to make patterned paper. I used the overlay she created, and have figured out how to ink the edges of my own paper. That is a small miracle in itself. Just fooling aroudn with the brushes.
I need to link to her tutorials. They are very good. I believe she uses CS2, but it works with PSE, too. I know there are differences, but so far nothing I can't figure out!
I had a fabulous breakfast with my dear friend, Dee, today. She is an amazing Christian woman who has really inspired me on my journey. I love talking with her. She read my blog and then checked out Mel's blog. She was telling me she thought Mel was from Australia. I said, "Yes."
She is quite fascinated with how I met Mel (at Scrapstreet) since her sister is a missionary in New Zealand. So Mel, you have a fan! And she loves your baby!

Divine Digital Challenge Day 2

Today's challenge was Color My World. So I did. Orange. I'm in an orange phase right now. Not sure why. Not to wear, mind you. No way. I just love burnt orange. Remember that shade from the Crayola 64 box when we were kids? My scrap room is painted that shade, only Sherwin Williams calls it Monarch. I have one green accent wall because green has always been my favorite color in the whole world.
I used the overlay feature and screen in PSE for the first time. It actually turned my green to a yeloow, which matched what I had going on with this page anyway. The overlay feature turned my black "inked" edges to the dark orange you see on the layout's edge. Also used some filters to get the frames on the page.
This page is completely my own design. Like the photo stack? I saw that somewhere and had to try it. Now my contacts are kind of blurry right now so I'm not seeing sharp edges. I think they are dry. I'm assuming this lo turned out ok!

The Good Life Challenge At Divine Digital

Divine Digital has a monthly challenge blog by Ryanna Fritschmann that I got this lo template from called "The Good Life". The Digi kit is by Traci Reed and is called Vibrant.

The blog has a month long list of challenges to help us grow. I'm hoping I'll learn some cool stuff as I go along. I'm just going to do what I can since it's summer and the kids are here and there.

This is my cousin's son in our pool. I have pictures of all of us with this lobster. Except Scott, but I made one with him in it...a little cut 'n paste. He will be quite surprised when I show him, especially as he is sleeping in the original photo that I cut his head out of! He said the only way he was getting a picture with a lobster was with a fork. I've got his pic. Now I just need to scan a fork and do a lo! He's got a great sense of humor, so I know he will get a charge out of it.

It was a hot one here today, although surely not the hottest day of the summer. I did manage to get in some pool time! I'd like to in the evenings, too, but the bugs are just unreal right now.

Tonight I will do challenge #2 at Divine Digital while I watch tv...my fav show of the summer is on, "So You Think You Can Dance".

Newly Created Frame Template

I created a set of templates with scalloped and squared edges. I used one of them on this lo, along with Traci Reed's Digi Kit Joyful. Now if I could only figure out where to sell my digi creations! heheheheh

Fishing At Ralph's Pond

Just a lo of 4th of July activities.
Digi kit: Serene by Traci Reed
Sketch by Di Hickman July 2007. Check it out. It's on her blog.

I'm getting pubbed in Ready, Set, Create!

I was goofing off today and feeling brave because 3 things were selected for Scrapstreet.com's e-zine in August so I went over to Scrapsubmit and went crazy! Believe it or not, I got an e-mail today saying that this altered clipboard I made (which, if I do say so myself, I love). It hangs in my house. Anyway, Ready, Set, Create - a 200 page online mag- sent me an e-mail saying they wanted to publish my clipboard! I nearly started crying I was so happy (or perhaps unmedicated or just a ding-dong).

Anyway, it is going to be in the Oct/Nov. issue. And they even charge for this mag. People subscribe to it. I will get a free issue. Isn't that exciting! Now how am I going to scrap that! LOL!

I did submit to some paper mags, too. We'll see about that. I want to try more the digi paper mag submissions. I guess I need to get busy! I was published a while ago in Correspondence Art. I think they went out of business. Not because of me, though.

My Scrapstreet July Cover Layout

Okay, I'm shameless, but how can I not make a scrapbook page of the highlight of my scrapping year? I asked Dora first so I didn't violate any copyrights. Maybe I just need to get it printed on a post-it and stick it to my forehead.
Digi credits: Friendly Colors 3 Sisters Productions, Circle Shapes by Jen Caputo, and stiches by Lisa Whitney @ ScrapArtists.com.

I'm trying to get all these lo's done because www.scrapbooksplease.com is having a 99 cents 12x12 printed layout sale. That's like 75% off the normal prices that I have found. I've sent about 10 lo's for them to print. I hope they do a good job.

I read where some people print theirs out 8x8. I'm just afraid I wouldn't be able to read the journaling. I kinda like 12x12, although I could do 8 1/2 x 11. I might do that. I also read if you print at home and do that size, it costs about $1.00 per page. I can just always wait for different places to have sales, too.

Eraser Tool

OUT FOR PUBLICATION IN SCRAPSTREET.COM SEPTEMBER E-ZINE

I played with my eraser tool to make this lo. I edited the picture. I probably could have done better around the edges, but it was my first try at doing something like this.
I also made the one layer look like vellum by adjusting the opacity for something different.
Kit is April Free PEA Kit by Rhonna Ferrar. I do love her stuff!
This lo is my cousin, Paula, and I. Inseparable. Trouble from the word go. And goofy!

Di Hickman's June 2007 Sketch

You have to check out Di's blog. I have a link to her blog on mine. She is a cool chick with alot of talent. I finally figured out how to work the PSE and use her sketch, which she has broken down into parts. It took a while to put this together this evening, but I am really pleased with the results. Thanks Di!!!
Let me give the digi credits: Paper, embellies are Traci Reed - Unbound Kit
Ink Edges - Nancie Rowe Janitz @ ScrapArtists
Stitches by Lisa Whitney @ ScrapArtists
font: Daisy
Don't want to leave anyone out. Want to make sure they get their due!
Di has her sketch up for July, which I will probably do tomorrow. Why not!
I really have a digi issue these days. I can't stop scrapping. There is so much to learn on this PSE. Of course, it is nice to "cheat" and download some helps. For example, those inked edges. I read an article that said that inking was kind of a pain to get it right. Frankly, I have no idea. I'm sure I will give it a shot eventually. But for the time being, I have Nancie Janitz little thingy to use!

73 And Counting!!!

REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION AT SCRAPSTREET.COM SEPTEMBER E-ZINE


I checked out some of my friend, Jen Caputo's, design spots. She is very talented. I downloaded her cut circles from www.Scrapbookgraphics.com. They have some really nice kits, too. I downloaded a set of six from there. I also went over to ScrapArtists and downloaded a free inked border and some stitches. Yes, I know I was making some stitches, but frankly this was so much easier!

The orange layout above features Citrus Freeze by Ann Langpap 2Peas, Lisa Whitney stiches from ScrapArtists, and Jen Caputos' cut circles.

My other layout is the one I was going to post the other day. I did one more, too, that I need to get up. My very next layout will be 72 more to go meaning it is number 200! I'm going to do a quick 'n dirty so I can hit my magic target! Some might call it cheating. I call it: Git 'er done!

More Digi Layouts- Almost Done 200 LO"S this year

okay, I'm down to 75 lo's to go. When I hit 72, I will have done 200 layouts this year. 200! I can't believe it! Now that's alot of scrapping!

I made a lo last night that I will post later on. I just need to add some journaling to it. I used a new Sepia filter from OptikVerve that I learned about on Scrapstreet. It was very easy to download and use just like they said. It went great with my lo. Just the right effect.

I tried making the bow that one of my Scrapstreet friends sent me directions for, but there weren't any picture, which made it very confusing. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for something that technical last night! I think I'm going to buy one of those bow making add-ons. I did make a pretty dark green satin ribbon, but I ended up not using it. Some things are just better left to those who can do it with ease. At least for the time being, until I am better!

I tried some new brushes as well. I really need to learn about brushes. They are very useful and something I dont' quite understand. Especially about intalling new ones. Like I made that stitch brush and I used the arrow brush I got from 2Peas in the Venice Beach kit. I'm just not sure how or where to install them to get them to be permanent.

I did download a brush viewing software, but I'm not quite sure how that works either. At least I'm not bored! LOL!

Off to the gym and then some more digi scrappin'. I want to hit the 200 mark this weekend. I'm sure I will!

The Zig zag stich in digi

I found a tutorial on the web, but I don't know if it was in PSE. It was confusing a bit. I couldn't get the straight stitch to work. I got the zig zag figured out. I need to spend more time on the brushes. I think there is alot to learn in that category. This stitch is actually a brush I made. It is very subtle. I think I need to make it darker...next time! LOL!

I also added a "corner folding" plug in. I found the plug in at a website, and Scrapstreet provided the tutorial for PSE on how to add plug ins. Will have to mess with that more later!

There are so many tutorials out there. It's hard to fit them all in. Right now I'm just trying to learn something new with each lo. Although, I do have a few plug in lo's that I can do on the side if I just get too worn out from trying to figure out a new technique!!!

My favorite technique so far is the drop shadow. I know I haven't even scratched the surface yet of what this program can do. That's what amazes me!

Scrapstreet has a great tutorial by Christa this month on brushes, too. I need to check that one out. I read it, and it was really explained well. Maybe tonight when I am watching tv!

76 layouts left after this one towards my annual goal. My goal is actually to hit it by the time school starts. I better get my rump going! Although this digi has really got my mojo in high gear.

Found out today that I'm going to be paper pubbed in Scrapstreet's Mag in August, too. Now isn't that exciting. It is actually one of my favorite layouts that I have done this year called Makin' Waves. I will post the links to them when the mag comes out next month. I'm just so jazzed!

Just Messing Around

"5 Things" Tag.
Name 5 favorite television shows:
* Oprah
* CSI Las Vegas
* So You Think You Can Dance
* AI
* Grey's Anatomy

Name 4 favorite memories:
* My wedding day.
* When my children were born.
* DH and I in Hawaii
* Vacations at Edisto

Name 3 things you want to do before you die:
* Travel to Canada, Alaska, & Puerto Rico
* Run a 10K
* Write a book

Give 2 names that you would use NOW if you were going to have a new addition to the family:
* Canady (pronounced Kennedy)
* Cayce

Name the one thing that you're working on now to improve your life:
Photo Shop Elements- always trying to improve my mind by learning something new

If anyone wants to do this tag, please copy and paste but also let me know you did it.

Being Digi Pubbed in August

I'm truly blessed this year as far as my scrapping dreams. Well, I can't complain about anything else either, frankly!
I'm being pubbed in August at Scrapstreet for a sketch challenge they posted this past weekend. What has me really excited is that it is digi. So I'll have been pubbed in both paper and digi. OMG how exciting!
You can't reach your dreams if you don't try. And I keep trying. I'll have to remove the lo from my blog since it's being pubbed. But I don't mind a bit. YIPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE! Doing the happy dance all over town!
I really appreciate all the encouragement my Scrapstreet friends have been giving me, too. It's nice to have a place to scrapbook that is so encouraging. Everyone cheers everyone on.
Thanks to those of you who have left comments on my blog, too. Super appreciated.

Rock Lobster Digi Curves

Went crazy with the digi curves and used a swirl. Kit is from 2Peas by Tia Bennett. Curves are my own design that I learned about on the 2Peas board. Gonna have lots of lobster layouts for the 4th of July.

Making A Curve for Digi Scrappin'

Okay...78 layouts...Keep 'em coming! I'm going digi crazy!

This lo is dh in the pool. This was some of the door decorations dd and her friend had up at UCA camp. That lobster cracked me up, and I had to bring it home. I guess our brain is fried from too much sun, because we both took our pictures wearing this silly thing. I need to scrap me next.

I learned to make this curve. I found a post about it at 2Peas. I think most everything about digi scrapping must be on the internet!

Stamp Shape and Drop Shadows in Digi

Kit is Tropical Elements from Scrapstreet and it was free!

I have to challenge myself, although it isn't hard since I'm still learning this PSE program! Today's challenge was to create a stamp png file so I would have that shape. I'd learned to make the scalloped edge from Di Hickman's tutorial, so I took that knowledge and made my stamp shape. You can see I used it on this layout!

Also, went to Misty Cato's blog and learned to do a drop shadow behind my photograph.

It's taking all day to do these layouts, but with editing the photos and learning new elements, it's not surprising! It's so totally worth it!. I'm down to 79 layouts to go...the countdown continues.

I may be slowed down for a few days as my cousin is coming to visit. The great thing is, I'll have some fun photos to scrapbook after she and her family leave. They're staying through 4th of July. I'm excited they are coming. It's nice to have family visit.

I will post a tutorial about how to do that stamp shape after they leave. Oh my, my first tutorial. How exciting!

I almost bought BHG Scrapbook Etc's Digital Scrapbooking mag, but I decided to wait. It wasn't all PSE and I can find so much online. Now there was a thing on making your own paper in there that I really wanted to check out. All things in due time!

Scrapstreet Magazine COVER

http://www.scrapstreet.com/magy2/gojuly/features/red.htm

I'm the cover at the July issue of Scrapstreet.com mag! I can't believe it. I feel like I'm on top of the world. It's a lo of my parents, who are always in my heart. It's extra special since they are both gone now!

Lou said we should frame it. No problem! I'm definitely printing it out! He's very excited for me! What a great dh I have! He's always interested in my scrapbooking and so enthusiastic.

I get a great prize pack, too. Oh, I can't wait for that to come in the mail! Wahoooo!

Saturday Night Sketch Challenge

Did the sketch challenge tonight for Scrapstreet. Had to go digi, of course. Hope you like it!
I've made it to 80 layouts left towards my yearly goal. That was my goal for the weekend. So whatever I do tomorrow is a bonus.

More Digi Doin's

Okay, I used a free kit from 2Peas for this one because I needed a break from making my own elements. Kit is by Tia Bennett.

One of my friends at Scrapstreet mentioned a digi mag: Simple Scrapbooks so I went and got it. They have some articles in there on HOW TO and they are for PSE. I'm so glad about that. When I have to read articles in old versions or CS2 or CS3, you have to translate, which wouldn't be so bad, but I'm not sure where everything is yet!

I'm going to try making some bookplates. They have an article on that in there. Lots of digi stuff out there too, as far as kits and stuff. I checked out 2Peas since I sold all that stuff on e-bay. I might get one or two, but I want to make my own so I can sell mine, too!

Digi Mania

I made my own background paper on this one and then used Dora's White Wedding as an overlay to get the border. Embellies are Sue's Tropically Hot collection. It takes a while just to figure it all out, but I am really enjoying myself.

One more lo towards my goal! Wahoo!

From Scratch Digital Layout

Okay, I'm down to 83 layouts to go towards my goal. I have to keep counting down! I hope to whip out another 3 layouts this weekend. I'm not sure they will all be from scratch like this one. It took a long time.

I went to Di Hickman's blog (check out my links) and I found out how to make ribbon from scratch. She is a guest designer somewhere. I'll have to find the place. Anyway, Scrapstreet has a little blurb to check out her blog to make scalloped edges. So I went and did that, too.

It took me some time to make this layout. Like all night, but I've learned alot. I messed with opacity some to get the textures to look a certain way, and of course, filters.

I want to do all these cheer pics I took of Caitee digitally for her book this year. I need to get the color matching right for the blue and gold, but all that in due time!

I think I'm possessed! It's 1:20am, and I'm still up posting my creation!

UCA Superior Award for Home Pom

Live Love Laugh Blinkie

DD downloaded the original. I really liked it. I dressed it up a bit in PSE.

Whadayathink??

Crankin' Digi

Okay, digi lo number two...I've got

84 more layouts to go to hit my goal of 272 for the year.

I played with my font and the brushes and changed it up for the title. That was new. I added the black frame successfully. I also added text just on the lo instead of journaling on a tag or block.

My family loves that darn brick sandwhich. It's just a sandwhich you make on a big loaf of bread that you cut down the center and pile stuff on! But it is great to travel with and good at tailgating events, too.

I got this kit free at Scrapbookflair. They have free kits so I'm doing all my experimenting with those. I did download some "fill in the blanks" type lo's, too. I haven't done those yet. I do have a few more beach pics so I might try some of those for that!

I've been having fun and appreciate the comments folks are leaving about my new adventure! I'm sure I'll be posting something else later today. Maybe I'll try some more stuff and make something exciting. We'll have to see. AFter all, I've got all the time in the world, eh!

I have recovered from 3 days at cheer camp. I need to get those pictures up and edited. The girls are going to make a scrapbook on their camp adventure with pictures they pick. Caitee's like, "Mom, you should do it," but I don't like to scrapbook for other people. It's not "emotional". I'm vested in our books. Plus, they couldn't afford me! LOL!

My first venture into the digi world

Okay, here it is...the debut of my digi scrapping. It was fun. Especially considering it was 90 deg. outside today. I could enjoy the view of my pool from my kitchen window and scrapbook to my hearts content. No mess, either, since it was all digi. Not that I mind the mess. Lou's boss was supposed to come over today. So we had to keep things kinda clean. I say kinda cuz you know how messy I really am. LOL!

I need to figure out where to get these printed oneline and how to make the file size smaller for posting. I swear. If it's not one thing it is another! But we have major progress here, and I am tickled pink. I think I will scrapbook like crazy for a few days! Get closer to my goal. I mean I have 86 layouts to go...well, I did. Now I'm down to 85! Be pretty cool if I could knock out a few on digi.

There are lots of free kits online. I'm using those right now. I don't feel like investing cash in more sb supplies. I might treat myself to one or two kits just for yucks once I sell my stamps on e-bay. I don't want to go too crazy because CK Charlotte is coming up!

Keep It Crunk

Well, I've had some aggravation trying to figure out all this stuff. All these tutorials act like you already know everything. But I did manage to make another blinkie. Although the first two I really made were the best. This will have to do for now until I figure out what the hell I did! Something to do with the two photo images I put in them...hmmm....

I made a blinkie!

There it is! My first one ever! I'll get better at it, but that's what I have for now. There's quite a bit to learn about my new Photoshop Elements 5.0 software. I bought it with my recently earned e-bay money! Wahooooo!
I also have a digi lo that I am currently working on. I'm stuck at the moment. I need to do a little research and I should have that to post by the end of the week!

Altered Flip Flops

Okay, DD's lil' sis on JV said she loved cheap flip flops. They have to bring them a gift for cheer camp. So dd bought these blue flip flops. They looked like they needed some LOVE, so I altered them and made them cute!

I don't know about you, but I think they are just about the cutest stinkin' things I have ever seen, and I might just have to make myself a pair! Maybe they will all love them so much, that they will pay me to make a pair for them!!!

These were done in less than an hour! What a great craft. I stuck that red tacky tape along the thong top to make sure the ribbons wouldn't come off. I just simply tied the ribbons around the thong and put a bow where the piece is that slides between your big toe and 2nd toe!

Mojo was on vacation. It might be back. I do love summer colors!

I was at Walmart of all places today, and saw some totally awesome stuff for scrapbooking by Colorbok. They have these chipboard cubes that are so cute. They are just layers of chipboard tags, alphies, and words. They also had Autumn Leaves kits and some more Colorbok stuff.

I'm selling some more things on e-bay...rubber stamps. I've used the hound out of them, and I am sick of them. So when I get my cash, I'm going to buy some holiday rubber stamps to make my holiday cards and some of that stuff from good 'ole Walmart! Why not!!!

I also used the money I got from selling my old scrapbook mags and idea books to purchase PhotoShop Elements 5.0. I'm very excited to try that out. That way when we are on vacation, I can still scrapbook. I don't have to cart all my crap with me. I can just do it on my laptop! Will be playing with that tonight and while dd and I are at cheer camp.

I certainly hope I survive camp with 40 teenage girls on our two squads and probably 1,000 other girls...OMG! I must have lost my ever-lovin'-mind. I should get some great pics. I hope so. I can scrap them digi while I am there. Or at least try!

We leave at the crack of dawn or as Madea would say, "Oh-dark-thirty." Oh, it'll be dark alright! And the girls have to perform right after they register. I'm sure they are ready, though. They practiced like dogs! They're going to be awesome. I'm definitely videoing that!

Tagged by Amber

I have been tagged by Amber from Scrapstreet! Here's the rules: I must post the rules, 7 random things about me and then tag others to do the same. Sound fair enough, right?

These are the rules…. each player starts with 7 random facts about themselves on their Blog. People who are tagged need to blog 7 facts about themselves and post the rules as well. At the end of their blog list 7 people you are tagging. Let them know that they are tagged by leaving them a comment.

1. I can read an entire novel in one day.
2. Housework drives me absolutely nuts. I hate it!
3. Hawaii is the most fabulous, exotic place I have ever been and the one place I would LOVE to go back to.
4. I think my hair may be entirely gray, but I'll never know for sure!
5. Kohl's is my favorite place to shop these days.
6. I haven't scrapped since May's National Scrapbook Day at the lss, which is very unusual for me.
7. I have 4 dogs and one of them looks like Frankenweenie.

Seven people I will tag??? OH my, not sure...Missy, Melanie, Denean, Di, Linds, Emma and Mandy (when I can figure out where I put her blog addy!)

Selling OLD Scrappin' Stuff

You wouldn't think there would be a market for it, but girlies, one man's junk IS truly another man's treasure. It seems like the sorrier I think something is, the more money I sell it for on e-bay. There is no accounting for taste is another theory that accounts for that!

All I know is I have sold paper I no longer want, eyelets of all shapes, sizes and colors, old tools, extra tools, extra embellishments, prizes I've won that I don't want, idea books, mags I've read...the list goes on.

So why are you letting stuff sit around collect dust? Because you paid for it? Well, if you are not using it, at least a little cash in your pocket is better than NOT USING IT! And if it doesn't sell, it must be junk, so donate it to your local school or charity. They can sell it or use it for projects. Teachers love our old scrap crap!

Nothing is worse than having to organize stuff that you don't use. You are just shuffling it around. What is the point? Try it sometime and see how happy you are when you get rid of something and have some cash in your pocket.

My friend, Nancy, and I keep each other going on this endeavor. She usually is the one inspiring me. She has incredible luck on e-bay, meaning if I sell the same thing she does, she always gets more!!! She's at the right place at the right time! KWIM! No hard feelings, though. The point is you can make room for more stuff, which I'm not doing because that defeats my purpose, or make room for the stuff you have after the "junk" is gone.

I have some stamps I have used the hound out of. Some I have used once or twice. My next goal is to go through all them and sell them in lots. Now those I can make room for more of. I try to buy ones that have multiple uses, but some of them came in kits. I won't get rid of the ones that have words or sayings on them, unless I have used it to the point that everyone I know already has seen it!

What are you doing with kits sitting around that you are not using. Sell them. Now I don't have any of that, but I see alot of it on e-bay.

The thing is, if you save it for a rainy day, it just gets old and outdated. You get sick of looking at it. I try now to only buy what I am using right then. If I buy brads or stuff that comes multiple in packs, I try to share with a friend so we at least have different colors and such. I'm not being stingy or cheap. I'm being smart.

I think I finally got to the stage where hoarding was just hoarding and that didn't make any sense. I don't even save my scraps. What for? I try to use every last piece of paper as I am scrapping. And the teeny bits that are left are tossed. It seems I never had the right scrap for what I needed. Why store it if it is just taking up space.

Now this may not be your philosophy. Maybe I have just opened your eyes! Hard to say. I just know this is working for me and lining my pockets!

Cover Finalist Again

WAHOOOOO! I'm up for the cover for July at Scrapstreet.com. I just got my e-mail today. Now I'll have to wait the long rest of the month to find out if I'm on the cover. I'm so excited! The layout is called American Graffiti and is my mom and dad on the way to their honeymoon. It's a great picture. What a way to start the day! That will be 5 pubs this year. March, Apr, May, June, July, plus my pub in Nov. 06!
Let me do the happy dance.
I'll link to the pub when it's in the mag.

Cake Squares All Decorated To Eat

Okay, here they are ladies and gentlemen, my cake squares. Now, the green man with the black hat, is actually a snowman. We were just making these last night and using the three colors that we brought with us! So my Christmas candle, tree and wreath might look a little insane with blue lights and such, but hey, I'm learning! LOL!

Look at all my cute things: balloons, pumpkins, nests with eggs, bunnies, chicks, Christmas, baby and rose buds and yes, clowns. I am not a big fan of clowns, but these icing clowns are really cute, and you can decorate them even more than what they are on here. Clowns can be sitting up, lying down, knees up. Lots of different ways to pose them. Just lots of icing! LOL!

I signed up for the Advanced class in the fall. We get to make a 3 tiered wedding cake. That will be interesting.

I really love this class and am having alot of fun with it. I'm not so restricted, and my creativity just flows!

Cakes & Cards

Here are some photos of a cake I made recently for a friend and a card I made for a couple who is getting married.

Welcome June and Publication

http://www.scrapstreet.com/magy2/junejuney2/features/bells3.htm

Here it is - my fourth publication this year. I nearly made the cover as I was a finalist. Lisa Pepper was the cover winner with a gorgeous layout of her friend. It was all very exciting to be in that group. There were several of us from Scrapstreet in the group of finalists!

I don't know why it is so exciting to be published. Yes, I do. It's the fact that someone else feels as excited about your layout as you do. It is a very nice feeling to be recognized. It's a pat on the back. It's not why I do it, but I love that I can do it well enough to be picked from the many submissions as one that stands out.

Often times it can be discouraging on line to not get pubbed. There was one website that was all they talked about. What people fail to realize I believe, is that people that are online are obsessed with scrapbooking. I think they are the ones that excel and so you are in among the PhD level scrappers, IMO. It's hard to be recognized in that kind of company and can be discouraging to some.

I have found that I can't scrap for calls or contests specifically as it makes the hobby I love turn to work which takes the joy out of it for me. That's just how I am. Many scrappers I know love scrapping for calls, but my personality is such that it just turns me into a competetive nut and it ceases to be fun!

I like to submit stuff I already made in answer to calls. I need to submit more stuff, but I'm so happy to be pubbed at Scrapstreet with all the talent they have! I'm just a happy camper today.

So check out the rest of their mag, too, because it has alot of great stuff in it! Subscribe to it. It's so convenient. It comes right to your mailbox every month. Dora and her staff do a great job. I haven't seen a bad one yet!

More blog stuff

Well, I've just been adding some more things to my blog to see what they do. I added a guestbook. I hope that is fun...to see who visits. Hopefully, friends. If not, I can delete anything I don't want anyway. And a guest map. To see where all the visitors are from. Now that seems very fun to me!
I do need to learn to do more things. These were easy. But I've got some yard work to do and the day is warming up!
I do need to get some cards made. What is my problem? I'm just not in the scrapping mood lately. I miss it, I do, but the sunshine is calling me louder than my scraproom. That will change soon I'm sure as we get more into the summer?
I know when I take dd to cheer camp, I'm going to have a ton of photos to scrap and share. So I better get my mojo back by then!

Header/Banner with Layouts

Oh, I did it. I got layouts and the title in my header/banner for my blog. Just a little piddling this morning. I removed the notebook paper and added the layouts that I stitched together in Photostudio. I feel like such a stud! Woohooo!

Adding a Banner

Well, I think I added a banner to my blog today, but I'm not really sure. I took some time to play with my blog, which is one of my goals this summer to get it looking exactly like I want it. But I think I get how to add pictures to my header now so I might work on that this weekend. I want to spruce up my blog and make it look more like me instead of these templates. We'll see how that goes!

Anyway, I added the notebook paper look at the top of the blog. That's what I did. I played in the HTML code. Yes, I did!

Cakes and Magnolias

Well, we had our roses class last night. We had to bring our cake iced and ready to decorate. We used the e'motions for the side instead of zig-zag. Of course, we did the scallop top and bottom, and then our rose spray was done on the top. We also learned to make the bow.

I might have gotten a little goofey with my icing. I wanted to try all the colors in the gel colorant box. So I decided to make chocolate roses. I had to add a little chocolate to the green for the leaves and the bow or it would have been totally wrong with the brown. I learned that trick from another lady in class. Should have known it from scrapbooking.

The lady teaching our class told me that my roses were really good! I'll take a compliment from the cake expert! She also likes me writing, but honestly, we know that comes from all my scrapbooking, doesn't it!

I picked some flowers yesterday from my garden. I picked tiger lillies, gardenias, petunias and a magnolia blossom from my tree. I could not resist photographing my magnolia blossom this morning in the early morning light. It was so beautiful! I got two photographs I wouldn't mind blowing up.

Next cake class...get ready...we are making decorating cake squares with all kinds of little things on them. I'm looking forward to that. It's not so much the baking as it is the decorating. Ashleigh said she would bake and I could decorate if we had our cake business!!!

Top Of the Cake Rose Spray

Much to my excitement, our lesson was making roses! We worked on the full rose and also the little rose buds you see on the side. The little rose buds are supposed to be small like that. They are a spray off to the side.

Our next lesson is actually doing this on the top of a cake and doing some on the side. We have to bring a fully iced caked to class and our rose icing, which is thicker for stability.

One thing I am really good at is the writing. The teacher always comments on that.

I will probably do another color rose. I did pink this time and last time my flowers were pink. I noticed with the other colors that people used that the non-traditional colors are really cool. One girl did blue! I also think it helps to mix the colors of the roses using more than one.

My roses are somewhat small compared to the instructors. When I practiced at home, I think I have that figured out. It's the way I was holding my tip. I needed to tilt it out more.

I'm a cake decorator! And it's fun!

Two Survey and First Cake

Nancy issued a Two challenge on her blog which she got from Two Peas. It sounds like fun so I am doing that today. I haven't blogged in a bit. Shame on me!

TWO:

Two Names I Go by: Leigh and only my bff can call me Leigh Anny

Two Things I am Wearing Right Now: T-shirt and jeans

Two Things I Want (or have) in a Relationship: Love and humor

Two of My Favorite Things to do: sneak a nap and scrapbook

Things I Want Very Badly At The Moment: my pool to heat up and my kitchen to be clean

Two pets I have: Boo and Run

Two things I did last night: cooked dinner and watch ds play softball

Two things I ate today: coffee and soon to have a bagel

Two people I just talked to last: ds and dd

Two Things I'm doing tomorrow: varsity cheer carwash and sunning by the pool with an sb mag

Two longest car rides: moving coast to coast as a kid and driving the whole stinkin' way in the family station wagon! Once east to west...once west to east...

Two Favorite Holidays: Christmas and 4th of July

Two favorite beverages: Diet Coke and water

Now on to other things: I am taking a cake decorating class with my friend, Ashleigh. It also turns out a girl I used to work with is there, too, Donna and her dd, Sara. This class was something I wasn't sure about, but I hadn't hung out with Ash in a while. It turns out it is alot of fun. Maybe it is the artistic expression on the cake. I'm not sure, but making roses out of icing and decorating a cake like you see in a fancy bakery is rather satisfying. This is the first official cake I decorated. I sent samples to various people, and they thought it came from a bakery. I guess that would be the seal of approval! I thought it turned out remarkably well, and frankly, I'm rather proud of myself.

This was class number two. In class number one, we got some recipes, went over all the tips and tried a few things. For class two, we had to bake the cake and glaze it and bring our icing. Then in class we decorated it!

I've decided to bake a cake with a different recipe they gave us in class and decorate it for the Varsity cheer carwash tomorrow. I'm going to see if I can make pom poms out of icing... We'll see. I'll post my results!

Old stuff and new stuff

I've been a very busy scrapper this year! Trying some different things, mixing old and new products. Check out the "my crew" lo. I used some old MME paper dolls and dresser, along with new faux stitches and Chatterbox paper, stickers and tags to make this lo. I think it turned out really cute. Just because the stuff is old, doesn't mean it doesn't have a life! We just have to think of creative ways to use it. So what if it's not in style either. The important thing is that we like it! I have a little journaling on the index card tucked in the pocket.

I absolutely adore this lo of my dear mother's wedding portrait. She is so stunning, and I wanted to keep the focus on the portrait, but create a delicate layout around it. Still have her dress in a box in case dd wants to wear it! This is a Becky Fleck sketch in case anyone was wondering. I like having the journaling on the delicate shade of yellow. Reminds me of daisies, which are our flower. No one else might get that, but I do!!!

OOOOPS Removed for publication in June Scrapstreet magazine. Will be back later!

Birthday Photo

Today is my birthday. Here is my birthday portrait. Self portrait. I tell you one thing, I have great hair!
Tragedy at Virgina Tech yesterday. Very sad. Disturbing, but I know that God was there for His people. It's still unfolding, the whole story. We may never know since the crackpot killed himself. Very sad.
On to a brighter note: another year, another bit wiser? One hopes anyway! No complaints on my part. Main goal last year was to be published in a mag. I've hit that goal so I'm tickled pink.
What am I going to do today? Probably clean out the pool from all that crazy windy weather we had. Many leaves. Lucky no trees down. Not the same for everyone around here.
May scrap some. Not sure. I've got 106 more layouts to do towards my scrap goal for 2007 of 272. You know I'll make it. That's the kind of chick I am. Set a goal. Do it! Get 'er done, as they say!
Hmmm. Should apply that philosophy towards scrap room. Oh, but that isn't fun!
Want to make that lap board. Cool idea from my friend, Kelly, who will be moving to NC here soon. She's a cool chick. No obvious issues (she knows I'm kidding here)! Regular chick. Very creative. Fleece is her medium. She rocks it.
My bff, Mandy, is bringing my card by today. Last year she sent it to me in August. Bff's don't make ya mad, do they? Nah, life happens so you just don't even think about it. I just thought it was sweet she sent it after all that time. Even sweeter, she doesn't want to do it again. Worried postal service might not get it here. Chose to deliver to make sure it got on time. That's nice, isn't it!
Waiting for school to get out. Not much longer. Ds has project for landscape class. Dh is in charge. He's the science dude. Not me. I'm there for the creative aspect. Camera. Paper. Layout. Those types of things.
That's all my comments for today. Except one, Kearnsy...you're next, dahling. Can't hide. We're a month apart. Birthday's coming! And I'm going to remind you every day! Cuz I love you!

Just Chatting

I didn't make the next round in an online contest, but that is alright. I'm still applying for the mag staff spots they have open. Maybe I'll get one of those. If not, it won't slow me down!

I'm thinking of teaching some classes again at the lss. I've got some pretty nice books we can put together. High impact visually, but fairly easy to do!

Other than that I am waiting so much for summer! We are having another cold snap. It was just 80 deg. the other day...now morning temp expected of 37! It's crazy!

Photography etc.

Had to post a challenge at a website so I posted one using silhouettes and reflections. I love when things are reflected in windows and water. I think it is just fascinating. This is my favorite picture from the ones I took. I just photographed some different shots around the pool.

Speaking of the pool. I cleaned the pool furniture today. It was a gorgeous day, and there was no way I was going to be inside. I hosed off the porch, too. That pollen was just digusting. I'm glad that has passed. I'll finish the porch tomorrow or another day. I need to go over all the wood trim with some bleach. It gets so dirty over the winter.

The pool chemicals have been ordered, and they are on their way. As soon as they get here, the pool will be officially opened, although it really is since Matt has actually been in twice already!

It's definitely time for the weather to warm up. I'm tired of it being cold! I'm sure all the dogs are too!

I'll post the layout that goes with this picture as soon as I get it photographed. I tried this evening, but the photo was blurry. It's just easier during the day, and I get better, truer colors.

DD and DH are both snoozing. Such company I have for the night. What am I going to do with them. I'm thinking of scrapping. I did some scrapping today, but I really had to think to hard about it. I'm not sure why, but I hope it passes. It was driving me nuts.

My Wedding Album

Scrapstreet is publishing an all wedding e-zine in June. I'd love to end up with something in there. In that light, they had a lift challenge last night so I decided to scrap my wedding song that Lou and I first danced to as Mr. and Mrs. I guess it is corny, but what girl doesn't dream of that her whole life? I've known from the time I was in 2nd grade and heard the Carpenter's "We've Only Just Begun" that I wanted that to be the first dance at my wedding.
An additional bonus is, this e-zine has given me the prompt I need after 18 years of marriage to get my wedding scrapbook done. I want it to be informal with writing and notes and such. That way, when I'm old and gray, I'll have lots of fond memories to stare at and little notes along the way to jog my memory!

Video of Recent Pages - It's fun to go back in time!

Okay, i hope this works! I made a video at photobucket with music and everything. I used my recent prize package of Flair papers from Dora at Scrapstreet to make all of these pages. Well, except the cat one. I just like that picture because my cat is so nosy every time I bring my camera out!
These photos are from 10 years ago. Hard to imagine my kids being that young. Time does truly go by fast. Matt's baseball team won the championship game in a squeaker. The soccer photos are a riot as Caitee was a no fear goalie, but she had to pose in her ballet poses!
Makes me want to do some more older photographs. It's nice to relive those moments, which is after all the reason we scrapbook. To share and relive!
Enjoy!

Changes and New Web Ring

I made a few changes to my blog. Added some links, put up a funny pic, and joined the Scrapstreet web ring, for which there is also a link.
I didn't know what a webring was until last night when Lindsey started the Scrapstreet one, and I decided to join it with my blog. Now you can cruise around if you want and see what some of the other chicks I hang with online are doing.
I also added a link to my Scrapstreet gallery. Although I do post most everything I do there here as well. I think I might link to my old galleries at Scrapvillage, Scraptalk and maybe even Scrapjazz. It just depends on how bad that stuff looks compared to now! LOL!
I do like the 2peas gallery as well. I haven't posted very much there. I need to post more stuff there. There are alot of great ideas. I skim it every day and add stuff to my favs to get inspiration when I am brain dead, which at the rate I am scrapping this year, happens more often than I like.
I still need to figure out how to add a banner, but all things in due time. The fact that I have made a few changes and added some stuff is pretty cool for now.
I will be scrapping this weekend because it is the Scrapstreet Star 3rd round. Even if I don't make round 3, I will do the challenge. Also, I want to see what is up for Saturday Night Scrap there. Do the lift and the sketch probably.
Although I'm not as excited as I was to scrap becasue my OTT light just shipped yesterday so it's not going to be here. Major bummer. My scraproom is just so poorly lit. And I splurged on that stinkin' light. But the main thing is that its on its way, and I can hardly wait for it to get here.
I hope if any of you read my blog that you will leave a comment so I know you were here. Just for fun. Please be nice! LOL!

Andy Warhol-ish scrapbook page or Modern Art

I have some fun recently doing some different things. This month at Scrapstreet, my favorite scrapbook site to hang at, the "street" is in Kyoto, Japan, a place I have actually been. Of course, I was 3 1/2 so I don't remember it, but I thought it was kinda cool anyway. The colors for the challenge were red, black and white. I had a picture of dd that I had digitally altered that just begged to be used for this challenge. Looking at it made me think of the song, "China Girl", for some reason by David Bowie. Maybe it was how funky the photo was and that song is very funky. I love the quote I used on the lo from the song, too, "I can hear your heart beating loud as thunder." I used circles, which are my favorite shape right now and lots of brads. I think it turned out really neat. Lou says it looks like something Andy Warhol would have done. I was a bit concerned with the red and yellow that it might look like a mastercard so I had to make sure I arranged the circles in such a way that it wasn't making me think of that!
I also finished a page of my Nana and my great-grandmother, Nana-P that I had started over a year ago! I just could never get the page to click. So I took it out of the drawer it was stored in and took it all apart. I trimmed the photos' corners to soften them up and rematted them, which improved their look greatly. I love the bouquet of flowers I made to replicate the corsages the "Nanas" are wearing. They are so cute together, mother and daughter. The occasion was my mother's wedding, which I have a photo on the page taken when my parents came home sometime when they were engaged. I also have the hat Nana was wearing. It was saved all these years, and ended up at my house. Crazy!
Finally, I had those two black and white photos, one of which is blown up and hanging in my dining room. I scrap so many beach photos! But we love the beach so what do you do! I mean where else do we go on vacation? Nowhere! I lifted this lo from my DW calendar. When I applied my ink to the chipboard letters, it made the two-toned effect, which looks like ocean water. I really do like this lo! And the best part is, I used all old supplies from my stash! Woohooo! Making room for more stuff!